Latest F1 news in brief

1977 USGP, Andretti passes Jody Scheckter for lead and win

Austin says Vettel qualifying absence 'unfortunate'
Collapsing F1 teams 'made mistakes' – Haas
Sainz must wait another month for Toro Rosso news
Prost doubts Renault can catch Mercedes in 2015
Fry says Ferrari needs to improve in 'all areas'
USGP memories: Battle for the lead, 1977 Long Beach

Austin says Vettel qualifying absence 'unfortunate'
(GMM) Organizers of the US grand prix say world champion Sebastian Vettel's absence from qualifying this weekend is "unfortunate".

The Red Bull driver will sit out Saturday's decisive session and start the Austin race from the pitlane, as he takes a penalty for using an unscheduled sixth engine of the 2014 season.

German Vettel has slammed the long-life engine rule in F1, resulting in his situation, as "completely stupid".

"The people turn on the television and see a driver who just stands around and has nothing to do," he said.

Already reeling from the sudden loss of F1's two backmarker teams just ahead of the race weekend, the Austin circuit's co-founder Bobby Epstein is also upset that one of F1's biggest names will not be qualifying on Saturday.

"It's just too bad," he is quoted by the Guardian. "I would like to see him (Vettel) start on the grid on Sunday.

"It won't affect our ticket sales because most of the people come here for the overall experience but it's nevertheless unfortunate," Epstein added.

F1's loss of Marussia and Caterham, amid the risk other struggling teams could also collapse, has triggered the next round of soul-searching for the sport.

Epstein thinks formula one could learn from America's top motor racing category, NASCAR.

"F1 has got to make the sport about personalities. That's what NASCAR does very well," he said.

"People connect with people. They don't connect with metal."

Collapsing F1 teams 'made mistakes' – Haas
(GMM) As F1's two backmarker teams collapse, 2016 newcomer Haas' plans continue to take shape.

The teams that were ultimately known as Caterham, Marussia and HRT are all now gone, but NASCAR team co-owner Gene Haas is determined not to make the same mistakes as his North Carolina based Haas F1 Team takes its next bold steps.

"They wound up making a lot of mistakes," the Californian told CNN. "Inevitably they didn't have the resources, or the cars weren't properly put together, because they rushed things."

Rushing is something Haas is not doing, having turned down the chance to debut in 2015. The year after, the team will debut with Ferrari support and power.

"We'd be very proud to be a Ferrari 'B' team because that would certainly teach us how to run in formula one," said Haas, 61, whose successful machine tool company is already an on-car Ferrari sponsor.

Haas has now announced that it has signed up Adam Jacobs, who managed the Budweiser sponsorships in NASCAR, to be chief marketing officer.

"It's a great opportunity to develop and launch a global brand in an organization led by someone as driven and accomplished as Gene Haas," said Jacobs.

Haas, meanwhile, says he has no regrets about starting a team just as some sections of the media are declaring that F1 is on the brink of a financial crisis.

"It was insane the number of people coming by saying 'Great to know you, great to know you're involved in formula one'," he told USA Today, recalling a recent visit to a Chicago trade show.

"Everybody sees we're aligning ourselves with (the) ultimate motor sports project."

Gene has declared that his ideal 2016 driver lineup would be an experienced F1 driver alongside an American.

"Even in the NASCAR garage," the co-owner of the Stewart-Haas team smiled, "most of the drivers now are shaking my hand. I think they're interested."

Nonetheless, he also understands the skepticism, particularly with F1's three newest teams all now out of business, and the last attempt by an American team – USF1 – having never even turned a wheel.

"There's good reason to doubt it — it's a big undertaking," said Haas.

"Lots of people before us have failed. It's a natural skepticism. That's just a natural human trait not to believe it until you see it."

Sainz must wait another month for Toro Rosso news
(GMM) An increasingly impatient Carlos Sainz Jr says he will have to wait another month for Red Bull to decide his future in formula one.

"After what we have achieved this year," the new Formula Renault 3.5 champion told Spain's Marca, "there is no alternative choice for me other than formula one."

