FORMULA 1 - 2016

[MIKA27]

Manor targeting Renault, but keeping an eye on Sauber

Currently tenth on the Constructors’ Championship table, Manor racing director Dave Ryan has said that their target is to catch Renault, but not at the expense of being beaten by Sauber.

Manor have only managed one top ten finish this season, with a spectacular drive from Pascal Wehrlein in Austria, securing the team’s first and only point of the season.

Five-points behind Renault, Ryan is optimistic that they can pip them on the Championship table but is still wary of Sauber.

“We’re not looking too much at Sauber, we’re looking at Renault as well,” he told F1i.

“They’re struggling and our job is to beat anyone we can, that’s our goal.

“It happens to be that Sauber is the one that we’re consistently beating at the moment but Renault is not doing too good a job at the moment, they’ve obviously got issues that they’re dealing with.

“So we’re looking at them and anyone else that comes our way.”

[MIKA27]

Hamilton: Nico and I would welcome challenge

Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton claimed that he and his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg would welcome a challenge from rival teams if it means putting space between them on the track.

The 31-year-old feels that it would aid their respective title bids if one of them were stuck behind one of their competitors.

At last years’ race, Mercedes unexpectedly struggled on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, which resulted in Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel claiming the last of his three race wins in 2015.

However, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has come out saying they are confident the issue they suffered last year has been resolved, and Hamilton is hoping a for a solid weekend.

"Last year was difficult and we hope it won’t be the same," Hamilton said.

"I’d have to think about it. If Ferrari are closer and more competitive then that is not such a bad thing if there is opportunities to put space between us [myself and Rosberg] and Nico would say the same thing.

"We also want to win every race as a team 1-2 so we are hoping for a good weekend."

Suffering a poor start at the Italian Grand Prix that arguably lost him the race from pole position, the triple World Champion said that they will continue to work hard despite the setback.

"Of course we never stop learning and improving. [In Monza] we would have learnt again," he continued.

"This year has been harder with our clutch and they will be working very hard. It is not a quick fix and something you can change each race.

"We have made improvements and seen consistency with our starts but we are still caught out by the variations from one weekend to another. We do practice starts all weekend and they vary a little bit but sometimes we get a drastic variation on the grid.

"It is something we will continue to work on and it will be the only thing we will talk about [between races] because everything else we’ve been doing really well. We will try to work and give us much information to learn and see if we can do more. We are not struggling with getting pole positions it is just getting of the line."

[MIKA27]

Ricciardo expresses his admiration for Horner

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo has heaped praise on his team boss Chirstian Horner, saying that they have a special bond with one another.

Revealing his appreciation, Ricciardo said that Horner brings so much to the Red Bull squad and that he really is a remarkable person to have in the garage.

Since his promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull in 2014, the Australian has had three different team-mates.

However, the 27-year-old has reiterated his complete faith in Horner, citing his people skills as a major factor for keeping the Austrian-based outfit at ease.

“He’s pretty easy going to be honest, he’s present in a lot of our meetings and speaks up, he’s not just sitting there and listening, he definitely has an opinion especially when it comes to race strategy,” Ricciardo explained.

“I get along with him pretty well, he plays a good role in the team, he’s a good people person, if there is any tension I think he’s got a good hand on managing those issues.

“I think he’s doing pretty well here, he’s pretty experienced now, I like him as a boss, I think he’s honest and fair, and yeah, doesn’t give me too much of a hard time, so that helps.”

Ricciardo also went on to add that his relationship with Horner extends to beyond the track as they try and socialise with each other outside of the team garage.

“It’s hard to socialise [at the track] as it’s always business talk,” continued.

“I try and do a few meals throughout the year, you get away from racing and talk about other things and I think it’s nice for relationships to know a little bit about what’s happening in your own personal life.

“It creates a bit more of a closer relationship than just talking about tyre pressures and strategy the whole time, so we try and make a few points during the season to have a non-racing catch up.”

[MIKA27]

Wolff: We’re not the favourites for Singapore

Toto Wolff has refused to label Mercedes the favaourites to win the Singapore Grand Prix, despite their overwhelming dominance throughout the season.

During last year’s edition of the Singapore Grand Prix, the race was contested between Red Bull and Ferrari, with Mercedes not even contention.

Wolff claimed that Mercedes are positive the issue they suffered last year won’t happen again, but the Austrian is expecting a tough weekend.

“After a strong showing in Italy, we go to Singapore with a big challenge ahead of us,” said the 44-year-old.

“No team has ever scored a 1-2 finish there – and with good reason. As we have seen before, it’s a race where a single problem can cascade into many more as the weekend progresses.

