The Formula 1 Gossip Column

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Red Bull hope to go penalty-free
After racing through to the top six from the back of the field after engine penalties in Russia, Red Bull are hopeful of completing the season’s final five races without taking any more grid drops.

They revert to Renault’s upgraded C-spec engine this weekend in Japan, after using the B-spec in Sochi.

“We’ve now got two engines available to us between now and the end of the year,” said Christian Horner.

“This will be the engine used in Mexico and we’ll run the C-spec in Japan. So hopefully we have enough components to get penalty-free to the end of the year with the last five races.

“We have proved to be more competitive [in Sochi] than we expected, let’s see in Japan next weekend. Austin… in race pace we can be strong at pretty much all the circuits, obviously qualifying is our Achilles’ heel.”

Arrivabene to Juventus?
Now this would be a shock F1 transfer…

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has been included on an official list of candidates to join Juventus as the club’s general director.

The European football giants are on the lookout for fresh blood after dismissing the long-standing Beppe Marotta, and Arrivabene is closely associated to the Agnelli family, which own Exor, the holding company whose investments include FIAT, Juventus and Ferrari.

Exor has released a list of nine names being considered to replace Marotta, and Arrivabene is included along with Juventus legend Pavel Nedved. Watch this space… (Full story – external site)

Could F1 qualifying change in 2019?
The FIA are considering changing the qualifying format for next season so that there are four sessions instead of three.

Motorsport.com claim the revised format would see four cars eliminated in Q1, Q2 and Q3, meaning their would just be eight drivers elft for a final shootout in the new Q4 portion.

The F1 organisation reportedly feel the new qualifying would generate more excitement and unexpected results – while they also believe fans would enjoy shorter sessions.

“Slightly shorter [sessions], slightly shorter time between them, four go out in Q1, four, four, leaving eight,” said race director Charlie Whiting. “I personally think it’s quite a nice idea, but that’s not my decision.”

A revised format discussed at the recent Strategy Group meeting would see four cars eliminated in Q1, Q2 and Q3, leaving just eight for a final shoot-out in a new Q4 session. (Full story – external site)

When in Japan…
Why not check out Honda’s Mission Control?…

Abiteboul critcises Verstappen
Max Verstappen certainly hasn’t been shy when it comes to blaming Renault’s engine power for Red Bull’s struggles this season – and now Cyril Abiteboul has responded.

There were some interesting comments from the Renault boss, as he told Sky F1: “I’m a bit frustrated by the fact that out of the 20 drivers, only one is talking about the engine.

“It’s a bit strange. – I don’t know what game Red Bull are playing.”

Red Bull and Renault are splitting at the end of the season.

“We only have six more races, and then that will be the problem of someone else,” added Cyril.

Horner: Ticktum engages mouth before brain
Red Bull youngster Dan Ticktum has been linked with a Toro Rosso drive, but Christian Horner says the Englishman is nowhere near a “Formula 1 level” yet and has also questioned his off-track antics.

Horner’s comments come after Ticktum, losing ground to Mick Schumacher in the F3 championship, described his rival’s form as interesting”, claiming: “I am fighting a losing battle as my last name is not Schumacher.”

And Horner, the Red Bull team boss, told Sky F1: “He’s a character. He sometimes engages mouth before brain.

“He’s a talented driver but he’s got more development to do before he’s anywhere near a Formula 1 level.

“He’s fast, but he just needs to polish off a few rough edges.”

Vandoorne hopes to retain F1 link
IndyCar? Formula E? McLaren exile Stoffel Vandoorne says both series could be options for him in 2019, but he says he will also try to stay connected to F1 – even though he concedes chances of a race seat are now virtually gone.

“I’ve been looking to the future and in my head it’s pretty clear what I want to do. I’ve been in touch with a lot of teams and series for the future. IndyCar has been one, but nothing is decided,” said Vandoorne.

“Unless anything out-of-control happens again [he could get an F1 seat]. The chances of anything like that happening is almost zero percent. The priority for me is to have a proper racing programme and in some way stay involved within Formula 1. To still be connected to this world. I still feel I deserve a second chance in the good and right environment.

“The priority is first to hand a race drive and then we can see whatever options [within F1] will open up next to that.”

Ericsson still looking at F1
Having been dropped from a Sauber race seat next year to a third driver role, Marcus Ericsson says his ambition remains to be an F1 driver in the future.

“My goal is still to come back into Formula One,” said Ericsson. “I think for 2019 that’s not going to happen but hopefully after that there will be possibilities to come back.

Asked about the details of his ousting, Ericsson confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen’s signing had effectively signalled his departure.

“I think when Kimi signed, I think that was bad news for me,” said Ericsson. “I was still hoping but then obviously over the past weekend I got the information that Antonio had signed for the other car.”

Ocon confirms Williams talks
Likely to be ousted from his seat at Force India, Esteban Ocon has confirmed he has held talks with Williams about a drive next year.

“There are talks with Williams,” said Ocon. “They are having tough times, but all teams have tough times” (Full story)

What next for the Mercedes juniors?
Toto Wolff says Mercedes are prepared to play the “long game” with their young drivers Esteban Ocon and George Russell – with their F1 futures still far from certain.

Ocon has impressed in his two years in F1 with Manor and Force India but is without a drive for next year, while Russell, leading the F2 championship, has also seen options evaporate.

“There are many good drivers who merit a drive in Formula One, both young ones and more experienced ones, but at the moment cockpits are a limited commodity,” explained Mercedes boss Wolff.

“Both Esteban and George certainly deserve to be in Formula One; we are still working on options and will carefully decide what’s best for them.

“If that means having to play the long game, then we will continue to prepare and develop them.”

Does Vandoorne have a McLaren future?
He may have lost his F1 seat for 2018, but Zak Brown says McLaren would love to keep Stoffel Vandoorne if they have an IndyCar programme next year.

“Yes, I think he’s an extremely fast driver, very consistent,” the team’s CEO told RACER. “I think he’d make a great sports car driver and a great IndyCar driver. I think he’d make a good Formula 1 driver, we just had a difficult two years.

“We’re fans of his. McLaren would definitely race with Stoffel in other racing series and I think it would be great to see his story continue with McLaren.”

Dale Coyne Racing have reportedly already approached Vandoorne, but McLaren hope to have their own team in some shape or form, and are in discussions with Honda about a partnership.

“It’s no secret it has been under serious consideration to enter IndyCar, but as of yet we have made no decisions,” said McLaren sporting director Gil de Ferran.

“There has been a lot of conversations, particularly internally, but I think it’s important as we decide what to do, whether it’s IndyCar, whether it’s WEC, all of the above or something else, that the programme not only doesn’t distract from the main focus, which is Formula 1, but also potentially adds to the whole McLaren racing effort.” (Full story – external site)

Alonso likes the look of 2021 F1 cars
He may be leaving the sport at the end of the season, but Fernando Alonso is a fan of the F1 car prototypes for 2021.

Ross Brawn revealed the concept ahead of the Singapore GP.

“If they did a study, they checked and they know it’s going to be better in the future, it’s the way to go,” the two-time world champion said.

“The cars aesthetically look different. More like a Formula Renault or an IndyCar and they seem to follow each other a little bit closer. It’s good to copy ideas that work already.”

One of the reasons for the huge technical overhaul is to improve overtaking.

“It has been a little bit the nature of Formula 1, it’s always been difficult to follow cars,” added Alonso.

“I don’t think it’s been more difficult than 2004 or 2005 and those kind of years. It was probably a bit easier from 2010 to 2016 – when we introduced last year the wide wings and the wide tyres it makes it a little bit more difficult now.”

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