Latest F1 news in brief

Sirotkin confident of 2015 F1 debut

F1 told to be 'silent' during Russian anthem
Mercedes poised to win constructors' title
F1 to test yellow flag speed limits in Austin
Sirotkin confident of 2015 debut
Vettel as Ferrari teammate would be 'nice' – Raikkonen
Verstappen with Vergne 'makes sense' for 2015 – Tost
Mercedes not backing down amid 'unfreeze' pressure
Rosberg: Hamilton quicker all weekend
Alonso says eighth represents maximum from lowly Ferrari

F1 told to be 'silent' during Russian anthem
(GMM) Drivers and team personnel have been ordered to fall silent when the Russian anthem is played on the Sochi grid later on Sunday.

British reports claim the edict, delivered by controversial Russian president Vladimir Putin's friend Bernie Ecclestone, is "unprecedented" in F1 history.

The email addressed to teams from Ecclestone's FOM company said there should be "total silence" on the grid when the anthem is played.

"It has been alleged that formula one is one of the most ill-mannered sports in relation to the national anthem and complaints from fans, public, and political institutions are now too heavy to ignore," it added.

Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper said Putin will be on the grid on Sunday, with his visit to the inaugural grand prix accompanied by unprecedented security measures and reportedly 30 personal bodyguards.

The newspaper also claimed Putin had asked F1 authorities if he could present the trophies on the podium "behind bulletproof glass".

Meanwhile, it is believed F1 drivers are pushing for a further period of silence on the grid to honor their colleague Jules Bianchi, who is fighting for his life in a Japanese hospital.

Mercedes poised to win constructors' title
(GMM) Mercedes is expected to wrap up the constructors' world championship in Russia later on Sunday.

With Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg locking out the front row of the grid, the team needs a 25-point haul to guarantee the title with three races to spare.

"It's quite a historic moment," pole sitter Hamilton said, "it will be a historic moment for us and for me to be a part of this team's success."

Rosberg added: "I've been there since day one and it's very, very exciting to think that we're so close to that (title) now."

Team boss Toto Wolff admitted on Saturday that he began to think the constructors' title was now inevitable after the Japanese grand prix last week.

"I'm actually a pessimist," he told Auto Motor und Sport, "but after the double victory in Japan, I must say that it is barely possible anymore to get this out of our hands."

As for the remaining target, the drivers' crown, German Rosberg acknowledged on Saturday that with Hamilton having won the last three grands prix on the trot, the Briton has once again had the upper hand in Russia.

"Today Lewis was quicker," he said on Saturday, "all weekend really.

"Every race is important at the moment. We have four to go," Rosberg, who is now 10 points behind Hamilton, added.

F1 to test yellow flag speed limits in Austin
(GMM) F1 looks set to test new software and procedures next time out in Austin that will automatically limit the speed of the cars through double waved yellow flag zones.

It is the governing FIA's reaction to Jules Bianchi's life-threatening collision with a recovery vehicle at Suzuka a week ago, when the Frenchman lost control of his Marussia despite the waving of yellow flags.

But it seems the drivers themselves have also been at the centre of the proposed solution, with Fernando Alonso telling Italy's Autosprint that "I was the one who raised the issue" with Charlie Whiting earlier in Russia.

"It seems to be a feasible idea," said the Spaniard.

"In indoor karting, the management can limit the speed of all the competitors by pressing a button."

Fellow Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen agreed: "As long as it's the same for everyone, I don't see any problem with it."

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims that Whiting met with team bosses on Saturday and said a proposed solution is to mandate a minimum 'delta time' through yellow flag zones that drivers will have the responsibility to obey.

But F1's swift reaction to the Bianchi crash does not mean the FIA has escaped criticism.

Bernie Ecclestone had earlier called for an independent investigation, but La Stampa correspondent Stefano Mancini said: "It was hard to imagine that, in investigating himself, Charlie Whiting would have recognized (the FIA) had taken dangerous decisions (in Japan)."

