Formula 1 gossip column: Jock Clear heads to Ferrari

McLaren chief, Ron Dennis, says the Honda engine that will power their cars next season already has impressive performance and that the main concern will be making it reliable in the remaining time frame.(ESPNF1), external

Sergio Perez believes Max Verstappen's promotion to F1 at the age of 17 is "good for the sport and for the fans". (Planet-F1.com), external

Eric Boullier, McLaren's racing director, says the re-capture of Peter Prodromou from Red Bull is the "final part of the puzzle" as McLaren bid to get back to winning ways in Formula 1. (Autosport.com), external

Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone admits he still harbours hopes of getting South Africa back on the Formula 1 calendar. (Planet-F1.com), external

Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is being sued for £277m by a German bank over the sale of the sport's rights in 2006. (Gulf Today), external

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo says he is ready to lead the Red Bull Formula 1 team next year following Sebastian Vettel's departure to Ferrari. (Autosport.com), external

Ron Dennis wants his McLaren-Honda team to dominate F1, just like it did in 1988. (Autosport.com), external

McLaren, meanwhile, say they are confident they understand the problems with their new Honda engine which hampered its first public outing after implementing an emergency "recovery plan". (Sky Sports), external

Jenson Button says it will "mean a lot" to him to have Fernando Alonso as his team-mate at McLaren next season.(Crash.net), external

Red Bull director Christian Horner says his team must make strides over the winter if they are to take on Mercedes in 2015. (Formula1.com), external

Meanwhile, Horner says Red Bull design chief Adrian Newey will still attend some races in 2015 despite reports the 55-year-old would take a step back from the sport. (Sky Sports.com), external

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has called on the sport to look after its small teams, but has warned against making "knee-jerk" changes to the regulations to do so. (ESPN), external

New McLaren driver Fernando Alonso believes Ferrari has what it takes to turn things around next year and return to winning ways. (Planet-F1.com), external

Force India technical director Andrew Green reckons his team should be able to fight with Williams in 2015, thanks to planned improvements to its engine and aerodynamic testing. (Autosport.com), external

Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has poked fun at his German bribery trial with a mischievous Christmas card depicting himself as handing over $100m to a masked highwayman pointing a pistol at him. (Daily Telegraph), external