Formula 2 driver and McLaren junior Lando Norris says he was "flattered" by Red Bull's approach to replace Brendon Hartley at Toro Rosso.

On Wednesday, it emerged the British team had rejected interest by advisor Helmut Marko in taking on the 18-year-old, who won the European F3 series in 2017 and is now reserve driver at McLaren.

This as a number of drivers, including Pascal Wehrlein, Robert Kubica and Antonio Giovinazzi has also been linked to the seat currently occupied by the Kiwi, who has just one top 10 finish to his name since joining at last year's US GP.

“I’m flattered by the stories but I’m focused on F2 and committed to McLaren,” Norris commented. “I leave this sort of thing to my management.”

The young Briton may not have to wait long for his F1 chance though, with the futures of both Stoffel Vandoorne and Fernando Alonso currently subject to speculation.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has admitted he and the British team are "under pressure" to start performing after another year mired in the midfield.

A switch from Honda to Renault power for 2018 was expected to see a significant jump in pace for the Woking-based outfit, potentially even making them legitimate challengers to the likes of Red Bull.

Instead, mechanical problems in testing and poor qualifying pace have left them behind the Renault works team for much of the season, even if Monaco's retirement marked Fernando Alonso's first failure to score this year.

That has seen some question if McLaren can once again become a championship contending team but Brown, who was brought in to lead that effort, remains defiant.

"I know we're under pressure, I know I'm under pressure," he told the official F1 website.

"Probably, if there's a frustrating thing - and you know because you know racing - it's that people don't understand just how long these things take.

"Right now, we just have to be head down, doing the hard work, focused, and with a clear direction."

The American did point to upgrades introduced at the Spanish GP which have made the team more competitive, adding that the strong correlation between the data gathered on track and in the windtunnel also bodes well going forward.

His issue is whether that pace of improvement will be enough to satisfy Alonso, who is being linked with McLaren's potential return to IndyCar from 2019.

This weekend, the double world champion reaches 300 Grand Prix starts in Montreal but admits expectations are low on a circuit which may not suit the MCL33.

"This will certainly be a tough circuit for us, but we’re making progress with our package race-by-race," said the Spaniard.

"A little bit of the drama or changeable weather conditions we’ve seen in Canada so many times in the past could offer us some opportunities – it’s up to us to take advantage of every possibility."

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Despite pace concerns, Alonso is looking forward to racing around one of the calendar's hidden gems.

"I’ve always enjoyed racing in Montreal," he said. "It has the best combination of a great track, challenging street circuit characteristics, and it’s a fun city to visit.

"I’ve enjoyed some great races in Canada and I won there in 2006, so it’s a special place for me. Even more so this weekend, when I’ll be celebrating my 300th Grand Prix."

Mercedes have had to postpone the planned introduction of an upgraded engine for the works and customer teams at this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

One of the most power-hungry circuits on the calendar, Montreal is the usual race of choice for suppliers to bring their first updates and particularly this year where it marks the one-third distance in a season where all key components are limited to just three for the year.

Renault, Honda and Ferrari are all expected to bring fresh and more powerful units, something that could put the German manufacturer at a rare disadvantage as their engines will have lost peak performance and be towards the end of their reliability cycle.

“Although we had hoped to introduce PU2 this weekend, a quality issue means that this has now been delayed by one race,” said a team spokesperson.

“All Mercedes-powered cars will be running PU1 for this weekend.”

Just to highlight the types of gains the other suppliers could make, rumours suggest Ferrari, despite ongoing tests into their ERS system, could have another 10 horsepower while Honda may have close to 30 additional horses in the back of the Toro Rosso.

“The updates are mainly to the ICE (internal combustion engine), focusing on improving performance," Toyoharu Tanabe, technical director at the Japanese manufacturer noted.

 A saving grace for Mercedes is the second unit should be ready for the returning French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard on June 24. 

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA has decided to add a third DRS zone around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for this weekend's Canadian GP.

It is the second time this season a track has featured a trio of straights where drivers will be able to open the flap in the rear wing after Australia's Albert Park also saw an extra zone added for 2018.

The two traditional areas remain, on the long straight to the final chicane and down the pit straight to Turn 1, and now the back straight between Turn's 7 and 8 will also offer an opportunity for drivers to overtake.

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It's an interesting move as Montreal is often considered one of the better tracks for overtaking thanks to the long straights into slow and medium-speed corners, compare that to Melbourne where big braking zones are sparse.

