Latest F1 news in brief – Thursday (Update)
04/14/16
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Mallya to also miss Shanghai race as India authorities want him back in India so they can prosecute him Troubled Mallya to also miss China GP
- Rosberg hits back at 'windbags' jibe
- Penalty blow for Hamilton in China
- Gearbox failure 'risk' too high – Mercedes
- Alonso still waiting for green light
- Billionaire not buying into Williams
- Jackie Stewart tells Mercedes to quit F1
- Herbert says Alonso incident upset wife
- Red Bull should sign Sainz, not Verstappen – Herbert
- Allison back to work after wife's death
- Sauber Gains A New Partnership
- Alonso wants to test injuries in practice New
- Grid penalty is 'opportunity' – Hamilton New
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| The Force India team boss is always in hot water |
Troubled Mallya to also miss China GP
(GMM) Vijay Mallya looks set to sit out yet another grand prix, as his legal troubles in his native India continue.
The Force India boss and co-owner was not in Australia and Bahrain, as Indian authorities pursue him over huge debts following the collapse of his airline Kingfisher.
Britain's Telegraph newspaper claims the 60-year-old left India on March 2 and, at least initially, was staying at a mansion in southern England that he bought from Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony for $16 million last year.
But according to the local Hindustan Times, the Indian government's enforcement directorate, charged with fighting economic crime, is pressing ahead with having Mallya's diplomatic passport revoked.
The newspaper said Mallya has ignored three summons to appear before the body.
"A passport is a valid document to stay in a foreign country and with its revocation, he will not be able to stay wherever he is," a source said.
And a spokesman for the Indian directorate confirmed: "It appears he is deliberately trying to avoid coming back. Once his passport is revoked, the country he is staying in should deport him."
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| Nico Rosberg |
Rosberg hits back at 'windbags' jibe
(GMM) Championship leader Nico Rosberg has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone's claim that current F1 drivers are "windbags".
F1 supremo Ecclestone's jibe followed the controversial release of a Grand Prix Drivers' Association letter, in which the body was critical of F1's management.
"RacingUnited," Mercedes driver Rosberg said in a 'hashtag' accompanying a mass 'selfie' photo of him with fellow F1 drivers over dinner in Shanghai.
"Or in Bernie's words, 'WindbagsUnited'," the German added.
It was said the GPDA letter was backed by the entire grid of drivers, but racers including Kimi Raikkonen, Kevin Magnussen, Rio Haryanto, Jolyon Palmer and Romain Grosjean were missing from the dinner in China.
Ecclestone said recently: "What sort of interest do they have, the drivers, other than taking money out of the sport? I've never seen one of them put one dollar in. You go to dinner with them and they don't even pay the bill.
"They shouldn't even be allowed to talk. They should get in the car and drive it."
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| 'Prince' Hamilton |
Penalty blow for Hamilton in China
(GMM) Nico Rosberg's bid to extend his winning streak to six races this weekend has got an early boost.
Mercedes confirmed early on Thursday that reigning champion Lewis Hamilton's silver car has undergone a gearbox change after Bahrain, where he was punted into a half-spin by Valtteri Bottas at the first corner.
"The gearbox sustained damage in Bahrain which required a physical inspection for full assessment," the team revealed.
"Having done so, the decision has been taken to change the gearbox rather than carry any risk moving forwards. To clarify, it will be a five-place grid penalty for Lewis Hamilton.
"If there's anyone who can fight back, though, it's him," Mercedes added on Twitter.
It is a major blow for Hamilton, who had hoped Shanghai would be the place for his first win of the season.
But despite the two defeats to Rosberg so far in 2016, the Briton is notably upbeat.
"People keep asking me if I'm worried," said Hamilton after Bahrain, "if there's a downward trend emerging. But I'm feeling the complete opposite."
According to the German news agency DPA, Rosberg agrees.
"Lewis is smart," he said. "It will not be a big problem for him to adjust to the situation."
As for whether the silver-clad pair will be troubled by Ferrari in China, however, is less clear. Mercedes insists it is looking over its shoulder, but Ferrari insider Leo Turrini suggested Shanghai will not suit the red car.
"Looking at Kimi Raikkonen's performance in Bahrain, Ferrari has shown to be very good but still a little below Mercedes," former F1 driver Johnny Herbert told the Spanish sports daily Marca.
