Latest F1 news in brief – Saturday

• Arrivabene knows Ferrari has no chance against Mercedes

  Pirelli vs Michelin 'tire war' already heating up

• Title not target for 2015 – Arrivabene
• Rosberg must win in Monaco, Montreal – Prost
• No sign of 'dark and moody' Alonso – Boullier
• Hamilton denies letting F1 focus slip
• Ecclestone pushing ahead with 'customer cars'
• Manager says Schumacher 'improving'
• Renault, Red Bull exit still 'possible' – Prost
• Symonds urges Bottas to consider staying
• Social media 'bad for F1' – Prost
• Kvyat plays down Marko criticism
• Kaltenborn slams customer car proposal
• Monza still in doubt after Ecclestone meeting
• Vettel finds loophole for Monaco helmet change
• Hamilton 'dominating' Rosberg – Ecclestone

Will Michelin outbid Pirelli for the 2017 F1 contract?

Pirelli vs Michelin 'tire war' already heating up
(GMM) The battle to be F1's sole official tire supplier in 2017 and beyond is already heating up.

On Friday, on behalf of Pirelli, former F1 driver turned broadcaster Martin Brundle drove a GP2 test car around the Monaco circuit fitted with experimental 18-inch tires.

It is clear that the Italian tire maker, in F1 since 2011, will meet the FIA's June 17 deadline to apply for the 2017 contract.

But also obviously keen is Michelin, the French marque that competed against Goodyear and Bridgestone until 2006.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Michelin is also pushing ahead with the development of lower-profile, wider tires for F1, to be fitted to a Formula Renault 3.5 test car.

"Staying with 13-inch tires is a form of treading ground," Michelin's racing boss Pascal Couasnon said in a document issued by the tire maker on Friday.

"Formula one has successfully become more modern in many areas but it is not a hotbed of innovation in the realm of tires," he added.

Title not target for 2015 – Arrivabene
(GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene says heading the fabled F1 team Ferrari is the toughest challenge of his life.

The Italian, who arrived at Maranello from sponsor Marlboro early this year to settle the then chaotic outfit, says being Ferrari boss is "eleven out of ten" on the difficulty scale.

"For example," he told Germany's DPA news agency, "in Barcelona we had to decide who will have the new car and who will have the old one.

"Kimi (Raikkonen) said 'I want the old one', but then I heard in the media that we had tossed a coin to decide. Everything we do is many times greater than it is in reality.

"Once, I went to the bathroom and everyone was asking 'Why is Maurizio in such a hurry?'"

The latest issue for Arrivabene is managing expectations.

Ferrari surprised the entire F1 world early in 2015 with its resurgent form, but then stories of a new 'crisis' emerged in Barcelona when the upgraded package did not work.

"We need to lower expectations," he insists now.

"In Barcelona we were 45 seconds behind, but last season the gap was one minute and 27 seconds.

"After (winning in) Malaysia, I thought to myself 'This is too early'. Because people would expect that now we go for the world championship.

"But this year we have the goal of winning three races, and four would be fantastic. Next year we will set other objectives," Arrivabene added.

He confirmed to Sky Italia: "For this year, we want to have our feet on the ground and our heads down and be there in the races when Mercedes has problems."

Rosberg reflects on being beaten by Hamilton repeatedly

Rosberg must win in Monaco, Montreal – Prost
(GMM) Monaco is a crucial race for Nico Rosberg.

That is the claim of F1 legend Alain Prost, as he considered whether the German can take on Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton for the 2015 title.

"Let's see what happens here in Monaco," the quadruple world champion told Der Tagesspiegel newspaper.

Rosberg broke Hamilton's run of poles and wins in Barcelona, but Frenchman Prost said his real challenge will be on the streets of the Principality.

"Nico has never won two races in a row," he noted.

"Only if he wins now in Monaco and then in Montreal will Lewis be disturbed. I think this race will largely determine the course of the rest of the season for Rosberg," added Prost, 60.

Rosberg has won the past two Monaco grands prix, while Hamilton has been openly admitting that his eight races on the fabled streets have not been among his best.

But Prost said: "The last time I saw some weakness in Hamilton was when he drove for McLaren.

"Now he is very strong, and if nothing changes, he will remain strong. Nico needs to look for a different approach, whilst remaining himself."

No sign of 'dark and moody' Alonso – Boullier
(GMM) Eric Boullier has laughed off claims he breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday.

It was on that day that Lewis Hamilton signed his new Mercedes deal.

Asked if he is relieved the door to the dominant German giant was closed to Fernando Alonso, McLaren-Honda chief Boullier laughed: "Those stories were just media speculation.

