Latest F1 news in brief

Gutierrez's check for 2015 will only be large enough to be a Friday morning track cleaner

Wolff sure title fight will not boil over
Button admits 'interest growing' in Le Mans switch
Gutierrez admits Friday role possible for 2015
Caterham thanks Renault for helping F1 comeback
Politician says F1 breaching EU competition agreement
Alonso thinks Vettel will need 'luck' at Ferrari
Hamilton: I'm not feeling any pressure
Ricciardo praises Vettel's approach

Wolff sure title fight will not boil over
(GMM) Toto Wolff is sure Mercedes' in-house battle for the biggest prize in motor sport this weekend will not boil over.

Nico Rosberg on Thursday was piling on the psychological pressure, even urging Lewis Hamilton to keep their on-track fight "clean" in Abu Dhabi.

Of the duo, with Hamilton 17 points ahead and only needing to finish second, it is Rosberg playing the more obvious "mind games", although there was a tense moment in the FIA press conference when Hamilton appeared reluctant to shake his German rival's hand.

Nico Rosberg says all the pressure is on his championship-leading teammate.

"He has everything to lose and I have everything to gain," Rosberg said.

He claimed Hamilton only spun in Brazil two weeks ago because he was feeling the pressure, and even vowed to make Hamilton "nervous" in their internal team briefings throughout the decisive race weekend of the season.

"That's my job this weekend," Rosberg told German reporters on Thursday. "It helps, of course, that we're always around each other most of the time."

He also suggested that he may depart from his usual routine and experiment more with his car setup in Abu Dhabi, and noted that last year in Abu Dhabi "was one of his (Hamilton's) weakest races".

Observers on Thursday concluded that Rosberg appeared more bullish on Thursday, while Hamilton talked of feeling relaxed but kept his answers to the media short and quiet.

"In terms of the pressure, I don't really feel anything," the Briton insisted. "I have been racing for 20 years to prepare for it.

"The last time I was in this situation I was nervous. Now it's like being a kid at Christmas."

No one really believes Hamilton is feeling that way, but his 2008 championship rival Felipe Massa knows how important trying to relax is.

"If you're scared, you lose tenths," the Brazilian said.

"Hamilton is in a simple situation but in the race he needs to be careful, which does not always work out for Lewis. Let's see how it ends."

Toto Wolff wants the title decided fair and square

Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, said the German team is impartial and only wants the title to be decided fairly.

He is not worried a Senna-Prost style collision will happen.

"They are both good lads, neither of them are deceitful," Wolff is quoted by Spain's Marca.

"Nico has to win and Lewis wants to win (the title) with a victory so it will be a tough race," Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quotes Wolff as adding.

"But it will not go so far that they will drive into each other. They both have too much to lose."

Button admits 'interest growing' in Le Mans switch
(GMM) Jenson Button says the last two months have taught him how to "live in the moment".

It's because while he is in the midst of one of the longest and most successful careers in the history of formula one, Abu Dhabi could also be the last grand prix of his career.

Fernando Alonso will shortly switch from Ferrari to lead the Woking team's new works Honda era, and McLaren is currently making its decision between keeping the experienced Button or the promising rookie Kevin Magnussen.

"I know no more than you," Dane Magnussen, 22, told reporters in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

With Alonso not yet arrived and either Button or Magnussen to be ousted, McLaren entrusted the track debut of the Honda V6 last week to tester Oliver Turvey.

When asked about Turvey's outing, Button said on Thursday: "He did a few laps and slightly more than expected."

Asked if Honda's situation looks better than Renault's earlier this year, the Briton was quoted by f1news.ru: "Yes, but it had nothing to do with performance, it was just the checking of systems."

Button, 34, may not be overly engaged in Honda's progress because his future could be with Porsche, Audi, Toyota or Nissan at Le Mans.

Mark Webber last week urged Button to end McLaren's dithering and make the switch.

"I have spoken with Mark," Button revealed, "and some other drivers from WEC. Who knows what will happen.

"I can't say that I have a great desire to be there, but my interest is growing. Next year there will be four LMP1 manufacturers and everything looks very exciting.

"I'm not a fool. I want to race next year and so if I'm not in formula one, it (WEC) is a strong series."

Asked if the McLaren delay is worrying him, Button insisted: "Probably I'm worrying less than some of the fans! I have received so many messages of support.

"Some of them are very angry, but for me it's different — I'm relaxed. Formula one is a great job but there are other things in life. I want to enjoy this weekend and then see what happens."

Gutierrez admits Friday role possible for 2015
(GMM) Esteban Gutierrez has admitted becoming a test driver is a possibility for 2015.

Like teammate Adrian Sutil, the Mexican has been ousted by the struggling team Sauber and faces an uncertain future.

Asked where he will be next season, the 23-year-old was quoted by f1news.ru as answering: "I don't know!

