Latest F1 news in brief

Rosberg is smoking that funny weed again

F1 and Formula E could 'merge' – Rosberg
Vettel denies cracking under pressure in 2018
Lauda could soon leave intensive care – report
Verstappen unfair to only blame Renault – Bell
Sean Gelael to help clean track at US Grand Prix
Whiting: No plans to delay 2021 regulations

F1 and Formula E could 'merge' – Rosberg
(GMM) Nico Rosberg, an investor in the all-electric series, thinks Formula E could one day merge with formula one.

The 2016 world champion reckons it may be easier for motor racing's top open wheeler category to simple absorb Formula E rather than establish its own 'green' credentials.

Asked by the Washington Post if he thinks Formula E will one day eclipse F1, Rosberg said: "Maybe we will never even get to that point and we will just see a merger before that.

"The step for formula one to go electric will be a big and difficult one," the German added.

McLaren refugee Stoffel Vandoorne is keeping his career alive with a move to Formula E next year.

And Rosberg thinks the time will eventually come when F1's combustion engines are completely dead.

"The advantage is that formula one and Formula E have the same owner," he said, referring to the Liberty companies headed by John Malone.

Vettel denies cracking under pressure in 2018

Vettel and Ferrari were never going to beat an Aldo Costa designed F1 car

(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has denied that the pressure got to him in his 2018 title battle.

Once ahead of Lewis Hamilton in points and with the fastest car in the field, Vettel and Ferrari's campaign utterly fell apart in the last month and the championship win now seems impossible.

Speaking to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the German denied that pressure applied by Mercedes' Hamilton got to him.

"If we see each other, it's briefly at a press conference or the briefing or with a little luck on the podium. There is no direct contact," he said.

So Vettel said psychological games, as were possible in the past, no longer happen.

"Things like 'You have no balls' or 'You were crap today' are no longer possible because every word is put on a golden scale," he said.

For instance, in 2012 he called Narain Karthikeyan a "cucumber" and Vettel recalls the "great outrage" that ensued.

"It was just a statement," Vettel insisted, "and it's unfortunate that it's no longer possible."

Any pressure, he says, is put on by himself and the team.

"Pressure is not necessarily fun," he admitted, "but it doesn't always exist where people often suspect from the outside.

"Honestly, you drive for yourself and for those who help you to compete at this level.

"One guiding principle helps me," Vettel explained. "It's that no one is ever as good or as bad as it is said. And I always like to reflect on what brought me to racing: my enthusiasm and joy."

Lauda could soon leave intensive care – report

Lauda should be back at Wolff's side in 2019 as they watch their Aldo Costa designed machine destroy Ferrari again

(GMM) Niki Lauda could finally be preparing to leave intensive care, following a lung transplant more than two months ago.

Osterreich newspaper quoted a friend as saying: "Niki is already making great progress."

The report said that following a long period of uncertainty, the 69-year-old F1 legend's body has "accepted the new lung".

"In one sense, Lauda can already leave the hospital," Osterreich explained. "But because of the long layoff, the musculature is so weakened that he currently finds it difficult to stand unaided."

So the report said the triple world champion and Mercedes team chairman will set about strengthening his body with the help of three physiotherapists.

"Once the muscles are again in good shape, Lauda may soon leave the hospital in Vienna and move to a rehab clinic," Osterreich said.

"His wife Birgit hopes this could happen in late October or early November."

A return to the F1 paddock could then possibly take place "early next season".

Verstappen unfair to only blame Renault – Bell

Daddy I want a Ferrari or Mercedes engine

(GMM) Bob Bell says it's not fair of Max Verstappen to blame all of Red Bull's problems on the Renault engine.

Bell, a leading technical official at the French manufacturer, is referring to Dutchman Verstappen's recent outward and repeated criticism of the customer engines supplied by Renault.

"For Max, it's all about being fast because he's young and in a hurry," Bell told the Ziggo Sport broadcaster.

"He wants to win because he knows he has the potential and he's disappointed that his car lets him down. But he only blames our engine," he said.

"We make no changes to the engines we use for our (works) cars and the ones that go to our customers," Bell insisted. "It may be the installation of the engines that affect the Red Bull cars, or maybe they've just been unlucky."

Red Bull and Renault's fractious relationship will finally end after November's 2018 finale in Abu Dhabi. From 2019, the energy drink owned team will be powered by works Honda engines.

Sean Gelael to help clean track at US Grand Prix

Sean Gelael paid millions to help clean the track Friday morning in Austin

Sean Gelael will have his first Formula 1 practice outing of 2018 with Toro Rosso at this weekend's United States Grand Prix.

Gelael carried out four days of running across in-season testing at Barcelona and the Hungaroring this year and will help to clean and rubber in the track in Austin on Friday morning.

"I am super happy and excited to get things rolling again," said Gelael, currently 15th in his third full GP2/F2 season.

"I did FP1 in Austin last year so it's a track that I know, even though it was a bit damp last year.

"The last time I was in the car was for the Budapest test, so I'm looking forward to working with the team again, hopefully they're excited as well."

Whiting: No plans to delay 2021 regulations

Charlie Whiting

Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting says he does not expect there to be a delay for the planned overhaul of the sport’s regulations in 2021 despite concerns from teams over a lack of concrete plans.

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost recently said time was “running away" to fix the regulations for 2021, while both Christian Horner and GÃ¼nther Steiner have expressed doubts minor changes will be able to make much of an immediate impact on F1.

The FIA has said repeatedly it was close to confirming the regulations for 2021, yet nothing has been rubber-stamped despite an ever-narrowing window.

However, Whiting stressed at Suzuka earlier this month that there were no plans to postpone the introduction of the new rules beyond 2021.

“It’s taking us a little bit longer than expected," Whiting said.

“[We are] still talking through the teams, we went through a lot the stuff in the Strategy Group last week, but it’s an ongoing process.

“And it will be 2021, yes."