“We have to optimise everything to get a solid result.

“We didn’t manage it last year and, although we believe we now understand why, only performance on the racetrack can prove our conclusions right. We are curious and excited to see how it goes.

“Ferrari were mighty around this circuit last year and it will suit the high downforce design philosophy followed by Red Bull, so we must not make the mistake of thinking we are favourites this weekend.”

[MIKA27]

Sauber says talent, not money, will dictate 2017 line-up

Sauber insists that talent, not money, will be its priority when it comes to picking its final 2017 Formula 1 driver line-up.

The Swiss outfit had a tough start to this season as financial woes put a halt to car development and left the future of the team in doubt.

But a deal with investment firm Longbow Finance to take over the outfit has resurrected its fortunes and finally allowed the team to begin a new update programme and lift hopes for a step forward next year.

The added finance also means there will be no need to chase the drivers with the biggest sponsorship backing, and allows the team to make a more considered decision on who it picks.

Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn insisted that Sauber had never previously been forced to pick drivers based on money alone, so was happy that speed would again be a chief factor in what is does.

"We have never at Sauber just taken a decision for financial reasons and we are known for that," Kaltenborn told Motorsport.com.

"Financial reasons have to be considered, but we have always looked at the driver and have to be first convinced of the driver when we take him as a race driver.

"If money is required, which isn't the current situation, not only for us, then one would have to take that into consideration as well. So I think nothing is going to change at that policy for us.

     

"We first look at the driver and then we see what the surrounding is and what we need."

Marcus Ericsson is almost certain to stay with the team next season, while Felipe Nasr also remains in strong contention although has also been linked with Williams.

Kaltenborn said that both men had delivered in difficult circumstances this year, but was well aware of how important it was for them to bring points before the end of the campaign.

"They have performed well," she said. "It's not been an easy season with all the issues we have had. Some were in our control, some were not in our control.

"But they have actually so far shown absolutely a good job. We hope that with what we introduced now and with further information we are collecting by analyzing the car, that we can score some points."

Kaltenborn also said that Sauber was in no rush to finalise its driver plans, even though the market elsewhere was moving fast.

When asked when we could expect an announcement, Kaltenborn said: "In due course. We are not giving any time lines. We will announce when we are ready."

[MIKA27]

F1 needs rules rethink for sake of fans, says Briatore

Formula 1 has lost its way with over-complicated rules that have left fans 'confused' and are robbing the sport of the spectacle it so needs to deliver, claims former team boss Flavio Briatore.

At a time when the F1 product is back under the spotlight following the arrival of Liberty Media as a shareholder, Briatore is adamant that change is needed to resurrect the sport's appeal.

Speaking before the confirmation of the Liberty deal that includes the arrival of Chase Carey as new F1 chairman, Briatore delivered a downcast assessment on the state of affairs.

"Where is Formula 1 going? I still do not understand," said Briatore. "We are complicating things and we need to return to the basic concept of grand prix races. That should be all.

"There are too many rules, and too many restrictions. People are confused.

"Just look at Monza and how many people there were outside the paddock waiting for the drivers. Once there were thousands of them, but now there are just a few hundred."

     

Racing is key

Briatore thinks that too much focus has been taken on framing rules, and that has detracted from what should be the focus of attention, better battles out on track.

"Simply lets talk racing: to have drivers that perform with less technology and deliver a better show."

He added: "Racing needs to have simple rules: who is behind tries to pass those in front and the man who is in the lead must not be overtaken. Everything else is a waste.

"Now you must not exceed the white line, otherwise you will get a penalty.

"Plus if there is an engine problem you should not punish the drivers – at most the points should be taken away from the constructor. What reason had Hamilton to start from the back at Spa because of a new power unit? Lewis is a racing driver, and must be able to think only about driving.

"If those on the inside do not understand things, then just think about the audience at home. Formula 1 has to have the best drivers in the world, and it has to challenge them with very similar cars. People are not interested in anything else."

Sort our rules

Briatore thinks that a new approach is needed to regulating the sport, so that things are made easier for both competitors and fans to understand.

"It would be enough to simplify the rules," he said. "We don't talk about the races anymore, but bureaucracy, rules and penalties. We never saw anything like this in the past.

"There are meetings every three days, only to decide when they will meet the next time. Just think of all those private planes moving from Lausanne to go to Monza, to Florence or Paris.

"There is a great deal of travel and they cannot even decide on the mineral water brand that they must put on the table when they come together.

"What have the Strategy Group and the F1 Commission produced so far? Nothing. In fact, they have made it more confusing. It is impossible to come to an agreement with 20 different people."

