FORMULA 1

[MIKA27]

PROST: DANIEL IS MORE EXPENSIVE BUT JUSTIFIED

By all reliable accounts, Renault will be dishing out $35-million a year for Daniel Ricciardo over the next two seasons as they ramp up their efforts to become winners again, but it is money well spent according to F1 legend Alain Prost.

Renault team chief Cyril Abiteboul swooped on Ricciardo without warning, locking him into a two-year deal alongside Nico Hulkenberg, which clearly signals the French team’s intent.

Prost explained, “Daniel is more expensive than other drivers. When you need that to help the team we did it. Money is not a problem but it has to be justified.”

“We are not going to spend money unless we know that it is worth it. Mercedes and Ferrari may have a different philosophy.”

“We have two top drivers, maybe one of the best lineups in F1 today. They are Renault drivers, not owned by Red Bull or Mercedes. It shows everybody outside and inside that we want to do the best, the right choices at the right moment.”

Although Renault have a long and illustrious history in Formula 1 as a team and engine supplier, their current project is relatively new, emerging from the ashes of the Lotus disaster.

But at Enstone and Viry the rebuilding has been constant and intense, they are nearly where they need to be but it will not be an overnight process.

Prost added, “What is the real target? Is it to be champions in year five and go away because we have achieved the goal? Or is it we want to build the team to be one of the top teams and always a top team in the future? That’s my perspective – long term.”

[MIKA27]

KVYAT AND WEHRLEIN FOR TORO ROSSO IN 2019?

In the wake of the Singapore Grand Prix, the Silly Season takes centre stage with Pascal Wehrrlein and Daniil Kvyat reportedly top of the list to join Toro Rosso in 2019.

For Kvyat it will be a return to the team where he made his Formula 1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix in 2014. A year later he was promoted to the Red Bull senior team but after a season and a bit, as a result of a wayward spell, he was demoted back to Toro Rosso where he remained until his final grand prix in Texas last year.

The Russian has since found refuge with Ferrari as a reserve of sorts and sim driver. Maranello are reportedly keen to see Kvyat return to the top flight and have made it known to Red Bull that the 24-year-old is available.

Considering his topsy-turvy history with Red Bull, Kvyat must have brownie points with the senior management to be considered for the drive, but at the same time he has experience which will serve them well as Honda seek to challenge for victories.

Latest name to emerge is that of Wehrlein, another driver who many believe has unfinished business in Formula 1 and now he has been released by Mercedes.

The German 23-year-old has a fan in Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost and has 39 grand prix starts with Manor and Sauber. His last race was at the end of the last season, he lost his seat to Ferrari backed driver Charles Leclerc.

A Kvyat-Wehrlein line-up for 2019 at Toro Rosso will be bad news for Brendon Hartley who has simply not done enough to secure his future with the team, while Pierre Gasly moves up to partner Pierre Gasly at Red Bull.

[MIKA27]

Hamilton, Vettel split on Russian GP tyre choices

Formula 1 title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have taken varying approaches regarding their tyre compound selections for next weekend’s Russian Grand Prix.

Sole supplier Pirelli has opted to nominate the Hypersoft, Ultrasoft and Soft compound for the event at Sochi Autodrom, which typically features little degradation.

It mirrors the choice made for last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix – with the red-banded Supersoft step missed out.

One set of Hypersofts must be used only in Q3 while either the Ultrasofts or Softs must be used for one stint of the Grand Prix.

Vettel had taken a more aggressive approach with nine sets of Hypersofts, three Ultrasofts and just one set of Soft tyres for the course of the weekend.

Hamilton will have seven batches of Hypersofts, four Ultrasofts and two Softs.

Vettel’s choice is not the most aggressive on the grid; that honour is bestowed on Renault, which has plumped for 10 sets of the new-for-2018 purple-banded compound.

Only outgoing McLaren racer Fernando Alonso will have more than two sets of the Soft tyre available – opting for three batches – with the Hypersofts and Ultrasofts largely preferred.

Russian GP tyre choices:

 

[MIKA27]

Romain Grosjean blasts 'poor' Hypersofts, 'go-kart' Sergey Sirotkin

A frustrated Romain Grosjean hit out at Pirelli’s “poor” Hypersoft tyre and criticised Sergey Sirotkin’s “go-kart racing” as he missed out on points in Singapore.

Grosjean progressed through to Q3 and lined up in eighth position, meaning that he had to start on Hypersofts, having used the compound to clock his best time in Q2.

That meant he had to make an early stop for Soft tyres and he was overcut by those who were eliminated in Q2 but were permitted free compound choice.

The drivers who finished seventh, eighth and ninth – Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc – all started from outside the top 10 but ran long on Ultrasofts to move into the points.

“I think it was a frustrating race for everyone who qualified between seventh and 10th on the Hypersofts,” said Grosjean.

“It was such a poor tyre in the race. We did 10 laps and they completely went, while the Ultrasofts did, I don’t know how many laps, 40?

“So, it’s almost better not to qualify in the top 10.

“Maybe we need to think about that a little bit because I felt like I pushed really hard in qualifying and in the race every single lap.

“I did the best I could but, in the end, I had no chance of being in the top 10.”

Grosjean went on to classify in 15th position, having been handed a five-second time penalty for ignoring blue flags while battling with Sirotkin.

“I’m sorry if I blocked anyone, it was not my intention,” he said.

“I believe I did my best. I was fighting with Sergey, who was doing a little bit of go-kart racing out there. I couldn’t really slow down.

“Pierre [Gasly] was on my gearbox and Sergey was on my front wing. I passed him, then as soon as I passed him, I let Lewis [Hamilton] by.”

