Haas’s drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen pose with the new VF-17 racing car. REUTERS

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One drivers Britain’s Lewis Hamilton (L) and Finland’s Valtteri Bottas pose by the new 2017 season Mercedes W08 EQ Power+ Formula One car at its launch event at Silverstone motor racing circuit near Towcester, central England on February 23, 2017 - AFP

Renault Sport Formula One drivers Jolyon Palmer and Nico Hulkenberg pose for photographers as Renault launch the R.S.17, their new car for the 2017, during a launch event at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London on February 21, 2017 - AFP

Toro Rosso’s drivers Daniil Kvyat (R) and Carlos Sainz pose during the presentation of the new STR12 racing car. REUTERS

BARCELONA (Reuters): More teams, more sponsors and more circuits are all on the long-term wish-list for Formula One’s new owners, who say fans will see changes already this season as part of an aggressive strategy for growth.

Commercial managing director Sean Bratches says every area of the business is being looked at.

“There will be a point in the season ... where we start to effectuate change,” he told Reuters during the first pre-season test in Barcelona.

“It’s not going to be ... where we just drop our vision one day and that’s the vision. It’s going to be a build and we are going to be very aggressive. We are going to try new things, all in the spirit of better serving Formula One fans.”

The first small sign of change came on Monday when teams were told they and their drivers could post snippets of video on social media channels from inside the paddock confines.

Bratches, a former ESPN executive who reports to Formula One chairman Chase Carey, said the sport was “replete with opportunities to improve at almost every turn.

“I have been in the office every Saturday and Sunday for the last month since I got here and I don’t see it ending. There’s a lot to do.”

The sport changed hands in January, when Liberty Media replaced 86-year-old former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone with Carey.

Ecclestone, a lifelong deal-maker, was unconvinced by social media after growing the sport into a billion dollar business through television deals and hosting fees from countries in increasingly exotic locations.

The Briton also saw no need for a spokesman or media department, something the new owners are putting in place along with a well-staffed marketing operation.

“We are going to pivot from what has been a very deal- oriented structure to one where we are formulating a strategic plan that we are going to execute on relentlessly over the mid to long-term,” said Bratches.

“We’d love to see more teams, we’d love to see more sponsors and we’d love to see more circuits in the right places.

“Places that we believe are growth-oriented and can improve not only from a fan standpoint but improve the overall economics, drive television revenues, drive sponsor engagement and interest, create opportunities for teams and drivers.”

Floats all boats

Struggling Manor folded in January, leaving just 10 teams. Bratches said the aim was to put all on a more secure footing.

“In the Premier League or National Football League or Bundesliga, if a team goes up for sale there’s 30 individuals or entities that want to buy it. When Manor goes out, that’s not the case today,” he said.

“So we have to make this a better business on the promoter side, on the team side. The rising tide will float all boats.”

Bratches said he had been “pleasantly surprised” by strong interest in hosting races from cities, states and countries who currently do not have one and there would “unequivocally” be new races in the United States and elsewhere.

“There’s a huge opportunity out there to reset the promoter base,” he added.

Carey has talked about treating each race like a SuperBowl weekend, with events building to the main event, and Bratches concurred.

“We have 20 extraordinary events every single year that happen in 20 different countries. There’s a huge opportunity to amplify the event and really detonate the possibilities,” he said.

Liberty have talked about adding more races in North America, where the Texan capital Austin currently hosts the only US round of the championship. Bratches did not give details but Las Vegas is a clear target.

“We have an extraordinary iconic circuit in Austin and I think that race is poised to grow and continue its position as one of our kind of hub races,” he said. “At the same time ... I actually think driving interest in the United States through other circuits will actually amplify the value of the circuit in Austin.”

This handout picture released on February 24, 2017 by the Ferrari press office shows the new Formula 1 of the team Ferrari, the SF70H (H for hybrid) presented on internet - AFP.

