FORMULA 1 - 2016

[MIKA27]

Massa: I made a mistake, it happens

Felipe Massa says a “dirty track” contributed to his Monaco crash, which cost him valuable track-time on a day when Williams were struggling.

Massa was the first driver to come up short (Haha Pun intended )on the tight, twisty street circuit as he crashed heavily at Ste Devote early in FP1. 

The accident put the Brazilian out of the session, in which he completed just 10 laps, and put his mechanics in a race against time to get the car repaired for FP2.

They did so with an hour remaining in the afternoon session and Massa added a further 42 laps to his tally.

However, worryingly for Williams, his best time – a 1:17.286 – left him down in 16th place and over two seconds off the pace.

“We are in Monaco, it can happen,” Crash.net quotes him as having said. “Dirty track, I made a mistake, it can happen. Unfortunately it happened to me.

“It was definitely not a very good Friday. We had a crash in the first session which in Monaco can happen, especially when trying to find the limit of the track and the car, a dirty track. The guys did a fantastic job to put the car back on the track.

“When we see we are 14th and 16th, it is not really positive and we need to understand how to make the car quicker here and how to make the car better on slow corners, get better traction.”

He added: “We are struggling a bit.”

Valtteri Bottas was P16 on Thursday afternoon, 2.242s down on Daniel Ricciardo’s P1 time.

[MIKA27]

Vettel adamant ‘the pace is in the car’

Sebastian Vettel believes Ferrari do have the pace to challenge at the front in Monaco, he just wasn’t able to show it on a “scrappy” Thursday.

Although the Ferrari driver had an error-free run on his way to P3 in Thursday’s first practice, the same cannot be said of the second session where he had two meetings with the barriers.

In the first he spun and hit the barrier at Mirabeau, breaking his SF16-H’s rear wing, while in the second he smacked the wall at Ste Devote with the rear left.

Vettel finished practice down in ninth place, 1.662s off Daniel Ricciardo’s P1 time. The German, though, isn’t at all worried.

“I certainly tried a lot, not everything worked,” he told Sky Sports F1. “Overall it was a scrappy day. It’s ok, the pace is in the car, we just struggled a bit to get it out today.

“It’s difficult to say what people did. As from us we didn’t have a good day. If you look at the standings we do not belong there. It was a bit scrappy. We tried a couple of things and it’s fair to say some of them didn’t work.”

The four-time World Champion admitted that the pressure is on Ferrari to grab a good result after missing out in Spain.

“There’s always pressure,” he explained. “There’s always desire to do well. You could call it pressure but it’s also the reason we are here. We’re not here to finish eighth, or fifth, we’re here to win.”

[MIKA27]

Helmet livery rule relaxed for Monaco Grand Prix

The FIA has relaxed the rule on drivers changing their helmet livery for the Monaco Grand Prix, leading to a number of drivers to run substantially different helmets for the Monte Carlo race weekend.

Last year, the governing body issued a new regulation which banned drivers from changing their helmet livery substantially as it can confuse fans as to which driver is behind the wheel.

"In order for drivers to be easily distinguished from one another whilst they are on the track, the crash helmet of each driver must be presented in substantially the same livery at every Event during a Championship season," according to Article 9.1 of F1's Sporting Regulations.

However with Monaco considered the sport's blue ribbon event, the FIA has informed the drivers that special one-off helmets will be permitted, but they must return to their original design after the event.

Romain Grosjean (above) and the Williams drivers are just a few who have chosen to race with a special Monaco helmet.

.@MassaFelipe19's special helmet for the #MonacoGP weekend, courtesy of graffiti artist @OsGemeos

.@ValtteriBottas and his special helmet design ready for #MonacoGP #FP1

 

 

[MIKA27]

Hamilton hoped ultra-soft would be more aggressive

Lewis Hamilton said he had hoped F1’s new ultra-soft tyre compound would be more aggressive after trying it in Monaco.

F1’s official tyre supplier Pirelli has introduced the new tyre, identified by purple markings, for tracks where tyre degradation is low.

