Latest F1 news in brief

Antonio Giovinazzi

Giovinazzi set for Friday drives in 2017
Mercedes, Hamilton baulked at Wehrlein solution
Mercedes dominance must end in 2017 – Tost
Verstappen receives Dutch Sportsman award
Ericsson: Sauber out of 'survival mode'
Stroll: Money doesn't buy championships

Giovinazzi set for Friday drives in 2017
(GMM) New Ferrari reserve Antonio Giovinazzi could be set for some Friday practice outings with Sauber or Haas in 2017.

The great Italian marque has signed the young Italian GP2 star to be its official third driver next year.

Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene said: "We are talking to our (engine) customers so that Antonio can drive on several Fridays."

But the 23-year-old himself said he is actually most looking forward to driving a Ferrari for the first time.

"I still can't picture it," Giovinazzi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I think it will only be real when I really put on the red suit and sit for the first time in the car."

His 2017 role will involve attending the grands prix next year, and being ready to substitute for Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen if necessary.

"I have not met them, but working next to two world champions will be a fantastic experience," said Giovinazzi.

"Next year will mainly be about gaining experience, paying attention to every detail and growing as a driver."

La Gazzetta indicated that a Friday role with the Ferrari customer Sauber is most likely for Giovinazzi, even though talks are still taking place.

Giovinazzi, meanwhile, said he owes a lot to Ricardo Gelael, the boss of Indonesia's KFC empire who is reportedly now looking towards F1 for the future.

"It's true, without him nothing would have been possible," Giovinazzi admitted. "I would have stayed a kart driver. But I was sent to be a tutor of his son, we became friends, and since then he has always supported me."

Pascal just wasn't good enough yet

Mercedes, Hamilton baulked at Wehrlein solution
(GMM) It is now almost certain that Mercedes will head into 2017 with Valtteri Bottas as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate.

Authoritative reports say Felipe Massa has agreed to scrap his retirement plans in order to replace the departing Finn Bottas at Williams.

It is a blow to Pascal Wehrlein, the junior Mercedes driver who had earlier looked the favorite.

"They (Mercedes) were in a very difficult situation," Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost told the Tiroler Tageszeitung newspaper.

"They have dominated but suddenly lost the world champion, and it happened too late for them to replace him with a top driver because of all the contracts."

So when asked if he would have given the seat to 22-year-old Wehrlein, Tost answered: "Pascal is a great backup driver, but we are talking about the champion team.

"Pascal may be able to fight for victory, but it's too early for him. I've always said that it takes three years for a driver to get comfortable in formula one.

"Of course, Hamilton-Wehrlein was the easiest option for them, but they are fighting for the constructors' championship and a lot of money is at stake.

"And it's also not clear if that driver composition would have a bad influence on the stability of the team," Tost added.

Indeed, Germany's Auto Bild claims that triple world champion Hamilton actually campaigned against Wehrlein joining.

His argument is that the situation of pairing an established champion with a rookie can famously go bad — just as being Fernando Alonso's teammate at McLaren in 2007 did.

Indeed, it seems boss Toto Wolff was convinced of that possibility, telling the Kolner Express newspaper: "Lewis and Pascal would be an explosive combination.

"What I want to avoid is the Alonso-Hamilton scenario," he added.

Franz Tost

Mercedes dominance must end in 2017 – Tost
(GMM) F1's utter domination by Mercedes must end in 2017.

That is the view of Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost, speaking after Mercedes' three consecutive years of title wins but on the cusp of the big rule changes for next season.

Asked if Mercedes' domination is now ending, he told Tiroler Tageszeitung newspaper: "We all hope so, otherwise many people will lose interest in the championship.

"I'm hoping Red Bull and Ferrari can make progress," Tost insisted.

"Viewers want to see different winners, as well as accidents without serious consequences. I constantly hear from my friends 'Accidents don't even happen at the starts anymore'. And we need to get rid of the penalties," he added.

So Tost has plenty of advice for F1's authorities, as the sport looks to become more appealing.

"If you want to make the show better, first we must equalise the engines," said the Austrian.

"If in 2017 Mercedes still has the edge, then the FIA must freeze the engines to allow the others to catch up the gap.