[MIKA27]

New backers could help Haryanto return to F1 in 2017

Rio Haryanto losing his Manor Formula 1 drive to Esteban Ocon brought new backers out of the woodwork, which could help him return in 2017, the Indonesian's manager says.

Haryanto was dropped form Manor's F1 race line-up during the summer break, after the funding required to meet his contractual obligations did not materialise.

He was replaced by Mercedes junior and Renault reserve Ocon and then accepted an offer to stay on as reserve, a role it is understood does not require funding.

Haryanto's manager Piers Hunnisett said when the news broke that Haryanto had been dropped, new backers started to come forward.

"There was shock in Indonesia," he told Autosport. "They were asking 'why is our boy not racing?'

"Some people came forward to ask how they could help.

"It woke them up. The money was in place, but Ocon had done the deal. We missed the window by a week.

"We were promised funding by the government and we had some problems there.

"But there were some normal commercial sponsorships, not only from Indonesia but from the rest of Asia as well - one from Japan, one from Thailand - so it all came together. It was just too late."

Hunnisett said those same backers are interested in helping get Haryanto back on the grid next year with talks set to accelerate from this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

The plan is to put together a package that will not require government support.

"We are working for next year and we're quite optimistic that what has happened has woken everything up," he said. "It's realistic now."

"We always knew it would take time, you have to educate the Asian market about F1, and we just needed a bit longer.

"There are conversations going on about next year but nothing serious.

"In Singapore, I'll be back in Asia speaking to sponsors and some of the potential investors will be there so let's see how it goes from there."

[Baldy]

1 hour ago, MIKA27 said:

LIBERTY’S DARTH VADER STANDS UP TO ECCLESTONE AND MARCHIONNE

 

 

If true, I'm liking everything I'm hearing so far.  Bernie going will be good.  We'll see how competitive Ferrari is when the field is more level.  Having a $100+ million head start every season regardless of merit is sure nice.  Use it to give back to the track and lower ticket prices.  Wishful thinking I think, no sports organization have ever given a penny back to the fans.

[MIKA27]

5 minutes ago, Baldy said:

If true, I'm liking everything I'm hearing so far.  Bernie going will be good.  We'll see how competitive Ferrari is when the field is more level.  Having a $100+ million head start every season regardless of merit is sure nice.  Use it to give back to the track and lower ticket prices.  Wishful thinking I think, no sports organization have ever given a penny back to the fans.

...Oh but Ferrari will threaten to quit F1

[Baldy]

2 minutes ago, MIKA27 said:

...Oh but Ferrari will threaten to quit F1

LOL true and take Reb Bull's engine with them. As certain as the sun rises and sets, Ferrari's threats and bullying tactics is coming.

[MIKA27]

ECCLESTONE: PROST WAS BETTER THAN SCHUMACHER OR SENNA

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has named Alain Prost as the greatest F1 driver of all time, better than Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and even Juan Manuel Fangio.

Having built the sport over several decades, and with his motor racing involvement stretching all the way back to the late fortiess, the 85-year-old’s opinion carries a great deal of weight.

So does he nominate Fangio, Senna or Schumacher?

“It’s hard to say,” the Spanish sports daily Marca quotes the Briton as saying, “but if I had to choose one over the years, I would probably say Prost.”

“He was better than Schumacher or Senna. Michael had a lot of help from the team or teammates, and at some points it was the same with Senna.

“But Prost never had such privileges. He always had competitors even within his own team,” Ecclestone said.

But while Ecclestone named Prost the best, he said Jochen Rindt was his personal favourite.

“We were very close, as colleagues and friends,” he said. “He is definitely my favourite, but not the best of all time. That’s Prost.”

[MIKA27]

MERCEDES USING FRIC STYLE SYSTEM TO MIMIC ACTIVE SUSPENSION

The FIA and rival teams want to stop a loophole in the current Formula 1 rules that may go some way to explain some of the superiority of Mercedes this season.

That is the claim of the authoritative Auto Motor und Sport magazine, reporting that the world champion team not only has the best engine in F1 but also the best chassis thanks to a clever tweak.

The report said the Mercedes W07 has an hydraulic roll and height control system – similar to the earlier FRIC (Front and Rear Inter-Connected suspension) concept that was banned – that cleverly uses the stepped nose in the top of the chassis to mimic active suspension.

For aesthetic reasons, this stepped nose was allowed to be covered by a so-called ‘vanity panel’ after 2012, but it also gave Mercedes a place to house the system outside of the carbon tube.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said: “The other teams now recognise the trick and put it on the agenda for the technical meeting on the Tuesday after Monza.”

