Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: McLaren-Honda, Felipe Nasr to Renault, More
As the 2016 Formula One season resumes at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, decision time is fast approaching for McLaren-Honda.
It is common knowledge that Jenson Button is fighting with reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne for the opportunity to partner two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in 2017, with the team seemingly forced to decide between experience and youth.
And racing director Eric Boullier has said the team cannot afford to let their heart rule their head when making such a huge decision.
With F1's month-long summer break coming to an end, the driver market is beginning to get very interesting, and arguably, the one to watch over the coming weeks is Felipe Nasr.
The Brazilian has recently admitted he would be happy to remain with Sauber for a third year in 2017, but he is openly searching for a bigger and better team.
It has emerged that Nasr is asking for help from the Brazilian government to help him secure a place at Renault, who are expected to make significant progress under the new-for-2017 regulations.
Nasr's arrival at Renault would almost certainly be at the expense of Kevin Magnussen, who along with current team-mate Jolyon Palmer is fighting for his F1 career.
Having been demoted by McLaren at the end of his rookie campaign 2014, the Dane knows what it feels like to be discarded by a big-name team after a single season and is rapidly running out of patience with Renault.
Another driver who has been linked to Renault is Valtteri Bottas, but the Finn has hinted he is close to committing his future to Williams, saying he wants to win at least one race for the team before he waves goodbye.
Closing our latest roundup is Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, who has explained how he has grown as an individual since arriving in F1 in 2006.
McLaren-Honda 'Cannot Be Emotional' About 2017 Driver Decision
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McLaren-Honda have dropped the biggest hint yet that Button will be replaced by Vandoorne at the end of 2016, with Boullier saying the team "cannot be emotional" when deciding their 2017 driver lineup.
Button has been a loyal servant to McLaren since his arrival at the beginning of 2010, winning eight grands prix and providing stability as the team switched from Mercedes to Honda engines in 2015, but the 2009 world champion's future has come under much scrutiny in recent years.
After surviving two retirement sagas in 2014 and '15, this is almost certain to be Button's last season at McLaren, with reserve driver Vandoorne—described by chairman Ron Dennis as "an integral part of McLaren-Honda's future," per BBC Sport's Andrew Benson—set to partner Alonso in 2017.
In June, Dennis told Sky Sports McLaren will not finalise their driver lineup until the end of September at the earliest, and as decision time approaches, Boullier has suggested the team must decide with their head and not their heart.
He told Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble:
"We have to make a decision which will be the McLaren strategy. After that there are some pros and cons but Ron, myself and the shareholders, we cannot be emotional.
That is what drives the fans and the sponsors maybe, but we cannot be emotional. We need to be rational about what we want to achieve at McLaren this year, next year and the following years.
"
When asked if McLaren required a long-term plan with 24-year-old Vandoorne or a short-term fix with 36-year-old Button, Boullier told the same source: "We need to have both."
He added: "What McLaren went through in the last two years was a deep change, and having Honda onboard now as a new player in F1, we can play it medium and long term. So we will see."
Per Autosport (h/t Eurosport), Boullier has declared himself happy with the impact he has made on McLaren since his arrival at the beginning of 2014, explaining how he has "drastically changed" the team, making the environment less political to the point where there is now no "bulls--t" or "stories around" them.
Should Button leave McLaren, he could postpone his retirement by rejoining Williams, with whom he made his grand prix debut in 2000.
But deputy team principal Claire Williams has warned the team will not wait for McLaren to make their decision over Button, telling the Press Association (h/t Motorsport.com's Noble): "I am not going to be waiting around because that is just not the right mentality for a team like ours to have."
Sauber's Felipe Nasr Chasing 2017 Renault Seat?
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Nasr is seeking help from the Brazilian government as he tries to secure a switch to Renault for 2017, it has been reported.
According to Autosport (h/t Eurosport), Renault are increasingly likely to drop current drivers Magnussen and Palmer at the end of 2016, with the team intending to partner Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon for next season.