"Right now we have a championship of engines, because at the wheel of a Mercedes, Alonso and Vettel would have become champions too," Tost added.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen receives Dutch Sportsman award
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has been named the Dutch Sportsman of the Year, following a ceremony held in his native Netherlands.

Verstappen faced competition from Olympic gold medallists Dorian van Rijsselberghe (windsurfing) and Ferry Weertman (swimming), as well as cyclist Tom Dumoulin and speed skater Sven Kramer.

The five nominees were selected by a panel of experts, with the award being voted on by his fellow sportsmen.

Verstappen, 19, finished fifth in this year's Formula 1 standings, having switched from Toro Rosso to Red Bull after the opening four races of the campaign.

Verstappen claimed victory on his Red Bull debut in Spain and went on to collect another six podiums across the rest of the season.

Verstappen is the first Formula 1 driver to have claimed the award.

Gymnast Sanne Wevers, who won a gold medal at the Olympics, was named Sportswoman of the Year.

Marcus Ericsson

Ericsson: Sauber out of 'survival mode'
Sauber is no longer in "survival mode" following its mid-season takeover, and can now focus on climbing back up the Formula 1 grid, according to Marcus Ericsson.

Sauber's financial troubles intensified in 2016, with staff enduring delayed payments, and team boss Monisha Kaltenborn missing races in a bid to secure investment.

Sauber finally struck a deal in late July, shortly before Formula 1's summer break, with Swiss-based investment company Longbow Finance fully acquiring the group.

"It was very important," Ericsson said of the takeover.

"Before they [the investors] came in it was a bit survival mode for the team for the last couple of years, and that's been a problem for the development, obviously.

"Now instead of that we can focus on finding performance."

Sauber elected to run year-old Ferrari power units in 2017, to enable an early switch of focus to chassis development, and Ericsson is unconcerned by the move.

"Facilities wise, [Sauber's factory] is one of the best," he said.

"I think the team have the facilities, [they are] getting a lot of new people from different parts of the motorsport world, so I believe there can be big improvements already next year.

"Obviously, you never know in Formula 1, but that's what I believe."

Ericsson only confirmed a new deal at Sauber last month, after he held talks with rival teams, but says he is pleased that he stuck with the team for what will be a third season.

"As always, it takes some time, and it was no secret from my side that we were also looking at some other options and exploring, always [looking at] the best for me," he said.

"The longer the season went on, the more strong the Sauber option became, with new people coming in, the development into this year's car, but also looking to the future."

He added of the continuity: "For me, as a driver, you know all of the people, you feel at home with the people, with the team and everything, so it's a nice feeling to have."

Sauber plans to name Ericsson's team-mate in the New Year.

Lance Stroll – has check will drive

Stroll: Money doesn't buy championships
Incoming Williams rookie Lance Stroll has acknowledged that his significant financial backing has aided his progress, but insists that money does not win championships.

Stroll, 18, will graduate to Formula 1 with Williams in 2017, having swept to the European Formula 3 championship this year, collecting 14 wins en-route to the title.

Stroll has been heavily backed by billionaire father Lawrence, and has carried out a rigorous build-up in a 2014-spec Williams, but pointed out that his own results were crucial.

"There are two ways it works," said Stroll, as he tackled the subject.

"One way is you need to have a sponsor, or a family member, someone who helps you from eight-years-old until whatever age you arrive to Formula 1, if you arrive to Formula 1.

"Without that, I wouldn't have been able to move from Canada to Europe and pursue my dream.

"After that, no matter how much money you have, no matter where you come from, if you don't actually turn the steering wheel left and right, and go as quickly as possible around the track, you don't win races.

"Money can't buy wins. Money can buy the opportunity, it can buy a seat in go-karts, F4 and F3.

"But if you don't have the Super Licence points now, which requires winning championships like F4, F3, GP2, you need to get those 40 points, which I've done, you can't get into Formula 1."

Stroll conceded that "very talented" drivers have not been afforded the opportunity to move into Formula 1, but pointed to his own achievements as justification for his graduation.

"[Money] allows you to race, which is true, you can't deny that," he commented.

"It's a very expensive sport that we're in, and there are plenty of drivers who haven't had that opportunity [to progress to Formula 1], who are very talented, which is really unfortunate.

"I worked really hard, I went to win those championships, and without winning them I wouldn't be here.

"I could have all the money in the world, and finish last, and that wouldn't put me where I am."