Latest F1 news in brief – Monday

• Valtteri Bottas says nothing wrong with Mercedes, We all know they were sandbagging, running their engine at 70-80% power

  'Nothing fundamentally wrong' with car – Bottas

• Brexit could give Haas advantage – Steiner
• Standard gearbox not decided yet – Steiner
• Overtaking not easier in 2019 – Newey
• Montezemolo dislikes new Ferrari color
• Netflix series producer slams Mercedes and Ferrari
• Owner Stroll expects Racing Point to improve
• Boullier to help run French GP
• Leclerc a 'luxury problem' for Ferrari – Wolff
• Ferrari gets 'no points' for strong winter – Horner
• Renault sympathizes after Williams delay
• Russell says Kubica must 'cooperate, not compete'
• Female driver to race in Formula 2
• Lauda's doctor rules out Melbourne flight
• Hamilton has no interest in 'triple crown'

'Nothing fundamentally wrong' with car – Bottas

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists there is nothing "fundamentally wrong" with Mercedes' 2019 car.

The Finn was asked about the apparent half a second gap that separates the reigning champions from Ferrari after the first winter test.

"Ferrari seems to be ahead of us at the moment," Bottas admitted. "That's a fact."

He cautioned that the situation could be different by Melbourne, particularly if rumors are true that Mercedes is looking into following Ferrari's lead with the front wing design.

Explaining Mercedes' problem, Bottas said: "The tire window is very small and the balance is on a knife's edge. We have problems in some corners and bigger problems in some others.

"But it also does not feel like something is fundamentally wrong with the car."

Speaking to Sky Italia, Bottas' teammate and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton would not talk specifically about Mercedes' apparent deficit to Ferrari.

But he admitted that Mercedes could be set for "our most difficult year".

"I also know that I have the best team that knows how to find the way to the top.

"Tests are tests," Hamilton insisted. "At this moment it is completely irrelevant how fast we are. What matters is how fast we are in Q3 in Australia."

Team boss Toto Wolff denied that Mercedes is "sandbagging".

"You have to find a balance between not showing all your cards and developing a car that is representative of what you take to Melbourne," he said.

"We can see that Ferrari has done a good job, but other years have looked like that as well," Wolff added.

Brexit could give Haas advantage – Steiner

Gene Haas at testing last week

(GMM) Gunther Steiner thinks 'Brexit' could actually be an advantage for the Haas team.

Last week, Mercedes' Toto Wolff said Britain's exit from the European Union could favor Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, who are based outside the UK.

But Steiner thinks Brexit would also leave Haas in a good place.

"We are keeping our eyes open to see if we have to do anything. But we aren't spending any money on it," he told Ekstra Bladet newspaper.

"We are a small team. If anyone can move fast, it's us. We just pick up our caravan and move to another country."

Indeed, although an American team based in North Carolina, Haas also has a logistics base in the UK. The team also works with Italian suppliers Dallara and Ferrari.

Referring again to Brexit, Steiner said: "We do not make irrational decisions. The big teams have bigger investments than us. And it's not decided what happens. I will wait to see how we respond."

After the opening Barcelona test, many think Haas is struggling.

"It's hard to say if we will be fighting for fourth place," Steiner admits, according to Sky Italia.

"Given their resources and budget, Renault should be in front of us.

"Alfa Romeo seems to be the team that has made the biggest improvement, then Renault. But it's still very early."

Standard gearbox not decided yet – Steiner

Gunther Steiner

(GMM) A final decision about gearboxes for 2021 has not been made.

That is the claim of Haas team boss Gunther Steiner, responding to the news that a tender has been put out by the FIA regarding a standard gearbox design for 2021.

"There is this proposal, but nothing has been decided about the technical regulations yet," he told Sky Italia.

"It is a test to see if a standard part costs less. The idea is to see how much it costs and compare that with what we spend at the moment.

"But there is nothing yet in the regulations," Steiner added.

Haas currently buys its gearbox from Ferrari.

Overtaking not easier in 2019 – Newey

The F1 rules makers have done it again – wasted $millions for nothing

(GMM) The F1 paddock is skeptical that overtaking will become easier in 2019.

The main tweak to the rules for this year – the wider front wings – is designed to make it easier for a following car to chase and pass his rival.

Ferrari has the fastest new car so far, but Sebastian Vettel told Auto Motor und Sport that when he caught Carlos Sainz's McLaren last week in Barcelona and: "I had no chance to pass him.

"I just never got close enough," Vettel said.

F1's top car designer, Adrian Newey, agrees: "You (the chasing car) lose just as much downforce as before."

And Andy Green, the technical boss at Racing Point, commented: "We do not build cars that make driving easier for the guy behind.

"Our task is to make our car as fast as possible. And to do this, the air must pass outside of the wheels.

"As long as we see the chance to do that, we will do it," he added.

