FORMULA 1 - 2015

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Pirelli and FIA working on Formula 1 track-cleaning device

Pirelli has confirmed it is working with the FIA in evaluating potential circuit-cleaning devices for Formula 1 grands prix.

Motorsport director Paul Hembery suggested track cleaning should be implemented following incidents during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, headlined by blowouts on Nico Rosberg's Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari.

Over the course of the weekend, Pirelli discovered what it described as "an anomalous amount of detritus" on the track that led to a total of 63 cuts in its tyres.

The FIA acknowledged a willingness to consider any safety recommendations, with the idea of some form of standardised circuit cleaning being reviewed.

"As you can imagine it's not actually our job to define the process," Hembery said.

"But given the discussions we've had with the FIA I believe there is a recognition that maybe there needs to be a definition of a type of system that is used to clear the track, in particular when there are incidents.

"That could be a certain type of equipment used around the world to allow a standardised cleaning procedure.

"It is something I know is being looked at and I'm hopeful that going forward it is something that could be introduced."

F1 marshals currently use brooms for sweeping away debris and pieces of carbon fibre following incidents.

In America, and at several European venues, motorised vehicles fitted with giant, directed fans are in operation.

"That is the sort of thing I'm suggesting," added Hembery.

"Maybe there is something that could be done, that doesn't involve massive expense, which provides a standardised process. Maybe a blower of some sort that can go on to the track when there are incidents.

"Some incidents do leave a significant amount of debris on the track, large pieces of car in some instances. It's something we've talked about for quite a while.

"In fairness, the FIA take these things very seriously and they are looking at some ideas and proposals."

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IS ALONSO GOING TO QUIT MCLAREN-HONDA?

Just when we thought the Silly Season was over, former long-time Formula 1 driver David Coulthard says he can imagine Fernando Alonso quitting McLaren at the end of the season.

Spaniard Alonso backtracked after slamming Honda’s current power unit as no better than a “GP2 engine” at Suzuka, but Coulthard said he can understand the frustration.

“I don’t know,” he told the Spanish sports daily Marca when asked if he thinks the latest sabbatical rumours are true, “but I think it might happen.

“I hope not,” Coulthard added, “because he is a great champion and he deserves to win more titles than he has.”

The Scot, now working as a pundit for British television, said poor “communication” between McLaren and Honda could be slowing down the rate of progress. He has no doubt, however, that Honda will eventually get it right.

“But that will take time, and that is not good for Fernando or Jenson (Button). Or F1,” said Coulthard. “If Honda makes progress over the winter, everything can change. But if they don’t, Fernando doesn’t want to be fighting for 15th place.”

So what about the idea that Alonso takes a year out, perhaps fulfils his Le Mans dream and then returns to a fully-competitive McLaren-Honda for 2017?

“It’s an option,” said Coulthard, “Alain Prost did it, but it’s hard to imagine it. From a marketing standpoint, it’s not a good message for Honda if your driver doesn’t want to drive for a year.”

Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, however, is certain that not only Honda but also Renault will eventually become fully competitive.

“There is one thing that money cannot buy in F1,” he said, “and that is time. So they need to manage expectations and set the correct goals. But I have no doubt: in two years, Renault and Honda will be competitive,” added Wolff.

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AND SPEAKING ABOUT RETIREMENT MANY WOULD LIKE TO SEE: IS BERNIE PREPARING TO RETIRE AT LAST?

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has tongues wagging in the paddock after declaring that the sport is set to be sold within three months.

F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told APA news agency he has “no idea” why the F1 supremo has gone public with the news now.

“In principle, a sale does not affect us,” he said before travelling to Sochi, “but why he is talking about it now is a mystery.”

One theory is that Ecclestone’s comments could be a precursor to Dietrich Mateschitz – who is currently threatening to pull his two teams out over the engine crisis – taking over F1.

Lauda doesn’t think so. Others think Ecclestone could be flagging his decision to finally step down from his post. But the diminutive Briton’s old sparring partner, Max Mosley, doubts that too.

“I think whatever happens, if it is taken over, I don’t see Bernie’s role changing unless he wants it to change because he is the person who has managed to sell it everywhere,” the former FIA president is quoted by the Mirror.

Mika Hakkinen, the former double world champion, agrees, “It (Ecclestone retiring) seems completely unreal. Bernie made formula one what it is today, turning it into a huge business with enormous entertainment value.”

German racing legend and official Hans-Joachim Stuck is not so sure, agreeing that while Ecclestone has been crucial to F1’s success, “Everything has a time factor, and that goes for Bernie as well.

“I think if he’s talking about the sale, from my point of view that could mean he has recognised that it might be the time for something new.

