Latest F1 news in brief – Wednesday
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Bottas sad he has to wait Mercedes denies Bottas announcement date set
- Rosberg successor solution 'so complicated' – Lauda
- Marchionne to retire after 2018
- Williams not commenting on team shakeup
- Vasseur leaves Renault after one season
- Australian GP releases 2017 schedule
- Hulkenberg: No thought of Mercedes switch
Mercedes denies Bottas announcement date set
(GMM) Mercedes has denied reports it has set a date for the announcement of Lewis Hamilton's teammate for 2017.
Amid suggestions Nico Rosberg's replacement will definitely be Valtteri Bottas, the Spanish sports daily AS said the German team already knows exactly when it will make the news official.
"According to our sources, Bottas will be presented on 23 January, a month before the new car is launched," the AS correspondent wrote.
However, a Mercedes spokesman dismissed the report.
"The Spanish media does not have any links with the team, so this date is simply invented," he said.
The Finnish broadcaster MTV also quoted the Mercedes spokesman as saying that while an announcement date has not been set, the news will be revealed as soon as it is decided.
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| Niki Lauda |
Rosberg successor solution 'so complicated' – Lauda
(GMM) Niki Lauda says the identity of Lewis Hamilton's new teammate for 2017 remains unknown because "it's all so complicated".
Indeed, Mercedes has been scrambling to find a solution ever since Nico Rosberg shocked the entire F1 world by deciding to quit just days after winning his first and only title.
"I saw it was Toto (Wolff on the phone) and I thought 'Oh, again something with Lewis!" Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche told Autocar.
Actually, it was the news of Rosberg's retirement, and the fact Mercedes must now find a rapid-fire replacement.
"Of course, it would have been easier and more pleasant for us to have two world champions in our team for the season to come (but) that's how life works," Zetsche added.
Zetsche insisted he is not angry about Rosberg's decision, but it has left Mercedes trying to engineer a complex solution.
It is believed the eventual deal involves shortening Paddy Lowe's 'gardening leave' before he joins Williams, and paying big to break Valtteri Bottas' contract and help the Grove team convince Felipe Massa to return.
"It's all so complicated," Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda admits to the Swiss newspaper Blick.
Bottas' manager Mika Hakkinen says it is a "dream scenario" for the Finnish driver, with the champion team having identified him as the best solution for 2017.
But Roger Benoit, a veteran F1 correspondent, said Williams and Bottas' management are demanding "lots of money" for it to happen.
"The billionaire father of F1 rookie Lance Stroll might be able to help financially," Benoit wrote in Blick. "Because his son might look better alongside Massa than Bottas."
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| Sergio Marchionne |
Marchionne to retire after 2018
(GMM) Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne says he plans to retire after 2018.
The 64-year-old took control of Fiat over a decade ago, but his ascendance at Ferrari has been more recent in the wake of Luca di Montezemolo's exit.
But Marchionne, an Italian Canadian, said in 2014 that he will "undoubtedly" retire after 2018.
And during a news conference in Detroit this week, he confirmed that his plans to begin his retirement from early 2019 remain on track.
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| Lowe to take some of Mercedes' secrets to Williams, but Aldo Costa is the Mercedes Chief Designer with all the secrets |
Williams not commenting on team shakeup
(GMM) Williams has declined to comment on a wave of speculation about the British team's next moves.
Mercedes has now confirmed that Paddy Lowe has left the reigning champions and entered a period of 'gardening leave'.
"I am looking forward to a new challenge and wish everyone well at Mercedes," said Lowe.
It is believed the news is a precursor to the next steps at Williams.
With Pat Symonds retiring, Lowe has been linked as his likely successor as technical boss. But reports have actually suggested that Lowe will become the new Williams team boss, relegating Claire Williams to a role alongside her father.
According to the speculation, the length of Lowe's 'gardening leave' has been agreed between Mercedes and Williams, with the outcome now expected to lead to Valtteri Bottas' move to succeed the retiring Nico Rosberg.
