Latest F1 news in brief – Thursday (Update)
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| Still no love lost between Hamilton and Rosberg |
10/02/14
- Honda set for McLaren driver talks at Suzuka
- Mercedes admits 'no peace' between warring drivers
- Typhoon threatens Japan GP
- New Deal Boosts F1 Prize Money To Record $800 Million
- Fernando Alonso Forms Partnership With NOVO To Help Launch Cycling Team
- Ferrari argues for 'unfreeze' as silly season bubbles New
- To help keep Marussia afloat, Stevens pays to get track cleaning outing New
- Vettel looking to be 'smart' over penalties New
- Hugo Boss switches from McLaren to Mercedes New
Honda set for McLaren driver talks at Suzuka
(GMM) McLaren will not be making a driver announcement this weekend at Suzuka.
With speculation about his future rife, Spain's Diario AS has claimed Fernando Alonso's situation at Ferrari is now "almost unbearable", and an announcement of a split could be the next item on the agenda.
The Spaniard is strongly linked with a return to his 2007 employer, McLaren, to spearhead the British team's new works partnership with Honda from 2015.
Honda-owned Suzuka, the scene of this weekend's Japanese grand prix, would seem the ideal place for confirmation.
But Yasuhisa Arai, Honda's F1 chief, played down the chances of an imminent announcement.
"I don't think we will be discussing the topic of drivers given that nothing is decided," he told Britain's Sky.
Arai did, however, admit that talks with McLaren about the composition of next year's driver lineup are likely to take place behind the scenes this weekend.
"We are constantly talking about which drivers we would like to see and whilst McLaren is here in Japan it is only natural that we organize some meetings with McLaren," he revealed.
It is believed the two most likely scenarios for 2015 are that McLaren will either field an unchanged lineup next year, or drop Kevin Magnussen and pair Alonso with fellow champion Jenson Button.
Briton Button, who previously drove for Honda's works team and is engaged to the Japanese model Jessica Michibata, said this week that McLaren needs experience at the wheel for the new era.
"There are so many ways in which having a driver with experience can help you to find the right direction," he is quoted by Italy's Autosprint, adding that "understanding Japanese culture" will also be important for McLaren from 2015.
Mercedes admits 'no peace' between warring drivers
(GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted tension between Mercedes' title-warring teammates is inevitable over the decisive final five races of 2014.
In the last hours, despite their obviously fractious relationship recently, Nico Rosberg declared that the atmosphere inside the silver camp is now "very good".
And Lewis Hamilton, who now holds a 3-point championship lead after Rosberg's problems in Singapore, declared that things are "back to normal" following the recent turmoil.
But Dr Helmut Marko, a boss at Red Bull whose Daniel Ricciardo is still a long-shot hope for the drivers' crown, declared this week that "This peace (at Mercedes) is not real".
"Eventually, Hamilton and Rosberg will be side by side again, and when they see it is the title in front of them, there are no more rules," he told Bild.
Mercedes boss Wolff has now hit back by admitting it is obvious tension still remains between Rosberg and Hamilton as the title battle intensifies.
"There is no need for a peace pact to show to the public," he said ahead of the Japanese grand prix at Suzuka, one of five remaining races this season including the double points finale in Abu Dhabi.
"If you've been programmed for 25 years to fight for and win the drivers' championship, no one can ask you to suddenly make your greatest enemy also your best buddy," Wolff admitted.
Former F1 driver turned German television pundit Marc Surer agrees: "Of course there is no peace.
"Either of them can be world champion," he told Speed Week. "Why should they make peace — so the other one can win?"
Typhoon threatens Japan GP
(GMM) Mother nature is threatening to interfere with this weekend's running of the Japanese grand prix.
Already this week, reports had emerged that ash and smoke from the nearby Ontake volcano eruption was affecting air traffic as the formula one world jets into Japan.
Now, a typhoon alert has been issued.