“Times are changing, Bernie is getting older, and although I was a bit surprised to hear what he said, I am happy that he is perhaps thinking ahead to a time when he will no longer be with us,” he is quoted by Speed Week.

Former driver turned pundit Marc Surer, meanwhile, said: “We know nothing concrete — this is all speculation.”

But as for the rumours that Ecclestone is shaping up to step down, he told the German broadcaster Sky: “If I’m honest, I can’t imagine Ecclestone voluntarily handing over his power.

“Like everyone, I’m waiting to see what is coming, but I don’t think it will be a huge revolution,” Surer concluded.

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ALONSO: I AM WITH MCLAREN FOR 2016 AND 2017

Fernando Alonso eased concern about his Formula 1 future on ahead of the Russian Grand Prix weekend by confirming he would definitely be racing for struggling McLaren next year and in 2017.

The Spaniard had triggered speculation that he could walk away from the sport after he told television reporters in Japan last month that he did not know whether he would be in Formula one next year.

Asked at the Russian Grand Prix whether he would be racing for McLaren next year, the double world champion replied: ‘Yes of course”.

Pressed further for an assurance that he was 100 percent certain, Alonso added: “And 17”.

Former champions McLaren, the second most successful team in the sport, are enduring their worst season and have scored just 17 points from 14 races.

In Japan last month, Alonso kicked up a storm when he criticised Honda’s under-performing power unit over the team radio, calling it ’embarrassing’ and comparing it to an engine from the GP2 support series.

The Spaniard told reporters in Sochi that his comments were simply down to normal frustration and suggested that there should be a silencer on broadcasting such messages to the world at large.

“What you talk on the radio should remain private because you are talking with your team not publicly,” he said. “Publicly…we have been very, very positive all the time.

“This is a very unique sport, that we have a microphone in our helmet and it goes live on television. Imagine in NBA or football players or something like that what we can find.

“I’m happy it was only broadcast in Suzuka because if you hear all the races, all the radio messages from me or from (team mate) Jenson (Button) or whatever, you will be even more surprised.”

Alonso, who will be starting his 250th grand prix, can expect more frustration this weekend with the Spaniard set to start from the back of the grid due to a penalty of around 35 places.

Honda have used up their last four ‘tokens’ to develop their engine this season, which means that while Alonso will get an updated version for Russia he will also pay the price for exceeding his allocation.

“I think it’s going to be more or less the same at the remaining races: trying to get some more information about the car and more philosophies on the car to set up for next year as well,” he said.

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ROSBERG: LEWIS HAS DONE A BETTER JOB BUT THE FIGHT IS ON

Ferrari will have an unusual supporter barracking for a strong weekend for the Maranello team this weekend at the Russian Grand Prix.

It is Nico Rosberg, who acknowledged that with his 48 point deficit to Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton with just five races to go, he needs some outside help to close the gap.

“The season has not been perfect for me,” the German told the French broadcaster Canal Plus ahead of the Sochi round. “I don’t have as many points as I would like, but otherwise things are fine. This year Lewis has done a better job, but the fight is still on. I have five more races.

“Yes, the gap is quite big, so I will need some luck, but we all know that in this sport everything is possible,” Rosberg added.

And he suggested that a couple of allies could be wearing red overalls, “It would be good for me if they were between us (Rosberg and Hamilton).”

Some, however, wonder if Rosberg has slipped into a de-facto ‘number 2’ role at Mercedes, given the way he was bullied off the track by Hamilton recently at Suzuka.

“I disagree with them (the critics),” Rosberg replied. “Sitting in the car, it’s difficult to judge accurately how much space you are leaving your opponent, but looking back I realise that I left Lewis too much room.”

He also denied the theory that Hamilton has been superior, both on-track and psychologically, since Rosberg was rebuked by Mercedes following their Spa clash last year.

“I learned from it,” Rosberg insists, “but Spa was an isolated incident.”

MIKA: I really like Rosberg and I'd like to see him win a WDC, he's a great driver however it was this time last year he was also hoping for the same, to have help from other drivers. Fingers crossed he can somehow clinch the title (I doubt it) and if not, at least bring the season ending races a lot closer and some exciting close races.

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ECCLESTONE REJECTS MERCEDES CLAIM OF SUZUKA TV BALCKOUT

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has defended the television coverage of last month’s Japanese Grand Prix after champions Mercedes complained that their drivers barely featured despite a one-two finish.

The race at Suzuka triggered immediate conspiracy theories, with some even suggesting the manufacturer was being punished by Ecclestone for refusing to supply rivals Red Bull with engines for next year.

“People say there is no overtaking so what we showed is a hell of a lot of overtaking,” Ecclestone, 84, told reporters at the Russian Grand Prix.

