Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he attempted to buy Silverstone as he commented on the future of the British Grand Prix.

The former Formula 1 boss had many a run in with the Northamptonshire circuit during his time in charge, often risking to cancel the race without improvements being made to the facilities.

In 2009, however, they would come and Ecclestone rewarded the track with a 17-year contract for the British GP only for a release clause to be exercised and now the possibility awaits of next year's event being the last at Silverstone.

"It would be nice to have one," he told Autosport when asked about the future.

"They could do a deal there, but I think they'll have to come up with some sort of an idea of sharing the losses or profits, or whatever.

"They must be comfortable, Silverstone. I asked them if they wanted to sell because I would have bought it, and they didn't want to sell. They were not interested," Ecclestone continued.

"We could have had the race, obviously. Anyway, they don't want to sell, so they're comfortable.

"They're not desperate, but they've got to have an F1 race."

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Should Silverstone not make a deal, current F1 owners Liberty Media have eyes on a London street race but Ecclestone immediately shot down the idea based on his own experience.

"We looked at it. We looked at the whole thing, about eight or 10 years ago," he said. "It's too complicated, with too many restrictions.

"I had the whole thing laid out for the centre of London, past Buckingham Palace, everything was done.

"During the meetings, I tried to explain to the City of Westminster and the mayor at the time that we've got to find the money to do this. In the end, let's see how much money you're prepared to put in.

"Between the two people that made a difference, it was £3million.

"I said, 'That will probably cover the cost of the mineral water for the hundreds of meetings we'll have to have. So I think we'll forget that idea'."

Max Verstappen has looked to mend the fence with Renault, insisting his criticism was only aimed at pushing improvement of their engine.

In what was an increasingly tenuous relationship between Red Bull and the French manufacturer, the Dutchman was one of the most vocal voices getting into a back and forth with managing director Cyril Abiteboul.

However, now that the team and engine supplier have gone their separate ways, Max has tried to put the whole situation behind him.

“It was never my intention to put them down, but I want to make it better,” Verstappen said via his website.

“Look, we now have a deal with Honda, but if we had continued with Renault next year, I would want us to make progress.

“I am just very clear in what I say. I could say that they can take it easy, but I am not like that. It can and must be better and I just always want full commitment.

“You have to be open to criticism, that is how I grew up. I’m sorry if you can’t deal with that, but I’m not here to join in with the Olympic idea," he added, referring to the idea of being happy just to take part.

“I want to win and for that, all parties have to be committed.”

Also Read:

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• Renault 'not unhappy' to be ending Red Bull partnership - Prost
• Verstappen & Renault boss Abiteboul trade barbs over engine

As for the future partnership with Honda from 2019, Verstappen enjoys the same enthusiasm as Red Bull over the potential and has just a single goal in mind.

“Hopefully it will be a long-term collaboration,” the 21-year-old said. “I don’t expect that everything runs smoothly at once, you can’t expect that I think. I will always be focused, but you also have to believe in the project and be patient.

“I do not expect that we can really fight for the championship at the start of the season, but if we are just a little bit better than this year, we can be closer to the competition and run a consistent season, that is already an improvement for the championship.

“You do not necessarily need to have the best car.”

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed off-track matters and the death of Jules Bianchi led to a re-shaping of his life during 2015.

The Australian endured a tough second season at Red Bull with the team falling behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams in the pecking order, indeed, he would be beaten by then-teammate Daniil Kvyat over the season too and finished a lowly eighth in the Drivers' Championship.

A close friend of Bianchi, Ricciardo recalled the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2015, a race that took place just days after the Frenchman died from the injuries sustained in the crash at Suzuka the previous year.

"A lot happened in 2015, more on a personal level, with life," he said to Autosport.

"Jules' passing affected me more than I ever would have thought and I had a few other things going on in my life at that time that in a way shaped me into this next version of who I am.

"The first race back was Budapest and that was my first podium that year, a double podium for the team, and I remember the whole weekend was very emotional.

"To get a podium there felt massive, it was a huge relief and a moment of gratitude.