He added that the FIA would like to ban it shortly, but that would require the agreement of all the teams – including Mercedes – to change the 2017 regulations.

MIKA: Well, it's not against the rules, rules are made to be analysed and exploited, all teams have done so over the decades and how one interprets them and designs a car around these rules. 

[MIKA27]

BUTTON: WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGHT FERRARI THIS YEAR

McLaren have clearly made big progress with their Honda power unit this season, allowing their drivers to ‘play’ up the order and, as a result, Jenson Button believes that the Woking team will soon be challenging Ferrari on race weekends.

Button told Sky Sport, ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, “You have to have aims in this sport. We’ve come from a position last year where we were in a very difficult situation, we weren’t reliable and we didn’t have the speed.”

“We’ve made massive gains over the last 12 months and if you look at what we have coming in the future, we should be able to fight – towards the end of the year – with teams that are a above us at the moment. Ferrari would be one of them.

“If we could challenge them it would be an amazing way to end the year. It’s going to be tough, it’s not going to be easy, but we do love a challenge. With the engine upgrades we always have a fuel upgrade.”

“Esso are always bringing a fuel upgrade, so every upgrade we’ve had with this engine – with the power unit, the ICE, whatever you want to call it – there’s always been a fuel upgrade, a big part of the upgrade has been from the fuel.

“It’s good progress, we always want more but the guys are doing a fantastic job of bringing those upgrades. I feel that in Malaysia when we get the new upgrade we’ll see some performance gains.”

“With the car upgrading all the time, with aerodynamics – downforce levels are pretty good with the car at the moment but there’s still work needed in that area – we could be fighting with the red cars,” predicted the 2009 F1 world champion who is set to ‘retire’ at the end of this season.

[MIKA27]

Singapore very much a Red Bull track - Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosberg heads to the Singapore Grand Prix conscious that it will suit their closest rival Red Bull, but is determined to come out on top and re-claim the lead of the drivers' championship.

The German currently sits two points adrift of championship leader and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but that gap stood at 19 points just two races ago, which Rosberg believes justifies his strategy of taking things one step at a time, race-by-race, rather than looking too far ahead.

"The points gap has gone up and down but I’ve taken it one race at a time – and that’s the best way for me, as you can see by how the gap is now," he said.
"My focus now is on Singapore - a race that’s been up and down for me."

Rosberg has never won in Singapore and has only stood on the podium once, and whilst he is aiming for victory on Sunday, he's not expecting it to be easy with the characteristics of the circuit suiting Red Bull's stronger chassis.

"Singapore is a cool city and a great place for Formula 1. The track looks spectacular under the lights and it’s always buzzing in town around the race weekend, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there.

"I got my second ever podium there way back in 2008 but haven’t been up there again since, so the target is to change that on Sunday.

"Of course, it won’t be easy. This is a Red Bull track and we weren’t so strong there last year. But I have faith in the team and my belief in myself is as high as ever. I approach each weekend aiming to win the race. "

[MIKA27]

Sebastian Vettel: King of Singapore

As the F1 roadshow prepares to roll into Singapore, let's take a closer look at Sebastian Vettel’s remarkable record at the Marina Bay circuit.

Ferrari fans have not had much to smile about this season. The Prancing Horse has mostly been limping behind a determined Red Bull but events in Monza, where Sebastian Vettel finished third on the podium in front of the ever-passionate home crowd, showed that there are still some flickers of life left in the iconic manufacturer.

With confidence slightly restored, Vettel now returns to a track he clearly loves at the perfect time. The quadruple world champion has won four times in Singapore and has been on the podium every year since 2010.

We begin, though, in 2011, when the German built the foundation for a phenomenal hat-trick.

Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 21, 2014 in Singapore, Singapore.

2011
After missing out on victory by 0.293 seconds in 2010, Vettel returned to Singapore with some unfinished business. In what was his 50th race for Red Bull, Vettel was utterly dominant despite the introduction of a safety car – due to Michael Schumacher sent flying in the air after running into the back of Sergio Perez – eating away at his handsome lead.

On the restart, Vettel had opened up a remarkable 8.9 second gap after just one lap before he eventually eased off to the checkered flag. The victory knocked Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber out of the title race, with Vettel just needing one point from the remaining five races to be crowned world champion for a second time.

2012
The Singapore Grand Prix proved to be the major turning point in a thrilling title battle between Alonso and Vettel. The German was the lucky beneficiary after race leader Lewis Hamilton had to retire with a gearbox failure on lap 23 but it was a long, old slog from thereon in.

Crashes from Narain Karthikeyan in his HRT and Michael Schumacher (again!) ensured the race was a stop-start affair and the drivers reached the two-hour time limit two laps before the end. Vettel and second-placed Jenson Button were trading fastest laps in the latter stages until the former was able to build yet another sizeable advantage.

