Latest F1 news in brief

McLaren back to backmarker status at Spa?

McLaren-Honda not expecting big progress at Spa
Clampdown means drivers 'more dependent on team' – Verstappen
Vettel no fan of F1 'fuel saving'
Wolff says no Red Bull engine talks yet
Nasr says Ferrari upgrade includes 'more power'
Massa enjoys having 5yo son at races
Andretti: Haas F1 will boost US interest
Kvyat: Eau Rouge requires bravery again

McLaren-Honda not expecting big progress at Spa
(GMM) It is not clear how much progress McLaren-Honda will make this weekend in Belgium.

While much of the F1 world enjoyed its summer break, struggling engine supplier Honda has been working hard on a much-needed update for its 2015 'power unit'.

Some reports suggest the revised unit is up to 50 horse power better, and Honda chief Yasuhisa Arai has been quoted as saying it is a "major step forward".

"We hope to match Ferrari," he is quoted by Spain's El Pais newspaper, "and next year we want to catch up with Mercedes. That is the objective."

What is also obvious, however, is that cracks in the relationship between McLaren and Honda – although so successful in their earlier collaboration decades ago – are now appearing.

Eric Boullier, for instance, has urged Honda to speed up its progress by hiring from elsewhere in the paddock.

"We have a very different culture," Arai is quoted by Germany's Bild newspaper, "so it would be difficult if Ferrari or Mercedes engineers came to us.

"We also have completely different tools and simulations," he added.

But McLaren, led by its supremo Ron Dennis, is sounding increasingly distressed about the need for progress.

"This difficult period will either bring us together or move us apart," he is quoted by Bild. "Our work will pay off in the second half of the season. At Spa we will definitely make a step forward."

As the team travelled to Spa-Francorchamps, however, expectations were being played down, and not only because the upgraded engines will mean more grid penalties.

"Spa will be tricky for us," said Fernando Alonso, "due to the configuration of a track that requires power, downforce and a big chunk of the lap spent at full throttle."

Teammate Jenson Button agreed: "We can't pretend that we're expecting a huge jump forward in performance — especially at this circuit, as it doesn't suit our car's characteristics."

Max Verstappen

Clampdown means drivers 'more dependent on team' – Verstappen
(GMM) Max Verstappen has delivered a sobering message for those expecting drivers to have more control over their race starts at Spa.

The FIA's clampdown on automated starts guided and perfected by engineers on the radio begins this weekend in Belgium.

"We now have to have all the settings for race day ready on Saturday as we are not allowed to change them on Sunday," confirmed Toro Rosso rookie Verstappen.

"Before, we were able to change the clutch, its bite point and the torque on the starting grid, but that's not allowed anymore," the young Dutchman told his website. "It means you're more dependent on your team.

"Only if you have the right setup will you be able to have a good start. It means we'll see bigger differences between good and bad starts," predicted Verstappen.

Spa-Francorchamps is effectively a home race for the 17-year-old, as while he has adopted the nationality of his famous father Jos, he was actually born in Belgium.

"Spa with its long straights will be a lot more challenging (for Toro Rosso) than the Hungaroring," he said. "Of course I'm going to give it my all and hopefully I can score a few points in front of my home crowd.

"It's great to see all those Dutch and Belgian fans."

Vettel wants to race, not pussyfoot around the track to save fuel and appease the treehuggers

Vettel no fan of F1 'fuel saving'
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he is no fan of having to save fuel during grands prix.

The Ferrari driver, who counts himself among what are regarded as motor racing 'purists', told Germany's Auto Bild that if it was up to him, the regulations would look different.

"I am a sportsman," quadruple world champion Vettel said, "and in my opinion formula one should be about who can drive a car the fastest, not who can save fuel the most."

The fuel-saving technique has become known as 'lift and coast', but Vettel explains: "There is no trick, and it is also not very exciting from a driver's perspective.

"Before the corner you have to come off the gas, let the car roll and then find your braking point. It is not easy, but not quite as much fun as standing on the gas until the last moment," he added.

Curiously, however, the 28-year-old – who is among the new fathers on the F1 grid – said he has no problem driving to conserve fuel on the road, even though he is one of F1's highest paid drivers.

"I just take my time and if the journey takes an extra five minutes, it's not so bad," he said. But that doesn't mean he is a big fan of hybrid road cars.

"If I can choose," explained Vettel, "then I wait until the batteries get better and rely on the combustion engine. And if it sounds better too, all the better."

Toto Wolff

Wolff says no Red Bull engine talks yet
(GMM) Toto Wolff has put the brakes on runaway speculation about a Mercedes engine deal for Red Bull.

Reports in the last days have indicated that the energy drink owned team will almost certainly split with Renault and link up with German power for 2016.

But with Red Bull and its existing supplier Renault still tied together contractually, Mercedes chief Wolff insists that the media reports are a step ahead of reality.

"There has not been a single conversation with Red Bull in that direction," he told the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, "although you should in life never say never."

However, any off-the-record talks, or the obvious current negotiations via the media, may become more concrete if – as expected – Red Bull and Renault do announce their impending divorce.

From both sides, every sign is that a split is now inevitable.

"When Vettel drove to four world titles," Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn is quoted as saying, "Red Bull illuminated formula one. But in the current situation, only the engine is criticized."