However, the Enstone, England-based outfit have shown an interest in other drivers, with Finnish commentator Oskari Saari telling Danish publication BT (h/t Planet F1) how Bottas has received a firm offer from Renault.
Following Longbow Finance S.A.'s purchase of the team in July, Nasr recently told Autosport (h/t Eurosport) he would be happy to remain with Sauber for 2017, suggesting the Swiss outfit can make major progress under the new regulations.
But he confessed he is "still open" to other options, with the same source reporting Williams—where Nasr held a reserve role in 2014—"believed to be considering him for a race seat."
And it has emerged the 24-year-old, who has long-term financial backing from Banco do Brasil, is determined to force through a move to Renault.
As reported by Brazilian publication O Globo (h/t Sky Sports), Nasr—along with manager Steve Robertson, who also represents 2007 world champion and former Team Enstone driver Kimi Raikkonen—recently met with Brazil's acting president Michel Temer "for help in trying to convince Renault to hire him for the 2017 season."
Nasr and Robertson were reportedly joined by "an official" of Brazilian state Parana, where Renault "have a road car factory."
Speaking to the official F1 website, Renault team principal Frederic Vasseur explained the team are looking for a "super-motivated" driver who is "capable of leading a team," suggesting a decision regarding their 2017 lineup will "probably" be made "at the beginning of September."
Kevin Magnussen Refusing to 'Beg' for Renault Contract Extension
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Magnussen has said he will not "beg" for a second season with Renault in 2017, explaining his performances on track will ultimately decide whether he earns a contract extension.
The Dane was regarded as a potential world champion when he was signed as Pastor Maldonado's replacement in February, but despite regularly outperforming Palmer and scoring the team's only points of the season, Magnussen has struggled at times in 2016.
According to ESPN F1's Lewis Larkam, Magnussen recently admitted the prospect of eventually leading Renault to glory has kept him motivated during this year, but it is unclear whether he will be offered that opportunity.
The 23-year-old recently explained he wants "to stay" for 2017, but he called for Renault to make a decision over his future "as soon as possible," per Motorsport.com's Pablo Elizalde and Jamie Klein.
And Magnussen has admitted he can do nothing but wait for the decision to come, telling Autosport (h/t Eurosport):
"There's nothing more I can do or say.
I've had some good opportunities to show what I can do. I've clearly got the most out of the car in qualifying the majority of the time, and also scored the only points the team have claimed this season.
I know it's not my decision—if it was I'd have a very long contract—but I can only do my best and see what happens.
I'm not going to beg for it [a second year]. I'm going to do my best on and off-track and then we will see.
Every season in Formula 1, unless you are on a long-term deal, you are fighting for your future every single race.
There is not a race you are not under pressure. It's an exam every single time you are in the car.
That's natural, it comes with the territory in Formula 1, and we know at this point in the season there is a lot of talk around drivers, whether they are going or staying.
I learned from the last time I was in Formula 1 that you can't ever feel secure, so I'm just trying to do my best, working as hard as I can and as closely as I can with the team.
"
Magnussen told the same source he had no dialogue with Renault over his future during the month-long summer break but admitted "it's fairly obvious who is in contention for the seat, and it will be what it will be."
He added: "In a way it's up to me because I'm driving the car and I need to deliver, but in many ways it's also out of my hands. I can only do my best, and if I do that then there is nothing else I can do."
Should Magnussen be released by Renault, it will be the second time in three years the Dane has been dropped by a team after a single season following his demotion by McLaren at the close of 2014.
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Valtteri Bottas Eager to Remain with Williams for 2017
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Bottas has said he wants to remain with Williams for a fifth season in 2017, explaining he still has unfinished business with the team.
The Finn has established himself as one of Williams' most valuable assets since making his grand prix debut at the beginning of 2013, helping the team secure third in the constructors' standings in 2014 and '15.
Bottas has been restricted to just one podium appearance this season, but the 26-year-old is currently the best of the rest behind the Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari drivers in the championship having scored 58 points in the first 12 races of 2016.
