Formula 1 - 2017

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FORMULA 1 TEAMS SNUB SHARES OFFERED BY LIBERTY MEDIA

Liberty Media Corporation announced that the investment opportunity offered to Formula 1 teams to purchase up to approximately 19 million shares of Series C Formula One common stock has expired.

The Formula 1 teams were offered the opportunity to invest at a per share purchase price of $21.26 at the time of Liberty’s acquisition (the “Formula 1 Acquisition”) of Delta Topco Limited, the parent company of Formula 1, on January 23, 2017, and subject to a six month investment review process.

Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO of Formula 1, said, “We have been actively engaged with all teams to shape a shared vision for the sport that will create real value for all stakeholders. While the window for this particular investment opportunity has passed, we are pleased with the collaborative discussions we are having with the teams.”

“These discussions will take time, but we appreciate their receptivity towards further aligning our incentives for the long-term benefit of the sport.”

The approximately 19 million shares previously reserved for issuance to teams have been retired. Liberty retains the right to offer future investment opportunities to Formula 1 teams.

Earlier this year, Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne said of the offer, “The Concorde Agreement expires in 2020, so becoming a non-voting shareholder in an entity, which would effectively keep us trapped in without knowledge of what 2021 and the later world will look like, is something I consider unwise.”

“One of the things that I tabled with Chase is clarity on what the post-2020 world looks like, and what Ferrari may be able to get from its involvement in Formula One activities. Once we have clarity, then I think it becomes a lot easier to decide whether we want to participate in this venture,” added Marchionne.

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ABITEBOUL: BOTH OUR CARS MUST BE IN THE TOP TEN IN HUNGARY

Granted Jolyon Palmer has had a luckless second season in Formula 1, four DNF’s in ten races not helping his cause, but his Renault boss is adamant that the yellow cars can finish in the top ten and is expecting no less at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Speaking ahead of the weekend in Budapest, team chief Cyril Abiteboul said, “Our targets remain unchanged; we want to be sixth by the end of play on 30 July and fifth by the end of the season. A double-points finish is well within our reach.”

The French team have been very supportive of Palmer during a trouble packed first half of the season, but he has not scored a point yet while his teammate Nico Hulkenberg has 26 to his credit.

Comparisons between the two drivers are inevitable, and the stats do not favour Palmer. The writing is on the wall: he has to raise his game because the team are seriously evaluating Robert Kubica for a return to F1, while they have a pool of talent in their junior programme only to eager to step up.

Abiteboul insists that the car is constantly improving, “We have shown at Silverstone that we are continuing to improve. Chassis developments, in particular the new floor, proved to be positive exemplified from Nico’s eight points and both cars showing strong qualifying pace.”

“It’s critical to back up this improvement with both cars finishing in the top ten in Hungary – we want to finish the first half of the season on a positive note. To achieve this, we need to put behind our reliability problems. We know our situation and the areas which require more attention,” explained Abiteboul.

Renault targets for this season are reachable but they do require both their drivers to be in the points on a regular basis. Hulkenberg is doing his bit, and Palmer needs to come to the party or his days in Formula 1 are surely numbered.

MIKA: Bye bye Palmer..... 

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HAAS: RACING AT THIS LEVEL IS NOT EASY

It can be said that Haas F1 Team had made an impressive entry into Formula 1, and now, 18 months since their debut in Australia last year, Gene Haas concedes that the honeymoon is over and admits it has not been easy.

In an interview with the official F1 website, Haas, said, “Racing at this level – Formula 1 – is not easy. Your competitors are always as good if not better than you are, so you can’t just go out there and pass – you have to look at strategies, look at what you are capable of and what they are capable of, and try to find differences that gives you a chance to take advantage of that.”

After an impressive debut season, the team also went through a rough patch, but of late they are again firmly in the midfield and Haas admits, “I would say the honeymoon is over. Now comes the tricky part of living together! F1 is a challenge, it is not easy – coming to a race every second weekend and seeing opportunities slipping away and you know that you have to work harder to achieve what you want.”

Haas, who runs one of the biggest Nascar teams, has kept a low profile with regards to his Formula 1 team, “I like to come to races. It is always very interesting. I am still learning a lot. That stimulates me. I am still somewhat of an F1 apprentice. It is an engagement of mind over racing! That’s fun.”

The American team made no secret of the fact that they are closely aligned to Ferrari, their engine supplier, and  see Formula 1 as a platform to promote the Haas Automation brand to a global base which the sport at the highest level offers.

This goal has been a success for Haas, “It is working quite well. Take for example the UK. We have a little office in Banbury just near the Silverstone track. We had a reception last week and it was fantastic to see how enthusiastic our customers are about our F1 engagement.”

“For them, we are no longer a simple machine tool builder – our customer perceives us now as part of Formula 1. Wow, these guys are participating in this high-level racing! And that is translating over to the image of Haas Automation. We are a lifestyle company now. There you go!”

The team lies seventh in the F1 Constructors’ standings with Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen scoring points in seven out of ten races run thus far.

Haas explained the team’s target for the current season, “Right now I would say from P5 to P8 it is so close that eventually we could drop or gain a position with every race. And in this midfield section the team that will finish ahead of his opponents will be the one that makes the least mistakes.”

“If you don’t make mistakes and get both drivers in the points every race you can do really well. Force India has done very well and if we can do that we can move ahead. And if we don’t then Toro Rosso will do it.”

