FORMULA 1 - 2015

[MIKA27]

MERCEDES BOSSES DENY RENEGING ON RED BULL DEAL

Mercedes has denied agreeing to an engine supply deal for Red Bull but then reneging on the supposed agreement.

Many believe the energy drink owned outfit only has itself to blame for terminating its fractured relationship with Renault before finalising an alternative supply of ‘power units’.

But with a solution nowhere in sight for now, it emerged over the US grand prix weekend that Red Bull might actually have been plunged into the crisis by Mercedes.

According to statements made not only by Christian Horner but also Bernie Ecclestone, it seems the German camp initially agreed to supply Red Bull before then changing its mind.

“There were discussions that will become apparent no doubt in the future,” Horner said. “Promises that were made.”

Mercedes, however, denies the charge with Niki Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, telling Bild newspaper, “I met with Didi (Dietrich) Mateschitz about three months ago.”

“I told him that we can negotiate about engines when he finally stops his reluctance and his negative attitude towards Mercedes. He said he would try. After that, nothing happened,” Lauda claims.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff explains further: “There were two crucial points why there was no cooperation with Red Bull.

“First, Mercedes cooperates with Renault on the road car side. So when Red Bull terminated the contract with Renault prematurely, we said ‘Before Renault signals that we can supply engines to Red Bull, we do not do it’.

“The second point is the marketing. We wanted to know from Red Bull about shared ideas and marketing campaigns we could develop for a common future. But nothing came out of it. And so the issue was taken care of from our side,” Wolff added.

[MIKA27]

HULKENBERG WANTS RED BULL TO STAY IN F1

Nico Hulkenberg insists he is not looking to rev up his own Formula 1 career by cheering for Red Bull to depart.

If the engine supply crisis does see Red Bull and Toro Rosso left without ‘power units’ for 2016, F1 might need to plug the gaps in the grid by asking some teams to field third cars.

It is believed existing contracts between Bernie Ecclestone and Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren already refer to the three-car scenario, which would open up a fascinating last-minute rush on the driver market to secure the seats.

And Hulkenberg, one of the most highly rated drivers on the grid who currently drives for the midfield outfit Force India, might be a top candidate.

Asked if, as his own manager, he is already pursing that possibility, the 28-year-old said: “No, I have heard nothing about it. In terms of formula one, I would prefer to see Red Bull and Toro Rosso stay in the sport, but that is of course highly political and I don’t know how it is going to end up.”

Hulkenberg was being interviewed by Sonntag-Express, after the German automobile club ADAC declared him the motor sportsman of the year.

It means he beat fellow German drivers like Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel to the prize, with Hulkenberg commenting: “That’s cool and definitely pleasing. It’s nice to see that the experts appreciate and recognise my achievements in formula one and Le Mans.”

[MIKA27]

ECCLESTONE SAYS FINLAND GP NOT REALISTIC

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has admitted the idea of a Finnish Grand Prix might not be realistic.

In August, Ilta Sanomat newspaper reported that the F1 supremo had talks with potential race promoters over the weekend of the Hungarian grand prix.

Finland has a rich tradition of successful F1 drivers, including current racers Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas, despite its population of less than 6 million people.

Ecclestone recently renewed F1’s television deal with the Finnish broadcaster MTV, and the nearly 85-year-old hailed the country’s fans for “always being loyal”.

As for the idea of a Finnish grand prix, the diminutive Briton said: “I don’t know whether that’s realistic, but I would like to see it happen. We have fans on that side of the world and so we should be there.”

[MIKA27]

Merc to take action after US clash

With Nico Rosberg’s disappointment palpable after losing to Lewis Hamilton in Austin, Toto Wolff concedes Mercedes need to take action to prevent a breakdown in the relationship.

Last season Mercedes had to cope with the fallout after Rosberg and Hamilton clashed at Spa. The German was deemed responsible for that collision, although this time around he feels Hamilton is to blame.

Rosberg accused his team-mate of being “extremely aggressive” as they fought for the lead on the opening lap of the United States GP.

He lost out in the battle and later also lost the win to Hamilton after running off the track. The British racer went onto claim the win and his third World title.

But while it was a moment for celebration, Wolff admits Mercedes need to deal with the opening lap antics.

“Yes, if we don’t take any action,” he told Autosport when asked if Sunday’s tussle had the ‘potential to repeat’ Spa 2014.