Grosjean was also issued with two penalty points, bringing his rolling 12-month total to nine, just three away from a one-race ban.

[MIKA27]

Kimi Raikkonen return a technical and commercial bonus – Sauber

Sauber team boss Fred Vasseur has said the return of Kimi Raikkonen will be a major bonus on both the technical and commercial side.

Raikkonen is effectively swapping places with junior Charles Leclerc, who will take up his seat alongside Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, whilst Raikkonen will return to the team he started his F1 career with.

Some have questioned The Finn's motivation for the switch, but for Sauber the advantages are clear according to Vasseur.

"Clearly Kimi has huge experience in F1," said the Frenchman. "For the team, we are building up every single department and I think he will be very supportive in the process. I think from aero to design office to track engineering, tyre management, I think everybody in the team is more than welcome to have Kimi on board in the future.

"It’s a step forward for us for sure. This is on the technical side and on the marketing and commercial side, for sure it’s a huge push and if you have a look at what we had last week in terms of social media – so it was probably the first time in our lives that we have so many connections. On both sides, I think it will be supportive for us.

"I was not there [when he previously drove for Sauber] but some guys came to my office saying ‘ah, superb that Kimi’s back.’ But I don’t want to consider the fact that Kimi’s coming back, we have to think about the future, not about the past."

As for Raikkonen's team-mate, that remains a mystery, with Sauber yet to confirm if Marcus Ericsson will retain his seat, but Vasseur said a decision would be made "quite soon".

"The last two weeks for me have been a bit of a rush on the driver market. After Singapore we will sit down with all the persons involved in the discussions and we will take a decision quite soon because I think it’s also good for the team to have a clear answer but it will be soon."

Ericsson, current reserve Antonio Giovinazzi and McLaren outcast Stoffel Vandoorne are understood to be in contention.

[MIKA27]

FIA will check Ferrari's new camera device

The FIA plans to inspect Ferrari’s latest camera device in a bid to check that it has not been designed in such a way as to block the onboard television view.
Ferrari has caused ongoing intrigue amongst fans and rival teams for having previously used a cooling bag to try to cover up its onboard camera.

While the team claimed it was being placed on top of the camera to cool electronics, the suspicion was that it was really being used to block the onboard lens and stop rival teams from being able to watch the team's steering wheel settings.

Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, the FIA told Ferrari to stop using the camera bag with immediate effect. In response, Ferrari used umbrellas on the grid to hide the steering wheel.

In Singapore last weekend, Ferrari raised some eyebrows with an all-new airbox cooling device that had been designed in such a way that ducts running off the side of it blocked the camera view down in to the cockpit.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting said he had looked at the new system when it was off the car and could see no problem – but would have another check when it was fitted to see if it did block any view.

"As long as it doesn't block the camera view we don't mind, and we don't mind if FOM don't mind," said Whiting.

"If they're cooling the OCU, which is the unit on top where the camera is, and it's okay with them [FOM], then it's okay with us as long as it doesn't block the camera view."

Whiting said his early analysis of the Ferrari device was that it did not block the camera, but he admitted he had only seen it when it was not in place.

"I went to see it at Ferrari and it wasn't even on the cars," he said. "This was about an hour after a free practice session.

"Apparently they put it into the airbox and the primary thing is to blow cold air into the airbox and to various other places that are fed by those big ducts there.

"They've got some secondary ducts, it would seem, that just blow a bit of air onto the OCU. But our guys said they are not concerned with it."

Asked by Motorsport.com if he would have a further look to check the camera was not being blocked, Whiting said: "I will, but it's not top priority, frankly speaking.

"We've got to be fair. They're all playing games, aren't they. We've just got to be fair."

[TheGipper]

Pffft, there was no reason for Perez to move to the inside off that turn 17 exit.  Perez completely swerved *off* the racing line there considering where you line up for the turn 18 braking zone.  I wouldn't penalize Perez any more than he already was, but that was clearly intentional.  I suspect Charlie knows that but doesn't want to make an issue of it in the press.  Charlie probably privately said to Sergio, "Sergei might have deserved that, but don't do it again."

[MIKA27]

50 minutes ago, TheGipper said:

Pffft, there was no reason for Perez to move to the inside off that turn 17 exit.  Perez completely swerved *off* the racing line there considering where you line up for the turn 18 braking zone.  I wouldn't penalize Perez any more than he already was, but that was clearly intentional.  I suspect Charlie knows that but doesn't want to make an issue of it in the press.  Charlie probably privately said to Sergio, "Sergei might have deserved that, but don't do it again."

This is where F1 truly annoys me. Inconsistent penalties, rules are "Bent" far too often and or completely ignored all together.

[Squarehead]

Can' agree more on that one

[Squarehead]

6 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

This is where F1 truly annoys me. Inconsistent penalties, rules are "Bent" far too often and or completely ignored all together.

Can't agree more on that one

[MIKA27]

BRAWN: SIMPLER WINGS AND OTHER TECH RULE TWEAKS FOR 2019

Formula 1 motorsport chief Ross Brawn knows that the current generation cars need changing so that drivers can overtake and hence race, but waiting until 2021 kicks in with a whole new set of rules is not an option, so expect some substantial ‘tweaks’ to the rules for 2019.

Among the changes will be the front wing which will be simpler to the current appendage and winglet packed contraptions. Changes in other areas are expected too, including new regs for bargeboards and rear wings.

In an interview published in the Singapore Grand Prix race program, Brawn is the first to admit, “We have a core issue with these cars, which I don’t think anyone denies, in that they can’t get close to each other.”

“However, that situation is masked to some degree. We do see cars race each other, but it’s because there are big differences in tyre performance or some other element that is influencing the situation. We’ve had some great races this season but largely when people are on different tyres or on different strategies.”

