Latest F1 news in brief

Wolff waits to see who buys the Force India team

Wolff looks ahead to Force India buyer
Verstappen slams 'sh*t' Renault engine
Brown not sure when James Key will start work
Bottas plays down Wolff's 'wingman' comment
Vandoorne axe within 2018 'unlikely' – Brown
Winter testing in Bahrain not likely – Lowe

Wolff looks ahead to Force India buyer
(GMM) Toto Wolff says he is watching the situation at Force India very closely.

With Mercedes, Sergio Perez and sponsor BWT all owed money, the Silverstone based team has been placed into administration.

But there are buyers.

"Let's see who shows interest," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said in Hungary.

Wolff is following the situation closely because Force India currently uses a Mercedes power unit.

"I would like to know more about the potential buyer and how our cooperation may be affected," he said.

Wolff said he hopes Force India rides out the current storm.

"First of all we must pay tribute to Vijay Mallya, who always supported and financed the team. He had his difficulties and it affected the team," he said.

"Now there are many potential buyers who show great interest in the team. They have the means and they understand how much money is required to achieve results, so now we'll see what happens," Wolff added.

Verstappen slams 'sh-t' Renault engine

Max Verstappen lost power in his Renault in Hungary

(GMM) Max Verstappen has lashed out at Renault.

In Hungary, the Dutchman was the latest to suffer due to a reliability problem with his Renault power unit.

For 2019, Red Bull is switching to Honda.

"We pay millions for this engine. But what we get is just sh-t," Verstappen told Bild newspaper, following his foul-mouthed radio tirade.

The 20-year-old said that, in addition to poor reliability, "We lack power".

Also furious was Verstappen's boss Christian Horner.

"I guess we shouldn't be surprised anymore," he said in Hungary.

"But we pay Renault many millions for these engines and it's not a premium product."

Brown not sure when James Key will start work

Brown with Gil de Ferran and Alonso. By putting out a press release that pissed off Helmut Marko, McLaren might not get James Key for two more year

(GMM) Zak Brown says he does not know when James Key will start work as McLaren's new technical director.

Toro Rosso owner Red Bull says it will not let the British engineer go, declaring that he has a long-term contract.

It is believed Key's current contract runs until 2020.

"We do not have a date on which he will start," said McLaren boss Brown.

"He currently has a contract with Toro Rosso and of course we respect it."

However, Brown acknowledged that contract negotiations with Red Bull are inevitable.

"We knew his (Key's) contractual situation when we got him on board, and we have no problem with this situation," he said.

"In the world of formula one, there are always ways and means of changing situations, and we have a plan."

Brown said he also knows why Red Bull and Toro Rosso are unhappy.

"After all, he is regarded as one the best technical directors in the entire paddock. So we'll be very pleased when he starts working with us in due course," he said.

Bottas plays down Wolff's 'wingman' comment

Bottas clearly held up the Ferraris in Hungary by spoiling the air on their front wings, allowing Hamilton to race away. Bottas is the clear #2 and always being told to yield to Hamilton

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas his hit reverse gear after reacting angrily to the suggestion he is Lewis Hamilton's 'wingman'.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff used the 'wingman' description while praising the Finnish driver for finishing second behind Lewis Hamilton in Hungary.

"First, wingman is wrong," Bottas told the Finnish broadcaster MTV.

"Secondly, I don't see the positive from this race." As for Wolff's 'wingman' comment, Bottas said: "We'll have to talk."

Wolff responded by saying it was a normal misunderstanding that occurs before driver and team can sometimes get together.

"We have no number 1 and number 2. I was just talking about his race. Perhaps the word wingman doesn't do it justice, but he drove a sensational race and helped Lewis to extend his lead," he said.

On social media, Bottas calmed down his own reaction, saying a meeting specifically to talk about the 'wingman' comment is not necessary.

"I was disappointed with my result and saw everything in a negative way for a moment. I know what he meant," Bottas clarified.

"We are on equal terms and I trust the team 100pc on that."

But to reporters, Bottas admitted that he might eventually need to play the team game and openly support Hamilton.

"We are halfway through the season and the points difference is big, but of course the team will make a decision at some point," he said.

Vandoorne axe within 2018 'unlikely' – Brown

Vandoorne could get the axe before Spa

(GMM) The driver 'silly season' is racing on.

In Hungary, rumors continued to gain strength that Carlos Sainz will be ousted by Renault, and replaced for 2019 by Esteban Ocon.

Boss Cyril Abiteboul says a decision will be announced "after the break".

"We have not signed anything or committed ourselves to anyone," he told Movistar.

"We have good options and one of them is that Carlos stays with us."

If Sainz Jr. is ousted, the Spaniard's best option seems to be McLaren.

The British team may in fact have two available cockpits for 2019, with Fernando Alonso eyeing Indycar and Stoffel Vandoorne notably struggling.

In fact, one rumor is that Vandoorne could be ousted even before his home race in Belgium next month, and replaced by Lando Norris from Spa.

Asked if that is possible, McLaren boss Zak Brown told Het Laatste Nieuws: "Highly unlikely."

But he didn't deny that Sainz Jr. is on the shortlist for 2019.

"The reality is that we have two seats and it's our job to put the best possible drivers in them. I've already said that Carlos is a great racing driver," said Brown.

He also backed Vandoorne, who has struggled to perform alongside Alonso.

"We would like to see him beat his teammate. But all the drivers Fernando has competed against have been beaten by him. So there's nothing to be ashamed of.

"I would not say we are disappointed with Stoffel because we know that we are in a very difficult situation and this year we do not have a good car," Brown said.

Winter testing in Bahrain not likely – Lowe

Jerez would be warmer than Barcelona

(GMM) Plans to move winter testing for 2019 to Bahrain appear to have been derailed.

We reported recently that, after the new track surface and freezing temperatures in Barcelona badly affected the 2018 pre-season, moves were afoot to transfer the winter running next year to Bahrain.

Liberty Media was reportedly even on board to help with the extra transport costs.

But it then emerged that several teams were opposed to the idea.

And now Spain's Marca reports that Jerez is being touted as a new option, so that winter testing can remain in Europe but avoid the problems of Barcelona and the costs of Bahrain.

When asked about the Bahrain proposal, Williams' Paddy Lowe said: "As far as I know, it's not going to happen for now.

"I think it was clear during the course of last week that there is not enough support to do it.

"I think Barcelona is on the table and Jerez is an option and there may be other places to consider as well, but those are the two most likely," Lowe added.