Latest F1 news in brief

We'll see how Hamilton feels about team orders when he is told to move over. In Melbourne Bottas was right behind Hamilton the last 10 laps and clearly faster, but no team orders came.

Hamilton open to Mercedes team orders
Briatore backs Alonso's Indy 500 challenge
Force India unhappy with driver names on cars
'Shield' to make practice debut at Monza
Sepang boss slams Ecclestone, Liberty
Alonso still not regretting Ferrari exit
Force India not affected by Mallya issues – Perez
Hamilton backs New York night race plans
Nearly 10K spectators attended Sochi Thursday

Hamilton open to Mercedes team orders
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton says team orders are simply a fact of life at Mercedes in 2017.

As he fought for the title with Nico Rosberg in the Abu Dhabi finale last November, the triple world champion controversially ignored team instructions.

But in Bahrain recently, his new teammate Valtteri Bottas accepted an order to move aside for the faster silver car.

Hamilton says that was the right call, especially in the new close battle in 2017 with Ferrari.

"Our approach is that the team needs to win. So we have to work as a team but only in special circumstances. Our job description is to win for the team, not for ourselves.

"We want to finish ahead of Ferrari this year and to do that we have to work as a team more than ever," he added.

Finn Bottas, however, denied in Russia that he is now effectively the 'de fact' number 2, and his Ferrari counterpart Kimi Raikkonen said the same.

But unlike Hamilton, championship leader Sebastian Vettel denied that Ferrari needs to think about team orders yet.

"It's the fourth race," said the German, "so I don't think it's the right time to talk about team orders.

"Are we satisfied with our start? Yes. But have we achieved something? No. So we have to keep going."

Indeed, Vettel has won two of the three races so far, but he thinks Mercedes is the clear favorite this weekend at Sochi.

"On paper and historically it's a very good track for them," he said.

Briatore backs Alonso's Indy 500 challenge

Flavio Briatore (L – Now) and (R-Before) plastic surgery

(GMM) It is a no-brainer for Fernando Alonso to do the Indy 500 next month instead of Monaco.

That is the view of Flavio Briatore, who is still involved in the management of the Spaniard's career.

Alonso stunned the racing world recently when he announced that he will try to win the fabled American oval race rather than push for mere points in Monaco.

"I'll go to Indianapolis with him," Briatore, Alonso's former Renault boss, told Italy's Sky Sport 24.

"The biggest question for him is security, with all those people coming at him in the box," the Italian added.

"Fernando knows Monte Carlo well, but to race with the machine he has now gives him zero chance of winning. For him it would be like going there to be a tourist.

"And with a car that does not even go out of the garage it was decided that he shouldn't break his balls any more. He wanted to do Le Mans two years ago but Ron Dennis didn't let him.

"Now there's different people — it's another McLaren," Briatore added.

Almost three years ago, Briatore backed Alonso's decision to leave Ferrari, but the flamboyant Italian now admits he is surprised the Italian team is so competitive in 2017.

"They surprised everyone," he said.

"I thought everyone betting on Ferrari would lose their money, but it's great to have a championship with a Mercedes-Ferrari fight.

"Mercedes still has an advantage, but it's not huge," Briatore added. "The pressure applied by Ferrari caused them to make errors, so if Ferrari can now develop the car, it is likely that at least Vettel will fight for the title."

Force India unhappy with driver names on cars
(GMM) Force India has bemoaned the cost of a new rule designed to help fans identify their favorite drivers.

At the recent Strategy Group meeting, it was decided that from Barcelona next month, the drivers' names and race numbers must be much bigger on the cars.

The FIA has now explained that the driver's name – or three-letter abbreviation – must be at least 15cm high, with the number measuring 23cm.

But Force India is not happy that the governing body has demanded the drivers' names be put on the car on prominent places that could otherwise be sold to sponsors.

"Where we have to put the names, we could have sold those spaces to sponsors," team manager Andy Stevenson confirmed to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Regarding one potential location – the sidepod – he explained: "The name there with the prescribed size would be worth $6 million."

So Force India is proposing that teams be allowed to put the name closer to the floor of the car, because "This space is never sold".

'Shield' to make practice debut at Monza
(GMM) F1's governing body is pushing ahead with track tests for the new driver head protection known as 'Shield'.

With the controversial 'Halo' concept now shelved, it was revealed last week that the FIA now intends to instead debut a transparent alternative next year.

And following computer and laboratory testing, the next step is planned track outings during free practice sessions in Monza and Singapore, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"As far as I know, we will test it before it becomes mandatory," said Sergio Perez.

"From an aesthetic point of view, this solution looks better than Halo," the Force India driver admitted.

"Probably from safety, it is not as effective as Halo, but the FIA will work to find the optimal solution."

Indeed, while some drivers are supportive of the push for better cockpit protection, others are not.

"Let's talk about something else," said Renault's Nico Hulkenberg when asked in Sochi.

Max Verstappen added: "They should leave the cars as they are. Formula one is about racing with open cars and there is always some risk."

And he said: "Of course the FIA listens to what we have to say, but in the end it's not the drivers who will decide."

Sepang boss slams Ecclestone, Liberty

Bernie bankrupted many a race promoter

(GMM) Malaysia grand prix chief Razlan Razali has hit out at former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone ahead of Sepang's last race in October.

For cost reasons, the government has decided to stop funding the Malaysian grand prix, which made its F1 bow in 1999.

But Razali expressed disappointment in Ecclestone, who negotiated the lucrative race contracts that Malaysia says it can no longer justify paying for.

Ecclestone admitted recently that he often over-charged and under-delivered for F1's highest paying promoters.

