FORMULA 1 - 2014

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Red Bull: We are of course disappointed by the outcome

Formula 1 team Red Bull’s appeal against Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix has been rejected by the International Court of Appeal, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Tuesday.

“The Court, after having heard the parties and examined their submissions, decided to uphold the Decision No.56 of the Stewards by which they decided to exclude Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s car No.3 from the results of the 2014 Australian Grand Prix,” The FIA said in a statement.

Australian Ricciardo finished second in his home race last month, his debut for the world champions, but was disqualified hours later when stewards ruled that his car had breached new fuel flow regulations.

No further sanction against Red Bull was announced.

The FIA added that details of the decision would be published by the end of the week.

“Infiniti Red Bull Racing accepts the ruling of the International Court of Appeal,” Red Bull said in a statement.

“We are of course disappointed by the outcome and would not have appealed if we didn’t think we had a very strong case. We always believed that we adhered to the technical regulations throughout the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.

“We will continue to work very hard to amass as many points as possible for the team, Daniel and Sebastian [Vettel] throughout the season.”

The ruling means that Ricciardo remains 10th in the drivers’ standings on 12 points, having lost 18 points as result of the disqualification, and Red Bull stay fourth in the team standings.

The hearing took place at the FIA headquarters in Paris on Monday with representatives from the federation and Red Bull arguing their case for almost six hours.

Rival teams Mercedes, the championship leaders who have won all three races so far this year, McLaren, Lotus, Williams and Force India also had representatives at the hearing in front of a five-judge panel.

The case was seen as a critical test of the regulations accompanying the V6 turbo engines and energy recovery systems, with Red Bull arguing that the sensors cannot be trusted, a version the FIA and other teams dispute.

Red Bull, instead, used their own method of measurement, in breach of an FIA technical directive.

Mercedes had come down hard on Red Bull, asking the judges to “impose a further sanction that is to be suspended until the end of the season” to prevent them from breaching the rules again.

Red Bull had also argued that technical directives are “only opinions”, not regulations, while FIA and Mercedes said that according to the rule book, “it is the duty of the competitor to satisfy the technical delegate”.

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Updates will stop once Schumacher leaves hospital says Kehm

Michael Schumacher’s family will stop releasing information about his condition once the ex Formula 1 driver leaves hospital.

Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm has told German television that since the former F1 great started regaining consciousness, further “small improvements” have been observed.

Kehm was, however, highly critical of some medical commentators and reporters throughout Schumacher’s long coma, warning that updates will cease altogether once the famous 45-year-old leaves hospital.

“Our plan and our desire would be that from the moment in which Michael can go into a rehab clinic, this media coverage will stop,” she told ARD television.

The Schumacher clan has been criticised by some for failing to release more information about his condition, but Kehm said that is only what he would want.

“Michael Schumacher is in a coma and cannot decide what is reported about him,” she explained. “We, of course, know how he deals with such things and try in his interest to handle these matters for him.”

Meanwhile, Schumacher’s 15-year-old son Mick scored his first international karting podium in Italy last weekend, and promptly dedicated the win to his ill father.

To ease the pressure of his famous surname, Schumacher jr races under his mother’s maiden name, Betsch.

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Singapore Airlines spreads wings into Formula 1 sponsorship

Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) has been unveiled as the new title sponsor of the city-state’s Formula One race in September as the carrier bids to promote its brand to motor racing’s global television audience.

The 19-21 September race will see the carrier’s brand prominently displayed around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, although financial terms of the deal announced in a statement on Tuesday were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to be taking up the title sponsorship of one of the most exciting races on the F1 calendar, and we are especially pleased to be doing so in the lead-up to Singapore’s 50th birthday next year,” Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said.

“Singapore Airlines has always supported the development of both sports and tourism. Through our involvement with the world’s first F1 night race we will be able to enhance both for the benefit of Singaporeans and visitors alike,” he added.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone welcomed the carrier’s association with the “extremely popular” race, saying it “demonstrates Singapore’s forward thinking, an attribute Singapore Airlines has always achieved”.

The airline’s sponsorship – succeeding local telecoms company Singapore Telecommunications Ltd – comes as premium carriers such as SIA seek ways to boost their brand while customers increasingly opt for budget airlines.

SIA faces stiff competition on its medium and long-haul routes from both Gulf carriers and Asian regional airlines.

‘PERFECT MOVE’

Last year, Emirates Airline, Dubai’s flag carrier, clinched a five-year sponsorship deal with the Formula One racing organisation as it bids to outdo regional rivals.

Sponsorship consultant Ben Heyhoe Flint called it a perfect move for Singapore’s premium carrier.

“For me, Singapore Airlines is a very traditional brand, they have done nothing of this stature before. They’ve done the horse-racing festival in Singapore but this is leagues ahead of that,” Flint, chief executive of the Asia Sponsorship News, told Reuters by telephone.

“It would reinforce its status as a premium carrier because the brand value of Formula One is premium. For me, Singapore Airlines really needed something like this.”

The carrier would have to find innovative and create ways to leverage maximum mileage out of the sponsorship deal, he said.

“What’s more interesting about it is how they are going to activate, how they are going to use it.

“Motorsports it not a big thing here but SingTel made the effort and I hope Singapore Airlines continue to do that for the grand prix,” Flint added.

The Singapore Grand Prix was first held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in 2008 and has been won for the last three years by Red Bull’s quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel.

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McLaren and Gillette enhance partnership

Press Release: Gillette, the world’s leading male grooming brand, is enhancing its collaboration with McLaren Mercedes, one of the most prestigious and successful teams in F1 history. The two brands are extending their partnership to bring to life an innovative marketing campaign focused on Precision Engineering.

The partnership covers Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Gillette and McLaren, who share an ethos of innovation and precision engineering, are coming together for an exciting new marketing campaign emphasising the ways the two brands push boundaries of technology. With this partnership, the male shaving category will move up a gear.

As the ultimate male grooming and high-technology experts, Gillette and McLaren constantly innovate to achieve greater precision and enhanced performance. Ultimate precision technology and a passion for winning are deeply encoded in the DNA of both brands. Gillette and McLaren lead engineering refinement, whether that’s seen in developing blades thinner than a wave length of light, or engineering car components that are [manufactured using] accurate tolerances of a fraction of [ the thickness of] human hair.

Gillette ushered in the era of modern shaving, and for 110 years has constantly reinvented the shaving category. McLaren pioneered the first carbon fibre chassis in Formula 1 and introduced advanced electronic systems leading to decades of ground-breaking achievements on the track.

This passion for the best will be further leveraged through a pioneering sports marketing campaign that aims to reach and inspire millions of men with cutting edge communication behind TV, Digital, PR and In-store programs. McLaren Mercedes F1 drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen will engage men’s passion for Formula 1 and thrill the millions that enjoy Gillette grooming expertise and superior technology day in, day out.

Eric Boullier, Racing Director at McLaren Mercedes, said: “It is very exciting to be able to announce a new partnership between McLaren Mercedes and Gillette. Gillette is synonymous with precision engineering and with innovation. These are values we hold dear at McLaren as we strive to deliver world beating performance. The fact that a global brand, of the stature of Gillette, has chosen to engage in a major multi-national partnership with McLaren Mercedes is also a reflection of the strength of our brand and our ability to reach millions of avid motorsport fans around the world.”

