Latest F1 news in brief

Vettel: "I think pole position could have been in our grasp today."

Deputy PM says sanctions won't stop Russia GP
Grosjean slams Renault in Singapore qualifying
Ferrari wants three-car teams 'for the show'
Relaxing engine freeze talk 'nonsense' – Wolff
Vettel reckons pole position was possible
Hamilton: Rosberg relations 'back to normal'
Rosberg ruing late change of brakes
Alonso hopeful of fighting for victory

Deputy PM says sanctions won't stop Russia GP
(GMM) Russia is pressing ahead with its preparations for next month's inaugural grand prix in Sochi.

That is despite the highly controversial and divisive Ukraine crisis, the recent MH17 atrocity, and new anti-Russian punitive sanctions by the US and Europe.

In Sochi on Friday, Russian teen Sergey Sirotkin will drive the Sauber in practice, reportedly as part of the struggling Swiss team's 'Russian rescue deal' that may in fact have been heavily delayed over the past months.

Asked whether the more intense sanctions imposed by Europe had hurt the deal, team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said in Singapore: "It's not affecting it."

Also defiant in the face of the sanctions are the Russians themselves, who insist that the new facility at the former winter Olympic park is now ready for F1 mid next month.

"The sanctions will not affect the racing," deputy Russian prime minister Dmitry Kozak told the major news agency Itar Tass.

Also confident about Russia's inaugural race, to take place the week after the forthcoming Japanese grand prix, is Russian automobile federation chief Viktor Kiryanov.

He said: "The officials that were here a week ago said that the track is well prepared.

"There were small flaws, but the organizers have eliminated them and today I can say that we are ready for the grand prix in Sochi," Kiryanov announced.

Grosjean slams Renault in Singapore qualifying
(GMM) Romain Grosjean made his thoughts about Renault's below-par 2014 'power unit' more than clear as he bowed out in Singapore qualifying.

Despite the FIA clamping down on driver-related performance radio messages under the city-state's floodlights, no regulation stops a driver from venting his disgust at the misbehaving turbo V6 mounted in his black and gold Lotus.

"I cannot believe it," the Frenchman fumed over the radio after qualifying just sixteenth.

"Bloody engine, bloody engine. We break our balls for this?"

Told by the Lotus pitwall that he was suffering from the same turbo problem that had struck in practice, Grosjean hit back: "I don't care, I don't care — it's too much."

Explaining his frustration afterwards, Grosjean still sounded angry at Lotus' engine supplier Renault, amid speculation the team might lose the 28-year-old driver to a rival team for 2015.

It is also widely expected that Lotus, having struggled not only with the engine but also the troublesome E22 in 2014, will switch to industry-leading Mercedes power next year.

"In free practice these are things that can happen," Grosjean told RMC Sport, "but I think three fast laps in qualifying is not very complicated."

Also furious over the radio at the end of qualifying was championship leader Nico Rosberg, when he was told his arch-rival Lewis Hamilton had beaten him to pole by a mere 7 thousandths of a second.

"Damn it!" German Rosberg screamed on the radio.

Also unhappy was Dr Helmut Marko, who according to Bild newspaper had bet Mercedes' Niki Lauda that a Red Bull would split the two Mercedes in Singapore qualifying.

Admitting his obvious frustration and radio outburst, Rosberg explained: "Yeah, because 7 thousandths, you know? When I think back at the lap, it's nothing, like 'Come on!' — I could have done it."

Ferrari wants three-car teams 'for the show'
(GMM) Ferrari has split from the pack and declared its support for three-car teams in formula one.

Amid rumors up to three or four teams are in financial peril, Bernie Ecclestone said in Singapore that the sport would fill the grid gaps by requiring top teams to move from two to three-car operations as soon as 2015.

"We'll know after the next two or three races, but it (the three car plan) is being looked at," said the F1 supremo.

It is feared two-decade-old Sauber and backmarker Caterham are the most at risk of collapsing, but Marussia is also in obvious strife and reports of unpaid bills regularly emerge about the Lotus team.

Force India co-owners Vijay Mallya and the jailed Subrata Roy, meanwhile, are also having high-profile financial problems.

"I have asked them (title sponsor Sahara) if they would like to change the situation and they said no, they want to stay in," Mallya said in Singapore.

"I've always run and managed the team which is doing better than it ever has in its history and we're going forward from here," he insisted.

Also defiant in the face of the rumors is Sauber chief Monisha Kaltenborn, despite admitting Hinwil is grappling with its worst ever season in F1.

"We do get that question often and every time we say 'We'll be around'. I'm going to answer the same way — we'll be around next year as well," she said.

New Caterham chief Manfredi Ravetto also batted off the rumors, even though he said it is already a struggle "Just trying to keep it (the team) alive" in the wake of Tony Fernandes' mid-season exit.

"Of course we want to be on the grid in Melbourne next year — that is definitely our goal," he said.

If some teams do ultimately collapse, however, it is possible that three-car teams will be the solution to dwindling grid numbers.

Most team bosses are not keen.

"I hope it never comes to that," said Mallya.

It is expected that if the three-car solution is triggered by the grid dropping below 20 cars, it is the top teams like Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren that are most likely to add a third runner to their respective garages.

Dominant giant Mercedes, however, is not keen.

"For us, the cost would amount to around 32 million euros to have a third car," Toto Wolff is quoted by Speed Week.

