FORMULA 1 - 2016

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HULKENBERG HAILS MCLAREN-HONDA PROGRESS

 

Nico Hulkenberg has hailed McLaren-Honda’s rate of improvement in 2016.

The German drives for Force India, the small Silverstone based outfit that has impressed by taking on Williams for the role of F1’s fourth-quickest team. But Hulkenberg says McLaren-Honda is no longer too far behind.

Force India is currently just 15 points behind Williams for fourth, but Hulkenberg is quoted by Spain’s AS newspaper: “We want to fight for it and, in my view, McLaren-Honda will also be there.

“I think in the remainder of the season, we will have a very intense battle between these three teams,” he added. “The truth is that the McLaren looks better all the time.”

While the battle in 2016 will continue to rage, most teams are now beginning to focus very hard on the big change of chassis and tyre regulations for 2017.

But Honda’s Yusuke Hasegawa said of the remaining goals for 2016: “McLaren wants to finish as the third force, and Honda wants to improve by half a second.”

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F1 needs simple track limits rule to avoid confusion - Christian Horner

Christian Horner believes the ever-changing rules on track limits is confusing fans and therefore turning them off the sport, and has demanded a "simple" rule be enforced consistently across the entire season.

Recently the FIA has taken a stricter approach to track limits by installing sensors at particular corners. However it's strict approach hasn't been applied to every corner, with a more lenient approach taken if the stewards deem a driver hasn't gained an advantage.

Red Bull's Horner has described the current stance "confusing" and has called for an amended rule which either enforces track limits consistently across every corner and circuit, or drop the rule altogether.

"I think the problem is that you cannot take it corner by corner," Horner is quoted as saying by Motorsport. "My frustration is: come up with something simple.

"There is a white line that goes all the way around the circuit – and one very easy way of doing it is if you have all four wheels over that line, you are out. In other sports it seems to work, be it with a ball or a foot – whatever it may be.

"There is a reluctance to have done that, which is fair enough, but if there is a reluctance to do that then you have to allow the drivers to use what is there.

You cannot have one rule for Turn 1 and another rule for Turn 17 - otherwise that is too confusing for us within a paddock, let alone for the fans.

"That for me isn't clear and we need to move away from it. Either come up with something simple or let them do what they like."

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Teams sharing data with Pirelli on projected 2017 performance

Formula 1 teams have agreed to regularly update Pirelli on how much downforce their 2017 cars will produce to ensure the tyre supplier can deliver tyres capable of holding up to the greater speed and wear demands next year.

Although Pirelli is testing its new tyres on hybrid test mules supplied by Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull, it's not known whether those cars are producing the levels of downforce expected next season.

Therefore teame are obliged under the rules to share their own data with Pirelli on a regular basis, according to Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan.

"We agreed within the technical regulations meeting that there would be a regular sharing of the teams’ projected 2017 performance levels with Pirelli, which we supply via the FIA," he explained.

"I think we’ve submitted two dossiers now to inform them of our projected loads. We’ve since had some more data from Pirelli, we’ve put that into the simulation. That’s gone back to them."

Monaghan is therefore confident the tyres won't throw up any surprises or pose a danger when the cars are first raced in anger.

"There’s been quite a lot of dialogue on how much load’s in the car," he added. "So I don’t think there are going to be any unpleasant surprises.

"I think we’ve got two more data exchanges to have with Pirelli, so I would have said the mechanism in place is one which protects the sport in 2017 as opposed to leaving us free reign to do whatever we want without consultation with Pirelli.

"So I’m confident we’ll be OK next year."

 

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F1 2016: Codemasters confirms multiplayer championship

Codemasters has posted a brand-new F1 2016 game trailer ahead of the game's release on August 19, as well as confirming a new multiplayer feature.

The up-coming racing title will feature a 10-season career mode, the return of the safety car, introduction of the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) and include a new formation lap feature.

More footage of the game has been revealed in a new career mode trailer, explaining just what the game mode will include in the F1 game.

Meanwhile Codemasters have also confirmed a new multiplayer championship mode, where up to 22 players will be to race against each other over the course of a season.

It opens up opportunities for multiplayer leagues and championships which are saveable. It's one of several new features and modes on the new game.

F1 2016 is released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on August 19, featuring all of the drivers, teams and circuits featured in the current season.

 

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McLaren to continue 2016 development

Eric Boullier has confirmed that McLaren-Honda will continue the development of their 2016  MP4-31, despite starting to work on their 2017 model.

McLaren have enjoyed a much better season compared to 2015, where they only scored a combined 27 points and came second last on the Constructors’ Championship table. They already have 47 points in 2016, with nine races still left in the season.

The Woking-based racing director also said that all the updates implemented this year are part of their 2017 development.

“There will still be some car developments after the shutdown,” said Boullier.

“Every development we are doing is obviously applicable to next year’s car, so we focus on this and on next year’s car.”

Honda’s F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa echoed Boullier’s words, saying that updates will continue in 2016, but with a close eye on the 2017 development.

“We will not give up with this year,” Hasegawa added.

“But we have to start work on 2017, so when we have to change our resources to 2017 is a very difficult decision.”

[skalls]

And the in-season silly season starts.

What are y'all's guesses for the remainder of the season?

I think Rosberg wins the title in Mexico.  Haas gets a couple double points with a top 5 finish.  Ferrari continues its morose of mediocrity and finishes 3rd.  Danny wins a race (don't ask me which one though)..  Williams challenges Ferrari for third but comes up short.