“We have to be consistent and reliable – and finish races. If we finish a race we are probably in that seventh, eighth or ninth position – or maybe tenth. All these positions make points,” added Haas.

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PIRELLI PREVIEW THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX

The Hungarian Grand Prix will use P Zero White medium, P ZeroYellow soft and P Zero Red supersoft: exactly the same selection that was chosen in Hungary last year, and the fifth time that this particular combination has been used in 2017 (including at the last race in Great Britain).

The Hungaroring presents a big contrast to Silverstone though: while it is another well-established permanent venue, it actually has some of the characteristics of a street circuit, such as tight and twisty corners, quite low grip, as well as contained average lap speeds. The weather can be extremely hot, increasing thermal degradation, which is one reason why the medium tyre is brought to Hungary.

 

The Circuit from a tyre point of view

• The Hungaroring is an unremitting series of corners, with the tyres constantly working.
• Hungary produced some of the hottest track temperatures of 2016 after a wet
• Saturday: two stops was the winning strategy last year.
• Teams run quite high downforce levels to maximise corner speeds but emphasis is one mechanical rather than aerodynamic grip.
• In the past, we’ve seen that safety cars can affect race strategy in Hungary.
• There’s only one real straight, meaning the tyres don’t get much chance to cool down.
• Overtaking is notoriously difficult, putting the emphasis on qualifying and strategy.
• Handling and agility are key to a quick lap rather than outright power.

Mario Isola, head of car racing: “The track was resurfaced in time for last year’s grand prix and it will be interesting tosee the effect of this change one year on, as the new asphalt matures. We noticed last year that it was smoother and generally faster than the previous surface. The team’s tyre selections have leaned in favour of soft and supersoft, so we obviously expect that to form the basis of their strategies. Hungary is traditionally a race where strategy make sthe difference, also because of the difficulty of overtaking, so the data collection process on Friday and Saturday should be even more important than usual with this brand-new generation of faster cars.”

What’s new?

• At the same time as the grand prix, Pirelli’s biggest single race in terms of tyres supplied is taking place: the Spa 24 Hours in Belgium, using more than 10,000 tyres.
• Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, the second in-season test of the year wil ltake place on Tuesday and Wednesday with all the teams expected. Within that test, Mercedes will run a car for one day to help develop Pirelli’s 2018 slick tyres.
• Having passed the season’s halfway point, Formula 1 takes a break after the Hungarian Grand Prix, before resuming in Belgium at the end of August.

 

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Formula 1 must consult expert groups over 2021 engine noise

Formula 1 must carefully consider a number of aspects before it settles on a definite 2021 engine formula, consulting various expert groups to ensure it gets things such as the noise right, according to Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell.

The sport is looking to replace the current hybrid V6 turbo power unit, that has been in existence since 2014, with a cheaper option.

Meetings have been taking place with key stakeholders including the FIA, Liberty Media, all four current engine suppliers as well as new potential suppliers such as Audi, Porsche, Aston Martin and Cosworth.

With just over three years until it is set to replace the current engine, manufacturers are keen to confirm the new specification as research and design will need to begin within the next year.

Cowell says that decision can't be rushed and expert groups must be consulted to avoid running into the same problems as the current specification, such as its lack of noise and its high cost, as well as ensuring it is road related.

"Everybody's expressed their opinion on what 2021 should bring," said Cowell. "We need to make sure that the technology that's introduced in Formula 1 in 2021 is ahead of the road car world in 2021 and perhaps mimicking what will be in the showrooms in 2026.

"But there's a whole load of other topics that need to be discussed and the conclusion of the second meeting is that we need to do some more work [on these].

"We need to break out into expert groups and that's not necessarily us, that's people from outside of F1 that understand about engine noise and how that brings pleasure to people that are hearing it, the musicality of it.

"Then [there are] more scientific studies that we will be involved in, like removing the MGU-H – [do] we have single turbo or twin turbos?"

Cowell says work on getting those experts together has already begun and is hopeful that a decision on what will power F1 after 2020 will be made before the end of the season.

"The FIA is going to chair several meetings, several working groups that conclude over the summer on that particular subject matter and then in September, bring that back together and try and condense that into one overall package.

"As ever, there will be compromise but I think if we come up with the best package for Formula 1, for the manufacturers, for the fans, for the drivers, for the chassis teams etc then it will be a good step."

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Renault’s ‘secret plan’ to race Kubica at Spa

Should Robert Kubica come through the Hungarian GP test without any issues, he could replace Jolyon Palmer as early as the Belgian GP reports Bild.

Kubica will return to the Formula 1 stage in a competitive setting for the first time since 2011 when he takes to the Hungaroring next week.

The Polish driver’s F1 career was cut short in 2011 when he suffered serious injuries in a rally crash that left him with limited movement in his right arm.

But with Renault having adapted the steering wheel so that he can change gears with his left hand only, Kubica could yet return to Formula 1.

According to Bild, “Renault’s secret plan” – should the Hungarian test prove successful – is to put 32-year-old in the car after the summer break, replacing the under-fire Palmer.

Although Renault assured Palmer that his seat was safe ahead of the British GP – “completely dismissed speculation of him being replaced in Budapest” – the team are reportedly running out of patience with the British driver who has yet to score a single point this season.

It remains to be seen, though, whether they’ll take the risk of racing Kubica in his stead.

