Formula 1 - 2017

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WHAT IS FUTURE FOR F1 AS WORLD MOVES TOWARDS BAN ON PETROL CARS?

This last month has seen some momentous shifts in the journey towards road cars becoming zero emissions and one can’t help but speculate what impact this is going to have in the long term on motorsport in general and F1 in particular.

Volvo announced it would soon stop making petrol and diesel cars, the UK government joined other European governments in setting a date by which the sale of new petrol and diesel cars would be banned; 2040 in the case of the UK.

These moves are being replicated by governments around the world and will be replicated by other manufacturers, giving a clear indication of the direction of travel for the automotive industry.

So the question is where F1 fits into this, as the world’s most high profile fossil fuel powered race series and what its future will be? Will it eventually be forced to merge or be taken over by Formula E?

John Malone’s Liberty group owns both series, so has its bases nicely covered.

This is the first of a series of posts considering some of the factors around this debate.

As the world goes zero emissions, how will motorsport be viewed?

One of the most interesting things I’ve learned in the last few months came at the FIA Sports Conference in June when Vincent Caro, who is responsible for historic racing at the FIA, said that his sector was the fastest growing in all of motorsports.

In terms of new entrants, new championships and new licence holders, people are flocking to historic and classic racing. There are several reasons for this: it’s much more affordable to buy a 1970s saloon or a pre 1984 Formula Ford than it is to go racing with a modern car. It’s simple, cheap thrills at the basic level.

The cars are simpler technically so can be tinkered with by enthusiasts, there is a great community spirit around the classic racing scene (witness the immense popularity of events like Goodwood Revival and Silverstone Classic).

But crucial for me is the idea of nostalgia that runs through this. In many cases these are men and women who have made a bit of money and want to satisfy their long held dream to ‘have a go’ so they buy cars from the era in which they first fell in love with the sport.

Nostalgia is a fascinating thing and a very powerful emotion. It drives trends in other sectors, especially fashion, art and music. When achievers from each generation reach their late 30s or early 40s and have a wider influence on the world around them, then the period in which they came of age gets a spotlight put on it and there is a revival of some of the things that featured heavily back then.

Of course we are now seeing young entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg having a huge influence on the world in his 20s and that trend, downwards in age, could well strengthen.

I think nostalgia plays a huge part in how fans follow their passion, as they mature. Many readers here discovered F1 in the 1970s and 80s, when you could bolt a Cosworth engine into a chassis and be competitive. They don’t like modern F1 much.

Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley were always nostalgic for that era, when they came of age as team owners, and wanted to take F1 back to that kind of model.

They failed because technology is a wave that you cannot order to roll back and that’s why F1 is where it is today with hybrid turbo engines and manufacturers like Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault (and even Honda) in a very strong position in the F1 ecosystem.

What has to happen next is a long term plan to go from where we are today towards an F1 where the cars are closely matched as they were in the 1970s Cosworth era, but where the sport is also seen to be helping the automotive industry – and by extension society – towards a zero emissions future.

It needs to do this both technically and in communications.

F1’s global platform is spectacularly powerful to tell that story and I suspect that FIA President Jean Todt and F1 CEO Chase Carey have already had discussions on this.

For example, the drive to zero emissions will put huge emphasis on charging infrastructure. Qualcomm is a world leader in this and very much part of the journey in FE. It is also a sponsor of Mercedes in F1. Using F1’s communications platform to tell the story of how charging infrastructure is being ramped up around the world helps consumers feel more confident in buying an EV and making that switch.

But F1 then also has to square that role with the nostalgia of the fans for noisy, outrageous looking cars. And if it ultimately decides to diverge and retain noisy petrol engines (albeit hybrid) as part of the spectacle, then it would be making a big bet that nostalgia would maintain the fanbase.

That could sustain quite well for a while; kids today who are taken to a Grand Prix or Le Mans or even the Silverstone Classic by enthusiastic parents, get just as excited by a racing engine, the speed and the smell as did previous generations.

As the world’s roads become more silent and smog free, the cars more perfect but lacking emotion, there will be a hankering for the old noisy petrol engined cars that can be seen down at the race track. Hopefully the Governments will allow them to continue to race there, even after the roads have become zero emissions.

So F1 as a series based on petrol driven engines clearly has a sell by date on it, although interestingly the UK Government has confirmed that hybrids are not part of the 2040 moratorium, only ‘conventional’ petrol and diesel cars.

How can F1 be part of the solution, not part of the problem? 

It’s no co-incidence that while all these announcements have been going on at Government level, Formula E has received a massive shot in the arm with Mercedes and Porsche committing to the series, joining other manufacturers in throwing their weight behind the race to go faster and further on a single electric charge.

McLaren Applied Technologies, under the project leadership of Rodi Basso, are developing the batteries for Season Five which will do the whole race on a single charge. That will be a game changer and if the story is well told, it will draw a lot of attention to Formula E.

F1 needs to be part of the solution here, not the problem. If the world is going zero emissions, then F1 must surely become obsolete, be overtaken by Formula E, or it must adapt?

But F1 has a vastly bigger fanbase, while Formula E has many admirers but struggles to find ‘fans’, in the sense of passions being ignited. Manufacturers try to sell their EVs speaking of the ’emotion’ of owning and driving them, but while they are easy to admire they are hard to love.

If Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and the Red Bull dynamic duo were racing Formula E cars, would it be exciting?

It would if the cars were going much faster and the TV technology were optimised to show it both to fans at home and in the grandstands. That is a journey, a technological journey, as has been the whole history of this great sport.

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Honda considering as many as three more 2017 upgrades

McLaren could receive as many as three upgrades to their Honda power unit before this season draws to a close.

On the back of McLaren’s first double points-haul of the championship, which they achieved in Hungary, Honda’s F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa has confirmed that Japanese manufacturer intends pressing ahead with updates to their engine.

However, how many are in the pipeline remains to be seen.

“Definitely we will prepare another two steps, but it could be three,” Hasegawa told RACER. “Either way, we will keep going.

“There are also things to think about like tactics of how to manage some steps up and the introduction of new specifications.

“Of course we also need to avoid penalties as well, especially at certain tracks like Singapore.”

Hasegawa added that he firmly believes Honda can continue their recent upward trend.

“As a performance development point of view I am confident we will increase it, but I cannot guarantee what level of performance we can achieve at a certain point.”

In fact he believes Honda are closing the gap to their rival engine manufacturers.

“Definitely,” he said. “Of that there is no doubt.

“We are closing up the gap – but it is natural because we are the followers, so we should be.”

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Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto sure engine penalties can be avoided

Ferrari Chief Technical Officer Mattia Binotto remains confident that Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen can avoid engine penalties in 2017, despite already using their allocation of Turbochargers for the season..

Under Formula 1 regulations, drivers are permitted four versions of the six components which make up the power unit, of which the Turbocharger is one.

Should a fifth version of any of the components be utilised, a driver will receive a 10-place grid penalty, followed by further sanctions if more parts be required.

Vettel and Räikkönen are both onto their fourth Turbocharger, with nine rounds remaining, but Binotto is sure that Ferrari’s rotation approach will mean a fifth version is not needed.

“Certainly it is somehow a concern in the fact that we had failure on the turbo at the start of the season and we have to replace them at the very start,” Binotto said.

“And [therefore] you introduce very early in the season turbo number three and turbo number four.

“Having said that, we introduce as well in the following turbos some modifications for reliability.

“They are running well at the moment, so we’ve got all the pool at the moment that have been introduced but we’ve got all the mileage available on each turbo.