"I heard the rumors about Lotus but now we know what the situation is there."

Gutierrez said he is in talks with some other teams about keeping his career alive as a "race driver — that is the goal".

But he also admitted: "In formula one you always have to have a plan A, B and C. We'll have to wait a few more weeks."

Asked if a test driver role is plan B or C, Gutierrez admitted: "Yes, the role of reserve driver with a strong team is one of the options."

If he does go that route, he said he would want to be able to drive in Friday morning practice sessions.

"Yes, but there are other interesting options," said Gutierrez. "Hopefully soon I will be able to say more."

Caterham thanks Renault for helping F1 comeback
(GMM) Caterham's acting boss Finbarr O'Connell has thanked the world of formula one for helping the team to make its F1 comeback this weekend.

Attending his first ever grand prix in Abu Dhabi, the financial administrator admitted that fans who donated money and Bernie Ecclestone who arranged free freight transportation were not the only ones who helped Caterham overcome the odds and set up camp for the 2014 season finale.

"We are overwhelmed by the level of support we have received," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"I have to thank primarily partners such as Renault, Red Bull Technology, Pirelli, Dell and Total," said O'Connell.

It is widely believed, for example, that engine supplier Renault is owed a considerable amount of money and could have simply refused to service Caterham in Abu Dhabi.

So O'Connell admitted that although Caterham is in Abu Dhabi, whether the team makes it to the 2015 season is another matter entirely.

"If it is to be bought and to continue to run in exactly the way it is being run now, I think the next few weeks are absolutely key because the employees will all be beginning to drift away and there will no longer be a cohesive team like there is now," he told the British broadcaster Sky.

There is also the matter of the 2015 car, which must be significantly different to the current one to accommodate the new nose rules and also a different installation for Renault's 2015 engine.

"So I'm putting pressure on prospective purchasers to act in that small timeframe," said O'Connell.

One of the potential buyers, he revealed, is a "large corporation" that he will meet with this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

"I'm meeting two families who are based in the Middle East who I think, because we're here, are particularly interested to come and see me, and also one large corporation who I think would be a really good fit if they do acquire it," said O'Connell.

Politician says F1 breaching EU competition agreement
(GMM) With F1's biggest names swapping teams and the 2014 championship entering its decisive showdown, the furor over the future of the sport enjoyed a brief sojourn on Thursday.

But on Friday, the civil war between angry small teams on one side and Bernie Ecclestone, the grandees and owners CVC on the other will be back on pole position.

A meeting between Ecclestone and the furious Lotus, Force India and Sauber is set to take place in Abu Dhabi, as the teams suspect a concerted effort to drive them out is now well under way.

They have now abandoned their boycott threats, but an even bigger threat for Ecclestone and the FIA may have emerged.

Anneliese Dodds, a British politician, has written to the European Commission's competition arm with "grave concerns" about F1's governance, according to the Times newspaper.

It follows a letter from the small teams to Ecclestone last week accusing F1 authorities of operating a "cartel" through an inequitable distribution of income and the big team-dominated, rule-making 'Strategy Group'.

"There was an agreement made between F1 and the European Union about competition some years ago and it seems that has not been stuck to," Dodds said.

The Times said Dodds' letter follows a dossier having been sent to the EU capital Brussels, revealing secret information about the Strategy Group and how the most powerful teams are also given the bulk of F1's commercial income.

Also of interest to Brussels could be the way in which the FIA, despite its sole role as the sport's regulator of rules and safety, recently concluded a deal with Ecclestone including a 1 per cent shareholding of the commercial rights.

Bernie Ecclestone has plenty still to deal with in the fallout over F1's economic crisis

Stuck in the middle of the civil war is Williams, a mid-sized private team enjoying a run of form that was granted a place in the controversial Strategy Group due to its history.

Deputy boss Claire Williams confirmed: "We occupy an intermediate position between the two camps.

"On the one hand, we are sympathetic to the position of the three teams, but we also understand the position of the top teams.

"At the same time, I do not agree when the Strategy Group is called a cartel, as it was formed with the consent of all the teams, including those who are not represented.

"But for us, the politics are not relevant. We do not come to a race weekend to spend our time in debate. If other teams want to do that, it's their decision," she is quoted by f1news.ru.

Fernando Alonso thinks Vettel will have an uphill battle at Maranello

Alonso thinks Vettel will need 'luck' at Ferrari
(GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks his Ferrari successor Sebastian Vettel will need "luck" in the years that lie ahead of him.

The Spaniard has called time on his five-year stint at Maranello, apparently seeing more promise in McLaren's impending works tie-up with Honda.

Vettel, meanwhile, is switching from Red Bull – where he won every drivers' title between 2010 and 2013 – to replace Alonso at beleaguered Ferrari.

