Latest F1 News in brief

Arrivabene sure Mercedes won't steal one of his drivers

Ferrari not involved with Rosberg story – Arrivabene
Minister learned of France GP deal on TV
Gasly aims to race in 2018 French GP return
F1 Locked In Dispute Over Unpaid Indian Grand Prix Fees
Daniel Ricciardo 'Off Limits' For Mercedes, Red Bull Bosses Say
Marchionne: Ferrari has found 'solution'
Norris wins McLaren Formula 1 test run
F1 penalties: Who topped 2016's charts?

Ferrari not involved with Rosberg story – Arrivabene
(GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has counted Ferrari out of Mercedes' last minute scramble to replace the newly-retired world champion Nico Rosberg.

Sebastian Vettel was touted as a potential target for the German squad, but Ferrari boss Arrivabene said Ferrari will not get involved in any way with the "Nico problem".

"I would like to be in the position of Toto Wolff," he said, "in the sense that he has won the world championship.

"But with this let's call it 'Nico problem', I leave it completely to him. We have two drivers, they are under contract for next year so it's not my problem. Toto will find a solution," Arrivabene added.

German Vettel, however, was obviously frustrated towards the end of 2016, but Arrivabene insists Ferrari made noticeable strides forward as the season closed.

"It's useless to hide," said the Italian. "The season was disappointing for us.

"But from Japan there were encouraging signals for next year," Arrivabene added.

"The beginning of the season had all the perfect hopes but during the year we noticed certain processes were not working, above all regarding the aerodynamics," he is quoted by the Italian broadcaster Sky.

"A correction was made but unfortunately too late. But in Japan we started to get a glimpse of the work of the new group, and it was a very important signal."

Minister learned of France GP deal on TV
(GMM) Sports minister Thierry Braillard says he learned about the return of the French grand prix via the media.

Former professional motorcycle racer turned politician Christian Estrosi, now president of the regional council of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, announced on Monday that after a ten year absence, France will return to the calendar in 2018 with a race at Paul Ricard.

But sports minister Braillard told the broadcaster BFMTV that he learned about the news by watching news reports on television.

"I am happy," he said, "but those responsible could at least have had the style to notify the competent minister.

"I knew that a project was being considered in Magny Cours and the rates charged by Bernie Ecclestone, but I cannot comment on information that I have seen only in the media."

Reports said the Paul Ricard race will enjoy the benefits of government grants, but Braillard said revealing the origin of the 2018 race's funding is "undoubtedly not the priority of the people behind this".

"As we were told when everything was signed, the state will be a spectator, but an attentive spectator," he added.

The L'Equipe sports daily said the Paul Ricard deal was agreed during a meeting last month in Geneva, attended by Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt.

Estrosi said: "The grand prix will take place from the summer of 2018, and the agreement is for five years with a price confirming with the European races."

Le Point, meanwhile, quoted FIA president Todt as saying France's return is "great news".

"F1 cannot cut itself off from its roots and history," said the Frenchman.

Pierre Gasly

Gasly aims to race in 2018 French GP return
(GMM) New GP2 champion Pierre Gasly has set his sights on being in F1 in time for France's calendar return in 2018.

As a Red Bull junior, the 20-year-old had hoped to debut for Toro Rosso next year but the energy drink company decided to re-sign Russian Daniil Kvyat instead.

Gasly, however, went on to win the 2016 GP2 title from behind, and he now tells Le Figaro newspaper that he is determined to be on the grid for when Paul Ricard stages the first French grand prix in a decade.

"I aim to be involved from 2018 because my goal, even more so today with this announcement, is to get into formula one as soon as possible," he said on Monday.

"Anyway, this is a fabulous motivation and I am ready to give everything for it."

Gasly admits that with his hopes looking slim for 2017, the timing now looks right to wait another year and make his debut just as France makes its F1 return.

"That would be ideal," he said.

"I will try to suggest it to Helmut (Marko)," he smiled. "I will devote all my energy to be at the start in 2018. This objective is very clear in my mind and the announcement of the return of the French grand prix is a boost."

And Gasly said he already knows the Paul Ricard layout well, even though the Bernie Ecclestone-owned circuit in Le Castellet has not been raced on by F1 since 1990.

"I had the chance to drive there this season for Red Bull to test the Pirelli tires and it was two fantastic days," he said.

"It is a very interesting and technical track, with very specific curves, a very fast part and a twisty section, so very diverse," he explained.

"I think this circuit really has a place on the F1 calendar, and perhaps it is even one of the most interesting."

F1 Locked In Dispute Over Unpaid Indian Grand Prix Fees
Formula One is "locked in a dispute with authorities in India" over $52.4M of unpaid Grand Prix fees dating back to '12, according to company documents.