This would be the first of four consecutive victories for Vettel before eventually going on to beat Alonso by three points in a memorable title race.

2013
If Vettel was dominant in the two years previous then he would really show the true meaning of the word when completing the hat-trick in emphatic style.

Vettel took pole position, led every lap, recorded the fastest lap, and won by more than 32.6 seconds to Alonso in second place, who started from seventh on the grid.

The victory saw Vettel extend his world championship to 60 points and the Singapore Grand Prix win was one of a whopping nine consecutive successes as he stormed to his fourth title.

2015
We finish with the last time Vettel won a Grand Prix almost 12 months ago on what was a day to forget for the usually commanding Mercedes. Championship leader Hamilton was forced to retire for the first time in the season and Nico Rosberg could only finish in fourth position.

Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 20, 2015 in Singapore.

The safety car was once again Vettel’s biggest enemy, the second of which was due to one brave/stupid spectator somehow finding his way onto the track during the race.

Second-placed Daniel Ricciardo, in comparison, said that Vettel “got lucky” with the safety car as it prevented him from performing the undercut. However, those claims did not hold much weight as Ferrari were quite simply unrivalled for pace throughout the whole weekend.

[MIKA27]

Hulkenberg in full praise of Singapore

Nico Hulkenberg is a huge fan of the Singapore Grand Prix as the Formula 1 paddock heads there this weekend.

The German heaped praise on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, calling the night race one of the best features on the Formula 1 calendar.

Despite being one of the most demanding tracks, Hulkenberg labeled the race in his top three Grands Prix of the year.

Interestingly, for all the admiration the Force India driver has shown towards the Grand Prix, he has never placed higher than ninth in Singapore.

“Singapore has really become one of the highlights of the season, next to Monaco and perhaps Baku,” he said.

“It’s a street circuit; it’s a night race and it’s in a city which is one of the hubs of the world. The track is spectacular and you drive next to an amazing backdrop – definitely one of the best races you could have on the calendar.

“The track is very challenging. It’s a very long lap, with many corners and that in itself is an added difficulty when you try to strike a balance for the set-up with the engineers: it’s never-ending!

“From a driving point of view, it makes it really hard to get all the sectors together and deliver the perfect lap. It’s also very hot and humid – you’re in the car for pretty much two hours in steaming hot conditions… it definitely tests you.

“There are some nice corners, such as the fast right-hand kink of Turn 6 and the approach to Turn 7. The first sector is my favourite part of the lap – there are bumps and big kerbs, so you need a car that can take them nicely, and you need good traction out of the low and medium-speed corners to get a quick lap.”

[MIKA27]

Alonso looking forward to Singapore

Claiming victories in 2008 and 2010, McLaren driver Fernando Alonso is eager to get back to the Marina Bay Street Circuit, where he has fond memories.

Now in a less competitive McLaren car, the Spaniard has set realistic goals for himself this weekend but is optimistic that they will continue to show their improvement in the second half of the season.

Alonso has been in the points more consistently than last year as he has already accumulated 30-points for the team in 2016, two points more than what he and his team-mate Jenson Button gathered up last year with their combined effort.

“We knew Spa and Monza would be among the two most difficult races on the calendar for us,” said the Double World Champion.

“Now we move to the end-of-season flyaways and we’re optimistic that we can continue pushing for more points and more positive results.

“Singapore is a really fun track, very bumpy and challenging, but it’s a quirky layout with a lot of stop-start sections and really fast straights, so you need a car that works well in high downforce set-up and has good traction out of the slower corners.

“I’ve won there twice before, and the floodlights and energetic fans give it a really exciting atmosphere.

“Over the past few races, we’ve shown good consistency in our performances, so I’m optimistic that we can continue this form in Singapore.”

[MIKA27]

Symonds: Extreme change from Monza to Singapore

Pat Symonds has claimed the changes in conditions from the Italian Grand Prix to the Singapore Grand Prix are extremely contrasting.

The Williams boss said the change in downforce from the two tracks is quite severe but is nonetheless still hoping to get strong points at the Marina Bay Street Circuit this weekend.

The British outfit is currently locked in a tight battle with Force India for fourth place but the 63-year-old said their good results at the night race in previous years should give them the confidence to go out and have a good weekend.

“The move from Monza to Singapore is one of extremes, going from the lowest downforce and drag circuit of the season to a street circuit where emphasis is on high downforce and good mechanical grip,” Symonds revealed.

“Singapore presents many unique challenges, not least of which being that it is a night race.