“It’s never easy for things to cool down. It wasn’t easy the first time around, but we have some experience. We just need to have a calm approach, a firm approach of how we would like them to compete.”

The Mercedes motorsport chief does however believe that Rosberg has a right to feel aggrieved over the incident.

“I think he [Rosberg] has reason to be upset for that particular incident,” Wolff told Motorsport.com. “It was too hard and we need to pick it up and discuss it.

“During the race I was happier because emotionally the race panned out for Nico to win it, and that would have recovered the situation finally.

“But Nico made that one mistake that cost him the race win. So I think it is important that we sit down in a couple of days and discuss it – because we don’t want it to escalate in to something bigger.”

And with the title no longer at stake, Wolff acknowledges that the “danger is, for sure, imminent” that Rosberg will treat his team-mate different in future races.

[MIKA27]

FIA to tender for new engine after Ferrari cost cap veto

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has confirmed that during a Strategy Group meeting, Ferrari exercised its right to veto a cost cap for customer engine supply, despite the majority voting in favour.

The cost of purchasing a supply of F1's new turbo-hybrid V6 power units - priced at around £18 million ($26m) per season - has long been considered a problem since their introduction in 2014.

A proposal to cap the cost was put to the teams with most voting in favour, however Ferrari, as the sports oldest team, has the right to veto any changes and decided to do so, according to a statement by the FIA.

"The FIA, in agreement with FOM, suggested the principle of setting a maximum price for engine and gear box for client teams at the last Strategy Group meeting," it reads.

"These measures were put to the vote and adopted with a large majority.

"However, Ferrari SpA decided to go against this and exercise the right of veto long recognised under agreements governing F1.

"In the interest of the Championship, the FIA has decided not to legally challenge Ferrari SpA’s use of its right of veto."

INDEPENDENT ENGINE FROM 2017

As a result the FIA has thrown its support behind a proposal by Bernie Ecclestone to introduce a cheaper, independent engine, which would likely be based around a 2.2-litre twin-turbo V6 design with a basic KERS system.

Ecclestone recently said it would have 'more power' than the current engines, but due to higher fuel consumption, it would be at a weight disadvantage and it would therefore be equal in overall performance.

"The FIA will initiate a consultation with all stakeholders regarding the possible introduction of a client engine, which will be available as of 2017. Following this consultation a call for tenders for this client engine, the cost of which would be much lower than the current power unit, could be undertaken.

"Supported by FOM, the FIA will continue in its efforts to ensure the sustained long-term development of the Championship and look for solutions enabling it to achieve this.

"It asks all of the teams to make a positive contribution to the success of this approach through proposals and initiatives in the interest of the Championship and its continuation over the long term."

[MIKA27]

'I would have won without Rosberg error' - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton believes he would have won the United States Grand Prix regardless of team-mate Nico Rosberg's mistake, which cost the German the lead in the closing stage of the race.

Hamilton won the race - and in the process the title - after Rosberg ran wide on lap 49 of 56 as he came under increasing pressure from a quicker Hamilton who had fresher tyres following a late stop under the Safety Car.

Despite the error, which Rosberg described as "very strange", Hamilton reckons he would have found a way past in the final five laps of the race.

"Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but it doesn't matter because I won the race so I feel pretty good about it," he said after his team-mate criticised him for their opening lap clash.

"I don't go to finish second. Growing up, as a family, we never had anything handed to us. Today, absolutely we fight for position in turn one but we went in so quick and I was on the inside, so we touched.

"Nico got back to the lead [later in the race]. But I was going to take him anyway. Somehow I was going to get past him in those last ten laps."

The Briton is set to meet with Rosberg and the team to discuss the first lap contact before the Mexican GP next week, but Hamilton insists he did nothing wrong.

"I didn't try and push him hard, it wasn't intentional," he said. "I just watched the replay, we were both on wets and the outside is always the grippier side. So Nico had the grippier line, but I was ahead, so it was my line.

"We went in and I started to turn but I understeered into him. He steered round and we touched.

"I don't feel like I was aggressive, but at the end of the day I was on the inside so it was my line."

[MIKA27]

Ricciardo unimpressed by 'too excited young guys'

Daniel Ricciardo was involved in two accidents during the United States Grand Prix, neither of which he believes were his fault, blaming the "young guys" for being "too excited".

The Red Bull driver had led the race at one point and looked to have the measure of the Mercedes in the damp conditions.

However with the track drying, his pace wasn't enough on the slicks and he dropped back before contact with both Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz sent him to the very back.

