Latest F1 news in brief

Vettel endears himself to the Ferrari factory staff. Over the winter he forced himself to learn the basics of the Italian language and the team has taken to him.

Young driver rule for 2016 'sad' – Marko
Text from Schu house made Arrivabene cry – report
F1 trio play down Ferrari's Sepang form
Marko admits Red Bull has 'chassis' problems
Vettel, not Hamilton better for F1 – Capelli
Jackie Stewart urges tradition as European races dwindle in F1
Vettel addresses Ferrari staff at factory
Video: Domenicali on future of formula racing
Video: Lunch with a trophy
Sauber F1 Cutaway

Young driver rule for 2016 'sad' – Marko
(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Red Bull has proved that F1 took a wrong turn with its new-for-2016 super license rules.

Following widespread criticism of the energy drink company's selection of 17-year-old Max Verstappen for the junior team Toro Rosso, the FIA reacted by introducing a new system for the allocation of super licenses from next year.

Dutchman Verstappen, however, added more history to his resume last Sunday by scoring six points, and was the only driver in the field to join the Ferrari, Mercedes and Williams cars on the lead lap at the checkered flag.

Also impressing so far in 2015 has been Verstappen's rookie teammate Carlos Sainz Jr, who is just 20.

"The maturity of our two young drivers is probably no longer in question," Marko, the architect of Red Bull's young driver program, told the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV.

"But it is sad that now a regulation is coming in that would have deprived both Max and Carlos of the license they need. The sport is over-regulated," he insisted.

"If you are 17, but you have the maturity of a 22-year-old, then you have to question this strict age rule," said Marko.

He continued: "We did nothing reckless. We tested him in a 3.5-litre Formula Renault, in a two-year-old F1 car, we put him in the simulator — at every point he was competitive from the beginning."

Carlos Sainz Snr, a world rallying legend, agrees that Red Bull has prepared his 20-year-old son well.

As for Verstappen, he told Spain's El Confidencial: "Red Bull is not stupid when they do things.

"Undoubtedly there are now the tools to prepare drivers very well, but that is also the case not only in motor sport, but in any professional sport.

"The kids are starting very young and this gives them a maturity at an early age. This is probably one of the biggest differences with sport in the twenty-first century."

Mika Hakkinen, a former two-time world champion, said after Malaysia: "I was one of those who had the view that he (Verstappen) is too young for formula one.

"I had no doubt that he can drive the cars, but I was wondering if such a young driver can handle everything else that comes with formula one.

"Perhaps it is true that a 17-year-old can handle it now," the Finn said in his latest Hermes column, "but it is also very early to say that after two races."

Maurizio Arrivabene

Text from Schu house made Arrivabene cry – report
(GMM) A text message sent from Michael Schumacher's home in Switzerland reduced Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene to tears after the Malaysian grand prix.

After a tumultuous period for the great Italian marque, seven time world champion and Ferrari legend Schumacher's protege Sebastian Vettel broke through with a landmark and emotional win.

But Arrivabene, who worked with Ferrari during the Schumacher era as an executive for the team sponsor Marlboro, said he felt in control of his emotions after Vettel's win.

"I was trying all the time to stay cool," the Italian told Sport Bild.

"But then a text message made me cry."

The German magazine said the text was from Sabine Kehm, Schumacher's manager, who had reportedly watched the Sepang race at the house of her 46-year-old client, and at the side of Schumacher's wife Corinna.

Schumacher suffered brain damage in a skiing fall late in 2013, and has not been seen publicly since.

Arrivabene has admitted he sees striking similarities between Vettel and his German compatriot Schumacher.

"When I noticed it for the first time," he admitted, "I was very emotional.

"They have different natures, different personalities," said Arrivabene, "but the way Sebastian approaches his work – delving into every detail of how he can motivate everyone and criticize constructively – reminds me of Michael.

