Latest F1 news in brief

Max Verstappen too aggressive

Manager to talk to Max over aggression
Magnussen will be at Monza – physio
Good start for Allison's successor Binotto – press
Max Verstappen Becomes F1's most Divisive driver
Wehrlein 'couldn't avoid' Button collision
Pirelli to run prototypes again at Monza
Haas expected more after strong first lap

Manager to talk to Max over aggression
(GMM) The F1 paddock is split over Max Verstappen's aggression during the Belgian grand prix.

Some are hailing his battles with the furious Kimi Raikkonen, insisting it is good for the sport.

"Everything is good for Max, because the reactions he is getting remind me very strongly of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher at the start of their careers," said Gerhard Berger, who was Senna's teammate and raced against Schumacher.

"All of them had to deal with early criticism from the established drivers," he told Auto Bild.

Others, however, think 18-year-old Verstappen definitely went too far at Spa.

"Max is in the mirrors the whole time, waiting for Kimi to make a move and then pulled over. It's dangerous and reminds me of what Michael Schumacher did to Mika Hakkinen at Spa in 2000," Mark Webber told Auto Motor und Sport.

And Ferrari insider Leo Turrini wrote: "He has the gift of the racing gods, but looks a bit like Anakin Skywalker — the chosen one who is unable to resist the dark side of the Force."

Some of the post-Spa controversy has been triggered by Verstappen's reaction, as he told the Dutch media that he was the "victim" of the first corner clash and that Ferrari's Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel should be "ashamed".

He has even hinted that he blocked Raikkonen out of revenge for the first corner clash.

"Without what happened in the first corner, I would not have been so aggressive," said Max.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner joked that Verstappen should keep the name of his local accommodation quiet this weekend as Ferrari's fans react.

The stewards did not investigate any of Verstappen's driving, with an unnamed source explaining that all he did was change his line once and then return to the racing line, as per the rules.

But F1 legend Niki Lauda said he would be seeking out Max's father Jos over the matter, while Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen also indicated some talks are on the cards.

"He was certainly not to blame for the start crash. All the other actions by Max were tough but fair," he said.

"I'll discuss with him the situation with Kimi on the Kemmel straight, but he is young and will definitely learn from this situation," Vermeulen told Bild newspaper.

But at the end of the day, Horner said the saga is good for F1, particularly with over 80,000 people cramming into Spa last weekend.

"It shows that it is the drivers who are the heroes in this sport," he insisted.

Kevin Magnussen's destroyed Renault

Magnussen will be at Monza – physio
(GMM) Kevin Magnussen's trainer and physio says the Dane will definitely be at Monza this weekend.

The 40-plus G impact at the fabled Eau Rouge corner on Sunday broke his protective cockpit collar and meant a hospital check for the Renault driver.

"He will have a lot of treatment now and not just in one place," Thomas Jorgensen, Magnussen's physio, told BT newspaper. "It's his entire body."

Magnussen cut his ankle in the smash but Jorgensen said all of the 23-year-old's muscles, tendons and joints will be sore.

"He had a whole-body scan yesterday because the G effect was so high. But there was no bleeding of the organs so we have the green light on that, also with his neck," he said.

To be declared fit for Monza, Magnussen will have to be checked and cleared by FIA doctors on Thursday.

"It's up to how Kevin responds, but he'll be there — I know him well enough to know that. He will take it easy in this week now and move on," Jorgensen added.

Mattia Binotto

Good start for Allison's successor Binotto – press
(GMM) Following a mid-season slump, things are looking up for Ferrari.

That is the view of the patriotic and yet hyper-critical Italian press, agreeing with team boss Maurizio Arrivabene that podium finishes were on the cards at Monza.

"The best Ferrari of the year did not even manage a third place, but only Verstappen can be blamed," declared the La Gazzetta dello Sport daily.

"Ferrari certainly proved in Belgium, under the supervision of the new technical boss Mattia Binotto, a new responsiveness. Something is going on but we will have to wait for Sunday at Monza."

The Corriere dello Sport daily, meanwhile, pointed the finger at Sebastian Vettel.

"The car is showing potential but it is undeniable that Vettel caused the (first corner) collision that destroyed the prospect of a positive result for Ferrari," it said.

Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, however, did not want to dwell on the incidents, even though he admitted Ferrari had pursued the matters regarding Max Verstappen.

"We called the FIA to ask for an explanation," he said, "but it is not Ferrari's style to shout from the rooftops. So we said what we had to say.