"That was really important. In 2015, that was a really big high to come off such a low."

Fast forward three years and 2018 has been another year where Ricciardo has had to take stock with his future to decide and another tough year with Red Bull with two early wins overshadowed by eight retirements.

"I thought 2015 was challenging, on and off-track, but this year the on-track stuff's been more challenging than ever," the 29-year-old, who will join Renault next year, stated.

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"Also just other things, a lot of people have been trying to help, [I've been] just trying to figure out who is really trying to help and who is not. There's just been a lot of other stuff.

"I know in the long-term, and my good friends around me tell me this, it's all part of the story and it's going to shape a beautiful ending one day.

"It sucks for the time being, but I believe that."

Robert Kubica has brushed off any concerns some may have about his full-time Formula 1 return with Williams in 2019.

The Pole was chosen to replace Sergey Sirotkin for next season after the Russian's sponsors pulled out their support following a difficult year and Kubica found new backing from his native Poland.

His comeback is a great feel-good story for the sport following his recovery from severe arm injuries which ended his promising first stint on the grid before the 2011 season but the legacy of the rally crash which caused them does still linger.

“As you can hear, and I heard it for many years, people struggled to believe that I could do it,” he was quoted by Motorsport Week, referencing the continued limitations he has with his right arm.

“All team managers, all team principals, if I [was] a team principal I would also have doubts.

"But that’s the reason why I said this year has been very useful because my first - the first meeting [with Claire Williams] I remember when we met I said that if you have any doubts we shouldn’t be doing it."

With that vote of confidence from the British team, as Kubica was signed to a reserve and development driver, it was then about ensuring he justified the decision Williams took.

“First of all, I have to be sure I can do it, and that’s why I’m here, but second of all, all the team has to be convinced that I’m able to do the job," he continued.

“I think, we talked a lot about driving but I think I can give a lot to the team away from the car, and in the position I think the team is, we will gain much more also on work away of the car than only by driving.”

With such a prolonged absence from Formula 1, however, the question is can Kubica, who was previously considered in the same breath as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, still cut it with today's generation?

“Of course from one side I have quite a lot of experience from racing, especially in F1, as I did five seasons,” the 34-year-old stated.

“For sure I know what it takes to be a top F1 driver so I am not scared of it and I know it requires a lot of work and dedication and I am ready for it.

“From a technical point of view, driving point of view, we have winter testing, so by the time we get to Australia that is enough time to be ready and in 2019 we will all start from zero so I am not afraid that I have been away for eight years.

“I am looking forward and I know what it takes and what I have to do. If I do my job well I am sure everybody will be happy.”

Also Read:

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Kubica jumps into a Williams team, however, that is arguably at their lowest point for many years after a tough 2018 which left them bottom of the Constructors' Championship with just seven points to their name.

However, deputy boss Claire Wiliams does think the one-time Grand Prix winner can help be a catalyst for progress.

“Next year – is a new start for Williams and I spent a lot of time with Robert over the course of the year,” she said.

“I really enjoy his company, just his fighting spirit. We need that in this team at the moment.

“We need everybody pushing, and I think Robert is going to be a great addition for us for 2019 and beyond.”

Lewis Hamilton had to be told to slow down such was his speed on a superbike during his two-day private test at Jerez.

During the first weekend of the Formula 1 off-season, the world champion took his passion for bikes to another level riding a Yamaha YZF-R1 at the Spanish circuit alongside seasoned motorcycle racers.

The Briton would suffer a minor crash emerging without injury and for Yamaha rider Michael van der Mark it vindicated what the team working with Hamilton had been feeling watching him out on track.

“Lewis already did two track days on his bike [before] and the people of his team were a little bit concerned because of his speed,” he told Motorsport.com.

“He was very fast but he didn’t have a riding style. He had lots of lean angle, so the initiative came a bit from his team that he’d get a few tips from professionals.

“During the first day I was alone with Lewis and on the second day, my teammate Alex Lowes joined us," Van der Mark continued.

“On the first day, I’ve was only trying to make him go a bit slower. I had to stop him, he’s not afraid at all and he tried to take corners as fast as with his car.

