Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Ferrari Power Unit, McLaren Livery, More

McLaren will show off their new livery on a race track for the first time in Friday practice for the 2015 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix. The new graphite-grey paint scheme marks a departure from the silver-and-chrome liveries used in recent years, and it just about manages to be an improvement.

But eagle-eyed fans will note the unfortunate similarity to a certain 2010 car with a less-than-spectacular racing record.

Also making her 2015 race weekend bow at the Circuit de Catalunya will be Susie Wolff. The Williams test will replace one of the team's regular drivers for first practice on Friday, and she will be hoping for a happier outing than last time she drove the car.

That was in pre-season testing, when her programme was interrupted by a collision with Sauber's Felipe Nasr.

Elsewhere, Niki Lauda believes the Ferrari power unit is almost equal to that of his Mercedes team, Carlos Sainz Jr. feels ready to attack and Renault say they have improved the driveability and reliability of their engine.

Read on for a full roundup of the top stories from the last few days.

McLaren Unveil New Darker Livery

McLaren Honda

McLaren have unveiled a new livery for the MP4-30 ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. The new-look car is much darker, more black than grey, with liberal applications of red paint.

Images of the new scheme were posted on the team website, along with a statement that read:

"

A revised McLaren-Honda livery will debut at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The new livery improves the MP4-30's visual impact, optimising it for not only bright sunshine but also for the floodlights increasingly used in twilight and night races.

The result is a dynamic, predatory, graphite-grey colouration, complemented by McLaren-dayglo "Speedmarks" and keylines, reducing the reflection issues caused by our latest chrome-silver treatment.

"

The new look won't please those who want the team to return to the red-and-white livery so strongly associated with McLaren and Honda, and it does bear an unfortunate resemblance to the colours of the 2010 HRT F110.

That car had no points after four races, too.

But it's more visually appealing than the chrome/silver paint scheme it replaces and also serves to distance McLaren from former engine partner Mercedes.

Susie Wolff Set for Practice but Accepts Race Seat Remains a Long Shot

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Susie Wolff will make her third race-weekend appearance when she drives for Williams in first practice at the Spanish Grand Prix.

However, she accepts that moving into a race seat is still little more than a dream. Speaking to Reuters' Alan Baldwin, she said:

"

I have performed in the car, I have shown I am capable, I’m in a very competitive team, I drive a car which is capable of podium positions. So I do feel very, very close but in the same respect very far away.

Because when they announced [Adrian] Sutil as the reserve at Williams, that was a clear sign that "Yes, you’re close but you are also still very far away".

"

The new Super Licence points system (table and requirements on Pages 21 to 23 of Appendix L to the International Sporting Code (.pdf)) which comes into effect at the start of 2016 would, so far as it's possible to tell, end her hopes unless she returns to the lower formulae and performs exceptionally well.

But Wolff still hopes it will not remain in its current form, adding:

"

To find the budget to go through all those formulas, to get into the right team so that you actually win the championship in those formulas, that is a huge task for any driver regardless of gender.

I hope it will get tweaked and adjusted...love it or hate it, but motorsport is not purely talent. It never has been and never will be.

"

Wolff has a point regarding the licence points system—though many of the lower formulae use one-make rules, there are still top teams. A good driver in one of their cars could easily match or beat a genuinely gifted rival competing for a lesser team.

But she isn't just a few points short—she has zero. And there's a bigger issue than points.

If Wolff wanted to reach an F1 race seat, she should have spent the last few seasons proving herself in a series like GP2. Testing is one thing, but sitting on a starting grid surrounded by 19 other cars and flying down into the braking zone of the first corner is something else entirely.

Putting someone with zero recent single-seater racing experience—Wolff hasn't raced one since she did British Formula Three in 2005—into that situation probably wouldn't be a good idea.

Carlos Sainz Jr. Ready to Unleash Attacking Side

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Carlos Sainz Jr. says he is ready to start driving harder and taking more risks now he is settled in as an F1 driver.

The Spaniard was promoted to Toro Rosso for this year after winning 2014's Formula Renault 3.5 title. So far he has scored points on two occasions, but insists there is more to come. Speaking to Autosport, Sainz said:

"

It's true that the main target in the first few races is that you have to finish the races to gain experience. We are used to 30-minute races, not races that last one hour 45 minutes so you really need to finish those races to learn.

I think we both did that step back in aggressiveness and approach. But as the season goes by, I will increase my aggressiveness and attack more.

"

Team-mate Max Verstappen also revealed he took it easy in the opening rounds but turned things up a notch in China. He revealed, "Especially in the first two races, you don't want to take too many risks. I decided in China it was time to do some overtakes and take some more risks."

The result was spectacular—Verstappen pulled off three brilliant overtakes and looked set for eighth before his engine failed a few laps from the end.

If Sainz can start producing moves half as good, his new aggressive streak will be very welcome indeed.

Renault Set for Improvements at Catalunya

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Renault will bring an updated version of their Energy F1 power unit to the Spanish Grand Prix as they bid to close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari.

Renault director of operations Remi Taffin revealed, as reported ESPN:

"

The three week gap has given us an opportunity to look at all the information from the start of the season.

We have been flat out to counter the issues encountered early on and we will have a modified spec of engine for this race that should give improved reliability and driveability. We are looking forward to Spain to see our hard work in action.

"

Should the power unit do what Renault intend—though given what we've seen so far, that's by no means guaranteed—Red Bull could significantly cut the gap to the cars ahead.

According to grandprix247.com, the team are finally giving a debut to their new, much shorter nose, which could see them make a big jump in performance.

Auto Motor und Sport (h/t Autoweek) reported before the start of the season that the team had been forced to put a number of updates on hold due to the nose failing crash tests.

Regarding the nose, AMuS added, "It did not make sense to modify the rest of the car. The new package is based entirely on the ultra-short nose."

It's unlikely to be enough to push the RB11s into the battle at the front, but Williams may well be firmly in their sights.

Niki Lauda Feels Ferrari's Power Unit Is Almost Equal to That of Mercedes

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Niki Lauda believes Ferrari have made so much progress with their power unit, its power output is equal to the lump in the back of his team's W06s.

In an interview with the Red Bull Content Pool, the Mercedes non-executive chairman spoke of how he feels Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg must be wary of the Scuderia. He said:

"

The season is not finished, its the fourth race only. Ferrari is very strong, there is no question about it, and as a racing team you should never think that nobody can catch you, then you make a big mistake.

Ferrari has closed the gap from last year to this year nearly to zero. I think they increased their engine by about 45 horsepower, so my estimate at the moment is that they have the same engine power than Mercedes has and now it depends on the car, the difference and what the drivers can do and there will be close racing all the way through the season.

"

Lauda's complimentary words about the Ferrari engine are similar to those made by F1 journalist James Allen, who feels there is "little to choose between the two power units" over a race distance.

However, as this writer stated in a previous article, Mercedes appear to retain at least some advantage when it comes to unleashing pure power.

Rosberg easily passed both Ferraris in Bahrain down the long pit straight. But when the Ferraris came up behind Mercedes-powered cars (Sebastian Vettel behind Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen behind Rosberg), despite being clearly quicker they couldn't make a clean pass stick.

Vettel remained behind Bottas to the end, while Raikkonen only passed Rosberg when the W06 suffered a braking issue.

But the advantage is now small; if Mercedes lose their way with upgrades, Ferrari will be ready to pounce.