Latest F1 news in brief

Wolff knows Mercedes will win all the 2016 titles in a trout

Mercedes says 'no penalties' after driver crash
Press hails 'driver of the century' Verstappen
Kvyat facing F1 'abyss' – Capelli
Honda 'between Mercedes and Ferrari' in power
Alonso an option if Rosberg doesn't stay – Wolff
Wolff denies eyeing Ecclestone's job
Williams debuts radical rear wing at test
Arrivabene: Ferrari failed to take advantage
Wehrlein encouraged by Manor upgrades

Mercedes says 'no penalties' after driver crash
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has cooled down after raging at former teammate Daniel Ricciardo in the Spanish grand prix.

In a radio rant during the Barcelona race, the German had wondered if Ricciardo's overtaking style was "racing or ping pong".

Still racing for Red Bull following Vettel's departure to Ferrari, Ricciardo hit back on Twitter by posting a photo of comedic actor Will Ferrell with the caption "Love a good game of ping pong".

Vettel says he has calmed down.

"Now I have cooled down, I have to say had I been in his position I also would have tried it (the move)," said the Ferrari driver. "We are both experienced enough to know that if the other plays along we both stay in the race."

Much more attention has been paid by the media to the actual coming-together between warring Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart, for instance, thinks Mercedes should give Hamilton a "financial penalty" for letting his emotion spill over by triggering the crash and then hauling his $50,000 steering wheel across the gravel.

But boss Toto Wolff seems keener to simply defuse the situation.

"At the same moment I broke my headphones, so I can understand him," Wolff told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper.

David Coulthard agrees that playing the incident down appears the best strategy for Mercedes.

"Having gone through Spa two years ago when the two collided, Mercedes are better prepared to deal with it," he told the Telegraph. "They do not seem in the mood for blaming one and giving some sort of punishment."

Niki Lauda, meanwhile, declared that the topic should now be closed, given that Hamilton privately acknowledged the mistake and apologized.

"There is no need for a clear-the-air meeting or any punishment," said the team chairman.

Alain Prost, a quadruple world champion, agrees: "This is only the first time in three years they have taken each other out.

"We have to be careful we don't overreact."

Wolff insists, at least, that it will not be Mercedes who do any overreacting.

"It is difficult because we have two number ones free to race on the track, the advantage is that we know that both are always giving the maximum," he told Spain's El Mundo.

"I think the results of recent years proves that we are doing a good job.

"By continuing to let them race it was clear that eventually this could happen. And we will continue to let them race," Wolff added.

David Coulthard interviews Verstappen prior to the start of the Spanish GP

Press hails 'driver of the century' Verstappen
(GMM) Even the Ferrari-transfixed Italian media agrees that a true F1 star was born at arch-rival Red Bull last weekend.

"Everyone is celebrating a new star, even Ferrari," the influential La Gazzetta dello Sport declared, after 18-year-old Max Verstappen won his first race for Red Bull ahead of both red cars.

Corriere dello Sport even thinks a new era has begun in formula one.

"A driver generation now seems shorter than the life of a smartphone," it declared.

La Repubblica added: "What more could you ask of a boy who at three years old was encouraged by his mother to go faster on his tricycle?

"Some are already calling him the driver of the century. Over the top? Perhaps, but perhaps not."

La Stampa, meanwhile, hailed Verstappen for being the driver best poised to pick up the pieces of the imploded Mercedes team in Spain.

"Vettel missed the right strategy and another chance to win is wasted," it charged.

Sacked by Red Bull, Daniil Kvyat's F1 career may be shortlived

Kvyat facing F1 'abyss' – Capelli
(GMM) Daniil Kvyat is facing the looming end of his F1 career.

That is the view of Ivan Capelli, a former F1 driver who recently stepped down as a leading official involved with the Italian grand prix.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport that Red Bull's decision to promote Max Verstappen, thereby sending Kvyat back to Toro Rosso, is grim news for the 22-year-old Russian.

"It puts Kvyat in a very difficult situation," said Capelli, who drove for Ferrari in 1992.

"History has shown what Red Bull does in these situations," he added.

"Clearly the program has produced great drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, but I have to say that Kvyat is facing the abyss, like many, many drivers before him," said Capelli, 52.

Indeed, insiders believe Red Bull will keep the revolving door turning at Toro Rosso next year, with current GP2 series leader Pierre Gasly first in line for a 2017 seat.

Gasly, 20, will test the Toro Rosso in Barcelona this week.

Worsening the situation for Kvyat is that Dr Helmut Marko's controversial decision to oust him was vindicated on Sunday as Verstappen won the Spanish grand prix.

"I have my own job, my own car," Kvyat said when asked about Max's breakthrough in his old Red Bull cockpit.

"Of course I think I have the potential to do the same. Without a doubt. I know my potential and I don't care what others think," he insisted.

Arrivabene's hapless Ferrari team embarrassed that a Honda has more power than a Ferrari

Honda 'between Mercedes and Ferrari' in power
(GMM) Honda is "clearly" making progress with its F1 engine, McLaren team boss Eric Boullier insists.

The first year of the Anglo-Japanese collaboration in 2015 was disastrous, but Frenchman Boullier says Fernando Alonso's Q3 breakthrough in Spain was significant.

"By studying the data closely, we see that we are now somewhere between Mercedes and Ferrari with the power," he told Speed Week.

"Progress is clearly felt by the drivers and also on the track everyone can see that we have become stronger. So we are on the right track," Boullier added.

Some of that progress may have been made through a tweak to the Honda 'philosophy', where until now the manufacturer has often appeared content to take its time in pushing towards the front.

"Yes and no," Boullier said. "Honda has always had a good approach and is prepared to respond quickly. You can feel that everyone is working at full throttle.