“So we are rotating them and, obviously it’s our objective to conclude the season with the current pool of turbos.”

On the title battle between Ferrari and Mercedes, Binotto said: “There have been races at the start of the season where we have been competitive and others where Mercedes has been competitive.

“If you look, for example, Bahrain very early in the season, they have been very competitive in qualifying, we have been in the race.

“Certainly the development is very important. That has to be done race by race.”

Ferrari trails Mercedes by 39 points in the Constructors’ Championship, having taken four wins to the six achieved by its opponent.

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Chase Carey says Formula 1’s TV options have ‘conflicting goals’

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey says the championship's options for its television output in the future have "conflicting goals".

F1's new owners are trying to set the foundations to do a better job of embracing digital media opportunities as well as expanding the types of deals Bernie Ecclestone did with broadcasters, that were largely focused on getting the most money possible.

Carey says Liberty Media has identified four types of broadcast option available to it, but juggling the demands of those ideas will be a challenge.

"In terms of the television arena that we deal with, I guess the way to describe it is that there are three or even four potential arenas that we are engaged with," said Carey.

"Traditional free, pay, digital, and then our own probably more direct 'over the top' product.

"To some degree what you have is conflicting goals across them.

"Probably the economic premium paid gets higher as you go up the ladder, but the reach gets less."

Carey said F1's aim is to make sure it achieves growth over a long period, rather than looking for the quickest way to improve viewing figures immediately.

"We're trying to balance what is the right mix of reach and direct economic value," he said.

"Clearly there are impacts on other partners we have - for sponsors the fan engagement is obviously very important.

"For us the goal is to maximise long-term growth, not to find a short term pop.

"If you're energising the sport we want to make sure we continue to position it for long-term growth that finds a balance between that reach [and money] as opposed to just where you can get the biggest buck?"

He also played down any suggestions of traditional TV distribution losing its relevance too quickly.

"It's more and more heading to various forms of digital platforms - I don't think it will happen as fast as some people think," he said.

"Some habits die hard, and there is a value in volume and choice.

"On the programming side there's still value in reach. It's going there [digital], but it will take time.

"There's no question that there will be a lot more ways that content will continue to be offered to consumers."

MIKA: Why not create something like a NETFLIX but purely just for F1 where people pay a small monthly fee to enjoy Formula 1?

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'Ugly' Monaco GP helped solve Mercedes' problems with 2017 F1 car

Mercedes' 'ugly' Monaco Grand Prix performance enabled it to identify and resolve the weaknesses of its 2017 Formula 1 car, say team bosses.

Though Mercedes had won three of the five F1 races before Monaco in May, it struggled to fourth with Valtteri Bottas and seventh with Lewis Hamilton, who had qualified only 13th, as Ferrari finished first and second.

But it won three of the next four GPs, and turned a 17-point constructors' championship deficit to Ferrari post-Monaco into a 39-point lead by the summer break.

Mercedes had described its W08 as a "diva" to set up from the outset, and technical director James Allison said the low of Monaco actually proved beneficial.

"Monaco was a circuit where very few of the good parts of our car were on display and most of the uglier ones were," he told Autosport.

"And it was really helpful to us that in regard, because it focused our minds on where the issues were.

"It was very, very beneficial. Prior to Monaco, we had won a few races. We had been on pole in all but one of them.

"We clearly had a quick car and you can flatter yourself that this is all going to be fine, but it was really helpful for us to see that the problems we had needed to be dealt with, because we didn't like the experience of Monaco.

"But also the purity with which they were presented to us in Monaco also made it correspondingly much easier to diagnose what were the bigger factors and how to go about attacking them, so it was helpful in two ways - as a spur and as a diagnostic."

Allison said the "biggest step" Mercedes made in response to Monaco was "our understanding" of the car rather than any new parts.

"From after Monaco we haven't really had a weak race so far," he said.

"And that race after Monaco was Canada and we didn't bring any upgrades there."

Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff added that "the 10 days after Monaco were probably the most useful" of the year so far for his team.

"We've had similar moments in the past, with Singapore [2015] for example," said Wolff.

"They're working on a very high level all the time, but when things happen like in Monaco when suddenly all your performance drops away there is even more emphasis on trying to find out what happened.

"I am very impressed about how the team coped and handled the situation.

"But we have it every weekend. Every weekend we're trying to identify the problems, finding solutions, trying to find how we can optimise our performance.

"We face difficulties all the time, most of the time not visible to the public."

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PORSCHE DEVELOPING A FORMULA 1 ENGINE FOR 2021?

In recent years Porsche have been adamant that they are not considering a Formula 1 programme, Michael Steiner – a member of Porsche’s executive board who represents research and development – has explained what the iconic car maker has in store for their motorsport future while revealing that his company will continue to develop efficient high-performance engines.

In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Steiner explained, “We have decided to reorganize our motor sport strategy – and to align it with our corporate strategy. In addition to purist GT road cars, fully electric sports cars are also part of our programme.”

“Both will be reflected in the future of the Porsche motorsport world. Sports cars are and remain central to Porsche and they will continue to be equipped with combustion engines in the long term. E-mobility is a new major topic.”

“In the future, we will split our commitment: On the one hand, we will drive with the conventionally driven products in the GT and customer sports and [on the other] we are entering Formula E as from 2019.”

“The series is developing in an interesting direction. For example, think of the rear axle with the electric motor, which is optional, or take the inverter and battery management which we will be able to develop.”

“Short-term a better battery is to be used in the Formula E, so the car changes during the races are eliminated. In addition, power increases are planned. Brake-by-wire will follow and much more. We have seen the road-map on the technical side. The regulations will continue to open and these developments are very interesting.”

Poesche built a hugely successful turbo F1 engine, in the eighties, for McLaren and financed by their partner TAG. It engine was officially known as the: TAG-Porsche TTE PO1 1.5 V6t. But at the time the German auto maker were more intent on building it for the team rather than have it badged with the Porsche badge just in case it failed on track.

Which it did not as it powered Niki Lauda to the F1 world championship in 1984, with Alain Prost winning back-to-back titles in 1985 and 1986. And McLaren were constructors’ champions in 1984 and 1985.

A return by Porsche to Formula 1 has always been a subject of speculation. And right now the chances of a foray by the German manufacturer as an engine supplier could well be on the cards, depending on the route the F1 takes when the new engine rules which will be introduced for 2021 and beyond.

Steiner explained the current situation, “Like other manufacturers, we are participating, at the invitation of the FIA, in the discussions on the future Formula 1 powertrain.”

And added somewhat cryptically, “The team at Weissach is not working on an F1 engine at the moment, but it is working on a high-efficiency engine, on concept levels – without a decision about what we are doing with this engine of the series or in racing.”

“We would have worked on efficient high-performance engines in the continuation of the LMP1 program and we are now driving this development forward. This development contract with the engineers will run over the next 18 months.”

Finally he was asked: you’re not going to enter Formula One in 2021? To which he replied, “I assume not, there is no statement with regards to this.”

Nevertheless there is a school of thought that believes Porsche are sitting on the fence (like several other manufacturers) to see where the FIA and Liberty Media decide go with the new F1 engine formula.

However, should the new power unit regulations appeal to them then Porsche could create a F1 programme whereby they will supply engines to Formula 1 teams on a customer basis.

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Toro Rosso-Honda talks collapse

Talks between Toro Rosso and Honda regarding a Formula 1 engine supply deal for 2018 have collapsed.

Honda is keen to take on a second team, after its deal with Sauber was cancelled, as it feels the extra data gathered would help development with McLaren.

