Latest F1 news in brief

Horner says Red Bull finally has and engine deal and sister team Toro Rosso will return to Ferrari engines

Ricciardo hints Red Bull engine news delayed again
No testing, no tires for 2017 rules – Pirelli
Smith helps Sauber turn sharp corner for 2016
Williams would have won Brazil appeal – Symonds
Bottas scores himself higher than Williams
2016 Ferrari to be 'evolution' not revolution – Vettel
Sainz hints at Ferrari deal for Toro Rosso
2016 engine deal in place for Red Bull – Horner
Test in Abu Dhabi – Adderly Fong will drive the Sauber C34-Ferrari
EOS enters a three-year Technical Partnership with Williams
Hamilton: F1 can learn from NASCAR
Alonso says tough season 'necessary'

Ricciardo hints Red Bull engine news delayed again
(GMM) Confirmation of Red Bull's engine plans for 2016, initially expected this weekend in Abu Dhabi, may have to wait even longer.

It was believed news of a new deal with Renault – perhaps involving Infiniti, Nissan or blank branding – would be made at Yas Marina, probably coinciding with confirmation of the French carmaker's buyout of Lotus.

Ricciardo says team not ready to announce an engine deal

But it seems the news may now have been delayed because of last week's meetings in Paris, where the so-called 'client engine' for 2017 was shelved.

It was said the Red Bull-Renault deal for 2016 was simply a stop-gap in preparation for 2017, which means team owner Dietrich Mateschitz is now unsure what is going to happen.

"It is a question I cannot answer definitely," the Austrian billionaire declared on Tuesday.

So in Abu Dhabi, team driver Daniel Ricciardo agrees that Red Bull's engine news is once again on the back burner.

"It's taking longer than we thought," he said. "Hopefully soon, but I don't know."

The Australian, however, seems resigned to the fact that Red Bull will have to keep working with a Renault-based option of some sort.

"Pretty much everyone has turned us down," said Ricciardo.

Last time out in Brazil, the 26-year-old tried Renault's upgraded engine, but it has been removed from his car for Abu Dhabi due to a lack of performance.

"It is definitely obvious that they have some work ahead of them," Ricciardo said. "Whether they try to refine it or start something completely different, I have no idea."

Paul Hambery says no testing, no bigger tires from Pirelli

No testing, no tires for 2017 rules – Pirelli
(GMM) Pirelli is waiting on support from the rest of the F1 paddock before confirming how it will proceed in F1 beyond 2016.

The Italian marque has already secured a new contract for 2017-2019, but the sport is planning a radical change of direction after next year, featuring much faster and more aggressive cars.

"As far as I know, the strategy group and the F1 Commission are satisfied with the results of our work," said Williams' Pat Symonds, who has been deeply involved with the technical working group in writing up the new 2017 rules.

He admitted: "There are different views about the speed of the new cars, as was the case in 2008 as well, but we will move forward," he added.

Some of the laptime will come from Pirelli's bigger tires, but the bulk will be aerodynamic improvements such as bigger wings and better diffusers, Symonds explained.

Pirelli, however, is demanding much more testing before 2017, as the tires will need to be radically different and capable of producing more grip and withstanding much higher loads.

"Our requests will be granted," Pirelli's Paul Hembery told UOL Esporte, "because otherwise there will not be tires.

"So we are going to have to find a solution, because otherwise there won't be a championship in 2017 as it will be impossible to do what has been asked.

"There are many issues involved – some political, some financial – but we have to find a solution," he insisted.

Sauber's Mark Smith

Smith helps Sauber turn sharp corner for 2016
(GMM) Sauber will turn a sharp corner with its new car for 2016, the Swiss team's drivers have revealed.

After a strong start with the C34 car, the financially-struggling Swiss team stagnated throughout the season due to a lack of development and looks set to finish ahead of only the crisis-struck McLaren-Honda and backmarker Manor.

"We knew that we would have a difficult season," admitted Brazilian rookie Felipe Nasr, "but we realized the potential of the car with our limited budget."

So for 2016, Sauber has signed up the former Caterham and Red Bull technical director Mark Smith, who Nasr says is heading a radically different project.

"We understand what is necessary to make progress," said Nasr. "All I can say is that the plans for next year's car look very different to what we have now.

"The current car and last year's car are very similar, but the new project is much more aggressive," he revealed.

"It is Mark Smith who decided on this approach. With the current car it would have been difficult to improve, so we have decided to change the philosophy," added Nasr.

