FORMULA 1 - 2014

[MIKA27]

Ricciardo now a serious title contender?

The 2014 Formula 1 World Championship title could be the next on the radar for Formula 1′s newest race winner. Impressive Red Bull newcomer Daniel Ricciardo drove past Mercedes’ technical trouble in Canada last weekend to record his first grand prix victory and position himself as a serious title contender.

Should Mercedes hit a spate of problems, as they did in Canada, and Red Bull keep improving – keeping in mind that Newey inspired upgrades traditionally kick in around the time of Singapore – Ricciardo is well positioned to capitalise and perhaps even launch a title bid in the latter half of the season.

The feat earned the ringing endorsement of his predecessor and countryman, Mark Webber, who is currently preparing for the weekend’s Le Mans 24 hour race.

“He hasn’t put a wheel wrong all year so far,” Webber told NBC. “There’s been testing regulations, wet Qualifyings, all sorts of stuff thrown at him. But for him to notch up his first win is a big step for him.”

Ricciardo, 24, is currently riding a wave of form that even his teammate, the reigning quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, is struggling to match. But he might not stop at beating Vettel. Since Bahrain in April, Ricciardo has notched up three podiums and never finished lower than fourth.

He even stood on the podium on Red Bull debut in Australia, but was disqualified amid the fuel flow saga. He then struck more technical trouble in Malaysia.

Red Bull’s Helmut Marko told Auto Bild: “Just imagine, if Daniel had not had two zero points results, he’d be even closer to [Lewis] Hamilton.”

Indeed, even amid Mercedes’ total domination in 2014, Ricciardo – the highest-placed non-Mercedes driver – is just 39 points behind Briton Hamilton after seven races.

Double world champion Mika Hakkinen is impressed, telling Hermes, “I’ve noticed that Ricciardo has been able to exploit his maximum potential almost constantly, whether it’s qualifying, racing, overtaking.

“We can’t forget that his teammate is the four-time world champion, but it has been Ricciardo who has been passing the chequered flag in front,” Hakkinen said.

And Hakkinen said Canada will now put a lot more wind behind Ricciardo’s sails, “I experienced it myself when I got my first victory at Jerez in 1997,” he said. “The self confidence you get is reflected also in your performance.”

However, the blunt Marko is keen to keep Ricciardo’s feet on the ground. He said a cursory look at the results reveals a “distorted comparison” between the always-grinning Australian and the highly successful Vettel.

“Sebastian has had bad luck with the technology,” said Marko. “But in Malaysia he had a trouble-free race and he [came] to the finish ahead of Daniel.”

Marko said even Ricciardo’s win in Canada needs a closer look, with only “bad luck” holding back third-placed Vettel.

“Daniel was fast the whole race,” he said, “but Vettel was not slower.”

Marko said that a failed GPS system on the pitwall, and a further “miscalculation” by Red Bull regarding Vettel’s race strategy, thwarted the German’s progress.

“It definitely was not Vettel’s fault,” he said, “that Ricciardo did not stay behind him.”

[MIKA27]

Tech Talk: What have Ferrari got in the pipeline?

Ferrari made it clear before Canada that they had a significant number of development tweaks to try out during the course of the weekend with a view to implementing the successful parts in forthcoming races – Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso were busy chaps in Montreal.

Tech guru Matthew Somerfield looks at some key components which the Maranello outfit tested during the course of the Canadian GP weekend.

Ferrari arrived in Montreal with new bodywork that looked to enhance the F14T’s properties, tailoring it to the circuits mid downforce requirements. The package is something that has likely been in development since the start of the season and pre-dates the package introduced by the team for the Spanish GP.

I mention this because although the package clearly updated the engine cover and sidepods it meant the team returned to their previous rear wing support pylons, rather than using the singular Y-Lon support.

The package from before Spain was tested by Ferrari in the free practice sessions in Montreal

Just as Mercedes did a few races ago, the newest package tested by Ferrari elongated their sidepods to alter their aerodynamic and cooling performance. With this package the sidepods extend past the front of the suspension elements, with cut-outs to allow the suspension the freedom of movement it requires.

This of course makes the sidepods a larger aerodynamic surface and so their shape is amended to make use of this too. This will also have an impact on where the slower moving internal airflow exits, placing it beyond the suspension elements, leading to a cleaner flow over the diffuser.

Placing it in this area could also lead to better extraction of the airflow as the other airflow structures pull on it, speeding up the more turbulent, slower and warmer airflow. Furthermore, the elongation means that the floor is less exposed to this slower moving airflow, extending the undercut.

The newer bodywork extended the sidepods and reduced the size of the upper cooling outlet

To further maximise the extension of the sidepods the team also trialled a more shapely airflow conditioner, with the arc that follows the line of the sidepod before horizontally connecting to the cockpit being increased in height.

The change is sidepod profile of course changes the cooling properties of the car and so whilst the sidepods grew in length, the engine cover outlet which surrounds the exhaust was tightened, allowing the team to simply meet the dimensional constraints of the engine cover with a shark fin.

Although the results initially seemed quite positive the team decided that as the temperatures rose at the circuit they would switch back to a specification akin to the pre-Spain configuration (with the enlarged engine cover outlets, of which this engine cover was even larger, although the airflow conditioners were retained.)

I suspect that we will see a convergence of all of these ideas over the next few races as the team look to maximise both cooling and aerodynamic performance in this area, whilst taking care of the cars’ apparent lack of balance.

[MIKA27]

Tech Talk: Red Bull grafting hard to close the gap

It would be fair to say that Red Bull won the Canadian Grand Prix because Mercedes imploded rather than a blow for blow duel, but that should not detract from the fact that the world champion team are grafting hard to reel in the pace setters.

Tech guru Matthew Somerfield looks back at what was in their bag of tricks for the RB10 in Montreal.

Rear wing

Red Bull arrived with a new rear wing for Canada and extensively tested it throughout Free Practice, before returning to their regular specification for Qualifying and the Race.

The new rear wing featured endplates with a leading edge slot, something the team ran with during 2013 but up until now had abandoned for this season. The team also reduced the number of louvres to two as the angle of attack of both the Mainplane and top flap were also reduced.

After close observation, the team obviously felt that there was more merit in having the downforce / balance for the corners, than reducing drag on the straights.

Nose

Red Bull’s quest for aerodynamic efficiency can be seen in their revised nosecone for the Canadian GP. The RB10′s nose normally sports a small ‘pelican’ underbelly, aiding the control of airflow under the nose.

