Latest F1 news in brief

Verstappen was free to try and pass Ricciardo. He tried but could not.

Red Bull denies team orders imposed in Malaysia
Red Bull argues against Bahrain winter testing
Force India ends Perez uncertainty
Wolff excuses Hamilton over sabotage claims
Montreal working on 2017 race fix
Ricciardo dedicates Sepang win to Bianchi
Alonso hails McLaren's 'aggressive' approach
Haas fined for Gutierrez wheel incident
Verstappen 'Driver of the Day' for fifth time

Red Bull denies team orders imposed in Malaysia
(GMM) Red Bull has denied its drivers were ordered against racing to the checkered flag in Malaysia for the team's first one-two since 2013.

After Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg ran into trouble at Sepang, Daniel Ricciardo and teammate Max Verstappen had a brief battle but then appeared to hold station to the finish.

"I thought we were going to have 'Multi 33' there at one point," Mark Webber, the former Red Bull driver who was at the center of a Red Bull team orders storm in Malaysia in 2013, said on the post-race podium.

But when asked if Verstappen was actually free to race Ricciardo, the young Dutchman insisted: "Yeah, for sure.

"The team said we were free to race — but of course in a clean way. I think that's what we did."

Less clean was Rosberg's pass on Kimi Raikkonen, as the German fought back from a first-corner spin to ultimately finish on the podium and extend his championship lead to 23 points.

Mercedes slammed the stewards for imposing a penalty, with Niki Lauda calling it "completely stupid" and Toto Wolff saying it is "total nonsense".

Wolff added: "We decided a few months ago that we want harder racing without penalties when a situation is not 100 per cent — and now this!"

And Lauda joined those who were highly critical of Sebastian Vettel's first-corner move, which had shunted Rosberg into his spin in the first place.

"This was a mistake that should not happen to a four-time world champion," he said.

Red Bull's Verstappen even called German Vettel an "idiot", while Rosberg revealed that the Ferrari driver had apologized after the race.

But Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene was siding with his driver.

"I will stick with what Seb says and call it a racing incident," he said.

F1 legend Lauda, however, was not willing to be so forgiving.

"Vettel is in crisis," he is quoted by Italy's Corriere della Sera. "When Verstappen did it at Spa he called him a madman but today he did the same thing."

Horner questions expense of testing in Bahrain

Red Bull argues against Bahrain winter testing
(GMM) Red Bull is arguing against moves to have some winter testing take place in guaranteed warmer weather in Bahrain.

It emerged recently that while Barcelona had been selected for the eight days of pre-season running early next year, the Spanish circuit could not yet confirm the news.

It seemed that was because Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda was trying to convince others in the paddock to agree to move some of that running to Bahrain.

"We should all be trying to help Pirelli because we need warm weather," the triple world champion told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport at Sepang.

"I do not want to lose a few days with rain in Barcelona with the brand new cars," Lauda added. "And Pirelli needs reliable data.

"With 20 degrees track temperature, you do not learn anything."

Indeed, it could be argued that pre-season running for 2017 is more important than usual, given the totally new chassis rules and the bigger slick tires.

In Malaysia, Lauda circulated a letter with the aim of getting an unanimous vote to at least allow voluntary Bahrain testing. Auto Motor und Sport said Mercedes, Manor, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Force India and Haas all signed it.

But Williams, Sauber and the two Red Bull teams are opposed.

Red Bull's Christian Horner explained: "60 per cent of the teams need to save money, but testing in Bahrain will cost significantly more.

"Maybe Mercedes would like to pay for it."

But another consideration is that European testing is simply more convenient for the teams — especially an outfit like Red Bull that likes to push out the development time of its new cars.

"We feel more comfortable being one and a half hours away than six," Horner admitted. "I think Pirelli will get enough hot testing in Abu Dhabi, and temperatures will already be 20 degrees in Barcelona in March."

The richest man in the world – Carlos Slim – backs Perez with his Telmex and Telcel companies

Force India ends Perez uncertainty
(GMM) Force India has finally ended the uncertainty about Sergio Perez's F1 future.

The Mexican and his powerful backers had been linked with a switch to Renault, but Force India has now announced that the 26-year-old is staying put.

"The team and my supporters have concluded their agreements," Perez confirmed.

Rumors in Malaysia had also linked Perez's teammate Nico Hulkenberg with a potential Renault switch, even though he is already under contract for 2017.

Force India's media statement did not mention the German.