Asked if he has spoken to Vettel about the move, Alonso was quoted by the Spanish daily AS: "I told him 'good luck'."

Asked if the German will need luck, he admitted: "That's what I thought but I didn't say it to him.

"I cannot wish anything bad to Ferrari, because from 2009 to 2014 only good things have happened to me.

"I've grown, I've learned things as a driver and a person, we have come close to the title several times, but I have to say that we have competed against teams that were better than us.

"Against Red Bull and its overwhelming technical mastery, and this year against Mercedes," said Alonso.

The 33-year-old is so far refusing to even mention McLaren, undoubtedly his next employer but one he clashed so spectacularly and infamously with in 2007.

"Something can be signed for two or three months already but to announce it there is maybe a delay because there are other things to consider with the project," said Alonso, undoubtedly referring to McLaren-Honda and its ongoing deliberations.

"I'm calm. I told the fans a month ago that the best is yet to come, things will be done but at the moment we need a bit of patience.

"It is all done, but let's now put it all together and make it better," he added.

Alonso denied he is leaving Ferrari with a feeling of anger, but admitted to "sadness" and "frustration" at having not put the lid on at least one more title.

With his own performance, however, he is completely satisfied.

"I do not like to compare with my peers," Alonso insisted.

"But when you have a champion on the other side of the garage that if not for technical problems you beat them almost 19 to zero, I'm so proud and I think it's impossible to say it has been bad years."

Hamilton: I'm not feeling any pressure
Lewis Hamilton has insisted that he is not feeling any pressure ahead of this weekend's title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton leads Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by 17 points, with double points up for grabs at the Yas Marina Circuit.

If Rosberg wins the race, Hamilton needs to finish second to add to the world title he achieved with McLaren during the 2008 season.

"I come into the weekend trying to win the race, like always. Nothing changes there," Hamilton explained during Thursday's press conference.

"In terms of the pressure, I don't really feel anything. I have been racing for 20 years to prepare for it."

Hamilton says he is hopeful that any potential on-track scraps with Rosberg will be clean.

"You have to go into weekends believing it's going to be the case," Hamilton added.

"It has been discussed before the season, during the season and especially after [the collision at] Spa. We're not children. We should know what is wrong and what is right."

Rosberg, who retorted that the Briton has to play a role by "driving cleanly himself", spoke of his optimism prior to the race weekend, given Hamilton's mistake at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

"It's an intense weekend. I wouldn't use the word pressure," said Rosberg. "I'm here to try to win the race and I need a bit of help from Lewis that he doesn't finish second.

"A lot of things can happen, and it can happen as easily as a Williams having a great start and slotting in between us.

"This is one of the most difficult tracks to overtake on. The speed difference you need to overtake is really quite big at this track, so this is one opportunity.

"I'm optimistic. In Brazil he made a mistake and I need to do what I can to keep the pressure on."

How Hamilton can win the title:

Finish ahead of Rosberg
Finish no worse than second if Rosberg wins
Finish fifth or better if Rosberg is second
Finish sixth or better if Rosberg is third
Finish eighth or better if Rosberg is fourth
Finish ninth or better if Rosberg is fifth

How Rosberg can win the title:

Win the race, with Hamilton third or worse
Finish second, with Hamilton sixth or worse
Finish third, with Hamilton seventh or worse
Finish fourth, with Hamilton ninth or worse
Finish fifth, with Hamilton 10th or worse
Even if Hamilton fails to score, Rosberg must finish no worse than fifth

Ricciardo praises Vettel's approach
Daniel Ricciardo has praised Sebastian Vettel for the way the German has conducted himself during their sole season together at Red Bull.

Ricciardo stepped up from Toro Rosso to partner the quadruple World Champion this year, and has scored three wins to his team-mate's none.

Following confirmation of Vettel's move to Ferrari for the 2015 campaign, Ricciardo was quick to acknowledge the respect he has been shown.

"I was pleased with the way he showed respect to me after my victories," Ricciardo explained to the gathered media in the Yas Marina paddock, including GPUpdate.net.

"In Canada he was genuinely happy for me to get my first win. He even came up to me at Spa and gave me compliments; it seemed genuine and seemed like he meant it.

"It's not easy, we're all competitive, but the way he handled the more difficult situations from his side… he did well and I could probably learn from that.

"It's easy to be grumpy and miserable when someone beats you so I thought he handled that very well."

Ricciardo says he expects Vettel to quickly earn Ferrari's respect with the way he approaches the job.

"The way he brings the people who work with him close to him… in a way he demands and gets what he wants," added Ricciardo.

"Obviously we always want something better from it; he's quite ruthless but also quite fair at the same time.

"He's got a good balance of being serious and looking the team in the eye and saying, 'I need this', but he earns their respect by doing it that way.

"He doesn't rest; he's not going to be happy being behind. The way he goes about it is pretty good."