"Both share the same cultural background and this perfectionism, which they have brought to Ferrari," he added.

F1 trio play down Ferrari's Sepang form
(GMM) A trio of well-known F1 figures has questioned whether Ferrari can keep up its new winning form.

Sebastian Vettel stunned the Sepang paddock by winning on merit last Sunday, despite the Italian team's only recently-ended period of turmoil, and the apparent continuing dominance of reigning world champions Mercedes.

But Mika Hakkinen, a retired former two-time champion, thinks the tires played a major role in Malaysia.

"The compounds selected by Pirelli for Malaysia were much better suited to the Ferrari than the Mercedes," he said in his latest interview for Hermes.

"Ferrari will not be a serious threat to Mercedes in every race," Hakkinen predicts, "but at any rate we are not going to see Mercedes dominate in the same way they did last season."

Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko also thinks Ferrari has made obvious gains in the area of its V6 'power unit'.

"That is the main reason," he told the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV.

"But also the high temperatures in Malaysia, the types of tires and the race tactics all fitted together just perfectly."

Marko added: "I would not say that Ferrari will be as strong everywhere else as they were in Malaysia.

"Sepang is also one of Vettel's favorite tracks — last year, it was the only place he was clearly faster than (Daniel) Ricciardo."

And Valtteri Bottas, a Mercedes-powered Williams driver, also warned that Ferrari's Sepang form should not be taken too seriously.

"You have to take into account that the conditions in Malaysia were extreme," he told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

"It was so hot, and Ferrari seemed to be much better than anyone else in this weather in controlling the tire degradation.

"Let's see what they do in China," Bottas added.

Red Bull has a real problem this year, not only is their engine a lemon, so too is their chassis. Sebastian Vettel knew what he was doing by getting out

Marko admits Red Bull has 'chassis' problems
(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted for the first time that Red Bull has issues that run deeper than the Renault engine.

A furious row between Red Bull and Renault erupted in and after Australia, with Cyril Abiteboul even accusing Adrian Newey of telling "lies".

The chief "lie", according to the Frenchman, was that Renault was solely to blame for Red Bull's struggles in 2015.

After Malaysia, where Red Bull admitted Renault made progress, team official Marko now admits that Milton-Keynes also has work to do.

"The result of Sepang was unfortunate for Red Bull Racing," he told the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV, "but it does not hurt because there is the need to wake up in England.

"There are some things in the chassis that do not work optimally," Marko added.

One of them in Malaysia was the brakes, with Red Bull having switched suppliers at the end of last year to a brand not liked by departing driver Sebastian Vettel.

Marko announced that Red Bull will now "reverse" that decision.

For Daniil Kvyat, the fact Red Bull's problems run deeper than Renault is starkly obvious, having stepped up from the junior team Toro Rosso over the winter.

But in Malaysia, the young Russian finished behind both of his Toro Rosso successors, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz.

"General pace is not there at the moment," Kvyat admits. "This is not a good situation."

And compounding the misery for teammate Daniel Ricciardo in Malaysia was the fact that the man he roundly defeated in 2014, now Ferrari driver Vettel, won the race.

Not only that, Ricciardo was lapped by the red car.

"I'm happy for him and that he has done what I think a lot of people thought he couldn't do," said the Australian. "But it emphasizes the frustration for us."

Sebastian Vettel winning for Ferrario is better for F1 than Lewis Hamilton winning according to former F1 driver Ivan Capelli

Vettel, not Hamilton better for F1 – Capelli
(GMM) Another figure has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone's claim that Lewis Hamilton is a better world champion than Sebastian Vettel.

In Malaysia last week, F1 supremo Ecclestone criticized German Vettel for living a private life in Switzerland, while Hamilton "gets out on the street and supports and promotes formula one".

"He (Vettel) won four titles but went to ground. He should have done the job of world champion," Ecclestone charged.

