Latest F1 news in brief

No deal yet for German GP

Hockenheim says no 2017 race deal done yet
'No information' about Schumacher – Mamma Rossella
No talks with teams about 2017 – Massa
New Monza deal set for Friday announcement
Not every rival critical of Verstappen
Grosjean hints at 2017 Haas stay
Ferrari blows its wad for Monza and is still too slow

Hockenheim says no 2017 race deal done yet
(GMM) Hockenheim chief Georg Seiler says no deal has been done to guarantee the future of the German grand prix for 2017.

A draft calendar for next year is now doing the rounds in the paddock, featuring a German race date — even though the Nurburgring is financially unable to meet its contractual obligation for 2017.

It is assumed Hockenheim will step in, amid reports a deal where Bernie Ecclestone becomes the quasi race promoter for a lower annual fee is being discussed.

"That would be a model for the future," Hockenheim's Seiler told SID news agency. "The promoter would be tenants and take the financial risk, as is quite normal with other events.

"We are ready," he is also quoted by the DPA news agency. "Our interest is great."

But Seiler said that although there was a "positive atmosphere" during talks with Ecclestone late in July, there has been "nothing new" since then.

"It would be important that we have certainty by October," he insisted.

"I cannot tell you what the chances are, but at the moment there is not an agreement."

'No information' about Schumacher – Mamma Rossella
(GMM) Rossella Giannini says she has no information about Michael Schumacher's condition, or contact with the great German's family.

'Mamma' Rossella, owner of the fabled Montana restaurant near Ferrari's Maranello headquarters, had a famously close relationship with the seven time world champion.

"I still cannot believe what happened," she told Bild newspaper.

"Two days before the accident he sent me a text message. It said 'I love you' and nothing else. I always watch the news and pray."

Giannini said she always thinks of Schumacher, now 37, when she prepares his favorite dish — tagliatelle al ragu.

"Is there anything new?" she enquired of the visiting journalist, referring to Schumacher's mysterious condition. "You hear so much. Some say he feels better, others that he is bad. I don't know what to believe.

"I have no contact with the family. But suddenly, I saw his son Mick three months ago. He looks like his mother, but his movements, his gestures, are just like Michael."

Felipe Massa will either retire or drive Taxicabs in Brazil

No talks with teams about 2017 – Massa
(GMM) Felipe Massa says he had no negotiations with F1 teams prior to announcing his decision to retire at Monza.

The emotional Brazilian said he wanted to let the news slip at Monza, where exactly a decade ago Michael Schumacher announced his own retirement news.

"Michael saved my career in 2006 and I'll never forget it," Massa is quoted by Blick newspaper. Indeed, Ferrari had already signed Kimi Raikkonen for 2007 and was weighing up whether to keep Schumacher or Massa for the other seat.

Fast forward ten years to 2016, and 35-year-old Massa said he already knew he would be calling it a day "a few months ago".

"I didn't talk with any other teams, even Williams, about 2017," he is quoted by Brazil's UOL.

Watching Massa's announcement from the background on Thursday was his current teammate Valtteri Bottas, who is tipped to stay with the Grove team for 2017.

"Felipe is a really nice teammate and maybe slightly undervalued as a driver," the Finn told the MTV broadcaster.

"The recent races have been a bit difficult for him, but he'll come back again. There is nothing bad to say about him at all," added Bottas.

Bernie waited until the Italians coughed up the money

New Monza deal set for Friday announcement
(GMM) A day and time has been set for the announcement of Monza's new Italian grand prix deal.

La Gazzetta dello Sport said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Italian officials and even FIA president Jean Todt will attend the signing of the new three-year contract at 3pm on Friday.

"We worked hard, but with important teamwork we defined the renewal of the contract with Bernie Ecclestone for the Monza grand prix," Italian automobile club (Aci) chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani said.

However, there could still be controversy laying down the road, as Imola is taking legal action against the Aci for not sanctioning its bid for the race.

"It is understand that the Aci president intends to proceed with the signature on a potentially flawed contract before the decision of the courts," a statement read.

Verstappen is fast but a bit over zealous

Not every rival critical of Verstappen
(GMM) Not every driver is overly critical of Max Verstappen's aggressive driving at Spa.

It has emerged that Ferrari's two drivers have sought out Charlie Whiting for talks.

But not everyone is critical.

"He is a fast driver and he has already shown that he can win races," world champion Lewis Hamilton said.

"He is also 18 years old, and most of us did some pretty stupid things when we were 18. But I also see an exceptionally talented driver."

German Nico Hulkenberg added: "It is an art to move at exactly the perfect moment. When it works, I can only pat someone on the back."

And Fernando Alonso said: "For me, Belgium was ok, but what happened in Hungary was not.

"It was a late movement (at Spa) and maybe Max didn't really assess where Kimi was, but at this time Kimi was behind so the maneuver was fine for me."

However, Verstappen's aggression at Spa will undoubtedly be discussed during the FIA driver briefing on Friday.

Asked if the Red Bull star went over the limit last Sunday, Nico Rosberg said: "I didn't say that.

"But we have to discuss it thoroughly, because we do not all share the same opinion."

Romain Grosjean

Grosjean hints at 2017 Haas stay
(GMM) Romain Grosjean has hinted strongly that he is staying at Haas for 2017.

The Frenchman moved from Lotus to the new, Ferrari-linked American team for 2016, but is yet to be officially announced as a continuing driver for 2017.

"Let's put it this way," he said at Monza. "I am looking forward to being here for a long time.

"With a project like this I never had a plan to be here only one year. We want to be at the top of the midfield — right now we are more at the rear end of the midfield but next year we want to be at the front."

Pressed again for actual confirmation that he is staying for 2017, Grosjean answered: "I have a certain amount of confidence that I will get another chance to improve my American accent."

Ferrari blew its engine wad for Monza and the Mercedes drivers still mopped them up in opening practice

Ferrari blows its wad for Monza and is still too slow
Ferrari has become the first manufacturer to use all of its 2016 Formula 1 engine development tokens by spending the last of its allocation on an update for Monza reports Autosport.

As reported by Autosport on Thursday, the Scuderia has brought a new spec to its home race with the works team and customer Haas running it from first practice – though mileage will be limited initially while checks are carried out.

Ferrari is not expecting huge gains from the update, but it is hopeful it will be a small step forward as well as aiding development for next season.

The spend of three tokens means it has used all of its allocation of 32.

Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen each have a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, energy store and control electronics.

Haas drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez have taken a new ICE, turbocharger and MGU-H with the former also receiving a new MGU-K.

All changes are within their permitted allocations, so no grid penalties will be handed out.