“Gillette has a rich heritage of making men feel and be at their best. We stand for excellence in shaving. We couldn’t think of any partner that shares those values more than McLaren Mercedes”, commented Hossam Ashour, Gillette Europe, the Middle East and Africa Shave Care Vice President. “For more than 40 years McLaren has innovated in superior engineering and performance. This makes them the ideal partner to demonstrate our belief in the importance of … precision, when it comes to shaving.”

Like McLaren Mercedes, its Official Partner, Gillette has always applied immaculate detail to every one of its own innovations; engineering and refining products down to the microscopic razor’s edge. It is this precision that gives 800 million men across the globe the edge; shaving performance that makes them look, feel and perform at their best. With years of technological and product innovation of this calibre, Gillette has created its most advanced razor ever – as seen in the Gillette Fusion ProGlide, a true advancement in shaving precision and performance.

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Formula 1 drivers threaten to strike over unpaid wages

Formula 1 drivers are threatening to go on strike if their teams do not pay them.

Sport Bild reports that, in Bahrain recently, Kimi Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson was seen arguing in the paddock with Lotus team boss Federico Gastaldi.

Reportedly, that is because the Finn, who switched to Ferrari at the end of last year, still has not been paid in full by Lotus for the 2013 season.

The magazine claims that Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg, Adrian Sutil and Kamui Kobayashi are all also waiting on overdue payments.

It is believed that, under the auspices of their union, the GPDA, the Formula 1 drivers have signed a document vowing to strike if the growing trend of not being paid continues.

Sport Bild claims that Raikkonen – not a GPDA member – and one of Formula 1′s very highest earners, Lewis Hamilton, have refused to sign the document. Hulkenberg would not comment.

“What we talk about in meetings, we keep to ourselves,” said the German, who moved from Sauber to Force India for the 2014 season.

He admitted, however, that unpaid wages is an issue for the drivers.

“That’s right. The teams are aware of the situation – the driver can be easily replaced. Maybe not with the same quality, but [the teams] do take advantage of that.”

Hulkenberg also expressed some understanding for the situation of the teams.

“They are not [failing to pay drivers] for fun,” he acknowledged. “The money just isn’t there. The sport is too expensive.”

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Formula 1 move for Danica Patrick impossible says Haas

Danica Patrick, the world’s most famous female racing driver, will not be making the switch to Formula 1 with Haas.

The 32-year-old drives in NASCAR for new Formula 1 entrant Gene Haas’ team, but Haas said on Monday he plans to hire from within the sport for his first year and hopefully pair that driver with a young American.

But he warned that it would be “impossible” for any driver to juggle a NASCAR seat whilst preparing for the big switch to F1.

“I’d certainly never expect any of our current lineup of drivers to want to be able to do that,” said Haas at a news conference alongside his Formula 1 team boss, former Jaguar and Red Bull chief Gunther Steiner.

“It would be really impossible to accomplish that and survive. Just the thought of jumping into a Formula 1 car from a [NASCAR sprint] cup car would be very, very difficult,” he insisted.

Anyway, Haas admitted that a more pressing matter for the next few weeks is to decide whether he is organising a team for 2015 or 2016.

“I think 2015 is too close and 2016 is too far – that’s kind of where I see it,” he said.

“If we wait until 2016 were are going to start delaying and [will have to spend] even more money because we will be a neutral.”

The likely plan, he said, is to pair with a chassis partner like Dallara and “arrive with a car” for the start of the first season.

“We are going to have to beg, borrow and steal to arrive at that first race so we can compete,” said Haas.

“I would say we like 2015, but depending upon who we select as our partner, I don’t know if they can provide all of the infrastructure and technology that we need.

“I think it’s one of those things where we are going to have to find out in the next few weeks,” he added.

Haas said that he is expanding his Nascar headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina, to accommodate the Formula 1 team, adding that a satellite base in Europe is also likely.

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Sao Paulo extends Formula 1 contract until at least 2020

Sao Paulo officials have signed a six-year extension to their contract to host Formula One’s Brazilian Grand Prix, while Rio de Janeiro has been dropped as a venue for the new Formula E motor-racing championship.

Sao Paulo’s F1 race contract was due to expire following this year’s event on November 9, but the City of Sao Paulo has agreed terms with race promoters and the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) to keep the grand prix until at least 2020.

Formula One Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone had previously warned that the grand prix could be moved to Rio amid concerns over the standard of facilities at Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit. Rio hosted Brazil’s grand prix throughout the 1980s before it switched to its current location of Sao Paulo in 1991.

Under the terms of the new contract, organisers have committed to a $160m redevelopment of Interlagos that will include the track being completely resurfaced and an overhaul of the existing pit facilities.

In other news, the FIA have announced that Rio has been removed from the inaugural calendar of the Formula E series. Formula E in December finalised its calendar for its debut season, with Rio having stepped in to replace Hong Kong on the 2014-15 schedule.

The city was scheduled to host the third round of the season in November but will now be replaced by an as yet unidentified venue. This new venue will take a February calendar slot, with Los Angeles’ race moving to April.

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US sanctions could endanger Sirotkin’s career

Russian teenager Sergey Sirotkin’s Formula 1 future is suddenly in doubt.

Closely linked with a Russian rescue deal that reportedly saved Sauber from financial collapse last year, the 18-year-old is backed by Russia’s SMP bank.

The bank is owned by Boris Rotenberg, who reportedly has close ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency now reports that Rotenberg’s Putin link has endangered Sirotkin’s Formula 1 future, along with dozens of other Russian athletes.

That is because Rotenberg, a “childhood friend” and in Putin’s “inner circle”, has been included in US and European sanctions against Russia’s behaviour in the Ukraine crisis.

SMP Racing, the motor racing arm of the bank, has confirmed that its European bank accounts have been frozen, describing the action as “political blackmail”.

“We ask Europe and the US to listen to the voice of reason by removing the limit on Russian athletes’ participation in international competitions,” SMP said in a statement released in response.

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Renault: We're getting closer

Renault head of track operations Remi Taffin believes the engine constructor's power units will be approaching peak performance at this week's Chinese Grand Prix.

After a disappointing Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month, where Red Bull managed only a single top eight berth, Renault were reminded of how far they currently are behind the Mercedes-powered teams.

Speaking to ESPN ahead of this week's race in Shanghai, though, Taffin revealed that a big improvement will be visible in China.

"Overall we're looking forward to China - while we know it's still an uphill battle, we feel we have hit our stride now." Taffin told ESPN.

"While we know that the others are still ahead, we have made some good progress in the last two races, both in reliability and driveability, particularly in race modes.

"At the test in Bahrain we tested several new software modes that will see us closer to the limits of the Power Unit than before. In the past three races we have been some way from the edge of the performance envelope but these new modes should see us running more to the extreme. The drivers should feel improved driveability and it should also give us greater life from each part."

Taffin conceded that the Mercedes engines probably still has the edge over their Ferrari and Renault counterparts, but he remains confident that their race package is vastly improved.

"Likewise we have been working on the energy management per lap, particularly in the slow corners. We know we are missing out on the straights but these new steps have given us greater traction in the turns, which should in turn extend tyre life and give greater flexibility on strategies. In fact the greater part of our work has been concentrated on race modes and performance as this is where we believe the bigger steps can be taken, rather than in qualifying," he continued.