“So, if we actually look at the eventful races this year; they’ve been created because there’s been a safety car, or something has happened that has mixed the field up at a crucial time. Those events always create excitement, but they are random.”

“However, if we had cars that could race each other much more effectively, the excitement would be greater and there might be more players in the mix. So, one of our core objectives has been to understand the current cars and to look at solutions to make them able to race each other much more effectively.”

“I think we’ve made some real progress with the regulations that are being introduced for 2019 and it’s a very useful insight to make sure we’re going in the right direction. So in 2019, you will see simplified front wings, as well as some changes around the barge boards, rear wings and other areas.”

“We believe that this will be a step in the right direction. And then we can get the data from the cars, in order to understand what impact the changes have made. With this change in ‘19, it will be a verification that we’re going in the right direction.”

The issue of 2021 rules is obviously a hot potato and a matter that needs resolution sooner rather than later. Last week Formula 1 made public the 2021 Concept Car, a sexier and more aggressive, albeit somewhat retro, look than the current generation.

Brawn said of the next-gen concept, “We’re looking at a new style of Formula One car, aesthetically more modern and futuristic, as I don’t think we’ve really captured as much as we could do in that regard. The new cars will look more exciting, in my view.”

“That’s a subjective thing, of course, but most people who have seen the schemes we’re looking at feel it’s a more exciting looking car. We’re also looking at things that have a major impact on the quality of racing. And that’s to do with the nature of the cars and the resource differential between the front and back of the grid.”

The question of engine rules is one that could divide the paddock, a fact that does not escape Brawn, “What I’m mostly concerned about is the capacity for a new supplier to come in. We have four great manufacturers in Formula 1 and we don’t want to lose them.”

“But equally, we don’t want a situation where the technical regulations make the challenge of a Formula 1 engine so great that only if you’ve been doing it for seven years can you hope to compete.”

“A reset in the technical regulations provides an opportunity for someone who is new and has the opportunity to perhaps at least start in a better place, instead of trying to compete with someone who has been pursuing this technology and these objectives for a long time,” reasoned Brawn.

[MIKA27]

VETTEL: IF WE WIN EVERY RACE FROM NOW WE ARE SAFE

Sebastian Vettel is determined to win all the remaining races because he believes that will be enough to win the Formula 1 World Championship title this year and insists that they are taking the challenge to Mercedes very seriously.

Speaking after the defeat at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he finished third while title rival Lewis Hamilton bagged the win, Vettel said, “We’re not playing a silly game.

“We’re quite serious and it’s quite tough competition, so the level of competition is very high and if you have the slightest mistake obviously there are people there who are usually there to benefit from it. You know the race that we had showed that Max was there straight away to benefit.”

“Maybe sometimes you are lucky and it’s not showing as crucial but it caught us and what we tried didn’t work and also caught us out so it didn’t help but I’m happy to try, I’m happy to try being aggressive to try and win. That was the ambition and especially on a track where it’s difficult to pass you need to try and figure something out.”

Despite trailing Hamilton by 40-points with six rounds remaining, the Ferrari driver is not panicking, “It’s not what we wanted, in the end it’s what we got so we need to look back and see what we could have done better. I think overall we had a good car, we were a bit slower but we had a different race as well so it’s difficult to compare.”

“We can’t say we did everything right. I think where we were, we tried, it didn’t work. We started third and finished third, we didn’t lose anything but we also didn’t gain anything.”

“We are a team so we try and whatever we want to achieve, we achieve it together. Obviously, it’s not great when you come to the end of the championship and you’re losing points rather than making up points, but we still have a lot of races left and some time to go.”

“I think it’s pretty straightforward, if we win every race from now then we are safe. So that’s what we need to aim for,” added Vettel.

[MIKA27]

HAMILTON: WE NEED MAX IN THE TITLE FIGHT!

Lewis Hamilton clearly relishes a good battle, and although he has his hands full keeping the championship away from Ferrari’s reach this season, the Mercedes driver would welcome having ‘fighter’ Max Verstappen in the mix with the Honda-powered Red Bull next year.

Speaking to Blick after comfortably winning the Singapore Grand Prix, Hamilton said, “I need the fight, the challenge. I do not always want to compete against the same rival. So I’m hoping that Red Bull will be competitive with the Honda engine next year. We need Max in the title fight!”

That does not mean that the reigning F1 World Champion is not feeling the pressure of his current ttile battle with Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari, “The heat is there and it is unavoidable for all of us.”

“It’s very difficult for people watching who are not naturally in it to feel what we feel. The pressure is higher than I can ever remember. That’s the pressure you put on yourself to success and your desires and your fears and all the people who are depending on you, which is a lot of people.”

Victory at the Singapore Grand Prix helped Hamilton extend his championship lead to 40-points with six rounds remaining, but he is taking nothing for granted, “I don’t really want to talk about the ifs and put anything out there just yet. I want to take it one race at a time than say: If this happens or that happens.”

“The pressure is so high, all I can do is try and deliver every weekend. All I can say is that I am definitely extracting more out of the car, but I think definitely these last three races, and those three wins, those weekends, we’ve not had the upper hand,” added Hamilton.

[MIKA27]

VETTEL: I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS FOR SCHUMI

Sebastian Vettel would tap into his mentor Michael Schumacher’s wealth of experience as the younger German finds himself entering a tense patch in his career with Ferrari where the great ‘Schumi’ made such a massive impact two decades ago.

Asked by Blick what he would ask Schumacher if he could, Vettel replied, “If he was healthy, I would have many questions for him, but not necessarily about my driving. More about things that take place behind the scenes.”

