Latest F1 news in brief

Someone needs to remind Arrivabene that Mercedes and Hamilton are usually unbeatable in Canada

Ferrari working to 'unbalance' championship – boss
Honda tipped to make 40hp step in Canada
Ickx backs Vandoorne to become 'number 1' driver
Sex case won't affect Raikkonen contract – Marchionne
Mercedes F1 Dir Wolff Believes New Model Will Lower Income

Ferrari working to 'unbalance' championship – boss
(GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene says he wants to "unbalance" the world championship starting this weekend in Canada.

The Italian, who is the notably reticent team boss at Ferrari, referred to the fact that so far in 2018, the top three teams also including Mercedes and Red Bull have each won two races apiece.

It is the most 'balanced' world championship for years, but "We will try to unbalance it now", Arrivabene told Sky Italia at the MotoGP round at Ferrari's own Mugello circuit.

"The commitment of Ferrari is to unbalance this very balanced championship," he added. "We will give it our all. The guys at home and those on the track are all giving 120pc," Arrivabene said.

Arrivabene also revealed that the mechanic whose leg was badly broken in Bahrain when he was struck by Kimi Raikkonen "is recovering and will return to the team in July".

Honda tipped to make 40hp step in Canada

Alonso won't be smiling if one of the Hondas passes him

(GMM) Honda will take "a considerable step" this weekend in Canada.

Like most of the engine manufacturers, the Japanese carmaker will bring an updated 'power unit' specification to the Montreal race.

Rumors suggest Honda's step forward will be as much as 40 hp.

"I don't know the exact numbers. I think it's better to ask someone from Honda or Toro Rosso," said Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley.

"But I think it should be a considerable step," he is quoted by AS newspaper.

Teammate Pierre Gasly said he is looking forward to Honda's power boost.

"I will wait until Friday to see exactly what the difference is," said the Frenchman.

"Sometimes in formula one it doesn't go as you expect, but sometimes it goes better, so I want to see it. But I am very excited about this improvement," Gasly added.

Ickx backs Vandoorne to become 'number 1' driver

Vandoorne hasn't shown us anything special so far

(GMM) Jacky Ickx has backed fellow Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne to eventually become a 'number 1' driver in formula one.

73-year-old Ickx, who won 8 grands prix during his career until 1979, said Vandoorne has struggled to shine amid McLaren's obvious problems in the past two years.

"The time that passes never comes back, but I remain positive and enthusiastic," Ickx told the RTBF broadcaster.

"We are not in the team so we don't know what's going on, but clearly McLaren is not in the place we got used to," he added.

"There are problems, and so in a period of concern and concentration of energy to get out of the hole, Alonso is clearly the number 1," said Ickx.

"Stoffel is a fast driver and has lost none of his talent. Perhaps he just lacks that little bit of success so that he can break through and establish himself as a number 1 in the near or medium-term future.

"I still believe in him," Ickx added.

Sex case won't affect Raikkonen contract – Marchionne

Kimi Raikkonen

(GMM) A sexual assault matter involving Kimi Raikkonen will not affect Ferrari's deliberations about his contract for 2019.

That is the news from Sergio Marchionne, the Ferrari and Fiat president.

Last week, it emerged that Raikkonen had filed a police complaint for harassment and blackmail, after a Montreal waitress accused him of sexually assaulting her in the city two years ago.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Marchionne said the Finnish driver "is not involved in the least" in the case.

"Kimi has nothing to do with this story," he said.

"As to how it will affect his contract, then in any case they are two completely unrelated things," Marchionne added, amid rumors Raikkonen could switch from Ferrari to world rally for 2019.

Mercedes F1 Dir Wolff Believes New Model Will Lower Income

No one could squeeze more money out of a race promoter than the former used car salesman

Mercedes Formula 1 Motorsport Dir Toto Wolff believes Liberty Media will "find it increasingly difficult to maintain the level of income the championship has previously received from race sanction fees," according to Adam Cooper of AUTOSPORT.

Next year's planned Miami Grand Prix will "not be based on the traditional model" of a promoter paying a fee that escalates in future years but will "instead be run with a risk and revenue sharing model," with F1 "effectively taking a share of gate and hospitality income."

That development has "encouraged several promoters to seek improved deals in the future."

Wolff said that Liberty will "struggle" to repeat deals former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone was "traditionally able to conclude."

Wolff: "Sanction fees were one of the three key revenue generators in the old Bernie F1 business model. And he was exceptional at these deals. I'm not sure it's sustainable."

The concern for teams is that reduced race fees will also likely result in F1's overall revenue, and its share of profits, "falling in years to come." AUTOSPORT