What now for Mercedes?

A second coming together between Mercedes’ drivers has left the team in a difficult position heading to this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
 

On Sunday in Austria, Mercedes were denied a one-two finish when contact between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg saw the German drop back to fourth in the standings while Hamilton was able to claim the race win.

The incident follows far too closely on from the drama in Spain in May when, having dominated throughout the build-up, the two Silver Arrows drivers collided on the first lap, with both drivers forced to retire.

Speaking after the race at the Red Bull Ring, team principal Toto Wolff called the contact “brainless” and conceded that team orders could now be a possibility.

“The only consequence is to look at all the options available on the table, and one option is to freeze the order of a certain stage in the race,” said the German.

“It’s unpopular, makes me puke myself because I like to see them race, but if the racing is not possible without contact, then that’s the consequence.”

It’s not only that Wolff detests team orders that is interesting in his last statement, but also that a mind shift has taken place. Wolff admitted that “racing is not possible without contact”, a fact that he did not believe to be true following the calamity in Spain.

He added: “In Barcelona I was much easier with it because we had 30 races without any collision, it was clear it was eventually going to happen, it wiped out both cars.

“From my naïve thinking I said to myself ‘Okay, that’s it, they’ve learned their lesson, they’ve seen the consequences and it’s not going to happen any more’. But here we go, it happens again.”

And Mercedes are right that it will happen again.

In Hamilton and Rosberg they have two fiercely competitive drivers who will not give an inch – no top driver worth his salt would. However, what adds further fuel to the flames is Rosberg’s desire to at last get one over Hamilton and win the World Championship he so desperately craves, proving along the way that he is on par with his childhood friend.

Both times the Mercedes have come together this season, it has followed a Rosberg error. In Spain, one could say that Hamilton was at fault, but in Austria it was Rosberg’s refusal to accept that his team-mate had piped him at the post that resulted in their collision.

So, Mercedes have two drivers who won’t yield – what now?

There appear to be only two options:

1. The drivers agree to play nice (there will have to be consequences if they don’t)
2. Team orders will come into play

One would imagine that it’s option one which the team will turn to first; it’s the best things for the team, the drivers, and the sport. But will it be successful?

It’s hard to conceive that the pair will risk treading on the toes of their superiors further at Silverstone this weekend, but when the red mist descends and in the heat of battle, anything is possible.

For Rosberg, there is so much more than just points at stake and that will always see the German react with a degree of emotion that may cause him to cross the line. If he does so again though, it may be the last time he has the chance.

Would team orders do the trick?

With Hamilton closing in on his team-mate at the stop of the standings (the gap is now just 11 points), Rosberg can no longer claim to be the team’s number one title challenger and so team orders are an even more complex quagmire than they would usually be.

Should the team decide to adopt team orders, will they do so on a race by race basis or will they back one of the charges to go all the way? Neither option is an appealing one.

Hamilton and Rosberg have conspired to put their own team in an unwanted position, and it’s up to the pair to come to their senses and start racing for the team and not just themselves. They owe that to all those who have helped provide them with a Championship-winning car.

CREDIT TO:http://www.foxsportsasia.com/motorsports/formula-1/news/detail/item399915/what-now-for-mercedes/

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Flames and Lames

Ott Tanak during Day Three of the WRC Poland. Photo / Getty Images

Flames

Jenson Button
Ok the Brit only finished sixth in the Austrian Grand Prix but given where McLaren has been this season his third place start on the grid for the race was cause for major celebration. Button has struggled to crack the top 10 in qualifying all season so to park the car on the second row - albeit in part to a couple of faster cars getting penalties - is a big step in the right direction for the struggling outfit. Button is off-contract at the end of the season and there's plenty of speculation he will be replaced but this performance will help ease the pressure on the former world champion.

David Holder
Holder claimed his maiden New Zealand Rally Championship at the weekend's one-day Rally Gisborne, banking enough points to take an unassailable lead in the championship with one round to go on the Coromandel. The result came out of the blue as his nearest rivals ran into problems one after another. It took a television crew to inform Holder's team that they were about to win the championship before anyone knew they were about to achieve their ultimate goal. The Bay of Plenty product has been mentored by WRC star Hayden Paddon and is tipped for big things.

With Paddon blazing the trail internationally there could be opportunities for Holder to follow in coming years.

Ott Tanak
The Estonian has long promised to be a future star of world rallying but to this point has failed to live up to the hype. MSport Ford gave up on him last year opting for WRC rookie Eric Camilli in their fulltime seat this season but Tanak showcased the raw talent that had people tipping him as a future world champion as he dominated the field for just shy of three days at the weekend's WRC Rally Poland. He blew his competitors away on the fast gravel roads of Poland and looked set for a break through win until late on the final day.

Lames

Ott Tanak
For the first time someone appears on both the flames and lames list. If anyone ever needed proof that motorsport can be so cruel then Tanak's second place finish at WRC Rally Poland over the weekend certainly provided it. Having led the event from start to finish (well almost) Tanak seemed certain of a maiden WRC win as he headed off for the final two stages of the event with a nice buffer over second placed Andreas Mikkelsen. But a puncture on the penultimate stage saw him lose valuable time and drop behind the Norwegian and have to settle for second. With tears streaming down his face the young Estonian couldn't speak to reporters at the conclusion of the rally and was consoled by his competitors after suffering such bad luck.

Mercedes F1
Less than a week ago Lewis Hamilton proclaimed his relationship with teammate and championship rival Nico Rosberg was "better than expected." It may have taken a hit (excuse the pun) during the weekend's Austrian Grand Prix with the two Mercedes drivers coming together yet again (third time in five races) at the front of the field on the final lap. Hamilton tried to pass around the outside and two drivers made enough contact for Rosberg to fall to fourth while Hamilton managed to hang on for the win and reduce the German's championship lead to just 11 points. Both drivers blamed each other but the stewards took Hamilton's side issuing Rosberg with a time penalty for causing a collision.

Sebastian Vettel
In a season of costly incidents for the former world champion Monday's Austrian Grand Prix was no less cruel to him. The Ferrari driver's rear tyre exploded mid-race, within its expected life duration, and took him out whilst in the lead of the race. Vettel has struggled to consistently match the outright speed of the Mercedes this year and hasn't been able to capitalize on the mistakes the German manufacturer and their drivers have made this year because of the number of problems his own team has faced.

