Latest F1 news in brief: Tuesday

• Vettel calls latest F1 qualifying proposal shit

  Vettel slams 'aggregate' qualifying format

• Verstappen showed maturity in Bahrain – father
• Hamilton calm, Ferrari 'fragile as glass'
• Amid rumors, Horner backs pressured Kvyat
• F1 car seized amid Fittipaldi's mounting debts
• Rosberg named in 'Panama Papers' tax evasion leak
• Developing car next hurdle for Haas – Grosjean
• Vandoorne 'the next Alonso' – Boullier
• Todt Says FIA Should Have Complete Control Of Formula One
• Channel 4 Boosted By First Live Formula 1 Viewing Figures
• Bahrain F1 GP Draws Close To 4.5 Million Viewers On German Channel RTL
• Austrian Broadcaster ORF Renews F1 Rights

Vettel slams 'aggregate' qualifying format
(GMM) Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel is once again leading the fierce criticism amid the latest installment of the 2016 qualifying format debacle.

The Ferrari driver did not hide his anger when F1 switched to the hated 'musical chairs' system without the backing of drivers and engineers, and now he has blasted news that the next move could be an all-new aggregate format.

"It's time to go to the circus," Vettel sneered when asked about the idea of aggregating the drivers' two best laptimes in the Q1, Q2 and Q3 sessions from China.

He is quoted by the Mirror: "It's a good idea if you want random things to happen, but formula one should be about racing. It's a sh– idea."

At a meeting with bosses in Bahrain, FIA president Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone reportedly told the teams that reverting to the popular and tested 2015 format is no longer an option.

"A simple explanation? Madness," Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is quoted by AFP news agency when asked how F1 got itself into this situation.

Bosses will get together on Thursday to consider the FIA's latest proposal.

"After two pretty decent races do we really need to mess around with qualifying?" wondered Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

Daniel Ricciardo also joined his old teammate Vettel in criticizing the aggregate idea.

"Qualifying is one lap, that one perfect lap," said the Australian.

"To have an aggregate it starts to sound more like endurance racing. I wouldn't be too keen on that, no."

But F1 veteran Jenson Button said that if the aggregate format is the only option on the table, the sport needs to vote for it.

"It's better than this (musical chairs) one," said the McLaren driver. "Everything is better than this one. Drivers driving with one eye closed would be better than this one."

Jos and Max Verstappen

Verstappen showed maturity in Bahrain – father
(GMM) After the criticism of Australia, Max Verstappen put his reputation back on track in Bahrain.

That is the view of his father Jos, after the 18-year-old Toro Rosso driver lashed out at his team and teammate Carlos Sainz during the 2016 season opener.

Verstappen then finished sixth in Bahrain.

"Yes, it comes at a good time," father Jos told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf when asked about the result.

"I think he was very strong and very mature how he went about the past few days and also during the race."

Verstappen, bidding to move into a top car for 2017, had been blasted as being immature after the fiery radio outbursts in Melbourne.

"I think it was a bit blown up in the media, because I think between us there is no problem," the youngster, sitting alongside his teammate Sainz, told the French broadcaster Canal Plus.

Hamilton is calm knowing Ferrari can't touch his Aldo Costa (2nd from left) designed Mercedes just as AR1 predicted before the season started. And to think he was Ferrari's designer and they let him get away.

Hamilton calm, Ferrari 'fragile as glass'
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton is keeping calm, even though he is already 17 points behind at the start of his 2016 championship defense.

Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg has extended his late 2015 winning streak into the start of the new season, winning both in Australia and Bahrain.

Hamilton's Bahrain race was marred by another bad start and a first corner collision with Valtteri Bottas, but the Briton says he is telling his crew to keep calm.

"I told my engineers that it's only the start. It's 2 races out of 21," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "I know what I can do.

"I have an excellent foundation with this car as both times I've been on pole," Hamilton added.

Some are surprised that Hamilton, well known for not putting a smile on second place, is dealing with his early 2016 defeats so well, especially when he was punted into a half-spin by Bottas that damaged his car in Bahrain.

"Valtteri doesn't need to apologize," the 31-year-old insists. "It was a normal racing incident.

"I have learned to deal with days such as these," Hamilton added.

Others, though, think Hamilton might be just a bit too calm, arguably more carried away with his off-track lifestyle than remaining fully focused on F1.

"Ok he was fastest in qualifying," said former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, "but I haven't seen him mega-strong in the race.

"For the sport it's good that Nico is now the title favorite," he told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, "but I see a Lewis Hamilton who is involved with all these things other than car racing."

The silver-colored, intra-team battle aside, Ferrari is also tipped to pose a strong challenge in 2016 even though Sebastian Vettel's failure in Bahrain leaves him a distant sixth in the world championship.

