Latest F1 news in brief

Pirelli F1 tires will be tested in Barcelona in the off-season, not Bahrain like Mercedes wanted

Bahrain pre-season test plan scrapped
Barcelona to host 2017 pre-season testing
Rosberg deserves title more than Hamilton – Massa
Alonso unmoved over 10-year title anniversary
Brawn not ruling out F1 return
Palmer, Magnussen clinging to F1 careers
Rivals want new rule amid Verstappen controversy
More US races could mean 'pain' for Austin GP
Ricciardo suspects Mercedes is sandbagging
Vettel says Ferrari was 'on the back foot'

Bahrain pre-season test plan scrapped
(GMM) The push to have pre-season testing take place in Bahrain early next year has failed.

Two tests in Barcelona had been provisionally scheduled, but Pirelli – strongly supported by Mercedes – was pushing for at least one outing in the guaranteed warmer and drier climes of Bahrain.

"The way the regulations are written, to test outside of Europe would require the unanimous consent of all of the teams and that doesn't exist," Red Bull's Christian Horner said in Austin.

Indeed, the teams got together with Bernie Ecclestone on Friday and agreed that the Bahrain issue was now off the table.

But as a compromise, Bahrain has been penciled-in as the first venue for 'in season' testing once the 2017 season gets underway.

"Thankfully common sense has prevailed," said Horner.

Auto Motor und Sport claims that costs were not the only point of contention.

The German report said Red Bull wants to run what is rumored to be a particularly long-wheelbased 2017 car on the ideal Barcelona layout, while Mercedes favored Bahrain amid rumors of a special new cooling system.

And even the argument that Pirelli needs warm and dry running for the development of its bigger 2017 slicks was dismissed by Force India's Bob Fernley.

"Many people forget what winter testing is for," he said. "It's not about tires, but about the new cars."

Barcelona

Barcelona to host 2017 pre-season testing
Spanish Grand Prix venue the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will play host to next year's Formula 1 pre-season test sessions, it has been confirmed, following lengthy talks.

It had been mooted that, with tire supplier Pirelli introducing overhauled products for 2017, testing could take place in Bahrain's hotter temperatures, or be split between two venues.

However, on the first day of practice for the United States Grand Prix, representatives from all 11 teams met with Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, where a compromise was reached.

Barcelona will host pre-season testing, while Bahrain will stage the first in-season test.

"There have been numerous debates about this and we had a meeting earlier today with Bernie and all the teams to discuss winter testing," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

"The way that the regulations are written, to test outside of Europe would require the unanimous consent of all the teams, and that doesn't exist, so it's agreed that we will test in Barcelona."

Horner went on to comment: "In order to find a compromise for assisting Pirelli [with its development work], after the Bahrain race, the first of the in-season tests is planned to be in Bahrain."

Barcelona's 2016 pre-season tests were staged in late February and early March.

Nico Rosberg in Austin

Rosberg deserves title more than Hamilton – Massa
(GMM) There is "no doubt" that Nico Rosberg deserves to be the 2016 champion.

That is the claim of F1 veteran Felipe Massa, as the paddock watches on for the final four-race run for the crown between Mercedes' warring drivers.

"Nico has had a better year than (Lewis) Hamilton," the Williams driver told the Brazilian press.

"He has done a good job on the track, with the team and on the psychological side," Massa added. "There is no doubt that, this year, he deserves to be champion more than Hamilton."

Indeed, many observers think recent controversies at Suzuka in particular showed that Hamilton is struggling with the pressure of the 2016 battle.

"We tend to underestimate the pressure these guys are under," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said, when asked about what the media has dubbed Hamilton's Snapchat 'meltdown'.

In that way, Wolff said Hamilton has been excused for hitting out at reporters and even hinting at internal team sabotage.

"As long as he learns from it and moves on, and we don't repeat these things, it is not damaging," he said, confirming that some post-Suzuka talks took place.

Someone who doesn't mind the controversies at all, however, is F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who still thinks Hamilton makes the more exciting champion.

