FORMULA 1

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F1 should replace mirrors with cameras

Motorsport Show debates if it's time for Formula 1 to do away with rear-view mirrors and start using cameras to give drivers better visibility.

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Mercedes open to Haas-style deal with Williams or Force India

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has indicated that the works outfit is open to forging closer technical links with its customer teams in the same manner that Ferrari works with Haas.
Mercedes currently supplies its gearbox and complete hydraulic systems to Force India, while Williams only uses the Stuttgart manufacturer’s power units and associated systems.

Williams backer Lawrence Stroll is keen to have a closer relationship and is pushing for the Grove team to use more Mercedes technology, and has already pitched the idea.

However, deputy team principal Claire Williams has made it clear that she wants her team to remain independent and be perceived as a constructor.

Wolff says that Mercedes would consider a Haas-style deal if it made sense for all parties.

“I think we have seen that the system between Ferrari and Haas has worked, it has worked for both,” said Wolff. “It’s an interesting revenue filler for Ferrari, and I think in terms of synergies, there is a lot you can work on, and it has functioned for Haas.

"They are a very competitive team without having built on a legacy, or without having built on know-how that would have taken years and years to collect.

“So far the system is very successful, and of course our thinking goes in that direction – whether it is Williams or Force India to collaborate.

  

"But we are in the middle of a tough fight for this 2018 championship, so we need to prioritise.”

Asked whether Mercedes could do such a deal next season, Wolff said: “We can do something for 2019. We have certain capacity.”

Wolff said it was too early to say whether Mercedes could work with both of its teams.

"We are not that far. The devil is in the detail," he said. "It is not only about production, but it’s also it is about getting in order not to distract yourself, you need to do it properly.

"It would be a long-term project and not something where you can expect a huge impact for 2019. You need two or three years to ramp up."

Wolff hinted that such an approach could make sense for the post-2020 era, when budget caps come in and some standardisation of parts is likely.

“If you do it in the right way, it can be beneficial. But it needs to be done in the right way because you need to get the balance right between distraction and really optimising the synergies. It’s not trivial.”

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How Formula 1 teams have jumped upon a floor loophole

Formula 1's rule book has expanded massively over the years, and has got increasingly more complicated as new regulations have been added or evolved.
One consequence of a constantly changing rule book is that sometimes rules can end up contradicting each other – or a clause aimed to stamp out a certain design gets made irrelevant.

This is something that happened with the 2017 floor rules, as a regulation originally intended to stop teams exploiting holes in the floor was made inconsequential.

That's because when the floor width was increased from 1400mm to 1600mm last year, a separate clause banning teams from having holes 700mm from the car's centreline was suddenly made irrelevant.

Teams quickly realised that without it being updated to reference an 800mm lockdown, there was a 100mm area on the edge of the floor where they were free to utilise holes again.

And it is Ferrari that has led the charge, with the most complete concept in perfecting the holes in the floor evident on its 2018 car (see below), although other teams are now copying in their own unique ways.

Ferrari SF71H new floor

The value of the holes

The use of slots or holes ahead of the rear wheel are used to combat 'tyre squirt' and improve diffuser performance – and all teams now make use of them to a greater or lesser extent.

The rotation and deformation of the rear tyres put the surrounding airflow into a constant state of chaos, resulting in airflow being pushed - or 'squirted' - laterally into the diffuser's path.

Left unchecked, this robs the diffuser of peak performance and creates inconsistencies, both of which impede the driver's progress.

For years now, designers have sought ways of controlling the turbulence created by the rear tyres, utilizing various floor shapes, holes, slots, strakes and even exhaust gases in order to sculpt the airflow's direction whilst also enhancing the diffuser's edge vortex.

For teams, the difference between a slot and a hole may appear inconsequential to the eye, but the difference in performance between a rigid hole and a slot that loses performance as the floor deforms under load can be quite big.

As an example of the performance on offer, Ferrari ran several iterations of these slots during 2017, numbering anything from three to six slots with various lengths and angles used in order to deal with the given circuit characteristics.

 

Red Bull RB8 floor protested, small slot for legality (right inset)

The last team to run fully enclosed holes in this area of the floor were Red Bull in 2012 (left inset), when in quite controversial circumstances its design helped the team win in Monaco.

That victory prompted unease from some of its rivals and there were threats of a post-race protest, but in the end the other teams did not see that through.

However, the FIA's stance was subsequently clarified over what would be considered legal, a situation that led to the slots we've come to know.

Ferrari SF71H floor slots

The last Ferrari to use fully enclosed holes ahead of the rear tyre was the F10 from the 2010 season, latterly used in tandem with its exhaust blown diffuser.

McLaren MCL33 Renault floor detail

While Ferrari is not the only team to utilise the enclosed tyre squirt holes – as a glance down the grid shows most other teams are doing so also – it is the only team that has specifically designed its cars around this concept.

Other teams have spotted what Ferrari has been up to, and have made moved to seal off the edges of their previous slots – as can be seen in the McLaren image above.

This is far from an optimised solution though and means that Ferrari has stolen a march on its rivals in the short term.

However, expect Ferrari's rivals to come up with more bespoke solution when the raft of major updates appear from the Spanish Grand Prix.

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Max Verstappen: Spanish GP a 'defining moment' in F1 season

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen reckons the Spanish Grand Prix will be a “defining moment” in the 2018 Formula 1 season, as teams prepare to introduce upgrade packages.

While not as prominent as in previous years, the start of the European season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is regarded as a favourable location for teams to introduce a raft of updates.

Verstappen’s Red Bull team has displayed stronger pace compared to the corresponding rounds last season, with Daniel Ricciardo triumphant in China, though still lacks speed during qualifying.

The Dutchman believes the amount of upgraded parts, and the manner in which they are evaluated by teams, makes the upcoming round a critical moment of the season.

“Everybody has done a lot of laps in Barcelona but I’m looking forward to seeing how the cars progress this year,” said Verstappen, referring to the circuit being used as the exclusive pre-season testing venue.

“We have many updates coming, hopefully they will be positive and we can be even closer to the front, but of course everybody else will also bring new parts.

“It could be quite a defining moment for the season and I’m interested to see how everyone will perform.

“I believe our car is very fast, we still need a bit more top speed but hopefully that will come.”

Verstappen claimed victory on his Red Bull debut at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016 – his maiden triumph in the sport – though was eliminated in a Turn 1 clash last year.

Verstappen has yet to record a podium finish this season amid an array of incidents and holds a low-key eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, 52 points behind Lewis Hamilton.

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SPANISH GRAND PRIX: HAAS PREVIEW BARCELONA

Even before the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship officially began, Haas F1 Team showed speed.

On the penultimate day of preseason testing March 8 at Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, Haas F1 Team driver Kevin Magnussen put down a lap of 1:18.360. It was the second-fastest time of the day and it ended up being the sixth-quickest overall time achieved during the eight days of testing between Feb. 26-March 1 and March 6-9.

Amplifying Magnussen’s mark was that it was earned using the Pirelli P Zero Red supersoft tire. Every driver ahead of him was on the grippier and subsequently faster Pink hypersoft tire. And when utilizing Pirelli’s estimated delta times to the softest compounds, it brought Magnussen’s fast lap close to the unofficial track-record time of 1:17.182 set by Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel that same day.

