Formula 1 gossip: Magnussen, Maldonado, Williams, Silverstone

Romain Grosjean announced the launch date for the first Haas F1 car

 

Friday, 29 January

Former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen is set for a return to the sport with Renault poised to bring him in to replace Pastor Maldonado. (Daily Telegraph)

Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli is to hold talks with key stakeholders as it wants more track testing to prepare for new regulations in the 2017 season. (Daily Mail)

Romain Grosjean posted on social media: "Guys, it's now official, we will launch our @HaasF1Team car in BCN on the 22nd Feb am. Are you as excited as me?" (Romain Grosjean on Twitter)

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams wants to be braver in fighting for her team in talks with rival team bosses as she sometimes feels like "the little girl in the room" in the "male-dominated sport". (Associated Press)

The BRDC is no longer under pressure to sell British Grand Prix Formula 1 venue Silverstone, according to president Derek Warwick. (Autosport)

Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg has been at the BBC Studios for filming of Question of Sport earlier this week and said he had "good fun".

Hulkenberg enjoyed shooting some arrows while in the Question of Sport studios

Thursday, 28 January

New McLaren chief executive Jost Capito expects to have freedom to "do what needs to be done" to revive the team's fortunes when he joins from Volkswagen's successful motorsport arm later this season. (Autosport)

Renault GP2 chief Frederic Vasseur is tipped to lead the constructor's new Formula 1 team. (GrandPrix.com)

Michael Schumacher's 16-year-old son Mick will race in India's MRF Challenge Series, alongside the children of Red Bull technical officer Adrian Newey and former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi. (Deccan Chronicle)

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed on Instagram that he has taken up boxing as he steps up his preparations for the new season. 

Hamilton described boxing as a "great work out"

 

Meanwhile, Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz Jr says he has been training with Spanish triathlete Mario Mola in a bid to shed weight before the start of the new season. (Marca via Inautonews)

Wednesday, 27 January

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel believes the Italian team will be closer to challenging the domination of Mercedes in the 2016 season. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)

German Vettel finished fastest after a two-day test of alternative wet tyres by Pirelli at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France. (Guardian)

Red Bull insists it "acted correctly" in organising Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen's F1 car ski-slope stunt. (Autosport)

Brazilian Felipe Massa posted a photo on Instagram of compatriot and friend Pato, apparently congratulating him on signing for Chelsea. The post reads: "[Pato] I am sure it will be very good for you my bro! Congrats [Chelsea]."
Williams driver Felipe Massa has given a strong indication that Brazil footballer Pato is Chelsea-bound

Tuesday, 26 January

Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber says he rates ex-team-mate and current Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel as the best current driver and Renault's Pastor Maldonado as "out of his depth". (Wheels)

Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger says he "sometimes falls asleep in front of the television" and the sport "needs to be rethought from the ground up" to solve its problems. (Auto Motor und Sport via James Allen on F1)

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen was unconvinced by Pirelli's alternative wet-weather tyres following the opening day of a two-day tyre test at the Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France. (Autosport)

Three teams are taking part in the test - Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren - and Red Bull's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest time. (ESPN)

Ricciardo put the following message and picture on Instagram saying: "Happy Australia day!!! Top picture was a week ago. Bottom was yesterday. What a contrast! Would love to be back home today soaking up the sun. Enjoy it for me fellow strayans."
 

Monday, 25 January

 Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo wanted to race in last year's Le Mans 24-hour race but his team did not want him to.(Pitpass.com)

Gene Haas, the owner of new F1 team Haas, believes the Austin circuit can find a way to overcome its financial difficulties and remain as United States Grand Prix host. (Autosport)

The Indonesian government will make up the funding shortfall as Rio Haryanto's prospects of making his F1 debut with Manor in 2016 moved a step closer. (GPupdate.net)

Jean Todt, the boss of F1's governing body FIA, wants more positivity surrounding the sport. (F1i.com)

Nico Hulkenberg provided a view from the driver's seat as he went for a #nightride