"And the changes that were promised are coming. Honda president and CEO Takahiro Hachigo will be in Monaco," he announced.

McLaren does, however, appear unlikely to give in to mounting pressure – even from Honda – to allow the Japanese engines to be supplied to a customer team.

"It is important that no team will be left without engines," said Boullier, referring to the tweaked rules for 2017 and beyond.

"But in my opinion, there is no reason to say that Honda is able to supply engines to Sauber or Toro Rosso next year, although there is talk of that in the press. It will not happen," he added.

Rosberg would be a fool to leave the best car in F1

Alonso an option if Rosberg doesn't stay – Wolff
(GMM) Toto Wolff says it is a "priority" to negotiate a new deal with championship leader Nico Rosberg.

The German, whose seven-race winning streak ended in Barcelona, is reportedly out of contract at the end of the season.

But Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes' carmaker parent Daimler, declared at Barcelona at the weekend that "Both drivers are under contract for the forthcoming season".

In fact, that might not be quite true, with team boss Wolff indicating there is still some negotiating to do.

When asked about Fernando Alonso's recent claim that he almost switched to Mercedes at the beginning of last year, Wolff answered: "Fernando explored his options and one of them was Mercedes.

"He spoke to us, but we could not negotiate as we promised Lewis that while we tried to renew his (Hamilton) deal we would not talk with other drivers and we did not," Wolff told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

"Fernando is one of the best drivers in history and I like his character, but our priority now is Nico.

"If he (Rosberg) does not want to renew, then we will consider other options, like Fernando. His (Alonso's) age is not a problem — his speed and his motivation are still there," he added.

Wolff not eyeing Bernie's job. It will take 3 people to do what Ecclestone does

Wolff denies eyeing Ecclestone's job
(GMM) Toto Wolff has now joined Niki Lauda in distancing himself from speculation regarding Bernie Ecclestone's possible demise as F1 supremo.

In Barcelona, following a meeting of big-wigs like Daimler's Dieter Zetsche and Fiat's Sergio Marchionne, Ecclestone confirmed that "some plotting" had taken place.

But F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Lauda dismissed as "b——t" speculation he is being lined up as the potential new 'sporting' replacement for Ecclestone.

"Toto Wolff and I have a big enough job here with Mercedes, and we even own shares in the team. We are successful and everything works fine," he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

Now speaking to Spain's El Mundo newspaper, Wolff agrees.

Earlier, he had written off the so-called Barcelona plotting as "just another meeting on the normal business of formula one".

When asked if he can imagine himself in Ecclestone's white shirt, the 44-year-old said: "I've always been an entrepreneur — I've never liked working for others.

"Therefore, I appreciate my job at Mercedes very much," said Wolff.

Initially a budding driver and entrepreneur, he said entering formula one in the capacity he now enjoys was something he "dreamed" about.

"I dreamed but did not believe," said Wolff.

"When I raced, my goal was to win, but it prepared me to perform management tasks. Soon I started investing and was able to enter the world of racing through HWA, then Williams and finally here. I am satisfied with where I am," he added.

Williams tests winglets on rear wing

Williams debuts radical rear wing at test
Williams has tested a radical rear wing during the first day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Williams development driver Alex Lynn, who claimed victory during last weekend's GP2 Sprint Race, completed an installation lap shortly after the circuit opened on Tuesday morning with the new part fitted to the FW38.

Williams told GPUpdate.net that the modified rear wing is being used to help gather additional data, which is relevant for this year's car.

The part is not legal under current Formula 1 regulations and not a prototype for next year's revised regulations.

Lynn also trialed a modified front wing on the Mercedes-powered FW38, with a bar attached between the front wing and the camera pods on either side.

Williams currently occupies fourth position in the Constructors' Championship after slipping further behind Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix.

In-season testing is taking place at the home of the Spanish Grand Prix today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday), with all bar Sauber present at the circuit.

Raikkonen could not catch Verstappen in the Adrian Newey designed Red Bull

Arrivabene: Ferrari failed to take advantage
Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene is lamenting that Ferrari failed to take full advantage of the first-lap collision between the Mercedes drivers at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton's dramatic clash on the approach to Turn 4 opened the door for rival teams, and Red Bull – which had out-qualified Ferrari – moved to the fore.

Kimi Raikkonen came home second, having been unable to usurp Max Verstappen, as the pair pitted twice, while Sebastian Vettel took third, on an alternate three-stop plan.

Arrivabene felt the race was a clear chance to return to winning ways.

"We must be realistic and accept the fact that, if both Mercedes had been in the race, the result would have been different," Arrivabene commented following the Grand Prix.

"We had an opportunity and we failed to take advantage.

"Even if on track we had a fast car we had to pay a hefty price for the problems we experienced in qualifying and which, on some parts of the circuit, re-surfaced during the course of the race.

"Now we must address these issues and move on from there."

Haryanto in the Manor-Mercedes

Wehrlein encouraged by Manor upgrades
Pascal Wehrlein is confident that the upgrades which Manor brought to the Spanish Grand Prix will boost the team at the upcoming races, despite a difficult time at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Manor trailed rivals Sauber in Spain, with Wehrlein finishing the race in 16th place, ahead of team-mate Rio Haryanto, the pair coming home as the final classified runners.

Wehrlein is nonetheless confident that upcoming events in Monaco and Canada will play to the strengths of the upgraded MRT05.

"We got both cars to the finish, which was good, but otherwise there isn't much more to say," he said.

"Our race was pretty much as we expected. The upgrades are positive but they didn't influence the overall result at this track with the way the race panned out.

"We also suffered from quite high tire degradation again, so there is still some way to go to keep improving the car.

"I think the next couple of races will be a little better for us and of course Monaco is a track I've been most looking forward to."