Formula 1 gossip and rumours from international media

BBC Sport brings you a regular round-up of the gossip in newspapers and on specialist websites around the world.

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Jenson Button is confident McLaren can challenge Red Bull and Ferrari in the remaining three races of the season, despite a disappointing outing in Japan last weekend.

"If we'd got everything right in qualifying then things would probably have been a little better for the race," he said. "But the car felt great to drive, you could take it to the limit, lean on it, and it would stay planted. And that's encouraging for where we want to be in the final three races, where I believe we'll be more of a challenge at the front."
Full story: jensonbutton.com

Button's view is supported by McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who stated: "Given that we weren't racing all the updates we'd brought to Japan with us, I think that gives us a lot of encouragement for Korea and beyond."
Full story: espnF1

Championship challenger Fernando Alonso says he is counting on fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa to help him at the Korean Grand Prix to strengthen his bid for a third world title.

"It will be important to be able to count on my team-mate Felipe," said Alonso in his Ferrari blog. "I know that he will be really hoping to make up for two negative results and he has all the capacities required to return to the podium."
Full story: Ferrari.com

Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, whose performances have come under scrutiny since he returned to the sport this season, believes he is getting to grips with his Mercedes car.
Full story: Autosport

Williams chief executive Adam Parr admits the team's driver line-up for next season is still undecided. GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado has been linked with Nico Hulkenberg's seat for next year.
Full story: espnF1

Lotus are set to announce their completed 2011 driver line-up before the forthcoming Korean Grand Prix, with Jarno Trulli expected to again partner Heikki Kovalainen. (Turun Sanomat newspaper - Finland)

Sauber managing director Monisha Kaltenborn insists signing Mexican Sergio Perez to partner Kamui Kobayashi for 2011 is not a risk. "We've been following him, of course, and achieving second position in GP2 is quite a good result so we are convinced that he has the talent," said Kaltenborn.
Full story: Autosport

This story will be updated throughout the day.