Montezemolo dislikes new Ferrari color

Luca di Montezemolo dislikes the 'flat' red color Ferrari

(GMM) Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says he does not like the new color of the Maranello team's 2019 car.

Ferrari has switched to a lightweight matte finish for its 2019 livery, while some have observed that the color itself appears more orange than in 2018.

"In my opinion, the Ferrari red is sacred. It's a brand that is known all over the world. That's why I do not really like it," Montezemolo admitted to Tuttosport.

"And I'm not convinced by the story that it saves so much weight."

However, the 71-year-old said that if the new livery helps Ferrari to the title, he will overlook his criticism.

"If this leads to the long-awaited success, I would push my grief over the color aside," said Montezemolo.

Netflix series producer slams Mercedes and Ferrari

Netflix crying towel

(GMM) The producers of a new Netflix documentary series about F1 have hit out at top teams Mercedes and Ferrari.

The ten part series called Drive to Survive, set to be released on March 8, features behind-the-scenes access to every team except last year's title protagonists.

"Mercedes and Ferrari wanted to operate under different terms to the rest of the teams, and we didn't feel comfortable with that," executive producer Paul Martin is quoted by the Telegraph newspaper.

"My view is that they did a slight disservice to the fans and the sport by not taking part."

Another executive producer on the project was Liberty Media's Sean Bratches, the F1 commercial boss.

Mercedes defended its decision to not take part.

"Competing for the world championship is an all-consuming business that demands every ounce of focus from the entire team. We are driven first and foremost by performance in every decision we make," said a spokesman.

Ferrari declined to comment.

Owner Stroll expects Racing Point to improve

Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll watches testing last week

(GMM) The team formerly known as Force India is confident it will improve in 2019.

After the first Barcelona test, it was clear that the team – now called Racing Point – is struggling for pace.

"The chassis is basically the same as last year's," explains technical boss Andy Green.

"The gearbox is from last year too. There is a lot from the old car. We could not make all of the changes that we wanted to make."

The team was rescued from financial collapse last year by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, who has installed his son Lance as one of the drivers.

Green says Racing Point is enjoying the financial boost.

"It's a different way of working and a bit of a shock," he said. "I think you call it normal!"

He says Racing Point will make car upgrades throughout the 2019 season.

"The team was practically bankrupt when we bought it," said new team owner Stroll, according to Le Journal de Montreal. "We saved it.

"If we had not intervened, there would probably be nine teams in F1 this year."

That's why he says he is not alarmed by the initial results of the first Barcelona test.

"We have a very clear long term vision," said Stroll.

"The tests this week are not only about this season, but also 2020. This team has huge potential.

"In spite of limited resources, they have worked miracles in recent years. And with the new approach of a budget cap for 2021, it is very promising.

"The car you saw last week will not be the same one that you will see at the first race of the season. And expect a clear evolution when we come back for the Spanish grand prix in May," he added.

Boullier to help run French GP

Eric Boullier

(GMM) Eric Boullier is back in formula one.

The Frenchman was ousted as McLaren team boss in July of last year.

But France's L'Equipe reports that he is now returning with a role at the French grand prix.

While McLaren boss, Boullier already worked to help Paul Ricard return to the calendar.

The publication said the 45-year-old will now be the sporting and operational advisor, with responsibility for communicating with the teams and Liberty Media.

"I am happy and proud to have the opportunity to collaborate again with the GP de France," said Boullier.

Leclerc a 'luxury problem' for Ferrari – Wolff

Toto Wolff does not have that problem anymore because Bottas inferior to Hamilton

(GMM) Toto Wolff thinks two strong drivers is a "luxury problem" for Mercedes' key F1 rival Ferrari.

Some believe Ferrari could struggle to manage its drivers now that Sebastian Vettel has young charger Charles Leclerc as his teammate.

But Mercedes boss Wolff, who previously managed the difficult rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, calls it a "luxury problem".

"With Leclerc they have a future champion in the car, and with Sebastian they have a four-time champion. So I think it's a luxury problem for them," he said at a sponsor event in Turin.

"Difficult is the wrong word," Wolff added. "I think it is better to say challenging.

"We have had that situation before and in fact we have it every year. You want to have two competitive drivers to compete for the constructors' championship," he said.

Ferrari gets 'no points' for strong winter – Horner

Christian Horner

(GMM) It is too soon to say that Ferrari is the definite favorite in 2019.

That is the view of Christian Horner, the Red Bull boss. He was responding to claims the early pecking order is Ferrari with a clear lead, ahead of Red Bull-Honda and Mercedes.

"If there was a winter world championship, Ferrari would win it every year," he told Spain's Marca.

"But you get no points in the winter.

"Clearly they have arrived here with a strong car, but these are not even close to the temperatures we will race at."

Indeed, Red Bull is sounding extremely bullish about its new works relationship with Honda.

