Latest F1 news in brief

Hamilton wonders about those driver rules

Mercedes to keep 'driver rules' in 2017
Mercedes to test 'shark fin' in Barcelona
Mercedes 'closer and closer' to 1000hp
Bottas has 'no problem' with sharing telemetry
Renault takes 'risk' as new Toro Rosso fails
Wolff 'not worried' amid suspension row
Mallya fires parting shot at deposed Ecclestone
Teams happy as Pirelli reduces tire pressures
McLaren pushes out last of the Ron Dennis cronies'

Mercedes to keep 'driver rules' in 2017
(GMM) Mercedes will continue to have written 'rules of engagement' for the battle between its F1 drivers.

In recent years, the acrimony between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg meant that detailed guidelines about their on-track battles was enshrined in what became known in the paddock as 'the bible'.

But even with retiring Rosberg's replacement by Finn Valtteri Bottas, it has emerged that those rules will continue to apply.

"We have an internal paper that has grown with our experience over the years," team boss Toto Wolff told the German broadcaster RTL.

And he is also quoted by London's Times newspaper: "We are maybe going to call it differently and trim it a little bit, add the bits that were missing, but not make it a complex regulation.

"We have to see how the season gets started," Wolff added. "It might be completely different in terms of the dynamics between the drivers and the dynamic with other teams. But the basic concept stays."

Mercedes to test 'shark fin' in Barcelona

Mercedes ran the shark fin a few minutes at Silverstone yesterday, but in the official photos it was off the car. Ferrari has a similar shark fin in front of rear wing below

(GMM) Mercedes will add a 'shark fin' to its newly-launched 2017 car for the forthcoming official testing in Barcelona.

When the W08 was launched at Silverstone on Thursday, it was notable that – unlike the similarly-revealed Williams, Sauber, Williams and Renault – it was missing an engine cover 'shark fin'.

But Mercedes' technical boss Aldo Costa said: "Yes, we will also put a fin behind the airbox.

"As beautiful as the car may look now, it would be negligent if we did not play through all the possibilities. We will bring new things to the car every day," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Indeed, even during its allowed 'filming' run on Thursday, Valtteri Bottas was at the wheel when a novel 'T-wing' was fitted just ahead of the rear wing.

Costa is quoted by Marca sports newspaper: "We are looking at that solution, but we will also look at the shark fin in Barcelona."

Some insiders are expressing concerns about the aesthetics of the 2017 cars, including Force India's 'stepped' nose, nose tip protrusions, and increasingly long wheel-bases.

But Bottas, speaking to the Finnish broadcaster MTV, said of the new Mercedes: "Maybe I am looking at it with team glasses, but it's the best looking car I've ever seen live."

Mercedes 'closer and closer' to 1000hp
(GMM) Mercedes is inching ever "closer" to the milestone mark of 1000 horse power with its field-leading V6 power unit.

That is the admission of engine boss Aldo Costa, amid reports that while Ferrari, Renault and even Honda are now closing up on Mercedes, the German marque has also made a significant step for 2017.

One year ago, F1 blogger Joe Saward scoffed at reports Mercedes had inched tantalizingly close to 1000hp in the new 'power unit' era, calling it "Fabulous sh***!"

But Cowell is quoted by the Spanish daily Marca: "We are getting closer and closer (to 1000hp) with every evolution, but we're not going to say exactly where we are.

"There are several improvements in reliability as well that will allow us to push harder than before and for a longer time," he added.

Bottas has 'no problem' with sharing telemetry

Nice guy Bottas

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he has "no problem" sharing telemetry with teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2017.

Earlier, Mercedes regular and triple world champion Hamilton stirred up a new controversy by saying he was unhappy with his teammate always having access to his telemetry.

The Briton clarified his remarks on Twitter, insisting he has "zero problems in my team, zero problems with Bottas".

When asked what he thought about Hamilton's comments about data sharing, Bottas said on Thursday: "No matter what is said, it will not change anything.

"Each driver has to think not only about themselves but also how to move the team forward. And if it makes the car faster, it is in the interests of both the drivers.

"I have no problem with sharing the data," the Finn added.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also played down the controversy, saying: "It's amazing how reporters can create a controversy where there is none.

"But a good headline helps sell newspapers. If the article says everything is calm at Mercedes then you don't sell as many papers or attract as many readers," he added.

Renault takes 'risk' as new Toro Rosso fails

Renault engine boss Remi Taffin must have egg on his face about now

(GMM) Renault is a "serious contender" amid the engine power battle in F1.

