Formula 1 gossip: Alonso, Mone, Wolff, Kyalami circuit
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Sunday, 11 February
McLaren boss Zak Brown says the team insisted Fernando Alonso had a "very minimised" role with Toyota in allowing him to compete in the World Endurance Championship. (Autosport)
Former boxing ring card girl Michelle Mone has criticised Formula 1's decision to ban grid girls. The Tory peer believes unfair pressure has prevented the models earning money from the sport. (Daily Record)
Toto Wolff believes his Mercedes team has such strength in depth that it would not falter should they lose a key member of technical staff. (Planet F1)
South Africa's Kyalami circuit is unlikely to return to the Formula 1 calendar because of the high costs of hosting a modern day Grand Prix. (ESPN)
Saturday, 10 February
Daniel Ricciardo says he sometimes "overdrove" under pressure from Red Bull Formula 1 team-mate Max Verstappen. (Autosport)
McLaren boss Zak Brown says Formula One management cannot afford to bow to the wishes of existing manufacturers such as Ferrari and Mercedes when deciding the next set of regulations. (ESPN)
Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin's backers say the money they are putting into Williams will all be spent on development to improve the team's Formula 1 car. (Autosport)
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says he was 100 per cent certain Fernando Alonso would quit McLaren in 2017. (MotorsportWeek)
Renault is on course to produce a more powerful and more reliable engine for the 2018 Formula 1 season, according to its new customer McLaren. (Autosport)
F1 boss Chase Carey does not think the sport will lose any of its glamour because of the decision to scrap grid girls. "There will still be pretty girls at races", says the American. (Telegraph)
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas "honestly can't wait" for the season after a week of "simulator work and meetings" at the team's factory. (Twitter)
Friday, 9 February
McLaren executive director Zak Brown says he is open to the idea of Lewis Hamilton returning to the team. Hamilton is heading into the final year of his Mercedes contract and is yet to sign a new deal. (Express)
Brown would also not be surprised if Mercedes claimed every title up to the 2021 rules reset. (Motorsport Week)
Sauber's use of a 2018 Ferrari Formula 1 engine will be a "big leap" from trying to contend with a year-old specification last season, according to driver Marcus Ericsson. (Autosport)
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo says he would like to be in the same team as Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton at some point in his career. (Racer)
Former Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso has completed his first test behind the wheel of his 2018 Le Mans-bound Toyota TS050, labelling it "very special". (F1i)
Thursday, 8 February
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the German manufacturer is keeping tabs on teenage talent in karting as it searches for the next Lewis Hamilton. (F1i)
Sebastian Montoya, the son of former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo, has joined Ferrari's Driver Academy despite being just 12. (Autosport)
F1 bosses have introduced rules to clamp down on 'tricks' being used by teams to get more out of their engines. (Autosport)
McLaren are expected to unveils a major sponsorship deal with Dell Technologies as the F1 team looks to return to the sharp end of the grid. (Sky - via Planet F1)
Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul says the three-engine limit introduced for the 2018 season is a "headache" for teams. (Fox Sports)
Wednesday, 7 February
Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber believes Daniel Ricciardo should focus his attention on beating team-mate Max Verstappen at the start of this season rather than worrying about his 2019 contract. (ESPN)
McLaren executive director Zak Brown believes there will be an "inevitable" battle between Ferrari and Liberty Media over a fairer payment structure and new engine rules. (AS via Fox Sports)
And Brown says McLaren will not be repeating their Indianapolis 500 entry this year and will instead concentrate on getting the team back on the podium. (RACER)
Romain Grosjean believes the Haas F1 team must stop 'losing months' with unsuccessful upgrades. (Autosport)
Fernando Alonso is confident McLaren will be in a position to "taste the champagne" on a regular basis during the 2018 Formula 1 season, following the team's switch to a Renault engine. (Crash.net)
Force India driver Sergio Perez has shared his unusual pre-season training methods. (Twitter)
Tuesday, 6 February
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says it is "just a matter of time" until Lewis Hamilton signs a contract extension to keep him with the team beyond 2018. (ESPN)
McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris says his F1 future depends on how long Fernando Alonso stays with the team. (Autosport)
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says he supports Alonso's move into Le Mans racing.(L'Equipe via GrandPrix.com)
Russian Sergey Sirotkin has dismissed claims he is a "pay driver", owing his seat at Williams to money.(Sport FM via F1i.com)
Mercedes gave fans a teaser with a video before their 2018 car launch. (Twitter)
Monday, 5 February
McLaren boss Zac Brown says he expects the improved 2018 car to put Fernando Alonso in a position to resume his long-standing rivalry with former team-mate Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. (Daily Express)
McLaren's technical director Tim Goss says the team are focusing on developing a driver-friendly car for 2018, rather than the "peaky" design of last season. (Autosport)
F1 owners Liberty Media have managed to reduce the sport's tax bill through restructuring, following a government crackdown on legal avoidance schemes.(Telegraph)
Former F1 driver David Coulthard said he was "surprised" to win his second Race of Champions, finishing ahead of ex-World Rally Champion Petter Solberg in Saudi Arabia. (NBC)