“The circuit puts a premium on low-speed grip and traction. It also has a high braking demand with certain areas requiring good ride to maintain mechanical grip.

‘It’s a circuit we have performed reasonably well on in recent years, so we look forward to collecting some strong points as we continue our championship battle.”

[MIKA27]

Ricciardo: Singapore offers best chance for Monaco payback

Red Bull ace Daniel Ricciardo has singled out this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix as the event that offers him the best chance to make up for the disappointment of missing out on victory at Monaco earlier this season.

The Australian was dominating from pole position in Monte Carlo last May when a botched pit stop from his team allowed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to move up into the lead and eventually claim F1’s most coveted race.

Ricciardo has continued to deliver a very strong campaign since then, scoring points at every round while also adding a treble of podium finishes over the summer.

“I don’t believe in much, but if there is a little bit of karma or whatever, I’d like to think that I will get my Monaco win back somewhere,” Ricciardo said. “Singapore is a track which I want to [win at].

“I don’t expect to be handed a victory, absolutely not, but I feel if I work very well across that weekend, then it should hopefully provide me with a chance. So Singapore is one I am looking at.”

Red Bull’s form at Singapore in recent years suggests Ricciardo and team-mate Max Verstappen will be genuine threats at the Marina Bay Circuit.

The 27-year-old secured third at Marina Bay Circuit for his first season with the team in 2014, and finished less than 1.5s behind 2015 winner Sebastian Vettel 12 months ago.

[MIKA27]

Mexican GP on course for 350,000 attendance in 2016

Organisers of the Mexican Grand Prix believe the event is on course to break the 350,000 mark for attendance over the race weekend this year, an increase of 24,000 from 2015.

Mexico's memorable return to the calendar last year was widely praised after the event, with Niki Lauda saying the carnival-like atmosphere made it once of the best F1 races ever. The final sector, which weaves through an old baseball stadium and hosted the podium ceremony, was especially popular with fans and drivers alike.

New additions to the calendar have generally seen attendances drop away after the novelty of the first year has worn off. But with additional capacity added to the circuit this season Rodrigo Sanchez, the director of marketing and media relations for the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, thinks Mexico can buck that trend in 2016.

"Last year we did 336,000... so if we can get to that 350,000 it would be amazing," Sanchez told ESPN when asked about expected attendance for this year's event, which takes place on October 30. "The preparations are pretty fantastic. We are just around the corner, around 47 days from the race, so everything is pretty good, going on schedule.

"We had the WEC [World Endurance Championship] race a couple of weeks back at the track, so basically we're fully moving [our focus] to the track and all the loading, all the production, all that stuff. It's really going very well".

After such a successful return race, the country's first since 1992, Sanchez says the event organisers see no reason to make drastic changes this year.

"So far, we're 93 percent sold out, so there's very few tickets left. I think the response of the public has been absolutely amazing. It's really nice to be 47 days out and only have to worry about seven percent of the inventory.

"The difference from this year to last year is why fix it if it's not broken? It's more about enhancing more of what we did last year and be able to provide fans with the right set of tools or circumstances for them to really express that very unique passion and replicate that very special event that we had last year."

Sanchez believes the attendance will be boosted by the fact Mexico has two drivers on the grid instead of one, with Esteban Gutierrez set for his first home grand prix alongside Sergio Perez.

"For sure, I think this is a special year. For the fans it's going to be a treat to see two full-time Mexican drivers at the grand prix, so that's going to be great. The results Sergio has been having in the first half of the year have been absolutely amazing.

"We have a saying here that we go to church every Sunday hoping we can see another podium in Mexico! I think the world would be amazed at the reaction if one of our drivers really performed and really got on the podium. So we're praying about that."

[MIKA27]

Button “may come back stronger” to F1 in 2018 – Barrichello

Former F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello believes that Jenson Button could “come back stronger” if he returns to racing with McLaren in 2018.

Barrichello, who was Button’s teammate at Brawn when Jenson won the Formula 1 World Championship in 2009, believes that a season’s sabbatical in 2017 could do the Briton a world of good.

Button will take on McLaren reserve driver and ambassadorial duties next season, allowing Stoffel Vandoorne to make his fulltime debut in F1. McLaren has the option for him to return in 2018.

“I think only he can talk about it,” Barrichello told Motorsport.com. “I think when you spend a long time in Formula 1, you are very limited in your day-after-day [life], to always do the same things.

“If you want a time to get together with family you have to travel to commitments with sponsors, to travel to the factory, to the simulator, etc.

“Button reaches 300 races soon and have no doubt that it is mentally tiring. With a sabbatical year and having the chance to come back, he may come back stronger.”

