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From GMM

Red Bull is getting deeply involved with the improvement of engine partner Renault's F1 project.

Deeply frustrated with the French marque's start to the new V6 turbo era, Red Bull forced a restructuring at Renault, involving the return of boss Cyril Abiteboul.

But that is not all. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Red Bull is now at the forefront of Renault's push to vastly improve its 'power unit' and bridge the rumoured 60 horse power gap to Mercedes.

The report suggested development lines have been clearly drawn, with Viry-Chatillon remaining in charge of the engine and turbo but Red Bull taking over the electric and energy-storage side of the package at Milton-Keynes.

Photo: WRI2

But Red Bull is actually "advertising for personnel in all disciplines of engine development," Auto Motor und Sport claims.

"The listed address is always Red Bull. Are they building an engine in-house?"

The question was triggered because, last month at Silverstone, Infiniti chief Andy Palmer reportedly met with Red Bull chiefs and discussed building a Red Bull engine.

Renault's engine chief Rob White played down the rumours of engine-specialist recruiting at Milton Keynes by saying: "It is just easier (for Renault) to recruit people in England than it is in France.

"And the new Red Bull technology centre also needs engineers," he added.

From press release

Brembo and Mercedes revealed the final conclusions of the investigation regarding Lewis Hamilton's spectacular brake failure during qualifying for the German Grand Prix.

The investigation has revealed the quality of the Brembo disc was not at fault.

"Both parties can now confirm that the quality of the disc material was not a contributory factor," said the investigation report.

"Instead, extensive analysis and experimentation has demonstrated that the specific interaction between the structure of the brake material in question and the brake mounting on the F1 W05 Hybrid was at the root of the failure."

In conclusion, Mercedes will be able to run Brembo discs on its cars once more.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo delivered another brilliant performance in Spa-Francorchamps to deny Nico Rosberg and pick up his third win of the season.

(Photo: WRI2)

Mercedes trod on its on tail in Belgium, when at the start pole-sitter Rosberg made contact with his teammate Lewis Hamilton, trying to reclaim the lead of the race. Rosberg broke his front wing and Hamilton picked up a puncture.

The Brit's hopes of a good result ended right then and there.

Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg (Photo: WRI2)

Rosberg lost a lot of time in the pits taking on a new front wing. A late charge put him back in contention. But ultimately he came short 3.3 seconds.

Riccardo's victory in Spa is the first for an Australian since Jack Brabham's in 1960.

A power unit failure put a sad end to German Andre Lotterer's first - and possible last - race in F1.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRI2)

Race results* - Belgian Grand Prix (round 12 of 19)
1 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) 54 laps in 1.24'36"556
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 3"383
3 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 28"032
4 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 36"815
5 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 52"196
6 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 54"262
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 54"580
8 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'01"162
9 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'04"293
10 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'05"347
11 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'05"697
12 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'11"920
13 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'15"975
14 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'22"447
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'30"825
16 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1 lap
17 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1 lap

Fastest lap of the race: 1'50"511 by Nico Rosberg

Retirements
Lewis Hamilton
Romain Grosjean
Pastor Maldonado
Andre Lotterer

Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW36 (Photo: WRI2)

Drivers' championship
1.Rosberg 220; 2.Hamilton 191; 3.Ricciardo 156; 4.Alonso 119; 5.Bottas 110; 6.Vettel 98; 7.Hulkenberg 69; 8.Button 66; 9.Magnussen 45; 10.Massa 40; 11.Raikkonen 39; 12.Perez 31; 13.Vergne 11; 14.Grosjean 8; 15.Kvyat 7; 16.Bianchi 2.

Constructors' championship
1.Mercedes 411; 2.Red Bull-Renault 254; 3.Ferrari 158; 4.Williams-Mercedes 150; 5.McLaren-Mercedes 111; 6.Force India-Mercedes 100; 7.Toro Rosso-Renault 18; 8.Lotus-Renault 8; 9.Marussia-Ferrari 2.

*Unofficial results

From NASCAR

Logano took the lead from Matt Kenseth with 44 laps remaining and scooted to his third Sprint Cup victory of the season in Saturday's IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

"We can win the championship. We've showed it at every kind of race track. We've just got to keep doing it," said Logano, 24, who held off his Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski in the final laps.

"What a year we're having. I'm having so much fun. The past six or seven races have been unbelievable."