Announcing Kubica’s test, Renault’s managing director Cyril Abiteboul said: “After this test, we will carefully analyse the collected information to determine in what conditions it would be possible for Robert to return to competition in the upcoming years.”

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Force India "not giving up" on catching Red Bull

Force India team owner Vijay Mallya says he is "not giving up" on catching Red Bull for third place in this year's constructors' championship.

At the halfway point of the year, the Silverstone-based outfit lies a comfortable fourth in the teams' standings on 95 points, having scored with both Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon at every race bar Monaco and Baku.

Its best result came in the Spanish Grand Prix, where Perez and Ocon took fourth and fifth places.

Force India holds 54-point buffer over Williams in fifth place, but is 79 adrift of third-placed Red Bull, which has taken a race win with Daniel Ricciardo and five other podium finishes.

Mallya had set his outfit the target of finishing in the top three of the constructors' at the start of the season after it took its best finish yet with fourth in 2017, and the Indian insists that goal is still feasible despite Red Bull's advantage in terms of points and pace.

"We should have had nine [double points finishes] at least, but eight out of 10 is pretty good," said Mallya, referring to Perez and Ocon coming to blows on the opening lap in Baku.

"It’s very satisfying to see two good, competitive drivers. I couldn’t ask for more, two cars regularly in the points, it’s what we need.

"We’re up to 95 points in 10 races, we’ve never had this kind of points tally in the history of the team that I can remember. We’re 54 ahead of Williams, our nearest competitor, and slowly consolidating ourselves in fourth position.

"Let’s see what opportunities the second half of the season throws up. I’m not giving up on chasing Red Bull. it’s always good to set our targets high. That allows you to really challenge yourself.

"Whether we get that or not, finishing fourth a consecutive year is a credible achievement."

Asked whether the team has the resources to sustain a development programme needed to close the gap to Red Bull, Mallya pointed to the team's planned Singapore upgrade as evidence it plans to push to the end.

“If you’re able to plan an upgrade as far ahead as Singapore, obviously you have the resources to do it," he said.

"I said at the beginning of the year that given the fact the 2017 car is a brand new car with no carry over whatsoever from last year, we would have to engage in a robust development programme right through the year. So that was always planned and it’s no surprise to us.

"We need to fine-tune correlation. Every time we make a small step, we’re getting there. But when we finally find the sweet spot - which I hope is sooner rather than later - we should go very well.”

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Autosport podcast: What's ahead in the 2018 F1 driver market?

The Formula 1 driver market is the focus of the latest edition of The Autosport Podcast.

With several big names still out of contract - including Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas - and young guns such as Charles Leclerc knocking on the door, there's plenty of scope for a big shake up over the coming seasons.

Alex Kalinauckas, Glenn Freeman and Ben Anderson join Edd Straw for a journey through the complex landscape of the driver market and the potential deals that could be done for 2018 and beyond.

There's a look at the chances of Ferrari re-signing Kimi Raikkonen, an explanation of how Daniel Ricciardo could be the key player in the market in the medium-term and discussion of what could become of some of the strong midfield performers including Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr.

There's also an in-depth look at the prospects for Leclerc, and exactly why he is being touted as the next star rookie in F1.

The Autosport Podcast is available free to subscribe via iTunes and other podcast platforms.

 

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AUTOSPORT PODCASTS THUS FAR FOR 2017: In case you need to catch up and or kill time 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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JOS VERSTAPPEN: THE SITUATION WILL BECOME MORE COMPLICATED

Max Verstappen has made no secret of his disappointment with a season that promised so much but, so far, has not lived up to expectations, his father Jos Verstappen explains why frustration is mounting and warns that no wins next year will complicate matters for Red Bull.

Verstappen told RTL GP, “Right now Max cannot do much more than he is doing. He is doing everything right and he feels good within his skin, but he just wants to win.”

“What you will notice about Max is the disappointment that he cannot win, this is why he has had some problems. Because he has never experienced this situation before.”

Indeed the prodigious teenager throughout his junior career, in karting and the lower formulae, has always started every race with a chance of victory.

Now in Formula 1, with Red Bull third in the pecking order, Verstappen finds himself a half a second or so short of being able to challenge for wins.

Adrian Newey’s Red Bull RB13 combined with Renault power has done Verstappen no favours, while five DNFs in ten races suggests that Lady Luck has been unkind to him too.

Jos explained, “Max wants to become F1 world champion and he will do anything to win. Right now he does not have these opportunities, but he is using this year to become stronger as a person and a driver.”

“Next year, it is clear what our goals are. We want to win, and if this does not happen, the situation will become more complicated,” added Verstappen senior, no doubt hinting that a move away from Red Bull, possibly to Ferrari, could become a reality for the sport’s hottest property.

Meanwhile, no matter what happens this season, the Verstappen junior is reportedly committed to Red Bull for 2018, despite reports linking him to Maranello as partner to Sebastian Vettel and replace Kimi Raikkonen.

Jos has confirmed that his son will be with the energy drinks outfit next year, while Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko insists that Verstappen is not for sale, not even for $100-million.

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HORNER: FORMULA 1 IS AT A CROSSROADS

Red Bull chief Christian Horner has warned that Formula 1 is at a crossroads with yet to be defined new regulations set to kick in at the end of this decade and the powers that be need to figure out how it will remain relevant in the rapidly changing automotive landscape.

