Latest F1 news in brief

Daniil Kvyat

Red Bull helping, not harming Kvyat – Marko
Verstappen not feeling pressure of F1 promotion
Kvyat can still revive F1 career – Salo
Red Bull waiting to decide future with Renault
2017 rules will not stop overtaking – Boullier
Ferrari can still win 2016 title – Marchionne
Mercedes still investigating Hamilton failures
Q&A with Max Verstappen at Red Bull factory visit
Verstappen's Red Bull deal 'long term'
Pirelli announces Silverstone compounds
Button questions Verstappen/Kvyat swap

Dr Helmut Marko talks to his pet driver Max Verstappen

Red Bull helping, not harming Kvyat – Marko
(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says moving back to Toro Rosso will reduce pressure that Daniil Kvyat was struggling to cope with so far in 2016.

Opinions are divided over Red Bull's shock decision this week to promote teen sensation Max Verstappen to the senior team, resulting in the demotion of Kvyat.

The timing of the news was interesting, given 22-year-old Kvyat's controversial multiple crashes with Sebastian Vettel recently at Sochi.

And the Russian had also argued with Ferrari's Vettel after an incident in China.

One wild theory was that Ferrari might have pushed Red Bull to punish Kvyat.

"We have not been in contact with Red Bull," a spokesman for the Maranello marque insisted, according to Russia's Sportbox.

Marko did at least admit that the decision was taken after Kvyat's disastrous home grand prix last weekend.

"The decision was taken after Russia," he told Germany's Sport Bild.

"It was increasingly obvious that Daniil was not coping with the pressure with Daniel Ricciardo. We wanted to remove him from the line of fire and help his career, not harm it.

"I don't think it's a demotion," Marko insisted. "This year Toro Rosso is at a very high level and at the end of the year we can reshuffle the cards again.

"This also applies to Carlos Sainz, who has a chance of improving," he added.

Marko also said the move will be tough for Dutchman Verstappen.

"Max must now contend with Ricciardo, who is now at an incredibly high level," said the Austrian.

Max Verstappen one cool-cat for just 18 years old

Verstappen not feeling pressure of F1 promotion
(GMM) Max Verstappen insists he is not feeling the heat of his sudden promotion to Red Bull's senior F1 team.

That is despite the fact Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull's notorious driver manager, said Russian Kvyat has been demoted because he was not coping with the pressure of trying to keep up with the on-form Daniel Ricciardo.

But Dutchman Verstappen said: "I wouldn't say (it's) more pressure to be honest.

"Of course I'm driving for a top team now, but in the end you always try to do your best," he told Verstappen.nl. "For me, I don't feel more pressure."

One interpretation is that the Verstappen camp – involving the 18-year-old's famous father Jos – actually pushed for the mid-season promotion, as a way to improve contractual terms amid the obvious interest of Ferrari and Mercedes.

"To be honest, I was always very happy at Red Bull," Max insists. "I never saw reason to change and of course with this opportunity there is no reason to change so I'm happy to be here."

Less happy is 22-year-old Kvyat, who entered F1 as a teenager straight out of GP3 in 2014 and lasted just over one season at Red Bull's top team.

Marko said the Russian struggled with the pressure.

"There were not just two incidents that led us to this decision but also the rest of the races, where Kvyat was inconsistent," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He's suffering too much pressure and we believe sending him to Toro Rosso is the right move for him to regain the necessary peace of mind.

"He is a talented guy, still young and he will be able to rebuild. He is lucky because, thanks to the fact that we have two teams and we can rotate the drivers, we have not given him a kick in the pants that would mean the end of his adventure in F1," Marko added.

Indeed, Kvyat still has plenty of backers. Jenson Button publicly and immediately questioned the demotion, and Mercedes' Toto Wolff also thinks Kvyat deserves to be in F1.

"He is a very fast boy," Wolff told Russia's Tass news agency. "He deserves his place in formula one as we saw in Shanghai, aside from the fact that he is a really nice character."

"If he continues to drive like he does, he is a candidate for everybody because he is quick," he added.

Daniil Kvyat ran into Sebastian Vettel one too many times and gets his wings clipped

Kvyat can still revive F1 career – Salo
(GMM) Daniil Kvyat still has his supporters in formula one, despite being demoted by Red Bull after just four races in 2016.

Igor Ermilin, the presidential advisor to the Russian automobile federation, called it the most "stupid decision I have ever seen in formula one".

He told Russia's Sport Express: "It is surprising and incomprehensible and I do not see any reasonable argument to justify it."

Not all of Kvyat's backers are as emotional, however, as Russian driver Sergey Zlobin, involved with the SMP Racing program, declared that Red Bull has the right to control its destiny in F1.

"I do not have the right to discuss and condemn the actions of Red Bull and Dr Helmut Marko," he said.

"They can do what they think is right and necessary within the team and its program."

And Mika Salo, a former F1 driver who is now SMP's sporting director, said 22-year-old Kvyat must use the opportunity of being demoted to Toro Rosso as an opportunity.

