Latest F1 news in brief – Monday (Update)
08/10/15
-
Maldonado says media ruined him Bianchi death brought drivers closer together – Massa
- Media to blame for bad image – Maldonado
- Button on track for Spa after robbery – manager
- Verstappen still not listening to criticism
- Honda still hoping for podium in 2015
- Pirelli eyes softer tire for street tracks
- 2015 F1 driver salaries published New
- F1 Team Budgets published New
- Harnden appointed new Australian GP boss New
- Arai: McLaren-Honda relationship is healthy New
Bianchi death brought drivers closer together – Massa
(GMM) Felipe Massa says the death of fellow driver Jules Bianchi has brought the group of current F1 drivers closer together.
25-year-old Frenchman Bianchi's death was the first as a direct result of an accident at a grand prix since 1994, when the great Ayrton Senna was killed.
Massa was particularly close to Bianchi, as they shared a manager in Nicolas Todt, and he told Brazil's Globo: "After a moment like this, drivers end up becoming closer — the bond grows stronger.
"First of all, it was a very sad moment for the sport in general because of what happened to Jules. It was not a normal crash, it was a collision with a tractor, so many things have changed as a result, like the virtual safety car.
"But not just that," Massa said in Brazil during the summer break. "Jules was also a great friend. We always saw each other so it was a very different friendship to what drivers usually have between them.
"It was very sad and definitely it is another reason for formula one to continue to fight for the safety of the drivers," he added.
Media to blame for bad image – Maldonado
(GMM) Pastor Maldonado says his bad reputation is the fault of journalists who are scrabbling for news.
The Venezuelan is often criticized not only for his image as the most powerful 'pay driver' on the grid, but also his apparent tendency to crash often.
But when asked about his image by Brazil's Globo, Maldonado answered: "In F1 these days it is not easy for find news.
"It is practically always the same drivers in first and second positions. Third as well. It's not like ten, 15 years ago when there were more battles and therefore more news.
"So it means the journalists are seeking news where there is none."
Referring specifically to his strong and controversial backing by Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA, he added: "It was not just me supported, but a group of Venezuelans, much like what Red Bull does with its (driver development) program.
"Fortunately I arrived (in F1), but several of the others failed to get the results they needed. At first it was a huge pressure being this 'pay driver', but I've learned to live with it because it is not just any driver who can win an F1 race without having the best car.
"Today, I still feel undervalued in F1," the Lotus driver admitted, "but only because I have not had a car that allows me to show my talent.
"There are drivers who do not deserve to be in F1, but I believe that I have demonstrated – clearly – that I deserve to have a long career."
Asked if he could be winning races at the wheel of a Mercedes, the 30-year-old insisted: "With a car like that I would have the chance to fight for victory every race weekend. I'm completely sure about that."
However, Maldonado's next step is currently unclear, as Lotus chiefs are putting him under greater public pressure to perform, while the very future of the Enstone team is under a cloud.
"I don't know," he said when asked about the future.
"It is difficult to know if it is here or with another team. I hope it is here, because we have a very good atmosphere and I feel very good with Lotus, but in F1 you cannot expect anything."
 |
| Button back on track |
Button on track for Spa after robbery – manager
(GMM) Jenson Button is back on track after his robbery scare a week ago.
Whilst Button holidayed in St Tropez last week, burglars broke into the rented villa as the McLaren driver, his wife and some friends slept.
Reports had said Button was "convinced" the burglars pumped anesthetic gas into the air conditioning before the break-in, but St Tropez police are skeptical.
"Mr. Button's entourage has made this claim as the driver didn't feel well the next day," a police spokesman told Germany's Bild newspaper.
"We have taken blood samples which will be analyzed."
35-year-old Briton Button, however, appears back on track ahead of next weekend's resumption of action at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
Strava, a running and cycling GPS tracker app, shows that the 2009 world champion has done a 10km run and well over 100kms of cycling in the wake of the incident.
And Button's manager Richard Goddard said: "Jenson's preparation for the next race in Spa will not be affected."
Verstappen still not listening to criticism
(GMM) Max Verstappen is keeping his focus on the track, amid continuing criticism of his approach to formula one.
On one hand, the 17-year-old Dutchman is being hailed as the next Senna, while others like Felipe Massa publicly worry that Verstappen "learned nothing" from his big crash at Monaco earlier this year.
"I think the drivers who criticize me did much the same or even worse early in their own careers," Verstappen told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
"I just focus on my own job and don't listen to anything else too much," he added.
What the impressive form of Verstappen and his fellow rookie teammate Carlos Sainz Jr has shown in 2015 is that the Toro Rosso is among the very best cars on the grid this year.
So when asked if it is "annoying" that poor reliability and performance from its Renault engine is holding them back, Verstappen admitted: "It is sometimes a bit annoying.
