Latest F1 news in brief

Lauda mocks Ferrari car

Lotus reveals 'intention' to keep Grosjean
F1 will respect Russia GP contract – Ecclestone
Germany could host two races per year again
Lauda apologizes for calling Ferrari car 'sh*t'
Ferrari F1 dream 'just a cliche' – Ricciardo
Bottas: Hungary not best circuit for our car
Red Bull rivals 'target' Vettel – Marko
Ferrari boss backs Raikkonen – but Alonso isn’t so kind
Wolff admits controversial double points system is unfair

Lotus reveals 'intention' to keep Grosjean
(GMM) Romain Grosjean could still be looking at a Lotus future beyond 2014.

At Hockenheim, the Enstone based team confirmed that Pastor Maldonado, backed by the powerful Venezuelan sponsor PDVSA, is staying put next year.

Frenchman Grosjean's prospects, however, looked less sure, as his manager Eric Boullier is now the boss at McLaren, and his backers Renault and Total could make way at Lotus for a new Mercedes partnership for 2015.

But Lotus deputy chief Federico Gastaldi said Grosjean, 28, might still be staying in black and gold for 2015.

"Let's be honest," he said. "Romain as a top, top driver is not happy with the 2014 season and this is mirrored by everyone at the team of course.

"We cannot confirm anything just yet as the timing will be right when we are both comfortable to announce something.

"All I can say is that it's certainly the intention for Romain to stay at Enstone and continue what has been a great partnership and working relationship," Gastaldi added.

F1 will respect Russia GP contract – Ecclestone
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has moved to dismiss doubts about this year's inaugural Russian grand prix.

In the wake of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 atrocity, pressure is falling on formula one to cancel its scheduled event at Sochi in October.

The Daily Mail said Mercedes, whose Malaysian sponsor Petronas has set up a fund for the families of the 298 victims, is privately 'uneasy' about attending an event so closely associated with Vladimir Putin.

But Bernie Ecclestone, who earlier this year revealed his "great admiration" for the controversial Russian president, insists: "I don't see any problem with going.

"We are not involved in politics. We have a contract with them. We'll respect it 100 per cent and so will Mr. Putin, I'm sure. He's been very supportive," the F1 chief executive added.

The Daily Mail quoted a FIA spokesman as saying that while the Paris federation is "awake to the situation", it did not want to "mix politics and sport".

Germany could host two races per year again
(GMM) Future F1 calendars could once again host two grands prix in Germany within a single season.

Recently, as it emerged the Nurburgring was close to a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone, it was said Hockenheim's F1 foray could end altogether.

Currently, the two German hosts alternate a single annual calendar spot.

Hockenheim reacted to the news of an annual Nurburgring deal with outrage, insisting it has a watertight contract for the alternating scheme through 2018.

Robertino Wild, chief of the Nurburgring's new owners Capricorn, has now responded by suggesting that Hockenheim's alternating scheme may need to be respected.

"Bernie Ecclestone and I want to complete the deal in the next few months which confirms formula one for the long-term at the Nurburgring," he told Auto Bild.

"This will be done taking into account the existing obligations, including with regard to the Hockenheimring," Wild added.

Lauda apologizes for calling Ferrari car 'sh*t'
(GMM) Niki Lauda has swiftly hit reverse, after using an expletive to describe the cars fielded in 2014 by Mercedes' grandee rivals McLaren and Ferrari.

"McLaren has the same engine as us and the car is sh*t," Mercedes' F1 chairman had told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"The same with Ferrari — another sh*t car," the former Ferrari champion added.

After the publication of his blunt assessment, Lauda has now apologized privately and publicly to Ferrari.

"I apologize to Ferrari, to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and to the Italian fans. I should not have used that word," the great Austrian told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I was wrong and I do not make excuses. I called the president to explain my dismay," Lauda added.

"I have not seen the interview in the Spanish daily, but I was too heavy with my words — forgive me."

Lauda also told the German newspaper Bild: "I explained to him (Montezemolo) and he understood. We have known each other for so long.

"I was asked a question about the difference between Mercedes and McLaren and Ferrari.

"I explained that Mercedes is simply the best combination of good car with the best engine, that McLaren also has the best engine but the car is not so good.

"And Ferrari has weaknesses on both sides," he added.

But Lauda made a point of saying Mercedes continues to regard Ferrari as a worthy opponent, particularly ahead of this weekend's Hungarian grand prix.

