Latest F1 news in brief

Should I hit him again?

Another crash could mean team orders – Hamilton
Kvyat says F1 future 'in my hands now'
F1 decides on 'halo' for 2017
Manager keeps 'hope' of Schumacher recovery
Region pledges millions to end Monza standoff
Grosjean moves on from 2015 Verstappen shunt
Renault spent three tokens on upgrade

Another crash could mean team orders – Hamilton
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he and teammate Nico Rosberg cannot afford to crash again and continue to stave off the imposition of team orders.

The reigning triple world champion said it is "cool" that even after taking each other out in Barcelona, Mercedes has left the silver-clad duo free to keep racing wheel-to-wheel.

But when asked if another crash might change the bosses' minds, Hamilton said in Monaco: "If it was to happen again, for sure."

How effective the imposition of team orders would be, however, is another matter.

"Ultimately we are hired to race," said Hamilton. "I don't think they can tell us not to race. They'd be in a tricky position.

"We are not out there to crash. You want to avoid that at all costs, but we are going to go racing and s— happens."

Hamilton said the risk of crashes has increased ever since an apparent change of approach by Rosberg late last year.

"I remember I tried going round the outside (in Brazil) and he blocked me," said the Briton. "I thought 'Good on you, I would have done exactly the same'. I think from there he's definitely working harder for position."

Daniil Kvyat

Kvyat says F1 future 'in my hands now'
(GMM) According to the latest paddock whispers, Daniil Kvyat could be heading for the exit of Red Bull's F1 programmed.

Recently relegated from the top team to Toro Rosso, speculation suggests the young Russian might now be in the frame for a move to Williams for 2017, replacing the experienced Felipe Massa.

could be heading for the exit of Red Bull's F1 program Monaco, after admittedly struggling to cope with the shock demotion two weeks ago.

"I feel good, I'm having fun again, in and out of the track," he told Brazil's Globo in Monaco.

"I'm focused now on getting great results for Toro Rosso so that doors open for me. I'm still young yet I've already driven more than one team, chassis, engine, one of them the best car, so I can say that I am experienced.

"Now I have 15 or 16 races to confirm my potential. I see a promising future for me," Kvyat added.

He suggested being dumped by Red Bull Racing, while disappointing, has not destroyed his confidence.

"My confidence in myself was not shaken," said the 22-year-old. "What struck me were the comments of my former team after Sochi, but after my return to STR I feel stronger.

"It may turn out to be the best for me — as I said, I became stronger. I am very grateful for the support I have here (at Toro Rosso), something that was missing at Red Bull Racing.

"Obviously I was not the happiest in Barcelona, but I gained a few years of life in those two weeks and it will all be useful in the future," added Kvyat.

Kvyat also hinted that his relationship with Red Bull chiefs Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko – the architect of the driver programmed – is no longer good.

When asked if he has spoken extensively with them since the post-Sochi decision, Kvyat answered: "No. We have no special relationship and I don't have much to talk with them about.

"We talk sometimes, of course, we are human. But I worry about doing my job on the track. We talk when we have to talk.

"I feel now I am at the right place at the right time and the future is in my hands. And I honestly feel better with the future in my hands than in the hands of others," he said.

Another rumor, reported by Speed Week, is that former Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado, who is in the Monaco paddock, could replace Rio Haryanto if the Indonesian does not find more money to keep his Manor seat beyond Hungary.

F1 picks the halo for now

F1 decides on 'halo' for 2017
(GMM) F1 cars will reportedly be fitted with a further development of the 'halo' cockpit protection system in 2017.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said the decision was taken by the FIA as well as team technical directors during a five-hour meeting at Monaco's Novotel hotel on Friday.

The decision to definitely push ahead with a controversial covering for the premier open-cockpit formula followed a scary incident in Thursday practice, when a flying metal drain cover was hit by Jenson Button's car.

"We must make sure that the risk for all of us (drivers) is reduced to the minimum possible," fellow F1 veteran Fernando Alonso told RTL broadcaster.

The 2017 'halo' will in fact be a development of the black carbon version seen on the Ferrari earlier this year, in stylized titanium and possible to open via a hinge.

But it is believed the Red Bull-devised 'aeroscreen' – favored by many in the pitlane – is still in the running to replace the halo for 2018 and beyond.

Schumacher and wife Corinna in better times

Manager keeps 'hope' of Schumacher recovery
(GMM) Michael Schumacher's manager on Friday collected a lifetime achievement award, organized by the Nurburgring, on behalf of the F1 legend.

"This award is an acknowledgment of his great willpower, his motivation, his talent, his discipline and his work ethic," Sabine Kehm said.

47-year-old Schumacher has not been seen publicly since suffering serious brain injuries in a late 2013 skiing fall.

Kehm said: "I realize we would all like it if Michael himself could be here, but unfortunately that is not possible.

"We have to accept it and learn to deal with it," she added.

"We will continue to hope and do everything so that it will be different again," said Kehm.

Schumacher won a record 91 grands prix and seven world championships.

The Italian GP will always be at Monza

Region pledges millions to end Monza standoff
(GMM) Lombardy, one of Italy's twenty regional governments, has pledged EUR 5 million in a bid to end the stand-off between Monza and Bernie Ecclestone.

Amid rising speculation the famous former F1 track Imola is shaping up to replace historic Monza, Lombardy president Roberto Maroni admitted he is "worried".

"We are a bit worried, and I've heard rumors of great Roman tactics to remove the grand prix from Monza and bring it to Imola or even Rome," he told the Italian media.

"We are committed as a region and made a decision today to tell the Aci (Italian automobile club), who are making the deal, of our willingness to contribute the amount that is missing, on condition of entering into (race organizer) Sias," Maroni added.

It is believed the EUR 5 million pledge is in addition to a further EUR 7 million contributed by Lombardy over a ten-year period.

"There is a willingness on the part of the region to contribute with resources, because the grand prix must remain at Monza," said Maroni. "I think it would be a mistake for the sport if it did not."

Italian reports said Monza's negotiations must end by late June, when F1 supremo Ecclestone wants to complete the provisional race calendar for 2017.

Last year Verstappen hanged his head in shame after taking out both he and Grosjean

Grosjean moves on from 2015 Verstappen shunt
(GMM) Romain Grosjean insists there are no hard feelings between himself and Max Verstappen, a year after their scary Monaco crash.

In a rare mistake for the teen Dutchman, Verstappen slammed at high speed into Grosjean's Lotus and then the Ste Devote barriers during last year's race.

Speaking to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf a year later, Frenchman Grosjean dismissed the incident on the basis that "s— happens".

"In my mind, Max made an error typical of a rookie season," said the now Haas driver on Friday. "I found it annoying that he didn't apologize but Max is a nice boy. And he learned, just as I did before as well.

"I also came out stronger from setbacks that made me the driver I am now," explained Grosjean.

"After Monaco, he (Max) did not go over the limit but still showed many overtaking maneuvers and other beautiful things," he said.

Renault power unit

Renault spent three tokens on upgrade
Renault is the only engine manufacturer to have spent development tokens for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Renault used three tokens to introduce its upgraded unit for Monte-Carlo, with factory driver Kevin Magnussen and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo receiving them, ahead of a full roll-out at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Renault still has the most tokens available (21), ahead of Honda (14), Mercedes (11) and Ferrari (6).

Engine tokens spent:

Ferrari 26 (6 remaining)
Mercedes 21 (11 remaining)
Honda 18 (14 remaining)
Renault 11 (21 remaining)