Latest F1 news in brief

Ecclestone says he can impose change

Ecclestone says he and Todt could impose change
Bottas not ruling out staying at Williams
Racers cautious ahead of 'B' Force India debut
Arrivabene comments on Monza, Raikkonen rumors
Ecclestone backs Horner to survive rumors
Ecclestone doubts Fitzpatrick will fund Manor
Former McLaren CEO Whitmarsh Says F1 Needs To 'Crash, Burn'
Baku Gears Up For Formula 1 Debut Race During 2016 Season

Ecclestone says he and Todt could impose change
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he could step in now and fix formula one's problems, so long as FIA president Jean Todt is also on board.

As the sport's apparent crisis deepens, played out daily in the form of never-ending negative headlines, some are even now calling for F1 supremo Ecclestone's scalp.

"I think he's done a remarkable job but time has played its role and he should go," former team owner and long-time Ecclestone ally Eddie Jordan told BBC radio.

The sport has found itself watching its global popularity and audience numbers decline, but straight-jacketed by the Strategy Group when it comes to change.

Men like Christian Horner, the Red Bull team chief, think power should be put back into the hands of Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt.

F1 legend Gerhard Berger agrees: "If those two could combine their power, they would have the problem quickly under control.

"That's what we need now," he told Austria's Kurier.

Ecclestone, however, said that the way the Strategy Group is structured means that he and Todt could sweep in the necessary change — so long as Todt is on board.

"At the moment, Jean and I could do what we want," he told Sky recently. "It's the way it's been set up.

"We've both got the same amount of votes, and the teams have got equal to one of our votes. So if Jean and I agree something, that's how it is."

Ecclestone said the problem is that Frenchman Todt, whose low-profile, hands-off approach is in stark contrast to his predecessor Max Mosley's, is always seeking consensus.

"One person out of step," said Ecclestone, "and we've got problems."

Indeed, as Todt met for an ultra-rare interview this week with a group of reporters in Paris, he sounded reluctant to join Ecclestone in sorting out a crisis.

"I do not believe we are facing cancer," he is quoted by UOL Esporte, "we are facing a headache. So we need to find a prescription for a headache, not a cure for cancer.

"I do not think formula one needs big changes," Todt added.

And so the elusive search for consensus continues, despite many believing F1 cannot wait for a package of rule changes to be ready for 2017.

"If we can find a good proposal that is accepted unanimously," Todt is quoted by Spain's Marca ahead of the early July meeting of the Strategy Group, "then it could be implemented in 2016.

"Otherwise, we have until February 28, 2016 to implement the regulations for 2017," he added.

Bottas might stay at Williams if Ferrari makes offer? Nonsense.

Bottas not ruling out staying at Williams
(GMM) Valtteri Bottas is not ruling out staying with Williams in 2016.

His comments come amid swirling speculation about the highly-rated young Finn' future, with Germany's Bild reporting this week that Ferrari is already beginning to wave its checkbook.

Asked by Sport Bild correspondent Bianca Garloff if he feels 'strong enough' to take on Sebastian Vettel at the Maranello team, Bottas answered: "I feel strong enough, although I am learning from each teammate I have."

Bottas, 25, was groomed towards the F1 grid by Williams since he became a test driver for the Grove team in 2010.

And he said he still rates the British team highly.

"For me, Williams is among the top three teams in formula one. If you want to be world champion in the next few years, you have to drive for one of those three teams," said Bottas, presumably also referring to Mercedes and Ferrari.

"My goal is the title. If that is possible with Williams, I would be very happy. Of course at some point, life goes on and you do need to think about yourself."

It is a typically skillful answer by the impressive Bottas, who is being courted on one hand by fabled Ferrari, and managed by the Mercedes chief Toto Wolff.

Bernie Ecclestone, F1 supremo, was asked recently by Sky if he thinks the once-great Williams team is still capable of adding more titles to its tally.

"With Frank (Williams), you would never say that nothing cannot happen. It's possible," he said.

"And I'd be the happiest guy in the world if he did. And I think even the people who are winning would be happy if he did."

Told however that Williams' budget is eclipsed by the vast sums spent by the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari, Ecclestone admitted: "That's the problem."

Racers cautious ahead of 'B' Force India debut
(GMM) Force India's race regulars are playing down expectations ahead of the long-awaited 'B' car's debut at Silverstone.

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez have been impatiently waiting for the upgraded car all season so far, after the team's troubled winter left them at the wheel of the compromised 2015 machine.

Armed with the Mercedes engine, however, Force India is a highly credible fifth in the constructors' table, sandwiched between Red Bull and Lotus.

"That's incredible," Mexican Perez told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "With this car. It shows how strong the team is, making the most of our opportunities."

And now, expectations are sky-high for the much-vaunted 'B' car, which will finally be debuted at the British grand prix next weekend.

