Latest F1 news in brief

Bottas happy to be #2

Bottas would accept 'number 2' role
Kubica says F1 return chances 'good'
Verstappen's father in Mercedes talks at Monza
Ocon clash doesn't affect contract talks – Perez
Hamilton expects repeat of Belgian GP battle
Leclerc set for five FP1 outings with Sauber
Honda: 'Very clear' Alonso doesn't want to stay

Bottas would accept 'number 2' role
(GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is prepared to work as the de-facto 'number 2' at Mercedes — but not yet.

For the moment, the Finn is still technically in the hunt to beat Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton to the title, and patiently waiting for a new Mercedes contract.

But boss Toto Wolff at Monza confirmed that a deal is coming.

"It's a no-brainer for the team to continue with Valtteri," he said at Monza.

"We're very happy with him. He had very good moments like Sochi and more difficult races like Spa, but stability is important."

Also important for Mercedes, however, is the 2017 drivers' title, with Wolff acknowledging that Ferrari's approach of making Vettel the de-facto 'number 1' is a big disadvantage.

So when asked if he will support teammate Hamilton's championship push once Wolff makes the call, Bottas told Brazil's Globo: "Yes and no.

"As a driver it is very difficult to accept. But I'm also a team member and we work as a team.

"So if at a point in the championship it happens and I am asked to do something like that, the answer is yes. Although I hope it doesn't happen.

"But let me explain something," Bottas continued. "There is a way to avoid this situation.

"It's all in my hands," he said. "Right now I am fighting for the title, so if I qualify in front of Lewis and I'm ahead in the race, our cars are exactly the same.

"Like I said, it's up to me."

Kubica says F1 return chances 'good'

Robert Kubica

(GMM) Robert Kubica says he still has "a good chance" of returning to formula one.

After his post-race test in Hungary, the Pole has now returned to the F1 paddock at Monza.

Although not in Renault team gear, the 32-year-old is basing himself at the Renault motor home as he works throughout the weekend for the Italian broadcaster Sky.

"Months ago, I promised someone I would be back in the paddock, either as a driver or for TV," Kubica said.

"I prefer to be in the car but this is a good step forward with respect to what has happened. A few years ago I would not have imagined it."

However, Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul said just a week ago at Spa that he isn't sure if Kubica is actually able to return to F1.

"What happens next? Good question," said the Frenchman.

There are rumors Renault will give Kubica his next chance to prove himself in the 2017 car in free practice ahead of the forthcoming Malaysian grand prix.

"I would like to have another chance to drive," admitted Kubica.

"You have to have your feet on the ground and your head free but the last months have been fundamental in lifting my doubts about being able to drive at a high level in formula one.

"I don't know what will happen, but so far it was nice. I am not yet a driver because I do not race, but there are good chances," he added.

"I'm convinced that I could do well and that I can drive these cars at a high level despite my limitations. At the same time I have learned that you have to enjoy what life gives you every day."

Verstappen's father in Mercedes talks at Monza

Jos Verstappen (R) wants his son to have Mercedes power

(GMM) High-level meetings at Monza could affect the future of Max Verstappen in formula one.

Bild newspaper reports that the Red Bull driver's father Jos met with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in the Mercedes motor home ahead of the Italian grand prix.

Also in the Monza paddock, and at the same time, Dr Helmut Marko and Christian Horner reportedly sat down in the Red Bull facility with Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda.

The implication is that, notwithstanding his 2018 and 2019 contract with Red Bull, the deeply frustrated Verstappen camp could be on the move to Mercedes.

Lauda insisted: "All the rumors are nonsense.

"The fact is that Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2019. Until 2020 there can be no change for him. He has to be there for another two years.

"Until then, so much can happen that it makes no sense for me to even talk about this topic," the Mercedes team chairman added.

Ocon clash doesn't affect contract talks – Perez
(GMM) Sergio Perez is hoping clarity over his future is now only a fortnight away.

At Monza, just a week after their huge falling out over their latest collisions at Spa, Perez and his teammate Sergio Perez said they have moved on.

But Mexican Perez told Spain's Diario Sport that tension remains.

"It bothers me, because it's not a good situation," he said.

"The important thing is that we are already looking ahead. The air has been cleared and we have to move on."

However, Force India has admitted it is struggling to handle the situation, banning the pair from going wheel-to-wheel and warning that it is prepared to impose race bans.

