Latest F1 news in brief

Lewis Hamilton will have to tire test instead of partying

Lauda makes Hamilton do Pirelli testing – report
Wurz denies 'Halo' more dangerous in fire
Wolff responds to Hamilton 'psychological' comments
Sochi promoter denies 2017 race doubts
Schumacher taking steady road to F1
Red Bull denies Verstappen collapsed

Lauda makes Hamilton do Pirelli testing – report
(GMM) Niki Lauda has insisted that Mercedes' two race drivers take part in Pirelli's 2017 tire testing.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims that, with Pascal Wehrlein having done the running in Mercedes test mule so far, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg did not want to do any of the running as Pirelli tests its wide slicks for next year.

But the report said both Hamilton and Rosberg will be at the Barcelona test later this month.

"A driver can always learn something, even if it might be limited in a tire test. Honestly, Niki put more pressure on than me," Mercedes team boss Wolff said.

F1 legend and team chairman Lauda confirmed: "It is important that the regular drivers test.

"They are the fastest and can do a better job than a replacement driver to help Pirelli with this tire development."

Red Bull's race drivers will also test the 2017 slicks in October, after Sebastien Google did the running so far.

"Verstappen and Ricciardo will do the test in Abu Dhabi," team official Dr Helmut Marko confirmed.

Wurz denies 'Halo' more dangerous in fire
(GMM) Alex Wurz has denied that the 'Halo' cockpit protection device could actually make a car fire like that suffered by Kevin Magnussen at Sepang even more dangerous.

The Dane leapt from his flaming Renault in the Sepang pitlane within seconds following a fuel leak during practice.

When asked how he thought 'Halo' might have made a difference in this scenario, Magnussen told Bild newspaper: "It's an interesting question.

"I haven't tested the Halo, so I can't judge it. But in my opinion five (additional) seconds is too long if the car is on fire," he said.

F1 has decided to delay the potential introduction of Halo until 2018 at least, but slower driver extractions have been raised as a potential problem.

However, Grand Prix Drivers' Association chief Wurz dismissed Magnussen's claim that Halo adds a 5 second delay.

"Maybe it will be half a second longer to get out," the former F1 driver told Sky, "with the fire suit which lasts 50 seconds with a real fire."

And Wurz said similar arguments could have been mounted for other safety advances in F1, including the padded cockpit collars.

"Maybe ten years ago, if you wanted to see the negatives, you wouldn't have asked for the headrests because to get out you have to roll your shoulders and that's a tenth of a second (more)," said the Austrian.

Wolff responds to Hamilton 'psychological' comments
(GMM) Toto Wolff has responded to Lewis Hamilton's claim that a team staff reshuffle hurt him "psychologically" this year.

The reigning world champion trails his Mercedes teammate by 8 points following a three-race winning streak by Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton suggested at Sepang that a pre-season decision by boss Wolff to reshuffle some key mechanics and engineers to Rosberg's side of the garage had an effect.

"The biggest effect it can have on the driver is psychologically, but it's not something I want to go into," said the Briton.

Wolff has acknowledged that psychology is important to a driver, but insisted that staffing decisions are made with the entire team in mind rather than any individual.

"No football player would tell Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola who he'd like to play with. It's the manager's call to decide who is in the squad," he said.

"I understand that as a driver you want the perfect cocoon but it's about how we can develop 1500 people — not one."

Wolff said there will be no team orders for the last 6 races of Hamilton and Rosberg's title battle, and suggested that Rosberg is simply in top form.

"A winning streak never lasts," he said. "At a certain stage it swings in the other direction."

Sochi promoter denies 2017 race doubts
(GMM) Russian grand prix promoter Sergey Vorobyov has denied that Sochi is another race that could be endangered for 2017.

The FIA has now released a 21-race 2017 calendar that showed only provisional dates for Canada, Germany and Brazil.

But the latest reports from Russia have suggested waning support from the local Krasnodar region, and financial problems being tackled by track operator Omega, is also endangering the Sochi round.

Race promoter Vorobyov, however, told Ria Novosti news agency: "Recently, the formula one calendar was published and the grand prix of Russia was confirmed.

"We are skeptical of these reports about the race because it is not in danger," he insisted.

Schumacher taking steady road to F1
(GMM) Mick Schumacher insists he is still taking it steady on his road to F1.

The 17-year-old is running second not only in Italian F4 this year but also in the German series.

But when asked about the German broadcaster Sport1 about emulating his famous father Michael with the move into F1, Mick said: "At the moment I am simply trying to learn, so I can't say when the time will come.

"My goal is to be fully prepared to start in formula one," he added.

Schumacher admitted that Formula 3, rather than F1, is the obvious next step.

"F3 would be the logical next step," he confirmed. "I believe that I will be at the next tests."

Red Bull denies Verstappen collapsed
(GMM) Red Bull has denied reports that Max Verstappen passed out after a practice session in Malaysia.

British newspapers The Times and The Telegraph said that on the occasion of the Dutchman's 19th birthday on Friday, he collapsed due to dehydration at Sepang.

Given the searing heat in Kuala Lumpur, the story sounded credible.

"I don't think I've ever seen track temperatures so high," Verstappen's teammate Daniel Ricciardo is quoted by Germany's Auto Bild.

But a Red Bull spokesman told Speed Week: "Max did not faint or collapse.

"He got out of the car and felt dizzy for a moment, but after a few seconds the feeling was gone and there were no problems."