It’s presence normally helps with the attachment of airflow, which when compared to a flat surface, reduces the boundary layer that builds up at speed, causing the flow to detach. The mere fact that the surface is curved however does slow the flow down, gently augmenting it’s direction.

Due to the stop start nature of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve the team decided to delete the ‘pelican’, optimizing performance for the low speed corners and increasing performance on the straights.

Front wing amendments

There is obviously a distinct difference in terms of aerodynamic demand between Monaco and Montreal and so Red Bull arrived with not only some developments but changes to their wing to suit the circuit characteristics.

Marked in green we can see that the team (much like McLaren and Mercedes before them) have added a horizontal vane to the endplate. This is used to redirect some of the airflow not taken care of by the cascades ahead of it, up and around the front tyre, helping to manage the tyres’ wake impact.

Marked in yellow we can see that the team revised the amount of flap available on the top flap with the Monaco variant (on the right) using less flap on the inside to allow for a steeper angle of attack outbound of it. Also marked in yellow we can see that the trailing edge of the larger cascade was also trimmed back for Canada, changing the way in which the airflow moves around the front tyre.

Marked in purple we can see that the team has once again employed a metal support bracket to stop the wing flexing at high speed and becoming inefficient. There wasn’t a need for the support in Monaco with the relatively low speeds attainable around the streets of the principality.

[MIKA27]

Mercedes: Canada was a good wake up call

The Canadian Grand Prix was a spanner in the works for Mercedes’ otherwise flawless and dominant 2014 Formula 1 World Championship campaign.

Until both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton struck technical trouble aboard their silver W05′s in Montreal, they had shared a total clean-sweep of one-two victories this year.

“You quickly get used to winning,” team boss Toto Wolff told Spanish reporters at the team’s Brackley headquarters this week. “I never thought, unless there was a collision, that we could not finish a race even with one driver. But in Montreal it was about to happen. It was a good wake-up call.”

The most immediate problem for Mercedes is getting to the bottom of the technical glitch, which Bild newspaper reports was an issue traced to the energy recovery systems, which overheated.

Wolff said: “In Montreal, we were trying a new cooling system for the first time. The new software went crazy. We have started new processes of quality control to make the car more reliable.”

Team Chairman Niki Lauda added: “It is a wake-up call. We need to check every detail on the car.”

But another issue to consider is the intense driver rivalry between Hamilton and Rosberg, who until Sunday appeared to have no external competitors for the 2014 crown.

Wolff was asked this week if, given his Canada DNF, the new ‘double points’ innovation for the 2014 season finale might be Hamilton’s saving grace.

“It might,” Wolff is quoted by Tuttosport, “but I have no doubt that, first of all, we must be careful to keep [the] gap to our rivals. Red Bull scored a lot of points in Canada.”

As their personal battle waged in the most recent weeks, Mercedes’ drivers have been told repeatedly that the Brackley team’s main goal is actually the constructors’ title.

But until now, Mercedes has let Rosberg and Hamilton wage their war almost unfettered, despite the risk of a crash.

“The team management is handling the situation very well,” Hamilton told Germany’s Sport Bild this week. “You have to realise that their ultimate goal is the constructors’ title. That’s what brings in the money.

“The team is number one,” the Briton insisted. “Only after that do Nico and I have our personal battle.”

At Monaco, however, that appeared not to be the case, as Hamilton had what many described as a ‘tantrum’, siding with those who believed that Rosberg had committed a deliberate act in running wide during Qualifying.

Hamilton says now: “I called Nico, we talked about Monaco and the situation is resolved.

“It was really important for both of us to show the team that we can continue to work well together.”

For Hamilton in particular, given his now 22-point deficit to Rosberg, the obvious fear is that Mercedes will end the ‘free fight’ between the drivers in the wake of the escalating driver battle and, now, reliability fears.

Recalling his situation in 1998, David Coulthard this week recalled that McLaren managed its position of early-season dominance by slowing down the drivers with strict team orders.

Wolff, however, rejected the theory that the reliability problems last week in Canada were caused by Hamilton and Rosberg pushing their cars too hard in battle.

“The damage would have occurred even if they had slowed down,” he insists. “We told the drivers how to manage it by changing the brake balance and braking more carefully. Both of them did it exactly to our specifications. That what happened to Lewis did not also happen to Nico was just pure luck.”

Nonetheless, Wolff admitted that Mercedes’ situation in mid-June is giving the team pause to “question whether we can let them continue to race so freely”.

He is quoted by the Spanish daily AS: “We will continue to let them compete and fight as long as it does not undermine Mercedes.

“We are a Formula 1 team, not a team of two Formula 1 drivers,” Wolff insisted. “We are all rowing in the same direction and share the same goal, which is simply to win the title.

“At the moment they continue to race freely, although the situation may change at any time. This is an ongoing, dynamic process,” he added.

[MIKA27]

Formula 1 united in praise for Ricciardo

In a relatively short space of time Daniel Ricciardo has endeared himself to Formula 1, apart from boasting the heartiest grin in the sport he has a mean speed streak coupled to handy race craft which helped him to victory in Canada, his first at the pinnacle of motorsport, prompting a united chorus of praise from colleagues and rivals alike.

Here is some of the feedback in the aftermath of his big day:

Marco Mattiacci: “My congratulations go to Ricciardo for the first win of his career.”

Rémi Taffin, “Head of Track Operations: “Congratulations to all at Red Bull and to Daniel on his first win – we hope this will start a trend! We are pleased and proud to be part of this result.”

Franz Tost: “Well done to Daniel Ricciardo who won his first grand prix.”

Toto Wolff: “Congratulations to Daniel Ricciardo on his first grand prix win. He’s not just a quick guy but also a fresh new face as a Formula One winner, and that’s something very positive for our sport.”

Eric Boullier: As always, this circuit created the circumstances for an incredible race, some tense battles and the sport’s newest-ever victor, Daniel Ricciardo. Bravo, Daniel – yours was an exceptional performance.

Federico Gastaldi: “We saw a great Formula 1 race and we must say congratulations to Daniel Riccardo for his first win.”

Adrian Newey: “Daniel is an amazing young man. What impresses me most is how calming he is when he comes on the team radio.”

Christian Horner: “The boy has been brilliant all year. It was an incredible drive.”