"Fernando decided to sign with us for many reasons and did so for several years — anything else is nonsense," he told the Spanish sports daily Marca.

"I think the only one breathing relief was Toto (Wolff), as he (Hamilton) did not go to Ferrari or even come back here, as you never know," Boullier added.

The Frenchman also said he has seen no sign of the rumored 'dark and moody' Alonso.

"I haven't seen it yet," Boullier laughed again. "I've only seen the bright side."

In fact, he said the Spaniard's mood so far in 2015 has been "better than expected, actually".

"He has a very positive attitude and is pushing and driving in the same way as if he was winning races."

Boullier clarified suggestions it was actually Honda that pushed for and signed Alonso, given the disastrous way the Spaniard's first McLaren foray went in 2007.

"Well, that's not true and it is true. What is for sure is that Honda is a partner and not a supplier and their opinion was taken into account," he said.

"But also the sponsors as well (had a say), and when we said we wanted Fernando, everybody said 'Yes please'.

Hamilton denies letting F1 focus slip
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at Damon Hill, after the 1996 world champion questioned his off-track lifestyle.

After Nico Rosberg broke the world champion's run of poles and wins in Barcelona, Hill said Hamilton seemed to have "underestimated" his Mercedes teammate by risking jetlag in the days between the Bahrain and Spanish grands prix.

We had reported that, in those three weeks, Hamilton clocked up thousands of miles in his private jet, skipping from Monaco to London, Mallorca to Monza, Los Angeles to New York before returning to the UK and Spain.

Hamilton hit back in Monaco: "People are entitled to their opinions of me. What is important is that I enjoy what I am doing and when I know I am stretching myself.

"I have done this for long enough," the Briton insisted, "I have two world championships now, so I know what I am doing.

"I feel fresh. I feel fit," Hamilton continued. "I am going to do those trips. I like to do what makes me happy and there are a lot of positives and bonuses from that.

"Ultimately I was not quick enough in Spain but that was not because I had been travelling," he added.

Even in Monaco so far, Hamilton has been photographed at evening celebrity events, while Rosberg is staying at home with his heavily pregnant wife.

Hamilton insisted: "You have to find a way of enjoying Monaco though because it cannot be work, work, work all the time while everyone else is partying in the clubs."

Ecclestone holds court with Hamilton

Ecclestone pushing ahead with 'customer cars'
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone's push for 'customer cars' in formula one has taken another step forward.

The issue reportedly got the green light at the recent Strategy Group meeting.

And now Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the F1 supremo, Niki Lauda (Mercedes), Christian Horner (Red Bull) and Ron Dennis (McLaren) met in Monaco on Friday.

It is believed Ferrari, with its intended 'B' team Haas, and McLaren, who would like to do a similar thing with Manor, are among the biggest proponents of customer cars.

"I've been pushing, pushing, pushing for single chassis, single engine", Ecclestone said, revealing that the cost of buying the package would be just $15 million.

"So you do that with four or five teams and you leave the constructors alone," he explained.

The small teams like Sauber and Force India are vehemently opposed to the idea, as they would lose their 'constructor' status and be left out of the new premier tier of F1.

But Ecclestone argues that a big upside to his plan is that the quality of the grid would increase as struggling teams will no longer need 'pay drivers'.

"Instead of having to run around and find a driver who has money, they could look for a talented driver and put him in the car," he said.

"What difference does it make what the car is? I want these (customer) teams to go racing for $70 million. Most of that money they already get from us," Ecclestone added.

Whether the 84-year-old can get the proposal through F1's complex, democracy-based modern system of governance, however, is another story.

Ecclestone is clearly frustrated with his loss of status as the sport's 'dictator', claiming that nothing was even decided at the reportedly-constructive Strategy Group meeting last week.

"Nothing was decided," he insists. "We didn't even decide on the date of the next meeting."

Ecclestone, and many of the team principals in F1, would like a return to the days when he and former president Max Mosley largely dictated terms.

"We should stop mucking about, asking opinions," Ecclestone said in Monaco.

"I said to him (FIA president Jean Todt) the other day 'If you come up with something sensible you've got my votes. Whatever it is I'll support you, and vice versa'.

"We should say 'These are the rules of the championship. If you want to be in it, great. If you don't, we understand'" added Ecclestone.

Manager says Schumacher 'improving'
(GMM) Michael Schumacher's manager says the F1 legend is improving.

The seven time world champion has not been seen publicly since striking his head on a rock whilst skiing almost 17 months ago.

"We are happy to say (he) still improves and I say this always regarding the severity of the injury he had," manager Sabine Kehm was quoted as saying on Friday.

