Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Paddock News from 2014 Singapore Grand Prix
The Formula One world is in Singapore this weekend for the only true night race of the 2014 season.
Much of the talk coming into the event has centred around the FIA's decision to severely restrict the use of team radio. The ban on much-criticised "driver-coaching" was welcomed by all, but other aspects of the new directive didn't go down so well.
Following complaints by some drivers and a lengthy meeting between the teams and the FIA, new guidance—limiting the ban to driver-performance messages only—was issued on Friday.
Elsewhere, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have commented on rumours they may switch seats next year, Lewis Hamilton thinks Red Bull could fight for the win at Marina Bay and Bernie Ecclestone says three-car teams are a genuine possibility from 2015 onwards.
The F1 boss has some good news too—the deeply unpopular awarding of double points for the final race of the year looks set to be scrapped after 2014.
Read on for a roundup of the top stories heading into the race weekend.
3-Car Teams Could Happen in 2015
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Bernie Ecclestone says three-car teams are a real possibility in the near future.
The F1 boss spoke about the idea ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix. Quoted in The Guardian, he said:
"We’ll know after the next two or three races. It’s always been on the cards that if we lose up to three teams then the other teams will run three cars.
I think we should do it anyway. I would rather see Ferrari with three cars, or any of the other top teams with three cars than having teams that are struggling.
"
When asked if plans were in motion for three-car teams to be adopted, he indicated they were.
His comments echo those he made in July this year, when he told Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Autosport), "I'm ready for a Formula One with eight teams with three cars each."
But this is by no means a new idea. It has long been accepted that if the number of teams falls below 10, some or all of the remaining teams would need to field additional cars to make up the numbers.
Per BBC, Red Bull's arrival in 2005 averted it happening that year.
In addition, some—usually wearing red—have in the past supported it regardless of team numbers. In 2009, Ferrari's then-president Luca di Montezemolo told Italian publication La Stampa (h/t pitpass):
"We're continuing to fight until every team has the right to start with three cars in the next season—and one I'd have handed over to Michael with pleasure. I prefer three McLaren and three Renault to three 'whatevers.' With BMW gone, there's not much to say but lots to do.
"
Of course, it didn't happen back then, but with the futures of Caterham, Marussia and Sauber in doubt, it could be on the cards as early as 2015.
Exactly how such a system would work is unclear. In support of the proposal, it would likely reduce the number of low-quality pay drivers—at least in the short term. And eight teams fielding three cars gives a grid of 24, which would be preferable to just 16 starters.
But it's difficult to see a positive for the sport in a single team frequently occupying the entire podium, or three teams taking nine of the 10 points-scoring positions.
Midfield teams would, in effect, be permanently excluded from the points. Constructors like Toro Rosso and Force India would become the new backmarkers, and may simply decide there's little point carrying on.
Even if only the leading two cars from each team scored points, there'd be little joy in crossing the line no higher than 10th.
Twelve teams (the current 11 plus Haas) running two cars each would be far better.
If the commercial-rights holders stopped stripping such huge sums of money out of the sport every year and gave the smaller teams a more reasonable share of the pot, we'd be able to have that.
New Team-Radio Rules Eased
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The new team-radio rules have been eased on Friday following a lengthy meeting between the teams and the FIA.
The original directive banned all team-radio messages relating to the performance of the car or driver. This included those regarding engine modes and energy-recovery system settings—which the drivers may not be able to manage by themselves.
When asked about his feelings on the matter by Autosport, Williams driver Felipe Massa said:
"In some areas I think it's fine. If the team tells you not to use the tyres so much in corner five because you're using them too much compared to your team-mate, it's OK not to say that. This is not a problem.
But you have so many things that we do in the car, that if you don't do maybe you put too much temperature in the rear brakes because the temperature gets too high, and then you just have a fire in the car. Maybe you could have a big accident.
We have a very complicated power unit in the car that is not related to the driver. We saw situations like when Lewis [Hamilton] had fire in his car—you could have that many times if you're not using the right settings.
That's not related to driving, that's related to the complicated settings.
"
Massa and the other drivers who raised concerns will therefore have been pleased when the FIA issued a statement on Friday morning, revealing the restrictions would now only apply to messages relating to the performance of the driver.
The ban on car-related messages is now pencilled in for 2015.
"OFFICIAL: #TeamRadio for car performance, #RadioSilence for driver coaching - just as our #BestFans recommended! #F1 pic.twitter.com/74plMek2bX
— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) September 19, 2014"
Given the incredibly complex nature of modern cars, this is very much the right call.