     

Shock at Massa’s retirement decision

Barrichello also spoke about fellow Brazilian Felipe Massa’s recent decision to retire from F1.

“Massa’s retirement made me very surprised, I did not expect this kind of news,” added Barrichello. “I did not think it was time, but only the driver knows when it's time to go to do another thing.

“As I wrote on social media: ‘happiness is worth more than anything else we have in life’ – then he needs to be happy. Today, I'm happier than in my Formula 1 time.”

Barrichello now races in the Brazilian Stock Car Championship, and believes it could be somewhere that Massa will race in future seasons.

“Felipe Massa would be welcome in any situation here in Brazil,” he said. “You lose a driver to support in Formula 1, but gain him in motor racing in general.

“I do not see his name being mentioned here for next year, but I think in the future we can expect this to happen.”

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Palmer admits making an impression tough amid Renault struggles

Jolyon Palmer admits it is frustrating to not be able to make an impression in Formula 1 given his Renault team's struggles this year.

The Briton, the 2014 GP2 champion, joined the French marque for his debut season this year, after Renault took over from the Lotus team, where Palmer was a reserve driver in 2015.

But Renault's season has been much harder than expected, and the team has struggled at the back of the field.

Palmer is yet to score a point and his best result is an 11th place in the season-opening race in Australia. He hasn't finished higher than 12th since then.

"It is harder in a car that normally can't make it out of Q1," Palmer told Motorsport.com. "And certainly is very, very [difficult] fighting for points.

"It's a shame because I feel sometimes I do a really, really good race and no one knows, because your race is outside of top 10. It can be even down to 15th if there is a lot of people in the race so…

"It's understandable, but it's just harder to make an impression.

"If we were in the top 10 doing this then I think a lot of times people would say 'Wow that's a great move' or 'What a great race'. But it's just how it goes."

Palmer's future with Renault is still up in the air, as the team continues to consider its options for 2017.

     

The Briton admits that, given Renault's current situation, the best he can do is impress the French squad, as he concedes it will be hard for other teams to notice him.

"I think it's easier to impress the team you're driving for, because they are analysing all of your data, they are looking your race through the microscope, so if you're doing something well, they will see it," he said.

"The other teams won't see that so much, they will see a result. I've got a team mate, who is well rated. If I can do well against him then I think more what other teams will see really."

Palmer insists he has "every chance" of staying on at Renault if he performs strongly.

"There's been no decision yet. I'm in contention for the seat. So if I go out and do a good job this weekend and next weekend for as long there is no decision made then if I can prove why I should be in I'm sure I'll be in.

"So I know I can do it. It's just about piecing everything together, making no mistakes. And showing them what I can do. And I got every chance."

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ZANARDI WINS OLYMPIC GOLD 15 YEARS AFTER HORROR CRASH

Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi won his third Paralympic gold medal on Wednesday, a day before the 15th anniversary of the Champ Car crash that cost the Italian both legs and nearly his life.

The 49-year-old won the 20km H5 hand-cycling road time trial in Rio de Janeiro to add to the two golds he won on his Paralympics debut in London four years ago.

“Normally I don’t thank God for these type of things as I believe God has more important stuff to worry about,” he told NBC television. “But today is too much. I had to raise my eyes and thank him.

“I feel very lucky, I feel my life is a never-ending privilege.”

Zanardi, a two times champion in the U.S.-based Champ Car series that is now IndyCar, competed in 41 grands prix between 1991 and 1999 with his final season at Williams.

He had both legs amputated above the knee, with his heart stopping seven times as he lost all but a litre of the blood in his body, after the horrific crash at the Lausitzring in Germany on Sept. 15, 2001.

The Italian was leading the race when he lost control of his Reynard-Honda in the final laps and Canadian Alex Tagliani ran into him at more than 350kph.

“The car broke into two pieces, one bit of me stayed with the car and the other bit, which was my legs, went ‘arrivederci’ in the other direction,” he said before competing at the London 2012 Games.

Zanardi, who had been read the last rites, returned to racing a year and a half after the accident and competed in the world touring car championship until 2009, by which time he had taken up hand-cycling.

Two years after the accident, he returned to the Lausitzring and finished the 13 laps that he had failed to complete during the race.

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DAMON HILL PUTS HIS DEMONS TO REST IN NEW BOOK

The first time Damon Hill visited Suzuka for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix, the circuit hotel registered him as ‘Demon’. The 1996 world champion could laugh that one off, at least.

Other demons – grief, anger, self-doubt and deep depression among them – have been harder to brush aside over the years, as he reveals in a frank autobiography (‘Watching the Wheels’) published this month.