Kehm was being interviewed for an event to launch a carbon fiber Audemars Piguet watch that Schumacher was involved in designing prior to his skiing accident.

"Of course," she was quoted by the Swiss daily Le Temps, "the fight will take a very, very long time for everybody involved, and we are happy to take this fight" on.

Red Bull and Renault eyeing F1 withdrawal

Renault, Red Bull exit still 'possible' – Prost
(GMM) Speculation about Renault's future in formula one continues to swirl around the paddock.

Earlier in 2015, at the height of partner Red Bull's criticism and its performance and reliability troubles, the French carmaker made it known it was considering all options.

Now, at Monaco, the marque's famous ambassador Alain Prost admitted pulling out remains among them.

"They would like to stay, for sure," the 60-year-old Frenchman told Britain's Sky.

Prost said Renault becoming its "own team" again is another option, following speculation the chosen one could be Toro Rosso, the junior Red Bull outfit.

But that likelihood was recently played down by Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, and in Monaco, Renault's Cyril Abiteboul said the current priority is to remain "an engine supplier".

To that end, contracts with Red Bull and Toro Rosso run until the end of 2016.

"I think right now the big target is to get the engine under control, both from reliability and performance perspectives," Abiteboul said.

"Once this is done we can secure some longer-term stuff."

But Prost admitted there are "other things they (Renault) can do outside" of formula one as well.

"They are also with us in Formula E," he explained, "but the first target is to see exactly what are the possibilities inside of formula one."

If the decision is ultimately to leave, it might also trigger the exits of Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

"Everything is possible," Prost acknowledged. "That would be a disaster for formula one, and that is why I hope the right decision is made, also by Red Bull.

"This situation is really a shame," he added. "Obviously I'm a Renault guy but I also know the Red Bull people and what they have achieved in F1 is amazing.

"It would be very bad to see them leaving our sport."

Pat Symonds

Symonds urges Bottas to consider staying
(GMM) Pat Symonds has urged Valtteri Bottas to consider pledging his future to Williams.

Symonds, the team's highly-experienced technical boss who has worked alongside champions Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, acknowledged the rumors now linking the Finn with Ferrari.

"It is no surprise to see other teams courting him," he told Britain's Sky.

But Symonds said Grove based Williams, having sustained its resurgent form of 2014 into the new season, might be the best team for Bottas at present.

"We are all aware of some quite famous drivers who jump at the wrong time," he said.

Indeed, Bottas told Brazil's Globo in Monaco that Symonds is one of Williams' best assets.

"We may be limited in the budget," he said, "but there are great people in the team and a great wind tunnel.

"As I said, I trust our engineers and this man here," added Bottas, pointing in Symonds' direction.

For both Williams and Ferrari, the crucial date for the future of fellow Finns Bottas, 25, and Kimi Raikkonen respectively is believed to be July 31.

It is then that 'options' on both driver's respective contracts are believed to expire.

"Is Kimi staying?" Ferrari chief Maurizio Arrivabene told Sky Italia in Monaco. "I don't know."

Social media 'bad for F1' – Prost
(GMM) Alain Prost has wondered aloud if social media is actually a good thing for formula one.

2015 so far has been a period of intense introspection for the F1 world, as it considers making key rule changes to rekindle interest.

But Prost, one of the all-time greats and a quadruple world champion, wonders if the days of social media like Twitter have actually worsened the problem.

"Obviously in my day there were not these social networks," the 60-year-old told Speed Week.

"In my opinion they contribute to the current problems of formula one. I think it's bad that the fans are constantly making their bad comments," Prost added.

Kvyat knows he has to perform better

Kvyat plays down Marko criticism
(GMM) Daniil Kvyat has distanced himself from growing speculation about his future.

As Red Bull officials hail the early progress of juniors Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, young Russian Kvyat claims he has not even read the recent criticisms made by boss Dr Helmut Marko.

"I have personal contact with Dr Marko," 21-year-old Kvyat, who has struggled since moving up to Red Bull's senior team in 2015, told Russia's Championat, "so why should I read his statements in the press?

"So far, to be honest, I have been fighting for the same positions as I did in Toro Rosso, so I don't feel any increase in attention.

"I don't feel any additional pressure either. I'm just doing my job," he insisted.

Kaltenborn slams 'customer car' proposal
(GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has slammed the change of direction announced by F1's Strategy Group.

After the top team-dominated group said it had agreed to spice up the sport with a raft of rule changes for 2017, Force India pointed out that the burning issue of cutting costs for the smaller teams had been ignored.

And Sauber's Kaltenborn said her struggling Swiss team was excluded altogether.

