Latest F1 news in brief

Lauda leaves hospital again

Lauda leaves hospital after influenza
Vettel 'different' in 2018 – Rivola
Ferrari admits 'interest' in Mick Schumacher
New rules to make 'small difference' for overtaking

Lauda leaves hospital after influenza

(GMM) Niki Lauda has left hospital following his latest health setback.

After a long period of hospitalization and rehabilitation, the F1 legend was holidaying in Ibiza over the New Year period when he contracted influenza A.

He returned to Vienna where he was treated in intensive care, but just over two weeks later – on Wednesday – he was released once again.

Mercedes team chairman Lauda's doctor Walter Klepetko confirmed the discharge, APA news agency reported.

Bild newspaper said that despite the latest hospitalization, the 69-year-old may still be planning to be present for the start of winter testing in Barcelona on February 18.

Vettel 'different' in 2018 – Rivola

Did rumored troubles at home undo Vettel in 2018

(GMM) F1 witnessed a "different" Sebastian Vettel in 2018.

That is the view of Massimo Rivola, a former top Ferrari engineer who also worked with the German driver in his Toro Rosso days.

Vettel looked the favorite to win the world championship last year until a mid-season slump.

"I don't know what happened," Rivola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Every athlete needs the perfect balance to be at his best. I don't know the Vettel of 2018 — my Vettel was different.

"I only hope that (Charles) Leclerc stays as he is," he added, referring to the young star who has been promoted by Ferrari to be Vettel's teammate from 2019.

Leclerc and Vettel will have a new team boss this year in the form of Mattia Binotto, and Rivola said: "I hope Mattia can work with serenity, but that's not easy at Maranello.

"He certainly has all the qualities to succeed."

Rivola has now left F1 altogether, instead turning to the world of MotoGP with Aprilia. "It's never easy to leave Ferrari," he said, "but Aprilia is a nice new challenge."

Ferrari admits 'interest' in Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher

(GMM) Ferrari has confirmed its interest in Mick Schumacher.

This week, multiple authoritative sources have claimed that the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher is about to sign up with the Ferrari young driver 'academy'.

The deal is slated to include F1 outings in the post-race young driver tests after the Bahrain and Spanish grands prix this year.

Ferrari would not confirm the news, but when asked, a spokesman said Ferrari is "naturally interested in Mick".

Schumacher, 19, steps up to Formula 2 this year, having won the European F3 title.

Nico Rosberg, the 2016 world champion, warned that the pressure on Schumacher is rising.

"It's important that he does not lose the joy of driving," Rosberg, whose own father was also a world champion, is quoted by Die Welt newspaper.

"We should also be careful that we do not put too much pressure or too many expectations on him."

Schumacher, however, said he takes the pressure in his stride.

"It's always been like that," he insisted. "It's normal for me.

"If you take someone who is not used to it, and put him in my position, maybe it would be different. But I've had time to grow into it and it's helped me a lot."

New rules to make 'small difference' for overtaking

All that money to develop the new front wing and other changes and it does not help

(GMM) The 2019 rule changes will make a "small difference" when it comes to overtaking.

That is the view of Renault technical boss Nick Chester. This week, his colleague at Force India said the tweaks to the front wing and other parts of the car will add multiple seconds to the laptime and badly affect the handling.

"Well yeah, it is quite a big change for 2019," Renault's Chester said.

But he backed the FIA's attempt to make overtaking easier this year, ahead of even bigger car changes in 2021.

"I think the concept that the FIA have put forward to try and improve the wake to the following car is the right thing," said Chester.

"Obviously in one year you couldn't do all of the changes that are planned eventually for 2021, but from what we've seen so far I think it'll make a small difference.

"It'll go in the right direction, so the following will be a little bit improved, but we're probably going to have to wait until 2021 to see what the full package can deliver," he added.

Chester would not be drawn on how much slower the new rules will make the cars in 2019.

"We've taken a bit of a hit back with the new rules and it's going to be a question of how fast we can develop," he said.

"I'm not going to give you the actual number but I think the key is going to be how teams come back and how they develop."