Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Honda Anger, Livery Changes and More
The confirmation and subsequent fallout from the engine-development loophole has dominated Formula One headlines this past week.
Honda, the only manufacturer which will not benefit from the loophole, are understandably displeased and will seek answers when they meet with the FIA next week.
But first they will join Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari at a meeting with Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the future of the sport. On the agenda are simpler, meatier power units and a reduction in aerodynamic reliance.
In other news, Mercedes and McLaren are rumoured to be set for livery changes for 2015, Franz Tost believes Daniil Kvyat could win races this season and hope is starting to fade for Caterham.
Read on for a full roundup of the top stories from the last few days.
Mercedes and McLaren Set for Livery Changes?
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Reigning world champions Mercedes could be set for a change of livery for the 2015 season.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo (h/t grandprix.com for English reporting) reports the German team will switch from plain silver to a chrome-effect paint scheme. It claims their wheels will also sport the mirror-like look, known as "Kromo."
The last chrome-finish (not actual chromium—rather, a chrome-effect paint) car to compete in F1 was a McLaren; they too look set for a change.
The newspaper states:
"Honda does not want (McLaren) to continue with silver because it is a colour immediately associated with Mercedes and the 'Silver Arrows.'
There are rumours the (2015) car could be orange, McLaren's traditional colour, for testing. But it could also be white, in a double-tribute: to Honda and also because McLaren's first F1 car was that colour.
The final choice could depend largely on whether McLaren has a major sponsor in 2015 or not.
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McLaren started using a silver (or chrome) paint scheme when they began a partnership with tobacco company West in 1997. They retained it when the sponsorship ended and the livery became associated as much with their engine supplier as with the team.
During the 2000s, McLarens were often referred to as "silver arrows." Even after Mercedes entered the sport with their own works team, the connection occasionally resurfaced.
Per Motorsport Memorial, white is the traditional national racing colour of Japan. The last F1 Honda (in 2008) was predominantly this colour, and though few would welcome the return of the hideous "Earth Dreams" decoration it's not a bad colour for a racer.
Perhaps McLaren could keep the white and swap the Earthy look for a nice splash of red?
Caterham Running out of Time to Find a Buyer
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Caterham's future looks increasingly bleak, with talks aimed at finding a new buyer continuing to drag on.
At the start of December, the Guardian reported administrator Finbarr O'Connell was in discussions with "a few interested parties" and hoped to conclude a deal before Christmas.
But little appears to have changed. Speaking to Ian Parkes of the Press Association (h/t Daily Mail), O'Connell described negotiations as "annoyingly slow" and said:
"We are in talks with a few people who have the wherewithal if they decided to go ahead. But it's a tough investment decision. Formula One is so expensive and there is not a line of people queueing to get in.
There are only a very limited number of parties who can afford to get into it. One of those interested is a billionaire who would come into F1 for himself and to promote his products, whilst the other two are in the automotive industry.
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He added that time was running out, saying, "My view is we have this month and that's it. It might slip into next month, but only if final details are being resolved."
Any buyer coming in at this stage would face the mammoth task of hiring a full new workforce, restarting the factory and finding two suitable drivers.
Dispensation has been granted for Caterham to use their 2014 cars, which should take the pressure off somewhat. But so late in the day—the first test is on February 1, with the opening race of the season on March 15—it doesn't look good.
Though with the workforce already made redundant and the name and entry lacking historical relevance, maybe it doesn't matter. There isn't a lot left to save.
McLaren-Honda to Meet with FIA for Answers on Engine Loophole
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McLaren and Honda will meet with FIA representatives next week following the discovery of a loophole in the sporting regulations.
It was previously believed all the manufacturers would have to homologate (have approved by the FIA) their 2015 power units on or before February 28. However, as the sporting regulations do not explicitly state this, existing manufacturers Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault can homologate later—giving themselves valuable extra development time.
The downside for them is that the teams they supply will have to use a 2014 engine until the 2015 version is ready.
Honda, as a new supplier, are excluded from the loophole and have been told they must homologate by February 28. My article of Monday 5 January provides an in-depth explanation of what has happened.
BBC Sport's Andrew Benson reports they are not happy with this situation and have contacted the FIA to query the situation. He says the Japanese manufacturer and the team it supplies, McLaren, have the option of lodging a formal protest.
The situation is a difficult one. As distasteful as such things are, the loophole is there for all to see and the three existing manufacturers have every right to exploit it. The reason Honda cannot is that they do not have a 2014 engine to run in the mean time.
Allowing Honda to homologate one 2015 engine, then later bring out another would give them a huge edge. As a new supplier they are not working to the token-based restricted upgrade system, so they could in theory perform far more upgrades than the other manufacturers.
That would push the unfairness needle even further to the other side and isn't really an option.
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Franz Tost Expects Daniil Kvyat to Shine in 2015
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Franz Tost expects Daniil Kvyat to have no troubles adapting to the high-pressure environment at Red Bull alongside Daniel Ricciardo.
The 20-year-old Russian was thrust into one of F1's most sought-after seats following Sebastian Vettel's switch to Ferrari. He has just 19 grand prix starts to his name, but Tost—team principal of Kvyat's former team, Toro Rosso—believes he'll do just fine.
Speaking to Autosport, Tost said:
"It was not planned that he goes there after one year. It was planned that he stays with us at least two years. But that's the situation and with his talent and working attitude he will do a good job with Red Bull Racing, as he did with us.
No one expected that after winning the GP3 title he would come into Formula One and score points in the first race. He will put on the same good performance at Red Bull Racing.
And if the power unit is also competitive then he will be in front and he will fight for victories.
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Kvyat is not yet a finished article, but showed flashes of brilliance in 2014 and was consistently quick over a single lap. Team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne ended the year with more than twice Kvyat's points, but that statistic does not accurately reflect the true picture.
Even if they're not fighting for victories, the duel between Kvyat and Ricciardo, especially in qualifying, should prove a highlight of 2015.
Geneva Meeting to Discuss the Future of F1
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The four F1 engine manufacturers meet Bernie Ecclestone in Switzerland on Tuesday to discuss possible future changes to the engine and sporting regulations.
German publication Auto Motor und Sport (h/t motorsport.com for English reporting) says Ecclestone is looking for a louder, cheaper and more exciting engine formula.
AMuS journalist Tobias Gruner tweeted:
"#F1 Ecclestone asked for more power (>1000 hp), more noise, less costs. Fuel flow limit could be increased. ERS-components standardised.
— Tobias Grüner F1 (@tgruener) January 5, 2015"
Any potential changes could come as early as 2016, but Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda thinks that is too soon. He told AMuS (h/t motorsport.com):
"Something sensible can really only be done if we give ourselves until 2017. And Honda would not have built this new engine for one season only. You need some stability, otherwise everything is insanely expensive.
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A second tweet from Gruner mentioned the sport may be moving towards bigger tyres and less in the way of aerodynamics. This would make it easier to follow a rival car closely but also reduce the effect of a slipstream on the straights.
While that sounds like it would lead to more exciting and interesting racing, hopefully nothing will be rushed. There's nothing wrong with the current regulations and a lot of money has been invested in making cars and engines to suit.
And given the development of road-relevant technology—specifically the hybrid systems—was a large part of why the manufacturers wanted the current set of regulations, a standard ERS system isn't likely to prove popular.
Alienating and driving away Mercedes, Honda or Renault—or all three—would be a disaster for F1. With any luck, calm heads and rational minds will prevail.
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