In the round-up: Sergio Perez has given the firmest indication yet he will remain at Force India in 2017.
Links
Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from hundreds of sites across the web:
Sergio Perez confirms he will be with Force India in 2017 (ESPN)
"I think this weekend we did a lot of progress on my future so I already know, I think there will be an announcement very soon."
Sebastian Vettel Q&A: Ferrari race pace will be better (F1)
"From looking into the data we’ve been able to find some things that should help us in the race. My prediction is that it will be very tight, as even when you find some things you cannot expect a quantum leap."
Teams and drivers back new yellow flag rule (Autosport)
"Williams driver Felipe Massa revealed the decision was taken via a consensus of opinion between the drivers and Whiting."
"Rob Wilson, who has coached many of their young drivers, says he is one of the best he has ever seen."
Not fair to say Ferrari is massively behind – Vettel (Crash)
"Now towards the end of the year, here and there in terms of pace sometimes we slip behind, it's correct, so I think it's very close. It's not fair to say we are massively behind."
Bottas blames engine mode error for missing Q3 (Motorsport)
"In Q2, opening the lap, I made a mistake myself. I switched on to the qualifying engine mode a bit too late, losing a little bit of speed at the beginning of the straight. We are talking about a few hundredths there but it was so close."
Jenson Button: Before F1 (McLaren)
"We had a dig through the archives to find ten less well known photos from the start of Jenson’s career, before he had even started ten grands prix."
New threat to British GP's future (Racer)
"The British Grand Prix has nine months to secure its Formula 1 future beyond 2019 as it has become 'too expensive,' BRDC president Derek Warwick has revealed."
Liberty Media: Better Than Berkshire (Barron's)
"The recent run-up in Liberty shares captures some of the upside in Formula One. There are risks. Formula One’s EBITDA is little changed in recent years. Liberty Media now looks fully priced."
Got a tip for a link to feature in the next F1 Fanatic round-up? Send it in here:
Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Sepang lacks any buzz, which is unfortunate. Malaysian hospitality is famous, but #F1 is inhospitable to fans. I hope Liberty rethinks this
— Mark Gallagher (@_markgallagher) October 1, 2016
Firestarter by The Prodigy is currently playing in the garage. We kid you not. #SomeoneHasASenseOfHumour #FP3 #MalaysiaGP
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 1, 2016
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
How much progress have McLaren and Honda made in year two?
If the engine improvement is real, McLaren could be truly the fourth fastest car at the end of the year.
Sonics (@Sonicslv)
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Scribe and Stacy!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Jim Clark gave BRM’s H16 engine its only grand prix victory 50 years ago today in the United States Grand Prix.
Jeffrey (@jeffreyj)
2nd October 2016, 0:15
Silverstone is in real trouble.
They agreed to a deal to 2026 (with an opt-out for both sides in 2019) in which they had to spend a boatload of money to alter the circuit and facilities ánd a 5% annual increase in the fee.
That increase is killing them right now and the deal runs to 2026… by that time they are probably paying more than double what they were paying innitially because of the compounded interest, unless they opt out in 2019…. in which case there is no more British GP.
@HoHum (@hohum)
2nd October 2016, 0:41
Opt out, then RE-NEGOCIATE, Liberty will want a British GP, of course it may not be at Silverstone.
mfreire
2nd October 2016, 2:55
It will have to go to another venue in England just to get out of the financial stranglehold or if both parties agree to a new contract (if that option exists). Who knows- if the worst happens, maybe Donington Park would host… maybe. Forget the Circuit of Wales- that isn’t happening; but if that facility is built- then the British Grand Prix has genuine legitimacy as the British Grand Prix- not as an event that really should be called the English Grand Prix (even though 95% of racing tracks on the main British isle are in England).
mfreire
2nd October 2016, 2:56
*if that facility is built, and if the British GP were to go there
BrawnGP (@brawngp)
2nd October 2016, 5:19
Sad to see the stands so empty in Malaysia… not at good sign considering it has the lowest ticket prices!
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
2nd October 2016, 7:48
@brawngp Moving it later in the year has put it in competition with the MotoGP race that takes place at Sepang in a few weeks which hasn’t helped.