Magnussen’s teammate, Romain Grosjean, also showed preseason speed, as his best time of 1:18.412 on Purple ultrasofts put him fifth-fastest on the final day and ninth overall among the 22 drivers who took part in testing.

But it was just testing. There was no actual racing. Would this pace continue when it came time to race? That was the question for Haas F1 Team when it arrived at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Magnussen and Grosjean answered that question emphatically. Magnussen qualified sixth to equal the American squad’s best qualifying effort to date. Grosjean qualified right behind his teammate in seventh, and with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo incurring a three-spot grid penalty, the Haas F1 Team duo moved up to fifth and sixth, locking out the third row.

By lap 10 of the race, Magnussen was fourth and Grosjean was fifth, with the duo primed to score Haas F1 Team’s strongest result in its still young history. Alas, it all came undone when both drivers on their respective pit stops left with a loose wheel. Just like that, after being this close to the podium, Haas F1 Team’s third appearance in the Australian Grand Prix ground to a halt. Grosjean was listed with a 16th-place finish and Magnussen was credited with a 17th-place result.

Despite the outcome, Haas F1 Team served notice that the speed it displayed in testing at Barcelona had, in fact, carried over into the reality of a grand prix weekend. Magnussen brought this point home in the series’ second race at Bahrain, where he finished fifth, equaling Haas F1 Team’s best result in just its 43rd race.

The next race in China brought a single point via Magnussen’s 10th-place finish, which became a salvage effort after a safety car period beginning on lap 32 wiped out the team’s strategy. Said team principal Guenther Steiner afterward, “The safety car destroyed our race. I think we were on the way to be seventh with Kevin, and eighth or ninth with Romain.”

After China came Azerbaijan, where another double-points opportunity slipped through the team’s fingers. With less than 10 laps remaining in what had already been a chaotic race, Grosjean was sixth and Magnussen was 11th, and each was in position to gain even more spots before the checkered flag fell. Ultimately, Haas F1 Team became a part of the chaos, with Magnussen finishing 13th and Grosjean crashing out to earn 15th.

Add it all up and Haas F1 Team is eighth in the constructors’ standings with 11 points, two points behind seventh-place Toro Rosso and one point ahead of ninth-place Sauber, when it could very well be battling for fourth behind the Big Three teams of Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.

A reset of sorts comes May 13 in the Spanish Grand Prix, which brings teams back to Barcelona. After competing on four very different racetracks to open the Formula One season, Barcelona allows teams to return to a track where they have reams of data and, more importantly, data with this year’s car.

But it’s not exactly the same as it was in late February and early March when Formula One descended upon the 4.655-kilometer (2.892-mile), 16-turn circuit for testing. While the track was freshly paved prior to seeing racecars for the first time in 2018, the weather was cold. Now, temperatures are much warmer, and the track’s evolution is unknown.

Another variable directly related to the resurfacing is the slightly updated tires Pirelli has for Barcelona. While the compounds are the same – White medium, Yellow soft and Red supersoft – the construction is different. The tires are four millimeters thinner than normal, with the notion being that a thinner tire will perform better and more consistently and, specifically, not overheat on the new asphalt.

With a thinner tire and thicker skin thanks to the travails of recent races, Haas F1 Team returns to Barcelona intent on parlaying its pace into a points-paying performance.

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal

You mentioned after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that the team’s processes and at-track execution needed to be tightened up so that mistakes aren’t made or are, at least, minimized. How do you facilitate that, and are there certain areas you’re looking to improve?
GS: “It’s in all areas, and I think we’re getting a lot better, and that’s our biggest improvement to make this year. In comparison with our competitors, our car is better than the last two years. So, every little mistake away from the racecar, on the operations side, has big consequences, as we’ve seen this year. We’re getting better, and how you go about that, the people responsible for it need to understand the responsibility, and we try to work hard to implement new processes and new procedures.”

When mistakes are made, are they compounded by the fact that the midfield is as competitive as it’s ever been and Haas F1 Team is competing at a much higher level than it has since its debut in 2016?
GS: “With a better car, you’re more in the spotlight and people see it quicker. If you’re running around 12th and 13th, you’re seen only if you go into the points. Now, when we have a car which can solidly end up in the points, if you’re not in there, you’re just much more visible.”

When the team does execute, is a podium possible?
GS: “If all the stars line up, then it’s possible, like in Azerbaijan where it did for Sergio Perez and everything lined up for him and he took the opportunity. Something like this needs to come up for us to achieve that. Just racing ourselves into a podium will be difficult without other circumstances, like some of the top-three teams dropping out.”

How important is it for Haas F1 Team to put a complete race weekend together at Barcelona, where the speed its shown since testing is carried through practice, qualifying and the race so that you achieve your ultimate goal of scoring points?
GS: “We just need to execute. The car is capable at any track to get into the points. We just need to execute and we need a little bit of luck. As much as I don’t believe in being unlucky, I wouldn’t call us lucky this year. A little bit of luck, and good execution, which we’ve shown we can do, and the car is there. At the moment, we could do it any weekend, we just need to get all the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted.”

Barcelona was repaved prior to preseason testing. How did the new surface rubber in as testing took place and what are your expectations for the track’s evolution during the Spanish Grand Prix?
GS: “At the end of the test, the track had very good grip. I don’t know how the track has developed from February to now. We’ll only find out the reality of that on Friday. We can have a lot of measurements and opinions from other people that have raced there, but we’ll only find out on Friday. I think in winter testing, there was a lot of grip there. I don’t see any problem with that. Everybody will be on the same track. We just need to adapt to it, and I hope we adapt to it better than the other ones.”

In addition to the new surface, there’s another new variable at Barcelona – tires. Pirelli is bringing a thinner tire – four millimeters thinner than normal – to the Spanish Grand Prix. While the compounds are the same – White medium, Yellow soft and Red supersoft – the construction is different, with the idea being that a thinner tire will perform better and more consistently and, specifically, not overheat. How do you approach the weekend with a tire that will likely perform differently?
GS: “One of the main issues at the moment is the heating. When you go out and your tires gets cold behind the safety car, or when you go slow, it’s difficult to get heat into the tire – it’s not possible. Maybe because we have so much grip, we can get the heat back in – that is what I hope. Otherwise, it’s very difficult as once your tires gets cold, if you’re stuck behind somebody, or in qualifying and there’s a que lined up to take the start-finish line for their fast laps, if you’re not in the perfect window, then you won’t have the heat in. It’s an estimation. Pirelli tells us it will be fine, so let’s see on Friday what’s happening.”

How helpful is it to go back to Barcelona where Haas F1 Team has the most data of any track in Formula One simply because you spent two weeks testing there before the season even started?
GS: “Having the data from the preseason testing is good, but again, how the surface develops, we don’t know yet. In general, it’s always good to have been at the test and find your aero and mechanical balance. It’s the same for everybody, everyone’s better prepared, so it’s not an advantage which you have. It can be a disadvantage if you don’t utilize what you’ve learned. I think it’s nice to go there with good data, or with better data than on the other tracks, but it’s the same for everyone.”

Does Barcelona allow teams to reassess where they stand because of what they learned in preseason testing and how it’s translated to the first four races?
GS: “I think we get a clearer picture of who’s made progress during the first four races. I think that’s the only thing you can see. The testing times – as much as they’re testing times, and not qualifying or racing times – they give you a picture of who is where. I think the Spanish Grand Prix will give a picture of who has progressed and who didn’t.”