With Pirelli opting to bring the same Hyper, Ultra and Supersoft compounds as used in Monaco, degradation is also expected to be high which could make for a very entertaining race around one of F1's most unpredictable circuits.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has talked up the possibility of Marc Marquez making a future switch to Formula 1 after testing in Austria on Tuesday.

Given the chance to run a Toro Rosso-liveried RB8 at the Red Bull Ring, the MotoGP world champion completed a solid day of running improving from a steady 1m21 pace initially to lapping in the 1m14's by the end of the day, around four or five seconds off what might be expected in the hands of Daniel Ricciardo.

Still, based on that rate of progression, Marko doesn't see why the Spaniard couldn't potentially make the transition from two to four wheels some day.

"He is an exception in the MotoGP and it looks similar here at F1. I am happy that he gets along so quickly," the Austrian commented.

"A slower program was intended in the first case but I said Marc can do this instantly — and he confirmed that.

"In the coming years, he is going to break a lot more records in MotoGP. Maybe after that, F1 will actually be a possibility," Marko added.

"Up to now only a few exceptional talents, such as John Surtees, have managed to compete in both racing series. Marc also has what it takes.

"Today definitely wasn’t the last time he will sit in an F1 car."

A number of high profile names were in attendance for the event ahead of the Austrian GP next month including Mark Webber who drove the RB8 in anger in 2012.

"He was really quiet still at breakfast," the Australian commented. "As soon as he got into the cockpit, he was 100 percent focused and delivered a top performance on the race track.

"Formula 1 and MotoGP are two completely different things. Marc made my job as an instructor very easy though. He always asked the right questions and improved lap by lap.

“I think he made a progress that would have left him at least in the midfield in Formula 1. To put that kind of performance in within such a short time says everything about his huge talent."

When Marquez was asked if he would fancy a future attempt at the rarely made switch, his reply didn't exactly rule out the possibility.

"My complete focus in the coming years will remain on MotoGP. I’m part of a fantastic team, and I feel fully motivated. Who knows though, maybe Formula 1 will be a serious idea for me in a few years’ time!”

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff insists the German manufacturer's foray into Formula E does not put their Formula 1 future into doubt.

The Silver Arrow will join Porsche in the all-electric series from the 2019/2020 season as the championship, currently in its fourth cycle continues to attract the big names.

This as feisty negotiations over the future of F1 are also taking place with Ferrari and Mercedes both threatening to quit after 2020 if they don't agree with the direction taken.

However, the Austrian states the value of competing in the 'pinnacle of motorsport' remains strong from several perspectives.

“F1 is part of our core business,” Wolff claims. “The first Mercedes was a race car.

"F1 is not just a marketing platform for us, there is a direct technology transfer from the series.

“In addition, we cherish the sportiness of our brand. That’s why we want to stay in the series because it’s the only true global platform that counts for us.”

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He also played down any potential threat Formula E poses to F1 though did acknowledge being a part of it also brought a good amount of value.

“Formula 1 is clearly the top class in racing but electrification happens and it is a good message for every brand,” Toto said with maintaining an electrical aspect one of his key positions in F1's 2021 engine talks.

“Three years ago, I would not have given Formula E a chance but that has changed, it addresses a young, urban target group. The series creators have done a good job.

“For us, it’s like a start-up we’re interested in but it is complementary to Formula 1 for us, not competition."

Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley admits he is feeling additional pressure in Formula 1 as speculation over possible replacements continues.

The Kiwi was given a second chance by Red Bull late last year as he replaced Carlos Sainz from the United States GP and was kept on for a full season alongside Pierre Gasly in 2018.

At just the third way point though, only one top 10 finish and a regular deficit to his teammate has seen names like Pascal Wehrlein and Robert Kubica linked to his seat, all of which is making the former WEC champion admit to mixed emotions.

"In some ways, it can feel like maybe more pressure in F1 because you're one driver rather than three," he said ahead of the Canadian GP.

"I'm enjoying it. I do have to remind myself why I'm doing it and why I'm enjoying it, [because] there's a lot of pressure involved. It's very easy to get caught up in all the pressures that are involved in F1 and to lose sight in the absolute pleasure and why we are all here.

"I think that's no different to any other sport when it becomes truly professional."

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After crashing out in Monaco, albeit through no fault of his own, Hartley is having to watch over his shoulder with Red Bull's notoriously hard-line advisor Helmut Marko watching and now it is reported that McLaren junior Lando Norris had been contacted about a possible seat.

The young Briton impressed immensely winning the European F3 championship last year and is now in F2 as well as being the reserve driver for the Woking-based team, which is why they rebuffed Toro Rosso's approach.

