Latest F1 news in brief – Friday

  • Riccardo and Red Bull giving Mercedes fits in Monaco
    Riccardo and Red Bull giving Mercedes fits in Monaco

    Mercedes admits Red Bull threat in Monaco

  • Zandvoort eyes Dutch grand prix return
  • Toro Rosso wants up-to-date engines for 2017
  • Kvyat 'not afraid' of Red Bull criticism
  • Ferrari to be first with 2017 test car
  • Legal action 'wrong path' for Bianchi family – Stewart
  • Red Bull, Renault poised to extend deal
  • Pirelli pleased with full Ultra Soft debut
  • Vettel: Ferrari better than practice display
  • Rosberg expecting 'very close' battle

Rosberg knows Red Bull is fast in Monaco
Rosberg knows Red Bull is fast in Monaco

Mercedes admits Red Bull threat in Monaco
(GMM) After Max Verstappen's surprise win in Barcelona, Red Bull appears poised to complete a back-to-back upset this weekend in Monaco.

With Renault's much improved engine in the rear of his car, Daniel Ricciardo was so far clear of the field in Thursday practice that most are assuming the Australian is the man to beat in the twisty Principality.

That is even despite the fact that Mercedes normally 'turn up' the power of their turbo V6 engines on a Saturday.

"It's not six tenths that we get out of it," said championship leader Nico Rosberg, "so it's a big surprise how fast they are.

"We can improve the car," the German added, "but whether it will be enough – I don't know."

Teammate Lewis Hamilton agrees, telling the Spanish broadcaster Movistar: "The engines don't make much difference here and we knew they (Red Bull) had a good car.

"But did I expect them to be this fast? No," said the reigning world champion.

There are not many who disagree. When asked who he would tip for a five euro bet, McLaren's Jenson Button answered: "Daniel Ricciardo.

"The Merc is a very good car but the Red Bull can match it and this circuit isn't so dependent on outright power," he added.

"It's the best chance they have got of winning again this year."

Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, had a very bad day on Thursday, hitting the wall twice, but he said that's no reason to write Ferrari off.

But he also acknowledged Ricciardo's pace.

"My guess is they will also be strong in qualifying, and here qualifying is almost half the race win," said Vettel.

Andretti leads Peterson at Zandvoort in 1978
Andretti leads Peterson at Zandvoort in 1978

Zandvoort eyes Dutch grand prix return
(GMM) The Netherlands could be back on the F1 calendar by 2020.

The famous Zandvoort circuit and the Dutch grand prix have been missing from the calendar since 1985.

But with Max Verstappen now stirring unprecedented interest, Zandvoort circuit chief Erik Weijers has been quoted by Noordhollands Dagblad newspaper as revealing The Hague might even be backing a F1 comeback bid.

"We cannot do it alone, as it is a global event that transcends the circuit," Weijers said.

"There is a lot of potential but we must make a plan and negotiate with the formula one organization," he added. "I think 2020 would be a good year for it, 35 years after the last grand prix at Zandvoort."

Toro Rosso wants up-to-date engines for 2017
(GMM) Toro Rosso is moving to receive up-to-date engines from Ferrari in 2017.

This year, after the collapse of the semi-works relationship between team owner Red Bull and Renault, Toro Rosso moved to 2015-spec Ferrari power this year.

It means the Faenza team, whilst having one of the best cars on the grid, is being held back by an out-of-date power unit that is not being developed.

Despite that, Toro Rosso continues to shine, including on Thursday in Monaco where Carlos Sainz told Spanish reporters: "It's a little surprising to be ahead of teams like Ferrari and McLaren here but it's only Thursday."

Keen to keep progressing in 2017, Toro Rosso's technical chief James Key on Thursday admitted the team wants to ramp up its relationship with Ferrari next year.

In a new process so that teams are no longer left without engine suppliers, manufacturers have had to indicate early who their customers for the following season will be, and it is understood Toro Rosso is sticking with Ferrari.

"As far as what we have for next year, I think we're happy," Key said in Monaco.

"Not that there's anything wrong with our current supply but it's not developing, it's a year-old unit.

"Ferrari are doing a great job to support us with it," Key added, "but it would be nice to be current and have a developing unit."

Daniil Kvyat
Daniil Kvyat

Kvyat 'not afraid' of Red Bull criticism
(GMM) Daniil Kvyat insists he is "not afraid" of speaking his mind in the wake of his controversial demotion by Red Bull.

Just before Max Verstappen won in Barcelona, it was Russian Kvyat who was unceremoniously flicked back to the energy drink company's junior team Toro Rosso.

