Latest F1 news in brief

F1 crash test

Red Bull, Haas cars pass crash tests
Giovinazzi deserves F1 race seat – Minardi
Ecclestone doubts Red Bull can win title
Rosberg may regret retirement decision – Berger
Boullier targets top four for McLaren
Minardi defends 'pay driver' Stroll
Renault will help Red Bull close gap – Mateschitz
Mateschitz undecided over F1 shares

Red Bull, Haas cars pass crash tests
(GMM) Two more F1 teams are on track for pre-season testing late next month.

We have already reported that Toro Rosso and Force India had their respective 2017 chassis approved by the FIA following mandatory crash tests.

Now, Brazil's UOL quotes Red Bull designer Adrian Newey as saying: "We have passed the crash tests, the design is almost finished and we are already in production."

And Haas team boss Gunther Steiner said: "Passing the crash test is always a good sign. Once you do that, you know things will come together somehow."

Antonio Giovinazzi – his checkbook just wasn't big enough

Giovinazzi deserves F1 race seat – Minardi
(GMM) New Ferrari reserve Antonio Giovinazzi actually deserves a seat on the 2017 grid.

That is the claim of former Italian F1 team owner Gian Carlo Minardi, referring to the Italian 23-year-old who almost won this year's GP2 title.

"He is already worthy of F1, possessing all the skills that enable a driver to do well in the top category," Minardi told the Italian publication Autosprint.

"The good news is being taken by Ferrari; the less good news is that he has no guarantee of actual kilometer's. If I still had my team, he would certainly be making his debut, gathering valuable experience for the future.

"But apparently at this time, there is not a smaller team who can give these opportunities, or at least there are no vacancies," Minardi added.

Giovinazzi himself is looking on the bright side of his new job, nonetheless admitting that he will miss the adrenaline of actual racing in 2017.

"But still I'm happy to be learning new things," he told Corriere della Sera newspaper.

"F1 is completely new to me, although in reality the car is not so different from GP2. I will need to understand all the functions, train hard and make myself ready," Giovinazzi added.

Ecclestone, Todt and Red Bull's Horner. Bernie knows it’s nearly impossible to beat an Aldo Costa designed car

Ecclestone doubts Red Bull can win title
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone doubts Mercedes can be beaten in 2017.

Many are hoping and expecting that, with the major aerodynamic regulation changes, 2016 runner-up Red Bull can mount a serious title tilt this year.

But F1 supremo Ecclestone told the Munich newspaper TZ: "If Red Bull believes they can beat Mercedes with better aerodynamics, I'm not so sure.

"The gap that Mercedes has with the engine is still huge," he insisted.

However, Ecclestone does fully support Red Bull's young sensation Max Verstappen, despite the controversy his attacking style has provoked.

"He is a future world champion," said the 86-year-old Briton.

"He tries to win races and is probably better at being on the limit than the others. That's racing," said Ecclestone.

Former Sauber technical boss Willy Rampf agrees with Ecclestone that the pecking order is unlikely to change in 2017.

"From the outside, I got the impression last year that Mercedes only released the developments that were necessary to stay ahead of the others," he told Speed Week.

"They did not show everything that was possible in 2016, and had the opportunity to work on the 2017 regulations from an early stage," added Rampf.

Rosberg regret retirement? We doubt it.

Rosberg may regret retirement decision – Berger
(GMM) Gerhard Berger says he does not relate to Nico Rosberg's decision to quit F1 at the age of 31.

Rosberg has said he called time on his career after achieving his boyhood dream of the world title, but at first Berger says he could not believe the content of the text message from his German friend.

Earlier in 2016, the F1 legend had successfully negotiated a lucrative new two-year Mercedes contract for Rosberg.

"At first I thought 'Is he still drunk from the celebrations?'

"Now, I see it with mixed feelings, but I could not have done the same in his situation," Berger told Auto Motor und Sport. "He had the best car, with a great contract, at his age and with his health — I could never have stopped.

"We'll see if he regrets his retirement or not," the former Ferrari and McLaren driver added.

Bild newspaper has published photos of Rosberg enjoying a relaxing holiday with his wife in Rome.

Eric Boullier

Boullier targets top four for McLaren
(GMM) McLaren is not setting its targets too high for 2017.

