Latest F1 news in brief

Bottas has a big advantage with Mercedes – Aldo Costa designs the car

Mercedes can assess Bottas after four races – Lauda
Wehrlein 'as fast as Bottas' – Lauda
Berger, Briatore doubt Ecclestone will return
Rosberg wanted Alonso to replace him
Alonso-Mercedes rumors 'baseless' – Briatore
Briatore not expecting strong Ferrari in 2017
Finnish track eyes F1 future
Wolff comments on Carey's 'super bowl' hopes
Webber tips Ricciardo over Verstappen
Ferrari can't commit to Formula 1 if popularity continues to dwindle

Mercedes can assess Bottas after four races – Lauda
(GMM) Niki Lauda has urged Valtteri Bottas to get quickly up to speed at Mercedes.

The Finn was drafted in at the eleventh hour to replace the suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg, but team chairman Lauda has tipped Bottas to be as competitive as his German predecessor.

"I think he can bring the performances we expect from him," Lauda, the triple world champion, told Auto Motor und Sport.

"He has a good start because Finns are basically good drivers. But he does not have much time to settle in.

"Everything is new to him and for us as well, but Bottas has two advantages," Lauda added. "He comes to a top team, which makes it easier to find his bearings.

"And we have completely new cars this year, which are also new to Lewis (Hamilton). So both of them can work on setting up the car so that it suits them."

But Lauda, 67, also warned Bottas that there is a lot at stake for the 27-year-old, who has signed just a one-year contract for 2017.

"I assume he is intelligent enough to know what is at stake," Lauda said.

As for when Mercedes will be able to assess how Bottas is progressing, he answered: "After four races we will know more."

Wehrlein 'as fast as Bottas' – Lauda

Lauda is hallucinating again. How does he know he is as fast as Bottas, they have never been teammates

Lauda is hallucinating again. How does he know Wehrlein is as fast as Bottas, they have never been teammates

(GMM) Only his lack of experience meant Pascal Wehrlein was overlooked for the top Mercedes cockpit in 2017.

That is the claim of team chairman Niki Lauda, amid criticism that the fact Mercedes signed Valtteri Bottas demonstrated a lack of faith in the marque's top junior, 22-year-old Wehrlein.

"With Wehrlein it was only about his inexperience," the F1 legend told Auto Bild. "And the pressure can also lead to errors, like Verstappen in Monte Carlo.

"This is not a criticism, it's just normal for very young drivers," Lauda said. "So the decision was made for Bottas because he's as fast as Wehrlein, but he has the experience."

Some, meanwhile, have suggested that Mercedes should actually have signed up a star name to be Lewis Hamilton's new teammate, replacing retiring champion Nico Rosberg.

"No, it doesn't matter," Lauda said. "Because the moment Bottas has success with Mercedes, then he is known."

Berger, Briatore doubt Ecclestone will return
(GMM) Two experienced F1 pundits do not believe Bernie Ecclestone will mount a comeback.

The deposed F1 supremo has already dismissed claims he might set up a rival 'breakaway' series, but retired reigning world champion Nico Rosberg is not so sure.

Is Bernie gone for good?

"Ecclestone has said that but you can't believe it because he's done it (returned) before," Rosberg told Spain's Marca sports newspaper. "And Toto Wolff has said that he (Ecclestone) will come back somehow."

Asked if a 'breakaway' would be a wise move for Ecclestone, F1 legend Gerhard Berger told Auto Motor und Sport: "Bernie doesn't need advice.

"He knows exactly what he is doing and whether he can succeed. He is the cleverest person I've ever met in motor sport.

"He has only one drawback," Berger said. "And that's time."

Indeed, Ecclestone is 86, and a man who knows him well, former Renault boss Flavio Briatore, calls the breakaway talk "gossip that makes no sense".

"I hear from him every day," Briatore told the Italian broadcaster Sky Sport 24.

