Latest F1 news in brief

Marko says Red Bull will leave F1 if Honda doesn't make them a winner. F1 will lose 4 cars on the grid

Red Bull future riding on Honda success – Marko
Kubica unexcited by race seat 'speculation'
Vandoorne not speaking after McLaren axe
Ten drivers on Toro Rosso 'long list' for 2019
Ferrari to formalize Raikkonen news on Thursday

Red Bull future riding on Honda success – Marko
(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull will quit formula one if the Honda project doesn't work out.

Disenchanted with its customer Renault relationship, the energy drink owned team is joining its junior outfit Toro Rosso in using works Honda power from 2019.

Marko, Red Bull's top F1 official, told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that a lot is riding on it.

"We are happy to have a great partner in Honda for the next few years. But if this cooperation does not work as expected, Red Bull as a company will leave formula one.

"As Mercedes and Ferrari do not want to supply Red Bull and no new manufacturer is coming, only the exit remains," Marko added.

However, the Austrian said he is confident.

"The partnership with Honda is going well for Toro Rosso so far and will work well with Red Bull Racing as well," he said.

"After the McLaren disaster, Honda was close to leaving F1 again at the end of 2017. We had to convince them in some intensive talks to try with us," Marko revealed.

Kubica unexcited by race seat 'speculation'

Robert Kubica not excited to drive Williams slug

(GMM) Robert Kubica sounds only mildly interested in stepping up to the Williams race seat in 2018.

It is expected that Lance Stroll will shortly quit the struggling British team in order to join his billionaire father Lawrence at Force India.

Williams boss Paddy Lowe says reserve driver Kubica will step up to the race role if that happens.

"For me it is more speculation than emotion," Kubica told Poland's Przeglad Sportowy.

"A lot happened in formula one in August, but for me it's not like a lot of doors suddenly opened or closed."

Another name being potentially linked with the soon-to-be-vacant Williams seat is Esteban Ocon, but Kubica warned the Frenchman not to get too excited.

"If I was him, I would not be pushing too much for it," he laughed. "But I just do my own thing."

Kubica said he didn't take the reserve role at Williams with the hope of getting an opportunity to race within 2018.

"No. What I was trying to do was drive a formula one car. Currently the regulations are not favorable because there is almost no testing.

"So my priority was to sit behind the wheel, but of course by signing a contract you have to be professional and in case something happens get in the car and do your job," he said.

"But the fact that I could get into the car does not automatically mean that I will be able to do all the races. On the one hand it would be the accomplishment of a dream, but on the other it may not have the happy end that I want."

Vandoorne not speaking after McLaren axe

Vandoorne's F1 career likely over

(GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is not yet commenting to the media about McLaren's decision to dump him for 2019.

Once McLaren's highly promising development driver, the 26-year-old is reportedly now pinning his hopes on a Toro Rosso seat after being replaced by Lando Norris.

McLaren issued a positively worded statement about Vandoorne's impending departure, but when contacted by La Derniere Heure, all the Belgian driver said was: "No comment."

His manager Alessandro Alunni Bravi explained: "Stoffel needs to stay professional and enjoy the last seven grands prix with McLaren to confirm he's a great driver."

McLaren boss Zak Brown told Speed Week it had been a difficult choice, given that Lando Norris was highly sought after by rival teams.

"There was great interest in him," he said. "Lando probably would have ended at Toro Rosso."

As for Vandoorne, Brown said Toro Rosso should now consider signing him up.

"I definitely think he's a formula one driver. If I was Toro Rosso and I had two free seats, I would put Stoffel in one without hesitation," he is quoted by Marca.

"Whatever we can do to help Stoffel, we will do it in the blink of an eye. We consider him a part of the family. It has been exceptional to work with him," Brown added.

Ten drivers on Toro Rosso 'long list' for 2019

Marko: No shortage of drivers begging for a ride

(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is putting together a "long list" of potential Toro Rosso drivers for 2019.

Pierre Gasly is being promoted to Red Bull Racing, while Brendon Hartley has underperformed this year.

"There needs to be a significant increase (from Hartley) in the last races this season," Marko told Speed Week.

He said Hartley will not be ousted within 2018, but it means Toro Rosso could have not one but two free seats for 2019.

The candidates are lining up. Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum is struggling to secure the necessary super license, while McLaren says the axed Stoffel Vandoorne should be considered.

Also mentioned as a candidate by Christian Horner is former Red Bull and Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat, while rumors have linked Jean-Eric Vergne and even Robert Kubica and others with the seat.

"There is no shortlist, it's more like a long-list," Marko smiled. "There are ten names on it."

But he seemed to rule out Esteban Ocon, noting that one driver "with a Mercedes contract" will "probably not" be considered.

"However, everything is possible," said Marko.

Ferrari to formalize Raikkonen news on Thursday

Despite performing well as of late, Raikkonen expected to get the axe

(GMM) Thursday is decision-day when it comes to Ferrari's driver choice for 2019.

At Monza, it was rumored that after extended internal wrangling, Kimi Raikkonen had been told he will be replaced by Charles Leclerc next year.

It might explain why the Finn was suddenly arguably uncooperative on-track, receiving a slipstream from Sebastian Vettel in qualifying and then racing hard a day later.

"It is clear to me that I must now compete against three cars, including my own teammate," the Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport quoted a disgruntled Vettel as saying.

The German added: "I do not expect any help from anyone."

Sky Italia claims that Raikkonen's impending exit will soon become public, with a meeting at Maranello scheduled for Thursday to formalize it.

But Corriere dello Sport claims that the 38-year-old already knows his fate, following a call from new Ferrari chairman John Elkann.

However, Raikkonen's fellow Finn Mika Salo cannot understand why Raikkonen did not immediately announce that news to the world when Elkann told him at Monza.

"I would have expected Kimi to say it himself after Monza, but it didn't happen," the former F1 driver told Iltalehti.