“Actually, if you look at the figures I think nearly all the teams got more or less the same amount of coverage,” added the Briton.

Mercedes have been dominant this season, winning 11 of 14 races so far with eight one-two finishes, and can clinch their second successive constructors’ title on Sunday if they score three points more than Ferrari.

However, unlike last season, there have been few wheel-to-wheel battles between the Mercedes drivers with much of the action further down the field.

Suzuka, a Honda-owned circuit, featured more battles between teams scrapping for meagre points — as well as the under-performing Honda-powered McLarens being overtaken regularly.

“We had the same with (seven-times world champion) Michael (Schumacher),” Ecclestone said, referring to a period of Ferrari domination when the German won five titles in a row and races were often decried as boring.

“People don’t want to see one car alone on the track. If there’s some racing going on at the front, it’s good.”

Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda had told reporters in Japan that he would raise with Ecclestone the lack of coverage but the commercial supremo said the subject had not been discussed between them.

“What’s it got to do with Niki Lauda?,” he said. “Lots of people were unhappy about things. He came and talked to me about something else.”

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NICO HULKENBERG RULES OUT LE MANS IN 2016

Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday confirmed he will not be defending his Le Mans title next year with Porsche.

That is because Bernie Ecclestone’s re-jigged calendar for 2016 features a controversial clash of the inaugural grand prix in Azerbaijan and the fabled 24 hour endurance sports car race.

“I’m disappointed,” the Force India driver said at Sochi, “but how the calendar is put together is not in my hands. I have to accept it — I have no choice.”

Hulkenberg said there is still a faint hope that a further tweak to the calendar in December could end the clash, adding: “I don’t know if Porche would wait that long for me.”

Asked if skipping Baku might even be an option, the German said categorically: “No, never. Formula one is the priority for me.”

He even ruled out slotting in a different sports car race or two other than Le Mans next year, saying that the Spa round this year was only to prepare for the main event.

“So if I’m not driving at Le Mans, that would be pointless,” said Hulkenberg.

Elsewhere in the Sochi paddock on Thursday, Fernando Alonso dismissed speculation he might take a sabbatical next year as he waits for McLaren-Honda to get up to speed.

Asked explicitly if he will still be with the Anglo-Japanese collaboration in 2016, the Spaniard said: “Yes. Of course. And 2017.”

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MATESCHITZ WANTS ENGINE CRISIS SOLUTION THIS MONTH

Billionaire team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has now set a target for the end of Red Bull’s current engine crisis, and it is looming fast.

“Sometime in late October,” the owner of Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso declared to Speed Week, the Red Bull-linked German-language publication.

Early this week, team boss Christian Horner hinted that although negotiations with both Mercedes and Ferrari had appeared to have broken down, talks were in fact still on.

Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, however, hit back at Horner’s claims, and now the German team’s chairman Niki Lauda is doing the same.

“There are no discussions,” the F1 legend is quoted by Osterreich newspaper.

“We have taken Manor on board which means we have four teams, so for us everything is done,” insisted Lauda.

Why Red Bull is still hinting at a Mercedes deal is therefore a mystery to Lauda.

“Maybe they don’t want to be here (in F1) anymore,” he speculated.

That does not mean Lauda has a lot of sympathy, even though he told the German broadcaster RTL that Red Bull and Toro Rosso departing would be a “huge loss”.

“They cancelled the contract with Renault one year early, putting themselves into a corner from which there is no way out at the moment. They have a real problem,” he added.

“There is no discussion with Red Bull (and Mercedes),” Lauda insisted. “The discussion is with Ferrari, but I don’t know what will come out of it.”

One paddock rumour is that Toro Rosso has now agreed to take a 2015-specification Ferrari power unit for next year.

But that solution has been deemed unacceptable for the premier team.

“We are trying to get an engine, but we cannot get the one we want,” said Mateschitz.

“The prerequisite for going on (in F1) is a competitive engine,” he insisted.

Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard thinks Red Bull’s quit threat is serious.

“Of course it is,” he told the Spanish sports daily Marca.

“Red Bull doesn’t need to be in F1. Its business is selling drinks, not formula one cars.”

So if Mateschitz does go, F1 is having to consider the very real possibility of plugging the holes on the grid with three-car teams.

Mercedes’ Wolff said he would not mind.

“We’ve seen teams coming and going,” he said. “I’m not saying that Red Bull is not a great brand, but a few years ago, within the space of 18 months we lost Toyota, Honda and BMW. And F1 survived.”

He was also quoted by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport: “We discussed it already some time ago about the Lotus case, that a third car would be a solution to fill the grid.

