Latest F1 news in brief

Verstappen and Ricciardo could both leave Red Bull

Ricciardo to consider leaving Red Bull after 2018
Mercedes keeping 'options open' for 2019 – Wolff
Buemi's F1 absence 'a scandal' – Prost
Pirelli chief tips Ferrari to win in Singapore
2018 engine rule change 'a mistake' – Lauda
Kvyat letting Toro Rosso focus on Honda news
Honda still 'committed' to F1 – Carey
Ecclestone: McLaren no happier with Renault

Ricciardo to consider leaving Red Bull after 2018
(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he will consider leaving Red Bull if the energy drink owned team can't deliver him a title challenging car in 2018.

The Australian has driven for the team since 2014, and before that Red Bull's junior outfit Toro Rosso.

But he told the Sun newspaper that as he will be out of contract at the end of next year, his desire to win means he might consider leaving the Red Bull camp.

"We have still managed to get podiums but we haven't realistically been in the championship hunt so it really needs to happen with Red Bull next year — at least from my point of view," 28-year-old Ricciardo said.

"I've been here for quite a few years now and I think next year we need to make a bigger step next year than we did this year, to really convince me that I can win with them."

Ricciardo said he would like Red Bull to step up with a winning car next year so he could "complete the story" after being groomed by the energy drink company.

"Do I want to win with them? Absolutely. I think that would complete the story as well. Seb got to complete it — he is the only guy. So my heart would love to. But we will see," he said.

"I have got decisions to make once my Red Bull contract is up. It is the first time in my professional career that I've been a free agent.

"The next contract I sign, whether it is an extension or a new one, it is unlikely to be for just one year, it is probably three years. So that is a big part of the next step in my career," Ricciardo added.

Mercedes keeping 'options open' for 2019 – Wolff

Wolff knows he has his pick of drivers because they all want to drive the superior car

(GMM) A new one-year contract for Valtteri Bottas has kindled fresh speculation Max Verstappen could be headed to Mercedes for 2019.

Team boss Toto Wolff, who admits to having coffee with Red Bull driver Verstappen's father Jos at Monza, confirmed that Finn Bottas' newly-announced deal is for 2018 only.

"We are very happy with Valtteri and have therefore extended with him for 2018," Wolff told Bild newspaper.

"However, we still want to keep all our options open for 2019."

19-year-old Verstappen has made clear his displeasure with Red Bull this season, but is believed to be firmly under contract not only for 2018 but also 2019.

However, Red Bull's driver manager Dr Helmut Marko said: "I cannot take offense if he looks around elsewhere."

But for now, Mercedes has re-signed with Bottas and that news was welcomed by his fellow Finn and former F1 driver Mika Salo.

"Almost from the beginning, Valtteri has shown he can win races when Lewis cannot, so he is just perfect for the job," Salo told the Finnish broadcaster C More.

Salo also said it is understandable that Mercedes has opted for just a new one-year deal for Bottas.

"Maybe they want that big name (for 2019)," he said. "This year the driver market has also been a bit strange, with almost no changes. The quietest for some time."

And so Salo thinks 2018 is Bottas' big chance to shine.

"This year he's been driving Lewis' car basically, and that won't be the case next year when he should be able to win races right from the beginning," he said.

Buemi's F1 absence 'a scandal' – Prost

Buemi belongs in F1 but has no money to buy his ride

(GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost says it's "a scandal" that Sebastien Buemi is no longer on the grid.

Since losing his Toro Rosso seat, the now 28-year-old Swiss became a top sports car and Formula E driver, and in July helped Pirelli test F1 tires at Paul Ricard.

Also in July, there were rumors Renault advisor Alain Prost wanted the French works team to consider Buemi for 2018.

However, Renault is understood to have decided to pair Carlos Sainz with Nico Hulkenberg next year.

But Prost told the Swiss newspaper Blick: "It is a scandal that Buemi is no longer in F1.

"He is still one of the fastest drivers in the world."

Pirelli chief tips Ferrari to win in Singapore

Rosberg won last year in the Mercedes so why does Pirelli think Ferrari can win this year? We shall see

(GMM) Sebastian Vettel could reclaim his lead of the world championship this weekend in Singapore.

That is the view of Marco Tronchetti Provera, who is the CEO of F1's official tire supplier Pirelli.

The Italian admits that although Pirelli remains neutral, he is happy Ferrari has caught up with world champions Mercedes this year.

"Ferrari not only closed the gap but has also proved able to beat Mercedes," he told Italy's Sky.

"Ferrari is faster at city circuits where the top speed is lower, while Mercedes has a small advantage when the speeds are higher.

"So I think Ferrari can do a nice race in Singapore," Tronchetti Provera added.

He also said F1's new owners Liberty Media are doing a good job, with Chase Carey having taken over from long-time supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

"Ecclestone did extraordinary things," he said. "Without him there would be no Liberty Media or formula one.

"But the new owners have great marketing experience and can do great things, especially in terms of new media," Tronchetti Provera said.

2018 engine rule change 'a mistake' – Lauda

Lauda (R) agrees with Horner

(GMM) Mercedes has now backed Red Bull in pushing for a change to the engine rules for 2018.

