Latest F1 news in brief – Friday
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Lauda slams Grid Girl ban Lauda slams 'dumb' grid girl ban
- Massa laments end of Brazilian F1 drivers
- Wolff tips Hamilton to sign new contract
- Series boss says Formula E will overtake F1
- Alonso needs Le Mans to 'prove' skills – Domenicali
- Formula 1 2018 entry list officially revealed by FIA
- F1 revenue fell by £13m in 2017
Lauda slams 'dumb' grid girl ban
(GMM) Niki Lauda has slammed Liberty Media's decision to ban grid girls.
The F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman told Austria's Der Standard newspaper that the move is "completely incomprehensible".
"How dumb can someone be? Women have emancipated themselves and do very well at it," he said. "So this is a decision against women."
Indeed, many actual grid girls have taken to Twitter and the media in the past days to express their disappointment about losing their jobs.
Lauda said: "I think it's a great pity to break a tradition such as this, which does formula one but above all women no favors at all."
He said he therefore hopes there is a "way to reverse the decision".
"I would not mind seeing grid boys next to the girls. Why not?" Lauda added.
He slammed the notion that the existence of 'grid girls' makes it harder for women to succeed in other areas of motor racing.
"I want to encourage rather than diminish women," he said. "But once again it is men who have decided over the heads of women."
Kolner Express newspaper also quoted Sebastian Vettel as calling Liberty's grid girls decision "ridiculous".
And former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told British media: "These girls did nothing harmful to anybody.
"I don't remember any of the girls being forced to do anything."
Vicky Valdazo, boss of a Spanish modeling agency that has supplied 'grid girls' to promoters in the past, told Marca newspaper: "It's stupid. It's a job like any other.
"It's like removing the miners from the mine. Someone has to do it."
Massa laments end of Brazilian F1 drivers
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| There was a time when drivers were hired in F1 based on talent alone. Now one must buy a ride – so no Brazilians |
(GMM) Felipe Massa says he is "disappointed" that his retirement means there are no more Brazilians on the F1 grid.
"Of course I am," he told France's Auto Hebdo.
"My country is an integral part of F1 with drivers like Senna, Piquet and Fittipaldi and I am honored to have been a part of that," said the former Ferrari and Williams driver.
"What worries me is that there is no sign that another driver will come any time soon. The economic situation in Brazil plays a role, but it is not the only problem."
Massa said another problem is the motor racing structure in Brazil, where young drivers are no longer nurtured.
"There is nothing that prepares them to go from karting to single seaters and no national series that can prepare them for Europe, which remains the place that offers the most opportunities to progress," he said.
"Today, when I see Formula 4 in many countries, I think Brazil needs such a championship.
"We have a new president of the Brazilian automobile federation, so I really hope he will give a new impetus to do something for young people," added Massa.
Wolff tips Hamilton to sign new contract
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| Of course Hamilton will re-sign to drive the best car in F1. He can't lose. |
(GMM) It is only "a matter of time" before Lewis Hamilton signs a new Mercedes contract.
That is the claim of his boss Toto Wolff, even though reports of a new deal have been around for months and Hamilton regularly flirts with the idea of retirement.
The 33-year-old driver is under contract until the end of this year, but he recently reacted to a social media scandal by conspicuously deleting all of his Twitter and Instagram content.
"Lewis has become such an important pillar within the team that it's a no-brainer that we continue with each other," Wolff said this week.
"The discussions are ongoing in a very positive mindset and it's just a matter of time when we seal it and put a signature to the document."
Quadruple title winner Hamilton won the 2017 world championship and Mercedes is tipped to be strong again this year.
"We've had a good winter, I would say," said Wolff. "No real drama, but there is always stress within the organization at this time of the year."
Series boss says Formula E will overtake F1
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| Alejandro Agag thinks Formula E will become bigger than F1 |
(GMM) The boss of Formula E says he thinks the all-electric series will eventually overtake F1.
Series chief Alejandro Agag took a swipe at F1 after Liberty Media announced this week that grid girls are being banned, declaring "Welcome to the 21st century".
"They are copying many things we do," he smiled to London publication City AM. "But it might be a coincidence."
What he says isn't a coincidence is that car manufacturers and sponsors are flocking to the street circuit-based series that is expected to have a much faster car in future years.
"In 20 years' time, I don't see anything bigger than Formula E," Agag said.
"Formula E will be the main motor sport championship because it is the championship that is connected to the industry."
Alonso needs Le Mans to 'prove' skills – Domenicali
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| Stefano Domenicali |
(GMM) Fernando Alonso is racing outside formula one to "prove" he remains one of the world's best drivers.
That is the view of his former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, who today is the boss of Lamborghini.