I see Kyvat getting axed but coming back for a minor power (i'm looking at Force India or Manor).  Button goes to Williams.

My minor bitch is i have to wait 3 weeks for another race.  Booooo.  

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Analysis: How the FIA makes sure Pirelli testers get no advantage

Testing duties for Pirelli's new rubber has fallen to Formula 1's top three teams. But will it give Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari an advantage? Adam Cooper investigates.

This week's 2017 Pirelli tyre tests have put a focus on the Italian company's preparations for next season, when wider tyres and higher downforce levels present a new challenge to both the tyre maker and the teams.

It took months of discussions, but Pirelli, the FIA, and the teams were finally able to agree on a carefully-structured test programme, using 2015 cars modified to accept the new tyre sizes, and simulate next year's downforce levels.

Ferrari and Red Bull have already run at Fiorano and Mugello respectively, and Mercedes will join in at Barcelona on September 6-7. The teams will have a total of eight days of running apiece. Each team will devote one two-day test to the wets/inters, one to hards/mediums, and one to softs/supersofts/ultrasofts.

They will then all appear together for final validation in Abu Dhabi after the last race of the season.

So why are these three teams doing all the testing? All entrants were given a chance to pitch for the job, but four ruled themselves out straight away. Haas didn't exist last year and thus has no 2015 car, while Renault, Toro Rosso and Manor have all changed engine suppliers, and thus can't run an earlier model.

Then it was a simple question of resources. Who had the money, manpower and time to devote to creating a 'mule' car while also working on the current model and ramping up R&D for the 2017 car? Even mighty McLaren opted out in order to focus on its main projects. So that left us with the three teams who got the job.

The question that many people are asking is what sort of advantage they will gain relative to those who don't take part in the testing. It's a perfectly valid one to ask, especially given that many F1 observers believe that Lotus benefited when it donated a car for Pirelli testing a few years ago, and was very competitive the following season.

The FIA has done its best to address such concerns by putting in place provisions to ensure that there is a level playing field.

It has done so through a series of Technical Directives issued by Charlie Whiting on the subject of the "Tyre Development Campaign", with the most recent emerging on July 31, the day before the first Fiorano test. The document gives us a fascinating insight into how the test programme is operating.

   

The cars

The general idea of using 2015 cars was to prevent teams learning much that would be of use for their current campaigns, as well as the fact that they had suitable chassis lying around unused.

The big challenge was to add downforce to bring them up to 2017 levels without giving the participating teams a head start on their own aero development for next season by anticipating the future rules. In other words the downforce had to be created by other means.

At the same time any development work on the hybrid cars had to stand outside the ATR, or the FIA's aerodynamic testing restrictions, so that participating teams did not have to give up any precious resources (wind tunnel time or CFD Teraflops) that would otherwise be devoted to 2016 or '17.

In its "Guidelines for Hybrid Cars Development for the 2017 Tyre Testing Campaign" the FIA thus determined that the test cars: "Not be representative of a car complying with the 2017 regulations, in order to make the development work to achieve them irrelevant to 2017 car development and allow it to sit outside the ATR.

"Be achieved in the simplest and cheapest possible way in order to limit the resources needed to develop these hybrid cars.

"Given the variability of the current 2017 performance estimates, base car performance and methods of assessing them between the teams, a target downforce level has been set for each participating team relative to its 2015 Melbourne car level."

In addition the starting point was somewhat compromised – teams were not simply adding downforce to a standard 2015 car, but one with a wider track and wider tyres, and which had seriously compromised aerodynamics.

Indeed the FIA notes: "Reaching these levels of aerodynamic loads in a simple and non-representative way is bound to be very challenging, especially as widening the track and fitting the 2017 tyres will have a large detrimental effect on the base car aerodynamic performance that needs to be recovered in addition to the increase sought."

It was for this reason that the FIA has given the teams a lot of aerodynamic freedom, and the most obvious reflection of that are the side skirts visible in pictures of the Ferrari and Red Bull. In addition there is a lot of leeway with the floor and venturi, wings, bargeboards, a higher 'tea tray' so that the front can be run lower to the ground with a higher rake, and so on.

In order to ensure that any aerodynamic research stands outside the ATR the three teams have had to submit full details to the FIA alongside the information they are obliged to provide on their regular R&D: "All the aerodynamic development work (wind tunnel or CFD) needs to be declared in the teams's eight-weekly ATR declaration as unrestricted work and explicitly flagged as '2017 hybrid car for tyre testing'."

It adds: "Every eight-weekly ATR declaration will be accompanied by a spreadsheet detailing every wind tunnel/CFD run completed for the purpose of developing the 2017 hybrid car, which will include a description of the geometry tested and basic numbers for aerodynamic forces extracted from the teams' runlog."

As they developed the 'mule' aero kit the three teams were obliged to share their findings.

"It is in all teams participating to the testing campaign's interest to achieve the objectives in the shortest possible time while spending the minimum amount of resource and money. Furthermore, it is in all teams' interest (not only the participating ones) that the process is as fair and transparent as possible.

"Therefore, it is proposed to put a collaborative and open process in place where all participating teams update all teams on their findings and results at every TRM [Technical Regulations Meeting].

"No later than four days before each meeting, each participating team will send their up-to-date wind tunnel and CFD runlog spreadsheets to the FIA, not for disclosure but solely for the FIA to keep teams honest and avoid non-disclosure of relevant information (for example for the purpose of having other teams wasting resource on unfruitful areas)."

