Ahead of his debut with the team this weekend in Austin, Carlos Sainz was impressed by what he saw after visiting Renault's Formula 1 base at Enstone, describing it as a "different world" to former team Toro Rosso.

It was announced during the last race weekend in Japan that the highly-rated 23-year-old would be making his planned 2018 move early, with Jolyon Palmer agreeing to vacate his seat early.

Therefore, in a bid to get his know his new team and likely complete a seat-fitting, the Spaniard made his first trip to the same factory his hero Fernando Alonso would make during his championship winning years just over a decade ago.

"The atmosphere was very good and people were very happy to see Carlos because it was known for some time that he was going to come to the team," his cousin and manager Carlos Elnoro told Spain's El Confidencial. "His arrival is a stimulus for the team before the last races of a long season." 

Commenting on his first thoughts, Sainz added: "The extension at the factory is still under construction but there are already 640 people working there. The facilities give an impression of Renault's commitment to be back at the top in F1. It's another world compared to Toro Rosso."

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Looking ahead to his first race in the black and yellow at the United States Grand Prix, he vowed to get up to speed as soon as possible but admits it will take a little time to adjust to his new surroundings.

“I’m very excited to joining the team and I hope to hit the ground running,” Sainz said. “We have some hard work ahead of us going into Austin with lots of things to learn and many people to meet.

“I’m going to give everything to be on the pace as soon as possible even though I know it can take a bit of time to adapt, but I’m confident we can do it. It’s key to have this immediate taste with Renault and get to know the people and the car. It’s a big challenge, but it motivates me.

"We have this last push for the season and I have to find where the limit of the car is, get used to the steering wheel, things like that. That’s the procedure and I will embrace the challenge.

“It’s good to see the people at Enstone putting the work in to get back to the top. They can be sure all the effort being put in is being matched on my side of things and I will be pushing flat out to help the team.”

Finally, Carlos, who will remain in the Red Bull stable during his stint with Renault, can also depend on the experienced hand of his new teammate Nico Hulkenberg to help him settle. 

"I’m looking forward to working with Carlos. We need to finish off the season well together to help the team in the Constructors’ standings," the German said.

"I’ll be doing everything I can to help him hit the ground running with the team, but he is a very capable driver with a bright future. He has shown what he can do in F1 and we’ll be aiming for a positive start to our partnership in Austin."

Renault will work to find Jolyon Palmer a race seat in a motorsport category in 2018 after handing his Formula 1 drive to Carlos Sainz, according to the Managing Director of their Sport division Cyril Abiteboul.

The Briton's future had already been decided post-2017 with the now former Toro Rosso driver joining on loan from the Red Bull stable as part of the engine deal between McLaren, Toro Rosso, Renault and Honda.

Yet, after a difficult year hit by mistakes and reliability problems, the Frenchman remained a backer of the 2015 GP2 champion until his final race just over a week ago in Japan and, after a long-standing association with Renault, is keen to help him move on from the somewhat unceremonious end of his spell with the team.

"We are a manufacturer that’s part of a large group, and we have a footprint that’s quite wide in motorsport, so there are opportunities also to help him for the future," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"He has my personal and also Renault’s commitment to see how we can help him in the next challenge. I’m pretty sure he’s got some ideas."

Typically, Formula E and WEC are immediate alternatives drivers look at as is IndyCar in America, but Palmer is not giving up on his F1 aspirations, pointing to the two drivers currently battling for a 2018 Williams seat.

"I think one thing you can say is never say never in F1," he said. "Obviously with [Robert] Kubica coming back, I think that shows - probably a lot of people thought he’d never come back, and he is there.

"And also Paul di Resta who’s not raced a car in F1 apart from Budapest (when he replaced an unwell Felipe Massa) for a long time and he’s in the mix for a drive again. You never know."

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer has confirmed the British luxury carmaker has hired a number of former Ferrari employees as he continues to weigh up whether to enter as an engine supplier from 2021.

Recently, it was announced Aston would be increasing their role within the Red Bull team moving up from a partner to become the main title sponsor from next season. Also, following McLaren's engine deal with Renault, it was speculated whether the French manufacturer would end their supply to the Milton Keynes-based outfit after 2018.

Though there is no chance of the famous brand making an engine before 2021, Palmer is sure that should circumstances allow, Aston would be able to join the grid and perhaps become more than just a partner.

"I’m sure we have the technical capability,” he told Motorsport.com. "Some of the people I have recently recruited, coming in from Ferrari, means I have the brainpower to be able to develop an F1 engine.

