Formula 1's Latest Rumours, Talk: McLaren-Honda, Lance Stroll to Williams, More

McLaren-Honda may be the most improved team of the 2016 Formula One season, but you won't find Ron Dennis celebrating that achievement.

As far as the chairman—synonymous with the team's dominance with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the late 1980s and early '90s—is concerned, McLaren are still nowhere near good enough and have nothing to shout about just yet.

But Dennis is convinced his team are on the right track, offering an update on their preparations for 2017, when they aim to win a grand prix for the first time since 2012 and even end their long wait for a world championship.

As McLaren's preparations for next year's major regulation changes ramp up, Williams' appear to have stalled slightly.

The Martini-liveried team identified a replacement for the retiring Felipe Massa almost two months ago, yet they are still yet to announce newly crowned European Formula Three champion Lance Stroll as the Brazilian's successor.

And the reason for the delay can only be described as "typical F1."

After several months of simmering, the driver market is finally beginning to boil, with Nico Hulkenberg's surprise switch from Force India to Renault set to trigger several moves in the midfield.

Renault are still searching for a team-mate for Hulkenberg, who is delighted to join a manufacturer team, while Force India appear to be close to appointing his replacement, with Manor's Pascal Wehrlein revealing he is hopeful of securing a promotion to the Silverstone-based outfit.

Another driver on the market is Esteban Gutierrez, who is still not guaranteed a second season with Haas in 2017. The Mexican has expressed his frustration with the delay but is confident a contract extension will be agreed in due course.

Here's the latest roundup.

Ron Dennis Says McLaren-Honda Still 'Not Good Enough' Despite 2016 Progress

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Dennis has said McLaren-Honda still have plenty of room for improvement despite making huge progress over the course of 2016.

After enduring their worst season in 35 years in 2015, the team have improved considerably this year and currently sit sixth in the constructors' standings having scored points in 10 of the 17 races to date.

With major regulation changes on the horizon, McLaren—without a race victory since November 2012—are expected to continue their recovery in 2017, with Dennis telling BBC Sport's Andrew Benson they should aim to return to winning ways next season.

Dennis has declared himself pleased with how McLaren's preparations for 2017 are progressing, but the chairman has said the team's achievements this season are nothing more than mediocre.

When asked how he would rate McLaren's 2016 campaign out of 10, he told Sky Sports:

"

About a five.

We're just not good enough. We are here to win races and we're not winning races—but we are going in the right direction.

Our new engine is running on the dyno now and that's several months earlier than our engine last year. We are well advanced on the car and making really good steps. As everyone will have been telling you, the cars will be four, maybe five to six seconds faster, and I think that's when the great drivers will start to excel.

"

Over the Japanese GP weekend, Fernando Alonso warned the progress McLaren have made across this season is no reference for how they will perform under the new rules, telling an FIA press conference the team "need another big step next year."

In another FIA press conference, Honda motorsport boss Yusuke Hasegawa admitted the Japanese manufacturer needs to "push more, much harder" if it is to help McLaren challenge for major honours.

Per ESPN F1's Laurence Edmondson, Alonso believes it is unfair that only three teams—Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull—have been allowed to test Pirelli's 2017-specification tyres this year, suggesting the drivers who participate in the tests will gain an advantage over their rivals.

On his personal blog, former Ferrari and McLaren driver Stefan Johansson echoed Alonso's thoughts, praising Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel for being smart by conducting extensive tyre testing for Pirelli.

The Swede suggested the 2017 tyres will be based largely on Vettel's input as a result, allowing him to receive a tyre suited to his driving style, meaning he "won’t have to spend as much time getting his car to react the way he wants. He’ll be able to attack right away."

Johansson admitted he was astonished McLaren have taken no part in the tyre-testing programme.

Martini Concerns Force Williams to Delay Lance Stroll Announcement

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Williams have delayed officially promoting Stroll to a race seat in order to avoid complications with title sponsor Martini, it has emerged.

After Massa announced his retirement from F1 on the eve of September's Italian GP, Williams development driver Stroll emerged as the leading candidate to replace the Brazilian, with Motorsport.com's Adam Cooper revealing a deal had already been agreed in principle.

In an effort to prepare for his F1 debut, the teenager—the winner of this year's European F3 title—has been testing Williams' 2014 car in recent weeks, but confirmation of his appointment has yet to be made.

According to Motorsport.com's Roberto Chinchero, Williams want to wait a few more weeks before announcing the signing of Stroll to avoid complications with Martini, as the Canadian is still under the legal drinking age in many countries around the world.

As such, the team are set to wait at least until his 18th birthday on October 29—qualifying day at the Mexican GP—to confirm their new signing and allow Martini to "maximise the arrival of Stroll," whose billionaire father, Lawrence, is set to supply the team with $25 million, per F1 journalist Joe Saward.

Speaking after the recent Japanese GP, former F1 driver Martin Brundle told Sky Sports' television coverage of his fear that Stroll will have "a baptism of fire" by arriving in F1 2017, when the major regulation changes are set to make the cars more physically demanding to drive than the current models.

As reported by Crash.net's Haydn Cobb, meanwhile, Massa has revealed he plans to attend up to six grands prix in 2017, admitting he is open to working in television punditry and helping sponsors by meeting fans and clients.

He said: "I'm not so sure you can really enjoy the paddock, I think you need to have some things to do. Just coming here to watching I don't think that's enjoyment for me."  

Nico Hulkenberg Hopes to Emulate Michael Schumacher's Success After Renault Move

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Hulkenberg has expressed his delight after sealing a switch to Renault for 2017, revealing he wants to emulate Michael Schumacher's success with Team Enstone.