“Personally I think the idea is pretty exciting,” said Wolff. “I’d rather have Red Bull in the sport, and it is definitely a last resort, but we could have some interesting young drivers on a grid of 27-28 cars.”

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ALONSO TO GET TOKEN-UPGRADED HONDA AT SOCHI

Honda has brought a new engine specification to Russia, Auto Motor und Sport reports.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the power unit makes use of the struggling Japanese manufacturer’s final 4 in-season ‘tokens’ for 2015.

The engine will reportedly be fitted only to Fernando Alonso’s McLaren at Sochi, resulting in the Spaniard needing to move to the back of the grid.

But that is just part of the “acute pain” that McLaren and Honda are going through at present, as explained by team supremo Ron Dennis recently at Suzuka.

“We have tried to move forward faster and that has affected reliability and made the whole thing more challenging,” Dennis had said.

“But this very acute pain we have inflicted on ourselves is the fastest way for us to get back to where we need to get to.”

In other engine news, Mercedes has reportedly brought fresh engines to Sochi for customers Williams, Force India and Lotus, but it is not the latest speculation that is currently being run by the works team.

“The problem,” explained Schmidt, “is that Petronas could not make enough of the special fuel for this type of engine in the time available.”

Sauber will apparently also get new Ferrari engines in Russia, but it is the Montreal specification, not the so-called ‘super motor’ introduced by the works team at Monza.

And as for Red Bull, whose obvious divorce from Renault is now pending, there is no news about the upgraded engine that was originally promised for Sochi.

“At the moment, we are a little bit in the dark about when that engine is coming,” team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Speed Week.

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SILVERSTONE CHIEF SAYS F1 IS S**T AND NOT SALEABLE

Silverstone chief Patrick Allen has launched an unprecedented attack on formula one, describing it as a “sh*t product”.

It is an echo of an earlier story in 2015, when Bernie Ecclestone reportedly told a French media outlet that F1 is a “crap product”.

The F1 supremo, however, denied saying it, insisting he was referring only to the controversial hybrid engines.

But Patrick Allen, in charge of the historic British grand prix venue Silverstone, has been quoted by The Independent newspaper as openly slamming modern F1.

“Months and months back I said it to Mr E himself that I can’t sell tickets for a sh*t product,” he told the F1 business journalist Christian Sylt.

His comments follow earlier reports that Silverstone could drop off the calendar as early as next year if the circuit is unable to guarantee the race fee to Ecclestone.

Now, Allen said the biggest problem is that drivers are ‘lifting and coasting’ and being told what to do by faceless engineers rather than living up to their billing as “gladiators”.

“I think it is criminal when we have got to that state of racing and that is not saleable,” he insisted.

“How long is it before the technical director is stood on the top step, not the driver? You’ve just got to throw the towel in then and look for something else.”

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PODIUM IMPOSSIBLE FOR SMALL TEAMS CLAIMS KALTENBORN

When asked by Sport Bild how things are going at Sauber, the Swiss team’s boss replied: “I can’t complain.”

Monisha Kaltenborn, however, is very much complaining about the governance of formula one, having joined Force India in lodging a formal complain to the European Commission.

“Because the process has been initiated,” she confirmed, “we can’t say any more about it at the moment.”

What Kaltenborn will confirm, however, is that life in the middle of the grid for an independent team is now “very difficult”.

She said costs have spiralled out of control to the point that rising to the podium as a small team, although the Hinwil squad has done it in the past, is now “as good as impossible”.

Kaltenborn said teams like Sauber have been locked out of the rule-making process, in stark contrast to the bigger and more powerful rivals.

“That’s right. When the engine rules were made, we were not part of it. I have nothing against the hybrid technology,” she insisted, “it’s just about the cost.

“It’s not right when six teams that are in the so-called strategy group arbitrarily determine the rules. That has nothing to do with fair competition,” said Kaltenborn.

When asked if she can name another sport that has a similarly unfair system, she answered: “I don’t know any. So I think we should be learning from those other sports.

“For example NBA in the US, the player draft is designed in consideration of the smaller teams. Also English and German football, where the top teams get the most money but everyone has enough to survive. The distribution of the money is so much fairer than in F1.”

Kaltenborn, however, said that the small teams are rarely listened to, despite the fact she thinks they are “the backbone of formula one”.

“Basically, we don’t do anything other than F1,” she explained. “It is our core business.

“For the manufacturers, at the end of the day it’s just a marketing platform.

“But what would those who support Bayern Munich think if suddenly there are no other opponents for them to compete against?” she asked rhetorically.

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MANOR PREVIEW THE RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX

This week, the Manor Marussia F1 Team are in Sochi for Round 15 of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the 2015 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix. The Sochi Autodrom is an extremely technical circuit, one that many struggled to get to grips with last year when the track made its debut on the calendar.