"To evaluate where Lewis is is difficult because he has had problems, like with Bottas in which he had no fault.
"At the moment the leader is Rosberg, but it's true that we've only had two races. I was surprised when Lewis looked happy after Nico won again in Bahrain, so we'll see if that continues," Herbert added.
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| Would Hamilton's gearbox have held up? |
Gearbox failure 'risk' too high – Mercedes
(GMM) Mercedes says leaving Lewis Hamilton's broken gearbox in his car in China was too great a "risk".
In a blow to the reigning world champion's hopes of ending his losing streak to teammate Nico Rosberg this weekend, Mercedes announced on Thursday that a gearbox change will result in a five-place grid penalty.
The gearbox was reportedly damaged when Valtteri Bottas collided with the Briton in Bahrain two weeks ago, although Hamilton went on to finish the race.
But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports from Shanghai that post-race checks showed that a differential bearing was damaged.
"It could still last 600 kilometers, but maybe only 100km," a Mercedes engineer is quoted as saying.
"The risk of leaving it in there was just too great."
The report, penned by respected correspondent Michael Schmidt, said Hamilton agreed with the decision to change the gearbox when told of the possibility of failure.
It means the highest Hamilton can start Sunday's Chinese grand prix is sixth. He is already 17 points behind Rosberg in the drivers' championship.
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| Fernando Alonso still waits to hear |
Alonso still waiting for green light
(GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is still not pre-empting the FIA's decision over his participation in the Chinese grand prix.
The Spaniard will shortly meet with doctors at the Shanghai circuit, having been sidelined in Bahrain with chest injuries sustained in his huge Melbourne crash.
But AS newspaper, a Spanish sports daily, claims Alonso is now completely recovered from the lung problem that actually sidelined him in Bahrain.
Reports have suggested the 34-year-old still has a fractured rib, but while Alonso and McLaren-Honda sound "cautious, the truth is that they have full confidence that he will race", AS added.
"Fernando has already had the relevant scan in the Oviedo (Spain) clinic and it shows an important improvement," the newspaper declared.
Alonso's meeting with FIA doctors will take place at 11am local in China.
Earlier on Thursday, front bodywork outside Alonso's pit box still showed substitute Stoffel Vandoorne's race number 47.
"I am training again now and feel fit," Roger Benoit, the highly-respected F1 correspondent for Swiss newspaper Blick, quoted Alonso as saying on Thursday.
"But I also thought I would race in Bahrain so we are waiting for the new decision," Alonso added.
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| Lance and Lawrence Stroll |
Billionaire not buying into Williams
(GMM) Williams has denied speculation a Canadian billionaire could soon buy into the British team.
The team's latest development driver is Lance Stroll, a 17-year-old Formula 3 star whose father is Lawrence Stroll, a fashion mogul who according to Forbes has a fortune totaling $2.4 billion.
But Williams CEO Mike O'Driscoll said: "I think we've got a really strong shareholder structure today and we haven't had conversations with either Lawrence or anyone else about investing in the team."
Team deputy Claire Williams, however, doesn't deny that Williams' driver plans for 2017 and beyond are completely open, as she predicts a particularly tumultuous 'silly season' later this year.
And Williams also does not rule out signing a so-called 'pay driver'.
"Is there something wrong with taking a driver who has talent and money?" she is quoted by the German broadcaster RTL. "It is double happiness.
"There seems to only be criticism when it is about some drivers," Williams added. "Alonso brings money, but does someone criticize a team when they take Alonso?
"Putting our two cars as far up the grid as possible week after week is always the top priority for us," Claire added.
"We will make our decision as a group when the time is right."
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| Sir Jackie Stewart |
Jackie Stewart tells Mercedes to quit F1
(GMM) Sir Jackie Stewart says that if he was running Mercedes, he would pull the German carmaker out of F1.
Mercedes has utterly dominated in the 'power unit' era that began in 2014, so the triple world champion and F1 legend thinks it is time for a strategy change.
"I believe Mercedes will win both titles again this year," Stewart told Brazil's Globo Esporte.
"But if I was a member of the decision-making group, I would propose that Mercedes leaves F1, as they once did in a similar situation," the Scot explained.