The Indian Grand Prix only took place three times, from '11-13. American investment firm Liberty Media said that "if the money owed by Jaypee is paid to F1’s operating company, Formula One World Championship," it will raise its Â£$4.5B offer for the sport by the same amount.

Not only did the Indian government "fail to support the race but it also levied heavy taxes on the event, and this is thought to be the reason why the fees are still outstanding." London Telegraph

Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo 'Off Limits' For Mercedes, Red Bull Bosses Say
Daniel Ricciardo's bosses at Red Bull F1 have "ruled out releasing the Australian driver to join Mercedes as Nico Rosberg's replacement," according to the PA.

Following the F1 world champion's "shock retirement," Mercedes will begin its search for a new driver.

The 27-year-old Ricciardo confirmed his status as "one of the sport's most exciting talents" when he claimed third in the championship behind Mercedes duo Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

But Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said that "Ricciardo and his rising star Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, 19, were off limits." He said, "Our drivers are both on long-term contracts."

Sebastian Vettel has also played down claims "he could partner Hamilton at Mercedes" in '17.

Vettel "still has one year to run on his Ferrari contract."

Asked at the Ferrari Finals in Daytona whether he had been in touch with Mercedes, Vettel said, "I think it is not a big secret. Kimi (Raikkonen) and myself both have a contract (at Ferrari) for next year so it should be clear."

Mercedes Chair Niki Lauda said that he "expected the team to have a replacement for Rosberg before the end of the year." TheAge

Sergio Marchionne still hallucinating – he has an engine man leading the chassis development

Marchionne: Ferrari has found 'solution'
Ferrari now has a "solution" to return to the front of the Formula 1 grid, after its win-less 2016 campaign, according to brand President Sergio Marchionne.

Ferrari entered 2016 with hopes of fighting Mercedes for both world titles, but failed to reach the top step of the podium, and slipped to third overall, behind Red Bull.

It parted ways with James Allison mid-season, and installed Mattia Binotto, who had fronted Ferrari's power unit department from mid-2014, as Technical Director.

Marchionne, backing Ferrari's change in approach since the sport's summer break, says he has the "utmost faith" in Binotto to return the team to winning ways.

"I think the change in August represents the beginning of the refounding of our sport management," said Marchionne at Ferrari's Finali Mondiali event in Florida.

"We need to give the guys [at the factory in Maranello] time: they are working very well and we will see what they bring us, but I believe this is the solution.

"I have [the] utmost faith in Mattia Binotto, for what he has been able to do in his career with Ferrari, and what he is doing now, managing the technicians."

Ferrari ended the season on 398 points, 70 behind second-placed Red Bull, with Sebastian Vettel (seven) and Kimi Raikkonen (four) taking 11 podium finishes.

Norris wins McLaren Formula 1 test run
Lando Norris will receive a Formula 1 test with McLaren after clinching the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC award at a ceremony in London on Sunday night.

Norris, aged 17, won the New Zealand-based Toyota Racing Series pre-season, before claiming the Eurocup and NEC FR2.0 titles, and winning races in British F3.

Norris came out on top after test runs in F2, Mercedes DTM and McLaren GT cars at the Silverstone circuit, combined with simulator and fitness assessments.

He beat fellow Brits Ricky Collard, Toby Sowery and Sennan Fielding.

In addition to the F1 test, Norris won a funded simulator role and a fitness program with McLaren, an Arai GP-6 RC carbon helmet and full BRDC membership.

"I'm honestly overwhelmed to win this prestigious prize that caps off an incredibly successful season for me," commented Norris, after he collected the main prize.

"To be voted by the readers and to ultimately be chosen by the judges is a dream.

"The McLaren prizes can only help me in my quest to ultimately reach Formula 1. It's now my job to keep working hard and stay focused to achieve this goal."

Norris also won the Autosport British Club Driver of the Year Award.

Daniil Kvyat got the most penalties

F1 penalties: Who topped 2016's charts?
Formula 1 currently manages driving offences through reprimands and penalty points, held on individual Super Licenses. But who topped the charts at the end of the 2016 season?

Penalty points per driver:

Daniil Kvyat: 8

Esteban Gutierrez: 7

Sebastian Vettel: 6
Nico Rosberg: 6 (retired)

Carlos Sainz Jr: 5

Felipe Nasr: 4
Kevin Magnussen: 4
Jolyon Palmer: 4
Esteban Ocon: 4
Valtteri Bottas: 4
Pascal Wehrlein: 4

Sergio Perez: 3

Kimi Raikkonen: 2
Marcus Ericsson: 2
Felipe Massa: 2 (retired)
Nico Hulkenberg: 2

Max Verstappen: 1

Daniel Ricciardo: 0
Romain Grosjean: 0
Fernando Alonso: 0
Jenson Button: 0 (retired)
Lewis Hamilton: 0