John Booth: “The debut race in Sochi last year was something of a voyage into the unknown for all of the teams. For us, it was an even greater challenge, given our difficult circumstances. For me personally, this will be my first visit, so, in many ways, we approach the race afresh this weekend. The lap here is very long, second only to Spa and Silverstone, and it is a very technical layout with plenty of hard braking zones leading into slow corners. It will be good to have Roberto back in the car here for the first of his two remaining races with us, and I’m sure Will is going to be pushing hard to reverse the disappointments of the last couple of races.”

Will Stevens: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of Sochi. I was here last year in my role as Reserve Driver, so I walked the track and observed the task of getting to grips with it from afar. It’s quite useful having two different drivers as a benchmark this past few races, and of course it is Roberto back in the other seat for this race, rather than Alex. This is a really technical track and I can’t wait to get my first experience of it on Friday.”

Roberto Merhi: “I can’t wait to be back in the car in Sochi this weekend. It’s the first time I have raced here, but last year I took part in the FP1 session, so I have some understanding of the circuit characteristics and this will be helpful for me after a couple of races out of the car. I’ve continued to work very closely with the team during track sessions and engineering meetings, so I have a very good appreciation of the work we have completed and I’m eager to get stuck into the programme and to make the most of my two races, in Sochi and Abu Dhabi.”

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Hamilton: New tracks miss the point

Lewis Hamilton may given Hermann Tilke a run for his money in the years to come as he feels he could design circuits that drivers like.

As Formula 1 moves from Japan to Russia, Suzuka to Sochi, old to the new, Hamilton says it is a good measure for how Formula 1 circuits have changed over the years.

Whereas Suzuka is a track that many drivers love, Sochi failed to excite when it made its debut last season.

The new Russian track is just the latest in an ever-growing list of layouts designed by Tilke.

"We come to Russia after the last race in Japan – and it would be hard to imagine two more contrasting tracks," Hamilton wrote in his BBC column.

"The track here in Sochi is very flat, and a massive contrast to Suzuka, which is a real racing circuit, with elevation change, sweeping corners and so on.

"I like that there is a variety of circuits in F1, old and new, but I often wonder why we only have one designer of tracks.

"Sometimes I think when I retire I will start designing tracks myself and give Hermann Tilke some competition – I've raced and I know what drivers like in circuits.

"I feel that quite often the new generation of tracks don't grasp the true essence of F1. I know there are restrictions to do with safety and so on but the circuits often feel too calculated.

"I don't know how calculated Suzuka was but it feels like they found a great spot and went with the flow of the land. That makes a real difference.

"Too many of the new tracks have too little character. There are exceptions – Abu Dhabi, for example, and Austin – but this one does not stand out so much.

"But the area we are in – on the coast of the Black Sea, with mountains nearby – is absolutely stunning."

MIKA: Amen to that! I always wonder why tracks are exclusively designed by Tilke, last week I was saying the same thing.

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Cold and wet start in Sochi

Formula 1 is in for a cold and cloudy weekend at the Sochi Autodrom with rain forecast for Friday’s practices.

While there are varying reports as to whether the rain will come down in FP1 or only later in FP2, the general consensus is there will be rain on Friday.

It will however abate overnight with sunny but cool conditions forecast for Saturday. The day’s high temperature will be just 16.

More rain is forecast for Sunday but only late in the afternoon and with the race beginning at 2pm, the 53 laps should be completed before it arrives.

Sunday’s high in Sochi is just 18’C.

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Hamilton finds Red Bull's current situation 'odd'

Lewis Hamilton has said he finds Red Bull's recent behaviour "odd", but says it would be a shame to lose them if they fail to find an engine supplier.

The Milton Keynes team has split with engine supplier Renault following a difficult two seasons and has made public its disappointment with the French company.

The team won four championships with Renault power, but in 2014 it won just three races as Mercedes appeared the dominant force. Those troubles continued through to 2015 with just three podiums to its name so far.

When asked about Red Bull's current situation, Hamilton said he was confused by the teams reaction to their problems.

"It seems really odd for me, having witnessed Red Bull's success and then the moment they don't have success, it's like they have been upset about it.

"I have not seen that with any other team," he said. "Growing up, watching Formula 1, when Ferrari lost the championship after having success, I don't remember - but maybe they did - hearing them complaining the next year.

"You have to keep pushing forward and there is no reason for them to give up."

Hamilton has urged them to work hard for success again, rather than giving up as it would be a shame for the sport and fans.

"It would be a shame for the fans," he added. "They have a great team, great drivers, great pedigree, they have had incredible success, and they still have a pretty awesome car.