Joey Logano leads at Bristol (Tom Pennington/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Logano has finished no worse than sixth in any of the last five races but took special pride in winning at the track known as the "World's Fastest Half-Mile."

"It's just the baddest mamma jamma race track ever built," said Logano, who two years ago was struggling with a loss of confidence at Joe Gibbs Racing.

"At that point, I would never think I'd have a year like this," he said. "That's why the mental side of this is just as important as the physical side. But I'm happy I went through all that. It's made me what I am now and made me aware of how I have to be, mentally, to win these things."

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has returned to the executive board of F1's parent company.

Although he remained F1 chief executive, the 83-year-old had stepped down from Delta Topco amid his corruption trial in Germany.

Briton Ecclestone settled that case with a highly-controversial $100 million payment to the Bavarian state.

"The system in law is pretty fair," he told the BBC at Spa-Francorchamps this week.

"I just had to pay to get rid of the case, that's all."

And Ecclestone also said in Belgium that the fact he is now returning to the Delta Topco board will make "no difference" to how F1 has been run in the past days and months.

Photo: WRI2

"I stood down for obvious reasons, but I'll be back on again now," he told the Telegraph recently. "Everything is back to normal."

Asked if F1's major shareholder CVC is happy about his return to the board, he insisted: "Yes of course."

That appears also true even of Mercedes, whose strict corporate rules had made parent Daimler particularly nervous about Ecclestone's alleged association with bribery.

But team boss Toto Wolff said at Spa: "I have seen a very strong Bernie coming back from the shutdown, after the court case. The court case has been settled and this is good news.

"For us it's important to have a strong guy, a strong leader and good discussions. We had one of these today," he added on Saturday, after a meeting between team bosses and Ecclestone that was held in the Mercedes motor home.

From GMM

Roberto Merhi has admitted he is in the running to be the next occupant of sidelined Caterham racer Kamui Kobayashi's seat.

At Spa, reigning Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer is racing in the Japanese's place, but he has only been released by his Super Formula team TOM's as well as the works Audi outfit for one weekend only.

The 32-year-old Belgian-raised German admitted he might also add value to the newly Colin Kolles-led team at Suzuka, a circuit he knows intimately.

But Lotterer is not counting on a F1 future beyond that.

"Even if I do an outstanding performance here, I cannot imagine that suddenly a top team is going to present me with a three-year contract," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

That attitude is an acknowledgement of Caterham's current situation; with Kobayashi having been pushed from his seat due to the one-off sponsor offering of Lotterer's sponsor, the Hype energy drink.

Caterham says the mainly unfunded Kobayashi remains part of the team, but already it is clear that Kolles has his eye on at least one or two likely alternatives for the remaining seven race weekends of 2014.

One of them could be Carlos Sainz jr, whose backer Red Bull earlier had talks with Kolles but could not agree financial terms for the opportunity.

Robert Merhi has overtaken Carlos Sainz Jr in the running for Kamui Kobayashi's driver in Monza (Photo: WRI2)

The big frontrunner now is Roberto Merhi, a 23-year-old Spaniard who according to the Spanish newspaper AS "has the necessary financial support thanks to Russian businessmen".

Merhi is at Spa this weekend as a guest of Caterham.

But he denied it is now a simple matter of the Russians striking a deal with Kolles.

"It is not true that the Russians put in the money because it is precisely those of my team (Zeta Corse) in the World Series who don't want me in F1 because they want to win this championship (Formula Renault 3.5)," said Merhi.

But speculation is rife that the deal on the table for Merhi is two races in 2014 in Kobayashi's place.

"I am likely to be in Monza, but still nothing is certain because in this world nothing is," he insisted.

"It is true that I was invited to be here (at Spa) and I am. They (Caterham) called me to come to the factory and test the simulator, which I did, they ended up quite happy and presented me with this opportunity."

AS claims Merhi's two-race stint actually would have started in Belgium, but because his European F3 title was three years ago, the FIA did not automatically issue him with a F1 super license.

Supplier Metaldyne Performance Group on Friday filed with federal securities regulators for an initial public offering of its common shares.

Bentley's Mulsanne Convertible Concept is back on track. Shown by Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer to a select few customers at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2012, the stately convertible was intended for production.

GM has passed a significant milestone in its campaign to replace potentially defective ignition switches in millions of cars recalled worldwide: It cleared its backlog of parts orders.

