Latest F1 news in brief

Vettel frustrated with Ferrari pace

Focus leads to Vettel frustration – Ricciardo
Bottas, Wehrlein, Massa moves to be confirmed
Formula 1 Waiting For Mercedes To Confirm Replacement For Nico Rosberg
Rosberg trainer unsure of next move
Ricciardo relationship could change – Verstappen
Hakkinen hopes to see Schumacher again
Zak Brown Hopes To Steer Team Toward Winner's Circle
Alesi warns Massa over Formula 1 return
Palmer hopes Renault makes 'biggest step'

Focus leads to Vettel frustration – Ricciardo
(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says it is former teammate Sebastian Vettel's unbridled focus on F1 that leads to his obvious "frustration".

After Vettel's run of four straight titles at Red Bull, the pair were teammates in 2014 before the German moved to Ferrari.

So when asked by the Sydney Morning Herald about Vettel's clear signs of frustration in 2016, Ricciardo said the quadruple world champion is "pretty unique".

"He is someone who lives and breathes it more than most. It seems like the majority of his life is the sport and being world champion.

"That is not a bad thing," said Ricciardo, "but when things are not going as you want, those frustrating things can build up because that is what you are really looking at in life.

"I think he had a dream with Red Bull, one of the best runs in history. So I think he probably expected to have a dream run with Ferrari and it hasn't come as soon as he would have liked.

"He is super talented but I think sometimes he is his own worst enemy in terms of that frustration side of things. When he cools down, he's cool," the Australian added.

Bottas gets to drive an Aldo Costa designed F1 car – he's smiling ear-to-ear every day

Bottas, Wehrlein, Massa moves to be confirmed
(GMM) The late and sensational rush in the 2017 driver 'silly season' is now set to end.

Germany's Bild newspaper reports that Pascal Wehrlein's switch from Manor to Sauber is set to be confirmed imminently.

It is just the latest sign that Finn Valtteri Bottas is the one who has been selected to replace the suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.

Bottas is even believed to have had a secret Christmas seat fitting at Mercedes' factory.

When asked about his son's chances of securing the seat, rally legend Carlos Sainz told Spanish radio Cope: "There is no way, because Mercedes have already decided on Bottas.

"It's just a matter of time before they announce it."

Bottas' departure from his watertight Williams contract has been possible via a financial settlement and the expected return from retirement of Felipe Massa.

"Honestly, for me, this decision (of Massa's) is a mistake," former F1 driver Jean Todt told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Felipe had stopped and turned the page. And what if he now discovers that the Williams isn't quick?"

Massa will be paid $millions to sub for Bottas for a year

Formula 1 Waiting For Mercedes To Confirm Replacement For Nico Rosberg
The "time for talking is fast approaching" as Mercedes starts a new year with Formula 1 waiting for a "big announcement" about who is going to replace retired world champion Nico Rosberg alongside Lewis Hamilton, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS.

The team made clear before the Christmas break that it would have "nothing to say before the full return to work on Tuesday."

There is evidence, however, "to suggest the decision is all but made." Motorsport.com reported Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas was at the Mercedes factory at Brackley before Christmas to meet team engineers and "try out the cockpit" of the '17 car.

The Finn is the bookmakers' favorite to replace Rosberg, but other elements "may need to slide into place before a deal can be announced."

One would be for Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa to "agree to abandon his announced retirement and return to Williams" as Bottas' replacement.

Mercedes Motorsport Dir Toto Wolff, in his "final words to the team" before the break, "gave no clues" but emphasized that Mercedes' best interests "would always come first." REUTERS

Rosberg even caught his trainer by surprise

Rosberg trainer unsure of next move
(GMM) Nico Rosberg's physical trainer is not sure what his next move will be.

Daniel Schlosser, an ever-present figure on Rosberg's shoulder for years, was also caught by surprise by the Mercedes driver's sudden decision to retire as world champion.

"For me, everything came very suddenly," he told Bild newspaper.

"I'm exploring my options because I would be very happy to stay at Mercedes, and I would also like to work in my home town of Cologne or cooperate with another driver or sportsman," Schlosser added.

However, he ruled out simply switching sides of the Mercedes garage, to work with Rosberg's former teammate Lewis Hamilton.

"It's not a question," said Schlosser, "because he is happy with his physiotherapist as far as I know. And we have been in competition for so long that it would be hard for me."

Ricciardo won't be helping Verstappen anymore

Ricciardo relationship could change – Verstappen
(GMM) Max Verstappen admits that if Red Bull's 2017 car is a title challenger, his relationship with teammate Daniel Ricciardo would change.

However, the young Dutchman says that so far, he gets on very well with his Australian colleague.

"When you see Daniel, he is always smiling and making everyone laugh," Verstappen told De Telegraaf newspaper. "I can do the same, I think.

"For a team, it is very important to have two drivers like that who are open and sharing all the information.

"I think you can clearly see that it was less good with Carlos (Sainz), but the situation was completely different. At Toro Rosso, Carlos and I both knew there was only one seat available at Red Bull, because Daniel was always performing well."

However, Verstappen acknowledged that if he and Ricciardo are fighting for the title in 2017, the dynamic of their relationship will change.

"I'm not naive," he said. "Everything will be more intense and tensions will rise. But it is up the team to make the process run smoothly so that everyone does not stop working together to improve the car, or withholds information.

"But I don't see that happening any time soon," added Verstappen.

Mika (C) with son Hugo and Marketa Remesova

Hakkinen hopes to see Schumacher again
(GMM) As the three-year anniversary of his skiing accident passes, Michael Schumacher is quietly turning 48.

The anniversaries have not escaped the attention of the F1 legend's old title nemesis, Mika Hakkinen, who called the German "a great man".

