Latest F1 news in brief

Magnussen confirmed for two more years

Magnussen's Haas deal for two more years
Paddock fodder
F1's 2020 Miami plans in tatters
Verstappen responds in Abiteboul war of words
Hamilton: Surprising Because This Is My Weakest Circuit
Alonso joins Red Bull, Toro Rosso drivers at back of grid

Magnussen's Haas deal for two more years
(GMM) Kevin Magnussen has revealed that his new contract with Haas is for two more years.

The American team finally announced at Sochi that it is keeping its same driver lineup for 2019, following a period of uncertainty about Romain Grosjean's place.

"My task was to consider all the candidates and choose the best one. And the list of drivers who did not call us was shorter than the list of drivers who did," smiled team boss Gunther Steiner.

"We decided that it was better to keep our drivers. If there is someone new, they should be much better," he added.

Dane Magnussen, who began the year as the lower paid Haas driver but has performed more consistently than Grosjean, revealed that his new deal is for 2019 and 2020.

"I look forward to continuing for another two years — and perhaps it will be longer," he told BT newspaper.

"I like two year contracts because it gives plenty of time to think about the future without stress," added Magnussen.

Paddock fodder

Lance Stroll on way to Racing Point Force India

(GMM) Daniil Kvyat's return to formula one with Toro Rosso next year will be announced on Saturday.

Earlier, it was reported that the Russian's 2019 contract will be unveiled on Friday.

But sources at Sochi say it will now happen on qualifying day ahead of the Russian grand prix.

Asked if it will be good news for Russian fans, Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost smiled: "It will be good news for all formula one fans."

The identity of Kvyat's teammate is less clear.

Dr Helmut Marko hinted earlier that Red Bull could wait to see if Dan Ticktum gets a super license, but the F3 star has angered Christian Horner with negative comments about Mick Schumacher.

"He's talented but he still has to develop before he is even close to F1," Red Bull boss Horner is quoted by Finland's MTV.

As for Schumacher himself, Marko ruled that out, saying those stories are "completely out of thin air".

The other remaining unconfirmed places on the grid for 2019 are at Force India and Williams.

But Lance Stroll is definitely on the way to Force India, and Sergio Perez said in Russia that an announcement on his plans are due soon.

"I know what I'll do and I think we will try to make an announcement in Mexico," he said.

As for Williams, Mercedes-backed Esteban Ocon visited the factory last week, but Toto Wolff says a "sabbatical" is also a big possibility for the Frenchman.

More likely is that struggling Williams needs to keep Sergey Sirotkin and his SMP Bank backing, and another well-funded Russian Artem Markelov is also in the running.

F2 driver Markelov is Renault's reserve driver this weekend at Sochi.

"Yes, I thought I might have to replace Carlos Sainz," he said after running in practice, referring to the Spaniard's eye and throat infection.

Asked how good his chances are of a 2019 race seat, Markelov told Ria Novosti news agency: "50-50. I will find out in a month and a half."

F1's 2020 Miami plans in tatters

Will F1 ever race in Miami?

(GMM) Miami's formula one plans are in tatters.

Earlier, Liberty Media had targeted a street race on the South Florida coast, but those plans were delayed until 2020.

"We aim to run the first Miami grand prix in 2020," F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches said in July.

But now a dark cloud is hanging over those plans as well.

Germany's DPA news agency reports that the Miami City Commission "voted unanimously" to "indefinitely" delay the F1 race contract negotiations.

"According to media reports, this does not mean the Miami plans are at the end," the media report noted.

Verstappen responds in Abiteboul war of words

Max Verstappen

(GMM) Max Verstappen and Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul are locked in a war of words.

In recent weeks, and especially since Red Bull's switch to Honda power for 2019 was announced, Dutchman Verstappen has stepped up his criticism of the Renault engines he uses.

Renault boss Abiteboul hit back at Verstappen at Sochi.

"We have a very demanding user in the person of Max, and not very quiet," he said.

"I think he should focus on the car."

When Verstappen heard about Abiteboul's comments, he responded: "If he would concentrate more on his own team rather than talking about me, we would already be world champion.

"Yes I ask a lot from my equipment," the Red Bull driver, who turns 21 on Sunday, added.

"I am not here to be seventh and deep in his heart he (Abiteboul) knows that," said Verstappen.

Hamilton: Surprising Because This Is My Weakest Circuit

Hamilton

Formula 1 world championship leader Lewis Hamilton surprised himself when he powered around Sochi Autodrom faster than anyone on day one of the Russian Grand Prix weekend, the Briton fastest of all ahead of his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in FP2.

Hamilton’s best lap of 1:33.385 in the afternoon session compares to last year’s pole-winning time of 1:33.194.

On Friday in Sochi, he was a couple of tenths faster than Bottas and over half a second up on title rival Sebastian Vettel, the Ferrari driver topped the timing screens at the end of FP1 in the morning..

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Hamilton said, “It was a good Friday. It has been a really good day, the weather has been decent – it’s not cold at least."

“Surprising because this is a weak circuit for me, probably one of the weakest, if not the weakest, particularly in the last year."

“I have really done a lot of work to try to understand the balance and understand where I can improve. Today has been good in that sense. Often this is one of Valtteri’s better circuits. But it’s obviously still close."

“From every race we’re learning more and more. From the last year here, we learnt a lot, we came here and particularly the last few races have helped us gauge where we need to be."

Like most of the paddock, Hamilton was left wondering where Ferrari’s pace had gone or if indeed it did go, “I don’t know what Ferrari were up to but we’re just focusing on us and trying to make sure the car is as a good as it can be."

“Normally this is a really good track for them. My strategists will have a better reading with what they’re doing with fuel and all those kind of things. I don’t know if they didn’t get laps today. It was definitely a solid one for us. So let’s hope it can continue tomorrow," added the World Champion.

Alonso joins Red Bull, Toro Rosso drivers at back of grid

Alonso not happy

Fernando Alonso will start at the back of the grid in the Russian Grand Prix after changing multiple power unit elements.

Likewise for both Red Bull Racing and both Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers while Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are moving to the back to switch back to Renault's Spec B power unit.

The five drivers will line up in the order that the new elements were first used on track.