Latest F1 news in brief

Otmar Szafnauer denies Force India is behind on 2017 car

'Difficult' to be better in 2017 – Force India
Pirelli wants to monitor tire data in-race
Agostini questions Rosberg 'passion'
Rosberg situation helps me – Nasr
Hamilton, Wolff, end Abu Dhabi controversy
Williams not commenting on Bottas reports
Magnussen to gain 3 kilos for 2017 – trainer
Ericsson eyes 'strong' teammate in 2017
Marciello refuses to buy F1 ride

'Difficult' to be better in 2017 – Force India
(GMM) Force India has acknowledged it will be difficult to defend fourth place in the constructors' world championship next year.

Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the sport, the Silverstone based team finished fourth in 2016 behind the might of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.

When asked by Auto Motor und Sport if Force India can target the same or better for 2017, sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer answered: "Of course, we always have the goal of continuing to move forward.

"But we have to be realistic this time. If we finish fourth next season, it would be a huge achievement.

"We are losing a good driver (Nico Hulkenberg) and there are big changes in the regulations, which favor the big teams. And behind us are teams that are bigger than us, like McLaren, Williams and Renault.

"So it will be difficult to defend fourth next year," he added.

However, amid reports that Force India is again asking for an advance in its official prize money for 2017, Szafnauer denied Force India is behind with its new car.

"Everything looks good," he said. "We are on schedule."

Pirelli wants to monitor tire data in-race
(GMM) Pirelli sounds determined to keep clamping down on how F1 teams are using their tires.

The sport's official supplier was unpopular among many teams this year as it demanded controversially high operating tire pressures.

So now with the tires getting bigger and grippier for 2017, Pirelli F1 chief Mario Isola confirmed reports the brand is looking to monitor tire data from F1 teams in real time.

"We need a different way to make sure they are following our prescriptions," he is quoted by Brazil's UOL.

"So far, we have been able to prescribe the initial pressures but not what happens next," said Isola, amid rumors teams have devised clever methods and technology to lower tire pressures when the cars are actually running.

"Of course we are interested in the pressure of the tire in the race, so if we find a way to track it in real time, it will be more accurate and better for everyone," he added.

Rosberg pulled a Casey Stoner and quit in his prime

Agostini questions Rosberg 'passion'
(GMM) Giacomo Agostini, arguably the greatest motorcycle racing legend of all time, says he cannot understand new F1 champion Nico Rosberg's decision to quit.

The Italian, who switched to non-championship F1 after his glittering moto career ended in the 70s, was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport to comment on 31-year-old Rosberg's decision to call it a day as reigning champion.

"I don't understand it," Agostini, 74, admitted.

"I wonder if he had a great passion or just wanted to win a title. It takes some courage to give up many millions, but I also think of (footballer Francesco) Totti who is 40 and not stopping.

"When I retired, I cried for three days," he added.

"Nico did a little of what (Casey) Stoner did, when you see someone who has the gift to be a Michaelangelo and throws it away," said Agostini.

When faced with criticisms of his retirement decision, Rosberg told the French language AFP news agency: "People who criticize? I say let everyone choose their own way.

"From my point of view, I had a very nice time, I got what I wanted, I succeeded. Now I have much to look forward to, like spending more time with my daughter," he added.

Asked how many children he would like to have, Rosberg answered: "I hope to have more if the opportunity arises — a football team!

"My wife Vivian is not convinced of this idea yet," he smiled.

Felipe Nasr

Rosberg situation helps me – Nasr
(GMM) Felipe Nasr says Nico Rosberg's shock decision to retire improves his chances of staying in F1 next year.

Until Rosberg's shock news, the Brazilian looked set to lose his place at Sauber, following the departure of his major backer Banco do Brasil.

But with Mercedes now shaking up the driver market with its eleventh hour search to replace Rosberg, Nasr admitted it is also an opportunity for him.

"Someone will have to fill his space," he told Globo.

"This should generate some movement in the market. Because of this situation, we have gained a little time to keep working here in Brazil."

