SKY F1 was reporting that RedBull has been having difficulties talking to Renault, and are no longer being treated as an unofficial Works team. Similar communication issues are happening at Toro Rosso as well. I think Renault is considering pulling out, and RedBull is going along for the ride.
Ahh but just like Ferrari they did have adjustments to slow them down. Ban double diffuser, ban exhaust blown diffuser, remap ECU to stop continuous exhaust flow, changes in floor specifications, changes in front wing specifications. Now I don't think there should have been any changes before this season started. It's only been one year with the new spec. But if Merc has total domination again this year I'll be expecting some adjustments. On a side note. If the Renault is so bad that they can't fix it without starting over. Then RB doing their own engine would allow them to do that.
Nico Rosberg has offered an “official invitation” to Sebastian Vettel to sit in on a Mercedes engineering debrief at next weekend’s Malaysia GP. Rosberg took to Twitter to extend the invitation on Tuesday having initially suggested Vettel should pay the world champions a visit after they dominated the Australian GP in Melbourne. “I spoke to Toto and Paddy about an invitation for Sebastian and they are easy with it,” Rosberg tweeted, referring to team bosses Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe.
Report: Ecclestone lashes out at Manor, says they’ll pay after Australia (motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com.com)
Nothing says "good sportsmanship" like the incoherent ravings of an old guy with too damn much money.
These were the innovations everyone says is missing now. It's no different than the engine manufacturers still changing the engine all year this year. Race engineering is reading the rules and figuring out how to get around them.
Bottas still isn't certain for Malaysia. Since Susie Wolff is an option there's even a chance we'll see her on the grid. Odds are it'll be Bottas. Bottas working on Malaysia return (racer.com)
I'd like to see Susie get a drive at some point. She has potential, though not the race record that Alex Lynn has. Even so, one race would be nice. She was only a couple of thousandths of a second off Massa on her last practice session. I kinda hate to say it, but maybe the reduced grid would give her a better chance to shine. Fewer battles for a less experienced driver might be a benefit. Though I gotta say, if I were making that decision, I'd take Lynn based on his record. He has a couple of championships under his belt.
As much as I want Bottas to be well again, if he needs a sub I hope it is Susie Wolff. I think she'd do well & having her in an F1 car even for one race would be good for the series.