Latest F1 news in brief

What 'trick' will Aldo Costa come up with next?

Suspension dispute still raging before test
Bottas not settling for second place
Rosberg predicts 2017 podium for McLaren
Pirelli embracing 'challenge' of faster F1 – boss
Williams Deputy Team Principal Excited About F1's Income Equality Plans
Red Bull to launch RB13 on February 26
Rosberg will stay 'neutral' in Bottas talk

Suspension dispute still raging before test
(GMM) A question mark continues to hang above the legality of the fastest two cars ahead of the 2017 season.

Although the new Mercedes and Red Bull cars are yet to be launched, it is already known that they will feature the same 2016-style suspension concept that some are comparing to outlawed active suspension.

Ferrari has already challenged the concept's legality, and at the latest meeting of F1 technical bosses last week, the matter was discussed at length again.

But for now, the FIA is declaring that the system is legal.

Some teams, reportedly led by Ferrari, have argued that Mercedes and Red Bull – or the FIA – should at least explain how the system works, but Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt reports that "the campaign has been unsuccessful".

So Schmidt said the risk of a formal protest in Melbourne remains.

A report in Italy's authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport agreed: "The meeting last week did not result in an agreement about what is allowed and what is not.

"Many proposals were on the table, but the position of the teams is very far apart."

However, Gazzetta said one possible outcome before the Barcelona test is that Charlie Whiting will issue a new technical directive regarding suspension legality.

"For the teams it would give enough time to review their projects and adapt, if not in time for Barcelona then for the start of the season in Australia," it added.

Bottas not settling for second place

Bottas knows anyone can win in a Mercedes

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas has confirmed reports that he had to split with his manager Toto Wolff before signing up with Mercedes for 2017.

Since making his F1 debut for Williams in 2013, the Finn has been managed by the now Mercedes chief.

But now that he is replacing reigning world champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, Bottas and Wolff are assuming a strict driver-boss relationship instead.

"He is now my boss, but still a good friend," Bottas, 27, told Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper.

But he doubts that friendship will help him from now on.

"I have not been signed because I'm a nice guy," Bottas said, admitting that his one-year contract means "I have to deliver".

"I have to get the best out of the car."

He will be trying to do that alongside Lewis Hamilton, a triple world champion whose father Anthony recently described as a "career killer".

Indeed, Hamilton's 2016 teammate Rosberg did win the title, but he then promptly retired, partly citing the stresses of his intense battle with Hamilton.

Bottas, however, said he has "no problem" being paired with Hamilton, and in fact sees it as a "huge opportunity".

"It does not match my mentality to settle for second place," he insisted.

Referring to Anthony Hamilton's remarks, meanwhile, Bottas also said during a press conference in Stuttgart: "I do not believe that this year will be my career killer.

"It's a great chance for me to prove myself. I can drive cars fast and that will not just disappear. I have to trust myself," he added.

As for how Hamilton has welcomed him to Brackley, Bottas revealed: "He has welcomed me.

"I am looking forward to a good fight on the track with him, and getting to know him better — as a person as well as a teammate."

Rosberg predicts 2017 podium for McLaren

If Mercedes and Red Bull both have problems, McLaren, like Ferrari, will get a podium here and there

(GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg is tipping a better season for the once-great F1 team McLaren-Honda.

Despite having arguably the best driver – Fernando Alonso – at the wheel for the past two seasons, McLaren has struggled notably with Honda power.

But Rosberg, who in 2016 won the title for Mercedes before retiring, said: "Fernando will be on the podium this year or very close to it."

Speaking to the Spanish sports daily Diario Sport, the German said that is possible because the 2017 technical regulations mean F1 is "starting from scratch".

"He (Alonso) has a great chance but we will have to wait, because the same thing can happen with other drivers and teams too," Rosberg added.

"But I do think McLaren will significantly improve its performance. I don't expect them to dominate, but they have a new opportunity and they will definitely take advantage of it," he said.

However, Rosberg said he thinks his old team, who have replaced him for 2017 with former Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, will still be strong this year.

"I don't think it's going to change," he said, referring to Mercedes' recent dominance. "It's a great team that works like an oiled machine."

As for how Ferrari will do, Rosberg plays down the Maranello team's chances of moving in front of Mercedes or even Red Bull.

"Maybe they will improve but I don't see them leading the championship," he said.

"I think the main danger (for Mercedes) will come from Red Bull," Rosberg explained, "because the marriage between Adrian Newey and new regulations has always worked extraordinarily well over the last 20 years or so.

"We'll have to wait, but we'll know soon," he said.

