Latest F1 news in brief

Philippe and Christine Bianchi, parents of Jules, say there is no change in his condition

Lotus finally announces Mercedes switch
Father says 'no change' in Bianchi's condition
Marussia left to decide on Russia GP participation
FIA set to reveal Bianchi crash investigation
Kobayashi, Merhi unclear over Caterham future
Sauber to hold 'Russia rescue' talks at Sochi
Ricciardo trusts Vettel to obey team orders

Lotus finally announces Mercedes switch
(GMM) Lotus has finally announced its switch from Renault to Mercedes power for 2015 and beyond.

With current Mercedes customer McLaren moving to works Honda power next year, it has long been rumored that Enstone based Lotus would pick up the deal.

It was finally announced at Sochi late on Thursday, when Lotus said it will use Mercedes' field-leading turbo V6 from 2015 "until the end of the current power unit generation".

The media statement said Lotus will use fuels and oils developed by Mercedes title backer Petronas, indicating that the team's existing arrangement with French sponsor Total will come to an end.

Lotus said it will continue to build its own transmission.

"It was strategically important for Mercedes-Benz to continue to supply three customers throughout this generation of power unit, in addition to the primary focus on our silver arrows works team," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Father says 'no change' in Bianchi's condition
(GMM) Five days after Jules Bianchi's life-threatening crash at Suzuka, there is "no significant change" in his health condition, father Philippe has revealed.

Bianchi's father was speaking on Thursday to the French daily Nice-Matin, adding that the messages of support from the F1 paddock and around the world have been encouraging to the family.

"It really has been tremendous and something that I could not even imagine," he said, "even if I know that Jules is a nice boy."

As for 25-year-old Bianchi's condition, however, Philippe admitted that the situation is very serious.

"Professor Saillant and the Italian specialist who came at the request of Ferrari are cooperating fully with the local doctors," said Philippe Bianchi.

"So he could not be better cared for. There are no significant changes. Everyone knows that he is in a critical phase.

"But Jules fights like he has always fought. Just as in the races. He is strong."

Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Bianchi's siblings Tom and Melanie have travelled to Japan to be with their brother, as has the Marussia driver's best friend Lorenz.

Philippe said he has not seen footage of his son's crash.

"I do not want to see the video," he insisted. "It is difficult to speak of a racing incident. To me, it's more like a traffic accident.

"Depending on what happens, I will surely have something to say later."

Charlie Whiting's investigation into the circumstances of Sunday's crash is now set to be handed down, and Italy's Autosprint claims video footage and team telemetry will show that Bianchi did not significantly slow despite yellow flags.

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen said: "It's always easy afterwards to say what should have happened.

"It was an unfortunate accident," the Finn told Turun Sanomat newspaper in Russia, "and none of us want to see someone get hurt. I hope Jules gets better."

Marussia left to decide on Russia GP participation
(GMM) As F1 drivers prepare to set out for the first ever practice action in Russia, it is still not clear how Marussia will tackle the weekend mere days after Jules Bianchi's crash.

It emerged at Sochi late on Thursday that the team has prepared two cars for the weekend, and nominated reserve Alexander Rossi to drive in the seriously injured Frenchman's place.

"He is the only available driver with a super license," a team source is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

But authoritative sources insist Marussia is still not decided as to whether to field Rossi alongside Max Chilton, run just a single car for Chilton, or pull out of the race weekend altogether.

The Telegraph claims the decision will depend partly on the views of Bianchi's parents on site in Japan, and the condition of the team's 25-year-old driver.

Also part of the decision will be Chilton, who did not speak to the media on Thursday.

The British driver is, however, in Russia and on Thursday jogged a lap of the new F1 circuit.

Bernie Ecclestone is believed to have told Marussia that, in light of the circumstances, the decision about how to tackle the weekend is entirely up to the team.

That is despite the obligation under normal circumstances for teams to field two cars at every race on the calendar.

"(Marussia) executives spoke warmly of Ecclestone's emotional support," said correspondent Daniel Johnson.

Johnson added that "the impression given by sources at the team is that one car will run this weekend".

Indeed, less than an hour before Friday morning practice, Chilton's car was being prepared as per normal while the sister car is fully built but bearing Bianchi's number 17 stickers.

Rossi's official F1 number is 42.

FIA set to reveal Bianchi crash investigation
(GMM) The atmosphere in the Sochi paddock is grim, with many drivers visibly upset and even angry in the wake of the circumstances surrounding Jules Bianchi's crash.

"There are changes we want for this weekend," said Nico Rosberg, "but I am not going to give you details."