CREDIT TO:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motorsport/news/article.cfm?c_id=66&objectid=11668968&ref=rss

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Lewis Hamilton thrilled with pole position at Austrian GP

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton

LEWIS Hamilton has vowed to seize the initiative at his "weakest" race of the year after claiming a dramatic pole position for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

A deluge of rain moments before the final phase of qualifying at the Red Bull Ring contributed to one of the most dramatic and unpredictable top-10 shoot-outs in recent years.

But the changeable conditions suited triple world champion Hamilton to a tee as he finished nearly half a second clear of his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Championship leader Rosberg, a winner here in Spielberg in each of the previous two seasons, will be demoted to sixth after he was forced to change his gearbox following a dramatic crash in final practice.

LEWIS Hamilton has vowed to seize the initiative at his "weakest" race of the year after claiming a dramatic pole position for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

This track really doesn't suit my driving style 😐

Pole position anyway for @LewisHamilton 😀#AustrianGP https://t.co/ce1SiSAYYu

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 2, 2016

A deluge of rain moments before the final phase of qualifying at the Red Bull Ring contributed to one of the most dramatic and unpredictable top-10 shoot-outs in recent years.

But the changeable conditions suited triple world champion Hamilton to a tee as he finished nearly half a second clear of his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Championship leader Rosberg, a winner here in Spielberg in each of the previous two seasons, will be demoted to sixth after he was forced to change his gearbox following a dramatic crash in final practice.

Force India's Nico Hulkenberg will start alongside Hamilton on the front row while Jenson Button sealed a sensational third - his highest grid slot in nearly two years.

"Nico is very quick here and it feels like one of his strongest tracks and my weakest, so considering I am on pole I am super happy with that," said Hamilton.

"You want the team to be up there, but there is an opportunity, and I will try and do the best I can with it."

Hamilton trails Rosberg by 24 points, but he will be expected to dramatically reduce the gap to his team-mate ahead of next Sunday's British Grand Prix given their respective positions on the grid.

But a cautious Hamilton added: "I am only trying to think about my job. I want to get the best start because I have had some crap starts. That is where my mind is now and I don't care about anyone else.

"Just focus on your job and what will be will be. Whether they fall further back or progress, the most important thing is that I do my job.

"There is no point wishing or hoping someone else does something else. I want to win, and all my energy and 100 per cent of my thought process is on that."

 

Aside from Hamilton's heroics, much has been made of the new kerbing introduced at the recently resurfaced Red Bull Ring.

The theory is that it will deter drivers, who have been exceeding track limits in a bid to post a faster lap, but they have also contributed to a number of suspension failures this weekend.

Indeed Daniil Kvyat was the latest victim to fall foul of the so-called sausage kerbs, painted in yellow, after he crashed in qualifying.

Hamilton's Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed his team are in discussions with the FIA, the sport's governing body, amid concerns another issue could lead to a big accident.

"The kerbs are definitely causing failures one way or another," Hamilton added. "I agree with the direction the FIA have gone, but the problem is that a suspension failure turns the wheel in and sends you off in a different direction, sometimes aggressively."

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel will start from ninth after he too served a five-place grid drop for an unscheduled gearbox change. Kimi Raikkonen has been promoted to fourth with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo fifth.

Button's McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso starts only 14th while Britain's Jolyon Palmer will be 18th on the grid.

Palmer was later dealt a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow down sufficiently under yellow flag conditions. He will now start on the final row of the grid in 21st.

CREDIT TO:http://www.irishnews.com/sport/othersports/2016/07/02/news/lewis-hamilton-thrilled-with-pole-position-at-austrian-gp-588509/

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Feuding 'brainless' drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg face suspensions, fines

Mercedes are trying to control their feuding drivers Lewis Hamilton, left, and Nico Rosberg. CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS

 

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg could be fined or even suspended by Mercedes if they crash again under drastic deterrents being considered by the world champions in a bid to avoid imposing team orders.

Hamilton will plead with Mercedes not to "rob" fans by forcing them to obey team orders in next Sunday's (Monday NZ time) British Grand Prix, with executives fearing they may have to unleash the nightmare scenario on Formula One to control their feuding drivers.

However, the alternative punishment, understood to be one of the options under consideration, could be even worse news for Hamilton. It is understood increasingly exasperated team bosses feel they have been left with no choice but to act firmly and decisively after Hamilton and Rosberg collided for the third time in five races in Austria on Sunday (Monday NZT).

DOMINIC EBENBICHLER/REUTERS

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leads the pack.

This could include either a sporting penalty – the ultimate sanction being to take one or both drivers out of the car – or a financial one, a fine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. How exactly the system would work when there is no clear culprit for a collision, which was not the case on Sunday with Rosberg penalised by the stewards, remains unclear.

Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes motorsport, was absolutely livid on Sunday night, and seemed at the end of his tether with his "brainless" drivers.

Team orders would be a PR disaster in front 140,000 British fans, reminiscent of the worst days of Ferrari in the early 2000s, which is likely to be why other more extreme alternatives are being considered.

The decision will be taken in the coming days, principally by Wolff along with Niki Lauda, the three-time champion and Mercedes chairman, and Paddy Lowe, the technical boss. Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes, will be kept in the loop but is expected to leave the decision itself to Wolff.

Hamilton was at pains not to put himself at odds with the team as he left Spielberg, but he will use all his powers of persuasion to try to stop Mercedes implementing team orders, something which is at odds with everything he stands for as a racing driver.

He is likely to feel especially aggrieved given the overwhelming consensus, and the verdict of the stewards, that Rosberg was the guilty party in their last-lap crash in Austria last Sunday, one which gave Hamilton victory.

 

"I didn't come into this to be in that situation [team orders], so I will pray and hope that's not the situation," the three-time champion said. "Firstly for myself because that would take the joy out of racing and second for the fans because it will rob the fans of what they pay so much for."

Many believe Hamilton would ignore team orders if they were imposed in the British Grand Prix on Sunday, including Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion.

