Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Carlos Sainz Jr., Kimi Raikkonen and More
With Carlos Sainz Jr. staying with Toro Rosso for the 2017 Formula One season, Kimi Raikkonen is likely to breathe a sigh of relief as he prepares for the impending Austrian Grand Prix.
With Sainz viewed as a potential team-mate for Sebastian Vettel, the 2007 world champion has seen off one of the main threats to his seat at Ferrari.
But with Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez and Romain Grosjean all fluttering their eyelashes in the direction of the Prancing Horse, there are still a number of hurdles to clear before Raikkonen can celebrate another stay of execution.
And Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne, who has been prone to putting unnecessary pressure on his employees in 2016, has challenged the Finn to prove he deserves a new contract and another chance alongside Vettel in 2017.
Like his former Ferrari team-mate, Felipe Massa is also facing an uncertain future, with Williams openly flirting with other drivers in the paddock.
The Brazilian previously expressed his confidence that he would remain with the British outfit for 2017, but he has since suggested he could be set for a switch to a rival team.
Though Raikkonen and Massa are on the wrong side of 30, both drivers will surely be eager to postpone their retirements to get their hands on the new-generation F1 cars when the major regulation changes are implemented at the beginning of next season.
The new rules have attracted much criticism, but McLaren-Honda's Eric Boullier has insisted they will make drivers and spectators fall in love with F1 all over again.
Closing our latest roundup is Renault's Jolyon Palmer, who has explained why the team radio restrictions are positive for the sport despite the recent European GP controversy.
Carlos Sainz Jr. Has 'Unfinished Business' at Toro Rosso After Signing 2017 Deal
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Carlos Sainz Jr. declared he has "a lot of unfinished business" with Scuderia Toro Rosso after agreeing a deal to remain with the team for the 2017 season.
The Spaniard has excelled since making his F1 debut alongside Max Verstappen at the beginning of 2015, but he was overlooked for a promotion to the senior team when Daniil Kvyat was demoted following May's Russian Grand Prix.
Since Verstappen's rise to Red Bull, Sainz has embarked upon a career-best run of form—scoring points in three of the last four races, including a sixth-place finish in his home event at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain.
That upturn in results saw Sainz regarded as a potential successor to Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, but the 21-year-old recently told Sky F1's Johnny Herbert (h/t Sky Sports' Matt Morlidge) of his determination to remain and win world championships with Red Bull's F1 operation.
And ahead of the Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring, Toro Rosso announced Sainz will stay with the team for 2017, with team principal Franz Tost telling the team's official website:
"We are very happy that Carlos continues with us, because he has shown a very good performance since he is with Scuderia Toro Rosso and I am convinced that he will be very competitive and strong in 2017 as well. I am very much looking forward to next season as I am sure that Carlos will bring home very good results.
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Sainz took to Twitter to express his delight with his contract extension, stating: "Very happy to be signed by Toro Rosso for next year! But is time to focus in 2016 season as there is still a lot of unfinished business."
Per Motorsport.com's Valentin Khorounzhiy and Jonathan Noble, Verstappen congratulated his former team-mate on his deal, explaining it is "good for him" to have "another year in Formula One."
But the 18-year-old dismissed the notion Sainz could soon emerge as a threat to his seat at Red Bull, insisting he doesn't "feel the pressure from Carlos," having "shown in Toro Rosso how to beat him in the races and in qualifying."
The identity of Sainz's 2017 team-mate is unclear, although Tost recently admitted he "hopes" Toro Rosso will keep Kvyat as long as the Russian feels "well" after becoming the first driver to be dropped from the Red Bull senior team, per Motorsport.com's Noble and Kate Walker.
GP2 driver Pierre Gasly and 18-year-old Brazilian Sergio Sette Camara, who will drive the STR11 car at the upcoming in-season test at Silverstone, England, are potential replacements for Kvyat.
Ferrari Challenge Kimi Raikkonen to Earn New Contract
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Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne has challenged Kimi Raikkonen to prove he deserves a contract for the 2017 season.
After an underwhelming 2015 campaign, Raikkonen made a solid start to this year, claiming podium finishes in three of the opening five races in Bahrain, Russia and Spain, but he has suffered an alarming loss of form in recent weeks.
The 2007 world champion retired from the Monaco GP after crashing at the slowest corner in F1 before finishing almost a minute behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel in Canada.
