Latest F1 news in brief

Marchionne (R) says F1 needs to find a replacement for Ecclestone (L)

F1 must look beyond Ecclestone era – Marchionne
'Pressure' also hurting Mercedes reliability – Marchionne
Mayor 'certain' Italy GP has future
Marko hints at Red Bull seat for Verstappen
Magnussen never received McLaren road car
Wolff 'afraid' of 2017 rule changes – Marko
Manor racing with Sauber, Renault – Wehrlein
Uncertain future for China GP
Tost: STR must be 'fully concentrated'

F1 must look beyond Ecclestone era – Marchionne
(GMM) F1 needs to be looking ahead to the post-Bernie Ecclestone era.

That is the view of Sergio Marchionne, the Ferrari and Fiat president, amid rumors the powerful manufacturers including Mercedes may be pushing for the retirement of the F1 supremo in the coming months.

"There is much work to do," said Marchionne when asked about the general state of the sport amid a tumultuous political climate at present.

"Ecclestone is very good at negotiations but sooner or later we all have to retire," the 63-year-old is quoted by Italy's La Repubblica.

"And when that is, we will have to re-think everything and build a more solid F1. With a real structure," Marchionne added.

He said the sport would get a big boost if more manufacturers decide to compete, like Audi.

"It would be perfect," said the Italian-Canadian. "Ferrari built its myth by beating the best — beating Manor does not build a myth."

Marchionne has said repeatedly in recent times that Alfa Romeo could be the next big name on the grid, but when asked if he was joking he insisted: "No, it's a real project.

"First we have to make some money with Alfa and then we will try to enter. Remember, we have more success with that brand than a lot of people who are already here," he said.

Asked if Alfa Romeo would be a mere branding or sponsorship exercise, Marchionne said: "No, no, I think of a commitment as a team. We have the history and the ability.

"And we have our cousins here (Ferrari) that can lend a hand. Instead of helping others, or while they help others, they can help Alfa as well," he added.

Marchionne happy to be pressuring Mercedes

'Pressure' also hurting Mercedes reliability – Marchionne
(GMM) Sergio Marchionne says the 2016 title is still within Ferrari's reach.

"Absolutely," the Ferrari and Fiat president told Bild newspaper. "Of course I still believe in the title."

The Maranello team has come out this year with a competitive car, but race incidents and also problems with the engine mean Mercedes is still clearly ahead.

"We had two problems with the (power) unit," Marchionne is quoted by Italy's La Repubblica. "(They were) Fixed.

"We have to admit that these engines are complex and reliability is a problem that concerns everyone, including Mercedes, as we have seen. It is a sign that they are under pressure too," he added.

Marchionne said he is happy to have satisfied Ecclestone's pre-season hopes that Ferrari will be much more competitive in 2016.

According to Autosprint, Ecclestone confirmed: "Ferrari has woken up. They are competitive and should have won the last two races, but they've made one or two mistakes and also been unlucky.

"Red Bull was also very, very competitive in the last race," the 85-year-old added, "but I don't know if they'll continue that."

Finally, Ecclestone clarified his recent comments about the drivers, having slammed them as "windbags" following their recent GPDA letter.

"I never used that word," said the Briton. "I said they should do what they are paid to do: drive the cars.

"Yes, they are ambassadors of the sport, but one or two of them said how formula one should be managed. We don't need their opinion because we know it already."

The Monza magic must live on

Mayor 'certain' Italy GP has future
(GMM) The mayor of Monza says he is sure September's Italian grand prix will not be the last at the fabled Autodromo Nazionale.

Strained negotiations between race organizers and Bernie Ecclestone are still taking place.

Monza mayor Roberto Scanagatti is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport: "September will not be the last F1 race at Monza. I know the negotiations are long but I am sure they will eventually get there.

"2016 will not be the last grand prix, I am certain," he added.

"For the passion of F1, I cannot conceive of a championship without Monte Carlo, Monza and Monte Carlo, the historic circuits.

"Like all negotiations, there are tactics in the game but if the interest is about F1 generally, I believe that a solution will be found," said Scanagatti.

Verstappen eyes Red Bull seat

Marko hints at Red Bull seat for Verstappen
(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has dropped the biggest hint yet that Max Verstappen will be promoted to Red Bull Racing for 2017.

It has been reported that unless the energy drink stable opens up a race seat for the teenage sensation, he and father Jos will be free to negotiate with fellow grandees like Mercedes and Ferrari.

Marko, who manages Red Bull's young driver program, told Sport Bild: "Very good drivers have always spent a maximum of two years with Toro Rosso and then moved up.

"And Verstappen is extremely good," he said.

If the Dutchman is promoted, it will almost certainly be Daniil Kvyat who is demoted back to Toro Rosso, despite his strong form at present.

That is because Auto Bild claims that, in China last weekend, Marko personally told Ferrari's Sergio Marchionne that Daniel Ricciardo is not a free agent.

"It is no secret that Ferrari was already interested in Daniel in 2015," Marko confirmed.

