Latest F1 news in brief

Pirelli Intermediate tires

Hamilton worried about Pirelli wets in China
F1 'open' to rule changes – Wolff
Grosjean agrees that 'pay drivers' should go
Ecclestone buying Interlagos 'good' – Massa
Ricciardo wants Renault update sooner
Vandoorne unsure of Honda fix timing
Alonso rules out quitting mid-season
Wehrlein fitness criticism 'unfair' – Kaltenborn

Hamilton worried about Pirelli wets in China
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton admitted he is concerned that his first taste of Pirelli's new wet tires will be this weekend in China.

The weather forecast throughout the Shanghai weekend is poor, and Friday's opening session was indeed badly affected by rain.

Less concerned is Hamilton's current title nemesis Sebastian Vettel, who has snapped up every opportunity to help Pirelli test for this year's new rules.

"The reason why I'm generally happy to do it (testing) is because I love driving. So when there's an opportunity to test, even though it can sometimes be a bit dull, still it's better than sitting on the bike," said the Ferrari driver.

In contrast is Mercedes driver Hamilton's approach, with the Briton having cited injury niggles and car reliability issues as the reason for not extensively testing.

Indeed, in China Hamilton said taking up the testing opportunities would have been "a waste of time".

But that doesn't mean he won't admit to feeling "apprehensive" about the weather forecast for this weekend.

"I am not really looking forward to a wet track because I haven't driven on the new tires. Usually I like driving in the wet, but I am a little bit apprehensive," Hamilton said.

"If you had to bolt them on for qualifying right now I have never driven them before," he added. "It is a much bigger tire this year and there is a big risk that in the wet you damage the car.

"But I do relish the challenge and I believe if anyone is able to do it, I can, so I will figure it out," said Hamilton.

Vettel, meanwhile, said he will continue to snap up "every opportunity" to test, amid tight track-time restrictions in modern-day F1.

"That's personal, but I can't understand why you would reject it," said the German. "I think there's always something you learn, so the days I did with Pirelli to help them get feedback, for sure they also helped me."

F1 'open' to rule changes – Wolff

Will F1 figure out how to stop their parades?

(GMM) F1 should be "open" to making tweaks if the on-track spectacle does not live up to the hype in 2017.

That is the view of Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss who acknowledged that while the new cars are spectacularly fast, a lack of overtaking could be an issue.

"First we have to see how the next few races go," he is quoted in Shanghai by the Dutch publication Formule 1.

"But if we have to change things, I think everyone is open to it."

The report said Wolff's view is shared by Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner, but more cautious is Ferrari driver and championship leader Sebastian Vettel.

"I'm maybe very old-school but I think that some things we shouldn't change," said the German.

"The way people look at it now after one race, after a couple of races, they would like to see a change. I think too much change is wrong," Vettel added.

Grosjean agrees that 'pay drivers' should go

Grosjean sees no place for ride-buyers

(GMM) Romain Grosjean has backed moves to nudge so-called 'pay drivers' out of formula one.

Recently, new sporting chief Ross Brawn admitted one of his goals – that the world's best 20 drivers are all on the F1 grid – might only be achievable through a fairer distribution of income.

Currently, some struggling teams make up their budgets by signing drivers who bring millions in personal sponsor or backer contributions.

Brawn is quoted by France's RMC: "The reality is that at the bottom of the grid, business considerations related to the budgets of the drivers have become too great."

French driver Grosjean, who drives for the small American team Haas, says he agrees with Brawn.

"I totally agree with him," he said. "It's true that it has always existed in F1, but maybe it is now worse than before."

Without naming any current drivers, Grosjean admitted "there are a few that, if you look at their past results, would not necessarily have got to formula one without help".

So any team income distribution changes, like budget caps, would according to Grosjean be good for F1.

"It would be positive for young drivers because we know how extremely difficult it is to arrive in F1, and if there are places taken by people who don't deserve it, there are even less places for young drivers," he said.

Ecclestone buying Interlagos 'good' – Massa

The shoe is now on the other foot, Ecclestone will know what it's like to be squeezed as a promoter

(GMM) Felipe Massa says it would be "good" if a buyer for Brazilian grand prix venue Interlagos is being lined up.

Reports this week have claimed that former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is interested in buying the famous track near Sao Paulo, after he said recently that the popular race could be lost to the sport.

"As far as I know, it's an idea that is under discussion," Brazilian driver Massa, when asked about Sao Paulo's plans to sell Interlagos, said in Shanghai.

"Let's see how events develop, but if someone is interested in buying, it's good for the track and the city.

"I heard that Bernie is interested, and because I know him well I can say he is not a person who will buy something if he does not believe in its success. So if Bernie is interested, I fully support him," the Williams driver added.

Ricciardo wants Renault update sooner

Ricciardo wants more power from Renault

(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he hopes Renault pushes through a scheduled engine upgrade to get Red Bull back on track in 2017.

But the Australian admitted that Red Bull's new chassis is also not yet a match for Mercedes and Ferrari, although his boss Christian Horner says upgrades in China are "looking promising".

Ricciardo denied that the big problem with the Red Bull is the loss of a 'trick' suspension system.

"I don't think so," he said in Shanghai. "And the team doesn't think so.

"It seems to me, and I think it's true for Max (Verstappen) as well, that we can't attack the corners as aggressively as Ferrari and Mercedes can," Ricciardo added.