After three straight seasons with Force India, Hulkenberg's departure from the Silverstone-based outfit was confirmed on October 14, with the German signing a multi-year contract to race for Renault from next season.

Schumacher won two of his record seven world championships with Renault—then competing under the name of Benetton—in 1994 and '95, and Hulkenberg, who has spent much of his F1 career with midfield teams, is hopeful his move to a manufacturer outfit will allow him to achieve success.

And the 29-year-old is convinced next season's major regulation changes will allow Renault to return to competitiveness—the team have been restricted to just eight points in 2016.

Hulkenberg told the team's official website:

"

I’m very happy to join Renault Sport Formula One Team in 2017. Renault has always been a big player in the motorsport world that brings up incredible memories: in his stint with Renault, Michael Schumacher not only helped make Germany an F1 nation, he also sparked my enthusiasm and fire for racing. As a part of the Renault family, I want to develop the car and write new success stories.

It has always been my dream to work for a manufacturer team. F1’s new regulations will change the game and give our team a good opportunity. In the years to come, Renault will play a challenger role, which fits my approach to racing 100 per cent. I can’t wait to become part of the family.

For the remaining races this year, I will give my best for Force India to reach fourth place in the constructors’ championship. This would be a great achievement for the whole Force India team, the biggest success in its history and a great end to a fantastic time there.

I am grateful that Force India has given me the chance to take up this new opportunity.

"

Renault chairman Jerome Stoll told the same source how a driver as "highly talented, dedicated and motivated" as Hulkenberg will allow the team to "harness all the hard work completed this season and translate it to improved results on track in 2017 and beyond."

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya paid tribute to Hulkenberg, telling the team's official website how the German has "become a great friend and contributed a huge amount to the team’s success" since first joining the team in a reserve role at the beginning of 2011.

He added: "While it’s true we will miss Nico, we respect his decision to explore fresh opportunities, and it would be wrong to stand in his way."

The identity of Hulkenberg's 2017 team-mate is unclear, with current Renault drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer—as well as Williams' Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes protege Esteban Ocon, who is currently racing for Manor—all in contention to partner the German.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur has hinted Renault are hoping to sign the best, most polished drivers available rather than employing a designated No. 1 driver, telling French publication L'Equipe (h/t F1i.com's Julien Billiotte) how the team intend to have "two team leaders" behind the wheel.

However, Vasseur told the same source it would be complicated to sign Bottas, who he believes is under contract at Williams.

Pascal Wehrlein Confirms Talks over 2017 Force India Switch

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Wehrlein has confirmed he is holding discussions with Force India with a view to replacing Hulkenberg in 2017.

The Mercedes protege has enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign in 2016, scoring Manor's first point in more than two years in July's Austrian GP and producing several notable qualifying performances.

Wehrlein had been expected to remain with the backmarkers for a second season in 2017, but he recently admitted he could leave Manor at the end of this year, per Autosport (h/t Eurosport).

As reported by Motorsport.com's Chinchero and Jonathan Noble, Wehrlein has been targeting a switch to Force India—who he represented in various test sessions in 2015—and called on Manor to afford him more time before making a decision on their 2017 plans.

Sergio Perez's decision to remain with Force India appeared to block Wehrlein's path to the team, but Hulkenberg's surprise switch to Renault has created a vacancy for the Manor driver.

And according to GPUpdate.net, Wehrlein has revealed he is in negotiations with Force India over 2017, telling German media:

"

Indeed, there's a seat at Force India, and of course we're in talks with them.

We'll see how it will unfold. At the moment, I'm focused on doing the best possible job for Manor. We want to end the season on a high. ...

For me, it wasn't a surprise that there would be an open seat at Force India.

First there were rumours about Sergio, just after he had signed it focused on Nico. There's no smoke without a fire.

"

As reported by F1 journalist James Allen, Wehrlein and Manor team-mate Ocon are the leading contenders to replace Hulkenberg.

Allen suggested Force India would prefer to sign the latter having concluded Ocon has more ultimate potential after evaluating the pair in testing last season.

However, the support Wehrlein receives from the Mercedes hierarchy, as well as his status as "the next cab off the rank," is likely see him pip Ocon to a promotion to Force India.

Esteban Gutierrez Explains Reason Behind Delayed 2017 Haas Deal

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Gutierrez has revealed a lack of coordination has delayed his signing of a contract extension with Haas, but he remains convinced his F1 future will be resolved soon.

After spending last year as Ferrari's reserve driver, the Mexican returned to the grid at the beginning of 2016, but he remains without a point with just four races remaining.

Gutierrez's poor form, as well as his public criticism of the team, has raised questions over his future, with Haas delaying a decision on their 2017 lineup having originally planned to make an announcement after September's Italian GP, as team principal Guenther Steiner told Motorsport.com's Cooper.

But Gutierrez—who is sponsored by the same Mexican backers as compatriot Perez, whose negotiations with Force India took some time to conclude—is confident an agreement to remain with the American outfit will soon be reached.

As reported by ESPN F1's Edmondson, he said:

"

How can I put it in just a few words? It's a matter of coordination basically.

It's very simple, very straightforward, but something very simple is made very complicated so it takes time. Very often as humans we are that way, when life is so simple and straightforward it's complicated.

We complicate ourselves but now we are focusing on simplifying it and that's what takes a bit of time. There are so many parties involved that need to be on the same line, it takes a bit of time.

"

Per Autosport (h/t Eurosport), Gutierrez admitted he has been surprised by how supportive Haas have been in 2016, explaining how "it's fantastic" that the team have recognised the "big effort" he has made despite his lack of results.

"I can assure you I will get out of all of this, and then in the future when it's a great success we will be remembering these moments when everything was frustrating," he added.

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