Latest F1 news in brief

With Verstappen re-signed, Red Bull now wants to re-sign Ricciardo as well

Red Bull wants Ricciardo for 2019 and 2020
Engine plans key to Verstappen deal – Marko
No talks with other teams – Massa
Hartley in running for 2018 seat – Marko
Vettel struggled for rhythm during practice
Hamilton builds 'solid platform' on first day
Williams reprimanded, fined over tire breach
Penalties for Hulkenberg, Vandoorne, Hartley

Red Bull wants Ricciardo for 2019 and 2020

Ricciardo and Verstappen will likely remain teammates through 2020

(GMM) Red Bull has now set its sights on extending Daniel Ricciardo's contract.

In Austin, although it was believed the Dutchman was already under contract until 2019, Red Bull announced that Max Verstappen is staying put until 2020.

Earlier, both drivers had hinted they might leave Red Bull given the team's slow start to the season and uncertainty about the engine plans beyond 2019.

But Dr Helmut Marko told Auto Bild: "We have understood our problems, introduced a new procedure for the wind tunnel and Adrian Newey is working with us here (in Austin), which is another sign."

By signing Verstappen early for 2020, Red Bull has swiftly ended rumors the 20-year-old might be lured by big money to Mercedes or Ferrari.

But it might also give Australian Ricciardo a sign that Red Bull sees Verstappen as its 'number 1' hope for the future.

Ricciardo admitted the Verstappen news caught him by surprise.

"It's just quite early, I think," he said.

"People talked a little bit about contracts and the silly season for next year, but I thought that would still happen next year," he added.

"I'm not surprised that Max wants to stay with the team, I think the timing was the only real surprise," said Ricciardo.

"On the positive side, it's not really got anything to do with me."

Indeed, Red Bull is now giving Ricciardo the message that it still wants him to stay beyond the end of his 2018 contract.

"We've spoken with Daniel. It's very clear we want to do exactly the same with him," said team boss Christian Horner.

"We want to keep the same drivers I would hope for the period until 2020," he added.

Marko agreed: "I talked to Daniel today. He says he wants to continue.

"He looks around, but we now have a fixed position that we would like to have him for 2019 and 2020."

Ricciardo, however, may be nervous about Horner's recent comments that Red Bull wants to "build a team" around Verstappen.

"The media reads more than I do," Ricciardo smiled.

"Max gets a lot of attention, and that's quite normal given what he's done and the records and everything. But for me, it's what happens inside the team that is more important, and that hasn't changed.

"As long as I have the same conditions, I can live with any team," he said.

Engine plans key to Verstappen deal – Marko

Verstappen will have Honda power in 2019 and will blow McLaren and their Renault engine into the weeds

(GMM) Max Verstappen has not denied that his new Red Bull contract includes higher pay.

Amid obvious interest from Mercedes and Ferrari, the energy drink company announced in Austin that the 20-year-old is staying put until 2020.

Asked how many cans Red Bull will need to sell to pay him, team boss Christian Horner smiled: "Millions."

But Dutchman Verstappen told Ziggo Sport Totaal: "I did not do it for the money.

"I would rather win 100 grands prix and earn nothing than not win anything and have 100 million in the bank," he said.

However, it is speculated that Verstappen's new deal increases his retainer from about $3 million per year to at least $10 million.

Another major part of securing Verstappen's services will have been convincing him that Red Bull will have a good engine beyond 2018.

Next year's car will have a Renault power unit, and beyond that a switch to Honda power is possible.

When asked about the 2019 engine and whether it came up in the Verstappen talks, Dr Helmut Marko admitted: "Of course.

"He knows what our plans are and what the alternatives are and this convinced him to extend the contract.

"But I cannot tell you the details," said the team official.

"We're concentrating on 2018. With Toro Rosso we made the decision to switch to Honda, and when we look at McLaren's progress, we are satisfied," Marko added.