And F1 legend Alain Prost told France's RMC: "I don't want to argue with the FIA, because I have too much respect for everything that has been done for safety.

"But if there was one area where we knew there was something still to be done, this was it.

"So I am not convinced (by the investigation), but (I say that) without controversy," Prost added.

"In extreme circumstances, you should have zero risk. That is why I cannot be totally convinced."

Sirotkin confident of 2015 debut
(GMM) Sergey Sirotkin is suddenly sounding confident he will make his F1 debut in 2015.

The Russian teen had his maiden Friday practice outing on home soil at Sochi, declaring afterwards that his pace relative to Adrian Sutil had surprised him.

"I did not attack 100 per cent," Sirotkin told Russia's Championat. "I was not even close to the limit.

"It means the summit is not as high as I had thought. I feel like I am more than ready for next year."

Sirotkin's comments follow boss Monisha Kaltenborn's claim earlier this weekend that she was set for revived talks at Sochi over Sauber's so-called 'Russian rescue deal'.

Speaking about his prospects for 2015, Sirotkin admitted: "It is very positive.

"I still cannot officially say what will happen next, but the chances are very good. I think that it will not be long until there will be an official announcement," he added.

Vettel as Ferrari teammate would be 'nice' – Raikkonen
(GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has admitted it would be "nice" if he is paired at Ferrari with Sebastian Vettel next year.

The Finn said in Russia that he has heard the same rumors as the rest of the F1 paddock — that outgoing world champion Vettel's Red Bull exit means he is replacing Fernando Alonso at Maranello in 2015.

Although he has underperformed this season, Raikkonen has a contract to stay at Ferrari next year.

"I don't know if he (Vettel) is coming to the team," the 34-year-old told Russia's Championat.

"There are a lot of rumors, people expect it to happen, but I don't know yet," said Raikkonen.

"He is my closest friend among the drivers, a very honest and straightforward guy.

"I've never worked with him, but he's four-time world champion, he is certainly good in every area. We'll see how everything goes," the 2007 world champion added.

"It would be nice if he would come," said Raikkonen. "I think it will bring a good atmosphere to the team.

"I hope that together, if he does come, we can achieve good results. But I don't know anything.

"Like you, I just read about it in the news," he insisted.

Verstappen with Vergne 'makes sense' for 2015 – Tost
(GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne is now a hot contender to keep his seat at Toro Rosso next year.

The Red Bull-owned team earlier announced the Frenchman's impending departure, to make room for the teenage sensation Max Verstappen in 2015.

But Verstappen's scheduled 2015 teammate, the impressive Russian Daniil Kvyat who qualified a sensational fifth on home soil at Sochi on Saturday, is now heading to Red Bull's main team next year to replace departing Sebastian Vettel.

Spanish rookie Carlos Sainz Jr was initially the favorite to replace Kvyat at Toro Rosso, but that would leave the Faenza team with two inexperienced and young rookies in 2015.

When asked about Sainz's obvious candidature on Friday, Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost answered: "There are also other drivers."

The first he named was 24-year-old Vergne, who Tost pointed out "is an experienced driver".

And now, to the German-language Speed Week, Tost has added: "Vergne has collected a lot of experience, has put in a good performance.

"To be there at the side of the young Max Verstappen probably makes the most sense," the Austrian reportedly said.

However, as Tost already pointed out on Friday, "Red Bull will decide" who gets the seat "within the next weeks".

Mercedes not backing down amid 'unfreeze' pressure
(GMM) Mercedes is unlikely to back down amid pressure from F1 rivals to agree to relax the current engine 'freeze'.

Christian Horner, boss of the works Renault-powered team Red Bull, said earlier in Russia that Mercedes initially agreed to the proposed 'unfreeze' but then went back on its word.

"In Singapore the teams unanimously agreed on a position and then, I think, subsequently from that meeting, Mercedes changed their position," Horner said.

