FORMULA 1 - 2016

[MIKA27]

KEY CONFIRMS THAT TORO ROSSO NEW CAR ON SCHEDULE

The new Toro Rosso is “on schedule” for the 2016 season, despite the late change of engine supplier.

That is the claim of the Faenza team’s technical boss James Key, after parent company Red Bull’s so-called ‘engine crisis’ late last year led to Toro Rosso switching to a 2015-spec supply of Ferrari power for this season.

Earlier, Toro Rosso chiefs wondered if the late decision could delay the design and build schedule of the new STR11.

But Key told Italy’s Autosprint: “The delay in the contract for the engine supply in the end turned out to be less dramatic than it might have been.

“The work is on schedule,” he said, after the team revealed that Carlos Sainz will debut the new Ferrari-powered car on the opening day of Barcelona testing next month.

“The only serious problem was that, because of the features of the new power unit, it was not so easy to place in the car.

“Compared to the Renault, not only its size and configuration was different, but also the characteristics of the cooling system and electronics,” Key explained. “We had to completely re-do the rear of the chassis.”

However, he said Toro Rosso is in fact happy to have switched to Ferrari, notwithstanding the extra work and tight deadlines.

“In 2015, our chassis was quite effective and our main problem was related to the power unit. Only now, knowing the characteristics of the Ferrari engine, we realise how far behind we were in this aspect,” said Key.

The downside, he acknowledged, is that with Ferrari, Haas and Sauber getting the fully 2016-spec engine, Toro Rosso’s older version will become more and more obsolete.

“Obviously,” Key said, “the priority will be the 2016 Ferrari engine, because they cannot homologate two different engines. But we will be able to adjust the software.”

Key revealed that Toro Rosso is targeting fifth place in the 2016 championship, and will therefore be demanding more from its impressive young lineup of Max Verstappen alongside Carlos Sainz.

“Last year, they did a great job but did make some mistakes. This was understandable as rookies, but now I’m expecting further progress from them and no excuses.

“Everyone understands that we must achieve better results,” he added. “When I moved from Sauber, I did not realise that Toro Rosso was as big as it is — it has always been in the shadow of Red Bull.

“Our expectations are high and everyone understands that we must achieve better results. We can’t fight with Williams but I think we can with Force India — last year Sergio Perez was on the podium so let’s see if we can match that.

“Still, to achieve fifth position will not be easy — it is hard to imagine that McLaren will have another season like it did in 2015,” said Key.

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Magnussen to replace Maldonado at Renault for 2016 - Report

Kevin Magnussen is poised to replace Pastor Maldonado at the Renault F1 team for the 2016 season, Autosport reports.

Doubt was recently cast over Maldonado's future in F1 due to late payments from sponsor PDVSA - Venezuela’s state oil and gas company - and a steep decline in oil prices.

Maldonado was confirmed for a third season at the Enstone-based squad in September but Autosport understands a disagreement between Renault and PDVSA has led to the cancellation of his contract.

Sources say Magnussen is set to sign a deal with Renault over the next few days and will be officially announced as one of its drivers, partnering rookie Jolyon Palmer, at a launch event in Paris next Wednesday.

Magnussen reportedly has £5 million ($7.2m) in backing from Danish sponsor Bestseller, which owns clothing brand Jack & Jones.

There is a small chance Maldonado could still retain his seat if a new deal can be agreed upon, but the likelihood of that happening is slim and Renault has already approached Magnussen to replace the Venezuelan.

Magnussen made his F1 debut in 2014 for McLaren, after winning the previous year’s Formula Renault 3.5 title. He finished second on his debut and placed 11th in the final standings.

But Fernando Alonso’s return to McLaren in 2015 demoted Magnussen to the Woking-based squad’s reserve driver role. In October, on his birthday, he was told his services were no longer needed and he left McLaren.

Maldonado looks set to be left without a seat on the grid for the 2016 season. He competed for Williams from 2011 to 2013, but made the switch to Renault – then racing under the Lotus banner – for the 2014 season. Two spots are still available for the coming season at Manor, where Magnussen was in the frame for a seat.

MIKA: YES!!!!!

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Boullier praises driver loyalty

McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier is grateful for the commitment shown by Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button during what has been a difficult period for the Formula 1 team.

McLaren's 2015 woes have been well documented and Boullier is impressed by the loyalty his drivers have shown to the team during this barren spell.

"I love the bond you can forge with a driver," Boullier told F1i in an exclusive interview this week.

Boullier said one of the most critical factors in a relationship with a Formula 1 driver is establishing trust. He feels that Alonso and Button have learned to trust him and his team, which has brought tremendous satisfaction.

