Lance Stroll is hoping the first race of his Formula 1 career on a circuit that he has previously raced at can help him maintain his recent run of points results.

By keeping out of trouble the Canadian was able to finish eighth at his home race and followed that up with a mature drive to third in Baku, just missing out on second to Valtteri Bottas at the finish line.

A private test between the two races in Austin also helped, though it did annoy some, particularly former world champion Jacques Villeneuve, with the 18-year-old later claiming he was "always negative".

But looking ahead to the Austrian Grand Prix, Stroll is anticipating a different type of weekend to those he has had so far.

"Austria will be a completely new experience for me, as this is the first track of the year where I have already raced," he said.

"I just love that track. It is so cool and a place I have enjoyed racing. There are not that many corners but it has a great flow and it is easy to get a good rhythm.

"It is always great going back to a track where you have been successful, and that is definitely the case here as last year in Formula 3 I had two wins and a second! The area is very beautiful and it reminds me of back home in Canada – one of those northern tracks with pine trees."

The race also brings good memories for his Williams team and technical director Paddy Lowe hopes they can help to a strong result as they look to close down Force India in the Constructors' championship.

"We got a front-row lockout in 2014, so we hope the car should be quick once again so we can see how far towards the front we can get in qualifying," he commented.

"After Lance’s podium and Felipe’s strong but ultimately frustrating race in Azerbaijan, we have in our sights a double points finish this weekend. We will do our very best to achieve that."

Ferrari has opted for an aggressive tyre strategy at next weekend's British Grand Prix Pirelli has revealed, following the publication of each team's choices.

The Italian supplier altered their allocation for the high-speed turns of Silverstone this year, moving one step softer with the super-soft making its first appearance at the historic venue, along with the soft and medium compounds.

Despite the change, many teams have continued to favour the faster rubber with the Scuderia deciding to take nine sets of the super-softs, three sets of softs and just the one medium to use across the three days.

Contrast that to their main title rivals Mercedes, who have only chosen six sets of the red-striped rubber, with Lewis Hamilton choosing another six of the softs with one medium and Valtteri Bottas slightly different with five softs and two sets of the medium, one of only four drivers to do so.

As has become commonplace this year, McLaren has the most super-softs with 10 sets at their disposal, plus two sets of softs and one medium. The only other driver to choose this is Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat, while team-mate Carlos Sainz has gone with the same numbers as Ferrari.

Both Red Bulls have also taken the more aggressive approach with eight sets of super-softs, four softs and the single medium, as have engine supplier Renault.

Pirelli has already indicated it expects a two-stop strategy to be the fastest route to the finish at Silverstone, something that has become increasingly rare this year as the tyres have proven much more durable.

As is the case every year, the fickle British weather will likely play a part at some point in the weekend, if it doesn't, however, it could be a fascinating duel to see which team got their choices right.

Full choices for all teams can be seen below.

Formula 1 bosses have taken a significant step in trying to increase the sport's fanbase in China, announcing a tie-up with Lagardere Sports, a marketing firm with specialist knowledge of the country.

The world most populous nation has been a hard market for F1 to break into despite having held a Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit since 2004. In recent years initiatives have seen growth in attendance numbers for the race but, as a whole, the potential in China hasn't really been exploited.

So much so, in fact, that next year's race was put down as 'provisional' on the calendar released last month, though this new development may signal that the future has been secured. 

In another positive note, the potential of a first F1 team from the Asian giant appears closer than ever with a consortium believed to be targeting 2019 for entry onto the grid. A company under the name of China F1 Racing Team Ltd. was registered in the UK and a Twitter account with the username @ChinaF1Team has also been created.

Commenting on the new tie-up, commercial managing director Sean Bratches said: “We have a proud and longstanding relationship with motorsport in Asia, working with some great motor race circuit owners and successful race promoters from Singapore to Suzuka in Japan through to Malaysia and Shanghai in China. 

“Across the region, Formula 1 fans have proven themselves to be some of the sport's most passionate supporters with over 8.8 million people attending race weekends since 2004. 

“We are keen to build on this, developing our brand through unique live entertainment experiences designed to get fans closer to the action. 

“We're delighted to be working with Lagardère Sports, whose knowledge of the market in China will help establish long-term benefits for all our partners and brands that we work with.”

Formula 1's managing director of motorsport, Ross Brawn, has indicated additional help would likely be made available for new engine manufacturers to enter the sport.

This is in response to the ongoing plight of Honda, who continue to struggle with their current V6 turbo hybrid power unit three years after re-entering F1 as the partner to McLaren in 2015, the year after the current engine formula was introduced.

The offer of help has been made to the Japanese carmaker, with talks of a collaboration with Mercedes earlier this year, however, it did receive some pushback from midfield teams such as Force India, wary such a collaboration would boost a rival team.

