Singapore GP Thursday
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Our next live coverage will be the track action in Singapore - we'll be here with free practice one from 9.30am UK time tomorrow and giving minute by minute updates on every session all weekend as usual, plus live qualifying and race coverage from the Aragon MotoGP race.
The latest Autosport podcast is out today, and it's an AVL Racing special that looks at the role artificial intelligence could play in both Formula 1 and wider motorsport:
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With Haas off the list, thoughts quickly turned to where else Hulkenberg might end up for 2020 - with Alfa Romeo considered the most realistic option all the time Antonio Giovinazzi is struggling.
Adam Cooper quizzed him on precisely that topic earlier, asking how he felt about the knowledge that his seat was likely to be in the sights of a driver in Hulkenberg's position.
"It's not a question to give to me. It's for the teams and I'm focused on my job, my job is to drive fast and that's what I need to do in Singapore," Giovinazzi replied.
He also emphasised: "If I have a good result here and in Sochi and for the rest of the season, nobody can take my seat".
Adam Cooper quizzed him on precisely that topic earlier, asking how he felt about the knowledge that his seat was likely to be in the sights of a driver in Hulkenberg's position.
"It's not a question to give to me. It's for the teams and I'm focused on my job, my job is to drive fast and that's what I need to do in Singapore," Giovinazzi replied.
He also emphasised: "If I have a good result here and in Sochi and for the rest of the season, nobody can take my seat".
Autosport
Here are more details of Alfa's changes for this race, plus a new 'nose cape' for the Ferrari: 
Jake Boxall-Legge
Alfa Romeo has made a number of changes to its car ahead of Singapore, including a pair of new mirrors. Similar in design to a number of teams down the grid, Alfa's redefined mounting attached to the cockpit sides helps to lessen the drag produced by the mirror itself.
The shroud for the mirror is also thinner, and features a more sculpted lower mounting too.
News
Daniil Kvyat will avoid a grid penalty for the Singapore Grand Prix after Honda found out his latest engine could be rescued after its failure in Italy a fortnight ago.
The Russian was running sixth at Monza when his Spec 4 engine suffered an oil leak.
Honda began an investigation into the matter amid concerns that the failure could prompt it to introduce yet another power unit into Kvyat's pool of components – which would mean yet another grid penalty.
But ahead of the Singapore GP, Kvyat said that Honda has given the engine an all-clear.
“It’s OK actually,” he said, when asked about the situation by Autosport.
“It wasn’t damaged in the end, so we are fine to keep using it. So here no need for a penalty.”
The Russian was running sixth at Monza when his Spec 4 engine suffered an oil leak.
Honda began an investigation into the matter amid concerns that the failure could prompt it to introduce yet another power unit into Kvyat's pool of components – which would mean yet another grid penalty.
But ahead of the Singapore GP, Kvyat said that Honda has given the engine an all-clear.
“It’s OK actually,” he said, when asked about the situation by Autosport.
“It wasn’t damaged in the end, so we are fine to keep using it. So here no need for a penalty.”
News
Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas will all drive Formula 1 cars down Los Angeles’ famous Hollywood Boulevard as part of a fan festival next month.
The trio will be the star attraction of what has been labelled the ‘Hollywood Festival’ on October 30, which is the Wednesday between the Mexican and United States Grand Prix.
F1’s commercial chief Sean Bratches believed the Hollywood Festival, which follows similar US events in Miami and Chicago, will help widen the championship's appeal in the country.
“We are excited to be returning to the States for our third instalment of F1 Festivals in America,” he said. “LA is an iconic city, known for all things showbiz and we are extremely excited to be adding F1 to the Hollywood walk of fame, as we take over the Blvd for the first time.”
The day before cars tear down the Hollywood Boulevard, a ‘Hollywood Ride of Fame’ car exhibition will be unveiled that features a host of iconic F1 machinery.
The trio will be the star attraction of what has been labelled the ‘Hollywood Festival’ on October 30, which is the Wednesday between the Mexican and United States Grand Prix.
F1’s commercial chief Sean Bratches believed the Hollywood Festival, which follows similar US events in Miami and Chicago, will help widen the championship's appeal in the country.
“We are excited to be returning to the States for our third instalment of F1 Festivals in America,” he said. “LA is an iconic city, known for all things showbiz and we are extremely excited to be adding F1 to the Hollywood walk of fame, as we take over the Blvd for the first time.”
The day before cars tear down the Hollywood Boulevard, a ‘Hollywood Ride of Fame’ car exhibition will be unveiled that features a host of iconic F1 machinery.
Autosport
Back to today's other big story - Haas spurning a move for Hulkenberg in favour of keeping Grosjean as Magnussen's team-mate for the 2020 season.
Hulkenberg is talking shortly, but in the meantime Carlos Sainz Jr has been wading in on his behalf - saying that if it was down to "speed and talent" then Hulkenberg would be guaranteed a seat in F1 "until whenever he wants":
Hulkenberg is talking shortly, but in the meantime Carlos Sainz Jr has been wading in on his behalf - saying that if it was down to "speed and talent" then Hulkenberg would be guaranteed a seat in F1 "until whenever he wants":
Robert Kubica announces his departure from Williams
Hamilton and Grosjean both took the opportunity to underline their respect and admiration for Kubica.