"When the driver really trusts his race engineer – and when you think about it, he is putting his life into your hands – you can really develop and elevate him to do exceptional things by pushing him out of his comfort zone. This is probably the part of the job I miss the most, even more than the technical side of things," added Boullier.

"Still, my position allows me to be close to Fernando and Jenson. As every other great champion, they are obsessed with winning. Until they don't have exactly what they want, they will put the team under pressure. If you know how to manage expectations, reassure them about the direction we are headed, that's when they trust you. What really matters to me is that they stayed loyal until the very end of last season."

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No more pressure to sell Silverstone, says BRDC president Warwick

The BRDC is no longer under pressure to sell British Grand Prix Formula 1 venue Silverstone, says its president Derek Warwick.

In August 2013 it emerged the BRDC was prepared to sell the Northamptonshire circuit.

A number of expressions of interest followed, the latest from Jaguar Land Rover in early December.

The BRDC's decision was followed a month later by a deal with MEPC in which the property group, owned by the BT pension fund, paid £32million for a 999-year lease on 280 acres of land surrounding the circuit.

The business now appears to be on a much stronger financial footing, aided by Silverstone managing director Patrick Allen recently confirming last year's British Grand Prix made a profit for the first time in years.

It means the BRDC now has far more flexibility over whether to sell at all, or which potential buyers to consider.

"The last five years have been difficult for us. We've not made money," Warwick told Autosport.

"That is why we almost had to close the doors in order to survive. We were unable to spend or do anything.

"Eighteen months ago, in particular, we would have bitten anybody's arm off [to sell].

"There's no doubt about that because we were in such a difficult situation, and not knowing a way out.

"Now I don't care if we do a deal or not. We're still talking to two or three people and we've said 'These are our terms'. It's no longer about their terms.

"That gives you that added confidence you need to negotiate. I can only negotiate from strength. If I do so from weakness, then they will know straight away.

"But this is no longer a deal we need or have to do. There are now lots of options for us, which is the good thing."

Warwick believes a lot of the credit must go to Allen, who joined a year ago with a remit to turn Silverstone's fortunes around.

An aggressive pricing structure for the sale of tickets was implemented, and along with other streamlining ventures, money has finally been made.

Warwick added: "He came in with great credibility. He was very influential in turning around the image of the Co-Op, so we knew he had a good CV.

"We knew he would do a good job, but we didn't know how good a job.

"In the early days, some of the ticket pricing he did, he would admit now was wrong, so he's learned as well. It's a new world for him.

"But hey, he learns bloody quick, and the thing with Patrick, if he doesn't quite get it right, he puts his hand up and puts things right."

[skalls]

No more website dedicated to counting the last time Maldonado crashed though.

But seriously that's the only bad thing to happen in that change.

[MIKA27]

No more website dedicated to counting the last time Maldonado crashed though.

But seriously that's the only bad thing to happen in that change.

That guy has had two seasons too many IMO and is a great example of how "SOME" pay drivers are only in Formula 1 because of the cash flow, not the talent. There are some however that also have both, cash flow and the talent. Maldonado is not one of those talented. Unless he wants to be a crash test dummy, I'd say he'd be a World Champion at that!

[Lotusguy]

That guy has had two seasons too many IMO and is a great example of how "SOME" pay drivers are only in Formula 1 because of the cash flow, not the talent. There are some however that also have both, cash flow and the talent. Maldonado is not one of those talented. Unless he wants to be a crash test dummy, I'd say he'd be a World Champion at that!

This

[capitalpg]

Couldn't agree more about pay to drive. Sadly, it's an issue in almost every level racing.

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NEWEY: WE MIGHT BE FURTHER BEHIND THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR

Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey is concerned that Formula 1 rules allowing for engine dominance and believes that, unless balanced with aero advantages, the sport will suffer.

Speaking to media in Chennai, Newey said, “It is important to find the right balance between the chassis, engine and competitive, but right now the engine is dominating, which is unhealthy.”

In reference to the advent of the iconic Cosworth V8 engine, which came to prominence in the late sixties and was one of the most successful engines in the history of the sport, Newey explained, “Cosworth came with a winning engine in 1967 that was exclusively for use by the Lotus team. It became very clear that the engine was going to be dominant. Then, Lotus agreed to waive its exclusivity to allow others to use it for the good of the sport.”

“Unfortunately, that sort of attitude doesn’t seem to exist any more. If the sport is not healthy, what’s the point in winning?” questioned Newey.

“Secondly with aero and chassis it is out on view, people can see designs, understand and copy. But with the engine formula you can’t see your competitor’s engine. The only way to catch up is with huge investments and people moving. Ferrari improved from 2014 to 2015 but it cost a lot and needed people from Mercedes,” added Newey.

As for the season ahead he said, “Our hope for 2016 is to just maintain that gap but with Ferrari and Mercedes expected to step up, towards the end of the year we might be further behind than we were last year.”

