Formula 1 - 2017

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GERMAN GRAND PRIX LONG TERM FUTURE UNCERTAIN

With three drivers on the grid, one a four times Formula 1 World Champion, it is ironic that Germany will not have a grand prix this year and while next year there will be a race, in the country, the future is uncertain.

With Nurburgring running out of money to host the race this year, it dropped off the calendar, but next year the race will happen at Hockenheim. The plan to alternate between the two venues has failed.

However managing director Georg Seiler warns that unless a mutually acceptable contract is not agreed to, then the future of Formula 1 races in Germany is at risk.

Seiler told Speedweek, “If we were to follow the previous rules, 2019 would be the Nürburgring, we’ll be back in 2020. We will not conclude a contract that will involve any risks in the future. If the basic conditions do not change, the future of Formula 1 will surely be endangered in Germany.” 

“Our hands are bound by Formula One – also because we unfortunately do not get subsidies from region, country, federation or whoever. I am sure we are the only race track that does not receive any subsidies.”

“Many people deserve the Formula 1, because it cannot be that as hosts with so much preparation and investments involved continue to incur losses. If there is no more Formula 1 [in Germany], then so be it. But I hope and firmly believe that the new shareholders [Liberty Media] have an interest in the German Grand Prix.”

“For us, the event must be held without risk. Promoters can not be responsible for the entire Formula 1 package. The race tracks can no longer live with losses from hosting a grand prix. Now we new, good contracts have to be created,” added Seiler.

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MERCEDES REVEAL NEW LOOK NUMBERS AND NAMES

Mercedes have revealed the new look of their numbers and driver names as mandate by the FIA in the wake of last month’s Formula 1 strategy meeting requiring numbers and driver identification to be more prominent on cars starting at the Spanish Grand Prix.

FIA Formula 1 Race Director wrote to teams before the Russian Grand Prix, setting out the new requirements: “We require each car number to be clearly visible from the front of the car (Article 9.2). We feel that to be clearly visible the numbers should be no less than 230mm high, have a minimum stroke thickness of 40mm and be of a clearly contrasting colour to their background.”

“Each driver’s name (or TLA) is to be clearly legible on the external bodywork (Article 9.3).” he continued, the TLA referring to the official timing screen abbreviation for each drivers such as HAM (Hamilton), BOT (Bottas) and RIC (Ricciardo).”

“We feel that to be clearly legible the names should be no less than 150mm high, have a minimum stroke thickness of 30mm and be of a clearly contrasting colour to their background.”

“In order to fully comply with the F1 Sporting Regulations, we expect all cars to be presented in Barcelona with this new, much clearer, identification. A report will be made to the stewards concerning any car that does not comply with the above minimum requirements,” warned Whiting.

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Analysis: Is F1 ready for virtual reality?

Technological advancements have pushed us ever closer to the golden era of virtual reality, but is Formula 1 really ready for it? Jonathan Noble investigates.

To my left, I can hear Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes having its final pre-practice checks as mechanics fettle with their tools. Behind me, the three-time world champion is discussing his run plan with the engineers.

Moments later, Hamilton is strapped in, the car is fired up and he is off in a cacophony of noise that reverberates around the walls. As the car fades out of earshot, all that remains is a quiet huddle of team members chatting in one corner before they move back to their positions in the garage.

Except this is not a real garage. Instead, it is a darkened room in an industrial unit in downtown Austin that was transformed by Mercedes and sponsor Bose last year to create an Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality Garage Experience.

The noises were fed via wireless headphones as visitors walked around the virtual garage to listen in – with lights on the floor offering a reference point for where things were inside the garage.

It offered an all-new way of experiencing F1, and the lengthy queues as 4000 fans shuffled their way through over the Austin GP weekend showed they were lapping up.

The success of the Mercedes/Bose venture proved how grand prix racing can use AR and VR to bolster many of F1's unique selling points, and why F1 is such a ripe environment to exploit this area.

But at a time when consumer electronic companies are pushing hard on the VR front, is F1 really ready for it – and do we really want a dystopian future of fans in grandstands all sat with headsets on rather than seeing the live track action with their own eyes?

Personal experience

For Bose, as an audio company, having a virtual experience based around sound rather than visuals was essential, but its motivation for creating the project was the same as anyone pushing on the VR front - to deliver something that goes beyond being just a thumb stopper on a smartphone screen.

As Ian McGibbon, Bose's global marketing chief, explains, what F1 fans want is something unique that goes above and beyond their mobile device.

"I think the consumer is after personal experiences first and foremost," he said. "But they always like behind the scenes too – so a peak behind the curtains scenario.

"What you watch on YouTube and Facebook is great and engaging, but people still want a physical experience. I think that is the way it will continue to go. It will be more and more about an engaging experience, but physical as well."

Indeed, as technology advances, we are moved back to experiences that revolve around our senses. No longer is a computer keyboard the way to interact with the world.

As Mehul Kapadia, head of F1 business at Tata Communications, said: "What technology is doing is taking us back to basics.

"With iPhone we have gone back to touch - which is so natural to us, rather than typing on a computer. What is happening at home with Amazon's Alexa and Google, it is taking us to voice, which is that much more basic than touch. Technology is becoming more and more accessible for generations of people."