Haas F1 Team showed speed in preseason testing at Barcelona, and despite the up-and-down start to the year, it’s maintained that speed through the first four races. Does that show the strength of the Haas VF-18 and, more specifically, its adaptability as the series has visited four distinctly different circuits?
GS: “It does, but what it mainly shows is that it’s a well-developed car, a very good car with good aero performance, good mechanical performance, and a good engine. It just shows that it’s a well-born car.”

Barcelona seems to be the first race of the year where teams begin its technological arms race amongst one another, with updates being brought to numerous cars. Does Haas F1 Team plan any updates to it racecars for Barcelona?
GS: “You pay attention to other teams, because if somebody goes faster, you need to know why they went faster. You try to pay attention to what their upgrades bring. I don’t know what other people bring, but for sure, there will be updates. We are bringing only small ones for Barcelona. We’re coming a little bit later this year with our updates.”

Do you feel this year’s car is still relatively immature and that there’s more speed that can be extracted?
GS: “There is always speed you can extract. I don’t feel that the car is immature. Our race team now is pretty good at getting the best out of the car – a lot better than we were in the first year. I think we’re at a good level. What we need to bring now is updates – aero updates – and we will bring them.”

As we talk about the development of this year’s car, the FIA recently announced aerodynamic changes for next year’s car, specifically with a simplified front wing that will feature a larger span, simplified front brake ducts with no winglets, and a wider and deeper rear wing to accentuate DRS usage. What is your opinion on these changes and how does it affect the planning of next year’s car?
GS: “I don’t have the perfect answer for that one. Now that they’re throwing in this new aero regulation for 2019, we maybe need to change our plan. Those decisions will be made in the next week. The original plan was to develop this car better, because it could be an evolution for next year. Now, with these new aero regulations thrown in, maybe we have to change the plan. At the moment, I still have to speak to the guys back in Italy to see how we do best. We haven’t had time to talk it through yet and see how we do it best. For small teams like us, it is not an advantage to get a new technical regulation for next year so late. We will do our best, but it will not be easy.”

Romain Grosjean

How important is it for Haas F1 Team to put a complete race weekend together at Barcelona, where the speed its shown since testing is carried through practice, qualifying and the race so that you achieve your ultimate goal of scoring points?
RG: “The most important part is the race on Sunday. Baku showed that you can have a tough qualifying, but you can come back in the race. Obviously, that won’t be the case every time. Barcelona is a difficult circuit to overtake, so it’s always easier to have a smooth weekend and make sure that both cars are well in the points by Sunday.”

When mistakes are made, are they compounded by the fact that the midfield is as competitive as it’s ever been?
RG: “The midfield is very competitive and very interesting, but I don’t think any mistake changes those results. You want to be able to score as many points as you can, whenever you can.”

Barcelona was repaved prior to preseason testing. How did the new surface rubber in as testing took place and what are your expectations for the track’s evolution during the Spanish Grand Prix?
RG: “I did quite like the new tarmac at Barcelona. There was more grip than it had previously, and a faster lap time. Now the question is going to be how it is with warmer weather. That’s something we’ll find out during the race weekend.”

How helpful is it to go back to Barcelona where Haas F1 Team has the most data of any track in Formula One simply because you spent two weeks testing there before the season even started?
RG: “It’s not as vital as it was in the first year. Now we’ve got good data from everywhere, and the team is really working in a good direction. The engineering group is getting stronger, as well as the group of mechanics, so I don’t think it’s that important that we go back to Barcelona.”

Haas F1 Team showed speed in preseason testing at Barcelona, and despite the up-and-down start to the year, it’s maintained that speed through the first four races. Does that show the strength of the Haas VF-18 and, more specifically, its adaptability as the series has visited four distinctly different circuits?
RG: “Yes, I think we’ve got a really good baseline and, obviously, the challenge of the year is to keep the development going to make sure that we stay in the race.”

In six career Formula One starts at Barcelona, you’ve finished in the points four times. Is there a comfort level with Barcelona because of all the laps you’ve run there that allows you to perform well in the race?
RG: “No, not really. I think I was lucky to have some good cars some years and being in the points. I don’t think knowing the track is an advantage. Everyone knows the track as well as I do.”

What is your favorite part of Barcelona and why?
RG: “Turns one, two and three – the mid- to high-speed corners – there’s always a good feeling there.”

Is there a specific portion of Barcelona that is more challenging than other aspects of the track?
RG: “Sector three is the sector where you can gain or lose lap time. That’s the key to getting a good lap in qualifying.”

Explain a lap around Barcelona, especially now after having competed there with the faster, current-generation car as well as the track having new tarmac.
RG: “The biggest difference in Barcelona is in turns one and two. We carry much more speed than before. Similarly, in turns seven and nine, there’s a massive difference. The last sector is a bit more fun, as well. We’ve got more rear downforce, therefore we can go a bit more on power.”

Do you have any milestones or moments from your junior career that you enjoyed at Barcelona?
RG: “I’ve had my only fastest race lap in Formula One at Barcelona. Apart from that, in 2009 in GP2, I won the first race, and in 2011, I had some good overtaking there. It hasn’t always been a brilliant track for me.”

Kevin Magnussen

How much do you look forward to climbing into the racecar and getting all you can out of it, as you seem to have found a level of comfort and confidence?
KM: “I feel like I’m having a good season, so far. I’m really enjoying my time with Haas. I feel that we’re benefiting from the experience that we’ve gained together over the last year-and-a-half.”

How important is it for Haas F1 Team to put a complete race weekend together at Barcelona, where the speed its shown since testing is carried through practice, qualifying and the race so that you achieve your ultimate goal of scoring points?
KM: “It’s always important to put your weekend together.”

When mistakes are made, are they compounded by the fact that the midfield is as competitive as it’s ever been?
KM: “Definitely. It’s very tight in the midfield and we’re all very closely matched. Even a small mistake can be very costly in terms of positions because everyone’s so close, but it makes for exciting racing, of course. We want to be on top of the midfield as often as we can.”

Barcelona was repaved prior to preseason testing. How did the new surface rubber in as testing took place and what are your expectations for the track’s evolution during the Spanish Grand Prix?
KM: “The new surface was very smooth. The effect on the tires was that they were difficult to get up to temperature. Also, degradation was very low, which is why Pirelli introduced a modification to the tires for this race. They’re trying to get more degradation and easier warm up on the tires.”

How helpful is it to go back to Barcelona where Haas F1 Team has the most data of any track in Formula One simply because you spent two weeks testing there before the season even started?
KM: “It’s always helpful to have lots of data from any track. For Barcelona, all the teams have lots of data, so it doesn’t really give us any advantage. It means that we can feel more confident in our starting setup, and then we just adjust for the track evolution since winter testing.”

Does Barcelona allow teams to reassess where they stand because of what they learned in preseason testing and how it’s translated to the first four races?
KM: “It does give you a good idea where you stand since winter testing. In our case, we haven’t really introduced that many parts since winter testing. We had some in Australia and, of course, we can reassess that, but I think in terms of numbers and the car, we feel confident that we got the improvements we expected so far.”

