LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) – Formula One must allow in-season testing to avoid the risk next year of tyres lasting only a handful of laps and races being cut short, according to Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery.

Under fire for the quick-wearing 2013 compounds that led to a blizzard of pitstops in Spain on Sunday, Hembery warned that a current testing ban made it harder for the Italian company to meet significant technical challenges coming in 2014.

LONDON (Reuters) – The first European race of the Formula One season provided a boost for Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, with Lotus and Kimi Raikkonen also smiling, but left plenty of other former champions feeling the pain.

While Red Bull retained their lead in both championships, they struggled with similar tire problems to others in Barcelona on Sunday with triple champion Sebastian Vettel finishing off the podium with his lead over Raikkonen cut to four points.

LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) – The first European race of the Formula One season provided a boost for Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, with Lotus and Kimi Raikkonen also smiling, but left plenty of other former champions feeling the pain.

While Red Bull retained their lead in both championships, they struggled with similar tyre problems to others in Barcelona on Sunday with triple champion Sebastian Vettel finishing off the podium with his lead over Raikkonen cut to four points.

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Mercedes urged their many Formula One technical boffins to “think outside the box” and consider the unconsidered after a Spanish Grand Prix that left the team baffled by their cars’ lack of race pace.

Despite scorching to their third pole position in a row, with Germany’s Nico Rosberg notching up his second in succession, Mercedes flopped when it mattered most at the Circuit de Catalunya.

BARCELONA, May 13 (Reuters) – Mercedes urged their many Formula One technical boffins to “think outside the box” and consider the unconsidered after a Spanish Grand Prix that left the team baffled by their cars’ lack of race pace.

Despite scorching to their third pole position in a row, with Germany’s Nico Rosberg notching up his second in succession, Mercedes flopped when it mattered most at the Circuit de Catalunya.

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Spanish Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso says he would happily forego another race victory this season so long as he took the title, but the Ferrari driver really has every chance of success on both fronts.

Sunday’s triumph at the Circuit de Catalunya is unlikely to be his last and the Spaniard is increasingly a favourite to add that elusive third title to his name by the end of the championship.

BARCELONA, May 13 (Reuters) – Spanish Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso says he would happily forego another race victory this season so long as he took the title, but the Ferrari driver really has every chance of success on both fronts.

Sunday’s triumph at the Circuit de Catalunya is unlikely to be his last and the Spaniard is increasingly a favourite to add that elusive third title to his name by the end of the championship.

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso rewrote the Formula One form book and cranked up the heat in the title battle by winning his home Spanish Grand Prix for the second time on Sunday.

On an afternoon littered with pitstops and full of frustration at high levels of tyre degradation, the double world champion powered to his second victory of the season and 32nd of his career.