Talks have been on-going for several weeks, even though the Italian team already has a deal with Renault in place for next year.

But it is believed the two parties could not come to an agreement regarding the financial aspects of the deal.

With time running short for a Toro Rosso-Honda alliance to be sufficiently prepared for next year, it was decided to bring talks to an end.

Toro Rosso will continue to run Renault power units next season. Had the Italian team switched to Honda power, the Japanese manufacturer would have been its third different supplier in three years.

Honda and Toro Rosso were unavailable for comment.

It remains unclear whether Honda will continue with McLaren next season after a challenging campaign so far.

McLaren is evaluating its options, even though Ferrari and Mercedes have made it clear they will not supply engines to the team.

Should McLaren split with Honda, that would force the Japanese manufacturer out of the championship and leave Renault as McLaren’s only option for a supply.

Time to agree a deal with Renault is running short, with engineers already advanced in working on next year's car configuration.

It is believed a Renault deal - while not impossible - is unlikely, as the French marque is thought to be reluctant to expand its supply to a fourth team due to concerns that this would have a negative impact on reliability.

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Red Bull boss Marko tips Sebastian Vettel to win 2017 F1 title

Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has tipped his former driver Sebastian Vettel to come back even stronger after Formula 1's summer break and win the drivers' championship.

Ferrari driver Vettel won four of the opening 11 races, including the final race before the break in Hungary, to open up a 14-point lead over Mercedes F1 rival Lewis Hamilton.

When asked who he thought will win the drivers' title this season in an interview with the official Formula 1 website, Marko picked Vettel, who won all four of his drivers' titles with Red Bull.

"I believe in Vettel, because I know his mental strength - and Ferrari has raised its game," said Marko.

"Silverstone, I would say, was an exception - Ferrari was clearly the stronger car in the first half of the season and only due to various circumstances could they not materialise all their chances.

"Seb will use this summer break to come back even stronger.

"That's how I know him."

Red Bull has failed to get on terms with constructors' championship leader Mercedes and Ferrari this season, trailing the former by 173 points in third.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has said the team's slow start to the season was caused by this year's new generation cars affecting the performance of its windtunnel.

Marko feels its Renault engine, which is third in the power unit pecking order behind Mercedes and Ferrari but ahead of Honda, has also been a limiting factor.

"It [P3] is not good enough for Red Bull, but in our position with the engine it's the best we can get," said Marko.

Renault has admitted it made too many changes to its engine over the winter, and has paid the price with reliability struggles this season.

Horner believes Renault is behind where it wanted to be at this point in the season, but Red Bull has found a clearer direction for its chassis to soften the blow.

"I think Renault are behind the targets that they've set themselves but they're working very hard and again the others didn't stand still," said Horner.

"Mercedes obviously had a good winter, Ferrari had a good winter so it's all relative.

"The fundamental concept of the car is the same, it's just how it's evolved and I think it's the direction of evolution that has changed and been putting good performance on to the car.

"I think we've probably found a couple of tenths from the start of the season."

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Mercedes/Ferrari will not tempt Verstappen from Red Bull – Horner

Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen will not be tempted to leave the Red Bull Formula 1 team for Mercedes or Ferrari.

Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull that runs to 2019, but he has been subject of long-standing interest from Mercedes and has also been repeatedly linked with Ferrari.

The Dutchman was courted by Mercedes during his stunning rookie European Formula 3 season before choosing to join the Red Bull programme.

Verstappen has endured a frustrating 2017 so far, with his RB13 plagued by reliability issues and Red Bull struggling to match Mercedes and Ferrari on a regular basis.

Asked whether he believed Verstappen could eventually be tempted to join one of Red Bull's two main rivals, Horner said: "I don't think so. I think he can see what's going on.

"He's impatient like any youngster but he's objective enough to know that there's good stuff in the pipeline.

"And from where we started the season to where we are now, the trajectory has been right there as soon as we sorted out the issues with correlation from earlier in the year.

"We've seen very sharp progress."

Verstappen is sixth in the drivers' championship with just one podium finish, a third place earned in the Chinese Grand Prix.

He trails team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who won in Azerbaijan amid a run of five consecutive podium finishes, by 50 points in the standings.

Verstappen said he was "losing confidence" in the current situation after a clutch issue in Austria, and admitted to being "concerned" over whether Red Bull's engine partner Renault could deliver for 2018.

Horner acknowledges that Red Bull must deliver a race-winning car in order to extend Verstappen's time with the team.

Asked about a contract extension for Verstappen, Horner said: "What's reflected on a piece of paper has to reflect desire from both sides.

"There's no point talking past the end of Max's current contract at the moment, because it's down to us to provide him with a car that he can compete and win in.

"And I'm sure if we do that, I don't think there's any other team that Max would rather be in."

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ALONSO: IF I CANNOT FIGHT FOR THE WIN I WILL LOOK OUTSIDE F1

Fernando Alonso has made no secret that he is looking around for a Formula 1 drive that will give him the opportunity to win races and ultimately allow him to fight for a third world title, but if no winning seat emerges for him on the grand prix grid then a shift to Indycar is his most likely destination for 2018 and beyond.

Alonso told media in early June, “We have to win. If we are not winning before September, when I will make a decision, I will not stay.”

It is highly unlikely that McLaren and Honda will provide the Spaniard with a winning car in the next 30 or 40 days – with Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes not interested in his services – options for him are limited.

Nevertheless Alonso told CNN, “Formula One is still my priority, it’s my life, and winning the world championship is what I’m hoping. If I don’t see any project that will allow me to fight for the win I will look outside F1 – but that’s November-December. I will try all the possibilities before that.”

Outside of Formula 1 the best option for 36 year old Alonso is Indycars where he has an instant hit when he raced at the Indianapolis 500 in May. Not only did he impress on track, leading at one stage, but was also a huge success with media and fans alike.

Alonso recalled the Indy foray, “I went to Indianapolis and I had that feeling again that I can win this race . The feeling that you could win that race was special.”

“When I jump in the car, I put my legs inside the cockpit, the mechanics put the belts on, when I take the belts off and I pull myself out of the car maybe I am the winner of this race – I was thinking that in this moment. That feeling was magic.”

Regarding his adventure at the fabled Brickyard, Alonso reflected, “I think it’s a different culture, a different way of understanding motorsport or sport in general. Much more open, much more friendly to all of us.”

“It’s the kind of feeling that the sport is beyond nationalities. All of us there were heroes for all the people in the grandstand. They support all of us in the same way and they really enjoyed the race.”

Alas for Alonso and his legions of fans the dream of victory at Indy ended up with a smoking Honda engine and a yet another DNF. This has been the story of his career since he returned to McLaren in 2015 until now. Furthermore he has not won a Formula 1 race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix and his last podium was in 2014.

Although a move to Indycar is not yet a priority for Alonso, the double world champion has not ruled out a Stateside extension to his career should he not find what he is looking for in Formula 1.

Meanwhile McLaren are keen to keep Alonso, in him they have one of a handful of champions on the grid who is capable of  winning with the right car, and also a driver who keeps them in the headlines – despite the fact that they enduring the worst season in their history.

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Four major US cities interested in joining Formula 1 calendar

A second, third or even fourth Grand Prix in the United States could be on the cards, with Formula 1 boss Chase Carey revealing that four major cities have expressed an interest in joining the calendar.

Whilst Europe has seven races (nine in 2018 with the addition of Germany and France), North America boasts just three with Montreal, Texas and Mexico City on the roster – with only one of those in the USA.