Haas F1 Team showed speed in preseason testing at Barcelona, and despite the up-and-down start to the year, it’s maintained that speed through the first four races. Does that show the strength of the Haas VF-18 and, more specifically, its adaptability as the series has visited four distinctly different circuits?
KM: “Even though it’s been up-and-down and we’ve had some missed opportunities this year, the car performance has been consistent. At almost every race this year we’ve been fighting, not with the top-three teams, but to be the fourth or fifth team. Perhaps we were a little off in Baku, but apart from that we’ve been able to fight to be the fourth-best team. We just need to put it all together and get the points we have the potential to achieve.”

What is your favorite part of Barcelona and why?
KM: “My favorite part of Barcelona is the high-speed right-hander at turn nine, as it’s now flat in a Formula One car these days.”

Is there a specific portion of Barcelona that is more challenging than other aspects of the track?
KM: “The trick in Barcelona is sector three. You’ve worked your rear tires hard throughout sectors one and two, then in sector three, that whole bit is very demanding on the rear tires. It’s kind of a traction sector. You have to take care of your rear tires a little bit in sectors one and two in order to push harder on them in sector three. That’s probably the most challenging aspect of the track.”

Explain a lap around Barcelona, especially now after having competed there with the faster, current-generation car as well as the track having new tarmac.
KM: “Barcelona is a fast, high-speed, flowing circuit where overtaking can prove difficult.”

Do you have any milestones or moments from your junior career that you enjoyed at Barcelona?
KM: “Yes, I won the World Series by Renault championship there. That’s always a good memory.”

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SPANISH GRAND PRIX: RENAULT PREVIEW BARCELONA

Renault Sport Formula One Team previews the fifth race weekend of the 2018 Formula 1 season, the Emirates Spanish Grand Prix.

Drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz share their thoughts on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, while our management and technical staff give the latest on the team and on the Renault R.S.18-R.E.18 package.

Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director, Renault Sport Racing: “The start of the European season now needs to see a consolidation of that performance [in Baku]. We will be helped in Spain by a step on the engine side with new fuel and some aero tweaks to reflect the characteristics of the track. We hope this to be a move forward, but we also recognise that many other teams will bring upgrade packages too and Barcelona is well known to everyone.”

Nico Hülkenberg: “It’s a circuit all teams know really well as we rack up a huge number of laps there each year with winter testing. Engineers, as well as drivers, have a lot of data and knowledge about it, so we’ll be looking to maximise our pre-race preparations to hit the ground running on Friday.”

Carlos Sainz: “It’s the most special Grand Prix of the year for me and it feels so different to any other race. Wherever I go throughout the weekend, there’s always people cheering, it’s a real privilege to experience. It’s a busier weekend than normal, but I enjoy that, and I realise I’m very fortunate!”

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SPANISH GRAND PRIX: RED BULL DRIVERS PREVIEW BARCELONA

Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen preview the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Round 5 of the 2018 Formula 1 World Championship, at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Daniel Ricciardo: “Barcelona is always an exciting time of the year, it’s the start of the European season, the time where you see lots of car development and in a way the start of summer which I love. The Barcelona circuit is fun, we’ve done a lot of laps around there and we know it very well, nonetheless it’s certainly not boring and we always enjoy going back. The race is kind of a staple in the F1 calendar now. The track has a bit of everything, Turns 1, 2 and 3 are nice flowing corners and the last section is very technical. Last year I got my first podium of the season there which was cool, so we will try and go for the same or better this year.”

Max Verstappen “Everybody has done a lot of laps in Barcelona but I’m looking forward to seeing how the cars progress this year. We have many updates coming, hopefully they will be positive and we can be even closer to the front, but of course everybody else will also bring new parts. It could be quite a defining moment for the season and I’m interested to see how everyone will perform. I believe our car is very fast, we still need a bit more top speed but hopefully that will come. I am of course also looking forward to the weekend as I have good memories from my first F1 win there and I will be happy to start the European season and have the comforts of the Energy Station.”

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ABITEBOUL: WE WERE NICE WE GAVE RED BULL TWO EXTRA WEEKS

Renault F1 chief Cyril Abiteboul is open to extending the engine deal deadline for a couple of weeks as a gesture of goodwill towards Red Bull who have yet to commit to the French manufacturer.

Last week Abiteboul was  that the 15 May deadline as stipulated by the FIA whereby manufacturers must supply a list of teams they will supply. This deadline can be extended if the FIA and an engine manufacturer agree.

Abiteboul told Auto Hebdo that he will not oppose an extension, “After twelve years working together marked by many victories, we would be ready to continue with them.”

“The number one issue we have is timing because we won’t be able to guarantee the availability of a Renault engine for them for 2019 beyond May 31. We were nice, we gave them two extra weeks,” confirmed Abiteboul.

Red Bull are currently  with Honda for a possible engine supply deal. The Japanese manufacturer were ditched by McLaren last year and the energy drinks organisation agreed to take them on to power Toro Rosso.

Renault and Red Bull have endured a fractious partnership since the end of their heyday and the dawn of the new turbo era in 2014, if Honda can get their engine to the level of at least Renault, this could be the catalyst for a change.

But time is running out for a decision which now must be made at the end of May.

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RAIKKONEN: EVERY YEAR I AM OUT SAME STORY FOR 15 YEARS

Kimi Raikkonen has stood the test of time in Formula 1, predicting his future in the sport is an annual pastime and this year it is no different according to the veteran of 275 grand prix starts.

Speculation has begun early, despite the Finn’s new found form, with paddock talk suggesting that Daniel Ricciardo will join Ferrari to reunite with former Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel and thus oust Raikkonen from the team.

But Raikkonen shrugged off the new round of reports claiming his demise, “It’s been the same story every year since I can remember, maybe 15 years, every year I’m out.”

“I’ll do my stuff on my side. I enjoy the racing, that’s the only reason I’m here. The rest, we’ll see how it plays out.”

“In the team we know what we want to do and if all those things fit together with all our feeling we’ll see what happens. Right now all I want to do is well it’s a long season and a long way until the end of the year,” added Raikkonen

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SPANISH GRAND PRIX: TORO ROSSO DRIVERS PREVIEW BARCELONA

Toro Rosso drivers Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley preview the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Round 5 of the 2018 Formula 1 World Championship, at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Pierre Gasly: “I reckon I’ve done thousands of laps of Barcelona, because it’s the circuit which we have always used the most for testing, in 2.0 litre, 3.5, GP2 before even coming to Formula 1 and over the year, work in the simulator has always focused on Barcelona. So I’ve probably driven the equivalent of several times around the world at this track.”

“Apart from knowing it well, it brings back happy memories, as it’s where I clinched the championship title in Renault 2.0 litre and it’s where I first tested a Formula 1 car with Toro Rosso in 2015, so I get a positive feeling in Barcelona. This year, our winter testing went well there, so I’m impatient to get going and I hope we will be on the pace very quickly and be able to score some points.”

“The usual cliché about the Catalunya track is that, if your car works well here, it works well everywhere…maybe, but this track has certainly a character all of its own. Qualifying is the key, as we know it’s complicated trying to overtake in the race, other than by playing with the strategy. F1 qualifying is always a difficult discipline with the way it’s run in different segments, as you generally only get two shots at it.”

“And if you encounter any problems, like traffic, then you’re down to just one chance to deliver and that’s an exciting moment because you know you have to nail it. I like that aspect of it. As Barcelona’s not far from France, I’ll have some friends and family coming, which will be nice.”