Jenson Button: “Big congratulations to Daniel – I’m a big fan of his, he’s a great guy, and he’s obviously got the skills. Your first grand prix victory is always very special, so very well done to him.”

Jean-Eric Vergne: “First of all I would like to congratulate Daniel for his victory! This is the first but I’m sure it won’t be the last. He is a fantastic guy, a very fast driver and I feel great respect for him. Well done Daniel!”

Sebastian Vettel: “Congratulations to Daniel. It’s his day. We had a big help from Mercedes, unlike other weekends, but we were there to capitalise. It’s been a positive day. I’m happy for Ricciardo and the team. After the winter we had it was nice to break through and capitalise when the Mercedes had problems.”

Mark Webber: “For Daniel to get his first win was incredible for him. He hasn’t put a wheel wrong all year so far. There’s been testing regulations, wet Qualifyings, and all sorts of stuff that’s been thrown at him. But for him to notch up his first win is a big step for him.”

[MIKA27]

Raikkonen: Very difficult to understand what is going on

Kimi Raikkonen had the embarrassment of spinning in the slowest corner on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as he toiled with an evil handling Ferrari F14T. He admits to not knowing what is going on.

Speaking to media after the Canadian Grand Prix, Raikkonen said, “It is very difficult to really understand.

Clearly the F14T is a handful, finicky and hardly the piece of kit which is going to help Raikkonen, or Fernando Alonso for that matter, to make it onto the podium any time soon.

According to the experienced Finn, the car is unpredictable, “It seems to change. It can feel very difficult one lap, then suddenly for some reason a few laps later it’s like the tyres work better.”

“I cannot explain the reason, otherwise we would know. At the end of the race it seemed to be OK again. We have to look into things. There is potential in the car and the package. We have to just find out what we can do to get it on every lap.”

As for the race itself Raikkonen reflected, “We knew this would not be an easy race, because on this track, we were not fast enough down the straights and we had some problems in the slow corners. In the beginning I had some problems with the brakes and the handling of my car wasn’t consistent.”

“Then after a few laps, the tyres behaved better, but still with highs and lows. Even if at the moment, nothing seems to be going right for us, the new development package has given us more potential, and now we must just try and find more consistency.” concluded Raikkonen.

[MIKA27]

Rosberg: We need to make sure that we’re bulletproof

The twin Mercedes cars of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have been so dominant this season that even a second-place finish that extended Rosberg’s lead in the Formula 1 world championship standings left them disappointed.

“We need to make sure that we’re bulletproof,” Rosberg said after Daniel Ricciardo passed the crippled Silver Arrow with two laps remaining, to win the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday.

“Having lost the win, that’s very, very disappointing, definitely, and also disappointing for us as a team. We have such speed and such a great car, to not win the race and even just finish with one car and come second is hugely disappointing for us, definitely.

“Our ambition is to finish one-two so we need to make sure that we get back there again [at the] next race in Austria.”

Mercedes had won every race in the series heading into Montreal, with Rosberg posting two victories and four second-place finishes. Hamilton won the other four races, finishing second in Monaco last month; he had engine trouble and did not finish the season opener in Melbourne.

That’s pretty much what it takes to knock the Mercedes off the top spots of the podium, and it happened again this week on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Both Rosberg and Hamilton had the same problem, at about the same time – the midpoint of the 70-lap race. Rosberg said the problem put more pressure on the rear brakes, causing them to overheat.

When Rosberg radioed in for a solution, he was told, “We don’t think we can resolve it.”

“I think it surprised us, yes, because of the pace Mercedes has had all year,” Ricciardo said. “Obviously, I’m still going to take the victory, don’t get me wrong. But they had their issues today, which allowed us to really make an attack.

“But it’s nice that we capitalised on that. I think it would have been disappointing if they had their issues and they were able to still get the best of us.”

The second-place finish – his seventh podium in seven races – gives Rosberg 140 points of a possible 175 on the season; Hamilton is second with 118.

Ricciardo moved into third with 79 after his first career Formula One victory, passing Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso (69 points), and Ricciardo’s Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel, the defending four-time world champion, finished third and is fifth in the standings with 60 points.

“We are fully aware that Red Bull is still an amazingly strong team and pushing like crazy to catch us,” Rosberg said.

“We are well aware of that and we are always concerned and always making sure that our drive remains exactly the same as it was last year when we were half-a-second behind them. We’re really pushing to even extend the gap.”

[MIKA27]

Magny Cours still keen on French GP return

Talks to take Formula 1 back to France are still ongoing, according to Magny Cours chief Serge Saulnier.

Last month, Saulnier said: “If the will of a number of people is confirmed in the coming weeks, we are very close [to returning].”

He said Magny Cours, located a remote 250 kilometres from Paris and absent from the calendar since 2008, is heading for a comeback race in 2015.

But when Formula 1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone was asked at the Monaco Grand Prix about those French reports, he said: “No.

“They’ll knock at the door but I don’t think we can do anything,” he told Reuters.

But when asked this week if Magny Cours is still trying to bring Formula 1 back, track boss Saulnier said: “Yes, we’re trying.

“We are discussing with FOM (Formula 1 Management) about the guarantees that we have to give,” he told the Spanish-language MotorpasionFormula 1.

Magny Cours’ efforts might be thwarted due to the fact that Ecclestone owns the company, Excelis, that owns another French Grand Prix candidate, Paul Ricard.

When asked about Paul Ricard, Saulnier said Magny Cours is the better option “because we have a greater capacity to accommodate the public”.

But Saulnier said the biggest issue is that “Formula 1 is politically incorrect in France, among both politicians and the people”.

He insists, however, that Formula 1 needs France. “Yes,” said Saulnier, “France is a market of 65 million people, which is very important for television.”

Another potential European venue for the ever-expanding Formula 1 calendar is the Ferrari-owned Mugello, located near Florence.

“At the Autodromo del Mugello I am lucky to have a person of quality, Paolo Poli,” Omnicorse quotes Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo as saying earlier this week.

“He runs the most beautiful circuit in Italy where, in addition to having MotoGP, maybe soon there will be even Formula 1, perhaps by asking the president of the region for some help and some more modern infrastructure,” he added.

[MIKA27]

Montezemolo: I don’t think we can work miracles

Under performing Ferrari is turning its attention towards the 2015 season, president Luca di Montezemolo has hinted.

Having faltered at the very start of the new era of turbo V6 engines, the fabled Italian team is now a distant third in the championship, between dominant Mercedes and chasing champions Red Bull.