That is the news from Eric Boullier, the works Honda-powered team's boss.

Some are saying that, after a two year struggle with Honda and political strife, 2017 is finally the season in which the famous British team shines again.

But the Spanish newspaper AS quotes Boullier as saying: "Success would be to win.

"But I really want to be pragmatic and not set expectations too high.

"We were ninth in 2015, sixth last year, so I hope to be among the top four this year. We want to win as soon as possible, but I am dealing with reality," he added.

Lance Stroll – has check will drive

Minardi defends 'pay driver' Stroll
(GMM) Gian Carlo Minardi has hit out at criticism of Lance Stroll's impending debut in F1.

Undoubtedly, the 18-year-old Canadian's rapid rise to formula one has been powered in part by his billionaire father Lawrence.

For instance, Stroll has been embarking on an arguably unprecedented global F1 testing tour with a 2014 Williams, including his most recent outing in recent days at Sepang.

But Minardi, a former F1 team boss, insisted: "Any formula one driver is assessed from a commercial perspective by team management before they are signed.

"So I do not understand, in a sport where teams rely on huge budgets, why there is such a negative connotation about a driver who provides financial support," he is quoted by the Spanish daily AS.

"Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso also had to provide financial support at some point in their careers," said Minardi.

Can Renault make enough power?

Renault will help Red Bull close gap – Mateschitz
(GMM) Renault will help Red Bull "get closer" to Mercedes in 2017.

That is the claim of Dietrich Mateschitz, the low-profile billionaire founder and owner of Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso.

After a 2015 falling out, Red Bull's relationship with Renault improved last year to the point that the main team passed Ferrari in the championship and a switch to Renault power for Toro Rosso was agreed.

"Renault brought new, ambitious and above all competent people on board for 2016, and there was much progress with (Mario) Illien," Mateschitz told Speed Week.

"I expect for 2017 that we will get the power to get closer to Mercedes," he said. "We want to be absolutely competitive and to attack Mercedes with victories."

Mateschitz said he is more than happy with Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen at the wheel, and confirmed that when Nico Rosberg retired, the pair were targeted by Mercedes.

"It was discussed between Helmut Marko and Niki Lauda," Mateschitz confirmed, "but not seriously. Everyone knew that our drivers would not be available.

"No one came to me and asked for a release," he added.

As for Toro Rosso's drivers, Mateschitz commented: "Carlos Sainz has developed strongly, while with Daniil Kvyat, we are guilty of relying on him too much.

"Pierre Gasly will work as a junior substitute driver and work a lot in the simulator."

Dietrich Mateschitz

Mateschitz undecided over F1 shares
(GMM) Dietrich Mateschitz says he is yet to decide if he will accept Liberty's offer and buy shares in formula one.

"I honestly don't know if I should buy shares," the 72-year-old Austrian, who is the owner of Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, told Speed Week.

"On the one hand it is obvious, because formula one also needs owners who are not carmakers.

"On the other, the value depends on the teams that commit. We will have to see how it looks after the expiry (in 2020) of the current contracts," the billionaire added. "This will probably begin to be negotiated soon."

Asked if he has met already with F1's new chief Chase Carey, Mateschitz answered: "Not yet, but Chase will be with Bernie Ecclestone at the skiing world cup in Kitzbuhel next week, so we'll talk then."

As for what they'll talk about, he answered: "The popularity of formula one depends on competition at the front. A fight for third and fourth is not good enough.

"The cars have to become better, which has already been initiated for 2017," he added. "The many stupid penalties for drivers are not understood by the fans."

Asked if F1 supremo Ecclestone has a future in the Liberty era, Mateschitz said: "If they are wise, they will keep him.

"Someone who believes that you can't get around in formula one without Bernie is well advised."

On the future of the Austrian grand prix, Mateschitz admitted the Red Bull Ring made a loss in 2016, while the running of MotoGP is "cost effective".

But he said: "I'm sure that if Red Bull Racing is in the lead in 2017, then we'll have 70,000 spectators on Sunday instead of 50,000."

And finally, when asked if the almost 74-year-old Helmut Marko still has a long future in F1, Mateschitz laughed: "Helmut recently got a new knee.

"Now he's jumping like a young horse once again!"