“Also about teamwork and politics in Formula 1. He has had a lot of experience during his time driving at Ferrari.”

Last month the four times F1 World Champion said in an interview last month, “Many times people confuse the fact I joined Ferrari as me trying to do something similar to Michael.”

“If we can go anywhere near what Michael achieved that would be a great success but times have changed and what lies behind us is not really what should drive us in the future,” added Vettel.

[MIKA27]

WHITING: THREE CAR TEAMS WOULD WORK IN FORMULA 1

The topic of allowing teams to run a third car has been a constant source of discussion since Mercedes chief Toto Wolff revisited the subject, now Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting has admitted that the business model for three car teams makes sense but does not see it happening in Formula 1 any time soon.

Whiting told MN, “My personal view is that it would be nice to have a few more cars, but honestly I think it’s very unlikely. It’s fairly simple. The argument against it is if you’ve got a dominant team with three cars, then everyone’s fighting over fourth and not a podium place.”

“If you’ve got three dominant teams with three cars, then you’re fighting over 10th. I can understand why everyone would baulk at that. It would be nice to have a few more teams capable of winning of course, but this year it’s more competitive than it’s been since the beginning of this engine era.”

“Equally if you have a more evenly competitive field, [three cars] is a good economic model as far as one can see. This is why GP3 teams have always had three cars. For next year’s [FIA International] F3 the plan is 10 teams with three cars each, because it’s a good business model, because it enables the third car price to be lower. I would think that would work in F1 as well.”

Running three cars would require additional staff, but Whiting does not see this as an obstacle, “The rules are based around two-car teams, so a lot would have to be looked at. They’re allowed 60 operational personnel. How many more would they need?”

“There’s a big difference between what they’d need and what they’d say they need. We’d have to decide what’s the right figure. It wouldn’t be 30, it might be 10.”

As for the increased logistics, “We would be able to manage. People would have to squeeze in a bit, and wouldn’t have as much space.”

“Getting new teams, as we know, is tantamount to impossible at the moment, but that’s something that we’re hoping will improve, of course, if everything works out as planned, with the revenue distribution and the cost cap.

“The car will hopefully be regulated where the non-performance parts are standard or prescribed, and the performance differentiating parts are team only, where you can’t get them from everybody else.

Many argue that the partnership between Ferrari and their customer Haas is too close for comfort, blurring the line between who is a constructor and who is not.

Whiting argues, “A lot of the stuff that Haas currently buys from Ferrari will be prescribed or standard. However the suspension, brake ducts, air ducts, all of those are currently non-listed, so they are allowed to buy those, and there is huge performance in them.”

[MIKA27]

Charles Leclerc to get first taste of Ferrari's SF71H this week

Charles Leclerc is due to get his first proper taste of Ferrari's 2018 Formula 1 car this week as he will join Sebastian Vettel for a two-day tyre test on Thursday and Friday.

The Sauber driver, who was announced as Kimi Raikkonen's replacement at Ferrari for the 2019 season, is set to drive on one day and Vettel the other.

Although Leclerc has previously been behind the wheel of the SF71H for a filming day, such demos are restricted in mileage, speed and are run on special tyres.

This week's test, which will see Pirelli trialling its 2019 slick tyre compounds, will take place at the Paul Ricard circuit and will involve both Ferrari and Mercedes – the two leading teams in the championship – with Bottas driving for the Anglo-German outfit on both days.

It will be both Ferrari's and Mercedes' first taste of the latest slick compounds, having previously only trialled Pirelli's wet line-up.

The sole tyre supplier has two further tests this year ahead of the traditional post-season young driver Abu Dhabi test.

Suzuka will host another two-day test on October 9-10, which will involve Renault, whilst Mexico City will play host to the final dedicated tyre test where Sauber will be in action.

[MIKA27]

2021: A first look at concepts for F1's future

Style and substance. F1 has been working with the FIA and the teams to create a Formula 1 car for 2021 that delivers better racing and has the looks to match. The design will continue to evolve over the next year but here’s a first look at the concepts that will shape F1’s future…

Ferrari have taken the fight to Mercedes this year, with Red Bull getting involved and fighting for top honours, too. And F1 is working on a design for a future car that will increase the chances of great fights, all the way down the field, every year.

High on the agenda, then, is a solution to allow cars to follow each other more easily, which in turn should increase the opportunities to overtake. But there is also a desire to have cars that look so good, kids want to have posters of them on their walls.

“When we started looking at the 2021 car, the primary objective was to enable the cars to race well together,” says Formula 1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn. “What we established early on in our research is the cars we have now are very bad in following each other.

“Once the cars get within a few car lengths of each other, they lose 50% of their downforce. That’s a substantial amount of performance lost. So we set about understanding why that was and how we can improve it. I’m pleased to say we’re at about 80%.

“As time has gone on, another of the primary objectives was to make great looking cars. We want cars that look better than what you see in a video game, cars that kids want to have up on their walls. At each stage, as we have been evolving the car, we’ve had someone we are working with create a graphic representation artist to give us a feel of what the car could look like.

“That is not to control the development, because it’s critical this development achieves its objectives, but why shouldn’t we have great looking cars as we’re evolving the cars? We want a car that is inspiring. F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and the car should look sensational.”

The concepts

F1 has worked hand in hand with governing body the FIA throughout, while the teams have been kept in the loop, too. This process has led to a series of concepts, which have evolved in three stages – and will continue to develop.

The first concept (above) shows how the halo cockpit protection device can be much more integrated and subsequently more aesthetically pleasing.

The second concept (above) is more refined and stylistically more aggressive. “As the aerodynamicists were evolving the car, the graphics designer was taking where they were and trying to capture it at each stage,” says Brawn.

