Latest F1 news in brief

Maurizio Arrivabene says Ferrari's main problems were beyond their control

Team incidents hurt Ferrari in 2018 – boss
Aldo Costa plays down 2019 Mercedes engine problem
Canada GP not in danger – promoter
Vettel no fan of electric cars
Berger tips Mick Schumacher for Ferrari seat
Leclerc targets two race wins for 2019
F1 engine suppliers to be forced to share tech with new entrants
Arrivabene: F1 costs are increasing instead of decreasing
Mexican Grand Prix Organizers Accept Apology From Auto Hebdo
Red Bull team signs up gaming sponsor

Team incidents hurt Ferrari in 2018 – boss

(GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene thinks a series of incidents hurt Ferrari's charge for the 2018 title.

Some think the biggest problem with this year's failed challenge was driver mistakes made by Sebastian Vettel.

Team boss Arrivabene agrees that "driver mistakes" were an issue, but he said that is also too simplistic an analysis.

"We had the incident involving our mechanic Cigarini, then our president, who wanted me in Ferrari, passed away, leaving a big gap. Then on the eve of Austin we lost one of our engineers," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"So many things outside our control happened which went beyond racing. It is my wish that luck will help us a little more in the coming season," the Italian added.

So Arrivabene rejected speculation that Ferrari needs a personnel "revolution" in order to win the title in 2019.

"In arranging the team going forward I am working more with a foil than a sword," he said, "even if focusing on a young man like Leclerc is in itself a revolution."

Aldo Costa plays down 2019 Mercedes engine problem

It looks like the 2019 Mercedes was also designed by Aldo Costa. Hamilton will be 2019 World Champion

(GMM) Aldo Costa has played down fears Mercedes' 2019 campaign is starting off with an engine problem.

Team boss Toto Wolff said recently that there had been initial problems with next year's engine on the test bench.

"I think it was a bit misunderstood," Costa, a Mercedes technical boss, told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"When you put a new engine with new concepts on the bench, there may be something that doesn't work. But it's nothing dramatic," he insisted.

Nonetheless, Costa is expecting Ferrari to challenge hard in 2019.

"Ferrari will obviously be there to fight with us, and I am also expecting Red Bull, considering that they always speak good things about the new Honda engine," he said.

However, Costa said he is not sure Red Bull's Max Verstappen is ready to fight for a title.

"He is a talent, he is fast, but he still has to improve his consistency in order to become the winning weapon that Hamilton is," he said.

"Certainly for us it was not a perfect year. We struggled to understand the tires and in this way Red Bull was better than us. Even our reliability was good but not exceptional," added Costa.

Canada GP not in danger – promoter

Montreal Canada

(GMM) The future of the Canadian grand prix is not in danger.

That is the view of Montreal race promoter Francois Dumontier, even though F1 chief executive Chase Carey has warned that even some traditional races may need to go.

"No chance," Dumontier told Le Journal de Montreal.

"I read Chase's comments but for several reasons it did not even cross my mind. First, we have a long term contract, valid until 2029.

"It was probably the first contract he signed," he added. "Montreal has an important place on the calendar, as one of only two races in North America.

"Yes they want more American races but we are the base. So no, I don't think we are worried about it."

However, several traditional races like Silverstone, Hockenheim and Monza are in doubt for the future, but Dumontier insisted: "I'm sure they'll all find common ground."

Vettel no fan of electric cars

Vettel recognizes that silent electric car racing is NOT exciting and will kill the sport

(GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is no fan of the trend towards electrically powered cars.

The new Formula E season has just kicked off, with big manufacturers including Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, BMW, Nissan and Jaguar involved, and former F1 stars like Felipe Massa, Stoffel Vandoorne and many others.

But F1 traditionalist Vettel says he prefers petrol power.

"At some point, the cars we grew up with will not be built anymore," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "You have to accept that.

"But I don't believe electric cars solve all the world's problems either. In my opinion, it's the wrong technology," said the Ferrari driver.

"It's too expensive and not as clean as they say. Think about the batteries. They may not dispose of them over here, but then you have to dispose of them over there instead."

Vettel also said electric-powered motor sport is not a silver bullet, either.

"What we do is entertainment," he insisted. "That's where the emotion is.

"If the only thing you see at a rock concert is a laser show, something is missing. I go there because of the music."

Berger tips Mick Schumacher for Ferrari seat

The jury is still out as to whether Mick has what it takes for F1

(GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks Michael Schumacher's son is on the road to a career at Ferrari.

Currently, rumors are strengthening that Mercedes and Ferrari are tussling to secure 19-year-old Schumacher for their respective driver development programs.

"Mick will be at Ferrari in two years, but I don't know if he will drive the motor home or the F1 car," Berger, a contemporary of Mick's father Michael Schumacher, told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Seriously, in the second part of the season he really impressed me. They say he was strong because he had the best equipment but I saw him win in the wet too," the former Ferrari driver added.

"Now he has the chance to develop in Formula 2 and in a couple of years he can be in his father's car," Berger said.