"I didn't really feel like any of them were my fault, but it sort of spiralled downwards from there," he explained.

He's called on them to be a "bit more intelligent" when battling for position.

"I don't want to single them out, but some of the young guys are a bit too excited. The big one is when they move on braking; you don’t have to squeeze the guy once you've started braking.

"By that stage, you lock a brake and you're out of control. I think they can be a bit more intelligent next time."

The Australian did however enjoy being at the front again, but rued the drying conditions which cost them a potential win.

"It felt good. It felt like old times," he added. "It was looking fun at the beginning, a good four-way battle. To see the Mercs not getting away was awesome.

"We really struggled in the dry conditions, especially on the re-starts. Once we’re in the pack, with our straight-line speed we’re sort of vulnerable to getting swallowed up."

[MIKA27]

Raikkonen backs two-day race weekend format

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen would welcome a move towards two-day Formula 1 race weekends, after the atrocious weather in Austin forced the US Grand Prix into a qualifying/race on Sunday schedule.

Raikkonen believes that all three free practice sessions could be run on a Saturday, after Austin became the fourth grand prix in history to run qualifying and racing on the same day.

"I think it was fine," Raikkonen told reporters after Sunday's race. "Obviously we start a bit more early, to be honest it would be much nicer to run two-day weekends.

"That way everybody watching would see cars always running.

"In some cases, we can't even run because we don't have enough tyres or we have to save engines. Obviously, that means people don't see a lot of cars running.

"They come to see us practicing and racing, so I think we could easily manage to put the running nicely into two days, like we demonstrated here.

"It's not been too busy [this weekend] it's just that we're used to it they way it is. If it was planned, then everything would fit around that. It would be smooth, I think it's a quite nice thing.

"We could do all the three practices on one day. There's certain reasons I guess why we have three days, but it would be cheaper for all the teams to be away for less days.

"But, I don't make the rules, we do what they want."

[MIKA27]

Perez relieved to come away with points after challenging race

Sergio Perez maintained his fine form in the United States Grand Prix after finishing fifth, further strengthening Force India's position in the constructors' championship.

Although the Mexican finished fifth in the race, it was far from easy for the Force India driver as he struggled to find the sweet spot at every re-start, which limited his performance.

Starting on the intermediate tyres, Perez had a difficult time finding pace but held on to fifth until his first pitstop.

"It was a very difficult race starting on intermediates, we were lacking a lot of pace and having a lot of degradation," said Perez after the race.

"Every time we were re-starting, it would get a while to get the pressure and the temperature on the tyres.

"So, I am not really satisfied with the performance that we had during the weekend but I think in those conditions coming out with a fifth place is a very good and strong result," he added.

After switching to softs during his first stop, Perez lost places to Carlos Sainz and teammate Nico Hulkenberg. Further, he even overtaken by Fernando Alonso before regaining the lost ground later on.

Ultimately, after getting past Alonso, he slotted himself at fifth catching Max Verstappen up the road but in the end there were not many laps to do so, thereby bringing home a fine fifth place.

"I think, in the end all what matters is the result, and we got it today. I was getting a lot closer to Max who was struggling on the soft tyres but there was not enough time to catch and pass him," he said.

Elaborating more on the race, the Mexican explained the difficulties he faced: "We lost quite a lot of time in the beginning in the laps where people were on the soft compound."

"But then we recovered after the safety car because I think we had a better tyre with the harder compound but (at the same time) we also had pressure from the newer soft tyres behind in the last stint, it was a very challenging race but very happy to come away with points."

His teammate, however, had another retirement, his fifth in seven races, after clashing with Daniel Ricciardo. The German was looking good for a strong result until the contact.

But with Perez scoring, Force India moved to 102 points, 32 ahead of Lotus and 48 behind Red Bull, with three races to go.

[MIKA27]

Ultimate Test Drive! Martin Brundle at the wheel of the W06 Hybrid

Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle takes a break from commentating to see for himself just how powerful the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 W06 Hybrid car really is out on track at Silverstone.

[MIKA27]

Candid Camera: Racing Bank with Felipe Nasr - Sauber F1 Team

Formula 1 driver Felipe Nasr changed his race suit for a business suit and dressed up as a bank clerk. While pretending to take care of their enquiries, he checks the unsuspecting clients' knowledge about himself, the Sauber F1 Team and F1 in general.