"All of these improvements should put us a bit closer to the front in China. Of the first four races, it is one of the most difficult. The long straight is of course the major feature of the circuit, but we believe the steps taken in testing will make us less vulnerable.

"There are also some tricky mid to slow speed corners in Shanghai such as the first 'snail' corner that tightens back on itself. This and the two hairpins give some opportunity for the MGU-K to recover energy under braking but the focus for energy recovery will be on the MGU-H and that long straight."

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Raikkonen rivalry exaggerated - Alonso

Fernando Alonso has revealed that his rivalry with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen has been blown out of proportion and that he and the Finn have no problem working together.

Alonso and Raikkonen have been rivals at the front end of the grid for the majority of their respective careers, dating back to when they drove for Renault and McLaren respectively, when Alonso twice finished just ahead of Raikkonen in the Drivers' Championship standings.

Speaking to exclusive to CNN's 'The Circuit' in an interview that will be broadcast on April 19, the two-time World Champion revealed that neither driver has a problem with the other in the Ferrari garage now that they are team-mates.

"I think from the outside it's always exaggerated how the relationships between teammates are. It's true that you should beat your teammate to have a better reputation or to have a better result in that weekend," Alonso said during his interview with CNN's 'The Circuit'.

"But believe me when we are in a meeting or a debrief after a race, people should see the atmosphere... that is inside the team. There are zero problems, there are only good things or positive things...helpful comments from the other driver. There's a huge communication and a huge teamwork despite what you read or what you see from the outside

"I think he's very talented so that is a huge help and a huge motivation for myself first and also for the team because the team knows it has to deliver a good car because Kimi will deliver a good result."

Alonso also reflected on some of the key moments in his career to date, including his debut in Australia with Minardi.

"The first one probably has been in 94 where I was the Spanish champion and that is probably the first time that I felt something proud a bit and some achievement that I was happy," the Spaniard continued.

"My first Grand Prix- clear memory. I didn't know what to touch in the steering wheel. I arrive in my first Formula One Grand Prix in Australia with Minardi team and we did not have any pre-season test because the car was not read.

"They explained briefly what the steering wheel was, buttons obviously to press... and then I remember going out from the garage, going to the pit-lane and it was a red light lane.

"At the end all the cars were queuing there and I arrived and there was a panic moment because I did not know what was the neutral button, and I was trying to find the neutral button, and I had one second or I would crash with someone."

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HOW WILL MARCO MATTIACCI SUCCEED AS NEW BOSS OF FERRARI F1 TEAM?

This weekend in China the new Team Principal of Ferrari, Marco Mattiacci, will be in charge for the first time.

In promoting Mattiacci, the company is taking something of a gamble on one level, as he has very limited knowledge of Formula 1; it’s culture and the complex, difficult people who populate its higher echelons.

He will have to learn quickly not only the politics of the sport, but also the culture of winning, which used to run through the corridors of Maranello in the days of Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Jean Todt and which more recently has pervaded Red Bull in Milton Keynes and now Mercedes in Northampton.

Ferrari is some way from that now, as is McLaren. This is the spirit that Ron Dennis has come back hoping to rekindle.

An F1 team is highly responsive, able to adapt quickly to innovate and to change course as required, but it is also like an oil tanker on another level, as infrastructure can take time to build and hiring top personnel can take up to a year once gardening leave is taken into account. It’s about making a series of right decisions and very few wrong ones.

In promoting Mattiacci to the role, Ferrari has a proven decision maker and leader, who knows the Ferrari and the wider FIAT/Chrysler empire well. Indeed, Mattiaci’s appointment comes after Sergio Marchionne, the Chairman and CEO, Chrysler Group LLC CEO, Fiat S.p.A, visited Maranello last week and the appointment could signal a shift in emphasis, with the race team being brought closer to the seat of power. However, despite Mattiaci’s management credentials he will have to quickly identify who are the people around him who’s voice and opinion he must trust. Running a winning F1 team is about knowing the right moment to invest in CFD, or a new wind tunnel or a new technical director or designer. A team principal is like an orchestra leader who needs to keep the violinists and the brass section at the top of their game at all times. It is a relentless job.

Keeping Fernando Alonso at Maranello will be one of Mattiacci’s first order priorities as the Spaniard has suffered a frustrating five years at the team with no world title to add to the two he won with Renault.

And it’s about giving nothing away to the opposition. Critics of former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, for example, would argue that he gave too much time to the task of looking for consensus among teams with FOTA and got distracted from the job of making McLaren unbeatable on track.

Domenicali was a strong boss, a popular character, but not a ruthless leader. Perhaps this was his downfall. He was always earmarked in the Italian succession plan to take over from Jean Todt, who was an utterly ruthless leader and a very effective one. Aldo Costa was earmarked to take over from Brawn and fell well short in that role. But now look at him, as the chief designer at Mercedes, doing what he does best making fast racing cars without the pressure of the technical director role.

These examples prove that success in F1, in sport and indeed business generally, is more about empowering the right people and not over-promoting. It is also about having vision.

Currently Mercedes is well ahead of Ferrari in hybrid ERS technology. This is because they started investing heavily in it six or more years ago, before KERS came into F1 for the first time.

Everything about Mercedes’ current domination of F1 is due to careful long term planning of the kind Mattiacci will now be looking to put in place at Ferrari.

Ferrari has most of what is needed to win in F1; a top technical director in James Allison, good aerodynamicists, great facilities for wind tunnel testing and two world champion drivers.

The engine department has let the side down this year, building a power unit that falls well short of the benchmark Mercedes. This is year one of a new technology and Ferrari will have a chance to improve its engine for the 2015 season. They must take that opportunity and then make sure that Allison and his team produce a chassis that is the equal of Mercedes and Red Bull.

Then they need to think like winners again.

Mattiacci, 43, has been one of the rising stars of Ferrari, first through his work selling cars in China and more recently in the USA, which is Ferrari’s biggest market and where sales are at record levels.

Mattiacci is 43 and has an economics degree from Columbia Business School in New York.

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Formula 1 teams considering lifting ban on active suspension

Formula 1 teams are considering lifting the ban on active suspension as part of a move to control costs, AUTOSPORT has learned.

With F1's Strategy Group having decided against a cost cap, it is instead looking at alternative ways to keep spending under control.

And one of the proposals being evaluated is to allow active suspension back in F1 for the first time since 1993 (pictured).

The belief is that the electronic technology would actually be more cost effective for teams in terms of achieving the optimum car set-up than the current complicated mechanical-only systems.

The move is being considered for 2017, and could come in at the same time as a switch to 18-inch tyre rims.

AUTOSPORT understands that a number of other short and long-term proposals are being evaluated by the Strategy Group for implementation over the next few years.

They include efforts to simplify parts of the car where there is currently vast expense, including in the fuel system, crash structures, the front wing design, inter-connected front and rear suspension, and brake ducts.

There could also be tweaks to the GP weekend curfew hours and further reductions on staff numbers allowed at races.