"But we are still able to show our potential. For the team it's different. They have worked hard, built a very good car and put together a great team and they are not getting the results they deserve," he added.
Asked where Toro Rosso would be right now with Mercedes power, Verstappen answered: "Fighting with Ferrari for the last place on the podium."
 |
| Honda about to unleash more power |
Honda still hoping for podium in 2015
Honda motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai has not given up hope of the company achieving a podium finish with McLaren during the 2015 season, despite a troubled start to their reunion.
Honda will introduce a new-spec engine for the Belgian Grand Prix, with further updates to follow, as it gradually switches focus to performance after working through early reliability issues.
Although Arai concedes that further engine penalties are inevitable over the second half of the season, he reckons there is plenty to come from the McLaren-Honda package.
"Unfortunately we will have more penalties during the coming months, but you will also see big improvements from both sides – chassis and power unit," Arai commented.
"After Spa-Francorchamps we aim to improve every race, and hopefully we can start fighting for podiums. We will never stop fighting in 2015!"
Arai made clear that Honda's ongoing engine development push will naturally carry over to the 2016 season, given the stability in the regulations.
"We're already focused on 2016, of course, but we are still concentrating on the second half of the 2015 season too," he explained.
"We value 2015 as much as 2016 because the regulations will remain the same. This means we can develop an idea for 2016, and if it works we can implement it in 2015."
 |
| Pirelli F1 tires |
Pirelli eyes softer tire for street tracks
Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli says it is looking into the possibility of introducing a softer, fifth compound for the 2016 season, to be used exclusively at street circuits.
Pirelli has four compounds in its current dry selection, the Super Soft, Soft, Medium and Hard, with two chosen as the Option and Prime tires for each Grand Prix weekend.
Although Pirelli brought the Super Soft rubber to Monaco and Canada this year, some drivers felt it was still too hard, prompting the Italian brand to explore changes for next season.
"The softest tire would slot in under the existing Super Soft, so it would be a softer version of that; exact nomenclature still to be defined," a Pirelli spokesman told GPUpdate.net.
Last month, the F1 Strategy Group also outlined plans to give teams the choice over which two tire compounds they use at each race in 2016, taking the decision out of Pirelli's hands.
Pirelli, which has acted as Formula 1's sole supplier since 2011, enters the final year of its current deal in 2016, and faces competition from French company Michelin for the 2017-19 contract.
2015 F1 driver salaries published
The annual list of Formula 1 salaries has again been published, and Fernando Alonso is now comfortably top following his move to McLaren-Honda.
The information – complied by Business Book GP and reported by Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo – alleges the double F1 world champion is on 35 million a year – 13m extra a season – after inking a deal to return to Woking at the end of 2014.
Sebastian Vettel has also got a raise after his move from Red Bull to replace Alonso at Ferrari, up from 22 million euro to 28m euro, but still 7m euro short of his predecessor.
Lewis Hamilton is third on 25 million, although as he is still on his old contract that figure should increase dramatically next season, increasing to over 45 million euro per season, if figures quoted by the media after he signed his new three-year deal with Mercedes are to be believed.
Kimi Raikkonen is fourth, estimated to be on 18 million euro , despite his less than spectacular performances with the Scuderia, while Nico Rosberg, Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate and chief championship rival comes in fifth, netting 13.5 million euro.
Jenson Button had to settle for 10 million euro to retain his seat with McLaren – down from 16 million euro in 2014 – while Williams' Felipe Massa, Force India duo Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez and Lotus duo Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado all earn 4 million, it is claimed.
Williams' Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo both remain on relatively paltry salaries – given how highly they are rated – at 2 million euro and 1.5 million euro respectively, the latter earning double that of his new team-mate, Daniil Kvyat.
Toro Rosso F1 rookies Max Verstappen and Carlo Sainz both take home 250,000 – 50,000 euro more than Sauber's Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson. Will Stevens gets 150,000 euro from Manor and Roberto Merhi just 50,000 euro , apparently to cover expenses.
The full breakdown is below…
Drivers:
1. Fernando Alonso McLaren-Honda 35m euro
2. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 28m euro
3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 25m euro
4. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 18m euro
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 13.5m euro
6. Jenson Button McLaren-Honda 10m euro
7. Felipe Massa Williams 4m euro
= Nico Hulkenberg Force India F1 4m euro
= Sergio Perez Force India F1 4m euro
= Romain Grosjean Lotus F1 Team 4m euro
= Pastor Maldonado Lotus F1 Team 4m euro
12. Valtteri Bottas Williams 2m euro
13. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing 1.5m euro
14. Daniil Kvyat Red Bull Racing 750,000 euro
15. Max Verstappen Scuderia Toro Rosso 250,000 euro
= Carlos Sainz Scuderia Toro Rosso 250,000 euro
17. Felipe Nasr Sauber 200,000 euro
= Marcus Ericsson Sauber 200,000 euro
19. Will Stevens Manor 150,000 euro
20. Roberto Merhi Manor 50,000 euro
What the F1 teams spend on drivers in 2015:
1. Ferrari 46m euro
2. McLaren-Honda 45m euro
3. Mercedes 38.5m euro
4. Force India 8m euro
= Lotus F1 team 8m euro
6. Williams 6m euro
7. Red Bull Racing 2.25m euro
8. Scuderia Toro Rosso 500,000 euro
9. Sauber 400,000 euro
10. Manor 200,000 euro
F1 Team Budgets published
The annual list of Formula 1 team budgets has again been published, with the top-four all set to spend in excess of 400 million this year, it is claimed.
