Latest F1 news in brief

McLaren needs a Mercedes engine

McLaren considering 'all scenarios' regarding Honda
Alonso meets in Montreal with F1 boss Carey
Bottas 'getting under Hamilton's skin'
Rosberg could return to F1 – Wolff
Vandoorne not yet 'good enough' – Villeneuve
No Ferrari switch for 2018 – Ricciardo
Magnussen caught out by Haas contract

McLaren considering 'all scenarios' regarding Honda
(GMM) McLaren is considering "all possible scenarios" amid rumors the British team is on the cusp of dumping works engine partner Honda.

Team executive Zak Brown this week gave an explosive interview indicating McLaren's patience is up, while boss Eric Boullier questioned Honda's "commitment".

Asked how he responds, Honda F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa said in Montreal: "I don't respond.

"It is very difficult but it is very unfortunate that we can't convince them that we can do that," said the Japanese, when told that McLaren seem to have lost faith that Honda can turn it around.

Also in the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve paddock, Brown said Honda not delivering on a pledge to upgrade its engine by Canada had left McLaren more than disappointed.

"This is not acceptable," he said.

"We cannot allow a repeat of this in 2018. In preparing for next season, we need a guarantee that we are able to achieve better results.

"Our company's executive committee believes McLaren's interests are paramount, and it is clear that we can no longer remain uncompetitive.

"We have already said that we consider all possible scenarios, but there is no need to make any decisions today. But I think we can say that it should be taken around the summer break," Brown added.

Previously, former team supremo Ron Dennis said McLaren can only win a title in works collaboration with a carmaker, but Brown says he has a different view.

When asked about the fact that Honda actually sponsors McLaren, while switching to Mercedes or Renault will mean a bill for the team, Brown said: "It is a commercial decision.

"No matter how good the deal is with Honda, eventually we begin to incur serious financial losses in the form of not getting the (F1) payments. And we have lost several sponsors that moved on to other teams," he added.

"Clearly McLaren is upset and Honda is upset, but in this situation you need to be open and honest," said Brown. "We cannot continue to insist that everything is fine."

Alonso meets in Montreal with F1 boss Carey

Alonso very unhappy in F1

(GMM) After repeating his threat to quit F1, Fernando Alonso sat down with the sport's new CEO Chase Carey.

Alonso, who Carey says is "one of our biggest stars", warned in Montreal that if Carey follows through with apparent plans to expand the calendar to 25 races, he will quit.

Then, Spanish media published a photo of Alonso sitting down in the McLaren hospitality area with American Carey in Montreal.

"Yes, I wanted to talk to him," Alonso told AS newspaper.

"He wished me luck for Indianapolis and I told him that if I saw him in Canada I wanted to personally thank him," said the McLaren-Honda driver.

"I showed him all my support to improve F1 and that I am here for everything he needs."

As for the quit threat, however, Alonso seems determined that 25 races a season is too much in terms of balancing his "lifestyle".

But Carey said on Friday that there is nothing to worry about, at least for 2018.

"Our focus is to do the 20 races this year and the 21 next year as they should be done from our point of view," he is quoted by the German broadcaster RTL.

"We want to bring these events to the next level."

So on the issue of expanding to 25 races, Carey added: "The issue of quality is the most important.

"We have prospects all over the world, but the relationships with our current partners are very important," he said.

Bottas 'getting under Hamilton's skin'

Could Bottas be better than Hamilton?

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas is getting under Lewis Hamilton's skin at Mercedes.

That is the view of Bottas' Finnish countryman Mika Salo, who is a former F1 driver and now regular FIA steward.

After Nico Rosberg's retirement, Bottas was drafted into the Mercedes lineup from Williams and won his first grand prix recently in Russia.

And then in Monaco, Hamilton notably struggled.

"Valtteri is driving really well at the moment," former Ferrari driver Salo told the Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat.

"He is scoring points and starting to get under Lewis Hamilton's skin.

"But he is doing exactly as I expected him to do. He will certainly be able to pick up a few more wins this year," Salo added.

