Latest F1 news in brief

Franz Tost happy with his drivers

Tost 'more than happy' with Toro Rosso lineup
Vettel sure Ferrari can win 2016 title
Two Sauber figures absent in Russia
Button hopes to stay for Honda's new 2017 engine
F1 says Azerbaijan fighting no threat to race
Lauda takes step back as television pundit
F1 teams agree to raise maximum fuel limit for 2017
Hamilton reprimanded for Q1 offense
Pirelli still expecting a one-stop race in Russia
McLaren-Honda 'so close' to Q3 – Button

Tost 'more than happy' with Toro Rosso lineup
(GMM) Max Verstappen will continue to steal the limelight even though Carlos Sainz is also doing a good job.

That is the view of the duo's Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost, amid speculation it could be Dutchman Verstappen who is promoted to the senior Red Bull team for 2017.

"Max is doing great, but Carlos as well," Tost told the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

"However, Max is in a special position. He is the youngest F1 driver ever, so there is a lot of attention on him, regardless of how Carlos is also doing.

"I hope Carlos has less bad luck this year than he did last year, because you will see that there is little between him and Max," the Austrian added.

Tost said he would therefore be happy if Red Bull's driver manager Dr Helmut Marko decides to keep the same drivers at Toro Rosso next year.

"Our drivers are absolutely valuable to us," he said. "We are more than happy with how things are going with Max and Carlos.

"It's also very nice that they are quite similar in their way of working and adjusting the car, which makes it a lot easier for the engineers," said Tost.

But if Verstappen does get the call up to Red Bull, it is expected he would replace Daniil Kvyat. That is despite the fact Marko has praised the young Russian's current form.

"Kvyat's speed is exceptional," the Austrian told Sport Bild.

"For me, Daniil is a mixture of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel," Marko added.

So if Kvyat does have to be relegated to Toro Rosso, Tost will be happy to accept him.

"He is super fast and has an almost acrobatic car control," he said, "yet he is still very young.

"Additionally, he's as extremely focused and as assertive as Vettel, coming from Russia which is not a motor sport stronghold. As a child he already came to Italy, which makes what he has been able to achieve even more valuable," added Tost.

Vettel must be hallucinating

Vettel sure Ferrari can win 2016 title
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel insists the 2016 title race is not already over.

Many think Nico Rosberg, who could extend his extraordinary winning streak from six to seven straight races in Russia, is now pulling into an unassailable position at the top of the drivers' world championship.

It comes amid an almost equally extraordinary run of bad luck for Rosberg's Mercedes teammate, the reigning champion Lewis Hamilton, who starts just tenth at Sochi after an identical engine problem to the one he suffered two weeks ago.

"The same problem twice must not happen," team chairman Niki Lauda said on Saturday. "I need to talk to Andy," he added, referring to Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell.

Increasingly, Briton Hamilton's excellent mood so far in 2016 is being eroded, confiding to British reporters late on Saturday that he feels "helpless".

One theory is that he is doing something fundamentally different to Rosberg with his in-cockpit settings on out-laps.

"We have to consider everything and not rule anything out," team boss Toto Wolff is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

It means Hamilton is two engines down before four full race weekends are complete. "I have only three engines left so I need to expect that eventually I will get a penalty (for using a sixth engine in 2016)," he said.

"The big goal is getting further away," Hamilton admitted.

On German television RTL, former F1 driver Timo Glock said Hamilton's run of bad luck is "inexplicable", even though "every driver has experienced periods where nothing works and on the other hand when everything comes together".

But at least Hamilton has an identical car to Rosberg for the remaining 18 races this season.

Ferrari's Vettel, on the other hand, was the best part of a second in pace behind Rosberg in qualifying, while a gearbox change means he takes a grid drop for Sunday.

On the reliability problems, Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has admitted the Maranello team has been "pushing like crazy" to catch Mercedes.

"We are risking a lot," he told Italy's Sky in Russia. "Maybe too much, and that's my fault."

Vettel, however, told the same broadcaster that he is sure Ferrari is not out of the running yet.

"We have not won (races) yet," said the German, "but we will. We will fight for the championship — I'm sure.

"I don't think anyone would say that, after only three races, we are out of it."

Glock concluded: "Mercedes is still clearly ahead, even though the long run done by Ferrari on Friday looked very good.

"What we can be sure of is that Lewis and Sebastian will be fighting to get back to the front, which will be good to watch," he said.

After running Sauber into the ground, Monisha Kaltenborn can't even afford flight tickets to fly to all the races

Two Sauber figures absent in Russia
(GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn is once again missing in action this weekend in Russia.

Earlier in 2016, the Sauber boss and co-owner's paddock absence stirred speculation the Swiss team's obvious financial problems may in fact be terminal.