Carey is therefore keen to see at least one more US race on the calendar in the near future and possibly another after that, admitting F1 has a five-year plan to expand its American audience.

Speaking to Racer, he said: "Traditionally I think I've usually said four [races]: New York, Miami, L.A. and Vegas."

"We have interest from each of those; we have interest from more than one in a number of them, but I think we're not going to publicly play people against each other. I don't think we want to be engaging these discussions in public.

"We want to find the right platform with the right partners, the right opportunity, the right place and the right type of event that will capture peoples' imagination.

"I think the right way to go about that is to have these discussions. We want them to be real partners, we're not just looking to do a deal," he added. "We really want to have a partnership where we're engaged.

"These events are a face to the sport, and I think it's important we have an event that represents what makes this sport special. So we want to be thoughtful about it."

Formula 1's sole event in the US takes place in October at the purpose-built Circuit of the Americas, near Austin.

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Halo could delay Force India’s 2018 car

Force India's Otmar Szafnauer believes the "rushed" decision by the FIA to introduce Halo could jeopardise their plans for 2018.

The Halo cockpit safety device has divided opinion, mainly because of aesthetics, but it is also set to seriously impact the development of new cars for the 2018 season.

"It may delay next year’s car," Szafnauer told Motorsport.com.

"There is a finite amount of time that it takes to design and make a monocoque, and if we don’t get definition in that timeframe, all it does is it delays when it’s produced.

"Right now, it looks like we may not be able to produce it in time for testing."

Szafnauer revealed that a lot of time has already been dedicated to implementing a design that would not be in breach of the rules.

He added: "I remember designing and trying to make a rollhoop that actually passed the test criteria. It took forever. We eventually did it, but the amount of times we failed and redesigned.

"The nice thing with the rollhoop was you could just cut it off and put another one on that, so the whole monocoque wouldn’t have to be redesigned.

"If this test criteria is so high that the Halo fails, and it fails the monocoque, we’re screwed."

Szafnauer concluded that it would have been more beneficial had Halo been introduced ahead of the 2019 season as opposed to next year.

"It would have been nice to have had another year to do it properly. It is what it is," said Szafnauer.

"The only way to stop it is if the FIA stops it and says we’re going to do it in a year’s time. It’s safer to do it properly than to rush it, that’s the only way I can see stopping it."

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Prema would consider F1 customer car entry

Leading Formula 2 outfit Prema would be open to running a single-car Formula 1 entry if grand prix racing were to permit customer cars, says team boss Rene Rosin.

Prema currently has its drivers fighting for the championship in Italian and German F4, European F3 and F2 - and fields five Ferrari-affiliated juniors across the three levels.

Rosin says the outfit, which dominated F2's predecessor GP2 upon its arrival last year, would be keen to evaluate operating an F1 team if the rules were relaxed to allow smaller ‘junior’ squads to run single-car entries.

“Why not?” he told Motorsport.com. “Formula 1 is a dream for every team; not only for drivers, but also for engineers.

“Of course I know that it’s a dream, and it would be really difficult to obtain it.

“There needs to be a lot of changes in the structures of motorsport to do something to arrive at that point.

“It depends on how everything is organised, and in the case of a customer car I think it’s possible to be organised.

"But of course with the situation as it is today, no – it’s something that needs to be planned, needs to be agreed and needs to be developed, also in terms of regulations.”

  

"No sense" in F1 if Leclerc doesn't make it

Meanwhile, Rosin reckons that F1 will have lost the plot if Prema's runaway F2 points leader Charles Leclerc doesn't graduate to grand prix racing in 2018.

He also argues that Pierre Gasly and Antonio Giovinazzi, who made up Prema's dominant GP2 roster last year, are overdue a shot.

Red Bull Junior Gasly has combined a Super Formula programme in Japan with Red Bull F1 reserve duties this season, while Ferrari reserve Giovinazzi raced twice for Sauber at the beginning of 2017 as understudy to the injured Pascal Wehrlein and is now taking part in Friday free practice sessions for Haas.

“Drivers like Antonio, like Pierre, like Charles should be in Formula 1 because they fully deserve it,” Rosin said.

“How Charles is managing everything this year is something really incredible so he really deserves a chance.

“I think that they have to put him in the [F1] car, otherwise what’s the sense of the junior formulas? What’s the sense of Formula 1 either if we are not able to promote the best drivers to the field?

“Stoffel Vandoorne now is in Formula 1, but also in the beginning [as reigning GP2 champion] he was parked in Super Formula.

“If these drivers are not able to get into Formula 1, what is the sense in having Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4?

"These kids are all dreaming of F1, and if they’re not able to do that there’s no sense in it.”

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Renault F1 team still feels understaffed

The Renault Formula 1 team still needs to recruit more staff and build bigger facilities to achieve its potential, says Cyril Abiteboul.

Renault recruited intensively after reacquiring Lotus to re-establish its works entry in 2016, working to rebuild a team that had lacked investment under its previous Genii ownership.

It added over 80 staff during the 2016 season but managing director Abiteboul said there are still departments where it does not have the personnel and facilities to keep pace.

"We have grown a lot in the engineering/technical area, and what needs to happen now is to have not a similar growth, but growth that is compatible with the engineering potential – like the design office, in production, where we are almost too small and almost delaying what aero is capable of producing," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"That will happen also when we have completed the extension of the building, where we will have a larger design office because right now we have a limitation in space.

"And also new works - we will be producing our own gearbox and composite next year which is a big project, with lots of space and lots of people dedicated only to that project, so we will see the growth will have to continue."

Renault made little headway during 2016, having only taken back control of Lotus late in the previous season, and targeted this season for significant progress.

Ninth in last year's constructors' championship with just eight points, it is eighth so far this year and has scored 26 already, with a goal of reaching fifth in the standings by the end of 2017.

"If you try to imagine a pipeline, there is a start of the pipeline and it takes a bit of time for the pipeline to get full and get projects/concepts and then physical parts out of the pipeline," said Abiteboul.

"This is exactly what is happening. We fill up the pipeline first with investment, equipment, people and then ideas, projects and concepts and then that is finally turning into parts.

"That will always take a little bit of time but what is good is that once this is starting, in theory it is not going to stop."

But while Renault is continuing to recruit staff and expand its facilities, Abiteboul said F1 would ultimately need to take action to stop teams becoming too large again.

"It will have to grow in a controlled manner, because frankly I don’t have the appetite for becoming a 800-900 head unit," he said. "I don’t think it is sensible.

"I expect at some point this sport will do something so it makes little sense for us to grow at such a level.

"It is not a matter of financial resources, it is also a matter of long-term strategy - because I think the most sensible point for the team is in the region of 650. Assumptions for next year are already almost above 650."

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HASEGAWA: FAILURE OF SAUBER DEAL VERY DISAPPOINTING

Deposed McLaren supremo Ron Dennis thought he was being clever by signing a three year exclusivity deal with Honda, preventing the Japanese manufacturer from supplying a second team during this period.

But in retrospect it was not a very smart move because Honda could have used the extra data produced by a second team, not only to develop their woeful Formula 1 power units but also get to the bottom of the reliability that afflicts their programme.

Thus when the Sauber deal was announced it was a step in the right direction, but a few months after the engine supply contract was announced the Swiss team’s new management pulled the plug.

Now with Toro Rosso apparently committed to another year of Renault power, Honda and McLaren look set to be tackling 2018 solo and this is clearly a blow to the Japanese manufacturer’s aspirations.

Speaking to Racer Honda F1 boss Yusuke Hasegawa said of the failed Sauber deal, “Of course it is very disappointing. Although it is a customer team program so it doesn’t hurt our program very much, but we still expected to get the opportunity to get our engine running more.”

