Latest F1 news in brief

Alonso had his shot at Ferrari and won't return as long as Vettel is there

Ferrari return not ruled out for Alonso – Briatore
Ecclestone tells Ferrari to sign Alonso
Todt may summon Vettel to FIA court
Todt 'half positive' about 2017 season
Paul Ricard could remove Mistral chicane for F1
Force India to become 'Force 1' for 2018 – report
F1 planning group launch event for 2018
Wolff: Azerbaijan confirmed Mercedes pace
Honda to bring 'Spec 3' power unit to Austrian GP

Ferrari return not ruled out for Alonso – Briatore
(GMM) Flavio Briatore says a return to Ferrari cannot be ruled out for Fernando Alonso.

Briatore, the former Renault boss, continues to oversee Alonso's career in formula one.

The flamboyant Italian was in Azerbaijan last weekend, and amid rumors about Spaniard Alonso's next move he was seen having dinner with Mercedes' Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda.

But Briatore said Ferrari is also a possibility for 2018, even though Alonso appeared to burn the bridge back to Maranello when he left three years ago.

"He always got along with everyone and only had problems with Mattiacci," Briatore, referring to the now-departed former Ferrari boss, told Italian radio Rai.

"In this life you cannot exclude anything. Fernando is a bit like Senna, who had no problem with any team — he only needs a car capable of winning."

But there could also be other options for Alonso.

Briatore said: "In formula one there are only two teams racing to win — Ferrari and Mercedes.

"McLaren can only be a top team if they change engines," he added. "We'll see. Red Bull and Force India can have good races, as we saw in Baku."

Ecclestone tells Ferrari to sign Alonso

Bernie Ecclestone

(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has advised Ferrari to consider a familiar face if it has a vacancy to fill for 2018.

Fernando Alonso's manager Flavio Briatore has said this week that, although the Spaniard appeared to burn his Ferrari bridges, the 35-year-old in fact only ever clashed with departed boss Marco Mattiacci.

So when asked who Ferrari should sign if the team has a vacancy for 2018, former F1 supremo Ecclestone answered: "Alonso, of course.

"He is one of the best F1 drivers of all time," he told the Spanish newspaper ABC.

Meanwhile, Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Ferrari has in fact got a 'verbal agreement' in place with Daniel Ricciardo in the event Sebastian Vettel leaves Maranello.

Todt may summon Vettel to FIA court

It's all theater to generate free press

(GMM) Jean Todt could be set to order a further investigation into Sebastian Vettel's behavior in Azerbaijan.

The German left Baku refusing to talk about the moment he apparently drove his Ferrari deliberately into title rival Lewis Hamilton, having accused the Mercedes driver of 'brake testing' him.

"It is possible Vettel will be summoned by the FIA's international sports tribunal," Auto Motor und Sport editor Michael Schmidt said.

"There could be the prospect of a race ban."

The FIA president's intervention could be because Vettel is in trouble just eight months after his foul-mouthed tirade against F1 race direction Charlie Whiting in Mexico last year.

Former F1 driver Christian Klien told Austrian broadcaster Servus TV: "Sure, Hamilton's action was a provocation but Vettel really lost his nerve in an unsporting way.

"Then the penalty was too mild for what I think was unsporting behavior," he added.

Ex Renault chief Flavio Briatore agrees: "What Vettel did was strange — actually incomprehensible.

"It is true that Hamilton slowed but I don't know what came over Vettel to steer his car into Hamilton's," he told Italian radio Rai.

Another possibility is that the FIA court will find that Vettel accidentally drove into Hamilton as he gesticulated his anger at the Briton.

"It seemed to me that his steering wheel was moved unintentionally," former F1 driver and occasional steward Mika Salo told Ilta Sanomat newspaper.

"But it's also true that Vettel often overreacts," he added.

And current Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg told Sport1: "I can understand both the punishment and Vettel's response.

"If you know him, you know how emotional he sometimes is during a race. It looked funny what Lewis did, but Sebastian did not have to react in that way.

"But as a racing driver, emotions sometimes boil up and things like this happen in the heat of a fight," Hulkenberg added.

Todt 'half positive' about 2017 season

Jean Todt

(GMM) Jean Todt says he is "half positive" about how the first half of F1's 2017 season has gone.

After eight races, most are thrilled with the new cars and the championship battle, and FIA president Todt told Germany's Sport Bild it has been "great".

"I'm half-positively surprised by the season," said the Frenchman.

"Half positive, because it would have been a really good surprise if not only two but four teams were fighting for the world championship.

"But, after all, it is great that we do not know who will win the next race," Todt added.