A return to the top three looked likely in Azerbaijan on June 19, yet a five-second time penalty for crossing the pit-entry line saw Raikkonen pipped to the podium by Sergio Perez, who secured Force India's second top-three finish in three races at the Baku City Circuit.
With Raikkonen's contract set to expire at the end of this season, and with the likes of Perez, Daniel Ricciardo and Romain Grosjean emerging as potential replacements, 2016 might be the Finnish driver's last in F1, and Marchionne insisted Raikkonen's performances will determine his future.
He told Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble): "It is up to him. Kimi’s time with Ferrari will depend on his performance. He has to show he deserves to stay here, other wise I think he won’t want to continue here as well. There will come a day when I will leave as well."
After registering three victories in 2015, Ferrari are without a win after the opening eight races of this season, with Marchionne arguing the team's new design philosophy—compared with the more stable platform of reigning world champions Mercedes—and "old" working methods have contributed to a lack of success.
He told the same source:
"Their secret is the stability of the car. The Ferrari SF16-H is new compared to the 2015 edition.
Although the design looked great, once it took to the track there were some results that didn’t match up to our expectations. We are trying to move past that in order to understand what is needed in order to improve our performance. It’s a difficult car. ...
I don’t know if we are working with old methods, but the current structure is dated and doesn’t reflect the people we currently have. We have a great company that produces results. We can and must improve.
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As reported by Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble and Roberto Chinchero, Ferrari are set to evaluate an updated "halo" cockpit-safety device at the Austrian GP, but it is unclear whether the team will run it on the track or conduct "static tests" in the pit lane.
The same source suggested the FIA will make an imminent decision about a mandatory 2017 introduction of the halo.
However, Niki Lauda, who won two of his three world championships with Ferrari and survived a fiery accident in the 1976 German GP, has warned increased safety measures could "destroy" the "DNA of Formula One," per Motor Sport Magazine's Nigel Roebuck.
Felipe Massa Admits He Could Leave Williams at the End of 2016
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Felipe Massa has admitted he could leave Williams at the end of the season, hinting he may have some "interesting opportunities" for 2017.
The Brazilian has claimed six podium finishes since joining Williams from Ferrari at the beginning of 2014 and recently said he was "working on" a deal to extend his stay with the British outfit, as reported by Autosport (h/t Eurosport) .
However, the team have made no secret of their desire to freshen up the driver lineup next season, with deputy team principal Claire Williams telling Sky Sports' Pete Gill and Craig Slater they were "talking to a lot of drivers in the paddock" over the European GP weekend.
One of those drivers is believed to be Jenson Button, and the 2009 world champion recently implied he would welcome a return to the team with whom he started his F1 career in 2000, per Gill.
With Valtteri Bottas a homegrown talent, Massa would almost certainly be the one forced to make way if the team re-signed Button.
And the 35-year-old Brazilian has revealed he is open to a move away from Williams, telling F1i.com's Chris Medland:
"I think everything is open. Everything is open inside Williams, maybe you have some opportunity in another team, we need to wait and see. I think it’s a little bit too early. For sure the teams already start to think about it, you know that is clear, but what’s going to happen I think is impossible to answer. But I think the situation is quite open in Williams and in other teams so we will see. I’m not really in a hurry, let’s concentrate on each race and see what’s going to happen.
I feel ready for everything. I feel ready to stay, I’m ready to do everything I can, I’m ready to enjoy myself. And if I don’t have a good opportunity I’m ready to find a new job in something different! So I’m not in a rush and we’ll decide in the right way for everything. So if I have a good opportunity, yes, this is what I like to do anyway. But I’m not here to be in the back of the field and just not enjoying myself. I’m not ready for that.
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When asked whether remaining in a competitive Williams seat would be his "dream scenario" for 2017, the former Sauber driver added: "Or maybe if you have some more interesting opportunities... I don’t want to put names down because I don’t think that is really the right thing to do. But not a small team, so maybe teams like the ones I raced for but maybe also teams that are pushing to be better."
Meanwhile, Massa recently expressed his concern that his home grand prix could drop off the F1 calendar at the end of 2016.
The Sao Paulo native, twice a winner at the Interlagos circuit, explained how "the country is missing money and the situation is not easy," warning "it is not impossible" that Brazil could "lose the race," per Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble.
