Latest F1 news in brief

Why would Kvyat get the call up to Red Bull before Sainz Jr.? Bigger check!

Kvyat could return to Red Bull – Valsecchi
Sauber 'not worried' about 2018 Honda switch
Renault bringing revised rear wing to Spain
Berger nephew good enough for F1 – Wolff
Alonso to decide future after summer break
Hamilton 'more talented than me' – Rosberg
'Calm' no advantage over Hamilton – Bottas
Stroll says still in F1 learning phase
Red Bull Racing's Dan Fallows Previews The Spanish GP

Kvyat could return to Red Bull – Valsecchi
(GMM) Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat may be scrapping for a plum seat at Red Bull's senior team for 2018.

That is the claim of 2012 GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi, who today works for Italian television.

He told Russia's Championat that, while Red Bull's current drivers are firmly under contract, there may still be a place up for grabs for 2018.

"My feeling is that there will be one empty seat next season," Valsecchi said.

"I don't think (Daniel) Ricciardo will stay — there's a chance he could go to Ferrari or somewhere else. So perhaps Kvyat will have the opportunity to return to Red Bull," he added.

"We cannot know for sure of course, as to predict the decisions of Red Bull is sometimes almost impossible. But I like Kvyat — he's a good guy and a good driver."

Kvyat and Sainz Jr. drive for Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso.

Sauber 'not worried' about 2018 Honda switch

Monisha Kaltenborn hoping Honda comes good

(GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says she is confident Sauber will be more competitive next year with Honda power.

Currently, the Swiss team is struggling with year-old Ferrari power units, but Sauber but will become works McLaren partner Honda's first engine customer for 2018.

However, the Honda is currently the least competitive and most unreliable engine in F1.

But Sauber chief Kaltenborn told Bild newspaper: "I'm not worried about what we are seeing now. We are confident that Honda will get its problems under control."

As for how Kaltenborn can have that sort of confidence, she revealed that her discussions with Honda before signing the deal were lengthy.

"It's important to have transparency," she said, "and we were talking for a long time and have a good insight. It's important that Honda is aware of the problems and is committed to solving them."

Renault bringing revised rear wing to Spain

A new rear wing for the Renaults

Renault will bring an updated rear wing, along with new barge boards, to the Spanish Grand Prix, as it attempts to move itself to the front of the midfield pack.

Renault has been in the midst of the midfield fight in Formula 1 this season, with Nico HÃ¼lkenberg securing three consecutive Q3 appearances, along with points finishes in Bahrain and Russia.

The French manufacturer has been prioritizing race performance across recent weeks and Chassis Technical Director Nick Chester says progress so far has been encouraging.

"The upgrades we used in Sochi worked as expected so we made a useful step in our race pace whilst maintaining qualifying pace," he said.

"There's still more to do in this area, but we're heading in the right direction.

"We're in the midfield fight where we expected to be, but it's a very close battle here so we need to ensure we seize every advantage possible from the car and how we use it.

"We need to keep adding performance to the car as that's what everyone else is fighting to do.

"We've started the season on a positive note so we need to maintain and improve this."

Renault also confirmed that Jolyon Palmer will make way for test driver Sergey Sirotkin for Friday's opening practice session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Sirotkin, who replaced Nico HÃ¼lkenberg for his abortive FP1 run in Russia, has been handed another opportunity in the RS.17.

Berger nephew good enough for F1 – Wolff

Lucas Auer

(GMM) Toto Wolff says there could be a place in formula one for F1 legend Gerhard Berger's nephew.

Days ago, as Lucas Auer got off to a good start in the German touring car series DTM, Berger said his nephew could "get the chance" to move into F1.

22-year-old Auer, the son of DTM boss Berger's sister Claudia, drives a pink BWT-liveried Mercedes in 2017.

Wolff, the head of Mercedes' motor racing program, told Osterreich newspaper: "Luki has everything you need for formula one."

Alonso to decide future after summer break

Alonso hoping Honda gets its act together

(GMM) Fernando Alonso is not ruling out staying at McLaren beyond the end of his 2017 contract.

Many people see the works Honda-powered team's ongoing crisis, and Alonso's decision to skip Monaco in favor of the Indy 500, as a clear sign that his patience with the Anglo-Japanese collaboration is up.

Asked what is keeping him at McLaren-Honda now, the Spaniard told EFE news agency: "The team."

