Latest F1 news in brief

Ecclestone orchestrating some major changes in F1

FIA to outline F1 Strategy Group results on Friday
Audi foray discussed by Strategy Group
Ecclestone 'will be replaced' – Stewart
F1 should green-light new 'tire war' – Coulthard
2015 Mexico race already sold out
Kvyat calm as pressure builds
Ferrari's $164M Payout For '14 Season Leads All Formula 1 Teams

FIA to outline F1 Strategy Group results on Friday
(GMM) The news filtering out from Thursday's landmark meeting of the Strategy Group is not encouraging.

Amid the sport's reported problems and widespread calls for change, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was not confident as the stakeholders headed for his facility at the Biggin Hill airport in England.

"We will spend four or five hours deciding the date for the next meeting," Italy's Autosprint quotes the 84-year-old as sardonically predicting.

Indeed, The Times newspaper says the Strategy Group has become renowned for its "inaction and self-interest".

Actually, Thursday's meeting – involving the most powerful teams as well as FIA president Jean Todt and CVC chairman Donald Mackenzie – took 6 hours.

And the next sitting has been scheduled for June.

As for Thursday's outcome, the first unofficial reports were of "constructive" talks.

As expected, however, it is understood that the teams could not unanimously agree to increase this year's engine allocation from 4 to 5 'power units' per driver.

But the bigger issue was finding a roadmap for the future.

Many stakeholders were hoping for a sharp change of direction, but it appears the only major agreement was the green-light for so-called 'customer cars' in future.

That will be little comfort to the struggling outfits like Force India, Sauber and Lotus, who were crying out for a change to the patently inequitable distribution of the almost billion dollars in commercial revenue.

As The Times reported after Thursday's meeting, "McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes all refused to budge on redistributing prize money skewed in their favor".

Insiders say the FIA intends to issue a press release on Friday outlining measures to improve the show, while the Telegraph says it may also include "modest proposals for cost-cutting".

So while the small teams might be disappointed by Thursday's events, it is expected Red Bull is also unhappy that F1 did not turn a radical corner.

Told that the energy drink company has committed to the sport contractually until 2020, Dr Helmut Marko told Kleine Zeitung newspaper: "Yes, but not to a formula one in this form."

"There is a wise phrase in sporting law," the Austrian added. "'For the good of the sport, any decision is possible'. No matter what the Strategy Group decides.

"Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt know that too. We can only hope that sense prevails," said Marko.

With such a strong history in sports car racing, will Audi really come to F1?

Audi foray discussed by Strategy Group
(GMM) It is believed a potential F1 foray for the Volkswagen Group was discussed on Thursday during the high-profile Strategy Group meeting.

Rumors the VW brand Audi could enter the sport have been growing in recent weeks and days.

Ralf Bach, a well-known German-language paddock correspondent, wrote on his blog f1-insider.com that Audi would only consider a foray if there is engine rules stability.

However, all the talk recently has been about Bernie Ecclestone wanting to drastically shake up the rules for 2017, bringing more power and noise.

F1's other engine manufacturers are all also keen to know the plans for the future, given that – on paper – the existing rules are set to be in place until 2020.

Red Bull supplier Renault, in particular, is currently engaged in a wholesale re-think of its approach to F1.

"Insiders say carrying on as they (Renault) are now is unlikely," wrote Bach.

Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost, however, this week played down the likelihood of a team buyout by Renault, even though a yellow rebranding of the Faenza-made cars remains a possibility.

Bach claims Renault has even been approached by Lotus, whose owner Gerard Lopez reportedly offered to give the team to Renault for four years so long as Enstone is then returned 'debt-free' in 2020.

"Renault is said to have rejected the offer," he added.

Lotus chief executive Matthew Carter said on Thursday that the team's former supplier Renault is undoubtedly "evaluating its role within F1" at the moment.

But "My shareholders have said quite specifically that the team isn't for sale," Carter told a sports business conference organized by the Telegraph newspaper.

Ecclestone reacts when he hears Jackie Stewart say he will be replaced

Ecclestone 'will be replaced' – Stewart
(GMM) Fernando Alonso, who tested Ayrton Senna's old 1988 car recently, said this week he wishes he had raced in that era.

"The cars were more racy," said the McLaren driver, "with big tires, big engines and not many limitations in terms of creativity for the designers."

F1 legend and triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, meanwhile, raced in the 60s and 70s, when abysmal safety measures and death were ever-present.

But the 75-year-old said he is glad he did not have to race today's grand prix cars.

"The last time I drove these modern cars was two years ago — a Williams at Goodwood," he told Brazil's Globo Esporte. "I didn't like it.

"Naturally, I would have adapted to it eventually, but I had to first understand all of those buttons on the steering wheel, and then be guided on the radio by the team personnel.

"I believe driving the cars today is an immense challenge," said Stewart, "but I don't find it interesting.

"I like to drive fast cars, but this F1 is too complex."

The cars are just one aspect of formula one today that Stewart says he would like to change.

Another, said the Scot, is the "entertainment package".

"F1 needs to improve its show," he said. "In Bahrain, if you go behind the grandstands, there is music, dancing, areas for the family. You can eat Arabic food, American food, Indian food.

"We have to think more about attracting women and children. Look at football — today there are almost as many women as there are men.

"In the past, a man worked many hours a week, came home and told his wife he is going to the football. Now she can say she is coming along with the children.

"F1 has not thought about that," said Stewart, "but I hope the new generation of sponsors see the need."

Some blame many of F1's problems on Bernie Ecclestone, the 84-year-old chief executive and 'supremo' who is notoriously wary of the age of digital and social media.

Stewart said: "Bernie has done more for F1 than anyone has done for any other sport. In football, who could you say has actually changed the sport?