Raikkonen puts Ferrari on top after test day two

BARCELONA (Reuters): Kimi Raikkonen put Ferrari on top of the timesheets after the second day of Formula One’s pre-season testing on Tuesday but world champions Mercedes still led the way on kilometres covered.

Raikkonen was a mere 0.023 faster than triple champion Lewis Hamilton at the end of the day, although the Briton got out at lunchtime and handed his Mercedes to new team mate Valtteri Bottas.

Ferrari’s Finn had been second quickest in the morning, but on slower medium tyres than Hamilton’s supersofts. He set his fastest time on softs in the afternoon.

While Raikkonen ended the day with 108 laps under his belt, the Mercedes pair put in 168 laps between them after an untroubled 152 on Monday.

Hamilton’s 66 were the equivalent of a Spanish Grand Prix race distance.

Reliability more than the lap times is the main focus at this stage of the year with the new-look wider cars, on fatter front and rear tyres and with revamped aerodynamics, unveiled only last week.

Ferrari, who have kept their cards close to their chest with no media activities on the first two days after a low-key online launch, also showed good reliability on Monday with Sebastian Vettel completing 128 laps.

Raikkonen’s best lap of one minute 20.960 seconds compared to the fastest time in 2016 Barcelona testing of 1:22.765.

Red Bull and McLaren, who had a troubled debut day, had mixed fortunes on day two.

Dutch teenager Max Verstappen did 89 laps for Red Bull but Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne managed only 40 in the McLaren and was second slowest.

Vandoorne was halted after 29, and partners Honda changed the power unit.

“I think it was positive to get back behind the wheel after four months of no driving,” said former GP2 champion Vandoorne, looking on the bright side.

“It was a good first feeling for me and I immediately felt confident in the car and very comfortable...unfortunately we had a loss of engine power during the morning after a couple of laps, we’re still investigating what the issues are.”

Others also wrestled with garage gremlins.

Renault’s Jolyon Palmer managed to do one untimed installation lap in the morning, after the team flew in new parts overnight, but ended the day with 53 done.

Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, standing in for the injured Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber, did five before the team swapped out the Ferrari power unit and then 62 more after lunch.

Canadian teenage rookie Lance Stroll spun off after 12 laps, going through the gravel backwards and damaging his Williams, forcing the team to abandon testing for the day.

A handout picture released by McLaren Honda on February 24, 2017 shows McLaren Honda Belgian Formula One driver Stoffel Vandoorne (R) and Spanish driver Fernando Alonso (L) posing for a picture - AFP

Alonso needs to fall back in love with F1, says Sainz

​BARCELONA (Reuters): Carlos Sainz has plenty of ambitions of his own for 2017 but the young Spaniard also hopes to see friend and compatriot Fernando Alonso fall back in love with Formula One after years of frustration.

The 22-year-old, starting his third season with Toro Rosso, knows how important a year it is for the double world champion he first met as a young karter when the now 35-year-old was winning with Renault.

Alonso, who came close to a third title with Ferrari, will be out of contract with former champions McLaren at the end of the year and has said he will decide his future after the summer break.

“I believe what he says about taking a decision later in the year. I believe, because I know him and have talked to him, that he is very excited about this season,” Sainz told Reuters in an interview on the second day of testing.

“He is really wanting to fight even if it is for P3s (third places). He’s going to fight for it, and I’m convinced that then he will take a decision,” he added.

“I also think that he needs to fall in love with F1 again.

“I think he was a bit disappointed with how F1 had been in the last four or five years and I think he needs to fall back in love with it and then his comments will be a lot more positive. So hopefully this car helps do that.”

The immediate signs did not look promising, with Alonso having to sit out most of Monday morning due to an oil system problem and Belgian team mate Stoffel Vandoorne sidelined for much of Tuesday with engine problems.

Alonso managed just 29 laps on Monday, compared to world champions Mercedes who put in 152, and Vandoorne did 40 on Tuesday.

McLaren have not won a race since 2012 and have struggled for reliability and performance in two seasons with Honda. Alonso has also been vocal against the need to save fuel and tyres in recent years.