F1 silly season yet to hit highest gear

Kimi Raikkonen

The 'silly season' is yet to hit its highest gear in 2014.

Two early protagonists, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, spent time on Thursday dismissing the rumblings about their respective futures.

A wild rumour in Canada had suggested Finn Raikkonen might be ousted by Ferrari due to his poor performance since returning to the Italian team this year.

"The media says what it wants, but they don't tend to know what's really going on," he is quoted by the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 at the Red Bull Ring.

Mercedes driver Hamilton, meanwhile, was rumoured to have visited Ferrari's Maranello headquarters in the gap between Canada and Austria.

But the Briton told Germany's Bild newspaper on Thursday: "It's not true. I spent the whole week in Canada."

Elsewhere, Sport Bild reports that Nico Hulkenberg's management has made an approach to McLaren, in the hope the Woking team is looking for a driver for 2015.

The answer, reported correspondents Ralf Bach and Bianca Garloff, was no.

At Sauber, Adrian Sutil insists he has no regrets about switching from Force India over the winter, even though his old team is much more competitive than him in 2014.

Asked if he will still be with the struggling Swiss team in 2015, he told F1's official website: "Yes of course. I have a contract with this team."

It's a similar story at Williams, who appear happy with team newcomer Felipe Massa alongside Finn Valtteri Bottas.

"I am happy at Williams," said Bottas. "They gave me the opportunity to come to formula one so I can't see any reasons to look anywhere else -- especially as I think this team is going in the right direction.

"For me no 'silly season'!"

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