Latest F1 news in brief

Lauda: "Alonso is selfish, moody and negative," claiming Alonso's attitude hurt Ferrari. This was the main reason Ferrari hired Vettel and fired Alonso, sending him to the abyss at McLaren

Manor could change livery for Barcelona
Ecclestone wants Mercedes power for entire grid
Alonso under attack in China
Ferrari unhappy with Raikkonen qualifying
F1 sparks causing issues in Shanghai
Fifth engine rule not in place yet – Wolff
Women drivers 'more afraid' than men – Verstappen
Force India confirms 'B' car for Austria
'Short nose' finally coming in Spain – Marko
'Bad' eye not reason for Rosberg mood

Manor could change livery for Barcelona
(GMM) Manor has not ruled out keeping its current driver lineup for the rest of the season.

Until now, the former Marussia team as well as Roberto Merhi have admitted that the Spanish rookie is not guaranteed his place throughout 2015.

Merhi, 24, has not even given up his full-time race seat in the Formula Renault 3.5 series.

But when asked if Merhi will continue as Will Stevens' teammate for the rest of the year, sporting director Graeme Lowdon said in Shanghai: "I see no reason why not."

That could be because, in its current configuration, Manor has made big progress since the start of the year, when neither car could even be fired up.

But on Saturday, both Stevens and Merhi – although dead last – were comfortably within the 107 per cent qualifying barrier for the first time in 2015.

"We are in 107pc," Merhi is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper, "which is something we did not manage at the last race."

Finally, Manor could be planning a livery change after the China-Bahrain double-header, with the team having run essentially the old Marussia colors until now.

Speed Week reports that the new livery could debut at the Spanish grand prix next month.

Ecclestone wants Mercedes power for entire grid
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone would like to see every car on the grid equipped with a Mercedes engine.

The F1 supremo is increasingly frustrated with the current turbo V6 rules, as Mercedes is dominating and many fans and promoters are unhappy with the milder engine note.

Asked specifically what he wants, Ecclestone told Sport Bild: "The old V8 engines, or the same engine for everybody.

"I would like to sign a contract where every team is supplied with a Mercedes engine."

Curiously, Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda alluded to this idea earlier in Shanghai, when he told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "If Renault and Honda go, we will give 20 Mercedes engines to everyone and what is the problem?"

But Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff exclaimed: "I don't think Ferrari would take a Mercedes engine!"

To which Ecclestone, 84, retorted: "Leave Ferrari out. They're an exception."

And also curiously, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner doesn't mind the sound of Ecclestone's latest proposal.

"Well, (team title sponsor) Infiniti already works with Mercedes," he said.

Germany's Sport Bild said that during the three-way interview with Wolff and Horner, Ecclestone repeatedly banged his fist on the table in frustration.

Some of that frustration is with the governing FIA.

"The FIA president is in a difficult position," he said, referring to Jean Todt. "He doesn't want to upset anybody. He wants to make everyone happy.

"Unfortunately, that is not easy."

Alonso under attack in China
(GMM) In China, Fernando Alonso has come under attack.

First, the criticism came from a presenter of Sky Italia's coverage of formula one, who issued a highly critical 'tweet' about the McLaren-Honda driver.

Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Alonso's revenge was that he refused to speak to the Italian broadcaster at all in Shanghai.

The presenter later apologized.

But that is not all. Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda has also revealed his opinion about the former Ferrari driver, published in the pages of the La Repubblica newspaper.

"Alonso is selfish, moody and negative," said the F1 legend, claiming Alonso's attitude hurt Ferrari.

"How can you improve morale in a team if your driver is speaking badly at every opportunity, and especially a team that is from Italy?"

Lauda said Alonso, 33, must be regretting the fouling of his relationship with Maranello, as he is now driving in "the abyss" with McLaren.

But Alonso insists he has not made a bad choice to swap red for grey, even though only the Manor drivers were slower than him in Shanghai qualifying.

He said he will eventually get revenge on those who are "enjoying" his current struggles.

"Those who are enjoying, they (Ferrari) are third," said Alonso, "one second behind.

"They're beating me, but they're not beating Mercedes, which at the end of the day is my goal," he said.

Indeed, despite beating Mercedes in the Malaysian heat a fortnight ago, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel qualified nearly a full second behind pole on Saturday.

Rob Smedley, the chief engineer at Williams, agrees with Alonso that Mercedes is not "a step ahead, (they are) a whole world" in front of any rival.

Alonso's teammate Jenson Button says that is why the grey-clad duo are remaining so upbeat.

"To challenge Mercedes, you've got to be a manufacturer," he said. "That's exactly the reason for the McLaren-Honda partnership."

Button acknowledged that McLaren may not win races until 2016, but he also said the Woking team is making major steps forward at every grand prix.

"We are not talking about one or two tenths per race," said the Briton.

Alonso agreed: "We have reduced the gap from 5 to 3.5 to 2 seconds. Every day we solve problems and find laptime. I am enjoying the process.

"In two months we will be proud of what we have done."

Ferrari unhappy with Raikkonen qualifying
(GMM) Ferrari was not happy with Kimi Raikkonen's performance after qualifying in Shanghai.

Until now, the Maranello team and the Finn have said Raikkonen, after a poor 2014 season, is fully back up to speed this year with the vastly improved SF15-T car.

But Raikkonen's troubles only continued on Saturday, and this time Ferrari did not point the finger at incidents that have exaggerated the gap to his on-form teammate Sebastian Vettel.

