Latest F1 news in brief

Stroll crashed again, but no worries, dad will pay for it

Massa defends 'rich kid' Stroll after Monaco crash
Alonso absence 'not professional' – Massa
Vettel can stay at Ferrari in 2018 – Marchionne
Alonso says no Indycar switch for 2018
Privacy 'in Schumacher's interest' – manager
Wolff hints at same drivers for 2018
Red Bull could be on front row – Marko

Massa defends 'rich kid' Stroll after Monaco crash
(GMM) Felipe Massa has defended his under-fire rookie teammate Lance Stroll.

On Thursday, teenage Stroll continued his 2017 struggle with a crash in Monaco practice.

Afterwards, the Telegraph newspaper referred to the 18-year-old as a "rich kid".

"He seems to regard the privilege (of racing in F1) as akin to playing a computer game," said correspondent Oliver Brown.

The young Canadian defended himself.

"I think a lot of drivers touched the barriers today," said Stroll. "On the positive side, it was my first time on this track and I had good pace.

"I touched the barriers but at least I know I attacked and have something to work on for Saturday."

His veteran teammate Felipe Massa also defended Stroll.

"It's his first weekend in Monaco and many drivers have accidents," the Brazilian said. "Perhaps we should just say 'Welcome to Monaco!'

"Today Lance did a good laptime, he was more competitive than in Barcelona, so that's a positive. But of course Monaco is Monaco and Lance must understand that a mistake here can cost him his session," Massa added.

Also under pressure so far in 2017 is Renault's Jolyon Palmer, amid speculation the French team might actually be on the verge of ousting him.

Speed Week quotes the Briton as saying: "A year ago I was in the guard rail and I thought 'Something has to change'. I still think so today.

"I just need to have a weekend where everything goes normally. I've had more technical problems this season than last season, when more of the problems I was having were about me.

"I'm disappointed with how it's going, but I don't give up," Palmer added.

Alonso absence 'not professional' – Massa

Massa jealous it's not him. Instead he will race in Monaco with 0.00% chance of winning. If you're not winning, you're a loser.

(GMM) Fernando Alonso's Monaco absence this weekend is not "professional".

That is the view of his former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, who was asked about the Spaniard's decision to skip F1's prestigious street race to bid for Indy 500 victory.

"It was a surprise," Massa told the Spanish daily Marca, "but he's doing it because McLaren has a big, big problem.

"To be honest, I respect his decision but to stop racing in formula one to do another race is not normal. I think it's not 100 per cent professional," said the Williams driver.

Massa said it's possible that Alonso will leave McLaren-Honda at the end of the season.

"It's very difficult to answer, but if he has the opportunity to go to a competitive team, if McLaren does not give him what he needs, I think he would leave yesterday," said the Brazilian.

Vettel can stay at Ferrari in 2018 – Marchionne

Vettel will decide between Ferrari and Mercedes

(GMM) Team president Sergio Marchionne says whether or not Sebastian Vettel stays at Ferrari in 2018 is the German's decision.

Although leading the world championship this year, the quadruple world champion is not yet committing to the Maranello team beyond the end of his current contract.

"If he is happy in the car, and he likes the car, he can stay as long as he likes," Italian media reports quote Marchionne as saying.

"The talks we had last year were very nervous because the car was not there. So we try to get him the car as he wants and then the choice is his," he added.

More generally, Marchionne said he is happy with how Ferrari's 2017 campaign is going so far.

"We dreamed of being at the head of the championship and we're there," said the Italian-Canadian.

Alonso says no Indycar switch for 2018

Alonso loves the Indy 500 but a full-time switch isn't in the cards.

(GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down speculation he could quit formula one and switch full-time to the American equivalent Indycar.

The Spaniard is not in Monaco this weekend as he bids for Indy 500 victory, and motor racing legend Mario Andretti thinks it is possible Alonso could make a permanent switch.

Alonso, on the other hand, says it is possible he will not even return to do the Indy 500 in future.

"I do not have it in my plans," Spanish media quote him as saying.

"For now it's an isolated race that I wanted to do, and I have felt good, but repeating it is not in my plans.

"My first and exclusive objective is to continue and to win in F1. The 500 and Le Mans are very attractive, but not in the very short term. Little by little," Alonso said.

McLaren executive Zak Brown agrees, saying Alonso's Indy 500 bid was a good opportunity for the British marque and for the Spaniard.

"We have good sponsors who deserved recognition, so it was a good response for the lack of exposure we have now in formula one," he is quoted by AS newspaper.

Brown also said the Indy 500 experience has been good for Alonso.

"I think he is smiling now, and as long as he sees that we (the F1 team) are going in the right direction, I think he will continue to be patient.

"But Fernando is clear that he has not yet finished in formula one. He will not rule out Indycar in the future but not in 2018. It's clear that he wants to be in F1," he said.

Privacy 'in Schumacher's interest' – manager
(GMM) Keeping Michael Schumacher out of the public eye for the past three and a half years was in the F1 legend's "interest".

That is the claim of Sabine Kehm, who is the seven time world champion's manager working closely with the Schumacher family including his 18-year-old son Mick.

Over three years ago, former Ferrari and Mercedes driver Schumacher suffered brain injuries in a skiing fall, and since then the German has not been seen or heard from publicly.

Kehm told Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland that the policy of radio silence will continue.

"Michael consistently drew a clear line between the public and the private, which was always accepted by the fans and the media.

"The decision to protect privacy from the public now has been made in Michael's interest," she said.

Wolff hints at same drivers for 2018

Sounds like Bottas will keep his seat at Mercedes, hence Vettel must have decided to stay at Ferrari

(GMM) Toto Wolff has hinted Mercedes will not make any changes to its driver lineup for 2018.

While the German team's boss said it is too early for decisions, he also hailed the atmosphere and dynamics inside Mercedes so far this year.

"Nico Rosberg played a fundamental role with car development," Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"His head worked like an engineer. But with Valtteri Bottas, we have found the best possible substitute. The dynamics in the team have changed completely.

"With Lewis and Nico, we went through different phases, from friendship to rivalry to hostility and arrogance. But with Valtteri and Lewis, there is zero controversy.

"They respect each other and look forward to a good result from each other. I think Lewis changed over the winter. He went from a loner to a true team player," Wolff added.

Looking further into the future, Wolff said he recognizes the need for a new engine formula beyond the expiry of the current regulations.

"We neglected the sound with the current engine generation," he said. "When we are discussing the engines from 2020 onwards, a great engine noise will be one of the key points for us."

Red Bull could be on front row – Marko

Can Ricciardo put Red Bull on the front row?

(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is not ruling out a front row qualifying for Red Bull in Monaco.

That is despite the fact technical boss Adrian Newey earlier played down the former champions' chances of a repeat of 2016, when victory was a real possibility.

However, so far in the two Thursday practice sessions, it was Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel topping the times.

"Hamilton and Vettel were ahead because of their impressive ability around the corners," Marko told the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.

"But we are with the music," he added.

"The gap is tight and we are definitely closer. Our direction is right," Marko said.

So especially with Mercedes struggling for pace in Thursday's later session, Marko is now looking ahead to a good qualifying for Red Bull.

And the possibility of a trip to the podium on Sunday?: "Nothing is impossible," he said, "but I think Mercedes has a very different power unit.

"I do think that everything from the first to the third row is possible," Marko added.