“Concept 2 is a bit more extreme. One of the things you’ll see is the bigger wheels. We’re committed to 18-inch wheels for the future. They look better but there are a lot of technical reasons why we want them.”

The third concept (below) is the most current but there are still a lot of interesting ideas that have come out of the research that haven’t yet been brought to life by the artist. However, in this concept you can see the first signs of devices to control the way the airflow comes of the wheels.

“The tyres and the wheels are the dirtiest area of the car, they cause huge disruption in the airflow,” says Brawn. “We are starting to look at devices that can stabilise the flow as it comes of the wheel. It’s maturing as we go along.”

So what next?

There is around another year or so of further research and development to come, with a target of having a framework in place by the end of 2019. That will still allow for time for a period of refinement. It is hoped the final design will encouraging teams involved to stay in F1, while encouraging new teams to join and boost the grid.

“We want to create an environment where there is a queue of people wanting to join F1,” says Brawn. “The encouraging thing when Force India ran into trouble was that it had a number of suitors that wanted to buy it.

“If you remember Manor a few years previously couldn’t sell the team. I think the confidence in F1 has since increased. We definitely want to have a queue of people that want to come into F1.”

Inspiring young people

F1 wants the cars of the future to be ones that get young people excited about motorsport. “I’ve been involved in a number of initiatives where F1 is a catalyst to get young people’s interest peaked in technology, the STEM topics - science, technology, engineering and maths," says Brawn.

"We’re short of engineers of the future. If F1 creates the passion for young people to get involved on engineering, in science topics, and technology, that’s a fantastic way of doing it.

"We want cars that are going to excite young people. F1 is a great opportunity to promote technology and through F1 in Schools, for the younger students, then there’s Formula Student, which is a competition that goes on in universities."

[MIKA27]

RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX: BOTTAS FORCED TO GIVE WIN TO HAMILTON

Valtteri Bottas was on course for victory in the Russian Grand Prix when he was told to allow Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton past, apparently expecting to be allowed by later in the race, but this did not happen and hence second was his reward for an afternoon in which he never put a foot wrong.

Instead ‘victory’ at Sochi Autodrom went to Hamilton who now extends his lead in the championship to 50 points on a day in which Bottas was the sacrificial lamb as the Finn played the wingman role to perfection.

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff radioed Bottas afterwards: “Valtteri this is Toto. Difficult day for you and a difficult day for us. Let’s discuss it afterwards when we come together and we’ll explain things.”

It was a bitter end to a race in which Mercedes were simply on another planet, in another league to their rivals as the engine crew at Brixworth have clearly got the order to dial up the engine and Russia was the result.

Bottas and Hamilton roared off the line with Vettel stalking, but the two Silver Arrows were in command from lap one and remained that way until lap 30 when the call came to allow Hamilton past. And that was that as Wolff’s finger on the ‘Tactics’ button changed the course of the ‘race’ because he could…

No wonder Hamilton was in no mood to celebrate as he savoured probably the least deserved victory of his illustrious career.

He said after, “It’s actually quite a difficult day because Valtteri did a fantastic job all weekend and he was a real gentleman to let me by. He’s now not fighting for the championship, where we are.”

“It’s been such a great weekend for the team. they’ve done such an exceptional job to have this advantage over Ferrari. To have a one-two, usually we’d just be elated but I can understand how difficult it was for Valtteri and really he deserved to win.”

“Championship wise, as a team we are trying to win both so today it was a real team effort. Whilst it doesn’t feel spectacular, I know he’s going to do well in races to come,” added Hamilton after claiming his 70th career win, and the 170th for Mercedes in F1.

For Bottas, what would have been his first win of the season and his fourth career win, wasn’t, which is a shame considering he beat his teammate fair-and-square in qualifying and was leading a Mercedes 1-2 in the race with Vettel way out of the picture when he got the dreaded call.

Mr Wingman said after the race, “A difficult day. A good result for us as a team and we got maximum points but personally, it was quite a difficult race. We always go through all the scenarios.”

“Lewis is fighting for the championship and we are fighting for the constructors’, so we always have a plan – but it’s always difficult to predict what’s going to happen in the race. It is what it is,” added the Finn.

Ferrari had no answer in qualifying and in the race it was the same story. Although Vettel emerged ahead of Hamilton after the first pitstops, it did not take long for the #44 Mercedes to blast past, the Ferrari visibly outpaced.

Vettel summed up, “I think everybody had more or less the same pace. I tried my best to put pressure on Valtteri but I couldn’t get close enough. It was a good race, I think we were closer today but obviously not the result that we want.”

Kimi Raikkonen had a lonely afternoon in fifth, ending the race 15 seconds adrifty of his Ferrari teammate.

Both Red Bulls started from the wrong end of the grid, from there Max Verstappen delivered a stonking drive through the field to claim fifth place. The Dutchman our ‘Man of the Match’ in Sochi for his performance on the day.

Teammate Daniel Ricciardo also recovered well but nothing compared to his teammate, in the end the Australian was a distant sixth.

The ‘Battle for Best of the Rest’ was a riveting contest with several drivers in contention, once again it was the excellent Charles Leclerc who shone in the midfield for Sauber, keeping at bay Haas driver Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon in the Force India who were eighth and ninth respectively.

Sergio Perez made it two Force Indias in the points by finishing tenth.

FIA Blow-By-Blow Report

When the lights when out at the race start, Bottas held his advantage and took the lead ahead of Hamilton. Vettel made an excellent start and drew level with Hamilton, but the Briton quickly picked up a tow from Bottas’ car and managed to hold onto P2 ahead of the German and Räikkönen.

