Latest F1 news in brief

Hamilton will win easily in Canada with the superior Mercedes

Hamilton unmoved two weeks after Monaco
No medical check necessary for Verstappen
Pirelli not sure Michelin wants F1 contract
'Aggressive' Ferrari to race new engine – Vettel
Teams should not decide F1 rules – Wurz
Le Mans switch not tempting Hulkenberg yet
'No driver problem' at Red Bull – Horner
Raikkonen 'doesn't need' Arrivabene's homework
No 'raw power' boost in Canada – Alonso
Nasr knew Sauber development would be limited
Vettel happy grid girls returning in Montreal
F1 set to abandon return of refuelling
Ecclestone should lower F1 ticket prices – Vettel

Hamilton unmoved two weeks after Monaco
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton insisted he has "moved on" after Monaco, as reporters pressed hard about the strategy blunder that cost him a deserved victory.

The world champion has said little in the two weeks since that ill-fated extra pitstop, and it is believed the only contact he had with Mercedes was a single email.

"I'm really not going back to Monaco. I couldn't care less about it. I'm literally moving on," Hamilton said in Canada when asked by massed ranks of reporters about the incident.

Despite the journalists several attempts, the Briton would not budge, even to comment on his brief post-checker stoppage at the 'Portier' corner and whether it was a nod to the crash in 1988 that similarly cost hero Ayrton Senna a sure win.

"There is no answer to it (that question)," Hamilton insisted.

He did, however, deny suggestions the badly bungled race strategy had dented the trust and confidence between driver and team.

"No," the championship leader said, "I have full trust and confidence in the team."

One reporter even tried to provoke a response from Hamilton by suggesting Monaco might have been a lesson to him in not interfering on the radio when strategists are plotting the best strategy.

"Okey dokey," he sighed.

"I'll keep doing what I'm doing because that's done pretty good for me up until now."

Also playing down the Monaco gaffe in Canada was Fernando Alonso, who thinks Mercedes will eventually look back on it and "smile".

"I watched the recording of the last race and apparently they had a simple misunderstanding," he said.

"They had to make a decision in a very short time and the interaction between the driver and the team at that moment was maybe not the best.

"But they have a great advantage in the championship so this mistake will not affect the situation. When they win the title I think they will remember the race in Monaco with a smile," Alonso predicted.

Verstappen in Monaco before he pounded barriers

No medical check necessary for Verstappen
(GMM) FIA doctors did not check Max Verstappen's fitness ahead of the Canadian grand prix.

Earlier reports suggested that due to the severity of the teenager's Monaco shunt, he would need clearance from the governing body to race this weekend.

But the young Dutchman was obviously unhurt, driving karts and demonstrating Formula Renault 3.5 and F1 cars for backer Red Bull last week.

A spokesman for the FIA said: "The doctors in Monte Carlo found that Verstappen was fine.

"Therefore, it was decided there would be no new investigation here," he was quoted by Speed Week in Canada.

Much more dramatic on Thursday was some of the criticism being fired at Verstappen by his fellow drivers.

Romain Grosjean, for one, revealed he expected an apology from the 17-year-old, who crashed after slamming into the rear of the Frenchman's Lotus.

It follows Verstappen's post-race declaration that he was "brake-tested" by Grosjean.

"Even this morning in the press conference he was saying 'I'm going to drive the same way'," Grosjean said on Thursday.

"We went to the stewards after the grand prix and he could have said 'I'm sorry' but he did not," he is quoted by RMC Sport.

"As I said, he is very talented," said Grosjean, "but it would not cost anything to tell me 'I'm sorry, I braked too late'."

Jenson Button, the most experienced active driver in F1, also rebuked Verstappen for the accusation.

"To point the finger at someone and say they brake-tested you, that's serious," said the 2009 world champion.

There was also a fiery exchange between the youngster and Felipe Massa in the FIA press conference, following 34-year-old Massa's criticism of Verstappen.

"Well, everybody can have their opinion, that's the first thing," said Verstappen.

"I'm focusing on Canada right now and maybe you (Massa) should review the race from last year and see what happened there," he charged.

Verstappen was undoubtedly referring to Massa's huge Montreal crash in 2014, when he hit the rear of Sergio Perez.

"I think it was a little bit different, no?" Massa hit back. "I was on the side and he (Perez) moved the car on braking so … I don't think Grosjean moved the car on braking, no?"