Maranello unveiled a car so modified for Canada last weekend that many dubbed it a B-version, but the Formula 14T still struggled at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Montreal might have been Ferrari’s last roll of the dice for the 2014 title, with more attention now to be shifted towards the 2015 project.

President Montezemolo does not deny it, saying to Tuttosport, “I don’t think we can work miracles in the short term, but we are working hard for the future knowing that what was done this year was not done well enough.

“We are in a difficult moment,” Montezemolo admitted, “but there is little to talk about and much to do.”

However, on a visit to Florence on Wednesday, Ferrari’s flamboyant 66-year-old president said Maranello is not about to stop working hard on the 2014 car.

“We must absolutely improve a lot this year,” he is quoted by La Repubblica, “pursuing this plan with determination.”

At the same time, Montezemolo said new team boss Marco Mattiacci is also looking ahead at “a very big challenge for next year, in so many areas, because there really is a lot to do”.

“In particular,” he added, “we must work on having a much more integrated car and engine next year.”

[MIKA27]

Briatore says Ferrari suffering because of Maranello base

Ferrari is paying a dear price for its geographical location, according to Flavio Briatore who last month said that the Maranello team should consider relocating to the UK.

“In my opinion, Ferrari must have a base in the UK, where all of the technology of Formula 1 is concentrated,” he said. “At Maranello it is difficult to create an effective team and to recruit these British engineers.”

Since then, Ferrari is believed to have made a staggering offer of up to $30 million per year – much higher than most Formula 1 drivers – to lure Adrian Newey from Red Bull. He turned it down.

And Italy’s Autosprint is now reporting that another top Briton also said ‘no’ to moving to Maranello — the engine boss of Formula 1′s dominant team in 2014, Andy Cowell.

Briatore said after the Canadian Grand Prix: “Ferrari this year is in deep crisis and has lost the chance to recover.

“Ferrari is paying for its location — Maranello is definitely not the centre of the [Formula 1] world, it’s England,” he told Italian radio Mix24.

“I think that for Ferrari, it will take a major restructuring of the team. Wrong men? No, it’s a matter of organisation. We know exactly who are the best ones, and it is difficult to get them to Italy,” added Briatore.

[MIKA27]

Silence over Schumacher condition concerns Briatore

Flavio Briatore admits that he is worried about the health of his former Formula 1 World Champion, Michael Schumacher who still lies in a coma, more than five months since he injured himself while skiing.

In the mid 90s, as the boss and number 1 driver of the Benetton team, the pair won their first world championships hand-in-hand.

Now 45, Schumacher has been lying comatose in a French hospital bed for more than 160 days.

Italian Briatore, speaking to Italian Radio24, admitted his fears, “There is no news because the family is very closed. They are not communicating. “But surely no news in this case is not good news.”

In the past few days, German television RTL aired a special programme about Schumacher and his new battle to recover from his horror skiing fall.

German tennis legend Boris Becker said during the programme: “We cannot imagine what Corinna and the children have been going through since the accident.

“They have built a protective wall around him,” he added. “It’s been very quiet but this is the only way to cure him.”

German medical journalist Christoph Specht also said that it is premature to say that Schumacher is now fighting a losing battle, “Comas are not all the same. There are always pleasant surprises in which patients wake up after many years.”

Mika: Here is the bonus RTL programme, it's very good. Sorry to those who do not understand German as the program is in this language.

http://youtu.be/2_8E39EU_ns

[MIKA27]

Haas interested in American racer

Although Gene Haas is keen to put an American driver in his American team, he concedes his first priority is not to "embarrass" the sport.

Haas will enter the Formula 1 World Championship in 2016 have pushed back his entry by a year and one of the big questions already is who will race his cars.

There has been talk of at least one American racer being handed a place on the grid with Haas revealing that he - or she - would only be chosen if he genuinely believed they could succeed in Formula 1.

"Seat number one is going to obviously be taken by an existing F1 driver that has experience with the current engine package and chassis," he told Autosport. "And then position two is open.

"It would be great if we could put [an American] in there - it would just be the home run: an American team with an American driver in a European series. That would be phenomenal.

"But we're very flexible on that. Realistically, the number one thing is to make sure we don't embarrass the sport, we arrive prepared and ready to race.

"We don't want to run around at the back forever. We want to be able to start these races and improve every race we go to."

Asked whether Danica Patrick, who is currently contesting the NASCAR series for the Stewart-Haas team, is a candidate, Haas 'half-joking' said: "We're looking for an American woman driver!"

As for his decision to delay his team's debut, the NASCAR team boss says it is because he understands how difficult it is to make an impact on F1 and wants the right people in place for the job.

"That's why we've delayed it by a year because we think we can better spend the time putting together a team of people than just throwing people at it," he said.

"That's what happens when you get time constraints. Once you hire the wrong people it can sometimes take longer to get rid of them than to hire a competent person if you take the time to hire that person, so that's where we're at now.

"We're going to take our time over the next three to six months making sure the people we hire have the ability to do what we want to get done."

[MIKA27]

No imminent changes - Boullier

Eric Boullier has revealed that McLaren aren't planning on making any decisions with regards to their driver line-up in the near future.

Speaking to crash.net at last week's Canadian Grand Prix, Boullier admitted that the restructuring McLaren has been going through of late has been an arduous process and that making changes to the driver pairing simply isn't currently a priority.

"There was a lot of change in McLaren recently, especially in top management," Boullier told crash.net.

"Drivers are obviously very important but today what I can say is that we had to learn about each other. I am very complimentary about both of these guys because to be honest, today we are very, very happy with both Jenson and Kevin [Magnussen].

"There are other priorities to change in the team [before thinking about] if we have to change drivers, which today I'm not convinced [we do]."

Jenson Button, whose contract with McLaren expires at the end of the season, admitted that he hasn't discussed a new deal with McLaren, but added that he is focused on more pressing matters.

"You only start thinking about it because I get asked the question by you guys so much, I'd rather just get on with the racing and help us move forward," Button said.

"There's no rush for someone who is in my position to seal a deal for next year. For me, you take it every day as it comes; I've learned that especially over the last six months.

"So living in the moment is definitely something that I'm doing right now and I don't want to look too much in to the future."

[MIKA27]

Sometimes you need to shoot the messenger:

Reading the F1 “news” today all I feel is depression. For want of anything better to write, the Internet monkeys with typewriters have reproduced a string of remarks about Formula 1 from Flavio Briatore.

