Latest F1 news in brief

Ecclestone gets power to fix F1

FIA gives Ecclestone 'mandate' to fix F1
Coulthard urges Ecclestone to keep F1 on 'free' TV
Mercedes could survive without Hamilton, Rosberg – Hakkinen
Mercedes may terminate Hamilton or Rosberg
Vettel labels Ferrari's season a 'miracle'
Hulkenberg admits improvement required
Sainz Jr. relieved efforts have been noticed
McLaren reveals Formula 1 concept car

FIA gives Ecclestone 'mandate' to fix F1
(GMM) F1's governing body on Wednesday empowered Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt to take charge of "a number of pressing issues in formula one".

The news comes amid the sport's struggle to walk hand-in-hand into the future, as parties clash over the shape of engine rules and cost cutting.

In Abu Dhabi, Renault's Cyril Abiteboul had said: "As a Frenchman I am for the dictature (dictatorship) as long as you can choose the dictator."

So after the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Wednesday, the FIA announced that "a near unanimous" vote has handed "a mandate" to Ecclestone and Todt, the governing body's president.

They will "make recommendations and decisions regarding a number of pressing issues such as governance, power units and cost reduction", said the FIA.

At the same Paris meeting, the green light was shown to Toro Rosso's reported plans to run 2015-spec Ferrari power in 2016, which ties in with La Gazzetta dello Sport's news that James Key visited Maranello this week.

And finally, the unprecedentedly-long 21-race calendar for next season was ratified.

However, Austin race organizers’ state funding problems have earned the US grand prix mere provisional status on the FIA schedule, with the race now "subject to agreement".

David Coulthard (L) with sister Lynsay

Coulthard urges Ecclestone to keep F1 on 'free' TV
(GMM) F1 would not be wise to allow free-to-air television coverage to stop in Britain, David Coulthard has warned.

Last weekend in Abu Dhabi, the BBC's formula one coverage team including the former McLaren and Red Bull driver and Eddie Jordan signed off by saying they "hope" to be back in 2016.

It follows reports last month that Bernie Ecclestone was unmoved by the British broadcaster's push to cut costs by renegotiating the price of its deal.

In Britain, where 7 of the 10 teams are based, the F1 coverage is split between a comprehensive pay service on Sky and a limited amount of free-to-air coverage by the BBC.

Coulthard, a former F1 driver and now a BBC commentator, urged Ecclestone to allow the broadcaster to "make savings" but still keep the sport on TV in Britain.

"My personal view is that if F1 allows itself to lose free-to-air television coverage in the UK, it will not only affect the popularity of the sport, and by extension the teams' ability to raise money to compete, but it will also reduce its exposure to the next generations of engineers and mechanics," he said.

"F1 has inspired people to enter a workforce that numbers tens of thousands of people — the drivers are just the lucky ones at the end of the rainbow," the former McLaren and Red Bull driver continued.

"I am proud to work for the BBC. I don't think I would have made it out of my home village of Twynholm if I had not been able to watch F1 on the BBC," said the Scot.

"Without it, there was no outlet for me to see Canada and Monaco and places like that. Of course, the world has changed since then, but free-to-air television still reaches many more people than subscription and without it we would be moving into previously uncharted waters as far as F1 in the UK is concerned," Coulthard concluded.

With Mercedes the car is 99.99% of the equation so any driver will do. Who will Mercedes terminate first?

Mercedes could survive without Hamilton, Rosberg – Hakkinen
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are not the only drivers who could win at the wheel of their Mercedes.

That is the claim of former double world champion Mika Hakkinen, as Mercedes chief Toto Wolff issued an alarming warning that the dominant German camp might have to re-think the current shape of its driver lineup.

Between them, back-to-back champion Hamilton and his German teammate Rosberg utterly dominated in 2015, winning a record-equaling 16 of the 19 grands prix.

But, as in 2014, their battle has ended in personal acrimony, with the pair exchanging barbs at the season-ending Abu Dhabi grand prix last weekend.

"Let's skip that part," Rosberg said when asked if he might celebrate Mercedes' season over dinner with Hamilton.

As for whether Christmas cards or presents might be exchanged, Hamilton added: "I don't think we've ever done either so there's no reason to change."

