Latest F1 news in brief

It really doesn't matter when Honda spends their engine tokens, they are not going to catch Mercedes

Honda undecided over engine 'token' spend
Force India hopes for Mallya return soon
Ferrari slow to react to rule changes – Baldisserri
Red Bull eyed Alfa Romeo power – Marchionne
Raikkonen runs best motocross team – rider
Manor wants to move past struggling Sauber – Wehrlein
Verstappen move 'good news' for F1 – Coulthard
Ferrari needs another personnel shakeup – Tarquini
'Too early' to say title already gone – Vettel
Ricciardo expects Red Bull-Renault to stay together
Ecclestone Says Formula 1 Grand Prix Could Be Held In London As Early As Next Year

Honda undecided over engine 'token' spend
(GMM) Honda says it has not decided when to deploy its tally of performance 'tokens' in 2016.

Barcelona, the first European race of the season, is traditionally the scene of big update packages and McLaren is indeed ready with an improved car.

"We hope it will be a big step forward," Yusuke Hasegawa, Honda's F1 chief, is quoted by the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial.

"I heard some of the pieces are very promising, but until we see them we will not know the exact benefit. For us, we are focusing on the ICE (engine) and the ERS," said the Japanese.

The report said Honda still has 14 FIA 'tokens' – a system to be scrapped altogether for 2017 – to spend across this season.

"From a tactical point of view we do not want to use tokens for small improvements," Hasegawa said.

"We want to use them effectively, but we will have to carefully analyze the exact results of the developments," he added.

Force India hopes Mallya doesn't end up behind bars

Force India hopes for Mallya return soon
(GMM) The UK government has turned down India's request for Vijay Mallya to be deported.

Former billionaire Mallya has been absent from the F1 paddocks this year over his highly-publicized dispute with the Indian government, regarding the collapse of his airline Kingfisher and massive debts.

The 60-year-old is currently holed up at his house formerly owned by Lewis Hamilton's father in England, amid India's attempts to have him deported after his passport was revoked.

But a spokesperson for India's external affairs ministry said the UK has informed the government that Mallya can stay as long as his passport was valid when he entered the country.

"At the same time the UK acknowledges the seriousness of the allegations and is keen to assist (the) government of India," the spokesperson told The Hindu.

"They have asked (the government) to consider requesting mutual legal assistance or extradition."

Amid the Force India boss and co-owner's troubles, team chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer said Mallya's absence from the grands prix is not badly hurting the team.

"We're all used to seeing Vijay at the circuits, but he has many business interests and so from that regard, from an operational standpoint, I don't think it has a big impact on the team," he said.

"I know he's working hard with the Indian government to resolve his issues and hopefully soon we'll see him back at the races," Szafnauer added.

Luca Baldisserri back in 2006 working under Aldo Costa

Ferrari slow to react to rule changes – Baldisserri
(GMM) Luca Baldisserri, a former key manager and engineer at Ferrari, says the Maranello team should work on adapting better to rule changes.

53-year-old Baldisserri was a key member of the team in the hugely successful Michael Schumacher era, but in recent years he headed Ferrari's young driver program and now oversees the careers of Mick Schumacher and Williams' Lance Stroll.

When asked about Ferrari's struggle for wins in the new Mercedes-dominated 'power unit' era, he said: "I keep in mind one thing, which was also true when I was active.

"In Maranello, we have always had a tendency to focus on the immediate, whilst underestimating the impact of rule changes.

"Recall 2005, when the changing of tires was prohibited. And 2009, when although the double diffuser was illegal, we were blown away," he told Ferrari insider Leo Turrini's blog.

"It seems to me the same thing occurred with 2014 and the return of turbo technology," said Baldisserri.

"This overwhelming dominance of Mercedes was not expected," he added. "The numbers are stronger than the Ferrari of Schumacher, Todt, Brawn etc."

Baldisserri does, however, think Ferrari has got its current driver lineup right.

"Alonso on the track is as strong as Vettel," he said. "But Alonso is missing all that Vettel does off the track."

And while Baldisserri is now steering the young Schumacher and Canadian Stroll towards the F1 grid, he insists his days in the garage and pitwall are over.

"I have no nostalgia for the grands prix," he said. "And if they (Schumacher and Stroll) get to formula one, I would watch them on television, as it's a life that is no longer for me."

Red Bull decided against Marchionne's Ferrari clone

Red Bull eyed Alfa Romeo power – Marchionne
(GMM) Red Bull expressed interest in being powered by Alfa Romeo engines in F1.

That is the revelation of Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler president Sergio Marchionne, who said moves are still afoot to bring the Italian carmaker back to the grid.

"Alfa Romeo may be there one day," Italian reports quote him as saying at the launch of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia road car this week.

"It will require serious funds — to invest in racing you need to sell a lot of cars, so today we are just at the beginning," Marchionne added.