Speaking to ESPN, Horner said, “Formula 1 has some serious questions that it needs to answer today in the choice it makes for the engine for the future. What is Formula One’s primary purpose? Is it technology or is it a sport and entertainment, and man and machine at the absolute limit?”

“I sense that with the new ownership that has come into Formula One that creating great entertainment, creating great content, the noise, the sound, the exhilaration of seeing the drivers as the star is of absolute primary concern to them.”

“I think what’s really interesting is that Formula One is effectively at a crossroads with the new regulations, because those regulations theoretically come in 2021 and there will be probably and eight to ten-year life on those engines, so what we are looking at is actually is Formula One’s relevance pretty much up to 2030.”

“Now, by 2030 how many people are actually going to be driving cars? Are they going to be autonomous? Are they going to be electric? The world is changing so fast in that sector.”

Red Bull are lobbying aggressively for a cheaper engine option as the current formula is prohibitively expensive and far too complicated to attract more manufacturers to the sport.

Horner remains hopeful that a major overhaul of the regulations will make the sport more attractive to manufacturers and fans alike, “I hope that with the opportunity there is with the regulation change that is being discussed at the moment that the fundamental aspects of cost, performance and attractiveness to the fans, therefore the noise, the acoustics of these engines, are a key factor in the set of regulations they come up with.”

“I think that in turn will produce good racing, reduce costs and bring back some to the appeal that engines of a bygone era used to produce,” added Horner.

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Ilmor seeking partner for 2021 F1 engine project

Ilmor boss Mario Illien is keen to produce an engine for the 2021 F1 regulations, but only if the new rules address costs, and he can find a partner to fund the project.

New F1 sporting chief Ross Brawn is keen to encourage independent suppliers to come into the sport, an initiative supported by teams such as McLaren and Red Bull, who are looking at future options.

Former Mercedes F1 engine boss Illien, who has stayed in touch with current technology by working as a consultant, has attended recent FIA meetings where the future engine format has been discussed.

A twin-turbo V6 with KERS is the most favoured option, and further studies have been launched.

"Obviously there is a desire to have the possibility for independent manufacturers to come in," he told Motorsport.com. "That's one reason I'm in the meetings, to see whether it's going the right way for an independent.

"It will take a lot of simplification, and we'll have to take a lot of cost out – and make racing better and the sound better. If you have say a standard turbo for everybody, you could take a lot of cost out, for sure."

Illien is adamant that costs have to be brought down in order to encourage new entrants.

 

"That would be a necessity for independents to have a chance. It's not only the initial costs, it's also the development costs.

"I think everyone will develop and make progress, but the rules should be written in such a way that there is a relatively small gain that you can make with a lot of development."

He also believes that restricting the number of engines allowed per year has increased development costs.

"I think that has to be addressed. Next year, having three engines is more expensive than producing four engines.

"All the new parts you are developing have to go through testing on the dyno, to make sure you have achieved the mileage for three engines a year. And that is expensive.

"I think even four is not enough. We're half way through this season, and half the field has got a problem."

Even allowing for cost reductions Illien says Ilmor won't supply an engine under its own name based solely on having deals with one or two teams, because the funding still wouldn't be sufficient.

"No, I think that's unlikely, because somebody has to fund the initial development costs. Customers are probably not the right way to go, that doesn't pay for it.

"You probably need a manufacturer to support it. But if you look at Red Bull they've got TAG, so it doesn't need to be a car manufacturer, it could be anybody."

Illien suggests that F1 made a mistake by going too far in the direction of road relevance with the current formula, which was introduced in 2014 and will now run to 2020.

"I think road relevance is not that important. In my view, we've got to go racing again. Yes we can benefit road cars to a certain degree, but I think the relevance should be secondary. If nobody is going to watch F1 because it's so boring, it's not the point.

"The MGU-H is one of the very expensive elements, for sure. We might even consider going extreme and go back to normally aspirated engines and KERS. I don't think it's on the table, but I'm sure that spectators would love it.

"Especially as the world is going more hybrid and electric, we need to have something on the race track nobody could have at home."

He also acknowledges that tackling the noise issue for 2021 won't be easy.

"That is a difficult subject, because the more efficient we make an engine, the less noise it's producing. I think we have to compromise a little bit on that. Taking off the MGU-H would help a little bit. The boost level is an issue as well, the more you absorb from the exhaust, the lower the noise level."

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VETTEL: I’M NOT STRESSING TOO MUCH

Sebastian Vettel says he is keeping calm ahead of a Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that could see the Ferrari driver surrender his Formula One championship lead to Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton.

The German, a four times world champion with Red Bull, goes into the last race before the August break a point ahead of Hamilton, who will take over at the top for the first time this season if he seals a record sixth win at the Hungaroring.

“I’m not stressing too much. On paper it should be a good race for us. Let’s see how we get going,” Vettel told reporters on Thursday.

“I like the track, I’m just going to enjoy it. Everyone here, we know what we have to do and that’s what we plan to do.

“The fact that it’s the last race before the summer break or the first after Silverstone…doesn’t change anything.”

Vettel had a 25 point lead over Hamilton after Monaco in May but that has been whittled down progressively as champions Mercedes get on top of a tricky car that team boss Toto Wolff has compared to a diva.

Hamilton has won two of the four races since then, with Vettel failing to make the podium in three of them.

The Briton has also won more times than any driver in Hungary, scene of his first victory for Mercedes, and a pole position on Saturday would equal Michael Schumacher’s all time career record of 68.

