Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/791658
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2017 53 FORMULA 1 Sport Sebastian Vettel impressed with new Ferrari after debut SEBASTIAN Vettel says he is confident the new Ferrari car is a step forward after the SF70-H debuted on track. Ahead of pre-season testing at Barcelona, both Vettel and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen drove their new car at Ferrari's private circuit, Fiorano, on Friday as the Scuderia used one of their allotted promotional days to give the SF70-H an early shakedown. "You can see it is a step forward and you can feel it is a step forward," said Vettel. "It is fun to drive. The car looks big and strong." According to Ferrari, the new car is made up of 56,000 components with over a thousand members of the team contributing to its con- struction. "And the first impression is the right one," said Vettel. "It was a good and a good start."Raikkonen added: "It was just a first touch and the main work starts in Barcelona but so far so good." Vettel will debut the car in earnest on Day One at Barcelona on Monday.Ferrari have ex- plained that the name of the SF70-H ref lects 'the seventy years of history, which is truly unique for any marque in the sport. The letters in the name stand simply for Scu- deria Ferrari and the Hybrid form of power.' DOUBLE world champion Fer- nando Alonso has revealed he staged talks with Mercedes over the possibility of replacing Nico Rosberg. The 35-year-old, who won the last of his two titles with Renault more than a decade ago, is enter- ing the final year of his contract at McLaren. Alonso is widely regarded as one of the best drivers in the history of the sport, but he has not been on the podium since he joined McLaren for a second time in 2015 following the British team's demise. And a move to Mercedes would have renewed the explosive rivalry Alonso shared with Lewis Ham- ilton which led to the Spaniard leaving the team after just one season. Rosberg stunned the sporting world after he announced his re- tirement just five days following his title triumph. "When Rosberg retired there were a couple of days that I had some conversations and phone calls which arrived to me," Alonso said. "Let's say that Mercedes, after the surprise of Rosberg, had to do a little check of everyone which is understandable. "It was nothing really strange, or nothing really deep into the con- versations or for the possibilities. It was just a round check that they did with everyone and probably I was one of them to hear my situ- ation. "But my situation was very clear. I have this year at McLaren-Hon- da, I am happy here, and that there was no point to talk anymore for any possibility." Mercedes, who unveiled the car they hope will continue to be the dominant force in Formula One at Silverstone on Thursday, opted to sign Valtteri Bottas from Wil- liams. While the 27-year-old Finnish driver is highly rated, he could be viewed as a safe choice and certainly does not come with the same blockbuster appeal as Alonso. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, also in the final year of his contract, was another mooted to fill Rosberg's shoes. Alonso has endured a disap- pointing time at McLaren since he quit Ferrari to rejoin the Brit- ish team. And while is hopeful, if not entirely optimistic, that McLaren will be back battling at the front this season, he admitted he will assess his own future after the summer break in August. "For the future we will see," Alonso, a 32-time race winner added. "Until August or Septem- ber there is no point talking about anything because I will be fully concentrated in this year's cham- pionship. Maybe we will find out that a new team is dominat- ing Formula One with these new regulations. "I want to be a world champion and that is what I train for. I have been running and biking at mi- nus 10 degrees in the middle of the snow for the last month. "Normally I head to Australia for the first race and arrive on Monday or Tuesday. This year I will go on Friday. I am 100 per cent committed to win." Alonso and his new team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne - hired to re- place Jenson Button following his retirement - took the wraps off their new McLaren at the team's Woking headquarters on Friday. The McLaren - the first since long-serving chairman Ron Den- nis left the team - is predominant- ly orange in colour, a throwback to their formative years in the sport. Fernando Alonso reveals talks with Mercedes Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton admits he won't miss Nico Rosberg LEWIS Hamilton has admitted he will not miss Nico Rosberg and has drawn a line under his 2016 defeat. Hamilton is embarking on a new era at Mercedes following Ros- berg's shock decision to retire from Formula One just five days after he clinched the title. Teaming up with Hamilton, 32, will be Valtteri Bottas - the Finnish driver who has joined from Wil- liams - but he is untested at the highest level. The pair joined forces at a wet and windy Silverstone on Thursday to take the wraps off the Mercedes car they hope will continue to be the dominant force in the sport. And the unveiling marked a fresh start for both Hamilton and his Mercedes team. The Briton's rela- tionship with Rosberg deteriorated so dramatically in the three years they fought for the title they were barely on speaking terms when the German announced his retirement. "I don't think I have ever missed a team-mate in my life because there is always one that takes his place," said Hamilton as he reflected on Rosberg's departure. "It definitely will feel strange, and it already is, but you soon get past it. "One day I will leave and another driver will come along. You don't forget, but get used to what you have. Right now my feelings from last year are not lingering. I have started a new slate and moved on. "The experience of last year has helped me strengthen. I feel I am stronger. I feel more complete as a driver. I feel like I am the best pre- pared I have ever been. I didn't win the world championship last year and I want to change that."Hamilton won more races than Rosberg last season and rounded out the year with four consecutive victories, but his championship defence was blighted by a number of mechani- cal issues. Rosberg ended his long- running losing streak to Hamilton by virtue of following his team-mate home at the intense and controver- sial title decider in Abu Dhabi last November. "It has been a long, hard slog for him," Hamilton added. "He finally got it and maybe he wanted to keep it just as it is and not risk retir- ing at the end of this year not being in the same position. I don't think like that. I win the championship and I want to fight for it again. "I can emphathise, and really un- derstand in some ways, the feeling of wanting to stop and do something different. Every now and then I have a thought of what I will do after For- mula One. Then I see that car and I am like, 'I think I am going to stay'. "I don't know how long I will stay, but I am still competitive, still hun- gry and still driving at my best." The new Mercedes, which both Hamilton and Bottas sampled at Sil- verstone, is wider, lower and heavier to reflect the change in technical regulations over the winter. Mercedes, who have won 51 of the last 59 races, will start the season ex- pected to continue their dominance. Bottas therefore must be viewed as Hamilton's closest rival for the title. "I don't know Valtteri very well and right now there is no competi- tion between us," Hamilton added. "When he sees me at my most in- tense moment and vice-versa it will be an interesting scenario for us. "He wants to beat me as much as I want to beat him. I would not expect anything but the best from him. I want him to be at his best."