Social element

With our senses being harnessed again, the sound and visual possibilities of AR/VR are increasingly important. But for a sport to succeed in this area it has to go beyond that.

Formula E has formed a partnership with VR company Virtually Live – which offers fans the chance to experience everything you would normally get at a racing event.

As well as watching track action, they can meet friends in the pitlane or hospitality unit, play pool in the VIP room, transport themselves to watch from a grandstand or even go on-board with the drivers. Gaming has been introduced for this season, too.

There is also a Director application – where fans can take control of the CGI footage and examine angles or replays from the perspective they want or that may have been missed by television cameras.

Virtually Live's Sports Rights and Partnership Advisor Oliver Weingarten said he was encouraged by where the VR market was heading.

"We're seeing the number of headsets increase at a good rate, bearing in mind where we are with technology and the fact it is early adoption," he said. "The numbers released by PlayStation are extremely positive.

"Our belief is that the users want content, engaging content, and it is about trying to provide them with what they want. We don't want people to just come in on race day and watch the action – we want to provide them with something immersive and social."

End of TV?

The dilemma sports have to face though is whether to invest in technology that the majority may be slow to adopt – and whether consumers will ultimately keep faith in televisions for live events.

It is also unlikely that fans will want to carry their own VR headsets to races, to sit on grass banks in their own virtual worlds to consume F1 that way. The attraction of VR is more likely to be as an add-on, than an essential part of a Sunday afternoon.

McGibbon added: "I think for sports like F1 and other global big traditionally broadcast sports, the sports have to get clever about how they are connected with people. Although there is still a huge market for sitting down in front of the television on a Sunday afternoon to watch F1, that is not everybody's lifestyle.

"In 5-10 years' time, as technology and devices become much more connected, then sports and music have to understand where it goes - and delivering content where and when people want. And it is about what I want. What you want may be something a bit different."

It is a view shared by Kapadia, which posits that VR's future may well not be one for live experiences – but instead will come as a way of enhancing engagement once the track action has stopped

"If you go to a football match, live screens play a big role," he said. "You would never want the full experience to be diluted by technology, otherwise we may as well stay at home. But in F1 there is often one and a half minutes of silence, so how do you fill in that gap?

"The base layer of TV at home also won't go away and there are generations of people who still want it. People still want a primary screen but behaviour has changed to 'I will save it and watch it some other time'.

"We also want it to become more interactive. We want to know, after it is off the screen, what happened – like what if you had the view of Alonso's crash last year? Not everything has to happen in real time.

"Sometimes we try to solve too much stuff. It doesn't need to be 90 minutes of VR non-stop as you would probably faint! It can be bite-size. You can get your fix for the day from that."

Technology limitation

While the jury is out on whether F1 is ready – or even needs – a fully live VR experience, it is not stopping it pushing ahead with plans that can work alongside the television coverage.

And there is talk that within a year or two there could be scope for fans to sit at home and take part in online F1 races themselves.

Last year's F1's chief technical officer John Morrison revealed that a lot of work was taking place behind the scenes to get ready for when there is alignment between what the sport can offer, where technology is at and what the consumer actually wants.

But one of the biggest hurdles standing in the way is getting GPS accuracy good enough to make the experience glitch free – and right now it is some way off.

Morrison said last year: "We have produced an interactive on board application and we launched our virtual Grand Prix channel [in 2016], which isn't available to the public but gives us the platform to produce a fully virtual version of the race live using the data.

"But one of the areas we have to crack is getting more accurate positioning. So we have launched a big project to get more accurate positioning and then we can do the gaming stuff.

"I think we are two years away from that. But we need centimetre accurate positioning, because then we can demonstrate cars are not touching when they are actually apart. Right now, we are 100mm-200mm accurate."

Netflix concept

It is clear that F1's future will not just be on available to those on VR. It needs to cater for all types of audiences – be it those at the track, those happy to watch it on their television in the lounge, or those that want something deeper on a second or third screen.

And perhaps most important of all, it will be about delivering the content that people want exactly when they want it.

Kapadia added: "The experience of technology will have to combine with the experience of racing as well. Beforehand you could do the racing experience and not worry about the technology.

"I think now it is as important as cars going faster. If you consider great racing action and great means to deliver it to audiences, that is where the real punch is. Because I can connect 24/7 you don't get me for two hours.

"What Netflix cracked the code on was to ensure that when you want it, you will get it. Live sports still faces that challenge of, is it interesting enough after I already know who has won?"

F1's answer to that is definitely yes. Now it is about building the momentum to deliver what fans want.

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Verstappen should listen more, says Ricciardo

Max Verstappen would be better off listening more to what Formula 1's established drivers have to say, reckons teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

A year on from Verstappen's switch to Red Bull that teed up a maiden victory in the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Ricciardo believes that one of the Dutchman's weaknesses is his youthful independence.

However, he is convinced that Verstappen – who forced the adoption of new rules regarding moving under braking after clashing with several rivals – will learn to overcome his shortcomings in this area as he gets older.

In an interview with Motorsport.com discussing his 10 years with the Red Bull family, Ricciardo was asked to single out what he considered to be Verstappen's strengths and weaknesses,

"I think strengths, I guess his determination," explained Ricciardo. "He's obviously willing to push the car on the limit and that's obviously a really good thing.