"We're not about to go in and negotiate special engineering terms for Honda," Brawn said specifically on this opposition. "I'm not proposing that I go in and tell Honda how they should design their engine, but if we in F1 can help them achieve their ambitions, then we will.

"If Honda were to approach us for help, and it was something within our capability - as in not something that would create an unfair competition - then we would help."

On a wider scale, the framework for allowing greater freedom for new suppliers would likely be linked in with the expected change in engine formula perhaps as soon as 2020, with a twin-turbo V6 with a return to the previous KERS system, albeit with a lot more power, being considered.

"Under the new regulations, we'll have to give consideration to new manufacturers who join after the start date, and acknowledge they might need additional support initially," the former Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda man explained.

"If you recall the token system, perhaps a new entrant might get more development tokens for the first couple of years - there are some smart initiatives you can use to encourage people into F1."

The main reasons for the change are cost, weight and to improve simplicity, all factors Brawn thinks have stopped other manufacturers joining the F1 grid since 2014. The Briton does admit though that the role of engines in F1 must remain an important one. 

"The old [Cosworth V8-dominated] days, where the engine was in effect just a spacer between the chassis and the gearbox because everybody had the same engine - I don't think that added a lot of value to F1, whereas there is value to having some differentiation," he said.

"But it mustn't get too big, to the extent that it becomes the dominant factor.

"Finding the balance comes from the point at which you start, because trying to apply corrections afterwards is tricky, emotional, divisive, and it frustrates people.

"Seeing where we are today is a great catalyst for ensuring that the new regulations control the potential for performance differentials, and are attainable by more people.

"The current power units are magnificent pieces of engineering, but unfortunately, as has been demonstrated, you really do struggle as a new manufacturer to get on top of the challenge.

"We don't want to make it too easy, but we do want new manufacturers to be able to come in, do a respectable job and be competitive within three years."

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff believes the incident between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in Baku is now a "closed chapter" in their season-long rivalry.

On Monday, the FIA opted not to retrospectively punish the Ferrari driver for deliberately banging wheels with Hamilton. Though there has been no official response from the Briton to the apology, Vettel later issued, a 'like' of a fan's Instagram post claiming to have "lost all respect" for Formula 1's governing body would indicate he is unhappy with that decision.

It also means he remains 14 points behind the 30-year-old heading into this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, the home race for Wolff who is now keen to move on.

“Every great F1 season is marked by a great rivalry,” he said. “Last year it was our internal battle between Lewis and Nico and this year it seems that the fight is on between Ferrari and Mercedes and Lewis and Sebastian.

“As calm as it started, it was only a matter of time until the rivalry would eventually become more fierce and controversial. That moment happened in Baku and we saw the results of that tension on track.

“We have moved passed that moment now and it is a closed chapter," Toto would then declare. "The hearing on Monday was between the FIA and Sebastian and it reached the conclusion we have all seen.”

Despite the brief back and forth between Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda and Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene following the Azerbaijan race, Wolff is also keen to see the battle with the Scuderia will remain on good terms and help promote the sport.

“There is great respect between Mercedes and Ferrari, two iconic motor racing brands, not only because of the challenging battle on track but because we are pushing for the same goal: to see F1 flourish," he claimed.

“The new owners could hardly have asked for a better start to this new era than this epic battle between Mercedes and Ferrari. Add to the mix a Red Bull team that can win as well and it makes F1 into a great spectacle.”

Looking ahead to the race in Spielberg, the first race on a more typical purpose-built racetrack since Spain, the boss of the defending world champions is confident minor flaws and weaknesses with the W08 are slowly being solved.

“Our focus since Baku has been on our own shortcomings, reviewing both the design and procedures around our headrest which cost Lewis the win two weeks ago."

More generally he added: “We have made a step since Monaco in understanding what it takes to make our car perform. The sweet spot is still difficult to find - but we are starting to do so more regularly.

“Clearly, we are not the only team who took time to understand the combination of the new regulations and tyres - but we are making progress, step by step. And we must continue to do so in the next two weekends to maximise our points score.”

Sebastian Vettel will face no further action for intentionally hitting Lewis Hamilton during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a ruling by the FIA in Paris on Monday.

Late last week the governing body revealed it would determine whether a retrospective sanction was required in addition to the 10-second stop/ go penalty the German was awarded during the race in Baku for 'dangerous driving'.

However, following a number of commitments made by Vettel to teach junior drivers how to properly behave on track as well as issuing a public apology for the incident, it was decided the result from the last race, with the Ferrari driver fourth and Hamilton fifth would remain intact.

“Following detailed discussion and further examination of video and data evidence related to the incident, Sebastian Vettel admitted full responsibility," a statement from the FIA read. “Sebastian Vettel also extended his sincere apologies to the FIA and the wider motorsport family. 