According to German language reports, the weather service UBIMET warned that a typhoon by the name of Phanfone could reach the Japanese mainland by the weekend and pose a "potential threat to the grand prix of Japan".
Another weather organization, MeteoGroup, confirmed that the typhoon is likely to bring adverse conditions to the Suzuka area.
"Weather conditions won't be too great for Saturday," a spokesperson told the Mirror.
"The closer we get to it, the weather will start to deteriorate."
New Deal Boosts F1 Prize Money To Record $800 Million
Financial statements released on Tuesday revealed that prize money paid to F1's 11 teams accelerated 6.1% to a record $797.5M last year, "driving a 32% fall in operating profit at the race series," according to Christian Sylt for FORBES.
The bumper prize money payment "calls into question the financial model of some F1 teams which spend nearly all of their revenue in a bid for victory."
They do this in the belief that it is "better to win on track and make no profit rather than make money and finish low down the standings." It leaves them "with very little profit and little money in the bank to draw on if there is a dip in their performance which in turn reduces their prize money and sponsorship."
This "describes the situation that several of the teams currently find themselves in and throughout this season there have been questions as to whether they will all survive to the start of 2015." Remarkably there "seems to be a simple solution."
If the teams’ yardstick of success "was profit rather than on-track results (which are not mutually exclusive) then it is hard to see how they would be in their current predicament."
Increased payment to the teams "wasn't the only reason why F1's profit reversed last year."
Further pressure "was put on the business by the beginning of a new agreement" with the FIA. The "annual fee it receives from F1 increased four-fold last year" to an estimated $40M.
There was also "less money coming in to pay it as the cancellation of a Grand Prix in Spain led to revenue dropping" 4.3% to $1.3B. FORBES
Fernando Alonso Forms Partnership With NOVO To Help Launch Cycling Team
Ferrari F1 driver Fernando Alonso announced an alliance with sport investment manager NOVO, "the first step to make his professional cycling team become a reality," according to Marco Canseco of MARCA. NOVO "will look to attract sponsors and shareholders to join the project."
This "alliance is the first step for Alonso, and he may soon reveal the path they will choose during the first year."
It "could be to form a ProContinental team, a more contained model in terms of spending, that would only be able to participate in major events (Vuelta, Giro and Tour) by invitation." Caja Rural is one example of such a team. The other option is to "directly enter the ProTour, the maximum category."
There is "still a free license for '15 after the merger of the Cannondale and Garmin teams" MARCA
Ferrari argues for 'unfreeze' as silly season bubbles
(GMM) Ferrari is continuing to argue for a relaxation of the so-called engine 'freeze'.
With Mercedes utterly dominating in the new turbo V6 era, F1's engine makers will get a chance to upgrade up to 48 per cent of their 'power units' ahead of 2015.
But Ferrari in particular has argued that the freeze should be further relaxed, for example by allowing at least one mid-season performance step.
When the topic arose two weeks ago in Singapore, Mercedes understandably argued that it should be voted down on the basis that it will only drive up costs.
But Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci on Thursday hit back at the counter-arguments.
"It would not cost more money," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "because the scale of the development remains the same."
Customer teams have also argued that even if the extra development is allowed, any cost increases should not be passed onto the already high price of their 'power units'.
Mattiacci said: "If you are a customer and you have to stay with the same engine from the end of February, then you have little chance to improve yourself.
"At the end that can cost you even more money."
The Italian insists Ferrari made the proposal not for the benefit of Maranello or fellow engine straggler Renault, but for F1 as a whole.
"We stand by it because it is good for the sport," said Mattiacci.
"For Ferrari it is an opportunity but also a risk. Maybe Mercedes will develop their engine even better. It is not a unilateral advantage for us," he insisted.
"At the moment the work of the engineers and suppliers is focused on the winter months. But F1 should be about constant innovation."
Mattiacci said the freeze is also bad for the fans, with a static balance of power affecting the "entertainment on the track".
Elsewhere in the Suzuka paddock on Thursday, the 2015 driver 'silly season' continued to bubble away.