[MIKA27]

Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa and the art of losing

There's a certain irony in Lewis Hamilton having claimed his third drivers' title at the US Grand Prix, as the last driver to secure a championship in the United States was Keke Rosberg, father to a certain Nico. (Hint: not Hulkenberg)

But -- as has already been pointed out by the wits of the internet -- Nico Rosberg didn't wave farewell to his championship chances with a bit of wheelspin late in the American race. Whatever the mathematical reality, Rosberg lost the title months ago -- possibly even as early as last winter, when Hamilton set about identifying and eliminating his 2014 weaknesses in order to boost his claim on a third title.

What Rosberg seems to have forgotten is that there is a certain grace in losing with dignity, that a good sportsman can find himself venerated despite defeat.

In 2008, when Lewis claimed his first world championship, Felipe Massa had got there first. The Brazilian's term as world drivers' champion could be measured in minutes, but the grace with which he handled -- publicly -- a level of disappointment that most of us couldn't even imagine won the diminutive driver respect that endures to this day.

Despite having done everything he could to secure the title -- including qualifying on pole and winning the last race of the season -- Massa lost out thanks to Toyota's (Timo Glock's) strategic fail. Nevertheless, he behaved like a consummate gentleman on the podium and in the post-race press conference, and made sure to seek out Hamilton to shake his hand and offer congratulations.

Any anger or misery he may have felt at the loss was kept behind closed doors.

Contrast that with the Austin podium, where second-placed Rosberg refused to join in on the traditional champagne spray-fest, having already petulantly tossed his podium baseball cap at Hamilton in the drivers' green room. Dignity and grace were in very short supply.

It's often said in Formula One that second place is merely first of the losers. In Austin, Nico Rosberg's actions made the old adage truer than it's ever been.

[MIKA27]

Double DNF disaster 'disappoints' Williams

Williams suffered a United States Grand Prix to forget after a double retirement due to separate rear suspension failures which head of performance engineering Rob Smedley is keen to rectify next weekend in Mexico.

The race in Austin got off to the worst possible start with both Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa involved in first corner collisions, with the Finnish driver needing to pit due to front wing damage.

Bottas' gamble to switch to dry tyres during his early stoppage backfired badly as he was forced to return to the pits to change back to intermediates, but it was all in vain as he suffered damper failure shortly after to rule him out of the running.

It quickly became double disappointment for Williams after Massa's fightback was ended when he also struggled with damper issues and had to retire from the race.

“A truly disappointing weekend for us to finish with no points,” Smedley said. “Valtteri was very quickly into retirement from a rear suspension failure. Felipe had good pace on the intermediate, we stopped him to fit the dry tyre and things were looking positive until he retired with the same problem.”

"It was a disappointing race," Massa added. "The first corner was very difficult with many things happening. I was involved in an accident which damaged the right side of my car.

"I carried on and was catching the cars in front but we had a problem with the damper, on both cars actually, so we had to stop. It's not a nice weekend for all of us, so we need to concentrate on the next one."

Smedley adds he hopes the team can bounce back almost instantly with the second race of the stint in Mexico in a few days time and hold on to third place in the F1 Constructors' championship from Red Bull. The Milton Keynes-based team also endured a difficult US GP with only Daniel Ricciardo scoring a solitary point in 10th to snip the deficit to Williams to 70 points with three races remaining.

“It's bitterly disappointing, but there are three races to go and we have to bounce back to extend that gap to Red Bull. Mexico is a new circuit for everybody, the team has to remain positive and do the absolute best that we can.”

[MIKA27]

JENSON BUTTON AND FERNANDO ALONSO DISAGREE OVER MCLAREN’S US GRAND PRIX PERFORMANCE

It looked like McLaren’s strongest showing for quite a while; but Jenson Button was disappointed with the pace of his McLaren despite scoring his best result of the season at the US Grand Prix, while his teammate Fernando Alonso was pleased with the speed of his car.

The Spaniard, of course, was armed with a new spec Honda engine, which had a straight line speed advantage over the old one.

Alonso described his race as “one of my best in several years” despite finishing outside the points as an engine problem dropped him down the order late on.

The Spaniard was running the latest specification of Honda engine was on course for a high finish before his issue, but Button was still not happy with his McLaren’s pace in dry conditions.

Speaking after the race, where he finished sixth, Button said: “We did a good job with strategy, but other than that, the pace of the car was not that exciting. Our pace is nowhere near what we expected. We need to go away and look at why.

“We just get eaten up as always in bits of the circuit that are a little bit straighter on the throttle.