Obviously angry, the 22-year-old has since made clear his displeasure, declaring he has a "long memory", has been the victim of F1 politics, and that he could have backed up his 2015 points feat by beating Daniel Ricciardo again in 2016.

Asked in Monaco if he is not afraid that negative comments about Red Bull could hurt his career, Kvyat answered: "At the moment I am not afraid of anything.

"I said what I thought. If someone doesn't like it, that's alright."

Kvyat also has a forthright view about the to-ing and fro-ing in Monaco over the clampdown on helmet visor tear-offs, with the FIA now allowing drivers to discard on the track two strips per race.

"This talk about the number of strips – one, two, ten – is like kindergarten," he said.

"To me everything is clear: on the track, you need to change the strips. Sometimes it is necessary after the second or third lap, or if it gets covered with oil, you need to tear it off straight away and not in the pits.

"I think we will get further clarifications," Kvyat added, "because for safety reasons we need a clear visor."

Ferrari first to test 2017 car
Ferrari first to test 2017 car

Ferrari to be first with 2017 test car
(GMM) Ferrari looks set to get the jump on the F1 field for 2017 by being first out of the blocks with a test car.

Top teams have put their hands up to help official supplier Pirelli develop its bigger and significantly different tires for the wider and faster cars of next year.

And Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that with Pirelli wanting to kick off track testing with specially-modified 2017 test cars, Ferrari is first in line.

"At the moment is looks as though Ferrari could be ready before the German grand prix" in July, revealed correspondent Michael Schmidt.

It is expected that test, featuring a 2015 Ferrari modified to stimulate the 25 per cent higher downforce load of 2017, will take place at the team's own Fiorano test track.

And the report suggested that Red Bull will be next to finish a 2017 hybrid test car in early August, with that running to get started in Paul Ricard.

The only other team preparing a 2017 hybrid test car for Pirelli is Mercedes, whose car will be ready in late August and run at tracks including Silverstone.

It might be argued the top three teams are getting a significant advantage, but it is also costing them, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner estimating a minimum $1.5 million additional expense.

That will be spent on special suspension layouts, crash testing and extra wind tunnel and CFD hours, although Mercedes' Paddy Lowe insists that "We have to show that none of this time is used developing 2017 parts".

Jackie Stewart
Jackie Stewart

Legal action 'wrong path' for Bianchi family – Stewart
(GMM) F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart has questioned the Bianchi family's decision to sue the sport over the death of their son.

25-year-old Jules Bianchi died last year as a result of his horror crash in a wet gravel trap in fading light at Suzuka late in 2014.

Headed by his father Philippe, the family on Thursday announced its decision to sue Marussia, Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA over the death.

Philippe told Radio Monte Carlo on Thursday that the decision was made because the family never received adequate "answers" about the controversial circumstances of the crash.

"We realized ourselves that errors were made," he said.

"Some have been recognized in part because of (rule) changes that were made," Mr. Bianchi added, "but we cannot be content with the internal report of the FIA that said Jules was responsible for going too fast.

"We cannot live like this. This tragedy has destroyed our family, so why should we accept to hear that it was his (Jules') fault when the conditions were difficult?

"The accident was completely avoidable and so we want to do it for the other drivers today as well," he revealed.

Mr. Bianchi suggested the FIA should have done more than just conduct and publish an internal investigation and report.

"If one day I cause someone's death, I could not launch an internal commission with friends and say 'It was not my fault'. Justice must be done so that when you make a mistake, you pay," he insisted.

But F1 legend Jackie Stewart, a pioneer of better safety in the sport, thinks a better strategy for Bianchi's family would be to move on.

"It is very sad for his family and one can only feel great sympathy for them, but I do not think taking legal action is the right path to go down," he told The Times.

"The distress they feel will be drawn out longer. It will not make the pain go away."

Not only that, triple world champion Stewart added: "All drivers know there are risks. This is not ping pong.

"There is always the chance of a freak accident, and that has to be accepted."

Mateschitz And Ricciardo like Renault now

Red Bull, Renault poised to extend deal
(GMM) Renault and Red Bull seem poised to extend their engine deal beyond 2016.

After the breakdown of their semi-works partnership last year, the parties agreed to enter a customer supply deal for 2016, with Red Bull's Renault engines now branded as Tag-Heuer.

Red Bull, however, has rarely been happier with Renault than now.

"Everything Renault has promised has been delivered," team boss Christian Horner said in Monaco, where Daniel Ricciardo is setting the pace with his upgraded turbo V6 engine.

The two sides have already signaled their intention with the FIA to stick together in 2017, and negotiations are so well advanced that a deal could be struck this weekend.

However, it is believed Red Bull is paying a whopping EUR 28 million to Renault this year, with the energy drink-owned team trying to talk down that price.