Grosjean reminisced about expecting them to be 2010 team-mates at Renault (the team went for Vitaly Petrov as Kubica's partner instead), while Hamilton said he thought Kubica's driving this year had still been very impressive given Williams's circumstances.
Both lauded how inspirational his long road back to F1 had been.
Grosjean reminisced about expecting them to be 2010 team-mates at Renault (the team went for Vitaly Petrov as Kubica's partner instead), while Hamilton said he thought Kubica's driving this year had still been very impressive given Williams's circumstances.
Both lauded how inspirational his long road back to F1 had been.
Autosport
Here's the full story of Kubica's decision to leave Williams: 
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Kubica has been expanding on his feelings about having made it back to F1 in such incredible circumstances, only to end up in the position he has been in 2019:
"I'm not really the kind of guy who is proud, but it has been a long journey. It has been extremely hard for me. But I still think I made the right decision.
"Everyone at Williams and myself is in the same boat. We would appreciate better results and better performance this year, but this is life.
"It has been probably the biggest achievement of my life, to come back, to go through what happened and still manage to race and be back on the F1 grid."
"I'm not really the kind of guy who is proud, but it has been a long journey. It has been extremely hard for me. But I still think I made the right decision.
"Everyone at Williams and myself is in the same boat. We would appreciate better results and better performance this year, but this is life.
"It has been probably the biggest achievement of my life, to come back, to go through what happened and still manage to race and be back on the F1 grid."
Edd Straw
Robert Kubica has done a remarkable job in returning to F1 and performing at a decent level despite having to adapt to driving, as he put it, "70% left-handed".
But even taking into account the poor performance of the Williams team, it has been a struggle.
On average, he's half-a-second off George Russell in qualifying and despite picking up the team's sole point at Hockenheim, he's been the team's second driver by some distance.
But all credit to the sheer determination he's shown to do what once seemed impossible and return to racing in F1.
But even taking into account the poor performance of the Williams team, it has been a struggle.
On average, he's half-a-second off George Russell in qualifying and despite picking up the team's sole point at Hockenheim, he's been the team's second driver by some distance.
But all credit to the sheer determination he's shown to do what once seemed impossible and return to racing in F1.
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Pushed on what he might be doing next year, and whether a simulator driver role with a team might be an option, Kubica replies: "I would be very surprised if I was doing only a simulator, I would be very surprised if I wasn't racing this year."
Kubica's return to the F1 grid coincided with Williams's plight getting even worse, and he has been firmly in the slowest car.
But he has also come off second-best in the intra-team battle, with team-mate George Russell faster in every qualifying session - though penalties sometimes swapped their order.
That said, he is the only Williams driver with a point to his name - as he was the one well-placed when the penalties for the Alfa Romeos at Hockenheim moved Kubica into 10th place.
But he has also come off second-best in the intra-team battle, with team-mate George Russell faster in every qualifying session - though penalties sometimes swapped their order.
That said, he is the only Williams driver with a point to his name - as he was the one well-placed when the penalties for the Alfa Romeos at Hockenheim moved Kubica into 10th place.
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Williams issued a statement to coincide with Kubica's announcement, in which deputy team principal Claire Williams expressed her gratitude and respect:
"I would like to thank Robert for his hard work and respect his decision to leave the team at the end of the 2019 season," she said.
"Robert has been an important member of the team in both his role as reserve and development driver, and subsequently as one of our race drivers in 2019.
"We thank him for his continued efforts throughout what has been a challenging couple of seasons and wish him well in his future endeavours."
"I would like to thank Robert for his hard work and respect his decision to leave the team at the end of the 2019 season," she said.
"Robert has been an important member of the team in both his role as reserve and development driver, and subsequently as one of our race drivers in 2019.
"We thank him for his continued efforts throughout what has been a challenging couple of seasons and wish him well in his future endeavours."
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Asked if he's trying to stay in F1 for 2020, having worked so incredibly hard to get back into the field this year after his horrific 2011 rally crash, Kubica replies:
"I always say I took a lot of energy a lot of time for me to recover...since I joined F1 I would like to stay, I said this year it would be a goal to remain in F1...
"Of course my answer would be yes but not at any cost and I think I have to do what will bring me back a bit of joy of racing.
"This season has been very tough from performance point of view but it has been very demanding being back in F1 - after a long time it's not easy, especially when you are in a difficult situation like we are.
"But I have to thank the team for the opportunity and will see what the future will bring."
"I always say I took a lot of energy a lot of time for me to recover...since I joined F1 I would like to stay, I said this year it would be a goal to remain in F1...
"Of course my answer would be yes but not at any cost and I think I have to do what will bring me back a bit of joy of racing.
"This season has been very tough from performance point of view but it has been very demanding being back in F1 - after a long time it's not easy, especially when you are in a difficult situation like we are.