"I do not want to talk about the events that characterized the race," Arrivabene is quoted by Autosprint. "I want to think about our position, how well we did in qualifying and the great possibility we had to have two drivers on the podium.

"Now we have to turn the page and look to our GP at Monza."

'Mad Max'

Max Verstappen Becomes F1's most Divisive driver
Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen "may not be winning many friends among other drivers — especially those from Ferrari — but his aggressive, unapologetic, fearless driving is wonderfully entertaining for fans," according to the AP.

The 18-year-old Dutchman is "the youngest to win a race and to start from the front row of the grid," and he is also "just what F1 needs in an era of fading former champions." Verstappen’s "star factor drew more than 20,000 Dutch fans to the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend."

Legions of "orange-clad fans queued at the entry gates." Dutch flags were dotted around the Spa grandstands. Mercedes Motorsport Dir Toto Wolff: "He is refreshing for me. He is a young boy that I like a lot. He comes in here, no fear, no respect. He puts the elbow out and it reminds me of the great ones."

High praise "indeed, from Wolff, who might have added that Verstappen also has some of the brashness that typified seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher." Wolff said, "You can clearly see that some guys around are starting to think twice how to overtake him.

"I just fear that it might end up in the wall heavily one day. For me it is refreshing, but it is dangerous" AP

Unable to anticipate the collision coming, Wehrlein clouted Button

Wehrlein 'couldn't avoid' Button collision
Pascal Wehrlein says he "couldn't avoid" a collision which forced both himself and McLaren's Jenson Button out of the Belgian Grand Prix on the opening lap.

Wehrlein started from 15th place at Spa-Francorchamps and was embroiled in a frantic midfield scrap when he hit Button at Les Combes, causing terminal damage to both cars.

"I was really unlucky," he explained. "At Les Combes the two drivers in front of me [Button and Jolyon Palmer] were fighting for position, braking late, missing the line, so I tried to overtake them on the outside.

"Then, both came back on the line and when I saw that I wanted to brake and move to the inside but I couldn't avoid the crash.

"I'm really unhappy about it but that is what can happen on the first lap when you're starting in the midfield; that part I can't complain about and that's where I want us to be starting next time in Monza."

Button reckoned he would have finished inside of the top 10 but was accepting of the situation.

"We looked really good for points, so it's disappointing that we didn't score any, but it happens," he commented.
"I've been around long enough to know these things happen.

Pirelli to run prototypes again at Monza
Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli will run prototype rubber once more during practice for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, in a bid to further improve structural integrity.

Drivers used unmarked prototype tires for some free practice laps at Spa-Francorchamps last Friday and Pirelli will repeat the process at Monza in four days' time.

"These [prototype tires] are designed to better resist multiple impacts or damage from foreign bodies," Pirelli confirmed.

The Super Soft, Soft and Medium compounds will be used at Monza and Motorsport Director Paul Hembery believes this could open up alternative strategic options for teams.

"Last year we saw the majority of competitors opt for a one-stop strategy, but the arrival of the Super Softs could make multi-stop options more attractive this time," he explained.

Grosjean had Energy Recovery System problems

Haas expected more after strong first lap
Haas drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez admitted they expected more from the Belgian Grand Prix, after the red flag period hindered their hopes of finishing inside the top 10.

Grosjean leapt up to sixth on the opening lap, with Gutierrez ninth, but both pitted behind the Safety Car, which was deployed following Kevin Magnussen's accident.

When the race was red-flagged it effectively gave a free stop to those who had yet to pit, meaning the early advantage gained by Grosjean and Gutierrez was nullified.

Grosjean was consequently affected further by a problem with his Energy Recovery System, which restricted his chances of emerging back into the top 10.

"It was a very good start and a very good first lap," said Grosjean after classifying in 13th place.

"Unfortunately, I didn't have any top speed in the beginning of the race. Something was not going quite right. It took a lot of time to solve that.

"My last stint wasn't bad. I made up a lot of time on everyone, but the damage had already been done. We had a shot at a good finish."

Gutierrez eventually wound up one position higher than Grosjean in 12th spot.

"It wasn't the result we expected," he said.

"We were fighting very hard to get into the top 10 and even though we didn't manage to get there, I think we did well.

"The balance of the car felt good and we had reasonable pace.

"This is one of the things we need to keep up for the coming events because it's what's going to keep us consistent and help us get the most out of the car."