   

The testing

The FIA has put in place a detailed list of conditions for the testing "in order to minimize the disadvantage to the teams that will not participate in the testing campaign by providing all teams with the ability to run simulations based on the testing data and information to steer their 2017 car design while protecting the testing teams' IP in areas unrelated to tyre development."

Prior to the testing the teams have had to submit the following to the FIA:

"A list of the modified bodywork components when compared to a specification raced during the 2015 season.

"A list of power unit elements intended for use (as typically provided prior to a race Event using the standard templates).

"All relevant information on electronic systems intended for use (as typically provided prior to a race Event using the standard templates). Should any changes be necessary to any of the above during the testing campaign the same procedure would apply ahead of the following test day.

"Additionally, any power unit element intended to be used during the campaign must have been inspected and sealed by the FIA prior to use, ideally during a race Event for convenience reasons.

"No test parts will be permitted and any modification or change to a test car will be shared with all the teams."

The FIA has mandated a very detailed list of sensors and so on that Pirelli requires to be fitted to the car, and that was updated in the latest Technical Directive.

It includes wireless pressure monitoring systems, infra red cameras, and infra red temperature sensors front and rear. Care has been taken to ensure that teams cannot gather their own extra information.

"Participating teams will be required to submit SECU configuration files and make available to the FIA the data logged by the SECU either via their team area on the FIA FTP or other media agreed with the FIA.

"No additional logging equipment may be used unless it is specifically intended to collect additional information about the tyres that is deemed useful by Pirelli, subject to the approval of the FIA. In this case, all of the data collected must be made available to all teams."

The key thing, as with previous Pirelli tyre testing, is that the teams don't get details of exactly what they are running from set to set, and that all running is controlled by the tyre supplier.

"The testing will be blind, no details on the prototypes tested will be communicated to the teams, only the necessary information to engineer the car will be provided.

"Run plans will be entirely defined by the tyre supplier and agreed with the FIA. Observers appointed by the FIA will be present at each test to monitor that only the tests requested by the tyre supplier are performed. FIA observers will also have driver radio and full access to the teams."

In addition, "Non-participating teams will be permitted to send an observer to the test."

   

The results

After the tests Pirelli is obliged to share the results with all the teams, in order to guarantee transparency.

"Comprehensive end-of-test reports will be circulated to all the teams by Pirelli. The reports shall include run by-run and where applicable lap-by-lap summaries of:

- Lap times and sector times. 
- Wear profiles.
- Measured grip and cornering stiffness per axle (calculated from the telemetry data). These will be compared to an average 2016 value for this compound and to baseline.
- Measured stabilised carcass temperature, stabilised running pressure and their delta to starting values. These will be compared to an average 2016 value for this compound and to baseline.
- Rolling radius, loaded radius and vertical stiffness (measured during indoor testing) as deltas to typical 2016 values and to baseline.
- Normalised information related to car behaviour coming from the analysis of the telemetry vs baseline, e.g. under/over-steer metrics.
- Driver comments (as recorded by Pirelli)."

In addition the three teams are obliged to share information with their rivals.

"Each participating team will circulate an end-of-test report to all teams and Pirelli. The reports shall include, for each run: 
- Aero-balance, mechanical balance and weight distribution as deltas for the 2017 hybrid car compared to a normal balance on a 2016 car and to baseline.
- Driver comments (as recorded by the team)."

In addition to these Pirelli and team reports other teams can make a request to the FIA if they wish to receive additional data, and "the FIA will change the reporting requirements if judged appropriate."

So all-in-all a pretty substantial set of rules and restrictions from the FIA, which must provide some comfort to the eight teams that are not taking part – and indeed ensure that the three that are doing the testing are a little less suspicious of each other.

Nevertheless it's logical to assume that there must be some benefit for Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari and their race drivers to be derived from getting an early feel for the new tyres, and from attempting to push development in a direction that might suit the concept of their 2017 cars.

However, given that they are in any case the top three teams of the current era it won't be very easy to use next year's results to judge if they did...

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Steiner defends Gutierrez, criticises rivals over blue flag spat

Haas F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has come to the defence of his driver Esteban Gutierrez after he came under fire for run-ins with Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo in two consecutive weekends over conduct under blue flags. 

Gutierrez hit the headlines after the Hungarian Grand Prix when he labelled championship leader 'disrespectful' for his gesture towards Gutierrez, indicating his frustration at not being allowed past more easily under waved blue flags. 

However, Gutierrez was then called out again in Germany, this time by Daniel Ricciardo, who sarcastically commented he was 'one of my favourites' over the team radio as he came up behind to lap him. 

With a frustrated Gutierrez contesting he is not intentionally trying to be disruptive, Steiner backed up his driver by saying he is 'normally the best guy to get out of the way' and that front runners need to be more sympathetic to their plight. 

“I know there was a call and he tried to get out of it, he said. “Last week he got five-second penalty, my opinion is the stewards reacted to a gesture Lewis made. 

We looked at the data and a lap before him Magnussen, I think it was… there was two tenths of a second difference. Lapping two tenths of a second is a very short period of time and that guy didn't get a five-second penalty. 

“I don't think he's as bad as they think, but once you get one penalty for sure now Ricciardo was pissed because he couldn't get past him. But they have to realise one day they will be lapped and then they will [see] how they feel about it. If somebody says you need to get out of the way, you cannot just jump away. 

“It's like 'oh he's the worst guy at it' just the second time he does it. I think it's the opposite, normally he's the best guy to get out of the way. Now he was just unlucky twice not to give someone fresh air all of a sudden when they want it, so for sure he jumps on it. 

