Latest F1 news in brief

Lewis Hamilton and his funky glasses

Hamilton behaving better before Austin GP
Sainz Jr. not willing to wait for Red Bull seat
Vettel 'important' for Ferrari – Montezemolo
Toto and Susie Wolff expecting first child
Magnussen will not extend Renault option again
Sauber eyes driver call before season end
Hamilton optimistic over start improvements
Ocon to make first Manor halo run

Hamilton behaving better before Austin GP
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton said ahead of the US grand prix that he will "try to take it like a man" if he is beaten to the 2016 world championship.

Now 33 points behind Nico Rosberg with four races to go, the reigning world champion caused a stir at Suzuka with his press conference antics, but he was in better form for the international media at Austin.

"This time, he behaved like a man," Bild journalist Helmut Uhl said after the FIA press conference.

Indeed, Hamilton continued to use his iPhone during the conference, but he made obvious efforts to be more polite.

"I just took a picture just now, I waited for everyone to finish their questions and their answers," he said.

Hamilton, who even if he wins every remaining race this year may still not win the title, may now be adjusting to the fact that 2016 is not his year.

"You can't win them all," said the back-to-back title winner.

"Look at all the world champions in the past who've won championships and lost championships, it is part of the game."

He also said he is recovered from the running injury that caused him to miss the Pirelli test, and played down the fact that several journalists have been blocked from seeing his Twitter account.

"I don't actually manage every single part of my social media," Hamilton answered. "I have a couple of other people that do.

"Our general approach is that if you see something, see someone generally talking smack then you kind of cut it."

Carlos Sainz Jr. getting impatient

Sainz Jr. not willing to wait for Red Bull seat
(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr. says he doesn't want to be a back-up Red Bull driver for the rest of his career.

The Spaniard had eyed a move from Toro Rosso to the senior team, and was then short-listed by the works Renault team for 2017.

But Red Bull is keeping him at Toro Rosso, not only to lead the Faenza team but also to be ready to step up should he be needed at short notice.

"To my regret, Red Bull Racing are very happy with their drivers," he said in Austin.

"It's good for them that there is a third driver who is waiting for the right moment, but I can't wait my whole life. I hope they understand that," added Sainz.

He said he is happy to stay at Toro Rosso for 2017, but after that is keen to "move on".

Asked if he thinks Red Bull will again intervene for 2018, Sainz said: "I hope not. Red Bull are tough but also fair.

"If they do not need to replace one of the drivers, then I'm sure they'll find a fair solution."

Ferrari has let Vettel down just like it did to Alonso before him. In F1 the car is 99% the driver 1%

Vettel 'important' for Ferrari – Montezemolo
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has brushed aside talk about his future at Ferrari.

With sections of the Italian press saying the German as well as the Maranello team are in 'crisis', speculation Vettel may leave Ferrari after 2017 had arisen.

So when asked if any contract talks had taken place, Vettel said in Austin: "I think we are all fairly busy at this time focusing on the four races that are left and in particular preparing for next year.

"I don't think it's that important to look into details such as my contract, because it's all fine for next year," he insisted.

In truth, there are plenty of rumors flying around about Ferrari, including the future of team boss Maurizio Arrivabene and criticism of president Sergio Marchionne's approach.

Marchionne's predecessor Luca di Montezemolo is among those critics.

In a new interview with the German broadcaster RTL, he said: "In formula one, you need the humility to know that you do not win from today to tomorrow.

"If you are not certain you are able, you should not announce you are going to win.

"You have to be patient," Montezemolo added, "helping the people to make the situation better. You have to have confident in the staff, and provide for them the best conditions so they can achieve."

Montezemolo does, however, support Vettel.

"From the first meeting you could see that he has Ferrari in his heart," said the Italian. "It is important for the Scuderia today to have a driver who is so positive in the difficult moments."

Susie Wolff expecting

Toto and Susie Wolff expecting first child
(GMM) Toto Wolff is set to become the next father in the F1 paddock.

Bild newspaper in Germany reports that the Mercedes team chief's wife Susie, the former Williams test driver, is pregnant with their first child.

"Yes, it's true," Wolff, 44, confirmed in Austin.

"My wife Susie is pregnant and we are expecting our baby in April. Whether it is a boy or a girl, the main thing is that it is healthy."

Scot Susie Wolff, 33, is now an expert pundit for British television Channel 4, but she has missed races recently and according to Bild she will also be absent in Austin and Mexico.

Kevin Magnussen a puppet waiting for him to be told

Magnussen will not extend Renault option again
(GMM) Renault's current drivers say they are still in the dark as to whether they will be kept or dropped by the French works team for 2017.

