Latest F1 news in brief

No TV blackout for Mercedes – no one wants to watch Hamilton parade around out front unchallenged with his 100 HP advantage

Ecclestone denies ordering Mercedes TV blackout
Verstappen needs another year at Toro Rosso – Tost
Hakkinen understands Red Bull quit threat
Rosberg says overheating cost him Suzuka lead
Alonso snap signals rough seas ahead for McLaren – Prost
Ecclestone admits British GP axe could fall
Lotus survives court, Button linked to Renault
Two teams lodge F1 complaint to European Union

Ecclestone denies ordering Mercedes TV blackout
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has denied he manipulated the coverage of Sunday's Japanese grand prix to exclude Mercedes.

The silver cars, finishing first and second at Suzuka after the Singapore slump, were shown for just 5 of the 90 broadcasted minutes of the official race coverage.

Bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda admitted they noticed the discrepancy, and suggestions elsewhere noted that Ferrari was also not prominently featured on the so-called 'world feed'.

Lauda vowed to meet in London with F1 supremo Ecclestone this week to ask about the Mercedes 'blackout', amid rumors the carmaker was being punished for refusing to supply engines to Red Bull next year.

But Ecclestone told Germany's Die Welt newspaper: "There was no manipulation.

"A few weeks ago we talked about the directing of the races and came to the conclusion that the midfield should be shown more often.

"To just show the leading cars is boring, but we're also doing it to better support the midfield teams," the 84-year-old explained.

"Lauda and Wolff know about these considerations and will understand," Ecclestone added.

"The directors in Japan maybe went a bit far with it, but I did not intervene," he insisted.

Tost (top center) wants to keep Verstappen

Verstappen needs another year at Toro Rosso – Tost
(GMM) Franz Tost has played down suggestions Max Verstappen is ready to make the big step to Red Bull.

With Daniil Kvyat yet to be confirmed officially by the energy drink company's senior team for 2016, some have suggested bosses are seriously considering a promotion for the teen sensation Verstappen.

The 17-year-old currently drives for the junior squad Toro Rosso, but that team's boss Tost admitted: "If Max had a good car at his disposal, one with a good engine, of course he could fight for victories and titles.

"Preferably with Red Bull," the Austrian told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

"But I think at this stage of his career the wisest thing would be that he stays with us for another year," Tost added.

Will the Red Bulls be in IndyCar with the X1 Red Bull project?

Hakkinen understands Red Bull quit threat
(GMM) Mika Hakkinen says he can understand why Red Bull is threatening to quit formula one over its engine situation.

The energy drink company, with two teams on the grid, is in the throes of divorce from its current partner Renault after two sub-standard years in the new 'power unit' era.

Mercedes, however, is refusing to leap to the rescue, and McLaren's Ron Dennis is reportedly blocking a customer Honda deal.

Ferrari, meanwhile, is "blocking us", Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko told the German newspaper Bild, referring to the fact that the Italian outfit appears only to be offering a supply of 2015-spec V6s.

He said that with Sauber and Haas to have the fully up-to-date 2016 unit, Ferrari's offer is "ridiculous".

Red Bull therefore appears out of options, raising the likelihood that Dietrich Mateschitz – who according to team boss Christian Horner is generally "disillusioned" with F1 at present – will simply pull the plug on the sport.

Some in the paddock believe Red Bull brought the situation on itself by complaining so loudly about Renault.

But former double world champion Hakkinen said in his latest interview with Hermes that he can fully understand Red Bull's quit threats over the issue.

"I understand Red Bull perfectly," said the famous Finn.

"It cannot be forgotten that they very recently won four world championships in a row, so of course they don't want to set lower goals. Red Bull is not interested in just being there.

"They want to at least be able to have a realistic chance to fight for the championship," Hakkinen added.

Rosberg always has a reason to why he gets beats – try talent, or lack thereof

Rosberg says overheating cost him Suzuka lead
(GMM) Nico Rosberg has revealed there was a technical reason he fell behind teammate Lewis Hamilton after starting the Japanese grand prix from pole.

According to some, the fact Hamilton won yet again despite starting behind his Mercedes rival in Japan is a clear sign the Briton is unbeatable in 2015.

"Hamilton, like Senna — cold-blooded and without mercy for his rivals," said Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, noting that the reigning champion also matched his hero Senna's career tally of 41 wins on Sunday.

And La Stampa added: "Already by the second corner you could see that Hamilton would be the winner."

Rosberg, however, says there is more to the story.

For a start, he was sluggish off the line due to a technical problem, the German insisted.

"I got away well but just before turn 1 Lewis was suddenly beside me," he wrote in his latest column for Bild newspaper.

"My engineers told me afterwards that compared to Lewis my engine had less power because of overheating."

As for Hamilton's controversial and muscular overtaking move, which caused Rosberg to run off the track, the German insisted he was simply playing by team rules.

"I know what people are saying — things like I am too soft," admitted Rosberg. "But we have these rules in the team that we have to obey when we are fighting.

"So I behaved as I should have, as a collision would have meant zero points for the team."

However, not everyone is convinced about Rosberg's 2015 credentials in his fight against Hamilton.

F1 legend Alain Prost traces the German's competitive decline back to Spa-Francorchamps last year, where Rosberg was severely reprimanded by Mercedes for colliding with Hamilton.

"To me, there is a Rosberg before Spa and a Rosberg after Spa," he told the French broadcaster Canal Plus. "For me, he never recovered from that when he practically became the number 2."