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BOULLIER: MCLAREN WAS OVERSIZED AND DIFFICULT TO MANAGE

McLaren team boss Eric Boullier is confident the exactly two years he has spent at the Woking based outfit is now ready to show its results in Formula 1.

“It was oversized and difficult to manage,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying by Marca.

Also difficult to manage, Boullier admits, are Alonso and fellow champion teammate Jenson Button, “They, like all other champions, think only about winning. Until they have what they want they will not stop pressuring the team.

“But if you know how to manage expectations and calmly explain how things are moving, then you earn their trust,” said Boullier.

He said although the results in 2015 were bad, he is happy that the new McLaren structure is at least now working efficiently.

“Momentum leads to success,” said Boullier. “You have to remember that when Red Bull bought Jaguar, it took five years to structure everything and become efficient.”

“We are also in an ultra-competitive environment, fighting with Mercedes and Ferrari, and their level and quality is very high,” the Frenchman said.

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IS MAGNUSSEN BEING USED AS A NEGOTIATING PAWN BY RENAULT?

Kevin Magnussen’s father as well as his manager are refusing to comment on widespread reports that the former McLaren reserve is now poised to return to the Formula 1 grid, but a compatriot is suggesting that the highly rated Dane is being used as a negotiating pawn by Renault.

Specialist publications say the 23-year-old Dane, who was unceremoniously dumped by McLaren late last year, is likely to replace Pastor Maldonado at the new Renault works team.

It is known that tense talks between the French carmaker and Maldonado’s controversial and scandal-struck Venezuelan sponsor PDVSA have been taking place in recent weeks, and that Magnussen has visited the team’s Enstone base.

Sources say it is likely Magnussen’s deal, as well as that of new team boss Frederic Vasseur, will be confirmed by Renault next Wednesday in Paris.

However, former Danish racing driver, Jason Watt, warned that negotiations between Renault and PDVSA may simply be playing out via the media.

“It could be that Kevin is being used as bait [by Renault] to get Maldonado to pay up,” he told the Ekstra Bladet newspaper.

TV2, a Danish broadcaster, said Magnussen’s manager Dorte Riis Madsen would not comment. And the Danish tabloid BT also tried unsuccessfully to contact his father and former F1 driver Jan Magnussen.

But former Danish racing driver John Nielsen said the Renault switch would be very good news for Magnussen, “I think without a doubt he is faster than Jolyon Palmer.”

“It is so important for him to get into formula one now, as in 2017 there may be three or four seats available. And he only has a window of two or three years to establish himself before the next generation is coming up,” Nielsen added.

“Renault is not going to win anything in 2016,” he said, “but they will certainly be a strong team for 2017, so it’s a good place to go to.”

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BERGER: ROSBERG’S MISFORTUNE IS HE HAS HAMILTON AS TEAMMATE

Former F1 winner and team boss Gerhard Berger has backed Nico Rosberg to bounce back in 2016, but admits that the German’s problem is his teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Rosberg beat his Mercedes teammate Hamilton late in 2015, but only after the now triple world champion had wrapped up the title.

Berger told Auto Motor und Sport: “I still believe that Rosberg is insanely good. His misfortune was that he scored Lewis Hamilton as teammate.”

“Until then, he had all his teammates under control and even gave Michael Schumacher a headache,” said Berger. “With another teammate, Rosberg would probably have won the last two world titles.”

Berger also acknowledges that Hamilton will probably have corrected his late 2015 slump by the time the new season begins, meaning Rosberg will once again face a daunting challenge to win his first championship.

“Since Austin, Hamilton was thinking already about the next world championship,” said the former McLaren and Ferrari driver.

“And in a duel like Rosberg versus Hamilton, it is the details that make the difference. I would not be surprised if Lewis is right back on it early in 2016,” added the Austrian.

Berger said one piece of good news for Rosberg is Hamilton’s personality, which is more ‘up and down’ than his more analytical teammate.

“I think Hamilton walks a very fine line,” he said. “He is always very close to losing his nerve. Rosberg has a real chance if he has a strong first half of the season, because I think Hamilton would have more problems with Rosberg’s success than vice versa.”

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BERGER: THREE YEARS AGO ALONSO WAS THE BEST, TODAY HE IS NOT

A single season, namely last year, has transformed the images of two of Formula 1’s best drivers, according to legend Gerhard Berger.

As he switched from Ferrari to McLaren-Honda, Spaniard Fernando Alonso was still widely regarded as the best driver on the grid.

Sebastian Vettel, in contrast, ended the 2014 season having been beaten by his Red Bull teammate, as he moved over to replace Alonso in red.

