Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Williams Launch, Lewis Hamilton Deal, More
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton remains unconcerned that he has not yet signed a new contract with his Mercedes.
The German team appear similarly relaxed over the situation, but tongues will surely start to wag if the delay continues.
In other news, Bernie Ecclestone has renewed his attack on the V6 turbo engines—and on Mercedes' dominance. He thinks it could be three years before anyone catches up with the Silver Arrows and that could be bad for the sport. He mentioned the noise as well...
Elsewhere, Williams have become the first team to show off their new car, Force India have a new paint scheme, Niki Lauda wants engines kicking out 1,200 horsepower and the FIA is launching legal action against former F1 driver Philippe Streiff.
The Frenchman blasted the investigation into Jules Bianchi's accident in Japan; Jean Todt and Co. will sue for defamation and are also seeking to stop his views being circulated.
Read on for a full roundup of the top stories from the last few days.
Williams Show off 2015 Car as Force India Display New Colours
1 of 5
Williams have unveiled their 2015 challenger—and on the evidence provided, F1 noses are going to remain a little bit on the ugly side.
"The first images of the FW37 are now live, what do you all think of the car? http://t.co/ZA3cxkghB0 pic.twitter.com/ep7FRBLrwI
— WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) January 21, 2015"
The first of this year's cars to go public, the FW37 was "launched" in a low-key manner—images of it were published on the cover of F1 Racing magazine and on the team website.
Clad in its Martini livery, it's a beauty with the exception of the odd protrusion above the front wing.
The finger nose of 2014 has become something which resembles part of a jigsaw puzzle. It's arguably even less visually appealing than Williams' 2014 solution but better than most of the old fingers.
Force India got in on the act too when they held a livery launch party on Wednesday in Mexico City. Aside from the orange, the predominantly silver and black VJM08 (images on the team website) has a paint job very similar to the 1998 McLaren.
But this wasn't a proper launch—only the colours are new. A show car was used with what appears to be a 2014 nose dressed up to look 2015-style.
We may have to wait until the second test—Force India are not bringing their new car to the first—to see the actual VJM08.
Lewis Hamilton Contract Talks Making No Progress
2 of 5
Lewis Hamilton is no closer to signing a contract extension with Mercedes.
The world champion's current deal expires at the end of 2015 and a driver of his calibre would usually be tied down by now. However, nothing has yet been agreed—not that Hamilton is concerned. He told Sky Sports' David Croft:
"As soon as I left the last race, I was at the factory for a couple of days, but I haven’t sat down with the team. But, again, we said last year we’re not in a rush. We’re relaxed. The team have acknowledged they want to continue with me and vice versa, so there is no stress.
I’m comfortable and confident and trust that they’re not speaking to anyone else and they know that’s the case with me.
"
The team are saying the same thing, with executive director Toto Wolff telling Gazzetta dello Sport earlier in the month (h/t Reuters), "There's no hurry, we'll discuss it during the year."
Which leaves only one question: Why wait?
If the driver wants to stay and the team want to keep him, the off-season is an ideal time to do business. Per the Daily Mail, talks which were supposed to be happening last summer were put on hold so they wouldn't interfere with the title race.
But surely there'll be another title race in 2015 and it seems almost certain Hamilton will be a part of it.
So maybe there's more to it than both parties are making out.
Bernie Ecclestone Goes Back on the Attack over Engines
3 of 5
Bernie Ecclestone still wants to change the engine regulations, citing Mercedes' dominance as the primary reason.
Speaking to Craig Slater of Sky Sports, the commercial-rights chief said:
"I'd like to see the engine formula changed. If you said to me I have a wish, that's what I’d wish for. Mercedes have done such a good job with this power unit it’s left everyone behind and I can’t see people catching up that quickly.
Maybe in three years—we can’t afford to wait three years. Or two years or one year.
"
He also complained about the excitement levels of the new formula and returned to his favourite gripe, the noise, adding:
"I think, genuinely, if it was possible for these engines to produce what the V8s used to produce, that is what would happen. But it’s not possible with this power unit.
It’s a magical piece of engineering but in my opinion it’s not what the public really worry about. They want to see good racing and preferably with a lot of noise.
"
Exactly how 2014 featured less-exciting racing than V8-powered 2013 is anyone's guess; indeed, F1Fanatic readers rated 2014 as a significantly better year overall. The spectacle could do with some improving but that's not a new thing brought on by the V6s—it has existed for many years.
Perhaps the problem is who is winning, not the manner in which it is being done. In 2002, the height of the Schumacher era, Ecclestone told the Guardian Ferrari winning all the time wasn't an issue. If the two drivers got to race without team orders, he said, everyone would be happy.