“Would it have changed anything for Ricciardo? I don't know, I guess no. The world is not perfect, live with it. For sure if he had lost a position, I understand he is pissed, but how many seconds was he behind?” 

Gutierrez is yet to score a point in 2016, his first season of F1 since he left Sauber at the end of 2014.
 

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Renault accelerates F1 investment plans to speed up progress

Renault is speeding up its initial five-year plan for Formula 1 on the back of receiving added investment from its parent company.

Following its return to F1 as a works team this year Renault played down expectations, instead focusing on rebuilding its Enstone-based team after its cash-strapped final year as Lotus.

Six months into its project, the French manufacturer has decided it is not prepared to wait until 2020 to be in a position where it is challenging for championships.

"Talking about investment, the one thing we are doing is bringing forward our plans and increasing the total package," Abiteboul told Autosport.

"We had put together a five-year plan, with an investment package, but a couple of weeks ago we had approval to increase that package and bring it forward.

"What we want is to make a difference as quickly as possible, and for that there is no better way than to accelerate what we need to do over the five-year plan."

Abiteboul added the recent announcement that Lotus lost £57million in 2015 prior to Renault's acquisition has had no impact on the team's plans.

"It was something that was very well known - Renault knew that was part of the equation," he said.

"We were completely aware of what we were financially exposed to, so it was absolutely no surprise.

"That's fully in line with the plan, and the plan approved by the CEO [Carlos Ghosn].

"Maybe now people will understand why [the takeover] took us a little bit of time to approve.

"[The debt] was known from lengthy due diligence that was done last year, and why such substantial investment was required.

"It also hopefully shows to people that Renault has been able to do what was the only option for this team to continue trading, otherwise I don't think it would be here today."

With Renault now almost fully focused on development of its car for 2017, when the regulations alter considerably, Abiteboul is pleased with the long-term progress being made.

"On the engine side we are completely to plan and the fact we have good reliability this season is fantastic as it allows us to really focus on performance for the future," he said.

"The 2017 engine will very soon be on the dyno, and there is really good stuff coming.

"It's really ambitious, but I'm super happy with the structure we have and the ambition on the engine side.

"On the chassis, there is a big change in the aero regulations, but again we have set ourselves an aggressive target in terms of aero development.

"Each time we are putting the 2017 car into the windtunnel there are big steps, a big, big chunk of downforce, which will ultimately bring laptime, so it's good."

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Manor's Wehrlein waiting on Mercedes talks on 2017 F1 drive

Pascal Wehrlein expects to know what his future in Formula 1 holds after the summer break, following discussions with Mercedes.

The German has been Mercedes' F1 reserve since late-2014, and joined Manor this season on a one-year contract, scoring his first point with 10th in the Austrian Grand Prix.

An opportunity to join the works team next year was closed off when Nico Rosberg signed a new deal that keeps him with Mercedes until the end of 2018, when Lewis Hamilton's contract also concludes.

There could still be opportunities for Wehrlein beyond Manor in 2017, with a Force India seat a possibility if Renault manages to prise Sergio Perez away.

"I need to sit together with Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team boss] and Mercedes and then we will discuss what the plans are for next year," said Wehrlein.

"Then we will start discussions.

"After the summer break, we will know a bit more."

For now, Wehrlein is fully focused on ensuring Manor holds onto 10th place in the constructors' championship, ahead of Sauber, because of the prize money it brings.

"The target for me this year was to help the team to be in a position to also fight with other teams, as we did in Spielberg by taking the opportunity and scoring a point," he said.

"That brought us ahead of Sauber and that will mean a lot of prize money next year so we can hire more guys in the team. We can also improve the car more for next year.

"I'm here to learn as much as I can and also help the team as much as I can.

"After 12 races, we are in P10, we did the job and that's why I am here.

"There is always you can do better but we as a team, we did a very good job but also the progress from the first race to now is huge.

"Now we need to keep going and improve even more and if we can stay in 10th position at the end of the season, we did our job."

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MONTEZEMOLO: I LOVE FERRARI SO BEST IS NOT TO SAY TOO MUCH

Former Ferrari team president Luca di Montezemolo has struggled to resist commenting on his former team’s current situation.

Now past the mid-season point in 2016, sections of the Italian press and beyond believe the Maranello marque is in crisis.

Amid the turmoil, former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo arrived late this week in Rio, in his new role promoting Italy’s 2024 Olympic Games bid.

La Gazzetta quotes him as saying: “I love Ferrari, so the best thing is not to say too much.”

But he didn’t keep up the silence for long, telling the Ferrari-linked insider Leo Turrini in Rio: “I do not speak about Ferrari, except to say that it pleases me that Marchionne claims there are formidable people within the company.

“In fact, they were there even two years ago, as they are all people I appointed,” Montezemolo added.

After the German Grand Prix Kimi Raikkonen admitted, “We were ahead of Red Bull and now they’re ahead of us. It has been a bit painful, but we will improve.”

New Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne is also bullish, even though technical boss James Allison has left and there are calls for new engineers to be recruited and team chief Maurizio Arrivabene to go.

Marchionne said this week that Ferrari already has “phenomenal talent”, and that suggestions the team needs “a transfusion of technical intelligence is excessive”.

The latest word from La Gazzetta dello Sport is: “Ferrari will not give up or raise the white flag, but they are only the third force.”

And Corriere della Sera added: “Ferrari’s free fall continues, but the team bosses keep the faith.”