But Hamilton was by no means categorical. While the 31-year-old said Mercedes employed him to race - on a deal worth £100 million over three years – he also indicated he would listen should the order come. There will be a clause in his contract which states he cannot go directly against the wishes of the team, but drivers have ignored direct orders before, most memorably Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia three years ago.

 

Hamilton added: "I've been in that position before [team orders] and it goes against all my racing values and rules and the foundation of what racing is about. But ultimately I race for this team and I do want the best for the team. I'm the three-time world champion and my job is to do what they say.

"I feel like I have the right to say my opinion regardless of the boss. You can talk to anyone on that level with respect so I would tell them, just like I'm talking to you, I would have an opinion that needs discussion whether that's with Dieter [Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes] or they could have that respect."

Hamilton was critical of Wolff's description of the incident as "brainless", without the Austrian explicitly blaming one driver. The Englishman felt it was important the team projected themselves properly to their 1,300 employees back in Northamptonshire and the wider world.

Should Mercedes introduce team orders, against their policy of the last three years, Hamilton would have no choice but to qualify on pole position and make sure he gets away in the lead, unless he ignored the instruction. At least now after the result in Austria the gap in the drivers' championship is back down to just 11 points.

CRASHES:

Spain: Hamilton and Rosberg failed to even make it through four corners before they took each other out of in Barcelona. Rosberg defended aggressively, forcing his team-mate onto the grass. Hamilton lost control, hitting Rosberg and sending both out of the race. Verdict: too close to call

Canada: Heading into turn one, Hamilton and Rosberg were side by side. The German took the riskier move, heading for the outside, and Hamilton slid into his team-mate, banging wheels. Rosberg fell down the field. Verdict: racing incident

Austria: They made it to the final lap but heading towards turn two, Rosberg barely attempted turn in, spearing into the side of his team-mate. Hamilton won the race while Rosberg limped home fourth. The stewards punished the German. Verdict: 100 per cent Rosberg

CREDIT TO:http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport/81772307/feuding-brainless-drivers-lewis-hamilton-nico-rosberg-face-suspensions-fines

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Wehrlein is a 'very special driver'

Toto Wolff was full of praise for Manor's Pascal Wehrlein after the Austrian Grand Prix where he finished the race in 10th place.

Pascal impressed in Saturday's qualifying session by placing his car 12th on the grid, his best qualifying result of his short Formula One career. 

"For the first time in F1 he has really shown that he is a very special driver," Mercedes' Wolff said, according to the German news agency SID.

Wehrlein is part of the Mercedes programme and is tipped to be the driver to replace either Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg when a seat becomes available in the team.

CREDIT TO:http://www.f1today.net/en/news/f1/213915/wehrlein-is-a-very-special-driver

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Wolff: Rosberg will stay

Spielberg: Nico Rosberg has been assured that his ongoing contract negotiations with Formula One champions Mercedes will not be affected by Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton.

“The contract is a long-term decision and isn’t influenced by a race incident. Rosberg will stay” team boss Toto Wolff told reporters at the Red Bull Ring.

An exasperated Wolff, who has a 30 per cent stake in the team as well as being Mercedes motorsport director, had earlier slammed the latest clash between the two title rivals as “brainless.”

Stewards blamed Rosberg for causing the last lap incident, imposing a meaningless time penalty and reprimand.

The German, who has been at Mercedes since 2010 and turned 31 last week, finished fourth while triple world champion Hamilton won to cut Rosberg’s overall lead to 11 points with 12 races remaining.

While Hamilton has a contract till 2018, Rosberg’s future is in discussion. Austria’s former McLaren and Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger is negotiating with Mercedes on his behalf. He said that no deal had been reached yet and whether Rosberg stayed was up to Mercedes. “It would be very short-term thinking of everybody,” he added when asked about a possible negative impact of a collision that denied the team a one-two finish.

“We are seeing here a race where somebody did an outstanding job, and then a couple of circumstances happened in the last lap.”

Rosberg has won five of nine races so far this season and despite some speculation about a possible Ferrari move, he said he expects to remain at Mercedes for years to come. “It feels great to be here and the team is also very happy with me,” he said.

CREDIT TO:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160705/jsp/sports/story_94950.jsp

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FIA forced to re-examine radio ban

Over the past two years, there has been a progressive war on radio communications between the F1 teams and drivers as certain corners of the F1 family pursued an obsession with what they saw as driver coaching becoming increasingly prevalent.

It all started with a ‘lift and coast’ instruction and ended with the codification of article 20.1 of the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations.

The regulatory section concerned states, “the driver must drive the car alone and unaided”, and following an FIA review of current practice the result was the issuing of a technical directive 041 to clarify what would and would not be allowed in September 2014.

TD/041 messages concerning the following are not permitted either by radio or pit board)

• Driving lines on the circuit.

• Contact with kerbs.

• Car set up parameters for specific corners.

• Comparative or absolute sector time detail of another driver.

• Speeds in corners compared to another driver.

• Gear selection compared with another driver.

• Gear selection in general.

• Braking points.

• Rate of braking compared to another driver.

• Rate of braking or application of brakes in general.

• Car stability under braking.

• Throttle application compared to another driver.

• Throttle application in general.

• Use of DRS compared with another driver.

• Use of any overtake button.

• Driving technique in general.

Almost as soon as TD/041 was implemented, the teams complained and the FIA relented on the extent of the ban.

A note was issued by the FIA stating, “It seems to us that information being passed to the driver concerning the performance of his car should be separated from information concerning his own performance.

“It has become clear that the former is a very complex matter and that any list of restrictions imposed at short notice will have a significantly different effect from team-to-team. The latter information on the other hand can be considered simple driver coaching.

“With this in mind we propose to postpone enforcement of the information being passed to driver concerning the performance of his car until 2015.

“We believe this will give sufficient time for teams to prepare properly and, more importantly, to ensure that the regulations are being enforced fairly and equitably.

“On the other hand, information being passed to the driver concerning his own performance will be stopped with immediate effect.”

A pretty long note it turned out to be.

In February the following year (2015), the FIA revisited the matter and a spokesperson announced the result of their review.