“Three years ago, we all said: Alonso is the best. Today I wouldn’t say it,” Berger, himself a former Ferrari driver, told Auto Motor und Sport. “He just hasn’t been able to prove it and eventually you forget how good he once was.”

At the same time, hardly any pundit would argue that Vettel does not appear like the first worthy successor to the great Michael Schumacher, who won five consecutive world championships at Ferrari.

“Very clearly yes,” agreed Berger. “Vettel is very similar to Michael in his methods, and that fits very well at Ferrari.”

“I experienced it somewhat in my time at Ferrari, but I had nowhere near the effect as a Lauda, Schumacher or Vettel. When they [Ferrari] have someone who leads them with their Italian temperament, then it can go very well,” he insisted.

In retrospect Berger believes that Alonso was simply the wrong man for Ferrari, “Not the wrong thing, but not the right thing either. Just because his working style is different.”

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LAUDA: WITH VETTEL FERRARI HAS FOUND ITS OLD STRENGTH

Mercedes chiefs are heading into the 2016 Formula 1 world championship season with their eyes fixed firmly on Ferrari, and specifically their star driver Sebastian Vettel.

“Ferrari has found its old strength,” declared Niki Lauda, a former Ferrari champion who is now the team chairman at Mercedes.

Mercedes dominantly won the opening two world championships of the new ‘power unit’ era, but Ferrari is now closing the gap and aiming for the title in 2016.

“This is due above all else to Sebastian Vettel,” Lauda told Auto Bild Motorsport. “The fact that he can drive fast is something we need not discuss. The fact that he is hungry for success and is capable of driving a team is something else — Vettel is a dangerous opponent.”

The fact that Vettel is tipped to be in the running this year is also giving pause to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who spent the last two seasons managing an escalating and often bitter duel between teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

That feud is now playing on Wolff’s mind, “We are concerned that Vettel and co could benefit from it. With us, the driver pairing is more balanced that at Ferrari, where it is easier to define a number 1 and number 2. For us it’s a competitive disadvantage.”

Wolff continued: “It’s a very interesting situation, because Nico was so dominant at the end of 2015. I really don’t know what plays a bigger role for self-confidence: Lewis’ title or Nico’s recent winning streak.”

At the conclusion of the season, Wolff warned that if the bitterness between Hamilton and Rosberg worsened, he would consider splitting up the duo.

Now, he says: “As long as it’s not bad for Mercedes, I can live with it.”

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Haas plays down reserve driver role in F1

Team owner Gene Haas has played down the importance of the reserve driver role in Formula 1, saying he would prefer his team to share a common reserve driver role with technical partner Ferrari.

With Haas F1's driver line-up of Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez confirmed back in November, speculation has been rife around the team’s vacant reserver driver role, with some expecting an American driver to fill the void.

“We don’t have a reserve driver at the moment,” Haas told Sports Business Daily Global. “If we can find a common reserve driver with Ferrari or someone that would probably be the best way.

“With the safety there is today you generally speaking need a reserve driver just for sickness or some other emergency.

“The need for a reserve driver probably isn’t as important as you think. We don’t typically have reserve drivers in NASCAR either.”

Haas will officially unveil its 2016 challenger on the opening day of the first pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 22.

MIKA: I like this guy, he has a lot of common sense IMO

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Jolyon Palmer picks 30 as Formula 1 race number

Jolyon Palmer has picked 30 as his race number for Formula 1 ahead of his debut season with Renault.

Palmer won the GP2 title back in 2014 before joining Lotus in a reserve role that saw him take part in 13 F1 practice sessions across the course of last season.

Following Romain Grosjean's decision to leave Lotus and join the new Haas team for 2016, Palmer was promoted up into a race seat and retained following Renault's takeover of the team.

Palmer took to Twitter on Saturday to confirm that he would be racing with number 30 in F1.

I can officially confirm that I will be using number 30 this year. #JP30 #F1

Palmer looks set to be joined at Renault by Kevin Magnussen for 2016 after talks with Pastor Maldonado's backer, PDVSA, broke down earlier this month.

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‘Halo protection not ideal but better than nothing’

Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson says the proposed halo concept, designed to protect the driver's head, may not be an ideal solution but it is the "best compromise."

Following the deaths of Jules Bianchi and Justin Wilson last year, both as a result of head injuries, closed cockpits have been mooted for Formula 1.

The debate has divided F1 personalities and fans alike as while some feel head protection must be introduced, others fear it would change the very nature of F1.

The matter was discussed earlier this week at F1's Technical Regulations meeting, which involved the FIA as well as technical representatives from all 11 teams.

The idea that is believed to be topping the list of proposals is a halo concept, which would surround the driver's head. However to hold it firmly in place it would need a central fin that would be directly in the driver's eyeline.