"And weakness, I would say his age. But not his age in the sport. He's done the racing a long time so it's not necessarily that, but I think it's probably just in life. Probably just absorbing some things from older people - like last year when he was doing some things with braking.

"A lot of the older drivers would say: 'Look, we don't think this is right', or something. And Max would be like 'I know what I'm doing' kind of thing. You know, that's a strength that he is independent, but may be a weakness...

"But that will come with time, and he will then understand maybe a little bit of probably advice from the older guys."

  

Converging set-ups

Ricciardo believes his partnership with Verstappen has worked well, and that in pushing each other along their set-ups have actually merged.

"I always try and learn from everyone," said Ricciardo about working with Verstappen. "I think because driving is such a technical sport, there's always something different you can apply. A different technique or whatever, a way to set the car up.

"Honestly, I can't say there's one place where I'm like: 'Well, I learned that from Max.' If it's in technique or braking or something, I think you learn these things subconsciously.

"Because we are both very motivated and very determined to win, we are constantly pushing each other, but also our engineers are trying to really find a way to make the car different.

"So, maybe some things last year with the setup. I think we started off with quite different setups. And then we kind of merged together.

"So maybe I did some things which I didn't think would work, and he maybe some things he was doing [as well]. Like this, you maybe start to learn some things."

  

Career steps

While Ricciardo conceded that winning the F1 championship with Red Bull this season is now a long shot based on its start to the season, he remains convinced that the outfit can still offer him a title shot in the future.

"I think we have to see how the rest of this year goes. I think if we can really have a strong second half of the season, a bit like last year, then I think we could produce something better for next year.

"So I think what happens in the second half of this year will then make a big difference to next year. And then hopefully that can create a championship winning car. Let's hope. Let's hope it's within the next 18 months."

When asked if he felt time was slipping away for him to grab that title, Ricciardo said: "No, look, I think once I reach 30, then maybe you start to feel a bit more pressure of being in that right place at the right time. But I'm still 27, so I'm certainly still young.

"I've got, let's say, the next 18 months with Red Bull to really give this a good push and then we'll see. And then, yeah, probably once I get past 30, then it's probably going to be a bit more desperate for that good move. But at the same time I want everything as soon as possible and by everything I mean a world title."

Ricciardo has been linked in the past with a switch to Ferrari, but says for now the only thing that interests him is a competitive car – rather than dreaming of moving to one of F1's most historic outfits.

Asked if he dreams of racing for a team like Ferrari: "If I'm honest, no. People talk about Ferrari and the history and all that, and I was a fan growing up as a kid.

"You think F1, I guess you think Ferrari. So sure there is some history with probably most drivers in that team, but for me, I probably don't get too sentimental with that process, especially now that I haven't won a championship.

"I would be more looking at a team that's going to win me a title as opposed to a team that's got a better story. So whoever that is, obviously in the future, who knows. At least now, as I said, the next 18 months I really hope that's Red Bull."

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Podcast: Fernando Alonso's Indy 500 test and your questions answered

Fernando Alonso's maiden IndyCar test at Indianapolis is the main talking point of the latest edition of The Autosport Podcast.

Edd Straw is joined by Scott Mitchell and Kevin Turner to discuss the promising start to McLaren's return to the Indy 500 with Andretti Autosport and what we have learned about Alonso's prospects for the race.

There's also a look ahead to the Spanish Grand Prix and the raft of car updates that could change the balance of power in Formula 1.

For the first time, The Autosport Podcast also takes on listener questions.

These include Valtteri Bottas's chances of challenging for the world championship, Juan Pablo Montoya's illustrious CV, F1's engine future and Autosport's own place in the changing media landscape.

This is set to become a regular feature of The Autosport Podcast, with questions supplied via social media using #askautosport.

The Autosport Podcast is available to subscribe to free via iTunes and all good podcast suppliers.

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DOCUMENTARY: THE 1988 SEASON WITH WILLIAMS F1

This film, called “Toys For The Boys”, is a look at the 1988 Formula One season through the eyes of the Williams Team. It offers interesting insight into the lives and philosophy of the engineers and other team members, it also includes some excellent racing footage.

Perhaps the most startling thing is just how little the core of Formula One has changed in the 30 years since this film was made. The engineers, the subterfuge, the egotistical drivers, and the human nature of the sport are all still very much there – and from 2017 onwards the cars have been redesigned to look more similar, with wider tracks and tires, and wider wings front and back.

 

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BOTTAS: LIFE DIDN’T CHANGE BUT NOW I AM HUNGRY FOR MORE

Valtteri Bottas will line-up on the Circuit de Catalunya grid as a Formula 1 winner for the first time in the wake of his recent triumph in Russia, despite the milestone the quiet spoken Finn says life remains the same.

In an interview on the Mercedes website published on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Bottas said, “Life didn’t change. I’m still the same guy as when I first raced in a go-kart when I was six. The desire is still there. I still enjoy doing this.”

“But it’s a nice confidence boost and I hope we can build on this momentum from now. I’m glad it came in the first quarter of the year rather than later on because the season goes by quickly. Now, I’m hungry for more…”

“I always knew it was just going to be a matter of time. It took 81 races, so quite a long time in Formula One actually. But it’s not only that – it’s everything that comes before.”