"I don't know what was discussed," she told Brazil's Globo in Monaco. "I read a press release."

And she questions what she read.

"On refuelling, I remember it was banned because of the high cost and for safety. To adopt it again would be a contradiction — along with the federation (FIA), we are doing an advertising campaign about safety.

"We also need to consider actually how it will improve the show.

"I think there would be yet more confusion. Is that what the fans want? You would also have to understand the impact on costs," Kaltenborn continued.

"We are not reacting to contain the costs at all — nothing is done."

Bernie Ecclestone, however, and top teams like Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren, are pushing ahead with plans to sell low-cost 'customer cars' and engines to smaller teams like Sauber.

"Again," Kaltenborn reacted, "I don't know the official proposal as I was not present.

"But I don't think it will make a better competition, unless Mercedes is going to give its car of last year to everybody, and I'm not sure they want to do that.

"I also don't see how it will be easier to convince sponsors to sign up — I think it will even be harder, as three or four teams will be competing against each other and the rest will just be participating.

"But the worst thing is that, imagine you dismantle your immense technical infrastructure necessary to design and build your cars. Now imagine the team you bought your car from decides to abandon F1, as is historically the case.

"This is not good for F1," Kaltenborn insisted.

Easy solution to Ecclestone's hard stance on Monza – Arrivabene starts to talk to Mark Miles about Ferrari move from F1 to IndyCar and the Monza race becoming an IndyCar event.

Monza still in doubt after Ecclestone meeting
(GMM) Efforts to put the future of the Italian grand prix back on track appear to have faltered.

With Bernie Ecclestone warning that his axe is hanging above historic Monza, Italian automobile club president Angelo Sticchi-Damiani and official Ivan Capelli, representing the promoter Sias, met on Friday with the F1 supremo in Monaco.

Corriere della Sera, a Milan-published daily, said the meeting resulted in "stalemate".

Organizers of the Italian grand prix are reportedly EUR 20 million short in their struggle to remain on an ever-expanding F1 calendar that is increasingly moving away from Europe and into more lucrative markets such as Mexico and Azerbaijan.

Sticchi-Damiani, however, remains hopeful.

"I know that there is the political will to solve this problem," he said.

Earlier this week, however, Ecclestone said one alternative could be Mugello, the Ferrari-owned track in Tuscany.

"It would be a wonderful opportunity," the 84-year-old was quoted by Il Giorno. "It was a project that (former Ferrari president Luca) Montezemolo long thought about."

Sticchi-Damiani replied: "If we have formula one in Monza, it means we have done a good job. Any other option would not be the result of a good job.

"I would be a fool not to argue that Monza is the ideal theatre for the grand prix," he added.

Vettel finds loophole for Monaco helmet change
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has found a way around F1's new helmet livery change ban.

For 2015, to help spectators more easily identify the drivers from one race to another, the sport put a stop to the constant chopping and changing of helmet colors.

It means that even the 'Monaco specials' – one-off livery changes for the prestigious street race – are no longer allowed.

"(Livery designer) JMD have painted me this helmet for the race and I really wanna wear it!" Daniel Ricciardo said on Twitter.

"Not a fan of this one helmet design rule," the Australian complained.

Ferrari's Vettel is also a JMD customer, but the German has found a loophole in the livery rule.

La Gazzetta dello Sport has published photos of his 'Monaco special', and because it is substantially similar to his homologated livery, it is likely to escape the attention of the stewards.

Vettel's Monaco helmet is still white with the German tricolor stripe, but now in a distinctly 70s style.

The white is not as glossy, the tricolor is featured in a hand-drawn, brush-stroke style, the '5' on the top is in a decades-old font, and a bigger, 70s-like visor has been drawn on.

On the side, just ahead of the modern, HANS-device mounting, is an image of an old oxygen-hose attachment, completing the authenticity of the 70s look.

Vettel was already wearing the new helmet livery in Thursday practice.

Except for one race, Hamilton has destroyed Rosberg

Hamilton 'dominating' Rosberg – Ecclestone
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton is psychologically dominating his teammate Nico Rosberg.

That is the view of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

German Rosberg managed to break Hamilton's run of poles and wins recently in Barcelona, but Ecclestone nonetheless told Bild newspaper: "Lewis is very dominant, taking up a lot of space in a team.

"Nico has lost a lot on the track against Lewis — and therefore also the self-confidence," the 84-year-old added.

And Ecclestone acknowledges that he would probably prefer if Hamilton manages to successfully defend his title this year.

"I am happy that we (F1) have him," he said. "He is very important for formula one — at the moment he is the only driver who is a real rock star."