“The FIA notes this commitment, the personal apology made by Sebastian Vettel and his pledge to make that apology public. The FIA also notes that Scuderia Ferrari is aligned with the values and objectives of the FIA. 

“In light of these developments, FIA President Jean Todt decided that on this occasion the matter should be closed."

The shadow of what occurred hasn't completely gone, however, with the statement noting: “Nevertheless, in noting the severity of the offence and its potential negative consequences, FIA President Todt made it clear that should there be any repetition of such behaviour, the matter would immediately be referred to the FIA International Tribunal for further investigation. 

“Due to this incident, President Jean Todt has instructed that no road safety activities should be endorsed by Sebastian Vettel until the end of this year." 

The conclusion, also coming on Sebastian's 30th birthday, means he will maintain his 14-point lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship going into this weekend's race in Austria.

In the apology that was later published on his official website, however, he acknowledged he had misread the situation with Hamilton.

"During the restart lap, I got surprised by Lewis and ran into the back of his car. With hindsight, I don't believe he had any bad intentions," he said.

"In the heat of the action I then overreacted and therefore I want to apologise to Lewis directly, as well as to all the people who were watching the race. I realise that I was not setting a good example.

"I had no intention at any time to put Lewis in danger, but I understand that I caused a dangerous situation.

"Therefore, I would like to apologise to the FIA. I accept and respect the decisions that were taken at today's meeting in Paris, as well as the penalty imposed by the Stewards in Baku.

One key driver for the second investigation was the need to highlight how Vettel's actions were not those in keeping with the expectations of one of F1's most successful drivers.

In noting that, he added: "I love this sport and I am determined to represent it in a way that can be an example for future generations."

Former Formula 1 race winner Robert Kubica, is continuing to talk up his chances of a full return to the sport, as the BBC reports a second Renault test is planned.

Last month expectations were raised after the 32-year-old completed 115 laps in a 2012 Lotus in Valencia, his first action behind the wheel of an F1 car since his near career-ending rally crash in Italy in 2011.

Over the weekend the Pole was driving again at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, and, when a few years ago he put his F1 comeback chances at just 10 or 20 percent, now he claims: “Because I’m very realistic and I’m keeping my feet on the ground, I’d put it at 80 or 90 percent."

Kubica also admits his current situation is well beyond what he could have hoped for, with limited movements in his right arm thought to be detrimental to his chances of making it back to the pinnacle of motorsport.

“I was shocked, to be honest, it was really, really impressive, feeling-wise," he said of being back in an F1 car

“I’m not talking about pace there – a few tenths here, a few tenths there – but the feeling and the impression I had, straight away, were amazing.

“You build up your own question marks, based on how you know yourself and your body and then if you’d asked me about them after even the first run at Valencia, they were gone, gone, gone, gone," he added.

“Once my comfort, or let’s say limitation things, were gone in three laps, I could concentrate on trying to get back to the proper rhythm, I’m surprised how it felt.”

Further stoking the perceived possibility of a return is the current driver situation at Renault, with Jolyon Palmer under pressure to perform and speculation that Kubica was faster than reserve driver Sergey Sirotkin.

Though the Enstone-based team itself continues to downplay the possibility, if that speculation is true then Kubica could well be the ideal choice to help the French manufacturer towards their goal of once again winning the F1 championship.

On that goal, Nico Hulkenberg, who himself only joined at the beginning of this year, believes the pre-2020 target set by managing director Cyril Abiteboul is still an attainable one.

"The team is moving in the right direction," Hulkenberg was quoted by Sky Sports. "There is a lot of good stuff coming and in the pipeline for a later point in the season. All the signs are good and encouraging.

"We are on target and we are where l expected us to be."

However, he would admit: "The gap to the front is big. We need a lot of performance. Next year, we want to be well into the top 10 all the time, so we have to make a big step to fulfil those expectations."

A difference in driving style is allowing Kevin Magnussen to better overcome the ongoing brake issues at Haas compared to Romain Grosjean, according to team principal Guenther Steiner.

For over a year now the American team has struggled to overcome the problems. For a while, Haas tried different materials before ultimately staying with Brembo, but now attention seems to be on whether the brake-by-wire system itself could be responsible for the inconsistencies the drivers are facing

In Baku, the difference between the two drivers was the biggest all year with Magnussen able to make the use of the many incidents to claim seventh, compared to Grosjean who was consistently wary of a failure and finished last of the classified runners in 13th.

"It’s not that Kevin didn’t have the problems with the brakes, with his driving style – for him it’s easier to drive around it, or make it less evident,” Steiner said offering an explanation.

“He was not happy with the brakes in FP2. For the race, he had to lift and coast, as well, because we had some issues.

