Latest F1 news in brief

Hamilton missed tire test due to a sore foot. Did he kick something for blowing another start in Japan?

Hamilton misses Pirelli test with sore foot
2020 contract for Mercedes bosses 'logical' – Lauda
Ecclestone kidnapping case goes to court
Hulkenberg signs EUR 18m, 3-year Renault contract
Sahara Force India confirms Nico Hulkenberg departure
Wehrlein's Pirelli test disrupted by rain
Gasly gets nod for Abu Dhabi tire test

Hamilton misses Pirelli test with sore foot
(GMM) This week's tire testing shows why the pre-season should be moved from Europe to the Middle East.

That is the view of Pirelli boss Paul Hembery, as two factors marred the tire supplier's efforts to develop next year's bigger slicks in Barcelona.

Mercedes insisted that both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton be available to drive the team's modified 2015 mule car this week, and Rosberg duly turned up in Spain.

But Hamilton, fresh from his tumultuous Japanese grand prix, called in sick with a sore foot.

"It was agreed he wouldn't test so he could rest it and get physio to be in good shape for Austin," a Mercedes spokesman explained.

Not only that, rain has also affected Pirelli's plans to run the 2017 slicks, which are expected to be several seconds per lap faster.

"The same (kind of weather) can apply to the early part of next year, which is why we are in favor of some guaranteed warm weather testing in 2017, before the season gets underway," Hembery said.

Meanwhile, F1 veteran Mark Webber has announced his decision to retire from racing completely, but he will remain with the Porsche Le Mans team as a consultant.

Lauda and Wolff to re-sign with Mercedes

2020 contract for Mercedes bosses 'logical' – Lauda
(GMM) Mercedes chiefs Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff are in talks to stay with the reigning world champions beyond 2017.

Although both Austrians are actually shareholders in the currently dominant German team, their management roles – Wolff as team boss and Lauda as chairman – expire next year.

F1 legend Lauda told Osterreich: "Toto and I are negotiating a renewal of the contracts that expire next year.

"How long I renew for, I cannot say. But the Concorde Agreement runs until 2020, so it would be logical to cover this period.

"I believe that will be possible," the triple world champion added.

Osterreich said Lauda's current salary is EUR 750,000, but he might be seeking a bonus based on Mercedes' three consecutive world championships since 2014.

Also staying at Mercedes is Nico Rosberg, who negotiated his own new contract earlier this year.

The German is 33 points ahead of back-to-back world champion Lewis Hamilton with four races to go, but Lauda said Hamilton's bad luck does not explain the situation.

"Nico would not be champion for nothing, because he has had a perfect season and improved big time," Lauda said.

"Nico changed completely this year. In previous years Lewis had a slight advantage, but through rigorous work and fast racing, Rosberg has been the better this year," he added.

However, Hamilton in particular has been dogged by engine problems, and Lauda insists that the four-race run to the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi must now be clean.

"We need to ensure that both cars run in the last four races until the last lap," he said, also insisting that tension between Rosberg and Hamilton is not a problem.

"Both push each other to excel and this drives the whole team, especially on car development," said Lauda.

Ecclestone's mother in-law Aparecida Schunck (R) and his wife Flosi

Ecclestone kidnapping case goes to court
(GMM) It was "difficult" for Bernie Ecclestone's wife and mother in law to come face to face with kidnappers in court on Thursday.

That was the admission of Ecclestone's wife Fabiana Flosi, who accompanied her mother Aparecida Schunck to the court session, according to Brazilian television SPTV.

In July, Schunck was successfully rescued by authorities after a nine day kidnapping ordeal, masterminded by F1 boss Ecclestone's former helicopter pilot who was demanding a $37 million ransom and threatened to behead her.

According to SPTV, a Sao Paulo judge convened a hearing on Thursday which was attended by Schunk, Flosi and the seven who are accused of carrying out the kidnapping.

The court session lasted three hours, and will reportedly continue when defense witnesses are called. A verdict is not expected until early 2017.

"Today was a very difficult day," Ecclestone's Brazilian wife Flosi said.

"We had to hear details of what happened, and remember the despair of those days when my mother was missing," she added.

"Now we just hope that the judiciary can continue the work of the police and give deserved and appropriate penalties for this crime," said Flosi.

Nico Hulkenberg, consistently beaten by his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez

Hulkenberg signs EUR 18m, 3-year Renault contract
(GMM) Strong rumors are now becoming hard facts, as Nico Hulkenberg looks set to leave Force India and lead the works Renault team from 2017.

The major German newspaper Bild is now joining specialist outlets in reporting that the 29-year-old has signed a three-year contract.

Reportedly, Hulkenberg could earn EUR 18 million over the course of the agreement, which is actually a two year deal including an option for 2019.