“We would have got more data and been able to make comparisons, so it is very disappointing. More than that, on the practical side, we had to stop the preparation. So it is very bad.”

Honda motorsport manager Masashi Yamamoto handled the final negotiations with the Swiss team which in the end went sour as Sauber decided to remain with Ferrari power.

Hasegawa expalained, “I wasn’t in the meetings [with Sauber], that was Yamamoto-san. Actually Jorg Zander and I were in very good communication all the time, so we both didn’t believe that we would have to stop this collaboration until the final moment.”

Meanwhile Sauber’s newly appointed team principal Frederic Vasseur said of the cancelled deal, “The start of the discussion with Honda was eight months ago and the situation changed drastically on both sides.”

“We reached a point that at one stage it was better for everybody to stop the discussions and we did it in a very fair way with Honda and I would like to thank them for the discussion we had. It was a good thing for me.

“We are in a quite tough situation in terms of pace and we need to have reference. On the Honda side, we don’t know exactly what will happen with the McLaren deal. It’s also a tricky situation for us,” added Vasseur.

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MCLAREN PREVIEW THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most revered racetracks in the world – its fast, undulating sweeps are a stern test for car and driver, and with an average speed approaching 233kph, it’s one of the fastest laps of the season.

The circuit is inextricably linked with McLaren because it was here, in 1968, that the team scored its first world championship grand prix victory in the hands of Bruce McLaren

Fernando Alonso: “I love the first race after the summer break! It’s a great feeling to come back feeling rested, relaxed and recharged, and ready to go again for the second half of the season. I’ve enjoyed time away with family and friends, worked hard on my training and now I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car.

“Spa is incredible – for many of us it’s one of our favourite tracks. It’s got a legendary reputation and it’s totally deserved. The feeling when you drive Eau Rouge is completely different to any other corner on the calendar. You’re so low in the car and the gradient is so steep that as you go up it you can only see the sky – it’s completely surreal.

“As the season goes on we’re getting stronger and stronger, and I hope the second half of the year will bring us some more points-earning finishes. This race is a difficult challenge for the whole team – the engineers and the mechanics – as you’re on the throttle for almost three-quarters of the lap, which makes it’s a tough circuit for both the car and the driver. We know we’ll have to work hard to get any kind of result there, but it’s a long lap and there are plenty of overtaking opportunities, so we’ll keep pushing to get everything we can from the weekend.”

Stoffel Vandoorne: “I’ve been looking forward to driving in my first Belgian Grand Prix as a Formula 1 driver for so long. It’s exciting for any driver at their home grand prix because it’s always a special weekend. It’ll be great to have the backing of my home crowd, and there’ll be a lot of fans out there, as well as family and friends coming to support.

“After a busy first half of the year you always look forward to a holiday, but after a few days I already wanted to be back in the car! But it’s been good to have a bit of a break, reflect on what’s happened in the last few months, analyse the good things and the bad things, train hard and then come back even stronger in Spa for the second half of the season.

“The start of the season has definitely been challenging – not only from my side but for the team as a whole. We’ve suffered a few problems which have hampered our running, and I think maybe from my side it took a bit more time to really understand what I needed from the car because of those problems. However, more recently we’ve been seeing the results of a lot of hard work I’ve been putting in with the engineers and with the team back at the factory. Everything we’ve been working on has been a good step, and from that we’ve seen positive progress. The margin for improvement is still significant and there’s more good things to come, so I’m hopeful the next few races will be promising for us.”

Eric Boullier, McLaren-Honda Racing Director: “Going racing after the summer break is always a good feeling. We’ve all had the chance to recharge our batteries and spend valuable time with loved ones, and now we’re raring to go racing again. The Spa-Francorchamps circuit is always a special race for the team, and this year’s Belgian Grand Prix will be even more poignant.

“Firstly, it’s the home race for our very own Belgian driver Stoffel, who will be tackling his favourite circuit as a Formula 1 driver for the very first time. Secondly, Spa is the venue at which our founder, Bruce McLaren, won his first-ever grand prix for his team in 1968. What’s more, this year we’ll be celebrating another very special milestone: Bruce would have celebrated his 80th birthday on 30th August, so on Sunday we’ll be honouring his incredible legacy with a fitting tribute.

“We’ve certainly endured our fair share of ups and downs in the first half of the year, but we still have our sights fixed firmly on our goals for the end of the season and there are nine more races to demonstrate the fruits of the incredibly hard work we’re putting in behind the scenes. It’s a long season, and there are plenty more opportunities for us to push hard and score valuable points. Our reward will be continued progress, and I hope we can show the enthusiastic Belgian fans an enjoyable weekend of racing.”

Yusuke Hasegawa, Honda R&D Co. Ltd Head of F1 Project & Executive Chief Engineer: “After having a short but refreshing summer break, we’re now heading to Belgium to start the second half of the season.

“Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most popular and historical tracks on the calendar, is a tough circuit for the car with the long straights and various high-speed corners.

“It’s also said to be one of the most difficult but favourable tracks for drivers, as they are able to prove their own skills and courage through some difficult sections such as Eau Rouge, one of the toughest corners on the calendar.

“McLaren Honda had a positive wrap-up of the first half of the season in Hungary with a double points finish in the race and also collected some precious data for improvement at the in-season test.

“Now on to the second half, we see Spa-Francorchamps as a challenging circuit for us with its power-hungry features, however we will try our best to have a good race and maintain the momentum we acquired in Hungary.”

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RENAULT PREVIEW THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

Renault driver and teams preview the Belgian Grand Prix, Round 12 of the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship, at Spa-Francorchamps.

Foreword from Renault Sport Racing Managing Director, Cyril Abiteboul: “The Belgian Grand Prix marks the beginning of the home stretch of the season and it’s vital that we hit the ground running by making a return to the points.”

“Hungary could have been a very strong weekend for us but the results failed to materialise. This was frustrating given we proved throughout the weekend in Budapest that we had the pace to be competitive and be in contention for a good haul of points from both drivers.”

“This highlighted the progress we have made in 2017. We have proved, on a number of occasions, that we have the ability to comfortably run inside the top ten and have shown we are well in the mix to be the best of the rest behind the top three teams. Weekends such as China, Bahrain, Spain and Great Britain showed what we are capable of doing, and there are nine more races to really underline our progression and make a mark.”

“These improvements have been down to the hard work being put in at Enstone and Viry, by our passionate workforce. We are focusing on the areas needing attention, and making the necessary improvements and changes.”

“Clear steps are being made and we are heading in the right direction in terms of pace and reliability. The summer break came at a welcome time as we had the opportunity to reflect on these past few months and take a recharging period.”

“It would be impossible not to mention Robert Kubica’s test outing in the R.S.17 at the Hungaroring test, which was a very productive day from all involved. Robert’s journey back to an official Formula 1 test session is an incredible story and he delivered well on the day. He followed Test Driver Nicholas Latifi at the test, with both drivers contributing to our development of the car. Both Nico and Jolyon should benefit from the progress made at the test when they hit the track at Spa.”

“We are excited to get out to Belgium and restart the season on a bright note, but in order to do that we need to stay focused and work hard together as a team. Finishing the season in fifth is our objective, but it will take resilience and determination from everyone at Renault Sport Formula One Team.”

Proving ground

Engine Technical Director Remi Taffin explains how there is more to come from the R.E.17 and what can be expected from Spa; a circuit which demands high power output.