With the performance of Stoffel Vandoorne also under scrutiny though, it may not be long before he gets his chance in F1.

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey has issued a warning to perspective Grand Prix venues regarding the design of their circuits as the fallout of the Monaco GP continues.

The sight of the fastest racing cars in the world hurtling around the fabled streets of Monte Carlo remains a remarkable one but after another largely processional race, calls have grown for changes with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso particularly outspoken.

It is often said that if the concept of a race in Monaco was put forward today nobody would agree and now that seems to have been confirmed with Carey identifying the key factors he will look for when considering future proposals.

“First, we want to make sure that it is great for a race," he said at the FIA Sport Conference in the Phillippines. "While we build all the things around it, it starts with having a track that provides a great race.

“Today, realistically, there are tracks that probably we need to work on that are not conducive to providing the most exciting and best racing. There are some that are fabulous.

“Second, we want a site that is going to capture the world’s imagination," the American added.

“We are in the great cities around the world. We use the phrase ‘destination cities’, and we are in places where when the fans look at it on TV, they are excited about it, think it looks spectacular, and that really capture people’s imagination. And if they go to it, it is even more special.

“We want those magical cities and magical countries that really intrigue and fascinate the world.”

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Not everyone is convinced Monaco's time as a compatible F1 venue is over, however, with Valtteri Bottas defending the circuit over the weekend.

“It’s a difficult one,” the Mercedes driver told Autoweek. “There’s so much history with this track layout. It would be a shame to shame it because it is so iconic.

“But on the other hand, with the current cars as they are, they’re getting quicker and bigger and overtaking is getting more and more difficult.

“It’s on the limit but I still love it, I still love driving there," he continued. “We’ve seen plenty of rich races also in Monaco but I think this year was unlucky also for the fans that there was not that much happening.”

Red Bull's chief technical officer Adrian Newey has backed Max Verstappen to bounce back after a difficult start to the 2018 season.

The Dutchman, once considered the future golden boy of Formula 1, has seen his aura diminish after a spate of incidents, including collisions with Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

Indeed, while the Australian currently sits third in the championship with two wins to his name, Verstappen only has a single podium and less than half the points after six races.

“He’s had one of those bad runs. He’s a great driver, he’s very quick and at some point, he’ll shed that (poor sequence) again and be on his way,” Newey was quoted by Reuters ahead of the Canadian GP.

“Part of being a racing driver is learning from your mistakes and I think he’s bright enough to do that.”

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It is exactly not doing that though that many have been critical of Verstappen for, although his last setback in Monaco, crashing in final practice and missing qualifying, did seem to cause a response as a more conservative race approach saw him move from 20th to finish ninth.

And despite appearing to remain defiant that his approach works for him, F1's most revered designer does think pundits and fellow drivers offering their various opinions has had an effect.

“We’re all human,” Newey stated. “He can try and shrug off everybody else’s comments and opinions but when you’ve had a run like that, you question yourself a bit. Of course you do.

“But I think he’s tough enough that he’ll come through that."

After the high of winning the Monaco GP, Daniel Ricciardo now faces the likelihood of starting at the back of the grid for this weekend's race in Canada.

Engine problems earlier in the year in Bahrain and China meant the Australian was already on the limit in terms of the allowed number of some components in the power unit and now, as Red Bull supplier Renault prepare to introduce a new upgrade in Montreal, it has been decided the pain of penalties is worth taking.

It is a major setback for Ricciardo, who some believe could be in the championship battle following his second win of the season in Monte Carlo, with chief technical officer Adrian Newey delivering the news on Sky Sports.

“He will definitely be taking some penalties in Montreal, we haven’t heard yet just how many,” he confirmed.

The likely components include a new battery and MGU-K after one of each was damaged beyond repair earlier in the season, although the kinetic energy recovery system which faltered in Monaco is expected to be available again.

Should that be the case, it would equate to a 15-place grid penalty which, based on Red Bull's usual qualifying performance would see Ricciardo start around P20.

However, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is considered a better track for overtaking, with possibilities into four corners around the layout meaning a typical feisty recovery is more likely in Canada than at some upcoming venues.

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As mentioned, this is to take advantage of an upgraded Renault engine but when asked what the advantage of that would be, the figure Newey suggested was quite small.

“It’s about 1% (more power), which is a tenth of a second. So it’s worth having but it’s not a make or break,” he stated.

It is the likelihood of further penalties down the road though, with Montreal only marking the third-way point in the season, which could make a Ricciardo title challenge less likely, particularly as Mercedes and Ferrari again prove very strong in terms of reliability.