“When it was [damp] drying it was great, I really enjoyed that, as always.

I could make a little bit of a difference – but at the end, when it was dry, it was very tough with graining.”

But Alonso, who was a lap down done before the safety car was called out for the first time due to a first lap clash with Felipe Massa, described his car’s pace as “really strong.”

He said: “We would have finished fifth and it would have been one of the best races of my career. I leave with the feeling of having done my best race in several years and hopefully I can repeat it in the three that we have left.

“We were one minute behind the penultimate car on lap two, then we were fifth ten laps from the end and the pace was really strong.

“It would have been a little miracle what nearly happened today, but we had an engine issue in the last ten laps. It feels better to fight with other cars and be competitive, but on the day we are this competitive, all these issues are not welcome.”

Despite the conflicting accounts from its drivers, McLaren did enjoy a strong race in Texas. The damp start and twisty first section of the Circuit of the Americas played to the aerodynamic strength of the car and allowed Button and Alonso to keep in touch with the rest of the grid despite the track’s long straights.

Alonso was also helped by the two safety car periods closing the pack up. He was fortunate that these disruptions allowed him to un-lap himself and join the back of the queue but deserved to score points before his engine issue.

The double world champion was clearly annoyed with the problem, telling the team over the team radio: “As soon as I am not in the points, I stop.” Unfortunately Daniel Ricciardo caught and passed him on the final lap and Alonso came home in P11.

[MIKA27]

TORO ROSSO PRAISES VERSTAPPEN AND SAINZ: ARE THEY RED BULL’S BEST FORMULA 1 ROOKIES?

Franz Tost has praised the performance of his two Toro Rosso drivers, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, after both put in attacking drives to score points on their first visit to the Circuit of the Americas.

Verstappen and Sainz are already the most successful Toro Rosso pairing, based on points scored, since the combination of Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais in 2008.

Before the main event had got underway, severe weather prevented any meaningful running and qualifying was postponed to Sunday morning, which meant both rookie drivers had little time to prepare for the race.

Then in a chaotic Grand Prix, both Toro Rosso drivers performed strongly in the challenging conditions and close racing. Sainz shot up from last on the grid, where he had started as a result of his crash in qualifying, to 11th by the end of the first lap.

The Spaniard then battled with several drivers, including Jenson Button and Daniel Ricciardo, and finished sixth on the road, which became seventh after he was handed a five-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane.

Verstappen, who had qualified tenth, fought with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen – which incensed the 2007 world champion – and made full use of pitting under the first safety car to jump up the order and held on to finish fourth, the joint best result of his career.

After the race, Tost congratulated both of his young drivers for the resilience they showed during a hectic Grand Prix that was disrupted four times by virtual, and actual, safety cars.

He said: “I must say that Max did an extraordinary job. Today’s qualifying session was the first time that he could properly drive here and to get into Q3 shows his great skills.

“His race was also really good: after the start he was immediately fighting with the Ferrari’s and other rivals and he was able to keep his position, crossing the line in fourth position, without making one single mistake during the 56-lap race.

“Carlos also did a fantastic job, recovering very quickly after his accident in qualifying this morning. He went from P20 to P11 in only one lap and he was able to keep this position and overtake a few more cars in front of him.

“Unfortunately he had a problem during one of his pit-stops with the rear-right wheel nut and then he got a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit-lane.

“[He] ended in a very good sixth position, which then became a P7 after the penalty. I’d like to congratulate both drivers for the great job. We must not forget that this was their first ever race weekend here.”

Verstappen, who equalled his best F1 result with fourth, reckoned the race was the most complete performance he has driven in his career so far.

He said: “I really enjoyed today’s race. A fourth position is a great result, definitely the best we could do today, and I’m just really, really happy.

“There were some very good battles out on track and I’d say this was the most complete race of the season so far, everything worked out as it should have: I made no mistakes and the team did a perfect job with the strategy.”

Sainz explained that it was a pitlane speed limiter problem that resulted in his penalty, but added that he was still pleased with his race.

He said: “What a mad, amazing race. We were fast from start to finish and I’m really happy with today’s result, my best so far this season. To start from P20 and to finish P6 is just unbelievable.

“Okay, P7 after adding the 5-second penalty for speeding in the pit-lane because of the pit-limiter not working is a bit of a shame, but I’ve still got a very big smile on my face.”