Many of the new parts were debuted in the post-Austrian grand prix test this week, but only by testers Pascal Wehrlein as well as Esteban Ocon, a highly rated GP3 driver.

Spain's El Confidencial quoted the 18-year-old Ocon as saying the 'B' machine was "fantastic — mega fast!"

"Let's see what happens at Silverstone, but it will probably be a really fast car," Ocon enthused.

Perez and Hulkenberg, however, are more circumspect.

When asked about the 'B' car, Perez said: "The data looks good. But we must be careful. Perhaps we should not expect too much in the beginning.

"We must get to know the new car first."

German Hulkenberg qualified fifth and finished sixth with the much-maligned old car in Austria, and some insiders are saying the 'B' car – with its radical new 'nostriled' nose – could be up to a second per lap faster.

"About the upgrades," the Le Mans winner said, "often you promise everything under the sun and it doesn't quite turn out that way.

"I want to wait and see and feel the car under me before I make a judgement," Hulkenberg added.

"Nevertheless, I am optimistic that we will take a step forward."

Arrivabene comments on Monza, Raikkonen rumors
(GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has thrown Ferrari's voice behind the plight of Monza.

In recent days, it has been said the historic Autodromo's best chance of hanging onto the Italian grand prix might be to annually alternate with another venue, like Imola.

And it is quietly rumored that Ferrari would not mind if its own circuit, Mugello, is in the running.

The negotiations, as always, are being handled by Bernie Ecclestone, with Arrivabene telling La Repubblica newspaper in Milan: "We are not involved in the decisions affecting the grand prix of Italy.

"Of course, the Italian grand prix is at Monza, as we have said many times," he added.

"I think Mugello is a very technical track, but the Italian grand prix is Monza, and it always will be."

The other big topic regarding Ferrari at present is the uncertain shape of the team's 2016 lineup, with Williams driver Valtteri Bottas now strongly linked to the seat currently occupied by struggling Kimi Raikkonen.

"(Sergio) Marchionne is clear," Arrivabene said, "as I myself have always been clear: the future of Raikkonen is in his hands."

Horner and Ecclestone

Ecclestone backs Horner to survive rumors
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has thrown his weight behind Red Bull's embattled chief Christian Horner.

Briton Horner, as well as team official Dr Helmut Marko, have this week been moved to rubbish speculation that Horner, 41, faces expulsion at the hands of Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz.

"I spoke to Dietrich at length in Austria," F1 supremo Ecclestone told The Times newspaper, "and I know for certain that Christian is not in any danger.

"He is one of the best, if not the best, team principals formula one has had. He brought Red Bull from nowhere to world champions. Why would anyone sack him?"

Red Bull has struggled notably since winning its fourth consecutive world championship at the end of 2013, and has pinned the blame squarely on engine supplier Renault.

Marc Surer, a former F1 driver turned broadcaster, told Speed Week: "I don't think Christian Horner should be blamed for Red Bull's current situation."

Horner himself has said the reason for Red Bull's struggles is 80 per cent engine, 20 per cent chassis.

Surer commented: "I do have the impression that, of the past five years or so, the 2015 Red Bull car is certainly not the best.

"I don't understand how Red Bull, with its resources, can build a car worse than Toro Rosso is able to.

"From the outside, I think the only explanation is that Adrian Newey is no longer working 100 per cent for Red Bull," said Surer.

Horner disagrees with that, saying it will even be visible at Silverstone and Hungary, the next two grand prix venues that should be 'strong' for the RB11.

"According to our calculations," he told Auto Motor und Sport, "we have one of the best chassis in the field. Mercedes is maybe two or three tenths ahead of us."

However, Swiss Surer also thinks the very public spat between Red Bull and Renault at present is not helping the situation.

Rumors suggest the two sides are heading for divorce, with Renault possibly buying Lotus and Red Bull linked with a shock switch to customer Ferrari power.

But Surer thinks Red Bull and Renault need to come together.

"With the regulations we have now, and development of the power units limited from year to year, it does raise the question: 'If it's not good now, why should the situation be better in the future?'

"On the other hand, we are talking about a company like Renault. We can see from the example of Honda that these engines are very complicated, and the Japanese are struggling more than any of us would have thought," he added.

"So it might take some time but I think it is possible Renault will eventually have a good engine," said Surer, "even in 2016."

Will Stevens in the Manor

Ecclestone doubts Fitzpatrick will fund Manor
(GMM) Almost halfway through 2015, Manor may not be out of the woods yet.

At the end of the 'Marussia' chapter, the team was so close to collapse that its Banbury factory was sold to the new 2016 entrant, Haas.

At the eleventh hour, however, a savior emerged in the form of Stephen Fitzpatrick, a young entrepreneur who heads the small but growing British energy company Ovo.

