Pierre Gasly has claimed his interests only lie in becoming Formula 1's top man rather than his performance compared to future teammate Max Verstappen.

The Frenchman faces what some might consider a daunting prospect of going up against the Dutchman next season at a Red Bull team which many believe is being geared towards the 20-year-old.

However, speaking to Holland's Ziggo Sport, Gasly refused to fall for a trap question which asked if his desire was to "destroy" Verstappen at the Milton Keynes outfit.

"It’s not my wish to destroy Max. We are both drivers and of course I am going there to be the best," he replied. "I want to be the best F1 driver on the grid and he has the same desire."

A smart answer which fits into the perception that Gasly and Verstappen will continue the friendly rivalry that Max and Daniel Ricciardo have had since 2016, albeit with the prior increasingly showing his dominance.

"It’s nice to have someone next to you who is so fast, so you can bring out the best in each other, we’re going to experience great times," he added.

Also Read:

• Verstappen praises Gasly promotion after ruling out Alonso/Red Bull claims
• Gasly: Driver performance should be only criteria to reach F1

As for how the current Toro Rosso driver, who has scored four top 10's so far, expects to fit in at the senior squad...

"You always need the time to get used to everything, but hopefully I will be quick to work with the team and the car," Gasly said.

"I’ve known the team at Red Bull Racing for a while and at their request, I have already been in the simulator and I hope to be at ease soon."

Haas F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has added his name to the list of those against introducing a third car into some Formula 1 teams.

The idea, first put forward by Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff as a way to promote young drivers, has been struck down by Red Bull boss Christian Horner and FIA race director Charlie Whiting who doubted whether the smaller outfits could ever agree.

Now, Steiner has seemingly backed up his notion by voicing his concerns, believing it would have a negative impact on the championship and the fans.

"It could confuse the whole picture," he argued. "It would be very difficult to understand for the fans and new spectators that sometimes a third car could run.

"It would distort the actual championship, in my opinion. I think we need to sit back and come up with a better idea."

Certainly, the Italian confirmed, Haas would not be a team able to even consider the option of adding a third car to their line-up.

"As it stands, we have no interest to field a third car. If somebody comes up and pays for it, yes we can consider it," he said.

"Until that happens, there is no thinking about a third car for us."

Mercedes junior and current Formula 2 driver George Russell believes the current F1 grid is two teams short of what it should be.

The Briton, who currently leads the standings in the feeder series, is hoping to make the step up in 2019 with a possible seat at Williams not ruled out.

However, with so many good drivers, including Esteban Ocon, Pascal Wehrlein, Stoffel Vandoorne and others struggling to find a space, the Briton does think F1 needs to expand.

"We only have 20 cars on the grid, as a young driver trying to break into that 20 is extremely difficult," he told Motorsport.com

His boss at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, has touted the idea of three-car teams, potentially allowing the likes of the German manufacturer, Ferrari and others the chance to give young drivers a chance at the front of the grid.

"I think the idea of a third car, or something along those lines, is a very good idea," said the 20-year-old.

"You sometimes see the pay drivers getting into Formula 1, and potentially they could come in for their home race: an Asian driver comes in for the Asian races, the American drivers come in for the American races and so on.

"It gives the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull the chance to throw their young drivers in without any major issues."

Also Read:

• Red Bull boss Horner dismisses "impractical" third car idea
• Whiting: Three-car F1 teams 'would work' but never be accepted
• Gasly: Driver performance should be only criteria to reach F1

The main argument against it, however, is the cost but Russell thinks the extra investment would be worth it.

"F1 is an extremely expensive sport because of the development, not because of the actual cost of building the front wings or whatever," he said. "The money is spent in the windtunnels, on the designers’ salaries, the time and effort to design the cars.

"To make three wings instead of two is not going to be a huge additional cost. [Or] a third chassis compared to two. Obviously it’s an increased cost, but it’s not much for the spectacle it could give F1."

Pirelli is facing competition from tyre manufacturer Hankook for the contract to supply Formula 1 teams from 2020 it has been revealed.

Earlier in the summer, the official tender process was begun by the FIA with expectations that the Italian company, which has been in F1 since 2011, would continue.

This was particularly true as any new supplier would have to produce the current specification tyres in 2020 but then develop an all-new tyre for 2021 with 18-inch rims and the banning of tyre blankets to pre-heat the compounds.

Pirelli has always said they would consider the idea of returning to a tyre war, with Bridgestone vs Michelin the last until the end of 2006, although that seems unlikely as only one supplier is set to be chosen by the governing body.