Lest we forget, the sleazy-looking Italian admitted to fixing races and was slung out of the sport five years ago. I make no secret of the fact that back then I was happy to see him gone. His presence, and that of his C-list celebrity friends, in my opinion, not only added nothing to the sport, it actually harmed it, creating the impression that Formula 1 was entirely peopled with such folk and not filled with passionate, clever people, most of whom believe that success has no meaning if it is achieved by underhand means.

The last thing Formula 1 needs these days is a sleazy front man.

What F1 needs today is a clean and innovative image. It is no secret that when it comes to leisure spending, it is more often than not, parents who make the decisions. They want their children to be associated with activities that will make them better people and so the last thing parents are going to do is steer their children towards a sport represented by people like this.

The sport is still producing a decent show, it is still churning in revenues, albeit an increasing amount of it by increasing pay-TV, thus reducing the TV audiences and, more importantly, reducing the number of potential new viewers, who will no longer become fascinated after stumbling upon races on TV.

Everyone says that all sports are losing numbers because of the choices available to the kids today, but no-one in Formula 1 seems to make the connection between falling TV audiences and a lack of promotion. For me, the biggest challenge facing the sport is attracting a new generation of fans in an age when the young have so many options and no interest at all in the sleazy old men who seem to run most modern sports. They would rather watch modern Red Bull sports such as cycling up and down ladders, or doing doughnuts around empty factories.

What is required to spark the interest in the young is clever promotion, using the tools that they themselves use: YouTube, Twitter and so on. The powers-that-be in F1 cannot master even e-mail communication… I have always failed to understand how it is that the company that prints money as the Commercial Rights Holder does not seem to think it needs to be the promoter of the series!

I rant and rave about the FIA having failed to promote its new rules – which is shameful – but the Formula One group should also be banging on that drum, showing the kids of today that it is producing technology that will have an influence on their lives at a later date. Where are the F1 road shows, going around schools, showing them the clever stuff, inspiring them to get into engineering?

Yes, some of the teams do some street demos, and yes a private enterprise organises Formula 1 in Schools (and makes lots of money from it) but why is there not more effort from within the sport?

Find a toddler and you will see that kids still love cars and they continue to until they reach the age when the Internet takes them away to other exotic (virtual) environments. F1 should be fighting for their attention when they are between the ages of eight and 12.

Yes, attitudes are different on different continents, but where is the Formula One group’s promotional division with departments for different regions? Surely, the foundation of a good business is good promotion, not simply collecting money.

This week there is a great example of the sort of thing required, which has appeared in the run-up to the World Cup soccer competition. What this does is to highlight the ability of people playing with a football and provides a Wow! factor that everyone can relate to. It brings soccer to their level, whatever that level may be. Click here to see what I mean. People say that soccer is a democratic game the world over and that is true, but cars are everywhere and car ownership is growing all the time and so there should be interest in F1 as well.

Formula 1 drivers are men (and hopefully soon women as well) who have extraordinary abilities and while F1 has the bizarre belief that its stars should be wildly paid yet not do any promotional work, it would be wise for them to be used as much as possible. They are the stars. The inspirations. The role models. And yet the sport’s PR people behave, largely, as policemen, stopping the stars from being themselves. Worse still, the stars are stopping themselves because they think that is what they have to do.

Who really knows anything about Sebastian Vettel beyond what he thinks we need to know? Humans relate to humanity. This is why the Hamiltons and the Alonsos are more popular than the Vettel’s and Rosbergs.

Formula 1 is still a great product. It still showcases all that is good in mankind: innovation, intelligence, endeavour, focus and sportsmanship. It is still great entertainment. But we have to get that message across somehow…

[MIKA27]

Newey warns F1 of 'grave danger' over engine performance rules

Formula 1 design genius Adrian Newey has warned that the sport faces 'grave danger' if it does not properly sort out future engine performance equality rules.

After deciding to step back from his chief technical officer role with Red Bull because he is frustrated by ever-tighter regulations, Newey fears that F1 could face huge problems in the not too distant future because of engines.

He is worried that plans to lock down F1's power unit designs over the next few years with a full-on design freeze could result in one car maker being left with a permanent advantage.

And if that happens, Newey suggests that those manufacturers who are behind their rivals may simply choose to turn their back on the sport.

"The current set of regulations are engine orientated," explained Newey, whose team's performance this year has been hampered by early season struggles from engine partner Renault.

"At some point in the coming years presumably that will settle down.

"There is grave danger, with the freeze happening progressively over the next 18 months, because it's not apparent if one manufacturer ends up with an advantage as to what happens at that point.

"Is that advantage maintained for ever more, in which case the rest of us give up?

"It doesn't seem to me to be a particularly satisfactory situation at the moment. The regulations need more of a fundamental rethink in my opinion."

F1's engine manufacturer had to homologate the designs of this year's power units at the start of this year, and have only been allowed to make modifications on reliability grounds.

However, this winter, the rules allow manufacturers to redesign certain parts of their power unit to ensure that they are in much better shape for 2015.

But over the next few years, more and more components will be locked down, meaning there is less scope for a manufacturer to catch up with a rival if it is behind.

The previous F1 engine freeze for V8 engines worked so well because there was little performance difference between the various power units at the time they were homologated.

[MIKA27]

Grosjean: We’ve made good progress with the car

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean previews the Austrian Grand Prix, looking forward to a circuit he’s never driven at before, hoping to harness the progress made with the E22.

What’s your outlook heading to Austria?

I am positive. Even though the end result in Canada might not show it, we’ve actually made good progress with the car and it’s starting to feel like a real racer in how it handles and how all the systems feel. This is very important to me as it helps me to get the most out of the car through every corner to make the most of every lap. Certainly at the start of the season this new generation of car was not the easiest or the most pleasurable thing to drive, but I’m being won round! The feel of the car is an important aspect of the improvements being made so it’s another piece in the jigsaw.

Have you driven the Spielberg circuit before?

Competing in the grand prix will be my first experience there, which is a pretty cool way to get to know a track! It looks like quite a fun lap with some high speed sections and not too much low speed stuff – which hasn’t suited our car so far this year. The track has a bit of undulation too, which is always fun as a driver. A downhill approach to a corner means you have to drive it quite a bit differently than if it’s an uphill approach and Spielberg has both of those. It should be fun.