“Although the new tyres are definitely softer than the other compounds they still feel pretty hard around here,” said Hamilton, who was second-fastest on Thursday in Monaco. “It’s not as easy to get them in the window as we would hope.”

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said the new tyre “has delivered everything we wanted from it so far – extra performance and the potential to have an effect on strategy”.

“From what we can see so far, we’d expect to get more than 15 laps out of this tyre before it’s necessary to come in and change,” he added. “The interesting question will be whether or not this diverts any drivers away from the one-stop strategy.”

Pirelli has already confirmed the ultra-soft tyre will also be used at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Red Bull Ring, and it may make further appearances before the end of the season.

[MIKA27]

Rosberg says Red Bull would be on pole on current pace

Nico Rosberg is certain Red Bull is currently fastest around Monaco, but hopes that his Mercedes team can make up the deficit.

Daniel Ricciardo, running the upgraded Renault engine this weekend, ended Thursday practice six tenths up on the lead Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.

And while practice pace isn't always representative of a team's full capabilities, Rosberg is certain Mercedes won't find six tenths just by "turning up the engine".

"It's very simple, today they were faster than us," Rosberg conceded."So we need to dig into it and see if we can find a lot of, a big chunk of laptime.

"Of course, we can still turn up our engine, but we don't have six tenths of turning up the engine, you know?

"Confident after today? No. Because Red Bull was quicker. But I am pretty confident that we can do a great job and improve the car. If it will be enough, I don't know."

Rosberg also suggested that, were qualifying to be held on Thursday, Mercedes would have suffered its first qualifying defeat since Singapore 2015.

"If today was qualifying, they would be in front of us. So we definitely need to find some more pace and it's not gonna be easy."

  

Hamilton says gap "very close"

Hamilton, for his part, was more optimistic than Rosberg after Thursday, suggesting the gap between Red Bull and Mercedes was "very closer".

"The Red Bulls are looking quite quick. It's close. It's not a power circuit. It's good. Now it's more exciting for the fans," Hamilton said.

"I think they are very much a threat. They are very, very fast. I don't know where six tenths is. For sure I have a little bit of time. It's very, very close."

[MIKA27]

Haas has regained early-season speed - Steiner

Haas believes it could have rediscovered its early-season promising form, after an encouraging opening practice day for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Following a few difficult races for the outfit, Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez were both hopeful of making it through to Q2 in Monte Carlo after ending final practice just outside the top 10.

Team principal Gunther Steiner believes the team had benefited greatly from a better understanding of its car during Barcelona testing last week, and could aim high again this weekend.

"It seems we are where we were at the beginning of the year," said Steiner. "We are closer to McLaren, and the Renault seems to be behind. I hope we can repeat it [in qualifying].

"I think pace wise, Q2 should be pretty safe. It is never safe here because you just need to get in to a red flag or something stupid or your lap, but normally we should be there. Absolutely."

  

Q2 target

Grosjean, who was 15th in the afternoon, said: "The balance is getting there, things are getting there. We have more work to do and we know where to work, whereas Barcelona we were a bit lost.

"But it is pretty alright. Things are going pretty much as we want. We have a lot of room for improvement, but I think with good data we can do that.

"I think our best qualifying was P9 and if we can equal that that would be nice."

Gutierrez, who was 13th fastest in the afternoon, believed the key to form would be getting tyres perfectly prepared for qualifying.

"We just need to find consistency in the way we prepare the tyres," he said. "I think there we can find a bit of time.

"Probably Monaco will not be a straightforward test for that. But in the following races we need to be consistent on putting the tyres in the right point for the first lap and extracting the most from them."

Test boost

Steiner said that having two days of testing after the Spanish Grand Prix was a huge help to the team, which has struggled recently with getting the most from its tyres.

"The test last week helped us for sure," he said. "That is one of the things which people say – if people say what would you have liked to have done different, I would have liked to have had a few more testing days.

"If you go to testing, it is a different atmosphere. You don't have the pressure of the race weekend with three hours for each car on a Friday and if you don't get it all in it's not good.