"But I have to thank the team for the opportunity and will see what the future will bring."
And Kubica announces that he is leaving Williams: "We are looking for different opportunities. In order to evaluate those opportunities, I took the decision that I will not continue with Williams beyond the end of this season.
"It's a decision I took. It opens up other possibilities for me and now I will evaluate what is possible."
"It's a decision I took. It opens up other possibilities for me and now I will evaluate what is possible."
But over to Kubica...
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But first, a driver staying put - Grosjean.
"It's obviously great news. I'll be with the team for a fifth consecutive season. I've been part of the story since day one and it feels like the story's not yet over," he says of sticking around at Haas for 2020 after all.
"It's obviously great news. I'll be with the team for a fifth consecutive season. I've been part of the story since day one and it feels like the story's not yet over," he says of sticking around at Haas for 2020 after all.
Autosport
At last weekend's DTM event, we tackled team bosses on rumours that Kubica was heading to the touring car series for 2020 - and Audi admitted to talks with his management: 
Just about to start the usual Thursday FIA press conference, which today features Robert Kubica among its guests - at a time when Polish media is reporting he is poised to announce he'll be parting with Williams at the end of the year.
Edd Straw
What was interesting in Gunther Steiner's explanation of why Haas has kept Romain Grosjean on was the reference to him being "a big part of getting the understanding of why we are wrong with the car".
It was Grosjean who pushed hard to revert to the Melbourne-specification car and that insistence led to the team seeing that not all had gone right with its upgrades. That shows the value of the experience that Grosjean brings.
Many drivers would not have pushed to go to an ostensibly slower car specification, but Grosjean did and he was proved right, in the process helping the team learn.
Perhaps that made all the difference when the team made its decision?
It was Grosjean who pushed hard to revert to the Melbourne-specification car and that insistence led to the team seeing that not all had gone right with its upgrades. That shows the value of the experience that Grosjean brings.
Many drivers would not have pushed to go to an ostensibly slower car specification, but Grosjean did and he was proved right, in the process helping the team learn.
Perhaps that made all the difference when the team made its decision?
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Sebastian Vettel has spent most of this year under pressure as the title favourite status he briefly earned in testing slipped away, and the most recent race in Italy was probably the nadir - a lapped, penalised and lambasted 14th on a day team-mate Charles Leclerc won.
That prompted F1 chief and former Ferrari team boss Ross Brawn to say that his ex-squad had to prioritise rebuilding Vettel's confidence over the winter.
But ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya then weighed in to argue that Vettel's problem was not a mental one, but the car clearly not suiting him - and Vettel's been voicing his agreement today.
“I don't think it's mental, it's not that I'm in the wrong place [mentally],” said Vettel when asked about the Montoya comments.
“I think I'm doing the right things, so that's why I think it's also crucial not to overcomplicate things too much and pull through it.
“Yes, here and there I might not have the absolute trust in the car and not the best feeling yet.
“But I think it's improving, the understanding of the car.
“Then it's a question of details, lining them up, and I'm convinced that hopefully sooner than later it will click and things will start to fall in place.
“Until then I think we need to keep our head down.”
That prompted F1 chief and former Ferrari team boss Ross Brawn to say that his ex-squad had to prioritise rebuilding Vettel's confidence over the winter.
But ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya then weighed in to argue that Vettel's problem was not a mental one, but the car clearly not suiting him - and Vettel's been voicing his agreement today.
“I don't think it's mental, it's not that I'm in the wrong place [mentally],” said Vettel when asked about the Montoya comments.
“I think I'm doing the right things, so that's why I think it's also crucial not to overcomplicate things too much and pull through it.
“Yes, here and there I might not have the absolute trust in the car and not the best feeling yet.
“But I think it's improving, the understanding of the car.
“Then it's a question of details, lining them up, and I'm convinced that hopefully sooner than later it will click and things will start to fall in place.
“Until then I think we need to keep our head down.”
Jake Boxall-Legge
We expect Singapore to be a rather warm grand prix. The heat is tough on brakes, but it's also tough on engines, and so Williams has added an extra cooling outlet behind the halo to draw some of the heat from behind the radiators. It's quite a common tactic, so expect a number of teams to add their own outlets.
Autosport
Haas team boss Gunther Steiner has been explaining why his squad ultimately decided not to make Hulkenberg an offer: 
Today started with the most eagerly-awaited piece of outstanding driver market news falling into place - Haas is keeping Romain Grosjean for 2020, and that means no space there for Nico Hulkenberg.
That fight was seen as one where the loser was likely to end up outside Formula 1 altogether in 2020, given that all the other potential spaces were potentially destined for drivers already associated with those teams' junior programmes.
That fight was seen as one where the loser was likely to end up outside Formula 1 altogether in 2020, given that all the other potential spaces were potentially destined for drivers already associated with those teams' junior programmes.
Welcome to our rolling news blog from the Formula 1 paddock on Singapore Grand Prix Thursday.
By: Matt Beer
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