Vettel agreed Mercedes had done better than Ferrari of late but all was not doom and gloom.

“I think we need to look at the races. We didn’t get the best races maybe in the last couple. Saying that, I think we were very close to a win in Austria, I don’t think we were lacking any speed there and that’s only two races ago,” he said.

“Silverstone for sure was not the best weekend for us,” added the Ferrari driver, who suffered a late puncture in that race that dropped him from third to seventh.

“You have a lot of races, some will be better and some will be worse. Maybe they were not fantastic but I am very positive,” he continued.

“We come here and we know the car is strong, we know we have a chance to fight for victory and that’s good news.”

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SAUBER CANCEL F1 ENGINE DEAL WITH HONDA

Sauber’s planned Formula One partnership with troubled engine maker Honda from 2018 has been cancelled, the Swiss-based team said in a statement at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Thursday.

Sauber, who currently use a year-old Ferrari power unit, said a new engine partner would be announced soon.

“It is very unfortunate that we have to discontinue the planned collaboration with Honda at this stage,” said newly-hired team principal Frederic Vasseur, who was previously the Renault team boss.

“However, this decision has been made for strategic reasons, and with the best intent for the future of the Sauber F1 Team in mind. We would like to thank Honda for their collaboration, and wish them all the best for their future in Formula One.”

Honda said in a statement: “This project, that originated after an initial proposal from Sauber, has been called-off due to differences in the future direction between Honda and Sauber, recognized during the preparation process for power unit supply systems.”

With Honda motorsport GM Masashi Yamamoto adding, “We had built a good relationship with Sauber, and had been looking forward to entering the 2018 F1 season together.”

“However, during discussions after management changes at the team, we reached a mutual agreement to call-off the project due to differences in the future directions of both parties.”

“We would like to thank Sauber for their cooperation, and wish them all the best for their future. Despite this announcement, Honda’s passion for motorsports and strong commitment to Formula One remains unchanged,” concluded Yamamoto.

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ABITEBOUL: KUBICA WILL NOT REPLACE PALMER AT SPA

Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul has pacified Jolyon Palmer and assured the under pressure driver that Robert Kubica’s evaluation at the forthcoming Hungaroring Formula 1 test will not impact his drive in 2017 or indeed prevent him from driving at Spa after the summer break.

Kubica will drive the new generation F1 cars for the first time in an effort to ascertain if the he will be able to cope with driving at high speed and race distant stints in the cockpit.

Talk in the paddock has suggested that if Kubica excels during the test he may oust Palmer for the Belgian Grand Prix and beyond. But this speculation appears way off the mark.

Abiteboul told reporters ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, “We continue to support Jo and there is absolutely no change of plan. It is true that with Robert we feel we need to investigate a little bit further after all the tests we have done.”

“Obviously there have been the tests we did with the 2012 car, but also we have done other things – medical checks and simulator work that I don’t really want to elaborate on.”

“We want to have a closer look about how realistic it would be for Robert to drive again in a modern F1 car, and possibly into a racing context.”

“The last opportunity to at least do the test in a modern F1 car was the Hungary test, and we are taking that opportunity. But that is really something that is more medium to long term. It is not a short-term plan and it is not a short-term option to do anything with our driver line-up.”

But the Renault chief did admit, “Robert could be a candidate for 2018 but before we can really consider him as a candidate, we need to see how he will cope with cars with more downforce and with more power, because clearly the [2012] car he has been driving up until now is not representative.”

“Frankly, even if he does well, it does not mean immediately that we will decide to go for him for 2018 because there is more we need to look into.”

Palmer, who has a firm contract with Renault negotiated by his father and Former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer at the end of 2015, has struggled to keep pace with his teammate Nico Hulkenberg while suffering dogged luck during his second season in Formula 1.

But Abiteboul confirms that the team has not lost faith in the British driver, “I told him that Robert is not an immediate threat. Clearly we are looking at options for 2018, and Jo could be an option for 2018. That is in his hands.”

“What we are doing with Robert has nothing to do with what Jo does this weekend or even after the summer break. But there will not be any replacement driver in Spa, as I’ve seen stories suggesting that too.

“I can confirm that Jo will be driving in Spa and the plan is for him to drive until the end of the season. [He needs to] perform like any driver who makes it to F1 has to perform. I am not going to take away the fact that there is pressure.”

“It is a competitive environment and that is never going to go away. But it is not a short term pressure,” added Abiteboul.

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VERSTAPPEN: ON TRACK YOU HAVE TO BE AN ASSHOLE

Max Verstappen is without doubt one of the most exciting prospects in Formula 1, the teenager’s presence at the pinnacle of the sport is assured for a very long time and he is not afraid to admit that winning requires him to be selfish and an….

Speaking to Sport Bild, Verstappen declared, “You can call me what you want: Mad Max, Max the wimp or whatever. It’s all about me. On track you have to be an asshole. Look at how Michael Schumacher behaved!”

“At the end of the day, a Formula 1 driver must know how to win races and titles. He really should not think how to be a nice guy,” he added.

Love him or not, Verstappen adds value every time he hits the track. In a short space of time he has a legion of loyal fans who trek to every race, their presence evident by the large swathes of orange in the stands.

This is no ordinary driver, but one who stirs up passions among fans and his rivals alike, doing his talking on track… and of late the teenager has had several high profile spats with Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel.