“It’s always been a dream, so to achieve that for the first time feels really good and it made for a lot of great memories. That’s the reward of sport and that’s why I love it. It’s what you work for – and when you get the good results, the feeling is difficult to describe.”

“It took some time to properly realise it. It was a few days before I told myself – Damn, I actually won the race!” he revealed.

Regarding celebrations, Bottas said, “It would be rude not to after your first ever win in Formula One! I actually flew straight to Budapest for an event on the Monday, so no partying on the Sunday… but yeah, I had some fun. There was a bit of a night out… I’m not going to go that much into the details!”

Bottas joins an illustrious list of Finnish F1 winners including Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen and the country’s latest winners inevitably made headlines.

“It was a nice reaction in Finland with all the congratulations,” recalled Bottas. “My emails and phone were blocked because of full message boxes for a while! It’s great to see all the support. But it’s not just this one result. Good times and bad times, there are certain people that always support you, which is good to see.”

As for adding to his tally of one victory, Bottas said, “I reckon this year in Formula One it’s never going to be easy to win, whether it’s your first one, your second one or later on. We have four drivers fighting for pole and for the win every single race, so you need everything absolutely perfect. That’s the excitement.”

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VETTEL: HAVE YOU ASKED THE ITALIANS?

Ferrari’s Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel made light on Thursday of media speculation that he might move to rivals Mercedes in 2018.

“I didn’t know (about the rumours),” the German said at a news conference ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix. “Is it coming from Italy?”

“Have you asked the Italians? They seem to know more than I do,” he added.

Vettel said his focus was on this season, but the absence of an outright denial may do little to dampen the rumours.

Vettel, as well as team mate Kimi Raikkonen, is out of contract at the end of the season while Mercedes hired Valtteri Bottas at short notice to replace champion Nico Rosberg after his shock retirement.

Mercedes have been the dominant team in Formula One for the past three seasons and lead the constructors’ standings after four of this years 20 races.

Vettel, a four-times world champion, is 13 points clear of Mercedes’ triple title winner Lewis Hamilton after the German won in Australia and Bahrain.

Hamilton won in China and Bottas in Russia, his first victory in Formula One.

With so many seats on the grid potentially available next season, rumours are swirling about who might be going where.

Drivers are often happy to fuel them if it strengthens their position, while it is not uncommon for teams to encourage such speculation to try and unsettle rivals.

Asked who he would like as a team-mate and whether he would welcome the return of his predecessor, Fernando Alonso, now with struggling McLaren, Vettel grinned: “In the end of the day, I’m signing my contract. I’m not signing other people’s. It’s not my decision but I’m ready to race whoever comes along.

Double-champion Alonso will also be out of contract at the end of 2017. He has said he wants to be in a winning car next year.

Vettel said: “I think the way we (Ferrari) are set up right now, we find ourselves very happy and the focus is on this year despite the fact for next year there is nothing on paper.”

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HAMILTON: WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WENT WRONG

Lewis Hamilton is hopeful his Mercedes team have solved the performance problems that hit him at last month’s Russian Grand Prix.

The three-time champion finished fourth behind triumphant team-mate Valtteri Bottas and both Ferraris in Sochi, leaving the circuit baffled by his lack of pace.

But on arrival at the Circuit de Catalunya, along with his dog Roscoe, ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, the Briton said Mercedes had a “good understanding” of his Russian troubles.

“Coming into this weekend, we have a good understanding of what went wrong,” he said, having brought Roscoe into a pre-race news conference where he slept under a table.

“There has been analysis, as there is race-to-race. We have grown from experience, of having won with a fast car and a car that struggled in so many areas. I definitely think we are better equipped now, but I can’t say it will be better this weekend…”

“I hope it will be. There will be upgrades for everybody and we will be doing work tomorrow to get the car in the right place.”

Hamilton said he had struggled to extract performance from his tyres.

“It was just a bunch of small things that all added up in one pot. Nothing in particular… Not a single one thing that was bigger than another. That just led us in slightly the wrong direction, but it should be better this weekend.”

“It is a tyre issue… the tyre window working range is quite small so, the whole weekend, I was generally not in the right window with it…”

Hamilton brightened up when asked to lift Roscoe up in full view of a room crowded with reporters. “He’s asleep and he’s too heavy to lift,” he said.

On a day when he revealed his favourite Star Wars’ sabre colour would be purple, he was asked also if he had seen or spoken to his former team-mate, retired 2016 champion Nico Rosberg.

They both live in Monte Carlo in the same residential development, “Yes, I did see him, curiously. In London. I was out running…”

Hamilton recounted hearing someone running behind him, during a training run, and turned to discover it was Rosberg.

“We had a chat,” he said. Asked who was running fastest, he smiled. “Well, he was trying to catch up wasn’t he?”

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ALONSO: I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYONE

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso said he will be open to offers from rival teams for next season if McLaren continue to struggle at the back end of the field.

The Spaniard told a news conference ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend that he was happy with the team, but that his aim was to try and win a third drivers’ world title.

“My intention, and my first priority, is to race here [Formula 1] next year, but not just to race… Also to win. I’m happy with the team, but we are not winning.

“If from here to September, or October, I see an opportunity to win in 2018, I’ll be more than happy to stay.

