Latest F1 news in brief

Lauda fighting hard

Doctors in 'good spirits' about Lauda
Escaping F1 news in summer impossible – Bottas
'Chaos' stopped more Alonso success – Piquet
Perez rejected Renault move
Alonso backs Sainz's McLaren move

Doctors in 'good spirits' about Lauda
(GMM) Niki Lauda is making progress as he continues to recover from a lung transplant.

The F1 legend missed the last two grands prix before the August break, and is still recovering in intensive care in Vienna.

"There are days when he feels better and talks very well, and there are worse days too," a source at the hospital told Osterreich newspaper.

Referring to the Mercedes team chairman's current condition, the medical source continued: "He is the best patient you can imagine.

"He actively participates in physical therapy and is training his breathing and the muscles. We are in good spirits for his recovery," the source said.

Escaping F1 news in summer impossible – Bottas

Valtteri Bottas and Toto Wolff

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas says escaping the F1 news has been impossible during the August break.

The Finn competed in his own duathlon event at the weekend, and was asked by the Finnish press about the big news that has been breaking in recent days.

"I was not going to follow the news but it's been literally climbing into my ears," the Mercedes driver laughed.

"Daniel Ricciardo made a serious decision because he wants to completely change his environment and take on a new challenge," Bottas said.

"Fernando Alonso had a long and successful career in formula one and at some point he realized that it was time to stop. And Carlos Sainz will take his place and perhaps that change will do him good," he added.

Bottas was also asked about his own role, amid speculation he might soon have to take a back seat to teammate Lewis Hamilton's championship charge.

"Actually, I'm determined to continue to fight for the championship as long as there is a theoretical chance. It will only change if the team decides it," he said.

"Of course, Mercedes' interests are always above our own, so the decision will be made by the team, not by me," Bottas added.

'Chaos' stopped more Alonso success – Piquet

Nelson Piquet Sr. Belgium 1981

(GMM) The "chaos" brought by Fernando Alonso means the Spaniard was not able to reach his full potential in F1.

That is the claim of Nelson Piquet, a triple world champion who says two-time title winner Alonso should have achieved more before his retirement later this year.

"Fernando could have won five championships but the reality was that wherever he went, there was chaos," the Brazilian told La Sexta.

"He is a fantastic driver but he always makes trouble. When you go to a team, you must have patience and cooperation, but Alonso wants everything at once," Piquet added.

Alonso's former Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, meanwhile, says the 37-year-old's retirement is "sad".

"I think now he will go to Indycar," said the Italian. "I hope he will win the title and the Indy 500, and then return to formula one — even if it is hard to come back."

But another former Alonso teammate, Jenson Button, says a comeback for Alonso after 2019 is very possible.

"If McLaren is fast and wins races again, he'll be back," said the Briton.

"He was definitely my toughest teammate but it was also fun," Button added.

And Tarso Marques, Alonso's very first F1 teammate way back in 2001, rejected those like Piquet who are critical of the 2005 and 2006 world champion.

"When I see people saying he creates problems in his teams, I don't agree," he told Globo.

"Manipulating a team is something every champion does. Motor racing is a sport where to be successful, you have to be selfish. You have to think about yourself first, second and third.

"So I actually think it's a quality rather than a problem," Marques added.

Perez rejected Renault move

Sergio Perez prefers pink

(GMM) Sergio Perez says he rejected an offer to join Renault.

Renault will line up with Daniel Ricciardo alongside Nico Hulkenberg next year, but Mexican Perez says he could have already been with the French team.

"When you have no chance at Ferrari or Mercedes, I think Force India is a very interesting option," he told Fox.

Perez was part of the move that saw Force India sold to a consortium led by Lance Stroll's father Lawrence.

It is believed a new contract for the 28-year-old is due within days.

"I do not regret not signing with Renault, because in the last two years I was best of the rest. As a team we were in front of Renault in the constructors' championship," Perez said.

As for his new contract, Perez answered: "It's a matter of days or weeks. The contract is there, it's just the position of the team that must be clarified.

Alonso backs Sainz's McLaren move

Fernando Alonso

(GMM) Fernando Alonso has backed McLaren's choice of replacement for him.

With the Spaniard deciding to quit F1 at the end of the year, McLaren has signed up his friend, protege and countryman Carlos Sainz to replace him from 2019.

Sainz was linked both to Renault and Red Bull for 2019 but he told Ziggo Sport Totaal that joining McLaren was actually a "no brainer".

"It's a very successful team in formula one with a lot of history," he said. "My future at Red Bull was still unclear but I wanted to become a member of the McLaren family."

Alonso backs the move.

"Carlos has everything he needs to lead a project like McLaren that we hope will continue to improve by the end of the year," he said.

"The problems with the car have been identified for some months now even though many of the solutions cannot be applied now because the 2018 design is done.

"But I think in 2019 it could look completely different," he added. "I think it could be a better year and Carlos has the experience and ability to lead such a project," he continued.

"He is still young and has not been in F1 for many years, but he still has enough experience from Toro Rosso and Renault. That mix could work very well for McLaren," said Alonso.

2009 world champion Jenson Button also backed Sainz's move to McLaren.

"Carlos was performing well at Renault but it's impossible to know if McLaren is a good move for him," he said.

"With Ricciardo coming to Renault he didn't have the option to stay so I think it's the right decision," Button added.

"We'll have to see if McLaren improves next year. It will be difficult for them but it's a great team with many world championships. It could take a while but they can find a way to be great again," he said.