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WEHRLEIN: QUALIFYING IS ONE THING AND THE RACE IS ANOTHER

Highly rated Pascal Wehrlein has defended his performance alongside Manor teammate Rio Haryanto in the first half of 2016.

Both are rookies, but Wehrlein entered the season expecting to easily beat Haryanto, with the Indonesian’s seat significantly backed by government-linked sponsors.

However, Haryanto has managed to qualify ahead of the Mercedes-supported Wehrlein five times out of 11 races.

“Yeah, it’s a good result,” said Haryanto, who may not return to the Manor cockpit after the summer break after his backing ran dry.

But Wehrlein, who at 21 is two years younger than Haryanto, argues that in the actual races, it is not so close between the Manor duo.

“Qualifying is one thing and the race is another,” he told Auto Hebdo. “Regarding the latter, it’s 11-1 in my favour, including the tenth place in Austria. You don’t score points on a Saturday,,”

So he said he is happy with the first half of his maiden F1 campaign, “The initial aim was to score at least one point this season and we already have. Thanks to that, we are tenth in the championship in front of Sauber so I don’t think we could have expected better.”

Now, Wehrlein’s future at Manor is unclear, and he is being linked with a potential move to Mercedes-powered Force India or even the Ferrari B-team Haas.

When asked about 2017, he answered: “I have no idea. I have a one year contract so I’m just waiting. Nothing is ever perfect in a first season, but Austria speaks in my favour and the second part of the season will give me even more opportunities.”

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ECCLESTONE CREDITS VERSTAPPEN FOR HEINEKEN DEAL

Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has credited Max Verstappen for tipping Heineken over the edge in deciding to enter the sport as sponsors.

In June, the Dutch beer giant signed a reported multi-hundred million euro sponsorship of the pinnacle of motor sport.

Now, as Rio has kicked off the 2016 Olympics on Friday, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone dropped into the city’s Holland Heineken House, a traditional hub for Dutch and international guests during the Games.

Referring to the teen Verstappen, Ecclestone told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper: “I think Heineken delayed coming into Formula 1 until The Netherlands had its own star.”

The 85-year-old F1 chief executive is in Rio with his wife Fabiana Flosi, whose mother was rescued from Brazilian kidnappers earlier this week.

But Ecclestone said he was happy to be at Holland Heineken House, located in Rio’s Clube Monte Libano in the Ipanema-Leblon district.

He said: “It’s a nice place and it’s great to see the fans celebrating. I will definitely keep an eye on the Dutch athletes.”

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Teams want immediate talks over next generation engine

Formula 1 teams want to begin discussing the future power unit that will eventually replace the current hybrid V6 system as soon as possible, with the date for its introduction drawing closer.

An agreement to continue using the current power unit will expire in 2020, and although it could be extended, team bosses believe it would be wise to begin looking at alternatives for the future, now.

With so much to consider, Mercedes' Paddy Lowe believes starting discussions immediately over what path F1 should take with its engine or power unit would be wise.

"I think it is about time we started to talk about the engine beyond this one," he said. "And it does raise some very big considerations: how do we define an engine or power unit that is correct for the sport but also relevant to the kind of power units that we will see in the future in road cars?

"Do we remain in some way attached to that technology which is increasingly electrical or do we go our own way? So there are some very very important questions there."

Lowe believes the issue of noise will be a major factor with the rise in silent electric cars, versus the desire from motorsport fans for louder engines.

"I think road cars of the future, at some point not that far off, will be completely silent if they are all electrical so will we want noise, will we associate noise with performance or not? There are some very interesting debates there and I think we need to start that process."

Ferrari's Jock Clear believes it's vital the sport learns from the previous mistakes it made with the current spec and gives themselves enough time to get it right.

"I think what we have learned from this cycle and this era of hybrid engines is that the power units now are very complicated and it needs a lot of planning and I think we’ll go into those next negotiations with eyes wide open this time.

"I don’t think there’s anybody who didn’t fall into the category of underestimating what might have been involved, and as such, the sooner we start, the sooner we’ll be aware and the sooner we can come to a solution that will be the best for the sport."

McLaren's Matt Morris wants urgent talks in the hope it might entice other manufacturers to get involved in F1.

"I think it is good to start the talks now because it’s important for the engine manufacturers that are already in to see what is happening in the future, because they need reassurance that what we are going to do in the future is still relevant to their business.

"I think also having visibility of the future could also potentially attract more engine manufacturers into our formula. So I think for our side, the sooner we start discussing this, then the better."

When Force India's Otmar Szafnauer was asked what he wanted from a new engine, he replied: "A cheap one! Clean sheet of paper, it’s got to be affordable."

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Alexander Rossi turned down offer to replace Rio Haryanto at Manor

Alexander Rossi has confirmed that he turned down an offer to take over Rio Haryanto's Manor seat from the Hungarian Grand Prix until the end of the current season, as the Indonesian is struggling to finance his drive.

Rossi completed five races for Manor last year and impressed team management, but chose to focus on IndyCar in 2016 after securing a joint Andretti Autosport/Bryan Herta Autosport entry. He went on to take a shock Indy 500 victory.

With Haryanto's money only securing his seat up until the British GP, Rossi was offered the chance to replace him for the remainder of the season, but turned down the offer as several races clash with IndyCar's calendar.

"My management and I are in constant communications with Manor and we knew there might be an opportunity to race for the last half of the 2016 season," he told Autosport.

"We gave it careful thought but declined the race seat due to my IndyCar contract."

