Latest F1 news in brief

Derek Warwick says Silverstone cannot afford F1 race

Britain could lose grand prix – Warwick
Alonso's sports car distraction 'a mistake' – Webber
Raikkonen targets title with new engineer
Norris wants to learn from and beat Alonso in Daytona
External backers a 'priority' for Haas

Britain could lose grand prix – Warwick
(GMM) Former F1 driver Derek Warwick says it is possible the sport will lose its historic British grand prix.

The Briton, who has battled cancer, recently stepped down as president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, which owns Silverstone.

But Warwick, 63, only stepped down after Silverstone last year triggered the break clause in its F1 contract, which could see Britain host its last race in 2019.

Talks are now taking place with Liberty about a new deal.

"The grand prix is too expensive, we're losing money and that's why we triggered the break clause," he told the Jersey Evening Post.

"Britain is the home of motor sport. Does that mean there will always be a British grand prix? Absolutely not.

"Of course we want a British grand prix and for it to stay at Silverstone, but we want it to be affordable so that we can make just enough money to reinvest in the circuit. We can't do that under the present deal," he insisted.

Alonso's sports car distraction 'a mistake' – Webber

Alonso at Daytona

(GMM) Fernando Alonso is making "a mistake" by trying to combine F1 with endurance sports cars.

That is the claim of his former rival and ongoing friend Mark Webber, after Alonso completed a week of testing in Daytona ahead of his prototype racing debut this month.

The Spaniard is using Daytona to see if he wants to bid for Le Mans victory later this year, but Webber – who switched full-time to sports cars after his F1 career but is now retired – thinks Alonso is making a mistake.

Asked if he backs Alonso's decision to divide his energy between F1 and sports cars, Webber told Italy's Automoto: "No, it's a mistake.

"They are two totally different things that both absorb a lot of mental energy. I think if you're doing F1 you can't afford distractions — it (F1) is so specific that it doesn't allow room," he added.

However, a couple of years ago Nico Hulkenberg showed that it is possible to even win Le Mans during a full-time F1 season.

But Webber said: "That was with a second-rate team in F1. The pressures are different.

"He was also with the top Le Mans team and that simplified things a lot."

Australian Webber thinks Alonso could even win Daytona this month, but questions the point of such an exercise.

"If he wins it would be amazing. He's a driver with talent unlike almost anyone else in the world. It would be fantastic, but it will not give him anything," he said.

Raikkonen targets title with new engineer

Dave Greenwood

(GMM) Kimi Raikkonen will bid for a better season in 2018 with a different race engineer.

Italy's Corriere dello Sport reports that Dave Greenwood, who joined Ferrari from Manor in 2015, is now returning to Manor in endurance sports car racing.

"Ferrari has not yet nominated a replacement," the report said, adding that Toro Rosso arrival Marco Matassa is one contender.

Of the front-running Mercedes and Ferrari teams in 2017, Raikkonen finished last of the four drivers.

But the Finn, who at 38 is the oldest driver on the grid, vowed to improve this year.

"Obviously I want to be fighting for the championship this year," said Raikkonen.

"I think personally we started (2017) pretty badly — we were not really happy with the setup and it took quite a long time to figure it out. After that it was better but then we had too many DNFs for different reasons.

"But I think as a team we came a long way, obviously not enough for what we want but I think we have all the tools. We just need to tidy up things and not make mistakes and not have issues on any side either as drivers or the team.

"Obviously we start from zero now so hopefully we will be up there," he added.

Norris wants to learn from and beat Alonso in Daytona

Lando Norris

(GMM) New McLaren reserve Lando Norris says Daytona is the perfect opportunity to start learning from Fernando Alonso.

This year, the new reigning F3 champion will travel the entire F1 calendar with McLaren, learning from the famous team alongside Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.

But the 18-year-old is getting his up-close relationship with top McLaren billing Alonso off to an early start this month, by sharing a prototype sports car with the Spaniard at Daytona.

Spain's AS newspaper claims Alonso and Norris were only 3 tenths apart in recent Daytona testing, as the pair prepared for their adventure with McLaren boss Zak Brown's United team.

"It's a good opportunity for me to learn from Fernando. I'd like to try to see what I can learn from him whenever I have the chance," said Norris.

At the same time, the young Briton said he also wants to beat the famous two-time champion.

"Daytona is a team event," he acknowledged, "but of course there is going to be a competition about who will do a better job in the practice and in the race."

External backers a 'priority' for Haas

Gene Haas tired of losing his shirt on F1

Guenther Steiner concedes that finding sponsorship is a "priority" for Haas, but insists the team won't sell themselves on the cheap.

Last season Ferrari, who power both Haas and Sauber, announced a new big deal with the latter.

Under the new arrangement, Sauber has been rebranded as Alfa Romeo Sauber, which has brought engines, technical know-how and Charles Leclerc to the team.

Asked whether Ferrari have approached Haas with that same deal prior to confirming Sauber, Steiner told Motorsport.com: "No, not with us, nothing."

He is, however, open to holding talks about a similar deal if one is put on the table.

"Why not? We are open always to talks," said the team boss.

"If somebody's got some ideas, yeah, for sure we are interested in it.
"But is it our priority? Maybe not."

Instead he says finding outside sponsorship is what the team is really looking for given that Gene Haas' Haas Automation has been the team's principle backer.

"I think that's a priority, it's just difficult to get sponsors.

"You see it on the other teams, the big teams, even they struggle.

"And for us as a small team, it's even more difficult.

"And then what we need to avoid is to give ourselves away too cheap, because then you never recover.

"If you sell yourself cheap, you never get value for it anymore."