After that, the majority of those in the F1 strategy group voted for the 'unfreeze' and so it will now be sent to the F1 Commission for ratification.

But without dominant Mercedes and the marque's customer-powered teams also on board, the changes will not be allowed in 2015.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes' motor sport boss, said in Russia on Saturday: "We have already stated our position at the meeting of the strategy group, and in the coming months our position will not change."

The Austrian said Mercedes' position is not because the team is so dominant at the start of the new turbo V6 era, but because "formula one needs stability".

"It would be very easy to just block everything from our position of strength, but we have a different approach," Wolff insisted.

"There are rules, there are procedures so that we do not make hasty decisions that may lead to destabilization.

"I am deeply convinced that you cannot change the rules in October just because they do not suit you," he added.

Wolff argues that allowing in-season engine development will drive up costs, perhaps even most of all for Mercedes.

He hit back at Ferrari's claim that allowing the 'unfreeze' will not cost any more.

"If you make a new version of the engine by the end of June or the beginning of July, then the process of development happens twice per year, not once.

"I don't know how Ferrari has done their calculations, but perhaps we should give them a calculator. It is impossible that it does not cost more," said Wolff.

"We (Mercedes) supply engines to three customers as well as our own team," he also explained. "We need to produce and supply all of them with the same power unit.

"It is a different situation to Honda, who have only one team, or Ferrari with two, though it is unclear what will happen next year," Wolff said.

"We are also in a different situation to Renault.

"This subject will be conducted at the level of the F1 Commission and I think it is quite understandable that there is no consensus just three months before the start of the new season," he insisted.

Rosberg: Hamilton quicker all weekend
Nico Rosberg says he had no answer to the pace of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in Saturday's Russian Grand Prix qualifying session, admitting that the title leader has been faster "all weekend".

Rosberg topped Friday's first practice session in Sochi but has since struggled to match Hamilton, who beat him to pole by two tenths.

"Today Lewis was quicker, all weekend actually," said Rosberg after qualifying, going on to state: "[During the race] tomorrow I will have to try to get close to him, but I didn't manage to get closer than two tenths."

Rosberg says he is also wary of the threat posed by third-placed Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, who had a shot at pole before making a mistake.

"I also had Bottas coming quick behind me, so I need to keep an eye on that," the German went on to explain.

"But the front row is good and there is hardly any tire degradation because the track is so smooth on the tires."

Mercedes will secure the Constructors' title if Rosberg and Hamilton score 25 points in Sunday's race.

Alonso says eighth represents maximum for lowly Ferrari
Fernando Alonso says he achieved the maximum by qualifying in eighth position for Sunday's Russian Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom.

The Ferrari driver wound up over a second adrift of Lewis Hamilton's pole-sitting Mercedes in the final shootout phase, while he was also out-qualified by Williams, McLaren, Toro Rosso and Red Bull cars.

"So far here, we have not been competitive, even though the car seems OK and on the set-up front, we've changed almost nothing," said Alonso.

"We can't single out any particular bad point because we are losing in all the sectors. The truth is just that the cars ahead of us were quicker."

Alonso reckons the start and opening lap will be of even greater importance on Sunday, with low degradation levels and a reduced pit lane speed limit suggesting that drivers will look towards a one-stop strategy.

"The grip seems to improve with every lap and on top of that, reducing the pit lane speed to 60 km/h all points to a one-stop strategy," he said. "Even if the Safety Car could mix things up a bit, I think the start and first corner could define the outcome of the race, so we must prepare to tackle the early stages as well as possible."

Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen was just six hundredths of a second slower than Alonso in ninth and, although disappointed with the overall result, he says he has been encouraged by the progress made since Friday's opening session.

"After a difficult Friday, things went better today. The car has improved a lot thanks to a series of changes that worked," the Finn commented. "We can't claim to have ended up where we would have liked, but compared to the start of the weekend, we have made a step forward and this makes me confident for the race."

Both Alonso and RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen move up the grid as a result of Kevin Magnussen's gearbox penalty.