His counterpart Eric Boullier, however, said McLaren would "maybe" run a third car "to keep the grid at a decent number".

But Ferrari has made clear it is more than happy with the idea of three cars bearing the fabled Prancing Horse logo running around the calendar next year.

"It's not about the survival of F1," a team spokesman told the Spanish sports daily AS, "but for the show.

"With all due respect, people would prefer to see three more Red Bulls, Ferraris and Mercedes than the other cars," he reportedly added.

Relaxing engine freeze talk 'nonsense' – Wolff
(GMM) Toto Wolff has declared Mercedes' obvious resistance to moves to relax F1's engine 'freeze'.

The German marque has utterly dominated in 2014, producing a clearly superior turbo V6 'power unit' than its engine rivals Renault and Ferrari.

Despite the fixed homologation of the power unit specification, the struggling suppliers can make substantial changes for 2015 in the form of a 'token' system that allows for an up to 48 per cent design overhaul.

But also being discussed is that, in the event of another situation like 2014 where one manufacturer is clearly ahead, engine makers have the opportunity to catch up mid-season.

"Formula one is not just about different engines," Monisha Kaltenborn, whose Sauber team uses the underpowered Ferrari power unit, said in Singapore.

"Engines do play a role there but the gap should not be that big."

It is believed the prospect of one in-season engine development push has been discussed by team bosses recently, with many other non-Mercedes teams also thinking it is a good idea.

For obvious reasons, the Mercedes runners are opposed.

"No!" said Claire Williams, whose Grove based team has emerged from a slump in 2014 after switching from Renault power.

"You have to enter the season with your race car and, if you haven't done a good enough job, then why change the regulations?" she added.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has the same attitude.

"The further development of engines is absolute nonsense," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"If you are not sorted out by the homologation of 28 February for the year, why should it be any different three months later?" he asked rhetorically.

Vettel reckons pole position was possible
Sebastian Vettel feels he could have had a shot at claiming pole position in Singapore with a cleaner final qualifying attempt.

The Red Bull driver had to settle for fourth in a hard-fought top 10 shootout, behind the Mercedes duo and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.

Just over two tenths separated Vettel and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.

"I'm not happy with that final lap, I was pushing a bit too hard and didn't get it all together," explained Vettel, reflecting on the session.

"I think pole position could have been in our grasp today."

"We'll hope to have a good race tomorrow, with good pit-stops and a good strategy and we'll see what we can do from there," the German added. "It's a long race, so we'll see how the tires work and what we can do."

Ricciardo, who edged Vettel to third by half a tenth, is even more optimistic of taking the fight to Mercedes.

"Coming into the weekend we thought that if we could be within two or three tenths then there was a realistic chance to stay with them in the race. We ended up closer to them than we thought in qualifying," he said.

Hamilton: Rosberg relations 'back to normal'
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton says that his relationship with team-mate Nico Rosberg is 'back to normal' following the pair's collision at the Belgian Grand Prix in August.

The title rivals made contact at Spa-Francorchamps, leading to a souring of relations, but Hamilton is sure that the dynamic between the two has improved.

Hamilton will start the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position, having edged out Rosberg by just 0.007s.

"[It's] nice and relaxed – nothing really different to be honest," he said when asked about the atmosphere within the Mercedes team.

"We went into Spa with the same kind of atmosphere. Of course, it was difficult after Spa but things feel like they're back to normal.

"We're just working away, pushing as hard as we can. We want to win and we're desperately trying to."

Rosberg currently leads Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship by 22 points.

Rosberg ruing late change of brakes
Nico Rosberg was left to rue a change of brakes after Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton beat him to pole position in Singapore.

Rosberg switched specification prior to qualifying, with Hamilton lapping just 0.007 seconds faster than him on the decisive Q3 runs.

Rosberg had topped Q2, but required two runs to do so, while Hamilton remained in the garage and saved a set of Super Soft tires.

"We changed the brakes going into qualifying. I got into rhythm with the other brakes, so it was a bit of a challenge," said Rosberg.

"It took me some time to get into qualifying, and the balance was different as the track had cooled down."

Rosberg was heard shouting "damn it!" over the radio after being informed that Hamilton had taken pole.

"Seven thousandths of a second, when I think back to the lap, is nothing," Rosberg went on to explain. "A bit more here or there and I could have done it, but Lewis did a good job to get pole, so fair play to him.

"Second place is OK. First place would be better, but there's a long race ahead and it is fine."

Rosberg leads Hamilton by 22 points in the championship standings heading into Sunday's race.

Alonso hopeful of fighting for victory
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso is hopeful that he will be able to challenge for victory during Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix.

Alonso was beaten by the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers in qualifying, but finished just 0.226 seconds slower than pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.

"Obviously we were competitive in free practice. In qualifying we seem to lose ground but today we remained competitive," said Alonso.

"It's a very good fifth, only two tenths from pole. It gives us a possibility to fight with the leaders; hopefully we can have a good opportunity."

Alonso's team-mate, Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen, had to settle for seventh after a car issue struck on his last Q3 run.

"We struggled a bit at the beginning of the weekend, but this morning we changed the car and it was to my liking," explained RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen, who had topped the timesheets in the opening phase of qualifying.

"Then we got hit by the problem. It's a shame as we could have done a good job today. It's racing and unfortunately it happens. We'll just try and sort it out and keep pushing and improving things."