Latest F1 news in brief

Lauda sticks foot in mouth again

Lauda's Ferrari comments cause a stir in Brazil
Mick Schumacher takes another step towards F1
Midfield drivers want 'more money' for teams
Massa disappointed with Interlagos renovations
Partying caused Lewis Hamilton to crash into 3 parked cars
Palmer to build new circuit in France
Button warns 'arrogant' Hamilton
Red Bull has entered 2016 championship – Horner

Lauda's Ferrari comments cause a stir in Brazil
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has questioned F1 legend Niki Lauda's claim that Ferrari has already caught up with dominant world champions Mercedes.

Lauda, who is Mercedes' team chairman, told an Italian magazine this week that Maranello has made so much progress in 2015 that it no longer lags behind its German rival in the horse power race.

"Niki is usually not the best one to trust, let's put it that way. He changes his opinion very quickly and sometimes what he says makes sense and other times it doesn't make any sense," said Vettel.

But the Ferrari driver said the fact Lauda made his comments at all shows that Mercedes is concerned that Ferrari is catching up.

He added: "As a fact we are not yet a match otherwise the season would have been different. But I'm very happy with the season so far, with the progress we've made and also with the things that we have in the pipeline for the future."

When asked about Lauda's comments, even a Mercedes-powered driver sided with Vettel.

Only an idiot would think Ferrari has caught Mercedes. In Austin Rosberg blew by Vettel on the straight like he was standing still. In Mexico City Ferrari were out to lunch

"I think they (Ferrari) are very close to Mercedes now, but Mercedes are still the best," Williams' Valtteri Bottas said in Brazil. "That's my gut feeling, even though we don't have the latest Mercedes specification in our car."

And works Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg said: "I don't know if Niki is right that Ferrari has caught up with the engine. I don't know where he got his information, but what can be said with certainty is that Ferrari has clearly improved since last year."

F1 veteran Jenson Button said Ferrari's clear progress is giving hope to McLaren that struggling partner Honda can make the same sort of step for 2016.

"I heard rumors that they (Ferrari) found 100 horse power over the winter, which I don't know if it's true or not. But they did find a lot, which is good to see," said the Briton.

Mick Schumacher, riding his daddy's coattails, has shown any brilliance behind the wheel whatsoever

Mick Schumacher takes another step towards F1
(GMM) Michael Schumacher's son looks set to move just one step away from F1 in 2016.

16-year-old Mick made his single-seater debut in German Formula 4 this year, but in recent days he has tested for the European F3 outfit Prema Powerteam.

Prema, reportedly with close links to Ferrari, ran the Canadian driver Lance Stroll in 2015, who is now reportedly poised to join Williams as a test driver next year.

And last year, Max Verstappen launched his now meteoric F1 race career straight from European F3.

The German news agencies DPA and SID quoted Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm as confirming that Mick completed the F3 test this week.

And a Ferrari spokesperson confirmed reports that Mick visited the team's headquarters, after La Gazzetta dello Sport revealed there had been "Another Schumi in Maranello".

Midfield drivers want 'more money' for teams
(GMM) Three midfield drivers have admitted they hope their independent teams can find more money ahead of the 2016 season.

Force India, whose financial struggles have been obvious even though the Silverstone based team is an impressive fifth this year, is reportedly close to inking a naming sponsorship deal with the British carmaker Aston Martin.

The deal would apparently come bundled with backing from Johnnie Walker, whose parent company Diageo is closely linked to team supremo Vijay Mallya.

Sergio Perez hopes it is all true.

"If Aston Martin comes, it will be very, very nice," the Mexican is quoted by Spain's El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.

"It is a great brand and we always want to be linked to big brands," Perez added.

"I believe in the team. I know what the plans are for 2016 so I think we're in a good position, but for next year we need a better budget," he said.

Teammate Nico Hulkenberg agrees: "I think our strong point is that we're very efficient with what we've got, if you consider the size of our team and the budget we have.

"And the weakness is – yeah – we need deeper pockets."

With a similar view is the Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, whose team Williams has been third overall in both 2014 and 2015.

"I think for our size we're doing a really, really good job," Massa said at Interlagos. "We just need a little bit more money to put in the car."

Felipe Massa not impressed

Massa disappointed with Interlagos renovations
(GMM) Felipe Massa has expressed some disappointment with the renovations made to the Interlagos circuit for 2015.

With arguably the most cramped and outdated facilities on the entire calendar, the venue in Sao Paulo has expanded the paddock and inaugurated a new team hospitality building for this year.