“During the second day we worked a lot on his style.”

How’s my lean? ?? pic.twitter.com/pLjKmGrXUU

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 3, 2018

Despite the test being more about enjoyment, the Dutch rider admits Hamilton was taking the experience very seriously.

“Even if it’s just for fun, he was so motivated to learn,” Van der Mark added. “He asked loads of things and that was special to see.

“You see it’s fun for him, but he goes all the way. He wants to do it right and wanted to learn as much as possible.”

As for whether Lewis' skill could match the ambition and potentially lead to a future on two wheels, Van der Mark couldn't rule it out.

"He can ride a bike for sure – I don’t know how much faster he can go," he stated.

“I know he can be much faster but it’s difficult to predict what he could do on a bike. He has only ridden four days now and he was about seven seconds slower than us. With that he’s faster than most other track day riders.

“You can see he has a special talent, but I don’t know if he wants to do that [full-time].”

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff admits the incident involving Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso in Belgium vindicated the decision to introduce Halo into Formula 1.

The cockpit protection device was hugely criticised on almost all sides predominantly on aesthetic grounds when the FIA forced through its use this season on safety grounds.

Wolff was among those voices claiming he wanted to take a saw to the Halo but after the governing body confirmed this week it did prevent a likely head injury for Leclerc during the spectacular start crash at Spa, the Austrian has "changed my mind".

"I still don’t like the aesthetics of it, and I hope we can find a solution in the future that looks good," he continued

"[But] I really like Charles, he’s a young, upcoming racer that deserves to be in Formula 1 and I would not have forgiven myself if we would have voted against the Halo and we’d have had a severe incident with a potentially catastrophic outcome.

"So, even though it’s aesthetically not what I like it’s a super initiative that has shown its merit.

"I’m happy that Jean [Todt, FIA president] pushed through and they didn’t give me a chainsaw at the beginning of the season."

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Work is ongoing on improving the Halo concept with a second generation design touted for 2021 if not sooner with Wolff still keen to address the visual aspect.

"We need to get the right balance between aesthetics and safety," the Mercedes chief added. "I personally like the closed canopies like fighter jets.

"Between the teams, the FIA and the commercial rights holder, we just need to work proactively and in a collaborative manner to find solutions that look great and save lives."

2019 McLaren driver Lando Norris believes the British team is showing greater focus to ensure a repeat of this past season does not occur.

Following a relatively good start, the Woking-based outfit slipped down as the development of the MCL33 proved very difficult and ultimately resulted in the team battling with Williams towards the back of the grid.

CEO Zak Brown has looked to reassure claiming the flaws in this year's car had already been discovered but it was too late to address yet Norris was cautious with his outlook.

“I guess they have decent ideas of things that they’re working on, bits they’re trying to improve,” the F2 runner-up admitted.

“All those little things which they’ve had a lot of data to say it’s better, but things can always change.”

The Briton, who has been associated with McLaren since the start of 2017, does have more faith in the process, however.

“I think they are focusing on making 100 per cent sure they know things are going to be for the good — not kind of like this year and maybe not end up so good,” he claimed.

“I think they’re focusing more on making sure something is 100 per cent better rather than just going: ‘it looks like it’s going to be better’ and maybe putting it on, something like that. I think they have a much better understanding, but time will tell.”

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Given his current focus on getting ready for his debut in 2019, Lando also concedes he isn't fully upto date with the latest work going on.

“I think they’ve done a lot more than I have lately because I’ve been doing FP1s and so on for the development for next year,” Norris said, referring to work in the simulator.

“I think a lot more is going to happen over the winter. Of course, a lot of the work’s already been done. I haven’t tested the car for next year yet.

“I’ve obviously tested little bits, and things throughout the season — of course, there’s always development for this year’s car.”

The future of the Mexico Grand Prix has been thrown into doubt after scalding comments by the country's new government.

Only returning to the Formula 1 calendar in 2015 after almost two decades, the event has become a real favourite and has indeed won the 'Best Promoter' award at the FIA gala every year since rejoining.

