Latest F1 news in brief

Hulkenberg loses DEKRA as personal sponsor

Hulkenberg and Bottas lose personal sponsors
Button expecting first child with Playboy model fiancee Brittny Ward
Red Bull have ‘healthy’ working environment with neighbor in Milton Keyes

Hulkenberg and Bottas lose personal sponsors

When you are a backmarker and don't win, sponsors eventually get tired backing a loser.

First Valtteri Bottas and now Nico Hulkenberg have lost long-standing personal backers ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship, as Wihuri and DEKRA pull the plug on their sponsorship programs in the top flight.

Earlier this month Mercedes driver Bottas lost Wihuri backing when company chief Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, a former racing driver and team owner, decided the sport at the highest level was no longer value for money.

Wihuri was an instrumental backer during the Finn’s career, reportedly playing a role in securing him a drive with Mercedes when Nico Rosberg quit the sport.

Speaking to Ilta-Sanomet, Wihuri confirmed, “We won’t carry on. With regard to the benefit of investing in F1, we decided that it was getting too expensive."

The move comes in the wake of a dismal season for Bottas who simply had no answer to his teammate Lewis Hamilton who bagged 11 wins on his way to the title, Bottas did not win a race.

Wihuri explained, “It was disappointing. Partly it was not his [Bottas] fault, some of it was due to the team and to technical problems, but I think he was quite weak at the end of the year."

“It’s tough to be Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, but Valtteri was also left behind by many others and was only fifth overall. It was a pretty weak result."

Renault driver Hulkenberg and his 14-year sponsor DEKRA are also parting ways. The German had a long-standing association with the Stuttgart based vehicle inspection company but a change in priorities has resulted in their decision.

A spokesman said in a statement: “DEKRA has decided not to renew the partnership with Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg for the 2019 season. DEKRA’s partnership with Nico Hulkenberg lasted for an unparalleled 14 years. From his beginnings in kart competitions all the way to Formula 1, DEKRA has been a part of Nico’s career."

“Now we have been rethinking priorities and are redirecting resources in terms of sponsoring, among others. This is part of our intensive work on future-oriented topics like digitalization, automated and connected driving, which is also shown by our acquisition of the Lausitzring racetrack."

“We thank Nico sincerely for a great time together and wish him nothing but the best and maximum success for the future."

DEKRA was also a high-profile and long-time sponsor of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. Will they now sign with his son Mick Schumacher?

Button expecting first child with Playboy model fiancee Brittny Ward

Button and fiancee Brittny Ward

Jenson Button has revealed he is to become a father for the first time with fiancee Brittny Ward

Uploading photos from the baby scan, the 38-year-old wrote: "Brittny & I are Delighted to announce the new edition to the family currently having his first seat! Look how comfy he looks! #babybutton."

And just minutes after Button had posted, his other half also updated her Instagram with the baby scan.

Adding a graphic of a car on to the scan photo, the 28-year-old model wrote: "Coming this summer #babybutton."

Brittny got engaged to Jenson in June and they shared the news with an Instagram post captioned "Soon to be Mrs. Button".

The stunning 28-year-old model then shared a snap of the scan with a racing car superimposed on top.

The pair have been dating since 2016 after Jenson's on- year marriage to the Japanese model Jessica Michibata ended in 2015.

Brittny was born and raised in California, starting in Sacramento before moving to Los Angeles, which explains why Button had a home in LA, which is currently up For Sale.

Her mother encouraged her to model, and she was in a string of pageants before starting modelling at the age of 12.

Button baby

Red Bull have ‘healthy’ working environment with neighbor in Milton Keyes

Christian Horner

A new era awaits for Red Bull. Having ended their 12-year spell with Renault, they have brought in Honda as their new power-unit suppliers for the next two seasons. And Team Principal Christian Horner has been buoyed by what he has seen so far from the Japanese manufacturer, believing the pair have built a ‘very healthy working environment’.

Honda have been building up their UK facility in Milton Keynes to house a second operation for several years now, giving them the capability to supply both Red Bull and Toro Rosso this year, and Horner is confident they have the foundations in place to hit the ground running this season.

“Communication in any business, in particular in this sport, is a vital element," said Horner.

“Obviously Honda are based in Japan, but their UK base is just around the corner from us in Milton Keynes. We’ve obviously got a huge amount of discussion going on between the groups.

“So far it’s all been very positive and I think we’ve found a very healthy working environment – that we’ve been nurturing through the relationship with Red Bull technology, Toro Rosso and Honda – that we don’t go into next year completely afresh."

Red Bull won four Grands Prix last year and Horner believes that their 2018 campaign could have looked ‘quite different’, perhaps even title challenging, had they had extra power in the back of their RB14 car.

“It’s always easy to say ifs, buts and maybes," he added. “If there would have been another 40kw (around 53bhp) in the back of the car then the season could have looked quite different.

“Hats off to everyone at Milton Keynes for arguably producing one of our best ever chassis. If you look at the other users with the same engine, there’s a world of difference."