"There is a change of rules this year, so the winter test times are somewhat confusing right now," Horner explained.

"I don't think they give us a good idea of what the first race will be like, although I could be wrong. But the tests can be deceptive."

At any rate, Horner says Red Bull is in better shape with Honda compared with the customer Renault engines it gave up at the end of 2018.

"What is certain is that we now have more power than we had last year," he said. "What we don't know is what Ferrari, McLaren and Renault have done over the winter.

"We will only have a real vision of the situation after the first three or four races. We're touching wood, because for the moment the signs are good."

Renault sympathizes after Williams delay

Nick Chester

(GMM) Nick Chester, the technical boss at Renault, says he sympathizes with Williams.

Embarrassed team boss Claire Williams apologized to the team's fans and drivers last week following a more than two day delay for its new 2019 car.

But only a week earlier, boss Cyril Abiteboul had also warned that Renault also came close to a delayed start at the first Barcelona test.

Chester explained: "If you have not been involved in the production of formula one cars, you do not know how difficult it really is.

"Within a week or two we are talking about thousands of parts. And they all come at once," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"One or two problems are enough to be four to five days late. It's a daunting task," Chester added.

He said Williams will now be working to "trim" its program and prioritize tasks that are less important.

"The problem with that is that you really do need every kilometer for reliability and to understand the car. The missed days just hurt," said Chester.

Russell says Kubica must 'cooperate, not compete'

Someone needs to explain to George Russell that an F1 driver has to beat his teammate to secure his career. They cannot beat anyone else, especially in a slug Williams, where the car is 99% and the driver 1% of the equation

(GMM) George Russell says he and teammate Robert Kubica need to work together rather than fight in the wake of Williams' delayed start to winter testing.

Problems with the design of parts meant that Williams, dead last in 2018, was more than two days late to get its new car up and running in Barcelona.

And Russell, the reigning Formula 2 champion, says he and teammate Kubica must now work together.

"We cannot and do not want to be rivals," he is quoted by Eleven Sports.

"We can't fight over 19th place. We want to help Williams to achieve something bigger.

"It will not work if we compete with each other. We need to cooperate," Russell added.

Kubica has given an alarming account of last week's testing for Barcelona, declaring: "After the week I know as much as I did before. Which is nothing."

Russell, though, is looking on the bright side.

"I had a good feeling in the car. It seems balanced," he is quoted by France's Auto Hebdo.

"But we cannot say much yet because I haven't explored the limits of the car. We still need to optimize all the areas because everything was done at the last minute."

Female driver to race in Formula 2

Tatiana Calderon

(GMM) Tatiana Calderon has moved another step closer to F1.

Last year, Sauber's female test driver drove the Swiss team's car for a 'filming' run after the Mexican grand prix.

Now, she has been signed up by the well-known Arden team in Formula 2 for 2019.

"It's a new challenge in my career and another step towards my ultimate goal, which is formula one," said the Colombian driver.

Calderon, 25, finished 16th in GP3 last year.

Lauda's doctor rules out Melbourne flight

Australia is just too far of a flight for Niki

(GMM) Niki Lauda's doctor has confirmed reports that the F1 legend will not be in Australia next month.

Lauda, who has just turned 70, has had a long recovery from lung transplant surgery last year.

"Niki is doing well at the moment," Lauda's younger brother Florian Lauda told ORF television.

"Now he has to strengthen his muscles, but the worry is over."

However, Lauda's doctor Walter Klepetko warned that "large crowds" could actually pose a risk to the triple world champion's health.

"Large crowds are always a potential threat of infection, in which case it may be appropriate for him to wear a mask to protect himself," he said.

But Dr Klepetko said Lauda will surely return to the F1 paddock soon enough.

"However, he will not be there for every race and most of all not in Melbourne at the start of the season," he said.

"A transcontinental flight is not what is needed now."

Responding to a birthday message from the broadcaster ORF, Lauda said: "It has been a bit bumpy, but I'll come back at full speed."

When asked about Lauda's birthday, world champion Lewis Hamilton said he talked to the Mercedes team chairman via FaceTime.

"We miss him, his advice is precious," said Hamilton.

"He has been through a difficult time, but he wants to get back to what he was doing before."

Hamilton has no interest in 'triple crown'

Lewis Hamilton avoids the Race of Champions and IndyCar where he can't drive the superior Mercedes he has in F1

(GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he has no interest in following Fernando Alonso's lead by targeting the so-called 'triple crown'.

Now retired from F1, Alonso has already added Le Mans to his tally and is now targeting victory at the Indy 500.

If he wins, he will become only the second driver after Graham Hill to win the Monaco GP, Le Mans and the Indy 500.

But five time world champion Hamilton says he has no similar aspirations.

"I had never heard about the triple crown until last year," he told Radio Marca.

"It's not something that particularly interests me or is something I want to do," said Hamilton at a sponsor event in Turin.