But Wolff has told a website this week that the ill-feeling is not only taking place publicly, but also behind the scenes at Mercedes.

So as for whether Mercedes could continue to thrive without Hamilton or Rosberg at the wheel, retired F1 veteran Hakkinen answered: "Good question.

"Mercedes has a dominant car, so there are certainly a number of other drivers who could win the championship with it," he told his sponsor Hermes in an interview.

"But the list is not very long because the team also needs the skills of the driver to develop the car. And experience also plays a significant role," the Finn added.

But Hamilton is quoted by the British newspaper The Sun as saying "fierce competition" between himself and teammate Rosberg is normal.

"Look at Serena Williams," he said. "When she is fighting for titles, I'm sure whoever she is competing against is not her best friend.

"But in F1 you are teammates, with the priority to win the constructors' championship, and we work collectively.

"When Nico wins a race I need to back him up, and vice versa, and what we do together – in terms of pushing the car and team forward – is hopefully inspiring them, motivating the guys. That's our goal," added Hamilton.

Rosberg knows that Mercedes decides if he will win or not

Mercedes may terminate Hamilton or Rosberg
Mercedes executives are steeling themselves to break up the warring combination of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as the relationship between the two drivers plumbs new depths.

Although they won 15 races this season, the tension has affected the team to the extent that Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes Motorsport, has admitted for the first time that one may have to go.

"We struggle sometimes in winning races on Sunday and having always one (driver) upset and this spills over into the team. It is something that needs to stop," Wolff told the Motorsport.com website.

"We took the decision of having two evenly-matched drivers in order to make the team progress faster and better. Going forward, we will consider if it is the best set-up for the team. Personality and character within the team (are also crucial to) the team's success.

"If we feel that it is not aligned with the general consensus, spirit and philosophy within the team, we might consider that when we take a decision, in terms of the driver line-up going forward.

"It is important to have talented and fast drivers in the car. But we want to work with nice guys."

Hamilton has just signed a new three-year deal and as the three-time world champion he is in a strong position. But he can be a disruptive element, as he showed on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he queried his team's strategy calls and had to be instructed forcefully to carry out changes to his engine management systems.

Rosberg's deal lasts only until the end of next season and rumors abound that he has had enough of the team-mate he once used to call a friend. When asked whether they would have an end-of-season get-together, Rosberg replied: "Let's skip that."

Would they exchange Christmas gifts, then? "I don't think we've ever done either so there's no reason to change," Hamilton said glumly, refusing to look at his teammate.

The relationship is now at breaking point. The teammates rarely speak and conduct their racing lives separately, even in the cramped atmosphere of the Mercedes hospitality suites around the world. The table tennis matches they enjoyed as neighbors in Monte Carlo have long been scrapped.

"I feel that the team is stronger than ever," Wolff said. "We are having huge unity within the team, but the difficult relationship of the drivers is one of our weaknesses. And that is not good.

"If I were to analyze what are the biggest strengths and the biggest weakness of the team, I would say the biggest strength is the quality and the characters of the personalities within the team.

"The biggest weakness is the dynamic of the relationship between the drivers – and sometimes between the drivers and the team." Straitstimes.com

Vettel has elevated Ferrari

Vettel labels Ferrari's season a 'miracle'
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has described the team's 2015 campaign as a "miracle", given the significant progress it made, and is adamant that current benchmark Mercedes can be beaten next year.

Ferrari initially struggled when turbo V6 power units arrived in 2014, claiming just two podium finishes and slipping to fourth in the standings before Fernando Alonso's departure from the team.

But a personnel shake-up, followed by engine and chassis gains over the winter period, saw the Italian marque emerge as Mercedes' main challenger in 2015, with new arrival Vettel taking three victories.

Vettel ended the year with 10 further podiums, while team-mate Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen chipped in with three of his own, to secure second in the Constructors' and third and fourth respectively in the Drivers' standings.

"If I look at where we are now, it's a miracle," said Vettel, as he assessed the season.

"It's a miracle where we started off in winter testing, setting fastest times, but obviously [at the first race of the season] in Australia getting confirmation that we were a long way behind [Mercedes].

"I haven't seen any other team making that much progress throughout the season.

