Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: McLaren-Honda, Daniel Ricciardo and More
As the Formula One fraternity heads to Monaco for the sixth round of the 2016 season, McLaren-Honda are sensing an opportunity.
With lingering concerns over the performance of their V6 turbo power unit, the tight, twisty streets of Monte Carlo should play to the strengths of the team's MP4-31 chassis and allow McLaren to extend their run of top-10 finishes.
But the Woking-based outfit are not just targeting points at the principality, with racing director Eric Boullier explaining why Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button can beat the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on merit.
While McLaren are hoping to take their chances in Monaco, Daniel Ricciardo is still reflecting on the one that got away.
The Australian had comfortably led the opening stages of the recent Spanish Grand Prix, only for Red Bull's strategic error to leave him stranded in fourth as Max Verstappen won his debut race for the team.
Although Ricciardo is happy Red Bull have returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2014, he admits he is struggling to balance collective delight with personal disappointment.
As Verstappen eased to his first career victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Daniil Kvyat was left to wonder whether it should have been him.
The Russian was replaced by Verstappen following his first-lap meltdown at his home race, and while Kvyat is willing to embrace the atmosphere of his new team, Toro Rosso, he has warned Red Bull he will never forget their harsh treatment of him.
Elsewhere, Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn has spoken of her optimism that the team's financial worries will be eased in the near future, with Rio Haryanto also hoping to raise enough cash to secure his seat at Manor for the rest of 2016.
Here's this week's roundup.
McLaren-Honda Capable of Beating Ferrari in Monaco GP, Says Eric Boullier
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Eric Boullier, the McLaren-Honda racing director, believes his team are capable of beating Ferrari at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.
After enduring their worst season in 35 years in 2015, McLaren have made a steady start to the 2016 campaign and currently sit eighth in the constructors' standings having scored points in three of the opening five races.
With their Honda power unit still lacking outright power, slow-speed circuits with high-downforce requirements—especially Monaco, Hungary and Singapore—are likely to represent the team's best chances of claiming a strong result this year.
Fernando Alonso recently told Crash.net's Rob Wilkins how McLaren's chassis is "up there with the top teams," with the MP4-31 among "a group of cars" behind standard-setters Red Bull.
However, Boullier believes world champions Mercedes have the best chassis on the 2016 grid, with McLaren now comfortably ahead of Ferrari in third place in the chassis rankings.
When asked whether McLaren would be the best of the rest behind Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari in Monaco, Boullier told Autosport's Ben Anderson and Ian Parkes:
"Ferrari, not sure. Not sure Ferrari is a threat.
Red Bull, definitely, Toro Rosso, who have quite a good car, and Mercedes.
Last year we were third [in chassis terms], but close with Williams and Ferrari.
Now it is Mercedes, Red Bull, ourselves, then Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Williams.
They are clearly behind now.
"
Yusuke Hasegawa, the head of Honda's F1 operation, has told Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble the Japanese manufacturer may decide to redesign its V6 turbo engine ahead of the 2017 season, when the removal of the token system will permit free development of power units.
Honda is set to introduce an upgrade to its 2016-specification engine at June's Canadian GP, with ExxonMobil planning to use "new products" at the Montreal event, per Noble.
Meanwhile, McLaren chairman Ron Dennis has suggested McLaren will be the next world champions when Mercedes' current dominance comes to an end, telling BBC Sport's Andrew Benson how the 2017 regulation changes will offer the team "a good chance" to return to winning ways.
McLaren are without a victory since November 2012, when Jenson Button triumphed at the Brazilian GP.
Daniel Ricciardo Struggling to Come to Terms with Spanish GP Defeat
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Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is still struggling to move on from his defeat in the Spanish Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen claimed Red Bull's first win since 2014.
After the Mercedes pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collided and retired on the opening lap, Ricciardo led the opening phase of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya race until his team decided to switch the Australian to a three-stop strategy to cover Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
The three-time grand prix winner remained in contention for victory until the closing laps, when a puncture forced him to settle for a fourth fourth-place finish in the opening five races of 2016.
Ricciardo later told Motorsport.com's Darshan Chokhani how his side of the garage "threw the win away," arguing the three-stop strategy "didn't make sense."
However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner defended the decision and suggested Ricciardo may have won had he "managed to get past Sebastian a little earlier," per Motorsport.com's Andrew van Leeuwen.
Ahead of this weekend's Monaco GP, Ricciardo has revealed his difficulties in coming to terms with his loss, suggesting his disappointment stems from the missed opportunities in the previous races in China and Russia.
In a Red Bull video preview ahead of this weekend's Monaco GP, he said, per Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble:
"I think the outcome of the race was frustrating. Is it easy to move on? I wouldn’t say easy. Can you move on? Absolutely.
But yeah, it has been a few days since the race and I still wake up with it on my mind. I am going to bed with it off my mind but waking up it with it on my mind. It will take a bit of time.
But I think it is more probably, as well, the last three races haven’t...I feel, the end result hasn’t been what we deserved. I think there has been always been something to have and be available to me. Now it is like, 'Come on.' At the same time, it is racing and that is part of it.
It is a tough one. Part of me is happy that the team is winning again and I think part of me is happy that everyone’s super motivated and confidence is high. So that is a positive: and that I am trying to draw myself to.
From a personal side, it is massively frustrating. It is a tough one. Sure it is a team sport, but you are doing it for yourself as well and it is as individual as it is team. That balance is a tricky one to try to manage. From a personal side, it is still hard one to take.
"
Per the same source, Ricciardo insisted Verstappen's arrival at the team has provided him with a "big" challenge and "good motivation."