Japanese carmakers, long a preserve of tight-knit, workaholic old boys' clubs, have finally tuned into the need for more diverse input into developing, making and selling their products.

From press release

A Ferrari junior driver has beaten a McLaren junior driver in Spa-Francorchamps.

19-year-old Raffaele Marciello has claimed a long overdue debut win in sodden conditions in today's GP2 feature race. The Italian, who is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, survived a tough opposition from McLaren prospect Stoffel Vandoorne.

The Belgian started his home race from pole position, but Marciello went two laps further before pitting. With fresher tires, he was able to put pressure on Vandoorne, and eventually overtake him with three laps to go.

Photo: GP2Series.com

Marciello had built a 2-second advantage by the time the checkered flag dropped.

"I'm really happy to win this race especially here in Spa and in very difficult conditions," he said.

"Me and Stoffel deserved to finish ahead because we were really fast. The car was really good to drive. After the pit stop we had a very big lead on the rest of the field."

From GMM

Adrian Newey says Red Bull will not replace him as technical director when he steps down at Christmas.

Frustrated with the direction of the regulations, F1's most respected designer will begin to head Red Bull's new advanced technologies centre in 2015 rather than work full-time on F1.

"At the moment I'm still full time," he said at Spa-Francorchamps, "and will be (working) certainly over the coming months as we finalise the general layout of the (2015) car.

Adrian Newey is not happy with the new rules in F1 (Photo: WRI2)

"It won't be until Christmas that I start to really get into new roles."

Newey also revealed that when that time comes, Red Bull will not appoint a successor.

"I think that at the track in Paul Monaghan, 'Rocky' (Guillaume Roquelin) and Simon (Rennie) we have three very able technical people and I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to take those decisions, no," he said.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone insists formula one is definitely going to controversial Russia -- but he is much less sure about a race in New York.

After the FIA approved the Sochi circuit for its inaugural October race, F1's 'supremo' said the unstable political situation regarding Russia's Ukraine conflict and the MH17 atrocity has nothing to do with the sport.

"We have a contract," he said at Spa-Francorchamps. "Our friends there are happy with the contract. We are happy. We will be there.

"If people have arguments with Russia, maybe they have, but we haven't got any," the 83-year-old Briton insisted.

As for the on-again, off-again prospect of a New Jersey street race amid the fabled Manhattan skyline, Ecclestone was far less certain.

"I honestly don't think so," he answered when asked if F1 will soon be adding a second US destination.

"They still have the same problems they had in the beginning. Nothing has changed."

From press release

Marussia driver Jules Bianchi was understandably "very happy" after qualifying an impressive 16th on the grid of this week-end's Belgian Grand Prix.

The Frenchman mastered tricky conditions at a wet Spa-Franchorchamps circuit to advance in the second part of qualifying, which guaranteed him a spot in the top 16.

It's the second time Bianchi gets himself out of Q1 this season, after he qualified an even more impressive 12th at the British Grand Prix.

Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR03 (Photo: WRI2)

In Spa, he out-qualified Nico Hülkenberg and Pastor Maldonado, as well as his Marussia teammate Max Chilton.

"I'm really happy to make it through to Q2 again, especially as it repeats a good performance here last year. I love this track," he said.

"I was a little surprised that we had such a strong qualifying, simply because the tricky conditions were the same for everyone, yet we have fared better than some of the teams further up the grid."

Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton delivered a perfect result for their team, locking out the front row of the Belgian Grand Prix's starting grid.

Championship leader Nico Rosberg snatched pole position in front of Lewis Hamilton, as the traditional Belgian rain made an appearance.

(Photo: WRI2)

"Sometimes in these wet conditions, you just hit the sweet spot with both the car set-up and the tires, and that's definitely what happened for us today," said Toto Wolff.

"But you then need two fantastic drivers to deliver and it's very encouraging to see both cars on the front row."

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRI2)

There was, however, an issue with the braking system of the W05, once more.

"The only issue we saw was brake glazing - in particular on
Lewis' car," revealed Paddy Lowe.

But Hamilton, who thinks this issue cost him the pole, is still happy with second place.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRI2)

"This is a circuit where you need confidence on the brakes but unfortunately, on my Q3 run, I had a glazed front left brake which made the car pull to the side," he said.

"I'm not too disappointed, though.