Sergio Perez broke ranks and was highly critical of the FIA on Thursday, and Bianchi's closest friend in the F1 paddock, Jean-Eric Vergne, also sounded angry.

"I think we should not be driving in difficult conditions – even normal conditions – with a crane on the track," the Frenchman told RMC Sport.

Vergne said he is not anticipating the outcome of Charlie Whiting's investigation, which will be revealed to the drivers and also the media later on Friday.

FIA president Jean Todt is also in Russia this weekend.

"I absolutely expect nothing," Vergne insisted, "because it will not help Jules.

"People are doing their job, I hope they do it well, but today the only thing that matters is trying to have more positive news about Jules."

F1's most experienced driver Jenson Button called for calm.

"At the moment it's inappropriate for us to be outspoken," the 34-year-old said. "There should be no pointing fingers. There's an investigation going on."

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone indicated that he will not be pointing fingers even after the investigation's findings are published.

"There's a word that covers all these things and it's called accident," he is quoted by PA Sport.

"It sounds bloody awful," he said, referring to Bianchi's condition. "Whatever can be done is being done."

Kobayashi, Merhi unclear over Caterham future
(GMM) Roberto Merhi and Kamui Kobayashi remain in the dark about how struggling Caterham will tackle the remaining trio of grands prix in 2014.

Spanish rookie Merhi had been tipped for several weeks now to replace Japanese regular Kobayashi, but for the moment he is confined to Friday practice duties.

Kobayashi, on the other hand, is being told race-by-race whether he will be on race duty.

"I called Colin Kolles on Tuesday," he told reporters in Russia, "and he told me to come to Sochi. I immediately packed up and came."

Kobayashi admits openly he not only has no idea if he will be a Caterham driver in 2015, but also if he will still be in action in Austin in three weeks.

"Hopefully next year it will be different," he laughed.

"I hope to keep a career in formula one," said Kobayashi.

"If I am able to stay in Caterham, I will use the opportunity, but I also need to explore other options.

"Caterham is going through difficult times; nobody wanted to see the situation evolve like this. Let's see what will change next year," he added.

Merhi, 23, also sounded unsure about the future, despite earlier being seen as the favorite to become a Caterham regular under the new Kolles regime.

"I am doing my third practice session this year here," he said in Russia, "but I don't know if there is the chance to take part in the races.

"It's up to the team. We'll see," Merhi added.

Sauber to hold 'Russia rescue' talks at Sochi
(GMM) Sauber could put its so-called 'Russian rescue deal' back on track this weekend.

The struggling Swiss team announced the Russian investments over a year ago, adding that the Russian teen Sergey Sirotkin would be in the cockpit.

The entire deal then went very quiet, but Sirotkin will finally get his first grand prix outing on Friday when, on home turf, he practices in Esteban Gutierrez's car.

"For me it has to be a priority to race in formula one for Sauber in 2015," the Swiss newspaper Blick quotes Sirotkin as saying.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, however, is promising nothing, despite rumors she might replace Mexican Gutierrez with Sirotkin next year.

But she warned: "We have several options for how to proceed."

As for the 'Russian rescue deal' that many had speculated had collapsed altogether, Kaltenborn revealed at Sochi: "There will be talks here."

Ricciardo trusts Vettel to obey team orders
(GMM) Red Bull is now ready to rethink its approach to team orders for the last handful of races in 2014.

As recently as days ago, the reigning champion team had insisted that Daniel Ricciardo, the highest placed non-Mercedes driver in the championship, would nonetheless not be getting preferential treatment alongside Sebastian Vettel.

As ever in F1, however, things have rapidly changed.

On Friday at Suzuka – just one week ago – world champion Vettel stunned his bosses by admitting that he is leaving the team at the end of the season.

Not only that, but at 127 points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton, the seemingly Ferrari-bound German is now even mathematically out of contention to add a fifth consecutive drivers' title to his crown this year.

Asked at Sochi if Vettel's situation means the hierarchy at Red Bull will now change, Australian Ricciardo admitted: "It might.

"For this I need to speak to Christian (Horner) and a few of the guys about it, as it was said from the very beginning that until one of the drivers is mathematically out of it we will keep racing — but now Seb is out of it," he told F1's official website.

"I also said from the beginning that I hope not to rely on his help — and I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I'd love to be in front and not need help. But if I do, maybe this is a possibility," added Ricciardo.

Vettel, however, has ignored team orders before. Last year, the radio message 'Multi-21' was his order to stay behind his then teammate Mark Webber in Malaysia.

He ignored it and won.

But when asked if he expects the departing Vettel to play ball this time, Ricciardo answered: "Yes.

"If we are going to apply some team orders I definitely would give him the benefit of the doubt that he would look after me."