But he also said a major upgrade from Renault will help, even if the scheduled introduction date is not until June's Canadian grand prix.

"It would be nice if we get it at least the race before, but if we get it in Canada, we get it in Canada. But you always want to make it happen as soon as possible," Ricciardo added.

Vandoorne unsure of Honda fix timing

Vandoorne came into a bad situation at McLaren-Honda

(GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he doesn't know how long it will take McLaren-Honda to fix its current problems.

So dire is the Anglo-Japanese collaboration's situation early in 2017 that rumors of a split are rife.

Indeed, after Melbourne, team figures have warned that Shanghai will be even worse for the 2017 package, with up to a 160hp deficit possible after halfway down the long straight.

So when asked how long it will take for a fix, rookie driver Vandoorne answered: "It's too early to make predictions.

"But it's true that between the tests and the first race Honda already made progress. My car got to the finish and Fernando's almost did, although there is still much to be done.

"How much time will it take? I'm not sure but let's see what will happen. McLaren and Honda are doing everything possible, as quickly as possible to solve the problems and make the car faster," said the Belgian.

Indeed, already in Shanghai a radical new 'T-wing' has been added to the car, although Vandoorne admitted that one driver will sometimes have to go without the new parts.

"For myself and Fernando, in this situation, we will go all out and squeeze everything out of the car. Hopefully one day our efforts will be rewarded," he said.

Alonso rules out quitting mid-season

What, quit and lose my huge salary?

(GMM) Fernando Alonso has dismissed speculation he might quit McLaren-Honda mid-way through the 2017 season.

His old friend Mark Webber – who is still regularly in the paddock as a television pundit – had made the claim in Australia, amid McLaren's latest competitive crisis.

When asked about it in Shanghai, Spaniard Alonso laughed: "No, I think I'd rather be in China than home in the supermarket."

But when pressed on the rumors about Alonso wanting to leave McLaren-Honda imminently, he added: "This is simply not true.

"I have read it not only in Spain but also from MotoGP riders asked if Alonso is going and everyone has their opinion," said Alonso. "Apparently they all know that I am depressed!

"Clearly the situation is frustrating because I am better prepared than ever. But I think the team now expects extra effort from me, like in Melbourne when the simulations said that we would be last and we were fighting for tenth place.

"Forecasts for China show we are last as well so I hope it is the same as Melbourne," he added.

Another rumor is that Alonso would support McLaren if it dumped Honda, particularly after the struggling Japanese marque recently hit back at claims about how down on power the 2017 power unit really is.

Alonso now says: "I don't know exactly how much power we lack compared to our opponents, but my feeling says 'a lot'. I notice how fast I am in the corners and how much I lose on the straights.

"As drivers we are having to work around the engine problems and we also need to save more fuel than ever before, which doesn't help," he added.

Meanwhile, Alonso did not rule out going on the driver market later this year, amid claims he could be lining up to re-join his old McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for 2018.

"When talking about the future, you should never exclude anything in life," he said.

"The problems I had in the past were due to the management of McLaren and never with Lewis," he added.

Wehrlein fitness criticism 'unfair' – Kaltenborn

Pascal Wehrlein

(GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has hit back at rumors there is definitely more to the story regarding Pascal Wehrlein's supposed lack of fitness.

The young German missed Australia, is sitting out this weekend's Chinese grand prix, and is also not guaranteed a return in Bahrain or beyond following his winter back injury.

The 22-year-old pulled out citing a simple lack of physical fitness, but it's a story that has some eyebrows furrowed in the F1 paddock.

"If I felt such difficulties, I would try to overcome them," said 18-year-old rookie Lance Stroll, "but I don't want to comment on his situation.

"Maybe he has serious problems, but of course I hope not," Stroll added.

Others fear that a serious political issue has arisen for Wehrlein, the Mercedes-backed driver who for now is being replaced by Antonio Giovinazzi, the reserve driver for Sauber's engine partner Ferrari.

Asked if Wehrlein's full-time seat is now on the line, Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn told the German broadcaster RTL: "Of course not."

Another recently mentioned possibility is that Wehrlein is not sufficiently motivated, with voluntarily stepping out the car perhaps indicative of his often controversial personality.

"This is all not true," Kaltenborn insisted.

"The fact is that he had his (race of champions) accident in America, and his spine was compressed quite hard. And of course you don't take these things lightly," she added.

"Actually it surprised us that Pascal got the green light to drive so quickly afterwards, but the truth is that it simply takes a while for the body to recover.

"He simply has to catch up on the training deficit as a result from the injury," said Kaltenborn.

Indeed, fellow driver Romain Grosjean said he sympathizes with Wehrlein.

"While everyone else was working extensively, Pascal could not train," said the Frenchman.

"If I got at the wheel of one of these cars in the form I was in last year, I would have had problems too," Grosjean said. "And if I can't drive the car properly, I don't want to take risks and endanger myself and others."

Kaltenborn continued: "It is not fair to question his (Wehrlein's) motivation and I cannot understand how he is criticized for his decision."

But for now, Wehrlein is on the sidelines, in doubt for Bahrain next weekend and with no guarantee that he will be back in action in Russia either.

"At the moment, he is completing an intensive training program with the Mercedes junior team. After this weekend, we will get together and see where we stand," said Kaltenborn.