Latest F1 news in brief

Vijay Mallya (L) hints at retirement

Mallya hints retirement could be looming
Bottas wants to win 'clash of the Finns'
Ferrari defends re-signing Raikkonen
Verstappen tipped for two FIA awards
Parallel engine would have 'destroyed' F1 – Lauda
Wolff braced for 'biggest test' in 2016
Rosberg 'on massive high' for finale
Ferrari previews Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
New F1 ultra soft tires only for street circuits New

Mallya hints retirement could be looming
(GMM) Vijay Mallya has hinted that retirement could be just around the corner.

The former billionaire and Indian is once again in the headlines at present, amid financial troubles for his non-F1 interests including the grounded airline Kingfisher.

And Mallya, 59, has also admitted talks with Aston Martin and Johnnie Walker about a deal involving his F1 team Force India, although he insists he wants to stay in the paddock.

But he told Indian publications on Wednesday: "I am not retiring quite yet, but as I said once you are sixty years old you must start thinking of, you know, enjoying life.

"So what is wrong in me thinking (about it)?" Mallya added.

He turns 60 in December.

Valtteri Bottas

Bottas wants to win 'clash of the Finns'
(GMM) The 'clash of the Finns' could be back on this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Countrymen Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen collided not once but twice in recent races.

And now Williams' Bottas, who was earlier strongly linked with a move to Ferrari next year to replace his older Finnish rival, sounds determined to cling onto fourth place in the drivers' standings.

The 2015 season reaches its climax this weekend in Abu Dhabi, with Ferrari's Raikkonen just a single point behind Bottas.

Bottas told Brazil's UOL: "Of course it would be nice to finish ahead of a driver who has a better car."

The 26-year-old was also asked who he thinks is the best driver in F1 today.

"You mean apart from me?" he smiled.

"In F1 you have to believe in yourself and I really do — then I would have to say that I'm the best on the grid. I think it's important to be confident.

"I believe in my abilities and I think I will also improve over time," Bottas added.

Maurizio Arrivabene

Ferrari defends re-signing Raikkonen
(GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has defended Ferrari's decision to keep Kimi Raikkonen on board for 2016.

Earlier this year, the Maranello team looked poised to swap the older Finn for a younger one, but Valtteri Bottas is instead staying at Williams.

Raikkonen's new deal coincided with a spike in performance for the 36-year-old, but he has once again entered a period that has left many wondering if it was the right choice to keep him at Ferrari for 2016.

Boss Arrivabene, however, told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar: "Changing Kimi would have been a mistake."

Clearly, the harmony between friends Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel was instrumental in Ferrari's decision, as the fabled team moves on in the wake of the more tumultuous Fernando Alonso era.

"I am pleased that he has brought balance to the team," Arrivabene explained. "He (Raikkonen) pushes Sebastian very hard and that is very important.

"Kimi has found himself in certain situations because of misfortune, but he works really hard," he insisted.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen tipped for two FIA awards
(GMM) Meteoric F1 rookie Max Verstappen has been nominated for the FIA's personality of the year award.

Having made his sensational debut this year at the record age of 17, the young Dutchman has stunned the sport with his audacious overtaking on track and unapologetic confidence in the paddock.

He is now a favorite to win personality of the year, an award to be presented during the usual FIA prize-giving gala in Paris on December 4.

Verstappen is up against the likes of new triple world champion Lewis Hamilton, F1 driver and reigning Le Mans winner Nico Hulkenberg, Toto Wolff and others.

He has also been named in the running for the FIA's 'Action of the Year' award, with the FIA choosing his audacious pass on Felipe Nasr on the outside of Spa's fearsome Blanchimont corner.

Verstappen told De Telegraaf newspaper that he has only felt "nervous" on one occasion in 2015.

"It was my 18th birthday when I sat for my driving license," he said. "I really wanted to collect that piece of paper, especially as my schedule is very busy and I might have to wait a while for my next opportunity.

"Luckily, everything went very well," he added.

Niki Lauda

Parallel engine would have 'destroyed' F1 – Lauda
(GMM) F1 legend Niki Lauda played a key role as a compromise was reached between the engine manufacturers and the governing FIA.

That was the claim on Wednesday of Auto Motor und Sport, as the FIA confirmed reports that the 'client engine' proposal was voted down during Tuesday's Paris meeting of the F1 Commission.

"The parties involved have agreed on a course to address several key areas relating to power unit supply in formula one," a statement read.

With FIA president Jean Todt most concerned about costs, another issue is guaranteeing supply for teams like Red Bull while Bernie Ecclestone wants simpler technology and more noise.

The FIA said the carmakers Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda will present their proposal on 15 January next year, for introduction in 2017 or 2018.