"Red Bull is as usual a tough negotiator, but it is the mutual desire to carry on as we are," said Renault's Cyril Abiteboul.

One big benefit for Renault is that, according to Auto Motor und Sport, a new super-simulator went online at Red Bull's Milton Keynes headquarters recently.

In one room, the driver works on the simulator while next door an actual car on rollers – including engine, transmission and tires – is operating thanks to groundbreaking EUR 30 million technology.

"They do not yet have such test stands in Viry," observed Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko.

Indeed, Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda admits that Red Bull is "one step ahead" in this area compared to any partner or competitor in F1.

Ricciardo on the ultra-softs
Ricciardo on the ultra-softs

Pirelli pleased with full Ultra Soft debut
Pirelli hailed a positive start with its new Ultra Soft tire compound as the purple-marked rubber made its race weekend debut on the opening day of free practice for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Pirelli has expanded its dry-weather range for the 2016 season, with the Ultra Soft, aimed at street tracks, joining the Super Soft (red), Soft (yellow), Medium (white) and Hard (orange) compounds.

After some Ultra Soft running during pre-season testing and at the recent in-season gathering in Barcelona, drivers gave the tire its first official outing on the streets of Monte-Carlo on Thursday.

Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery says the company is pleased with initial findings.

"We've had some good feedback from the Ultra Soft tire, which has delivered everything we wanted from it so far: extra performance and the potential to have an effect on strategy," said Hembery.

"We'd expect to get more than 15 laps out of this tire before it's necessary to come in and change.

"The interesting question will be whether or not this diverts any drivers away from the one-stop strategy, which has been the winning choice at the Monaco Grand Prix in four of the last six races.

"There will be a lot of data for everyone to look at, in order to draw the final conclusions about strategy during free practice on Saturday – by which time the track might have quite a different feel to it."

Choking under Ferrari pressure, Vettel hit the barriers twice on Thursday
Choking under Ferrari pressure, Vettel hit the barriers twice on Thursday

Vettel: Ferrari better than practice display
Sebastian Vettel is adamant that Ferrari has a competitive car at the Monaco Grand Prix, despite a low key start to the weekend.

Vettel hit the wall twice en route to ninth in Thursday's second practice session, two places behind team-mate Kimi Räikkönen.

Daniel Ricciardo set the pace for Red Bull, over 1.5s up on Vettel's time, with the Mercedes drivers following in second and third.

"I certainly tried a lot!" Vettel joked after the session.

"Not everything worked, so it was a bit of a scrappy day, but overall it's OK. I think the pace is in the car, but I struggled a bit to get it out today."

Asked if he is concerned that Ferrari is now third in the pecking order, Vettel replied: "No. I think in the end it's only Thursday and it's difficult to say what people did.

"I don't think we're where we belong in the standings.

"Today it was not the main focus to rank high up. We didn't have a good day. We tried a couple of things and it's fair to say some of them didn't work."

Vettel also brushed aside suggestions that negative pressure is building up at Ferrari, which has not won a Formula 1 race since last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

"There's always pressure, a desire to do well," he said.

"You could call that pressure, but it's also the reason why we're here [competing in Formula 1]. We're not here to finish eighth or to finish fifth, we're here to win."

Nico Rosberg
Nico Rosberg

Rosberg expecting 'very close' battle
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg is expecting a "very close" fight with Red Bull at the Monaco Grand Prix, given the times posted in practice.

Daniel Ricciardo finished over six tenths clear of Lewis Hamilton, and a further three tenths up on Rosberg, during FP2 on Thursday.

Although confident that Mercedes has pace in hand, Rosberg reckons the battle for pole position and victory will be closer than ever.

"It was a tricky start in to the weekend for us," explained Rosberg, as he reflected on the first two practice sessions in the principality.

"The sessions were a bit messy, with quite a few Virtual Safety Car periods – but I was able to learn a lot on the longer runs we managed to do which was a positive.

"A big applause for all of the circuit marshals, who did a great job as always to clear the cars quickly.

"As expected, Red Bull look very strong here. We have some more homework to do during tonight and tomorrow to find some time – but I can't wait for Saturday and the qualifying battle.

"It should be very close and very exciting, which is great for the sport."

Hamilton's best time in second practice came on the Super Soft tire, after he ran straight on at the Nouvelle Chicane at the start of his run with the new Ultra Soft compound.

"Although the new tires are definitely softer than the other compounds, they still feel pretty hard around here," the three-time World Champion commented after the session.

"It's not as easy to get them in the window as we would hope.

"But generally it's been a really positive start; we've got everything we needed done in both sessions and our pace looks good, so hopefully that continues through the rest of the weekend."

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