Formula 1's Latest Rumours, Talk: Felipe Massa, Haas' 2017 Driver Decision, More
Felipe Massa may have helped Williams finish third in the Formula One constructors' championship in 2014 and 2015, but there is a sense that if the team are to move to the next level, they need to sign a more fashionable driver.
Williams have openly admitted their interest in 2009 world champion Jenson Button and Force India's Sergio Perez in recent weeks, undermining Massa's position within the Grove-based outfit.
And the Brazilian, who is holding discussions with a number of teams about next season, has insisted he will retire from F1 at the end of 2016 if he doesn't feel valued by a team.
If Massa is released by Williams, he could find a new home at Haas, who have close links to the Ferrari team he served so well between 2006 and 2013.
His experience would be vital for the newest team on the grid, but if he is to join the American outfit, he will have to move quickly, with Haas warning they will not wait to finalise their 2017 lineup.
Like Massa, Jolyon Palmer may find himself without a seat for next season having endured a difficult debut campaign with Renault, who are also flirting with Perez.
But despite his struggles in 2016, the British driver has explained why he is proud to represent a team of Renault's stature.
Meanwhile, Red Bull junior driver Pierre Gasly has pleaded with Toro Rosso to sign him for 2017, but the Frenchman has cooled speculation that he could replace Daniil Kvyat for the final nine races of this season.
Closing this week's roundup is former grand prix driver Anthony Davidson, who has outlined why the 2017 regulation changes could favour some drivers more than others.
Felipe Massa Wants to 'Feel Important' as Questions over F1 Future Continue
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Massa has insisted he wants to feel like an "important" part of a team before deciding whether he will remain in F1 beyond 2016.
Massa has established a productive relationship with team-mate Valtteri Bottas since joining Williams from Ferrari at the beginning of 2014, but the Brazilian is increasingly unlikely to be retained by the team for next season.
Deputy team principal Claire Williams recently told the Press Association (h/t Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble) the team are interested in signing Button or Perez for 2017, with development driver Lance Stroll and Sauber's Felipe Nasr also under consideration.
Massa, who has scored just one point in the last six races, has revealed he is talking to a number of teams regarding 2017, but the 35-year-old is prepared to walk away from F1 if he doesn't feel valued by potential employers.
Per ESPN F1's Lewis Larkam, he explained:
"The talks is for sure happening since a little bit of time. I would not say just here, in this team, but around. I think now we don't have 100 per cent the right answer and at the time will be the right answer, so we see what is going to happen.
I don't want to really say names of teams or whatever but I am interested in being able to drive in a team that I feel important, that I feel that we can have a good result, a good job, and if I don't have that, maybe I will not be here next year. ...
I'm doing what I love to do, which is racing, but I'm not here just to participate. I'm here to do what I feel that I can do, and to feel happy and to feel that I am an important key in the team that I am working for, and if I don't have that I'm not interested to carry on.
You always have some interests outside but I think maybe when the decision is 100 per cent sure, we will see what we are looking at after that.
"
Williams chief technical officer Pat Symonds has hinted he would prefer the team to field an unchanged lineup in 2017, telling Autosport (h/t Eurosport) how Massa "has continued to deliver very strong results" and remains as fast "as he ever was."
Symonds' views were echoed by Bottas, who told the same source Massa is "still quick" and "driving very well."
Bottas is likely to remain with Williams for a fifth season in 2017, but Finnish commentator Oskari Saari recently told Danish newspaper BT (h/t Planet F1) the driver has received a firm offer from Renault.
Haas Won't Postpone 2017 Driver Lineup Decision
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Team principal Guenther Steiner has insisted Haas are unwilling to delay a decision regarding their 2017 driver lineup, confirming an announcement will be made after September's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
While Romain Grosjean is almost certain to remain with Haas, doubts remain over the future of Esteban Gutierrez, who has failed to score a point in the opening 12 races of 2016 and has frequently criticised the team in public.
With Charles Leclerc replacing Gutierrez in the first practice sessions in Britain, Hungary and Germany, it is possible the team could promote the Ferrari-affiliated youngster alongside Grosjean for 2017.