Rosberg could return to F1 – Wolff

Rosberg won't return to F1 in our opinion

(GMM) Nico Rosberg could one day return to formula one.

That is the view of his former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who admitted to Le Journal de Montreal newspaper that he was shocked when the German announced his retirement shortly after winning the 2016 championship.

But "I knew his idea as soon as he told me," the Austrian said.

"Nico was no longer willing to make the sacrifices and live through another intense duel with the best driver in the world. He chose to devote himself to his family instead.

"You can't blame him for that approach," Wolff added.

Fellow Mercedes chief Niki Lauda agreed: "Of course it surprised me.

"Nico told us later that he would have continued if he had not won his title. He could have told us that before.

"But I think Valtteri has proved to be a worthy substitute," Lauda added.

Lauda has played down the likelihood that Rosberg will ever return to F1, but Wolff does not agree.

"I'll let you know something," he said. "I would not be surprised to one day see Nico racing at Ferrari or someone else.

"He's only 31, he's still young. Perhaps he will change his mind. I don't know."

But Wolff said he doubts Rosberg will try to emulate Fernando Alonso's recent bid at Indy 500 victory.

"Knowing him, Nico will not try his luck there. It's a dangerous adventure," he said.

Vandoorne not yet 'good enough' – Villeneuve

Stoffel Vandoorne was good in GP2, but F1 not so much

(GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is yet to prove he is "good enough" to thrive in F1.

That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, commenting on the so far disappointing 2017 debut at McLaren-Honda of the Belgian rookie driver.

"It's disappointing," said the French Canadian, "because he has not once stood up to Alonso. And unless he beats Alonso, you cannot call him great or even good enough."

Villeneuve continued to tell Het Laatste Nieuws: "When I debuted in 1996, I started beating Damon Hill, an established name. I put the Williams on pole position in my first grand prix.

"You need to set the bar high in formula one," he said.

However, another former F1 driver Martin Brundle said it is not fair to write Vandoorne off yet.

"The first six races were nothing to write home about," said the British broadcaster.

"But you have to give him the benefit of the doubt, because at his age you do not suddenly forget how to win, as he did in all those other categories.

"And to criticize him now is not fair because he doesn't have a good car. I continue to believe in Stoffel, and I'm sure McLaren does too," Brundle added.

No Ferrari switch for 2018 – Ricciardo

Ricciardo locked in at Red Bull and they ain't letting him go

(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has scotched any lingering speculation about the chances of a Ferrari switch for 2018.

Amid persistent paddock rumors, Red Bull chiefs have said both the Australian and Max Verstappen are firmly under contract for next year.

When asked about that Ferrari gossip, Ricciardo told Corriere della Sera newspaper: "I would like to measure myself with new challenges someday.

"But in 2018 I will stay at Red Bull. I do not give up and I have a mission to complete," he told the Italian daily.

However, Ricciardo does agree that Ferrari's 2017 resurgence, after failing to win a single race last year, has been "crazy".

As for whether it will be Sebastian Vettel or Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton that wins the title, Ricciardo said: "It will be the details that count.

"But when Seb has the right machine and is happy, he's a devil, and he has the perfect environment now. He will be tough to beat."

As for Hamilton, Ricciardo commented: "He is a crazy talent. But this year he will have to work harder for it than in the past."

Magnussen caught out by Haas contract

Kevin Magnussen

(GMM) Kevin Magnussen has admitted he was caught unawares by a hidden detail of his contract with Haas.

When the Ferrari-linked American team said recently it would give Antonio Giovinazzi seven Friday practice outings in 2017, it emerged that it will be Magnussen rather than Romain Grosjean making way on all but one occasion.

Magnussen is quoted by Speed Week: "I didn't know that my contract deviated from his (Grosjean's) on that point.

"I thought both would be the same, so when I was offered the contract I said 'No problem'.

"I think at his former team (Lotus) Romain had a bad experience because they shortened almost all of his Fridays. That is why, on this point, he was more attentive with the contract than I was," the Dane added.

"It's not an ideal situation," Magnussen continued, "but it doesn't bother me. I just have to make up for lost time."