What can we expect from Spa?
RT: We have the potential for a good result. Over the last few races our cars have been performing well and I can’t see any reason why Spa can’t continue that trend. Spa has high speed corners as well as a few straights which can be a real test. We have to deal with the challenging section between La Source through to Les Combes. Drivers are full throttle for almost 2km and encounter the notorious Eau Rouge which will be fully loaded in this year’s cars with a lateral force of -3g. Spa will be strenuous on the power unit given around 67% of the lap is spent at full throttle. But we have drivers driving well, a chassis that is performing well and an engine which is on track; it’s all pointing in the right direction.

How is performance looking?
RT: We know we’re not the fastest on the grid, but as a team we are showing we are the force after the top three. Qualifying pace has looked good with Great Britain and Hungary exemplifying our ability to be the fourth best team. It’s just a case of building on that and bettering the race pace.

That comes from levelling up everything, we need to show off reliability and mileage and that is something we are giving close attention. We are on a good trend and we will keep adding performance in terms of both aerodynamics and engine so hopefully this can be seen in the upcoming races.

What have we got planned for the remainder of the season?
RT: Spa and Monza will see new software and hardware updates. We are looking at Monza as a benchmark as it could provide a clear picture of the ranking of the engines. Being in the top ten will be a good result as these next two circuits are power-hungry. After Monza, we have more races and more things in the pipeline, the next two months will be important for the 2017 season outcome.

Refreshed and recharged

Nico Hülkenberg is primed and ready to harness a good balance and equilibrium on a fast and unique Spa circuit.

What are your thoughts on Spa?
NH: It’s one of my favourite tracks and certainly up there with the best in the world. The forest there is amazing and the track itself sits in some outstanding scenery. It features a lot of elevation and of course, it has Eau Rouge. When you see these bends in real life it’s special but when you drive them, especially in a Formula 1 car, it’s super special. Eau Rouge is going to be flat which is exciting and Pouhon too will be good and extremely fast.

How difficult is it to put a good lap together?
NH: There are many corners and it’s the longest lap on the calendar which makes a good balance very important. It’s about putting those sectors together and being on top in every corner, that will give you a good lap time and that’s the key challenge of Spa. I like the middle-sector in particular. It’s quite busy, flows quite well and is just fun to drive. Spa is known for its strange and random weather, so we have to make it count whether it’s wet or dry.

What were your thoughts on the first eleven races?
NH: It’s been very encouraging, especially in the last few races. I’m pleased with how the car is feeling and the progress we are making. We are heading in the right direction and are looking competitive, but we want to keep pushing ourselves. It was a shame to finish how we did in Hungary, but in general there are positive feelings. We’ve found a good balance with qualifying performance and race pace – Silverstone highlighted that – it’s at a better level now. This year’s cars are fun and faster, allowing me to push harder which suits my driving style a lot more than in recent years.

Out of the blocks

Spa kick-starts the second-half of the season and Jolyon Palmer is keen to hit the ground running with a bright outing on the legendary circuit.

There are some cool corners at Spa, what are they like to drive?
JP: The first thing that hits you is Eau Rouge, it’s just incredible. You see it on TV, or on the on-boards, and it looks awesome but to drive it is simply immense. Nothing prepares you for heading flat out down the hill and then coming up the other side and down that straight. Pouhon will be an exciting corner this year, it brings a real challenge as it’s a very quick double apex left. Blanchimont is flat and leads into the Bus Stop chicane, which is a great overtaking place.

How have you fared in your races in Spa?
JP: I won a race in Spa back in 2008 in the Formula Palmer Audi series. I remember it was wet – which is fairly typical for Spa! I’ve been on the podium in GP2 there but missed the win in that class. I was on the front row in 2014 in GP2 and had a decent F1 qualifying last year. I’ve had some good memories but I’m driven to make some more.

How do you sum up the first eleven races?
JP: It’s been challenging, but there is definitely good potential from me and the car. The 2017 regulations mean a car that’s very different from before, so you have to relearn how to extract the maximum performance from it. Getting the right set-up is difficult and this is compounded when you miss out on track time for whatever reason. I’m looking forward and focusing on my own performance and I’m working hard to understand everything to ensure I have good races.

Did you enjoy the summer break?
JP: It was good to have a bit of chill out time and recharge a little bit. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro which was very tough but also highly rewarding. It was nice to be cut off from the world for a week and see a change of scenery, but I’m ready to get back to work again.

Track Notes:

Spa-Francorchamps is one of Formula 1’s historic races. Located deep in the trees, the circuit features fast bends, sharp elevation changes and boasts total unpredictability. Eau Rouge is amongst the most notorious of corners across any circuit in the world. With its 18% gradient, drivers hold tight and pray for grip through the left, right and left downhill then uphill combination which challenges car and driver alike.

• T1 – The lap begins with the slowest corner on the 7.004km circuit – La Source, a tight right-hander.
• T3 – The run down to Eau Rouge and into Raidillion creates extreme suspension compression as the relief changes from downhill to uphill. Good engine power is required for the uphill drag.
• T7 – Using the gradient in the braking area to Les Combes, overtaking is easily possible here.
• T10 – A series of more technical corners at Bruxelles and Rivage, where mechanical grip is important.
• T12 – Pouhon is a fast flowing, double-apex left hand turn, which is exited flat out before the flow of Campus.
• T15 – The two right hand corners at Stavelot and Paul Frere are crucial to optimize momentum up through the blind Blanchimont corner which is flat-out. Precision in placing the car is paramount here.
• T19 – The final chicane, formerly known as the Bus Stop, is a tight right and left, which is an overtaking possibility on entry.

Tyres:

Soft (yellow) – Pale Lager – light in colour but heavy and bitter in taste.
Supersoft (red) – Flemish Red – a sour ale brewed in West Flanders; distinct in colour and has a real character.
Ultrasoft (purple) – Lambic – brewed in the Pajottenland region, dry and sour with potential for a sharp aftertaste.

Power Unit Notes:

Spa is the hardest circuit of the year for the Power Units. Over 67% of the 7km track is spent flat out, which translates as around 73secs per lap, the longest accumulative wide open throttle time of the year. The first period of sustained throttle is the climb from the La Source hairpin to the chicane at Les Combes. It takes around 25secs (1,852m) with the driver flat on the throttle throughout. The distance is only slighter shorter than a runway at Charles de Gaulle airport.

The track drops over 40m from La Source before climbing over 80m back to Les Combes, equivalent to a gradient of 1 in 4, or one of the steepest mountain climbs in the Tour de France. The descent compresses the internals but going over the crest of the hill, the vertical force is suddenly lifted and the parts unloaded, with the vertical forces switching to -3g. It can be equated to the feeling on a rollercoaster drop when your body feels compressed and pushed down into the seat but weightless when you go over a bump.

The turbo will be rotating at close to its maximum to keep pace with the high rotational speeds of the ICE. The altitude will further increase rpm. At its most extreme the turbo will be spinning at more than 95,000rpm or over 1,500 revs per second!

Spa is one of the most demanding tracks on the MGU-K. Each of the braking points comes after a long burst of power so the energy dissipated through the brakes is enormous. The best opportunity for the MGU-K to recover energy is the Bus Stop chicane, which the driver approaches at well over 300kph and brakes down to just 75kph.

High-speed flowing corners such as Pouhon and Fagnes are the best opportunities for the MGU-H to recover energy. It will feed this energy to the MGU-K and ICE on the next period of throttle through Blanchimont.

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FORCE INDIA PREVIEW THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

Sahara Force India returns from its summer break and looks ahead to the Belgian Grand Prix, Round 12 of the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship, at Spa-Francorchamps.