"All in all, we are not bad off."

[MIKA27]

FIA relaxes ban on F1 visor tear-offs in races

The FIA has agreed a rethink on its move to prohibit Formula 1 drivers from throwing visor tear-off strips on to the track during races - with a new solution in place for the Monaco Grand Prix.

The governing body had intended for the clampdown – aimed at preventing the discarded strips getting lodged in brakes and causing trouble – to come into force for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

But after concerns expressed by teams on race morning, the ban was originally delayed until Spain and was then put back until this weekend's Monaco race.

Drivers had been resigned to experimenting with ways to store the strips in the cockpits, or on pouches on their overalls, in a bid to store them during the race.

But a bigger issue emerged when questions were asked about complications that could be caused in fires by the plastic strips potentially burning through overalls.

The FIA accepted that such a situation would not be ideal, so teams have now been informed of a change of stance for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Mercedes executive director Paddy Lowe said: "For this race, we've been permitted to two tear-offs during the race itself, so I think that will be sufficient. I think there's a constant dialogue with the FIA to find a practical way forward with this."

F1 race director Charlie Whiting was due to discuss the matter with drivers during their regular post-practice briefing on Thursday night, when plans regarding what happens over the longer term are likely to be discussed.

[MIKA27]

Every second counts | The world's most connected car

Fast data transmission is vital in F1 where every second counts towards a perfect race. Together with Qualcomm, we have come up with the fastest technology to get instant access to that data.

[MIKA27]

Monaco track changes less challenging - Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo is "disappointed" with the changes made at the second Swimming Pool chicane in Monaco and thinks that part of the circuit has become less of a challenge.

Last year the barrier on the entry to the second chicane was moved away from the racing line, with a raised yellow curb marking the edge of the circuit (see below). This meant drivers had less chance of hitting the barriers on the inside but also a tighter angle in order to make the exit curb.

Ahead of Thursday's practice sessions the FIA removed last year's installation, with the inside of the corner now running along a red and white kerb.

Ricciardo said that has made the corner even less challenging than it was previously and planned to raise the matter in Thursday afternoon's driver meeting.

"I'm actually a little bit disappointed because they opened up the Swimming Pool this year, the second apex is more open so it's less of a challenge, I would say, than it has been in the past. I might say something in drivers' briefing today and see if they can bring it back a little bit.

"Normally the cars are a little bit more sideways through the flip flop and change of direction... today was a bit more a straight line. I'm still enjoying it but I think last year and even 2014 it was more of a challenge."

Haas driver Romain Grosjean enjoyed the tweaks to the section, though overall he echoed Ricciardo's statement about the diminished challenge.

"I think it's quite fun," the Frenchman said.

But when told what Ricciardo had said about the corner now being less of a challenge, he said: "It's a fair point. It's a bit less challenging than it was but you can carry more speed through it so the momentum of the Swimming Pool gets a little bit longer."

[MIKA27]

LAUDA: WE WANT TO KEEP NICO AND HE WANTS TO STAY

Mercedes want Formula 1 championship leader Nico Rosberg to stay and a contract extension is likely to be agreed soon, the team’s non-executive director Niki Lauda revealed.

“I’m sure we want to keep Nico, and Nico wants to stay,” the Austrian told Sky Sports television during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. “I don’t see any issues at all and this will be fixed very soon.

“We have to decide it in the next three weeks. This is my point of view, to let him know that we all stick together for the next couple of years,” said the retired triple world champion.

Rosberg is out of contract at the end of the season but the German has won four of five races so far this year and leads triple champion team mate Lewis Hamilton by 43 points.

Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff said negotiations were under way but there would be no announcement this weekend in Monaco, Rosberg’s home town where he has won for the past three seasons.

Some media reports in Italy have suggested Ferrari are interested in signing Rosberg as a replacement for Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, who will also be out of contract, as partner to four times world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Wolff said he would not be surprised if Ferrari, currently Mercedes closest rivals, were interested but played down the likelihood of the 30-year-old leaving.