At the British Grand Prix, last time out, Verstappen made his Red Bull as ‘wide’ as can be, making it impossible for Vettel – who was faster at that point of the race – to pass, which prompted complaints over the radio and hand waving from the four times World Champion.

Verstappen is now used to the way Vettel reacts, “Sebastian moaned again in the heat of our battle, but this is something I don’t care about. I do not expect him to send me a Christmas card, nor will he invite me to his next birthday party. ”

Today the 19 year old is the hottest property in the Formula 1 paddock and inevitably talk of him moving to Ferrari or Mercedes is constant.

Verstappen’s views on the matter are simple, “I know Ferrari has a great history in Formula One. Like Mercedes, by the way. Quite honestly, I want to sit in the best possible car. The color does not matter.”

This season Verstappen is teamed up with Ricciardo at Red Bull, and the Dutchman clearly has big respect for the Australian, “For me, Daniel Ricciardo is a bigger challenge than Vettel. When the two drove in the same team in 2014, Daniel was stronger.”

“Although we have been teammates for more than a year, there was not yet a bad moment. We are driving in a positive way, and that will remain so,” insisted Verstappen.

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F1 2017 GAME NEW TRAILER AND INFORMATION

As the launch of F1 2017 gets closer and closer (less than a month to go now!), Codemasters released a gameplay trailer that shows how the game spans the history of the sport and also highlights several new features.

F1 2017 releases onto PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC (DVD and via Steam) worldwide on 25 August.

You’ll notice that in the trailer shows our multi-class classic races, and, if we’re honest, racing cars like the 2006 Renault R26 and the 2008 McLaren MP4-23 at the same time gives us the tingles.

As well as showing the thrilling cars of the 2017 season, and nostalgic cars, the eagle-eyed of you (of which we know there are an awful lot of you!) will notice shots of Monaco at night in the trailer, and we’re very pleased to announce that you’ll be able to race the iconic street circuit in Monaco at night for the first time in the series.

Of course, we couldn’t let this all go by without chatting to Creative Director, Lee Mather: “We know our fans have loved seeing the classic cars being revealed in the recent weeks, but we know they also want to see the new cars in action as well. The 2017 cars present their own unique challenge as they are incredibly fast but wider and heavier than before, therefore we have had to completely rework the physics system to refine the balance between aerodynamics and tyre grip.

Lee continued: “Taking on Monaco is always a test of your skills and now we have added the ability to take to these iconic streets at night in both modern day and classic F1 cars. We think our fans are going to love it.”

In addition to the 20 official circuits from the current season, and Monaco at night, players can also take on four brand new short circuits at Britain, Bahrain, USA and a soon to be announced track.

F1 2017 not only allows you to drive the latest cars on the grid but also gives you access to 12* iconic classics, though if you need a reminder of what they are, they’re here:

• 1988 McLaren MP4/4*
• 1991 McLaren MP4/6
• 1992 Williams FW14B
• 1995 Ferrari 412 T2
• 1996 Williams FW18
• 1998 McLaren MP4-13
• 2002 Ferrari F2002
• 2004 Ferrari F2004
• 2006 Renault R26
• 2007 Ferrari F2007
• 2008 McLaren MP4-23
• 2010 Red Bull Racing RB6

*If you pre-order or purchase ‘Day One’ copies of F1 2017 will have exclusive access to the iconic 1988 McLaren MP4/4, as part of the ‘F1 2017 Special Edition’, though the McLaren MP4/4 car will be available to be purchased at a later date. The eleven other classic cars are available in all editions of the game.

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TICKETS FOR 2018 GERMAN GRAND PRIX GO ON SALE

Great news for all motorsport fans: F1 is returning to the iconic Hockenheimring next year on the weekend of 20-22 July 2018.

Advance ticket sales for this weekend of racing and entertainment will begin this coming Monday, 31 July with early bird discounts and incredible special offers for young fans.

The first phase of ticket sales will last until 30 September and will see customers benefit from special early bird offers. For the same price of a Sunday-only ticket, fans will be able to get three days of incredible racing action with tickets for the entire weekend of this F1 extravaganza in the famous Motodrom available to book from €99.

The Hockenheimring, as promoter of the Formula 1 German Grand Prix, is dedicated to help grow and inspire the next generation of F1 fans. As such, reduced ticket prices for Junior fans will be on offer again for the 2018 race weekend. Children up to the age of 6 will gain free entrance (no seat allocation) while under 16’s will only pay €45 a seat for a Sunday only ticket, and €50 for a full weekend ticket. Please note, this offer does not extend to the South Stand Upper Tier.

On the Friday of the race weekend, all grandstand ticket holders will have the opportunity to watch the race from several viewpoints. This provides fans with a free choice of seating on the open Grandstands, meaning they will benefit from being able to experience the thrilling high-speed action at various points of the classic circuit throughout the day.

This ‘Grandstand-Hopping’ will not require allocated seating for a range of chosen areas on the track. For those fans who prefer to have the same seating arrangements for each day, there are plenty of specific seats available on most grandstands with the added bonus that should they wish to explore the circuit, they can still change seats on the Friday.

Full access to the General Admissions area is also included in the weekend ticket for all three days which is a great benefit to any fans who wish to experience the action from within the world renowned Motodrom as well as along the different high-speed sections of the track.

Furthermore, off-track, a world class entertainment programme will be on offer to all fans throughout the weekend, something that previous race goers at the Hockenheimring can attest to!