"I have a lot of respect for Manor giving us first right on the seat as we agreed," he continued. "They understand an F1 deal has to be right for my future and my career has taken some good steps forward."

Rossi also confirmed that a return to Formula 1 next season is on the cards with both Manor and an unnamed team showing interest.

"I have options both in IndyCar and Formula 1 for 2017," he added.

"There have been talks with Manor for a race seat and we've also been approached by another F1 team that's quite interesting."

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Button to hold September talks with McLaren

Jenson Button will hold talks with McLaren in September regarding his future, but is adamant that whatever happens he can look forward to a “really exciting” future.

The British racer is out of contract with McLaren at the end of this season with reports linking Stoffel Vandoorne to his race-seat.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the F1 door will be shut as Williams have expressed an interest in re-signing their former driver.

But before he even considers that option, Button will hold talks with McLaren next month.

“I haven’t talked to the team [McLaren] yet,” he said.

“In September we are going to sit down and have a chat and decide whether I want to be racing in Formula 1 or whether they want me racing in Formula 1 or what the decision is.

“And if I’m not racing in F1 next year, I don’t know where I’m going to be. [I’ll] have some fun.

“I’ve lived my whole life by a schedule and suddenly I won’t be living by a schedule, which will be the first time in my 18 years as an adult, which is really exciting, whenever that does happen.”

Should his call it time on his Formula 1 career at the end of this season, the 2009 World Champion says he could continue in racing, trying his hand at other series.

“I’d like to do other racing series in the future,” Button added.

“I would love to be part of the WEC programme. I think I would really enjoy the camaraderie and the team effort that goes into building and racing a car for a long distance event.

“I don’t know what the possibilities would be in the future. There needs to be space for me to start with, because that’s always very difficult, but if there was a space and it’s something I was excited about, I’d definitely do it.

“I’d also like to do Rallycross in the future, something my dad did. There’s lot of things I’d love to do.

“There are so many options, not just in motorsport, but in other sports, in life.”

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Haas wants more from Ferrari

After an incredible start to their season, Haas’ have failed to keep pace with their rivals leaving Gene Haas to urge Ferrari to be open to more collaboration.

Haas went into this season, the American team’s first in Formula 1, powered by Ferrari while also using the Italian outfit’s suspension, transmission system and other parts.

This helped the team get off to an incredible start, scoring 22 points in the first four grands prix. Haas, though, added just six in the following eight races.

The team’s failure to keep up with their rivals has led team owner Haas to call for more collaboration with Ferrari.

“The model does work really well with Ferrari, and if anything I hope we can get more out of it too,” he told Autosport.

“There’s always been some hesitation on Ferrari’s part, as far as working with us, because of the FIA regulations.

“So they’ve been very, very careful to be sure they follow everything by the rules, and we’ve been very upfront with the FIA about exactly what they’re doing.

“In retrospect, I think we could’ve done more.”

Asked what more could be achieved, Haas singled out the development of his team’s VF16, saying it would be beneficial to get more information about the parts they receive from Ferrari.

He said: “Developing the car.

“Our car is quite a bit different from the Ferrari, as much as people think they’re all the same, but we struggle a little bit with our chassis, trying to understand it.

“With Ferrari, they supply us with a lot of parts, but they don’t necessarily provide us with information about how it all works.

“That comes down to personnel. We started almost from ground zero and there’s so much we have had to learn ourselves, so as time goes forward we need to get personnel to really understand how the cars work.

“We can’t just go to Ferrari and ask ‘How does this work?’ We need to figure that out on our own.

“That’s probably been the biggest shortcoming: just trying to understand how the Ferrari – and some of the components they give us, the shocks and suspension, ERS – how all these things work.

“It’s not been easy to figure all that out.”

And while the American understands Ferrari want to stay well within the FIA regulations, he feels they are perhaps too cautious.

“Ultimately Ferrari has a goal, and that is to beat Mercedes, just as we have a goal to beat some of our competitors at the back, so it’s kind of the same goal.

“Whatever we can do to make that happen is good for both of us, so I would think more co-operation would be helpful.

“If anything Ferrari is very cautious. They want to make sure they follow all these FIA directives and they do that very, very religiously, almost to the point where it does seem kind of frustrating.”

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‘Mercedes or McLaren will give me third title’

Two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso has expressed his desire to claim his third Drivers’ Championship, claiming that Mercedes or McLaren are his ideal choices to do it at.

Alonso, who won both his titles with Renault a decade ago, has seen his title chances suffer in the past two years after he joined a restructured McLaren-Honda team in 2015, leaving Ferrari after five seasons.

In 2015, the Spaniard and his teammate Jenson Button amassed a combined total of 27 points on the Constructors’ Championship table.

However, after a vast improvement, the Woking-based outfit have already accumulated 42 points after 12 races this season, with nine still to go.

Many criticised Alonso after he left the Scuderia and joined McLaren, but now with his former team having one of their worst seasons in Formula 1, the 35-year-old is certain he made the right choice.

“I was right,” he explained.

“I was right because I felt I was right. In 2014 I made the decision and had two years more on my contract, but felt I was right to go.

“Whatever results they achieve in 2015 and 2016 or in the future, for me my time there was fantastic and I wanted to finish on that fantastic feeling.

“Every year was a little bit more stress because you are not winning and it seems that it is your fault. Now it is not a relief that they are not winning or having more problems, I don’t wish any problems on Ferrari because it is a team that I will always have in my heart.