"I still remember my time with Michael Schumacher at Ferrari," he recalled.

"People always complained to me that they knew the result before the race. With Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, we at least now have a real two-man fight.

"Formula one needs action and emotions, and the two of them are doing that at the moment," Todt continued.

Mercedes has won the past three F1 titles, but Todt thinks his old team Ferrari might now be ready to succeed again.

"Ferrari has done amazing work and yes, I think they can be competitive all year through," he said.

"Vettel's approach reminds me a bit of Michael's. The professional working, the ability to pull a team together, and like Vettel, Michael did not like to lose."

Paul Ricard could remove Mistral chicane for F1

Paul Ricard

(GMM) Paul Ricard could be set to reinstate the entire length of the famous Mistral straight for next year's French GP return.

Last year, as it emerged that the circuit will host the first French grand prix for a decade in 2018, reports said a chicane would in fact divide the two halves of the famous Mistral straight.

But France's L'Equipe says that decision could now be up for review.

"It would be more sensational if we arrived with more speed at the Signes corner," French driver Esteban Ocon said.

"But if it (the chicane) stays, there is another opportunity for overtaking," the Force India driver added.

The French sports daily said a final decision will be taken after consultations with "other drivers and teams".

F1 planning group launch event for 2018
(GMM) F1's owners are planning a group launch event for the 2018 season.

That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, reporting that all the teams will reveal their new cars and drivers at the event ahead of winter testing early next year.

The report said it is "not clear" if the launch will take place at the Barcelona circuit or elsewhere in the city, but "fans will have free admission and be able to see the cars and drivers up close".

But before that happens, 2017 is witnessing an exciting showdown between Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

"A red world champion would be a blessing for everyone," said former Renault boss Flavio Briatore.

"But if I assess the chances today, I would say it's 60 per cent for Hamilton and 40pc for Vettel.

"And for the constructors', I have the impression that Bottas is stronger than Raikkonen," the Italian told Rai radio.

Former F1 driver Christian Klien agrees.

"Before Canada I saw Ferrari with the advantage, especially with handling the tires. But the tables have turned since Montreal, with Mercedes understanding better how to get the Pirellis into the best operating window," he told the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV.

"The world champion will be the team that develops the most efficiently until the end of the season," Klien predicted.

Wolff: Azerbaijan confirmed Mercedes pace

As long as Aldo Costa is designing the Mercedes it will always be the best car in F1

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes the team can take solace from the pace of the W08 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite missing out on victory in an action-packed race.

Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes 1-2 in qualifying, holding a gap of over a second back to Ferrari, and controlled proceedings in the race until a loose headrest necessitated an unscheduled pit-stop.

Hamilton finished in fifth, while Valtteri Bottas recovered from a first lap clash with Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen to take second on the final straight, enabling Mercedes to move 24 points clear of Ferrari in the standings.

"Our big picture is that we extended our lead in the Constructors' Championship by 16 points and confirmed we have a very fast race car," said Wolff.

"Lewis was leading after the red flag when we had the problem with the headrest and had to change it; that cost him the win but we need to investigate what exactly happened there.

"It is never about blame; we look at the process to see what we can improve, then go to the next race better and stronger, and this is what we will do again as a team.

"But we should be encouraged with the pace Lewis had."

Wolff added that the incident between Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel behind the Safety Car will not change the dynamics between Mercedes and Ferrari.

"With the Vettel incident, I think the FIA has made its decision during the race and we can't rewind the race now," Wolff reflected.

"Emotions cook high in the moment but it doesn't change the relationship between our two teams."

Honda to bring 'Spec 3' power unit to Austrian GP

Honda Power Unit

Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa has confirmed that its 'Spec 3' power unit will be introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix, following a successful test in Azerbaijan.

McLaren-Honda has struggled for reliability and performance this year and sits last in the Constructors' Championship with two points, scored by Fernando Alonso in Baku.

Alonso sampled the 'Spec 3' power unit during Friday practice, before reverting to 'Spec 2' for the remainder of the weekend, as Honda pushes to close the gap to its rivals.

Hasegawa has now confirmed that the green light has been given for both Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne to run the upgraded package at the Red Bull Ring.

"Although we still saw a big gap to the front-runners, it was a great result if we consider that we started from the back of the grid on what is a very power-hungry circuit," said Hasegawa.

"For the next round in Austria, we are scheduled to bring our updated Spec 3 PU for both cars following the successful test in Azerbaijan.

"In the meantime, we will continue our development with our best efforts in order to continue closing the gap."

Alonso and Vandoorne took sizeable grid penalties for Sunday's race, worth 40 and 35 places respectively, having taken on several new power unit elements.