"The question will be whether the cap on the expense of doing that is affordable to a company like Aston, that’s the big difference between a small company like Aston and the big boys like Renault or Mercedes Benz."

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Per recent reports, the details of the 2021 engine could be revealed as early as October 31 with a twin-turbo V6 plus KERS the initial proposal apparently suggested. Talks have continued with no further details emerging but there is interest from other names such as Porsche and Cosworth.

Cost control measures could also be coming with talk of a first-stage budget cap coming in from 2019, it is uncertain whether that would stretch to engine suppliers, however.

Haas F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has revealed he declined a Ferrari request to take on one of their young drivers in 2018 as he looks to "build a base" for the team going forward.

The two outfits have worked together in a technical partnership since Haas joined the grid last year and in that time the American team has taken on young drivers including Esteban Gutierrez, Charles Leclerc and currently Antonio Giovinazzi.

However, after announcing their line-up of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen would be maintained next season as long ago as June, Steiner insists the Scuderia had no problem accepting their reasoning for not wanting to change.

“We work very closely with Ferrari together on things but they respect our decisions,” he told RACER. “We are very open with them about what we are doing because that’s the only way the partnership works – there is no playing games.

“We know we have got these two drivers and sometimes you need to look after the long-term because next year is short term. Sure, they asked us if we can do something, and we said no. It’s fine.

“We make our plans and try to plan as well as possible. When we signed these drivers we had to make the plans together. We need to be consistent."

Based on Giovinazzi's recent Friday outings, it is highly likely the Italian is who Ferrari asked Haas to take on, particularly as recently crowned F2 champion Charles Leclerc is now also associated with and is expected to join Sauber as a race driver next season.

However, after a respectable second season in F1 this season, now the Banbury and Kannapolis-based team is looking to move forward claiming to stick to what they know is a safer way of achieving that target.

“I wouldn’t say we would confuse ourselves without help from outside but everything is new for us and while consistency sometimes goes against you – sometimes fresh blood helps you do better – we need to build a base," Steiner explained.

"For that, consistency is important. I think we work with both of our drivers very well so at the moment for us there is nothing to be changed.”

As for right now, Haas is preparing for their second home race at Austin's Circuit of the Americas this weekend and for owner Gene Haas, this trip is about highlighting the progress made over the last year.

"As an American team, having an F1 race on American soil is incredibly important," he commented. "When we arrived in Austin last year, I think we had proven that we could hold our own with the established teams in F1.

"We had a very successful entrance into F1. We accomplished all of our major goals and, actually, surpassed what we expected at the beginning of the season.

"Now, we’re back with another year under our belts. We’ve been more consistent and we’ve scored more points but we can still be better, and being able to showcase our growth and what we can accomplish on home soil is very gratifying."

Fernando Alonso has pushed back against criticism from current world champion Nico Rosberg that only he was to blame for not adding to his two Formula 1 championships and having failed to win a race since 2013.

The German made the comments to Spanish media when it was suggested Alonso simply had "bad luck" where he went, while present at the Japanese Grand Prix just over a week ago. 

However, the 36-year-old, who had success without achieving the main goal at Ferrari before a disastrous three years at McLaren as he re-joined in 2015 to be a part of the Honda project, insisted at the time the moves made the most sense to him.

"I don't regret any of the decisions I took," he stated. "I've often said it: every time, I chose the best option, the most logical one. Unfortunately, I also don't have a crystal ball."

Instead, he compared his experiences to those of other world champions who took the plunge by taking on new challenges.

"What has happened to me is similar to what happened to Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, where things didn't go too well," Alonso claimed. "Or even Lewis Hamilton, who didn't have a very good first year at Mercedes.

'I'm proud to have driven for Renault, McLaren and Ferrari," he declared. "When I joined those teams, nobody criticized my choice or told me it was a bad decision. In hindsight, it's different but I'm proud of where I've been."

This week could well see the next big career decision for Fernando as he is expected to decide whether or not to remain with McLaren in 2018 as they look to get back on track after signing a new engine deal with Renault.

Expectations are he will indeed stay on but there are thoughts he may be set for another venture outside F1 with an attempt at the Le Mans 24 Hours as he looks to add another leg of motorsport's Triple Crown to his name.

Red Bull can offer Max Verstappen the best platform to beat Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton to the Formula 1 title if he uses it correctly, according to team boss Christian Horner.

The young Dutchman is believed to be considering his future with the company he only joined back in 2014, with both Mercedes and Ferrari reportedly circling to try and capture him at the end of 2018.