“But with Romain’s driving style, the brakes need to be perfect or as close to perfect as can be. At the moment, we are not there."

The reason why Steiner can draw that conclusion is: “The cars as a setup – suspension-wise and aero-wise – are pretty similar all the time,” Steiner added.

“But their driving styles – how they go into a corner – that’s a little bit different. In the end, the cars are not far apart. The drivers work with their race engineer, but the cars, in principle, are very similar.”

The impact of brake problems also goes beyond just slowing the cars down, as Grosjean revealed, the braking profile of a car is as important as aerodynamics and other mechanics, such as the suspension, to help optimise cornering speed.

“You cannot take one apart. Aero and mechanical balance go together and the brake balance fine-tunes the car," the 10-time F1 podium scorer commented.

“It’s very difficult to remove one. You work with your philosophy and you set up from there.

“It’s definitely a snowball effect when you lose, let’s say the aero balance, then you try to compensate with the brake balance going rearward, then the mechanical balance going rearward,” he added.

“Nothing is then putting a load on the front tyres and, therefore, you’ve got front-locking. It’s about finding the right balance, not putting too much on things, but finding the right compromise because you’re never going to get a full, perfect lap with the car balance.”

Fernando Alonso believes his ninth place finish in Azerbaijan highlights the competitive edge that remains in the McLaren team despite their ongoing difficulties.

The Spaniard started at the back of the grid in Baku but, in an action-packed race, was able to move up as was running in the top six before falling back but still managed to score his and the British team's first points of the year.

It was a result that relieved some of the pressure on the Woking-based team and, in Alonso's view, answered those questioning whether McLaren would still be able to compete with the best teams when given the opportunity.

"Our performance in the race not only showed that the foundations of our car package are strong, but also that our operational team – our mechanics, engineers and strategists – are all racers, poised and waiting to take advantage of any situation," he claimed

"Two points may have been a small consolation after an extremely tough weekend, but, as I said at the time, we'll take it and use it to drive us forwards."

Indeed, upcoming races and Honda upgrades could enable McLaren to use the Baku result as a catalyst to start turning around their season, as they still sit bottom of the Constructors' Championship.

"There are reasons to feel more optimistic about our weekend in Austria," he said, looking ahead to this weekend's race.

"It's a circuit that's not as dependent on power as some of the recent races, and I think our car will be better suited to the twists and turns of the Spielberg circuit.

"We've also got a couple of useful steps coming on the car, including – hopefully – Honda's revised Spec 3 power unit, which I tried during Friday practice in Azerbaijan,” he added.

"Every step is important, so I'm looking forward to a positive weekend where we can once again get everything out of the car."

Over the weekend, the double world champion also defended team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne amid reports of some disappointment within the McLaren management over the Belgian's performance so far in his first full season.

"It is difficult and frustrating for him," Alonso told Spain's El Confidential

"He does not know most of the tracks, so he's learning the circuits and everything about F1 but he can't test the car and often he is going into qualifying with no preparation.

"It is a difficult season for him and also for the team in general, and myself too. We hope to have a competitive car next year."

Force India team owner Vijay Mallya hopes Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon learnt lessons from their collision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The two drivers collided exiting Turn 2 in the scramble for positions after the second Safety Car period, taking the Mexican eventually out of the race and dropping the Mercedes junior driver down the order with a puncture before recovering to claim sixth.

A podium was certainly possible before their coming together and it marked the second consecutive race that the two drivers had harmed each other's result following the decision not to impose team orders to benefit Ocon in Canada.

Looking back at the race, Mallya admitted: “I can’t remember a Grand Prix creating such a buzz and so many talking points as the race we saw in Baku. We certainly played our part in a dramatic race and it’s still frustrating to ponder what might have been had things played out differently.

"Since Baku, we’ve had some conversations internally and reminded our drivers that the team must always come first," he added.

"It’s never acceptable for teammates to make contact with each other and it certainly cost us points in Baku.

"However, the events of Azerbaijan won’t change our approach. Our drivers can race freely and I’m sure they have learned some valuable lessons. We’ve given them a competitive car and I know they are mature enough to work together for the good of the team.”

Amid the craziness and despite the collision, Force India still sit 42 points clear of the rest of the midfield in fourth in the Constructors' Championship, with Williams the only team behind them to score more points thanks to Lance Stroll's impressive run to third in Baku. 

And now the emphasis is on continuing what has been a remarkable year so far with double points finishes at six of the eight races so far.

“This weekend in Austria will be another opportunity to show the speed of the VJM10 and continue our run of points finishes,” Mallya commented.

“We need to keep up our momentum and scoring points consistently to maintain our fourth place in the championship. There is no room for complacency and we will keep pushing and trying to maximise every race.”