"I would stay as an engine supplier and make it available to those who want it, as Ford did with Cosworth. Everyone will want it and so the Mercedes name will continue to win.
"The Ford Cosworth was champion with us," added Stewart, referring to his title-winning days with Matra and Tyrrell, "but today everyone remembers Ford Cosworth as they also won with McLaren, Williams, Lotus."
Stewart, 76, argues that his proposal would be a good idea, as eventually the works Mercedes will be beaten by a rival like Ferrari.
"And I don't think the (Daimler) board will like to see that. Mercedes is a global brand with a high reputation in the motoring world," he said.
Imagining a conversation at a Mercedes board meeting, Stewart continued: "Gentlemen, how much does F1 cost us? Ok, money is not a problem because we have major sponsors, but don't forget the risk that we will be beaten by Ferrari, Red Bull or someone else.
"Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way, but that's exactly what I would do," he said.
"It would be good not only for Mercedes but also F1," Stewart told the respected Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio.
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| Alonso and his wife |
Herbert says Alonso incident upset wife
(GMM) Johnny Herbert says he stands by his recent criticism of Fernando Alonso, even after the Spaniard's angry reaction.
Having written in a column that Alonso should use the occasion of his chest injuries to retire, former F1 driver Herbert was gatecrashed by the angry Spaniard live on British television during the Bahrain race weekend.
"You ended up a commentator because you were not world champion," Alonso told him.
Briton Herbert, 51, looked uncomfortable during the exchange, mumbling 'Happy man' as Alonso departed, but he now says he stands by his earlier comments.
He insists the incident did not "personally" affect him, "But I have to say that my wife didn't think it was funny. She said that Alonso was a little impertinent.
"I have to say I understand Alonso's reaction, but my opinion is clear, as it was before," the former Sauber and Jaguar driver told the Spanish sports daily Marca.
"I believe Fernando's time in formula one has past. He is no longer the future, as with other drivers like Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen.
"The future belongs to Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and then Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz," Herbert added.
"After Alonso's incident in Australia, my mind went back to the crash of Michael Schumacher in Singapore in 2012 — they were similar and to me it seems to be a loss of concentration and focus on formula one."
Herbert said he thinks a good next move for Alonso would be endurance sports cars, including Le Mans.
"I think it would suit him perfectly," he said. "The WEC would be a good place for him and he could even be champion, as Mark Webber did."
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| Sainz jr. |
Red Bull should sign Sainz Jr., not Verstappen – Herbert
(GMM) Johnny Herbert thinks Red Bull should sign up Carlos Sainz for 2017.
The former F1 driver made waves in Bahrain recently, when he urged Fernando Alonso to take the opportunity of his chest injuries to quit formula one.
And now he has bucked the trend of predicting a rapid promotion to Red Bull next year for Max Verstappen by urging the energy drink outfit to in fact give the seat to his Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz.
"Both are very good and very fast," Herbert told the Spanish sports newspaper Marca.
"As I said before, they're the future. I think Carlos is smarter than Verstappen, I see him using his head better, perhaps because Max is younger, but both are very good," he insisted.
"But looking ahead, if I had to sign one of the two, I would choose Sainz.
"If the decision is taken by Helmut Marko then I don't know what will happen, because sometimes his decisions with the drivers are a bit strange," Herbert said.
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| James Allison |
Allison back to work after wife's death
(GMM) A grieving James Allison will reportedly contribute to Ferrari's bid to win the Chinese grand prix this weekend.
Following the sudden death of the Briton's wife Rebecca after the season opener in Australia, Allison was not in Bahrain.
Ferrari declared that it is "united with him and his family during this period of profound sorrow", amid reports 48-year-old Allison was taking a break with his children in Britain.
But Marco Mensurati, the F1 correspondent for the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, reports that Allison is in fact already back at work.
"James immediately wanted to go back to work at the factory," he said, "putting his mind to the many technical problems with this albeit fast and very drivable Ferrari.
"In Shanghai," Mensurati added, "Allison will not attend but he will be in constant contact with Jock Clear, with whom Allison is apparently already close."
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| Nasr in the Sauber |
Sauber Gains A New Partnership
Although recent rumors led fans to believe that the Sauber F1 Team was on the brink of financial collapse, the team appears to have shown us otherwise, as they gain another race partner for the season.