“I don’t find that a distraction because nothing makes me lose concentration and it’s always enjoyable to relax one evening over a dinner with friends. It’s one of the nice things about being back in Europe and getting that extra support.”

Brendon Hartley: “Barcelona is probably the track on the calendar that every single driver knows better than any other, which also makes it extremely challenging when it comes to trying to get any advantage over your team-mate or the others drivers and teams.”

“But that’s all part of the challenge here. It’s not just the actual testing that means we all know it well, because, from my time working in simulators for various teams, I know that the Catalunya track is used a lot in the sim. It’s an enjoyable track to drive and offers a bit of everything.”

“It is also tough physically, especially with the long right hand corners in particular putting a strain on the neck muscles. Qualifying is very important at this track, because overtaking is not so easy. So far this year, I’ve been relatively happy with my qualifying performance, especially compared to last year, when I had not yet developed an understanding of how to get the most out of the tyres.”

“Now, I feel like I’m understanding the car and tyres more and more and that’s given me a lot more confidence going into qualifying sessions. It’s one of the most fun parts of the weekend because all the fuel load comes off, the rubber goes down and that’s when these cars really come alive. They’re literally the quickest cars on earth and qualifying really highlights that.”

“It’s not often that you don’t have a smile on your face with the amount of grip that we have and the lap times we’re doing. Tyre management will be very important at this track because, even on a qualifying lap, you have to keep the rears alive for that last sector where you need the traction. You can easily destroy the rear tyres through that first part with all the high-speed corners but it’s one of the challenges of getting the most out of the qualifying lap.”

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Williams requests review into Baku incidents, Sergey Sirotkin penalty

Williams has lodged a request for stewards to review several incidents that took place during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including the clash that earned Sergey Sirotkin a three-place grid penalty.

Williams has asked for the stewards to review the clash between Sirotkin and Sergio Perez on the approach to Turn 2 on the first lap, for which Sirotkin received a three-place grid drop for the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix.

The team has also asked for the incidents that involved Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen, for which the latter was penalised, and the contact between Kimi Raikkonen and Esteban Ocon, which was deemed a racing incident, to be reviewed.

Furthermore, Williams has asked for the incident that involved Sirotkin, Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso to be reviewed, as well as “the actions of Car 14 [Alonso] in returning to the pits”.

Alonso sustained two punctures in the clash, which occurred as the trio exited Turn 2, but recovered his damaged McLaren MCL33 to the pit lane, from where he went on to take seventh position.

An initial hearing will take place via teleconference at 10:00 UK time on Tuesday in order to determine whether there is sufficient new evidence to pursue the matter further.

Should it be deemed that a new element or elements have been identified, then a second hearing to conduct the reviews will take place at 11:00 UK time.

Williams scored its first points of 2018 at the event courtesy of Lance Stroll's eighth place.

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Aero rule changes may alter Haas’ design plans

Haas’ plans to base next year’s car on this year’s VF-18 may have to change after new aerodynamic rules were passed last week.

Last week, the F1 Commission voted through a series of changes for 2019 designed to improve overtaking.

The new regulations, which relate to the front and rear wings, were opposed by Haas but were given the go-ahead through a majority vote.

Team boss Guenther Steiner says this may alter Haas’ development path as they had initially planned to base next year’s car on this year’s VF-18.

However, he feels the changes are big enough that they may need to take a different direction.

“Now that they’re throwing in this new aero regulation for 2019, we maybe need to change our plan,” he said.

“Those decisions will be made in the next week.

“The original plan was to develop this car better, because it could be an evolution for next year.

“At the moment, I still have to speak to the guys back in Italy to see how we do best. We haven’t had time to talk it through yet.

“For small teams like us, it is not an advantage to get a new technical regulation for next year so late.

“We will do our best, but it will not be easy.”

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Ocon welcomes new minimum driver weight

Esteban Ocon has welcomed a new minimum limit on the weight of the drivers, saying it will allow him to build up more muscle.

Standing at 1,86m, the Frenchman is one of the tallest drivers competing in Formula 1.

As such he has to keep his weight low, and ultimately cut down on muscle mass, in order meet the current weight requirements.

Next year, though, there will be a new minimum weight of 80kgs for the driver and his seat with lighter drivers required to carry ballast under the seat.

Speaking about the new limit, Ocon told RaceFans: “That’s good.

“I’m the tallest [driver]. I’m not the heaviest. I have margin on that. It’s going to be good to build up much more.”

Being tall has always been a problem for the 1,86m Ocon.

“I’ve never been heavy. I’ve always been on the light side. But [being] tall has been an issue in Formula Renault, GP2.

“That’s also a reason why I went to DTM, because the car was quite small and I was not fitting well.”

But it still remains a problem in Formula 1 as the Mercedes protege struggles to fit inside the Brackley squad’s simulator.

Asked about the reports that he has a problem fitting in, he replied: “Yes. The Mercedes car too, to be honest.

“It was not very comfortable but we managed to find a way at the end.

“The simulator, we managed to improve that, but it’s always harder in the real car to find space.

“It’s more the legs, I have long legs, that’s more the issue.”

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Sauber can be "very competitive" with low-fuel fix

The Sauber C37 Formula 1 car can be "very competitive" once the team addresses its low-fuel weakness, driver Charles Leclerc believes.
Leclerc's breakout sixth-place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix took the Swiss outfit to 10 points from the first four races, its 2018 tally already bigger than that its points totals from three of the four previous seasons.

The team's qualifying form, however, has been more subdued, with Baku marking the first time this season that a Sauber made it out of the first qualifying segment.

Leclerc's Azerbaijan GP result was aided by attrition, but the Monegasque has highlighted the opening stint - in which he maintained top-10 pace and even kept the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen at bay for a number of laps - as evidence of the C37's race pace prowess.

"As I was saying before the race, our race pace is stronger than our qualifying pace at the moment," Leclerc explained.

"Now we really need to investigate that and to make our low-fuel pace better.

"But if we manage to do that, we should be very competitive - because our race pace at the beginning of the race was really great. Then at the end with low fuel we struggled a bit more."

  

Marcus Ericsson, who had recorded the team's other points-scoring finish of 2018 in China by finishing ninth from 17th on the grid, reckoned that Sauber is struggling with the softer compounds that it has to run in qualifying.

"It’s still clear we are struggling more over one lap than race pace," Ericsson said. "Charles did a very good job in qualifying [in Baku] but still I think we are stronger in the race.

"We are really struggling with the softer compounds, I have a feeling that for some reason we haven’t really found a way to optimise them yet."

The Swede added that making the C37 more competitive over one lap should now be top of Sauber's to-do list.

"For me that’s the main priority now going forward, that we manage to find an extra bit of performance on Saturdays, because I really feel on Sundays we have a good car to fight the midfield.

"Charles’ pace today was really strong compared to the cars around him and if we have a good track position for the race, starting in the mix, we can have strong races.

"You need a good starting position. We need to take a step."

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MALDONADO: I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPONSORS

While Fernando Alonso grabbed headlines with his escapades at the World Endurance Championship (WEC) season opener at Spa-Francorchamps, former Lotus and Williams driver Pastor Maldonado also made his endurance racing debut after a couple of years on the sidelines

Maldonado, who won the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, explained to La Dernière about his absence from racing since his final F1 race at the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, “I do not have any sponsors or financial backing from my country as was the case in the past.”