Former F1 driver Davidson, who now competes in the World Endurance Championship, trialed the design in Mercedes' simulator and says while it is "not an ideal solution", he doubts a perfect one could be found.

"Side vision doesn’t seem to be too different at all compared to what the drivers would be used to, but the version that I tried had a central fin or post," Davidson explained to NBCSN pit reporter Will Buxton.

"I think a lot of the teams have been working on that in conjunction with the FIA to come up with the best solution. It’s not ideal. It really is not an ideal solution and it’s never going to be.

"As I’ve said before, the more you try and increase protection for the safety of drivers, the flipside is you suffer with visibility and the central post is, honestly, like a big aerial sticking up in many ways which the drivers already have to deal with. It is a distraction.

"I found that actually in cornering, that was the one time you could forget about it. It was on the straights and looking at things on the horizon straight ahead of you, like trying to pick out an early braking marker board, I found that it sometimes would obscure the view.

"Actually in the corner, in the apex, looking for the kerbs and picking out the details you normally look for, that didn’t change at all. I was quite relieved about that. It was more just straight ahead.

"Obviously one thing you can’t account for in the virtual world is what it’s going to be like in close combat with another car, when you’re completely behind them. I don’t know. But that’s going to be another challenge I think."

But despite his concerns about visibility being negatively affected, Davidson still feels it is "better" than having the driver's head completely exposed.

He added: "I think in terms of it making an object deflect and bounce away, it is always going to do a better job than being there in an open cockpit car with just your helmet.

"I can see why they are making steps to try and solve that problem. In trying to keep it in keeping with an open cockpit solution. They’re trying to tick every box and in a way it is an impossible task to please everyone.

"Aesthetically it’s not going to look as pretty as an open cockpit car. Visibility is not going to be as good as not having one in the first place, but the argument against it doesn’t really hold, I think. You have to accept it because it can’t carry on the way it has been with drivers dying because of a blow to the head.

"Through lots of thought you come to a conclusion that there is no easy solution. But for now, this seems to be the best compromise."

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Verstappen pushing the boundaries

Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen thinks that his body can handle more than it did during the 2015 season, which has had a significant impact on his preparation for the 2016 campaign.

The 18-year-old Dutch driver said he was now in a position to train with more intensity during the current pre-season, adding that he had become stronger in every sphere.

"My body can handle more, so the power training and conditioning are more intensive. Compared to last year, I have gotten physically stronger on all levels. I have noticed that and it's something positive," added Verstappen.

Much of Verstappen's training regime has taken place in Monaco this year and he is largely satisfied with the progress he has made during that period.

"I am training hard with Jake in Monaco, to prepare myself well and intensively for the new Formula 1-season," said Verstappen.

"This means that twice a day, you will find me in the gym. There is a good one here, with all the facilities we need," he added.

"In the morning, the exercises are aimed at stamina and conditioning. In the afternoon more powertraining. We not only work with gym equipment, but also with elastic fitness bands. We try to use our own body weight to work out," said Verstappen.

Naturally the expectations are a little higher this season, given the tremendous strides Verstappen made in 2015. The Dutchman said he couldn't wait for the season to start.

"That's what it's all about. I can't wait," concluded Verstappen.

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F1 braced for heated 2017 rules meeting

Formula 1 insiders are anticipating a heated debate in today's Technical Regulations meeting, where the FIA and the 11 team technical representatives will attempt to hammer out a definitive set of aero regulations for 2017.

The new rules are intended to meet the mandate handed out last year by the F1 Strategy Group, which was to make cars more difficult to drive and look more spectacular.

And although the changes appear to have been agreed by the end of last season, at a meeting in December it was decided to cut back on the previously discussed major hike in downforce.

That was mainly because Pirelli demonstrated that higher loadings would require higher tyre pressures, which in turn would translate into lower grip.

There was also a discussion of how higher downforce levels would make it harder for cars to follow each other.

Lack of consensus

Three teams, notably Red Bull, were opposed to that process of watering down the 2017 gains.

Inevitably, there was a feeling that certain teams had an agenda, either because they wanted to maintain the status quo by minimising change, or because they hoped that major change would disrupt the current pacesetters.

It is that divided approach which will make it hard for consensus to be reached.

Time running out

The problem is that the clock is ticking, and there is only one more scheduled Technical Regulations meeting in February before the March 1 deadline for a definitive rules package.

After that any changes that are to come for 2017 have to be agreed unanimously, something that is highly unlikely to happen.

Williams chief technical officer Pat Symonds even suggested recently that the whole process of change should be postponed from 2017 to 2018.

"I think we've still got work to do on it," said Symonds. "I do feel a little bit rushed, a little bit pressured.

"I think that personally we're trying to move a little bit too quickly without establishing the basic principles to work from.

