Latest F1 news in brief – Friday (Update)
02/21/14
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The Mercedes powered cars remain fastest in F1 testing…..for now Red Bull 'has lots of problems' – Vettel
- 'New' F1 already catching up with V8 era speed
- F1 protest threat hangs over Melbourne opener
- Williams to show Martini livery on March 6
- Clouds still gathering over Ecclestone's reign
- Pic 'expects' Friday work with Lotus in 2014
- Boullier says he is McLaren 'team principal'
- Ecclestone: I answered truthfully New
- Horner: Energy recovery behind Red Bull testing woes New
Red Bull 'has lots of problems' – Vettel
(GMM) World champion Sebastian Vettel finally managed some laps but at a sluggish pace on Thursday as Red Bull's pre-season crisis continues.
His tally of 59 laps in the troubled Renault-powered RB10 ended fears Adrian Newey's latest creation might never run at all, but he was more than five seconds off the pace set by Kevin Magnussen in the McLaren.
"We still have lots of problems – large and small – that we need to fix," Vettel is quoted by the German newspaper Die Welt.
Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko admitted that the task now achieved was simply to get the RB10 to work, and that on Thursday the car "was just rolling around".
Vettel is quoted by Bild newspaper: "The lap times are not the best, but the first thing was to get the car running."
The reigning quadruple world champion, who won the last 9 races of 2013 on the trot, is now returning to Europe, with teammate Daniel Ricciardo now to complete the first week of running in Bahrain.
Ahead of his turn in the RB10, Australian Ricciardo was his usual positive self in the midst of what many are calling the Red Bull 'crisis'.
"We are not halfway through testing yet, there's still seven days, which is a lot," he told Australian media Fairfax.
"Then we have got Melbourne and even if – and this is just me talking – even if the first six races don't go to plan, there's still 13 or 14 left," he insisted.
Gamblers would currently be putting their title money on Mercedes.
"They are strong, no doubts," said Ferrari's Fernando Alonso on Thursday.
"But this is (only) a test," the Spaniard insisted. "You don't really know how much fuel the cars have, how is the usage of the tires etcetera at the moment.
"So it's not a worry," said Alonso.
And he thinks the most important thing in Melbourne next month will be reliability, not performance.
"To have the fewest problems and to finish will almost guarantee a good result," he told Spanish-language reporters in Bahrain.
And a source told a Spanish sports daily that Ferrari – and probably other top teams as well – is keeping its full performance up its sleeve for now.
"The fact that Mercedes looks strong was expected, it's no accident," said Alonso, "but we also feel good.
"And I also think that Red Bull will be very strong in Australia."
But Red Bull team boss Christian Horner agrees with Alonso that Mercedes is currently leading the pack.
"They've done an impressive job," he told the BBC. "You'd have to say they look the favorites.
"They're doing mileage, running round competitively and they're in a strong position if the race was tomorrow. Thankfully, the race isn't tomorrow."
McLaren, despite its 2013 troubles, is another Mercedes-powered team that is looking strong ahead of the new season.
Danish rookie Magnussen's best time on Thursday was just 2.5 seconds shy of the Bahrain pole last year.
"He seemed to be pretty fast, yes," agreed Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg. "But lap times are not really on our radar right now."
Faring less well in Bahrain this week is Lotus, who after sitting out the opening test at Jerez are now struggling simply to run the Renault-powered E22.
"Renault I think can say more about it," said Romain Grosjean when asked why his program on Thursday was limited to just 18 laps, "but some things we need to take the blame for as well."
Lotus team bosses have insisted the decision to sit out Jerez was right, but Grosjean admitted to Auto Motor und Sport that running in Spain "would have helped a bit".
"But now it's just the way it is," he added.
"Our day of filming at Jerez worked very well and we thought everything was fine, but here we have had some things that have needed hours to fix.
"It was a surprise that we could have done without."
'New' F1 already catching up with V8 era speed
(GMM) Fears that the pace of second-tier GP2 cars could overtake formula one in 2014 are now easing.
After the opening test of the all-new V6 'power unit' era at Jerez recently, Jenson Button warned that GP2 will run F1 close on some circuits this year.
But in Bahrain on Thursday, Button's new rookie teammate Kevin Magnussen surprised the entire paddock with his best lap of just under 1m35 — a shade over 2.5 seconds shy of Nico Rosberg's V8-powered 2013 pole position.
Afterwards, Magnussen said: "I never believed that we would be five seconds slower than last year.
"It won't be too long until we have caught up with the old formula one," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
Williams' Valtteri Bottas agreed: "By the end of the year we will be at 2013 pace — for sure we are not as slow as GP2!"
Many paddock figures are now wondering what the works Mercedes cars might be capable of if – like Magnussen's McLaren – they pushed hard with a fresh set of super-soft tires.
Mercedes has reportedly been running with the medium tire only, because the Brackley squad did not ask Pirelli to supply the softest in its range, which are never used in competition in Bahrain.
Team chairman Niki Lauda, however, is now curious.
"A test is there for testing, to see the whole picture. You have to know what you can do on each tire and I would like to know if we could do the Magnussen time on the super-soft tire," the Austrian legend said.
Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, second fastest on Thursday but 1.5 seconds slower than Magnussen, said he is not surprised the 'new' F1 is already catching up to the V8 era.
"No matter what rule changes there are, the engineers always manage to catch up the lost time," the German is quoted by Speed Week.
"And we are only at the very beginning."
F1 protest threat hangs over Melbourne opener
(GMM) The possible threat of protest is now hanging over next month's season opener in Australia.
We reported a month ago that a dispute was brewing between F1 engine suppliers Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault.
The dispute is about the protective covering on the top of Ferrari's turbo unit, weighing in at a crucial 3 kilograms lighter than the ones fitted on the Mercedes and Ferrari units.
Mercedes and Renault argue that Ferrari's cover needs to be more substantial for safety reasons in the event of a dangerous turbo failure, but Ferrari's explanation was initially accepted by the governing FIA.
Reportedly, Ferrari's setup mitigates the need for a heavier cover because the turbo shuts down at even the slightest sign of failure.
"Mercedes and Renault are not satisfied that the FIA is satisfied," said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt.
"Either Ferrari builds a stronger cover, or there could be a protest (against the results) in Melbourne," he added.
Another option is also being considered by Renault and Mercedes: copying the Ferrari solution and thereby saving 3 kilograms in crucial car weight.
"The time until homologation on 28 February is however too short," Schmidt explained.
"In the paddock it is now rumored that Ferrari is strengthening the turbo housing to be on the safe side."
Williams to show Martini livery on March 6
(GMM) Williams' new Martini-themed 2014 livery will be unveiled on 6 March, a week before the F1 circus gathers in Melbourne for the season opener.
Initially, it was believed the Grove team would pull the official wraps off its highly-anticipated new title sponsorship deal during Bahrain testing.
But that theory was dismissed on the basis that alcohol advertising is not allowed in Arab countries.
So Speed Week reported that Williams' deal with the iconic Italian vermouth label would be announced on the Wednesday or Thursday of Australian grand prix week.
But according to France's Auto Hebdo, the British team has finally confirmed the real launch date — March 6, exactly a week before the paddock bursts to life in Melbourne.
Clouds still gathering over Ecclestone's reign
(GMM) A German media company will appeal the verdict in Bernie Ecclestone's London civil case amid the F1 bribery scandal.
On Thursday, the high court judge dismissed Constantin Medien's $140 million claim against the F1 chief executive, but did find that the 83-year-old had been "corrupt" and paid a "bribe" to jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.
"The judge ruled against Constantin essentially on technical grounds, including extremely complicated questions of German law which is the governing law in the case," Constantin's lawyers said in a statement.
"Constantin will be appealing those findings," they added.
In further blows to Ecclestone, who now faces a criminal trial in Germany that could see him jailed, the judge on Thursday found the diminutive Briton to have been an "unreliable" witness.
"If I was unreliable, I'm lucky to be as successful as we have been," the billionaire hit back, according to the BBC.
Ecclestone said he has "no idea" if the judge's comments will hurt his chances of success in Germany later this year.
"I suppose the judge in Munich will base his findings on what he thinks, not on what somebody else thinks," he is quoted by the Daily Express newspaper.
"It (the British verdict) was nothing to do with whether I did or didn't tell the truth, or whether I was unreliable or not," Ecclestone added.
A statement issued by his lawyers said the fact the judge found Ecclestone paid a "bribe" does not mean the German trial will have the same outcome.
"This (a civil suit) is a much lower standard of proof than would apply in a criminal case," it read.
"The judge's opinion (was) expressed in the light of hearing only partial evidence that has not been properly tested."
Ecclestone dared Constantin to push ahead with the appeal.
"We will be able to bring in all the people we should have brought in, but who we didn't think were needed, and we will be able to defend it in a much better way than we did before," he said.
However, although claiming victory in the Constantin affair, Thursday's ruling has left the dark clouds over Ecclestone.
Citing sources, the Daily Mail said the verdict preceded "frantic conference and telephone calls" between F1 board members, urging CVC director Donald Mackenzie "to end Ecclestone's reign".
"It has run on too long and it needs Donald to deal with it immediately. Bernie's position is untenable," one source is quoted as saying.
Writing in The Times, correspondent Kevin Eason concurred: "Some board directors have been shaken by the case and are known to be pressing for his (Ecclestone's) removal."
Ecclestone said: "I have no idea whether I'll be sacked.
"I didn't lie to the court. But even if I did lie and was unreliable, I have being doing a reasonably good job for 35 years. So why shouldn't I carry on?" he added.
Ecclestone was also in the headlines on Thursday for controversially backing Russian president Vladimir Putin on the question of homosexuality.
"Putin hasn't said he doesn't agree with homosexuality," he told CNN, "just that he doesn't want these things publicized to an audience under the age of 18.
"I completely agree with those sentiments and if you took a world census you'd find 90 per cent of the world agree with it as well," Ecclestone added.
"It may upset a few people but that's how the world is. It's how he sees the world and I think he's completely right."
Pic 'expects' Friday work with Lotus in 2014
(GMM) Charles Pic is expecting to appear on the timesheets in some Friday practice sessions this year, after signing up as the new Lotus third driver.
