In a 'secret' meeting over the winter, it was agreed that stewards should impose less penalties in 2013 in order to spice up the action. That is the claim on Tuesday of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, reporting that the meeting with FIA president Jean Todt was attended by drivers including world champion Sebastian Vettel, team managers, Charlie Whiting and stewards. "Has it been noticed?" wrote correspondent Michael Schmidt. "The drivers are being punished much less." He said the outcome of the pre-season meeting was […]

Pirelli has all but confirmed reports it will make only minor changes to its controversial 2013 tyres for next month's Spanish grand prix and beyond. It was thought Sebastian Vettel's dominance in Bahrain last weekend might calm Red Bull's loud criticism of this year's heavily degrading Pirelli tyres. But team boss Christian Horner was quoted by AFP news agency after the race: "I think the tyres are still too on an edge." Earlier, we reported that most teams are in fact pushing for the status […]

Kimi Raikkonen has refused to confirm or deny rumours linking him to Red Bull for 2014, insisting even retirement remains an option. In the wake of the 'Multi-21' saga, with some suspecting Mark Webber's place alongside Sebastian Vettel is now untenable, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz said 2007 world champion Raikkonen is "cool, fast and always a candidate". Raikkonen, 33, ran with Red Bull sponsorship in world rallying after leaving Ferrari a few years ago, returning to F1 with Lotus in 2012 and showing impressive […]

After Red Bull beat McLaren's old pitstop speed record no fewer than five times in Malaysia, rivals have been studying the case with great curiosity. According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the competition has concluded that Red Bull's advantage is not due to having a superior crew, or having simply invested more time practicing. "One or two fantastic stops, you can imagine that," McLaren sporting director Sam Michael is quoted as saying. "But five, with that consistency -- that's really impressive." The suspicion is […]

Almost two weeks after the fact, the 'Multi-21' affair keeps racing. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport now reports a new fact: just as Sebastian Vettel ignored the team order to hold station, Mark Webber had turned down his engine because he was saving fuel. "The truth in F1 usually only comes to light piecemeal," said correspondent Michael Schmidt. It was already known that the chasing Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were having fuel-saving issues. But Red Bull claimed it issued the team order […]

Pirelli has ruled out making changes to its 2013 product, despite Red Bull and Mercedes complaining that this year's tyres are penalising the best cars. Mercedes' Toto Wolff, and Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, suggested in Malaysia that the sport's Italian supplier has agreed to bring modified tyres to Bahrain late next month. But we reported on Wednesday that Lotus and Ferrari - both much happier with Pirelli's current tyres - would 'veto' any changes on the grounds that they do not pose a safety […]

Ferrari and Lotus would veto any move to have Pirelli change the compounds of its 2013 tyres. Before the RB9 finished first and second in Malaysia, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko claimed F1's Italian tyre supplier "has promised" to make changes to its controversial 2013 product in the wake of the high degradation seen so far this season. Red Bull and Mercedes had reportedly complained to Pirelli that, according to their data, the new tyres are wearing out faster when fitted to the very best […]

New Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg said eighth place in Malaysia last Sunday was "unacceptable". After moving over the winter from Force India, the German was unable to make his debut as scheduled in Australia when a terminal fuel tank problem developed 90 minutes before the race. But at Sepang, he finished four places ahead of rookie teammate Esteban Gutierrez, collecting four points and declaring himself "quite happy". According to German-language sources Blick (Switzerland) and Auto Motor und Sport (Germany), however, Hulkenberg told his team after […]

Top teams Red Bull and Mercedes want Pirelli to rush last year's tyres back into service. According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the two outfits are arguing that it is not fair that the tyre supplier's 2013 products seem to be penalising the best cars. Indeed, while in the past high downforce tended to minimise tyre wear, the opposite phenomenom is apparently occuring now, and according to Red Bull and Mercedes that also poses a safety risk. Correspondent Michael Schmidt said: "Adrian Newey has […]

As Melbourne winner Kimi Raikkonen continues his top form in Malaysia, Lotus' rivals are beginning to wonder if the team has an unfair advantage. At Sepang, arguably even more than in Australia, the keyword is tyres. "Tyres, tyres, tyres, tyres, tyres," grumbled Red Bull's Mark Webber on Friday. Pirelli's more extreme 2013 product could be clearly seen flicking off the wheels on every one of the 15 corners at Sepang during Friday practice. Yet serenely at the top is Finn Raikkonen. Germany's Auto Motor und […]

After Kimi Raikkonen eased to victory in Australia, and set the pace in Malaysia on Friday, the forgotten man of Lotus is Romain Grosjean. The Frenchman suspected his problems in Melbourne were due simply to going the wrong way on setup in limited practice running. But "We're seeing the same phenomenon as in Melbourne and we just don't understand it," Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quoted Grosjean as saying on Friday. Team technical boss James Allison has one explanation -- 2007 world champion Raikkonen was […]

Adrian Sutil stunned the F1 paddock on Sunday by looking so competitive on his return to the sport after a season away. Written off by some after his 2011 assault conviction, the German is back with Force India this season and in Melbourne even led some laps -- a first in his career. "Sutil's performance was more convincing than anything his fellow countryman Michael Schumacher produced in (the last) three years," Independent newspaper correspondent David Tremayne wrote. Sutil ultimately finished seventh in Melbourne as his […]