How do you prepare going to a track that’s new for you?

There’s a lot you can do with simulators, watching on board laps from other people and going through data and predictions with your engineers as well as driving the track on the Xbox! That said, nothing beats getting in the car and actually driving it for real. I’ll be pretty excited at the start of FP1 as that’s when I’ll really know what sort of track it is.

How do you work on set-up at the same time as learning a new track?

You very quickly know what you want from the car and how to put together all the corners which make a circuit that’s new to you. The objective for learning a track and setting up the car is to go as fast as possible so for both it’s all the same goal.

How frustrating was it to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix?

You never want to stop racing so it wasn’t the best. That said, it was a pretty exciting end to the race so it was good to watch it as it happened! Our target is to be part of the battle of fighting for points positions so we need to ensure we don’t have any more problems with the car. We’re making definite progress with pace, how the car feels and generally with reliability too, so it was frustrating that there was an issue with the rear wing. It’s another lesson learned and we will come back stronger for Austria and beyond.

How competitive do you think you can be in Austria?

We won’t know for sure until we’ve been out on track, but I don’t think the circuit should be as much of a challenge to us as Monaco or Montréal. Certainly there are fewer low speed corners which seem to have been more difficult for us this season and the downforce level could suit us better too.

How has it been working with a new team-mate now you have a good number of races together?

Pastor’s a great guy and easy to work with. We’re both positive and proactive and know what we want from the car and the team. He’s fast too so it keeps me on my toes to beat him!

What are your thoughts on revising the weekend format for grands prix?

As long as there’s a grand prix and qualifying session, that’s the main thing! Whatever happens, it will be the same for everyone. I quite like the idea of a practice session late on Friday as it means I won’t have to get up so early! Let’s see what happens.

[MIKA27]

Montezemolo: Formula 1 isn’t working, maybe Le Mans instead

The big boss of sport’s most iconic and well supported team, Ferrari, has declared that currently Formula 1 – with it’s all new ‘greener’ V6 turbo engines – is not an attractive proposition for fans and perhaps an alternative for the legendary marque is Le Mans style endurance racing.

With Fernando Alonso at Le Mans to flag off the famous 24 hour endurance race, reports emerged which suggested the Maranello marque might be planning a prototype sports car project.

But President Luca di Montezemolo, whose dissatisfaction of the new era rules is well known, said that a Le Mans project would mean the end of Ferrari’s long association with Formula 1.

Montezemolo told the Wall Street Journal, “It’s declining because the FIA have forgotten that people watch the racing for the excitement. Nobody watches racing for the efficiency, come on.”

A frustrated Montezemolo complained, “And we cannot touch the engine? People watch racing to be entertained. No one wants to watch a driver save gas or tires. They want to see them push from here to there. It’s sport, yes, but also a show.”

With regards to reports doing the rounds that the Maranello outfit is considering a foray into endurance racing, including Le Mans, Montezemolo said, “Of course, we cannot do sports car racing and Formula 1. It’s not possible.”

The Wall Street Journal added that during the interview Montezemolo suggested that his company could instead of Formula 1 “pursue endurance racing of the type practiced at Le Mans, perhaps as soon as 2020.”

In the past Ferrari [as a works team] competed at the top levels of sportscar racing from 1947 to 1973, winning Le Mans nine times, but departed the sportscar scene in 1973, with founder Enzo Ferrari deciding to concentrate resources on F1.

Ferrari has been a continuous presence on the grand prix grid for more than a half-century.

In the aftermath of the Wall Street Journal report, on their website Ferrari claimed that they could in fact can juggle both Le Mans and Formula 1 programmes, “Some elements of the media have suggested Ferrari would quit Formula 1 to concentrate on the Le Mans 24 Hours and Endurance racing.”

“This is a bit of a stretch based on President Luca di Montezemolo reiterating that Formula 1 needs to evolve and renew itself, while also admitting that there is a unique attraction to the [Le Mans] 24 hour race.

“To say that after 2020, Ferrari could quit Formula 1 to concentrate on Le Mans and the [World] Endurance Championship takes his words to extremes. Plus of course, there’s nothing to stop Ferrari upping the ante and competing in both disciplines. So it’s just pure speculation.” concluded the report on the Ferrari website.

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Haas: We don’t want to have the USF1 stigma

Formula 1′s newest team owner Gene Haas was a high profile figure during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend as he took a look around the paddock which he will soon inhabit, and admitted that he seriously considered buying an existing team to make his foray into the sport.

Haas told Autoweek, “We did look a little bit, I would say almost a year ago, at buying a team but we ended up with a lot of complex issues that had to be resolved and, generally speaking, you end up spending more money than starting with a clean sheet so we really think this a better way to do it. The compromise is that I think it takes a bit longer to do it.”

However with Lotus’perpetual financial hassles and amid reports that Caterham boss Tony Fernandes is keen to unload his back-marker team, reports have surfaced that Haas might be reconsidering his plans.

But a team spokesperson denied this, “Gene remains committed to building an American-based Formula One team and his plans have not changed.”

Guenther Steiner who has been hired to run the team said in Montreal, “We are going back and forth with contracts right now with the engine partner. We are pretty close. At the beginning of the year, some of the teams were struggling with these new packages so they really didn’t have much time to talk.”

“We would hope to have a firm contract in hand within the next month. We want to make sure we get it right because this is going to be more than an engine and transmission deal. We are hoping to also partner with some technology.”

Earlier this month it emerged that the team would delay their F1 debut until the 2016 season, Haas explained, “We don’t want to have the USF1 stigma. That would be a disaster. I think that they decided they could do this in a very short period . . . and then found out that a lot of infrastructure needs to be built. If you had that infrastructure from an existing team, I think you would have more to go on, but with us we have nothing.”

“We have an extra year here to acquire equipment from other teams who are getting rid of stuff. A lot is the nuts and bolts stuff that you can’t exactly go to a catalog and buy and that is what is necessary for operation. All these little bits and pieces make it all work, and we would be scrambling for 2015.”

“Now it gives us a little opportunity to find out what we can acquire from other teams or buy from suppliers. It is a sensible decision, but it is not a passionate one,” added Haas.

[MIKA27]

Mercedes: Now we know the limits

Mercedes already understands the issue that in Canada ended the team’s run of one-two victories, and brought a halt to a six race winning streak.