"If Nico won the title it would be good for him and good for Mercedes but it wouldn't necessarily help the sport because there is nothing to write about him," he said in Austin.

So Ecclestone advised Wolff not to overly 'stage manage' Hamilton and his controversies.

"I'd let Lewis do what he wants," he said. "Absolutely. Let him get on with it."

However, Wolff also admires the way in which Rosberg has walled himself off psychologically this year, even if it means he doesn't attract headlines like Hamilton.

"He doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, because he's so disciplined," he said.

"Nico's self-discipline has been taken to new levels this year."

Fernando Alonso

Alonso unmoved over 10-year title anniversary
(GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is unmoved by the ten-year anniversary of his second and last world championship.

Still regarded as arguably the best driver on the grid today, the Spaniard has failed to win a third title since winning back-by-back with Renault in 2006.

"Whether it's ten years, five or 12, it's just a number — nothing changes," Alonso said when asked about the anniversary by Spanish broadcaster Movistar.

"I'm so deep in the weekend that you don't think of anything else, but of course I see the pictures of that day (in 2006) with joy and pride.

"I always approach with the same objective, which is to be the best," he added. "Whether you're in F1 or playing tennis or whatever, you always try to be the best."

Ahead of the 2015 season, Alonso left Ferrari after five years to join McLaren-Honda, who the now 35-year-old says has been concentrating on 2017 for some time.

"I am competing in F1, trying to be the best and that means being world champion," he said.

"We are far from that possibility today, but hopefully next year we will get closer."

Jolyon Palmer's F1 career may be over

Palmer, Magnussen clinging to F1 careers
(GMM) Renault drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer are now clinging onto their F1 careers.

According to paddock rumors, British rookie Palmer has already been told by team management that he will not be needed beyond next month's Abu Dhabi finale.

He said in Austin that he thinks Renault do not "appreciate" his and Magnussen's contribution in an uncompetitive car this year.

"I think they appreciated the drive in Suzuka, but do they appreciate everything we have done? I am not sure," Palmer is quoted by the Telegraph.

It is believed Esteban Ocon is in the running to be Nico Hulkenberg's 2017 teammate, but the Frenchman is backed by Mercedes and therefore also a contender for Force India and Manor.

And Speed Week quotes Williams' Valtteri Bottas as saying that "At the moment I am not negotiating with Renault".

That could mean Dane Magnussen is still an outside chance of keeping his seat.

"I would really like to be Nico Hulkenberg's teammate," Magnussen told the Danish newspaper BT in Austin.

"It has been difficult this year against Jolyon Palmer," he said. "He is a good and quick driver, but some people don't see him like that and it's his first season in formula one too.

"So it is seen as the way it should be if I am faster than him, and a disaster if he is faster than me," Magnussen added.

Rivals have had it with Verstappen's dirty driving

Rivals want new rule amid Verstappen controversy
(GMM) Max Verstappen found himself the hot topic of conversation yet again, this time behind closed doors during a lengthy drivers' briefing in Austin.

The latest controversy triggered by the young Dutchman's aggressive style was triggered by his defensive move under braking during his late-race duel with Lewis Hamilton.

One of the apparent problems is that Verstappen does not show adequate respect towards F1's older drivers.

The 19-year-old told Italy's Corriere dello Sport: "No, the experienced drivers are hard on me as well.

"It doesn't matter if you have won three, four or five titles, respect should apply equally to everybody," Verstappen added.

Auto Motor und Sport reports that, during Friday's meeting with the FIA in Austin, the issue was raised by Romain Grosjean, but also Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel spoke.

And one team boss said Kimi Raikkonen even spoke for 3 minutes.

"If he does that, it must be really important to Kimi," the unnamed figure said.

The German report said that drivers are asking Charlie Whiting to impose a new rule, enforceable through telemetry, in which changing direction under braking is strictly not allowed.

"It cannot be that we need an accident before something changes," warned Nico Hulkenberg.

Also discussed in the briefing was Carlos Sainz's engine stall on the Suzuka grid, with a new rule now applying from the US grand prix this weekend.