“The Strategy Group, from whom the original request to limit what messages could be delivered to the drivers, now feel that the balance is right by only limiting messages that can be considered driver “coaching”,” said the FIA spokesman. “Therefore, the only messages we will not permit are those listed in TD/041-14 from last year.”

TD/041 still ruled the roost. Though the spokesperson reserved the right of the FIA to “add a few to this before the start of the season and re-issue the TD.”

All was well again in the world of Formula One radio communication, though the absence of certain types of radio traffic was a source of frustration for some viewers. However, the never ending pursuit of the goal to ‘spice up the F1 show’ meant this would not be the end of the matter.

For 2016, more radio bans were proposed. These were clearly designed to bring more unpredictability to F1 races because the teams were now no longer able to provide the drivers with information about tyre wear, engine performance and fuel levels – unless in an emergency.

At this juncture we’ll duck the full and lengthy technical regulation specification. Enough to say that Toto Wolff endorsed the latest interpretation of article 20.1. “The new regulations, we are so much more restricted in passing on information to the drivers during the race. Strategy, engine-mode deployment, tyre choices, even up to a point pit stops, a lot will be down to the driver to decide.

“Things will be less optimised by algorithms and engineers, and it will give room for error.

“What I like is that it is the driver who will be taking decisions, and not remote controlled from the garage.”

In fact the Mercedes team boss was positively ebullient about the new ban. “It’s an absolutely positive step. The target was to make things less predictable, more variable, and this is what’s going to happen. There is the potential now for races between them to unfold in a different way”.

All this positivity was clearly founded in Toto’s belief in the ‘Mercedes way’ – rooted in the German ability to plan for all eventualities. This had been evident in the Mercedes ‘driver on track code of conduct’ biblicesque tome as developed and deployed during in 2014.

“It will now come down to greater planning before a race”, Toto declared. “Down to intelligence to remember what that planning was, and down to intelligence and instinct to do the right thing at the right time.”

And this was all well and good until Lewis had problems during the race in Baku. ‘The planning’, ‘the memory’, ‘the intelligence’… anyway something went awry in Azerbaijan and Mercedes began to sing a different tune.

Following Nico’s brake problems in Austria, Toto again questioned the scope of the current radio ban, appearing to blame the Lewis/Nico collision somewhat on the drivers lacking vital information.

However, it may well be the last lap accident of Sergio Perez in Spielberg which will be the straw that breaks the stubborn back of the FIA camel.

Deputy team Principal Bob Fernley is now claiming he was banned by race control from passing vital information to both Hulkenberg and Perez about the ‘critical’ state of their brakes.

In his inimitable manner, Fernley observes the irony of the situation: “It seems a bit silly putting a halo on a car but not being able to tell a driver his brakes are about to go.”

This strangely succinct Yorkshire summary of the FIA’s farcical position on the two issues when juxtaposed will surely force the great and good at the Place de Concorde to reconsider.

Yet the FIA will in fact probably argue the second item on the 2016 list of permitted radio information is, “Indication of a critical problem with the car: Any message of this sort may only be used if failure of a component or system is imminent and potentially terminal.”

However, this eventuality is not being sanctioned given the remarks made by Toto Wolff and Bob Fernley.

And Sergio Perez ended his Austrian GP in the barrier.

Is this the kind of unpredictability the TJ13 jury really wants to see in F1?

CREDIT TO:https://thejudge13.com/2016/07/05/fia-forced-to-re-examine-radio-ban/

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Nikita Mazepin to drive at Silverstone test

Sahara Force India is pleased to announce that its development driver, Nikita Mazepin, will drive the VJM09 at the test session following the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. The 17-year-old Russian will drive both days of the test, which will take place on the 12th and 13th of July.

Mazepin, who was announced in his development role with the team in February, is currently competing in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship with Hi-Tech Racing. He has already attended several Formula One events with the team this season and has begun an extensive simulator programme at the team’s Silverstone HQ.

Nikita Mazepin: “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to test the VJM09 at Silverstone. There’s no doubt it will be the biggest moment of my career and it’s something I’ve been working towards my whole life. It’s been a few months since I joined the team and I feel ready for this opportunity. I know it’s an important test for the team and they will be counting on me to do a good job, so I will work hard to make sure we achieve our objectives.”

 

Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “In just a few months since his announcement as a development driver, Nikita has shown a great level of technical understanding to go with his driving skills. His progress in our simulator has been excellent and to be in the car during this test is the next step in his natural progression within the team. We are looking forward to working with him in Silverstone.”  

CREDIT TO:http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/story-303652.html

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Sainz thrilled with another points finish after disastrous qualifying

Craig Boon/Octane Photographic Ltd.

Austrian Grand Prix – Carlos Sainz may have suffered an engine failure in Saturday’s qualifying session, but recovered well on Sunday to bring home more points for Toro Rosso. The Spanish racer had just re-emerged onto the Red Bull Ring in the closing stages of Q1 after the red flag period to cover the crash of teammate Daniil Kvyat, when the Ferrari engine in the back of his STR11 failed. Pulling to the side of the track, he was forced to watch on from the sidelines and doomed to another lowly grid position.

Starting the race from P15, he made good use of the inherent pace of his car to work his way up into the points, and eventually came home a strong P8. He was understandably happy with his result, and said: “I’m very pleased with my race, especially because we didn’t have an easy one! We started from the back and did a good start, managing to get into the top 10 in the early stages of the race. Suddenly, after the second pit-stop during the Safety Car period, we were nearly last… Which meant we had to do a very good last stint on the Soft tyres – 35 laps – overtaking lots of cars and managing to get back into the top eight, something a bit unexpected after seeing myself back in P15 with half the race to go.”

Team boss Franz Tost praised his driver, saying “After our problems in qualifying, Carlos’ P8 is a big success for us today. Having to prepare the car with another engine is always a risk, as you don’t have the chance to run it before the race, but fortunately the team did a fantastic job to get the car ready in such a good way. Carlos drove a great race, with a lot of overtaking manoeuvres as well as being able to manage the tyres very well.”

