Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Ferrari, McLaren-Honda and More

Where will Ferrari stand in Formula One's competitive order in 2017?

By definition, the most successful team in the sport's history should be there or thereabouts, fighting for victories and regular podium finishes at the very least. 

But after a scruffy 2016 marred by changes behind the scenes, is there a risk the Prancing Horse could be caught out when the major regulation changes are introduced?

Sebastian Vettel is convinced that won't happen, outlining why the development of Ferrari's 2017 car has not been affected the events of this year.

McLaren-Honda are almost certain to make considerable progress next season, when the new rules should allow the the team to return to winning ways for the first time since November 2012.

McLaren have made a number of changes in recent years to prepare for the new regulations, but arguably the biggest change is set to come.

After more than three decades in charge, chairman Ron Dennis is set to leave the team at the end of 2016, with a surprise name in the frame to replace the 69-year-old.

Meanwhile, Marcus Ericsson is hopeful of securing a switch to Force India, who have noticed a change in Nico Hulkenberg since his switch to Renault was confirmed ahead of the United States Grand Prix.

Closing our latest roundup is 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who has been left baffled by Toro Rosso's decision to keep Daniil Kvyat for next season.

Sebastian Vettel Certain Ferrari Changes Haven't Hurt 2017 Car Development

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Vettel is convinced Ferrari's midseason technical reshuffle has had no major effect on the team's preparations for 2017's major regulation changes.

After a poor start to 2016, Ferrari announced technical director James Allison had been replaced by engine guru Mattia Binotto ahead of July's German GP, ending the former's three-year spell with the Prancing Horse.

It was feared the consequences of the departure of Allison, regarded as one of the brightest technical minds in modern F1, would be felt for a long time to come—especially ahead of 2017, when alterations to the bodywork and the introduction of wider tyres will make the cars several seconds per lap faster.

However, Vettel believes the fact Ferrari began work on their new car some time ago means their 2017 program should not be compromised by the changes behind the scenes.

Per Autosport (h/t Eurosport), he explained:

"

Next year's car project started very early for anyone because it is so different.

It took a while at the beginning of the year to know exactly what is going to happen for next year.

It's not just one person, so obviously it wasn't easy for the whole team to digest that James is not there anymore.

You can imagine he had one of the key roles and an influence, but it didn't impact much on what was going on behind the scenes in terms of looking forward.

Back at the factory we had a plan, which we are following for a long time, for what is going on for next year.

"

Per the same source, Vettel revealed Ferrari's work at the factory has improved significantly since he joined the Prancing Horse in late 2014, insisting the team "are on the right track" despite failing to win a race this season.

Vettel was recently praised as "really smart" by former McLaren and Ferrari driver Stefan Johansson for playing an extensive role in Pirelli's 2017 tyre testing.

Writing on his personal blog, the Swede suggested Vettel will gain an advantage over his rivals by encouraging Pirelli to produce a tyre that will be "based largely on his input" and favour his driving style.

McLaren Approach Zak Brown to Replace Ron Dennis as Chairman

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Leading motorsport business figure Zak Brown has emerged as a potential successor to Dennis as McLaren chairman, it has been reported.

After 35 years in charge, it recently emerged Dennis will leave McLaren at the end of 2016, with Autosport (h/t Eurosport) reporting the 69-year-old has been informed his contract will not be renewed.

The news came after Dennis, a 25 per cent shareholder in McLaren, failed to meet a series of deadlines "to acquire a full controlling shareholding by buying out the 50 per cent owned by Bahraini sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and the 25 per cent owned by his long-time business partner Mansour Ojjeh."

As reported by BBC Sport's Andrew Benson, McLaren had identified former Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn, ex-Sainsbury's supermarket head Justin King and former McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh—who was sacked upon Dennis' return to power January 2014—as potential replacements.

But with all three "now considered unlikely to take on the position," McLaren have turned their attention to Brown.

Having announced his resignation as chief executive officer of CSM Sport & Entertainment in September, Brown has been regarded as a potential successor to F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone under new F1 owners Liberty Media, which is in the process of purchasing the sport from CVC Capital Partners.

However, Brown's success in arranging a number of high-profile commercial deals in recent years—including McLaren's deal with Johnnie Walker and Martini's title sponsorship of Williams, per The Inside Line's Maurice Hamilton—means he is admired at McLaren, who have competed without a title sponsor since 2014.

The 44-year-old is on good terms with all of McLaren's major shareholders, including Dennis, with Mumtalakat and Ojjeh "now reaching out to him as they seek a new man to run the company."

Per the same source, Benson revealed McLaren are set to confirm BP/Castrol as their new fuel supplier after Exxon Mobil left for Red Bull, ending a partnership spanning more than two decades.

Exxon Mobil's departure comes after long-term sponsors TAG Heuer and Hugo Boss left to join Red Bull and Mercedes, respectively, in 2015.

Sauber's Marcus Ericsson Targeting 2017 Force India Seat

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Ericsson has revealed he is hopeful of replacing Hulkenberg at Force India for 2017, but he admits he is more likely to remain with Sauber.

Hulkenberg's surprise switch to Renault has made Force India among the most attractive options on the driver market, with the team on course to finish fourth in the 2016 constructors' championship.