Georg Seiler, Managing Director of the Hockenheim-Ring GmbH, is delighted to welcome the greatest motorsport series in the world back to Germany: “I have been following this season’s developments with great interest.”

“The technical advances and changes to the regulations have helped to make the contest more exciting than ever with fans being treated to some amazing battles on-track between the drivers. F1 is clearly alive and well. In addition, the new approaches to fan engagement have helped to create an even more immersive live experience for all Grands Prix visitors.”

“I am confident that our race weekend will be a real highlight of the 2018 calendar and, alongside Formula 1’s new owners, Liberty Media, I am excited to welcome back the biggest motorsport event in Germany in 2018,” concluded Seiler.

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Halo will look better with aero fairing attached - FIA

The FIA's Charlie Whiting believes the Halo cockpit protection device will look better once teams have attached their own aero fairings, and says fans will eventually get used to them.

Although the Halo itself will be a standard design made by a single manufacturer, teams will be given some freedom to cover the Halo structure in bodywork for aerodynamic purposes, and Whiting believes that will also make them more attractive.

"All the Halos that we've seen bar one, as I recall anyway, have been just raw," explained Whiting. "I think we should just wait and see what the teams come up with, because for sure they will all exploit the extra freedom that they have got, even if it is just for aero reasons.

"I'm sure that they will look more pleasing to the eyes. They have to use the standard Halo, that will be from a single supplier. We will allow them to use non-structural fairings around the upper part, which can be no more than 20mm from the main structure.

"I think there's an overall width restriction, and I think there's a restriction on how far they can encroach on the cockpit opening. But 20mm is quite lot all the way around, and they can do what they like with that."

Despite the barrage of criticism from fans and even some drivers, Whiting expects that to die down eventually and fans will grow to live with the Halo.

"At the moment we've only seen bare designs. Even when Williams ran with a white one, the same colour as the car, it looked a lot better, I think you'll agree," he added.

"I personally think fans will get used to it. I know there's a little bit of pushback at the moment. I think they will come up with some pretty different designs, so I don't think it will be quite as bad as you think."

MIKA: Me next year....
 

 

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Felipe Massa labels Budapest 'second or third worst track' for Williams

Felipe Massa has labelled the Hungaroring as the “second or third worst track” for Williams, though remains optimistic of capturing a top 10 result.

Williams has struggled in recent years at the Hungarian Grand Prix, failing to score a point in 2015, while last season Valtteri Bottas was the team’s highest classified runner in ninth.

“It is a tricky track, this is clear, the worst track is Monaco, this maybe is the second or third worst track for us,” he said.

“We will try, you never know, maybe [as] it’s a different car, different rules… I don’t believe it will be so negative as in the last years but we need to wait and see.”

Rookie team-mate Lance Stroll commented: “I don’t think we need to be negative, we shouldn’t write it off before it [the weekend] starts.

“It’s not as appealing as a track like Monza! But you never know, I’ve had a lot of surprises this year.

“I went to some circuits where I didn’t think from my side I’d be competitive and for some reason the car clicked, the track clicked and it seemed to work.

“We’ve just got to see what happens when we jump in tomorrow and go from there.”

Stroll nonetheless feels Williams has to become a more consistent performer this year.

“We’re not where we want to be every weekend,” he said.

“A lot of that is due to different tracks, tracks that suit our car, some tracks just don’t work with our car.

“We’re working on it, it’s not ideal, sometimes we’re comfortably in Q3, other tracks we’re struggling to get out of Q1 and we need to fix that.”

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Valtteri Bottas surprises young F1 fan at Mercedes-Benz World

One little guy captured the hearts of Mercedes during the British Grand Prix when - painted in blue - he was spotted cheering on his hero, Valtteri Bottas. So, Mercedes caught up with Oliver and arranged a little surprise for him at Mercedes-Benz World...

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Guenther Steiner: Tight midfield makes predictions pointless

Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner says that he is “getting very careful” with making predictions over the pecking order in Formula 1’s midfield due to its competitive nature.

Different teams have emerged as ‘best of the rest’ in 2017 – behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull – with Haas enjoying a strong run in Austria, before Renault emerged to lead the pack in Britain.

Force India, which holds fourth in the standings, has also pulled off several top results, while Williams and Toro Rosso have also spearheaded the midfield charge at various stages.

“I’m getting very careful with predicting anything as from track to track it’s temperature, track surface, how the track layout is, how it all comes together, and how you can get tyres to work,” Steiner said of the varying influencing factors.

“It’s always something different, so very careful to say ‘this is a good track for us’ and then we’re completely out of luck. 

“The other thing is that as it’s so tight in the midfield, even if we’re as good as we were in Austria, someone could do a better job and get their car more settled in the circumstances.

“All of a sudden you’re behind, so if we’re as good as we were in Austria, but the others are a lot better than you… so I’ll wait until Friday night before a conclusion. 

“I learnt this year it’s so over the place not only for us but a lot of other people, look at the Renault, in Austria they were nowhere and in Silverstone they were flying.”

Brakes have been a key component in Haas’ campaign, with Romain Grosjean in particular sensitive to the feel and material, having run Brembo and Carbon Industrie.

Steiner confirmed that Haas’ plan is to replicate its Silverstone approach, with Grosjean using Carbon Industrie, while Kevin Magnussen and FP1 stand-in Antonio Giovinazzi on Brembos.

