F1 gossip: Hamilton, Alonso, Wehrlein, Rosberg, Sainz, Ricciardo

Sunday, 9 April

Alonso (left) and Hamilton were team-mates at McLaren

Lewis Hamilton has dismissed suggestions that former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso could join him at Mercedes next season. "It's not going to happen," said the Briton. (Telegraph)

Carlos Sainz Jr says his team Toro Rosso team thought he was "totally mad" to start the Chinese Grand Prix on slick tyres on his way to finishing seventh. (Autosport)

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Force India's Sergio Perez have been reprimanded for being late for the start of the national anthem before the Chinese GP. (Eurosport)

Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein suffered a fractured bone in his neck at the Race of Champions, according to Mercedes chief Toto Wolff and that is behind his absence from the first two races of the season as he recovers his fitness. (Fox Sports)

Retired world champion Nico Rosberg congratulates ex-Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton on winning the Chinese GP

Saturday, 8 April

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were teammates at Red Bull between 2009 and 2013

Former F1 driver Mark Webber has backed Lewis Hamilton for the 2017 drivers' championship, ahead of the Australian's former teammate Sebastian Vettel, because the Briton has "more outright skill". (Yahoo)

The FIA has arranged for a police escort should an ambulance be needed at the Chinese Grand Prix, in a bid to ensure the race will not be threatened by poor weather. Only 15 minutes of Friday's practice was possible because the medical helicopter could not operate. (Motorsport.com)

Red Bull's Max Verstappen received some shocking news ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix

Team boss Zak Brown says McLaren have not set a deadline for Honda to improve their engine, and has rejected suggestion of talks with Mercedes over an engine deal. (Grandprix.com)

The FIA has unveiled 'The Shield' - an alternative cockpit protection idea to the halo - to drivers at the Chinese Grand Prix. (PlanetF1)

Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn says the team will not switch to Ferrari's 2017 engine midway through the current season. (F1today.net)

Friday, 7 April

Will Red Bull's new recruit help them rule the galaxy in a reign of terror?

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff expects Pascal Wehrlein to return to racing next weekend in Bahrain after the Sauber driver missed the opening two rounds of the season because of fitness concerns. (Thecheckeredflag.co.uk)

Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone is considering a bid to purchase Interlagos - the home of the Brazilian Grand Prix - from the city of Sao Paulo. (Autosport)

Lewis Hamilton called for changes to F1's schedule after Friday's practice affected by bad weather

Thursday, 6 April

McLaren will employ a more aggressive version of the Formula 1 T-wing concept at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. (Autosport)

Fernando Alonso says he had to do a "record" amount of fuel saving in Melbourne, and the issue will be a big obstacle for McLaren over the season. (Motorsport.com)

Mercedes driver Hamilton finished second behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in the season's opening race in Australia

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo thinks Mercedes still have the quickest car in F1. (Grandprix.com)

Haas driver Romain Grosjean says he is not too concerned about the reliability issues his team suffered in Australia because they still displayed good pace. (ESPN)

Wednesday, 5 April

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton is "the best Lewis" that he has seen in the past four years, both on and off the track. (France 24 via AFP)

McLaren has ruled out any prospect of building its own Formula 1 engine even though its partner Honda is having continued troubles. (Autosport)

It looks like Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo doesn't suffer from vertigo

Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz admits to a liking for Peking Duck. (F1.com)

Renault's Jolyon Palmer is looking forward to a fresh start after the team found the issue that led to the Briton's braking problems in the Australian Grand Prix. (PlanetF1.com)

Former F1 world champion Jenson Button has been disqualified from his latest triathlon - for speeding. (Tri247.com)

Tuesday, 4 April

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen would like to see the louder V10 engines return to Formula 1. (Autosport)

Verstappen's father Jos, a former F1 driver himself, suffered a black eye and a cut to his face in a fight in a bar in the Netherlands on Sunday. (Daily Express)

Haas driver Grosjean is already one step ahead of the competition...

This season's cars have brought Formula 1 back to its "authentic" best, says Grand Prix Drivers' Association chairman Alex Wurz. (Motorsport.com)

The FIA, motorsport's world governing body, is to establish an official "Hall of Fame" to celebrate famous names across all categories of racing. (F1i.com)

Force India driver Esteban Ocon says he "almost vomited daily" during off-season training at high altitude. (Crash.net)

Monday, 3 April

Lewis Hamilton is in his best form of the past four years, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. (Sky Sports)

Meanwhile Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas has said his self-criticism will make him work harder after he finished third at the Australian Grand Prix. (F1 Today)

The Chinese Grand Prix will expose McLaren-Honda's weaknesses, says team racing director Eric Boullier. (Daily Mail)

Lewis Hamilton has a go at writing down the local lingo ahead of this weekend's Chinese GP

Formula 1 needs a rethink of its broadcast camera angles to show the new generation of cars, according to Grand Prix Drivers' Association chairman Alex Wurz. (Autosport)

Four-time F1 winner and ex-Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine has called Sebastian Vettel "a spoiled brat". (F1i.com)

Vettel, meanwhile, has called his win at the Australian Grand Prix the "tip of the iceberg". (Planet F1)