But the well-connected Swiss newspaper Blick insists that Kaltenborn is only absent this weekend at Sochi in order to care for her unwell son.

More alarming, however, is that Tim Malyon, Sauber's head of track engineering, has suddenly left the struggling team.

Formerly at Red Bull, Malyon only joined Sauber a few months ago, to replace one of the team's longest-serving members, Giampaolo Dall'Ara.

"We have financial difficulties, it's not a secret, but I think the good thing is we are still around," said Sauber's long-time team manager Beat Zehnder in Russia.

"We're working hard to solve all the problems but it's not easy," he added. "An annual budget now (in F1) is just massive and to cover it just by sponsors and the income from Bernie (Ecclestone) is just not sufficient."

As for whether Sauber will be able to make it through the rest of F1's longest-ever race calendar this year, Zehnder deferred to his absent boss.

"I think this is a question which Monisha should answer, because I haven't got the overall picture," he said.

Will Vandoorne replace Button in 2017?

Button hopes to stay for Honda's new 2017 engine
(GMM) Jenson Button has confirmed reports Honda is working on a major redesign of its F1 'power unit' for McLaren to use in 2017.

The Japanese marque has made steps forward this year after a disastrous 2015, but Button was still a tenth shy of making it into 'Q3' in Russia.

So while Honda is planning more upgrades for later this year, reports this week suggested the manufacturer has now acknowledged that putting the turbo inside the 'V' of the six-cylinder internal combustion engine was a mistake.

"I think with the way the engine is, yes, it's difficult to extract the power that we feel we need," Button said at Sochi.

"And that's not me saying that, that's Honda and that's why the makeover for next year" is in the works, he explained.

Whether the 36-year-old Briton will actually get to race the 2017 McLaren-Honda, however, is another question.

It is rumored the Anglo-Japanese collaboration may already have quietly taken the decision to pair Fernando Alonso with Belgian reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne for 2017.

Having made an impressive debut in injured Alonso's place in Bahrain, the reigning GP2 champion admitted in Russia that returning to the reserve bench has been frustrating.

"I feel like I should be here doing the race," 24-year-old Vandoorne, who kicked off his Super Formula campaign in Japan last weekend with a podium, told Brazil's Globo at Sochi.

Vandoorne said being told late last year that Button was staying at McLaren alongside Alonso was already frustrating.

"I admit it was hard for me to hear that he had been chosen," he said. "I won the GP2 title right here at Sochi and learned through the press that they (McLaren) had renewed with Jenson.

"It took a while to digest the news," Vandoorne revealed.

"I went to the final (GP2) round in Abu Dhabi willing to do anything to win both races and show that I was the best option," he revealed.

Button said on British television on Saturday that rumors he is switching to Williams for 2017 are premature, insisting he has not opened talks with any team yet.

But Vandoorne is now warning that he is determined to make his full-time debut next year.

"Yes," he smiled. "I realize there is a lot of interest in me, but I have a contract with McLaren, they believe in me and I hope I can stay here.

"I want to start my career at a top team," Vandoorne added.

He said he is not even fazed at the prospect of starting his race career alongside a driver as strong as Alonso.

"It wouldn't worry me," said Vandoorne. "There will be pressure to be a potentially winning racing team, but at the same time I will be facing it with a world champion.

"And if I do well my reputation will grow. I believe in my ability."

Ecclestone says F1 not invloved with Baku tensions

F1 says Azerbaijan fighting no threat to race
(GMM) F1's governing body as well as supremo Bernie Ecclestone have backed Azerbaijan after declaring local fighting is no risk to the inaugural grand prix in Baku next month.

A month ago, the Azerbaijan government dismissed suggestions fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed local region, might jeopardize the safe running of forthcoming sports events.

"Azerbaijan always, to the highest standard, keeps athletes, tourists, fans and all participants safe at any events taking place in the country," a sports ministry spokeswoman said in April.

And now, in Sochi for the Russian grand prix, a spokesperson for F1's governing FIA was asked if the ongoing conflict, culminating in the reported death of two Karabakh servicemen this week, still threatened the grand prix.

"We are confident that the grand prix of Europe is not in danger," the FIA spokesperson is quoted by Tass news agency.

"We (the FIA) follow the news, but racing is separate to politics. Additionally, we understand the situation has become less tense," the person added.

At Sochi, F1 supremo Ecclestone was also asked about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and whether it might threaten Baku's inaugural race.

"I'm sure it won't," he said. "We had a similar situation in Bahrain.

"We are not involved in it — we (F1) are not fighting with anybody."

Lauda stepping back

Lauda takes step back as television pundit
(GMM) Niki Lauda is taking a step back from his full-time duties as the lead pundit for German television.