As reported by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport (h/t Planet F1) over the United States GP weekend, Felipe Nasr is leading the race to partner Sergio Perez for next season, with Mercedes proteges Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein—as well as Renault's Jolyon Palmer and Haas' Esteban Gutierrez—also in contention.

In September, Ericsson told Autosport (h/t Eurosport) he was holding discussions with five teams—Sauber, Williams, Force India, Renault and Manor—over a 2017 seat, admitting he is "really, really eager" to find a more competitive car ahead of his fourth season in F1.

Although he has admitted he will probably remain with Sauber—whose new owners, Longbow Finance, have strong links to the Swede's personal sponsors, per Forbes' Christian Sylt—Ericsson is open to a move to Force India.

He told Autosport (h/t Eurosport):

"

It does open up another possibility with Force India. It's a good seat.

I still think it's most likely I'll stay with Sauber, but like I've said, I want to be in the best team possible, and Force India seem to be really strong at the moment.

It's a great midfield car, and that's what I need for next year.

We are looking at it. It would be stupid not to because we haven't signed a contract for next year, and now with the Force India seat opened up, we need to see what possibilities are there.

"

Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn told the same source how Sauber aim to finalise their 2017 driver lineup soon, but she confessed Nasr and Ericsson are actively exploring alternative opportunities, adding it is "absolutely fair that everyone evaluates their options."

She added the pair "have done a good job" in a difficult 2016 for the team, with Sauber on course for a second pointless season in three years.

Nico Hulkenberg More Relaxed After Securing 2017 Renault Switch, Say Force India

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Force India believe Hulkenberg has settled down after signing a contract to join Renault for the 2017 season. 

In the first event since his transfer was announced, Hulkenberg produced one of his strongest performances of 2016 at the United States GP.

The German finished no lower than seventh in the three free-practice sessions at the Circuit of the Americas before securing seventh place in qualifying—his highest grid position since the Belgian GP in August.

Hulkenberg was eliminated from the race on the opening lap after a first-corner collision with Vettel and Valtteri Bottas, but deputy team principal Bob Fernley was impressed by the 29-year-old's performance in Austin, Texas.

And he believes team owner Vijay Mallya is to thank for handling Hulkenberg's departure in a responsible manner, allowing Force India and their drivers to focus entirely on beating fellow Mercedes customers Williams to fourth place in the constructors' championship.

He told Autosport (h/t Eurosport):

"

Credit to Vijay for dealing with things swiftly, efficiently and compassionately.

It settled Nico down and allowed him to do what we need him to do for the balance of his career with us, and he delivered a strong qualifying.

Unfortunately he was then involved in an incident at Turn 1 that put him out of the race, but there was nothing he could have done about that.

He's always been quick in qualifying anyway, and he always gives 100 per cent, but what it did do was put his mind at rest that everything was clear and done.

The efficient and quick way we dealt with it, Vijay in particular, has helped stabilise him.

We are fighting for fourth and we need both drivers working at full capacity, so I don't think we've lost anything.

Vijay did it really well, controlled it, settled everybody down, got back to the next race and it's business as usual.

"

As Hulkenberg's five-year association with Force India draws to a close, Perez has paid tribute to the German, suggesting he is the strongest team-mate he's encountered in F1, per F1i.com's Phillip van Osten.

The Mexican previously partnered Kamui Kobayashi at Sauber between 2011 and 2012 and Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, at McLaren in 2013.

Jacques Villeneuve Surprised by Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso Stay

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Villeneuve has admitted he was surprised by Toro Rosso's decision to keep Kvyat for next year, suggesting the Russian's results across 2016 are not worthy of a contract extension.

After a scruffy start to this season, Kvyat's future was plunged into serious doubt when he became the first driver in Red Bull's history to be demoted to the Toro Rosso B-team ahead of the Spanish GP in May.

With Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly in contention to win the prestigious GP2 championship, it had been thought the Frenchman would replace Kvyat at the end of 2016.

But despite scoring points in just three of the 14 races since his return to the team, Kvyat was confirmed as Carlos Sainz Jr.'s 2017 team-mate over the United States GP weekend.

Villeneuve has been left baffled by Toro Rosso's decision, arguing Kvyat does not deserve a new deal based on his performances and results.

According to Motorsport.com's Valentin Khorounzhiy and Erwin Jaeggi, the 1997 world champion said: 

"

It's surprising, because his results did not advocate for him to stay in F1. But they must see something in the way he works that is promising, I guess.

He hasn't made any improvements since he's been down at Toro Rosso.

He's been getting it from Sainz. He's not at that level.

And Toro Rosso is not a team to keep drivers. So there must be a reason, that they think is good for the team. Maybe he is working super well and he's helping developing the car. That from the outside we cannot know.

"

Per the same source, Villeneuve dismissed the notion that Sainz or Kvyat could soon replace either Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen at Red Bull, suggesting Toro Rosso are becoming "a retirement team."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has defended the decision to retain Kvyat, insisting "it is too early to throw in the towel" on the 22-year-old, who he believes is deserving of another chance after a difficult season, per Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble.

However, Horner has ruled out the possibility of Kvyat eventually returning to Red Bull, adding: "It is not an option in the next couple of years because our seats are fixed. We believe it is the best option to leave him in [Toro Rosso]."

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