Latest F1 news in brief

Lauda told Rosberg to 'put the hammer down' and he did, turning a lap 3/10ths off fast time on 'rock-hard' tires

Alonso could spend second night in hospital
Drivers 'express themselves' by changing helmets
No manager makes Hamilton talks 'difficult'
2015 Renault is 'two thirds' new – Taffin
Lauda told Mercedes to 'put hammer down'
Midfield teams propose to be 'semi-constructors'
Ferrari 'fine' after Marchionne's revolution
Marchionne backs 2017 delay for F1 revolution

Alonso could spend second night in hospital

(GMM) Fernando Alonso could spend a second night in hospital, his manager Luis Garcia Abad has admitted.

The Spaniard is currently in a Barcelona hospital after a mysterious crash during the final day of the second 2015 winter test.

The cause of the crash has not been revealed by McLaren, triggering wild theories, including that he received an electric shock from Honda's troublesome KERS or he inhaled toxic fumes from a malfunctioning battery.

As for Alonso's condition, the 33-year-old was reported to have been initially unconscious, and then taken first by ambulance to the circuit medical centre, and later to a nearby hospital for what McLaren called "precautionary" checks.

Jordi Vidal, a trackside photographer, is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper: "Doctors tapped him on the helmet but he did not react. This lasted for about ten minutes."

Vidal captured images of Alonso sliding down the wall with the right side of his MP4-30 at a fairly low speed.

According to Spanish radio Cadena SER, the newspaper cited sources at the General Hospital de Catalunya who said Alonso arrived conscious and talking to doctors.

"We have the result of the CT scan and Alonso is uninjured and fine," a McLaren spokesman confirmed.

Team boss Eric Boullier added: "Fortunately he's fine, but he was concussed during the accident, which therefore required an overnight stay in hospital as a precaution."

The Frenchman also played down some of the wilder circulating rumours about the cause of the crash, with multiple sources confirming that although the crash may not have appeared overly heavy, it did trigger the FIA's 15G impact light.

Other reports, including the Spanish broadcaster Antena 3, indicated on-board data of up to a hefty 30G impact.

According to Italy's Autosprint, Alonso's trainer and assistant Fabrizio Borra admitted the driver had been "agitated" after the crash, causing medical staff to administer sedatives for his trip to hospital.

Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad, meanwhile, told Spanish language reporters in Barcelona that claims the driver was unwell when he stepped into the car are not true.

"The hit with the wall caused everything," he insisted.

"He is comfortable and calm, and it was a completely normal situation.

"He is going to be observed in hospital for 24 to 48 hours," he added.

"The important thing is that Fernando has always been conscious."

Asked if Alonso could miss the forthcoming Barcelona test, or the season opener in Melbourne, Abad insisted: "He's ok, I do not think there will be any problems.

"He's fine."

Drivers 'express themselves' by changing helmets

(GMM) F1 is robbing drivers of one of the last ways they can truly express themselves.

That is the claim of Jens Munser, a helmet livery painter made famous in recent years by the ever-changing colours worn by quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Last week, it emerged that, to help spectators better recognise their favourite drivers, the trend of constantly changing helmet liveries will now be banned.

Munser admits that he will now have more time on his hands in 2015.

"It is also taking away an opportunity for drivers to express themselves," he told Speed Week.

"You could say that they can still say what they want, but in formula one these days is that really possible anymore?"

Asked if there is anything he can do to tackle the new rule, Munser answered: "The question is how the rule will be interpreted.

"What is a design change — just one colour? And who is going to sit down and check everything before each race?

"If they need an expert, I will have a little more time on my hands," he laughed.

Munser was also asked if he intends to sue the FIA for loss of future wages.

"Ha! No, it's more on the fun side for me to do the designs for the drivers. It's not like we make a fortune from it.

"On the whole, formula one is not the way I make money, but it is true that it is good PR."

Finally, he responded to Felipe Massa's suggestion that the ban is good because a driver's helmet livery is like his "second face".

"He is not one of the drivers who keeps changing his design," Munser admitted.

"But from time to time he also had a special one, like when we did his last race for Ferrari.

"So he can't do that anymore, nor for a race like Monaco or a home race or a special occasion, like Jenson Button when he honoured his father with a pink helmet," he added.

Are contract negotiations between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton becoming a little contentious?

No manager makes Hamilton talks 'difficult'

(GMM) Lewis Hamilton's lack of a manager is making contract negotiations with the reigning world champion more difficult.