Haas could also find themselves in a position to sign a more experienced driver should the likes of Massa, Button and Renault's Kevin Magnussen leave their current teams.
At the end of last year, team owner Gene Haas told the official F1 website of his fondness for Magnussen, who he said would have been signed by the American outfit had they been unable to lure Grosjean from Lotus.
But Steiner has revealed Haas are not prepared to wait much longer, hinting the team may favour stability ahead of 2017's major regulations changes.
According to Motorsport.com's Pablo Elizalde and Noble, he said:
"I don't think we want to wait this long, because you risk it. If you know where you are, it's better than having uncertainty.
We are very confident we can say it after Monza. We do what we want to do.
It gives the team certainty and you can focus on next year, on the car, and on performance.
"
Per the same source, Steiner added that Haas, who sit eighth in the constructors' standings, will introduce their first aerodynamic upgrades of 2016 at the Singapore GP, but he insisted their focus is very much on avoiding second-season syndrome next year. He said:
"These parts were developed in March/April and just went into production a little bit later. We didn't want to rush them because we want to get better with production as well for next year.
As everybody knows, the second year is the most difficult one and it still will be, but we'll try to do as much as possible not to make mistakes in the second year. Everybody is waiting to tell us, 'We told you so.' You guys, basically.
"
Meanwhile, Haas has revealed his team are no longer "scrambling" to resolve problems with their VF-16 car, telling Autosport (h/t Eurosport) how they are more "organised" despite securing just two points finishes in the last 10 races.
He added Haas should be even "better" in 2017 after a mostly impressive debut campaign.
Jolyon Palmer Feels 'Lucky' to Represent Renault in F1
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Palmer has insisted he still feels "lucky" to race for Renault in F1 despite enduring a difficult debut season in 2016.
After winning the GP2 title in 2014, Palmer participated in a number of practice sessions as Lotus' reserve driver last season and secured a full-time seat for 2016 shortly before Renault repurchased the Enstone-based outfit.
With the team focusing heavily on the 2017 regulation changes, Renault have suffered from a lack of development this year and Palmer remains among the five drivers yet to score a point at the halfway stage of 2016.
Although he has struggled on track, Palmer, who was on course for a 10th-place finish in Hungary before suffering a late-race spin, believes he is in a privileged position at one of the four full-blown factory teams on the current grid.
Per ESPN F1's Larkam, he explained:
"I don't feel like that specifically is unlucky. I feel like pretty much a lot of everything else this year has been unlucky but we knew that it was going to be quite tough this year. I expected that we would be kind of where we are, I'm still very happy.
I think that I'm lucky in the grand scheme of things with Renault because they are a manufacturer team. They've got huge resources and they will be champions in the future so it's better to be here than to be a driver in some teams that are doing a bit better currently.
"
The futures of Renault's current drivers have come under much scrutiny in recent weeks, with Autosport (h/t Eurosport) reporting the team intend to replace Palmer and Magnussen with Perez and Esteban Ocon, who will spend the final nine races of 2016 at Manor, for next season.
However, Palmer has stressed he is unconcerned about the speculation, suggesting his performances on track will determine his future.
Per Larkam, he said: "Nothing changes, I'm not fussed. I'm used to them [rumours] anyway now it's not a complete shock. I know the situation here anyway, I'm doing my best and regardless of what anyone is saying. I've got to do my job in the car."
After Ocon's switch to Manor was announced, Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul strongly hinted the 19-year-old will race for his team in 2017. He told Manor's official website: "I hope this experience will be of great benefit for him and for Renault in the near future."
Meanwhile, Abiteboul has admitted Renault are "struggling" to "convince" staff to join the team due to a lack of belief in the project, per Autosport (h/t Eurosport). He told the same source Renault are interested in re-signing James Allison following the technical director's departure from Ferrari.
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Pierre Gasly Feels 'Ready' to Race for Toro Rosso in 2017
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Gasly has urged Toro Rosso to offer him a race seat for the 2017 season, insisting he is now "ready" to graduate to F1.
After an underwhelming first full season in GP2 in 2015, the Frenchman has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in F1's official feeder series this season and is the joint leader of the 2016 drivers' standings.