Also criticized, however, is Ferrari's approach to the Red Bull-Renault split, with Sergio Marchionne reportedly only offering a 'B'-version of the marque's power unit to the beleaguered energy drink-owned team.

One insider thinks the Maranello team has missed a trick.

"With a Mercedes-powered Red Bull, the balance of power will change again," the Ferrari insider is quoted by Germany's Auto Bild.

"So the question is 'Why did Ferrari not do everything possible to supply Red Bull with engines themselves?' Now they (Ferrari) just risk being overtaken again."

Nasr happy to get a power upgrade. Did anyone tell him the other cars will all have more power too?

Nasr says Ferrari upgrade includes 'more power'
(GMM) Sauber will finally get its hands on Ferrari's updated engine this weekend in Belgium.

Already improved going into the 2015 season, Ferrari has continued to make progress with its 'power unit' this year.

But customer Sauber has waited for the upgrade, which will finally be fitted to the C34 at Spa-Francorchamps.

"We do have our engine update there," Felipe Nasr confirmed, "but, as we haven't run it yet, we don't know what it is going to be like."

The Brazilian told Globo Esporte: "We will use the latest version that they (Ferrari) debuted in Canada. It is some horse power more," he added.

Engine aside, however, the Swiss team has been conspicuous in its lack of car updates so far this season.

And rookie Nasr, who is staying with Sauber for 2016, says the Hinwil outfit is also on the back foot due to not having a driver simulator to use.

"We are aware of our disadvantage, and that's why we're trying to think of an alternative for next year," he said.

"There is a lot you can do on the simulator, so without one it takes us a little longer to learn a new track.

"We do alternative things like watching videos, but a simulator is the best way. And now that we have these new rules in Spa for the clutch, that is another thing that we could have tried in the simulator," added Nasr.

Massa enjoys having 5yo son at races
(GMM) Felipe Massa says he enjoys having the support of his family at grands prix.

Lately, the highest-profile youngster in the paddock – Max Verstappen aside – is five-year-old Felipinho.

He has thrilled television audiences by following the heels of his lookalike dad around the paddocks of the world, giving mini-interviews during race weekends not only in Portuguese but also Italian and English.

Massa said his entire family enjoys supporting him trackside — particularly little Felipinho.

"He's always there, always playing," he grinned to Brazil's UOL. "While I'm in the car, he's in the paddock playing ball.

"He is very playful, he loves to run, loves to follow me, loves playing football.

"I've always been very close to my family, so I think there's no reason not to take them to the races so I am near them.

"It is what I always do, not only with Felipinho but also Raffaela, my parents, my brother. We try to organize the races during the year to always have someone from the family there," Massa added.

Mario Andretti

Andretti: Haas F1 will boost US interest
Former Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti expects Haas F1 Team's planned arrival on the grid next season to increase fan interest in the sport in the United States.

Formula 1 failed to visit the US from 2008 to 2011, in the wake of the Indygate controversy, but returned for the 2012 campaign at the purpose-built Circuit of the Americas.

With the Austin-based track establishing itself on the calendar, Andretti feels that a US-led team, eventually featuring an American driver, will further boost the sport's image.

"It's exciting to see some activity from this side," Andretti told GPUpdate.net.

"They know that they have a pretty steep learning curve, and a lot will depend on who their talents are, such as engineers and drivers – that's who will make the difference.

"But it's great to see the investment from the US, because it just hasn't been there.

"Especially now because you have a solid base here with the Grand Prix in Austin, so it would be nice to have representation on this side, not just as a team but also as a driver.

"I think it will be huge with fan interest, TV ratings and so on."

Andretti also backed the notion that former Toro Rosso racer and current Ferrari development driver Jean-Eric Vergne would be a suitable choice for one of the two seats next year.

"Jean-Eric is definitely a great talent, who was potentially overlooked [by Red Bull]," he added.

"He has experience in Formula 1, and he certainly showed his moments of brilliance at Toro Rosso, so for me he would be a logical pick.

"At this moment, of the drivers available, I don't think anybody is better than Jean-Eric."

From the top of Eau Rouge

Kvyat: Eau Rouge requires bravery again
Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat says Eau Rouge is back to being a demanding corner which requires bravery with the current generation of Formula 1 cars.

After years of taking it flat-out, drivers faced a bigger challenge at the 2014 event, following the switch to turbocharged power units and a reduction in downforce.

"Spa is one of my favorite tracks of the year; I think that's a bit of a cliché but I think it's a favorite for all the drivers," Kvyat explained ahead of this weekend's event.

"It's really long, really challenging, there are some proper fast sections and some properly balls-out corners. At Spa, more than anywhere, you feel that you're really driving an F1 car.

"With these cars Eau Rouge is back to being a bit of a balls-out corner – especially in the wet. Pouhon is pretty much and Blanchimont still, but really only in the wet.

Looking up Eau Rouge

"It's full of great, flowing, interesting sections."

Sauber rookie Felipe Nasr expects his car to be tested by Eau Rouge.

"It is a track on which you need a stable car in the high-speed corners; I would say the combination of low downforce and traction is essential to be competitive," he commented.

"Going through Eau Rouge flat out will be tricky and, for sure, a challenge."