It was Red Bull, however, who made the biggest gains in the opening laps, with Verstappen making a stunning start to rise from P19 on the grid to 13th place at the end of the first lap. The Dutchman’s charge up the order continued and by lap eight he was powering past Leclerc, to claim a remarkable fifth place.

Ricciardo was also making progress, though his fight was made more complicated by front wing damage picked up when he hit debris on the opening lap. By lap 10, however, the Australian had climbed from P18 on the grid to P10.

Bottas now led Hamilton by eight-tenths of a second, with Vettel 2.8 off the lead. Bottas pitted on lap 12 and then on lap 13 Vettel then made his single pit stop on lap 13, looking to undercut Hamilton.

The Ferrari driver took on soft tyres in a 2.8s stop and rejoined behind Bottas. Ahead on track, Hamilton was encountering traffic and losing time. Mercedes reacted and pitted the championship leader. Hamilton emerged alongside the quicker Vettel and the German swept past.

Vettel’s advantage didn’t last long. Hamilton was quickly on the attack and on lap 15 made a move in Turn 2. Vettel defended aggressively and blocked the pass, but Hamilton was immediately on the offensive again and in Turn 4 he dived down the inside and stole the place once more.

When Räikkönen became the last of the lead drivers to pit, on lap 18, Verstappen took the lead. The Dutchman’s pace on his starting soft tyres, while solid, served to back up the cars immediately behind and second-placed Bottas began to come under pressure from Hamilton. Crucially, Vettel now began to close on Hamilton.

The threat from Ferrari again forced Mercedes to react, and Bottas was told to let Hamilton past. On lap 42 the Finn obliged and as Max continued to lead, the Finn became the third-placed bulwark between the title leader and Vettel.

With Hamilton now in control, the only question was where would Red Bull finish. Having gone deep into the race on starting soft tyres, the team was now targeting aggressive finishes from its drivers on softer compound tyres.

Ricciardo pitted on lap 39 to take on ultrasoft tyres, as well as a new nosecone to replace one damaged at the start of the race. He rejoined in P6. Verstappen then made his stop on lap 43, also for ultrasofts, and he rejoined in P5, 14s behind Räikkönen.

The expected pace advantage from the ultrasofts didn’t materialise, however, neither Red Bull driver couldn’t find the pace needed to reel in Räikkönen.

On lap 53, then, Hamilton took his 70th career win ahead of Bottas with Vettel taking third place. Räikkönen held onto fourth place, while Verstappen and Ricciardo took fifth and sixth place respectively.

Seventh place went Leclerc with Magnussen in eighth. The final two points places were occupied by the Force India’s of Ocon and Perez.

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WOLFF: I’D RATHER BE A BADDIE THAN AN IDIOT

Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff defended his use of team orders to help Lewis Hamilton win the Russian Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom on Sunday and said he would rather people thought he was unsporting than stupid.

The victory, with Valtteri Bottas told to move aside for his Silver Arrows teammate at the halfway point, allowed Hamilton to stretch his championship lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to 50 points with five races left.

There is now every chance of Hamilton wrapping up his fifth title with a race or two to spare.

“Somebody needs to be the baddie sometimes and it’s me today,” Wolff told reporters. “You need to weigh it up; To be the baddie on Sunday evening, for many right reasons, or be the idiot in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season. I’d rather be the baddie today and not the idiot at the end of the year.”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was leading but had yet to pit, with Bottas second and Hamilton third with a blistered rear tyre after overtaking Vettel.

Mercedes were concerned that Hamilton could be vulnerable to the Ferrari, and might even have to pit again if the tyre got any worse — as had been the case in Belgium.

Wolff said that was the rationale behind the order, with Bottas not a title contender, to defend the champion from the risk of being caught and losing points.

The Austrian recognised, however, that some might consider it an unsporting gesture to have deprived Bottas of his first win of the season after he had secured pole position.

“Rationally, it was the right call to do,” he said. “(But) Our sporting heart says no.

“At the end, if five points or three points are missing, then you are the biggest idiot on the planet by prioritising Valtteri’s single race result over the championship,” added Wolff.

The question of ‘team orders’, once banned in Formula One but now legal, was discussed before the race with multiple possible scenarios.

Wolff said he had also spent a sleepless night, mindful of the global controversy triggered when Ferrari ordered Brazilian Rubens Barrichello to cede the lead to team mate Michael Schumacher in Austria in 2002.

Barrichello did so at the final corner, with the crowd in uproar.

“I spent half the night yesterday thinking about the situation and thinking about Austria in 2002 and the implication for the brand. It’s a super-tough call to make,” said Wolff.

Sunday’s race ultimately drew significantly less ire, with Hamilton inviting Bottas to join him on the top step of the podium while recognising the victory felt somewhat hollow.

Wolff said Bottas understood the situation, even if he did not like it.

“What we discussed this morning was if he were in Lewis’s situation, would he expect the team to work for him? And the answer is clearly yes,” he said.

“So he understands that. But in his heart, and in the same way my heart and Lewis’s heart and all of our hearts, it just doesn’t feel right that he didn’t win the race because he was the guy on track and in the lead.”

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HORNER: 21ST BIRTHDAY AND HE DROVE LIKE A VETERAN

Max Verstappen celebrated his 21st birthday in style on Sunday with the Red Bull driver carving from the back of the Russian Grand Prix grid to first in the space of 19 laps, delivering a stand-out performance.

He then stayed out in front until pitting 10 laps from the end to finish fifth at Sochi Autodrom.

If grid penalties due to engine changes had made sure Formula 1’s youngest ever winner was unlikely to appear on the podium in Sochi, he at least made sure of his share of the limelight.