Kevin Magnussen never got his McLaren

Magnussen never received McLaren road car
(GMM) Kevin Magnussen claims he never received his company car, after racing and testing for the McLaren team for more than two years.

The Dane had to apologize to McLaren fans last week after posting on Instagram a 'meme' of a three wheeled Ferrari with the caption: "Still faster than a McLaren".

And now BT newspaper has quoted him as revealing he never got his company car from the Woking based team.

"No, but I supposed to get it," the 23-year-old, who now drives for Renault, said.

"It was in my contract and everything. It was a (McLaren) 650. I had chosen the color, the wheels, the interior, everything."

The McLaren 650S sells for just under $500,000, but he currently drives a company car that is worth about $80,000.

"I got a new car today actually, before I came here," Magnussen revealed. "It's an Infiniti Q50 hybrid."

The company car may be worth less, but the Dane is much happier now that he is at Renault, according to his father Jan.

"I can feel that the 'old Kevin' is back again," said Jan, a former F1 driver.

"He is more relaxed about everything, he uses his energy in the right place and that is important for him to perform at 100 per cent," Magnussen snr added.

"The mood at Renault is just more natural for Kevin," Jan continued. "He will not have to spend so much time thinking about if he fits into the picture."

Wolff is right, the direction F1 is looking to take will make the racing even worse

Wolff 'afraid' of 2017 rule changes – Marko
(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed a "paranoid" Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff for trying to spoil F1's charge towards faster cars for 2017.

It is Wolff who has been leading the charge verbally amid speculation many teams are in fact now opposed to the technical changes that should result in faster and more aggressive cars next year.

One of Wolff's leading arguments is that F1 now has no need to make changes given the three spectacular grands prix so far this season under the existing rules.

Red Bull's Marko, however, does not agree.

"We have been very lucky to see very good races," he told motorsport-magazin.com, "but there were no normal races.

"There were always people coming from behind that actually shouldn't have been behind," Marko added.

And Marko hit back at the suggestion the general mood in the paddock is that F1 should scrap its 2017 plans.

"Except for Toto and the teams that must follow him due to their engine contracts, everyone is for it," he said. "(Ferrari's) Sergio Marchionne is also absolutely sure.

"Only Herr Wolff has this paranoid fear that Mercedes will lose its superiority if you change even the smallest thing on the engine or chassis. Toto Wolff is doing everything he can to prevent any change," Marko charged.

Marko, however, is sure there is now too much momentum for the 2017 plans to be axed.

"For us it is clear that the 2017 rules and the so-called 'McLaren package' are coming," he said, referring to the rules blueprint that was devised by McLaren.

Manor getting better

Manor racing with Sauber, Renault – Wehrlein
(GMM) Pascal Wehrlein claims Manor is no longer alone at the bottom of the F1 pecking order.

Last year, the team was clearly the sport's backmarker, but German rookie Wehrlein finished 18th in China, ahead of a Haas, Sauber and Renault in a race in which there was not a single retirement.

"I beat four cars but we still need big steps forward," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"We have the pace of Sauber and Renault," Wehrlein added.

Renault, Sauber and Renault are all yet to score a point in 2016.

Empty seats Friday and Saturday, and half empty seats on Sunday spell financial doom for Shanghai

Uncertain future for China GP
(GMM) A cloud is hanging over the future of the Chinese grand prix.

The Shanghai race at the imposing Hermann Tilke-penned facility has been on the calendar since 2004, shortly after it was built at a cost of $240 million.

F1 drivers say it is one of the better Tilke creations.

"Yes, it's a good track to drive and quite technical where you can use different lines and quite a lot of (corner) combinations which are quite tricky," said Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson.

2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen agrees: "I think it's a good circuit for making good races."

The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, however, reports that Shanghai's current contract expires after 2017.

The original 2004 contract has been extended a few times, but reports early in 2011 claimed that the latest deal came only after some wrangling over the fee.

"I think it's a good track to have on the calendar and I would miss it if it goes away," said Ericsson.

Raikkonen agrees: "For the driving it's nice but we go where the races are, we don't decide it. I think Bernie decides where the money comes from so we go, we follow."

Franz Tost

Tost: STR must be 'fully concentrated'
Toro Rosso Franz Tost believes the competitive nature of Formula 1's midfield means his outfit must be "fully concentrated" in order to rack up the maximum available points.

Toro Rosso's use of a 2015-specification Ferrari power unit means the team has placed its focus on scoring points early in the season, acutely aware that rivals will receive engine updates throughout the year.

Tost's team has scored 17 points across the opening three races to sit in sixth place in the Constructors' championship, one point behind new outfit Haas.

"We saw that the midfield is very close together," Tost said, as Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. both scored points in China.

"It's a fight between Williams, Force India, Haas, ourselves and McLaren, who is also closing-up.

"This means that we have to be fully concentrated for the next races."

Tost is confident that further points can be achieved at the next round of the championship in Russia.

"Both cars scored points, we showed that the car is competitive and that the team and drivers did a good job," he said, reflecting back to China.

"I'd like to thank everyone for this and we are now looking forward to the race in Sochi where we also expect quite a good performance from our side."