“The brake update of Hungaroring 2017,” joked Steiner. “One guy on Brembo, one guy on CI, the same as last week. 

“Romain is on CI, starting tomorrow, Kevin – and Antonio – are on Brembo, we keep that car on Brembo and the other one on CI.”

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Rosberg to be Mercedes Formula E boss?

Nico Rosberg has been linked with the team principal job when Mercedes join Formula E in 2019, according to Auto Bild.

The retired World Champion has repeatedly stated he is not interested in a Formula 1 return, but a new opportunity could arise for him in Formula E following Mercedes' announcement earlier in the week that they would be joining the all-electric single seater series.

Auto Bild believe Rosberg has 'already met with series boss Alajandro Agag in Monaco' about the prospect of a management role.

Rosberg would be joining another World Champion in Alain Prost, who also runs Renault's Formula E team, and the Frenchman reckons the arrival of Mercedes makes a big statement.

"The involvement of the car manufacturers is a strong message," Prost said.

But Prost does not believe Formula E will ever eclipse Formula 1 as the pinnacle of motorsport.

"There is not only no reason to believe that this situation will ever occur, but also no desire," Prost told Le Journal de Montreal newspaper.

"If Formula E has gained so much credibility, it's partly because the races are in big cities like New York, Paris and now Montreal.

"It's also a way to stand out from F1."

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F1 halo introduction marks 'the end of F1 as we know it'

The introduction of the halo device for 2018 is "the end of Formula 1 as we know it", according to Jolyon Palmer.

Several F1 drivers have spoken against the introduction of the device, which has been widely rejected by fans since the FIA confirmed its introduction would be forced through on safety grounds.

"It's an overreaction to problems in other series," said Palmer ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"It's a sad day, a mistake, and there's no coming back from it.

"This will be the end of Formula 1 as we know it, with an open cockpit.

"Since 1994 there's been one fatality in F1 [Jules Bianchi], which is tragic, but the halo wouldn't have stopped it.

"The halo would have prevented no deaths in F1 in 23 years, but because of incidents in IndyCar [Justin Wilson] and Formula 2 [Henry Surtees], where there were different tracks, different safety measures, we're introducing something into F1 that changes the whole tradition and history of the sport.

"I'm not being disrespectful. I just think that the whole essence of single-seater racing is open-top.

"The problems in F2 back then [Palmer was in the race where Surtees was killed], and in IndyCar with Justin Wilson's incident - they aren't problems we experience on modern F1 circuits."

Max Verstappen was another driver to question the need for the halo, given the other safety improvements F1 has made in recent years.

"I don't like it, but you have to respect the decision of the FIA," said the Red Bull driver.

"Since we introduced a virtual safety car, that has reduced a lot of risk of speeding under the yellow flags in the race.

"Also, with the wheel tethers they are quite strong so you won't lose a wheel very easily, and when there are parts flying around the car [the halo] isn't really going to protect you.

"I don't really understand why we should need it."

When asked if he felt it would take away some of the excitement of F1, he said: "I think as soon as I have that thing on my car, I don't like it.

"So the excitement is already gone before I am already sitting in the car."

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was more outspoken, suggesting that fans were right to be upset about the looks of the car suffering.

"When you look at the car and it is ugly, F1 cars aren't meant to be ugly," he said.

"That is the reason that a Ferrari is more exciting than a Mazda. It is something to do with passion. If it looks shit, it is shit..."

Romain Grosjean, who is a GPDA director, remains widely against any form of additional cockpit protection.

"It was a sad day for Formula 1 when it was announced, and I am still against it," he said.

"I don't think it's got a space in Formula 1.

"As a GPDA member and director, as a driver, I need to thank the FIA for all the research because the research has been pretty strong, the halo is a strong device against a lot of cases.

"But there are a few problems that we may have that we haven't thought of - seeing the starting light on the grid, no one has tried that."

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Ron Dennis could be given historic McLaren Formula 1 cars

Ron Dennis could walk away from McLaren with a collection of its most valuable historic Formula 1 cars, if it fails to complete the purchase of his shares.

Official documents show that the cars are security in relation to a deferred payment of £37.5million that Dennis is due to receive in respect of the agreement made with the remaining shareholders on June 7.

The fact that the cars were pulled into the deal gives an insight into how the negotiations unfolded, though there is no reason to expect that the payment will not be made on time.

McLaren executive director Zak Brown confirmed at the British Grand Prix that the funding required to buy Dennis out has been raised, saying "it's done".

The list of 13 cars represents the cream of the McLaren collection, with examples of each of its most famous models.

The oldest is MP4-1, the very first carbonfibre car built for the 1981 season after Dennis's Project 4 outfit was merged with McLaren.

Cars described as the actual "world championship winners" include those of Niki Lauda (1984), Alain Prost ('89), Ayrton Senna (1990/91), Mika Hakkinen ('98/99) and Lewis Hamilton (2008).

In addition there are examples described as race winning cars from championship years, from 1985, '86 and '88 - with the last being MP4/4-1 from the team's most successful season.

Also on the list are Ayrton Senna's last race-winning MP4/8 from the 1993 Australian GP, and the unique Lamborghini-powered MP4/8 test car that Senna drove before Dennis decided not to use the Chrysler-backed engine.

Most of the cars are currently located at the McLaren Technology Centre, although two are in storage at McLaren's old Woking base, while the Lamborghini test car is currently on loan to the Italian company's museum and is due back in the UK in November.