Nasr's Swedish teammate, Marcus Ericsson, also backs Smith's plan.

"To get more than we have now, we have to take risks," he admitted. "We have a small team so we cannot afford to be conservative — we need to try something new.

"With our limited resources, I think it is the right thing to do," Ericsson added.

However, 2016 could still be a difficult season for Sauber, as the similarly-small Force India is a long way up the road, while McLaren has the might of Honda behind it and Manor is switching to Mercedes power.

"Everybody is trying to improve," agreed Nasr, "and not just Sauber, McLaren and Manor. All I can say is we have sacrificed part of this season in the hope of having a better car next year."

Symonds said they would have won Massa's appeal

Williams would have won Brazil appeal – Symonds
(GMM) After Felipe Massa was disqualified in Brazil, the Brazilian driver and Williams insist they did nothing wrong.

The British team, however, decided not to appeal the stewards' verdict on grounds of costs in an already difficult climate in formula one.

"I am absolutely convinced that we would have won the appeal," said technical boss Pat Symonds in Abu Dhabi, "although we would have had to prepare for it very carefully.

"And from my previous experience, I know that when a team appeals against a decision of the stewards, it is very costly," he added.

Not only that, Symonds said the real irony is that winning the appeal would actually have cost Williams even more money, as the entry fee for 2016 is calculated on the size of a team's points tally.

"However, I believe it is very important for us to protect Williams' reputation," he added.

Symonds said Williams' sophisticated tire temperature sensors were calibrated on the Friday of the Interlagos race weekend, and clearly contradicted the FIA's radically-different measurement on the grid.

The FIA found a tire on Massa's car to be a massive 137 degrees – 27 degrees more than the limit mandated by Pirelli.

"If it really was 137 degrees, the label that Pirelli puts on the sidewall would have turned brown, but in Brazil that did not happen," said Symonds. He said video evidence of team experiments was passed to the FIA's Charlie Whiting.

Driver Massa added: "We are 100 per cent sure that we did not do anything wrong.

"It is impossible that if a tire was 27 degrees higher, we would not have noticed.

"We decided not to appeal because of the money, and that's the only reason," he is quoted by Brazil's UOL. "And it wouldn't have changed anything in the championship.

"But we are 100 per cent sure that we did nothing wrong," Massa insisted.

I am great

Bottas scores himself higher than Williams
(GMM) Valtteri Bottas has given himself a higher personal score for 2015 than that of his team Williams.

Despite missing the opening race with a back injury, the Finn has out-scored his teammate Felipe Massa this year, and will this weekend try to conclude his season ahead of countryman Kimi Raikkonen for fourth overall.

"I have had a lot of good performances but also a lot of bad luck," he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV.

"Quite a lot has gone against me and the team has also had problems with pitstops and things. Perhaps I would give the team 7.5 and myself 8," Bottas said.

The 26-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Ferrari for 2016, but will instead stay at Williams where he is hoping for a better car next year.

"What is happening in the wind tunnel in the winter plays the biggest role," Bottas admitted. "Yes, we believe that it is possible to improve," he added, after Williams this year finished third behind Mercedes and Ferrari.

Vettel can only hope Ferrari makes a big enough step for 2016. Don't be surprised if Mercedes makes an even bigger step than Ferrari and 2016 is another Mercedes parade

2016 Ferrari to be 'evolution' not revolution – Vettel
(GMM) Ferrari's 2016 car will be more evolution than revolution, Sebastian Vettel has revealed.

With the German now at the wheel and new management in place, the Italian team surged back to top form this season, finishing second overall behind Mercedes.

"Their return to victory was important for me and all of formula one," F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told La Gazzetta dello Sport this week.

But Vettel acknowledges that the next step – actually beating Mercedes to the title – is a big challenge for 2016.

"We know that Mercedes will also improve for next season," he said in Abu Dhabi.

"It is not enough just to catch up, we have to do even more."

But that does not mean Ferrari will go radical for 2016, the German admitted. "The rules are not changing dramatically. So technically it will be more of an evolution of the current car," Vettel said.

Ferrari, however, is now working hard on the 2016 project, he added.

"It's not so easy to make big steps during the season, so it's down to the winter to get the most out of it. This is our chance.

"We need to maintain our trend and make bigger steps than the others," Vettel said.

He said 2015 was about regrouping after the turmoil of 2014, with the new structure headed by boss Maurizio Arrivabene and technical chief James Allison now working smoothly.

