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Carlos Sainz claims there will be no additional pressure on him as he replaces Fernando Alonso not only at McLaren but as the torchbearer for Formula 1 in Spain.

In a country where motorcycle racing rules, Alonso was the first man to really generate a strong interest in F1 in his homeland, resulting in a second Grand Prix in Valencia between 2008 and 2012.

Now that he has moved on, however, it falls on Sainz to continue that momentum but he insists that is not a burden to be concerned about.

“There is no extra pressure in that way, mainly because as a driver, you never feel the crowd or the expectations of your home country as pressure. You find it positive,” the second generation driver claimed.

“For me, the fact that everyone is going to watch F1 next year in Spain to see me racing is actually a great thing. It’s something that I look forward to.

"When you jump in the car, you don’t think about it. You just want to win. I want to win one day in F1, and as I want to win everything jumps on board, but it doesn’t apply pressure because the first one that wants to win is myself.”

Even so, as one of those that was inspired by Alonso, resulting in his decision to race in single-seaters rather than follow his father Carlos Sainz Sr. into rallying, the 23-year-old admits the double world champion's absence will be felt.

“I think we’re going to miss Fernando,” he stated. “I wish him the best in every category that he goes to, and I’m sure wherever he goes, he will perform like he is one of the best drivers in the world.”

Also Read:

• Norris keen to seek Alonso's 'valuable' advice in 2019
• Sainz describes McLaren move as a 'dream come true' after his first day

On his own future, Sainz arrives at McLaren with the expectation of leading their attempting recovery after many tough years alongside a rookie in Lando Norris.

“It feels good, it feels in a way powerful. I’m going to arrive at McLaren in my fifth year in Formula 1,” he said.

“I’ve gone through two teams, and I still have that World Series [Formula Renault 3.5] championship still fresh in my mind. So I’m going in with that confidence and a lot of knowledge.

“When you work with two different teams, with very different characteristics of car balance, of set-up, like it was at Toro Rosso and Renault, I think I’ve been at the two extremes of car balance.

“Because of that I’m going to McLaren with a lot of knowledge and wanting to also lead, and follow a direction with them that is hopefully a good one.”

Two-time Formula 1 champion Mika Hakkinen has backed Valtteri Bottas to rebound from his tough 2018 season.

The Mercedes driver started the year strongly even beating teammate Lewis Hamilton at times but bad luck saw his results dip and as a result, he ended the year fifth in the Drivers' Championship without a win to his name.

Bottas is also facing new pressure to prove himself heading into next year with Esteban Ocon now a reserve driver at the Brackley-based team and keen for a promotion in 2020.

Hakkinen though has faith in his fellow flying Finn.

“Victory in Azerbaijan was taken away from him by a puncture, and for much of the season he had to support Lewis Hamilton as the Mercedes team came under pressure from Ferrari,” the ex-McLaren racer said in his column for UniBet.

“Of course Valtteri wanted to be winning, but one thing you learn quickly in Formula 1 is that the road to the top is not always straight.

“I remember when I was racing against teammates and great names such as Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell," he recalled.

“I was not yet winning, but I learned a lot from watching them, working hard in the team and improving step by step.

“It’s all about constantly improving, one day being quicker than your team-mate, sometimes slower.”

Also Read:

• Bottas rejects idea of seeking Rosberg advice on beating Hamilton
• Bottas to approach 2019 'like I have nothing to lose'
• Mercedes hoping tough 2018 hasn't 'damaged' Bottas

Hakkinen also has the belief Bottas can go all the way to become F1 champion if he fulfils his potential.

“Valtteri is mega quick, fit and hard-working,” Mika stated. “With Mercedes behind him and the team of people around him including me, I have no doubt that he will take the next steps towards winning races and a world championship title.”

Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to his Mercedes team after receiving the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship trophy in the FIA gala in Russia.

The Briton barely put a foot wrong throughout 2018 with his remarkable consistency after a slow start, and it was certainly too much for Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari who's challenge wilted after the summer break.

Speaking in St. Petersburg, however, the now five-time champion insisted his latest triumph was absolutely a collective one.

“I wouldn’t be up here without this incredible team, I’m just really a chink in the chain,” Hamilton said. “There’s so many people in the background who are the unsung heroes.

“We’re the ones who come up here and are seen and receive these great awards, but it couldn’t have been done without this great team.

“It’s been a real privilege being with Mercedes-Benz the last six years.”

Also Read:

• Hamilton expecting another title fight with Vettel in 2019

For the 33-year-old his hunger is still far from satisfied as he looks to 2019 and beyond with Michael Schumacher's 91 wins and seven world titles entering the frame.

"I feel like I'm still not at my best," Hamilton claimed earlier this week. "I'm just on the way there, I've still got lots of work to do.

"We've just signed for another two years so '19 and '20 are going to be interesting. My goal is to make sure Ferrari don't win a championship within those two years – or Red Bull.

"This next month I'm going to sit down and figure out where I can be better.

"I asked my team to send me an email from several different departments, asked them to be blunt because I'm looking to be the all-time great and that means winning in all areas."

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has claimed development of the 2019 engine hasn't yet produced the expected increase in performance.