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Schumacher wins again as traction control row brews - 1994 Pacific Grand Prix flashback

The Tanaka International Circuit Aida, located in a remote patch of Japanese countryside north-east of Okayama, had not held many major motor racing events prior to 1994.

Even the country’s thriving domestic Formula 3000 championship had not appeared at the short, tight and narrow circuit which opened in 1990. So it was to the surprise of some that it appeared on the F1 calendar for 1994, assuming the title of Pacific Grand Prix as Japan hosted two rounds of the world championship for the first time.

Unsurprisingly the motivating factor was the money Hajime Tanaka put up to host a race at his eponymous circuit. Before the race he and Bernie Ecclestone smiled and embraced for the cameras, and talked about the three-year deal with an option for two further races.

The logistics of getting to the circuit proved daunting for teams, media and fans alike. A fleet of buses was laid on to bring spectators to the remote track.

But there was an added incentive for the locals to show up. Eddie Irvine’s one-race ban for causing a collision in Brazil had been sensationally increased to three events, and Aguri Suzuki showed up at Jordan with a reported quarter of a million dollars in backing to take his seat for this race.

As this was F1′s first race at TI Aida, an extra day of practice was arranged for the drivers to acclimatise to the 3.7km (2.3-mile) track. During the build-up to the race, the FIA’s Charlie Whiting took time to listen to the noises made by the cars as they pulled out of the endless slow corners and hairpins which comprised grand prix racing’s newest track.

Whiting’s ear was tuned to the distinctive popping sound of engine cylinders being cut, which might indicate the presence of the recently-banned traction control. And one car in particular captured his attention as he looked and listened.

Suzuki wasn’t the only substitute driver who had been pressed into action as early as round two. Ferrari’s Jean Alesi had injured his neck in a testing crash at Mugello and Nicola Larini performed his role as stand-in once more, returning to the fray for Ferrari for the first time in two years.

But Larini did not endear himself to his team when, speaking to Italian media ahead of the race, he spectacularly spilled the beans on the very technical trickery Whiting was looking out for. After Larini let it slip Ferrari were running a form of the banned traction control his team quickly issued a denial.

After the ban on driver aids had been announced at the end of 1993 several team bosses had claimed the FIA was incapable of policing it, and here was proof of their claims. Ferrari team principal Jean Todt insisted they had obtained permission from Whiting to run a ‘variable rev limiter’, but once the FIA interjected Ferrari were required to remove the device.

“It came to the notice of the FIA technical delegate that during the free practice sessions on Saturday car numbers 27 and 28 were fitted with a device which in certain circumstances limited the power of the engine,” said the FIA in a statement ahead of the race.

“As the FIA technical delegate was not satisfied that the decide complied in all respects with the regulations, Ferrari were advised not to use it. This advice was complied with.” But Mosley’s pre-season promise of “Draconian penalties” for anyone caught breaking the driver aids ban now rang hollow.

1994 Pacific Grand Prix qualifying

Brazil had left Williams in no doubt they had work to do with their FW16. The car was clearly quick, but with a sweet spot so razor-thin it was almost non-existent. Ayrton Senna had put the car on pole position but couldn’t live with its wayward handling during the race and spun off while chasing Michael Schumacher.

The team tested at Jerez ahead of the Pacific race but once in Japan the drivers found the car had improved little. Both Senna and Damon Hill spun during qualifying, but Senna was able to conjure up a quick lap once again to claim his 64th pole position.

Hill, who had recovered from his Brazilian Grand Prix illness, was pleased to trim the gap to Senna to half a second, the pair separated by Schumacher on the grid. However Hill was concerned about the lack of run-off in places around the track, especially turn two.

It wasn’t the only cause for concern from a safety point of view. A tight chicane was installed at the pit lane entrance to slow the cars as they arrived for their still-novel refuelling stops. Schumacher had made the case for imposing a speed limit in the pits on safety grounds but other drivers had disagreed.

The Williams drivers weren’t the only ones to be caught out by the low-grip surface of the TI Aida track. Olivier Beretta spun his Larrousse during qualifying – their cars now painted in the red-and-white colours of Kronenbourg instead of the green they appeared in at round one.

If Larini thought his troubles were over when he accelerated out of the pits and left the media men behind, he was mistaken. Ukyo Katayama’s Tyrrell spun into him on a fast lap, damaging the rear of his Ferrari. But he qualified within sight of team mate Gerhard Berger.

The only driver on the grid with prior experience of the obscure circuit was another Austrian, Roland Ratzenberger, who had competed in a Japanese Touring Car Championship race there two years previously.

The Simtek driver had failed to qualify in Brazil but took on testing duties for the team at Silverstone while David Brabham recovered from a virus. This time both drivers made it onto the grid, despite Brabham spinning at the last corner. As he got up to speed part of front wing separated from the Simtek, but he returned to the pits without incident.

With both of Nick Wirth’s cars on the grid, that meant the Pacific Grand Prix grid did not feature either of the cars from the Pacific Grand Prix team.

1994 Pacific Grand Prix

In an innovation, the formation lap took place behind the Safety Car, a Porsche 911 with lurid F1 branding. Once it peeled off into the pits Senna gunned his engine, trying to inject some extra heat into his tyres after a slower than usual tour of the circuit.

Four years earlier Senna had been on pole position for a race in Japan and tried to get his starting position moved onto the racing line, which he expected to be favourable. He wasn’t successful, and the eventual first-corner collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka was one of the most notorious episodes in his career.

Now Senna was on pole again and was due to start on the racing line – but this time he wanted pole to be moved to the opposite side. A dragster had had been in action on that side of the grid ahead of the start of the race and Senna believed the rubber it had left behind would improve traction.

It seemed he was right. When the green light came on Schmacher got alongside him from second place and beat him to turn one. Senna tucked in behind him – and in an instant his race was over.

Mika Hakkinen, who had made a similarly good start from fourth on the grid, tapped the back of his car as they reached the first corner. The Williams went off backwards into a gravel trap and was hit by Larini, who had run wide in the first turn. Mark Blundell’s Tyrrell was also eliminated in the melee.

An angry Senna laid the blame at Hakkinen’s feet. Meanwhile the McLaren driver was making trouble for the other Williams of Hill, who was trying to make up ground after getting too much wheelspin at the start.

On lap four Hill tried to go around the outside of the McLaren at the likeliest overtaking spot on the track, but was forced onto the kerbs and spun. That left him down in eighth.

Hill made his way forward again, passing Jos Verstappen, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Christian Fittipaldi, Martin Brundle and Rubens Barrichello. He pitted on lap 18, intending to make his first of three stops, and that helped him jump Gerhard Berger’s Ferrari to briefly hold second.

Another second place was starting to look like a reasonable result from a frustrating day. But on the 50th lap the Williams lost all drive and Hill coasted to a stop.

Up front Schumacher had little to do besides pick off the backmarkers at his leisure and take care of his two refuelling stops. Berger took second place back and Barrichello went one better than Brazil by claiming the first podium finish for himself and Jordan in their 50th grand prix.

Team mate Suzuki’s return lasted until just after half distance when he skidded into a barrier while struggling with his steering. Moments earlier Ukyo Katayama’s Tyrrell came to a stop, his Yamaha engine having failed as it also had during the warm-up.