So he doesn't rule out staying in 2018, but he said McLaren would have to be "in a position to fight for the world championship".

"I am hopeful that things will improve, but from September or October I will be open to any kind of negotiation, whether with McLaren or any other team," Alonso added.

When asked about the Indy 500, he sounded unapologetic about skipping Monaco later this month.

"What is clear is that we all need a joy, a result, something, since there is a minimal possibility of winning something here. And it has aroused a huge interest.

"For now we are uncompetitive and unreliable but the year is long, we can do important steps and improvements. I still hope to be happy in the second half of the year," he said.

Alonso revealed that Honda has explained in detail where they intend to make improvements.

"The team is putting everything behind them, because it's not used to being behind so they're putting all the resources needed to help Honda," he added.

"There is a series of races in July but after the summer there will be enough time to analyze what has improved in the team, how is the evolution, to see if the team's curve is flat, up or down, and that will be the moment to see what I will do next year.

"But I will be in F1," the two-time world champion insisted.

Hamilton 'more talented than me' – Rosberg

Nico Rosberg

(GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is open to becoming friends once again with Lewis Hamilton.

The pair have admitted they were once childhood "best friends", but when paired at Mercedes they shared an acrimonious relationship as title-dueling teammates.

Even after Rosberg's retirement, Hamilton recently answered "nothing" when asked what he thinks about the German today.

But Rosberg says he has no hard feelings about their difficult relationship in F1.

"I had to rely on succeeding with diligence, absolute dedication and zero compromises. It was the only way I could do it," he is quoted by Bild newspaper.

"There are drivers in formula one who were more talented than me. Maybe my teammate. He is one of the best drivers of all time and an incredible opponent."

As for their tetchy relationship, Rosberg said: "Five months have passed now. I don't know why this (being friends again) should not be the case."

'Calm' no advantage over Hamilton – Bottas

Valtteri Bottas – calm and cool

(GMM) Valtteri Bottas has denied his personality could give him the edge in his battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton this year.

After a more modest start, the Finn added a win in Russia to his earlier pole and is now just 10 points behind Hamilton in the points standings.

"I have to compliment Bottas," German legend Hans-Joachim Stuck told Sport1. "He's better than I thought."

Some think Bottas could have an edge this year due to his calm, measured Finnish personality, in contrast to Hamilton's 'rock star' image and approach.

"I don't see being quieter as an advantage," Bottas is quoted by Spain's El Mundo Deportivo.

"Everyone must act as he feels. Yes I'm a quiet, calm person and I want to have my privacy. But everyone is what they are like," he added.

Indeed, Bottas even said winning his first grand prix a fortnight ago is not extra motivation.

"I think I do not need more motivation to win more races," he said. "Driving this car and representing this brand is enough motivation to achieve my objectives."

Stroll says still in F1 learning phase

Lance Stroll

(GMM) Lance Stroll says he is still getting up to speed in formula one.

The 18-year-old rookie, derided by some as a 'pay driver', has not only made mistakes but been off the pace of his Williams teammate Felipe Massa so far in 2017.

But Stroll said he's not worried.

"When everything comes together, the gap is not so great," the Canadian told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"But with his experience, Felipe knows how to get the maximum from the car. I'm still learning that. But the more I try, the better I understand how the car responds," Stroll added.

"At the moment, everything is new and there is so much more to consider than just driving. But I knew already what to expect. And the challenge is fun, even if it's sometimes difficult and frustrating," he explained.

"It was the same in Formula 3. The start was not easy, but in the second season you know the tracks and what is expected. Now I'm starting again from zero and I have to acquire all of that knowledge.

"Unfortunately it's not a process I can speed up."

So until then, he needs to deal with pressure from the media and also fans who are critical of his current performance.

Stroll said: "They don't see what happens behind the scenes. I always know why the gap is there.

"I don't read what is written anyway, because they don't know the whole picture."

Red Bull Racing's Dan Fallows Previews The Spanish GP
Red Bull Head of Aerodynamics, Dan Fallows, previews this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona

Round 5 of the Formula One World Championship sees the cars and the drivers head to Barcelona and the highly-anticipated Spanish Grand Prix. With updates on the cards, big things are expected of Red Bull Racing, who last year achieved their first win of the season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in what was a debut race with the team for Max Verstappen.