"Becoming honorary president now, the apprentice when he was the master, is the worst thing that can happen," he added.

"But Bernie is 86 years old and he now has to enjoy life — because if you are 90 you are already lucky."

Rosberg wanted Alonso to replace him

Rosberg expects Red Bull will be Mercedes' biggest threat in 2017

(GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg has admitted he would have liked Mercedes to replace him for 2017 with Fernando Alonso.

Actually, the German marque has signed up Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, having also seriously considered its own junior Pascal Wehrlein.

When asked what his preference would have been, Rosberg told the Spanish sports daily Marca: "Ok, now that I'm a fan it's very easy to respond.

"Everyone says Alonso and I say it too, because there would have been fireworks with Hamilton. As a fan it would be nice to see those sparks, but from the team side it couldn't have been and they found a great solution.

"Bottas is fast and he beat Massa three times in a way similar to Alonso did, and now he can do very well," said the German.

"Of course Hamilton will be at a very, very high level and it will be difficult to beat him, but I proved that it is possible," Rosberg added.

Asked if Alonso could ever have been a serious option for Mercedes, he continued: "No. From Mercedes' side, I can't imagine it."

What Rosberg can imagine, however, is that Mercedes will get a run for its money from its rivals this year.

"Mercedes is the favorite, we are three times champion, although there are teams that are dangerous, like Red Bull," he said.

"Adrian Newey and new regulations are a combination that has been successful in the past, and I've also heard that he is back with the team as he was before," Rosberg added.

And according to Germany's Auto Bild, Rosberg rates Red Bull's chances as clearly higher than Ferrari's for 2017.

"I think Red Bull will be the second force," he said.

Alonso-Mercedes rumors 'baseless' – Briatore
(GMM) Flavio Briatore has rejected speculation Fernando Alonso was ever a serious contender to drive for Mercedes in 2017.

When the reigning champion team suddenly had to replace the retiring Nico Rosberg, Spaniard Alonso was on everyone's lips as the spectacular potential choice.

But Briatore, still involved in the management of McLaren driver Alonso's career, said: "There were never any talks between Fernando and Mercedes.

"There were only baseless rumors. It was even said that Niki Lauda wanted to see Fernando's contract and all the clauses, but the contracts are all there in Geneva," he told the Italian broadcaster Sky Sport 24.

Briatore not expecting strong Ferrari in 2017

Briatore and Ecclestone. Flavio knows Ferrari has no chance without Aldo Costa, who they let get away to Mercedes

(GMM) Ferrari fans should not expect the famous Italian team to be stronger in 2017.

That is the view of former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, following the Maranello marque's disappointing year in 2016 featuring not a single race win.

And now, the 66-year-old Italian doubts anything will change for 2017.

"The team is still the same," said Briatore. "When you have the same oven and the same bakers, the quality of the bread is also the same.

"It seems to me that the only thing different is that (Sergio) Marchionne has made no statements."

Like many, Briatore thinks it is Red Bull who stand the best chance of taking on Mercedes this year.

"But unfortunately, Mercedes' advantage is unbridgeable and they have a driver in (Lewis) Hamilton who last year had fun DJing and skiing but this year I think his attitude will be different," he told the Italian broadcaster Sky Sport 24.

Finally, Briatore commented on the sad fate of his former charge Michael Schumacher.

"I have no news," he said. "What I get is reflected from (Jean) Todt and (Felipe) Massa and it is neither good nor bad. And no good news is bad news."

Finnish track eyes F1 future

Kymi Ring

(GMM) Finland might soon be in a position to host a round of the F1 world championship.

The small northern European country has had plenty of drivers in F1, but never a round of the modern formula one series.

However, the Kymi Ring is currently under construction north east of capital Helsinki, and it has already done a deal to host a MotoGP round from 2018.

And Finnish auto federation AKK president Juhani Pakari has now told Ilta Sanomat: "It is natural that we will seriously examine the possibility of getting formula one in Finland."

