Latest F1 news in brief

Grosjean fairly happy with the Anti-American team's first year

Grosjean gives Haas 'eight or nine' for 2016
Celis Jr. eyes 2018 Force India race seat
Hulkenberg: 2017 still 'build-up' for Renault
Honda aim for 2018 expansion

Grosjean gives Haas 'eight or nine' for 2016
Romain Grosjean has given Haas a score of "eight or nine" out of 10 for its rookie Formula 1 season, after securing a selection of standout results and settling into the midfield.

Haas arrived on the grid with support from Ferrari, which included the supply of power units, gearboxes and other components, and also linked up with chassis manufacturer Dallara.

Grosjean claimed sixth- and fifth-place finishes in Australia and Bahrain, and ended the year on 29 points, which gave Haas eighth overall, ahead of Renault, Sauber and Manor.

Asked by GPUpdate.net to rate Haas' maiden campaign out of 10, he said: "I would say between eight and nine, as it was the first year and no one was expecting us to score points.

"We got everything right at the beginning, then we lost a bit the momentum… I think we lost the way we were using the tires, but we didn't know we were using them well at the beginning.

"But we had a top five, top six, seventh, eighth and 10th – it was pretty good."

Grosjean says improving tire management will be a key focus for 2017.

"Initially I put a lot on the fact that we didn't develop the car this year, and we focused on next year," said the Frenchman, on Haas' troubles after its impressive start to the season.

"But if you look at Brazil, where we qualified seventh, it shows that the car is still good as it is.

"I think we were just not good with the tires; it took too much time to find out how to get them to work.

"Brazil was a typical example. We were 15th fastest on Friday, with 50 degrees temperature (on track), then it cooled down [on Saturday], there was a bit of cloud, and we were seventh fastest."

He added: "There are a lot of areas we can improve in, which is great.

"The way we react to problems, the way we understand the tires, the set-up, the track, the demands, the way we operate the team, pit-stops… everything. It's an open book!"

Alfonso Celis Jr.

Celis Jr. eyes 2018 Force India race seat
Force India development driver Alfonso Celis Jr. says he is optimistic that he can retain his role with the team next year and hopes to emerge as a contender for a 2018 race seat.

Celis Jr., 20, participated in six free practice sessions in Force India's VJM09 in 2016, and also received track time during testing, having linked up with the team at the start of the year.

Celis Jr. believes he has made steady progress over the course of the campaign and hopes he can continue to make gains in the sport next season.

"I think my progress has gone well, I would say," said Celis Jr.

"I would like to continue and keep learning in Formula 1, and whenever the opportunity comes I'll make sure I'm 100 per cent ready.

"I just turned 20, I've got quite [a lot of] life ahead of me, touch wood.

"So first my priority is to get something to keep working and having the chance in Formula 1 so I can evolve, whatever I can get, whatever the team thinks I should do.

"Then I would now say my goal [for a race seat] is for 2018."

Celis Jr. has spent the past two years in Formula V8 3.5, placing 11th in 2016, and would rather remain in the category in 2017 than switch to GP2.

"I could look back at some options, but if I have to do anything I would consider V8 3.5, what I've been doing for the last two years," he went on to comment.

"To step up to GP2, I don't see the point with less track time.

"Up to now I would like to raise my game in the series I've been in [for] the last two years [in order] to measure the improvement."

Nico Hulkenberg

Hulkenberg: 2017 still 'build-up' for Renault
Nico Hulkenberg says he expects 2017 to be another "build-up" year for Renault, as the French manufacturer continues its push to return to the front of the Formula 1 grid.

Renault, having bought Lotus, made its comeback as a full works team in 2016, but an uncompetitive RS16 package yielded only eight points over the course of the season.

Hulkenberg has made the switch from Force India, which finished five places above Renault in this year's standings, and is under no illusions that progress will take time.

Asked to assess Renault's chances in 2017, which will mark the arrival of overhauled technical regulations, Hulkenberg commented: "I think next year is still a build-up year.

"You have to be realistic, this year they came from a pretty difficult year.

"When they bought the team last year they were in a very tricky situation, especially at the beginning of the season, and didn't really do much in terms of development with this car.

"I hope that next year [Renault] is a little bit better already, but [I] don't expect them to be inside the top six straight away, even the top 10 is probably going to be challenging."

Referencing Renault's investment, Hulkenberg added: "These things take [a long time], to build the infrastructure back up, get good people onboard and develop the car."

Renault is extending its Enstone factory by approximately 800m2, to house the expansion of almost every department, while work structures at Viry-Chatillon have evolved.

Renault's recruitment drive also continues at pace, the team announcing earlier this month that it has signed Ciaron Pilbeam from McLaren as its new Chief Race Engineer.

Hulkenberg will partner Jolyon Palmer at Renault next season.

Honda to expand to another team

Honda aim for 2018 expansion
Engine manufacturer Honda will look to expand their involvement in Formula One by supplying an extra team with engines for the 2018 campaign.

Honda have a rich history in Formula One having previously supplied Championship winning teams with engines as well as having their own team for brief spells.

Honda were disappointed not to supply Red Bull with engines last season and have had little success during their latest spell as engine supplier to McLaren but hope adding another team will help improve their performance.

Chief Yusuke Hasegawa told Autosport: “[May is] when Red Bull and Toro Rosso announced they would use the Renault engine this year.

“That is the latest timing for us [for 2018] but the earlier we know, the better."

Despite that setback Hasegawa indicated their are teams interested in Honda power supplies for 2018.

“Now we are discussing the possibility of cooperation and the chance to supply the engine but so far, there is no fixed negotiation, There has been informal interest. They are very kind to show some level of interest.

“We have to prove we can show a decent step in the performance of the Honda engine."