That is the admission of Toto Wolff, who after the split between Hamilton and his manager Simon Fuller is now having to tread the fine line between maintaining good relations with the British driver and negotiating hard.

Talks between Hamilton and Mercedes about a new deal beyond 2015 were thought to have accelerated recently at Jerez, but a few weeks later, a deal is still not done.

"It has been much more difficult," team boss Wolff smiled to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3, contrasting negotiations with a manager versus speaking directly to a driver.

"I cannot say to him … I do not want to say ugly words," the Austrian laughed.

"Lewis is part of the team and he has to stay motivated and in a good situation, so I have to choose my words carefully," Wolff added.

"He is a very smart guy. It is actually very good," he revealed, "and we do not have any pressure.

"We know what he wants and he knows what we want. In the end, we will find a common vision."

In the midst of the negotiations, Wolff 'rocked the boat' recently when he mentioned Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas as ideal alternatives to Hamilton.

"You must rock the boat all the time," said the Mercedes chief, "but in this case, no.

"I want to maintain a good relationship with Lewis, and so if you start to play negotiating games in the media, it is a recipe for disaster," said Wolff.

"I was asked who I would take if Lewis goes somewhere else, and I said that although it is not likely, in my opinion Fernando and Valtteri would be logical options.

"I said nothing more than that," Wolff insisted.

"If you trust your relationship, you do not need to play these games, even though this is a business."

2015 Renault is 'two thirds' new – Taffin

(GMM) Renault has been able to make a substantially new 'power unit' for 2015 after its disappointing start to the turbo V6 era.

That is the claim of the French marque's F1 operations chief Remi Taffin, who countered suggestions the so-called 'engine freeze' means that dominant Mercedes' advantage is now locked in for years.

"During the winter we have really been able to change everything we wanted to," the Frenchman told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

"The only limitation has been the number of parts, where the FIA has allocated a certain number of 'tokens' for what you want to change," he said.

It is well known that each of the 2014 manufacturers – Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari – are able to exchange up to 32 tokens in 2015, representing a total of 48 per cent of the entire power unit.

But Taffin explains that, in effect, the tokens equate to even more than that.

"For the existing manufacturers," he said, "we can change a lot of things, whether it is on the engine or the ERS system. In short, we can even build a completely new engine.

"You could say that, compared to last year, we have changed about two thirds of the parts, and certainly we will continue to progress throughout the season."

Lauda told Mercedes to 'put hammer down'

(GMM) After seven days of apparent sandbagging, did Mercedes finally let the cat out of the bag on Sunday?

Until now, it has been Ferrari's test pace at Jerez and now Barcelona that has appeared the most impressive, but many believe dominant 2014 champions Mercedes have been deliberately running with heavy fuel or de-rated power.

"I think at this time of year everyone is hiding," new Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel is quoted by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The ever plain-speaking Niki Lauda, though, is no fan of so-called sandbagging.

"I have asked my team to finally put the hammer down," the Mercedes team chairman and F1 legend is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick.

"We all want to know where we stand," he added.

Undoubtedly, the world of F1 did get an insight into the potential of the title-defending W06 at Barcelona on Sunday, as the second test concluded.

Lotus' Romain Grosjean was actually quickest, but the Frenchman was using the softest tyre on offer by Pirelli.

Just three tenths behind, Nico Rosberg's pace told an ominous tale, as the German had managed the pace on the medium-compound tyre.

"Pirelli estimates the difference between the compounds to be two seconds" per lap," said Sportv pundit Fabio Seixas.

After setting the eye-catching time, all Rosberg would admit is that Mercedes is in a "strong position".

He even denied that coming so close to Grosjean's soft-tyred pace was "impressive".

"Not according to our numbers," said Rosberg, "when we look at times from other days."

Was he referring to Ferrari, whose form so far in 2015 has been surprisingly good and consistent?

"Our pace looks good," Vettel admits, "and we should be able to strongly develop the car.

"Kimi (Raikkonen) tells me that this car is much better than last year's. But Mercedes does seem to be in front still."

F1's attention is now turning to the forthcoming final test of the winter, also to be held in Barcelona, before the grand prix action kicks off in Melbourne.

"I cannot wait to go to Australia," new Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene joked to Italy's Sky, "because it's cold here.

"Next week in Barcelona, weather permitting, everyone will be forced to get serious and then we will have an idea of how everyone is going.

"We are all eager to find out, but now we are following our programme and avoiding comparisons. We will see," he added.

The sport's economic model continues to be a source of concern for teams like Sauber.

Midfield teams propose to be 'semi-constructors'

(GMM) Three midfield teams have reportedly proposed that F1's rules be tweaked so that 'semi-constructors' are legal.