Pirelli embracing 'challenge' of faster F1 – boss

Pirelli's 2017 tires

(GMM) Pirelli is happy in formula one and embracing the "very important challenge" of the much faster 2017 cars.

That is the claim of Marco Tronchetti Provera, who is the chief executive of F1's Italian tire supplier.

Pirelli's involvement in F1 since 2011 has often been controversial, but Provera insisted: "F1 gave Pirelli a chance to show what we can do, and that we are a company with a future.

"We assess the financial results of our cooperation with the world championship very positively," he told Italian radio Rai Gr Parlamento.

"We had to overcome all sorts of difficulties, but Pirelli has contributed to the success of F1 while at the same time demonstrating our capabilities," Provera added.

The 68-year-old was more guarded when asked about F1's future in the new Liberty Media era, following the departure of long-time supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

"Let's see what will change with the arrival of the new owners," said Provera, "but it is unlikely that in the next three years the changes will be radical."

But he is very much looking forward to the new rules in 2017, in which Pirelli's bigger, wider, faster and more durable slicks will play a leading role.

"The new season is for us a very important challenge," said Provera. "We are bringing tires with greater performance of several seconds per lap.

"The technology gap is huge, but we are well underway and the work we are doing is very important," he added.

Williams Deputy Team Principal Excited About F1's Income Equality Plans

Claire Williams

Williams F1 Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams believes new F1 owner Liberty Media's plans for a more even distribution of income between teams suggests an "exciting future" for her outfit, according to MOTORSPORT.

She said, "Liberty have talked about trying to bring distribution of income to a much more equitable level in order to make sure we have a sport that thrives and is sustainable into the future. Williams is an independent team and our budget's around the mid-point among other teams in our sport."

Budget caps were initially suggested by then-FIA President Max Mosley as "a way of attracting new F1 teams" for the '10 season, although the idea "did not get off the ground at that point."

Williams believes a budget cap "would likewise suit her operation." MOTORSPORT

AUTOSPORT's Rencken & Barretto reported one "key change" Liberty has already made is appointing Chase Carey as CEO of F1 and moving Bernie Ecclestone to an honorary role as chair emeritus.

Williams "praised Ecclestone for his work during a 40-year-reign at the helm of F1." She said, "He's been given the title chairman emeritus, so we'll have to see what that means.

F1 is what it is today because of the work of Bernie. He has done some phenomenal things to transform this sport into what it is today." AUTOSPORT

Red Bull to launch RB13 on February 26
Red Bull has announced that it will present its new Formula 1 challenger, entitled the RB13, on February 26, one day before the pre-season test period gets under way at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Red Bull is the eighth of 10 teams to announce a car launch date, as Formula 1 prepares to enter a new technical era, with Williams and Haas now the only outfits yet to communicate their plans.

Toro Rosso is also planning to pull the covers off its 2017 design on February 26, in the pit lane in Barcelona; although likely to do the same, Red Bull has not confirmed a location for its own reveal.

Sauber is set to kick off a busy launch phase on February 20, with Renault (21), Force India (22), Mercedes (23), Ferrari (24), McLaren (24), Toro Rosso and Red Bull all following in that week.

Barcelona will then host two tests, from February 27 to March 2 and March 7 to 10.

Red Bull finished second in the 2016 standings, behind Mercedes, with Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo – both retained for 2017 – taking one victory each, in Spain and Malaysia respectively.

Rosberg will stay 'neutral' in Bottas talk

Rosberg says he will stay neutral

Nico Rosberg has confirmed that Valtteri Bottas has asked for his advice after joining Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, but promises to stay "very, very neutral" during any talks.

Rosberg shocked the F1 community by retiring just days after beating Hamilton to the 2016 title, with Mercedes ultimately reaching a deal with Williams to sign Bottas as his replacement.

Rosberg, fielding questions during a press conference for the upcoming Laureus sports awards, where he is nominated for 'World Breakthrough', revealed contact with Bottas.

"He's asked me to have a chat soon and I'm happy to do that," said Rosberg.

"But I'll stay very, very neutral [with any advice], so I won't give away any of Lewis' secrets, for example, I'll just help him with the way [he can] integrate better with the team."

Rosberg admits Bottas faces a massive challenge alongside Hamilton.

"I would tell him, 'Don't expect an easy ride', that's for sure," he said.

"It's going to be challenging for him, coming into a new team, with Lewis having been there for so many years, and the new [technical] regulations and everything else…

"Lewis is one of the best out there, so the level is extremely high.

"But at the same time, Valtteri is very talented, so for sure he can achieve great things [with Mercedes] as well, as long as the team give him a good car – and that's it."