And with Kimi Raikkonen also retiring in Australia, the Italian newspaper La Stampa observed: "Ferrari appears as quick as Mercedes but as fragile as glass."

There are rumors of fundamental 'power unit' design flaws, with boss Maurizio Arrivabene quoted by Mediaset as saying Maranello will be working "Saturdays and Sundays" to improve.

"In order to catch up with Mercedes," former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde surmised, "they have pushed to the limit with everything to the point that something breaks."

Daniil Kvyat

Amid rumors, Horner backs pressured Kvyat
(GMM) Christian Horner has moved to lift the pressure from the shoulders of Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat.

There is speculation the energy drink company may need to promote the meteoric teenager Max Verstappen from Toro Rosso or risk losing him to a major rival like Mercedes or Ferrari for 2017.

It could be Kvyat who needs to switch back to the junior camp to make room, and amid those rumors the 21-year-old suffered an awful and mysterious qualifying performance in Bahrain.

The Russian also struggled in Australia, but Horner says Kvyat's recovery to seventh place in Bahrain last Sunday showed he is back on track.

"It was a good performance from him," the Red Bull team boss said.

"I think this race will completely restore his confidence, if there was something not right with that. He was strong in every area. I think everything will be fine," Horner is quoted by Russia's Sportbox.

"We still need to fully understand what happened in qualifying, but it's 90 per cent that it had something to do with the tire temperature."

Emerson Fittipaldi

F1 car seized amid Fittipaldi's mounting debts
(GMM) F1 great Emerson Fittipaldi has had legendary racing cars from his private collection seized amid reports of deep financial problems.

O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper said 69-year-old Fittipaldi, one of Brazil's most famous racing names and a two-time world champion, has accumulated debts to the tune of $27 million.

The report said Brazilian courts have now acted, ordering the seizing of cars and trophies belonging to Fittipaldi, amid the bankruptcy of multiple of his businesses and orange farms.

Officials reportedly seized Fittipaldi's 1989-winning Indy 500 car from his offices and museum, and the Copersucar F1 car that Fittipaldi raced in 1975.

"The cars were disassembled and will be auctioned," the Brazilian newspaper said.

A spokesperson for Fittipaldi, who won 14 grands prix in his career until 1980, said the former McLaren driver is willing to negotiate with his creditors to settle the situation caused by the financial and political crisis gripping Brazil.

"He has confidence in the economic future of the country and the financial health of his companies," the spokesperson added.

Was Nico Rosberg evading taxes?

Rosberg named in 'Panama Papers' tax evasion leak
(GMM) Championship leader Nico Rosberg's name is among hundreds implicated in an enormous global leak of documents known as the 'Panama Papers'.

The 11.5 million confidential documents come from a law firm in Panama called Mossack Fonseca, exposing a web of secret offshore companies allegedly used to hide wealth, evade tax and launder money, according to the Financial Times.

NDR, a German public broadcaster, said Rosberg's name is among those like football star Lionel Messi mentioned in the massive data leak, relating to his latest F1 contract with Mercedes.

The report said Rosberg's F1 deal is actually between Mercedes and a company called Ambitious Group Limited, based in the British Virgin Islands.

And Ambitious Group apparently belongs to two other alleged "front" companies headquartered in the Channel Islands.

But ARD, another German broadcaster, made clear that the documents do not indicate that Mercedes or Rosberg did anything illegal.

Mercedes would not comment, while a lawyer for Rosberg told the French sports daily L'Equipe that it is a private matter.

Another F1-connected name linked with the Panama Papers leak is Jarno Trulli, but the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I have several companies in the world and all are run in a transparent manner."

And when asked why his name is also connected with Mossack Fonseca, former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told Italy's L'Espresso: "I do not know this law firm."

Can Haas keep pace with development?

Developing car next hurdle for Haas – Grosjean
(GMM) The real challenge for Haas will be keeping up with the lightning speed of F1's in-season development, Romain Grosjean has admitted.

The French driver and new American team have stunned F1 over the opening two race weekends in the life of Haas, scoring enough points to see Grosjean sandwiching the works Ferrari drivers for fifth in the standings.

But the team's approach to F1 is also controversial, with the true independent Williams questioning if Haas is really a constructor.

"What Haas has done is good for him," technical boss Pat Symonds told the New York Times, "but I don't know if that is really the way F1 should be going."

Haas team boss Gunther Steiner, however, defended Haas' close alliances with Ferrari and Dallara.

"We read every word of the regulations and got from Ferrari everything that was possible," he told Brazil's Globo.

"With this, our engineers designed the car and commissioned Dallara to build many parts including the monocoque," Steiner added.