With Williams' Valtteri Bottas now also linked with Renault for 2017, it is very bad news for Renault's existing lineup of Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer.

Magnussen told the Danish business newspaper Dagbladet Borsen that playing the political game in F1 is not his strength.

"I'm really bad at the political game," said the 24-year-old, who also lost his McLaren seat after one season after making his grand prix debut in 2014.

"I'm a racing driver, not a politician, so I don't try to go out and get voters on my side. I'm here to race and drive fast, which is what I enjoy and what I feel I'm good at."

Magnussen, whose father Jan also had a short-lived career in F1 in the 90s, also admitted that he struggles with the nomadic lifestyle.

"Every time I leave my family I think 'Is it worth it?' It's hard to be away so much.

"But when you are not winning, and things are not going as you would like, as is the case right now, you have those thoughts more often. But if one day I stand at the top of the podium, I will know it was all worth it," he said.

Sahara Force India confirms Nico Hulkenberg departure
Nico Hulkenberg will leave Sahara Force India at the end of the season to pursue other opportunities within Formula One. His last race with the team will be in Abu Dhabi next month.

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: "Everybody at Sahara Force India wishes Nico well as he embarks upon a different path in Formula One. Having spent five years with us, Nico has become a great friend and contributed a huge amount to the team’s success.

"He’s an outstanding driver, who has scored more points for this team than anybody else. While it’s true we will miss Nico, we respect his decision to explore fresh opportunities and it would be wrong to stand in his way."

Wehrlein's Pirelli test disrupted by rain
Pirelli's second day of action at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was disrupted by further wet weather, restricting Mercedes youngster Pascal Wehrlein to just 31 laps.

Overnight rain left the circuit damp during the early stages, before Wehrlein was able to take to the track in Mercedes' 2015 car, which has been modified to simulate next year's downforce levels.

Wehrlein racked up 31 laps at the home of the Spanish Grand Prix, using the Intermediate tires in the wider 2017 size, before further rainfall truncated running.

It meant that Mercedes and Pirelli amassed only 91 laps across two full days of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Nico Rosberg conducted only 60 laps on Wednesday as wet weather affected his afternoon session.

Pirelli boss Paul Hembery pointed out that the wet weather experienced at Barcelona is why the company is keen for 2017 pre-season testing to take place in Bahrain.

"Obviously the weather hindered progress to some extent both today and yesterday, as is not entirely unexpected at this time of year in Europe," he said.

"The same can apply to the early part of next year, which is why we are in favor of some guaranteed warm weather testing in 2017, before the season gets underway."

Pirelli will conduct three more days of testing from Friday with Red Bull in action at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Lewis Hamilton was originally scheduled to sample Pirelli's 2017 tires during this week's running but he withdrew due to a sore foot following training.

Pierre Gasly

Gasly gets nod for Abu Dhabi tire test
Red Bull junior driver Pierre Gasly will conduct this week's Pirelli tire testing program, as the company continues its preparations for next season.

Pirelli is undertaking an extensive testing schedule with its 2017 tires, which will be 25 per cent wider than the current specification rubber.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are providing 2015 cars, which have been modified in order to simulate the levels of downforce expected in the sport next season.

Gasly has been entrusted to carry out three days of running at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, which begins today (Friday).

Pirelli was in action with Mercedes at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this week, though wet weather limited Nico Rosberg and Pascal Wehrlein to just 91 laps across two days of running.

Gasly, currently second in the GP2 Series, is in contention to join Toro Rosso for 2017, in place of Daniil Kvyat.

The Frenchman has already carried out testing for Red Bull and Toro Rosso across the past two seasons, though this will be his first experience of Pirelli's 2017 tires.

Red Bull's previous tire test, which took place at Mugello in August, was carried out by Sébastien Buemi.

Pirelli's tire development test schedule:

Using modified 2015 cars, with 2017 tire sizes

Date	Track	Team	Tire	Drivers
August 1/2	Fiorano	Ferrari	Wets	Sebastian Vettel / Esteban Gutiérrez
August 3/4	Mugello	Red Bull	Slicks	Sébastien Buemi
September 6/7	Barcelona	Ferrari	Slicks	Sebastian Vettel / Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen
September 6/7/8	Paul Ricard	Mercedes	Slicks	Pascal Wehrlein
September 21/22	Paul Ricard	Mercedes	Wets	Pascal Wehrlein
October 12/13	Barcelona	Mercedes	Slicks	Nico Rosberg / Pascal Wehrlein*
October 14/15/16	Abu Dhabi	Red Bull	Slicks	Pierre Gasly
November 2/3	Abu Dhabi	Red Bull	Slicks	TBD
November 14/15/16	Abu Dhabi	Ferrari	Wets	TBD
November 29	Abu Dhabi	Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull	All	TBD

*Slick tire test was interrupted by wet weather