Hydraulic failure ended Hakkinen’s race after 19 laps. His car’s nose still bore a black mark from the first-lap contact with Senna. Brundle in the other McLaren was running in a podium position when he suffered an increasingly familiar Peugeot engine failure 15 laps from home.

That promoted from Christian Fittipaldi, who also benefitted from Verstappen spinning off at the first corner immediately after leaving the pits following his second pit stop on lap 54. Heinz-Harald Frenzten took fifth for Sauber and was fortunate to avoid a sanction from the stewards after accidentally completing another lap during the warm up.

The final point went to Erik Comas, whose Larrousse was lapped three times. The two Lotuses and Ligiers also made it to the flag, and Ratzenberger achieved his first finish, albeit five laps down.

Senna, the pre-season title favourite, was now 20 points behind Schumacher after two races. Benetton were making hay while Williams struggled, and a fascinating championship battle promised to develop once Williams got their car sorted.

But while the furore over Ferrari’s traction control raged on, they were not the only team to come under suspicion of breaking the rules.

After his enforced early retirement Senna had spent some time watching the race and like Whiting believed he spotted someone running traction control. But he had a different suspect in mind: Michael Schumacher’s Benetton.

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Canadian GP set to sign eight-year extension

The Canadian Grand Prix is likely to remain on the calendar until 2022 at its home in Montreal according to the city's mayor, Denis Coderre.

Speaking during a visit to New York, Coderre said the city was closing in on a new contract with Formula One Management to keep F1 for at least another eight years.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's current contract is due to expire after this years June 8th race. "Sleep tight, it [F1] will be there next year," he said, adding:

"We are within weeks of signing [the contract]. We just need to make sure that everything is in place."

Bernie Ecclestone recently demanded the facilities be upgraded due to their age and it seems the organisers have managed to convince the Quebec government to help with the estimated £24 million ($40m) cost of doing so. Speaking on Monday, 83-year-old Ecclestone said F1 would be happy to return.

"We're in the process of getting things sorted out and I'm sure we'll do that," he told the Montreal Gazette.

"We'll be happy to be back there."

The race brings in an estimated £54m ($90m) in direct income for the region according to Tourisme Montreal, with more than 70 per cent coming from outside visitors.

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Three wins in a row would be incredible - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton is eyeing a hat trick of wins as he heads to China in high spirits following his dominant win in Malaysia and a tense battle for victory in Bahrain.

The Mercedes driver is confident he can chalk up another 25 points at a circuit he's always done well at, having won twice and scored in all but two of his races there.

"The last race in Bahrain was fantastic: not just for us as a team but for the sport and I'm sure it won't be the last time we see a great show this year," said the Briton.

"I'm in a really good place at the moment and walking around the garage too, you can see the positive energy within the team right now. Everyone is focused on getting the maximum from these early races and continuing to build beyond the strong start we've made to the season.

"I've had some ups and downs in China. On one side I've only finished outside of the podium places twice at this circuit. On the other, in my first season in F1 I threw away a championship lead here by going into the gravel coming into the pits.

"The aim, as always, is to win and if I could make it three in a row this weekend that would be incredible."

One man who's hopefuly of stopping him - and arguably the only man with a car capable of doing so - is team-mate Nico Rosberg.

"Even though the last race was a bit disappointing from my perspective in terms of the result, it's been great to see all the positive comments that came afterwards.

"I've got good memories from China after taking my first pole position and race win in F1 at this circuit in 2012. The layout seems to suit my driving style, it's a track I enjoy racing at and I want to be back on that top step of the podium this weekend."

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Small teams accuse big teams of breaching EU law

Some smaller outfits have accused six of the larger teams and the FIA of breaching a European competition law. Force India, Sauber, Caterham and Marussia have written to the FIA to express their belief that the six teams which form the F1 Strategy Group are abusing their dominant position illegally.

Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Lotus make up the group alongside FIA president Jean Todt and F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone. The group has the ability to agree upon and scrap new rules without gaining unanimous agreement, as long as a majority within the group share the same view.

Following the FIA's decision to drop a new cost cap for 2015 - because those six teams and Ecclestone failed to support it - Force India, Sauber, Caterham and Marussia have warned that the sport risks "financial disaster" if it doesn't take steps to bring down spending in the sport.

In their letter to the governing body, it's believed they have accused the Strategy Group of abusing its powers in favour of their own gain, rather than for the better of the sport, which they believe breaches the EU's competition laws.

Speaking last year, Force India's Bob Fernley raised similar concerns, but didn't take any action.

"Some teams have no say in how the sport is run," he said.

"It could certainly be deemed abuse of a dominant position."

The letter was delivered to Todt prior to last week's World Motor Sport Council in which the Frenchman called upon all 11 teams to meet to discuss different options to reduce spending. It's likely in response to the claims in the letter.

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Alonso says two championships 'are not enough'

Fernando Alonso says he won't be happy retiring with just two championships to his name, despite never imagining even winning a race in F1, let alone a title.

The Spaniard tasted success twice with Renault in 2005 and then 2006. However since a move to Ferrari, he's not been able to replicate that success, though he's come close on more than one occasion.

"I never thought I'd become a Formula 1 driver, I never thought to win one Grand Prix so I was not sure I could win two championships," Alonso told CNN during in interview which is due to be broadcast later this month.

"I'm extremely proud and extremely happy with my career. If you ask me right now and I am in a middle of a competition, I am hungry for victories, hungry for success and I will tell you that two championships are not enough."

The 32-year-old also took the opportunity to play down rumours he and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen don't really get along behind the scenes.

"I think he's very talented so that is a huge help and a huge motivation for myself first and also for the team because the team knows it has to deliver a good car because Kimi will deliver a good result. I think from the outside it's always exaggerated how the relationships between team-mates are," he added.

"It's true that you should beat your team-mate to have a better reputation or to have a better result in that weekend. But believe me when we are in a meeting or a debrief after a race, people should see the atmosphere inside the team.

"There are zero problems, there are only good things or positive things…helpful comments from the other driver. There's a huge communication and a huge teamwork despite what you read or what you see from the outside."

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Ricciardo more motivated to get back on podium

Daniel Ricciardo says he's more motivated than ever to finish on the podium after his maiden top-three finish was taken away from him by the Australian Grand Prix race stewards.

The decision to exclude the Red Bull driver was upheld by the International Court of Appeal on Monday. Reacting to that news, Ricciardo said:

"It's disappointing not to get the 18 points from Australia, but if anything it gives me more motivation to get back on the podium as soon as possible.

"I've had a few set-backs in the first couple of races this year, but in Bahrain I demonstrated that, if anything, I'm stronger for it and hungrier than ever to get back on the podium. Not that I need any more motivation, I'm pumped!

"I'm still really happy with my performance in Australia and for having had the experience of being on the podium in front of the home crowd," he added.

"I said that week, I'd rather have a great race, finish on the podium and then be excluded than to have had a rubbish race and then retire with a car problem half way through."

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Rosberg out to wreck Mercedes teammate Hamilton hat-trick bid

Lewis Hamilton can chalk up three wins in a row for the first time in his Formula 1 career on Sunday but Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg will be doing all he can to deny him the hat-trick.

Returning to the Chinese circuit where he took his first pole and victory in 2012, Rosberg has been runner-up in the last two races but still leads the championship by 11 points after his season-opening success in Australia.