In Montreal, championship leader Nico Rosberg fell to second behind Formula 1′s newest winner Daniel Ricciardo, while the sister W05 of Lewis Hamilton failed to finish.

Reports this week said that the technical problems with both cars began almost simultaneously, when the energy recovery systems overheated.

“We were trying a new cooling system for the first time. It seems the new software went crazy,” team boss Toto Wolff told Bild newspaper earlier this week.

On Thursday, at the German team’s Brackley (UK) factory, he indicated that Mercedes engineers now understand what went wrong.

“We exceeded certain temperatures, which was a miscalculation,” Wolff told the Austrian news agency APA. “We know exactly what it was. It will not happen again,” he promised.

Wolff said that the new cooling system will be used on the silver cars when the racing resumes in Austria next weekend.

“The cooling itself was not the problem. We only did not have the temperatures on the radar, not assessing them as critical. Now we know the limits,” added Wolff.

Gerhard Berger, an ex Formula 1 driver and team manager, thinks that despite reigning world champion Red Bull’s breakthrough win in Canada, Mercedes will continue to dominate in 2014.

“I don’t think that anyone can seriously challenge Mercedes,” he said, “except when they have technical problems.”

As for the silver title duel between Hamilton and Rosberg, dubbed by the German-language media as ‘Star Wars’, Berger said it will continue to be a tight battle.

“Lewis is probably the fastest driver in Formula 1 at the moment,” said the 54-year-old Austrian. “But I also count on Nico for his better consistency, his intelligence and his more detailed work.”

[MIKA27]

How not to lose gracefully…

Luca Montezemolo says that Formula 1 is not working and claims that it is declining because the FIA has “forgotten that people watch the racing for the excitement. Nobody watches racing for the efficiency”.

Montezemolo might see himself as a campaigner for true sport, but there are a few things which are wrong with his arguments. Firstly, Ferrari’s only real option if it wants to have any exposure in the sport is to go Le Mans, where the key to success is… efficiency.

If the overall viewing figures of Formula 1 are falling it is because the commercial rights holder is putting some of the sport’s biggest TV markets behind pay-walls. Fans are objecting and rather than paying, they have either ceased to watch F1, or have found nefarious ways to acquire satellite signals that allow them to watch the racing, albeit with foreign commentary. This is easily overcome by using radio commentary instead.

The pay-TV deals are successful financially and the sport is pulling in more cash than ever, although finding sponsors is not easy, particularly as the teams are competing with the Formula One group in this respect, as it is keen to squeeze more money out of the sport by maximising the revenues from the trackside advertising.

However, if Montezemolo is going to argue for better sport, he needs to look at the situation he is arguing from. Lest we forget, Ferrari has negotiated a financial deal with the Formula One group that means that no less than five percent of the total revenues of the sport go straight to Maranello. And this is before prize money is even calculated. It is not easy to put that into real numbers because the revenues of the sport of hidden away in some form of accounting gobbledygook, but the accepted number for 2013 is around $1.7 billion, following on from $1.5 billion in 2011 and $1.6 billion in 2012.

Whip out a calculator and this will tell you that Ferrari must be getting around $85 million just for turning up each year at the races.

The fact that this is not widely known is because two and a half percent of the money comes from the half of the revenues that is allotted to the teams; and the other two and half percent comes from the money that goes to the Formula One group, with all of its financial gymnastics involving loans, dividends and so on. This is why the Formula One group now says that the teams are getting more than half the money. There are believed to be special “incentive” deals for Red Bull and Mercedes as well although these seem to have been fixed payments to get them to sign up to the bilateral agreements that have replaced the old Concorde Agreement.

Now, add the $85 million to the usual share of the prize money “schedules”, the payments from which depend on how well a team does in the Constructors’ Championship – which range from around $100 million for the winner to $50 million for the 10th placed team – and one arrives at a situation where one can see that Ferrari always comes out on top in terms of finance, even if it finishes last in the Constructors’ Championship!

In addition the Italian team has the right to veto the introduction/modification of any technical or sporting regulations (except for safety requirements). Ferrari is entitled to exercise this right of veto only if the exercise of the right of veto is not prejudicial to the traditional values of the Championship (whatever the hell that means) and it reasonably considers that the new regulations are likely to have a substantial impact on its legitimate interest, another essentially meaningless legal phrase. This veto is not new and dates back to January 2005 when Ferrari was granted the right until the end of the 2009 Concorde Agreement (in December 2012).

Think about that for a minute: this means that, one way or another, Ferrari agreed to the switch to the new engine regulations, or at least did not use its veto rights.

I like Ferrari, in principle. It has history and generates passion that adds value to the Formula 1 World Championship. Having said that, Ferrari exploits that in its merchandising, earning far more than all the other teams in this respect (while not working with them, of course). All things considered F1 and its fans look after Ferrari far too well. You have to take your hat off to Montezemolo for getting people to agree to all of this, but I personally believe it should stop. Ferrari depends on Formula 1 as much as Formula 1 depends on Ferrari and thus there is no reason for the Italian team to be treated so favourably. No team has a divine right to make money or to stop rules being changed. It is just unfair and I would love to hear from a lawyer as to why it is not anti-competitive because from where I am sitting it would seem to give Ferrari a massive advantage over the opposition.

I also don’t see any possible justification for Ferrari claiming, as it has done in the past, that it is only a small manufacturer and cannot compete with the big-spending majors. Ferrari announced earlier this year that its revenues rose five percent in 2013 to a record $3.16 billion and it posted a pre-tax profit of $500 million. The company even said that it has a cash pile of $1.87 billion, despite an increase in research and development spending.

When one considers that the company, despite all these advantages, has not won a title in five years and is currently third in the Constructors’ Championship, fighting for a place with minnows such as Force India, McLaren and Williams, one has to say it is a pretty poor effort. I fear that the buck for this must stop at Montezemolo’s office door. He is the man in charge and he is not backward in coming forward when there is success to be enjoyed. Thus when there is pain to be endured he must be the man standing up and taking the slings and arrows (Rather than Stefano Domenicali).

Deep down honest people know that winning with an unfair advantage is not winning at all and this is why they strive to compete on a level playing field. I think Ferrari should do the same.

[MIKA27]

Formula 1 set to introduce new fuel safety system

Formula 1 is set to introduce a new fire safety system that will prevent a repeat of the kind of fuel blaze that hit Williams in 2012, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

Motor racing's governing body, the FIA, has been working closely with an American company, the Oscar Nelson Group, to bring in a new decking system called MADMAT that will be a big boost to safety.