He followed this up a few years later, telling The Telegraph in 2004: "It's really nothing to do with Ferrari winning, it's about the others losing. You can't handicap Ferrari and I don't think any other competitive team would want that to happen. If you asked Ron Dennis or Frank Williams if they'd like that, they'd say no."
And in 2011 ESPN reported that Ecclestone felt it was good for the fans that Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull were always winning. He said:
"Sebastian is the best right now and that's why he is dominating, and that's what makes it so interesting for the fans, because every race weekend starts with a big question mark—who will be able to beat Vettel? That's why fans tune in.
The competition Sebastian is facing is much bigger than that confronted by Michael. That makes Seb's wins even more noteworthy. I don't see a reason why there shouldn't be a Red Bull era just as Ferrari had theirs with Michael.
"
But a Mercedes era? No, change the regulations...
Of course it'd be nice to have 12 drivers fighting for the lead of every single grand prix, but Mercedes did a better job and earned their advantage.
It's perplexing why Ecclestone, who previously appeared happy enough to preside over a meritocracy, has suddenly developed a problem with success.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
FIA Threatens Legal Action over Philippe Streiff Comments
4 of 5
The FIA will commence legal action against former F1 driver Philippe Streiff following comments made in the wake of Jules Bianchi's accident in Japan.The governing body set up a panel of experts to look into what happened and make recommendations for the future. Its report cleared the FIA of any blame.
Streiff felt it was a whitewash; in an interview with French radio station Radio Free (h/t inautonews.com), he accused the FIA of setting up a friendly panel to absolve itself of any blame.
The FIA were less than pleased and responded on Thursday with a statement. It read:
"The FIA, its President Jean Todt, as well as Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, are dismayed to learn of the remarks made about them by Philippe Streiff in his recent comments on the state of Jules Bianchi’s health.
These remarks having been published by certain media, the FIA, Jean Todt and Gerard Saillant categorically state that Philippe Streiff’s insulting and defamatory comments are utterly unfounded and demonstrate malicious intent.
In view of the seriousness of this deliberate attack on their reputations, they have had to ask their lawyers to lodge a complaint for public defamation and insult so that the circulation of Philippe Streiff’s statements is stopped immediately and sanctioned in an appropriate manner.
They find it regrettable that this incident only serves to add to the suffering of Jules Bianchi’s family, for whom they would like to reiterate their support.
"
Streiff, who scored a single podium from 55 grands prix in the 1980s, was paralysed in a testing crash in 1989. Speaking to Autosport in 2014, he credited Saillant, named in his criticism, with twice saving his life.
His comments were unfortunate—the Accident Panel was largely filled with well-known, independent individuals including Ross Brawn, Stefano Domenicali and Alex Wurz. Such men covering up facts and toeing the party line seems inconceivable.
With this in mind, the FIA would appear to have every right to be aggrieved, but Todt's action to prevent further dissemination of his comments is likely to have the opposite effect.
Niki Lauda Welcomes Talks over More Powerful Engines
5 of 5
Niki Lauda feels bumping up the power output of F1 engines is crucial to securing the sport's future.
Suggestions to introduce the more powerful engines were raised at a meeting of the Strategy Group in early January. The thinking is that engines with an output higher than 1000 horsepower would make the cars harder to drive and the sport more attractive to viewers.
Such figures could be achieved with only minor modifications to the current power units, and Lauda is fully behind the idea. Speaking to Autosport, the three-time world champion said:
"Currently we risk losing more and more fans because F1 becomes unattractive.
I wish we would have a futuristic car that attracts the fans for at least five years. It should have 1200bhp, plus wide tyres and aerodynamic characteristics, which delivers a steep power curve that becomes very critical at the limit.
The hybrid technology should remain, but we need more power. This can be easily achieved if you allow bigger fuel cells and more fuel flow.
"
He added the current cars are too easy to drive, saying:
"Currently F1 cars allow every other GP2 or F3 driver to be as quick as established drivers within a very short time and without taking too much risk. Some time ago young drivers were really worried about speed, braking, downforce and a big crash at 300km/h.
Today you can drive a F1 car like a road car. I could do it, you could do it.
"
His words echo those of Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle, who observed after the 2013 Young Driver Test at Silverstone that the cars were "too easy to drive approaching the limit."
It's difficult to see a downside to more powerful cars with fatter tyres. They'll look better, be tougher to drive quickly and bring back the physical demands on the driver which have all but vanished in recent years.
Increased mechanical grip from the tyres would also, in theory, allow cars to follow each other closely through corners easier than they can now.
Safety concerns from quicker cornering (and straight-line) speeds could be the only issues which need to be looked at in detail.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