Earlier, with swathes of penalties raining confusion over the order of the grids at recent races, Red Bull's Christian Horner argued for a change for next year.

In 2018, drivers are scheduled to make do with just 3 engines for the whole season rather than the current four, but Horner argues for the status quo.

Mercedes team chairman Lauda agrees that the scheduled change from 4 to 3 engines is "a mistake by the strategy group".

"Everyone said that the engines could only be cheaper for customers if we build less," he told Auto Motor und Sport.

"But we have known for a long time now that nothing will be saved with the 3 engines," Lauda added. "Because the development on the test stands actually costs more."

Another major controversy surrounds how the FIA penalizes the drivers after their allocation of engines is exhausted for the season.

Even F1 chief executive Chase Carey admits that the grid penalty confusion is not ideal.

"The penalty structure clearly has gotten to a place that nobody says is functioning the way we like," he is quoted by AFP news agency in Singapore.

"Then we had the better part or half the grid with some sort of penalty that nobody could understand at Monza.

"Technology is an important part of it but you don't want it to be a sport about engineering first and foremost," Carey added. "You want it to be a sport about drivers and great competition that utilizes state of the art competition."

Kvyat letting Toro Rosso focus on Honda news

Will Kvyat's check bounce? If not he will keep his ride

(GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he is happy to wait for news about his future in F1.

The Russian touched down in Singapore for this weekend's race fielding questions about his Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz's strongly-rumored switch to Renault.

"It's perfect for me," Kvyat smiled. "I don't have to answer any stupid questions."

It is rumored Singapore could actually be Kvyat's last race alongside Sainz, with the Spaniard set to replace Jolyon Palmer from Malaysia next month.

Asked how he feels about farewelling his teammate, Kvyat smiled again: "Very sad. See my tears?

"Whatever happens, sooner or later at some point, you might see us again together. But I don't know what's going to happen. It's his future, not mine," Kvyat added.

However, Kvyat's own future is also uncertain, although it is believed that with Sainz departing, Toro Rosso will keep him on board as Pierre Gasly joins as a rookie.

But the 23-year-old said Toro Rosso has the more important issue of its engine partner to settle first.

"I think first of all the team must deal with its own future," said Kvyat.

"I think as soon as that is clear, I'll get the news. But I'm not worried about the situation," he insisted.

"The sooner I find out the better, but I will not pressure the time at this difficult time.

"I am an understanding person so I'll let them focus on what is most important.

"As long as there is no official confirmation about the contract with Honda, I will not say anything about it. But whatever happens I think will be good for the team," Kvyat added.

Honda still 'committed' to F1 – Carey

Zak Brown made a $100M mistake. McLaren will lose the $100M from Honda each year plus the Honda engine will be superior to the Renault by next year.

(GMM) Chase Carey thinks Honda remain "committed" to formula one.

That is despite the fact it is believed McLaren will imminently confirm its split with the Japanese engine supplier, after three years of struggle.

However, even FIA president Jean Todt and Liberty Media's Ross Brawn are believed to have intervened, in order to help Honda find a way to remain in F1 beyond 2017.

It is believed Honda will power the junior Red Bull team Toro Rosso from 2018.

"As long as there is no official confirmation about the contract with Honda, I will not say anything about it," said Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat in Singapore.

"But whatever happens I think will be good for the team."

F1 chief executive Carey also said it is good that Honda remains committed to F1.

"Honda's a very important partner," he said at a sports conference in Singapore.

"I had meetings with Honda executives around Monza," the American added.

"I'm not going to speak for them. All I can say is, for us they seem committed to the future, seem excited by the future, seem excited about where we're going with the sport."

Carey also revealed that he disagreed with ousted F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone over the future of the sport.

"He said the sport needs a dictator, while I say that the sport needs a leader," he said.

Carey said F1 is unlikely to return to places like Korea and India.

"We had races there but they were one-off deals for the day, not aimed at developing the sport in those countries," he said.

Ecclestone: McLaren no happier with Renault

Ecclestone knows Honda will eventually surpass Renault

McLaren will be no happier with Renault than it has been with Honda, ahead of the team's impending switch of engine supplier, according to Formula 1 Chairman Emeritus Bernie Ecclestone.

McLaren is poised to sever its ties with Honda at the end of the season, following three years blighted by poor reliability and performance, in which it has taken a best race result of fifth.

McLaren will instead move across to using Renault power units, with Toro Rosso in line to switch to Honda, enabling the Japanese manufacturer to remain in Formula 1.

The engine deals are set to trigger announcements in the driver market, with Fernando Alonso to stay at McLaren, Carlos Sainz Jr. to move to Renault, allowing Pierre Gasly to slot in at Toro Rosso.

Ecclestone, though, while believing Alonso's deal is "super news", does not feel McLaren's mood will be improved by its switch of power unit partners for 2018.

"The Renault deal is all done, Alonso staying is super news," Ecclestone is quoted by the Daily Mail.

"But I can't see why McLaren will be any happier with Renault than they are with Honda.

"It wasn't Honda's fault things didn't work out, it was McLaren's.

"Every day they had a fight about everything, instead of working with them, which was a little bit stupid."

McLaren currently holds ninth position in this year's Constructors' Championship, having scored points only in Azerbaijan and Hungary.