Latest F1 news in brief

Wolff knows that as long as Bottas doesn't beat Hamilton the drivers will get along

Wolff sure Mercedes drivers will get along
Promoter sure Baku race better in 2017
Schumacher manager questions F1's Liberty buyout
Alonso back in title-winning shape – trainer
Briatore won't join Brawn as F1 'consultant'
Vasseur exit won't hurt Renault – Palmer
Renault promising Spain GP engine boost – Marko
Montoya: Vettel, Alonso best on F1 grid
Redding to leave McLaren for Williams

Wolff sure Mercedes drivers will get along
(GMM) Toto Wolff says he is confident Lewis Hamilton will get along with his new Mercedes teammate in 2017.

This week, triple world champion Hamilton's father Anthony said his son would "much rather" still be paired with Nico Rosberg rather than the retired German's replacement Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton snr also warned: "Lewis kills drivers.

"My own personal view is that anyone who goes up against Lewis really needs to have their career mapped out for them because it's a career killer."

But team boss Wolff thinks Hamilton and 27-year-old Finn Bottas, who is switching from Williams on a one-year contract, will get along.

"The balance between Valtteri and Lewis works," he said.

"They are two very different personalities and for us it was important to fill Nico's shoes. Nico had a certain role in the team and Valtteri pretty much fits into that.

"They respect each other and so far from what I have seen, Valtteri has settled in well," Wolff added.

Wolff also gave a tantalizing hint at what awaits F1 fans this year by saying the cars of 2017 will "look spectacular".

Promoter sure Baku race better in 2017

Work crews remove fake facades after last year's Baku race

(GMM) Promoter Arif Rahimov is sure Azerbaijan's second F1 race this year will be more exciting than its 2016 calendar debut.

The streets of Baku had been billed as one of the sport's most exciting new destinations, but the Italian magazine Autosprint claims the race last year was ultimately a letdown.

Race promoter Rahimov, however, thinks 2017 will be different.

"Take Sochi as an example," he is quoted as saying. "The first year was boring, and the same happened to us. But the following year was a great show."

Rahimov said drivers will have more confidence in 2017, after learning the challenging and unforgiving wall-lined layout.

He is also buoyed by the fact that, unlike in 2016, the Azerbaijan grand prix this year will not clash with the fabled 24 hour Le Mans sports car race.

"We are happy that spectators will no longer have to choose between the two races," he said.

Schumacher manager questions F1's Liberty buyout

Willi Weber and Michael Schumacher in 2007

(GMM) Michael Schumacher's former manager is not so sure the takeover by Liberty Media will really be good for F1.

So far, since the US media group took over from controversial former owner CVC, most commentators have said Liberty's modern savvy should help F1 step up a gear.

But Willi Weber, who famously guided F1 legend Schumacher into the sport in the 90s, is not so sure 'Americanization' will be good for grand prix racing.

"The Americans make a circus out of every sport," he told Germany's Sport Bild.

"Now they'll want to make every race a big event, inviting famous actors and letting the spectators get closer to the audience than in the Bernie (Ecclestone) era.

"But the Americans will never fight for a formula one ticket — they would just rather go somewhere else. So I think that the premium feeling about formula one will be lost.

"The new owners have no racing feeling — they just want to make money," Weber added.

Weber also commented on the future of Sebastian Vettel, as many say the German's attempt to emulate Schumacher's feats at Ferrari has already failed.

Weber agrees: "If it is not much better this season, then Vettel must go. Even when they (Ferrari) pour wine at lunch again, it is clear — no more."

Finally, 74-year-old Weber commented on the fate of his old friend Schumacher, saying he has no information about the seven time world champion after being shut out by the family and new management.

"There seems to be a fear that I would reveal something about Michael's condition," he said. "But I would never do that. I would sign any clause of secrecy.

"Regardless of this, I consider it only right to explain three years after his accident to his millions of fans, how he (Schumacher) is.

"I pray for Michael," said Weber. "Hope dies last."

Alonso back in title-winning shape – trainer

Alonso working out hard

(GMM) Fernando Alonso is back in the kind of physical shape that won him back-to-back world championships more than a decade ago.

That is the claim of the Spanish sports daily AS, quoting the popular McLaren-Honda driver's trainer Edoardo Bendinelli.

After a period of winter silence, 35-year-old Alonso burst back into life on social media this week, saying the month had been "very intense" with "physical work".

Like his 2017 F1 rivals, Alonso has undoubtedly been training hard for the much faster cars this year.

"I can say that Fernando is in his best shape, stronger and more motivated than ever," said Bendinelli.

"Fernando's aerobic work in these past years has been good, but now there is more fitness, more weight, more strength needed," he added.

Perhaps the most obvious sign of Alonso's greater strength in 2017 will be his famously thick neck, Bendinelli said.

He said Alonso's neck now measures "45 centimeters" — about 10cm more than an average man.

"It's similar to a middle weight boxer," said Bendinelli.

As for whether Alonso is showing any lingering signs of the injuries he sustained in Melbourne a year ago, Bendinelli insisted: "No, absolutely nothing.

"It was significant with his lung, but it is perfect now," he added.

Briatore won't join Brawn as F1 'consultant'

Flavio Briatore and wife Elisabetta Gregoraci. He has better things to do in life.

Flavio Briatore and young wife Elisabetta Gregoraci. He has better things to do in life.

Photo by Frezza/LaFata / Rex Features

(GMM) Flavio Briatore says he is not about to rejoin his old F1 colleague Ross Brawn by returning to the sport.

Briatore, a famous former team boss, worked with new F1 managing director Ross Brawn at Benetton back in the 90s.