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Eric Boullier Expects 2017 Rule Changes to Lead to 'Happier' Drivers and Fans
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McLaren-Honda racing director Eric Boullier believes the major 2017 regulation changes will enhance the enjoyment of F1 for drivers and spectators alike.
The sport's technical regulations are set to be rewritten in time for next season, when changes to bodywork dimensions—including front and rear wings—and wider tyres are hoped to make F1 cars quicker than the current models.
Several high-profile figures have expressed doubts over the wisdom behind the new rules, with three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton dismissing plans to increase downforce levels as "the worst idea" to improve the spectacle of the racing, per Sky Sports' Mike Wise.
However, Ferrari technical director James Allison recently explained next year's cars will be "both unbelievably quick and also beautiful," adding he is "looking forward to seeing them racing," per ESPN F1's Laurence Edmondson.
Boullier has been particularly enthusiastic about the 2017 regulations, insisting they will lead to "more overtaking," and he is adamant next year's cars will return the "wow" factor to F1, per Sky Sports' Matt Morlidge.
He told Motorsport.com's Jacobo Vega (h/t Jonathan Noble):
"I think generally it will be a good step because the drivers will enjoy more driving the car.
I remember 10 years ago the drivers who were racing in GP2, when they went to F1 they went, 'Wow.'
We miss that a little bit now, and I think we need to make the car a little bit more difficult to drive, with more downforce, more grip, and more cornering speed.
The drivers will enjoy it more, and if the drivers enjoy it, the fans will enjoy it. ...
You won't see a difference in speed, but the fact the drivers are happier, and will be able to attack more, means there will be more and more wheel-to-wheel racing, and then you make the fans happier.
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2017 is also set to be a crucial year for Boullier's McLaren team, who are without a grand prix victory since November 2012 and whose star driver, Fernando Alonso, has already revealed the new rules will determine his future in F1, per ESPN F1's Edmondson and Kate Walker.
In a separate Motorsport.com article, Vega reported how Boullier had said engine suppliers Honda will be "very close" to matching the power output of world champions Mercedes next season.
Renault's Jolyon Palmer Content with 2016 Team Radio Restrictions
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Jolyon Palmer has insisted the restrictions on pit-to-car radio messages are positive for F1, despite concerns aired by the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso following the European GP.
In September 2014, the FIA announced plans for a crackdown on radio communications as part of a campaign to ensure drivers operate without constant guidance from their engineers, with those rules further tightened in 2016.
After Mercedes were prevented from instructing Hamilton to change a particular setting on his steering wheel during the European GP, the three-time world champion told Sky Sports' Mark Crellin he doesn't "see the benefit" of the ban.
His thoughts were echoed by two-time title winner Fernando Alonso, who suggested the rules don't make "much sense" when modern-day cars are as complex as spaceships before calling for F1 to "address this," per ESPN F1's Nate Saunders.
Driving for Renault, Palmer is one of three rookies on the 2016 grid and believes the restrictions have stopped drivers behaving "like robots."
And the Brit argued the radio restrictions directly contributed to the best race of the season thus far at the Spanish GP, where Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed out on the opening lap after the latter appeared to forget to switch an engine mode before the start.
According to the Telegraph's Daniel Johnson, Palmer said:
"It’s really good. Some people don’t know how to change the modes and then they get slower. They should do. If you can know what’s going on with your car then it’s an advantage.
I genuinely think it’s a good thing for Formula One. We have to think a lot more about what’s going on the car. The engineers can always see if something is not right but they can’t tell you what.
They can tell you something in a code that makes you think, but they can’t say what to change. Otherwise the drivers are like robots. Engineers tell them everything.
I think most accept it’s a good thing. It’s not really complicated. Most of the stuff we do is pretty routine.
In Barcelona when Nico is in the wrong mode and Lewis gets a run, they crash. I imagine he could have been told before in the old rules he was in the wrong setting at the start and it would have made it all very neutral, a Mercedes one-two, boring race.
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Per Autosport (h/t Eurosport), Palmer insisted he "can still impress" alongside highly rated team-mate Kevin Magnussen despite Renault's lowly position in the pecking order.
Regardless of the British driver's failure to score a point in the opening eight races of 2016, technical director Nick Chester told Autosport that Renault "can see steady improvement from Jolyon," who is "getting more confidence" and "understanding the car better."
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