With only one more year on the current contract left, however, Ana Gabriela Guevara of the National Sports Commission has slammed the cost of the race as the country implements a raft of austerity measures including the selling of government-linked luxuries.

“We need to find out how we can solve this situation but it is not the intention that tax money will be released to keep this event in," she was quoted by F1i.com.

"In Mexico, there are worse things going on as a large part of the population lives below the poverty line.

“[It was] the corruption in this country has caused the Grand Prix to return to Mexico," Guevara stated. "A lot of bribes were paid to bring this event to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez."

Without public funds, Mexico's race faces the same situation as Silverstone which has barely managed to keep the British Grand Prix going despite no government support.

Given how quickly the event in Mexico City has established itself, efforts will certainly be underway with Liberty Media to try and ensure it remains.

Romain Grosjean believes his outbursts over the radio show he has the same passion for victory as Fernando Alonso.

The Frenchman is certainly one of the most vocal drivers on the grid while inside the car, with only the Spaniard perhaps matching him for criticism over the airwaves.

However, explaining why he does it, Grosjean claims it is about his will not to accept just finishing strongly in the midfield, where his Haas team currently sit, and push them forwards.

“A lot of people lose their… you know Fernando, why does he get frustrated and angry on the radio?” he began.

“I think, my opinion is, it’s because he hasn’t lost that wish to win and you always want to win, so when you don’t win for three, four, five years and your car is s**t and you know it, you get frustrated.

“Other drivers, athletes in general, are happy with [earning] X million per year [or act like] ‘I do what I like’.

“I’m kind of the same as Fernando. I’ve never lost that wish that I can win a race.”

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Grosjean recently admitted he almost retired from racing after his first F1 stint in 2009 with Renault to focus on his off-track passion for cooking, however, since re-establishing himself first with Lotus and now Haas, he intends to stay on the grid for a while yet.

“I’ve done eight years in Formula 1, I believe I’ve got another six, seven, eight to go,” he believes.

“Kimi [Raikkonen]’s 39 and signed a two-year deal! I started [in F1] at 27 so it’s not like I started when I was 17.

“I’m 32 and have done six [successive] years in F1, I can go six, seven [more], I think I’ve got the energy for it as long as I keep performing.”

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has once again raised the prospect of Mick Schumacher joining the company's young driver program.

The 19-year-old obviously has key contacts with both Mercedes and Ferrari through his father Michael with both teams keen to welcome the German into their ranks.

That fight has become slightly more intense this year with Schumacher's success in European Formula 3 and at the FIA gala, Wolff talked up the youngster.

“He’s won the Formula 3 championship this year with Mercedes engines, which is great, but he’s not part of the Mercedes-Benz junior programme,” the Austrian confirmed.

“The most important [thing] is to give him time. He has this incredible legacy of having a father who was the most successful racing driver of all-time.

“He’s won F3, ticked the box, now he’s going into F2, which should be very difficult again against many experienced drivers.

“I have no doubt he has the potential to be a successful driver in F1. Maybe one day with us, maybe not.”

Also Read:

• Schumacher amazed by speed of F2 car during first test in Abu Dhabi
• Prost: Formula 2 move will reveal 'how good Schumacher is'
• Mick Schumacher 'can become one of the greats' after F3 title win

The question of the importance of such driver programs has been raised this year, however, with Red Bull having to re-hire previous names they rejected and Mercedes too seeing Pascal Wehrlein leave the stable at the same time as Esteban Ocon lost his seat at Force India.

“Michael Schumacher started as a Mercedes young driver in sportscars and became the best of all-time,” Wolff pointed out in defence of the practice.

“In the same way, today, we’re looking at very young drivers like we did in the past, with Pascal Werhlein, Esteban Ocon and George Russell and we hope to see these kids graduate successfully into Formula 1 and make their own career, and hopefully one day stay in a Mercedes.

“I personally think about the enjoyment about them coming together and coaching them and mentoring them with our group," he added.

“I think it’s very important for Mercedes to play a role in the young driver programme.”