The Venezuelan added, “The situation in my country is difficult, but given the positive climate there is now in the country, it can only get better.”

Maldonado, the 2010 GP2 Series Champion (equivalent to today’s Formula 2) was famous for his crashes in Formula 1 and was asked by reporters, at Spa, if he and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen – who has been accident prone this season – shared similar traits.

He replied, “Max is a fantastic driver, but he is still very young and so it’s quite normal that is making mistakes and is still learning.”

“He needs to accumulate experience, but comparing him with me is inappropriate,” added the 33-year-old who will compete in the entire WEC season with DragonSpeed.

The American team had a tough weekend at the season-opening Spa 6-Hours. Maldonado shared the Oreca Gibson #31 with Roberto González and Nathanaël Berthon to finish fifth and the LMP2 class.

However, the #10 DragonSpeed car of Ben Hanley, Henrik Hedman and Pietro Fittipaldi was withdrawn when grandson of F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi crashed heavily in qualifying, fracturing his legs in the process.

MIKA: The picture above cracks me up... Look at Maldonados face, pure joy and wonderment at whom hes about to decimate on the race track. 

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FIA REJECT WILLIAMS REQUEST TO REVIEW SIROTKIN PENALTY

Williams failed in a bid to overturn a three-place grid penalty imposed on Russian Sergey Sirotkin for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, after the team requested that FIA stewards review the penalty given to their driver Sergey Sirotkin for causing a first lap accident that compromised the race of Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg and the Russian rookie too.

Sirotkin was handed a grid penalty which he will have to serve at the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix, upon which Williams requested that several additional incidents be reviewed in the light of the penalty their driver received on the day.

On Tuesday F1 stewards and the FIA’s F1 race director Charlie Whiting reconvened via teleconference to deal with incidents that were brought up:

• Sirotkin’s first-lap collision with Sergio Perez, which earned the Williams driver a three-place grid drop for this coming weekend’s race in Spain;
• The incident involving Kevin Magnussen and Pierre Gasly which resulted in the Haas driver being handed what Williams described an ‘inconsequential’ a 10-second time penalty;
• The decision to take no further action over the first-lap clash between Sirotkin, Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg;
• The decision not to take action against Alonso for driving his damaged car back to the pits.

Williams had sought a review of five incidents at the April 29 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, arguing that significant and relevant new elements had emerged. The stewards unanimously rejected that, however.

Sirotkin had crashed into the back of the Force India driven by Mexican Sergio Perez, who ultimately finished third in a chaotic race in Baku, on the opening lap with the Russian retiring immediately.

The stewards said the incident “was not similar to other first lap incidents where cars were side-by-side. The penalty was similar to other penalties for similar collisions and was consistent with the minimum grid penalties given previously.”

Williams had questioned the stewards’ decision in relation to other collisions. 

They had also referenced the response to McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, who was hit on the first lap and limped back to the pits with two punctures before rejoining with a badly-damaged car and finishing seventh.

That was one place ahead of Williams’ Canadian teenager Lance Stroll.

Race director Charlie Whiting, who was present in the meeting convened by teleconference, noted that Alonso returned to the pits while the Safety Car was deployed.

He had also taken care to avoid the racing line and keep clear of following traffic. The stewards said Williams were well aware of what was going on at the time.

“The team on the pit wall would have seen the driver of car 14 (Alonso) enter the pits, as it had to drive past them. Therefore it cannot be argued that this is a ‘new element’,” they declared.

Williams had also argued that a 10 second penalty imposed on Haas driver Kevin Magnussen for a collision with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly was ‘inconsequential’.

Stewards reminded the team that, since 2013, the consequences of penalties were not taken into account: “In relation to other penalties, since the beginning of 2016 there have been a total of 87 incidents involving alleged ‘causing a collision’ in the Formula One Championship.”

“Of these, as a result of the ‘let them race’ policy, 55 have resulted in No Further Action. Fourteen have resulted in 10 second penalties and nine have resulted in three grid position penalties for the next race.

 “Therefore the penalties imposed…were entirely consistent with previous practice and with the penalty guidelines,” concluded the directive.

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MUCH EXPECTED OF MCLAREN MCL33-‘B’ DEBUT IN SPAIN

McLaren will be in the spotlight once again when the Formula 1 season resumes with the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, as they will unleash the car they should have started the season with – one that is already being dubbed the MCL33-B.

Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne have struggled with lack of pace, the pair slowest of the Renault powered brigade and, to add insult to injury, probably on par with Honda-powered Tor Rosso…

For a variety of reasons the MCL33 never had the best birth, as the Woking outfit were tasked to bolt on Renault power units to their cars during the winter after management ditched the ill-performing Honda units.

There were early delays related to resolving the over-heating problems that emerged during their early days of testing with Renault. The team thus split human resources into a testing team to get the basic car doing laps and a separate team working on performance upgrades, these will be unleashed for the first time during the course of free practice in Barcelona on Friday.

The team promised that in Spain and Canada the ‘real’ 2018 McLaren will break cover, and of course, expectations are high as the team need to find a substantial dollop of performance to match Renault, let alone Red Bull or pace-setters Mercedes or Ferrari.

By all accounts, the MCL33-B will feature a heavily revised front nose and wing, modified deflectors, baffles and winglets as well as mods to the underbody.

However, the front wing and nose is said to be where most of the performance has been found by the technical gurus at the factory, featuring a mix of traditional concepts with some innovations thrown into the upgrade which is expected to resemble Force India’s front-end solution.

We will only know exactly what when the car is rolled into the FIA garage to be scrutineered at Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday.

A McLaren employee told Auto Motor und Sport, “There were two work groups over the winter. One to build a basic car for testing, and evaluating the Renault power unit package on their car. The other technical team has worked on the planned evolution of the aero concepts.”

“But that had to be held back until the new nose was ready for use because the nose and front wing determine what happens further back in the car.”

The new front nose and wing passed the mandatory FIA crash tests in early April and since then McLaren have been tight-lipped about the specifics of the upgrade but have conceded that the Baku version of the car has been put out to pasture, with hopes high that the B-version of their car will iron out the shortcomings and as a result they will close the gap to the frontrunners.

More upgrades will be bolted on to the car as the season evolves, with Canada set for an important roll out as Renault will make introduce the first major upgrade to their power unit, so far this year, during the three days in Montreal.

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ABITEBOUL: WE ARE MASSIVELY BEHIND IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION

Renault have lagged behind Mercedes and Ferrari in the Formula 1 power stakes during the current Formula 1 turbo hybrid engine era, but the French manufacturer’s motorsport chief Cyril Abiteboul is adamant that his team will become a force again as the groundwork set for this to happen is complete.

Speaking to ESPN Abiteboul said, “Last year we managed to out-develop all teams, including the top teams. We started two seconds off the pace from the top teams and we finished the season one second away from the top teams.

“OK, we are starting this year more than one second or so from the top teams, but if we also manage to out-develop like we did last year, the target that we have set ourselves of finishing half a second away from them by the end of the year is an achievable one. I think we have the talent, skills and also the resources to achieve that, so let’s see.”

“I think that we still struggle in the winter to produce a car at the level of our expectations [for the start of the season] and there is reason to that, but I am sure that by putting more work we will be able to also improve that aspect in the next few years.”