“If it’s not the case, I will be more than happy to talk to anyone…”

On a wet day in Barcelona Alonso was in a genial and mischievous mood and said he was looking forward to flying to the United States next week to prepare for the Indianapolis 500.

He revealed that he has already had it written into his contract that he will keep his race car, as used in America on May 28, and put it on display in his personal car museum in Spain.

“Yes, that is what is going to happen,” said Alonso. “I Have had it written in all my contracts like that since 2004.”

Alonso is in the final season of a three-year contract with McLaren-Honda and smiled broadly at suggestions that he could leave to join Mercedes or Ferrari or Red Bull.

“Now is not the time for me to think of this,” he said. “It’s a busy period with Indycar… So I don’t know.

“If it’s time to find other challenges outside Formula One, or if F1 will be an opportunity to win the championship, which is my main goal – I’m very open to anything.”

He said he was enjoying this year’s racing in the new “fatter and faster” cars.

“This year the cars are good to drive,” he said. “Formula One is back in a way. I like this Formula One. The cars look good again.”

As for his hopes in Sunday’s race, he said merely that he wants to do better than he did in Sochi, where he failed to start, adding that he hoped Sunday’s contest would mark the start of an upturn in fortunes for the team.

“Our moment right now is not the best,” he said. “We’ve been under-performing in the first four races. We didn’t finish any of the Grands Prix yet, in my case.

“The first step is to improve what we’ve been doing so far, which is not difficult!”

“The second is to find how competitive we can be here, which is quite different to the last couple of races, plus with the updates people bring here, normally things change.”

“We also need to raise our game with reliability and hopefully finish with both cars in this race. So, I hope this will be the starting point of a new championship for us.”

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MAGNUSSEN BEATS GROSJEAN IN HAAS COIN TOSS

Kevin Magnussen won a coin toss with his Haas team-mate Romain Grosjean on Thursday to be the first driver to have the team’s upgrades on his car at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The young Dane will have the new parts fitted for Friday’s two practice sessions while Frenchman Grosjean will have to wait until Saturday’s third free session.

The Haas team has a new ‘floor’ to introduce. Team boss Gunther Steiner said that unexpected “production delays” at chassis partner Dallara had created the need for the coin toss.

“Unfortunately I won’t have it until Saturday and that’s not ideal,” said Grosjean. “There’s only one available right now and I didn’t get it. It was a coin toss – I’ve never been lucky with that.

“It’s not ideal because it’s a big change of a lot of things on the car and I don’t know what it’s going to be like for us. The problem is you need to set up the car around the new package.”

Steiner said: “It should have been both cars, but the second one was late, so at that stage we had to make a choice and this was the only fair way.”

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Mercedes gets winged-nose and intricate bargeboards for Spain

Mercedes is throwing everything at title rival Ferrari with its Spanish Grand Prix upgrade package, which features several major changes, including a new rear-wing, a winged-nose and intricate bargeboards, as it seeks to overhaul the Italian outfit.

The two teams have been locked in a fierce battle for the championship in the opening four rounds, having taken two wins apiece.

Spain traditionally marks the first race of the season where teams introduce large-scale upgrades and Mercedes are living up to that with their latest package.

As our images show, Mercedes has a new winged-nose (above) unlike anything on the grid. The aim of this is to channel air, which falls off the flat section of the nose, toward the bargeboard area. Whilst this airflow wouldn't necessarily be lost without the 'wings', it should arrive at the mid-section of the car in a neater and therefore more efficient flow.

This update works with the new intricate bargeboards (below) which feature several rows of teeth, again these help to condition and direct the flow to where it's needed, specifically the rear and underside (diffuser) of the car.

Mercedes is also said to be introducing its latest engine spec in Spain which will be exclusively for factory drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, with customer teams having to wait until later in the season for the more powerful engine.

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Stoffel Vandoorne: Chassis gains still noticeable despite power deficit

Stoffel Vandoorne insists McLaren can still correlate its chassis gains, despite the engine deficit it faces due to ongoing problems with power unit supplier Honda.

McLaren has endured a dismal start to the 2017 campaign, with neither Vandoorne nor Fernando Alonso having scored a point, amid a lack of reliability and performance.

McLaren, as with many teams, has brought a raft of updates to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and the Belgian says gains can still be made despite the power deficit.

“It’s still noticeable, when you put new parts on the car,” he said.

“I think generally we’ve done a very good job at correlating them well and they’ve usually delivered very well.

“This is one of the bigger upgrades we’re going to have, hopefully they deliver as well, still we should be able to feel the difference.

“We need to validate how good they actually are, we bring quite a lot [of new parts], which is positive, so hopefully we’ll see it on track tomorrow.”

Vandoorne is hopeful McLaren can demonstrate superior pace compared to its performance in Russia, due to the reduced reliance on power in Spain, but moved to play down expectations.

“I don’t really think we want to set ourselves any targets,” he commented.

“We know it’s been a difficult start to the season for us but maybe this track is giving us a bit more opportunity, it’s bit less power sensitive and a bit more aero focused.

“So hopefully we can see some benefits, but for our situation it’s wrong to set ourselves any targets.”

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Vettel coy on Mercedes rumours as he insists focus is on 2017

Sebastian Vettel wouldn't comment on rumours that he has opened dialogue with Mercedes for 2018 when pressed on the matter in Spain, insisting his sole focus is on winning the title with Ferrari this year.