Sainz has been hit with penalties for mechanical troubles at the last two Grands Prix, compromising his starting positions, and the Spanish driver says that Saturdays need to go better in order to capitalise on the pace of the Toro Rosso: “After a tough Saturday, I’m happy to finish the weekend with a good result as we’ve worked very hard for this – now we just need to make sure we have better Saturdays in order to start races further up the grid and fight for more points. I’m confident we can do it and I look forward to next week’s race weekend in Silverstone – my favourite track together with Spa – where we will keep pushing!”

CREDIT TO:http://formulaspy.com/formula-1/formula-1-news/sainz-thrilled-austrian-result-27604

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Verstappen wins F1 driver award for third time

Red Bull Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands celebrates his second place.

Reuters/Dominic Ebenbichler

 

Dutch teenager Max Verstappen has won Formula One's Driver of the Day award for the third time in nine races after finishing second for Red Bull in Austria on Sunday.The 18-year-old, who triumphed in Spain in May to become the sport's youngest race winner, started eighth at Red Bull's home track.
He also won the driver award, new for 2016 and voted for by fans after the race and announced the next day, in Spain and Canada.
Force India's Mexican Sergio Perez has won it twice for finishing third in Monaco and Azerbaijan, as has Haas' Frenchman Romain Grosjean after strong results in Australia and Bahrain.
Sunday's race in Spielberg was won by Britain's triple world champion Lewis Hamilton despite a last-lap collision with Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg.
CREDIT TO:http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-verstappen-idUKKCN0ZK23U

 

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Downforce Debrief – Roger Smith, F1, FE, Top Gear

This week, Lester and the team talk Top Gear, Fireworks in F1 and FE and GP2 PLUS Author Roger Smith is back to tell us more F1 stories from his brilliant book: F1 All the races. PLUS Find out how you can WIN a copy!.

On the panel: Ben McPhillips, Vicky Selwyn, Tom Brooks, Dan Marr, Dom Mottram & Jake Sanson

RUNNING ORDER

[0:00] – START
[5:50] – Top Gear Host Quits
[36:39] – Formula 1 Chat
[69:13] – Nikita Mazepan Rewarded with F1 test after assaulting British Driver
[80:15] – GP2 Chat
[88:13] – ROGER SMITH INTERVIEW & BRITISH GP PREVIEW
[117:15] – Tom Brooks at Formula E
[122:18] – Formula E Chat with Jake Sanson

CREDIT TO:http://downforce-radio.co.uk/downforce-debrief-roger-smith-f1-fe-top-gear/

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Kimi Raikkonen to wed for second time next month

British Grand Prix – Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen is to marry his long-term partner Minttu Virtanen in August. Raikkonen is set to marry Finnair air hostess Minttu Virtanen on August 5th, according to reports in Italian media. The couple have a son together, now 18 months old, naming him Robin.

The marriage will be Raikkonen’s second, having married Jenni Dahlman in 2004. They separated in 2013, and the then Lotus driver began seeing Minttu later that year.

According to the reports, the wedding will take place in San Galgano Abbey in the Tuscany region of Italy and will have a large security presence.

The couple will be joined by friends and family for the ceremony in the days following the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

CREDIT TO:http://formulaspy.com/formula-1/formula-1-news/kimi-raikkonen-wed-second-time-next-month-27600

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Pascal Wehrlein: “Half a second later I would have got a penalty”

Pascal Wehrlein believed he would have got a penalty had he not reversed into his grid position in time at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday.

Credit: Octane Photographic Ltd

Pascal Wehrlein was close to receiving a penalty after almost starting from the wrong grid slot for the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, before going on to score his first Formula 1 point.

The Manor Racing driver had initially lined up in the space vacated by Felipe Massa, who had been forced to start from the pit lane, but reversed into his own grid spot just before the light sequence began to start the race.

Wehrlein believed he had about a half-second window of opportunity to return to his twelfth place grid slot before the first of the five red lights illuminated, before the German drove a superb race to claim Manor’s first point since being taken over at the beginning of the season.

“I knew Massa was out, although I hadn’t seen [what happened],” said Wehrlein. “But it happened for the first time for me that there was a slot in front of me that was empty.

“I didn’t really think about it, so I went behind the next guy and I stopped. Then I saw Sebastian [Vettel] in his red car in front of me and I thought, ‘I didn’t finish qualifying behind him’. So I put reverse gear in and went backwards.

“I managed to stop the car, put it in the first gear and I saw the red light come on. It was maybe just half a second – and half a second later I would have got a penalty.”

The fact that Wehrlein stopped and engaged first gear before the light sequence began prevented him from receiving a penalty, with some teams questioning why no penalty was forthcoming after the race.

CREDIT TO:http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2016/07/pascal-wehrlein-half-second-later-i-got-penalty/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCheckeredFlag+%28The+Checkered+Flag%29

 

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Lewis Hamilton wants fourth F1 title but may have to obey Mercedes orders

Lewis Hamilton is now just 11 points behind team-mate Nico Rosberg heading into the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images 

Lewis Hamilton believes he has demonstrated how hungry he is to win his fourth Formula One world championship after his victory at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, achieved in a thrilling climax to the race after a final‑lap collision with his Mercedes colleague Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton had lost the lead to Rosberg when his team switched him from a one‑stop to a two-stop strategy. But Hamilton clawed his way back and put himself in a position to challenge the German on the final lap. Rosberg, who had a brake problem, was slow through turn one and Hamilton, on a charge, attempted to go round the outside of him at turn two. Rosberg did not turn in and the pair clashed. Hamilton went on to take the flag but Rosberg, who was judged by the stewards to have been at fault, lost his front wing and finished only fourth.

“I’m massively driven, hopefully this race has shown just how driven I am for this world championship,” said Hamilton, who has faced criticism this season that he is not as focused on the task at hand. “I want it as much, if not more, than I’ve wanted my other world championships and I actually love that it’s even harder to get because that makes you appreciate it more.”

He was also adamant that despite the controversy the incident caused – he was booed by fans after the race – that there would be no let-up in his determined approach. “You make a conscious decision to fight harder or you have doubt, and I had zero doubt in my mind,” he said. “I thought I’m going to go, do everything in my power, I might not win, but I’ll do everything, on the knife edge, over it and beyond.”

