Latest F1 news in brief

Romain Grosjean

Family denies Bianchi to leave Japan
Grosjean reveals Lotus exit clause
Mercedes not ready to let drivers 'off leash'
Verstappen wants Vergne to be Toro Rosso teammate
Russian billionaire buys Nurburgring
Alonso keeps F1 guessing over future
Forza Rossa still waiting for FIA approval
FIA to tackle cost problem after team failures

Family denies Bianchi to leave Japan
(GMM) Jules Bianchi's family has denied reports the French driver could soon be transferred from the hospital in Japan.

This Sunday will mark four weeks since the Marussia driver's life-threatening Suzuka crash, and the family announced in a new statement late on Thursday that Bianchi is still in a "critical but stable" condition.

Although absent in Austin this weekend, the statement was issued by Marussia, who despite now being operated by administrators is "supporting the family by facilitating its communication".

The family acknowledged the groundswell of support for Bianchi but said there is "no new information to give".

But media reports suggesting Bianchi, 25, could soon be moved from the Mie hospital – perhaps to Europe – were denied.

"At this time his fight will continue here in Yokkaichi," said the family. "We are taking things step by step."

Grosjean reveals Lotus exit clause
(GMM) Romain Grosjean has revealed an exit clause will allow him to walk away from Lotus at the end of the season.

Insiders believe the Frenchman, obviously frustrated by the Enstone team's struggles in 2014, is waiting for the Fernando Alonso situation to clear before re-committing to Lotus for another season.

Some think he is obviously hoping for a seat at McLaren, where his mentor Eric Boullier is now the team boss.

Asked by France's RMC if he will benefit from Lotus' switch from Renault to Mercedes power for 2015, 28-year-old Grosjean answered: "I can actually be with this project.

"Since May or June I've been screaming that the 2015 Lotus must be better than 2014, and many things have been done in the right way.

"There is a good chance I will stay at Lotus, but there are still a few opportunities elsewhere. I will not say more," Grosjean insisted.

Then, in the official FIA press conference in Austin, Grosjean declared that the fact Lotus is testing a Mercedes-style 2015 nose ahead of the US grand prix is "a strong sign" of the team's impending recovery.

"I have a contract with the team," he revealed. "I have the option to leave if I want to — this is from some performance clause.

"So far there are still places available at top teams or they haven't been confirmed and that's where I want to be in the near future and that's what we try to do," Grosjean added.

In yet another interview in Austin, this time with F1's official website, Grosjean repeated his possession of an "option to walk out" on Lotus.

"It is no secret that I want to be part of a big team – which is Ferrari, McLaren or Mercedes – and some of them haven't announced their 2015 lineup yet, so there is still hope as I want to join such a team by 2015, latest 2016," said the Frenchman.

"If I stay (at Lotus) I am happy to stay as I think we can probably taste champagne again — a few times! But I want to be champion and to achieve that I have to move on," Grosjean added.

Although undoubtedly waiting on Alonso's next move, Grosjean also admitted he is keeping an eye on the 'three cars' story for 2015, given the recent collapse of backmarkers Caterham and Marussia.

"If you put it (a third car) on a good team and you're racing in the same cars as what we call the superstars, then it gives you an opportunity to show how strong you are and then get called one of those superstars," he smiled.

"A third car would certainly help some of us to have a good reputation."

Mercedes not ready to let drivers 'off leash'
(GMM) Mercedes is not yet willing to let its drivers "off the leash" in their three-race fight for the drivers' title.

That is despite the German squad having wrapped up the crucial and lucrative constructors' championship three weeks ago in Russia.

It was said at the time that Mercedes, having tried to contain the hostility of the duel between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, might react to its title success by giving the drivers freer rein to battle for F1's biggest prize.

But complicating the issue, as far as team boss Toto Wolff is concerned, is that Daniel Ricciardo remains mathematically in the hunt for the title.

"I'm a pessimist," the Austrian told Der Spiegel ahead of the US grand prix in Austin.

"The lead that Lewis and Nico have over Daniel Ricciardo is not so big that we can let our drivers completely off the leash."