With three races of 2015 still left to run, Verstappen and Sainz are the most successful Toro Rosso drivers, based on points scored, since the combination of Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais in 2008.

The current Red Bull junior pair has amassed 63 points so far in 2015, 45 to Verstappen and 18 from Sainz. In 2008, Vettel and Bourdais scored 39 points under the old system that only went to eighth place. Recalculated under the system that has been in place since 2010 and that pair would have collected 105 points.

The majority of Verstappen’s tally has come from his two fourth places in Hungary and America, while Sainz had a number of mechanical failures that cost him good results. The Dutchman has come home in the points on eight occasions so far in 2015, and he is currently on a four-race streak, while Sainz has chalked up seven points finishes.

[Orion21]

Mika,

I'm kind of laughing to myself about all of these pats on the back for finishing positions when HALF the field DNF'd!!!! LMAO.

[MIKA27]

Mika,

I'm kind of laughing to myself about all of these pats on the back for finishing positions when HALF the field DNF'd!!!! LMAO.

True indeed but in Formula 1 a DNF is a DNF

Look at the United States Grand Prix back in 2005. Out of the 20 cars that entered for the race, only the six cars from the teams using Bridgestone tyres (Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi) competed. The remaining fourteen entrants, all using Michelin tyres, completed the parade lap but retired to the pits before the race started. (So they can avoid penalties)

Behind the Ferraris of Schumacher and Barrichello came two Jordan-Toyotas (Tiago Monteiro 3rd) and then in P5 and P6 both Minardi-Cosworths!

It was still considered a race and the points were still awarded. I remember that race vividly.

[MIKA27]

ROSBERG: I FELT LIKE I HAD EATEN OX TESTICLES ON SURVIVOR

Nico Rosberg has defended his behaviour in the immediate aftermath of the United States Grand Prix, which he led before making an error which allowed his teammate through to take the win and bag the 2015 title in the process

The German has been widely called a bad loser for hauling a cap at his teammate and refusing to spray champagne on the podium, after Lewis Hamilton secured his third drivers’ world championship in Austin on Sunday.

In his column for Bild newspaper, however, Rosberg wrote that he had rarely felt so bad in his entire F1 career, “Have you ever seen them try to eat ox testicles on Survivor? Absolutely disgusting! That’s how I felt after the race in America.”

Rosberg said that after losing the race in the final moments with an inexplicable mistake, he wanted to be doing anything other than celebrating, “I was just pissed off. At myself, at Lewis, at the whole situation. Everything!”

“I’m not talking about losing the world championship, because Lewis deserved that this year. But Lewis didn’t win the race in Austin. I lost it.”

“If you can explain a mistake, there is no problem. But at the moment it feels as though there is something invisible stopping me from succeeding. An enemy that is so hard to combat. Some call it fate, others bad luck,” he said.

Compounding Rosberg’s bitterness with anger was the first corner of the race, about which even Mercedes team management have admitted that Hamilton overstepped the mark with his racing aggression.

“There are internal rules in our team,” Rosberg revealed, “and I kept to those rules. Lewis did not. He went much too far.

“That’s why I threw back the cap which he had tossed over to me, landing on my belly. We are sportsmen but we are also human. We are under tremendous pressure all weekend.

“I need a couple of days now to digest that bitter day. But luckily the next race in Mexico is already this Sunday. I’m looking at it as a mini-championship of three races. And I want to win it,” said Rosberg.

[MIKA27]

HAMILTON: EMOTIONS ARE SOMETIMES UNBEARABLE

Lewis Hamilton says he can understand why Nico Rosberg hurled the second-placed Pirelli cap at him before the podium ceremony after the United States Grand Prix.

Furious about their first-corner clash, and having lost the world championship to his Mercedes teammate in Austin due to an uncharacteristic mistake, German Rosberg did not appreciate the ‘2nd place’-branded Pirelli cap landing in his lap in the podium waiting room.

“I literally said: Here you go mate. And then it came back at me,” Hamilton recalled early this week after celebrating his third drivers’ title — Rosberg’s second consecutive title defeat in the Mercedes ‘power unit’ era.

“I was like: No problem. I’m completely oblivious to it. I can understand in many respects how it is,” the Briton added. “It’s the worst thing to be my teammate.”

“I guess when you come in after the race and are disappointed, the emotions are sometimes unbearable,” said Hamilton. “I don’t take anything from it. I’ve seen Nico in lots of different lights over the years.”

