Kevin Magnussen insists it was his decision to leave Renault and commit to Haas, after claiming an offer he had to remain at the team showed its lack of commitment to him.

Renault announced on Wednesday that it was retaining Jolyon Palmer for 2017, with Magnussen now set to finalise a Haas contract over the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

Magnussen revealed at Interlagos on Thursday that he could have stayed at Renault if he wanted, but what was offered to him did not give him the faith that the outfit really wanted him.

"It was my decision," said Magnussen about whether he chose to leave Renault or not. "I had an offer but not a good enough offer that I could take it."

Asked whether that was simply because a one-year contract did not give him the stability he was after, Magnussen said: "It was more the feeling of commitment from Renault's side really. If they had committed to a longer contract I would probably have looked at it much more seriously.

"It was more the feeling of them not committing, taking so long and offering the drive to so many drivers. I think at one point, the Pope had an offer I heard! It was a bit messy so better for me to leave."

He added: "It really is a lot about the feeling I had with the management here. If I had felt more commitment and decisiveness then it would maybe have been different. But I am happy with the way it turned out at the end of the day."

Renault surprised

It is understood that Renault's informal offer to Magnussen was made ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, and was prior to the Dane beginning to firm things up with Haas.

Team principal Fred Vasseur was surprised that Magnussen claimed Renault did not give him the impression of being committed to him.

"We spoke about the future a couple of times in the season, but if he has the feeling that I was not committed then it is strange for me," Vasseur told Motorsport.com.

"We spoke about contracts but at some stage we also spoke with Jo. But I had to speak to him on the sporting side to know exactly what was happening on track, and at the same time to build up an agreement."

Haas form

Magnussen said he would be sad to leave Renault at the end of the season, but believed that Haas could deliver a step up in terms of results for him.

"I think it could be better," he said about Haas's prospects in 2017 against Renault. "I hope it will be better. I think it will be competitive, that is my feeling.

"I am looking for a place for me to excel and to prove my worth and do a good job, and have a good time. I think I can have that next year."

Rome: Italy's Monza circuit has finally signed a three-year contract to keep the country's Formula One grand prix on the calendar, organisers said on Tuesday.

The new deal had already been agreed on a handshake with the sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone at September's race, when the last one expired, but the signing was delayed by legal wranglings.

"Despite thousands of difficulties and, with a lot of work, we've reached the definitive signing of the Monza contract," said Italian Automobile Club (ACI) president Angelo Sticchi Damiani.

He posted a link on his Twitter feed to a photograph of him and Ecclestone completing the deal.

"With this we have just got rid of the awful idea that after 70 years Italy could lose one of the most prestigious, historic and fascinating car races in the world."

With the exception of 1980, Ferrari's home race at Monza has been on the Formula One calendar every year since the championship started in 1950.

“Undermining a structure in public means you are putting yourself before the team,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said last night. “It is very simple. Anarchy does not work in any team, and in any company.

"You need to win and lose with dignity. This is a mechanical sport. If they sat on the floor on the starting grid they wouldn't go far. This team has built them the best car over the last three years has made them win races and championships. This team has let them down on occasions, less occasions letting them down than the ones they can celebrate. This year, clearly Malaysia cost him the championship. It's clear," said Wolff as quoted by Fox Sports.

Formula One racing's governing body, the FIA, has formally ratified a 20-race calendar for the 2017 season following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Vienna on Wednesday.

The 2017 season will begin on March 26 in Australia and conclude on November 26 in Abu Dhabi, and will include five back-to-back race weekends.

The main changes from the provisional calendar issued in September are Malaysia and Singapore switching places, the absence of the race in Germany, and Baku moving a week earlier, avoiding a clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 2017 calendar in full

March 26 - Australia (Melbourne)
April 9 - China (Shanghai)
April 16 - Bahrain (Bahrain)
April 30 - Russia (Sochi)
May 14 - Spain (Barcelona)
May 28 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 11 - Canada (Montreal)
June 25 - Azerbaijan (Baku)
July 9 - Austria (Spielberg)
July 16 - Great Britain (Silverstone)
July 30 - Hungary (Budapest)
August 27 - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 3 - Italy (Monza)
September 17 - Singapore (Singapore)
October 1 - Malaysia (Sepang)
October 8 - Japan (Suzuka)
October 22 - USA (Austin)
October 29 - Mexico (Mexico City)
November 12 - Brazil (Sao Paulo)
November 26 - Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi)

Testing for the 2017 Formula 1 season is set to begin on February 27, Autosport has learned.