Former team owner turned pundit Eddie Jordan suggested the two parties had been talking since the beginning of the year, whilst some Italian-based media outlets have gone as far as suggesting they have already agreed pre-contract terms.

The German brushed the rumours aside, describing them as "not that important" as he finds himself in a position to win his fifth title and first with Ferrari.

"I don’t know. Is it coming from Italy? Maybe you asked the Italians. They seem to know more than I do," he said on Thursday. "I think the situation is clear. My main focus is on this year, not the line I drop, it’s a fact.

"We find ourselves in a very good position this year and that’s what we want to keep. Everything else is not that important.

"There’s some rumours also in previous years."

Meanwhile turning his attention to this weekend which is traditionally when teams introduce major upgrades which can tweak the pecking order, Vettel said that is no longer the case and it is therefore too early to tell if Ferrari can keep Mercedes honest in the title battle.

"I think we are in a much better position this year than previous years, but it’s still fairly early [to make predictions]," he added.

"I think this will be an important race. People bring some bits. But if you look at the last 10 years, it’s not anymore a fixed date where you bring a new car. Top teams tend to bring stuff nearly every race.

"Mercedes have had a phenomenal run the past few years and they’re still the ones to beat. If you look race by race and overall they’ve been dominant and it’s difficult to beat that, but we’re doing our best."

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Felipe Massa: Spanish GP Hard tyre choice a 'joke'

Williams driver Felipe Massa says Pirelli’s decision to bring the Hard tyre to the Spanish Grand Prix is a “joke,” and believes the compounds will barely be used.

Pirelli has nominated the Soft, Medium and Hard tyres for this weekend’s event at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the three hardest compounds from its range.

However, Massa has criticised Pirelli’s choice to bring the Hard tyres, and added that the Medium compound will only be used due to the nature of Formula 1 regulations.

“I think the Hard tyre here is a joke, nobody will use it, just in FP1, but not after I don’t think,” he said.

“If you see the way the Medium is compared to the others, the Hard will be just for FP1.

“The Medium is not a good tyre and the Hard is similar to the Medium, we are using the Medium as we are obligated, maybe if you [were allowed to] use only the Soft maybe you don’t even try the Medium.”

Force India’s Esteban Ocon echoed Massa’s sentiments, pointing to the capable usage of Ultra Soft tyres during pre-season testing.

“Terrible,” Ocon said of Hard tyres. “No-one’s going to use them to be honest.

“We drove here with Ultra Softs with no problem, so for sure they’re going to be too hard and it’s going to be difficult for everyone.”

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Sergio Perez: Force India not the fourth-fastest team

Force India driver Sergio Pérez has insisted that the team is “not the fourth fastest” in the current Formula 1 pecking order, despite its encouraging start to the 2017 season.

Force India has taken a double points finish at each of the opening four rounds, meaning it has emerged from the ‘flyaway’ events fourth in the standings, with a 13-point lead over Williams.

Pérez, though, has stressed that Force India has been doing a “fantastic” job with its current package, ahead of the introduction of new parts in Spain this weekend.

“We are improving constantly but we’re not the fourth fastest team at all,” he said.

“So I think a lot of credit [has to go] to the team, they’ve been doing a fantastic job with the current car we have.”

Pérez explained that Force India’s upgrade package is designed to address the issues it has with the rear of the VJM10, rather than targeting out-and-out performance.

“Barcelona is one of the biggest ones of the year [for updates], and with these new generation of cars, we will be evolving the car a lot race by race.

“We’re hoping this upgrade fixes a lot of the issues we’re having with the rear of the car, we’ll see on Friday what it does.

“We’re optimistic, Barcelona is generally a difficult track for us but hopefully we can have a good Friday and make the most of it.”

On Force India’s updates, Pérez commented further: “We want to fix the problems and once we can get the correlation right we can develop the car in a nice way.

“For now, we basically trying to solve the issues, solving that issue is quite a big performance.”

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New bargeboards offer first glimpse of Red Bull upgrade

The first elements of Red Bull much-awaited upgrade for the Spanish Grand Prix appeared on Thursday, with heavily revised bargeboards appearing on the RB13.

While the Milton Keynes-based outfit has played down the extent of the changes to its car, it is clear from what has appeared so far that the team has pushed hard on the aerodynamic front.

The new bargeboards feature a new fin along the middle section, and have a run of horizontal finger sections that follow a concept used by Mercedes.

Speaking at Barcelona on Thursday, Daniel Ricciardo said that it was unlikely Red Bull's changes would be enough to lift his team on a par with Ferrari and Mercedes, but he hoped it could close the gap.

"We still have to expect to be where we are, hopefully closer, but I don't think we can expect to come out and win this weekend," he explained.

"We want to. We would like to but we can't really expect it. Even if the update gave us a second, we know that Mercedes and Ferrari aren't going to come here with nothing.

"The target is to at least close the gap, but I don't think we should expect it before we've driven the car."

There had been wild speculation earlier this week that Red Bull could go as far as introduce a new chassis for the Spanish GP, but this was denied by the team.

Ricciardo admitted that the team's focus remained on aero improvement rather than any mechanical or structural changes.