"Kvyat must now show that he can clearly beat Carlos Sainz. Then he is back in the game," Salo told the Finnish broadcaster MTV.

"Then he has a chance to find a new team at the front," he added.

Ermilin agrees that Red Bull's move could eventually result in Kvyat – still highly rated and on the podium as recently as Shanghai – abandoning the outfit altogether.

"I'm afraid that this may simply undermine Daniil's faith in the team," he said.

"Everything is possible," said Ermilin. "In my opinion, he no longer has any moral obligations to Red Bull."

The Renault engines are pretty good it seems

Red Bull waiting to decide future with Renault
(GMM) Red Bull is waiting until Canada before turning its attention to the future of its deal with engine supplier Renault.

After a tumultuous semi-works relationship came to a head last year, the former world champion team agreed a one-year customer deal with Renault for 2016 involving the re-branding of the 'power units' as Tag-Heuer.

In the meantime, the French carmaker bought Lotus and is back at full works status this year, with Red Bull officials saying that renewed focus has resulted in a definite step forward as regards the quality of the engine.

Nonetheless, Red Bull is waiting for a further performance step from Renault – expected in Canada next month – before deciding if it wants to extend the deal into 2017.

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

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

Eric Boullier

2017 rules will not stop overtaking – Boullier
(GMM) Eric Boullier has hit back at suggestions the 2017 regulations could actually hurt formula one.

Part of Mercedes' opposition to the wider cars with bigger wings for next year was the argument that more downforce will just make overtaking more difficult.

"I disagree with some comments made by our rivals in the media," Boullier, McLaren's team boss, said.

The 2017 changes are backed primarily by Red Bull – whose Dr Helmut Marko has hit out at Mercedes chief Toto Wolff's "paranoia" – as well as McLaren-Honda.

It is actually McLaren's concept that was the basis of the 2017 chassis rules.

Boullier is quoted by Spain's El Confidencial as pointing out that while the new cars will have more downforce, the wider tires will produce more "mechanical grip".

"This should not affect the amount of overtaking," he insisted.

"Additionally, the influence of the front wing will be lower, since the floor and the diffuser will generate more downforce, allowing more overtaking," said Boullier.

Sergio Marchionne (R) must be taking some hallucinogen

Ferrari can still win 2016 title – Marchionne
(GMM) Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari "deserves" to keep charging for the 2016 world championship.

That is despite the fact Sebastian Vettel, widely regarded as Maranello's lead driver, is already a whopping 67 points behind Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.

Ferrari and Fiat president Marchionne famously set Ferrari the target of winning immediately in 2016, but all four races so far have been won by Rosberg.

"The drivers' title? I think we deserve it," the Italian, at the launch of the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, is quoted by La Repubblica.

"Not because we are smarter, but simply as a reflection of the work we did in 2015," Marchionne added.

"The most important thing now is to keep working," he said. "So far we have shown in at least three of the four races that we have the ability to be winners.

"Unfortunately due to mistakes, misfortune or other things, we did not succeed. But we have had four grands prix, and 17 remain. It's still open," Marchionne insisted.

"Sochi was the most difficult for us. We needed an engine really at maximum power. If we had got out in front of Mercedes they would have had a hard time to pass us, especially if it had been Vettel at the front," he said.

Finally, Marchionne was asked about Red Bull's decision to demote Daniil Kvyat, after two consecutive run-ins with Vettel in China and Sochi.

"I don't want to judge the decisions of one of our competitors," he said.

"It (Sochi) was an unfortunate accident and I think Kvyat apologized to Seb. For me the issue is closed.

"If he will have consequences in terms of the regulations, it is up to the FIA to decide," added Marchionne.

Hamilton was made world champion by Mercedes the last two years, now it's Rosberg's turn

Mercedes still investigating Hamilton failures
(GMM) Mercedes has admitted it is still working on fixing the engine problems that have thwarted Lewis Hamilton's championship campaign so far in 2016.

In China and again in Russia, the reigning triple world champion struck trouble with identical problems aboard two different V6 'power units'.

Then in the Sochi race, the Briton was lucky to see the checkered flag due to a water leak, which boss Toto Wolff says was caused by a "cracked carbon pipe".

"We are trying to analyze and find the root cause for the problems and it's not evident," Wolff admitted this week.

Although it is Hamilton's works car that has been the most badly affected so far, Mercedes also supplies customer engines to Williams, Force India and Manor.

Rob Smedley, the chief engineer at Williams, said the British team has not had similar problems.

"I know that the Mercedes engine division is investigating the two failures of Hamilton, trying to understand what the problem is," he is quoted by Brazil's UOL.

"We are taking every precaution we can, but we are obviously guided by their engine division."

Wolff explained that in the third year of the same regulations and a harder challenge from Ferrari, Mercedes is simply pushing harder with its engine in 2016.

"It is a mechanical sport," Smedley agreed, "in which you balance performance and reliability. You have the push the limits and faults can happen."