Having already passed the initial safety and technical requirements, RaceFans claims negotiations between Hankook and Liberty Media are the next step to see if a financial deal can be agreed.

The South Korean company has expressed interest in F1 before and currently supplies the German DTM and European F3 series.

Liberty Media could be considering a tweak to the qualifying format for 2019, increasing the number of segments from three to four.

There have been numerous changes to the system over the years, after the traditional format of 12 laps over one-hour was abandoned in 2002 with a single-lap in two sessions and then an aggregate time used until 2005.

The current three-part system has been used in various forms since 2006 with previous rules on fuel loads in Q3 implemented then ended and who can forget the dreaded elimination-style system in 2016 which came and went after three very unhappy races.

Happily, the only change expected to be made is the number of eliminations per segment, with four in what would be Q1, Q2 and Q3, leaving eight to battle in a Q4.

The relative times of each segment have yet to be agreed or how this would impact the current rule of Q3 drivers starting the races on tyres used in Q2 but, hopefully, a little more thought is going into this idea than the one implemented two years ago.

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he misses the opportunity to seek advice from Michael Schumacher "on many things" in his Formula 1 career.

The German legend was strongly involved with the sport even after his initial retirement in 2006, supporting Ferrari in an advisory role before returning as a race driver with Mercedes in 2010.

Racing until the end of 2012, there would only be one year between that and his skiing accident in December 2013 that left him with severe head injuries which he continues to recover from to this day.

As Vettel looks to follow in his hero's footsteps of winning world championships with the Scuderia, but potentially set to fall short for a second straight year, he concedes the guidance of the seven-time champion would have been welcome.

“If he was healthy, I would ask him about many things,” he told Sport Bild.

“Not necessarily how to drive, but more things that are behind the scenes. Teamwork, F1 politics. He has a lot of experience from his time with Ferrari.”

One of Schumacher's main rivals during his career, double world champion Mika Hakkinen, responded to Vettel's admission and knows exactly how useful Michael would have been.

“I can understand why,” the Finn said in his regular Unibet column.

“Working very closely with the management and senior technical staff, Michael knew how to help get the most out of the Ferrari team and it looks like Vettel has lost some faith in the team to provide him with the necessary support.”

Also Read:

• Newey doubtful over Vettel title hopes, Horner disagrees
• Vettel 'will always defend' Ferrari despite Singapore loss

Former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone agreed, believing errors such as on strategy in Singapore would have never happened in Schumacher's heyday.

“Everything is already decided, Hamilton is world champion," he declared to Blick newspaper. 

“Unfortunately Ferrari messed it up in Monza and Singapore with the strategy. That would have never happened at Ferrari with Schumacher.”

Sauber team boss Fred Vasseur admits the decision to hire Kimi Raikkonen for 2019 is already bringing other benefits to the Swiss team.

Shortly after it was announced the Finn was leaving Ferrari at the end of the year, the 38-year-old surprised many by revealing his two-year deal with Sauber, the team he started with back in 2001.

According to Vasseur, social media interest since has already surpassed the levels seen in the first nine months of this season and away from the track commercial interest is increasing.

“We are receiving offers from every single area, from sponsors, I think we will discover the impact of Kimi’s situation week after week," he told Autosport.

"On the grid, he’ll be with one of the three world champions next year, with Seb and Lewis, and he has a huge impact.

"I probably even underestimated the impact," the Frenchman admitted. "I’m not a big fan of the social media, but I think it’s a huge thing.”

Vasseur also thinks the sheer fact Sauber has been attractive enough to a driver like Raikkonen proves how far the team has come in a short period of time.

“Kimi was a bit unexpected 12 months ago, but 12 months ago we were absolutely nowhere," he said.

"I couldn’t imagine that I would have been convincing Kimi to join the team. But thanks to everybody in the company, we made a good improvement. I think Kimi will enjoy racing with us.

"It’s a huge push to consider that someone like Kimi could join the project - that he trusts the team, he trusts everybody in the team," the former Renault boss added.

"It's giving you self-confidence: 'The guy in front of me, who is a world champion, is considering that I can do a good job, so full push."

Also Read:

• Raikkonen never considered retiring from F1 after 2018, says manager
• Ferrari looking post-Vettel with Leclerc promotion, says Eddie Jordan
• Sauber boss defends Raikkonen deal, talks his 2019 teammate

New rumours are now circulating that Kimi could make his first appearance with Sauber as early as next month after completing an initial seat-fitting at the Hinwil factory this past week.

The belief is he could replace Leclerc at the Pirelli tyre test post-Mexico at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, this after the Monegasque drove for Ferrari at a similar test last week in Paul Ricard.