"But if Alfa Romeo returns to formula one, it will be as a factory team rather than a supplier of engines," he continued.

"Red Bull was interested in Alfa Romeo last year, but they needed only an engine and that didn't make sense for us. We are not Honda," said Marchionne.

The notoriously demanding Italian-Canadian was also asked about Ferrari's on-track performance in 2016, amid reports the current team is under pressure having failed to win any of the four grands prix so far.

Marchionne said: "The fate of the title is yet to be solved, and I am very happy with the performance of both drivers.

"This year we have often had bad luck, but there is a chance to win. The season has just begun and I hope that in Barcelona we will fight for first position.

"I am confident and Sunday will be an important day," he said, referring to the Spanish grand prix. "I am expecting a couple of wins shortly, starting at Montmelo (Barcelona)."

Finally, Marchionne denied being disappointed that Red Bull has scratched Max Verstappen from the driver 'silly season' by moving him from Toro Rosso.

"This is an issue for Red Bull," he said. "I never said that Verstappen interested us."

Kimi Raikkonen has another career once Ferrari puts him out to pasture

Raikkonen runs best motocross team – rider
(GMM) Watching over his own motocross team at the weekend, Kimi Raikkonen had a typical answer when asked for an interview.

"No," the German newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung quotes him as saying.

Raikkonen's rider Max Nagl, however, is happy to talk about the Ferrari driver, saying at the motocross event in Teutschenthal: "I am myself a big formula one fan.

"And when a star like Kimi is your boss, it's the best that can happen to you."

Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, might be famously reserved and uncooperative with the media, but Nagl says he knows how to run a team.

"With us, everything is much more organized than the other teams in the paddock," he said. "For example, the other teams try to save with travel expenses, but Kimi knows it is better to spend a bit more so we are rested for the race."

Nagl admitted, however, that he doesn't see a lot of Raikkonen.

"Kimi travels a lot so it's mainly over the phone," he said. "Of course I'm pleased that he's here now."

Manor nows has a Mercedes engine so they will move ahead of hapless Sauber

Manor wants to move past struggling Sauber – Wehrlein
(GMM) Manor is hoping to leave struggling Sauber at the very back of the grid from this weekend's Spanish grand prix.

Barcelona, traditionally the first European race of the season, will this weekend see most teams running heavily updated packages in the wake of the opening four 'flyaways'.

But the Swiss team Sauber is struggling financially in 2016, and has announced that it will not do the post-race test next week because it does not have a Barcelona-spec upgrade to develop.

Even the usual backmarker Manor, however, will arrive at the Circuit de Catalunya with a car update.

"I'll have a new rear wing, a new front wing and a new floor," Pascal Wehrlein, the team's Mercedes-backed race driver, told Speed Week.

"They are minor things but I hope nevertheless that it's a good step forward for the car and we get the tires to work better," the German rookie added.

Wehrlein continued: "For sure Barcelona will not be easy, but in the last races we have always been in the fight with the Sauber guys and it would be nice if we can take another step forward now and get past them."

David Coulthard (L)

Verstappen move 'good news' for F1 – Coulthard
(GMM) F1 veteran David Coulthard has backed Red Bull's controversial decision to oust Daniil Kvyat and replace him immediately with Max Verstappen.

The Scot, a former Red Bull driver and now respected commentator and broadcaster, said: "It makes for some excitement in formula one that of course everyone is talking about.

"So it's good news," Coulthard is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.

It is the very best news for Verstappen, even if some wonder that making a mid-season switch to a truly top team might be coming too soon for an 18-year-old.

"Max is ready for this opportunity," Coulthard insisted. "He has the speed and the intelligence.

"I think Carlos Sainz is also ready, but you can't put two drivers in one car," he added. "It's a great opportunity for Max but it doesn't mean Carlos will not get a chance later this year. Or that Daniil Kvyat cannot come back.

"Things can change quickly," said the former 13-time race winner.

Coulthard therefore rejected the theory that Red Bull has overstepped the mark with a particularly brutal move against Russian Kvyat, who returns to Toro Rosso.

"Actually," he said, "all the Red Bull and Toro Rosso drivers have contracts with the same employer.

"If you recall, when I started to drive for the team in 2005, at the wheel of the second car they constantly changed between Tonio Liuzzi and Christian Klien," Coulthard is quoted by Russia's Sportbox.

"So this has always been part of the Red Bull philosophy. It's a company that likes to promote its young talent.

"You can understand how disappointed Daniil must be right now, but the most important thing for him is that he is still in formula one and the Red Bull family," he added.

Ferrari has to steal Aldo Costa back from Mercedes to have any chance

Ferrari needs another personnel shakeup – Tarquini
(GMM) Former F1 driver Gabriele Tarquini has backed suggestions Ferrari might now be on the cusp of making some more high-profile personnel changes.

