Latest F1 news in brief

Jules Bianchi

Bianchi plan was Ferrari race seat – Domenicali
'Small mistakes' led to Bianchi death
Michelin still in running for 2017 deal
Alonso not guilty of 'bad decisions' – Sainz
Hulkenberg still eyeing Raikkonen's seat
Nurburgring admits 2017 F1 race uncertain
Critics 'unaware' of F1 challenge – Kvyat

Bianchi plan was Ferrari race seat – Domenicali
(GMM) The late Jules Bianchi was destined for a future race seat at Ferrari.

That is the claim of the Maranello team's former boss Stefano Domenicali, as the F1 world mourns the talented 25-year-old Frenchman's tragic death.

Bianchi, who was 25 when his Marussia struck a recovery vehicle in Japan last year, died in his native Nice last Friday following a nine month coma.

"Jules was always at Maranello to grow and cultivate his dream of driving for Ferrari," said Italian Domenicali, who was team boss at the fabled team while Bianchi was the cream of Ferrari's driver development academy.

"Our idea was that, after Marussia, he would go to another team to grow and become ready for the big jump (to Ferrari). This is what we planned a few years ago, but unfortunately fate has taken it away," he told Sky Italia.

Domenicali continued: "These have been very sad months. Jules was the first driver of the Ferrari academy, and over the years I was always met by a smiling Jules, always positive. We were convinced that a great future was waiting for him.

"He deserved a different fate," he concluded.

'Small mistakes' led to Bianchi death
(GMM) F1 is pressing ahead with safety advances as the sport mourns the death of former Marussia driver Jules Bianchi.

The 25-year-old Frenchman's death, following a nine month coma in the wake of his crash during the Japanese grand prix last year, is the first for a race driver since Ayrton Senna in 1994.

It is a stark reminder of the danger of motor racing, even though some believe F1 in particular has lost some of its spark because it is now 'too safe'.

"In this sad moment," said F1 legend Niki Lauda, "we must not forget the most important thing.

"It's a miracle – and I stress, a miracle – that in the last 21 years nothing like this has happened," he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

"You can see how much was done for safety, but in the end there are 20 cars driving around at speeds of up to 340kph," Lauda added.

Crucially, before they began to mourn the loss of Bianchi, it was known that the talented Frenchman's family was critical of the circumstances surrounding the crash, and not ruling out legal action.

Another F1 legend, Alain Prost, told French digital television I-Tele that the sport has key lessons to learn as a result of what happened at Suzuka last October.

"I say now what I said then after the accident, as I have not changed my opinion," the quadruple world champion said.

"I think it is necessary to speak only about a few small miscalculations of the situation, with consequences that we pay for dearly," added Prost.

"We are talking about an accident in pouring rain and with very poor visibility. It was necessary to release the safety car to neutralize the race before allowing this truck onto the track.

"That was a mistake," he said. "I know the investigation of the FIA found something else," added Prost, referring to the official finding that Bianchi was driving too fast for the yellow flags.

But Prost insisted: "So much has been done for safety on the race tracks, which we can see in that we have had no fatal crashes in the last 21 years."

Another former F1 driver and Frenchman, Patrick Tambay, told RMC: "These questions about the circumstances of the accident should reappear once the emotions are past.

"But F1 is like this, with drivers doing their races as quickly as possible, as it is in their genes. The timing was unfavorable and some mistakes were made.

"But it is useless to argue about it now. Today I want to remember him and think only about this loss," Tambay added.

Meanwhile, the publications Bild and Auto Motor und Sport report that another legacy of Bianchi's death will be a new high-speed camera, to be installed to F1 cars in the near future.

Half the size of an iPhone, the reports say the technology is being developed by Magneti-Marelli and will record in unprecedented slow-motion detail how the drivers' heads are subjected to impacts.

As for the official footage of Bianchi's crash, that will remain "forever under wraps" by the FIA, the German newspaper Die Welt claims.

Michelin still in running for 2017 deal
(GMM) Michelin is still in the running to become F1's new tire supplier in 2017.

Although some had questioned the French marque's push to ensure the sport moves to a lower-profile wheel rim size, it is believed Michelin has satisfied the FIA that it is technically competent to be considered for the 2017-2019 contract.

Pirelli, F1's existing sole supplier, is also still in the running, but there is speculation FIA president Jean Todt, a Frenchman, may be keen to see Michelin secure the deal.

"I have no fear of us being pushed out," Italian supplier Pirelli's F1 chief Paul Hembery told the German newspaper Bild.

"We are fighting as we'd be happy to stay," he added.

Alonso not guilty of 'bad decisions' – Sainz
(GMM) Carlos Sainz has defended his countryman and mentor Fernando Alonso, amid claims 'bad decisions' have marred the Spaniard's F1 career.

Like many of his peers, rookie Sainz considers Alonso the very best driver on the grid.