"I'm happy with Seb's position," technical director James Allison told Britain's Sky after qualifying in China, where Vettel qualified third behind the two Mercedes.

"Less so with Kimi's. We had hoped for a little better," added the Briton, referring to Raikkonen's P6, behind both Williams cars.

Raikkonen told reporters that he simply had no grip with a new set of tires in Q3.

"I was just sliding around," he is quoted as saying. "I had a Sauber in front of me but I don't really know why (I struggled).

"Unfortunately it is becoming a habit that I need to stop."

Hamilton throws up sparks in China

F1 sparks causing issues in Shanghai
(GMM) F1's new sparks have been blamed for a couple of incidents ahead of the Chinese grand prix.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton drove to pole on Saturday, but not before complaining repeatedly about an unusually hot seat.

"We changed the seat," said team boss Toto Wolff, "improved the insulation but in the end we did not solve the problem."

And Williams' Felipe Massa complained of smoke in his cockpit.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the answer to the problem is the new titanium skid blocks on the underside of F1 cars this year.

While fans and photographers are enjoying the sparks being thrown up by the new mandatory solution, it has caused issues in bumpy Shanghai, where ride heights are low.

Fifth engine rule not in place yet – Wolff
(GMM) There is still no agreement on the introduction of a fifth engine per driver in 2015.

Dismayed that the strict allocation of just four 'power units' per driver this year was discouraging track action on Fridays, Bernie Ecclestone recently proposed that a fifth engine be added to the allocation.

Reports subsequently emerged that the Strategy Group had voted favorably on the proposal.

But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted in Shanghai that the rule is not yet ready to be imposed.

"First the proposal was to allocate an engine only for Friday practice," he told reporters in Shanghai, "but then came the offer to allow five engines per season under certain circumstances.

"We agreed to it, and a clear proposal was sent to the FIA. After that," Wolff revealed, "the situation has not changed."

He said the subject will surely return to the agenda at the next Strategy Group meeting in two weeks.

Women drivers 'more afraid' than men – Verstappen
(GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted he is skeptical that female drivers can compete head-to-head with men in formula one.

Bernie Ecclestone's proposal that an all-women's grand prix series be created has been controversial, with one commentator suggesting it is tantamount to "sexual apartheid".

But 17-year-old Verstappen, who has made history this year as the youngest ever F1 driver and points-scorer, said he agrees with those who think a separate championship is the right answer for women.

"I think they lack something when it comes to physical strength," he is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.

"And perhaps it is also true that some women are more easily afraid in a racing car," the Belgian-born Dutchman added.

Force India confirms 'B' car for Austria
(GMM) Force India has confirmed reports it is working on a 'B' version of its 2015 car.

With winter troubles having delayed this year's VJM08, drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg are now struggling merely to race out of the ignominious 'Q1' segment of qualifying.

"It is disappointing to go out in Q1," German Hulkenberg said in Shanghai, "but unfortunately the final lap just was not quick enough."

Media reports earlier this week suggested work is now progressing on a 'B' version of the 2015 car, although a debut in time for Barcelona next month has been ruled out.

"We are now concentrating fully on our B version," confirmed deputy team boss Bob Fernley, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"We are planning for the Austrian grand prix," he revealed. "This is ideal because there are also two days of testing straight afterwards."

'Short nose' finally coming in Spain – Marko
(GMM) Red Bull is hoping its long-awaited 'short nose' will put the former world champions back on track.

Having pointed the finger of blame squarely at engine supplier Renault, team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has already written off the 2015 title, telling the Austrian press this week that "second place" is now the best Red Bull can hope for.

But as the team's struggles continued in China, it is increasingly clear that the issues with the RB11 extend beyond the steadily improving V6 power unit.

That is despite Dr Helmut Marko claiming that Renault is having trouble delivering a promised 40 horse power improvement that it can see on its test benches in Paris.

"They (the 40hp) just disappear, and no one knows why," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

The Milton-Keynes based team, however, also now knows that it is playing a role in the 2015 struggle.

A significant bodywork upgrade for the RB11 has been delayed, because the 'hero' of the package – a Williams-like short nose – has repeatedly failed the mandatory crash tests.

Marko now announces: "Our big aerodynamic package is coming in Barcelona."

The German magazine said the package involves a "completely new front wing concept" and corresponding rear end.

Marko added: "Because we could not homologate the short nose until now, we have been using the intermediate solution from testing."

'Bad' eye not reason for Rosberg mood
(GMM) A frustrated Nico Rosberg admitted he lost pole by "the blink of an eye" in China.

He was referring to the mere four-hundredths gap to Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, not the conspicuously red eye he was sporting after qualifying in Shanghai.

Rosberg explained that he has been dealing with the left eye problem for a year.

"One day I will have to do something about it," said the German, "but it just looks bad — it doesn't bother me."

He was much more bothered by his qualifying defeat, exclaiming "Oh, come on guys!" on the radio when he was informed of the tiny gap.

But he was also upset with his engineers, who told him to go faster than he wanted on his 'out-lap'.

"It was not ideal to put me under pressure like that," said Rosberg.

The 29-year-old's frustration in missing out to Hamilton in China could be because Mercedes has decided beating Ferrari is more important than ensuring total driver 'equality' when it comes to race strategies.

"Last year, we wanted to be as fair and neutral as possible," said team boss Toto Wolff.

"But now we will have to react to the improved competition from Ferrari with our strategies.

"The consequence could be that one of the drivers after the race is maybe not happy and feels disadvantaged," he told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

"But if it means the race victory or not, we will have to live with it."