Italy's Autosprint claims this week that, with Sergio Marchionne unhappy about the results so far in 2016, Briton James Allison might be in line to take over from Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene.

The rumor concludes that Aldo Costa, Mercedes' engineering chief, might then return to Ferrari, but so far neither team has commented on the speculation.

But Italian Tarquini, a former F1 driver of the 80s and 90s who went on to become a highly successful touring car driver, thinks another shakeup might be just what the Maranello team needs.

"As an Italian, the current results of Ferrari make me sad of course," the 54-year-old told Germany's Auto Bild.

"Ferrari really has everything it needs to win. They have no inferior a budget than Mercedes and certainly no less experience."

Asked what is wrong, then, Tarquini answered: "They probably just don't have the right people.

"In recent years, they have made many profound changes to the management and the engineers, but the results have not improved. Maybe they should think again about changing a few people," he added.

Pssst….Hey Sebastian, it's gone. Aldo Costa isn't designing your cars.

'Too early' to say title already gone – Vettel
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel insists the race for the 2016 world championship is still wide open.

After Nico Rosberg's four consecutive wins so far, some insiders are saying the Mercedes driver now has a near-unassailable upper hand over his teammate Lewis Hamilton.

And Ferrari, on the other hand, are in 'crisis' according to some sections of the Italian media, having failed to deliver on president Sergio Marchionne's pre-season target of immediate poles and wins this season.

Indeed, Vettel is already 67 points behind Rosberg in the drivers' title chase, but the red-clad German insists he is not giving up.

"We've only had four out of 21 races," he told the latest edition of Sport Bild magazine.

"I cannot remember someone saying the championship is over after four races. Whether you're talking about me or Nico Rosberg, it is simply too early," Vettel added.

In typical Maranello style, Ferrari entered the year amid high expectations and obvious resurgence, but the actual results have been less impressive, triggering the rumors of unrest.

"We may be influenced too much by either positive or negative events," Vettel said. "It is always a good idea to keep working calmly and following the plan. And analyzing exactly where you need to improve."

In that vein, former quadruple world champion Vettel said he is not disheartened by Ferrari's state of progress, having joined the team only last year.

"It is normal that it is not easy to get out of a hole that was created by years of failures," said the 28-year-old. "For that, patience is required.

"And patience is exactly what is most difficult in formula one. So it is extremely important to keep working together as a team," Vettel insisted.

It took Michael Schumacher five years to help rebuild Ferrari and win his first title in red, so has his successor and former protege Vettel also set a target?

"I don't have a number," Vettel said. "Michael didn't either. The aim is to bring Ferrari forward. Preferably, of course, sooner rather than later.

"I will therefore not write off this year. That would be the wrong approach. The certain thing is that if we do everything right, we will keep getting stronger," he added.

So with four Red Bull-powered titles already in his pocket, Vettel said he is happy where he is at present.

"This is precisely the challenge I wanted when I moved to Ferrari," he said. "To build up a new team. There was never the expectation that we would be done within a year."

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo expects Red Bull-Renault to stay together
(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo thinks it is "likely" Red Bull and Renault will stick together beyond this season.

The parties ended their semi-works partnership amid acrimony last year, staying together only in the form of a Tag Heuer-branded customer deal for 2016.

But Red Bull has been positively surprised by the step forward taken by Renault this year, surmising that the French carmaker's separate new works foray has improved its focus.

"Before deciding on the future with Renault, we await their developments," team official Dr Helmut Marko told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But for the moment we are very satisfied. It is a completely different situation than in 2015."

Indeed, Red Bull thinks the podium and even race wins might be on the cards if a major engine update for Canada delivers on its promise.

"Renault have surprised me," Australian Ricciardo is quoted by Speed Week.

"We would not have thought it possible that they would make such progress in the winter, and the update for Canada is supposed to be in the same range," he added.

So when asked if Red Bull and Renault might even stay together in 2017, Ricciardo answered: "I think so. In light of the progress, anyway, I'd say it's likely.

"We're hoping for an engine in the range of Ferrari and that should be enough, given the great chassis we have," he said.

"I don't think it's going to be the sort of turbulent weeks that we had last summer and autumn," said Ricciardo, referring to Red Bull's engine supply crisis of 2015.

Only Ecclestone would have a chance of pulling off an F1 race in London

Ecclestone Says Formula 1 Grand Prix Could Be Held In London As Early As Next Year
F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that a race "could be held in central London as early as next year," according to Amy Lewis of ITV.

He said it would be "fantastic" to have a race in the middle of the capital, and believes it "would be popular with viewers."

A proposed London Grand Prix, including sections past Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, "has previously been sketched out."

Ecclestone: "The answer is that if it can be done, then yes, we'd love to do it. There is a small technical issue, who is going to pay for it, but apart from that I can't see any dramas" ITV