20-year-old Sainz was openly disappointed when Red Bull picked the 17-year-old F3 sensation Max Verstappen for his Toro Rosso debut in 2015.

Now, the son of world rally legend Carlos Sainz is hoping Red Bull selects him over Jean-Eric Vergne for the second seat at Faenza, after Daniil Kvyat was called up to replace the suddenly-departing Sebastian Vettel.

"Unfortunately we are still waiting," said Sainz Jr. "It will be within a month or so, when the F1 season ends.

"But I would prefer to have the news as soon as possible, whether good or bad, because it is a difficult situation," he added.

The young Spaniard is referring to the fact that, when the Verstappen news first emerged, he began to wonder if he should be looking around for an alternative seat for his F1 debut, despite the energy drink Red Bull's long support.

"Honestly, two months ago I had that option, but now as the Toro Rosso decision is closer, other options are increasingly distant, because they (other teams) are closing doors, closing contracts," Sainz added.

He said Dr Helmut Marko – Red Bull's ultimate F1 decision-maker – phoned recently to congratulate him on his 2014 title.

"He gave congratulations," said Sainz, "but he said they had not decided everything yet and they would tell me something later."

Alain Prost

doubts Renault can catch Mercedes in 2015
(GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost doubts struggling engine supplier Renault can catch dominant Mercedes in 2015.

Having faltered at the start of the new turbo V6 era, Renault – whose prominent F1 partner is the outgoing world champion team Red Bull – can upgrade its 2014 engine to the tune of 48 per cent under the existing 'freeze' regulations.

But Mercedes' rivals are arguing for the 'freeze' to be further relaxed.

"It will be hard for them (Renault) to catch up with Mercedes," quadruple world champion Prost, a Renault ambassador, told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"But it also depends on whether there is a change in the development timetable (the engine freeze) by the FIA.

"A total freeze as it is now is synonymous with stagnation," Prost argued. "But just opening up everything is too expensive. A good compromise is needed.

"We should not make a final judgment about Renault until next year," he added.

At the same time, Prost thinks it is understandable that Renault fell behind Mercedes just as the rules changed so dramatically, given Red Bull's run of title domination at the end of the V8 era.

"It was almost inevitable that Mercedes would start with an advantage," he said.

"Last season I was saying that it would be hard to beat them as they started developing much earlier.

"Renault was always defending a world title in the last years," Prost explained, "while Mercedes was able to concentrate fully on the new project."

Pat Fry

Fry says Ferrari needs to improve in 'all areas'
Ferrari Engineering Director Pat Fry says the team needs to improve in "all areas" with the design of its 2015 Formula 1 contender, as a tough campaign draws to a close.

The outfit has recorded just two podium finishes in the first season of the sport's new turbocharged era, while it has not won a race since last year's Spanish Grand Prix.

With three rounds remaining, Ferrari holds fourth position in the championship standings on 188 points, 28 adrift of third-placed Williams.

"Certainly, our knowledge and understanding has come on a huge amount," Fry told the official Ferrari website, reflecting on the season so far.

"It's also clear, comparing us to our competitors, exactly where we need to improve. We need to work on all areas of the car and we've set ourselves some strong targets for power unit and aerodynamic development, both of which are key.

"We have to reach those targets to be competitive and that is the main focus at the factory now, as it will be for the next five months."

Fry added that Ferrari will bring various development parts to this weekend's United States Grand Prix.

"After the back-to-back races in Japan and Sochi, we've had three weeks to prepare for these next back-to-backs in the States and Brazil. The extra week has given us more time to get ready and also to prepare some specific test items," he explained.

"They are all aimed at learning about car performance and trying to improve, but at this stage of the year, it's more with an eye to 2015."

USGP memories: Battle for the lead, 1977 Long Beach
Relive the lead battle between Jody Scheckter, Mario Andretti and Niki Lauda during the 1977 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach. With Scheckter's right-front tire slowly deflating, Andretti pounced to become the first (and so far only) American to win an F1 race on home soil, while Lauda also demoted the South African.