Nasr admitted that his best chances of staying in F1 are with Sauber or Manor.

He confirmed: "We have spoken with both Sauber and Manor. But my priority is Sauber, due to my closeness to the team."

However, Sauber was listed on the provisional 2017 entry list as having confirmed only Marcus Ericsson, and Nasr admitted: "They are still looking for a driver who can bring in partners, despite what I did."

He is referring to the fact that his late-season points is a financial windfall for Sauber, as the team passed Manor for tenth place in the championship.

"That ninth place was like a victory," said Nasr. "It's just like a sponsor, right? I could not have arranged a better sponsorship for the team!"

Wolff has his talk with Hamilton

Hamilton, Wolff, end Abu Dhabi controversy
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff are looking to put the controversy of the Abu Dhabi finale firmly in the past.

After the 2016 finale, Mercedes boss Wolff was said to be considering disciplining the triple world champion for ignoring team orders and backing Nico Rosberg into rival cars.

But Wolff has now been quoted as admitting he in fact regrets how Mercedes handled the saga, saying the team should have let the drivers race "in the way they deemed to be appropriate".

Now, Hamilton has revealed on social media that he personally met with Wolff at the weekend, at his boss's house.

"I just wanted to send on a message to let you know that we are going to be the strongest partnership next year," he said.

Marc Surer, a former driver turned German-language F1 pundit, thinks Wolff's swift reconciliation with Hamilton has a pragmatic side to it, following Rosberg's shock decision to quit.

"Perhaps the change has to do with the fact that Mercedes now has every reason to be kind to Lewis Hamilton, so he is not leaving too," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"After Nico retired, my second thought was that there would be no disciplinary action against Lewis Hamilton," Surer said.

Williams not commenting on Bottas reports
(GMM) Williams is not commenting on reports it rejected an initial offer from Mercedes to buy out Valtteri Bottas' 2017 contract.

As Mercedes looks to replace Nico Rosberg, Finn Bottas – managed by team boss Toto Wolff but under firm contract to Williams – has been named as a top contender.

But Britain's Sun newspaper said Williams rejected "an initial approach" by Mercedes to slash in half the price of the Grove team's 2017 customer engine bill.

Williams, however, seems determined to hang onto the experienced Bottas.

"Losing Bottas would be a disaster for Williams," German language pundit Marc Surer told Speed Week.

"Williams has compromised already to finance the team by signing Lance Stroll," he said.

When contacted by the Daily Mail, Williams refused to comment on the Bottas rumors.

Another reported candidate for the Rosberg seat is Toro Rosso star Carlos Sainz, but the Spanish newspaper AS reported: "According to our sources, Red Bull is not willing to let him go."

And former team boss Gian Carlo Minardi told his website: "Despite the denial of his manager, I still see Fernando Alonso in pole position."

Kevin Magnussen to beef up

Magnussen to gain 3 kilos for 2017 – trainer
(GMM) Kevin Magnussen has rejected the advice of Le Mans legend and Danish countryman Tom Kristensen.

Some days ago, Kristensen said that to compete with new Haas teammate Romain Grosjean next year, Magnussen should consider losing some weight.

However, reports indicate that Magnussen is already just 68kg, which is slightly less than the taller Grosjean.

Magnussen told the Danish broadcaster TV2: "I have talked to him (Kristensen) about it, and I do not agree.

"We will need some more weight to run these new cars at the limit. At least I hope so, because we are told that they will be up to six seconds faster than the old cars, and I think that's going to make them really hard to drive.

"So I have to put some weight on, but not much. I'm quite light already, so I think I'm doing the right thing," he added.

Magnussen's trainer, Thomas Jorgensen, confirmed the plan.

"Kevin is lighter than Grosjean, and Kevin will probably need three kilos to be where he needs to be physically to take the forces of these wider tires and more downforce," he said.

"So I would say the opposite of Tom. Kevin needs to put on a little, but of course it's muscle mass, not fat. We'll achieve it by the end of February," he added.