“He’s been part of the Mercedes family since the journey began in 2010, he’s the current championship leader, has won seven races in a row, nobody ever doubts in his capabilities,” Wolff said.

[skalls]

Watched qualifying this morning since I wasn't feeling well enough to golf.  Hamilton has no luck this year with the engine.  Another issue.

If I were a spiteful individual, and rarely it does happen, and if I were Kyvaat, I'd be giggling like a madmen at seeing Max go into the wall in Q1.

Wasn't surprised with the end result though.  Ricardo looked insanely fast today.  But if the weather comes in as they are predicting, anything can happen.  Being back around 14-15 wouldn't be that bad as the front could turn into a massive wreck.

[skalls]

Worst pit stop ever for Ricardo.

[Baldy]

I'm a Hamilton fan but really feel for Ricardo.  This weekend was his to win.  Two weekend in a row that his team lost it for him.

Looks like RB is challenging Ferrari this year while both are getting closer to Mercedes.  Some exciting racing ahead.  Glad to see my McLaren are finally scoring some points even if it's more lucking into the points.

[skalls]

Yeah, Hamilton got lucky today.  He really should've been second.  Not really sure how RBR screwed up that pit stop unless Danny made a late call for a pit stop or something.

Ferrari really seems off in the wilderness compared to last year.

Really cool to see Alonso get 5th.  Guiterrez should've been 10th but went brain dead in that one turn killing any chances of points.  Besides that it looked like he ran a pretty good race.  Roman got screwed royally by Kimi too.

Shocked that the ultras lasted as long as they did.  Thought that was the wrong compound to switch too, but Lewis was still putting down great times during the late sprinkles.

[Orion21]

He was called in.  Daniel got screwed.  RBR was so focused on the golden boy Max they Fd their #1 driver.  Feeling sick for Daniel.

[skalls]

Not F1, but Rossi (who got forced out of an F1 seat this year) just won the Indy 500.  Very very cool.  Ran out of fuel but had enough of a lead to coast in.

[Orion21]

1 hour ago, skalls said:

Not F1, but Rossi (who got forced out of an F1 seat this year) just won the Indy 500.  Very very cool.  Ran out of fuel but had enough of a lead to coast in.

Very cool!  

Again, feel for Daniel.  Two weeks in a row his team cost him a win.  Tragic.

[OZCUBAN]

Best race of the year so far what a cracker,feel gutted for Dan he had it in the bag but RED bull screwed up big time ,will be interested to see how this pans out contractually for dan going forward 

I have said for a long time the fia should set up a track sprinkler system which can be activated at random would certainly spice up the racing 

cheers

[MIKA27]

Rather boring race IMO, always prefer a standing start to a GP versus safety car start, especially Monaco.

Feel gutted for Daniel, it was his race for sure.

I'm a Rosberg fan but seriously, what the f*&k was he doing cruising around like that, P6 was shocking enough for a guy who's won Monaco 3 years straight but then at the finish line, lost P6 and got P7 

So glad to see Alonso do so well, hopefully McLaren can get more results like that, brilliant drive from Force India, I love that team also.

[MIKA27]

MONACO GRAND PRIX: HAMILTON BACK ON TOP

Lewis Hamilton celebrated his first win of the Formula One season at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday after Mercedes told team mate Nico Rosberg to move aside and Red Bull wrecked Daniel Ricciardo’s chances.

While fortune finally favoured the triple world champion after a run of bad luck, championship leader Rosberg finished seventh — 93.2 seconds behind — and saw his lead cut to 24 points after six of 21 races.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo was runner-up, a botched second pitstop destroying his chances after he started on pole position for the first time, with Mexican Sergio Perez third for Force India.

“I prayed for a day like this so I feel truly blessed,” said Hamilton, who had cut a disconsolate figure after a fuel pressure problem in qualifying left him third on the starting grid.

He made the right call on the tyres, however, with a late change to slicks and got more mileage out of the ultrasofts than expected. He also made his car as wide as possible with Ricciardo crawling all over the back of him.