A new pit and paddock complex is expected for 2016, but Lewis Hamilton said what has already been done means teams can now at least take sponsor representatives to the Brazilian grand prix.

"I've been here nine years now and it's a big difference," he said.

Home town hero Massa, however, is less impressed.

"I think the idea is good to give more room for everybody," the Williams driver told local media. "It was needed. Now they just have to finish the work!

"Unfortunately, this is not new for us (Brazil) — it looks like a house that they've started to build but not finished it," Massa added.

"I think the mentality of Brazil is sometimes to deliver things before they are ready."

Bernie Ecclestone said last week the teams will be happier they now have more space, but Massa revealed: "My little room has not changed. After myself and (manager) Nicolas (Todt) are in there is no space for anything else.

"The paddock is two or three meters bigger so that people can walk without bumping into each other, so it is better than it was before. I just think it could have been a little more attractive to show the people," he added.

Another Brazilian, Sauber driver Felipe Nasr, agreed: "It seems that the paddock is not finished, which I find a bit odd. And my room even has a leak, so I need a bucket!"

Worn out from partying, Hamilton on plane to Brazil

Partying caused Lewis Hamilton to crash into 3 parked cars
Lewis Hamilton revealed of his own accord on Instagram that he'd had a bit of a bump in Monaco this week. Hamilton's initial post appeared to suggest he had made a light impact on a parked car.

The Telegraph now reveals this was rather a minimalistic confession form the now three time world champion, who in fact hit three cars in his fender bending action, though local authorities state no drugs or alcohol were involved.

A Monaco police spokesperson has confirmed, "Mr. Hamilton's foot slipped on the brake and clutch pedals (likely story) and his vehicle struck three parked cars. He was tested for alcohol but the result was negative." That said, the law enforcement officers of the Principality have been rumored to be most discreet over previous embarrassing incidents involving their most wealthy of residents.

The big problem for Lewis is that he claimed he had been suffering from a fever, which was the main reason he failed to attend a Wednesday sponsor event in Brazil. he arrived a day late for the upcoming race weekend in Sao Paulo and the car bumping incident which was initially thought to have taken place on Monday has now been confirmed as occurring on Tuesday This raises questions as to whether Hamilton was ever going to make his Wednesday PR appointment after deciding to party.

TJ13 suggested yesterday, that the nature of Hamilton's Instagram confession may well suggest that there was more to this incident than Lewis' was admitting to. Hamilton has subsequently added to his explanation as to how the crash occurred, stating "It was a result of heavy partying and not much rest for a week and a half. I am a bit run down. I have been non-stop and trying to fit training in at the same time and not getting a lot of sleep."

The Telegraph reveals that Lewis has attended a number of alcohol fuel parties since Austin, and as far as the one prior to the bumper car games, Lewis did admit: "The party was amazing, couldn't have gone better. I don't feel as bad as I look. The last two days I have slept pretty much all day. I couldn't believe how much I slept and I slept on the flight here. I was nervous that I was not going to sleep. I slept all day yesterday. I usually sleep four or five hours but when you are training you need more than that. I am generally a really energetic person but that week after Mexico and the party we drank a lot and I was really feeling it."

Hamilton's Instagram post

Hamilton's partying has apparently been regular since the US GP and Lewis even admitted he may have still been drunk when he recently arrived for a photo shoot after a heavy night out. "I had a photo shoot at Madame Tussauds… and I wondered why I booked it for the next day because I had to do pictures looking fresh. It was not enjoyable because it was only a few hours after the night out so I was still very much…"

Mercedes have yet to comment on the behavior of their 'rock star' driver, though Toto Wolff has previously indicated he cares little about Hamilton's off track activities – unless they affect him on track. Though whether this kind of lifestyle is exactly what Toto had in mind when he gave Hamilton 'cart blanche', will be tested this weekend.

Tensions inside Mercedes AMG F1 have been growing recently, and Hamilton's biggest supporter, Niki Lauda, has seen questions raised over his future in the team.

The unknown is whether Lewis new found alcohol fueled lifestyle, will affect his future driving performance. Hamilton did suggest following winning his third F1 world title, he was not interested in chasing down Michael Schumacher's records now he had equaled those of his hero Ayrton Senna. The Judge 13

Palmer to build new circuit in France
(GMM) Jonathan Palmer, the father of 2016 Lotus racer Jolyon, is working on plans for a new and modern race circuit in France.

Absent from the F1 calendar since 2008, the French grand prix was last held at Magny Cours, an unpopular venue due to its uninteresting and remote location.

But Briton Palmer, a well-known race circuit magnate with his company Motorsport Vision, has now acquired a former French and US air force base in Laon-Couvron, Aisne.