Rumors not long after the Bahrain Grand Prix insisted that the Sauber F1 Team would not able to make it to China for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, due to some financial difficulties. Fueling the speculation was the absence of Monisha Kaltenborn in Bahrain, as many publications believed that she was at the team’s Hinwil base in Switzerland attempting to solve the financial crisis.
In the midst of the negativity surrounding Sauber, the team has announced their new race partnership with Dranix Technology Development Limited, specifically their AG88 brand. AG88 is an Asian online entertainment provider that specializes in online gambling. It is currently the leader in the Asian online gaming industry and is operated on AG88.com.
Judy Chen, the company’s marketing manager, was happy to comment on their partnership with the team:
“Both AG88.com and the Sauber F1 Team are dedicated to creativity, and have been going through constant innovations to achieve their goals to improve their core competitiveness. This cooperation between the two leading teams can be seen as demonstrating that they are now sharing the same values. Due to the hard work and endless efforts of all the employees, AG88.com has become one of the best leading online gaming brands in the world. AG88.com has always been seeking partnerships with companies with extreme passion and the desire of pursuing excellence. We are delighted to become a partner with the Sauber F1 Team, and are also looking forward to co-organizing some exciting events and performances in Singapore and Suzuka."
The partnership applies to two of the Asian Grand Prix events on the 2016 calendar: the Singapore Grand Prix and the Japanese Grand Prix. Along with appearing on the upper sides of the Sauber C35’s sidepods, the AG88 logo will also appear on the team’s garage walls.
The Sauber Team Principal, Monisha Kaltenborn, ensures that the team will work hard to ensure that AG88 benefits from the partnership, saying: “We will ensure we do our very best in providing AG88 a platform to increase its brand exposure in Asia, especially during the Singapore Grand Prix, as well as the Japanese Grand Prix."
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| Alonso wants to practice |
Alonso wants to test injuries in practice
(GMM) Afternoon turned into evening in Shanghai while the F1 paddock waited for news about Fernando Alonso.
Hours ago, the Spaniard met with FIA doctors in a bid to be cleared fit to return to the wheel of his McLaren-Honda this weekend.
As Thursday evening fell, heads were being scratched as the decision was long overdue.
"What takes the FIA doctors so long to decide?" wondered Speed Week correspondent Mathias Brunner.
Marca, a well-connected Spanish sports daily, reported that the governing body has requested more information before making a decision.
Alonso, however, made clear he wants to race.
"In Bahrain I was not completely sure, but here I'm sure," he told Spanish media as he waited for the all-clear.
"I think it would be normal to let me do the first practice and then do a double-check to see if I have pain or if the rib is completely healed.
"I am optimistic and calm because I feel good," Alonso added. "I had many nights of no sleep but now I am training with some normality and I'm ready to jump in the car and try.
"It is difficult to compare F1 with another sport because of the sitting position and the G-forces, but I have been in the gym and on the treadmill. I hope to be 100 per cent when I get in the car."
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| Hamilton never gets to demoralize the Ferraris because he starts and stays ahead of them. Now is his chance to blow past them like they are standing still. |
Grid penalty is 'opportunity' – Hamilton
(GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton was maintaining his sunny disposition on Thursday, despite admitting his five-place gearbox change penalty was "a kick in the goonies".
But the Mercedes driver was still notably upbeat, as the Spanish daily Marca quoted him as saying in Shanghai: "It's not ideal, but it happens.
"I see it as a challenge and therefore another opportunity, so it's glass half full rather than half empty.
"It's better to take the penalty here because it's easier to overtake than at some of the tracks that follow."
Teammate and championship leader Nico Rosberg is also refusing to write Hamilton off, saying: "The penalty makes it more difficult for him, but we know that Lewis can always fight for victory."
Rosberg's first pole and win came in Shanghai, but Hamilton is also a specialist of the Shanghai layout.
"I don't know why but I feel good when I drive here," the Briton admitted.
Hamilton was nonplussed at the return of the 2015 qualifying format, saying only: "It's good for the fans but for me it makes no difference."
And when asked about Wednesday's get-together of F1 drivers for dinner, Hamilton answered: "We were having dinner!
"There was nothing excited to write home about. We talked about food, girls, holidays … not much about F1."