Latest F1 news in brief

Renault gives up on 2017, turns focus to 2018

Renault starts work on 2018 car – boss
F1 eyes pay-TV switch for Germany
Alonso at Indy 500 'unfortunate' – Carey
Vettel tips Barcelona boost for Red Bull
Renault pushes back planned engine update
Jordan sure Vettel in Mercedes talks
Lauda admits Ferrari 'clearly ahead'
India wants millions in F1 taxes
Monaco admits it pays low F1 race fee
London admits talks for F1 car 'showcase'
Pirelli confirms Austrian GP compounds

Renault starts work on 2018 car – boss
(GMM) Renault intends to "surprise" the F1 hierarchy in 2018.

That is the claim of team boss Cyril Abiteboul, as the French works team already pushes to establish itself at the head of the midfield this year.

"It's important to go step by step," he told Russia's Championat.

"According to our plan, we must begin to fight for the podium in the course of next season. Yes, the gap now is big but the whole team is working day and night on the plan.

"Honestly, our 2018 car will be our first that is built with the use of all of our fresh resources, as the one we have this year was created under some limitations.

"We have already started work on the car for next season, and I think everyone will be surprised with what we have in 2018," Abiteboul added.

F1 eyes pay-TV switch for Germany
(GMM) F1's new owners are considering switching coverage of the sport within Germany to a pay-only platform.

The free-to-air deal enjoyed by the broadcaster RTL runs out this year, and new F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches was quoted by DPA news agency as admitting that pay TV is "where the money is".

But he added: "There are markets where the penetration of pay TV is low compared to free TV. This is especially true for Germany compared to the UK, where there are significantly more customers for pay TV.

"This makes it a bit more difficult, but we're working on it," Bratches said.

RTL has already said that it is seeking a new contract for 2018 and beyond.

Alonso at Indy 500 'unfortunate' – Carey

Alonso wants to drive where he can win. In F1 it's 99% car and 1% driver and since his car is not fast he has zero chance to win

(GMM) Chase Carey has admitted he would prefer if Fernando Alonso was preparing for next month's Monaco grand prix.

Actually, the Spaniard is sitting out F1's 'jewel in the crown' event, and this week started testing for the Indy 500 whose race date clashes with Monaco.

"Under Bernie (Ecclestone), formula one was a business that said no to everything," new F1 supremo Carey told the Spanish press this week.

"Now we want to say yes to many more things," he added.

One of those 'yes' answers was a tentative one to McLaren's Indy 500 foray, with Ecclestone admitting he would have campaigned against it.

Carey said: "I have mixed feelings.

"I would love to have Fernando in Monaco, driving a car with the possibility to win the race. But unfortunately, this does not seem possible in the short term.

"I understand his motives for seeking a challenge that motivates him and his choice is respected," Carey added. "And it is also indirectly beneficial to us as a great F1 driver who reaches the American audience in a different way.

"But it is not an ideal situation," he acknowledged. "If I could choose, I would prefer to see him in Monaco.

"That one of your stars decides to make a temporary jump to another competition is not positive," said Carey. "It is an unusual and unfortunate situation, especially for his team and also for us as organisers.

"But you also have to be pragmatic and constructive."

Vettel tips Barcelona boost for Red Bull

Will the Red Bulls rebound?

(GMM) Championship leader Sebastian Vettel has tipped his old team Red Bull to return to the top in formula one.

Currently, the 2017 title looks to be a fight between Ferrari – for whom former Red Bull driver Vettel now races – and Mercedes.

But after the opening four 'flyaway' races, rumors are swirling that a 'B' car in the works by Red Bull could be up to a full second per lap quicker for Barcelona.

"I think it (Spain) will be a very close race between Mercedes and us, and I also hope that Red Bull find some pace," said Vettel, who won all four of his titles for the energy drink owned team.

"There's a lot of rumors around," the German added. "They are a strong team, they know how to build a quick car so I expect it's a question of when rather than if."

Renault pushes back planned engine update
Renault has pushed back the introduction of an upgraded Formula 1 engine, as it works to ensure reliability, Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul has explained.

Renault had planned to introduce a sizeable power unit upgrade at June's Canadian Grand Prix, in a bid to close the gap to current pace-setters Mercedes and Ferrari.

However, amid concerns over reliability, in the wake of dyno testing, Renault has now stated that it wants to introduce its developments by the end of July.

"We want to do that before the summer break," Abiteboul told Autosport.

"We want to keep it in sync with the power unit integration, and we want to do that with power unit number three [of the season] if possible."

He added: "It is something that is still work in progress.

"We are touching some limitations, but we believe the concept that we have introduced this year is the right concept.

"There is innovation in the pipeline and there is performance in the pipeline.

"The thing we need to get under control is engine reliability, I've said that on many occasions.

"We know there is some fragility in the system that we need to cope with. It is true on the track and it is true on the dyno.

"It is the same thing for Honda; reliability issues are also hurting you in your development program back to base, and that is the sort of thing that is hurting us – we need to manage that."

Despite pushing back the engine upgrade, Abiteboul is confident that Renault will be able to close the gap to the front of the pack as the season develops.

"I am not lowering my ambition to be able to cut massively the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari that is still here," he went on to comment.

"I am not saying we are on a par with them now, but we have a plan for that."

Most teams are likely to switch to second power units in either Spain or Monaco, around a quarter of the way into the season, with four permitted per driver in 2017.

Renault also supplies Red Bull and Toro Rosso with its power units.

Max Verstappen, whose Red Bull team is planning a sizeable chassis upgrade in Spain, has indicated that Renault's update will follow at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late June.