It has been rumored the Italian might now be interested in returning as a consultant, but he told Italy's Sky Sport 24: "A consultant?

"I cannot work for someone else, but anyway consultant is one of those words that means little to me."

But that doesn't mean Briatore is short of opinions about how Liberty Media should improve F1.

"I created FOTA to ensure that the drivers were again at the center," he said of the now-defunct teams association.

"I was talking to (Stefano) Domenicali a few days ago. Those watching TV don't care if the engine can go to the moon or not. They want the drivers in cars that have more or less the same performance," the Italian added.

"I worked with Ross Brawn for eight years, when F1 was a sport for gladiators. It seems that he wants to abolish the moving rear wing (DRS), and I agree," said Briatore.

"We'll see if he can change things."

But Briatore does see some bright spots with F1 today, and one of them is Max Verstappen.

"For what he did in Brazil (2016), it will be enough to give him a car that is a little better and he will win the championship. We didn't see things like this even from the young Senna," Briatore said.

Vasseur exit won't hurt Renault – Palmer
(GMM) The departure of team boss Frederic Vasseur will not hurt Renault.

That is the claim of the French works team's British driver Jolyon Palmer, referring to last month's surprise news that Frenchman Vasseur has left after a single year.

In 2016, Renault had a bad first season after taking over Lotus, but Palmer is quoted by Italy's Corriere dello Sport as insisting Vasseur's departure will not now hurt the team's progress.

"It was unfortunate that Vasseur left," Palmer said, "but we have a team that knows formula one. Renault has done great things in the sport in the past.

"So we are in good hands. The feeling is that this year we will get some results. There are good people in the team and we're all looking forward to it," he added.

Renault promising Spain GP engine boost – Marko

Marko expects more power from Renault by May

(GMM) Red Bull is confident engine supplier Renault will deliver in 2017 — particularly after the opening few races of the season.

After the first four 'flyaway' races in March and April, the sport moves on to Barcelona and Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is promising a big boost in Spain.

"We are seeing encouraging signs that the gap to the leaders is gradually decreasing," he told Germany's motorsport-magazin.com.

"For the European part of the season we should be in good shape," Marko added. "From the point of view of speed, our engine should be at Ferrari's level unless they make a big jump, although we have not yet reached the level of Mercedes.

"However, the gap is no longer so great that we can talk about having no chance," said the Austrian.

Renault powers its own works team as well as supplying Tag Heuer-branded customer engines to Red Bull. Red Bull's second team Toro Rosso is also expected to rebrand its Renault engines in 2017.

Montoya: Vettel, Alonso best on F1 grid

Montoya doesn't rate Hamilton as high because his car is superior

Ex-Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has picked out Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and McLaren-Honda's Fernando Alonso as the strongest drivers on the current grid.

Mercedes dominated F1 from 2014 to 2016, following the arrival of turbo hybrid power units, with Lewis Hamilton claiming successive titles and Nico Rosberg triumphing last year.

In contrast, Vettel has been restricted to three victories since joining Ferrari in 2015, while Alonso last finished on the podium midway through 2014, ahead of his McLaren return.

But seven-time Grand Prix winner Montoya, speaking in a video interview for the official F1 website, suggested that Vettel and Alonso would move to the fore in equal machinery.

Vettel is a four-time champion, while Alonso has two titles to his name.

"I would say probably Vettel is one of the most complete guys, and I think Fernando – I ran with Fernando all my career," commented Montoya, who raced for Williams and McLaren.

"I think those are the two… overall the best drivers [on the current grid].

"I think Lewis does a really good job, but [he's] in the best car; it's very easy to think a guy in the best car is the best driver, but if they were not in the best car, how would they handle things?

"I think Fernando and Sebastian have endured that, and are the best."

Montoya was also full of praise for Red Bull youngster Max Verstappen.

"I think Max is really good," added Montoya, who raced with his father, Jos.

"He's in people's minds because he's making moves, he's aggressive.

"Does he make mistakes by being too aggressive? Yeah. He laughs about it and he knows he screwed up, but people are thinking about [him] and [he's] catching people's attention.

"It's not a bad thing – the sport needs that [Verstappen's approach]."

Redding to leave McLaren for Williams

Dave Redding

McLaren Team Manager Dave Redding is to leave the outfit for rival Williams.

Redding's job title will be given to Chief Race Mechanic Paul James, though some sporting responsibilities are to be handed over to Andrea Stella, the squad's Head of Race Operations.

"We can confirm that David Redding is leaving McLaren Racing," a McLaren spokesman told GPUpdate.net.

"He will be replaced by Paul James, who will become Team Manager, with a focus on the operational and managerial nature of the role.

"Our Head of Race Operations, Andrea Stella, will assume some of the role's sporting responsibilities and engagement with the FIA.

"Kari Lammenranta will replace Paul as our new Chief Race Mechanic."

Redding will join Williams later in the year and work alongside current Sporting Manager Steve Nielsen, who is preparing to step away from a frontline role for 2018.

"Our Sporting Manager, Steve Nielsen, has always been clear about his desire to do less travelling following the end of the 2017 season and we fully understood and respected his request given he has been in travelling roles for over 30 years," said Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams.

"Steve has done a fantastic job since joining the team in 2014, from restructuring the race team to the brilliant work in driving the turnaround of our pit-stop performance.

"We can confirm that Dave Redding will join Williams as Team Manager later this year to work alongside Steve to ensure a seamless handover ahead of taking full responsibility for the race team in 2018."

News of Redding's departure from Woking comes shortly after McLaren confirmed it had parted ways with CEO Jost Capito, who only officially joined the team five months ago.