Reports early this year suggested he rescued Manor by pledging almost $50 million of his own money.

At the time, Telegraph correspondent Daniel Johnson threw out the old line that to make a small fortune in formula one, "You need to start with a large fortune".

Bernie Ecclestone, however, isn't sure Fitzpatrick actually fits the bill.

"I don't think he'll ever do that," the F1 supremo told Sky recently, when asked about the reported personal fortune pledged by Fitzpatrick.

Ecclestone has admitted he regrets his handling of the Marussia collapse, reacting angrily early in 2015 when Manor turned up in Australia but did not race.

Told, however, that Britain's 2014 'entrepreneur of the year' Fitzpatrick is earning a reputation as an Ecclestone-style dealmaker, the F1 supremo replied quizzically: "Is he?

"He hasn't been too successful at making money, because he doesn't have enough to run the team properly," said Ecclestone.

The 84-year-old has openly mused that Fitzpatrick only arrived at the paddock turnstiles because of the $50 million in official prize-money owing to the team in 2015.

Ecclestone confirmed: "I think he takes over things that have got some subsidy, which it (Manor) did, and he could just rely on that without putting any money in.

"I don't blame him at all for not putting his money into formula one," he added.

Indeed, Manor's latest accounts show that the team is facing a cash shortfall and "wholly reliant" on funding from Fitzpatrick, according to a report in the Telegraph.

F1 business journalist Christian Sylt said Fitzpatrick has committed only to "enabling Manor to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months".

Martin Whitmarsh says F1 must crash and burn

Former McLaren CEO Whitmarsh Says F1 Needs To 'Crash, Burn'
The man who attempted to lead F1 into "calmer waters has warned that the sport will have to 'crash and burn' before it is saved," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES.

Former McLaren CEO and Formula One Teams' Association Chair Martin Whitmarsh was a "voice of reason in a turbulent paddock." More than two years ago, he "warned of the looming financial crisis that came to pass."

Sacked by McLaren, the 57-year-old is now steering Ben Ainslie's America’s Cup bid as CEO of the "ambitious sailing venture."

Whitmarsh said, "I love Formula 1 and I love McLaren. I was there 25 years. I am saddened by it. The sport will crash and burn before it gets turned around, in my view. It will do eventually but I am sad to see it go through the process it is going through."

Whitmarsh has kept his counsel since his reported Â£6M payoff from McLaren but his analysis is much the same as when he "attempted in vain to round up the Formula One teams so that they could bargain with CVC Capital Partners, the sport’s controlling shareholder, as a powerful lobby."

Whitmarsh: "If you look at the cycle, you had the sport as it was 30 years ago, then the tobacco era, which was the big growth spurt, and the automotive era when we had at one time seven of the nine largest automotive companies. Then, that went away with the economic crisis and it has diversified but in order to diversify it also has to recognize, which it is struggling with, that it has to be doing it at a slightly different level — and it has also got to be a bit more equitable in terms of distribution. It is an ongoing argument and, unfortunately, at the moment, it has led itself into a very difficult place" London Times

Azerbaijan Circuit

Baku Gears Up For Formula 1 Debut Race During 2016 Season
Azerbaijan's capital Baku is set to host an F1 race next year, the country's "highest-profile sporting event," according to Tom Hayward of REUTERS.

The inaugural European Games has "established Baku on the sporting map but the Azeri capital is already gearing up for a far bigger spectacle" next year — an F1 race through its "stunning streets."

Azerbaijan's F1 debut was "originally penciled in" for '15, but a contract was signed last year for a 2016 Grand Prix of Europe and work has since been "under way in Baku to prepare for its highest-profile sporting event yet."

Baku Grand Prix Head of Operations Chingiz Mehdiyev said, "Baku is on track. We are working on the project, we have almost completed the project, now we are going through some stages of homologation and after that stage we can already start working on actually building." A 6.007km track has been confirmed, "taking in the stunning architecture of the old city, multi-million dollar developments in the city center and the glittering Caspian seashore."

The 20-corner track will be "lapped 51 times" with cars reaching speeds of 340km per hour, which, according to Mehdiyev, is the "fastest single speed at any race" currently on the F1 calendar. The first race, scheduled for July '16, will be during the day but, beyond next season, Mehdiyev said that the possibility of staging the event at night was "very plausible and 'exciting.'"

Azerbaijan only has a short history of staging sporting events but the race will "place the country, with a young population providing a potentially lucrative new market, in the sporting spotlight."

Azerbaijan Minister for Sport & Youth Azad Rahimov said, "It's very important to put us on the sporting map, positioning the country on the map of the world and, of course, to excite the young people."

It will host Euro 2020 matches, while in '16 it will also host the 42nd Chess Olympiad and Euro U17 Championship, but it is F1 that is "garnering immediate interest." REUTERS