"They can still have success - they just have to work hard at it.

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Raikkonen disagrees with Alonso over private team radio

Kimi Raikkonen doesn't agree with Fernando Alonso's view that team radio should remain private and not broadcast on the world feed for everyone to hear.

The McLaren driver was heard describing his Honda power unit to that of a "GP2 engine", whilst adding that it was "embarrasing" how he was overtaken so easily.

When asked about his comments, the Spaniard said: "We face some difficult times, some tough times as a team, and what you talk on the radio should remain private because you are talking to the team."

Raikkonen disagrees with Alonso's view, believing team radio adds extra entertainment for the fans - something the Finn is known for.

"I think it's up to the team and the drivers to keep it private," the Ferrari driver said on Thursday in Russia.

"We have meetings where we discuss many things and that's private, and we all know how it works out in the radio.

"Some of them are broadcast if it's good for them, so it's up to us. If we want to make it private we can easily make it private.

"It's a simple thing that we've known for years already. The radios usually end up on TV, so it's the same for everybody.

"I think it's good for the spectators on the TV. It makes it more interesting for them if they can hear what is going on."

Raikkonen's most quoted team radio came at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he said: "Just leave me alone, I know what I'm doing." It was later printed on t-shirts and distributed amongst Lotus employees.

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Ricciardo will start looking elsewhere 'in a few weeks'

Daniel Ricciardo remains confident Red Bull will secure an engine deal for 2016, but in the event they don't, the Australian says he'll begin looking elsewhere for a race seat.

The Milton Keynes based team is still negotiating with Ferrari, though the Italian supplier is sticking to its offer of 2015-spec engines, something Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has dismissed.

On Thursday Mateschitz set a deadline of the end of the current month to find a supply, otherwise he will pull both Red Bull and Toro Rosso out of the sport.

That deadline was welcomed by Ricciardo who says it gives him and the team a timeframe to prepare for other possibilities if necessary.

"I haven't thought about the negative potential outcome of it yet, I'm still pretty positive," the 26-year-old is quoted as saying.

"It's good that Dietrich has set a bit of a deadline because we have got to know what we are doing and if we are going with 'X' engine then we have got to start designing the car and all the rest of it.

"We can't wait until Christmas, so we will see in a few more weeks if we get a decision or an outcome. I'm still positive as long as we have still got time on our side."

Ricciardo reckons things will eventually come good for the team, but admitted he will be keeping his ears and eyes open for other opportunities.

"It's not the end of October yet, so I'll remain positive and if we get to the end of October and nothing has been sorted then I'll for sure start having my eyes and ears a little bit more open about what else is going on.

"I think we will get something that is decent enough to convince us to stay in the sport and that means giving us a chance to win."

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Red Bull engine impasse delaying 2016 car design – Sainz

Carlos Sainz Jnr says the impasse over Red Bull’s engine supply deals is delaying work on their 2016 cars.

Red Bull and Toro Rosso are set to sever their contracts with Renault but neither have yet agreed terms with another manufacturer.

“I’m not really taking care of that matter much,” said Sainz in today’s FIA press conference. “We’re here to drive and our job is to extract the maximum performance of our car.”

“I just know that the team obviously is working hard, now more than ever, to find something for next year. Obviously it starts to be a bit late and we need to design the rear part of the car. When you don’t have something at the rear yet at this stage of the year it’s a bit tricky.”

Red Bull has demanded a competitive engine package for next season and Sainz believes their history in the sport justify it.

“I have full trust that they will come to a solution, an agreement,” he said. “I think more than anyone Red Bull deserves, they have done a lot for this sport, a lot for Formula One, and they will end up having a decent engine or a decent package for next year.”

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Stewards crack down on corner-cutting at turn two

Drivers have been given new rules to prevent them gaining an advantage if they run wide at Sochi’s turn two.

The corner proved a regular trouble spot during the inaugural Russian Grand Prix meeting last year. During one GP2 race half the field cut the corner on the first lap.

Race director Charlie Whiting has advised teams their drivers may not rejoin the track immediately if they go wide at the corner.

“Any driver who fails to negotiate turn two by using the track, and who passes completely to the left of the new kerb element on the apex, must then keep to the left of the red and white polystyrene block in the run-off area and re-join the track at the start of turn three,” the teams were told.

The procedure is similar to that already being used at corners at Monza, Montreal and Singapore tracks.

A new kerb, 50mm higher than the previous one, has also been added at the exit of the corner to discourage drivers from cutting it. A further kerb behind the main kerb has been lowered to 80mm high.

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CVC does not want to sell F1 stake - Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone has downplayed the possibility of a chunk of the F1 business being sold, just a couple of days after suggesting that a deal could happen before the end of this year.