There will be two tests, each running for four days, with a final decision on the location yet to be made.

Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya is believed to be the frontrunner to host the two tests.

The first test will run from February 27 to March 2, with the second to follow from March 7-10.

Discussions took place with regards returning to a format of three pre-season tests, especially given the change in the technical regulations for 2017.

But while a few teams were in favour, it was ultimately decided the extra test was not necessary.

The majority of teams prefer having the extra time to focus on development, particularly with the aerodynamic rules changes, and are comfortable with eight days.

Tyre supplier Pirelli has already begun testing ahead of the 2017 rule changes, with the likes of Ferrari (pictured above) conducting tests of the company's new larger tyres using 2015 cars with modified aerodynamics.

2017 PRE-SEASON TESTING SCHEDULE
February 27-March 2
March 7-10

On the day he is set to collect the trophy for winning his first drivers’ world championship, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg has announced that he is to retire from Formula One racing.

“Since 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my ‘one thing’ to become Formula One World Champion,” said Rosberg via social media. “Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I’ve made it.

“I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right. My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen.”

Rosberg, who won nine Grands Prix this year en route to the title, said he began contemplating his future at October’s Japanese round, and then made his decision within 24 hours of last weekend’s thrilling finale in Abu Dhabi, where he secured the podium finish he needed to become champion.

“When I won the race in Suzuka, from the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became world champion,” he continued.

“On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time… and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life.

“I took my decision on Monday evening. After reflecting for a day, the first people I told were (wife) Vivian and Georg (Nolte, from his management team), followed by (Mercedes-Benz Head of Motorsport) Toto (Wolff).”

Rosberg began his F1 career with Williams in 2006 before moving to Mercedes for the 2010 season. He won his first Grand Prix with the Silver Arrows in China 2012 and went on to take a total of 23 victories from 206 starts, twice finishing championship runner-up to team mate Lewis Hamilton before taking his maiden drivers’ crown.

“This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough,” confessed Rosberg, who admitted thoughts of his family had played a part in his decision. “I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years; they fuelled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before. And of course that had an impact on the ones I love, too - it was a whole family effort of sacrifice, putting everything behind our target.

“I cannot find enough words to thank my wife Vivian; she has been incredible. She understood that this year was the big one, our opportunity to do it, and created the space for me to get full recovery between every race, looking after our daughter each night, taking over when things got tough and putting our championship first.”

Rosberg, whose father Keke won the F1 world championship in 1982, revealed the other concern in his decision had been his Mercedes team, who will now have to find another driver to partner Hamilton in 2017.

“The only thing that makes this decision in any way difficult for me is because I am putting my racing family into a tough situation,” he said “But Toto understood. He knew straight away that I was completely convinced and that reassured me. My proudest achievement in racing will always be to have won the world championship with this incredible team of people, the Silver Arrows.”

Rosberg announced his decision at a press conference in the Austrian capital of Vienna, where on Friday evening he and Mercedes will collect their 2016 championship trophies at the annual FIA Prize-Giving gala.

“Now, I’m just here to enjoy the moment,” concluded Rosberg, who ruled out any future F1 return. “There is time to savour the next weeks, to reflect on the season and to enjoy every experience that comes my way. After that, I will turn the next corner in my life and see what it has in store for me…”

McLaren have lost another long-term partner to Formula One rivals Red Bull with oil giant ExxonMobil following the example of Tag Heuer.

Red Bull said in a statement on Thursday that ExxonMobil will replace Total as their official partner for fuel, lubricant and motor oil in 2017.

The Mobil 1 and Esso brands will feature on the cars driven by Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, as well as on overalls and helmets.

Red Bull's Renault engines carry the branding of Swiss watch company Tag Heuer, who left McLaren at the end of the 2015 season after a 30-year partnership.

ExxonMobil have been McLaren's partners for the past 21 years, during which time they have claimed three drivers' world championships, one constructors' title and 78 race victories.

McLaren are the second most successful team in Formula One history but have not won the constructors' title since 1998 and have struggled to be competitive in their latest partnership with Honda.

The shareholders recently ousted Ron Dennis as chief executive and chairman, ending his 35-year involvement with the team.

Red Bull racked up four successive drivers' and constructors' titles between 2010 and 2013. They ended the 2016 season in second place to Mercedes, with McLaren sixth overall.