"As always, this time of the year, it's big aero stuff - that's the main upgrades," he said.

"The real mechanical side of the car, you kind of got what you've got - it's mainly bits which are predominantly aero, so sidepods and all that kind of stuff, wings.

"It's pretty much everything we can play with. The guys have redesigned and tried to give us a bit more.

"There are a lot of bolt-on bits but it's still the same car itself, so that's why we have to be a bit careful not to expect too much as it's still the same chassis essentially. These bolt-ons should give it something." 

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Sauber delays majority of F1 upgrade to Monaco GP

Sauber has only brought part of its new Formula 1 upgrade to the Spanish Grand Prix, with the majority of the package delayed until Monaco. 

Like most teams on the Formula 1 grid, Sauber had planned to bring a big package to this weekend's Barcelona race.

However, its technical department wanted further time to work on some aspects of the new developments.

It has brought a new rear wing, which it evaluated during the post-Bahrain Grand Prix test, along with new front wing flaps and new front brake ducts. 

The rest of the package, which will include a new floor, is set to be bolted onto the car at the following race in Monaco.

An update of any sort is still a step forward for the team, which in 2016 did not update its car until the second half of the season because of a lack of funding. 

But the delay means internally the Swiss team is bracing itself for a difficult weekend in Barcelona, given the rest of the grid will likely make a step forward with their new updates. 

Sauber has struggled to make an impact so far this season and is one of only two teams that has failed to score, the other being McLaren.

It is believed the team is struggling to optimise its cooling, which is a particular frustration because its early decision to stick with a year-old power unit should have helped avoid such an issue. 

Wehrlein still hopes for progress

Despite the delay with upgrades and the cooling issues, Pascal Wehrlein is hopeful Barcelona will be stronger than the last race in Sochi, where the team finished 15th and 16th.

“We have a few updates on the car and for Monaco we have more updates so I’m really looking forward to the next races,” said Wehrlein. 

“I hope the updates work as expected and we make some progress. It will be quite difficult to challenge for points this weekend but we will try our best.”

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Could Brawn's open inspection idea help end two-tier F1?

While Formula 1's leading teams Ferrari and Mercedes are separated by just tenths of a second at most, the gap behind them to the chasing pack is anything but small.

It is why Red Bull has fallen back into what it calls 'no man's land', as the qualifying performances from the first four races have left F1’s midfield shaking their heads.

The margin between pole position and the best of the non-Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull teams has averaged more than 1.6 seconds – it was 1.8s in Australia and China, 1 second in Bahrain and stretched to 1.9 seconds in Russia.

It is little wonder then that midfield drivers like Carlos Sainz have got so disheartened at the situation, because they know that, at best, all they can hope for if the top three teams finish is seventh place.

“For me they are in a different category,” the Toro Rosso driver said earlier this year. “I don’t even look at them. It is stupid.

"It is a complete joke the way that we don’t race against them any more. It feels for me a bit of a pain, but I am sure if I was in one of those two teams I wouldn’t mind, for sure.”

Closing up the grid

While the likelihood is that the grid will converge as time goes on, it is also true that Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have more resources than other outfits – so the potential is there for them to extend their advantage even further.

Should the latter scenario play out, then F1 risks a more extreme two-tier F1 where only the rich minority have the chance of winning. And that will fly in the face of the vision of F1’s new managing director of sport Ross Brawn, who reckons teams like Force India should be able win races on days when they get everything right.

But how to achieve such convergence without imposing either gimmicks that fans do not like or rewriting the rules, which would come with the risk of opening the gap further?

As Williams technical chief Paddy Lowe said: “It is a fact that when you change regulations you tend to spread the grid. And, as regulations become more stable and older, the grid closes up. So one of the first casualties of a large regulation change is bigger differences down the grid. “

While the answer to make the field more competitive is certainly not simple, perhaps one possible solution could come from simply a new mindset: that of the F1 field being forced to end its climate of secrecy and to reveal more of its secrets.

Open inspection

Speaking recently about changing directions for F1, Brawn brought up an idea that he was told about from NASCAR – a clever way that teams can understand what their rivals are up to, so that competitive advantages are not kept secret for long.

“I think that there’s a change of mindset as well within Formula 1 because there are opportunities that we shouldn’t be missing,” Brawn told Motorsport.com.

“You know, in NASCAR, as someone told me the other day, at a certain stage of the season you can go and look at someone else’s car and strip it apart and see what’s in it.

“And that’s their way of keeping everyone loosely competitive. And no one objects, no one has a problem. And it’s a philosophy that should be thought about.”

How it works

The actual scenario is more regular that even Brawn has suggested though.

For each week, cars must go through technical inspection prior to qualifying and the race, and then again following the race.

The entire process is held out in the open, where all competitors can witness what takes place at every inspection station.

In fact, many tracks now have brought fans into the picture, by placing some of the inspection stations near infield fan zones so spectators can watch teams go through the process as well.

In addition, each week NASCAR takes a handful of cars/trucks from each race (the winning car is always included) back to its R&D Center in Concord for a more thorough and intense inspection.

All of the teams there watch each other go through the tear-down process by NASCAR – and if anything untoward is found, then the secret is out in the open pretty quickly.