Officially, after the Frenchman lost his Caterham race seat, Lotus on Thursday said only that Pic will work on the simulator and provide support at the grands prix.
"I am very excited to join a top team," the 24-year-old, who will work with fellow support drivers Marco Sorensen and Nicolas Prost, said.
"Obviously, the big change is that I won't be racing, but I will be at the races and working in meetings which will help me develop and progress as a driver," Pic added.
And he told France's RMC Sport that his new role will involve driving the actual F1 car.
"It is expected that I will take the wheel on Friday," said Pic, who was presented as the new Lotus driver on Thursday afternoon in Bahrain.
"It's important when you are a third driver that you actually drive, and I will," he insisted, without specifying his precise test and driving program.
"I hope I can use it (the opportunity) to come back to a race seat in 2015," said Pic.
Boullier says he is McLaren 'team principal'
(GMM) His official title may be 'racing director', but Eric Boullier on Thursday said he is actually McLaren's new team principal.
The former Lotus chief and Frenchman started work at Woking just over two weeks ago, and his first days wearing grey at a race track have been at the Bahrain test this week.
Officially, Ron Dennis-led McLaren has said that Boullier, who is just 40, will work "with" chief operating officer Jonathan Neale and other "senior management", and report to the so-far unnamed new McLaren F1 chief executive.
But with Martin Whitmarsh expected to leave McLaren altogether, Boullier said in Bahrain that he has effectively become the new team principal.
"Yes," he told Britain's Sky, "it is definitely a team principal role on track and let's say that off track I have to focus more on the performance of the team."
On the other hand, Boullier said the old concept of a single team boss is now defunct.
"Time has changed and moved forward and you cannot have a team principal acting in the sole role today," he insisted.
"I think teams are now getting bigger and you have to share the responsibilities of the organization to make sure you make the best of it."
Ecclestone: I answered truthfully
Bernie Ecclestone insists he was both reliable and truthful during his High Court case despite the judge saying otherwise.
On Thursday, the F1 supremo escaped paying Constantin Medien $144 million after judge Guy Newey ruled that there was "no loss to Constantin" through Ecclestone's "corrupt arrangement" with jailed German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.
But while Ecclestone may have saved a few dollars, the verdict on the 83-year-old's character was damning.
Not only did Judge Newey stated that Ecclestone had entered a "corrupt agreement", he believed the payment to Gribkowsky during the sale of F1 to CVC was "a bribe."
He added that he finds it "impossible to regard him (Ecclestone) as a reliable or truthful witness."
However, Ecclestone insists he was both reliable and truthful.
"He's come up with an opinion, he thought I didn't tell the truth and I wasn't reliable. I was reliable because I turned up on time. I think I answered truthfully the questions I was asked," he told Reuters.
The F1 supremo also again denied that he paid a bribe to Gribkowsky.
"An awful lot of money to pay to somebody to keep your job.
"I've said he shook me down a bit. And I was a bit stupid to go along with it. It was cheaper to pay him … than have the revenue (the tax authorities) climb all over me for three or four years when I had to prove something that he'd said didn't happen."
But while this case may be over, Ecclestone now faces bribery charges in Germany with that set to begin in April.
For now, though, he remains the man at the helm of F1 although no longer in charge having stepping down from the board.
"I'm still running the business, as I've always run it," he added. Planet F1
Horner: Energy recovery behind Red Bull testing woes
The French manufacturer has less experience of energy recovery systems in Formula 1 as when KERS originally came into F1 in 2009 it was reliant on its works team to head up development of the unit.
Red Bull, which developed its own KERS unit for its championship winning cars from 2011-2013, has been working with Renault to help troubleshoot the problems.
"We have been supporting them with our experience on the whole energy recovery side of the package," Horner told AUTOSPORT.
"That's where we can contribute the most and that's where the biggest issues are at the moment.
"We have had a limited involvement, and are getting more and more involved."
Horner believes that former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore's decision that his team (now Lotus) rather than the French manufacturer itself should develop KERS originally is at the heart of the struggles.
Red Bull crisis continues in Bahrain
"If you look at the situation at Renault, Flavio made the decision years ago that energy recover and KERS would be dealt with by the race team, not the engine manufacturer.
"Renault then sold the race team and we picked up KERS and developed our own system that we ran within the gearbox.
"Now, on the new powertrain, energy recovery has gone back to being the responsibility of the engine supplier, which is where it should sit but they have had a steeper learning curve than perhaps Mercedes or Ferrari who have a few years of experience."
Horner also paid tribute to the response both from his team, which has been working flat out, and Renault in solving the problems.
While there are still problems, major changes have been made to the Red Bull RB10 since the opening test at Jerez.
But the late shipping of components meant that the team lost a lot of running on the first day of the Bahrain test on Wednesday as it prepped the car.
"There have been significant changes from the first test in Jerez, so the lead times and getting components made, along with the fact that the test isn't in Europe and is seven or eight hours away, has made things tighter.
"It has had its challenges, but the way that the team has responded to it and the way that Renault is responding is everything you could ask for." Yahoo Eurosport UK