Hamilton was congratulated by Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber as he stepped out of the car in the pit lane before the podium celebration.

The reigning world championship had not been on the top step of the podium since he wrapped up his title at the United States Grand Prix in October last year – 214 days earlier!

His jubilation contrasted to Ricciardo’s sense of shock, the Australian feeling robbed of a likely victory by his own team whom he said had called him in for a pitstop and then did not have the tyres ready.

“Two weeks in a row I’ve been screwed,” said the driver, who had also led in Spain two weeks ago until a strategy error handed the win to 18-year-old Dutch team mate Max Verstappen. “It sucks. I was called into the box. They should have been ready.”

“Nothing you can say can make it any better,” Ricciardo had told the team over the radio after the chequered flag. “Just save it.”

Ricciardo had built up a tidy lead at the start before Mercedes told Rosberg, then in second place, to let Hamilton through because the German was suffering from high brake temperatures.

The race had started with seven laps behind the safety car in wet conditions, dried out and then ended with more rain threatening and cloudy skies.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished fourth, while Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen retired with his front wing wedged under the car after clouting the barriers on the 12th of the 78 laps.

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso was fifth, on the 50th anniversary of his team’s race debut in Monaco in 1966, with Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg snatching sixth from Rosberg at the very end.

The race began in extremely wet conditions, behind the safety car, but after seven laps the track was deemed dry enough for racing to start and Ricciardo, who began from pole, held his lead as Mercedes’ second-placed Rosberg held off Hamilton.

Rosberg seemed to be experiences difficulties, however, and the championship leader was soon backing Hamilton up as Ricciardo carved out a solid gap at the front of the pack.

In the meantime Renault’s Jolyon Palmer exited the race. When the SC left the track Palmer lost control on the run up to Ste Devote and he went hard into the barriers on the left of the track before skittering to a halt in the barriers of the escape road at Turn 1.

Moments later Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was also tangling with the barriers. The Finn lost control on the entry to the Loew’s hairpin.

His front wing became detached and lodged under his car as he attempted to get back to the pits and he stopped in escape road at the Nouvelle Chicane where he retired from the race.

At the front Ricciardo’s lead was increasing and he was soon 7.8s ahead of Rosberg.

Elsewhere, Max Verstappen, in the second Red Bull, was on a charge. The Dutch teenager had crashed out in qualifying and started from the pit lane, but by lap 10 he was up to 12th place.

The track, however, was drying and soon many in the field began to make the move to intermediate tyres. Verstappen pitted for the green-banded tyres on lap 12, while Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel stopped for the green-banded tyres on lap 13.

The leaders though, avoided the move, sticking to the extreme wets as the lap times for the tyres remained similar.

It was at this point that Mercedes decided to free Hamilton from Rosberg’s shackles and the championship leader moved across to let Hamilton through on lap 15. Five laps later Rosberg headed to the pits for intermediate tyres.

Hamilton quickly began to hunt down Ricciardo and the gap between the two, which was some 13 seconds, began to fall.

In the meantime there were more incidents. Daniil Kvyat made an ill-judged attempt to pass Kevin Magnussen on the inside at Rascasse and they collided. Kvyat was immediately out of the race but Magnussen limped on until lap 32 when he too retired.

Ricciardo eventually pitted for new tyres and he moved to intermediates on lap 23. The choice put Hamilton in the lead but while it might have been expected he would stop for inters, the defending champion stayed out, seeking to keep his full wets going until a window opened for the use of slicks.

It was a risk and over the next eight laps Ricciardo quickly reeled in the gap to Hamilton, erasing the gap left by his stop for inters.

Mercedes sensed the danger and on lap 31 they pitted Hamilton. He took on slick tyres and Ricciardo resumed the lead.

The track was rapidly improving, however, and it was clear the Red Bull man would have also need to stop for slicks.

With time in hand, he pitted on lap 32 but the call was a late one and when he arrived at his pit box for supersoft tyres the crew weren’t ready. He was delayed for what seemed an age and when he eventually made it away from the pit lane exit, Hamilton was already through and in the lead.