Told, however, that a silver-clad driver is surely now all but guaranteed the crown, Wolff insisted: "Before you have reached a goal, you cannot sit back. It can still go wrong.

"I call this purposeful paranoia," he added.

"I honestly don't want to be going to this 50-point race in Abu Dhabi with Ricciardo still theoretically able to snatch the title from us. I would like clarity before that.

"And when we have the luxury situation that only our drivers can win, then we can talk about it again," said Wolff.

Verstappen wants Vergne to be Toro Rosso teammate
(GMM) Max Verstappen says he would prefer to be Jean-Eric Vergne's teammate next year.

Red Bull, the owner of Toro Rosso, is yet to decide whether the experienced Frenchman Vergne, 24, will get one more year at Faenza, or if the new Formula Renault 3.5 champion Carlos Sainz Jr will be promoted.

Sainz, 20, is waiting impatiently. "I have no plan B," the Spaniard told Marca sports newspaper on Thursday.

Insiders believe it is likely Red Bull and Toro Rosso officials will eventually decide it makes more sense to keep Vergne for now, given that Sainz alongside 17-year-old Verstappen would be an unprecedentedly young and inexperienced pairing.

Verstappen agrees.

"For the team I think it would be better to have one experienced driver," he said in Austin. "It would be better for me if it is Jean-Eric, because of his experience and also because he is a talented driver and a nice guy.

"I think he deserves to stay," the Dutchman, set to return to Friday morning duties in Austin on Friday, added.

Frenchman Vergne confirmed on Thursday it is "possible" he will stay at Toro Rosso in 2015.

Russian billionaire buys Nurburgring
(GMM) After the Capricorn deal fell through, a new owner for the German grand prix venue at the Nurburgring has already been found.

Until recently, the embattled Nurburgring's buyer was the Dusseldorf automotive company Capricorn, whose chief Robertino Wild failed to make the second due installment payment.

So the German business publication Wirtschaftswoche has named the new majority buyer as Russian billionaire Victor Charitonin.

The English spelling of his surname is Kharitonin, as Forbes explains that together with fellow Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich the 41-year-old established the pharmaceutical company Pharmstandard.

Wirtschaftswoche said Kharitonin declined to comment.

But the report claims he has already made the second and third due payment installments for the fabled German circuit, although the latter is not due until December.

"This is a positive signal for operators, customers and employees," confirmed Pietro Nuvoloni, a spokesman for the insolvency administrator.

He added that a company called NR Holding AG, involving "the Russian businessman Viktor Charitonin", has indeed taken over Capricorn's two thirds shareholding.

Nuvoloni would not say how much Kharitonin paid for the majority stake, but the Capricorn deal was said to be costing the German company EUR 77 million.

Alonso keeps F1 guessing over future
(GMM) Fernando Alonso is keeping the F1 paddock in the dark over his future, as a string of rival drivers also wait impatiently for his next move.

It seems a lot of drivers are waiting for Fernando Alonso to make his 2015 plans known.

Undoubtedly the most powerful player on the driver market, the Spaniard is said to have definitely split with Ferrari, but reports suggest a contractual impasse is in play between Alonso and the Italian team.

Once that is past, Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari switch will surely become official, but for now even Kimi Raikkonen – the other driver wearing red – is on standby.

"Let's see what happens," the typically phlegmatic Raikkonen told Finnish publications in Austin. "Until then there is no reason to speculate."

But also dramatically held up by the Alonso stalemate is McLaren, his likely 2015 destination as the British team's highly anticipated works Honda era begins.

It means the careers of both Jenson Button – the most experienced driver in F1 and a former world champion – and Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen are hanging by a thread.

"We haven't been told anything (by McLaren) apart from they don't know anything," Button's manager Richard Goddard told Reuters ahead of the US grand prix.

"I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's not like they've made their mind up as to one path or another.

"He (Ron Dennis) speaks to me and he says 'I'm really sorry, but we're still in a holding pattern. I know perhaps we shouldn't be, but we are'," Goddard added.

One of the outlets convinced that Alonso is definitely McLaren-bound is the Spanish daily Marca, insisting that the terms have all been agreed and the contract is only awaiting Alonso's signature.