"This is just the way it is; you can't change anything about this," he said of the delay.

"We just need to make sure we have a good car and then it's just a matter of waiting for Baku."

Jordan sure Vettel in Mercedes talks

You know, if I start rumors I am talking to Mercedes, Ferrari will offer me more!

(GMM) Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan is certain Sebastian Vettel is in talks about a potential switch to Mercedes for 2018.

Commonly a sensational predictor of big F1 news, Jordan's comments come after Mercedes played down rumors of recent talks with Ferrari's championship leader.

"There's nothing to it," Mercedes' Toto Wolff said. "I was only chatting with my Swiss neighbor."

But Jordan, once a team owner but now a TV pundit, told Sport Bild: "Of course they're talking with Vettel.

"They need to be. Formula one is a brutal business. It's not just about strengthening yourself, but weakening your opponent," he insisted.

Indeed, while Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda has played down the Vettel rumors, he does admit that the German driver is impressive.

"He's the best at the moment," said the F1 legend.

"He is a straightforward guy who knows what he wants, knows how to get something and knows how to extract maximum performance. Just an incredible guy," Lauda added.

Lauda admits Ferrari 'clearly ahead'

Is Ferrari really ahead?

(GMM) Mercedes needs to make "two steps forward" to catch up with Ferrari next time out in Barcelona.

That is the claim of F1 legend Niki Lauda, who doubles as Mercedes' team chairman.

Mercedes utterly dominated between 2014 and 2016, but so far in 2017 Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel has pulled out a lead in the championship.

"Ferrari is clearly ahead," Lauda told the Austrian newspaper Krone.

"We need to analyze what exactly is not working and take the right steps for Barcelona. Because all the teams will bring updates, Ferrari will make a step forward, we have to make two and Red Bull needs to make three," he added.

It is said that Mercedes' biggest problem is inconsistency with the tires, but Lauda says that's not the only issue.

"We have too much weight in the car, we need to improve the aerodynamics, and above all we need to understand why the new Pirelli tires do not work as they do on the Ferrari," he said.

Finally, Lauda appeared to agree with reports that suggest Valtteri Bottas is on course for a new contract for 2018, after winning in Russia.

"It was a perfect performance that I never expected," he said. "It was the right decision by Toto Wolff and myself to get Bottas on board.

"Bottas is our man," Lauda added.

India wants millions in F1 taxes
(GMM) The return door to India seems to have closed for formula one.

Three Indian grands prix were held near Delhi until 2013, when bureaucratic hurdles ended the deal.

And now, those bureaucratic hurdles seem higher than ever before, with India's supreme court ruling that that the sport owes the government millions in tax.

"We have held that (F1 has) income that is attributable in India (and) will be taxed. The amount that is to be taxed is to be assessed by an assessing officer," the judges ruled.

Local reports said India is seeking 40 per cent of the total business income of the races.

Monaco admits it pays low F1 race fee

Monaco is a big money loser without a special deal

(GMM) Monaco has denied it pays no fee to host the fabled street race in the Principality.

The race is commonly called F1's 'jewel in the crown', amid rumors its history and status meant it was the only event on the annual schedule that is charged no fee.

"That's just a rumor," Monaco's Prince Albert II told the FIA magazine Auto.

"Maybe the rights are less expensive than for other circuits, but there is a fee," he said.

The Prince's comments come after the now-ousted F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone recently admitted that he overcharged some race promoters.

But now it is confirmed that Ecclestone actually under-charged Monaco.

Prince Albert II said: "Bernie was well aware what Monaco brought to formula one — he said it himself, as do the sponsors and drivers. He always took care of us, but he still made us pay what he reckoned was the right amount."

London admits talks for F1 car 'showcase'
(GMM) Plans are afoot for a demonstration of F1 cars in London ahead of this year's British grand prix.

It is over a decade since the last such event took place in the capital, but the idea is now being championed by the sport's new owners Liberty Media.

New F1 chief Chase Carey recently told the Times newspaper that he is alarmed by the lack of promotion of the Silverstone race.

"You could walk though London and not even know the grand prix was on," he said.

London's Westminster City Council confirmed that talks are taking place about a potential "showcase event".

"Discussions are at a very early stage and as such nothing has been agreed," said a spokesperson.

If the event does go ahead, it will re-fire speculation that Liberty could be looking to run a world championship race on the streets of London.

"London is a great city, and there is no question when you think (about) where are the cities you want to be in," Carey recently told the Telegraph.

"We are talking to a lot of people. Realistically I have got a page-long list of places that would like to have races," he added.

Pirelli confirms Austrian GP compounds

Pirelli tires

Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli has announced its choices for the Austrian Grand Prix, with the three softest compounds to be in use at Spielberg.

As per 2016, the Ultra Soft (purple), Super Soft (red) and Soft (yellow) compounds will available for drivers at the venue.

Out of the 13 available sets of tires, one set of Ultra Softs must be used only in Q3, while either the Super Softs or Softs must be run for one stint of the race.

It will be the fifth time this season that Pirelli's Ultra Soft tire, introduced at the start of 2016, will be available.

Race	Softest	Middle	Hardest
Australia	Ultra Soft	Super Soft	Soft
China	Super Soft	Soft	Medium
Bahrain	Super Soft	Soft	Medium
Russia	Ultra Soft	Super Soft	Soft
Spain	Soft	Medium	Hard
Monaco	Ultra Soft	Super Soft	Soft
Canada	Ultra Soft	Super Soft	Soft
Azerbaijan	Super Soft	Soft	Medium