New standard software means Charlie Whiting will now be alerted with an engine stalls, which will trigger an aborted start for safety reasons, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

With no American drivers in F1, a 2nd race could result in both USGPs failing

More US races could mean 'pain' for Austin GP
(GMM) US grand prix promoter Bobby Epstein has warned that more races in America could actually hurt F1 initially.

With US media tycoon John Malone's Liberty Media taking over the sport, there is talk of an expansion of the calendar beyond 21 races and potentially more in the States.

The Guardian newspaper said Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New Jersey are among the possible new venues, but F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said adding more US races will be "difficult".

And Austin's US GP promoter Epstein agrees that sharing the F1 market with more venues in America will be challenging.

"If we have more races here we will be competing for a limited base of fans, and we could be weaker for a number of years," he warned.

"Five or 10 years down the road we would build a bigger audience overall. But there could be some pain first."

A concert with Taylor Swift is another attraction at the 2016 US GP, but Epstein admitted it is a challenging market to compete "for the entertainment dollar".

"Promoters have to become more creative," he said. "I would like to see more money spent on promoting the sport. I think fees should be lower so we can lower the ticket prices."

Ricciardo 2nd on Friday, but knows Mercedes is sandbagging

Ricciardo suspects Mercedes is sandbagging
Daniel Ricciardo was encouraged by Red Bull's early pace at the United States Grand Prix, but expects Mercedes to improve overnight.

Ricciardo split the Mercedes pair in Friday's second session at the Circuit of the Americas, just two tenths down on pace-setter Nico Rosberg.

And while he expects his Red Bull team to find more time, Ricciardo suspects Mercedes also has more at its disposal, should it be required.

"I think the low-fuel pace was OK; it looks good. I think we can find a bit more, but I'm sure Mercedes as well will have a bit more," he stated.

"But looking at where Ferrari were it was a solid day.

"I think also our long-run pace, we're happy with that. It felt like we got some good, consistent laps out of it and we were able to really chip away at it all day.

"We made progress from P1 and I'm pretty happy with where we ended up. Hopefully not too much on tonight, a little bit of fine-tuning, and that should be it."

He added: "If we've got the pace we had today against the Mercedes on Sunday then it's going to be a fun race. I think we will have some overtaking ahead of us.

"I'm not sure where they are with engines, how conservative they're running, but today we looked good, so we'll see what happens over the next 24 hours."

Max Verstappen finished fifth, seven tenths down on Ricciardo.

"My short run was not fantastic," he admitted.

"After the short run we changed a lot on the car, back to a bit what we were using in P1.

"Once I got back out there, there was the red flag, which was the same for everyone, but after that we got some good laps in and the long run was pretty positive."

Pushed on Red Bull's battle with Ferrari, he added: "I had a Ferrari in front of me and I was catching them during the long runs so I guess that's positive!"

Sebastian Vettel in the hapless Ferrari

Vettel says Ferrari was 'on the back foot'
Sebastian Vettel has admitted that Ferrari found itself "on the back foot" during the first day of practice for the United States Grand Prix.

Vettel ended FP1 in eighth, 2.5s off the pace, after losing track time when bodywork fell off his car and damaged his right wing mirror.

He improved in the afternoon to place fourth overall, but still finished almost a second down on pace-setting Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg.

"It was a tough day," Vettel explained to reporters in the paddock.

"This morning we had a problem with a little wing that failed and came off. We lost some track time, which was a bit costly for the afternoon, because we couldn't re-balance the car.

"I think that we've been on the back foot today."

Vettel is confident, however, of improving overnight.

"I'm not entirely happy with the car's balance yet, because it's a little bit too nervous all around, but I think for tomorrow we can improve," added the four-time World Champion.

"Hopefully tomorrow will be a lot stronger."

Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen also struggled and ended the day 10th.

"Obviously the afternoon didn't look so good, because I went off on the new tires, but I wouldn't say there was an awful lot of a difference from this morning," he said of his sessions.

"It was just a bit of a tricky Friday to find any good balance.

"I just tried to make sense out of it [the car's balance], just to get it exactly where we want it. It's not a major issue, but it's one of those Fridays that's not ideal."