Button and Alonso may both quit McLaren Honda

Alonso snap signals rough seas ahead for McLaren – Prost
(GMM) Suzuka could have been the turning-point in Fernando Alonso's patience with the McLaren-Honda project.

That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost, a figure closely associated with the glory days of the Anglo-Japanese partnership that was revived for 2015.

But at Suzuka on Sunday, within earshot of Honda's biggest company big-wigs, Alonso lost his patience very publicly, describing the Japanese-made 'power unit' as akin to a "GP2 engine" that is "very embarrassing" to pilot.

Frenchman Prost now sees serious trouble ahead.

"When you consider Fernando and his past, when he starts to sound like that, you know it's going to be difficult," he told the broadcaster Canal Plus.

"They were very hard words.

"On the other hand, it is true that a very strong development of the Honda engine was expected this year and this race (Japan) would be a kind of new beginning — but it didn't happen," Prost added.

"So it's frustrating, and Fernando does not like to be frustrated. I think it's going to be very difficult from now," he predicted.

Prost is not alone in wondering how sustainable the Alonso-McLaren union can be in the wake of Suzuka.

Pundit Johnny Herbert's employer, British broadcaster Sky, had to apologize after the former F1 driver advised Alonso to "bugger off" if he has that attitude.

"It's destroying. It's selfish. You can't go out there and slag your team off," said Herbert.

With slightly more understanding for Alonso is Mika Salo, another former grand prix star, who told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 that "any driver" would be frustrated with the apparent stagnation of progress at Honda.

But he also said: "To cry on the radio about a GP2 engine, in my opinion — yes, it's a little too much."

Ecclestone – you want to pay how much?

Ecclestone admits British GP axe could fall
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that the running of next year's British grand prix is in doubt.

Amid similar doubts over the future of another historic race, the Italian GP at Monza, Silverstone chief Patrick Allen revealed this week that because he is already a year behind in fees, he cannot "guarantee" the British grand prix will take place in 2016.

And now F1 supremo Ecclestone has admitted to Forbes: "We have got a clause in our contract where we can stop it in 2016 and I don't know if the race is going to continue next year."

So because Silverstone is a year behind in its fees, the only way forward now is for Allen to present Ecclestone with a 'letter of credit' from the bank.

Ecclestone told the F1 business journalist Christian Sylt: "What worries me is that as soon as the bank starts realizing they have a problem it is not going to continue with the letter of credit.

"We have a letter of credit (now) but whether that is going to continue or not I don't know," he added.

Renault bound?

Lotus survives court, Button linked to Renault
(GMM) Renault's 'letter of intent' has given Lotus ten more weeks to finalize the sale of the embattled Enstone team.

Mere hours before Lotus faced London's high court on Monday, Renault announced that it is now committed to completing the deal "in the coming weeks".

Also promised to the court was that a loan agreement had been made so that British authorities would receive its $4 million in unpaid taxes and insurance, resulting in the case being adjourned for ten more weeks.

So if the buyout is complete by December, there is the strong possibility that Renault will be back in 2016 with a full works team.

It is expected that Romain Grosjean, currently at Lotus, will be unveiled on Tuesday as a Haas driver for 2016. Pastor Maldonado has already been confirmed by Lotus for next year.

So if Renault has a seat open, Britain's Daily Mirror believes Jenson Button could be a lead contender to abandon the McLaren-Honda project and switch camps.

That would explain the odd spat between the two sides in Japan, with Ron Dennis vowing to honor Button's 2016 contract but the 2009 world champion refusing to commit.

"If I am in F1 next season, it is to be competitive," Button told France's L'Equipe. "Fighting for eighth place does not interest me."

Probably Button's closest friend in the paddock is former F1 driver turned television commentator David Coulthard, who admits there is a possibility the 35-year-old will quit McLaren.

"If Jenson still has a passion, and a belief that Honda will make a huge step forward, just as Ferrari did this year, then he should continue," he wrote in the Telegraph.

"But if he fears another year like this, then he needs to move on. Otherwise it is just going to be counterproductive," Coulthard added.

The Saubers and the Force Indias might find technical inspection in F1 very hard to pass here on out.

Two teams lodge F1 complaint to European Union
(GMM) Two midfield teams have carried through their threat to formally complain to the European Union about formula one's governance structure.

For months, smaller teams have been bemoaning the inequality in pitlane, describing the income system and rule-making strategy group as an illegal "cartel" and arguing it breaches European competition rules.

London's Times newspaper said the complaint has been lodged in Brussels by Force India and Sauber, who are pointing the finger not only at the sport's authorities and owners but also their powerful team rivals.

"It could be weeks before the EU decides whether to investigate," said correspondent Kevin Eason, "but the mood in Brussels is said to be for a clean-up of the sport after the scandals engulfing FIFA, football's world governing body."

It is suggested the complaint could force Ecclestone to hold up the disputed 'special payments' to top teams and also delay Ferrari's plans to float on the stock market.

A spokesman for Force India and Sauber said: "It would be inappropriate (to comment) until the EU competition authorities have decided what they would want to do."

It is a particularly volatile time overall in formula one, with Red Bull threatening to quit over engine supply, Lotus close to collapse and the tumultuous McLaren-Honda collaboration appearing on the verge of meltdown.

"This is as big a challenge for individuals in the sport and the sport as a whole that I can remember," former driver David Coulthard wrote in the Telegraph.

"We could lose a couple of quality ex-world champions (Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso) and a couple of quality teams if people don't get on top of things."