 

The Mercedes executive director, Toto Wolff, described the incident as “brainless”. He castigated both his drivers but refused to apportion blame in public. The pair knocked each other out of the race at Barcelona earlier in the year and Wolff said they were considering imposing team orders to prevent a repeat of that.

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For Hamilton the possibility was an anathema but one he may have to accept. “I’ve been in that position before and it goes against all my racing values and rules and the foundation of what racing is about,” he said. “But ultimately I race for this team and I do want the best for the team. I’m the three-time world champion and my job is to do what they say.”

 

Hamilton’s win on Sunday means he trails the championship leader Rosberg by 11 points and could overhaul him in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this week. Mercedes have allowed the pair to race until now enlivening their almost lone two-car battle at the front of the grid. Hamilton believes team orders would deny fans the thrill of a racing contest.

“I will pray and hope that’s not the situation,” he said. “Firstly for myself because that would take the joy of racing out and second for the fans because it will rob the fans of what they pay so much for. They save up all year to go to the Silverstone Grand Prix. Team orders is not something that should deprive them. Even if it’s the other way around and the other guy’s coming for me, that’s racing. That’s why you turn up and you sit in the mud in the camper van in Silverstone, because you have that passion and that fire, the same thing I felt in Austria.”

The former world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes the team will have difficulty managing the situation. “They both have contracts where they are allowed to fight for the championship,” he said. “So how do you impose team orders? It’s not Ferrari where you have a clear No1. Even if they don’t follow orders what do you do? Leave them home for a race?”

 

Villeneuve has personal experience of the issues involved. His father Gilles was killed in an accident at the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder in 1982 trying to beat the qualifying time of his Ferrari team-mate Didier Pironi. At the previous race, the San Marino Grand Prix, Villeneuve was furious when Pironi defied team orders based on a handshake-agreement to take the lead on the final lap to win. “At the time of my dad it was whoever is in the lead stays in the lead,” he said, suggesting that limited orders may be imposed. “That’s fine then you know you have to qualify better and make a better start. You still have a chance to be ahead.”

However, Villeneuve, who won the title for Williams in 1997, hinted that politics may also play a role. “There is a part of Mercedes that prefers to win the championship with Nico,” he said. “Because then it would be Mercedes winning and not just Lewis, so image-wise, politically, it would be better as they would have two world champions in the car not just one. So Lewis has to think about that as well.”

He did not, however, believe the strategy would be imposed to benefit Rosberg. “I don’t think team orders will go that far,” he said. “I think it would be whoever is leading 20 laps from the end, then you keep those positions. Then you know you have 40 laps to make the difference.”

Continuing to let them race, as the fans and the sport needs them to do, was the best solution for Villeneuve. “Both of them drove like champions, they went for it and decided to go for the move and take the risk, nothing wrong with that, we should be happy that it’s happening,” he added.

CREDIT TO:https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/04/lewis-hamilton-hungry-fourth-f1-title-obey-merceds-orders

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Hamilton- No team orders please

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg reacting after the Austrian GP, where he collided with team-mate and eventual winner Lewis Hamilton in the last lap. PHOTO: REUTERS

Briton hopes he can still continue to battle Rosberg after their third collision in five races

SPIELBERG (Austria) • Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has urged Mercedes to reject team orders and allow him to continue fighting team-mate Nico Rosberg for the drivers' title.

After clashing and colliding with the German leader of this year's championship on the last lap of his victory in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix, the defending three-time champion said he hoped Mercedes boss Toto Woff would reject the temptation of team orders.

"I hope it doesn't change and I hope we can continue to race," said Hamilton. "That is my honest opinion from a love of this sport."

 

"Certain circumstances have led us to where we are today," he added. "We have a lot of races ahead and we will continue to race. I am fighting for the world championship so we will keep fighting.

"You never want to see team orders happening. The great thing is Toto and Niki (Lauda) have been great and allow us to race and that is what racing is about."

DON'T STOP THE FIGHT

We have a lot of races ahead and we will continue to race. I am fighting for the world championship so we will keep fighting.

LEWIS HAMILTON, Mercedes driver, on why he hopes team orders will not be imposed.

Meanwhile, Rosberg has been assured that his ongoing contract negotiations with Mercedes will not be affected by Sunday's collision with Hamilton.

"The contract is a long-term decision and isn't influenced by a race incident," Wolff said.

An exasperated Wolff, who has a 30 per cent stake in the team as well as being Mercedes motorsport director, had earlier slammed the latest clash between the two title rivals as "brainless".

Sunday's collision was their third in five races and came only four races on from their crash in Spain, where both men were forced into retirement on the opening lap.

Stewards blamed Rosberg for causing Sunday's last-lap incident, imposing a meaningless 10-second time penalty and reprimand.

The German, who has been at Mercedes since 2010 and turned 31 last week, finished fourth to lie on 153 points. Hamilton's victory allowed him to cut the gap to championship leader Rosberg to 11 points with 12 races remaining.

While Hamilton has a contract till 2018, Rosberg's future is up for discussion. The German has won five of nine races this year and, despite talk of a possible move to Ferrari, has said that he expects to remain at Mercedes for years to come.

"It feels great to be here, and the team's also very happy with me," he said. "I feel really very much at home. This is my racing family and this is where I want to be for the foreseeable future."

Asked on Sunday whether anything had changed, he replied that he was just disappointed to have lost another victory.

"I had it in the bag and would have loved to win here. To lose it in such a way in the last lap is unbelievably hard," said the German, who had been chasing a hat-trick of Austria wins.

"I don't think of a big picture like that," he added when asked about working with Hamilton. "I'm just thinking of today and I'm gutted and that's it."

He had made clear to reporters, before the officials' decision, that he considered Hamilton to blame.

"The collision completely took me by surprise. I didn't expect Lewis to turn in... I can say that for sure I didn't drive into anybody, because I had the car fully under control at all times," he said.

"Apparently he said in a TV interview that I was in his blind spot so maybe that is why he turned in."

Wolff will call an inquest this week with the two drivers and their engineers to thrash out how they can avoid crashes that endanger team results.

Rosberg said on Sunday he would accept the team's decision but Hamilton is unlikely to be so compliant.