Sergio Perez
I’m pleased to confirm that I will be racing with Sahara Force India in 2017 as the team and my supporters have concluded their agreements. I’m very happy with this team and I have a good feeling for the future. I’ve seen the progress we’ve made over last couple of years and I’m sure we have the potential to achieve even more going forward. The team knows me well and it’s important to have stability, especially with some big rule changes planned for next year. I’m excited for the rest of this season and for the challenge that awaits all of us in 2017. I thank all the team for believing in me and I will do my best repay their faith with points, podiums and hopefully wins. I also want to thank our Mexican partners, especially Telmex and Telcel, who have been supporting me since I was a young boy. They continue to play an important role in my journey through the sport.

Wolff dismisses Hamilton's claims his car was sabotaged

Wolff excuses Hamilton over sabotage claims
(GMM) Toto Wolff has excused Lewis Hamilton for triggering a conspiracy theory storm after the Malaysian grand prix.

The Briton's push to reclaim the world championship lead on Sunday actually turned into a 23-point deficit to Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, as his engine failed.

Hamilton could not believe it.

"My question is to Mercedes," he told television reporters. "We have so many engines – there are eight Mercedes cars – but mine are the only ones failing. Someone needs to give me answers.

"Something just doesn't feel right. Someone doesn't want me to win this year," said Hamilton.

Hamilton's comments triggered a firestorm of conspiracy theories, but team chairman Niki Lauda said any claim Mercedes wants the 31-year-old to lose is "ridiculous".

"Hamilton cannot say there is sabotage," the F1 legend is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo.

"I cannot accept that, because we do everything possible to give him the best car and the best engine."

Lauda said he will speak to Hamilton directly.

"We will spend six hours together on my plane to Japan and by the time we get there, there will be no worries," he insisted.

In the wake of Hamilton's TV outbursts, Mercedes cancelled the driver's usual written media engagements but he later cooled down and backtracked.

"When you get out of the car – that feeling you have after leading the race and then your car fails – it's pretty hard to say positive things at the time," he said.

"But I have 100pc confidence in these guys."

Clarifying his remark that 'someone' wants him to lose the title, Hamilton suggested he was referring to God.

"It feels a little bit like the man above, or a higher power, is intervening a little bit," he said. "If at the end of the year the higher powers don't want me to be champion after everything I've given towards it, I will have to accept that."

And team boss Toto Wolff said Hamilton could be excused for the outbursts anyway.

"After this bitter outcome, when you're leading the race, about to get back in the championship lead and your engine blows up, then a statement in front of a TV camera is allowed," he told the German newspaper Bild.

"He was incredibly disappointed, and everyone expresses disappointment differently.

"Once Lewis calms down, he will appreciate that it (sabotage) is not true. It's just a crazy coincidence why the majority of the engine problems this year have been had by him," Wolff added.

Montreal is old and in need of some modernization

Montreal working on 2017 race fix
(GMM) Moves are afoot to secure Montreal's place on the 2017 F1 calendar.

The FIA published a race schedule for next year recently and the Canadian grand prix was marked only as subject to confirmation.

Indeed, tickets are yet to go on sale for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race, and promoter Octane admitted that "negotiations" with Bernie Ecclestone are taking place.

Now, the Quebec newspaper La Presse claims that the City of Montreal could be to the rescue, with the problem being a delay in planned renovations to the circuit's aging paddock.

The report said the City is set to inject $4 million into the delayed and over-budget project, which is now set to be complete by 2019.

"In return," La Presse said, "the City is negotiating with F1 to extend the Canadian grand prix by five years, from 2025-2029.

"The City of Montreal and F1 have agreed to this solution in principle, but the documents have not been formally signed," the newspaper added.

Officially, however, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre is not commenting, as his office insisted it "does not comment on discussions on this issue".

But Coderre "is confident that Montreal will be included on the official calendar," his office added.

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo dedicates Sepang win to Bianchi
Daniel Ricciardo has dedicated his victory at the Malaysia Grand Prix to the late Jules Bianchi, almost two years since his ultimately fatal accident during a Formula 1 race.

Ricciardo surged to victory at Sepang, fending off Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen before profiting when Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton suffered an engine failure.

Ricciardo was close friends with Bianchi, who scored Manor's (formerly Marussia) first points in Formula 1 and had been given long-term guidance by Ferrari.

Bianchi collided with a recovery truck during a wet Japanese Grand Prix two years ago this Wednesday and died from his injuries nine months later.