"He is an incredible personality and a great person," the Finn told Germany's Bild newspaper. "I am as affected by his fate as anyone.

"It would be great if he is better and we can see him again someday," Hakkinen added.

La Gazzetta dello Sport said Schumacher's inner circle is incredibly tight, with former Ferrari colleagues Luca Badoer and Jean Todt among only a select few who are allowed to visit his home in Switzerland.

"I miss him very much," former Ferrari tester Badoer told Corriere della Sera. "But I follow him, because in life there is always hope."

However, almost nothing is known publicly about Schumacher's health, after he struck and hit a rock while skiing in late 2013.

"There is complete silence," one of his skiing friends, Mats Nordstrom, told Expressen newspaper.

"I have contact with people who know Michael very, very well, but for the most recent time, even they have received no reports. It is sad, very sad."

Zak Brown

Zak Brown Hopes To Steer Team Toward Winner's Circle
Zak Brown, the new exec in charge of the McLaren Formula One team, is "hunting for a main sponsor in an effort to steer a turnaround of the British racing group," according to Murad Ahmed of the FINANCIAL TIMES.

The American sports marketing veteran, appointed exec director of McLaren Technology Group last month, "takes over at a critical time" for the U.K. business and the future of global racing car series.

He was hired by McLaren a week after the ousting of Chair & CEO Ron Dennis, after Dennis had a "falling out with co-investors."

Brown said, "There’s trouble between [McLaren’s shareholders and Dennis]. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that outâ€‰…â€‰I’ve deliberately kept my space and know that what all shareholders want are world championships."

McLaren has been without a main “title" sponsor since its deal with Vodafone, worth $75M a year, expired in '13.

Brown admitted finding a new title sponsor by next season "is unlikely," but added, "I definitely would be shocked if I didn’t have some commercial contribution in 2017."

He will "lead McLaren's overall commercial, marketing and racing efforts," alongside COO Jonathan Neale. McLaren is "searching" for a CEO to directly replace Dennis.

Brown "concedes new funding is necessary to drag McLaren back up the grid." He estimates that the sport's top-ranked teams — Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull — each outspent McLaren by $100M last season. FT

Jean Alesi

Alesi warns Massa over Formula 1 return
Jean Alesi believes that Felipe Massa would be making a mistake if he returns to Williams in place of Valtteri Bottas, who is set to join Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton's new team-mate.

Nico Rosberg shocked the Formula 1 community when he announced his retirement, shortly after winning the 2016 title, and Bottas soon emerged as Mercedes' main target for the seat.

It was reported last month that Massa had agreed to race for Williams in 2017, providing that Bottas completes a move to Mercedes, but Alesi has warned the 35-year-old over a comeback.

At the end of the 2016 season, Massa bid an emotional farewell to his home fans in Brazil, while drivers, colleagues and media all paid tribute during a party at the finale in Abu Dhabi.

"Honestly, for me, this would be the wrong decision," Alesi, who made over 200 starts with Tyrrell, Ferrari, Benetton, Sauber, Prost and Jordan, told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Felipe has stopped, he has turned a page, and what if the Williams isn't quick?"

Meanwhile, Alesi offered his view on Rosberg's decision to retire from the sport.

"To start with I thought the same as Niki Lauda; I was surprised and angry," he added.

"I didn't really understand why you would announce your retirement in the same week you won the title.

"But then I thought of [Ayrton] Senna, of how he said he would drive for Williams for free, how hard he worked to make it happen and then he died, so perhaps Nico just didn't want to race anymore."

Massa's return would ensure that 18-year-old Lance Stroll, who won last year's European Formula 3 championship, has an experienced team-mate for his maiden Formula 1 season.

Mercedes-backed Pascal Wehrlein, initially in the running for a works drive, is now poised to join Marcus Ericsson at Sauber, which would leave Manor with the only unconfirmed seats.

Jolyon Palmer's Renault

Palmer hopes Renault makes 'biggest step'
Jolyon Palmer is hopeful that Renault will be able to make the "biggest step" forward of the Formula 1 field in 2017, following the manufacturer's tough comeback season.

Renault returned to Formula 1 as a full works team last year, having taken over Lotus, but it struggled for pace and claimed just eight points en-route to ninth in the standings.

Although new team-mate Nico Hulkenberg expects 2017 to be another "build-up" year, given Renault's 2016 struggles, Palmer is encouraged by what he has seen on the inside.

Formula 1 is preparing to embark on a new era, spearheaded by revised aerodynamics and wider tires, and Palmer expects a sizeable improvement, after an early switch of focus.

"I think we'll make a good step," said Palmer, on Renault's second season.

"[In 2016], we knew the start of the year was going to be tough, but to be honest we did better than I expected, especially as the year went on, and we got the most out of it.

"I think our focus for a long time was on the 2017 car already, while we've got good investment in the team, and we've still got great people in the team to do a good job.

"Hopefully we'll be the team that makes the biggest step."

Palmer was pleased with his own progression over the course of the 2016 season, which landed him a one-year extension, and he expects to make further gains through 2017.

"I feel like I've improved a lot since day one in Formula 1," he added.

"Melbourne was a good race for me, but early on… I think through the year I improved, but I was making some mistakes, and as the year went on I think I cut out the mistakes a lot.

"Every qualifying (aside from Mexico, as a result of chassis damage) I was in Q2 since Malaysia, and I generally did a good, clean race – I think the improvement is pretty clear.

"[For 2017] I need to improve anything that I can improve, really.

"It depends, from time to time. I don't think there's anything specifically that's weak, but I'll have a look and see what I can improve – there's definitely still room to improve."