Pirelli not sure Michelin wants F1 contract
(GMM) Pirelli chief Marco Tronchetti Provera has admitted it is not clear if the Italian company will face any rivals to remain F1's sole tire supplier beyond 2016.

Already in Monaco, Pirelli's chairman and CEO made a rare appearance in the paddock to officially confirm his desire to win the next official supply contract for 2017 through 2019.

But also reportedly interested is the former F1 supplier Michelin, even though there have been some mixed messages in the media about whether the French company will actually lodge its application by the June 17 deadline.

Tronchetti Provera, however, told Italian media at an event in Milan that "On June 17, our offer (application) will be delivered."

And when asked about Michelin's apparent interest, he added: "On the 17th, we will see who is there."

Ferrari gets more power, but not enough to beat sandbagging Mercedes

'Aggressive' Ferrari to race new engine – Vettel
(GMM) Ferrari has decided to race its performance-upgraded engine this weekend in Canada.

Earlier, although the Italian team had traded in some in-season performance 'tokens', it was unclear if the new engine would actually be used this weekend.

But in Montreal, Sebastian Vettel confirmed the news.

"Hopefully it is a step in the right direction and brings us a bit closer," he told reporters, "but you cannot expect miracles from one day to another."

However, the German driver admitted Ferrari was having to be "aggressive" as it tries to close the gap to dominant Mercedes.

"I think if you're not the best then that (aggression) is the only strategy," he is quoted by Speed Week.

Some reports suggest Ferrari's new engine moves the team just 15 horse power shy of Mercedes, with the Montreal layout and Pirelli's soft tires also expected to suit the SF15-T.

Vettel said: "Mercedes is still the strongest team. So it (victory) would need a lot of things coming together."

Meanwhile, the Ferrari driver did not want to get into a war of words with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who has claimed Vettel is "not doing much for F1".

Vettel responded in Canada: "He has certain opinions about some things, which is fine, but I'm not too bothered.

"He is old enough to say what he wants," the German is quoted by AFP news agency.

Teams should not decide F1 rules – Wurz
(GMM) Alex Wurz has added his concerns to the current governance of formula one.

Wurz, a former Benetton and Williams driver, is today the president of the F1 drivers' union GPDA.

In Monaco, the body launched a wide-ranging online fan survey, amid apparent dwindling global interest in the sport and complaints from F1 drivers that the cars are too slow and not challenging enough.

Mark Webber, for instance, has told Racer magazine he has no regrets about switching from F1 to Le Mans.

"(In) 2005, 2006, 2007, formula one was on its own," said the Australian, "but in the last few years, obviously, the two series have never been closer.

"I said to Paul Hembery from Pirelli 'We're qualified to fly F18s but we're flying for Lufthansa'," Webber added.

F1 has announced its intention to make dramatic changes for 2017, but a new tire war has already been ruled out and now the return of refuelling is being voted down by the teams.

So now Wurz, representing the drivers, has hit out at the sport's current system of governance, under which individual teams have a big say.

"The participants are ambitious and want to win at all costs," he told the Austrian news agency APA. "Each flexes its muscles and the only thing that that is clear is that there can be no consensus.

And "why should the participants decide the rules?" Wurz wondered. "It would be like Lance Armstrong wanting a time trial every day of the Tour de France, but Marco Pantani wanting a summit finish.

"On balance," he added, "formula one is a great product. It's just about carefully adjusting the business model, and this requires leadership."

Nico Hulkenberg

Le Mans switch not tempting Hulkenberg yet
(GMM) As far as his racing calendar goes, Nico Hulkenberg is just about to hit a new high gear.

The German will contest Sunday's Canadian grand prix for Force India, and then immediately board a plane bound for France and the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He is uniquely splitting his time between F1 and the Porsche prototype cockpit this year, having already admitted his grand prix career is not proceeding exactly as he would like.

Hulkenberg, 27, and Mexican teammate Sergio Perez are impatiently waiting for a key mid-year upgrade for their struggling Force India.

For the German, although once linked with a move to Ferrari, suggestions are now doing the rounds in the paddock that his shot at wins and titles may have passed.

It is a similar story for Romain Grosjean.

Lotus' French driver is quoted by Speed Week in Canada: "In 2013, many people were talking about Nico and me, but then came more difficult times and suddenly almost no one is talking about you anymore."

