F1: ‘Pointless’ To Ban Team Orders, 2013 Could Be Alonso’s Year

• 'Pointless' to ban team orders - Tost
• 2013 could be Alonso's year - Villeneuve
• F1 could amplify sound of V6 engines - Ecclestone
• No more Indians close to F1 - Chandhok
• Vergne - Red Bull or bust for 2014

'Pointless' to ban team orders - Tost

After the 'Multi-21' affair re-fired the old debate about team orders, Franz Tost insists it is "pointless" to reintroduce a ban.

In Malaysia recently, Sebastian Vettel ignored Red Bull's order to stay behind his teammate Mark Webber.

And behind them, in third and fourth positions, Nico Rosberg grudgingly followed the sister Mercedes to the line, having been told by Mercedes to resist the urge to pass.

The legality of team orders was reintroduced by current FIA president Jean Todt a few years ago, but the 'Multi-21' affair has intensified the calls for a new ban.

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost told Speed Week: "Generally I am not a great fan of team orders, because we want to see battles and overtaking manoeuvres.

"Therefore, we keep it to an absolute minimum at Toro Rosso."

On the other hand, he answered "yes" as to whether Toro Rosso does sometimes impose orders to the benefit of the Faenza based team.

And he agreed that Vettel's controversial behaviour at Sepang reinforced that "Discipline is one of the most important requirements for success".

Tost added: "Team orders have always been there (in F1) in some form, so it's pointless to ban them."

Right or wrong, Vettel's mischievous pass on Webber in Malaysia has divided opinion in the paddock.

Caterham rookie Giedo van der Garde told De Telegraaf newspaper that Sepang was "typical Vettel", but also the reason he "wins races and world championships".

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve is far less forgiving, telling Spain's caranddriverthef1.com that the German showed a total "lack of respect to both Mark and the team".

"A huge lack of respect," he added.  "In the circumstances, with engines turned down, it's not a race.

"Yes, in formula one you have to win at all costs, but you do need to respect some things.

"He (Vettel) is super fast but he's a man without honour and respect, so for me he is not a great champion or a great man," added Villeneuve.

(GMM)

2013 could be Alonso's year - Villeneuve

Felipe Massa could be a key to a successful championship tilt by Fernando Alonso this year.

That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who said in Milan this week that he thinks Spaniard Alonso was "tired" at the end of a hard-fought campaign with a less-competitive Ferrari last season.

"This could be Ferrari's year," the French Canadian told the Italian media.

"The car is fast, although maybe it's a bit difficult to drive.

"Perhaps he will also have the support of Massa this year," he added.

The Maranello based team has produced a much better car for 2013, although currently the Ferraris are behind the Red Bulls and even Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' points standings.

Referring to Alonso's first-lap contact in Malaysia and the decision to stay out on track rather than pit for a new nose, Villeneuve said: "Ferrari has already done its big mistake for the year."

(GMM)

F1 could amplify sound of V6 engines - Ecclestone

The calmer tones of F1's new-generation turbo V6 engines could be artificially enhanced, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The F1 chief executive is worried the sport will lose some of its appeal to fans when next year's engines fail to live up to the dramatic noise of the current V8s.

The grand prix circuit promoters, led by Australia's Ron Walker, are also worried.

"As Bernie will attest," Walker told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, "it (the V6) sounds like a lawnmower engine, and we will be fighting this tooth and nail."

Less publicly worried are the engine-makers themselves, who see the new regulations as a welcome step into the automobile's modern era.

It is also expected that Honda could now return to F1, amid rumours Volkswagen and Toyota are also interested in the V6 rules.

But Ecclestone thinks the radical change of regulations is actually a risk for the suppliers.

"The danger is that what will happen is what always happens with the manufacturers, which is that if it doesn't work they will stop," he told Autoweek.

And another risk is that the 'lawnmower' tones of the V6s will also drive the spectators away.

"What Ron (Walker) is saying is that you have to make sure that the engines will make it to 16,000 revs," said Ecclestone.

"That was agreed and now we know they won't rev to anything like that.  The fuel flow has been agreed so even if you have big tanks it still can't rev (to 16,000)."

Admitting it is not his preferred option, Ecclestone nonetheless revealed that artificially enhancing the V6 engine sound is a possibility.

"Maybe we can make them sound like the current engines," he said.

Walker added that in 2011, "(FIA president Jean) Todt told me in Australia that the next thing is they are going to have a hybrid.

"I said 'what about the noise' and he said they will put a squeak box on the back of the car. God almighty!"

(GMM)

No more Indians close to F1 - Chandhok

India is facing a long wait for another formula one driver, Karun Chandhok has warned.

Not too long ago, both Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan were representing the populous nation on the grid.

Now, they have been priced out of the market.

"F1 is F1, everyone knows the financial situation," Chandhok, who now races in Le Mans-style sports cars, told the Press Trust of India.

"F1 is difficult at the moment unless you have millions."

The 29-year-old lamented that, while he and Karthikeyan are locked outside of F1, there are no countryman poised to take their place in representing India.

"(The) next F1 driver from India?  At the moment don't see anyone else," said Chandhok.

"If any Indian has to be in F1 in future it would be either me or Narain.

"To be able to do well in F1, you need to win in Europe and so far only I and Narain have been able to win in GP2, A1GP and Formula 3.

"No other Indian has been able to do it.  Have you seen anyone in the junior ranks?  There are a few but no one is winning," he added.

(GMM)

Vergne - Red Bull or bust for 2014

Jean-Eric Vergne has hinted just how high the stakes are at Toro Rosso this year.

His teammate Daniel Ricciardo came out fighting in 2013 by declaring his friendship with the Frenchman is over as he pushes to "blow it apart" this season.

Vergne, 22, is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace as admitting the stakes at Toro Rosso - the 'junior' Red Bull-owned team - are high.

While Mark Webber's contract at the senior team is running out, a new crop of Red Bull-sponsored youngsters are knocking loudly at Toro Rosso's door.

Vergne admitted: "If my performances are good, I'll get a spot at Red Bull (Racing).

"Otherwise, they will replace me and I'll lose my place.

"But I am in Toro Rosso at the moment, I deserve my place and I have to prove it to everyone by getting results."

(GMM)