Speaking about his driver’s opening lap, team chief Christian Horner told reporters, “They were mega,” team boss Christian Horner told reporters. “Twenty-first birthday today and he drove like a veteran.”

“I think it was one of the most astounding first few laps we’ve seen for a long time… He led from lap 14 all the way to lap 42. It was just a shame he had to stop.”

Verstappen started 19th but had already made up 10 places after four laps, he was seventh after six laps and fifth after eight — the pre-race target and behind only Mercedes and Ferrari.

“We were hoping for a safety car, I think that would have been the only realistic chance (of a podium),” said Horner. “If it had grouped the field up in the last third of the race, then there might have been a chance on a grippier tyre.”

Verstappen had a rough start to the season, with plenty of incidents and two non-finishes in the first four races, but is ending it strongly as he did last year.

He won in Austria, with an army of fans in the grandstands, and has been on the podium six times.

“Really since after the Monaco Grand Prix, it’s been very strong,” said Horner. “He’s driven some great races so he’s maturing, he’s obviously got quite a reasonable amount of experience now and he’s performing at an incredibly high level.”

Verstappen was clearly chuffed with his performance and said after the race, “It went well. The target had always been to finish fifth, but we can be very satisfied the way we achieved that today.”

“I had a decent start and was able to move through the traffic and before long I was fifth, so that was very good. My car felt good and the grip was also immediately there, so we were able to easily move up. It all felt good, so I am very happy with that.”

“We had to bring the car home and there wasn’t much more in store. Just no chance. The left front tyres would be destroyed after a few laps, so you are not really able to push,” added the Dutchman who lies fifth in the championship with five rounds remaining.

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VETTEL: IN THE POSITION THEY WERE IN IT WAS A NO-BRAINER

While many have questioned the use of team orders by Mercedes to engineer a victory at the Russian Grand Prix for title-chasing Lewis Hamilton at the expense of sacrificial wingman Valtteri Bottas, but their rival in chief Sebastian Vettel hailed their performance and teamwork on the day.

Vettel finished third, dropping 50 points behind in the championship race with five rounds remaining, as Mercedes fiddled with the race outcome by instructing Bottas to pull over and allow Hamilton by to maximise the damage.

In defeat, the Ferrari driver was full of praise for his rivals, “Well done to both of them, they played very well together as a team.”

Then Vettel took a swipe at critics of the manner in which Hamilton ‘won’ the race, “In their defence, all the questions… obviously, I know that you guys [media] love controversy and therefore ask some naughty questions to them as individuals.”

“But I think in the position they were in it was a no-brainer what they did today so maybe not all the questions are justified. For us, obviously, we tried our maximum. I think there was a slim chance to finish ahead of Lewis.”

“I went through the racing bit this afternoon, so we have to be third and settle with that for today,” added Vettel.

At one point amid the pitstops, the Ferrari emerged in second pace sandwiched between race leader Bottas and Hamilton in third, the overcut had worked for the Reds, but those absent horses cost them dear.

The Briton stalked the German for a couple of laps, Vettel went ultra-defensive when the clearly faster silver car made the first move, Hamilton complained but was soon past and up the road with Vettel powerless to do anything but watch the Merc get smaller and smaller.

Of the incident, Vettel explained, “I had a bit of a wobble into Turn 13, locked up and Lewis was quite close so he got DRS down the straight. I saw him coming, it was very difficult to see with the mirrors but I thought I moved before the braking, so I wanted to make sure I covered the inside.”

“Then, obviously I had a compromised run out of the second corner, defending my position. Then it was very difficult to see where he was. I couldn’t see him for a very very long time and then just saw his tyres and I knew that he was then somewhere there.”

“I didn’t want to be a complete arse by pushing him into the dirt and potentially into the wall so I wasn’t quite sure where he was and then at some point I had to give in. I thought I could maybe get it back out of Turn 4 but I had to give him the entrance otherwise, you know, at some stage it just becomes silly.”

“Obviously I wasn’t happy when I lost the position but I think we did what we could today,” concluded Vettel who departs Sochi Autodrom 50-points adrift of Hamilton in the championship with only five rounds remaining.

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Sainz blames Sirotkin clash for ruining his race

Renault driver Carlos Sainz blamed Williams rival Sergey Sirotkin for the clash that ended all his hopes of a good result in the Russian Grand Prix.
Sainz and Sirotkin made contact on the opening lap of the Sochi race when the Russian found himself with nowhere to go in his run up to Turn 2, where he was sandwiched between the Renault and the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson.

Sirotkin ended up hitting the right side of Sainz's car, causing heavy damage to the sidepod and the floor.

Sainz continued in the race but struggled for pace, running over a second slower than his normal pace, as he was lacking downforce.

"Very tough, very hard to accept after I started better with the softs than everybody with the hypersofts," said Sainz. "I overtook a couple of them under braking.

"Then Sirotkin went guns blazing. I didn't feel the impact but apparently he touched me and broke all the right sidepod and all the right floor, which was all cracked, and right after Turn 3 I started to feel that the car was not going well and that it would be a long race.

"I was losing I don't know how many points of downforce. The car was oversteering a lot.

"From there it was just a race about trying to stay out, slow down the Haas and the Saubers for Nico to open the gap to them, but even so, the car was so bad that it was very hard," added Sainz.

Sirotkin, starting his home race from 13th place, admitted he was left with no place to go.

"After the start we ended up between two cars," he said. "I had a good start. At Turn 2 I was between two cars that squeezed me, I lost all momentum, lost all the positions that I'd won at the start and then ended up in a very bad position on exit.

"I don't know how damaged the car was in the contact, the next few laps were literally survival."

