Head of Mercedes Motorsport Toto Wolff has warned their rivals that they will not drop one percent of effort as they bid to win the 2014 championship. Nico Rosberg won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to take an early lead in the drivers' championship but team-mate Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire after a cylinder on his Mercedes W05 failed. Wolff insists that Mercedes must ensure that reliability improves if they are to win the world title. "The first race in Australia left us with […]

McLaren's Kevin Magnussen says he is expecting a tougher challenge at this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. The Danish rookie finished on the podium in Australia and was elevated to second place following Daniel Ricciardo's exclusion from the race, giving Magnussen the best result for a Formula 1 debutant in 18 years. But Magnussen, who has never raced in Malaysia, is expecting Sepang to provide a sterner test than Albert Park. "I think it’ll be a tougher test than Australia – the ambient temperatures will make […]

Sergio Perez says that Force India is moving in the right direction ahead of this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. Perez finished in 10th place in Australia although his race was compromised by a first lap collision. "We had a good start and a great first few corners, and we were up to tenth place," he said. "Then [Esteban] Gutierrez locked his rears and came from nowhere. I actually saw him in my mirrors, but I was already turning into the corner. Once he hit me […]

Romain Grosjean says he is sure Lotus can make rapid progress with their E22 ahead of this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. The Lotus driver retired from the first round of the year in Australia after starting from the pit lane but Grosjean remains confident that the E22 can be a strong package. "Whenever we solve a problem we make a big step forward, whether it is with set-up, the engine or any other developments," he said. "We’ve seen this happen with other teams too. We […]

Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg is expecting a rapid development rate as the 2014 season progresses. Hulkenberg finished in sixth place in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and believes the pecking order will change on a race-by-race basis in 2014. "This year we'll see bigger jumps and changes in the pecking order during the season," he said. "There are still some teams that need to sort out their issues and they will probably become stronger. All teams, including us, will have room for improvement and […]

Lotus deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi has warned their doubters that the E22 will become a fighting force in Formula 1 this season. Neither Romain Grosjean nor Pastor Maldonado finished the Australian Grand Prix but newly appointed Gastaldi remains confident that the team can fight back. "I’d say wait and see what we can really achieve with the E22," Gastaldi said when asked what he'd say to Lotus's critics. "If you look at it logically, Renault are the reigning world championship winning engine partner, so […]

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is targeting a win at this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix to kick start his 2014 season. Hamilton claimed pole position in Australia but retired after just a couple of laps due to a mechanical problem with his W05. "I finished second on my Formula 1 debut here in 2007 and have been on the podium at the last two Malaysian Grands Prix but I've yet to win here," said Hamilton. "It would be amazing to stand on the top step at […]

Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya has praised his team's start to the year but acknowledges that improvements must be made if they are to challenge for podiums in 2014. Nico Hulkenberg finished the Australian Grand Prix in sixth place with Sergio Perez in tenth. Mallya believes the 'competitive' VJM07 has potential but is wary of the challenge ahead. "Australia was definitely a respectable start, without a doubt, and probably the best start we've had since I took over the team," said Mallya. "We went into […]

Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat says that ninth place on his Formula 1 debut in Australia has given him more confidence for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. Kvyat took advantage of wet conditions during qualifying to progress through to the top 10 shootout in his first event and remained in the mix for points throughout the race. The Russian eventually finished in tenth place but was promoted to ninth following Daniel Ricciardo's exclusion. Kvyat believes past experience at the Sepang circuit will help his cause […]

Lotus technical director Nick Chester has admitted that the team might not be competitive until the Spanish Grand Prix. Lotus drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado failed to finish at last weekend's Australian Grand Prix and Chester has conceded that the team faces making only 'small steps' before the sport reconvenes in Europe. "It is difficult to make a strong prediction after the weekend we have just had in Australia, especially with the limited mileage under our belt," said Chester. "I’m certainly hoping for an […]

Pastor Maldonado says that Lotus can fight for the podium 'very soon' as they attempt to get on top of the problems affecting the E22. Maldonado started from the back row of the grid in Australia and retired with an MGU-K problem but he says he is boosted by the progress made by Lotus across the weekend. "We made clear improvements during the weekend," he said. "The team has shown it is ready to do whatever it takes. This is good because my philosophy to […]

Adrian Sutil says that Sauber's form in this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix will provide the team with information on the strengths of the C33. Sutil finished the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in 11th place and the German says that Sepang is a good barometer for the remainder of 2014. "The track consists of many fast turns, long straights and a few hairpins, which make it quite an interesting one," he said. "I am curious to drive the car on this track where the aerodynamics play […]