Mark Webber, who left formula one for a full-time Porsche seat two years ago, thinks it is possible drivers like Hulkenberg will tire of the dwindling challenge of F1 and look increasingly to the world of endurance sports cars.

"Nico Hulkenberg came across (from F1) and said 'I'm pushing, I'm pushing every lap in the Porsche — (but) in formula one it's more of an endurance nature!'" Webber told Racer magazine.

"People don't want to hear that too often, but it's the truth.

"My guess is you'll see more (F1) drivers look this way because sports cars have a lot to offer," Webber predicted.

As he prepares for his forthcoming F1-Le Mans double header, however, Hulkenberg insisted in Canada that he is not yet finished with formula one.

"I didn't decide on this project (Porsche) with the idea that this is my retirement," he told Germany's Sport Bild.

"But of course one day it is an alternative, but at the moment I just think it's cool."

Christian Horner

'No driver problem' at Red Bull – Horner
(GMM) Christian Horner has defended Red Bull as rumors swirl around the struggling F1 giant.

The energy drink-owned outfit's title run ended just as Renault's obvious troubles with the new 'power unit' era began.

But Red Bull also lost its quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Asked if that hurt the team, boss Horner insisted to La Gazzetta dello Sport: "No.

"Daniel (Ricciardo) proved last year that he can drive on-par with Vettel. We do not have a driver problem," he said.

But what about Daniil Kvyat? Red Bull elected to replace the Ferrari-bound Vettel with its 20-year-old Russian junior, and he has struggled notably in 2015.

Horner said: "Daniil had the best result of his career just in Monaco, which is a clear sign that things are looking up."

Another theory is that Red Bull's decline could be linked with the departure to McLaren of aerodynamicist Peter Prodromou, while Adrian Newey has stepped back from the front line.

Horner replied: "We have more than 700 employees in Milton Keynes, and the organization is strong enough that we can absorb any departure.

"Adrian is still heavily involved in the formula one program," he added. "If before he was working from Monday to Friday, now he's spending the first two days of the week on other projects."

Yet another theory is that, after its run of Vettel-era success in 2010-2013, Red Bull is simply a little 'tired'.

"The opposite is true," Horner insists. "We are still the same team that won four drivers' and four constructors' titles, and we are hungry for more."

Whether Red Bull can achieve that again with Renault, however, is another story, as both sides appear particularly unhappy with the other in 2015.

But there is an existing contract through 2016, as Horner explains: "In the coming weeks we will work together to decide what the future looks like.

"Red Bull has invested a lot in formula one and we want to be here but we want to be competitive. Should Renault decide to leave the sport, we will be forced to act."

He denied, however, that Red Bull will make its own engine, and played down reports of talks with Audi.

"There are no negotiations with Audi, and the sale of the team is also not an issue," said Horner.

And he now sees some light at the end of the tunnel.

"In the first races (of 2015) we had to compromise the chassis in order to support Renault. But in Spain and Monaco we returned to a more normal level and that was reflected in the results," said Horner.

And he said he is expecting a performance improvement from Renault "between Austria and Silverstone".

Raikkonen 'doesn't need' Arrivabene's homework
(GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he does not need to be given homework.

Refusing so far to sign the 2016 'option' in the Finn's current contract, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene left Monaco insisting Raikkonen must improve.

"So I give him homework — to write a hundred times 'I must do better in qualifying'," the charismatic Italian joked.

Raikkonen, however, did not laugh when asked by reporters in Canada about the comments.

"There's nothing new," Finnish reports quote the 2007 world champion as responding. "I know already where we need to improve and do not need to be told."

Former F1 driver David Coulthard, once Raikkonen's teammate at McLaren, agrees that the 35-year-old is well aware of the areas to improve.

"Just like all the experienced drivers, Kimi is the first to admit that when you haven't optimized qualifying, it's difficult to get the most out of Sundays as well," he told Turun Sanomat newspaper.

The driver most strongly linked with Raikkonen's Ferrari seat has been fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas.

But also increasingly mentioned on the paddock grapevine is Daniel Ricciardo, the currently frustrated top Red Bull driver.

Asked about that, Red Bull boss Christian Horner told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "That will not be possible, as Daniel has a long-term contract with us."

The McLarens will continue to be backmarkers in Canada

No 'raw power' boost in Canada – Alonso
(GMM) Canada could be a blip in McLaren's recent run of progress.

Having scored the first points of 2015 in Monaco, Honda headed to Montreal after trading in some performance 'tokens' to upgrade its engine for the first time.