Renault bought Lotus back from Genii Capital late in 2015 and since have spent the past few years rebuilding a team which was close to collapse. Investment has been ongoing and substantial as the team grows from around 450 members to a target of 700 by the end of this season.

Abiteboul confirmed, “The investment, building and expansion is all done. We’ve completed the tranche related to engineering and design, we are just doing a tranche for electronics and the next tranche will be for production.”

“We are still massively behind in terms of production and I was touching briefly before on the fact that we are still not great over the winter in developing a car that is immediately in the level of our expectations. One of the reasons for that is the fact that we are still much weaker than the other teams in terms of production facility, we are much slower.”

“So the problem is when we have to produce a car with the level of sophistication of these cars, in particular cars of a top team, we need to have a model of a to team which means very integrated — not a model like Force India or Haas, which, without being controversial, is a different model.”

“Our choice is to become a top team, to become a top team we need to be integrated, but in order to be integrated it takes a bit of time in building space, in infrastructure, in composite room and then in terms of people. That tranche is our next focus.”

“Right now we focused on upstream engineering: aero, the vehicle performance group, simulator, design office – all of that is done or being done. The next tranche will be production so we can shorten the lead time in terms of production so that we can meet the ambition, and in particular the complexity of modern F1 cars,” added Abiteboul.

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SPANISH GRAND PRIX: FORCE INDIA PREVIEW BARCELONA

Force India preview the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Round 5 of the 2018 Formula 1 World Championship, at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Team Principal, Vijay Mallya: “Baku feels like a turning point in our season. The podium has given us a huge boost and is just the result we needed. It helps us forget about the bad luck and missed opportunities from the first few races.

“Our speed in Baku confirms we are moving in the right direction. We understand the car more and we are taking steps forward at each race. With the podium it feels as though our season is up and running. We now have some momentum behind us. Let’s see what we can do in Barcelona where we will have more new parts to try on the car.”

Sergio Perez: “Finishing on the podium in Baku felt amazing. After a few tough races we finally got a result we deserved. It reminded me of 2016, when we had a difficult start to the season and then we had the podium in Monaco. We were quick in Baku right from the start and we knew there was the chance to score a great result. I’m so proud of my team and the way we did it. Even when we had to pit on lap one, we didn’t stop fighting or stop believing.

“Barcelona was our best result as a team last year so you never know what can happen this year. It’s a track we know really well because of testing, but of course the car has changed a lot since the pre-season and it will be interesting to feel the difference the upgrades have made. Unlike in Baku, overtaking is quite difficult at Barcelona so we will need to be perfect in qualifying.

“It’s great to be back racing in Europe and Barcelona is the perfect place to start this part of the championship. I really enjoy the city of Barcelona and my trainer Xavi is Catalan, so it’s a special race for him.”

Esteban Ocon: “It was disappointing not to finish the race in Baku, especially since we had such strong pace. I know this is how racing goes sometimes and you have to learn from it and look ahead.

“Heading to Spain really feels like coming home after all the long flights in the first part of the year. Barcelona is probably the track I know the most – it’s the first track I drove in single seaters at the start of my career. We test a lot there so we know the place well and we get our hospitality buildings back so it feels much more like a familiar environment.

“Barcelona itself is wonderful: it’s a place that feels young with a relaxed atmosphere and the weather is amazing. Part of my family lives in the city and it’s very close to where I was training this winter, so I know the place by heart now. Last year we did really well there; the pace was good all over the weekend and we raced really well. We have been making good progress with the car recently so we have to target some good points.”

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Qualifying performance vital across coming F1 rounds - Toto Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says one-lap pace will be vital for teams across this month’s pair of Formula 1 races in Spain and Monaco, due to the difficulty in making overtaking manoeuvres as the respective events.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Circuit de Monaco have typically provided drivers with few opportunities in which to pass – placing a greater emphasis on grid position than at some other events.

Mercedes has taken only one pole position from four this season, courtesy of Lewis Hamilton in Australia, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel having wrapped up a hat-trick last time out in Azerbaijan.

“After an exciting start to 2018 we're now heading into the European season with races like Spain and Monaco that present very different challenges than some of the previous tracks,” said Wolff.

“Overtaking is difficult in Barcelona and even more so in Monte Carlo, making track position key for a good race result.

“So every team will work hard to get every last bit of performance out of the car in qualifying.
 
“The European season is also the time when teams start introducing bigger upgrades to their cars. It's the first step of the development race that looks like it could run to the very end of the season.

“It will be interesting to see how much performance the teams can find with their upgrades and what impact those upgrades will have on the team ranking – both at the front and in the midfield.”

Mercedes heads into the Spanish Grand Prix having ended its six-race win drought but trails Ferrari by four points in the Constructors’ Championship.
 
“Barcelona holds mixed memories for us – a double DNF in 2016, but also a dramatic win for Lewis last year after passing Vettel on track for the lead,” Wolff commented.

“We're hoping that this year's Spanish Grand Prix will be a good race for us, but we know that it will be tough.

“The first four races indicate very strongly that we will see the three-way battle continue and – if anything – intensify.”

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Brendon Hartley lifted by personal one-lap improvements

Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley says he has been boosted by his qualifying performances in Formula 1 this year – an aspect that will be vital at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Hartley made his debut at short notice towards the end of 2017, giving him little time to adapt to the nuances of Formula 1.

But the off-season allowed Hartley to understand the complexities of the sport, and he expanded on his improved feeling in qualifying, with grid position crucial at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

“Qualifying is very important at this track, because overtaking is not so easy,” said Hartley, who scored his maiden point in Azerbaijan.

“So far this year, I’ve been relatively happy with my qualifying performance, especially compared to last year, when I had not yet developed an understanding of how to get the most out of the tyres.

“Now, I feel like I’m understanding the car and tyres more and more and that’s given me a lot more confidence going into qualifying sessions.

“It’s one of the most fun parts of the weekend because all the fuel load comes off, the rubber goes down and that’s when these cars really come alive.

“Tyre management will be very important at this track because, even on a qualifying lap, you have to keep the rears alive for that last sector where you need the traction.

“You can easily destroy the rear tyres through that first part with all the high-speed corners but it’s one of the challenges of getting the most out of the qualifying lap.”

Toro Rosso team-mate Pierre Gasly echoed Hartley’s sentiments.

“Qualifying is the key, as we know it’s complicated trying to overtake in the race, other than by playing with the strategy,” said Gasly.

“F1 qualifying is always a difficult discipline with the way it’s run in different segments, as you generally only get two shots at it.

“And if you encounter any problems, like traffic, then you’re down to just one chance to deliver and that’s an exciting moment because you know you have to nail it.”

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Prost backs Ferrari to win the title

Four-time World Champion Alain Prost has backed his former team Ferrari to win the title this season.

Similar to the 2017 season, Ferrari have started the season strongly despite the fact Lewis Hamilton took the World Championship lead for the first time this campaign after his fortuitous win in Baku.

However, the gap to Sebastian Vettel is just four points heading into Spain this weekend, while Ferrari have a four-point gap over Mercedes in the World Constructors’ Championship.

But Prost believes that Ferrari can maintain a high standard all season long this time around and earn their first Drivers’ title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.

“I made a mistake last year when I said that every time there is a change of regulation, Ferrari was rarely there,” Prost told Auto Bild.