But Niki Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, and also boss Toto Wolff have each said they will sit down with Hamilton ahead of this weekend’s round in Mexico, as they agreed the first-corner clash with Rosberg was unacceptable.

But not everyone agrees. Donald Mackenzie, the F1 chief of the sport’s commercial rights owners CVC, told Globo: “Lewis is the star of our show.

“And a global star, not just among the British. He was aggressive at turn 1 but you have to be like that in F1,” he argued.

Hamilton also rejected the need for clear-the-air talks with Rosberg or team management, “No need. Everyone has a right to his own opinion but it doesn’t matter because I won the race so I feel pretty good about it.”

Rosberg skipped much of the post-race celebrations at the circuit late on Sunday, but later joined in with a bout of rowdy karaoke singing at a team party in the city.

As for Hamilton’s claim that being teammate to the now triple world champion is the “worst thing”, Rosberg told Bild newspaper: “I wouldn’t want another teammate. It’s a good challenge to go up against one of the best.”

F1 veteran David Coulthard, however, says that as long-time teammate to double world champion Mika Hakkinen, he knows how Rosberg is feeling at present.

“You just have to keep working and keep waiting for your moment,” he told the BBC. “It might never come, but Hamilton has learned something and gone faster, so Rosberg now has to do the same.”

[MIKA27]

RAIKKONEN NOT INTERESTED CIRCUS ANTICS

Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he had no interest in joining the “circus” that became the unusual television spectacle of qualifying in Austin.

With the session lasting a marathon three hours amid rain delays that ultimately resulted in cancellation, bored residents of the pitlane tried their best to entertain the soaking crowd in other ways.

Mechanics raced makeshift ‘boats’, the Red Bull duo danced, Nico Rosberg kicked a football with a live TV cameraman, and Toro Rosso ‘dads’ Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz climbed into their son’s cars wearing full regalia.

Notably, the time-filling fun seemed lacking from those wearing red and when sked why he wasn’t interested in the frolics, Kimi Raikkonen told Turun Sanomat newspaper: “Do you want a truthful answer?

“This is F1, not a circus. People come to see driving, and I think that’s all we can do. This (rain delays) sometimes just happens.

“It doesn’t bother me as everyone can do what he wants. But this is my choice. As I said, we are not in the circus,” the Finn added.

Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene backed the attitude of his driver, “We are in F1, not Cirque du Soleil. We did not do the same ‘show’ but I can tell you that on Saturday we brought disabled children in wheelchairs into our garage.”

“It didn’t show on the TV but we at least gave them something special,” he added.

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PROST PREDICTS VETTEL TO BE HAMILTON’S BIG RIVAL

Sebastian Vettel is shaping up as the most likely contender to end new triple world champion Lewis Hamilton’s run of dominance in 2016.

Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate, the cap-hurling Nico Rosberg, remains behind Ferrari’s Vettel after the US grand prix.

Neither German, however, seems particularly interested in finishing second overall behind Hamilton, with Vettel eyeing a proper title assault next year.

Asked if that is possible, a Finnish newspaper quoted Vettel as answering: “I have balls, but neither of them is crystal.”

F1 legend Alain Prost, however, thinks that Vettel – not Rosberg – is indeed likely to be Hamilton’s closest challenger in 2016.

“For Nico Rosberg it will be quite difficult now to recover from this race,” the quadruple world champion, referring to the mistake that cost Rosberg the win, the title and his good mood in Austin, is quoted by Speed Week.

“It was one of those races that he had to win. Mercedes’ dominance is still there,” Prost added, “but towards the end of the season it has become less obvious. The big surprise is Ferrari and how strong they have been. They are in a good way. Who knows what they will be able to do next year?”

Autosprint said that when congratulating Hamilton on his title win in Austin, Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene told the British champion: “See you next year”.

“I complimented him,” the Italian confirmed, “and I said ‘See you next year’.

Arrivabene said that Ferrari’s plan all along was to use the 2015 season to close the gap to Mercedes, which explains the decision to use a fifth engine and incur grid penalties in Austin.

“Last winter we knew we had a big handicap to Mercedes,” he explained, “and to be able to get closer to them we had to be aggressive on some technical choices.

“But it was a price we knew we had to pay. To get the power that we have gained, we had to reduce the life of some of the components a little,” said Arrivabene.

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DE LA ROSA RECALLS HAMILTON’S SPECIAL DEBUT

Lewis Hamilton’s immense talent may have thrown McLaren off course when it came to the development of young talent, according to former long-time McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who was already at the Woking team when Hamilton made his F1 debut in 2007.