Further back, Verstappen was again scything through the pack and by lap 33 he up to ninth behind Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz. But just as in qualifying Verstappen’s confidence got the better of him and on lap 35 the Dutchman misjudged his braking point and hit the wall. His wasn’t the final retirement, for some 30 laps from home Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson collided with team-mate Felipe Nasr at Rascasse.

By that time, Hamilton was in control of the race. Ricciardo made numerous attacks and at one stage almost made it past as Hamilton erred on the entry to the Nouvelle Chicane but the champion close the door severely which led to much hand-waving from a clearly frustrated Ricciardo and an appeal to the stewards who investigated but cleared Hamilton of any wrongdoing. It was to be Ricciardo last assault.

The running behind Hamilton took its toll on his tyres and though he pressed har4d he eventually lost touch with the leader and finished seven seconds behind Hamilton, who took his second Monaco win.

Behind them Perez was enjoying a superb run. After starting seventh he rose to fifth by lap 15 and then, when he took on soft tyres on lap 30, he vaulted to third.

Vettel was on a similarly strategy and he took opted for soft tyres in the window for slicks. The choice looked a good one and at one stage he was the fastest man on the track as he closed in on Perez, but he could find now way past the canny Mexican and he settled for fourth.

Fifth place went to McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, while Rosberg’s unhappy race was capped on the final lap when he was passed for sixth place on the line by Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg.

Eighth place was taken by Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz who finished ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button and Williams’ Felipe Massa.

[MIKA27]

HORNER: WE AS A TEAM OWE DANIEL A HUGE APOLOGY

Daniel Ricciardo’s huge trademark smile was missing as he stood on the podium after finishing second at the Monaco Grand Prix, which at one point he was dominating until his team made a blunder which not only cost him the lead but also victory in one of the greatest races in motorsport.

After the incident packed race Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged, “We as a team owe Daniel a huge apology today as we failed to support him in the way we did to get him to his first pole position yesterday.”

“The delay at his pit stop cost him the lead and despite some excellent driving to get close to Lewis, he couldn’t get past, as is so often the case here in Monaco,” added Horner.

Red Bull F1 consultant Helmut Marko had his say, “Unfortunately, a lot of misunderstanding and not the right communication. It was a human mistake. We will check it, make an investigation, and then we can tell you more. I feel really sorry, all we can do is apologise to him.”

The error in Monte Carlo followed a bad strategy call, from the Red Bull pit wall, during the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks earlier, a mistake which ultimately cost Ricciardo victory in that race too.

While leading in Monaco, Ricciardo was called in for his pit stop, where a set of super softs were to be bolted on to his Red Bull. At that point calculations indicated that he would emerge at least 10 seconds ahead of Hamilton. But a glaring fumble ensued as mechanics scrambled around for the tyres that were not ready.

When the Red Bull driver finally emerged from the pits, Hamilton had just managed to get by and despite several attacks on the leader by Ricciardo, he ran out of steam and in the end he was left to wonder what might have been.

“I got called in and the tyres weren’t ready. I didn’t make the call,” Ricciardo said during the podium interview. “I guess from the outside we put on a show but it shouldn’t have been exciting. Two races in a row I’ve been screwed.”

“The guys were running around like ducks, I don’t like being up here and being miserable because I got a podium in F1 and it should be a good day but when it happens two races in a row it is hard to take.”

“I felt it should have been me. If Barcelona wasn’t clear, this one was crystal clear. I took Barcelona on the chin and this one I don’t know if I can handle it as good as I did,,” he lamented. “This is such a prestigious race. I may win it in the future but this one I will never get back so it hurts a lot more than any other.”

As for what the team had to say about the mishap, the Australian was adamant, “Right now I don’t want to hear it. I just want to get out of here. It will be talked about but now is not the time to do it. It hurts. It hurts. I don’t have anything else to say to be honest.”

MIKA: Stupid blunder by RBR who IMO were not so long ago the best at pit stops.