The pair served up a thriller under the floodlights in Bahrain 10 days ago and another wheel-to-wheel duel in China would be a further boost for a sport fighting back against criticism of its new regulations.

Hamilton, the 2008 champion, is ready to do his bit.

“I’m in a really good place at the moment and walking around the garage too, you can see the positive energy within the team right now,” he said in a team preview.

“I’m getting stronger every time I come to this track and it suits my driving style quite well. The aim, as always, is to win and if I could make it three in a row this weekend that would be incredible.”

The Briton is one of only two drivers to have won twice in Shanghai – Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is the other – but Hamilton still has painful memories of throwing away a championship lead when he went into a gravel trap at the circuit in 2007.

Rosberg will seize on any such slip-ups. The German ended his team mate’s bid for three poles in a row with the quickest lap in qualifying in Bahrain and then showed just how little separates the two on track.

“The layout seems to suit my driving style, it’s a track I enjoy racing at and I want to be back on that top step of the podium this weekend,” the German said.

The Mercedes V6 turbo power unit has been the pick of the field, and the circuit will play to their strengths, but rivals are pulling out all the stops to catch up.

Remi Taffin, head of track operations for Red Bull’s engine partner Renault, said the manufacturer was feeling more confident after a troubled start to the season.

“At the test in Bahrain [after the race], we tested several new software modes that will see us closer to the limits of the power unit than before,” he said.

“Overall we’re looking forward to China. While we know it’s still an uphill battle, we feel we have hit our stride now.”

That could be good news for champions Red Bull, who lost an appeal on Monday to have Daniel Ricciardo’s second place in Melbourne reinstated, even though they are expecting another tough weekend.

“Mercedes are again going to be very difficult to beat…given the kilometre-long straight,” said Team Principal Christian Horner, whose team took their first F1 win in China with Sebastian Vettel in 2009. ”But then once we get back to Europe we need to start making inroads into [their lead].”

McLaren, now third overall behind Force India after a double-retirement at the Sakhir circuit, are bringing some updates and looking for solid points.

“Bahrain showed that, the top two cars aside, the racing this year is fast, fraught and very evenly matched,” said Jenson Buttton. “The margins are so slim that it’ll require us to get everything right.

“But I’ve always enjoyed racing in China – I won here in 2010, and I’ve always had good results here for McLaren. While it’s not necessarily a track that perfectly suits our package, I think we can pull everything together and have a stronger weekend.”

Ferrari won last year with Alonso but Stefano Domenicali quit as team principal this week with Ferrari North America President Marco Mattiacci taking the helm.

Whether anything changes on the track for the glamour team remains to be seen, with the Spaniard and Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen struggling home ninth and 10th in Bahrain.

“We are ninth and 10th because there were eight people who were better than us,” Alonso, who has urged Ferrari to work day and night, told reporters in Bahrain. ”We want to change this as soon as possible and that needs to start in China.”

Statistics for Sunday’s Chinese Formula One Grand Prix in Shanghai:

• Lap distance: 5.451 km. Total distance: 305.066 km (56 laps) Start time: 07:00 GMT (15:00 local).
• 2013 pole: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:34.484.
• 2013 winner: Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari.
• Race lap record: Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari one minute 32.238 seconds (2004).
• Tyres: Medium (white), Soft (yellow).
• Quadruple world champion Vettel has 39 career wins, Fernando Alonso 32, Lewis Hamilton 24, Kimi Raikkonen 20 and Jenson Button 15. Nico Rosberg has four.
• Vettel needs two more race victories to equal the late Ayrton Senna’s tally of 41. Only Alain Prost (51) and Michael Schumacher (91) have won more.
• Ferrari have won 221 races, McLaren 182, Williams 114 and Red Bull 46.
• Hamilton’s win for Mercedes in Bahrain put him level with the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio in the all time lists. One more win would equal Niki Lauda and Jim Clark’s tally.
• Hamilton has won the last two races but has yet to win three in a row in his F1 career.
• Vettel took nine poles last year, and now has 45 for his F1 career, but has not been on pole in 2014.
• Hamilton (Australia, Malaysia) and team mate Rosberg (Bahrain) are the only drivers to start on pole this year.
• Hamilton has 33 poles, equalling Jim Clark’s British record which has stood since 1968.
• Ferrari’s last pole position was in Germany with Fernando Alonso in 2012.
• Ferrari have finished a record 70 successive races with at least one car in the points, a run that dates back to the 2010 German Grand Prix.
• Caterham and Marussia have yet to score a point after four seasons in F1.
• Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat is Formula One’s youngest points scorer, aged 19 years and 324 days.
• Five of the 10 Chinese Grands Prix have been won from pole.
• No driver has ever won in China two years in a row. Hamilton (2008, 2011) and Alonso (2005, 2013) are the only drivers with two wins there.
• Ferrari have won four times, McLaren three.
• Button and Alonso are the only drivers to have finished every Chinese Grand Prix. Only three times has the winner in China gone on to take the title that year.
• Button is the only driver to have won in China while reigning world champion.
• The 1.17 km back straight is the longest on the current Formula One calendar.
• Rosberg took his first F1 pole and win in China in 2012. The circuit also saw Red Bull’s first F1 win in 2009. (Reuters)

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Montezemolo: I have decided to focus on a young manager that I believe in a lot

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has dismissed early criticism of the Scuderia’s new Formula 1 team boss Marco Mattiacci.

First, he applauded the ousted Stefano Domenicali for taking responsibility for the fabled team’s poor results and choosing to resign.

“Resignations in Italy are rare,” said Montezemolo, who appointed Ferrari North America chief Mattiacci – an unknown within the Formula 1 community – as Domenicali’s successor.

“Despite having won several world titles in 23 years, Domenicali had the strength to step down because of missed results,” Montezemolo is quoted by La Stampa.

Criticism of Mattiacci’s appointment, however, has been swift. Patrick Tambay, a former Ferrari driver, told France’s RMC that Domenicali is obviously a “scapegoat”.

Some corners of the international media accused Ferrari of panic, and kneejerk reactions after only the first three grands prix in 2014.

Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport affirmed that Mattiacci’s appointment has been met with “scepticism”.

“He needs to overcome it and assert himself in his new role,” the sports daily advised.

La Gazzetta also pointed out 44-year-old Mattiacci’s inexperience, saying that while he is a marketing specialist, his only motor racing experience is in Grand-Am sports cars.

Montezemolo insisted: “I have decided to focus on a young manager that I believe in a lot.

“I have heard and read many misplaced comments, for example that Mattiacci is not an engineer. But we are all Ferrari engineers.

“I wanted to focus on someone who is part of the Ferrari family, because we are full of people with many qualities and skills,” he said.

Montezemolo added that Mattiacci’s appointment was done “in full agreement” with Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne.

Mattiacci will be introduced to the Formula 1 media on Friday in Shanghai.

“Now I am expecting a big reaction,” Montezemolo commented, He said “We will get back to winning and not allow the new rules to ruin the sport”. In saying so, he appeared to be taking another misplaced stab at the ‘engine formula’. “For us, Formula 1 is life.”

The Ferrari president will not be in China for the forthcoming grand prix.

MIKA: What are Ferrari thinking?