Ricciardo has received support from three-time world champion Niki Lauda, who told German publication Auto Motor und Sport (h/t F1i.com's Phillip van Osten) the Australian "still remains the best all-round driver at Red Bull" despite Verstappen's "impressive" start.
Daniil Kvyat Hopes Toro Rosso Switch Will Be 'A Very Good Step' for F1 Career
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Daniil Kvyat has insisted his return to Toro Rosso will have a positive effect on his Formula One career, but he has warned he will not forget the Red Bull hierarchy's treatment of him following the Russian Grand Prix.
At the end of his debut season in F1, Kvyat was promoted from Toro Rosso to Red Bull following Sebastian Vettel's surprise switch to Ferrari. Despite claiming a maiden podium finish in Hungary, he generally struggled during the four-time world champions' first winless season in seven years in 2015.
Although he claimed third place in April's Chinese GP, Kvyat made a scruffy start to 2016 and was replaced by 18-year-old Max Verstappen after the Russian race, where he hit Vettel twice in the space of two corners on the opening lap.
As Verstappen claimed the first win of his career on his Red Bull debut at the recent Spanish GP, Kvyat was forced to settle for 10th place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as he adjusted to Toro Rosso's STR11 car.
While he is enthusiastic about rejoining Toro Rosso, Kvyat has admitted he is bitter about Red Bull's decision.
Per Autosport's Dieter Rencken and Lawrence Barretto, he said:
"Formula 1 is not only what you do on the track.
There is a lot going on behind the track but I do not want to discuss this in an interview now. I keep it for myself.
I learned a bit more and I have a very long memory.
I will remember this decision from them.
Now I am with Toro Rosso, the team that I like a lot and it seems like a mutual feeling.
It seems we have a big potential and all in all, it can be a very good step for my career.
"
Per the same source, Kvyat implied Red Bull were searching for an excuse to promote Verstappen, explaining he "always" knew there was "something in the air" since he arrived at the team.
The 22-year-old added the "confusing decision" allowed him to learn "a lot about life," suggesting the episode has made him "a much, much stronger person and a driver."
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Sauber Hope to Resolve Financial Situation 'Soon' After Difficult Start to 2016
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Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn has offered an update on Sauber's mounting financial problems and expressed her confidence the team will be able to "resolve the situation soon."
Having failed to score a point in 2014, the Swiss team finished eighth in the constructors' standings last season but are among the two outfits yet to get off the mark after the first five races of the current campaign.
As reported by Autosport's Lawrence Barretto, Sauber have been unable to pay their staff's salaries on time for the last three months, with high-profile employees such as technical director Mark Smith and head of track engineer Tim Malyon leaving the team.
Per BBC Sport, Sauber's financial concerns led to the team, along with fellow independent outfit Force India, lodging a complaint to the European Union over the governance of F1 last September.
And while Kaltenborn has reiterated her dissatisfaction with the running of the sport, she has hinted there may be light at the end of the tunnel, telling the official F1 website:
"As you know as a team principal, I do not discuss financial affairs in public and I will not change that. Yes, life is not easy—that is true—and like any other team we are facing quite severe challenges. But we are working hard on solutions—which is the most important thing—and we hope to resolve the situation soon.
I cannot give any specific time—but, of course, for us it has to be as quick as possible. Of course that would also help other teams who are also in difficult conditions, as we are not the only one. We need to work in surroundings that are a bit more favourable towards private teams.
"
With Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne making no secret of his desire to return the Alfa Romeo name to F1, per Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble, it is possible Sauber could compete under the branding of the Italian manufacturer from 2017.
As reported by Motorsport.com's Adam Cooper last December, meanwhile, McLaren chairman Ron Dennis has identified Sauber as a potential Honda customer for next season.
But Kaltenborn has ruled out the possibility of Sauber following in the footsteps of the brand-new Haas team by purchasing as many parts as possible from a manufacturer.
She told the official F1 website of her desire for Sauber to remain a constructor, suggesting Haas' approach is not "the right way" for F1.
Rio Haryanto Keen to Complete 2016 Season with Manor
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Rio Haryanto has expressed his desire to complete the 2016 season with Manor but has admitted he has little control over the situation.
After winning three races in the GP2 feeder category last year, Haryanto became the first Indonesian driver to participate in F1 after being granted £10 million to secure a place on the grid with Manor, per Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble.
Despite failing to finish higher than 17th in the opening five races, the 23-year-old has exceeded expectations alongside highly rated team-mate Pascal Wehrlein, but Haryanto's chances of completing the season with Manor are far from assured.
As reported by Reuters' Alan Baldwin, Haryanto's associates recently launched a crowdfunding initiative in an effort to help the driver keep his place at Manor, who have suffered multiple financial problems since arriving on the grid in 2010 and entered administration at the end of the 2014 campaign.
And Haryanto, who has admitted he has no Plan B if he is unable to remain with the backmarkers, believes claiming good results for Manor will only help his prospects, telling the official F1 website:
"I will give my best and of course the funds are an issue—but this is handled by my management so that I can fully concentrate on racing. Actually the question with the funds is not within my hands—I just want to deliver on track to make me a good candidate. No question, I would like to stay and finish the season here.
"
Per the same source, Haryanto revealed getting to grips with the Pirelli tyres has been the biggest challenge since entering F1, admitting he leaves every race having "experienced something new."
Haryanto also referred to Wehrlein as "a good reference," describing how the drivers "work very well together" and "always share ideas," and he explained how "fantastic" it feels when he matches someone he regards as "a future Mercedes driver."
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