F1: BMW Rejects Ecclestone’s Formula One Comeback Claim

BMW has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone's claim the German carmaker might be looking to return to formula one.

Off the back of Honda's decision to make a F1 comeback in 2015, F1 chief executive Ecclestone told City A.M. newspaper he would be "surprised" if BMW didn't follow suit.

But the Munich carmaker's motor sport boss Jens Marquardt said on Monday: "We are pleased with our current programme."

At present, BMW's motor racing programme is focused on its new foray in the German touring car series DTM.

"We have no intention of looking into other areas," Marquardt told German website motorsport-total.com.

"We withdrew from formula one deliberately.  We are focused on what our customers really recognise as BMW, and we have no reason to change."

(GMM)

Pirelli confirms Canada changes 'less' than announced

May 20 (GMM)  Pirelli on Monday essentially confirmed reports the F1 supplier will now make only minimal changes to its tyres for Canada next month and beyond.

After the waves of controversy and criticism following the Spanish grand prix, the Italian marque announced it would be making structural and compound changes for Montreal that should reduce the number of pitstops per race.

But, after Lotus and Ferrari sided strongly against Red Bull and Mercedes, the FIA reportedly also hit back behind the scenes, confirming that the rules say changes like that can only be made on grounds of safety, unless the teams unanimously agree.

So Pirelli on Monday is backtracking, with motor sport boss Paul Hembery telling Reuters F1's official supplier only wants to make changes "with minimal disturbance to the sporting equity".

"The changes required would appear less than first envisaged," he added.

Hembery said some changes will still be made for Canada, but only to fix the problem of delaminating tyres.

"We're trying to find something that is sportingly equitable amongst the vast majority that allows us to rid ourselves of the tread (problem)," he confirmed.

"We're hopeful we can do that without making such a change that would radically alter the work of any team so far."

(GMM)

Losing customer McLaren 'not ideal' - Wolff

Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes is disappointed with long time partner McLaren's move to link up with works Honda engines in 2015.

Formerly McLaren's works engine partner, Mercedes set up its own F1 team a few years ago, leaving the great British outfit with the prospect of a customer engine bill.

But that will end after 2014, when Japanese carmaker Honda returns to F1 after a six-year absence, rekindling its famous and highly-successful partnership of the 80s and 90s with McLaren.

Mercedes, albeit focused on its Brackley based works squad but still supplying customers McLaren and Force India, admitted it is disappointed to lose a great partner.

"It is of course not ideal when you lose a customer, especially when it's someone like McLaren, who have been with Mercedes for so long and celebrated great successes with us," motor sport director Wolff told Speed Week.

"So of course it's unpleasant, but it's a decision they've taken.  We also look forward to having another competitor in F1 -- Honda is a top brand and, as the saying goes, competition is good for business," the Austrian added.

Wolff said Mercedes is not worried its only other current customer engine partner, Force India, could also jump ship to Honda.

"No, because everyone has only a limited ability to supply customer teams.

"For us, it's somewhere between three and four teams, and we're confident that in the coming years we will have at least three (Mercedes-powered) teams in formula one," he said.

That implies that Mercedes is now looking for a replacement for McLaren beyond 2014.

(GMM)

Alonso 'deserves' 2012 and 2013 titles - di Resta

Paul di Resta has tipped Fernando Alonso to win this year's world championship.

In fact, the Scot - who drives for Force India - thinks Spaniard Alonso should actually be crowned a four-time title winner at the end of the 2013 season.

"He should have been champion last year," the 27-year-old, referring to Ferrari's Alonso, told Speed Week.  "For me, Alonso is the champion of 2012."

There is some history between di Resta and reigning triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who is 17 points ahead of Alonso in the 2013 drivers' standings.

Di Resta is actually a year older than Vettel, but it was the German who won the race of the former F3 teammates to get to formula one.

Vettel, although beaten to the F3 euroseries title by di Resta, got into F1 sooner than di Resta thanks to Red Bull's strong backing,

"Looking at it they were luckier than I am," di Resta, also referring to Lewis Hamilton, said some years ago.  "He (Vettel) shouldn't have gotten there before me."

So, in 2013, di Resta is tipping Alonso.

"He had his problems in Malaysia and Bahrain," he said, "but Ferrari looks very strong.

"I think he deserves the championship."

(GMM)

Ferrari joins Lotus in tyre tweak criticism

Ferrari has joined Lotus in criticising Pirelli's mid-season tyre tweak.

Following early-season criticism, culminating in the furore after Barcelona recently, Pirelli announced it is making key changes to its controversial 2013 tyres for next month's Canadian grand prix and beyond.

Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez was the first to react, likening the change to widening football goals because one team was always striking the post.

Now, in the anonymous 'Horse Whisperer' column posted on the official Ferrari website, Ferrari has lashed out at those who claim four-stop strategies in F1 show that the tyres are too extreme.

Undoubtedly, the Ferrari writer is referring to the kind of criticism made by world champions Red Bull.

"It's a shame that these worthy souls kept quiet two years ago when, at the very same Catalunya circuit and on the Istanbul track, five of the six drivers who got to those two podiums made exactly the same number of pitstops," the column read.

Ferrari also recalled the 2004 French grand prix, when Michael Schumacher won at Magny Cours with a four-stopper that left Ferrari and Bridgestone "showered with praise" within the paddock.

"Today however, it seems one must almost feel ashamed for choosing a strategy that, as always for that matter, is aimed at getting the most out of the package one has available," the column added.

(GMM)