[MIKA27]

RED BULL AND TORO ROSSO CONFIRM RENAULT FOR 2017 AND 2018

Red Bull Racing have confirmed they will continue its partnership with Renault Sport Racing for the supply of the power unit currently badged as TAG Heuer for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Scuderia Toro Rosso, currently powered by Ferrari, will also be supplied with the unit for 2017-2018.

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership which has proved very successful over time. After the reconstruction that Renault has undertaken, clear progress has been made which has made it logical to continue with the TAG Heuer badged engine.”

Jérôme Stoll, President of Renault Sport Racing, commented: “We are very pleased to partner with two such strong teams as Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso. Having competitive partners demonstrates the confidence both have in the improved Renault power unit and in our organisation as a whole.”

Over the period both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso will receive the latest hybrid power unit, and have the opportunity to badge the power units as they wish.

The engine partnership will become one of the longest and most successful chassis-engine partnerships in Formula One. The pair first teamed up in 2007 and has since won four Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships and 51 wins.

Scuderia Toro Rosso and Renault partnered in 2014 and 2015.

[MIKA27]

RAIKKONEN EXPECTED TO DRIVE FOR FERRARI IN 2017

Kimi Raikkonen looks set to keep his seat at Ferrari into 2017 according to one of the most respected Italian journalist in the paddock, Pino Allievi.

“At the moment, Kimi’s place at Ferrari is safe,” the La Gazzetta dello Sport correspondent told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

Reports had suggested Ferrari might be looking to replace the Finn, amid speculation Nico Rosberg or Daniel Ricciardo may be in the frame.

“I read a new name every day,” said Kimi’s current teammate, Sebastian Vettel, making it clear he wants the 2007 world champion to get a new deal.

Allievi has some good news for German Vettel.

“I know that, right now, Ferrari are not considering anyone else. They will look at it in July and if Kimi is the same then as he has been in the first five races, he should continue next year as well,” he explained.

[MIKA27]

BUTTON WANTS TO KEEP MCLAREN DRIVE BEYOND 2016

Jenson Button says he wants to keep racing with McLaren-Honda, however, it is slowly becoming an open paddock secret that McLaren intends to replace the 36-year-old with youngster Stoffel Vandoorne for 2017.

Button told Corriere della Sera in Monaco: “While I have the chance to drive a competitive car, and maybe it will be a McLaren next year, my idea is to stay in F1.

“New rules are coming, the cars will be faster, so it would be nice to have that challenge,” added the Briton, who began his F1 career as a 20-year-old with Williams in 2000.

When asked specifically about the possibility he could in fact return to Williams in 2017, Button said only: “I like whatat McLaren and Honda are doing and would like to be there when it succeeds.”

He seemed to play down the likelihood of signing any more long-term F1 contracts.

“I have reached the age where I like having the freedom to choose,” said Button. “There may be details that affect the choice, in my case it is the challenge with Alonso and also the new rules that are coming, because we are talking about cars that will be 3-4 seconds per lap faster.”

[MIKA27]

MASSA ADMITS HE COULD LEAVE WILLIAMS

Veteran driver Felipe Massa has admitted that 2016 could be his last season driving for Williams.

Speculation in Monaco is linking not only the Red Bull Racing refugee Daniil Kvyat with Massa’s seat for 2017, but also McLaren-Honda’s Jenson Button.

Massa, 35 years old and with 11 Ferrari race wins under his belt, admitted the time to start looking around at his options for 2017 is now approaching.

“From the Monaco race, you start talking about things and teams and drivers start working on what the future holds,” the Brazilian told UOL Esporte. “I’m already beginning to understand what can happen, but I don’t know yet.”

He said staying at Williams for a fourth consecutive season next year cannot be ruled out, “The intention is to try to get into a good position for a few more years. I think that nothing is impossible.

“When your contract is ending, you have to see what is the right way to go. I have the chance to continue in Williams, yes, but also to negotiate with other teams,” he revealed.

“We have to try to understand what is happening around us in the market,” added Massa, who is managed by FIA president Jean Todt’s son, Nicolas.