“But in terms of driving, how competitive or my third World Championship hopes, then you drive for Mercedes or McLaren-Honda. That is my opinion and the feeling from that decision.”

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Hakkinen: I was wrong to criticise Verstappen

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen has admitted he was wrong to criticise Max Verstappen for coming into Formula 1 at too young an age.

Hakkinen claimed that Verstappen was not suitably prepared for his 2015 debut season with Scuderia Toro Rosso, and said at the time: “I would never let a driver as young as that race in F1.”

But since Verstappen has proved himself in F1, and become the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner, Hakkinen is now happy to admit he was wrong.

“I criticised him personally when he was entering Formula 1, thinking he was too young,” said Hakkinen, speaking at an event in Assen today.

“But I was really happy I was wrong, and it has strengthened my understanding that young girls and young boys they are much more ready in this world. You have to let them speak, you have listen what they have to say.

   

“Max, obviously, it’s great what he has been doing and when I was a young kid – 16, 17 – when go-karting, it was amazing. It was incredibly competitive: the materials, discipline, physical efforts – what I needed to perform was at a very high level.

“And I was thinking at that time that I was ready for everything, ready to compete at the top of motor racing. But at that time it was not normal that people were looking at you at this age, that a young guy can be ready for big racing categories like Formula 1.

“And time has changed. Young people, more and more they are going in higher sport categories, including business, including everything. And people are developing much faster by time, simply because of the tools that are available today for them to study and understand what is happening in this world.

“You can go for it and study as much as you want on the internet if you find the right information. So the life is much more in the fast lane these days. That explains why these young drivers are entering in such high positions.

“Yes, of course, the teams are much organised today than in the past, more management, the concept is much more organised. It’s a little bit easier to join in this big world.

“But nevertheless you need great talent and commitment, great discipline to be successful and Max obviously has done a great job.”

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McLaren "could cause issues" in Force India - Williams battle

Force India believes that McLaren could now play a decisive role in its battle with Williams for fourth place in the constructors' championship.

The Silverstone-based team has closed to within 15 points of Williams in the battle behind Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.

But with the fight between them finely poised, Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley thinks the two teams will now have to factor in potential disruption from the ever more competitive McLaren outfit.

“I think the thing that could be interesting for both of us is McLaren,” Fernley told Motorsport.com. “I think McLaren, as they did in Germany, could cause issues for our battle.

“If you get it slightly wrong, then there is going to be a McLaren to make sure you get it doubly wrong.”

 

Barcelona turnaround

Fernley believes his team has left its early season struggles well behind it, where a lack of points in the early races was put more down to bad luck than anything specifically wrong with its car.

“I think the races pre-Barcelona were quite tough,” he said. “If it could go wrong, it would go wrong.

"In two races we had DNFs, plus we had both cars taken out on the first lap. So we didn't achieve what we thought we could achieve up to Barcelona.

“Then of course the upgrade was planned anyway for Barcelona and we have been progressively building up for that since. We are at the end of that now and I think Williams are as well, so I think it is literally toe-to-toe.”

   

Williams struggles

Although recent frustrations for Williams have allowed Force India to close down the gap, Fernley thinks that it would be wrong to believe that his Grove-based rivals are on the backfoot.

“We don't underestimate their abilities, and they are a good team,” he said. “I think it is just a case of going into the races and realising that some are going to be beneficial to them and in those cases, either try to minimise it or take advantage of it. And where we feel we have the strength, then obviously we have to capitalise on it.

“You would expect under normal circumstances Williams to perhaps have the swing of us at Spa, maybe not so much at Monza.

“So that is one of our tracks that we have to look at minimising. It will be swings and roundabouts through the year.”

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F1 Belgian GP: Mercedes opts for conservative Belgian GP tyre picks

Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have both picked conservative tyre selections for the Belgian Grand Prix by bulking up on the medium and soft compounds compared to its rivals. 

While a running trend in the new tyre rules for 2016 has seen teams and drivers prefer to favour the softest compounds set by Pirelli per round, Mercedes have been relatively reserved in their selection of the super-softs with each driver taking four sets for Spa. 

It has enabled the F1 championship contenders to stack up on the medium and soft compounds, with Hamilton taking six softs and three mediums while Rosberg has picked five softs for four mediums. 

Conversely, Ferrari has bene one of the most aggressive teams with its tyre picks, with both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen selecting seven super-softs, five softs and just a single set of mediums for Spa – a strategy matched by the Sauber pair and Haas driver Esteban Gutierrez. 

The resurgent Red Bull squad has picked a median selection with both Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen picking six super-softs, three softs and four mediums. 

In the tight midfield battle similar tyre selections have been selected, with Williams, Renault and Toro Rosso all taking seven sets of super-softs with small variations between medium and soft picks. 

The McLaren and Force India drivers have mirrored one another with their picks as each of them have opted for six super-softs, four softs and three mediums. 

The Belgian Grand Prix takes place on the 26-28 August and acts as the first race after the F1 summer shutdown.
 

 

 

 

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Renault F1 team wants a 'charismatic' lead driver

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul has declared the team is seeking a 'charismatic leader' to spearhead its driver line-up in Formula 1.

Renault is currently mulling over its driver options for 2017, with Sergio Perez already sounded out, while it is understood Valtteri Bottas is also of interest.

Current drivers Kevin Magnussen or Jolyon Palmer are also still in the mix.

Abiteboul told Autosport: "From Renault's perspective, what we are looking to see is people buying into the long-term project.

