F1 Today – 21/12/2016
Ricciardo rules out Mercedes
Daniel Ricciardo has ruled himself out of replacing Nico Rosberg’s “damn good” seat, saying he is committed to Red Bull until 2018. Mercedes are currently looking for his replacement, after announcing his retirement which shocked the paddock earlier month.
Speaking in his home of Perth, the Australian said I’ve got two more years at Red Bull. That’s where I’m going to be. There are a lot of people that are tempted to jump into that (Mercedes) seat, and you don’t blame them.”
“I just hope whoever gets it appreciates it. It’s a damn good one. But for me, you’ll see me at Albert Park in a Red Bull.” Mercedes are expected to sign Williams Valtteri Bottas in the New Year.
Ricciardo says he looks back on the last season very fondly, despite Red Bull being unable to consistently challenge Mercedes.
People get wrong impression of Wehrlein
Manors Racing Director Dave Ryan believes that people have the wrong impressions of Pascal Wehrlein and he doesn’t understand why. The German had a strong debut season and points scored in Austria.
Wehrlein wasn’t chosen by Force India as the replacement for Nico Hulkenberg, instead they chose his team-mate Esteban Ocon. Force India believes that Wehrlein is centred around his interaction with the team. Ryan believes Wehrlein has been misjudged by some in the paddock. Ryan told Autosport at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“Pascal is a huge talent, there’s no doubt about it, and he’s a lovely kid. Some people have an opinion of Pascal and it’s just wrong. The guy is just completely honest, he tries really hard and he’s incredibly talented.”
“He’s great racecar driver with great racecraft, great awareness of what’s going on around him so we’re really, really pleased about him.” Ryan added he is puzzled by the reason why there is this bad impression of him. Wehrlein is understood to be Mercedes ‘plan B’ to replace Nico Rosberg, should they fail to lure Valtteri Bottas away from Williams. He added everyone says he arrogant, but the media describe him as lovely.
He said “He’s got that fantastic sort of mischievous smile, he’s helpful, he’s positive, so I think it’s one of those deals where someone’s said something along the way somewhere and everyone’s picked up on it and it’s wrong.”
Asked was that damaging his career and was this part of the reason he didn’t get the seat with Force India he said “You’ve only got to talk to Pascal for five minutes and know it’s not the case.
“I don’t know anything about how Force India arrived at who’s going to drive the car for them and that’s completely their business. If you spend five minutes, or even two minutes, talking to him, you quickly understand that he’s a super guy.”
Force India to run Johnnie Walker branding
Autosport say they have learnt that Force India will next season run the Johnnie Walker branding. The branding has been in Formula One since they began sponsoring McLaren in 2005.
After eleven years of their partnership, next season could be the last following the end of a two year deal. The magazine says it understands that both McLaren and Force India will next season carry the banding, but more prominently on the Force India.
Diago, has in recently brought a controlling stake in team owners Vijay Mallya’s former business United Spirits, which has been supporting the team since 2014. Johnnie Walker logos will replace Smirnoff on Force India’s cars for next year.
Ferrari had proposal to hire Lowe
Ferrari “had a proposal” to hire Mercedes Paddy Lowe, however decided that they could do without the world championship-winning technical director, according to Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne.
Lowe is out of contract now, with there being reports that he could move to Williams and Mercedes recruiting Ferrari’s former technical director James Allison. Allison was replaced by promoting the former head of its engine department Mattia Binotto.
Speaking at the teams Christmas lunch, Marchionne according to La Republica said “We had a proposal, but that role was covered. We don’t need a Ross Brawn-type of hero who solves all problems.”
“All together, working in the right way, we can make it. I don’t want to continuously change the team.” It was a tough season for Ferrari, the team dropped to third in the constructors behind Red Bull. Marchionne suggested that the restructuring has addressed the team’s major weaknesses.
He says “We have two drivers who have been world champions, a great will to win, a restructured team who is now better able to react development-wise. We wanted to reform the team, and most of all make it more transparent with its exchange of information.”
Marchionne says the worst thing apart from not scoring victories is that the car didn’t improve performance wise. He added he would accept ultimate responsibility should Ferrari fail to succeed in 2017.
Renault set for BP deal
Renault is to secure a partnership with BP from next season, according to the Magazine Autosport. The French manufacturer has been supplied by Total but its looking to close to agreeing a deal with the oil company.
If the deal is agreed it would mean that the world’s sixth largest oil and gas company would be providing two teams from 2017. The deal with Renault is believed to be smaller than McLaren’s, as McLaren has its understood to have a technical arrangement with BP.
Renault won’t comment when asked by the magazine, but recently managing director Cyril Abiteboul said the team as keen to establish a partnership like the one between Mercedes and Petronas.
He said “I’m completely confident that through a new relationship we will be capable of finding a partner with the same appetite and the same financial resources and the same technical capabilities as Petronas continues to have for Mercedes.”
Renault partnership will also involve there road cars with a ‘first-fill’ arrangement on its road cars when they leave the factory. This could also be extended across the Renault Group. Abiteboul added “We are the largest manufacturer involved in Formula 1 by volume [of road car production]. I have absolutely no doubt that this is attractive to any petroleum brand.”
Paul Riccard introduce track heating
Paul Ricard is considering introducing a system to help warm the track surface so its helps teams during winter testing. Leading teams and tyre supplier Pirelli have been pushing for testing to take place in Bahrain in order to have more representative running, given the warmer track conditions.
In the end however, it was decided that testing would take place in Barcelona, where temperatures are expected to be low. The French circuit has held tyre tests this season and is pushing to hold more testing. Recently it was announced the circuit would hold the French Grand Prix from 2018.
The circuit’s director Stephane Clair says a system to heat up the asphalt is being considered when the circuit is resurfaced next year. Clair told Motorsport.com “We’ll obviously fight to get that pre-season testing, and the new track will play to our advantage in that regard.”
“We’re currently considering heating it up to maintain a track temperature that allows testing with a perfect use of tyres. That’s what has been missing in pre-season testing on some European tracks.” He added it could be used all year round.
Clair adds that no discussions have taken place yet over having testing at the track, he is confident the circuit will be seen as a perfect venue for it.
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