“When I saw him make his debut, I realised that he was very special,” the Spaniard, now 44, said in an interview with El Mundo.

More recently, McLaren has tried to similarly develop more young talents, including Heikki Kovalainen and also Kevin Magnussen, who has been dispensed with after just a single race season and the reserve role this year.

“I still remember a conversation with Martin Whitmarsh,” de la Rosa recalled. “I said ‘Stop playing the lottery as you have already won it with this boy (Hamilton)’.”

Indeed, although now at Mercedes, Hamilton has gone on to thrive and excel, and de la Rosa thinks the conditions are right for the Briton to now win two more titles “smoothly”.

“He is going to end up with many titles,” he predicted. “He is a special talent like Fernando (Alonso) and Vettel, only he has a lethal weapon (the Mercedes car) that is far better than the others.”

“The gaps may be reduced but I can’t imagine him not having the car to beat again in 2016,” said de la Rosa. “2017? We’ll see.”

As far as how much Hamilton has developed since 2007, meanwhile, de la Rosa agrees that the biggest change has been in his off-track style, as he was “very restricted” in how he behaved at McLaren.

And the biggest thing he brought to Mercedes, de la Rosa thinks, was credibility, “He played a key role in Mercedes, because people like Paddy Lowe left McLaren to join him. That ‘draw power’, as is the case too with Fernando or Vettel, is huge and it has been great for his team.”

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Two stops the aim for Pirelli in Mexico

Pirelli admits they have opted for "a more conservative" choice for the Mexican GP as it's hard to predict how the tyres will perform on the new surface.

Formula 1 will return to Mexico City for the first time in more than 20 years next weekend with the revamped Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez hosting the race.

Pirelli has opted for the soft and medium rubber, but motorsport director Paul Hembery says it is a step into the unknown for everyone.

"It's very exciting for us to come to Mexico, to a brand new circuit but one that is steeped in tradition at the same time," he said.

"Nominating the compounds for a new track is not without its challenges, but simulation – one of the most important areas of growth in Formula One technology recently – is very accurate now, although it's inevitable that we would incline towards a more conservative choice during the first year at a new track.

"As always, we are still aiming for two pit stops at the Mexican Grand Prix, but the uncertain weather that is affecting a large part of North America during the next week or so will clearly have a big influence.

"The track has been designed with overtaking in mind, so together with the different options for strategy that will become clearer during a very important free practice day on Friday, there is clear potential for an entertaining race that allows drivers to move up through the field."

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McLaren ‘don’t want to share’ Honda

Amidst reports that McLaren vetoed Red Bull's proposed link up with Honda, Eric Boullier has made it clear that the Woking team won't share their engine partner.

McLaren parted ways with Mercedes after the 2014 season and joined up with Honda, stating at the time that it was the only way they'd get around to winning more World titles.

And although they have been far from that in their first season back together, there have been signs of progress of late.

That reportedly caught the attention of Red Bull Racing, who are without an engine supplier for 2016 after dropping Renault only to be turned down by Mercedes and Ferrari.

McLaren, though, vetoed any deal with Bernie Ecclestone revealing that CEO Ron Dennis "said definitely no" to Honda supplying Red Bull.

Racing director Boullier explained why.

"We wanted to work with Honda as an official partnership because having an official partner is the only way we believe to be World Champions," he told Crash.net.

"As a customer of an engine manufacturer you can't be World Champion.

"This is a privilege we found and we don't want to share."

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Button might not get new engine after Alonso issue

Jenson Button might not receive Honda's upgraded power unit at this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix as McLaren continue to investigate what caused team-mate Fernando Alonso's to lose power.

The Spaniard had been running in fifth when he reported a loss of power, dropping him back to 11th and outside the points.

It's not known whether the engine can be used again, or whether they will need to replace parts and thus take further grid penalties for the Mexican weekend.

"Fernando lost power, but we don't know exactly why yet," Boullier is quoted by Motorsport.

"We understand that there was an issue with some sensors maybe, so we had to tell him to reprogram differently the car, but the damage was done."

The upgrade, which is believed to deliver around 20bhp over its predecessor, may not make a return this season unless a solution is found to the problem, therefore Alonso could revert back to the previous spec whilst Button continues to use his current unit.

"We need the investigation on the engine before we decide [to use it]," added Boullier. "Because we need the engine to last longer than this."