Wolff comments on Carey's 'super bowl' hopes

Chase Carey

(GMM) Two F1 figures have shrugged at new chief executive Chase Carey's aim of turning every grand prix weekend into "the super bowl".

"The super bowl," former FIA president Max Mosley told ITV when asked about the new F1 chief's American football analogy. "Is that so wonderful?"

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff agreed: "The thing is that 21 super bowls will not be as good as a one-off super bowl.

"What Carey actually meant is that we have to spice up the formula one races," he told the Austrian business magazine Trend.

"There must be an attractive supporting program around the races," Wolff added.

But Wolff insisted that although Carey's goals are laudable, the existing F1 'show' is already good.

"Formula one is still one of the best functioning sports in the world. But it is clear that changes must take place," he added.

Webber tips Ricciardo over Verstappen

Can Ricciardo beat Verstappen again?

Ex-Red Bull driver Mark Webber reckons a "more composed" Daniel Ricciardo will hold the edge over Max Verstappen during their second season as team-mates.

Ricciardo and Verstappen have raced together at Red Bull since last year's Spanish Grand Prix, which the Dutch youngster won after his promotion from Toro Rosso.

Over 17 races, Ricciardo scored 220 points to Verstappen's 191, with Ricciardo taking third in the standings, behind the Mercedes pair, and Verstappen placing fifth.

Ricciardo will enter his sixth full season in 2017, while Verstappen is preparing for his third, and Webber expects his fellow Australian, amid rule changes, to hold the upper-hand.

"It will be tight, as it was at the end of last year," Webber was quoted by Autosport.

"[But] I think Daniel still has more composure. Obviously, that experience will be very useful for him, particularly in the early part of the championship.

"When you've seen more regulation [changes over the years], like he has done, and driven different types of cars, that's an advantage for him.

"It's going to be a good battle, but the composure side is a big plus for Daniel. He's got plenty of fire too, but it's all about putting the weekends together.

"Max is still learning, with that unbelievable talent."

Webber also feels that Red Bull will be capable of challenging Mercedes in 2017.

"I think Red Bull have had a quiet winter and they're going to be quite strong," said Webber.

"It really depends on who unlocks these new regulations. Traditionally, Adrian [Newey, Red Bull's technical chief] has been very good at that.

"Mercedes have had the luxury of closing out the Constructors' Championship very early last year, so that gives you a big chance to put your resources into the next year's program earlier than anyone else potentially.

"They have a very good engine, we know that's their main strength.

"Operationally, Red Bull were the best team last year. With reliability they were the best team, Mercedes had a few technical challenges.

"So if it's nip and tuck when down to the fine points, Red Bull are very good at that."

Ferrari can't commit to Formula 1 if popularity continues to dwindle
Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne says it's important new Formula 1 owners Liberty Media start improving the entertainment side of the sport as soon as possible to stem the loss of fans, which has been in steady decline over the past few years.

Marchionne has warned that Ferrari cannot keep committing itself to the sport if numbers continue to decline, as the vast sums it spends on Formula 1 are currently offset by the marketing return.

However that might not be the case in the future if the current trend isn't reversed, therefore Marchionne says it's important Liberty Media acts now.

"We cannot keep on committing to a sport that has decreasing audiences for a variety of reasons," he said during an investor call this week. "We need to re-popularise the sport and we need to make it more accessible.

"I would expect Liberty and Chase [Carey, F1 CEO] in particular would have a very clear understanding of the fact that the entertainment side of this needs to come back into play.

"There is a lot of work that needs to be done. We will do our part as the Scuderia in making sure that happens, but that work needs to get underway in earnest now."

However Marchionne does expect things to improve this season with the move to quicker cars and lower degradation tyres, which should allow drivers to push for much longer.

"What I do expect to be honest is the sport itself to do better in 2017. I think there will be a great basis for us to continue and continue our commitment to Formula 1 and to really set the basis for a post-2020 world."