Carlos Sainz Jr. is almost certain to spend a third season at Toro Rosso in 2017, but the team's second seat remains up for grabs due to Kvyat's struggles following his demotion from Red Bull.
Although Kvyat has been restricted to just two points finishes since returning to Toro Rosso in May, team principal Franz Tost recently backed the Russian to stay put for next season.
He told Autosport (h/t Eurosport): "I personally hope he will race with us because I am convinced that sooner or later he will show his real performance and he will come back with his speed."
However, Gasly, who has participated in test sessions for both Red Bull-backed teams in 2016 has called for Toro Rosso to trust him with a race seat in 2017.
He told GPUpdate.net: "For me the goal is clear: I want to be there next year in Formula 1, to get the Toro Rosso seat.
"I'm trying my best to get it, and at the moment I'm doing well, so it's important to keep the lead, show Red Bull I'm ready and I'm going to push for that."
Kvyat's disastrous weekend at the German GP, where he was eliminated from the first segment of qualifying, led to suggestions he could be replaced by the Frenchman in the second half of 2016.
But Gasly has insisted he is concentrating on becoming the first Red Bull junior to secure the GP2 crown. He told the same source:
"Honestly I don't listen to it at all.
Already to be here [in GP2] it takes so much energy and you need to focus on the important things.
At the moment I'm in GP2 with Prema, and that's what will make the difference for next year, so I need to put all my effort into it—after we'll see what happens.
If I get a phone call, I'm ready for everything, but I'm just focusing on my stuff.
"
Meanwhile, Tost has backed Toro Rosso technical director James Key to become "one of the top technical personalities in F1 in a couple of years," telling the official F1 website he could emulate legendary Red Bull designer Adrian Newey.
Anthony Davidson Expects F1 to Be 'Turned on Its Head' in 2017
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Davidson believes the major regulation changes will allow new stars to emerge in 2017, predicting drivers who excel under the existing rules will find their advantage diminished next season.
F1 is to change significantly next year, when tweaks to the chassis dimensions, bodywork and tyres will make the cars harder to drive and several seconds per lap quicker than the current models.
Among the biggest changes will be the introduction of wider tyres—paraded by Ferrari in a recent test—which will increase mechanical grip and allow the drivers to push hard throughout a stint.
Davidson, who made 24 grand prix starts for the likes of Minardi, BAR and Super Aguri between 2002 and 2008, expects drivers renowned for preserving their tyres to find it more difficult to impress under the new formula.
He told Sky Sports:
"I think you're going to see a shake-up in the drivers that perform now or don't perform now. They're going to be so different to drive that it will take different qualities from a driver. ...
Let's take Sergio Perez; known for his qualities of looking after tyres with the car slip-sliding around, and he's great at keeping them alive during a long slippery stint. But that might be eradicated next year.
You might be able to lean on your tyres as much as you want through the whole race and you don't have to consider the tyre wear or the car moving around at all. You're going to be power limited rather than grip limited. The whole thing could be turned on its head.
Then you might see someone like Sebastian Vettel, who thrived in 2011, putting his foot down even before he's got to the apex of the corner. You're going to now have wider tyres at the back and loads more downforce giving you that extra grip.
A driver like him might find even more time than what he currently can.
"
Per Autosport (h/t Eurosport), Button has suggested it is "important" that F1 gets "other teams involved fighting at the front" given Mercedes' dominance of the sport since 2014, adding it is possible the Silver Arrows could be "caught out" by the new regulations.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, believes giving teams the freedom to develop their cars in different ways is crucial to F1's future success.
According to Crash.net, he explained:
"I think the teams [once] had the possibility to choose the weight distribution, to choose their own cambers and tyre pressures, their own philosophy of rear wing or even six wheels on a car!
Now if you painted all the cars black you would not know which team is that car. The cars looks similar, but just different colours because the rules are quite strict. We need to make the car like this, with this width, this height and everything. It is a little bit strange.
"
The two-time world champion added that drivers should also be offered "a little bit more freedom" to race with fewer penalties. He said: "You are allowed to breathe and not much more."
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