This season has seen the German manufacturer caught and at times surpassed by Ferrari in the horsepower race thanks to the Scuderia's unique double battery layout which led to legality questions throughout the year.

With advances in the hybrid technology still evolving five years after being introduced, there is no sign the rate of gains will slow any time soon but Wolff admits it is getting harder.

“We’ve had some good weeks in the wind tunnel,” Wolff said of the progress with the W10 at a sponsor event.

“We’ve had a little bit of a setback on the engine side where we believed the new concept would deliver a little bit more, but these guys are very ambitious like all of us and so I’m optimistic.

“We will know when the first qualifying session gets underway in Melbourne, this is the moment where everybody shows their cards.”

Also Read:

• Hamilton expecting another title fight with Vettel in 2019
• Gasly: Honda can match Mercedes & Ferrari but will need time

While most are still coming down from a hectic 2018 season, at Mercedes (and every team on the grid), Wolff admits the pace rarely slows.

“There is a tremendous development race that is happened as we speak,” he said. “Finding downforce, reducing drag and of course the engine is a very important part, adding more horsepower to the engine.

“So we are setting ourselves really ambitious targets. We have actually increased the targets six weeks ago because we heard some rumours that others were doing well.”

Kimi Raikkonen admits he was surprised by how similar the Sauber and Ferrari cars felt when he drove the C37 in Abu Dhabi.

The Finn made his first appearance with the Swiss team since 2001 at the tyre test following the season finale ahead of his return for 2019.

And given the Prancing Horse he has been driving throughout this year has held such a substantial pace advantage over the Sauber, Kimi was expecting to feel that difference around the Yas Marina Circuit.

“For me, it was important to try the car and see if there were big things we need to fix, but it was pretty straightforward,” he was quoted by PlanetF1.

“To be honest it wasn’t a lot [of] different feelings, I probably expected a bigger difference, but we were just testing tyres, didn’t do set-up work, we did laps to try to see what is what.

“I think as a first experience it was okay.”

Also Read:

• Giovinazzi expecting a 'tough' start alongside Raikkonen at Sauber
• Leclerc: Sauber looking strong for 2019 based on recent performance

Some had wondered why the 2007 world champion didn't simply retire when Ferrari chose Charles Leclerc to replace him next season, with the 2007 world champion citing a simple love for racing as his main reason.

And looking ahead at the potential of Sauber in 2019, Raikkonen sees plenty of reason for optimism.

“I am excited,” he said. “It’s different obviously [to Ferrari] but I’ve been in the team, there’s lots of different people now [compared to 2001].

“But I think they have all the tools, they have a great wind tunnel, they have everything to build a great car, have a Ferrari engine so we know what we’re going to get.

“I don’t see a reason why we couldn’t do a good job out of it. Where that takes us we’ll see next year.”

Nico Hulkenberg claims he won't be so interested in comparing himself to Daniel Ricciardo next season when the pair become teammates at Renault.

A case of one of Formula 1's established top drivers versus one who has never quite had the opportunity to prove himself, many are fascinated to see how the head-to-head will go between them in 2019.

And looking ahead to the prospect, the German, who finished as best midfield driver in seventh this year, did send a defiant message.

"Bring it on - we all cook with water, I'm not scared of anyone," said Hulkenberg. "Probably it will be very challenging and I might have to find another gear, but let's see what happens."

However, as Renault tries to close the gap to the front, he insists beating Ricciardo won't be a top priority.

"I guess it's always important - people, outsiders, look at that [teammate comparison] more," he admitted.

"People inside the team, they know more obviously about what's really going on. It's good, I'm happy - it's much more important that the team and the car progression happens."

Also Read:

• Renault: 2019 goals dependent on Red Bull/Honda partnership
• Ricciardo: Renault move 'terrifying' but 'I had to take this step'
• Hulkenberg: Renault must unlock the same 'mystery' as top three teams

Hulkenberg also proved himself by beating a rising star in Carlos Sainz in 2018, with the Spaniard now heading off to lead McLaren's attempted resurgence.

"I wouldn't say I expected more [of Sainz] - he's a great driver, very competitive, very quick," Nico commented.

"He's been very helpful and good for Renault and for our development as well - he also contributed a lot and I think we've been working really strongly and well together for the team."

Renault Formula 1 managing director has suggested his company's engine was lacking over 50 horsepower to their rivals in qualifying mode this season.

In Australia, the huge boost in performance Lewis Hamilton got in Q3 to take pole led to talk of what became known as 'party' modes when teams can turn up the engine for extra power for a single lap.

Throughout the year it then became the trait that Red Bull could often hang with Mercedes and Ferrari in race trim but on Saturday's often had to settle for fifth and sixth on the grid.

“We’re missing about 15 to 20 kilowatts of engine power [20-27bhp] in the race, which under certain conditions could be made up for by the Red Bull chassis,” Abiteboul told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

“But in qualifying, we estimate our deficit at 40 kilowatts [53bhp], and that’s significant."

Also Read:

• Renault: 2019 goals dependent on Red Bull/Honda partnership
• Red Bull's season could have been 'quite different' with an extra 50hp

The Frenchman also admits engine power played a key role in Renault's own midfield battle with the likes of Force India, Haas and Sauber able to keep pace with the works team.