Last year, Alonso contested the Indy 500 and this year he will combine his McLaren duties with Le Mans and other world endurance championship races for Toyota.
Domenicali said: "Fernando is looking for challenges outside of formula one because his team is going through a difficult period.
"He wants to demonstrate his skills, to prove that he remains one of the best in the world," the Italian told Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
And Domenicali said it is clear to him that Alonso remains among the best F1 drivers even a decade after his last title.
"Who is stronger: he of Hamilton?" he asked. "It's difficult to assess. Someone is better in qualifying, someone in the race, someone psychologically.
"Today at the top there are three drivers: Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel. The differences between them are minimal and depends on the cars they drive," Domenicali added.
As for the 2018 season, he commented: "I think this year we will see the Ferrari and Mercedes duel again. But you cannot forget about Red Bull who will surely win several grands prix."
Finally, Domenicali was asked if Lamborghini might come into F1 any time soon, and he answered: "Formula one is not a priority for Lamborghini, at least for the next five years."
Formula 1 2018 entry list officially revealed by FIA
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| Mercedes ready to dominate F1 again |
The FIA's definitive 2018 Formula 1 entry list has formally confirmed the race numbers of this year's rookie drivers and new official names for four teams.
Formula 2 champion Charles Leclerc has chosen #16 for his debut with Sauber, while Williams signing Sergey Sirotkin will run with #35 on his Williams.
As expected Aston Martin has been added as title sponsor to Red Bull Racing, while Scuderia Toro Rosso will now be known as Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda, with the energy drink company name added for 2018.
Alfa Romeo becomes part of the Sauber name as title sponsor, while McLaren F1 Team re-appears on the list after three years as McLaren Honda.
Force India is still listed with its usual name, but a change is expected to be formally announced before the start of the season.
2018 Formula 1 entry list
| No. | Driver | Make |
| 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari |
| 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari |
| 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull-Renault |
| 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Renault |
| 11 | Sergio Perez | Force India-Mercedes |
| 31 | Esteban Ocon | Force India-Mercedes |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Williams-Mercedes |
| 35 | Sergey Sirotkin | Williams-Mercedes |
| 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault |
| 55 | Carlos Sainz Jr | Renault |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Toro Rosso-Honda |
| 28 | Brendon Hartley | Toro Rosso-Honda |
| 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas-Ferrari |
| 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari |
| 2 | Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren-Renault |
| 14 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren-Renault |
| 9 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber-Ferrari |
| 16 | Charles Leclerc | Sauber-Ferrari |
F1 revenue fell by £13m in 2017
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| No grid girls. More Pay TV (=less viewers=less sponsors). Start time changes. Budget Caps to scare Ferrari and Mercedes away. Will Chase Carey and team run F1 into the ground? |
While the world's media focusses on the contentious issue of F1 and grid girls, away from the spotlight it has been revealed that the sport's revenues fell by £13m in Liberty Media's first year at the wheel.
While £13m might not sound a lot when one considers the figures usually being bandied around the sport, it is significant and looks likely to herald further unrest among the teams.
In a letter to shareholders Liberty revealed that that "Formula 1 revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017 is expected to be down approximately 1% as compared to the prior year period.
"Full financial statements for this period will be filed on or before March 1, 2018," it added, "and prior to such time Liberty will not provide any additional details."
A year earlier, in 2016, the sport's revenue had increased by 5.8% to £1.3bn, hence the 1% equating to a £13m drop. For the last decade every year had seen an increase except for 2015 when revenues dropped by a comparatively meagre £3.3m to £1.2bn.
A number of factors contributed to the loss, not least the absence of the German Grand Prix, then there was the loss of sponsors Allianz and UBS, neither of which Liberty has managed to find a replacement for.
At the same time increased spending by Liberty, including a new London HQ and Ross Brawn's ever-expanding technical team, has taken its toll.
According to the Independent: "The letter to shareholders doesn't reveal the impact of the decline in revenue but F1's results for the nine months to the end of September showed that its operating loss doubled to £50m ($70m)."
This, of course, resulted in a drop in the prize money paid to the teams, a drop of 5.9% to £460m.
Hardest hit are Ferrari and Mercedes as their on-track performances and special bonuses mean they get more money than their rivals, but the other teams will feel the impact.
Under the guise of the proposed engine rules for 2021, Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault have already expressed unease, the Italian team even raising the prospect of heading to a breakaway series.
However, engine rules aside, it is money that matters, and Liberty's yet to be revealed plans for a significant shake up to how the prize pot is divided looks set to put a number of teams on a collision course with the sport's new owners.
News that the prize pot is already is decline is hardly likely to calm the waters. pitpass