Leclerc targets two race wins for 2019

Charles Leclerc

(GMM) Charles Leclerc is targeting two grand prix wins for his first year with Ferrari.

A few days ago, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said he will work to "protect" the young Monaco-born driver from "the possibility of being burned" in 2019.

"He must think of next season as a year of apprenticeship," the Italian added.

Leclerc, 21, said getting his first taste of life as a Ferrari race driver at the recent Abu Dhabi test was "incredible".

"I can hardly believe that next year I'll be in that red car and racing," the 2018 Sauber driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I aim to grow, to learn, and I have the good fortune to work next to a four time world champion," Leclerc added.

"I would like to win two grands prix: Monaco, my home and on the roads I have traveled on the bus, and Monza. I cannot wait to race in Italy with the Cavillino."

F1 engine suppliers to be forced to share tech with new entrants

F1 is so technically advanced a new manufacturer will never enter the series. F1 is an exercise in engineering. Engineering is not a sport. Never was, never will be.

Existing Formula 1 engine suppliers will be forced to share certain componentry with new entrants in the wake of the winding back of 2021 regulation changes.

F1 managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn hopes that the arrangement will encourage additional manufacturers to join the championship after attempts to dramatically change engine rules from 2021 did not come to fruition.

“The drawbridge has been pulled up and the existing suppliers don’t want anyone else to come in," said Brawn in an interview on F1’s official website.

“We have found a compromise. There are regulations coming out which would mean new entrants will get support from existing entrants. There will be components and technology which will have to be shared if it is requested.

“It is not quite such a radical change that we were proposing, but still quite a good step in the right direction and there are some nice changes to the way the driver has to manage the engine, which I think goes a long way in the sporting direction.

“There has been a recognition from the existing manufacturers that they can’t shut the door behind them.

“If we start to get serious interest from another manufacturer or supplier, they have to cooperate to find ways of helping that manufacturer come into F1."

Arrivabene: F1 costs are increasing instead of decreasing

F1 rule makers raise F1 costs yet again for something that does not work

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says next years aero changes to improve passing do not work and costs to teams are increasing by the silly rule change.

“Talking about something that is in front of us now: We have regulations for next year, they were supposed to give more possibility to the overtaking, at the moment the first feedback that I got from our drivers is that most probably that objective is not achieved."

“The result is that we are spending a huge amount of money next year to change our car, then we need also to sit together and to understand how could be the situation for the engine cost for 2021 and maybe thinking about that – because we are continuously talking about a cost cap but at the moment, I’m seeing costs that are increasing instead of decreasing."

“So, we need to stop a bit and, instead of rushing, we need to think about what we are doing now, because what we are doing now, it could potentially influence future decisions.

Mexican Grand Prix Organizers Accept Apology From Auto Hebdo

Auto Hebdo Magazine

The Mexican Grand Prix have accepted an apology from French publication Auto Hebdo concerning comments made about the event.

The French publication had said Ana Gabriela Guevara, the head of Mexico’s National Commission for Physical Culture and Sports, had made negative comments about the Mexican Grand Prix’s return.

The race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez returned in 2015 for the first time in over 20 years and Guevara was quoted to have said that this was only because of bribery and corruption.

Guevara, in a statement published by the Organizers of the Mexican Grand Prix denied talking to Auto Hebdo and saying anything negative about the event as a whole.

“I do not know who wrote those words and who put them out there.

“I did not make those statements. (…) I would never go against an event that is positive for our country."

The Organizers requested an explanation for the comments and after receiving one, released another statement accepting the apology and making it clear that their aim is to agree a new contract for the race with its current one running out next year.

“The FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE MEXICO and OMDAI FIA MEXICO acknowledge the statement made by publishers of AUTO Hebdo earlier today and accept their apology.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved since the Mexican Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2015.

“Our contract runs until 2019 and we look forward to commencing discussions regarding the renewal with all stakeholders in due course.

“These conversations must and will take place in private.

“We run our event through strict governance, compliance and with full transparency. We will maintain this way of working and ensure that we continue to promote our country in a positive manner."

Red Bull team signs up gaming sponsor

Company Logo

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce a new partnership with leading Asian online gaming provider, W66.com. The multi-year agreement will see the W66.com logo displayed on the nose of the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 and across wider Team assets.

W66.com, also known by its Chinese name Li Lai guo ji, is an old hand in a young market. Founded in 2008, it has grown to be one of Asia’s most successful online gaming providers, with 120 million active users subscribed to its platform. It has diversified into the casino hospitality business and has demonstrated its passion for competition, becoming a global sponsor of many iconic sporting events.

“We are delighted to be setting out on a partnership with W66.com," says Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner. “W66.com joins us at an opportune time as Formula 1 expands into the world of online gaming and the Team begins an exciting new chapter."

Echoing Christian’s comments, Robert Fuller, Commercial Director of W66.com, added “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing. W66.com firmly believes that the Team’s pursuit of excellence is in line with W66.com's continued growth and market-leading technology. We now look forward to the start of a successful and prosperous collaboration."