CREDIT TO:http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/no-team-orders-please-hamilton

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Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg face suspension threat from angry Mercedes to prevent more collisions

Lewis Hamilton has pleaded with Mercedes not to impose team orders for the British Grand Prix after the collision in Austria Credit: Getty Images 

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg could be fined or even suspended by Mercedes if they crash again under drastic deterrents being considered by the world champions in a bid to avoid imposing team orders.

Hamilton will plead with Mercedes not to “rob” fans by forcing them to obey team orders in next Sunday’s British Grand Prix, with executives fearing they may have to unleash the nightmare scenario on Formula One to control their feuding drivers.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes' head of motorsport, is infuriated by the increasingly frequent collisions between his two drivers Credit: EPA

However the alternative punishment, understood to be one of the options under consideration, could be even worse news for Hamilton. The Telegraph understands increasingly exasperated team bosses feel they have been left with no choice but to act firmly and decisively after Hamilton and Rosberg collided for the third time in five races in Austria on Sunday.

This could include either a sporting penalty – the ultimate sanction being to take one or both drivers out of the car – or a financial one, a fine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. How exactly the system would work when there is no clear culprit for a collision, which was not the case on Sunday with Rosberg penalised by the stewards, remains unclear.

Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes motorsport, was absolutely livid on Sunday night, and seemed at the end of his tether with his “brainless” drivers.

 

Toto Wolff: " Brainless. Seeing both cars nearly colliding is upsetting. It could have easily been a double DNF" #F1 pic.twitter.com/BfIGXClteu

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 3, 2016

Team orders would be a PR disaster in front 140,000 British fans, reminiscent of the worst days of Ferrari in the early 2000s, which is likely to be why other more extreme alternatives are being considered.

The decision will be taken in the coming days, principally by Wolff along with Niki Lauda, the three-time champion and Mercedes chairman, and Paddy Lowe, the technical boss. Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes, will be kept in the loop but is expected to leave the decision itself to Wolff.

Hamilton was at pains not to put himself at odds with the team as he left Spielberg, but he will use all his powers of persuasion to try to stop Mercedes implementing team orders, something which is at odds with everything he stands for as a racing driver.

Lewis Hamilton feels he was exonerated after Sunday's clash when common consensus held Nico Rosberg responsible Credit: F1

He is likely to feel especially aggrieved given the overwhelming consensus – and the verdict of the stewards – that Rosberg was the guilty party in their last-lap crash in Austria last Sunday, one which gave Hamilton victory.

“I didn’t come into this to be in that situation [team orders], so I will pray and hope that’s not the situation,” the three-time champion said. “Firstly for myself because that would take the joy out of racing and second for the fans because it will rob the fans of what they pay so much for.” Many believe Hamilton would ignore team orders if they were imposed in the British Grand Prix on Sunday, including Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion.

But Hamilton was by no means categorical. While the 31-year-old said Mercedes employed him to race – on a deal worth £100 million over three years – he also indicated he would listen should the order come. There will be a clause in his contract which states he cannot go directly against the wishes of the team, but drivers have ignored direct orders before, most memorably Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia three years ago.

Hamilton celebrates victory at Spielberg Credit: Reuters

Hamilton added: “I’ve been in that position before [team orders] and it goes against all my racing values and rules and the foundation of what racing is about. But ultimately I race for this team and I do want the best for the team. I’m the three-time world champion and my job is to do what they say.

“I feel like I have the right to say my opinion regardless of the boss. You can talk to anyone on that level with respect so I would tell them, just like I’m talking to you, I would have an opinion that needs discussion whether that’s with Dieter [Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes] or … they could have that respect.” 

Hamilton was critical of Wolff’s description of the incident as “brainless”, without the Austrian explicitly blaming one driver. The Englishman felt it was important the team projected themselves properly to their 1,300 employees back in Northamptonshire and the wider world.

Should Mercedes introduce team orders, against their policy of the last three years, Hamilton would have no choice but to qualify on pole position and make sure he gets away in the lead, unless he ignored the instruction. At least now after the result in Austria the gap in the drivers’ championship is back down to just 11 points.

Three collisions in five races

Spain Hamilton and Rosberg failed to even make it through four corners before they took each other out of in Barcelona. Rosberg defended aggressively, forcing his team-mate onto the grass. Hamilton lost control, hitting Rosberg and sending both out of the race.

Verdict Too close to call.

Canada Heading into turn one, Hamilton and Rosberg were side by side. The German took the riskier move, heading for the outside, and Hamilton slid into his team-mate, banging wheels. Rosberg fell down the field.

Verdict Racing incident. 

Austria They made it to the final lap but heading towards turn two, Rosberg barely attempted turn in, spearing into the side of his team-mate. Hamilton won the race while Rosberg limped home fourth. The stewards punished the German.

Verdict 100 per cent Rosberg.  

CREDIT TO:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2016/07/04/lewis-hamilton-and-nico-rosberg-face-suspension-threat-from-angr/

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Fan video reveals new angle of Hamilton-Rosberg clash

The controversial last-lap collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg was caught on camera by a fan at the Red Bull Ring.

Hamilton tried to pass him race-leading team mate on the outside of turn two only for Rosberg to run wide into his team mate. The contact broke Rosberg’s front wing and left him to collect fourth place while Hamilton clinched the victory.

“It was disappointing to lose the race like that,” said Rosberg. “It got quite difficult on the final few laps as I had to manage my brakes and I was confident that I could bring the victory home.”

“I had the inside line and we both went into the corner a bit long. I was surprised that Lewis turned in and it ultimately meant that we came together – that’s how the sport goes sometimes but it’s really difficult to lose the race in that way.”

The Austrian Grand Prix stewards ruled Rosberg was responsible for the collision but the ten-second penalty they gave him allowed him to keep his fourth place.

CREDIT TO:http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2016/07/04/fan-video-reveals-new-angle-hamilton-rosberg-clash/

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Teams to reject new proposal

Lewis Hamilton has spoken out against the current format


All 11 Formula 1 teams have told the sport's bosses they want to revert to the 2015 qualifying format amid ongoing criticism of the current system.

New for 2016, the current qualifying system has been criticised by drivers, teams, officials and fans.

FIA president Jean Todt and F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone want to introduce a format that involves combining a driver's two fastest laps.