"With Fernando, you know he will do a perfect qualifying, a perfect start, a perfect first lap, every lap of a grand prix within a tenth. From Fernando you can learn everything and then some," the Toro Rosso driver is quoted by UOL Esporte.

However, some believe that notwithstanding 33-year-old Alonso's talent, he has made some poor careers choices since winning his only two titles with Renault.

Indeed, his first move to McLaren was ill-fated, he returned to Renault amid the French marque's demise and then failed to win a title over five years with Ferrari.

And Alonso is now struggling at the back of the field with McLaren-Honda.

"I'm surprised he can be as happy as he is," Nico Rosberg told the Spanish daily AS. "Whenever I see him he is happy.

"Good for him, but it seems quite strange because he has always been fighting and now he cannot even score points," the Mercedes driver added.

Sainz, however, said it would be wrong for anyone to suggest Alonso is guilty of making poor career choices.

"I think it is impossible to say of someone with two titles and three runner-up years with Ferrari that they make bad decisions," the Toro Rosso driver said.

"There are simply times when you are not at the right place at the right time. I think if anything he was unlucky," Sainz insisted.

Hulkenberg still eyeing Raikkonen's seat
(GMM) Nico Hulkenberg may still be in the running to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next year.

Late last week, a report in Italy's Corriere dello Sport fired up the 'silly season' as it appeared Valtteri Bottas had been snapped up by the Maranello team.

But the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Williams is actually demanding from Ferrari a whopping EUR 18.5 million to relinquish the firm 2016 'option' on Finn Bottas' services.

Indeed, a deal may not yet be done.

"As far as I know, Valtteri does not have a contract with Ferrari," insists Oskari Saari, a well-placed insider reporting for Finland's MTV3.

"Although an agreement could arise, the Italian report was at the very least premature," he added. "There may be negotiations behind the scenes, but also with other drivers."

Ferrari and Williams declined to comment, and so too did Sauber's Monisha Kaltenborn, amid suggestions it is the Swiss team's Felipe Nasr who would replace Bottas at Williams.

And one of Bottas' managers, Toto Wolff, said: "The chance that there will be an agreement (with Ferrari) is 50 per cent."

Another obvious candidate for the potential vacancy at Ferrari is Hulkenberg, the impressive and experienced German and new reigning Le Mans winner.

He told the German broadcaster ZDF: "I think in the next few weeks everything will become clear.

"Naturally there are some options that interest me, and no one would say no to Ferrari. And I am knocking on the door as well," Hulkenberg admitted.

It has been suggested that the major hurdle to a Ferrari deal for Hulkenberg is his nationality, as German Sebastian Vettel already drives for the fabled team.

"The nationality factor is not really in my favor," Hulkenberg admitted, "but whether it is a knock-out factor or not, I don't know. In any case, there are other options.

"There are a few other teams who show an interest in me. Let's see," said the Force India driver. "It depends how the events unfold. What happens with Kimi? What does Bottas do?

"As soon as the first things happen, there will be a domino effect," he predicted.

Nurburgring admits 2017 F1 race uncertain
(GMM) Former German grand prix venue the Nurburgring has admitted the fate of the race in 2017 is uncertain.

After the country fell off this year's schedule, the German grand prix is definitely returning next year with a race at Hockenheim.

But the 2015 absence was due only to the Nurburgring's tumultuous financial and ownership situation, and given the existing race-alternating deal, the same problems could arise all over again in 2017.

"Whether formula one comes to the Nurburgring in 2017 is anybody's guess at the moment," admitted Carsten Schumacher, chief of the Nurburgring's current operator, Capricorn.

"I think in principle it is possible to organize formula one races in Germany, but not under the current conditions," he told the news agency SID.

And the Nurburgring chief points the finger at formula one.

"Today's generation of drivers is not comparable to those of the past," he said, and he also said the cars and the races "must be more spectacular again" to revive interest.

"The general conditions have changed significantly compared to the great times of Michael Schumacher," he insisted. "With 90,000 spectators at the track, we have far fewer problems to pay the sums Mr. Ecclestone demands."

Critics 'unaware' of F1 challenge – Kvyat
(GMM) Two F1 drivers have hit back at suggestions the world championship is no longer the pinnacle of motor sport.

As the category's stakeholders consider what changes to make to rekindle interest, Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat shakes his head at claims driving the modern cars is no longer a serious challenge.

"The challenge is huge, no matter what they (the critics) say," said the young Russian.

"I hear all this criticism, but I believe those who do it (complain) are not aware of what us drivers are really having to do.

"I'd like to see them sitting in one of these cars and see what they are capable of," Kvyat told Brazil's Globo.

With a similar attitude is Nico Hulkenberg, who clarified that he did not decide to take on the challenge of Le Mans this year because F1 is no longer exciting.

"I'm not one of the great critics of formula one," he insisted to the German broadcaster ZDF.

"For me, formula one is still the premier class, so the fastest and the best cars you can drive today. It's still a lot of fun," the Force India driver added.