It is a book Hill could not have written when he retired in 1999 and that has required the passing of time, and some years of therapy, to overcome the inner conflict and reach an understanding of who he really is.

“Formula One is about not needing help,” the 55-year-old told Reuters before heading to Singapore for Sunday’s grand prix.

“It’s about everyone being so good that they’ve not got a crack in their armour at all, anywhere. That’s why you keep trying to carry that load. And eventually you just can’t get it off the ground.”

For Hill, whose double world champion father Graham died in a 1975 plane crash that had cataclysmic consequences for the family fortunes, the full realisation that he needed help came only after he hung up his helmet.

“It became too much by the end of my career and I needed to sort myself out. When I stopped, I thought the problem was being in F1. But it wasn’t,” he said. “It was to do with more issues than that.”

Eventually, he rang a family friend who had trained as a therapist after losing her parents in a helicopter crash and asked for help, “I went and saw someone, sat down and went: OK, I’m lost.”

The only son of a world champion to also win the Formula One title, although Nico Rosberg could change that this season, Hill took on Germany’s Michael Schumacher in some of the great duels of the 1990s.

At his peak, and in the best car, Hill was a formidable if sometimes under-rated opponent — a ‘tough bastard’ in team boss Frank Williams’ words. But, unlike the supremely confident Schumacher, he was plagued by uncertainty.

“For most of my life I needed an answer to the big question: am I just a Graham Hill repeat; Graham Hill, Part II? Or am I Damon Hill, Part I?,” he says in the book.

“During my career I was always confused about whether I was authentically a racing driver or someone tasked with a mission to complete before I could become my true self.”

With German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen lined up as his replacement at Williams for 1997 even before he had won the title, Hill moved to uncompetitive Arrows — where he almost won in Hungary — before two seasons at Jordan.

The book casts a fresh light on Hill’s state of mind during those years, and what was going on behind the scenes, without seeking to make excuses or embellish.

“I make it clear. I am not in the same category as (Ayrton) Senna and (Alain) Prost and (Michael) Schumacher and (Lewis) Hamilton,” said Hill, who started out racing motorcycles.

“I didn’t start at an early age always wanting to be a Formula One driver…I hesitate to say I don’t have the natural ability. I think I do. I just don’t think I had the training at an early age to get to that level.”

Two fatal accidents — “fault lines, like earthquakes” — defined Hill’s career; that of an adored but often absent father and of Williams team mate Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

On both occasions, Hill felt he was stepping into big shoes with big responsibilities. He has little doubt he would have been a better racing driver had he been a happier person.

By the end, he felt like “an insect in a jar”. The fear of dying unexpectedly, like his father, once leaving him curled up in a ball on the bedroom floor at the prospect of flying and leaving his family bereft.

The champion is now in a happier place, enjoying life as a television pundit and with a first class Open University literature degree to his credit.

It is hard to imagine any current F1 driver comparing himself to the Greek hero Telemachus, as he does in the book, or writing so openly and eloquently about such sensitive subjects.

“The whole point with therapy is it’s not what other people think it is,” he said. “You have to learn to describe it and in a way that other people understand. And then you can get across the bridge. It’s (like) the caterpillar (said) in ‘Alice in Wonderland’: Explain yourself.”

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NASR: VERY POSITIVE TO SEE PEOPLE JOINING THE TEAM NOW

After almost collapsing earlier this year, Sauber is now noticeably back on track according to team driver Felipe Nasr, who had earlier appeared to almost lose patience with the Swiss outfit’s financial troubles.

With his significant backing by Banco do Brasil, the Brazilian is still tentatively linked with a move elsewhere for 2017. But Nasr, 24, also seems happier with Sauber in the wake of the buyout by an investment group.

“It’s very positive to see that people are joining the team now,” he said, following reports of new staff joining Sauber, including the experienced engineer Xevi Pujolar.

“They are coming on important areas for the development of the car,” Nasr told UOL Esporte. “Straight away, they could already see the positives and negatives of our car and our procedures, which have a direct impact.

“For next year, the team is looking to strengthen with even more people, especially on the technical side, where we are somewhat limited,” Nasr continued. “There are several key people who will join the team at the end of the year.”

He welcomed Pujolar in particular, whose most recent role was engineering the F1 sensation Max Verstappen, “I liked his work. He is seeing how we work at the moment but I like the way he processes the information. He is very thorough and so far I have only seen very good things.”

He said Singapore this weekend will be a good assessment of recent car changes at Sauber, “It is the first circuit at which we will use all of the aerodynamics of the new package, assessing how much it is still worth working on this car or whether it is better now to focus on next year.”