Latest F1 news in brief

When F1 went to wider tires and more downforce, the passing decreased by over 50%. Now they have to live with that stupid decision as everyone knows the lower the downforce and the skinnier the tire, the more passing

Only Williams voted to tweak cars for overtaking

Monaco boss hits out at F1's Halo
Honda boost could mean engine deal for Red Bull
Ecclestone warns against unnecessary change
Mercedes says Ferrari simply faster in Bahrain

Only Williams voted to tweak cars for overtaking
(GMM) An emergency meeting in Bahrain to improve the overtaking situation in formula one broke on Saturday without a solution being agreed.

Technical directors got together at the Sakhir circuit to discuss measures to make it easier for one car to pass another, following the unexciting Australian grand prix.

"They were unable to agree to any new rules" for 2019, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports.

There were moves to make alterations to the front and rear wings, including a wider DRS slot that would have increased the speed boost from 20 to 25kph.

"Another suggestion was to allow DRS everywhere on the track," the report added.

But it emerges that every team except struggling Williams voted against making any short-term changes.

Auto Motor und Sport said: "There is still a small chance that teams will find solutions in the strategy group."

Monaco boss hits out at F1's Halo

The F1 Halo is indeed ugly

(GMM) Monaco grand prix boss Michel Boeri has lashed out at F1's new safety concept.

Already in the past days, Boeri said he will buck the new 'grid girl' ban and feature beautiful women on the grid prior to the May 27 race next month.

And political correctness aside, now he says modern F1 has gone too far with safety.

"They will install an ejector seat next," he told Nice Matin newspaper.

"Motor racing is dangerous. If the Halo helps the do-gooders, then great. But I think there was no need for action.

"If you try for full safety in formula one, it is against the nature of the sport and disfigures the cars. F1 is not for weaklings.

"I may be from the old guard and perhaps my view is outdated. But a formula one car packaged in cotton wool will not bring out the people," Boeri added.

He thinks one of the reasons for his clash with Liberty Media is because of culture.

"We have a good relationship with them," he said.

"The new leadership sees the sport through American glasses," he explained. "Their vision is different from Europeans.

"But we have a good relationship with Liberty Media. They understand that F1 is watched from a yacht with a glass of champagne and as a fan eating a sausage sandwich.

"Apart from the grid girls thing, there is nothing wrong."

Honda boost could mean engine deal for Red Bull

Gasly in the Honda powered Toro Rosso. Both Honda cars outqualified both McLarens. Gasly will start 5th

(GMM) McLaren figures have been left red-faced after being outperformed by their old Honda engines in Bahrain.

Newly Honda-powered Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly will start the race from an impressive fifth on Sunday — while Fernando Alonso did not even make the 'Q3' qualifying segment.

Stoffel Vandoorne was even slower, and both were also behind the other Toro Rosso driven by Brendon Hartley.

"I have no explanation. Obviously we have not done a good enough job," said Vandoorne.

Fernando Alonso played down the significance of McLaren's ongoing troubles in the wake of the Honda divorce.

And earlier, boss Eric Boullier had said McLaren's next goal is the top three teams.

"It's ambitious, but from time to time we should be able to fight with Ferrari and Red Bull," he said.

But after qualifying, the Frenchman said he was "surprised" and ordered a "big investigation" back at Woking.

For the entire Red Bull camp, however, Saturday's results were a major boost.

Red Bull Racing, who like Toro Rosso are also owned by the famous energy drink company, is openly considering a switch from Renault to Honda power for 2019.

"The team obviously has the opportunity to move to another engine. That's no secret," said Daniel Ricciardo, who is linked with a move to Ferrari for 2019.

"It's natural that if Toro Rosso continues to do so well, it will reassure Red Bull and the likelihood will be higher. I'm watching, but as drivers we're not involved in the discussions," he added.

Ecclestone warns against unnecessary change

Ecclestone shows up in Bahrain wearing old F1 logo. Says Liberty changing things that are not broken

(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is making a low-profile visit to the Bahrain grand prix.

Ousted by Liberty Media just over a year ago, the former F1 supremo is attending the race as a guest of his friend, Bahrain's King Hamad.

87-year-old Ecclestone's visit coincides with a tense time in the F1 paddock, with Liberty having unveiled to the teams its controversial vision of the 2021 regulations.

And notably, Ecclestone in Bahrain wore his familiar white shirt with the former F1 logo displayed on the collar. Prior to this season, Liberty changed the sport's logo, much to the chagrin of many fans.

Ecclestone said in Bahrain: "I don't mind change, but only the things that do not work.

"If you start changing just for the sake of changing, that's a waste of time," added the Briton.

Mercedes says Ferrari simply faster in Bahrain

Bottas will start third for Mercedes

(GMM) Toto Wolff says Ferrari's pace in Bahrain vindicates his pre-season claim that Mercedes will struggle to win another title in 2018.

Prior to Melbourne, where Mercedes' new car proved to be the fastest in the field, boss Wolff had claimed Ferrari and Red Bull would be tough challengers.

"I always said that Ferrari, Red Bull and us are in a tight group. Even tighter than last year," he said in Bahrain.

Wolff was speaking just after qualifying, where the Ferraris qualified 1 and 2 while Lewis Hamilton, with a grid penalty, will start the race from just ninth.

Wolff said Mercedes cannot even make the excuse that its car is – like last year's – a bit of a "diva".

"The drivers feel comfortable in the car," he said. "We were just not fast enough."

Hamilton agreed: "The Ferraris were faster than us on all tire types in the long runs on Friday. They just have the better car here."

He also said the 'party mode' argument is now dead, insisting that Ferrari is "equal to us" in terms of engine power.

But Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo is not so sure.

"I was surprised. I thought the Mercedes would be faster in qualifying," he said.

"It seems that this weekend they're not up to their usual standard," Ricciardo added. "Maybe they've decided not to use the usual qualifying mode to divert attention from this topic," Ricciardo smiled.