However, while admitting a lack of competitiveness this season would make the prospect of a switch tempting to Verstappen, Horner claims to join either of the top two teams would result see the 20-year-old simply become second fiddle to whichever driver would be his teammate.

"I think he can see the strength and depth of the team," Horner told Autosport, arguing the case for him to stay at Red Bull. "He feels comfortable in the team. He's the youngest Grand Prix winner, he's the youngest double winner, he's the youngest points scorer.

"Lewis is pretty set at Mercedes, Seb has signed for three years at Ferrari, [therefore] the obvious thing is to build a team around you, but it's down to us to provide him with a competitive car."

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Certainly, following the highs at races such as Spain and Brazil last year, the difficulties this season have been quite the comedown for Verstappen, who sits sixth in the Drivers' Championship. But the Briton points to the number of situations he has been in this season at which lady luck has ultimately intervened.

"There were so many races this year when he was in a fantastic position to achieve big results," Horner commented. "He's had four mechanical issues, all engine problems. If you look at the points lost, he should be sitting a pretty close third in the championship at the moment."

Nevertheless, he praised how Max has dealt with the disappointments believing this season can act as a key development year for his future.

"The experiences that he's gone through only broaden his shoulders and it makes you appreciate the good days like Malaysia even more when you've had tough days like a couple of weeks earlier in Singapore, or at his home race at Spa," the Red Bull boss claimed.

"Credit to him that at such a young age he hasn't let frustration boil over, he's kept his head down, he's kept plugging away. I always said, when it comes right for him, it's going to come right in a big way and that's exactly what happened in Malaysia. He drove a great race there, with no issues.

"It's quite astounding that he's only just turned 20. He's growing in all areas. He has so little experience in car racing per se that every weekend he's learning and getting stronger.

"There's no shortcut to experience. He's now close to completing his third Grand Prix season, and the level he's performing at is phenomenal. What's exciting is what the future holds for him."

The simplicity of Kimi Raikkonen makes him Sebastian Vettel's best teammate during his Formula 1 career, according to the Ferrari driver.

While the Finn's famous nonchalant attitude can sometimes be mistaken as a lack of care or motivation, in the crazy world of F1 it has made the 2007 world champion stand out throughout his career and earned him a lot of fans in the process.

The two drivers have always had a rapport since Vettel's arrival a decade ago and that has continued even as teammates at the Scuderia, with the four-time champion moving from Red Bull in 2015. 

While the German is known to have a more exuberant personality, at least at the racetrack, the pair do bare a lot of similarities, including being the only drivers on the grid not to have a Twitter account and that lack of noise is what appeals to the 30-year-old.

"Obviously it makes it a lot easier if you have somebody who you are working with that you feel the respect," Vettel told Motorsport.com.

"You know, many times people tend to make things much more complicated than they are, especially in F1, so it’s good if you can work with somebody where there are no politics or no confusions or anything.

"In this regard, Kimi is probably the best teammate that I had. He is pretty straightforward, but I also got along well with Daniel [Ricciardo]."

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Certainly, his last two teammates haven't had the intensity that long-time Red Bull partner Mark Webber had with the pair embroiled in a number of controversies during their five-year stint together, which saw Vettel win his four titles.

"With Mark, obviously at times we had our differences," he admitted. "Also I have to say we were different generations, so we probably from the start were not that close. But that is how it is."

McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier has tempered expectations of an immediate return to the front in 2018, believing the Woking team will "take some time" to build their new engine partnership with Renault.

The British outfit is looking to turnaround three years of frustration with Honda and think they can be challengers to the top Renault-powered team Red Bull, which consequentially would put them in a position to potentially claim wins for the first time since 2012.

However, Boullier admits patience will be needed before that high target is attained due to the usual teething problems of a new collaboration though has confidence it can be done.

"If you have a 10-year relationship with a partner obviously you have a different connection which we don’t have yet as we are building the relationship," the Frenchman commented. 

"It is going to take some time but we are very motivated to do the best. If you are McLaren you are designed for winning so we will do everything we can to be winning."

Throughout the past three seasons, the team has argued they have a chassis which is among the best on the grid but haven't been able to utilise it due to the lack of engine performance.

Though Renault are also believed to a step behind Mercedes and Ferrari, Boullier does expect to get an answer to their long-held claim and is very much keen to compare themselves to what Red Bull can produce.

"If you have the full package which means an okay engine, the best car and the best crew and driver you should be winning. So for us the pressure is the same," he said.

"I like it because I am fan of no bullshit so if you have a team next door with the same engine it means if you don’t beat them something is wrong with the rest of the car. That is perfect."

