Latest F1 news in brief

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo backs Australians detained in Malaysia
Renault extends option on Magnussen's contract
2017 revolution depends on Pirelli – Sainz
Lorenzo set for Mercedes Formula 1 run
Rosberg sure Hamilton will bounce back
Nurburgring unchanged over F1 stance

Ricciardo backs Australians detained in Malaysia
(GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has voiced support for a group of fellow Australians who have been detained in Malaysia following his Sepang race win.

Nine men have been in custody since being detained by authorities for stripping to Malaysian flag-decorated underwear beneath the podium last Sunday.

Police have said the Australians are charged with public indecency and "intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace" and face jail.

Sepang race winner, Australian and Red Bull driver Ricciardo was asked about the incident by the Huffington Post as he prepares for this weekend's grand prix in Japan.

"Obviously I'm aware of it, but at the time I wasn't," he said.

"At the time they thought it was a bit of harmless fun, and were enjoying the celebrations. It was a while since I won and they were excited. They didn't realize the effect it would have on the locals.

"It's a shame but they were in the moment," Ricciardo added.

Kevin Magnussen

Renault extends option on Magnussen's contract
(GMM) Kevin Magnussen's chances of staying at Renault next year have received a significant boost, according to the latest reports from Denmark.

BT newspaper claims that, with the 2017 'option' in the 23-year-old's existing contract having expired last weekend, Magnussen has now agreed to extend the option until October 14.

Magnussen confirmed the news.

"Renault asked for their option on me to be extended, and I accepted," he said.

"I want to show my patience and loyalty to the team," Magnussen added. "They showed me great confidence in giving me the chance to return to formula one this season, and I hope that our cooperation will continue."

Renault is openly re-thinking its 2017 driver lineup, with Sergio Perez now re-committing to Force India for next year.

Magnussen's advisor Jesper Carlsen told Ekstra Bladet newspaper that, with the extended option now in place, talks with Renault are on.

"We have a good dialogue with the team," he said. "Kevin is very interested in continuing to be a part of their ambitious project, and it looks positive with regards to an agreement on an extension."

2017 is all about the high grip Pirelli tires making passing near impossible. Ever see all the passing that goes on in the 'skinny' tire junior formulae? The mental midgets of F1 moved to even wider tires to make their parades more processional

2017 revolution depends on Pirelli – Sainz Jr.
(GMM) Carlos Sainz Jr. thinks F1 drivers will have "fun" with the sport's radical new rules for 2017.

In a bid to spice up the spectacle, F1 cars will produce more cornering downforce next year while bigger Pirelli slicks will be faster and look more aggressive.

Toro Rosso's Sainz said he is looking forward to it.

"If the numbers that we are seeing in the simulator in terms of grip, aerodynamics and tires … all I can say is that the cars are going to be much faster," he told the Spanish sports newspaper AS.

"Perhaps at the beginning of the year it will be three seconds and then four and a half or five by the end, but for sure they will be faster and the drivers will have more fun," Sainz added.

However, one of the biggest criticisms of modern F1 is that, irrespective of the actual potential of the cars, drivers are having to overly conserve tires and fuel during grands prix.

Asked if the 2017 formula will fix that problem, Sainz answered: "I don't know if the philosophy of F1 will change.

"There will be five more liters of fuel, but unless Pirelli changes the philosophy of the tires a lot then I doubt know if it will change radically to what it (F1) was in 2005 or 2006," he added.

Asked if Pirelli is therefore the key, Sainz admitted: "Yes, it depends mainly on Pirelli, because in the end we will not notice those extra five kilos of fuel but the tires are essential."

Lorenzo set for Mercedes Formula 1 run
Reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo is set for his first taste of Formula 1 action with Mercedes later this week at Silverstone.

Lorenzo will sample Mercedes' W05 Hybrid, the car which guided Lewis Hamilton to the 2014 titles, at the home of the British Grand Prix.

The 'guest drive' is being made possible through Monster Energy, a partner of both Mercedes and Yamaha, whom Lorenzo has ridden for since his MotoGP debut in 2008.

Lorenzo has dabbled in four-wheel action before in his career, having co-piloted a Ferrari 458 GT3 to a class victory in the 2014 Abu Dhabi 12 Hour race.

It is not the first time a MotoGP champion will sample Formula 1 machinery, with Lorenzo's Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi having conducted tests with Ferrari in the 2000s.

The Spaniard, third in the MotoGP standings this year, will move to Ducati for 2017.

When you have the best F1 car ever produced how can you not bounce back?

Rosberg sure Hamilton will bounce back
Nico Rosberg has expressed sympathy towards Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton following the Briton's engine failure in Malaysia, but reckons his rival will bounce back from the misfortune.

Hamilton was leading the race with a buffer back to Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo when his engine blew with 15 laps remaining.

Rosberg, who was facing losing the lead of the title race, was promoted to third after Hamilton's exit, and instead extended his advantage to 23 points, with only five rounds to go.

"It must have been a tough day for Lewis," Rosberg said, reflecting on the situation.

"I know how hard these moments are as I also went through a couple of them myself in my career, like in Abu Dhabi in 2014.

"It feels horrible and I'm sure he will come back strong, he is a fighter."

Rosberg insists that he will still tackle the remaining races with the same mindset, despite his increased advantage at the head of the standings.

"That brings me back to the approach of just taking things on a race-by-race basis," he said.

"You just never know what's going to happen next. I'm not going to start thinking any differently.

"The next race is Suzuka, where I'll get back in the car and try to win again."

Nurburgring tells Bernie to go pound sand with his high sanction fees

Nurburgring unchanged over F1 stance
Officials at the Nurburgring say they are not willing to afford Formula 1 "at all costs" after Hockenheim was listed as the venue for the 2017 German Grand Prix.

Hockenheim and Nurburgring signed a race-sharing agreement which began in 2007, with the venues alternating hosting duties for Formula 1 each year.

The Nurburgring most recently hosted the sport in 2013 as it was unable to fulfil its obligations two years later, leading to the German Grand Prix temporarily dropping from the calendar.

Hockenheim held the event in 2016, under the terms of the original agreement, and was listed as the venue for 2017 on the World Motor Sport Council's provisional calendar.

Organizers at Hockenheim told GPUpdate.net that it would only be willing to host the sport next season if the Nurburgring declines the opportunity and if "there is no financial risk."

In the wake of the provisional calendar being released, the Nurburgring insists it cannot stretch itself to host Formula 1.

"Our position remains unchanged: we would like to organize the Grand Prix of Germany at the Nurburgring again," a spokesperson informed GPUpdate.net.

"However, the business environment has to be economically justifiable.

"We will not afford Formula 1 at all costs."