"We had updates on our engine, updates to our car, and that brought us closer, not close enough yet to really fight them and put them under pressure, but I 100 per cent believe they are beatable.

"I think our strategy has to focus on ourselves, like we did this season. We had a lot of smiles this year, so if we can increase the number of smiles it's also good news for the results next year."

Vettel also equaled Alonso's 2014 haul of 278 points – a record for a Ferrari driver.

Overrated Nico Hulkenberg (L) beaten by his ride-buyer teammate Perez (R)

Hulkenberg admits improvement required
Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg has conceded that he did not perform to his full potential during the 2015 season, an area in which he is eager to improve for 2016.

Hulkenberg finished 10th in the 2015 standings with a best finish of sixth place, 20 points adrift of team-mate Sergio Perez, who returned Force India to the podium in Russia.

Hulkenberg made the headlines with a debut victory at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race in June, but admits he could have done more in Formula 1.

"I'm not 100 per cent happy, to be honest," said Hulkenberg.

"If you look back and analyze race-by-race, there could have been many, many more points on my side.

"We had some technical issues as well as some driver errors in the races, which I would have preferred not to have done, but you learn from these and you move on."

Perez and Hulkenberg's combined points tally saw Force India secure a best classification of fifth this year, and Hulkenberg is hopeful of further progress in 2016.

"We need to keep doing what we're doing with the B-spec car – more of the same," explained Hulkenberg, when asked how Force India can take the next step.

"We need to develop this car. It has improved a lot [over the season], but still we have some weaknesses and some things which we need to improve and work on.

"It's about grip, aero, the suspension side – we just need to up our game.

"There is still a good margin to the guys very much in front, but I think for us first we need to look at people like Williams and try to close the gap to them."

Carlos Sainz Jr. beat his teammate Verstappen in qualifying

Sainz Jr. relieved efforts have been noticed
Carlos Sainz Jr. says he is relieved that his performances during his debut Formula 1 season appear to have been noticed in the paddock, after enduring a number of retirements.

Sainz Jr. logged 18 points in 2015, 31 fewer than fellow rookie and Toro Rosso team-mate Max Verstappen, but retired from seven races, compared to four DNFs for the Dutch teenager.

Given the points deficit, Sainz Jr. was initially fearful that senior figures would overlook his efforts, but has been pleasantly surprised by the positive comments up and down the pit lane.

"In a rookie year, it's not easy, as you're here to make an impression in the paddock, and to prove yourself," said Sainz Jr., who prevailed 10-9 in the intra-team qualifying battle.

"When so many problems happen to you, it's quite difficult, but I still go around the paddock and everyone comes up to me and says, 'you've done a great job this year'.

"For me to have this feeling and this feedback is very positive, because sometimes you get the feeling that you haven't shown enough, or you left something on the table."

Sainz Jr. is hopeful of a more representative showing next season.

"I think the winter will be very good for me and the team," added Sainz Jr.

"I always come back stronger after the winter break. I cannot wait to see what next year brings, but I'm convinced that it will be a step in the right direction, and we'll have an even more competitive car.

"Hopefully I will finish some more races and I will keep growing my experience in Formula 1."

Toro Rosso is yet to confirm its engine supplier for 2016, though a Ferrari deal has been rumored.

McLaren reveals Formula 1 concept car
McLaren has become the second Formula 1 team in 2015 to produce images of a concept car.

Designed by McLaren Applied Technologies, the McLaren MP4-X – fitted with an all-electric hybrid motor – features solar cells for energy boost, active aerodynamics and venturi tunnels to deliver ground effect.

It is covered by a high-impact canopy, with driver vision aided by a head-mounted augmented display.

"With the futuristic McLaren MP4-X concept racecar, we wanted to peer into the future and imagine the art of the possible," explained John Allert, Group Brand Director for the McLaren Technology Group.

"We have combined a number of F1's key ingredients – speed, excitement and performance, with the sport's emerging narratives – such as enclosed cockpits to enhance driver safety, and hybrid power technologies."

Allert, looking to future regulations, summed up: "Formula 1 is the ultimate gladiatorial sport, and the future we envisage will be a high tech, high performance showcase that excites fans like no other sport."

Ferrari released its own concept in February, as Formula 1 assessed its future direction.

McLaren MP4-X