Sainz believes a points finish would have been possible without the incident, as he was running some positions ahead of teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who finished 12th.

"I knew perfectly that scoring was impossible with this car," he said. "It was a 1-1.5 seconds slower than I've been all weekend.

"It was more about trying to help the team.

"I'm sure we could have scored with a normal car. In fact, I think Nico was very close and if you keep in mind I was ahead of Nico after the start I think I maybe I could have held the Haas and Force Indias behind.

"It's very frustrating because it's a missed chance but these things happen in the races. It wasn't my fault."

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Gasly feared Ricciardo debris would go through his visor

Pierre Gasly says a piece of debris got past the halo on his Formula 1 car and hit his visor on the opening lap of the Russian Grand Prix.
The Toro Rosso driver said debris from Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull was flicked up in front of him at the start, hitting his helmet and landing in the cockpit of his car.

“I think Daniel lost a piece of carbon, which went straight into my visor, so this was really really scary,” Gasly told reporters after the race.

“I thought it was going through and straight into my eye, and finally it touched the visor and then came into the cockpit.

“In Turn 4 I had to take the carbon piece and throw it from the cockpit.

“At the time I had like five tenths of a second to see it flying and just hitting the visor – maybe a winglet that came from somewhere, I think contact with Daniel.

“But it came my way, pointing towards me and straight in my right eye.

“When I saw it coming first I was like, 'it’s going through the visor'. Finally, the visor is really strong, it hit it and fell into the cockpit.”

When asked how the piece of debris got past his car’s halo, Gasly added: “It came under. I will have a look. It was pretty scary.”

The Frenchman reiterated his praise for the strength of F1 visors, although he suggested the fact the piece hit him in a low-speed corner also worked in his favour.

“The visor seems to be pretty strong, but maybe we need to keep improving and try to make it as strong as possible,” he said.

“The speed as well has an effect on the impact. At that time I was coming out of Turn 2, so I wasn’t so fast.

“Maybe the impact with it luckily wasn’t as big as it would have been if I would have been at 300km/h.”

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Ocon wants Force India to "review" Russian GP swaps

Esteban Ocon believes Force India needs to review the way it approached Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix, after a decision to swap its cars around failed to gain it any places.
Ocon and teammate Sergio Perez were stuck behind the Haas of Kevin Magnussen when Perez asked to be let through to attack the Dane, with Force India giving Ocon a set number of laps to make a pass before he had to move over.

The Frenchman couldn't make the overtake and allowed Perez ahead, but the latter could make no progress either - so eventually the cars swapped back, coming home ninth and 10th to both pick up points.

“Ninth is third for us, so it’s not too bad, but it’s not the best,” said Ocon, referencing that the midfield cars are in their own race so he effectively claimed an unofficial ‘class B’ podium.

“I think we had the pace for more, the pace for at least being in front of the Haas. It’s a bit of a shame.

“We tried to swap to see if someone could get the car in front, but we probably have to review this because I don’t think it worked that time.”

Both drivers accepted that there was little else the team could have done to improve its result, finishing behind Magnussen and the ‘class B’ winning Sauber of Charles Leclerc.

“We have to review [the tactics], but I think it would have been very tough for both of us,” said Ocon.

“I understand the team’s point, and to be able to try, but it didn’t work out, so let’s see what we can do better.

“When Sergio was behind he wasn’t close to me, and when I was behind it was the opposite, I couldn’t get close as well. The race was fixed from there.”

Perez added: “It was a day where we had to follow each other.

“The team tried to maximise the day, they gave me the chance to push onto Magnussen, because at the time we thought that I was a bit quicker, which didn’t happen.

“Fair enough, Esteban got the position, it was just what we could do today.

“The Sauber [Leclerc] came from nowhere and beat us massively. They have done an incredible job.

“I just saw him on the first lap and then he disappeared. Massive surprise.”

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VETTEL: I’M NO MATHS GENIUS BUT I STILL BELIEVE IN OUR CHANCES

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel could see his hopes of a fifth Formula 1 world championship title fading with the Sochi sunset on Sunday after falling 50 points behind Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton with five races remaining.

Even if it sounded like clutching at straws, the German was not about to give up the fight, however.

“I wasn’t a genius in maths, but I was clever enough to pay attention to make it up myself,” he said when asked whether he could feel the championship slipping away after Hamilton led a Mercedes one-two in Russia.

“It’s not getting easier if we lose points. I still believe in our chances; yes, obviously it’s not getting bigger if you finish behind but who knows? It takes one DNF (non-finish) and then all of a sudden things look different,” he added.

“Ideally two — which I’m not wishing on Lewis but you never know what happens. So we need to stay on top of our game which maybe we haven’t been completely this weekend: make sure that from where we are now, we focus on winning the last races.”

Hamilton has now won eight times this season, and five of the last six, while Vettel — on five wins — opened the campaign strongly but has faded due in part to errors made by himself and the team.

The German now has 256 points to Hamilton’s 306. Japan is up next, followed by Texas and Mexico before Brazil and the finale in Abu Dhabi.

Vettel won his first title with Red Bull in 2010 after overhauling a 31 point deficit in the last six races, while in 2012 he took his third crown despite having been 44 points adrift of his then-closest rival Fernando Alonso at one point.

The chances of that happening this year are remote, with both title contenders having only one retirement each in 16 races to date.

Hamilton also won in Japan and Texas last season before wrapping up the title in Mexico, a scenario that looks equally possible at the current level of performance.

“Today the feeling with the car was very good and I was able to push, but I just wasn’t as fast as the others,” commented Vettel.

“We lost some points during the two last races and it doesn’t help, but we have our plan to follow and hopefully we can make some progress in the races to come.”