But for now, Alonso is saying nothing, amid wilder speculation he might spearhead an Audi entry for 2016, take a year out to race at Le Mans, or start on the road to a works Mercedes seat by switching to Williams or Lotus.

"I have a very ambitious plan in my head for my future," he told reporters in Austin.

"If that happens people will be very, very excited — as I am," the 33-year-old added.

Italy's Autosprint quotes him as continuing: "Some things have slowed down the process of my decision, including the crash of Jules Bianchi at Suzuka.

"But the problem at this time is not what anybody is saying — the decision is mine," he insisted.

Forza Rossa still waiting for FIA approval
(GMM) Forza Rossa, a Romanian project targeting a debut in formula one, has played down reports it has already been granted an entry by the FIA.

Reports this week suggested that with Caterham now close to collapse, advisor Colin Kolles is set to return his immediate attention to Forza Rossa.

But a statement attributed to Forza Rossa, published by the respected Romanian outlet prosport.ro, insisted: "For the moment there is no official engagement between Mr. Colin Kolles and Forza Rossa F1 Team."

The statement clarified that Caterham was never "related" to Kolles' involvement at Caterham, contrary to recent speculation.

Manfredi Ravetto, until recently the boss at Caterham, also denied the reported links between the failing Leafield based team and Forza Rossa.

"The investors involved (in Forza Rossa) should have met with Bernie Ecclestone at Monza, but I didn't see them," he is quoted by Italy's Omnicorse.

"I do not think there is a future for that idea."

But the reports earlier this week had quoted court documents as suggesting Forza Rossa has been granted approval to make its F1 debut either next year or in 2016.

But the Forza Rossa media statement said: "We would like to inform you that we don't yet have an official and public confirmation from the FIA regarding our participation in the formula one world championship.

"Until the FIA official statement any information on our participation in F1 is pure speculation."

The Spanish news agency EFE is reporting similarly, quoting a man by the name of Bogdan Sonea, who is apparently the marketing director or Forza Rossa Ferrari, the official dealer of Ferrari road cars within Romania.

The latest paddock whisper is that Forza Rossa may now be distancing itself from Caterham because it sees buying the similarly failing backmarker Marussia – already powered by customer Ferrari engines – as a better option.

Also rumored in the Romanian press is that Forza Rossa will be based in Germany, with cars powered by Renault.

"We're still awaiting official confirmation from the FIA to enter formula one," Sonea said.

He added that the project is purely privately funded, without the rumored involvement of the Romanian government.

FIA to tackle cost problem after team failures
(GMM) With Caterham and Marussia in the throes of failure, the governing FIA has admitted it is concerned about the financial situation in F1.

It is believed the next most endangered team on the grid is the Swiss privateer Sauber, whose boss and co-owner Monisha Kaltenborn sounded furious as she spoke to media on Thursday.

"I think the worst part is that we're damaging the sport with this so much that I think the owners of the product of the sport should think what they're doing here," she said.

Kaltenborn insisted that with "billions" flowing into F1's commercial coffers, it is unacceptable that the sport is "not capable" of keeping 11 teams alive.

"Now you try to explain that to somebody," she exclaimed.

Spain's Marca newspaper claims one struggling team, perhaps Hinwil based Sauber, has leaked the precise cost of minimally keeping a two-car operation afloat throughout a season at present — EUR 94.4 million.

Earlier this year, FIA president Jean Todt tried to introduce a budget cap in formula one but ran into the opposition of the powerful, big team-dominated strategy group.

But in light of Marussia and Caterham's collapses, the FIA said in a statement that "these failings once again acutely raise the question of the economic balance of (F1) and justify the position, expressed many times by the FIA, in favor of any initiative that will help reduce costs in order to ensure the survival of the existing grid or attract potential new entrants".

The FIA demonstrated its sympathy for this weekend's absent backmarkers when stewards on Thursday decided against penalizing Caterham and Marussia, despite the clear rule requiring every team to "participate in every event".

"In view of the current financial circumstances," the stewards' statement read, "the stewards decide not to impose any penalty".

And because "of the particular nature of the breach, the matter is referred to the attention of the FIA president", the stewards added.