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From GMM

Romain Grosjean has denied that Lotus' new Mercedes engine deal makes it less likely he will stay with the Enstone team beyond 2014.

On the face of it, the struggling team's switch from an underpowered Renault 'power unit' is good news for Lotus' frustrated drivers.

"It will help Lotus," Grosjean agreed at Sochi.

"I am sure that next year the team will be more competitive. The option of (staying with) Lotus has become quite attractive."

But tucked away in Lotus' press release about the Mercedes deal was the detail that the team will be using Petronas oils and fuels next year.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22 (Photo: WRI2)

Currently, Grosjean is closely aligned with the Renault-linked French oil company Total.

"They (Total) understand the situation," the Frenchman insisted. "There are negotiations.

"Our relationship with Total is much closer than just a sponsor. We have been together and we want to continue.

"If the car is not running on Total fuel, that does not mean the company will stop supporting me," Grosjean explained.

From GMM

Rivals are piling pressure on Mercedes to agree to "unfreeze" engine development in formula one.

The German marque has utterly dominated the sport this year as the all-new turbo V6 era dawned.

So rivals, powered by struggling Ferrari and Renault, have argued that the strict limits on in-season development of the 'power units' should be relaxed.

For a rule change as soon as 2015, however, all teams would have to agree.

Christian Horner, boss of the works Renault team Red Bull, claimed in Russia on Friday that, in Singapore last month, Mercedes agreed to some 'unfreeze' measures.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRI2)

"One minute we agree something," he said, "then suddenly people can't remember what they've agreed and they change their mind, so we've got a bit going on at the moment."

Indeed, since Mercedes allegedly 'changed its mind', F1's influential 'strategy group' got together and the majority voted for the engine unfreeze to be sent to the F1 Commission for ratification.

"We'll see what the outcome of the commission vote is," said Horner.

"FIA are in support, FOM are in support, obviously the non-Mercedes teams are in support, so we'll see what that holds in approximately a month's time."

Horner admitted, however, that for the change to be voted through for 2015, every team will need to agree.

"I agree with Christian," said Marco Mattiacci, boss of F1's other engine supplier, Ferrari.

"Now today we have the majority of the votes to move ahead on the idea to unfreeze the engine. Let's see what's going to happen during the F1 Commission," he added.

From GMM

Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz insists he is "not disappointed" to be losing world champion Sebastian Vettel.

A week ago at Suzuka, the German - who was nurtured from boyhood to F1 stardom by the energy drink company - announced to Red Bull and the world that he is leaving the team.

It is expected he will switch to Ferrari for 2015.

But billionaire Mateschitz insisted to the German news agency DPA that, at the moment, Vettel and Red Bull Racing are not compatible.

Dietrich Mateschitz (Photo: WRI2)

"Given Red Bull's handicap with the current (Renault) power unit and Mercedes' dominance," he said, "you don't need a four-time world champion who at best can be 'best of the rest'."

And according to Mateschitz, the promise shown by Vettel's successor, 20-year-old Daniil Kvyat, is another reason Red Bull is happily letting its champion go.

"We considered it neither just nor necessary to intervene," he said, "particularly since this switch brings huge financial savings.

"I also believe that the forthcoming switches will contribute a lot to the excitement of the next formula one season," Mateschitz added.

From GMM

Wherever Fernando Alonso will go next year, sponsor Movistar will go with him.

That is the claim of Spain's Marca, who reports that Movistar, the major Spanish mobile operator, has decided to partner with Alonso's next F1 team.

"Talks with McLaren are underway," read the report.

"There are also negotiations afoot with Blackberry, the phone company that is with Mercedes and with which there is an obvious synergy. One (Movistar) sells the lines, the other (Blackberry) the handsets."

If Alonso cannot find a route into Mercedes for 2015, he is expected either to sign a one-year deal elsewhere, or simply sit out next year's championship.

"McLaren will not want to be the stopgap," said London's Times newspaper.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14-T (Photo: WRI2)

So while the talks go on, everybody else waits.

"It all depends on whether he (Alonso) goes to McLaren or whether he leaves formula one and returns later," said Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who is leaving his own future open for now.

Also waiting is McLaren driver Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion.

He admitted in Russia: "My family find it really difficult to understand the situation I am in at this point, considering what I have done in the sport."

Another party whose next plans appear held up is Ferrari. There is speculation Hamilton may also be linked with the Maranello team.

"No, that's not true," the championship leader told Germany's Auto Bild in Russia.

Team boss Marco Mattiacci, meanwhile, said on Friday: "I don't have any update, any news, any announcement to be made."

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