The big player is Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, and 'academy' driver Jules Bianchi – currently placed at Marussia – put his hand up to potentially replace the wavering Spaniard.
"It (moving to Ferrari) looks like the logical step for me if something like this (Alonso's departure) happens," said the Frenchman.
Also linked with replacing the frustrated Alonso at Ferrari is Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, but he opted to divert attention to another big name on Thursday.
"I think (it's a question) probably more for Jenson (Button); he already has 17 teammates for next year," the German smiled.
McLaren's Button, however, is also waiting on Alonso, who according to speculation is considering a sensational switch to lead the British team's new Honda era.
That could leave 2009 world champion Button, or his rookie teammate Kevin Magnussen, out in the cold.
"I don't know," Button said when asked about the situation ahead of the Japanese grand prix. "As you know I can't discuss anything to do with the contract."
He admitted only that staying at McLaren remained his "best option" for the future.
To help keep Marussia afloat, Stevens pays to get track cleaning outing
Will Stevens backers have paid for him to take part in the opening practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix with Marussia to help clean the Suzuka circuit for the rest of the weekend and to help keep Marussia afloat financially.
The Briton has previously tested for the Caterham team, most recently getting behind the wheel at this year's post-British Grand Prix test, but the Suzuka outing will mark his first appearance at a Formula 1 round.
Stevens, who sits sixth in this year's Formula Renault 3.5 standings with one victory to his name, follows in the footsteps of Alexander Rossi, who signed as Marussia's reserve earlier this year after departing Caterham.
Marussia is yet to confirm who, out of regular pair Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton, will step aside for Stevens.
Vettel looking to be 'smart' over penalties
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel says he will need to be "smart" over where he opts to take grid penalties if, as expected, the reigning World Champion exceeds his allocation of power unit elements for the campaign.
Drivers are given five of each of the six elements for the duration of the season, with a 10-place grid penalty applied the first time a sixth element is used, followed by a five-place drop for the sixth of other elements.
Vettel is one of a host of drivers on the brink in Japan, having used five of three separate elements so far, but he is eager to limit the damage of any potential penalties by handpicking where fresh elements are installed.
"The rules are as they are but surely at some stage we have to take some penalties. Which penalties those will be is not entirely clear yet," explained Vettel during Thursday's press conference in the Suzuka paddock.
"We're hoping that we get as far as we can but it's inevitable to go for an extra engine on my side, which is 10 positions after qualifying. Potentially there will be more waiting for us, which is only a consequence of the poor season we had, the first half of the season, in terms of reliability. But that's something we knew back then.
"Now we have to figure out what is the smartest plan and the smartest track to come up with a penalty."
Five rounds of the 2014 Formula 1 season remain, including this weekend's Japanese event.
Hugo Boss switches from McLaren to Mercedes
Hugo Boss will become a team partner of the Mercedes Formula 1 team next season, it has been confirmed.
The announcement, which was expected, brings to an end Hugo Boss' long association with McLaren, which began back in 1981 – over 30 years ago.
It comes as McLaren will switch from Mercedes power units to Honda in 2015.
"With Mercedes-Benz and Hugo Boss formally intensifying their existing co-operations earlier this year, extending the partnership into the brand's Formula 1 team was a logical progression," explained a statement to the press.
Hugo Boss will now create "high-performance teamwear" for Mercedes, while the branding of the German fashion house will appear on the 2015 Silver Arrows Formula 1 cars.
"We are delighted to welcome Hugo Boss to our family of team partners, and to further extend the existing partnership with Mercedes-Benz," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff commented.
"The synergies between our two companies are both striking and extensive; we operate to the highest levels of precision and quality in our pursuit of perfection, with both brands targeting the premium and luxury market.
"As a team, we are very pleased to have attracted another brand of the stature of Hugo Boss to add to our already extensive and impressive suite of partners.
"Everyone at the team is excited about the prospect of being 'kitted out' by Hugo Boss at the race tracks next season."