F1 legend Gerhard Berger hit back at Ecclestone's claim, wondering: "Does he want his drivers to run wild on the Reeperbahn?

"On Sunday, Vettel trod on the only red carpet that matters — as the winner of the race," the former Ferrari driver told Sport Bild.

And now Ivan Capelli, another former driver who now heads the organizing body for the Italian grand prix, has also defended Vettel's contribution to the sport.

"I do not agree with Bernie when he says that Hamilton is better for the sport," the Italian, set to negotiate with Ecclestone over the future of Monza's place on the calendar, told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Walking around with earrings or rapper medallions around your neck has no effect on me. But on Sunday I saw Vettel rejoice like a child despite already having four titles in his pocket.

"That's what brings people to the track," said Capelli. "After his victory, demand for tickets has increased significantly."

As for the future of the historic Italian grand prix, Capelli said he is hopeful his negotiations with Ecclestone set for Monaco next month will bear fruit.

"I have already won the support of Pirelli in the talks with Bernie," he revealed.

As for Ferrari, there have been rumors the powerful Italian marque is not so supportive of Monza, as it would prefer to host the race itself at Mugello.

Capelli said: "I talked with (Maurizio) Arrivabene in Australia and he said that his table is clear. Maurizio is an honest person and I believe him."

Jackie Stewart urges tradition as European races dwindle in Formula One
Formula One great Jackie Stewart has bemoaned the downfall of the German Grand Prix and is urging the sport's bosses not to forsake tradition for money as the number of European races on the calendar dwindles.

The German GP was erased from the 2015 schedule because of financial problems and F1 commercial head Bernie Ecclestone hasn't guaranteed the future of the iconic Italian Grand Prix, either.

More races are heading to countries in Asia and the Middle East, where government funding can better cover the high hosting fees.

Stewart, a three-time world champion, told The Associated Press there should always be a place for the "essential" races in Germany, Italy, Britain, France and Monaco, as they helped "motorsport to become what it is today."

"That sounds like me being a purist," Stewart said in a telephone interview. "But you have to respect history. They should always be on the calendar — it's terrific we have a United States Grand Prix, a Brazilian Grand Prix, one in Bahrain, and that we are going to new countries.

"But you still have to respect your heritage." espn

Arrivabene and Vettel at the Ferrari factory

Vettel addresses Ferrari staff at factory.
Sebastian Vettel has addressed staff members at Ferrari's factory in Maranello to applaud their efforts leading up to his Malaysian Grand Prix win.

Vettel's victory at the Sepang circuit ended a 34-race drought for the squad, while it was also his first since triumphing at the 2013 season finale.

Vettel returned to Italy earlier this week, and carried out factory-based simulator work on Wednesday morning before addressing the workforce in Italian.

"It was a very emotional moment," explained Vettel, who overcame the Mercedes pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg for victory.

"I have won many races, but the first one with Ferrari is very, very special."

Vettel also repeated a conversation he had with his mechanics following the race.

"Thanks a lot, but I want to be one of you, no more, no less," he said. "I am part of the team and, even if out on track I'm alone, I know that really I never am, because I am always with you.

"I want to thank you for giving me a nice car and I think, in fact I know, that we will experience many more great moments together."

Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene was also present for Vettel's speech, reiterating recent comments that the outfit must not get complacent following the victory in Malaysia.

He added that Vettel's celebrations reminded him of Michael Schumacher's time at the team.

"I think that the 'forza Ferrari!' from Seb over the radio immediately after taking the checkered flag was not just for the achievement of a childhood dream," he said.

"It was also for memories of the moments spent with another great champion, who won so much for Ferrari, namely Michael."

Domenicali on future of formula racing
Stefano Domenicali, President of the FIA Single-Seater Commission, discusses the future of formula racing.

Video: Lunch with a trophy
Ferrari staff get up close and personal with the team's Winning Constructor trophy from the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Sauber F1 Cutaway (Click image to enlarge)