"Last year I was on pole, then Seb came flying past me down the Kemmel Straight, so I think P2 could be the best place to be."

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14 T (Photo: WRI2)

Qualifying results* - Belgian Grand Prix (round 12 of 19)
1.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 2'05"591 - Q3
2.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 2'05"819 - Q3
3.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 2'07"717 - Q3
4.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 2'07"786 - Q3
5.Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 2'07"911 - Q3
6.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 2'08"049 - Q3
7.Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 2'08"679 - Q3
8.Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 2'08"780 - Q3
9.Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 2'09"178 - Q3
10.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 2'09"776 - Q3
11.Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 2'09"377 - Q2
12.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 2'09"805 - Q2
13.Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 2'10"084 - Q2
14.Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 2'10"238 - Q2
15.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 2'11"087 - Q2
16.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 2'12"470 - Q2
17.Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 2'11"261 - Q1
18.Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 2'11"267 - Q1
19.Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 2'12"566 - Q1
20.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 2'13"414 - Q1
21.Andre Lotterer (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 2'13"469 - Q1
22.Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 2'14"438 - Q1
*Unofficial results

Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW36 (Photo: WRI2)

Reigning WRC champion Sébastien Ogier is probably not enjoying week-end in Germany.

The Frenchman crashed for the first time on Friday. While leading, he braked too late and skidded off into a vineyard. Unable to rejoin the road, he had to retire.

He was able to rejoin the event on Saturday, albeit with a 10-minute penalty, but then on Saturday he clipped a roadside barrier and crashed heavily, forcing the organizers to cancel the stage.

"We were in sixth gear on a long straight," Ogier is quoted saying by Autosport.

Sébastien Ogier is OK after two crashes, this week-end in Germany (Photo: WRI2)

"Then there was a slight right turn over a crest. The jump was a bit further than we thought. The rear broke away when we landed and I lost control of the car."

Both Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia were taken to the hospital. Fortunately, they were soon released after precautionary checks.

This time, the pair will not be allowed back in the rally, as the roll cage of its VW Polo R WRC was damaged in the crash.

Adapted from GMM

German Andre Lottrer is making a surprise Formula One entrance this weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix. His debuts are a revelation for Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr.

The young Sainz, 19, was expected to kick off his F1 career next season with Toro Rosso, but was pipped by the even younger Max Verstappen, 16.

At one point, Sainz was also supposed to race for Caterham, as early as this season, but negotiations with Leafield fell through.

Now, 32-year-old Andre Lotterer is the surprise Caterham rookie at the Belgian Grand Prix. He is replacing regular Kamui Kobayashi, and a major factor was the arrival of the Le Mans winner's sponsor Hype.

Andre Lotterer, Caterham CT05 (Photo: WRI2)

The Spanish daily AS reports that Red Bull might try again to push rookie Carlos Sainz jr into Kobayashi's car, perhaps even for Monza next month.

"Nothing is finalised," a spokesman for the Spanish youngster is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo.

And Roberto Merhi, a Spanish DTM driver, is at Spa this weekend and also linked with a 2014 Caterham drive under the new regime headed by Colin Kolles.

"Merhi, 23, is a talented driver but he also has the necessary financial support thanks to Russian businessmen", the sports newspaper revealed.

Adapted from GMM

He didn't want to say the words, but Max Chilton insists a Marussia kerfuffle in Belgium should not be interpreted as a simple 'pay-driver' in distress.

The struggling team stood the Briton down ahead of Friday practice at Spa-Francorchamps, but then did a u-turn and reinstated him.

Marc Surer, a former driver and commentator for German television, giggled that Chilton and his sponsors must have "found a bank that was open on a Friday".

It was presumably that sort of interpretation that Chilton was trying to dismiss when speaking with reporters on Friday.

Max Chilton was benched at Spa, then put back in the car (Photo: WRI2)

It is a familiar story in formula one.

"What everyone seems to think has happened is not the case," he insisted.

When pressed for precisely what he meant, Chilton added: "I think I've gently persuaded or let you know what everyone thinks it is and that's all I can say."

According to Germany's Die Welt newspaper, though, the real reason for the Spa shenanigans was because a group of Chilton's investors were behind in payments.

Canadian union workers at an interiors plant that supplies General Motors' Oshawa assembly complex have reached a tentative contract agreement that could avert a strike at the supplier plant.

Some retail and all fleet customers who order their 2015 F-150s early won't see their trucks until February.