Verstappen arrives at Red Bull

Q&A with Max Verstappen at Red Bull factory visit
On hearing the news…
Max Verstappen: Well, of course I was very happy. A bit shocked as well – I didn't expect it, but yes I'm very happy with the opportunity of course. I have to say a big thank you to Red Bull and Dr Helmut Marko and now I just can't wait to jump into the car.
On the likely difference between the STR11 and RB12…
Well hopefully it will be faster, that's the main target. I just hope to feel comfortable in the car because that's what a driver needs. We'll find out in Barcelona. I have never driven the RB12 before, it will be a new experience and there are a lot of procedures to learn, but I'm up for it.
On adapting to the team and car…
I just take it quite relaxed and see where it goes. I'll work as closely as I can with the engineers, study the procedures and also try to learn from my team-mate.
On his knowledge of the team…
Well of course, I know a lot about what they've done in the history of Formula One. This Team is very competitive and I am also a very competitive person, so hopefully it'll be a perfect match.
On Spanish Grand Prix pressure…
I go there with no expectations to be honest. I just want to adapt to the car, understand it better and better every session and like I said before, study the data and see what my teammate is doing because the most important thing is to score points.
On driving for the team…
I wouldn't say more pressure to be honest. Of course I'm driving for a top Team now, but in the end you always try to do your best which is what I always try to do. For me, I don't feel more pressure.
On Jos' reaction to the news…
He was very proud to be honest. He was very happy of course because he invested a lot of time also in me when I was younger and we started together in go-karting where he helped me out a lot and I learned a lot from him. For sure, if he was not helping me, I wouldn't be standing here today.
On his teammate…
I've started to get to know him a little bit and we actually live in the same building in Monaco! For sure we can have a good relationship.
On offers from other teams…
To be honest, I was always very happy at Red Bull. I never saw reason to change and of course with this opportunity there is no reason to change so I'm happy to be here.
On the feeling of driving for the team…
t's a great honor and it's a top team and that's where every driver wants to drive I think. I can't wait to get started.

Jos with Max

Verstappen's Red Bull deal 'long term'
Jos Verstappen believes that his son, Max, will benefit from an earlier-than-planned promotion to Red Bull, which comes as part of a "long term" deal with the brand.

Verstappen, after just over a season at Toro Rosso, will take over Daniil Kvyat's car from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards, with the Russian racer moving the other way.

"We're very happy, of course," Verstappen Sr. told GPUpdate.net.

"This is a top team and it was always our goal to get Max in a top team.

"It's a long term deal [with Red Bull], which is important for us. He can learn about the team and learn about the car now, which will be important for the future."

Verstappen Sr. is sure that his son will thrive at Red Bull.

"No doubts at all," he said, when asked if he had any concerns.

"Considering the way Max is developing himself and how he is performing… he's doing so well.

"This (switch to Red Bull) went quickly and he might need some time to get to know the car and the people he's working with, as that's all new, but he will be fine."

Pirelli makes Silverstone selections

Pirelli announces Silverstone compounds
Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli has announced its compound selections for July's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with the manufacturer set to supply the Soft, Medium and Hard rubber.

Pirelli has allocated a set of Mediums and Hards for the race, with a set of Softs for qualifying.

For 2016, each driver receives 13 dry-weather sets per event, with Pirelli selecting two sets for the race (only one of which must be used), and a set of the softest compound, only for use in Q3.

Drivers are free to select any combination of the chosen compounds for the other 10 sets.

Pirelli's 2016 tire choices so far:

Australia – Super Soft / Soft / Medium
Bahrain – Super Soft / Soft / Medium
China – Super Soft / Soft / Medium
Russia – Super Soft / Soft / Medium
Spain – Soft / Medium / Hard
Monaco – Ultra Soft / Super Soft / Soft
Canada – Ultra Soft / Super Soft / Soft
Azerbaijan – Super Soft / Soft / Medium
Austria – Ultra Soft / Super Soft / Soft
Britain – Soft / Medium / Hard

Button thinks Kvyat got a raw deal

Button questions Verstappen/Kvyat swap
Jenson Button has questioned Red Bull's decision to replace Daniil Kvyat with Max Verstappen from the Spanish Grand Prix, suggesting that those involved have "short memories".

Kvyat, who finished on the podium in the previous race, was demoted after the Russian Grand Prix, where he twice made contact with Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel on the opening lap.

Button, the 2009 World Champion, feels Kvyat should have been given more time.

"Really? One bad race and Kvyat’s dropped. What about the podium in the previous race? #Shortmemories," Button posted on his Twitter account after the announcement was made.

Verstappen's promotion comes earlier than expected, and at the age of 18.

"Agreed, and I respect his talent, but he's got time on his hands," Button commented, responding to a user who expressed excitement over Verstappen partnering Daniel Ricciardo.

Kvyat will return to Toro Rosso and race alongside Carlos Sainz Jr.