Vijay Mallya: “Spa is always a special weekend for Formula One. It’s one of the greatest circuits in the world and a marvelous venue to appreciate the best drivers in the fastest cars. It’s been a happy hunting ground for this team too and I’d like to think we have a good chance of adding some more memories this weekend.

“We’re over the half-way point of the season now and feeling upbeat about the remaining nine races. Along with Spa, there are some other tracks coming up that should allow us to show the speed of the VJM10. We are pushing hard with the development of this car and there are some further steps we will introduce over the next few events.

“Our consistency has been our strength this year. We’ve scored points in ten of the eleven races so far and had double points finishes in nine of those races. I’m proud of the team for this achievement and it shows that all our hard work is paying off. We’ve still got our sights on the podium for this year and if the opportunity arises I believe we are ready to take it.”

Sergio Perez: “I’m feeling fresh and relaxed after the summer break and really looking forward to getting back to racing. I had a very nice break with my family, but now I can’t wait to be back on track.

“Belgium is the one of the best circuits to experience an F1 car. I love the high-speed layout, the history of the place and you get to meet some very passionate fans there. It’s just a great weekend and there is also the question mark over the weather. It nearly always rains at least one of the days.

“Pouhon is one of my favourite corners of the year. It’s so quick and satisfying when you get it just right. The 2017 cars will feel extra special through this part of the lap, as well as through Eau Rouge.

“As we begin the second part of the season, I want to improve on what we have done so far. We have been competitive, but we also lost a few chances to score more points than we did. Hopefully we will make up for those lost points in the races to come.”

Esteban Ocon: “I had a great summer holiday in the south of Spain. My batteries are fully recharged and I’m looking forward to getting back in the car. It’s now a year for me as a Formula One driver and the time has gone by really quickly. So I’m no longer a rookie!

“Spa is where I made my debut last year. It’s a great track, but it’s not necessarily one of my favourites. There are some special corners, especially through sector two, which has a nice rhythm. It’s a circuit where you have to be totally at one with the car because you need to be really committed through the high-speed corners.

“Spa is usually a good track for racing because it’s easier to overtake there compared to some other tracks. There’s also the famous Spa weather which brings unpredictability. I don’t mind if it rains because it could bring some more opportunities our way.

“I think we can be competitive this weekend regardless of whether it’s dry or wet. The layout of the track should suit our car quite well. Everybody loves driving through Eau Rouge and it’s certainly the most famous part of the lap. In these cars it will be an amazing experience. Maybe the first lap of the race will be a bit of a challenge, but after that I think we should be able to take it easily flat.”

Sahara Force India’s Chief Race Engineer, Tom McCullough, analyses the challenges of Spa-Francorchamps: “Spa is an iconic circuit and a great test for Formula One machinery, even more so this season. It’s the longest lap of the season with a mix of slow and quick corners, long straights and elevation changes: finding the right setup is always a challenge. There are some unique corners, like the Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex with its rapid compression and decompression, which will be asking a lot from the driver, the car and the tyres. There are also many long and fast corners putting big loads through the tyres: it will be important to understand how the compounds on offer, the three softest of the range, work in these conditions. Usually, races in Spa are very entertaining: there are many overtaking opportunities, mistakes are easily punished and the weather can play a big part. It often rains and the extended nature of the circuit means you could be driving on a completely soaked track in one sector and on bone dry tarmac in another. Choosing the right strategy and being ready to adapt to the changing circumstances is crucial.”

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RED BULL DRIVERS PREVIEW THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

Red Bull drivers preview the Belgian Grand Prix, Round 12 of the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship, at Spa-Francorchamps.

Max Verstappen: I can’t wait to get to Spa this year. I just love the track and it’ll be nice seeing so many orange fans in the grandstands.

“Spa is my favourite track of the year. You have to get everything right but when you get a good lap it’s very rewarding. There is a good flow with the fast corners and of course the best moment is Eau Rouge where you go up the hill, even though it’s easy full throttle in modern F1 cars it’s still very nice when the underneath of the car touches the tarmac and then gets very light at the top of the hill. This year it’s going to be a bit faster everywhere with the new cars which will be more challenging and more fun for sure.

“It definitely feels like a home Grand Prix for me because it’s so close to the border and as there isn’t a Dutch race at the moment a lot of Dutch fans are coming over. Already last year there were a lot of orange T-shirts and flags around the track which was very cool to see and makes it even more special.”

Daniel Ricciardo: “When I think of Spa I always think of my win there in 2014. Of course it’s more enjoyable when you win in dramatic fashion but at the same time winning is winning and even though I had a comfortable lead that year I could still feel the pressure. It’s never as easy as it seems.

“I really enjoy Pouhon. It’s a fast, downhill and left-hand turn. That’s probably my favourite corner. The Les Combes area you have to get right too as it’s pretty important. Then the last corner is not very pretty at all but crucial for a good lap.”

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PIRELLI PREVIEW THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 

Pirelli will bring the P Zero Purple ultrasoft tyres for the first time to Spa-Francorchamps, together with the P Zero Red supersoft and P Zero Yellow soft.

These are the three softest tyres in the range, selected together for the sixth time so far this year. But one famous variable in Spa is the weather, so there’s also a strong chance of seeing the Cinturato Green intermediate or Cinturato Blue full wet at some point during the weekend.

Spa is a favourite of nearly all the drivers, incorporating classic corners such as Eau Rouge and Pouhon that make it a real rollercoaster ride, as well as a true test of bravery.

The circuit from a tyre point of view:

• Longest circuit of the year at 7.004 kilometres.
• Geographical layout means it can be raining on one part of the track but dry on another.
• Elevation changes and compressions generate forces on tyres from all directions.
• Compromise set-up needed to provide downforce in corners but not too much drag.
• High speeds and big corners place significant energy loads through the tyres.
• Overtaking is very possible at Spa, opening the door to a variety of different strategies.

The teams have nominated all three available compounds in their choices rather than concentrating on the softer tyres.

Mario Isola, Head Of Car Racing: “Pirelli was racing at Spa for the 24 Hours last month, which showcased everything this circuit is famous for: changeable weather, unpredictable competition, and heavy demands on the tyres. Now that we are bringing the ultrasoft tyre there for Formula 1, we would expect those demands to increase further with the latest generation of cars: two stops would appear to be a likely strategy but we will know more after the first free practice sessions. Working out the optimal race strategy is especially tricky at Spa as it has to be flexible: the possibility of rain, safety cars, or even a red flag – as we saw last year – means that teams often have to react to changing circumstances rather than follow a fixed plan”.

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Max Verstappen says post-2018 Red Bull future reliant on form

Max Verstappen says his future at Red Bull is dependent on the team being capable of fighting at the very front of the field, and if that doesn't happen next season, he could be tempted to join a rival outfit once his contract expires.

The Dutchman's season hasn't quite gone to plan, with a string of reliability failures hampering his points scoring ability, putting him way adrift of team-mate Daniel Ricciardo – they're separated by 50 points.

Red Bull meanwhile haven't been able to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari regularly after experiencing correlation issues between track data and their wind tunnel, whilst their Renault power unit remains some way off its rivals.

Verstappen isn't giving up hope that Red Bull can turn things around next year, believing it to be unlikely in 2017, but has warned the team he could be tempted to switch if things don't improve.

"I've always said that there's no reason to leave when I have a competitive car," the 19-year-old is quoted as saying by Eurosport.

