Latest F1 news in brief

Bianchi still on everyone's mind

Bianchi still on minds as Perez rolls in Hungary
Holding pattern emerges as Renault decides F1 future
Ball in Williams' court over Bottas move – manager
Merhi hoping to finish season with Manor
Schumacher plight 'very sad' – Montezemolo
Pirelli eyeing 'super-super soft' tire for 2016
Hungary GP set to stay on F1 calendar

Bianchi still on minds as Perez rolls in Hungary
(GMM) A week after Jules Bianchi's death, the tragedy was still front and center on Friday when Sergio Perez rolled over in his Force India in Hungary practice.

The Mexican was "lucky to be alive" after the "horror crash", Britain's Express newspaper dramatically exclaimed.

The Times called the crash and the completely unharmed Perez's subsequent trip to the medical center a "graphic representation of the peril" still facing F1 drivers today.

Giles Richards, writing for the Guardian, said "hearts were in mouths again" as fans waited for Perez to climb out of his overturned Force India.

And even the Silverstone based team appeared to recognize the significance of the first spectacular crash since Bianchi's death, pulling both cars from the second practice session.

"In our sport there is always risk," said Perez, "but I think the team has taken the right decision in not letting us onto the track while the cause of the problem was not completely clear."

Carlos Ghosn must decide if Renault makes a bigger investment in F1 or drops out entirely

Holding pattern emerges as Renault decides F1 future
(GMM) Many in the paddock are in a holding pattern as Renault's future in formula one remains unclear.

After Lotus was almost left without tires to use in Hungary practice, it became clear that the Enstone team is waiting to pay overdue bills while team buyout talks with Renault, the French carmaker, are taking place.

Insiders say the late Pirelli bill amounting to more than $500,000 is just one of many at Lotus, with the Times newspaper claiming even Friday pay-driver Jolyon Palmer wants his "money back".

Heikki Kulta, the correspondent for Finland's Turun Sanomat newspaper, said a meeting between Lotus team owner Genii Capital and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn is now set to take place at the end of next week in Paris.

That ties in with comments by Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull team, who are currently Renault's premium partner in F1.

"We want to know in the next two weeks what Renault's plan for the future is," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

The urgency is because Ghosn has not even ruled out quitting F1 completely. "Then we would need to get an engine from Mercedes, Ferrari or Honda," said Horner.

So while Red Bull waits for Renault's call, so too does Lotus, because if the Enstone team is bought out, any outstanding bills would have to be paid by the new owner.

It also means key car developments are not being brought to the black and gold E23.

"We need to be understanding about the situation," said Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado.

Teammate Romain Grosjean has been quoted as barracking for the Renault buyout, as the current situation is akin to stalemate and he stands to be a French driver for the French works team.

"When you are thinking about selling the team, you won't put any more money in because it's all loss. So it's a bit of a waiting situation," said the Frenchman.

Also holding up the process is negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone, amid the prospect of more official income for Renault if it returns to full works team status.

Red Bull's Horner sounds impatient.

"It's not the responsibility of the teams to sort out Renault's re-involvement or re-engagement in formula one or what their commercial terms are," he insisted.

Ball in Williams' court over Bottas move – manager
(GMM) The ball is in Williams' court regarding a potential move for Valtteri Bottas.

That is the claim of the Finn's manager Didier Coton, amid swirling speculation about the future of the talented 25-year-old driver.

Bottas himself admits that the rumors, linking him with a sensational move to replace countryman Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, are not ideal as he continues to focus on 2015.

"Of course, as a driver I always try to minimize all distractions, and yes, there is a lot of talk," he told Turun Sanomat newspaper.

"The worst was when someone came to congratulate me on the contract, even when nothing has happened," Bottas said.

The big rumor is that Williams has agreed to have Bottas' 2016 deal bought out by Ferrari to the tune of many millions.

And the Italian daily Corriere dello Sport is standing by its report.

"Ferrari and Bottas are not going to comment before the end of July. It will be announced at Spa or Monza," the newspaper now claims.

Even Williams admits there are talks taking place.

"They are private conversations," insisted deputy boss Claire Williams. "They have to be private because they are contractually related," she told the Guardian, admitting losing Bottas would be "disappointing".

Manager Coton, meanwhile, said the ball is in Williams' court.

"Valtteri is with Williams, as it is known," he said. "The future depends entirely on Williams."

Asked to rate the chances that Bottas will stay with the British team, Coton answered: "Many, many per cent.

"The media has been writing pure speculation.

"When I heard this (Corriere dello Sport) story, I sent out a simple tweet about the need to cool down. Frankly, it (the speculation) is not right either to this team (Williams) or to Ferrari's driver (Raikkonen) to spread those rumors. It's not fair," Coton added.