No talks with other teams – Massa

Felipe Massa knows if Williams does not keep him that his F1 career is over for a 2nd time

(GMM) Felipe Massa has admitted that if Williams ousts him, he will leave formula one completely.

Although Williams has been testing Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta, and is reportedly also considering Pascal Wehrlein for 2018, 36-year-old Massa says he wants to stay.

Asked about the recent Kubica-di Resta shootout test, Massa told the Journal de Montreal: "To see them test in the way they did is not a concern for me.

"Truly not. The team knows very well what I can bring to them, and I proved it again this year."

Massa has said some elements inside the team want to keep him, but paddock rumors suggest team co-owner Paddy Lowe has decided to pair Lance Stroll with another driver for 2018.

"I have let the team know my intentions to continue, but it's not my decision," Brazilian Massa said in Austin.

"To be honest, I haven't had any recent discussions with Williams executives," Massa added. "For now I'm focusing on the last four races, waiting to see if I will come back or not."

And Massa said he really is simply 'waiting', confirming that he is not in talks with any other teams.

"I do not have any talks with other teams," he revealed. "Anyway, there are no good seats available elsewhere.

"Hopefully I will know before my home grand prix in three weeks," said Massa.

Hartley in running for 2018 seat – Marko

Brendon Hartley – is his check big enough for F1, or will he end up in IndyCar?

(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted for the first time that Brendon Hartley is in the running for a 2018 seat at Toro Rosso.

Officially, the New Zealander, Le Mans winner and works Porsche driver is simply filling in this weekend for Pierre Gasly, who is in Japan fighting for the Super Formula title.

"There are not so many drivers with a super license," Marko said in Austin.

"Brendon was always fast as a Red Bull junior, he just didn't withstand the pressure and made mistakes."

But Marko, the boss of Red Bull's infamous driver program, says Hartley has subsequently become "the fastest Porsche driver" in the Le Mans series.

"We always had contact with him, also through personal sponsorship," he said.

"When it came clear that we needed someone, we wanted someone from our pool. Sebastien Buemi had a contract with Toyota which may not have been a problem, but he also has a contract with Dams (for Formula E).

"But Brendon was released so we decided on him," Marko added.

For the future, however, nothing is clear. Daniil Kvyat, who was recently benched, confirmed in Austin that he has no idea if he will be called back to race in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

"I can tell you (only) about Austin," Marko smiled.

But he did admit that Red Bull is suffering a shortage of young drivers coming through the ranks, which appears to suggest that Hartley might get a second go at an F1 career.

"That's right," said the Austrian when asked about the talent shortage.

"There is no one right now in Formula 2 and 3 and GP3, so we took another path and signed four young kart drivers at the end of September," Marko explained. One of them is Jack Doohan, the 14-year-old son of MotoGP legend Mick.

As for Hartley, Marko said he performed admirably in Austin practice, comparing well to Kvyat in 'long runs'.

When asked about 2018, Marko said: "We will look at the performance of Kvyat, Hartley and Gasly and then decide about next year."

Vettel struggled for rhythm during practice

It was reported by Vettel that the front end felt like 'mush' – the chassis was flexing and probably suffered a crack in the carbon fiber

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel believes more performance can be extracted from the SF70H after enduring a difficult start to the United States Grand Prix.

Vettel was unable to match the pace of championship rival Lewis Hamilton, who led both of Friday's free practice sessions at the Circuit of the Americas.

His frustrations were underlined by a big off-track moment in the early stages of FP2, when he lost control of his car at Turn 19 and skated onto the gravel trap on the outside of the corner.

He recovered back to the pits and set the third fastest time of the session, but lamented his car's balance during the post-session interviews.

"Friday didn't work out for me, but Kimi [Raikkonen] was running, the other cars were running, so there's still a lot you can learn," he commented.

"We have to take it as it is from now, make sure the car is in good shape for tomorrow, to get the rhythm, and then I think we should be quick."