"We have used two tokens of the nine available," Fernando Alonso was quoted on Thursday by Spain's El Confidencial, "but the truth is that it is more an issue of reliability and efficiency than raw power."

The Spaniard said the Canada upgrade should help to correct a recurring problem.

But he is still expecting the long straights of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to trouble the McLaren-Honda package.

McLaren is more looking forward to Austria, where Auto Motor und Sport says Honda is hoping to extract the true performance potential from the new 'token' upgrade.

Not only that, the team is preparing a major aerodynamic upgrade for the race at the Red Bull Ring, featuring a 'short nose' as the centerpiece.

The German report, however, said the new nose failed the FIA crash test at the first attempt.

"What is important," Alonso said in Canada, "is that we continue to improve and ensure that problems as happened in the last few races do not happen again.

"2015 is for us something of a test season — we want to be capable of winning in 2016," he insisted.

Nasr knew Sauber development would be limited
(GMM) Felipe Nasr has clarified his recent remarks about Sauber.

According to Brazil's UOL Esporte, the rookie reportedly said recently that the Swiss team's 2015 progress had stalled due to a lack of car development.

But in Canada, the Brazilian rookie clarified that he is not unhappy with the Hinwil based team.

"It's something we knew about from the beginning," said Nasr. "I was not complaining, I'm just saying the situation so that people understand that our car has not changed."

Nasr revealed that Sauber is in fact planning an upgrade for the Belgian grand prix after the summer break.

And it is there that the team is also expecting to receive the newly-improved Ferrari engine, even though the works team is using it in Canada.

Nasr said in Montreal: "We are not getting it here. Probably we will get it at Spa."

Vettel happy grid girls returning in Montreal
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has defended his stance about the Monaco 'grid boys'.

Two weeks ago, the quadruple world champion admitted his surprise at having pulled up at his grid position for the fabled street race only to find an attractive man holding his board.

"F*ck, you get there and park behind George or Dave, what's the point?" he exclaimed in the post-race press conference.

But when told that Montreal's race organizers are planning the return of the customary 'grid girls' this Sunday, Vettel admitted his relief.

"I am very happy about it," the 27-year-old is quoted in Canada by Brazil's UOL Esporte.

"I was not very excited in Monaco."

Asked why he has been so vocal about the 'grid boys' experiment, German Vettel admitted it is nothing personal but "I cannot enjoy beautiful men".

"I think some things do not have to change and I think this is one of those things," he added.

F1 set to abandon return of refuelling
(GMM) F1's planned return of in-race refuelling looks set to be scrapped.

The measure was apparently agreed at the most recent meeting of the Strategy Group, as part of a package of changes designed to spice and speed up F1 for 2017.

But since the May 15 announcement, teams have "raised concerns", Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports.

That is despite the majority vote at the Biggin Hill meeting, including the agreement of Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA.

But correspondent Michael Schmidt said that at the next Strategy Group meeting, "arguments against the reintroduction (of refuelling) will be put on the table".

Cost concerns are one issue, with the increase said to be EUR 1.5 million per team.

But Force India team manager Andy Stevenson insisted: "Everyone had agreed: if it really would improve the show, the extra costs would be justified."

Teams warned instead that refuelling will make races more predictable, limit strategy choices and lead to a reduction in overtaking.

Schmidt said the FIA's Charlie Whiting, surprised by the teams' new stance in Monaco, had asked team managers to draw up a list of their concerns.

That list was presented at a meeting in Montreal on Thursday, and will reportedly be tabled at the next Strategy Group, preceding a new vote.

Vettel hits Bernie where it hurts – in the wallet

Ecclestone should lower F1 ticket prices – Vettel
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has hit back at F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Recently, Ecclestone criticized the quadruple world champion for "not doing much for F1" as "people hardly recognize him in the street".

Earlier in Canada, German Vettel insisted he is "not too bothered" about Ecclestone's comments, even though the 84-year-old had linked him directly with the demise of the German grand prix.

But the Ferrari driver has now been quoted by the Canadian broadcaster CBC as insisting Ecclestone, the sport's chief executive, has more influence than him.

"I think Bernie, to be honest, is in a position, a much better position to sell a lot more tickets — for example, make them less expensive," Vettel said.

It is the individual race promoters who sell tickets, but one reason prices are high is that Ecclestone charges organizers up to $50 million a year for the hosting rights.