"It is much quieter than it was a year ago," Vettel said. "We all know who is in charge and the mood in the team is good. The atmosphere is very positive."

Sainz hints at Ferrari power for Toro Rosso

Sainz hints at Ferrari deal for Toro Rosso
(GMM) Carlos Sainz has all but confirmed speculation that Toro Rosso is switching from Renault to Ferrari power for 2016.

It was believed both Red Bull teams would be splitting from the French carmaker, but senior outfit Red Bull Racing has had trouble finding an alternative.

Mercedes, Ferrari and even Honda have all said no to the former quadruple world champions, leaving it to patch up some sort of relationship with Renault.

Toro Rosso, however, has apparently managed to negotiate a 2015-specification supply of Ferrari power for next year, which Spanish rookie Sainz believes will be a clear step forward.

"On the one hand it is a relief that this is our last race with Renault," he told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar in Abu Dhabi.

"I believe we will have more power with Ferrari next year, and also better reliability.

"The problem for Renault was in the factory," Sainz added, "they just couldn't make it work but it is the engineers here in the paddock who take the blame when in fact they are only trying to maximize what they have."

Sainz, 21, has had a good debut season in F1, but he has been totally outscored and overshadowed by his meteoric teammate Max Verstappen.

But Sainz says he got the lion's share of the bad luck at Toro Rosso this year, with Dutchman Verstappen even admitting last week that as drivers they are on par.

"I was happy to hear that he said we are very even," Sainz said in Abu Dhabi. "I don't know if we are equally good but I think this season was not fair for a comparison.

"It (what Verstappen said) is true: everywhere we have been we are a tenth up or a tenth down. In fact, looking at the telemetry I have never had a teammate as similar to me.

"With (Daniil) Kvyat (in GP3) we had completely different styles, but with Max our feedback to the engineers is the same, everything is the same, which has never happened before," he added.

So Sainz thinks 2016, when he and Verstappen will once again be paired at Toro Rosso, will be a much better comparison.

"Max is a very good driver," he said, "but I believe that I also did a good year. Next season we will have more experience, we will know the circuits, the processes, Pirelli, the race strategies…"

Red Bull is expected to run a rebadged Renault engine in 2016

2016 engine deal in place for Red Bull – Horner
(GMM) Christian Horner on Friday announced that Red Bull finally has an engine deal in place for 2016.

He did not confirm speculation the former world champions are simply staying with Renault, but driver Daniel Ricciardo said on Thursday that "Pretty much everyone (else) has turned us down".

Red Bull had said the arrival of an independent engine supplier with new parallel regulations was a condition of staying in F1 beyond this weekend, but those plans were put on the back-burner by the F1 Commission last week.

"The (existing) manufacturers have until January 15 to tackle the current problems" with the controversial power unit rules, team boss Horner was quoted as saying in Abu Dhabi.

"If it doesn't happen, I believe the independent engine will be back in play. So we are eagerly waiting to see what happens on January 15," he added.

Until then, Red Bull appears destined to stay with Renault, perhaps with blank engine branding next year and the involvement of Mario Illien.

"Next year will be a transition year," Horner confirmed. "We have an agreement on the use of an engine for next year. The announcement will hopefully take place in the coming days.

"Ironically, the path of development will be one that we wanted to have 12 months ago," he added.

Adderly Fong, have check will drive

Test in Abu Dhabi – Adderly Fong will drive the Sauber C34-Ferrari
Adderly Fong will test the Sauber C34-Ferrari during the Pirelli tire test on 1st December following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. The 25-year-old Chinese driver will be behind the wheel of the Sauber C34-Ferrari with the objective of completing 300 kilometers on the Yas Marina Circuit to qualify for the extension of his super license. After that, Marcus Ericsson will take over the Sauber C34-Ferrari. Pirelli’s program includes running some 2016 construction tires and the new ultrasoft tire.

Adderly Fong has already driven a Sauber C31 during a one day test in Valencia in October 2014, as well as the Sauber C33-Ferrari in FP1 during the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Adderly Fong:
I am very pleased and thankful to have another opportunity to drive for the Sauber F1 Team. I will do my best to give valuable feedback. I am looking forward to it, as well as the aim of extending my superlicense after completing 300 kilometers. Last year it was great to have the chance to drive the Sauber C33-Ferrari during FP1 here at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Now I am curious about testing the current car.

Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal:
We are pleased to have Adderly in the car again and to give him the opportunity to drive a current Formula One car. He immediately put in a solid performance in his last opportunities for us. We are confident Adderly will again put in every effort in this tire test.

EOS enters a three-year Technical Partnership with Williams
EOS, the global technology and quality leader for high-end solutions in Additive Manufacturing (AM), is pleased to announce that they have entered a technical partnership with Williams Grand Prix Engineering and Williams Advanced Engineering. The partnership aims at providing Williams with direct and high level insights into the latest AM technologies offered by EOS to complement their existing manufacturing processes, and to support their own AM development project. At the same time both companies will jointly demonstrate Additive Manufacturing within the world of Formula One.

Williams already owns two polymer EOS systems. As their standard production materials the company uses Alumide and Carbonmide from EOS. Alumide is predominantly used to create stable parts for functional testing, ranging from engine ancillaries and complete gearbox assemblies for mock-ups to jigs and fixtures for laminate production. Carbonmide at Williams is being used for production parts on Formula One cars in conjunction with carbon composite laminates where improved strength is required.

As part of the current agreement, Williams with the EOSINT P 760 has just installed a highly productive, modular plastic additive manufacturing system with a large building volume of 700 mm x 380 mm x 580 mm for the Additive Manufacturing of polymer parts that offers expanded productivity and part size.

Stuart Jackson, Regional Manager at EOS for the UK adds: "The partnership will allow EOS and Williams to jointly expose selected customers to the world of Formula One with the aim of illustrating the use of AM in this technically advanced industry. Through its Williams Advanced Engineering business, Williams provides technical innovation that transfers Formula One technology solutions focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency to mainstream industries such as automotive, motorsport, transport, energy and other sectors. As such, the partnership is a perfect fit for us as we truly believe that all parties involved will highly benefit from this interchange of ideas."

Hamilton (R) at NASCAR's Homestead race with Jeff Gordon and Mario Andretti

Hamilton: F1 can learn from NASCAR
Lewis Hamilton reckons Formula 1 can learn from the way in which NASCAR operates, following his visit to the recent Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Hamilton was joined by 1978 title winner Mario Andretti at last weekend's Ford EcoBoost 400, which marked four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon's final competitive race.

Hamilton, who documented his visit on social media, likened the atmosphere to Germany's DTM touring car series, praising the pit lane and paddock access granted to spectators.

"There were definitely some things that they do a lot better than us; there were things that we could learn from them," Hamilton commented, when asked about his visit.

"It was a great show and a great spectacle, particularly for the fans. It was a bit like DTM, as the fans get very, very close to the garages in the background and to the drivers.

"It was just a really cool event. I hope I get to do one [a race] one day."

Hamilton would not be the first F1 World Champion to try his hand at NASCAR, with the aforementioned Andretti, Jim Clark, Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya all tackling the series.

Kimi Raikkonen also raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (now the Xfinity Series).

Alonso hopes the pain of 2015 was worth it.

Alonso says tough season 'necessary'
Fernando Alonso says that a challenging 2015 season was "necessary" in order to put himself in a position to challenge for world titles once more.

Alonso, champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, was unable to add to his titles during a five-year stint at Ferrari, finishing second on three occasions.

Alonso returned to McLaren in 2015, for its reunion with Honda, but the Japanese brand has struggled to produce a competitive and reliable engine.

Despite the initial troubles, Alonso remains confident that his decision to leave Ferrari, which has returned to winning ways this year, will ultimately pay off.

"It was a tough year; we were struggling with the pace and the reliability all year, so it was definitely a difficult season for us," Alonso explained.

"But personally I think that it was necessary.

"It was a step forward in my career after two championships and after five fantastic seasons fighting for the championship but arriving second.

"I needed some new motivation and a new project that I could trust and believe that it this the only way to become the champion again."

Although he is confident of making progress over the winter, Alonso says it is impossible to predict what McLaren-Honda will be capable of next season.

"At the moment that's a question mark, a guess," he said.

"I think for the 2016 season the main goal for the team is to come back to where we belong, which is being competitive and fighting for the top positions.

"I don't know if that means fighting for the World Championship, I don't know if that means fighting for victories and I don't know if that means just being on podium sometimes.

"It's always difficult to know in a very complex sport like Formula 1.

"We have some big challenges ahead now, during this winter, and I see all of the things the team has done in the last couple of months – it seems logical and positive.

"I'm hoping that it's going to be a completely different season next year."