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The one weakness that Renault does have is qualifying, when their teams are unable to use an extra boost in power just for the single lap. This has been why Red Bull has sat fifth in sixth so many times this season, but the French manufacturer is working on solving that.

“We are catching up progressively and I think the Renault power unit is actually becoming very decent in race operation, but indeed we are definitely missing something in qualifying,” said Renault Sport Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul.

“Obviously it’s always a balance running safe and being aggressive and obviously the more potential performance we have then the more capacity we will have to be aggressive on Saturdays.

“This is what’s on plan for next year, even though we believe also that the regulation will help us in bridging any sort of deficit in relation to that on Saturday. So it’s positive and I think it’s something that McLaren could also see and part of the decision of working with us for the next three years.”

Mercedes Technical Director James Allison admits the team will be "better guided" with the direction it takes with the 2018 design as he looks to produce a more predictable car compared to what has often being described as the 'diva' 2017 machine.

The German manufacturer does look set to continue their run of double championship success for a fourth straight year with Lewis Hamilton 59 points clear of Sebastian Vettel and the team 145 points clear of Ferrari in the Constructors' standings.

Yet this season has proven much harder than the previous three, since the turbo hybrid engines were introduced in 2014, with new-look cars allowing the Scuderia to challenge and Red Bull to close up.in turn has highlighted weaknesses of the Mercedes on softer tyre compounds, high downforce circuits and in hotter conditions.

In turn, the greater competition has highlighted weaknesses of the Mercedes on softer tyre compounds, high downforce circuits and in hotter conditions all of which have meant finding the optimum performance window has been very difficult to achieve consistently.

"Well it is difficult, but it doesn't disobey the laws of physics!" Allison claimed to ESPN. "It is clearly understandable but that doesn't mean that it is always very easy to get the very best of it. It's been a challenge this year to achieve the results that we have with it, nevertheless, we have achieved some pretty decent outcomes with it so it's not been a bad machine for us.

"However, we'd like a car that is easier to throw at the race track and easier to guarantee that every time we come racing we get every last bit from it. Such changes that we have been able to make this year we have and next year we hope we make something with a slightly sweeter temperament."

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What is interesting is those same characteristics were true even with the previous design rules with the same circuits such as Monaco, Hungary, Singapore and Malaysia a chance for their rivals to win on pure pace.

For Allison, however, the 2018 car will be the first he can put his stamp on having joined the Brackley-based team back in March and he is confident the experience of developing the current car, the first of its type under the new rules will better shape next year's philosophy.

"Last year was more of a blank sheet of paper and therefore you had more design choices to make," he explained, comparing the challenge of designing the 2017 car, "that was true for everybody and we go into next year with a lot more information about how these cars behave and therefore with clearer ideas about what we would like to do about the next season.

"But that's true for everybody and therefore everyone will be better guided and the overall difficulty to be the quickest will remain the same because the new challenge of refining your current weapon will be the same for everyone."

Sebastian Vettel has expressed regret over his moment of anger which would see him bang wheels with Lewis Hamilton prior to a Safety Car restart during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The German would be given a 10-second stop/ go penalty for dangerous driving and would accept full responsibility after being brought in front of an FIA tribunal to avoid any further punishment.

He would blame his red mist moment on a feeling he had been brake-tested by the Mercedes after gently hitting the back of the car at slow speed just moments prior, but acknowledged his actions were irresponsible.

“I felt I let the team down because something that I did obviously cost a race win potentially," he said in an interview with Autosport.

A month ago in Singapore, many would blame Vettel again for a crash between himself, Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen on the run to Turn 1 at the start after moving across the circuit to defend his position.

No action would be taken, with the lack of visibility in the first-ever wet night race taken into account and certainly, the four-time world champion didn't see his actions at Marina Bay as severe.

“I think Baku was worse,” he stated. “So I think in Singapore, to be honest, the way I look at it, it’s racing and it happens. Obviously, it is extremely unfortunate, but I don’t know how many start crashes there have been in the past and there will be in the future.

“If you happen to be inside them, it always sucks. There is no better way to describe. Did it come in a good time? No. Is there any ever a good time for this to happen? Probably not.

“So it doesn’t matter. It happened. We cannot control it. We need to focus on what we have in our hands and try to focus on things we can control.”

That incident would be the first of three races that have defined the world championship battle with the Ferrari driver having to start at the back in Sepang two weeks later after an engine problem in qualifying, before retiring again a week later following a spark plug failure in Japan.

The result is now a 59-point deficit to Hamilton in the standings with four races to go, meaning hopes for a fifth world title are slim.