"I'd be much happier if things moved on to 2018 rather than '17 for new rules, and we spent a year really researching what's needed. But that's probably a cry in the wilderness."

Sprint races

The meeting will not just revolve around the 2017 aero rules, for there will also be discussion about the closed cockpit idea that the FIA favours.

Talks have also been scheduled to discuss the race weekend format, with the idea of tweaks to qualifying and sprint events set for debate. Refuelling will also likely get mentioned too.

Meanwhile, another key item on Friday's agenda is weight saving. The minimum weight has crept up over the years, an adjustment was made to account for the new power units.

Now, wider wheels and tyres planned for 2017 will add an estimated 10-11kgs. The FIA feels that it is time to bring the minimum weight down again, but inevitably the teams claim that there are cost implications.

The meeting will also address 2017 tyre testing and some of the issues that emerged from the recent Strategy Group and F1 Commission discussions, such as three gearboxes per driver, and the proposals from the engine manufacturers.

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Haas: 'We are going to this party without really knowing what it's like'

Haas is expecting to make "tons of mistakes" in its first year in Formula One but is confident it will eradicate most of them by its second season in 2017.

Haas is joining the grid as a new team this year with drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez lined up to pilot a Ferrari-powered Dallara-built chassis. It has been working closely with Ferrari in the development of its car but is still expecting to struggle as a result of its inexperience this year.

"It will be a building experience," team owner Gene Haas told Sports Business Daily. "We are going to this party without really knowing what it's like. We can sit there and watch what other people do but there's nothing like being there. That's going to be the experience."

Haas said there is only so much his team can prepare for ahead of its first race.

"I think we are prepared, I think we will do well at it but you have to really be there to learn it. All the reading you can do and talking to other people, the challenge is being able to do it. I'm sure we will make tons of mistakes, correct those mistakes and be better prepared for each race.

"After we are done with those 21 races [this] year, we will have a whole year behind us and our notebook will be full of what we need to know. And we will do better after that."

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London Grand Prix idea raised – again

The prospect of an F1 race taking place on the streets – or, more specifically, in the parks – of London has surfaced once again as the sport's off-season downtime allows for daydreaming.

Britain's Sunday Times newspaper resurrected the concept of a London Grand Prix as it confirmed that legislation making it easier for councils to hold high-speed sporting events is ready to appear before Parliament. Prime minister David Cameron announced back in 2014 that, following a government consultation, the powers-that-be were prepared to change the law to allow motor racing on UK roads, opening the door to a potential F1 race in the English capital, while London mayor, Boris Johnson, has never made any secret of his own interest in such an event, especially after being given a chance to sample Formula E on the series' visit to Battersea Park in 2015.

“I am certainly willing to look at it,” he told Britain's Guardian newspaper last summer, “I am always interested in projects that attract jobs and bring growth. The question of air quality and noise impact will have to be looked at, [but] I am broadly positive providing we can satisfy the air quality and noise issues.”

The most high-profile proposal for a London F1 race appeared in 2012, with then McLaren team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button supporting a plan fronted by sponsor Santander, but the idea of a race around the capital's streets has been bouncing around for some time, with series czar Bernie Ecclestone – who reckons such a race could rival the spectacle of Monaco - once having offered to cover the cost of staging the event.

The Department for Transport said ministers hoped to make it easier for local authorities to manage their own sports events, and legislation would be taken forward 'in due course'. The proposal to be put before parliament would amend the Road Traffic Act and allow for road closures to accommodate races – a process that, currently, can take months to achieve.

Ecclestone and Johnson aside, a London race is likely to attract support from other quarters, regardless of whether it ever becomes a reality.

“When I was racing… we nearly had a race round Hyde Park and that was turned down by police,” Sir Stirling Moss was quoted by the Sunday Times, “If there's any way they can get a local council to do it now, then it's absolutely fantastic.”

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Ricciardo out to get lean and mean for opener

Daniel Ricciardo has stepped up his preparations for 2016 and says he will be training hard now to get 'lean and mean' for the season opener in his native Australia.

Ricciardo was back in action this week during the Pirelli wet tyre test at Paul Ricard in France, and after a winless campaign last year, added that his hope for the coming season is 'get back on the winning column'.

Asked if it is now full-steam ahead for Melbourne, Ricciardo told Red Bull's official website: “Yep, now back in Europe and stepping up the preparations for the new year. The first few weeks will mostly be a lot of photoshoots and marketing days and just getting things in line.

“But obviously, it's still a very key period for us in terms of training, so if we're not doing media stuff, you'll usually find us training and getting ready for Melbourne to get lean and mean for mid-March.”

Meanwhile, Ricciardo said that while he had enjoyed the winter break and some time with family and friends, he is very much focused now on F1 2016.