"I am even worried about the Ferraris in Budapest," he said, "because they have come much closer to us in the last races.

"Also Red Bull, who have a perfect car and only problems with the engine. But at the right moment also Ferrari can catch us on the wrong foot, as they are more dangerous than we thought before," Lauda insisted.

Also in the pages of La Gazzetta, Lauda made clear he actually does not regard Ferrari as having produced merely a "sh*t car".

"I have noticed at Hockenheim a Ferrari in progress," he said, "and I'm amused to see Fernando Alonso in the duels he has been in.

"I hope Kimi Raikkonen can recover, as he is a champion in a position that he does not belong."

As for Mercedes, Lauda sees the outcome of the 2014 championship as a straight fight between teammates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

"Lewis was unlucky at Hockenheim but drove a great race anyway, while Nico had obviously an easier time and won.

"The championship will be decided by the alternating fortunes and misfortunes of our two drivers. But the others are approaching and I understand that Ferrari will soon be very dangerous for everyone, starting with us," he added.

Ferrari F1 dream 'just a cliche' – Ricciardo
(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo insists he does not feel the famous lure of Maranello.

Although born and raised in Australia, the impressive 25-year-old's father is from Sicily.

But when asked by the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport if driving for Ferrari is the ultimate 'dream', Ricciardo – who rose through the ranks of the energy drink Red Bull's junior program – gave a surprising answer.

"To be honest I think this is just a cliche," said Ricciardo, whose family has always pronounced its Italian-sounding surname as 'Ric-ardo'.

"For sure some drivers have this dream," he admitted, "but I think it's related to the fact that their parents loved Ferrari for its great history and cultural heritage.

"My Italian DNA definitely comes out in my eating," Ricciardo grinned his customary grin. "I love Italian food, especially when I am training hard and can eat properly."

So rather than dreaming of Ferrari, Ricciardo told the Italian news agency Adnkronos that he is more than enjoying his first year with Red Bull's premier team.

"I was hoping for a year like this," he said. "I knew that if I did everything right, it was possible to fight on equal terms with Sebastian (Vettel).

"I think I've started the year very well, so the goal is just to keep doing what I'm doing."

As for the ever-controversial format of today's formula one, Ricciardo said that while some have been highly critical, he is enjoying 2014.

"You can't please everyone," he said. "If someone thinks it's boring you have to understand that.

"But I think it's a sport and really nice and exciting and I love to see the enthusiasm of the fans at the grands prix," Ricciardo insisted.

Bottas: Hungary not best circuit for our car
Valtteri Bottas has admitted he might struggle to get on the podium again this weekend in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Bottas has taken three rostrums in as many races and was runner-up in Germany on Sunday, but is not so confident heading to Budapest.

Indeed he has confirmed the track probably won't suit Williams, although the team will debut some updates in a bid to improve the performance of the FW36 in high downforce spec.

"Budapest is the last race before the summer break and we are aiming for a good result there so we head into the holidays with a good feeling," he said.

"We know it's not the best circuit for our car but we are working on getting more grip in the corners and we have some upgrades that should help as well."

Team-mate Felipe Massa shares the same concerns but despite miserable luck this season he remains hopeful.

"Hungary is a track where a good power unit is a little less important. Aerodynamics play a higher part and getting good downforce for the corners is vital," he explained.

"We have worked hard to get the car ready for this type of circuit and if that has all worked we should still be competitive."

Red Bull rivals 'target' Vettel – Marko
(GMM) McLaren and Mercedes have targeted Sebastian Vettel, the German magazine Sport Bild reported on Wednesday.

The sport said Mercedes sees the reigning world champion as a potential new teammate for fellow German Nico Rosberg beyond 2015, after Lewis Hamilton's current contract expires.

And Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, who has Vettel under contract until the end of next year, said McLaren has made the four-time title winner an "outrageously" high offer.

"Of course they target him," Marko added.

Fascinatingly, Mercedes' Toto Wolff did not deny the German marque might be interested in Vettel.

"This world is too competitive to want to go into our plans in the public," he said.

"We are talking about a handful of top drivers. All the best teams fight over them.

"We try to build a picture of how the market moves until we come to our decisions," Wolff added.

Ferrari boss backs Raikkonen – but Alonso isn’t so kind
Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci has backed his driver Kimi Raikkonen amidst the Finn’s continuing struggles.