When asked about the importance of rhythm at COTA, Vettel added that the increased bumpiness of the track may have hindered his progress.

"It is [important], especially as it's become a bit bumpier this year… I think the ground is quite loose under the track, but that's why it's important to feel comfortable," he said.

"We're missing some laps, but I'm sure that with a couple of successive laps tomorrow I should be better."

Ferrari has decided to change the chassis on Vettel's car overnight, a move already cleared by the FIA, in an attempt to rectify his handling issues.

Raikkonen ended the day sixth fastest in the other Ferrari.

Hamilton builds 'solid platform' on first day

No one is going to beat Hamilton on Sunday

Lewis Hamilton says that he built a "solid platform" on the first day of practice for the United States Grand Prix, as he pushes to win the event for a sixth time.

Mercedes driver Hamilton topped a wet/dry FP1 session and posted a new lap record in FP2 at the Circuit of the Americas, clocking a 1:34.668 on Pirelli's Ultra Soft tire compound.

Hamilton has a strong record in the US, having won four of the five races held at the Circuit of the Americas, and also triumphed at Indianapolis back in 2007.

"It's been an interesting day with lots of ups and downs in terms of how the track has moved around and how the car feels, but overall the car was feeling good," said Hamilton.

"There are lots of areas we can improve on, but generally it feels like a solid platform and a solid start."

Hamilton's team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, lost running in FP1 after flat spotting his tires and wound up fourth fastest in FP2, six-tenths of a second adrift.

"In second practice we got a lot of running done, both short runs and long runs," he said.

"In the end, we got everything from today that we needed.

"Setup-wise, I think we have the usual work to do. Overall, it has been a pretty normal day. I enjoyed it, but I'm hoping there is more to come tomorrow."

Williams reprimanded, fined over tire breach

Stroll in the 2nd Williams

Williams has been handed a reprimand and a suspended fine for breaching tire regulations during the opening practice session for the United States Grand Prix.

Formula 1 drivers must hand back a nominated set of tires after the opening 40 minutes of the first practice session, but Williams narrowly missed the cut-off with Felipe Massa on Friday morning.

It was deemed that Massa used the allocated tires three seconds after the 40 minutes expired, and stewards have handed Williams a reprimand and a â‚¬10,000 fine, suspended for 12 months.

However, stewards opted to suspend the fine due to the offence occurring just three seconds after the stipulated cut-off.

It is the second time Williams has transgressed in this department in 2017, after a mix-up over the timings, caused by red flags, at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Penalties for Hulkenberg, Vandoorne, Hartley

Hartley drives Toro Rosso in anger Friday

Renault's Nico Hulkenberg, McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne and Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley will all take power unit-related grid penalties at the United States Grand Prix.

Under current regulations, drivers are permitted to use only four of each of the six elements that make up the power unit before grid penalties are imposed.

The first time a fifth element is used, a 10-place grid penalty will be imposed, with a five-place drop issued the first time a fifth of any of the remaining elements is used.

The first time a sixth element is used, a 10-place grid penalty will be imposed, and so on.

Hulkenberg took on a sixth MGU-H, fifth ICE and fifth Turbocharger ahead of Friday practice at the Circuit of the Americas, resulting in a 20-place drop.

Hartley, making his Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso, will run a sixth ICE, sixth MGU-H, fifth Energy Store and fifth Control Electronics, which totals a 25-place penalty.

Hartley is running Toro Rosso's #1 chassis, previously raced by Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly, with Kvyat now on the #2 chassis, formerly used by Carlos Sainz Jr.

Vandoorne, meanwhile, has moved onto his eighth ICE, featuring "small updates" from Honda, which has labelled the unit 'Spec 3.8', leading to a five-place drop.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen has also taken on a fourth Energy Store and fourth Control Electronics, and is expected to exceed his engine allocation on Saturday.