France's Auto Hebdo said the Aisne department is located just a few dozen kilometers from Paris.

Palmer, who raced in the 80s for teams including Williams and Tyrrell, will reportedly start work on the circuit in 2017.

And Aisne Nouvelle, a local publication, said the facility is expected to open in 2018.

"This is a site that has a future," Dr Palmer said.

Neither publication mentioned the possibility of the venue hosting the French grand prix.

He was a backmarker with the slow McLaren, but now that he has the best car Hamilton has declared himself great. Button said, 'he's pretty quickly becoming arrogant.'

Button warns 'arrogant' Hamilton
(GMM) Jenson Button has warned his former teammate Lewis Hamilton not to get carried away with his success.

Hamilton, the new triple world champion, was the only F1 driver to arrive at Interlagos as late as Thursday, after missing media duties the day before with what Mercedes described as a "fever".

But although a team media representative told reporters the 30-year-old would not be elaborating on Thursday, Hamilton admitted he was actually "run down" after a spate of hard partying.

Hamilton was alcohol-tested tested by local police in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after hitting what he described on social media as one stationary car in Monaco, reportedly with his $2m Pagani Zonda supercar.

"Mr. Hamilton's foot slipped on the brake and clutch pedals and his vehicle struck three parked cars," a Monaco police spokesperson told the Telegraph.

Hamilton, described by observers as looking obviously tired, admitted in Brazil that a party held for his mother's 60th birthday last weekend "killed me".

The Briton has also admitted to drinking much more heavily in 2015, telling reporters on Thursday that "I have definitely put on a bit of weight in the past couple of months".

As for the Monaco car crash, Hamilton said: "It was a result of heavy partying and not much rest for a week and a half. I am a bit run down.

"I don't feel as bad as I look. The last two days I have slept pretty much all day. I am generally a really energetic person but that week after Mexico and the party we drank a lot and I was really feeling it."

Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg seemed uninterested in taking advantage of the saga, smiling to reporters that "I don't read Monaco newspapers".

But Hamilton's former McLaren teammate Jenson Button warned: "He's pretty quickly becoming arrogant."

Bild newspaper said Button was referring to the fact that Hamilton reportedly claimed he is "complete" as a driver, only failing to win races when he makes mistakes.

"None of us is complete," Button insisted. "If we had his car, we could beat him.

"He is very talented and doing a great job, but he also has weaknesses," the 2009 world champion said.

Button said he hopes Ferrari can continue to close the gap to Hamilton's team in 2016.

"We – formula one – need a challenger to Mercedes. That would change everything. For Hamilton too," Button added.

Horner still does not know with certainty whether Renault will be in F1 next year

Red Bull has entered 2016 championship – Horner
(GMM) Red Bull has confirmed reports it has dropped its threat to quit formula one at the end of this month.

"Yes, we've entered the (2016) world championship," team boss Christian Horner declared to the BBC at Interlagos.

It is a strong hint that the energy drink stable is now finally closing on engine deals, amid reports Toro Rosso will run 2015-spec Ferrari power while the senior team is set for Infiniti-branded Renaults.

"I would hope by the close of the season we'll be in a position to announce what our plans are," said Horner.

Red Bull's lead driver Daniel Ricciardo hinted at the new Renault deal by suggesting that all eyes will be on the debut in Brazil of the French marque's latest upgrade.

The Australian said Renault has promised a tenth or two of extra performance.

"If maybe we see something positive this weekend and take forward for next year, it could give us an option or give us a clarity on where we want to go," said Ricciardo.

But he admitted what he really wants.

"I've thought to myself how nice it would be to have a car like we've had with a Mercedes in the back," said Ricciardo.

It is believed the biggest uncertainty now, not only for Red Bull but also Lotus, is what Renault eventually decides to do.

The carmaker has declared its intention to return to full works status by buying Lotus, but the Enstone team's staff was left locked out of circuit facilities yet again at Interlagos due to unpaid bills.

The Swiss newspaper Blick said it was Bernie Ecclestone who ultimately picked up the tab, with the $353,000 to be deleted from Lotus' official prize money.

And the F1 supremo is quoted as saying: "I would not bet that Renault will actually take over Lotus."

If the deal does not happen, Red Bull may have entered the 2016 world championship but it will be without an engine. And that will mean Toro Rosso pulls out of the sport as well.

When asked about 2016, Carlos Sainz admitted he is "probably" staying, although "it's not 100 per cent".

And "I'm not completely sure," Toro Rosso teammate Max Verstappen agreed according to Marca newspaper, "but I should be (there)."