McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has insisted that neither Jenson Button nor Sergio Perez is signed up for 2014. While Button is expected to prolong his stay with McLaren for a fifth season, Perez's future with the team is less secure. McLaren is weighing up whether to replace Perez with young driver Kevin Magnussen, who won the Formula Renault 3.5 Series this year. "Lots of people are being considered, when we come to the end of those considerations, we’ll make an announcement," Whitmarsh said. "I […]

Nico Hulkenberg, the new key to unlocking the remainder of the 2014 'silly season', has not signed a deal yet. That was the claim on Tuesday of his manager Werner Heinz, amid reports German Hulkenberg has now committed to a team for next season. Lotus boss Eric Boullier on Monday was quoted as saying 26-year-old Hulkenberg was the team's "choice" 2014 pick, but he has also been linked to Force India, McLaren, or even staying at Sauber. "I think Hulkenberg is still a little undecided, […]

Members of the Formula 1 paddock have been paying tribute to Maria de Villota, who has died at the age of 33. De Villota, who survived a horrific testing accident in 2012, was found dead in a hotel room in Seville. Jean Todt: FIA president: "Today is a tragic day for motor sport. My deepest condolences go to the De Villota family. Maria was a fantastic driver, a leading light for women in motor sport and a tireless campaigner for road safety. Above all, she […]

Pirelli has decided to test tyres for the 2014 season at Vallelunga, near Rome. After some teams vetoed the tyre supplier's plans to head to Austin with McLaren and one of the British team's 2011 cars, we reported that Aragon, Spain, had been earmarked as a likely alternative venue. But Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday said Pirelli has in fact decided on Vallelunga, and has invited other teams to attend as well. A new date has also been decided -- 11 and 12 November, […]

Jules Bianchi is staying at Marussia in 2014, the team announced on Thursday. The Ferrari-backed Frenchman had been tipped for a move up the grid next year, perhaps to Ferrari-powered Sauber. But Marussia team boss John Booth said in a media statement that keeping Bianchi, 24, on board for 2014 is a "great pleasure". "He rose to the challenge of his debut season exceptionally well and since that time has clearly demonstrated his ability and potential," said Booth. Currently powered by departing supplier Cosworth, Marussia […]

Fernando Alonso has dismissed rumours linking him to a return to McLaren. McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh had hinted that his squad would be interested in a move for the Spaniard, but Alonso has moved to confirm his commitment to Ferrari. "It’s nice to hear comments from all the team principals every year saying they respect my job and personality, especially McLaren," he said after second practice in Singapore. "There were so many rumours that we had a lot of problems that year, but I […]

Sergio Perez says he is closing in on a deal to remain with McLaren next season. Perez joined the Woking based team from Sauber ahead of the 2013 season and is currently in 12th place in the championship. The Mexican says he expects to remain with the team into 2014. "Yeah, everything is pretty much done," he said ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix. "But the right thing to do is to ask [team principal] Martin [Whitmarsh] about it." "We have been having some […]

McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale believes that junior drivers Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne should be in Formula 1 in the near future. Magnussen is 36 points ahead of Vandoorne with four rounds of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series remaining. Red Bull backed Antonio Felix da Costa, who is tipped for a Toro Rosso drive next season, is a further 43 points behind Vandoorne. Magnussen participated in the young driver test for McLaren, after negotiations with Force India for the same test were unsuccessful. Team […]

Ferrari has put together a potentially "explosive" driver lineup for 2014, according to former team champion Michael Schumacher. The great German, who became F1's most successful driver ever by delivering five consecutive titles to the Maranello team last decade, was referring to the appointment of Kimi Raikkonen to be current 'number 1' Fernando Alonso's new teammate. Schumacher, who at the end of 2006 was pushed into his first retirement when Ferrari signed Raikkonen, said of the 2014 pairing: "For motor sport fans it will certainly […]

Well-known paddock personalities doubt feverish speculation Kimi Raikkonen is on the verge of signing to return to Ferrari next year. It is rumoured the Finn is now poised to agree the deal, but triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart said at Monza: "I don't see how the management could be considering having Kimi in the same team as Fernando Alonso. "For one thing, Alonso would not like it," he added. Stewart, however, might not be speaking absolutely objectively, as he is a consultant for Lotus […]

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes that next year's Formula 1 calendar will be tough for teams. The 2014 season is set to feature 21 races, with Austria and Mexico returning to the sport and Russia joining the circus. For a second successive season, the proposed race in New Jersey was not included on the provisional calendar. "I think 21 is tough," said Whitmarsh. "I’ve got no personal knowledge of New Jersey so I can’t comment on that. Will those 21 all happen? There’s lots […]

McLaren driver Sergio Perez says he is ready to scrap for points again in next weekend's Italian Grand Prix. Perez admits that McLaren won't be fighting towards the front in Monza but is eager to return to the top 10 after a below-par performance in Belgium. Perez has finished in the points five times this season, with a best finish of sixth in Bahrain. He has amassed 18 points and sits in 12th place in the world championship. "After the disappointment of Spa, where we […]