If that happens, it will almost certainly mean Felipe Massa calls off his retirement.
"It's all so complicated," Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told the Swiss newspaper Blick.
Another rumor is that, with Lowe becoming Williams boss, James Key might be heading to Williams in 2018 to succeed the retiring Symonds.
When contacted, Williams declined to comment.
As for Mercedes, it is expected that Mercedes will soon replace Lowe with the Ferrari refugee James Allison.
But the reigning world champions said that "In the short term, our stable technical organization" including Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis will continue their work.
"We have the talent in place to continue our success of recent years and we plan to build upon it in 2017 and beyond," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
Mercedes said it will have more news on the matter "in due course".
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| He never looked very happy |
Vasseur leaves Renault after one season
(GMM) Team boss Frederic Vasseur has left Renault.
There have been signs of political unrest inside the French works team for months, with Kevin Magnussen suggesting it is one of the reasons he decided to leave for Haas.
"I feel like I've been unlucky in formula one to hit two teams (McLaren and Renault) that were having a bit of a mess with their leadership," he told the Danish newspaper BT.
Now, the UK-based team says Frenchman Vasseur and Renault have split "by mutual consent".
But in a statement, Renault seemed to address speculation about problems between Vasseur and fellow Frenchman Cyril Abiteboul, who remains managing director.
"Both parties (Vasseur and Renault) remain committed to maintaining the good working relationship they have enjoyed and expect this to take a new form sometime in the future," said Renault.
The carmaker said more "detail" about Renault's second season since returning to F1 as a full works team will be forthcoming next month.
Australian GP releases 2017 schedule
Australian Grand Prix organisers have released the track schedule for this year's event.
Albert Park will host the 2017 season-opener from March 24-26, with the race keeping its 16:00 start time, though this will translate as 06:00 for UK viewers, rather than 05:00, due to the arrival of summer time.
As per tradition, the UK the clocks go forward one hour at 01:00 on the last Sunday in March.
Formula 1 action will kick off with Friday's first practice session at 12:00 local time (01:00 UK), which runs for an hour and a half, followed by the second 90-minute outing at 16:00 local time (05:00 UK).
On Saturday, FP3 will run at 14:00 local (03:00 UK), with qualifying at 17:00 local (06:00 UK).
Session times for other Grands Prix have yet to be confirmed by event organisers.
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| Nico Hulkenberg lying through his teeth. Any driver, if given the chance, would drive a superior Aldo Costa designed car. |
Hulkenberg: No thought of Mercedes switch
Nico Hulkenberg says he never thought about the possibility of switching to Mercedes following Nico Rosberg's retirement, as he was already "in love" with new team Renault.
Rosberg shocked the Formula 1 community when he announced his retirement just days after clinching the title, opening up a space alongside Lewis Hamilton for the 2017 season.
Mercedes chief Niki Lauda stated that "90 per cent" of the grid expressed interest in the seat, but Hulkenberg has since made clear that his loyalty was already firmly with Renault.
Hulkenberg was announced by the French manufacturer back in October.
"Given the situation as it was, there was no thought of a switch in any way or form as I was already in love with my new 'girlfriend' Renault," he laughed, in an interview with the F1 website.
Addressing fellow German Rosberg's surprise announcement, Hulkenberg added: "It is a pity that Nico will not be back to defend his title, but I am also sure he knew what he was doing
"For me it will mean no more lifts to Grands Prix in his plane: that really sucks…"
Hulkenberg reiterated that he is not expecting miracles from Renault in 2017.
"We at Renault are working hard to catch up so we can put ourselves in a position where we can score some points," he added of Renault's second season since it returned as a works team.
"Of course people are excited about my move to Renault – so am I.
"I am very excited and super motivated, but at the same time we have to be careful not to expect too much right away: we have to work hard – harder and better to catch the train back up.
"Give us some time and celebrate with us if we are faster than anticipated."