In July, manager Didier Coton told Autosport (h/t Eurosport) how Bottas—who has taken a more hands-on approach to his contractual negotiations—has "a bit of an unfinished story" with Williams, saying his client is committed to the team.
And Bottas has agreed with Coton's comments, telling Autosport (h/t Eurosport): "I think so. We haven't achieved together what our goals were. We definitely want to at least win a race together—it was close a few times. With this team, it can be better than this, better than 2014. It would be nice to be part of it but we have to wait and see if it is possible together."
In each of the last two seasons, Williams have announced their driver lineup at September's Italian GP, although that deadline may be extended this year due to the uncertainty surrounding their 2017 plans.
However, Bottas—who is enjoying being more involved in contract discussions—has hinted his future may be resolved quickly, telling the same source:
"It is nice for me to be able to speak directly to the team and I only want to do it because I'm interested in my own career.
It doesn't disturb me at all with regards to the way I work with the team, the way I perform on track.
It's not done any harm. I would guess any team manager would appreciate to speak to the driver directly.
Some drivers don't like to do it but for me it is OK and I like it.
Normally, it's been around September time I've had the green light or confirmation for next year.
It will be after the August break that things hopefully start to develop and I will know where I will be racing next year.
My job is to try and perform on the track and when the time is right, try and make decisions for next year.
"
Deputy team principal Claire Williams recently praised Bottas' performances in the first half of 2016, telling Autosport (h/t Eurosport) how he has "really matured into a driver that can build a team around him and galvanise people" after being distracted by speculation linking him with Ferrari in 2015.
Nico Rosberg Reflects on 'Huge' Changes Since Arriving in F1
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Rosberg has reflected on the "huge" changes he has made since arriving in F1, describing how he has made "a lot of progress as a human being" in his time in the sport.
This year marks a decade since Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke, arrived in the pinnacle of motor racing as a 20-year-old with Williams.
After claiming two podium finishes in his four seasons with the British team, he switched to the newly rebranded Mercedes outfit at the beginning of 2010 and has played an instrumental role in the team's rise, becoming the first German to win behind the wheel of a German car in the 2012 Chinese GP.
Alongside Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg guided Mercedes to two consecutive constructors' championships in 2014 and '15—with the team almost certain to seal a third in 2016—although the drivers' title continues to elude him.
Rosberg, who recently agreed a contract extension with Mercedes until the end of 2018, believes arriving on the grid at such a young age has made him a more rounded person, telling ESPN F1's Laurence Edmondson:
"In Formula One you learn so much! At a very young age you are straight into one of the world's leading companies and you go straight to the top of it, or just below, so you are speaking with the bosses and you are responsible for the motivation of the whole team, respecting everybody and the human interactions that go with that. You have a huge responsibility and you learn so much as a young guy in the sport and I'm really grateful for that because I have made such a lot of progress as human being as a result. It's very obvious to me.
It's huge. Self-confidence, for example, how to interact with other human beings, especially your colleagues, how to push them with it sounding like a positive rather than a negative, and also how to receive pushes yourself—to take them positively rather than negatively. It's all so difficult to do, because when you get criticised everybody goes straight into a negative state of mind and blocks it off and says, 'No, I'm not having that.' To use it as a positive is a big challenge, but for sure I do that better now than I used to.
"
Rosberg told the same source how media interest in him "changed a lot" when he was elevated to title-winning contention in 2014, admitting it is "pretty unreal" how long Mercedes' "amazing and awesome" dominant spell has lasted.
The 31-year-old also described his relationship with Hamilton, who beat him to the 2014 and '15 titles and is currently leading the 2016 standings as "up and down."
He added: "It's always going to be difficult, there is always so much going on and always so much at stake. We have the necessary respect and it's a good battle."
Meanwhile, it has emerged Rosberg will trial the halo head-protection concept in free practice at this weekend's Belgian GP, per Motorsport.com's Noble.
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