"At the moment we are not there where I want to be, but that doesn't mean you have to give up straight away. You have to work hard, but after two, three years without improving, that would be a different story.

"We are working hard to improve but after next year we will see what happens."

Verstappen isn't expecting it to be an easy turnaround though, particularly as Renault isn't due to bring any major upgrades to its power unit until 2018.

"We keep developing, but every team does," he added.

"It will be quite tough to compete against them [Mercedes and Ferrari]. So we have to make sure we do it a bit faster and of course better.

"On the engine side there's not much coming compared to the other teams, so we have to make sure our car is going in the right direction."

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F1's safety car could become driver-less in the future

Formula 1's safety car could become driver-less in the future as part of an effort to promote autonomous technology, the FIA has revealed.

While motor racing's governing body is determined to ensure that drivers remain a key element of F1's attraction, some thought has been given to showing off autonomous technology through other elements of a grand prix weekend.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Marcin Budkowski, the head of the F1 technical department, suggests that a driver-less safety car would be a good way of proving automotive advances without detracting from the show.

When asked by Motorsport.com about what impact autonomous cars could have in F1, Budkowski said: "Let me give you an example, but it is not the only one: we have spoken about an unmanned safety car.

"It would promote a technology about which there is a bit of scepticism and, instead, it could be shown that it works.

"The safety car driver would no longer be essential, because it would leave the controls to the computer. But we must be aware of the attraction of [F1] race cars without drivers: the engineers would love it, but not the fans."

  

Roborace idea

Although Budkowski is sceptical about potential fan interest in a driver-less F1, he does think that other series like Roborace do have a role to play in promoting autonomous developments.

"I see it [Roborace] as a very interesting thing, which pushes things in one direction. But can this idea of having no F1 driver captivate millions around the world? Frankly I have doubts.

"However, using the motorsport platform to promote to the public new technologies, like an unmanned safety car, or events like Roborace, can be fantastic in exploring the possibility of new solutions."  

  

Original plan

Budkowski's views on autonomous technology in F1 are especially valid because part of the reason he was recruited to the FIA, after years spent working for McLaren and Ferrari, was to help formulate plans for adapting the sport to better suit future technologies.

"The FIA was starting a project on connected autonomous vehicles, and it wanted to understand how it should be placed in front of these new technologies," added Budkowski.

"The idea was to understand what will change with autonomous driving in the automotive world, and what influences it would have on the individual national federations.

"There were also implications in defining the business model, not to mention how to use the new technologies in motorsport to promote them – because solutions will completely change the world of cars and safety.

"Autonomous driving will have a very strong impact on safety and we know how the FIA and Jean Todt are engaged in the Action for Road Safety campaign."

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F1 2017 game video: New race formats included in championships mode

Formula 1 fans will have the chance to try out new race weekend formats - including double headers and different ways to decide grids - in the new F1 2017 game.

While publisher Codemasters has put a lot of effort into an overhaul of the handling and performance of the F1 cars, extra work has been devoted to offering new gameplay elements too.

Part of that will include the chance to race historic cars - which will be incorporated as invitational events in an expanded career mode - but further changes have been made to open up new race formats.

In an exclusive video interview with Motorsport.tv, Codemasters' creative director Lee Mather said: "At the moment we've concentrated on doing some alternate circuit layouts, and that gives us a different style of gameplay.

"We can do much shorter races, sprint races, but we've also changed some of the formats as well in the championships mode.

"So the players can do double header races, or a race where the qualifying for the first event is determined by the qualifying session and the second event by the result of the first race."

F1 2017 will be released on Friday.

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JAMES KEY EXTENDS TORO ROSSO CONTRACT

Scuderia Toro Rosso have confirmed that James Key has extended his contract to stay with the team in the role of Technical Director.

The 45 year-old Englishman has been with the Faenza-based Formula 1 team for the past five years, since joining in September 2012, to lead the Scuderia Toro Rosso technical operation. That work has involved Key overseeing the concept, design and manufacture of the Scuderia Toro Rosso cars from STR8 to this year’s STR12, with work now well underway on the 2018 STR13.

In his time with the team, personnel numbers have increased substantially and, apart from the actual task of producing a new car each year, Key has also played a pivotal role in getting the right people on board, and ensuring the smooth running of operations in Faenza and at the wind tunnel in Bicester (UK.)

Franz Tost said, “Formula 1 is a team sport, but one in which an individual can still make a difference. So far, in his time with us, James has proved that he can indeed make that difference, leading the technical side of the operation.”

“Not only has he been adept at producing chassis-aero packages that are well regarded throughout the paddock, he has also shown the management skills necessary to get the most out of all the various departments that work together both here in Faenza and in Bicester. I am therefore delighted that James will be with us for the foreseeable future to continue this fruitful process.”

James Key added, “I am delighted to continue with Toro Rosso and remain part of the Red Bull family. This is a team which I have great respect for and have thoroughly enjoyed working with for the past 5 years; now I look forwards to continuing our project into the future.”

“STR is unique, facing the challenges of being spread over two countries and fulfilling the roles of both a team in its own right and an important part of the Red Bull driver programme: they are challenges that the team takes in its stride and, whilst doing so, continues to grow and improve year on year.”

“Most importantly, the people I have had the pleasure to work with at STR are second to none: professional, ambitious and focussed, they have all worked incredibly hard to improve the team’s performance and will continue that hard work with the same dedication and optimism in the coming years too.”

“I would like to thank Franz Tost and Red Bull for their continued support and confidence. We have more work to do, and I look forwards to taking the next steps with Toro Rosso towards our goals.”

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FERRARI CONFIRM RAIKKONEN FOR 2018

Kimi Raikkonen will spend another year with Ferrari as the team confirmed today that the Finn’s contract has been extended until the end of 2018.

The team released the following brief statement: “Ferrari announces that Scuderia Ferrari has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen. The Finnish driver will therefore race for the Maranello team in the 2018 Formula One World Championship.”

This ends silly season speculation that the veteran Finn would be dropped at the end of the 2017 season.

The popular 2007 F1 world champion, who will be 38 in October, would have been out of contract at the end of this year with plenty of rivals eyeing up his seat at the sport’s most successful team.

Raikkonen has not won a race since he was at Lotus in 2013, and is currently fifth in a championship led by German team mate Sebastian Vettel, who has won four of the season’s 11 races to date.

Vettel is also out of contract at the end of the season and the short Ferrari statement did not mention him. However, he is expected to remain once a longer and more lucrative deal has been hammered out.

 The timing of Ferrari’s statement was earlier than expected, since the team have often made such announcements at their home Italian round at Monza which follows on from this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
They had also been tipped to confirm both drivers at the same time.

Vettel, a four times world champion with Red Bull, has also been linked in some media speculation to champions Mercedes where Finland’s Valtteri Bottas has yet to be confirmed for 2018.

By opting to keep Raikkonen, Ferrari have gone for an experienced driver who is still quick and who will not rock the boat in what is likely to be his final season. He first raced for Ferrari between 2007-9 and then returned in 2014.

He and Vettel get on well, with the German keen on him staying, and Raikkonen has shown his loyalty this season by accepting team orders to his detriment.

The Finn has twice finished second behind Vettel, in Monaco and Hungary, while also taking third place in Britain and Russia.

He started on pole position in Monaco in May, his first appearance at the front of the grid since June 2008, and has a strong track record at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps where he was won four times.

His future was called into question in July, however, when Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne called him “a bit of a laggard”.

“I think Kimi has got to show a higher level of commitment to the process,” he had told reporters at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Marchionne has also emphasised that he wants Vettel to stay.