“In the winter Mercedes and Red Bull seemed to be a little better, but it turned out that they [Ferrari] are there in qualifying and tyre management.

“And also Kimi Raikkonen is there at Sebastian Vettel‘s level which will be a great help. I think this year Ferrari can win.”

Prost thinks Ferrari’s engine has come on leaps and bounds, and also said that Hamilton is not used to having so many competitors for race victories.

“I think the engine has progressed more than the chassis,” Prost added.

“The six drivers for Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull can be competitive in all circumstances.

“It’s more difficult for Hamilton, who has usually fought for championships against single drivers only.

“Now he will not be able to manage races in the same way against four or five competitors, but for us, it will be exciting.”

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‘Alonso not inferior to Hamilton, Vettel’

Ex-Formula 1 Jean-Eric Vergne has had his say on a range of topics in Formula 1, including Fernando Alonso and a “concerning” situation at McLaren.

The current Formula E World Championship leader is often outspoken on the series he used to race in, recently questioning Toro Rosso’s decision to bring Brendon Hartley back into the fold.

Vergne mentioned Hartley once again in his latest interview, saying his situation is why he would not come back to Formula 1 himself if the opportunity arose.

“I don’t regret leaving Formula 1,” Vergne said. “Even if I was invited to return, as happened with Brendon Hartley, I doubt that I would accept it.

“What does Hartley have? A contract for one, two years maximum. What will he do then?

“I’m much more attracted by the opportunity of competing in two championships at the same time.”

Vergne is also confident that Alonso would win races if he was at a top team like Mercedes or Ferrari, and that McLaren’s current predicament even after changing engine suppliers should be a worry.

“When you have the same engine as a team that wins races, and you’re also behind Toro Rosso with Honda, this should be a concern,” he said.

“I think McLaren has huge pressure. Fernando [Alonso] told me that the team is preparing a lot of new parts for Barcelona, which would also be good for Stoffel Vandoorne.

“I think if he was at Mercedes or Ferrari, he would win races. He is in no way inferior to Vettel or Hamilton.”

Vergne concluded by discussing the abilities of Max Verstappen and has told the Dutchman to calm down in order to let his true potential show.

“Max is a unique driver who is very talented and takes a lot of risks,” he added.

“Previously he was lucky, because he managed to pull off moves that are one in a hundred. Only now it’s not working.

“If he calms down a little and focuses on the main thing – finishing the races – he will be where he should be, which is in the leaders’ group.

“But now he is making too many mistakes that can be avoided.”

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"Exposed" Renault opens contract talks with Sainz

Renault has opened talks with Carlos Sainz about a long-term contract at the team, despite admitting his loan situation from Red Bull leaves it "exposed".
Sainz has been lent out by Red Bull to the Renault team for this season, and can be called back for 2019 if the team loses Daniel Ricciardo to a rival outfit.

With Ricciardo's future unlikely to be settled until the summer, it means Renault is in a tricky spot because it is not totally in control of what happens with its line-up.

Despite that uncertainty, Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul has told Motorsport.com that it is already discussing a long-term plan with Sainz.

"We have in my opinion still two great drivers, but obviously we have a particular situation with Carlos, which is a contract where we are exposed for next year, and we knew that since day one," said Abiteboul.

"That's why we need to start thinking way in advance about what could be the situation. And frankly, that is why we have already started discussion with Carlos about longer term, about what can happen beyond this year, accepting that it's not completely in his hands nor our hands.

"[It is] not a super comfortable situation to be in, but we need to accept that we are still playing catch up on many areas and one of the areas is also driver market, where we still need to try to be more in control of our future and of our destiny."

When asked by Motorsport.com about his contract talks with Renault, Sainz said: "I think both [Renault and me] are happy with the situation. I am very happy with Renault, I feel privileged to be part of this brand and it seems that Renault is also interested in being able to continue with me in the future.

"But I think it is still too early to talk about the future. We are in the fourth race and it is not yet time to talk about 2019."

Abiteboul said the team was not in a situation yet where its junior drivers like Jack Aitken were ready for the step up to F1, nor was the outfit strong enough to attract regular race winners like Daniel Ricciardo.

"We are interested in talented drivers, and Ricciardo is a talented driver," explained Abiteboul, when asked about interest in the Australian.

"I think Daniel Ricciardo is very well positioned to have a very clear understanding about where we are strong, where we can be weak. And I am talking about the engine, because obviously he is using a Renault engine, which can be good and some time can be wrong.

"If we want to seduce drivers like Ricciardo – maybe Ricciardo, but maybe other drivers – the first thing that we need to do is to to get our stuff right. And if we manage to build the best chassis/engine package, I am pretty sure that we can attract, because we can show that we are serious about our ambitions, someone like Ricciardo.

"But the first thing that we need to do for Daniel is to fix… not fix, because it's not broken, but to make sure that we are in complete control of the engine situation."

While Abiteboul is already pushing Red Bull to make a decision on its engine plans for 2019, as the Milton Keynes-based outfit courts Honda, he is also eager for it to make a call on whether or not it wants Sainz back.

"Maybe we cannot control everything, but at least we need to have visibility on the future," he said. "And that is why I am also acting to speed things up with Red Bull on the engine side, and that will be the same also on the drivers' side.

"We need to be fixed about our plans as soon as possible, bearing in mind that we can't control everything."

[MIKA27]

Gasly: Honda not sole reason for Toro Rosso slump

Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly says the Honda engine is not solely to blame for the team's lack of performance in the previous two Formula 1 races.
The Faenza squad starred in the second round of the season, with Gasly scoring a sensational fourth place in the team's second race with engine partner Honda.

Toro Rosso was unable to replicate that kind of performance in the next two events, however, struggling near the back in China and last weekend in Azerbaijan.

Gasly said the team has been unable to understand the slump after such a strong showing in Bahrain, but admitted the Honda engine was only one part of the problem.

"It's difficult, really, because the last two weekends have been really tough in terms of performance," said the Frenchman. "We knew that China has one of the longest straights of the season, Baku as well.

"Even on the chassis side we are not so competitive. We seem to be competitive under braking but then all the traction fades. We don't really have the pace. It's something that we need to understand.

"I don't understand how it's possible to be so competitive, have a car that is that good there balance-wise, also in terms of potential, and then to have such a big delta as soon as you go to another track."

Teammate Brendon Hartley said he was also failing to understand why Toro Rosso has struggled.

"I don't know. I wish I knew," he said. "The obvious question is why were so quick in Bahrain. OK, Pierre had the result. I also had the pace in Bahrain, but obviously I didn't get the result.

"Right at this very moment I don't have the answers and I think the team will continue trying to understand. But yeah, it was only a few weeks ago," added the Kiwi, who scored his first point in Formula 1 with a 10th-place finish in Baku.

Gasly said after the race that the power unit's energy management had been "quite difficult" for the team.

Honda boss Toyoharu Tanabe conceded the Japanese manufacturer needed to find solutions for its lack of performance.

"We had a difficult weekend again," said Tanabe. "Pace in qualifying maybe – especially Gasly's car – was not too bad. The position was bad because of the accident. Our pace during the race was not good enough. We need to analyse that.

"We need to analyse data and then find out what happened. We had a lot of passing during the race. Energy management side and PU performance, we need to analyse."