A potential update on his teammate for next season is also doing the rounds as former GP2 champion Antonio Giovinazzi is set to drive in FP1 this weekend in Sochi amid strong links that he'll replace Marcus Ericsson.

Kimi Raikkonen's long-time manager Steve Robertson has admitted the Finn never considered retiring from Formula 1 during the uncertainty over his Ferrari future.

Before the Singapore Grand Prix, the Scuderia confirmed that they would be taking the risk of promoting Charles Leclerc into a race seat from Sauber but moments later the 38-year-old announced he would be going in the other direction.

It was a move that surprised many, who wonder what is keeping the famously nonchalant 'Iceman' motivated, but for Robertson it was clear.

“Kimi loves driving,” he declared. “He could have stopped, but he just loves driving at the top in F1.

“He has been with F1’s iconic team for eight years, which is incredible. Now he may decide to end his career at the team where he started it."

Also Read:

• Ferrari looking post-Vettel with Leclerc promotion, says Eddie Jordan
• Sauber boss defends Raikkonen deal, talks his 2019 teammate
• Raikkonen should have "moved aside" for a younger driver, says Brundle

Raikkonen revealed he only started conversations with the Swiss team after learning his Ferrari fate at Monza and his manager admits it was a simple process.

“Kimi had a meeting with them first and then he handed over to me," he explained.

“They were interested and Kimi made it clear that he was interested. Then he gave me a job and we did [the deal] as we have throughout his career.”

Max Verstappen is hoping to enjoy his 21st birthday at this weekend's Russian Grand Prix but the reality is set to be far different for Red Bull in Sochi.

The Milton Keynes outfit has never gone well around the Olympic Park circuit with two fifth-place finishes their best result in any of the previous four visits and Daniel Ricciardo failing to score in any of the last three.

As a result, both the Australian and Verstappen will be taking engine penalties meaning another back-of-the-grid start awaits for both of them and to make it worse it will be a B-spec Renault unit that both take rather than the C-spec they ran in recent races.

A difficult race on the track may not dampen the Dutchman's spirits, however, as he reaches a life milestone.

"This year’s Russian Grand Prix will be a special one for me, it is my 21st birthday on Sunday, so hopefully I can make it one to remember," he said.

"I think I celebrated my 18th there also, so it won’t be new to have my birthday in Sochi. I feel Russia is an up and coming Grand Prix as it still feels quite new to me."

As for his prospects for the weekend, Max added: "It’s not the best track for our car so it’s vital to get the set-up right for specific corners, we know we will lose time on the long straights so cornering is key."

Also Read:

• Verstappen: Singapore proved we have best car in F1
• Verstappen insists Alonso was never an option for Red Bull in 2019

For teammate Ricciardo, while acknowledging his dismal record in Sochi, he admits the thrill of racing there has actually improved over the years.

"It’s a surprisingly enjoyable lap. Apart from the long straight, there’s a lot going on and it’s a layout that keeps you thinking," he explained.

"The track surface has also improved over the last few years. When we first went there the track was very slippery but the grip levels have improved as the track has rubbered in, making it a more enjoyable circuit to drive.

"It’s definitely grown on me since we started racing there," he concluded.

Max Verstappen believes his result at the Singapore Grand Prix proves that Red Bull have the best car on the Formula 1 grid.

After a difficult run of races, the Dutchman but his RB14 on the front row in qualifying at Marina Bay before using a better tyre strategy to maintain it in the race, beating the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.

What made his performance all the more impressive was he did it with an engine that was misbehaving all weekend with false neutrals and inconsistent torque and power delivery, something that almost forced him to retire.

In making his bold claim, however, the 20-year-old made sure to once again point to Renault as the cause of their current inability to challenge at the front consistently.

“I think we have the best car in the field, as we found out in Singapore,” Verstappen stated.

“Of course we hope that next year with a new engine supplier it will continue in the right direction.

“We already have the right people on board, but the whole package is not yet right. That will also be difficult next year, but I hope we will have a real chance the following year.”

Also Read:

• Honda's next engine upgrade could see them pass Renault in performance - report
• Verstappen insists Alonso was never an option for Red Bull in 2019

Asked what makes him and the Red Bull team so confident in Honda, with whom they'll be teaming with, he added:  “First of all because of the budget they have, which is many times bigger than that of our current engine supplier.

“Furthermore, they just go in the right direction, also in terms of test bench results. Moreover, they really, really want to win.

“We already have the mentality to want to win in the team. But now the other side – the engine – still has to be done and we will certainly get that next year.”