The F1 legend has held the RTL microphone for years but the broadcaster admitted at Sochi that it has agreed that Lauda will no longer appear on-screen at every grand prix.

"As chairman of the Mercedes team, in turbulent times for formula one, he (Lauda) is released from the obligation to accompany RTL at each race," RTL said in a statement.

Already at Sochi, the stand-in for Lauda – former Toyota driver Timo Glock – began work as a new expert pundit.

"In Timo Glock we have obtained a first-rate addition to our motor sport team," said RTL sports chief Manfred Loppe.

"It is important for us and the spectators that this year and next, Niki is still available with a few exceptions as our number 1 expert," he added.

F1 teams agree to raise maximum fuel limit for 2017
Formula 1 teams have unanimously agreed to raise the maximum fuel limit from next season, with the change already reflected in the revised 2017 Technical Regulations.

With the increased downforce, wider tires and an overall heavier car creating greater drag, it was feared that next year's cars would be forced to save fuel to an even greater extent than they already do.

It was therefore proposed to increase the maximum fuel limit from 100kg to 105kg – a move which received unanimous backing during a vote this week.

The 5kg increase received the green-light from the F1 Commission and the FIA's World Motor Sport Council and has now been added to the revised regulations.

Article 30.5 now states: "No car is permitted to consume more than 105kg of fuel, from the time at which the signal to start the race is given to the time each car crosses the Line after the end-of-race signal has been given.

"Other than in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the stewards of the meeting), any driver exceeding this limit will be excluded from the race results."

Hamilton gets off easy

Hamilton reprimanded for Q1 offense
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has escaped with a reprimand for his bollard-related offense during Saturday afternoon's qualifying session for the Russian Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom.

Hamilton ran wide at Turn 2 in Q1 and re-joined the track to the right of the designated bollard, instead of passing by it on the left, as outlined in Race Director Charlie Whiting's pre-race notes.

"Car 44 left the track at Turn 2 and contrary to the Race Director's note, did not keep to the left of the red and white polystyrene block in the run off area," read a statement from the stewards.

Hamilton's reprimand is his second of 2016, after reversing in the pit lane in Bahrain.

Hamilton is set to start the race from 10th on the grid, having suffered an MGU-H failure at the end of Q2, the same issue that struck his car in China – it is not yet clear if new parts are required.

The Sochi asphalt is so low-friction the tires don't wear out fast

Pirelli still expecting a one-stop race in Russia
Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli still expects a one-stop strategy to be the preferred option during the Russian Grand Prix, while it doubts the Medium tire will be used.

Although a two-stop plan is in theory faster, despite the lower 60km/h pit lane speed limit at Sochi Autodrom, it comes with greater risk of being hindered by traffic.

"Russia is by no means a typical track as it features low grip that keeps wear and degradation at very low levels and also enables long stints," said Pirelli's Paul Hembery.

"We saw drivers complete multi-lap runs in qualifying, with consistent performance from the tires.

"We expect a one-stop strategy to be the preferred choice for most contenders [during the Grand Prix], and it's unlikely that the medium tire will be used."

Pirelli says starting on the Super Soft or Soft tire makes "little difference".

According to its data, the ideal strategy for drivers starting on Super Softs is to pit for Softs on Lap 18 of 53, with those starting on Softs switching to Super Softs on Lap 35.

Should a driver gamble on a two-stop plan, the optimum run would be to start on Super Softs, change to Softs on Lap 12 and take on another set of Softs on Lap 32.

McLaren almost made it to Q3 in the cool Sochi conditions

McLaren-Honda 'so close' to Q3 – Button
Jenson Button says McLaren-Honda is "so close" to making it through to the top 10 shootout for the first time since the parties reunited after he qualified in 12th position for the Russian Grand Prix.

Button clocked a time of 1:37.701 in the second knockout session at the Sochi Autodrom, just 0.095s down on Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat, who secured the final berth in Q3.

Button was encouraged by the pace of the MP4-31 despite acknowledging that he struggled with the handling of the car throughout qualifying.

"We were so close to getting into Q3 today – we had a good shot at it but ended up a tenth off," he said.

"In fact, it was so close that we were just two tenths off eighth position in Q2 – and despite the balance not being quite there.

"I think both Fernando [Alonso] and I struggled with the handling – the car was understeering, which is difficult to resolve.

"There's a tipping point at which, when you dial in more front wing, the balance suddenly shifts from under- to oversteer – so we were being cautious in qualifying."

Alonso will start the race from 14th position on the grid.

"The lap times at the end of Q2 were very tight – the difference between 14th position and a place in Q3 was just two tenths," he said.

"And, sadly, we're at the back of that group.

"But that's the way it is – I still feel that we're missing the couple of tenths that would massively help us to overtake some of the other cars in this very competitive midfield group."