Ricciardo's victory at Sepang was his first in the sport since Bianchi's fatal accident.

"It's been just over two years since my last victory and it feels like it's been a long two years and a lots happened in those two years," he said.

"Obviously a life changing moment was the loss of Jules, he was obviously a competitor, also a friend, that was hard to take, hard to move on.

"I would have loved to have won one sooner and dedicated this sooner than I did, but since that day I've changed as a person for the better and become more appreciative for the things I have and the position I'm in.

"I've won a Formula 1 race, it's another dream coming true, but this one's definitely for him."

Alonso locks a wheel as he charges hard

Alonso hails McLaren's 'aggressive' approach
Fernando Alonso lauded McLaren's decision to adopt an aggressive strategy as he recovered from the back of the grid to finish seventh at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Alonso started from 22nd position after sustaining a 45-place grid penalty but surged up to 12th on a dramatic first lap and quickly made further progress.

McLaren deliberated over its approach before eventually running a Soft/Hard/Soft/Soft strategy, as the Spaniard claimed six points to move into the top 10 of the championship standings.

"It was definitely a very exiting race for us today, with some great battles," he said.

"Having started from the very back, we recovered some good places at the start – and were lucky not to get caught up in the first-corner accident.

"I was actually surprised by my position, because I'd already got into the points after just a bunch of laps.

"At that point, we had some debate over the radio about the strategy – about whether to be aggressive or more conservative.

"Eventually, we decided to attack and use all the new sets of Option tires we had left over from qualifying.

"The final Virtual Safety Car [caused when Lewis Hamilton retired] certainly played in our favor, because it allowed us to use the last new set.

"After this weekend's penalties, we needed some luck – and we got that today."

Esteban Gutierrez before his left front fell off

Haas fined for Gutierrez wheel incident
Malaysian Grand Prix stewards have fined Haas â‚¬5,000 after Esteban Gutierrez's wheel suffered an unusual detachment, leading to his retirement.

Gutierrez pitted on Lap 40, when the Virtual Safety Car was implemented following Lewis Hamilton's engine failure, but his wheel was not properly attached.

However, neither Gutierrez nor Haas was aware of the issue, as a failure led the wheel to be fitted tightly without being sufficiently attached.

Gutierrez continued without knowledge of the problem before a rim failure eventually led to the wheel detaching as he approached Turn 9.

"Having spoken with the Technical Delegate, the stewards were satisfied that the retention devices operated within their required design limits," read a report.

"However, as some function of the design, part failure or fitting allowed the wheel to come loose on the track, which is considered a serious safety issue, the stewards determined that this led to the car being released in an unsafe condition."

Gutierrez was absolved of blame, though Haas has been informed it must supply the Technical Delegate with a written report on the failure and its corrective actions.

Ricciardo (R) outqualified and out-raced Verstappen (L) but somehow did not win Driver of the Day.

Verstappen 'Driver of the Day' for fifth time
Max Verstappen has been voted 'Driver of the Day' for the fifth time after the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who previously won the award in Spain, Canada, Austria and Britain, followed Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo home at Sepang, marking the outfit's first 1-2 finish in almost three seasons.

Verstappen briefly led the Grand Prix on a planned two-stop strategy, but fell back behind the one-stopping Lewis Hamilton and Ricciardo, before Hamilton's late engine failure put Red Bull in control.

Verstappen had closed on Ricciardo and the pair went wheel-to-wheel for multiple corners, but Red Bull pitted the pair together under the Virtual Safety Car for Hamilton's blowout, ending their battle.

Verstappen's podium is his fifth of the 2016 season, including victory in Barcelona.

'Driver of the Day' awards in 2016:

Australia – Romain Grosjean (6th)
Bahrain – Romain Grosjean (5th)
China – Daniil Kvyat (3rd)
Russia – Kevin Magnussen (7th)
Spain – Max Verstappen (1st)
Monaco – Sergio Perez (3rd)
Canada – Max Verstappen (4th)
Azerbaijan – Sergio Perez (3rd)
Austria – Max Verstappen (2nd)
Britain – Max Verstappen (2nd)
Hungary – Kimi Raikkonen (6th)
Germany – Daniel Ricciardo (2nd)
Belgium – Lewis Hamilton (3rd)
Italy – Nico Rosberg (1st)
Singapore – Sebastian Vettel (5th)
Malaysia – Max Verstappen (2nd)