But if the proposal is not satisfactory, the FIA warned on Wednesday that the idea of the 'parallel' engine rules – with Ilmor, Mecachrome, AER and another independent supplier all interested – "may be reassessed".

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport on Wednesday claimed Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, had been instrumental to the compromise deal.

"It's a good solution for the sport," he said, "and the right direction.

"A championship with two different engine concepts would have been madness and destroyed formula one," Lauda added.

He revealed that the engine manufacturers will begin to discuss the proposal this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Toto Wolff

Wolff braced for 'biggest test' in 2016
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff reckons that 2016 will provide the "biggest test" for his squad under the current Formula 1 rules, as it looks to repeat double title-winning 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Mercedes has dominated Formula 1 since the arrival of turbo V6 power units last year, taking 35 out of a possible 37 poles, 31 out of 37 wins, and four out of four titles.

But looking ahead to what will be the third campaign of the sport's latest era, Wolff is well aware that Mercedes must remain aggressive to stave off the threat from behind.

"We can all be extremely proud of what we have achieved in 2015," said Wolff.

"To raise the bar from 2014 was always going to be a huge challenge – but everybody at Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has taken on that challenge exceptionally well.

"While we celebrate a job well done this time around, however, the next challenge will be upon us before we know it. 2016 will undoubtedly provide our biggest test yet as a group.

"We will not be backing off – and an entertaining battle at the front between our boys for one last time in 2015 [at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix] will be the ideal way to show that."

Lewis Hamilton beat Nico Rosberg to the Drivers' title in 2014 and 2015.

Nico Rosberg

Rosberg 'on massive high' for finale
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg says that he is approaching this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix "on a massive high", after back-to-back victories.

Rosberg, who has also claimed the past five pole positions, fended off team-mate Lewis Hamilton – confirmed as champion with three races to spare – in Mexico and Brazil.

Heading to the Yas Marina Circuit, Rosberg hopes to make it three out of three.

"I've had two really great weekends now in Mexico and Brazil, so I'm heading into the final race on a massive high," said Rosberg, previewing the Abu Dhabi event.

"Abu Dhabi hasn't always been an easy one for me. Last year was probably my biggest disappointment – losing the title at the last moment with a mechanical problem.

"But I showed my speed there with pole position and I have good momentum behind me right now, so I'm aiming to end the season on a big positive this time around.

"It's also the last race for this incredible Silver Arrow – and it deserves a spectacular send off. Everyone at the factories has done such a fantastic job one again this year.

"A car like this is something every driver dreams of having in their hands, so I'll be pushing hard to make the most of it for one last time as a tribute to all their hard work."

Hamilton, meanwhile, says he will be much more relaxed for the 2015 event, after going head-to-head with Rosberg for the title during last year's double points finale.

"Last year, this place brought probably the most intense weekend of my life," he said.

"I didn't sleep much through nerves and not knowing what was ahead. But this time around there's no pressure, so I'll be well-rested and aiming to go out on a high.

A lot of British fans come out to Abu Dhabi so it's like another home crowd for me.

"To win for them and to show how grateful I am for the fantastic support I've had all year would be the best way to end an incredible season."

Ferrari previews Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Ferrari press chief Alberto Antonini looks ahead to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.
https://youtu.be/WK5s_e3iOV0

New compound for the Purple Sidewall Pirelli Ultra-Softs

New F1 ultra soft tires only for street circuits
Pirelli's ultra-soft compound is likely to only make its debut at the Monaco GP next year as the new rubber will only be used on street circuits.

The Italian manufacturer confirmed last month that it plans to increase its dry tire range to five with the purple-branded ultra softs added to the hard, soft, medium and supersoft options.

The new tire will be tested for the first time after this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but it will only be used on street circuits in 2016, according to Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery.

The supersoft compounds were only used in Monaco, Canada, Austria, Singapore, Russia and Abu Dhabi this year and the new purple-marked rubber is likely to get its debut in Monte Carlo.

"It's only for the street circuits because as we saw in Monaco and in Singapore the wear levels are very low at the moment," he is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com.

"Cars are sliding less and the change we made is a boost in terms of wear levels.

"Maybe too much, but with the lack of testing we're not being able to make any further changes to the product so we're living with that we have because the cars will be quicker next year.

"Every year they improve, so what was okay last year may be quite dramatically different next year."

Many people believe more pit stops would make Formula 1 races more exciting, but Hembery concedes that things are unlikely to change much if they can't experiment.

"The idea is to get two or three pitstops and the compounds next year will be the same as we have this year, plus one as I mentioned, so is not going to be dramatically different.

"Although we're trying to change the internal part of the tire to create a cliff after certain number of laps which will force teams into making a change.

"But that's not the same we had in the past in terms of degradation. We need to experiment and see if delivers what we expect."