That is the claim of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, amid eyebrow-raising rumors about the 35 horse power step Renault has supposedly taken over the winter.

"That is an impressive number," Wolff admitted.

"Renault is a highly professional organization and we regard them as a serious contender," he added. Renault supplies engines to its own works team as well as likely 2017 title contender Red Bull.

"I hope we have the best car, engine and drivers, but we cannot see it as self-evident."

However, the first reports about the performance of Renault's '95 per cent new' 2017 power unit are in fact alarming, as it reportedly failed as the new Toro Rosso was rolled out at Misano in Italy on Thursday.

Earlier, Renault engine boss Remi Taffin defended the "risk" taken with the new concept.

"The old concept was at the end of its possibilities," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "When necessary, you must take risks and we do not do it for fun.

"Last year we had a great reliability record — now we are asked why we are doing something new? Because we have to close the gap," Taffin added.

Wolff 'not worried' amid suspension row
(GMM) Toto Wolff insists he is "not worried" Mercedes' controversial suspension system will be declared illegal by the FIA.

A dispute is raging between Mercedes and Red Bull, who are using a linked suspension concept, and another camp led mainly by Ferrari.

It has raised the specter of a controversy and protest-riddled 2017 season opener in Melbourne.

But Mercedes team boss Wolff said: "I am not worried.

"The FIA has assured us several times that we are legal," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "It is the usual saber-rattling before the season."

Mallya fires parting shot at deposed Ecclestone

Vijay Mallya pans Ecclestone

(GMM) Vijay Mallya has fired a parting shot at the recently deposed F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The Indian businessman's Force India team finished an admirable fourth overall last year, despite having one of the smallest budgets in pitlane.

But when the 2017 car was unveiled, it was clear that success had not translated into an influx of new on-car sponsorship.

Asked why, Vijay told Auto Motor und Sport: "If the boss of formula one says publicly that the sport is crap, what do you expect?"

In 2015, Ecclestone notoriously claimed that "Formula one is crap". At the age of 86, he was replaced as chief executive by new F1 owner Liberty Media recently.

Mallya continued: "Which sponsor wants to enter a business than speaks like that about itself? Bernie put off many sponsors with his comments, and those who did come went to the rights holders.

"FOM and the teams were competing for sponsors," he continued. "Liberty Media seems to have a different approach, so let's see what changes."

Teams happy as Pirelli reduces tire pressures

The wider Pirellis will run with less tire pressure

(GMM) F1 teams are reacting with positive surprise to news that Pirelli will drop the pressures of its tires in 2017.

Last year, many teams and drivers complained about the very high minimum pressures mandated by Pirelli on safety grounds.

Now, the sport is switching to much bigger, wider, grippier and less degrading tires for 2017, but some engineers were warning that if the pressures did not drop as well, they may not actually be much faster.

"If we have to go over 25 PSI, the laptimes won't be faster than last year," one engineer was quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

But the German publication says Pirelli will actually mandate 22 PSI for front tires and 18 PSI for the rears starting with Barcelona testing next week.

An engineering source at Renault reacted: "That is very brave. With those tires pressures, we will really be able to see what the new cars can do."

McLaren pushes out last of the Ron Dennis cronies'
Though you may not know it from the outside, make no mistake about it: McLaren is in the process of cleaning house. And with this latest staff announcement, it may have finally closed the last chapter and moved onto the next.

The news surrounds one Ekrem Sami, who has served until now as head of marketing in Woking. Now he's on his way out, which may not seem like a big deal in and of itself, until you look at what that means for McLaren.

Sami has worked for McLaren for an impressive 35 years, having come on board shortly after Ron Dennis took over. After the company's other shareholders ousted Dennis from the chair at the head of the table, Sami was asked to step down from the board around the same time that they sacked Jost Capito, the former Ford and VW rally chief whom Dennis had brought on board to run the F1 operation.

Sami was kept on board as CEO of McLaren Marketing, but has now stepped down from that position as well. His departure consolidates power in the hands of the company's newmanaging director Zak Brown and majority shareholders Mansour Ojjeh and Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa, who represents the government of Bahrain on McLaren's executive committee that's now calling the shots in the wake of Dennis' departure.

“I don't mind admitting that it feels a bit strange to be announcing that I'm moving on from McLaren, the company to which I've devoted almost all my professional life. But now is the right time. However, I'll continue to work on the projects with which I'm already engaged, and I expect to formalise my departure some time in late March," said Sami in a statement released by his former employers.

“Over the past 35 years I've worked with some truly brilliant people, and I want to say thank you to them all. Our successes were a team effort in the most fundamental way."