"This is the only model to begin in F1 today if you are small like us," he argues. "Those who have tried recently to do everything on their own arrived and were quickly gone."

But while the basic Haas car is obviously good, Grosjean said the next challenge will be to stay in front of established teams like Toro Rosso, McLaren and Renault.

"These people will improve and invest in development," said the Frenchman, "and we will have to do the same.

"The good thing for us is that our base is excellent. We do not have the structure of a large team and cannot compete with their speed and capacity for producing new parts, but we have a plan – although more modest – to develop our car," Grosjean added.

And the goal beyond that, boss Steiner revealed, is to conclude a commercial contract with the Bernie Ecclestone-led commercial rights holder.

"We have to convince Mr. Ecclestone to include us among those who receive (money) from FOM," he said.

Stoffel Vandoorne the next Alonso

Vandoorne 'the next Alonso' – Boullier
(GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne appears to have put his F1 career on the fast track after making an impressive race debut in Bahrain.

Although Fernando Alonso says he is "99 per cent" sure his chest injuries will be in the past by China in ten days, McLaren now sounds more convinced than ever that it has one of F1's very best new talents in its hands.

"He had a spectacular weekend," team boss Eric Boullier is quoted by Spain's El Mundo Deportivo.

"I was surprised that he made not the slightest mistake, he was always very calm and had no problems with the setup.

"There is this new generation of drivers with a lot of strength that will be relieving many current drivers, and we want Stoffel to be one of them.

"He will surely be the next Alonso, the next Button," said Boullier.

The newspaper said Boullier would not comment on whether Vandoorne, 24, will make his full-time debut for McLaren in 2017.

But Button is out of contract at the end of the season, while Spaniard Alonso in Bahrain angrily rejected claims he should retire due to fading motivation.

Jean Todt

Todt Says FIA Should Have Complete Control Of Formula One
FIA President Jean Todt believes the FIA "should have complete control" of Formula 1's governance, according to Ian Parkes of AUTOSPORT.

F1's governance and decision-making process "has come under fire of late given its apparent lack of direction with regard to the 2017 rules, and most notably with regard to qualifying."

Asked if he would change the governance structure immediately if it again gave the FIA complete power, Todt replied, "That would be logical. The FIA should have complete control, as the regulator and the legislator of Formula 1."

When it was suggested to Todt that F1 was in need of a dictator to again take control, he said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not a dictator."

Todt: "Normally when dictators do that — and we have examples on much more important matters than in sport — they always fail. The time of dictators is past."

Todt recognized, however, there are issues, adding, "The governance is not good, but the governance has been there for decades." AUTOSPORT

Channel 4 Boosted By First Live Formula 1 Viewing Figures
Channel 4's decision to push for a Formula 1 deal this year "appears to be paying off, with its peak audience for the Bahrain Grand Prix making it the most watched U.K. channel over its slot," according to Jonathan Noble of MOTORSPORT.

The Sakhir race was C4's first live offering this year, and was "always going to deliver a good indication of whether or not F1's audience would switch terrestrial channels after the BBC deal came to an end."

According to overnight TV ratings, "its live coverage peaked at 3.2 million viewers with an average of 2.3 million viewers."

This "compares with Sky's 605,000 average viewers on pay TV."

The coverage on Sunday across Sky and C4 peaked at 4.01 million (30.2% of the overall TV audience) — "which is down" from the 5.31 million (30.8%) that watched on BBC and Sky as Lewis Hamilton won last year's race. MOTORSPORT

Cars are ready for start in Bahrain

Bahrain F1 GP Draws Close To 4.5 Million Viewers On German Channel RTL
German free-to-air TV channel RTL "recorded close to 4.5 million viewers for its broadcast of the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix," according to Krei & Hennings of DWDL.

The race, which was won by Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, drew 4.4 million viewers starting shortly after 5pm. Last year's Bahrain GP was watched by an additional 500,000 viewers.

Two years ago, the viewership figure was more than 5 million and in '13 it was more than 6 million.

Sunday's race obtained a market share of 25%. In the target demographic 14-49, RTL had a 21.9% share.

German pay-tv network Sky, which also aired the race, obtained a market share of 2.6% in the target demo as 350,000 viewers tuned in. DWDL

Austrian Broadcaster ORF Renews F1 Rights
F1 is "staying on free-to-air television in Austria, after the broadcaster ORF renewed its deal with the sport."

Late last year, ORF had not taken a decision about the "future amid claims it was no longer willing to pay" $17.1M per year.

But a report from Bahrain by Austrian news agency APA said that "ORF has now renewed its contract for three more years."

The report claimed the public broadcaster had "successfully negotiated its fee down" to $11.4M. GRAND PRIX