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 […]

Toto Wolff, the new Mercedes co-owner and director, has played down reports of a growing rift between the team's German and British factions. After German Nico Rosberg was ordered by Ross Brawn to stay behind Briton Lewis Hamilton in Malaysia, Austrians Wolff and Niki Lauda admitted their disapproval. But RTL now quotes Wolff as saying: "The decision was unpopular, but right." The incident is being compared to the situation at Red Bull, where team bosses tried - but ultimately failed - to impose a 'hold […]

Q: We’re going to start with Sebastian. That’s your 27th victory. You now match Sir Jackie Stewart with that but it looked pretty close out there on laps 43 and 44, take us through that. Sebastian Vettel: Obviously it was very close wheel-to-wheel racing. I think there wasn’t much room for either of us so obviously it was a tight battle. I think probably I was a little bit too keen too soon because I obviously in terms of strategy was on the soft tyre […]

Kimi Raikkonen admitted scoring points was a positive after Lotus endured a difficult weekend in Malaysia. Raikkonen started from tenth place and finished in seventh. "Although the car felt very good on Friday, yesterday and today have been pretty difficult," the Finn said. "Since Saturday morning it has not been behaving as we expected for some reason, especially in the wet where we really struggled for grip. It was a tough race and I lost part of my front wing at the start which didn’t […]

Team orders? What team orders? He's a very naughty boy...

Mark Webber hit out at team mate Sebastian Vettel after the German ignored team orders during the Malaysian Grand Prix. Webber was on course for victory but was passed by Vettel during the final stint of the race. "In the end Seb made his own decisions today and will have protection as usual, and that's the way it goes," Webber said on the podium. "I was disappointed with the outcome of today's race." Webber was also caught saying 'Multi 21, Seb' to team mate Vettel […]

Lewis Hamilton claimed his first podium as a Mercedes driver but admits that team mate Nico Rosberg was more deserving of a podium finish. Hamilton led home Rosberg after the German was issued team orders to maintain position. "That was a fantastic job by the team today, " said Hamilton. "They worked so hard over the winter and to achieve a podium at the second race of the season is a nice reward, particularly here in Malaysia at one of our home races. I have […]

Sebastian Vettel led home team mate Mark Webber in the Malaysian Grand Prix having ignored team orders. Vettel led the race in wet conditions early on but Webber stayed out a few laps longer and took the lead. After their fourth and final stops, Red Bull ordered the drivers to hold position. Vettel ignored those orders and eventually took the lead Lewis Hamilton claimed third for Mercedes, ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg. Rosberg was considerably faster than Hamilton in the final stint but was ordered […]

Lotus drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean say they are disappointed after qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Championship leader Raikkonen set the seventh fastest time but was given a three place penalty for impeding Nico Rosberg. "We weren’t quick enough on the intermediates so I don’t think we could have found much more time in the wet today," he said. "For sure I wanted more but it is what it is and I hope we’ll do better on Sunday. It’s obviously disappointing to lose […]

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel says he is pleased after securing the 38th pole position of his career in Malaysia. Vettel mastered the wet conditions to comfortably beat the Ferrari of Felipe Massa. "It was very difficult as the circuit was half dry and half wet today – so it was difficult to find the right compromise between pushing hard and also saving the tyres," he said. "It was the right strategy to come in and change the tyres and the pace was there. It […]