Formula 1 gossip: Hamilton, McLaren, Mercedes, Pirelli

Could a career in music beckon for Hamilton?

Wednesday, 9 December

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve says Lewis Hamilton has "reacted badly" since winning the title in October. (Motorsport Magazin via F1 Today)

Tyre manufacturer Pirelli could get up to 12 days of testing over the course of the 2016 season following amendments to the sporting regulations put in place by the FIA. Pirelli had threatened to leave F1 if it was not given more time to test. (Crash.net)

Racing director Eric Boullier says McLaren's new car "is already delivering more performance" than last season's. (F1i.com)

Constructors' champions Mercedes must pay almost $5m (£3.3m) to enter Formula 1 next year, as a result of their success in 2015. (GPupdate)

Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton has tweeted a picture of himself in a Toronto music studio.

Tuesday, 8 December

Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen tweeted a picture after picking up the Autosport rookie of the year award

Two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen does not believe it would be a good idea for McLaren driver Fernando Alonso to take a year out of Formula 1. (Autosport)

Toto Wolff has reiterated Mercedes will not tolerate tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg if they create problems in the wider team. (Motorsport)

Force India driver Sergio Perez is confident things can only improve for his team during 2016, given their troubles this year. (Planet F1)

The organiser of the Russian Grand Prix has denied the 2016 race is in doubt. (GrandPrix.com)

Monday, 7 December

Mercedes tweeted a picture of Nico Rosberg with father and former world champion Keke, who celebrated his 67th birthday on Sunday

Mercedes are "torn" between what Lewis Hamilton does on the track and what he does off it, according to an unnamed team principal. (The Times)

World champion Hamilton, meanwhile, has donated a racing suit to the Hertfordshire Air Ambulance. Hamilton was brought up in Stevenage. (ITV)

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone says he hopes Sebastian Vettel wins the world title for Ferrari to "renew" the team's relationship with the sport, and describes Mercedes' dominance as "boring". (Welt - in German)

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has dismissed suggestions he has fallen out with non-executive chairman Niki Lauda as "nonsense" and "rubbish". (Autosport)