"For him to come out with that statement, we can't help but feel suckered by him in some ways and quite disappointed," Razali told City AM.

But he also admitted disappointment with Ecclestone's successors at Liberty Media, alleging they rejected a plan to let Sepang go out on a high in October.

"We presented them with what we feel would be a good plan," said Razali. "Unfortunately, it is something that they can't help us with.

"We are not so convinced in how they can improve formula one if they can't even help us in our final event," he charged.

Alonso still not regretting Ferrari exit

He says he is not regretting Ferrari exit, that's why he is racing in the Indy 500 instead of with McLaren at Monaco

(GMM) Fernando Alonso said he is tired of being asked if he regrets leaving Ferrari.

While the Spaniard struggles with McLaren-Honda and tries to keep his racing spirit alive by doing the Indy 500 next month, his successor Sebastian Vettel is leading the world championship for Ferrari.

"I think if Ferrari wins 20 years in a row or if I'm 75 years old, I will still be asked this question," Alonso said at Sochi.

"My contract with Ferrari would have ended in 2016 anyway and yes I would like to be more competitive now but I still think I made a good decision," he insisted.

"There was a lot of pressure when Ferrari didn't win the title in the first, second and third years, and that was fine, but it would not have been in the seventh year," Alonso added.

"So despite the results, my life was better in the last two years."

"I have seen magazines saying my talent is wasted but I am very happy with my career," the 35-year-old continued. "Let's see what the future brings, but I'm happy with what I have done."

And despite an horrific start to 2017, there could now be light at the end of the McLaren-Honda tunnel.

At the post-Bahrain test, Honda's power unit suddenly appeared reliable, and Alonso said those improvements will now be raced in Russia.

"It is not going to be radically different here," Alonso warned, "but we have some improvements in reliability for the engine and also in terms of aerodynamic performance.

"Hopefully this weekend is the point in the championship where we start to put things together."

Force India not affected by Mallya issues – Perez
(GMM) Sergio Perez says he is not worried Force India will be affected by team co-owner and boss Vijay Mallya's ongoing legal troubles.

Amid the case relating to the former Indian billionaire's huge Kingfisher airlines debt, Mallya was arrested and bailed in London recently.

The Indian government is seeking the 61-year-old's extradition, but Force India driver Perez insisted in Russia: "The team is in a good situation.

"Vijay is probably glad about the proceedings — now there is some certainty and he believes that everything will go in his favor," the Mexican added.

"Vijay is optimistic and we look forward to having him back."

Hamilton backs New York night race plans

NY City skyline from NJ

(GMM) Lewis Hamilton has backed apparent plans for a F1 night race in New York.

Recently, Bernie Ecclestone's successor Chase Carey said a race in New York is a "priority".

"In New York it would be really cool," triple world champion Lewis Hamilton said in Russia.

"We definitely need two grands prix in the US. It would be incredible — it's a stunning city.

"New Jersey would be a great backdrop for the grand prix. Whether it's a night race, I think even the day it would be good, or the evening as the sunsets are stunning and with New York in the background it would be so cool."

Nearly 10K spectators attended Sochi Thursday
Thursday, April 27th, was the first official day of 2017 FORMULA 1 VTB RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX. Nearly 10 thousand spectators visited Sochi Autodrom and the Olympic Park. Fans flew to Sochi from all over Russia, from Vladimir to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, all to enjoy the main autosport event, the fourth Formula 1 Grand Prix in Russia’s history.

A pit lane walk for 4-day ticket holders has become one of this weekend’s highlights. The chance to see the pits has become a dream come true for many.

The Olympic Park’s Central Square also hosted autograph sessions with seven of the Formula 1 teams. Force India, McLaren, Williams, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and Toro Rosso drivers signed autographs for everyone. Russian fans also had a chance to talk to the first Russia’s Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov who signed autographs for spectators and gladly answered all their questions.

Having obtained an autograph and taken a pit lane walk, the fans did not hurry to leave the Park. Instead, they took all their time to pay a visit to all kinds of theme areas where entertainment was awaiting them: Go-Kart races, the folk artisan village, the sport entertainment park, the kids’ playing area, contests and trivia, dress performances and animators and much more.

Formula 1 drivers talked to the media during media sessions and official press conferences that took place in the paddock of Sochi Autodrom.

While talking to journalists, the drivers shared their forecasts for the upcoming races. Lewis Hamilton, a three-time Formula 1 world champion and twice the Russian Grand Prix winner, predicts a one-stop strategy for this Sochi Autodrom race.

The British driver of the Mercedes team said, “I think here, it's a very easy one-stop race. The tires can last for a long time. I think the soft tire can go the whole race. It is an easier circuit for the tires, more space for the tires to cool down. The track's in its high-30s this weekend, I think, and the breeze is quite cool. I don't think overheating's going to be an issue this weekend".

Sebastian Vettel, the leader of F1 World Championship, expects the Mercedes team to take the lead during this weekend’s Russian Grand-Prix but is not losing hope for Ferrari to be able to impose a competition with them.

Sebastian Vettel noted, “I think on paper it's been a strong track for Mercedes so they will be very strong, anything else would be a surprise. But I think and I feel there's also a couple of corners where the car was already good last year. There should be, you know, places on the track where we should be strong. There were places last year where we were weak and we hope to be stronger this year. And then we'll see where we are. But couple of things ; tire warm-up, some people did two laps last year, some people one, it's not an easy track to get everything right, especially in qualifying".

The former Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is a guest of honour at the Russian Grand Prix. After taking a stroll in the paddock, Ecclestone noted, “the event organisation is at the top level here, just as in previous years".