Gossip: Paddy Lowe, Liberty Media, Max Verstappen, Hulkenberg

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Saturday, 10 December

Image source, Force India on Twitter

Nico Hulkenberg will switch from Force India to Renault during 2017 and his former team have tweeted a letter they have sent to his new employers about taking care of the German.

McLaren have denied reports that Mercedes technical director Paddy Lowe is set to leave the constructors' champions and return to them. (GrandPrix.com), external

Liberty Media will hold a meeting in January and vote on various elements of its deal to purchase of Formula 1. (Autosport), external

Red Bull racer Max Verstappen says he doesn't "care about other opinions" after having been criticised for his driving style during the 2016 season. (Planet F1), external

Friday, 9 December

Image source, Jenson Button on Instagram

Retired F1 driver Jenson Button wrote on Instagram, external that he would now like to be referred to as Doctor Button after receiving an honorary degree in engineering from the University of Bath.

World champion Nico Rosberg has responded to Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, who said his Rosberg's to quit left the team looking "dumb". (Fox Sports), external

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says Rosberg will not be remembered as a legend of the sport and that he "would just call Nico a world champion and nothing else". (Hindustan Times), external

Red Bull boss Christian Horner expects the continued development of the Renault engine to help the team narrow the gap on Mercedes. (ESPN), external

Brazilian Felipe Massa says he wants to race full-time in 2017 following his retirement from Formula 1 last season. (Autosport), external

Thursday, 8 December

Image source, Taki Inoue

Hapless 1990s F1 driver Taki Inoue responded to Mercedes' tongue-in-cheek job advert for a new driver by sending his CV to the team on Twitter., external The Japanese lists spinning off three laps into his F1 debut and being "hit by the safety car TWICE" among his stellar achievements.

The man Inoue has designs on replacing at Mercedes, new world champion Nico Rosberg, has also been on Twitter to post his thanks, external to team boss Toto Wolff.

Image source, Nico Rosberg on Twitter

Meanwhile, Rosberg has dismissed claims he could make a comeback in the future, after ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger said he would get "bored" in retirement. (f1today.net), external

Williams expect Formula 1 rookie Lance Stroll to make mistakes next season but believe the Canadian teenager is also the "real deal". (Reuters), external

Sebastian Vettel believes Ferrari should have beaten Red Bull to second in the 2016 Formula 1 constructors' championship because they had the stronger package. (Autosport), external

Team boss Christian Horner believes Red Bull's engine supplier Renault has the potential to close the gap to Mercedes to a manageable amount next year. (ESPN), external

Sergio Perez has thrived through having Nico Hulkenberg as a Formula 1 team-mate, according to Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley. (Autosport), external

Wednesday, 7 December

Image source, Nico Rosberg
Image caption,

There were trophies aplenty on show when world champion Nico Rosberg posed with his German compatriot and football World Cup winner Lukas Podolski

Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger believes newly retired Nico Rosberg could make a comeback into the sport when boredom sets in. (Planet F1), external

Esteban Ocon has not been approached to fill the driver's position vacated by Rosberg. The Force India driver has been one of many names linked with a move to the constructor but Force India chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer believes Mercedes boss Toto Wolf could do worse than recruit Jenson Button. (Sky Sports), external

Wolff is not yet ready to draw a line under Lewis Hamilton's driving in the closing stages of the final race of the season and could impose sanctions on the 2015 World Champion. Hamilton deliberately slowed down as he led the race in the hope other drivers would catch Nico Rosberg. (Autoweek), external

In a quick-fire question-and-answer session, Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo says team-mate Max Verstappen is "pretty quick for a guy just starting puberty". (Red Bull Racing), external

Felipe Nasr has indicated he will wait for clarity regarding his future in F1. The Brazilian looked set to lose his place at Sauber for 2017 to Pascal Wehrlein but the German is now in the frame to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes. (F1 Today), external

Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat has called for a driver vote on the 'halo' in order to provide governing body the FIA with a clear answer over feelings up and down the Formula 1 grid. The halo is the FIA's preferred cockpit protection device. (GP Update), external

Tuesday, 6 December

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Valentino Rossi is a seven-time MotoGP champion

MotoGP racer Valentino Rossi has surprisingly put his name forward to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, saying "how could I say no?".(Autoweek), external

Pascal Wehrlein says he does not want to annoy Mercedes by pestering the Formula 1 team about Rosberg's vacant 2017 seat, but insists he is ready to step up. (Autosport), external

McLaren's new executive director Zak Brown says the team are adamant Fernando Alonso will not move to Mercedes for next season.(SkySports), external

Tavo Hellmund, the man who helped resurrect the USA and Mexican grands prix, has emerged as the favourite to complete a takeover of the Manor team. (Motorsport), external

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko says the team are convinced they will be on the lead pace next season and fight for both the drivers' and constructors' titles.(Formula1.com), external

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