But the fact that Nico Hulkenberg has signed means that either Kevin Magnussen or Jolyon Palmer – or both – do not have a future in yellow.

Dane Magnussen revealed in Austin that he has other options.

"I'd rather stay with Renault, but the option I had has expired and it will not be extended (further)," he is quoted by BT newspaper.

"I'm just waiting for Renault."

Magnussen's teammate Palmer indicated that the "pressure" of the situation is making it hard for both current Renault drivers.

"It's difficult with the pressure because we've got to show what we can do, to try and show the bosses," he is quoted by the Guardian.

It is believed Manor is an option for Palmer if he is let go, and Magnussen insisted he also has some options.

"I have some other opportunities both inside and outside of formula one," he told Ekstra Bladet newspaper.

"For now the opportunities are there, but if it comes to it then I will have to take a decision myself. Fortunately we are not quite there yet," Magnussen added.

Palmer said he thinks Renault's decision will still take "weeks", but Magnussen said he cannot wait that long.

"I cannot risk finding myself with nothing," he said. "I can't be unemployed — I need to race something."

Magnussen played down any suggestion that he might switch to a backmarker like Manor, though.

"My condition to stay in F1 is that I feel like I'm on the way to becoming world champion. I don't want to be in formula one just to be in formula one."

One rumor has week was that a top seat at Indycar is an option, but Magnussen promptly denied it.

"I Tweeted that because I am still here and there are many on the team who hope I stay. If they see that I am on the way to Indycar or something, it has a negative effect.

"I've always been a big fan of Indycar," Magnussen added. "My father raced there and I'd like to one day, but not right now.

"I feel like I'm still on track with my goal to be world champion in formula one."

Monisha Kaltenborn willing to wait for driver with biggest check

Sauber eyes driver call before season end
(GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says Sauber is in no rush to announce its driver lineup for 2017.

With seats at Force India, Renault, Williams, Manor and Toro Rosso also still technically open, the F1 driver 'silly season' is now in high gear.

But when asked if Sauber might make a move soon, team boss Kaltenborn said in Austin: "I don't think so.

"Long gone are the days when everyone wanted to know their drivers for the following season by Hungary."

However, Sauber has been among the latest to announce its drivers in recent years, and Kaltenborn admitted that the Swiss team would like to be quicker for 2017.

"Our goal is to announce the drivers before the end of the season," she said.

"There is not much time before then, but we are already moving in the right direction."

Sauber's current drivers are Marcus Ericsson, who is close to the team's new investors, and the Banco do Brasil-backed Felipe Nasr.

If Nasr doesn't find a place for 2017, it could mean Brazil goes unrepresented on the 2017 grid.

"I hope that Felipe stays in formula one and finds a competitive car," said his countryman Felipe Massa, who is retiring.

"If he stays at Sauber, I'm not sure they will have a good car, especially if they have the old Ferrari engine," he added.

Hamilton confident he won't blow another start

Hamilton optimistic over start improvements
Lewis Hamilton is confident that he and Mercedes have made gains regarding the start procedure following an array of slow getaways off the line this season.

Hamilton heads into this weekend's United States Grand Prix facing a 33-point deficit against Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, following the German's victory in Japan.

Rosberg's route to success at Suzuka was aided by another slow start from Hamilton, who lined up on the front row of the grid but dropped to eighth by Turn 1.

Hamilton also made poor starts from pole position in Australia, Bahrain and Italy, compromising his chances of victory at all three races, which were eventually won by Rosberg.

"It has been an ongoing thing all year long," Hamilton explained.

"There's a lot of work [we've done], perhaps more than in other areas.

"I was at the factory last week and we were working hard to cover all areas, I hope we have a better formula for this weekend.

"I definitely feel we're in a better position, fingers crossed for Sunday."

Hamilton has only been beaten across the course of a season once in Formula 1, when Jenson Button spearheaded McLaren's charge in 2011.

Hamilton explained that he would "take it as a man" should he be defeated by Rosberg this season, but is adamant that he can still win the title.

"I'd have to take it as a man. You can't win them all, it's part of the game," he said.

"But there are a lot of points to take and I believe anything is still possible.

"If it happens [Rosberg becoming champion] then I will just focus on the future, which is next year and make sure I come back stronger."

Ocon to make first Manor halo run
Esteban Ocon is set to trial the halo during free practice for the United States Grand Prix, the first time that he and his Manor squad have sampled the device.

Formula 1 is poised to introduce increased head protection in 2018, with the halo device currently favored by the FIA.

Following limited tests across the first half of the year, several teams and drivers have sampled the halo during practice sessions since Formula 1's summer break, in order to evaluate the system at a variety of venues.