F1 Gossip: Alonso reveals Mercedes contact, "open" to return

- Fernando Alonso has revealed he held talks with Mercedes following Nico Rosberg’s retirement at the end of 2016 as he vows to only make F1 return if he has a “real possibility” of winning titles (Marca) 

- F1 boss Chase Carey is confident the proposed budget cap set to be introduced in time for the 2021 season can be successfully policed (SpeedCafe) 

- Kevin Magnussen says drivers that want less downforce “want to go back to what they are good at” and cannot drive the current generation of fast F1 cars (RaceFans) 

- The top five drivers in the 2019 F1 championship standings have opted for varying tyre selections for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix (Motorsport Week) 

- Lewis Hamilton grateful to call New York his “second home” as he jets off to this weekend’s French Grand Prix (Twitter)

When I was a kid, I dreamed of living in New York. My mum saved up and took me there for my 17th birthday and we had the best 3 days. I will never forget that trip, she had so little yet spent the little she had to take me. Feel so lucky to be able to now call it a second home. pic.twitter.com/hDUDYkAzEE

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 19, 2019