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Marko: We’re amazed by aggressiveness that Mercedes used to argue against us

Outspoken Red Bull Motorsport Consultant Helmut Marko has hit back at Mercedes, after the German squad this week called on the court of appeal to come down hard on the World Champions.

As Red Bull appealed Daniel Ricciardo’s Melbourne disqualification in Paris on Monday, a lawyer for rival Mercedes argued at length that the FIA should in fact impose “a further sanction”, due to the “flagrant and deliberate” rules breach.

Ultimately, the five judges upheld Ricciardo’s disqualification, but did not add to Red Bull’s penalty.

“We are obviously bitterly disappointed,” the always-blunt Red Bull director Marko said after digesting the court’s decision.

“We cannot say any more until we get the detailed reasons for the judgement, but what amazed us even more was the language and aggressiveness that our competitor Mercedes used to argue against us,” he is quoted by Austria’s Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

Less publicly angry is the affable Australian Ricciardo himself, who although having sprayed the champagne on his home-race podium, is in fact yet to officially bank a Formula 1 trophy.

“It’s disappointing not to get the 18 points from Australia,” he said on Wednesday, “but if anything it gives me more motivation to get back on the podium as soon as possible.

“As I said that week, I’d rather have a great race, finish on the podium and then be excluded than to have had a rubbish race and then retire with a car problem half way through,” Ricciardo added.

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Grosjean: As a team we have to stay united and it will make us stronger as a unit

Romain Grosjean looks to the Chinese Grand Prix hoping to celebrate his 28th birthday with an improved performance at Shanghai and a crack at the points for Lotus.

What are your thoughts on the Shanghai circuit?

Shanghai is not my favourite race of the year, but I will be spending my 28th birthday there so let’s make it good! It’s quite a particular circuit where it is not always easy to find the right setup and the temperature can also be cold. You never know what to expect, except that there will be a monster traffic jam to get to the circuit! I scored my first Formula 1 points at Shanghai in 2012 and scored points again last year when Kimi finished second for the team. So let’s hope that’s a good omen and we can add to the good memories, next weekend.

How will it suit the E22?

I don’t know to be honest. It’ll be interesting and challenging for us but still the emphasis is on getting good track time so we can be as prepared as we can be for when our season really starts at Barcelona next month. There’s a very long back straight and some high-speed corners. There is a lot we need to do with the E22 and we certainly need some better P U performance. Of course we’ll do our best to score our first points of the year. That is our goal, our target.

What happened at the post-race Bahrain test?

Unfortunately we struggled with the PU and couldn’t manage many laps. We did some aero work but compared to the programme we had planned it was far too little. We want to work but if the car won’t run cleanly there is not much we can do. We have to keep pushing and be motivated to learn what we can, when we can.

Do you wish there was more testing available with these new cars?

Yes of course. Every time we go testing we seem to have problems and this situation hasn’t helped us. Luckily in the races it’s been better and we have gained knowledge from a performance point of view. But I do wish we had more testing as we’re currently playing catch-up. When you’re struggling a bit, all this new technology means it’s hard to get the reliability. We haven’t been very lucky with testing so far.

How is it for you as a driver this season – is it more work inside and outside the car?

It’s still Formula 1 so you are prepared and focused 100% on every aspect. Driving is certainly very different to last year though. It is much slower in the race, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier. We have a lot more to change inside the cockpit and a lot more to think about with the energy recovery and the way we actually race. That is harder than last year but a great challenge. But physically it is easier because the cars are slightly slower.

What is your target for the next few races?

Obviously, the target is to try to get better results. We have lots of parts for the car which should make it faster, but we need reliability to be able to test these. So far, when we’ve finished it’s been just outside the points. If we can get a little bit more performance and reliability, we’ll be finishing in the points. We can build a strong season from this point on and everyone is concentrating on this goal. We just have to push as hard as we can and stay as positive as possible even when the going gets tough. As a team we have to stay united, it will make us stronger as a unit.

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Maldonado: The potential is there we just need to focus and continue to push hard

After completing his first full race distance for Lotus in Bahrain, Pastor Maldonado is eager to continue the progress at the Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai.

What are your thoughts on Shanghai as a circuit?

Shanghai is a very technical circuit with one of the longest straights of the season. It could be a bit tricky for us as we aren’t the quickest on long straights at the moment, so we will have to see how we can work on making gains in the corners. This will be the challenge for us. There is a mix of fast and medium speed corners where we need good downforce. It is a challenging track which I like, so I’m looking forward to racing there.

What do you think the latest generation F1 car will be like to drive at Shanghai?

It will be like all the circuits we visit this year, it will be a new experience and we will learn and make improvements as the weekend progresses. Having finished the race in Bahrian, we have more experience and data to work with so we are better placed for a more progressive approach to the race weekend.

How was testing in Bahrain?

Not so great. Power unit issues meant that we weren’t able to run the programme that we had set out to complete. This was frustrating; however we did achieve some of the aerodynamic assessment work that we wanted to achieve.

How did it feel to complete your first full race for the team in Bahrain?

It was a tough weekend, especially as the pace of the car wasn’t what we hoped for, but at the same time we were able to finish all the sessions and the race without any problems. That was a big positive in terms of reliability. I also think that the collaborative work with Renault Sport F1 is helping us make steps forward. The E22 is improving, and race reliability was the first step in this process. Now we need to focus on performance. I think that the potential is there, we just need to focus and continue to push hard.

Have you spoken with Esteban or seen the footage of the incident?

Yes, we have been in touch. I think it was a misunderstanding from both sides. He was out of line in the entry of the corner and I was completely committed to the corner. He said that he didn’t see me, and I didn’t expect him to turn in.

How was your race until then?

The car felt much better in the race than during Qualifying. The pace was quite good, the tyre management and the strategy was also promising. We were able to make up some positions and we were also consistent throughout. We still need to push harder in order to be in the top ten and I know that the team is committed to getting there as soon as possible.

What is your target for the next few races?

The target is to score points and I think that it is possible to make steps forwards, especially in qualifying. The race pace is not bad but we need to start higher on the grid. If we start in the top ten it will be easier for us to fight for good points.

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The Big Preview: Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit

Following a thrilling Bahrain Grand Prix and last week’s test at the Sakhir circuit, what is fast proving to be a fascinating 2014 FIA Formula One Championship resumes this weekend with round four, the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Shanghai International Circuit, located in the Jiading district of one of China’s most vibrant cities, presents a markedly different set of challenges to those offered up in Bahrain. Gone is the high heat and the point and squirt nature of the BIC’s layout. Instead, Shanghai offers up cooler climes, two long straights and a tough mix of slow, medium and high-speed corners, all of which test a team’s ability to find a good balance for their cars.

It is a layout that in the past has also given tyres a good workout too – particularly rear tyres. That issue is likely to be exacerbated by the torque available from the new power units and the reduced aerodynamic grip available under this year’s regulations.

Tyre manufacturer Pirelli is, however, bringing its Medium and Soft compounds to Shanghai and it will be interesting to see what effect this combination has on race strategies.

The race in Bahrain was again dominated by the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Rosberg might have lost out in the pair’s exciting battle to the flag but the German still leads the Drivers’ World Championship and will be undoubtedly seeking revenge, and a repeat of his maiden F1 win here in China in 2012. Hamilton, meanwhile will be looking for a first-ever hat-trick of wins.