But teams think this is too confusing for the audience.

They plan to vote against it on Thursday.

Qualifying was changed this year because Ecclestone wanted to spice up race weekends, which he felt were becoming too predictable.

It consists of three knockout sessions, with the slowest six cars eliminated at the end of the first two stages before a shootout of the top 10 fastest.

However, it has not worked as hoped.

After the opening 2016 race in Australia, teams voted unanimously to revert to the 2015 format, only for Todt to rule out that option.

Undeterred, the teams again insisted on a reversion to 2015 at a meeting at the Bahrain Grand Prix last Sunday.

Now they have written a letter, arguing that Todt's aggregate system "adds complexity" and makes it harder for the audience to follow what is happening.

Never want to miss the latest news? You can now add F1 and all the other sports and teams you follow to your personalised My Sport home.

SOURCE:http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/35987323

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Formula 1 gossip: Hamilton, US Grand Prix, Ecclestone, Red Bull

World champion Lewis Hamilton could race for another 10 years but his full-on social life may take its toll on the Mercedes driver, according to former McLaren driver David Coulthard. (Daily Mail)

Organisers of the US Grand Prix are set to announce the race will run in 2016 after months of speculation. (Associated Press)

But the future of the grand prix at Monza, Italy, remains in danger. (La Gazzetta dello Sport, via inautonews)

McLaren's Fernando Alonso posted an Instagram picture of Baku, Azerbaijan - which will host its first grand prix this year

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has described Australia's Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo as an "ideal international ambassador for the sport", saying "we need 10 more Ricciardos". (Grand Prix Australia) 

Red Bull can finish third in the 2016 constructors' championship, despite not having a front-running power unit, according to the team's consultant Helmut Marko. (Formula1.com)

Tuesday, 8 March

F1 bosses will be told to prepare for life without chief executive Bernie Ecclestone in a landmark report. (Telegraph)

McLaren driver and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will assess his future in the sport after trying out the 2017 cars. (ESPN)

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes drivers will make more errors because of increased restrictions on radio communication. (Autosport)

Lewis Hamilton got close to Sir Paul McCartney at Stella McCartney's fashion launch

Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson has described IndyCar champion Scott Dixon's positive assessment of the "halo" system as "spot on". (Twitter)

British Renault driver Jolyon Palmer says the new safety design is more relevant to IndyCar. (crash.net)

Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff has described compatriot and Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen as a man who "manages to carry himself excellently" and "in good hands" under the guidance of his father Jos. (verstappen.nl)


Max Verstappen posted a picture with Johan Cruyff last week

Monday, 7 March

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg looks like a man with not an awful lot to say as he unveils his 2016 helmet in this Twitter video. The German reveals he's "changed the chrome a little bit so there's more like a blending in, which I quite like, and other than that not much has changed..."

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo admits that although their pre-season has been an improvement on the last two years, Red Bull need "a little luck" to beat Mercedes and Ferrari this year. (PlanetF1.com)

Nico Hulkenberg believes Force India can be in the hunt with Williams when the season gets under way as the team look to better their fifth place in last year's constructors' standings. (Crash.net)

McLaren development driver Nobuharu Matsushita is up and at it bright and early. "Early flight this morning...I'm on my way to McLaren," he tweeted excitedly.

McLaren's Japanese development driver Nobuharu Matsushita is in for a busy day
 

Struggling Swiss team Sauber are entering the season under a financial cloud after falling behind in their wage payments more than 300 staff at Hinwil. (Blick via inautonews)

Bernie Ecclestone has been criticised by the chairman of Mercedes' owners Daimler after the F1 supremo said he would not spend his own money on watching the sport because it was the worst it has ever been. (Daily Mail)

CREDIT:http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/35743677
 

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Pascal Wehrlein to drive for Manor in 2016 Formula 1 season

Pascal Wehrlein's mother is from Mauritius

Germany's Pascal Wehrlein is to drive for the Manor team in 2016. 

The 21-year-old, who was the reserve driver for Mercedes in 2015, takes the first of two vacant Manor seats.
Wehrlein won the DTM German Touring Car Championship in 2015 and has experience of driving F1 cars in testing.

"Pascal is a sharp driver with a very promising future," said Manor boss Stephen Fitzpatrick. "We've chosen a driver with the talent and hunger to match our ambitions."

Wehrlein, who has a deal with Manor for the entire season, said: "Manor Racing is a great place for me to start my F1 racing career. I'm very pleased to be here.
"It's a small and totally focused team and I soon hope to know everyone.

Wehrlein tested for Mercedes in 2015

"Though it's my first F1 season my aim is to help Stephen and the guys achieve their goals. It will be a tough challenge but I think we should be able to challenge for points along the way. It's going to be good fun."

Wehrlein also thanked Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff, who helped engineer the move as part of Manor's new engine partnership with Mercedes.

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Alexander Rossi and Will Stevens, who drove for Manor in 2015, and Indonesian rookie Rio Haryanto are all in the frame to partner Wehrlein.

Wehrlein's opportunity for increased experience in F1 comes amidst uncertainty over the future of Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, whose contract expires this year.

Wolff has said he will make no decision on Rosberg's future until he has seen the first part of the 2016 season.

  The relationship between Hamilton (far left) and Rosberg (far right) deteriorated last season

If Rosberg continues his current high level of performance and the relationship between the German and three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton remains manageable, Mercedes are likely to retain Rosberg, at least for one more year.

But giving Wehrlein some experience increases their options.

They are also keeping an eye on Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, both of whom are under contract to Red Bull beyond the end of 2016.

Verstappen's deal runs until the end of 2017, while Ricciardo's lasts for a year longer.

How are Manor doing?

They have struggled at the back of the grid since entering F1 in 2010 but have undergone a major restructure in an attempt to improve.

Team founder John Booth and president Graeme Lowdon left at the end of last season after agreeing future plans with Fitzpatrick, who saved the team from oblivion by buying it in early 2015.

Fitzpatrick has recruited experienced former McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan as racing director to run the team.

He has also brought in leading technicians Pat Fry and Nikolas Tombazis, design engineers sacked by Ferrari at the end of their winless 2014 season.
 

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