Merhi praying to God that his check is big enough

Merhi hoping to finish season with Manor
(GMM) Roberto Merhi is now hoping to make it all the way to the end of the season with Manor.

Until now, the Spanish rookie has been on a race-by-race deal with the struggling former Marussia team, as Manor left the door open to a driver with much-needed sponsor backing.

One candidate has now emerged, 2013 GP2 champion Fabio Leimer, who began his Friday practice duties with Manor in Hungary.

And Swiss Leimer's former backer, the wealthy Rainer Gantenbein, is trackside at the Hungaroring. The highly-experienced correspondent for Blick newspaper, Roger Benoit, insisted that "Everything depends on the money".

Merhi, meanwhile, has never hidden the fact that his Manor adventure could end at any time, but he admitted in Hungary that he is nonetheless hoping to keep his seat for the rest of the season.

"My goal is to finish the season with the team," he told Spanish broadcaster Mega.

"Having no money is difficult, but I try to do good results to prove I deserve the seat."

Giving Merhi a confidence boost this weekend is an updated Ferrari engine specification, which according to the Spanish daily Marca brings him almost in line with teammate Will Stevens.

"My car is still 2 to 3kph slower (than Stevens')," he said, "but at least now I don't need to do crazy things any more to make up the one second per lap difference."

Luca di Montezemolo

Schumacher plight 'very sad' – Montezemolo
(GMM) Luca di Montezemolo has credited F1 legend Michael Schumacher as he was inducted into the Automotive 'Hall of Fame' in Detroit.

"I don't know if I would have received this award without him," said the former long-time Ferrari president, according to Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It is dedicated to him, because he is trying to win his toughest race."

Montezemolo is referring to former Ferrari driver and record-holding seven-time world champion Schumacher's ongoing recovery from a late-2013 skiing fall.

"He was not only someone I worked with but above all a friend with whom I shared so much. To know that he now lies in bed for such a long time is very sad," he admitted.

Meanwhile, Montezemolo offered a few tips to a modern formula one that is struggling to hold the imagination of the public.

"More speed," he answered, "lower costs, different regulations to make them more understandable for the fans and to improve the show.

"Because you cannot run a grand prix in July or August at two in the afternoon when people want to be on the beach," Montezemolo added.

Pirelli wants one really soft tire in 2016

Pirelli eyeing 'super-super soft' tire for 2016
(GMM) A tire even softer than Pirelli's so-called 'super soft' looks set to make its bow in 2016.

As the Italian marque competes with applicant Michelin for the 2017-2019 F1 contract, Paul Hembery said Pirelli is planning some improvements next year.

2016 could turn out to be Pirelli's last season on the grid, even though the company has wide support up and down the paddock.

"An 18-inch rim and a one-stop (strategy) is going to do nothing for the spectacle of a grand prix," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner, referring to Michelin's desires for 2017.

However, the FIA has green-lighted both Pirelli and Michelin's 2017 bids, meaning it is now up to Bernie Ecclestone to negotiate a deal with the eventual winner.

It was expected a decision would be made by September, but Hembery said in Hungary that he is not expecting the results of the tender to be known until October.

"We have not yet started negotiations. I think they will begin in September," he said.

Asked why the talks with Ecclestone cannot begin straight away, Hembery laughed: "Because I'll be on vacation!" Indeed, after Sunday's Hungarian grand prix, the sport enters a four-week summer break.

And he revealed that Pirelli's board of directors is also scheduled to make a call in October.

"I have always said that we are not going to be in the championship at any cost. We will stay in formula one only if it makes economic sense, and if F1 wants us to stay," Hembery added.

As for 2016, Hembery acknowledged that Pirelli's approach this year may have been too conservative, so it is rumored one change is for the introduction of a 'super-super soft' tire.

"We have a number of ideas that we would like to implement," the Briton admitted.

"The soft tires that we use for street tracks need some attention — Monaco, Canada, Singapore need really soft compounds, softer than the super-soft that we use today.

"And the hard tires should be closer to the medium of today," Hembery added.

Hungary start in 2011

Hungary GP set to stay on F1 calendar
(GMM) The Hungarian grand prix looks set to stay on the F1 calendar.

This year, the Hungaroring near Budapest is celebrating its 30th year on the schedule, after race organizers and Bernie Ecclestone took F1 behind the Iron Curtain for the first time in 1986.

And now, it emerges that organizers have entered negotiations with F1 supremo Ecclestone for a new deal through 2026, including a major revamp of the track with state funding.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admitted some of the facilities need a facelift, but as for the tight and twisty layout, "Leave it alone," he said, "it's great.

"It's a fun circuit, it's a different type of circuit and I think it always produces, for whatever reason, good races here," he added.

"I think all the drivers enjoy racing here, it's a great city, so it's good news and a very positive thing for formula one if the race is extended until 2026."