CVC's 35.5 per cent shareholding is potentially up for grabs, although Ecclestone said today that its boss Donald McKenzie is still not keen to sell.

"I said there are three people that are interested in buying," Ecclestone commented.

"They have been talking a little bit, but now they are a lot more interested. If the shareholders want to sell, they will sell.

"I am not selling. That is what the problem is.

"Mr McKenzie, who is the controlling shareholder, also doesn't want to sell. If someone wants to buy and someone doesn't want to sell it is difficult."

Ecclestone also made it clear that a deal was no nearer than it has been in the past.

"Anyone that does follow F1 will know we have been here a million times."

He also scotched suggestions that he might retire and leave F1 any time soon: "I don't need to leave it at the moment.

"But the three people who are interested in buying it asked me to sign a contract to make sure I stay with them."

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Mercedes introduces new front wing concept

Mercedes has delivered further evidence of its aggressive push on aerodynamics after leading the way with a new approach to front wing design.

First appearing at the Japanese Grand Prix, and remaining on the car in Russia, the Mercedes W06 features a serrated edge on the penultimate flap.

The design is similar to the concept used by McLaren last year in the middle of its rear wing, but this is believed to be the first time that a team has tried it at the front of the car.

The use of the 'teeth' on the top of the flap is aimed to helping improve balance by creating a number of small vortex.

These vortices will help ensure the wing performs at different speeds by preventing airflow separation, which can happen if the wing is put at too high an angle of attack.

Best got better

With Mercedes able to win the constructors' championship in Russia this weekend, Lewis Hamilton said he had been impressed with the way his team had pushed the boundaries this year.

"To think we were going into this year thinking there's no way we can surpass last year, and we have in many, many ways," he said.

"I think people generally take for granted what an amazing job a large group of people can do. It doesn't just have to be F1, it can be in a business, it could be anywhere.

"One thing I get to see is how on point every individual in this team has been since I joined. For them to now start to see the fruits of their labour, the last couple of years – it's very easy for a team to have success like last year and then drop the ball, get complacent.

"This team has just continued to power through, to keep pushing. Every individual that's in this team they want to do their job to the best of their ability and push the boundaries and be even better.

"So that we're are at a weekend like this where we are fighting for the world championship and are able to say we are the best."

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Button wanted answers before new McLaren deal

Jenson Button has admitted that he wanted certain assurances from McLaren about its potential to improve before abandoning all thoughts of walking away from Formula 1.

McLaren announced last week that Button's place for 2016 was secure, amid speculation that the former world champion was contemplating calling time on his career.

And although Button played down reports that he came close to wanting out, he said contemplating options outside of F1 had crossed his mind until the team gave him confidence about its plans for next year.

When asked by Motorsport.com about how close he came to calling time on F1, he said: "It is difficult to quantify, really. I had thoughts of what direction I would take if I wasn't here next year and what I could possibly do, but it wasn't in my mind for very long.

"There were things that I felt I needed more information on, of where this team was going and that is why I spent a lot of time with Ron [Dennis] on the phone, but also at the MTC [McLaren Technology Centre] last week.

"I spent a lot of time with the engineers, the aerodynamicists, running through everything on the engine programme and that is the reason why I decided to stay."

No fear of leaving

Button said his decision to commit to F1 was done for the right reasons, and not because he was worried about no longer being a grand prix driver.

"Definitely I don't have a fear of leaving. There is not that. I don't think I have that.

"When you have raced for so long – the only reason you want to keep racing is because you have a chance to be competitive. Obviously we are not there yet. But it will be the case in the future."

He added: "There are lots of changes with the team, with the power unit, and this is still a very young partnership. A lot will change over this winter and you will see a much more competitive team next year."

Spoken earlier

Button did admit, however, that the uncertainty about his future could have ended earlier if he had spoken to McLaren chiefs sooner about the plans.

"Sometimes there are miscommunications and you maybe... I think that is the way in life," he said. "We should talk more often in teams and I should have sat down earlier and gone through it.

"But it doesn't matter. We have gone through it now and that is the important thing. As long as we did it before next year that is all that matters."

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Bottas "trusts" Mercedes over engine upgrade refusal

Valtteri Bottas says he is not frustrated by Mercedes' decision not to provide its latest engine to its customer teams, despite the call making it much harder for Williams to close the gap to the pacesetters.

The works cars have been equipped with a 2016-spec engine since Monza and Mercedes' customers have since expressed their desire to get their hands on the upgraded power units.

However, it is Mercedes' company policy to treat all its customers equally and give them sufficient upgraded parts at the same time, and the management has decided that it is not possible to provide the Monza engine to Williams, Force India and Lotus within the time frame of the last few races.