“All of December, the aim was to pretty much just get some time off. I had one or two commitments here and there, like our show run in Perth in my home City as well, which was cool. But apart from that just hanging out with friends, riding bikes and just being a boy, being a kid while I can. It's good fun,” he noted.

“The best moment was just being able to let my hair down and do things that I can't really do during the season because we're just busy and hang out with friends and family, a lot of valuable time there.

“Worst moment of the off-season was I'd say just getting back into training mode. It's going to be a long time again until I can let my hair down and relax, but equally it's fantastic to get back switched on and focused on the season.”

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Scandinavian Grand Prix would be huge for Formula 1 - Ericsson

A Scandinavian Grand Prix would be a huge success if Formula 1 could return to the region, believes Sauber's Marcus Ericsson.

It has been 37 years since the last grand prix in Scandinavia, the sixth and final Swedish GP at Anderstorp in 1978.

With Finns Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas at Ferrari and Williams respectively, and Swede Ericsson retained by Sauber, there are three Scandinavians on the grid for 2016.

Ericsson acknowledged a Scandinavian GP would be difficult to realise, but believes the level of interest in the region would make it viable.

"I don't see it happening for a long time but it would be cool for the sport if we can have a race in northern Europe," he told Autosport.

"We have Swedes, Finns [in F1] and a lot of tradition for motorsport in Scandinavia.

"So to have a race there would be very, very good and I think a lot of people would watch it.

"As it is now, the money it costs to do a race, I don't see a country like Sweden will have the money.

"But I think for sure, there would be great interest for it."

When Ericsson made his F1 debut with Caterham in 2014, he became the first Swede to contest a GP since Stefan Johansson's final appearance in the 1991 Canadian round.

"The support I have in Sweden is great," said Ericsson.

"We didn't have a driver in F1 for 23 years before I entered the sport, so I appreciate the support.

"It's great and I can see with my results getting better, there are more people following."

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Analysis: (More Like a Monday Funny) Was Pastor Maldonado poised for an F1 breakthrough?

On Thursday it was revealed Pastor Maldonado is poised to lose his Renault Formula 1 drive to Kevin Magnussen following the collapse of talks with sponsor PDVSA.

The news prompted a huge reaction among fans on social media, where Maldonado has long been a figure of ridicule due to his predilection for accidents.

His 2012 Spanish Grand Prix win may be the popular Williams team's only victory in over a decade, but it is often dismissed as a tyre-assisted anomaly given it remains the Venezuelan's sole podium finish.

Though he arrived in F1 in 2011 as a GP2 champion - a crown achieved with the unfancied Rapax and against opposition led by Sergio Perez and Jules Bianchi - Maldonado's ample financial backing and controversial racing style have made him unpopular among many fans and rivals.

But after two years of being generally overshadowed by Romain Grosjean at the then-Lotus team, would Maldonado have settled and blossomed in an effective Renault team leader role alongside rookie Jolyon Palmer in 2016?

Speaking at the end of 2015, before Maldonado's seat was in doubt, Lotus trackside director of operations Alan Permane suggested he would.

"I think he will enjoy the responsibility," Permane told Autosport.

"I don't see why he wouldn't. He is very capable of doing that [leading the team].

"He is an excellent test driver, he is very good at sitting in a car all day and just trying new stuff and giving good feedback and that sort of thing.

"That is one of his upsides, he is very good at that side of the job.

"Let's load him up with a bit of that [team leader responsibility] and see if he rises up to the occasion. He is definitely capable of it."

Maldonado ended 2015 with four points finishes in the final six races.

Permane felt Maldonado's reputation for incidents might always precede him, but thought a different side was emerging.

"Pastor is Pastor, someone who is phenomenally quick. I just wish he could do it every weekend," he said.

"Towards the end of last season he strung points finishes together, which was great, and he does seem to be making progress on that side of things.

"The wild side seems to have calmed down a little bit.

"Because of his history it is only human nature that people will inevitably... 'pick on him' is a bit strong - but if it is a 50/50 situation I think he generally will come off worse, and I've told him that.

"I've said to him he needs to be as clean as possible in races, to race as hard as he can, but as clean as he can.

"I've told him 'Because of your past, because of some of the silly things that have happened, you need to keep your nose as clean as you can'."

Unless there is a shock late breakthrough in the Renault/PDVSA talks, Maldonado's chance to do that may well have passed.

MALDONADO'S CAREER HIGH POINTS

Though it's the disasters that linger in the memory for many, Maldonado has starred too.

F1 TESTER AT 19 AFTER EARLY SUCCESS

Maldonado began his single-seater career in Italian Formula Renault in 2003, and he won the title the following season.

At the end of 2004 he tested an F1 car for the first time with Minardi, more than six years before his GP debut.