It recently emerged that the FIA had commissioned KcKinsey, a multinational consulting firm, to examine the finances of the nine F1 teams amid the apparent need for cost-cutting.

But the latest round of internal meetings within formula one showed that, at least among the most powerful teams, there is no mood for radical change.

"McKinsey spoke to all formula one teams, including Sauber, on behalf of the FIA," Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn confirmed to the Swiss newspaper Blick.

"As part of this interview, we disclosed very detailed information and suggestions that we had already come up with in the past with Lotus and Force India," she added.

"There were very concrete proposals in the areas where we see potential for savings," said Kaltenborn.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the major proposal was that teams like Sauber, Force India and Lotus be allowed to pool their resources and become known as a 'semi constructor'.

They would then share the design, wind tunnel and manufacturing costs to produce a standard car, and then go their separate ways to develop and race them.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the top teams rejected the idea.

Kaltenborn, though, insists there are very obvious ways in which F1 can reduce costs.

"I do not want to specify a number," she said, "but it is clear that we can still have a very good show for a lot less money."

The big obstacle, she admitted, is the big teams, leaving Kaltenborn far from optimistic that a solution can be found soon.

"If you look at the trend of recent years," she said, "then you cannot answer yes to this question."

Ferrari 'fine' after Marchionne's revolution

(GMM) So far, Sergio Marchionne's revolution is going exactly to plan.

Last year, as Ferrari badly faltered at the start of the new turbo V6 era, the Fiat Chrysler chief was the big mover behind a huge shakeup at Maranello.

And so Italian-Canadian Marchionne made a visit to the Barcelona test at the weekend amid suggestions Ferrari has already turned the tables with a much more competitive car for 2015.

"What we are seeing," he told Italian-language reports, "is the result of a team that now has clear objectives and the means to achieve them.

"It will take a bit of time, and even at the first race it will be difficult to determine what our car is really capable of," Marchionne insisted.

"We may have to wait until we return here (to Barcelona) for the (Spanish) grand prix."

Already, the media has hailed the arrival of Ferrari's charismatic new boss Maurizio Arrivabene, who replaced the unpopular and mysterious Marco Mattiacci.

Arrivabene duly gave an open and entertaining audience to the press in Barcelona.

"Yes," Marchionne confirmed, "we have to re-establish the relationship of trust and serenity because we had some years that were not the most fortunate.

"We have it all to do and we're building up, with the necessary humility," he said, "because we have nothing to be arrogant about."

Very promising, however, is the apparent promise of the new SF15-T car, in the hands of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

"I think it is giving results in line with what the engineers expected," said Marchionne, "but we need to wait for the races."

However, he admitted that 'iceman' Raikkonen's unusually smiling demeanour is a "huge step forward".

"I think an important thing was to convince the F1 Commission that the tokens could be used for the engine during the course of the season, according to our interpretation of the rules," he continued.

"It was a very important result."

Even more important, however, was to end the calamity of 2014 and steer Ferrari onto a unified road to the future.

"The team is fine," Marchionne said. "We understand where we are now, so the next thing is to understand where are our opponents."

Marchionne backs 2017 delay for F1 revolution

(GMM) Sergio Marchionne has backed the move to delay a technical revolution in formula one until 2017.

It had appeared that Ferrari was leading the charge for rapid change, when on the very day the F1 Commission met to vote on proposed changes for 2016, it published images of its radical-looking 'concept car'.

But Marchionne, the Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari president, told Italian-language reporters at the Barcelona test that he was actually not in favour of 1,000 horse power engines and radically different cars making their bow next year.

"Do not confuse what can be done in 2015 for 2016 and what can be done for 2017," he is quoted as saying.

"The changes for 2016 would have created big problems in the management both for us and for Mercedes," Marchionne insisted.

"We decided to address the matter of bigger tyres, wider cars and more powerful engines for 2017," he explained.

"The current regulations will remain valid also next year. To change the rules from scratch would have created huge problems.

"We should not mess around: these are bullets on the track and they are not invented overnight.

"It is easy to make changes on paper, but you have to make them work on the track," said Marchionne.

Finally, Marchionne explained the reasoning behind adding the iconic Alfa Romeo badge to the livery of this year's Ferrari.

"I was at the Ferrari museum," said the Italian-Canadian, "and you can see the story with a great closeness to Alfa Romeo."

Asked if the association between F1 and Alfa Romeo might be developed in the future, Marchionne added: "Maybe. Who knows. Anything is possible."