"But no one is indispensable, and the next leader of F1 will maybe be even better.

"Bernie is fantastic," Stewart emphasized. "Look at the paddock — it's perfect. And look at what he did for F1 financially.

"Bernie will be missed, but he will be replaced."

Michelin would build a better F1 tire than Pirelli

F1 should green-light new 'tire war' – Coulthard
(GMM) David Coulthard thinks F1 needs a 'tire war' once again.

This week, the former F1 supplier Michelin revealed that its interest in working at the pinnacle of motor sport has returned.

But boss Pascal Couasnon laid down his conditions: no more heavily-degrading tires for "the show", a modern 18-inch profile, and a product that allows drivers to "show their talent".

Immediately, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone backed the sport's existing control tire supplier Pirelli, who he says have done everything they were asked to deliver.

Gone now are Pirelli's highly-controversial days of tire explosions and questionable quality, with chief Paul Hembery declaring: "I think we have a good balance at the moment."

He says the Italian brand will sign up for the 2017 tender process as long as "the sport is going forward".

"Has life become easier now that we're not the 'bad boys' to that extent anymore? There is always somebody complaining," Hembery told F1's official website.

"But don't get me wrong, we do our job well and keep an eye on the ball, as this sport is changing rapidly. We must not become complacent."

However, former F1 driver David Coulthard – who drove throughout the sport's high-performance 'tire war' days – said he sees no reason why Pirelli cannot now go head-to-head with Michelin.

"The bosses of the sport do not want a tire war," he told the BBC, "but I don't understand why.

"As long as the boundaries were set out – no testing, limits on costs to teams – there is no reason why a tire war would have to have cost implications," said Coulthard.

He thinks that if two companies were competing for victory each weekend, the tires would be "racier".

"I have no doubt that, if challenged to do so, Pirelli could build much racier tires," said Coulthard.

In contrast, he argues, today's tires are too "sensitive", requiring too much "management", often resulting in processional races.

"The drivers I know who compete in the World Endurance Championship, where they use Michelin tires, tell me that they push on every single lap through a 24-hour race," said Coulthard.

"That's great for them, but it used to be what I was doing when I drove in F1. Now … the times the drivers are completely on the limit during a grand prix are a small minority. Sometimes they never are," he lamented.

There was over 300,000 there in 2002 when CART IndyCars raced in Mexico City

2015 Mexico race already sold out
(GMM) The Mexican grand prix is already sold out.

While other races – even key markets like Germany – have struggled to fill the grandstands, it is reported that a full house will congregate at Mexico City's revamped Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in early November.

Auto Motor und Sport reported that "within hours" of tickets going on sale recently, they were all sold. Tickets are reportedly now appearing on the black market for up to $12,000.

Ferrari will be one beneficiary of Mexico's renewed F1 obsession, as local Esteban Gutierrez is the reserve driver.

"I think that Esteban will be the star of the Mexican grand prix," team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said recently. "Maybe we can give him the chance to do a few laps on Friday."

Another Mexican, Sergio Perez, races for Force India.

Kvyat calm as pressure builds
(GMM) Daniil Kvyat insists he is staying calm amid his troubled time in formula one.

Before the 2015 season, the 21-year-old was a rising star of the sport, having earned graduation to the championship-winning Red Bull team within a single season.

The premier energy drink-owned outfit, however, is in deep crisis this year, and even the drivers are not being spared criticism.

"Kvyat lost two seconds each time he was lapping (another car)," the notoriously-demanding Dr Helmut Marko, head of Red Bull's driver program, said after Spain.

"Even his laptimes were not consistent," the Austrian added.

On the other hand, he described Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, the latest juniors at the second team Toro Rosso, as "exceptional".

"Our so-called established guys need to look out," Marko reportedly told Austrian media.

Kvyat has at least won the backing of his former Toro Rosso chief, Franz Tost, who says the Russian has been blessed with "the champion gene".

He suggested Kvyat won his promotion to replace the Ferrari-bound Sebastian Vettel too soon.

"It takes time to mature in an F1 car," Tost told F1's official website. "That is why I say that I want to work with drivers for three years, and then hand them over."

The Austrian also urged Kvyat to look away from the critical reports.

"Yes, because it can distract and destabilize a young driver — and consumes time," said Tost. "I tell them to go to the fitness room instead!"

So, at the tender age of 21, Kvyat is having to prove himself as well as help Red Bull out of its trough.

"There are no miracles in formula one," the young Russian is quoted by Speed Week.

"We can only continue to work in peace and try as hard as possible."

Currently, he has scored only 15 per cent of Red Bull's points in 2015, and outqualified his experienced teammate Daniel Ricciardo only once in five races.

But Kvyat insists: "I'm not disappointed. And I don't feel any frustration in the team, we just want to work our way out of trouble.

"The potential is there, and I also know that I can show more than the results suggest."

Ferrari's $164M Payout For '14 Season Leads All Formula 1 Teams
Ferrari "received more money than any other team" in F1 for the '14 season due to the championship's current payment system, according to Rencken & Barretto of AUTOSPORT.

At the end of each season, Formula One Management "collates revenues from three streams" — hosting fees, media rights and "other" such as trackside sponsorship and hospitality. It then distributes 65% of the underlying revenues among the qualifying teams.

However, while 50% of those revenues "is distributed to teams based on their finishing position in the constructors' championship," the other 15% is split between Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Williams — in the form of a "premium payment."

These premium payments were agreed to by the five major teams "by way of bilateral agreements" in early '12, ahead of the expiration of the Concorde Agreement. In '14, Ferrari received $67M for finishing fourth in the constructors' standings, $25M less than champion Mercedes.

But the Scuderia received a further $97M in the form of a premium payment, bringing its total revenue to $164M, "more than any other team" AUTOSPORT.

Source: AUTOSPORT