The information – complied by Business Book GP and reported by Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo earlier this summer – alleges that Red Bull Racing spend the most, with a budget of 468.7m, 1.3 more than the current pace-setters, Mercedes.
McLaren Honda comes in third, apparently getting through 465m Euro this year, while Ferrari has a budget of 418m Euro and Williams survives on less than halve that, 186.4m. Lotus, Toro Rosso and Force India all spend between 139.1m Euro to 129.7m, with Sauber then on just over 100m Euro and Manor, unsurprisingly on the smallest budget, just 83m.
In total all ten teams will spend almost 2600m Euro in 2015.
The full breakdown is below – the figures in brackets show income from sponsors, then partners and then from TV/FOM…
F1 2015 team budgets:
1. Red Bull Racing ( 266m Euro + 35.7m Euro + 167m) = 468.7m Euro
2. Mercedes ( 122m Euro + 212.4m Euro + 133m) = 467.4m Euro
3. McLaren Honda ( 144.5m Euro + 216.5m Euro + 104m) = 465m Euro
4. Ferrari ( 208.5m Euro + 34.5m Euro + 175m) = 418m Euro
5. Williams ( 52.5m Euro + 22.9m Euro + 111m) = 186.4m Euro
6. Lotus ( 69.5m Euro + 13.6m Euro + 56m) = 139.1m Euro
7. Toro Rosso ( 68m Euro + 9.45m Euro + 60m) = 137.45m Euro
8. Force India ( 49.5m Euro + 12.2m Euro + 68m) = 129.7m Euro
9. Sauber ( 44m Euro + 9.25m Euro + 50m) = 103.25m Euro
10. Manor ( 0.5m Euro + 32.5m Euro + 50m) = 83m Euro
TOTALS: ( 1025m Euro + 599m Euro + 974m) = 2598m Euro
Harnden appointed new Australian GP boss
John Harnden has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC), taking over from Ron Walker, who occupied the role for 23 years.
The AGPC is responsible for staging the annual Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park street circuit and the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island.
Harnden, who joined the AGPC board in 2006 and became Deputy Chairman a year later, previously acted as CEO for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Corporation, the South Australian Cricket Association and the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Organizing Committee.
In a statement issued alongside confirmation of his new role, Harnden said: "I wish to congratulate Ron Walker for his vision and leadership over 23 years to make the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix two of the most iconic sporting events in Australia.
"His contribution to events in Victoria and motorsport in particular is unparalleled.
"His enthusiasm and relentless energy has been instrumental in showcasing Melbourne and regional Victoria to the world. It has been a privilege to work alongside him.
"This appointment is a great honor and I am excited by the opportunity to be able to build upon the success that Ron and the team have achieved.
"I have been fortunate to have been involved in many global events.
Arai: McLaren-Honda relationship is healthy
Honda motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai has insisted that the brand's relationship with McLaren is fundamentally healthy, despite tensions arising from poor on track performance.
McLaren and Honda scored just five points over the first nine races of the season and, even with Fernando Alonso's fifth place at the Hungarian Grand Prix, sit ninth in the standings.
When asked about relations, Arai said: "Every step of this new project has been discussed with McLaren management. Every day we are in discussion.
"I know that they [McLaren] are under pressure from sponsors, but we trust and help each other to come up with good, innovative ideas.
"Working with the two different cultures within the team has made us stronger and more creative. It's a very good relationship and a very good team.
"I trust everyone in the team, and we wouldn't be McLaren-Honda without each and every one of them. We wouldn't be fighting as hard as we are without their support and hard work.
"We are one team which means McLaren puts 100 per cent into their job, and so does Honda.
"The fact that sometimes we are colliding means were putting 100 per cent in everything we do and both sides of the partnership are extremely passionate – this is positive not negative."
Arai went on to admit that he is coming under increasing pressure to succeed, but remains confident that he is the right person to lead Honda's development.
"Of course I have big pressure on my shoulders, especially from the fans, the Honda board and my colleagues, but this is completely normal," he said.
"I think that I have what it takes to drive this project, but I can't decide my own future, neither can the media or McLaren board members.
"I hope to continue driving this project and I believe that our board members trust me emphatically."