Banning so-called "driver coaching"—where the team gives advice to the driver on how to take certain corners, lift-and-coast and manage the tyres—is fair enough. The driver is paid to drive the car, and he should be doing it himself.
But expecting him to also learn to manage the car's systems without assistance, half way through the season and without prior warning, was a step too far. They're racing drivers, not software, engine, electrical and gearbox engineers.
The new directive strikes the right balance between making it a little tougher for the drivers and good old common sense.
Maybe the people making these decisions will spend a few minutes thinking them through next time.
Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel Almost Deny Seat-Swap Rumours
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Fernando Alonso is concerned rumours linking him to a move to Red Bull—with Sebastian Vettel moving the other way—are damaging Ferrari.
The rumour has been kicking around for a long time, but gathered pace on Tuesday this week.
"Did silly season just hit overdrive or is this the massive news we were waiting for? Alonso/Vettel seat swap being reported in Italy.
— Will Buxton (@willbuxton) September 15, 2014"
Responding ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Alonso is quoted by Autosport saying:
"I've been commenting about my future for now 13 months I think, so I have nothing new to say.
Sometimes Italy creates these strange rumours, which are not helping Ferrari, which we are all here to do.
I respect a lot Ferrari and try to create a good group, a good atmosphere in the team—from going out to dinner, to playing basketball, to playing poker—whatever to have a very united team, because it's what we need and what the people expect from us driving for Ferrari and working for Ferrari.
We know these things come from Italy, [but] it's not really clear what is the purpose.
"
The website also carries Vettel's response:
"I am driving for Red Bull. I have a contract so nothing has changed.
For sure the relationship I have [with Red Bull] is very special, they have been supporting me since I was 12 years old, and back then it was impossible to predict what would happen, impossible to know they would have their own, or two F1 teams, and impossible to know I would be driving for one of them at some stage, or both of them.
It is impossible to predict the future but surely I have been with Red Bull for a long time and have a very, very strong link to them in that regard. That hasn't changed and it doesn't look like it is changing.
"
It's interesting to note that neither categorically denied such a swap may take place, despite having ample opportunity to do so.
Instead, they chose to give vague politicians' answers and focus on the fact the rumour existed, not on what it actually said.
Surely if it was not even a shred of fire behind the smoke, one of them would have said so...
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Double Points Set for Well-Deserved Boot into Touch
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Bernie Ecclestone says the controversial awarding of double points for the final race of the season is unlikely to carry over into 2015.
Speaking at a promotional event ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Ecclestone said (h/t sportinglife.com):
"I wanted it [double points] to be for the last three races. Then people would believe it still possible somebody else could win, but everyone said I was mad, so we won't do it.
As for keeping it for the last race, I don't know. Probably not. We can't yet see whether it has worked, it depends.
It just seemed to me the right way to keep the championship open, otherwise for the last three or four races people are running in non-championship races.
"
When the idea was announced, the response of fans was almost universally negative. In fan surveys, 91 percent of F1Fanatic readers were against it, and 87 percent of those polled by Sky Sports felt the same way.
Sebastian Vettel was the most vocal critic among the drivers. Per BBC Sport, he called the idea "absurd."
The fact the scheme surfaced at all shows how far apart those running F1 are from those watching it. The average fan would rather the title went to the driver who did the best job over the course of the season, with each grand prix being equal—and if the title race ends early, so be it.
We'd prefer three "dead rubbers" to this cheap, nasty, unfair gimmick.
It's too late for 2014, but let's hope Ecclestone's "probably not" becomes a "definitely not," and future seasons can avoid being tainted by its ugly presence.
Lewis Hamilton Fears Red Bull Challenge in Singapore
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Lewis Hamilton and Christian Horner believe Mercedes' dominance may be threatened in Singapore by Red Bull.
The Austrian team have struggled in 2014 due to a weaker power unit than their German rivals, but the emphasis on downforce at the Marina Bay circuit could bring them back into contention.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hamilton said:
"They have a very good downforce package so I would assume that it would be us and them fighting this weekend, particularly because you need as much downforce as you can get at this circuit.
Plus they’ve really improved their engine I think from Spa onwards, so they should be a force to be reckoned with this weekend.
"
His comments come after Red Bull team principal Horner backed beleaguered four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to record a fourth consecutive Singapore victory.
Earlier in the week, he was quoted by Motorsport.com as saying, "I will not say it too loudly, but I have a feeling Sebastian will win in Singapore."
A Red Bull or two getting in among the Mercedes' would certainly make the weekend a lot more interesting—but don't count on it happening.
The Silver Arrows should again be far too strong.
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