"We are still happy that we have a Mercedes engine," said Bottas today. "Even though it's not a new step, it's a very good engine, and it is competitive, and we can get good results with it.

"I'm sure there is some kind of thinking behind it, why the customer teams are not getting those, because for sure if Mercedes would think that's best for us, of course we would be better [at] challenging Ferrari, and that would help them.

"I do trust that they are thinking what is best for us as well, so I'm not disappointed because of that"

"It's not frustrating because I really think that they would give us the best possible engine to try and beat Ferrari," Bottas added when pressed on the issue.

"There must be some reason behind it. I don't know whether it's reliability or what. But I trust them.

"Life is not always fair, and nor is F1. Like I told you before, I still think we have the best possible engine for us to try and get maximum points for the rest of the year."

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F1 filming at Silverstone, exclusive access to Mercedes factory & Russian GP 2015

This week on the Studio Show the team is filming at Silverstone - Reserve Driver and DTM Championship Leader, Pascal Wehrlein is out on track in the W06 car. Rosanna is at the F1 factory to show you some behind the scenes places you might not have seen before and she's got all the facts you need ahead of this weekend's Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.

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Red Bull Gives You Whinges

Given that Dietrich Mateschitz must be very busy running his multifaceted sports sponsorship programme, I don't suppose he's taken a couple of minutes to stop and listen to himself.

If he had, he would surely realise his arrogant F1 pronouncements are doing his company more harm than good. If Red Bull sponsored a competition for foot stamping and petulance, he would surely become world champion and add to the motor sport titles he seems to feel should be his by right.

I suppose that's what comes of inventing and funding edgy and sometimes weird worldwide sports competitions in which Red Bull cannot lose. That and the fact that Red Bull Racing won the F1 title four times on the trot; an extraordinary achievement that Mr Mateschitz clearly believes anyone could do if they had his foresight, dosh (not to mention Adrian Newey, Renault and the small part the latter apparently played).

It has obviously not dawned on Mr Mateschitz that losing with dignity is as important as winning when it comes to competing anywhere from a municipal playing field to the streets of Monte Carlo. His huffy hand-wringing is doing a total disservice to the true racers working their socks off in a team that, through no fault of their own, is becoming disproportionately disliked.

Your engine is not competitive, Mr Mateschitz? We get that. It happens in this business. Just be thankful you've got an engine. No; let me rephrase that: just be thankful you've got a chassis to put it in.

Becoming weary of this outpouring of self-righteous indignation, I got to thinking about Ken Tyrrell and how he handled his plight in late 1969. If Mateschitz imagines he's got problems, they're nothing compared to the situation Tyrrell found himself in at the moment he and Jackie Stewart won their first world championship together.

Tyrrell had been running a Matra-Ford MS80 (later described by Stewart as one of the best racing cars he had ever driven). The French aerospace firm was about to be taken over by Simca, whose parent company, Chrysler, made it clear that a Ford (DFV V8) in the back of their 1970 car would be as unwelcome as a can of Monster in the Red Bull Energy Station.

Tyrrell was told he would have to run the Matra V12 if he wished to continue with the Matra chassis. A test session confirmed that the performance of the V12 did not match its glorious sound. Tyrrell, being the ultimate pragmatist, reluctantly accepted he would need to look elsewhere for a car.

Naturally, neither Lotus nor Brabham fancied selling a car to a team that was likely to give them grief on the race track. BRM was willing, but the engine was not up to much; Ferrari supplying a car was out of the question; McLaren was in its infancy as an F1 team. Difficult though it is to believe, by the end of 1969 the reigning champions had absolutely sod-all to race for the coming season.

Enter Max Mosley, joint owner of March, a brand new company making cars, it seemed, for just about every racing formula worthy of the name. Yes, for the princely sum of £9,000 March would be delighted to supply Tyrrell and Stewart with a 701, complete with a Ford-Cosworth DFV.

The engine would turn out to be the best part of a car that was a complete dog even though a typically tenacious win for Stewart in the Spanish Grand Prix (just five finishers!) suggested otherwise. By mid-season, Stewart was at the end of his tether.

At no stage (Mr Mateschitz, please note) did Tyrrell whinge and threaten to stomp off to the timber business he had been running three years before. Tyrrell did better than that. In complete secrecy, he built his own car in the Surrey wood yard. The rest - two more championships and 23 grands prix wins - is history.

Times have obviously changed beyond recognition. But sporting values remain exactly the same. You'd do well to recall Ken Tyrrell, Mr Mateschitz. But then you probably have no idea who he was or know anything about his dignified and hugely competitive contribution to a sport you purport to understand.