THREE MONACO WINS IN FOUR YEARS

Maldonado moved on to Formula Renault 3.5 for 2005 but was soon banned for hitting a marshal in Monaco.

However, he would become something of a specialist on the street circuit, taking his first series win there a year later as well as two of his first three GP2 victories, in 2007 and '09.

DOMINANT GP2 TITLE RUN

By 2010, Maldonado was into his fourth GP2 season but things just clicked with the Rapax team, and after missing out on another Monaco win to Sergio Perez, he took six straight feature race victories, setting a win record that was only just beaten by Stoffel Vandoorne in 2015.

SHINES IN MONACO IN F1 TOO

Maldonado would score just a single point in his rookie F1 season, not helped by Williams struggling as a team.

He was brilliant in Monaco again though and he was running sixth with just five laps left when he was knocked into the wall by Lewis Hamilton, who was found to be at fault for the collision.

THE GRAND PRIX WIN

Maldonado started 2012 much brighter but his Spanish Grand Prix victory was still a shock. Promoted to pole when Hamilton was excluded, he ran a composed race on unpredictable Pirelli tyres and kept Fernando Alonso at bay.

There was more great speed from Maldonado that year but further top results were lost to incidents and misfortune.

MALDONADO'S 2015 INCIDENTS

Maldonado was involved in plenty of scrapes last season, but how many were his fault?

AUSTRALIA: Taken out in multi-car, first-corner accident

Verdict: Innocent

MALAYSIA: Exceeds safety car time

Verdict: Guilty, 10-second penalty

CHINA: Retires after contact with Jenson Button

Verdict: Innocent, Button penalised

BAHRAIN: Starts from the wrong grid position

Verdict: Guilty, five-second penalty

SPAIN: Suffers rear wing damage when hit by team-mate Romain Grosjean

Verdict: Innocent

MONACO: Contact with Felipe Massa at Ste Devote on lap one

Verdict: Innocent (racing incident)

BRITAIN: Retires on the spot when Grosjean spins into him

Verdict: Innocent

HUNGARY: Collides with Sergio Perez

Verdict: Guilty, gets two penalty points and a drive-through

BELGIUM: Crashes in practice at Les Combes, retires in the race in part due to excessive use of kerbs

Verdict: Guilty, self-inflicted retirement

ITALY: Out on lap one in another multi-car incident

Verdict: Innocent, typical Monza chicane shunt

SINGAPORE: Contact with Button

Verdict: Jury out, Button heavily critical but no penalty

BRAZIL: Tags Marcus Ericsson into a spin

Verdict: Guilty, handed five-second penalty

ABU DHABI: Wiped out by Fernando Alonso at the start

Verdict: Innocent, Alonso penalised

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MALDONADO: I WILL NOT BE ON THE F1 STARTING GRID IN 2016

Pastor Maldonado, the only Venezuelan to win a grand prix but also one of Formula One’s most incident-prone drivers, will be absent from the 2016 starting grid after losing his place at Renault-owned Lotus.

“Today, with the utmost humility, I tell you that I will not be on the Formula One starting grid for the 2016 season,” Maldonado told his 710,000 followers in a lengthy statement on his Twitter account.

“Thanks for all your messages of support, passion and concern about my future.”

The 30-year-old’s seat looks set to be taken by Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen, the 23-year-old who made his debut with McLaren in 2014 only to spend last year on the sidelines.

Media reports said Magnussen had signed a contract with Renault after problems with Maldonado’s sponsorship.

The Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA has backed the driver throughout his F1 career to the tune of tens of millions of dollars but has been hit by the plunging price of oil and domestic economic woes.

Renault, who acquired Lotus in December, are due to present their team and plans for the future at a news conference in Paris on Wednesday. The season starts in Australia on March 20.

With British rookie Jolyon Palmer signed as the other driver, Maldonado would have been the team’s most experienced driver following the departure of Frenchman Romain Grosjean to the new Haas team.

The Venezuelan’s position had been shrouded in uncertainty for months, however, as the South American country plunged deeper into economic recession.

Annual inflation is at almost 150 percent, according to latest figures, and there are shortages of basic goods.

The late president Hugo Chavez, who sought to boost Venezuela’s international image through sporting success, was one of Maldonado’s big supporters and the driver reciprocated by winning the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix for Williams.

That remains his only success and for many fans he will be better known as ‘Crashtor’, a driver who despite his undeniable speed and roguish grin picked up penalty points like others collect trophies.

Analysis by the F1fanatic.co.uk website showed that Maldonado, who started out with Williams in 2011, incurred twice as many penalties as any other driver over his 95 race career in Formula One.

Social media revelled in his run-ins with hashtags to highlight them. The hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com site, which acquired a loyal following for its regular updates, switched to a sad face on Monday.