Not a good look for VAG if true. First Porsche make a big deal about entering F1 and then can’t find anyone who wants to work with them. If Audi then bails out after committing to buy a team and being an engine supplier it’s not going to reflect well on the brand.

Maybe a way back into F1 for Honda though?

PF1 is a clickbait site. As a source of news it’s about as reliable as the Daily Mail.

Very little. It’s just to get the drivers familiar with the new track limits.

Now we are in the cost-cap era this all seems pretty pointless.

RBR don’t want or need anyone to match Verstappen’s performance. All they want from their second driver is to finish P2 in the championship. Perez is currently on track to achieve that, but Hamilton isn’t too far behind him. Perez is probably safe for next year so long as he gets P2, but he can’t afford another race like Suzuka.

Ricciardo is unlikely to be an upgrade on Perez speed-wise, but he’d probably handle the pressure better and have fewer race incidents.