The MADMAT design, which was originally created for military use to help with fuel fires on aircraft carriers, is laid under areas where fuel can get spilled.

It helps suffocate flames, reduce temperature and minimise smoke in the event of a spillage getting ignited.

The idea of bringing MADMAT to F1 was first suggested to the FIA after several Williams mechanics were injured in a fire inside the team's garage after the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.

The system has had to be adapted for petrol use, but following a successful demonstration in front of teams and F1 race director Charlie Whiting at this year's Spanish Grand Prix, a final version is close to being given the green light to go into production.

Whiting told AUTOSPORT: "If you had it within the garage areas of teams where they store their fuel, like Williams had [in 2012], it simply would not have burned like that.

"The teams are all quite keen on this, extremely keen on it, and the possibilities are quite endless because it is good not only for F1

"We could make it mandatory, although we are not sure if we will yet or not, but I think the teams are keen enough to do it anyway."

Whiting suggests that MADMAT could transform garage safety at all levels of motor racing - and there would be no reason why circuits could not incorporate it themselves.

"It has massive possibilities for motor racing," he said. "If F1 adopts it, then I think it is a very good sign - as there is no reason why it could not filter down."

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT IN FINAL STAGES

Dan Dragoi from the Oscar Nelson Group, who is leading work on MADMAT, said that efforts to make the system suitable for F1 had been ongoing ever since the 2012 Williams fire.

"Charlie challenged us to create a test fixture to demonstrate to F1 teams, and he put everything together on his side," he explained.

"We developed the test feature, improved the product, and what we showed in Spain this year is where we are at right now - but it is developing as we speak."

Dragoi says the focus of work is on creating a modular system that will allow MADMAT to fit in to different garage configurations, as well as be easy to transport around the world.

It is hoped that this will be sorted within a matter of weeks - and once F1 efforts have been complete then other categories could follow.

"All series would benefit from this system," added Dragoi. "We are only focused on F1 right now, but we are starting to open discussions with IndyCar and NASCAR. There are so many series out there that could benefit from this."

HOW MADMAT WORKS

The MADMAT floor system is made up of a number of layered tiles.

A floor panel that sits atop a pan has a series of diverging holes made into its surface.

With the smaller diameter opening on the floor surface, the holes encourage fuel to flow into the pan, rather than sit on top of the floor.

The fuel is retained within the pan, so it doesn't spread across the garage floor.

Inside the pan, wadding reduces the risk of the fuel vapour rising up through the floor panel. Then the holes in the floor panel further minimise fuel vapour escaping and reigniting.

In the event of the fuel being ignited, the MADMAT system results in flames that are smaller and cooler.

The temperature of a fire is also reduced from the usual 315C to just 93C.

More importantly, there is also little or no smoke when MADMAT is used, which means dealing with any fire is much easier.

This pre-fabricated MADMAT floor panels are likely to be used in the area where fuel is decanted from the large 200-litre drums in the back of the garage into the fuel trolley.

This is where there's the greatest risk of large spills and is where the Williams fire started back in 2012.

This floor panel could either be provided by a circuit or brought to each race by a team.

[MIKA27]

Schumacher out of coma and discharged from hospital

Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, who sustained severe head injuries in a ski accident in late 2013, is no longer in a coma and has left the French hospital where he was being treated since the accident, his spokeswoman has revealed.

“Michael has left the CHU Grenoble (hospital) to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore,” spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said in a statement which gave no details of where he was being transferred to.

The German who won a record 91 Grand Prix victories and left motor racing last year after a disappointing three-year comeback, slammed his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel on 29 December.

“His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months.”

“The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes to Michael. We are sure it helped him.”

“For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye,” the brief statement said of Schumacher, who turned 45 earlier this year.

A post-script to the statement added that no further information will be given regarding Schumacher’s mental state, disclosure on where he is being treated, and also no indication regarding the type or scope of treatment he is receiving.

MIKA: This is brilliant news!!

[ptrthgr8]

Schumacher out of coma and discharged from hospital

MIKA: This is brilliant news!!

Indeed it is!

[MIKA27]

Button recovering from wasp sting

Jenson Button is currently recovering from a wasp sting, which forced the McLaren driver to pull out of appearing in person on a BBC chat show last Friday after suffering an allergic reaction.

“I’ve been taken out by a wasp!” the 34-year-old said on Twitter. “I was riding my bike yesterday and got stung between the eyes.”

Button said the sting made him feel “rough, plus I look like an Avatar but obviously not the blue bit!”

Chat show host Graham Norton, sitting with actors Samuel L Jackson and Keira Knightley, phoned Button during the show and asked the Formula 1 driver if he will be well enough to race in Austria this weekend.

“I hope so,” Button answered. “That is the crazy thing. I drive around at 220 miles per hour and I get taken out by a wasp.”

Pulp Fiction star Jackson, however, said that he is not convinced and told Button, “I want to see the face. I am not buying it.”

[MIKA27]

Vettel will be at the top again - Webber

Mark Webber believes his former Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel will inevitably challenge for race victories again.

After dominating F1 for the last four years, Vettel has struggled to get to grips with the 2014 rules changes and has been out-paced by his new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo for large parts of the season.

Earlier, Vettel's mentor and Red Bull director Dr Helmut Marko told the BBC that Vettel is perhaps not as motivated as he should be and that the 26-year-old to "raise his game".

"Sebastian was complaining about having such a bad car," Marko said.

"Furthermore, he thinks the way F1 is going is not the right one - the cars should be monsters, not relatively easy to drive.

"With all these problems, maybe he wasn't as committed as he should have been, but that has changed."

Webber agreed with Marko's view that Vettel has had "hard time" so far this year as Red Bull struggled with "many technical problems".

"But I am not surprised about Daniel [Ricciardo]," Webber told Fairfax Media.

"I said before Melbourne that he would be 50:50 with Seb and everyone said I was crazy, but Seb will be there again - he just needs some time to deal with the car.

"For Seb, it's difficult at the moment because Mercedes are the absolute favourites.

"But as soon as Seb sees victories again, he will be back. It's the same with Fernando (Alonso). When he sees an opportunity to get the win, he is always there.

"In the first half of this season, the fact that only Mercedes could win was easier for Daniel to accept.

"The last few races have been pretty good to Seb, but he hasn't had the rub of the green. So he will draw from that. He knows his day will come."