Raikkonen has been roundly beaten by team-mate Fernando Alonso this season. The Spaniard, who is 8-2 up in qualifying and has finished all 10 races ahead of the 2007 World Champion, sits fourth in the drivers’ standings on 97 points, while Raikkonen is languishing in 12th on just 19.

Following last weekend’s German Grand Prix – which saw Alonso finish fifth while Raikkonen came home 11th and a lap down – the Spanish driver directed a thinly-veiled criticism at his teammate.

"We have only been able to count on one car again," he said after the Hockenheim contest, “and we have to improve on that."

However Ferrari boss Mattiacci, who took the role following Stefano Domenicali’s resignation in April, has now publicly backed the Finn.

"Kimi is the driver that we need – we need to make more points, but he's the driver that we need," said Mattiacci this week.

"I think he knows what he can do better. He's a professional driver, he won a world championship with Ferrari; he's motivated, he knows his area of improvement.

"He sees Fernando ahead, he sees that it is tough and it's a tough moment, but we are all together in this."

Mattiacci concluded with a reassuring statement for the Finn: "He has the utmost confidence and support from Ferrari," said the Scuderia boss.

34-year-old Raikkonen is currently on his longest run without a podium since his maiden season with the Sauber team in 2001, having completed 13 races since his last top-three finish. Should he fail to stand on the rostrum at the next five events he will break that record.

Wolff admits controversial double points system is unfair
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said that Formula One's controversial double points system is "unfair" and that the sport's team should not have allowed its introduction.

In a post-Hockenheim debrief, Wolff continued his weekend comments on the low turnout at the German GP (where a crowd of approximately 50,000 watched the race), saying that the sport needs to heed the opinions of fans regarding certain developments in F1.

"We have to understand the fans and their criticism of certain aspects of the sport," he told Mercedes' website. "Should we have agreed to double points? No, we shouldn't have."

Expanding on the theme, Wolff said: "I would be very surprised if [the championship battle] didn't come down to the infamous double points race in Abu Dhabi. Even if one driver is 30 points behind, he can turn that deficit around if the other car retires.

"I don't think it's fair and I don't think we should be doing it from a sporting perspective. But from the view of the commercial rights holder, whose interests lie in selling sponsorship and growing TV audiences, the system works."

The Mercedes boss added that should the title be awarded thanks to the controversial system, it may affect the championship runner-up badly.
"Of course, if a driver wins the Championship on double points he won't care how it happened," added Wolff. "But the one who loses may need psychological treatment afterwards!"

Wolff said that the low crowd figure for the German GP was "a real shame", but he insisted that Formula One "is getting it right" in terms of the spectacle being offered to fans.

"To be honest I'm not really sure [why the figure was low] because this is not the first great race we have had this season," he said. "The last couple of rounds in particular have been great to watch, with lots of overtaking everywhere on the circuit. It's been mega sport, with some spectacular moments and great racing. I think this shows that Formula One is in really good shape.

"It's important we understand the big picture, as from the sporting side I think all of us are getting it right," he added. "We have to properly analyses why there were not more spectators in Hockenheim, as it was a real shame. I'm not a marketing expert in terms of why we may or may not have a particular moment behind the sport or a particular sportsperson. Having a local hero definitely helps a lot. Viewers switch on because they want to see their heroes compete – for them it's all about the drivers and this is one of the appeals of the sport.

"The situation is far more complex than that, though. I think people have far more options in terms of how they can follow the sport than they had 10 or 15 years ago. Back then you wouldn't open up the internet and have everything available to you instantly like you do now. Perhaps this has an influence, but unfortunately I don't have the answer.

Regarding taking fans' concerns into account, Wolff insisted that Formula One "does not need a revolution".

"As team members we must be careful without opinion on these things," he said. "We are running teams and this is what we understand. Bernie is running the show and there is nobody better out there to do this [than him]. We've had good conversations about it over the last few days and we are going to have more opportunities to give our input but it is not our role to give an opinion on matters such as ticket prices and we shouldn't try to interfere.

"There are many things to look at but Formula One definitely does not need a revolution. This should be an evolutionary process. We need to be open to all opinions and help to shape the direction of the sport moving forwards. As a group the teams talked the sport down at the beginning of the year, so in a way many of us are to blame." James Allen on F1