As NASCAR’s vice president for technical inspection and officiating, Chad Little, said of the inspection process at the R&D Center: "It's an open-door policy. So, any other team can come and observe. They're parked right next to each other just like they are in the garage; nobody covers anything up. When the parts come off, they're laid there for anybody else to see."

An F1 rethink

What if this was the case in F1? Imagine a situation where Honda’s knowledge of what was needed for a state-of-the-art power unit is fast-tracked by close access to what Mercedes and Ferrari had done, or where teams like Williams and Force India get a better understanding of suspension technology or aero concepts from looking at what an outfit like Red Bull was really up to.

For Haas team principal Gunther Steiner, who has previously worked in NASCAR, the concept of such open-door inspections is one he knows well – and he thinks it would lead to an acceleration of progress for smaller teams to help close up the grid.

Plus, it would be a better thing for fans, too, because they would get to see F1 cars close up and under the skin – rather than constantly experience them being hidden away behind screens and garage doors.

“I think it could work because it's a good thing,” he told Motorsport.com. “So at least people show the technology to the fan because that is what we have to do.

“We have a fantastic story to tell, but we keep it secret, because we don't want to show it. But if it's by regulations that you have to show it, then that is good.”

There is a school of thought that suggests F1’s popularity has been built on technology secrets, but Steiner thinks that introducing such open inspections would not stop the quest for development – it would just make things more even between teams.

“I don't know if it stops the development, but at least people can look at it and it should equalise it, because you see it and you can do it as well. You still have to work hard, but at least the fans can see it.

“That is part of F1. If you want make it cheaper, then go to the cheap series. That is not what F1 is. It should stay at that high technology because that's part of the appeal, but we need to make it accessible for the fans.

“If we just do it for ourselves then you wonder why the hell you do it and people start to question it. I think it would equalise the engines a little bit more.

"It can be an advantage or a disadvantage. Some you win, some you lose, but I think it makes the field closer together. If you are first, you don't want it, but if you have to show it, you are forced to do it."

Steiner is right that the introduction of such a rule would not be easy to accomplish – with bigger outfits almost certain to resist any attempt to bring in something that could wipe away their edge.

But at a time when Liberty Media has talked about overhauling F1’s commercial structure longer-term to even things up, the mindset appears there for such bold changes like open inspection to be made in the pitlane to make things closer on the track, too.

 

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Spanish Grand Prix preview - Scuderia Ferrari 2017

 

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La Piadina - Drivers' Kitchen

Wait no more! The first episode of our brand new Driver’s Kitchen series is out now! Watch Carlos and Daniil go head to head for the first time in the kitchen, where they try their best to cook a Piadina – the typically Italian flatbread. Who will impress the chef the most?!

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Unforgettable Moments | F1 Spanish GP

Mansell and Senna go wheel-to-wheel, 1991
No gears, no problem for Super Schu, 1994
Fischella confronts Irvine after Turn 1 clash, 1998
Barrichello benefits as Schumacher brothers squabble, 2000
Hakkinen’s last-lap heartache, 2001
Kovalainen escapes from big shunt, 2008
Jarno at the centre of a ‘Trulli’ massive pile-up, 2009
Hamilton crashes out on penultimate lap, 2010
Maldonado takes surprise win for Williams, 2012
Amazing start guides Alonso to victory, 2013
Mercedes drivers split over ‘racing incident’, 2016

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Max Verstappen gives a track walk at Barcelona (Spain), where he won his first Grand Prix

 

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Kimi Raikkonen Funniest Moments!!

My personal funniest Kimi moment is this one

 

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THE GAME BEGINS TO CHANGE: FORMULA 1 ANNOUNCES FAN FESTIVAL FOR SPANISH GP

Further signs of the new management of F1 under Liberty Media starting to open the sport up to fans are evident at the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend; it will be the first to feature a ‘fan festival’ to celebrate the season’s first European race.

In line with the F1 administration’s stated aim to ‘bring the fans closer to the sport’, the fan festival aims to provide added value and more engaging touch points with the sport.

A dedicated fan TV channel for those attending will screen live interviews from experts, with current and former F1 drivers to make appearances as well.

For the first time, a two-seater racing car will take one winner around Circuit de Catalunya at top speeds of nearly 190mph. Numerous other competitions will offer prizes such as Paddock Club passes and photo opportunities with F1 teams up and down the grid.

In the pitlane, a fully functioning garage will show spectators how F1 teams set-up their cars for the race. This fan zone will also boast racing simulators, a 200m zip-line, pit-stop challenges and live music.

At the Paddock Club, those with access will see an exclusive range of show cars and an engine display from the Mercedes team for a deeper inside into its inner workings. A tour in the drivers’ parade truck will take those members around the track for a closer experience.

Accommodation packages also include the choice to stay at the same hotel as a certain team’s, if requested.

Sean Bratches, Managing Director of Commercial Operations at F1 said “Formula 1 is undergoing a major evolution.

“The Spanish Grand Prix is a landmark moment in the brand’s history.

“From the outset, we have focused on getting fans closer to the action and broadening the appeal of the sport. The launch of this weekend’s Fan Festival marks the beginning of this journey and we are excited about bringing races to life in this way over the course of the season and beyond.”

F1 Experiences has launched a new website along with this announcement. The website implies that the fan festival will carry on at every upcoming F1 race in the calendar.