Formula 1 gossip column: Michael Schumacher, Romain Grosjean

Friday, 24 October

Former owner Tony Fernandes claims that Caterham's new owner is entirely responsible for the team's current financial problems. (Autosport)

Gene Haas is confident he can avoid the mistakes made by other Formula 1 teams as he prepares to launch his new team for the 2016 season. (Daily Mail)

Red Bull's Ricciardo ran a competition for his helmet design for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Bernie Ecclestone will meet with the organisers of the proposed Las Vegas Grand Prix ahead of the United States Grand Prix in a week's time. (F1 Times)

But Ecclestone has played down reports he is in advanced talks to bring Formula 1 to the streets of Madrid. (Motorsport.com)

Daniel Ricciardo revealed a very bold helmet design on Twitter for the season-ending Abu Dhabi race: "So this is the helmet I'll be racing with in Abu Dhabi, the contest was won by Andrea Menardo. Looks great!"

Sauber drivers Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil are the latest to pose in Stetson hats ahead of Austin

Meanwhile, Sauber put together their own version of the increasing trend for drivers to wear silly Stetsons on Twitter ahead of the US GP next weekend: "They don't call it the wild west for nothing. Come see how the West was Formula 1."

After securing the Constructor's World Championship title in Sochi, critics are saying Mercedes are not going to be taking the rest of the season seriously. This photograph posted on the Mercedes Twitter says otherwise...

"Introducing... the #F1 W06 Balloon Power!" [Insert puncture joke here]

Thursday, 23 October

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, currently trailing team-mate Lewis Hamilton by 17 points in the drivers' championship, has admitted he will think more about his own interests now after Mercedes wrapped up the constructors' title in Russia. (flplus.com)

Lotus owner Gerard Lopez has hinted that driver Romain Grosjean will be staying at the Oxfordshire-based team for 2015 after rumours that the Swiss-born Frenchman was keeping his options open while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso resolves his future. (Grandprix.com)

Romain Grosjean lies 14th in the F1 drivers' championship with eight points

American racing magnate Gene Haas has welcomed an offer from engine supplier Ferrari to provide further expertise to his new F1 team, which will make its debut in 2016. (inautonews)

Red Bull boss Christian Horner says Mercedes' F1 title success this year has served to fire up his team to do better in 2015, rather than leaving it depressed. (Autosport)

Wednesday, 22 October

Porsche have shown an interest in signing Fernando Alonso up to race at Le Mans next season, but the Spaniard is "likely" to go to McLaren. (AS - in Spanish)

Could Fernando Alonso race at Le Mans next season?

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says Caterham should quit F1 after their recent financial problems. The Oxfordshire-based team haven't scored a single point since joining the sport in 2010, and an associate company who manufactures their cars went into administration on Tuesday. (The Sun - subscription required)

Silverstone chiefs have been told to keep silent after three members of the board were suspended last week. (Telegraph)

Sergio Perez says he expects to agree a deal which would see him stay with Force India for the 2015 season "in the next week or so". (Planet F1)

Ferrari's Marco Mattiacci says F1's smaller teams would benefit from a relaxation on engine development rules during the season. (Sky Sports)

Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne is preparing for the United States Grand Prix in true American style, as his team tweeted a picture of him donning a cowboy hat in readiness for the next F1 race in Austin, Texas.

Jean-Eric Vergne has been nicknamed 'The Chevalier' by his team as he prepares for the United States Grand Prix

Tuesday, 21 October

Nico Hulkenberg has been hailed as a "true racer" by Force India team principle Vijay Mallya, after the German agreed to stay on with the team for next season. (Independent)

F1 title leader Hamilton had his breakfast interrupted by his dog Roscoe's snoring

Lewis Hamilton posted an amusing video ‏on Twitter of his dog Roscoe snoring: "Having breakfast this morning in my hotel, Roscoe snoring so hard I had to put the pillow over him!"

Moscow Raceway has been upgraded to an FIA category one circuit, meaning it can be considered as a grand prix host. (Sky Sports)

Romain Grosjean says "big changes" at Lotus next year, including switching to Mercedes engines, mean they could challenge further up the grid. (ESPN F1)

A circuit on the streets of Madrid could be the new venue for the Spanish Grand Prix when the contract for the circuit in Barcelona expires in 2016.(El Confidencial)

Monday, 20 October

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo says he was not surprised by team-mate Sebastian Vettel's decision to join Ferrari. (Autosport)

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is in talks about staging a grand prix on the streets of Las Vegas. (Independent)

Toro Rosso will give Marco Wittmann a test as part of his prize from BMW for becoming German touring car champion. (ESPN)

McLaren are planning to introduce a "major upgrade" before the end of the season as they prepare for next year. (Planet F1)

Ricciardo enjoyed a taste of the two-wheel variety of racing as he tweeted: "Well after many years I finally got to a supercross! Big fan of the sport & yes I had an awesome time."

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo watched a super-cross motorbike event