Marcus Ericsson

Ericsson eyes 'strong' teammate in 2017
Marcus Ericsson says he hopes he is paired with a "strong" teammate in 2017, as Sauber bids to move up the grid off the back of a challenging campaign.

Sauber's difficult 2016 season was rescued by Felipe Nasr, with the two points he scored in Brazil enabling the outfit to beat Manor to the potentially-lucrative 10th position.

Ericsson has already completed a deal to remain with Sauber for a third successive year, though Nasr's future is unclear, amid the loss of long-time backer Banco do Brasil.

"What happens next year? I don't know. If Felipe stays I'd be happy, if someone else comes in, I wouldn't mind that either," said Ericsson.

"The important thing is to have someone strong, [so] you know you can push each other, and also [help] the way you develop the team forward."

Ericsson also feels he has edged Nasr during their two years as team-mates, despite finishing behind in the standings on both occasions.

However, in sessions where a comparison is possible, Ericsson edged Nasr 12 times to seven in qualifying this year, and finished ahead nine times out of the 13 races in which both were classified.

"For me, already in the second half of last year I was the stronger of the two of us, and then I've continued that this year," said Ericsson, who took a best finish of 11th in Mexico.

"We've been together [for] two years, he beat me clearly in points in two years, but I feel I've been the stronger driver for one and a half of those two years.

"That's the way it is in Formula 1, with the way the points are awarded.

"Especially this year I've had some really, really good performances, but when you finish 12th, 11th or 13th, people don't notice, as you score zero points and you're one lap down or whatever."

Marciello knows F1 is not a sport. It's not a sport when the athlete has to buy his way onto the team.

Marciello refuses to buy F1 ride
Former Ferrari junior Raffaele Marciello admits Formula 1 has become an unachievable goal due to budget requirements, as he looks set to call time on his junior single-seater career.

Marciello arrived to GP2 in 2014 on the heels of becoming European F3 champion, but parted ways with Ferrari after finishing eighth and seventh in his first two seasons in F1's feeder category.

Having stayed on for a third year in GP2 to finish fourth overall in 2016, Marciello concedes his chances of making it to F1 are now non-existent.

Asked to assess his chances of joining the F1 grid in future, Marciello told Motorsport.com: "Zero. You need 10-15 million, I don't have the money, so no Formula 1 for me. You need money always.

"You must be realistic and not dream about bullshit. You need money for Formula 1 – if you don't have money, you don't have Formula 1. It's important to not lose some [other] opportunity thinking too much about something impossible.

"I think I did a good job [throughout my career]. I won Formula 3, many of the drivers I beat in Formula 3 are now in Formula 1, so if they are in Formula 1, I think I also deserve to be in Formula 1.

"But I will have a different career compared to them and I'm sure it will be great also for me."

Italy has not been represented on the F1 grid since 2011, and Marciello reckons Italian companies' reluctance to support racing drivers has played a part in creating that predicament.

He said: "We have help from our federation, but maybe not as much as other federations – and Italian companies don't help us as much as maybe others – like, you know, Banco do Brasil for Felipe [Nasr].

"Maybe big companies should help us a little bit more… because we don't need money forever. Maybe we need money for one year, then we do good and they see that we don't have to pay to race.

"But 10 million for one season, for me, is stupid. If I have 10 million, I don't pay for Formula 1, I keep it for myself and go on holiday for my whole life.

"There's something wrong with the system, and it's a bit of a pity."

Marciello says it would thus be "a bit silly" for him to continue racing in GP2.

"I'm almost sure I won't be in GP2 anymore, because it's a bit silly to do another year in GP2," he continued. "If next year I win, I still need 10 million for Formula 1.

"I'm trying to see if there's some opportunity for me in GT, we'll see what.

"I hope before Christmas I know what I can do next year, so I can focus really well on next year and start [working]. We are 90 percent sure on what we'll do." Valentin Khorounzhiy/Motorsport.com