"We want them to be able to act as a leader and ambassador for the brand - and leader for the team.

"It's not easy when you're young, so there's more to come from them [Magnussen and Palmer] with their involvement, in their capacity to take the role of leaders. We need that.

"When I look at all the big teams they all lend themselves to the leadership of charismatic drivers from [Sebastian] Vettel, Michael Schumacher, [Nico] Rosberg, and so on, and we will need that.

"I'm not saying they don't have the capacity to act like that, but we will need it at some point in time."

With all the big names under contract for next season, Abiteboul knows Renault cannot simply poach an established star driver from another team.

"It would be unfair to make a decision too quickly without enough insights, data, evidence," added Abiteboul.

"We know Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and so on, are under contract, so there won't be any movement this winter.

"So it's better we do not rush any decision and take more time to form an opinion about who we have in priority, and that is the best way forward."

CURRENT DRIVERS' JOBS NOT EASY

Abiteboul recognises Renault has not provided either Magnussen or Palmer with a car this year for them to prove themselves.

"A number of races have been altered by operational aspects from the reliability of the car," he said.

"The power unit is reliable, but the car has been less reliable, unfortunately.

"That's an effect of how late we were in putting together the whole package last winter, while the structure is also taking shape.

"In terms of driving, I see Jolyon is really picking up the pace. It's very impressive.

"Kevin has the capacity to do better, and when I say that it's not to get at him, it just means we continue to believe in him."

Abiteboul is not ruling out Mercedes junior and his team's current reserve Esteban Ocon as he said: "At some point Esteban will be able to show what he is capable of, and not just in the garage, but in a car. This is what we wish for him.

"He's in good hands - the very capable hands of Toto [Wolff] Mercedes and Renault.

"There is no better position for him to make sure he seizes every opportunity that will come. I'm not worried."

 

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HORNER: NEW F1 RULES HAVE NEWEY FULLY MOTIVATED

Ace Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey is getting much more involved in the design of next year’s Red Bull, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

In the past few years, dismayed at the curtailing of aerodynamics in F1 and the predominance of the ‘power units’, F1’s famous designer took a step back from the front line.

Newey has busied himself with an America’s Cup project as well as a supercar collaboration with Aston Martin, but Horner says the Briton’s interest in F1 is ramping up again as work on the 2017 car progresses.

The aerodynamics, chassis and tyre regulations are changing significantly next year, and Red Bull chief Horner says it means Newey is involved once again.

“We are back where we were in 2014,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.

“Adrian withdrew himself somewhat with the RB12. I would say that his share of the current car is only 20 per cent, which shows how well our engineering office is doing.”

But Horner added: “The new rules have Adrian fully motivated again. With next year’s car, I would say he is back up at 50 per cent.”

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KIMI AND MINTTU TIE THE KNOT IN TUSCANY

Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen married model Minttu Virtanen in a private wedding ceremony near Siena, in Tuscany on Sunday.

The Ferrari driver and the model, 29, were married at Abbey of San Galganol, a Cistercian monastery between the Tuscan towns of Chiusdino and Monticiano.

Kimi, 36, looked stylish in a sharp navy suit and crisp white shirt, carrying their 19-month old son as he left the venue.

Also in attendance was Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene and his wife Stefania Bocchi.

Minttu said in a recent interview, “It took some time before he trusted me. Kimi is very wary of people. He always wonders if people are sincere or not. But eventually we established trust between us and in May last year he asked me to stop work to move in with him in Switzerland to take care of me.”

“For Kimi, his family comes before everything else,’ she said. At work, he might seem hard and selfish, but at home he’s a very different person — warm and wonderful.”

“He wants to have more children. If it was up to him he would be a dad again right away. I too would like to have a second child if pregnancy did not have so many negatives.”

“One point on which we do agree is that we do not want there to be too much of an age gap between our children,” she added.

Räikkönen has been married before. He met Finnish model, and former Miss Scandinavia, Jenni Dahlman in 2002. The couple married in 2004, living between Switzerland and Finland. They separated in February 2013, and divorced in 2014

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VETTEL: THE LAST COUPLE OF RACES HAVE BEEN HARSH

The alarming free-fall in the Formula 1 pecking order by Ferrari has been a harsh reality check for the legendary team, according to their star driver Sebastian Vettel.

The four times F1 world champion said ahead of the summer break, “I think the last couple of races have been harsh and tough for us, but very, very useful.”

“I think we understood a lot about our car strength and weaknesses about our car, so we know what to focus on, so it wasn’t entirely clear after the first couple of races but it became more and more evident.”

“It’s a harsh way to find out, not being competitive and not as competitive as we want to,” admitted Vettel.

Indeed Ferrari have endured a barren run of form, neither Vettel or teammate Kimi Raikkonen have finished on the podium since the Austrian Grand Prix, and before the summer break the Reds have dropped behind Red Bull in the championship standings.

“I think we know what to do, obviously it’s not going to change overnight but there’s a plan and I think the second half we should be stronger in that regard. It also depends on what other people do but for that we focus on ourselves.”

As for the Ferrari SF16-H, Vettel revealed, “I think it’s more of a general thing but I don’t want to go into too much detail, I know you’re very interested!”

“Some things do take a little bit of time but overall the most important is that we’re challenging ourselves and obviously you’re right, it would have been nicer to find out a bit sooner, but that’s how it is.”

“The main point is that we find out, we are always trying to improve, but the last races in this regard have been very educational to know potentially where our weaknesses compared to Red Bull and Mercedes,” concluded Vettel.