In the teams’ battle, Mercedes lead the way from Force India, whose excellent results from the past two races have catapulted them into previously unknown territory. They’ll surely be looking to stage a Shanghai surprise this weekend to widen the gap between them and third-placed McLaren to more than the single point that currently separates the Mercedes-powered outfits.

Shanghai International Circuit Data

• Length of lap: 5.451km
• Lap record 1:32.238 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
• Start line/finish line offset 0.190km
• Total number of race laps 56
• Total race distance 305.066km
• Pitlane speed limits 80km/h in practice, qualifying and the race
• Other than routine maintenance no changes have been made to the circuit since 2013.
• The DRS sectors at the Shanghai International Circuit will be as last year. The detection point of the first zone is at Turn 12 and the activation point is 752m before Turn 14. The second zone’s detection point is 35m before Turn 16, with activation occurring 98m after Turn 16.

Chinese Grand Prix Fast Facts

• This will be the 11th running of the Chinese Grand Prix, the race having joined the Formula One calendar in 2004.
• The first five editions of the race took place towards the end of the campaign, with the 2005 race being the season-ending event. At that race, Renault wrapped up its first constructors’ championship title as a manufacturer thanks to Fernando Alonso’s win and Giancarlo Fisichella’s fourth place. The race moved to the front end of the season in 2009 in an April slot that has become now traditional for the event.
• The winner of the inaugural race was Rubens Barrichello, who took his ninth career victory in Shanghai for Ferrari. It would be the Brazilian’s last win for five years. Barrichello’s 10th win came when driving for Brawn GP at the 2009 European Grand Prix in Valencia, some 1793 days after his Chinese GP win.
• Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are the only multiple winners here. Alonso won the 2005 race for Renault and last year’s event for Ferrari. Both of Hamilton’s wins to date have been for McLaren, in 2008 and 2011.
• The other winners here are: Michael Schumacher in 2006; Kimi Räikkönen in 2007; Sebastian Vettel In 2009; Jenson Button in 2010 and Nico Rosberg in 2012. Vettel’s win here was his first for Red Bull Racing, while Rosberg’s was, of course, his maiden GP victory.
• Rosberg’s 2012 victory was Mercedes’ first grand prix win as a manufacturer since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix when Juan Manuel Fangio took victory ahead of Piero Taruffi, also driving for the three-pointed star.
• Ferrari are the most successful constructors at this race, with four victories (Barrichello ’04, Schumacher ’06, Räikkönen ’07 and Alonso ’13). McLaren are the Italian squad’s closest rivals, with three wins (Hamilton ’08 and ’11 and Button ’10). Renault, Red Bull Racing and Mercedes have one win each.
• Five of the 10 events held so far have been won from pole position – in 2004, ’05, ’08, ’09 and 2012. Michael Schumacher’s 2006 win was from the furthest back on the grid so far. The Ferrari driver started sixth.
• The pole position man has only failed to finish on the podium twice in the 10 runnings to date. Sebastian Vettel finished sixth in 2010 and in 2007 Lewis Hamilton famously crashed out at the pit lane entrance.
• None of this year’s rookies have any experience of the Shanghai International Circuit. However, when Marcus Ericsson takes to the track on Friday he won’t be the first Swede to turn laps here. Back in 2004, Björn Wirdheim was a test driver for Jaguar Racing. The racer from the town of Växjö, took part in both Friday sessions for the team, recording the 12th fastest lap in the morning session and the 17th best time in the afternoon, three seconds down on fastest man Anthony Davidson, who was testing for BAR-Honda.

Chinese Grand Prix Race Stewards Biographies

• Dr Gerd Ennser has successfully combined his formal education in law with his passion for motor racing. While still active as a racing driver he began helping out with the management of his local motor sport club and since 2006 has been a permanent steward at every round of Germany’s DTM championship. Since 2010 he has also been a Formula One steward. Dr Ennser, who has worked as a judge, a prosecutor and in the legal department of an automotive-industry company, has also acted as a member of the steering committee of German motor sport body, the DMSB, since spring 2010, where he is responsible for automobile sport. In addition, Dr Ennser is a board member of the South Bavaria Section of ADAC, Germany’s biggest auto club.
• Silvia Bellot began marshalling in 2001, when she was 16. She has been a steward in a number of national and international series, including the, European F3 Open, GT Open, BMW Europe, Spanish Endurance Championship, DTM, World Series by Renault and the WRC. In 2009, she took part in the FIA trainee stewards’ program for GP2 and F1. She made her first appearance as an F1 steward at the 20011 Turkish GP and last year was awarded the FIA’s Outstanding Official prize. She is currently a steward in GP2, GP3, WTCC and F1. Away from the stewards’ room she is a member of the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission and also works closely with RACC, the Circuit de Catalunya and the Spanish federation in event organisation.
• In over three decades of competition, Adrián Fernández not only proved himself one of Mexico’s finest racers but he has also made the transition to team ownership with Fernández Racing, competed in CART, IRL, ALMS and the Rolex Sports Car Series. Fernández’s career took off in 1992 when he finished third in the US Indy Lights Championship. That earned him a drive in CART in 1993 and over the next 11 seasons he scored eight race wins, 21 podiums and a championship best of second in 2000. He also took three wins in IRL. In 2001 he founded Fernández Racing, winning in Portland in ’03, the first victory for an owner-driver since Bobby Rahal in 1992. Fernández finished second in the LMP2 category at Le Mans in 2007. He returned in 2010 with Aston Martin Racing and finished third in LMGTE Pro category in 2012.

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Ferrari rope in Italian Olympic boss to keep up the noise against new era Formula 1

Formula 1′s new look makes no sense and is tantamount to self-harm, Giovanni Malago, the head of the Italian Olympic Committee, has said in comments highlighted by Ferrari as supportive of their own criticism.

“I speak on behalf of Italian sports people and fans, I don’t like this Formula One and in my opinion it’s delivered a product that has absolutely no sense,” the Ferrari website quoted Malago. ”In my opinion, it’s a form of self-harm.

“I hope the people who run the sport look again at the rules because the way Formula One is now, it has much less appeal and that’s a shame as it is an extraordinary world,” he added in words that will be music to the ears of Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo.

Montezemolo has accused the new-look sport, with V6 turbo hybrid power units replacing the old V8 engines, of turning flat-out racers into ‘taxi drivers’ by making fuel economy more of a feature.

Others have criticised the sound and a survey of Ferrari fans at the end of March, before a night race in Bahrain showed just how thrilling the new format could be, purportedly found that 83 percent were unhappy with the changes.

However, more successful rivals have accused Ferrari and champions Red Bull of talking down the sport with negative comments.

“The race in Bahrain was quite simply brilliant to watch; one of the best in recent memory, in fact,” said Mercedes Motorsport Head Toto Wolff in a preview of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

“This is what we go racing for and it was a strong advert for the sport: in particular under these new regulations. I think that in itself proves that we are moving in the right direction,” added the Austrian.

Mercedes have won the first three races of the season, with Lewis Hamilton heading for China in search of his third in a row, while Ferrari and Renault-powered champions Red Bull have struggled.