At the same time, Perez and his Mexican sponsors are yet to sign up with Force India for 2018.

"All of this does not change anything with that," Perez insisted. "The situation is the same as before."

Indeed, Perez earlier said he expects to know about his future by Singapore.

"Yes. I expect to know in Singapore," he said at Monza.

"I'm not in a hurry either although it cannot take much longer. I think in Singapore we should already have something signed or, at the very least, have something very clear."

Hamilton expects repeat of Belgian GP battle

Hamilton expects same result as Spa – he will win

Lewis Hamilton says he expects another close scrap between Mercedes and Ferrari off the back of the performance displayed by both teams during practice for the Italian Grand Prix.

Mercedes finished 1-2 in the pair of Friday sessions at Monza but, having been a second clear of Ferrari in the morning, held a buffer of just 0.140s back to third-placed Sebastian Vettel in FP2.

Hamilton led the way in the opening session before slipping behind team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 0.056s in the afternoon running and said: "It's been a good day, a clean day.

"We got the running done, we got through our program with no problems.

"The car seems nicely balanced here, we just have some work to do to eke out a little bit more performance.

"It looks quite close between us and the Ferraris, so I anticipate it's going to be similar to the last race in that sense."

Bottas, following his table-topping time, praised the set-up changes made to his W08 between sessions.

"I think it was a good day – at least I have a better feeling than I had after the Friday in Spa, everything started on the right foot," he commented.

"Initially in FP1 we went slightly in the wrong direction with the set-up, but we managed to change it around for FP2 and the car felt a lot better.

"Overall, it was a positive day, the car is looking strong, but obviously it's the next two days that count."

Leclerc set for five FP1 outings with Sauber

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari-backed Charles Leclerc is set to make five free practice outings with Sauber later this season, ahead of an anticipated Formula 1 promotion for 2018.

Leclerc, 19, holds a 59-point lead in this year's Formula 2 standings, having claimed six out of a possible eight pole positions, and taken five race victories.

After both Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen and Sebastian Vettel renewed their Ferrari deals, Leclerc is hoping to slot in at Sauber, which will again be powered by the Italian manufacturer next year.

Leclerc's manager, Nicolas Todt, has confirmed to GPUpdate.net that the plan is for Leclerc to take part in five Friday practice sessions over the second half of the season.

Although the location of his outings have not been revealed, Leclerc is expected to run in FP1 in Malaysia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

Sauber currently fields Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein.

Honda: 'Very clear' Alonso doesn't want to stay

Alonso done with Honda

Honda motorsport chief Yusuke Hasegawa says it is "very clear" that Fernando Alonso does not want to commit his future to the Japanese manufacturer, unless it can display progress at upcoming races.

Alonso is currently in the final season of a three-year deal with McLaren, having re-joined the operation for 2015, when the outfit reunited with Honda.

Alonso has repeatedly reiterated that he will decide on his future in September or October, and has emphasized that McLaren now has "some ingredients to be champions".

McLaren's power unit partner, Honda, is still lacking to rivals Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault, restricting Alonso to just two top 10 finishes in 2017.

McLaren is understood to have sounded out Mercedes and Ferrari earlier this year over a potential customer deal, only to be rebuffed by both, while talks have taken place with Renault.

When asked on Thursday if he had given a 'me or Honda' ultimatum to McLaren for 2018, Alonso rubbished the notion as "absolutely not true" and said no decision had been taken on his future.

Alonso added that he will soon open talks with McLaren to discuss "the prospects for the future [and] the expectations for next year".

In an interview with GPUpdate.net at Monza, however, Hasegawa explained that it is "very clear" Alonso does not want to be powered by Honda next year, unless it can demonstrate its potential soon.

"It is very clear that currently he doesn't want to stay with Honda – this is very clear," said Hasegawa.

"Also, he agreed that [once] he has some, how do I say, hope to Honda, or some expectation, or some possibility that Honda can improve… as soon as we can show him, maybe he [will] change his mind."

When asked how crucial the ongoing developments are in convincing Alonso to stay, Hasegawa said: "Yeah. We can't stop [bringing updates], so we need to show him some improvement.

"It is very clear: if we don't introduce anything, and stay with the current performance, McLaren or Fernando doesn't stay with us – it is very clear."

Alonso trialed Honda's 'Spec 3.7' power unit during Italian Grand Prix practice, a move that will result in a 35-place grid penalty for Sunday's race.