“With a customer engine from Mercedes or Ferrari, we would have qualified in seventh place in Abu Dhabi," he said, with Nico Hulkenberg the best placed in 10th.

“This shows that we have a better chassis than our competitors [in the midfield], but also shows we are not as good as the three top teams.

“That’s why the main focus at first is on engine development. Next year, I don’t want to have to say anymore that we lacked too much power in qualifying."

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has warned against the move towards more street circuits on the calendar, something Liberty Media is seemingly pursuing.

The current bosses have already confirmed a new race in Vietnam for 2020 on the streets of Hanoi and are also considering a London race if a new deal with Silverstone can't be reached for the British Grand Prix.

Copenhagen was another city weighing up the possibility but it's Miami and the proposed event there in two years time that Ecclestone focused his comments on.

"We have to be careful with these street circuits," he told Speed Week. "Tracks like Monaco or Baku, these are true street circuits but if you invent roads to get a road race, that's not the same thing.

"[In Miami] they wanted to drive on an island, over a bridge, such things, very difficult to implement."

Also Read:

• Silverstone 'the only place' that can host the British GP
• Hamilton would favour more races in traditional F1 countries over Vietnam

The Briton has long doubted whether the Miami Grand Prix will ever get off the ground, having attempted a similar plan in New Jersey which fell through earlier in the decade, and claims the Floridian city was another non-starter during his tenure.

"I shot Miami down a long time ago, it will never happen," Ecclestone believes. "I think that whoever wants to host a race in America wants a guarantee not to lose money.

"They're in too much of a hurry with all these new races. When they showed up, they said 'we'll have 25 races, six of them in America.'

"But when they come up with their business plan, they sit down and write down what they want to happen. However, they do not know how to do it and that's exactly the problem."

Max Verstappen still hasn't got over the penalty he received for the contact with Valtteri Bottas during the Italian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman was defending from the Mercedes driver at Monza until he moved across to take the line into the first chicane with Bottas alongside and the pair touched sending the Finn down the escape road.

An angry Verstappen slammed the stewards for 'killing racing' over the radio when hearing of his five-second penalty and even now the even bothers him.

“For me, to be honest, I think it was still unfair because I did leave him a car’s width,” he told RaceFans.

“I think it happened the year before as well with Felipe and his teammate at the time.”

Also Read:

• Todt suggests Verstappen become a steward for his FIA public service
• Verstappen admits bold Ocon moves in Abu Dhabi 'revenge for Brazil'

Overall, the Red Bull man has been frustrated with the stewards' decisions often going against him and he wasn't afraid to make that point again.

“I think penalties, in general, the whole season have been a bit all over the place. Sometimes yes, sometimes not," he said.

“Of course, looking back at it [Monza] I could have braked a bit straighter instead of going to the left, but when you’re in the car it’s really difficult to judge that when you arrive at 300kph.”

Brendon Hartley claims he "would love to tell the story" about his departure from Toro Rosso, suggesting it was because of his performance.

The Kiwi struggled for results throughout his first full Formula 1 season finishing 19th in the Drivers' Championship with just four points to his name compared to 29 for teammate Pierre Gasly.

Speculation over the former WEC champion's future was pretty constant, particularly in June when Red Bull was actively seeking to replace him with Lando Norris and Pascal Wehrlein to give two names mentioned, all of which was bemusing Hartley.

“I mean there were rumours very early in the season which was a big surprise to me when I thought I’d signed a long-term contract,” he told New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB.

“I came off the back of a World Championship and a Le Mans win and after just 2-3 races there were rumours and lot of questions being asked about my immediate future."

Despite the drastic difference in the Drivers' standings, Hartley also believes his performances against Gasly, who will step up to Red Bull next season, were also much better than being suggested.

“I fought, I evolved through the season, there were articles in the press saying ‘look he needs to improve, beat his teammate’ and at the end of the season I felt on top of my game," he said.

“I built great relationships with Honda, the staff at Toro Rosso, and was consistently out-performing my teammate.

“It wasn’t particularly easy, seven years away from single-seaters, but I was very comfortable with the job I was doing at the end of the year."

Also Read:

• Hartley 'much stronger' and wants future F1 return

Even so, the 29-year-old has been axed with Alexander Albon taking over for 2019 and Hartley insists there is more to what led to his departure than meets the eye.

“What I will say is F1 is very complicated, there’s a lot of money involved, politics, and some of the reasons drivers stay or leave isn’t always in your control or for reasons of pure performance," he stated.

“I would love to tell the story one day. Probably not everything I can disclose to be perfectly honest. The politics, I don’t enjoy, it took me some time to let’s say get used to the extra media attention.

“I was definitely prepared coming into F1 being involved in Porsche in LMP1 but the pressure ramped up more than expected, in terms of being under the microscope more, but I definitely got more and more comfortable with that during the season.”

While frustrated, Hartley concluded: “In any case, I left the paddock with my head held high. I knew I’d given it my best shot this year. I knew that I’d stepped up to the plate when I needed to.”