Latest F1 news in brief – Thursday (Update)
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| Caterham happy to make return in Abu Dhabi |
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| Ocon beat Verstappen for the F3 title but only got one Friday morning track cleaning job while Verstappen got a full-time ride |
11/20/14
- Marussia's Abu Dhabi return bid fails
- European Union 'turns eye' to F1 crisis – report
- Ferrari denies making Vettel announcement
- Mercedes desperate to avoid title breakdown – Lauda
- Now correspondent critiques struggling teams
- Massa is Rosberg's best hope for title – Glock
- McLaren should pick Button over Magnussen – Herbert
- Merhi in Abu Dhabi with Caterham race hopes
- Bianchi 'will be heavily disabled' – Streiff
- De Silvestro splits with backer, manager
- Backmarker and field filler, Caterham, thanks everyone
- Ecclestone helped Caterham out (Needed someone to clean the track Friday morning) New
- Ferrari and Fernando Alonso finally confirm F1 split New
- Ocon to drive in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix New
Marussia's Abu Dhabi return bid fails
(GMM) Marussia's eleventh-hour bid to return to action in Abu Dhabi has failed.
With Caterham already set up at Yas Marina, insiders on Wednesday then spotted F1 personnel wearing Marussia team shirts in the Abu Dhabi paddock.
It is believed they were Ferrari employees set to work on Marussia's customer engines.
But rumors then circulated in the media centre that Marussia, having missed the official freight deadline, was indeed making an eleventh-hour trip from the UK to contest the 2014 finale.
But team driver Max Chilton has now written on Twitter: "Devastated for everyone involved at Marussia in the past 24 hours that the hard work trying to get to Abu Dhabi didn't work out as we hoped."
The PA Sport news agency said Marussia's hopes had been buoyed by talks with a potential buyer, but quoted an insider as saying: "Sadly, it hasn't happened.
"By 5.30-6pm it was game over."
European Union 'turns eye' to F1 crisis – report
(GMM) The threat of a major civil war within formula one is growing by the day.
That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, following reports disgruntled small teams Lotus, Sauber and Force India are furious talks to have more income released by F1 owner CVC are failing to bear fruit.
Correspondent Michael Schmidt says the teams have abandoned their race boycott threats, acknowledging it was not the right course of action.
The suggestion now is that they genuinely question whether the current system of decision-making and income distribution within F1 is even legal.
They reportedly feel that the fact teams like Ferrari and Red Bull receive substantially more base income is contrary to European Union competition laws.
"Bernie (Ecclestone) regarded (the F1 teams alliance) FOTA as a real threat and he had to end the risk of a breakaway series," said former F1 chief Ross Brawn.
"He drew out Ferrari and Red Bull with the promise of paying them a big extra bonus."
Former FIA president Max Mosley reportedly acknowledges that the inequitable distribution is also against the governing body's own statutes.
"Giving the big teams more money is akin to allowing them to have bigger engines," he is quoted as saying.
Not only that, the decision-making 'Strategy Group' is predominated by Ecclestone and the major teams, excluding the likes of Lotus, Sauber and Force India altogether.
The trio also wonders if Ferrari's apparent rule-changing 'veto power' would survive the cross-examination of a European Commission investigation.
"Apparently," said Schmidt, "the Commission has recently turned an eye to formula one as there is so much in the press about it."
He said Mosley's view is that F1 must now urgently enact a three-point plan: redistribute income equitably, slash costs and simplify the regulations.
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| Ferrari cannot announce Vettel until Alonso's contract is terminated |
Ferrari denies making Vettel announcement
(GMM) Ferrari has denied reports it is now officially confirming Sebastian Vettel's 2015 switch.
The world of F1 social media came alight late on Wednesday when a seemingly official Ferrari profile on Twitter announced: "We are proud to welcome Sebastian Vettel as a member of the Ferrari family."
Hours before, Ferrari's actual Twitter account had tantalizingly teased: "Changes are in the air. Something important is going to happen."
But the actual announcement had been made not by Ferrari's official Twitter, but one called 'ScuderiaFerraril' — with an 'l' at the end rather than an 'i'.
The news, however, was triumphantly reported worldwide by the German news agency DPA.
Ferrari told another German news agency SID: "We have communicated nothing.
"These are rumors in the media that we cannot confirm."
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| It will be a Mercedes parade in Abu Dhabi with Hamilton likely in front |
Mercedes desperate to avoid title breakdown – Lauda
(GMM) Mercedes is determined to ensure the 2014 title is decided in Abu Dhabi by events other than a technical failure.
Team boss Toto Wolff has already said that given the unpopular double points system for the championship finale, it would be a "nightmare" if Lewis Hamilton loses to Nico Rosberg because the British points leader breaks down.
The German outfit is remaining impartial for the decisive round of the drivers' intense title battle.
"For me, both are now world champion," team chairman Niki Lauda told the German broadcaster RTL.
"I have seen two Alpha males, top athletes at the very highest level."
Lauda denounced Bernie Ecclestone's double points system as "stupid", but said Mercedes is determined that the title is at least decided through a fair sporting outcome.
"Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe and myself have done everything possible to provide both drivers with the same conditions," said the F1 legend, "so that technical problems do not decide the race.
"We have looked at every part of the car and engine and tried to shorten the life of the parts. Wherever we can, we have installed the newest components possible.
"If there is still a technical problem," Lauda concluded, "then it is not something that we could have done anything to prevent."
Now correspondent critiques struggling teams
(GMM) Having already blasted some of F1's struggling drivers, a travelling correspondent has now turned his attention to the worst teams of 2014.
First in the Telegraph journalist Daniel Johnson's sights was Caterham, who despite returning from a two-race absence in Abu Dhabi has been "a basket case from start to finish" this year.
"It will be a miracle if they return next year," he said.
But it was the much bigger teams that attracted the harshest criticism, as Johnson ranked the Italian great Ferrari just tenth of the 11 teams this season.
"Ferrari enjoyed all the advantages Mercedes did going into this season," said Johnson, "with engine and car designed side by side. It hasn't shown.
"Being hopelessly off the pace with just two podiums all year triggered upheaval at Maranello," he added, referring to the plethora of high-profile departures.
McLaren was also critiqued by Johnson, as he recalled Ron Dennis saying as the season began that the Woking based team 'Will win races this year'.
"How wrong that prediction has proved," said the correspondent.
Red Bull, meanwhile, has finished the championship second and been the only team to stop Mercedes winning every race this year.
But Johnson ranked both Williams and Mercedes higher than the reigning world champions on his teams list of 2014.
"Red Bull can blame the Renault engine all they like," he said, "but it was their choice."
As for dominant Mercedes, Johnson said it is "hard to see anyone catching them in 2015".
Massa is Rosberg's best hope for title – Glock
(GMM) A strong Williams driver is Nico Rosberg's best hope of winning the 2014 title against the odds.
That is the claim of former F1 driver Timo Glock, who six years ago played a starring role in the championship showdown when Lewis Hamilton managed to pass him on the thrilling last corner of the Brazil finale.
The infamous Glock pass deprived Felipe Massa of the title, and the Brazilian has never forgotten it, remarking mere days ago that "a certain German" ended his title chances.
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| Timo Glock remembers a time when Felipe Massa felt differently about non-contenders playing a role in determining the championship |
"After so many years, that (Massa's comment) was surprising," Glock, now a works BMW driver in the DTM series, told Germany's Sport1. "I read what he (Massa) said with a smile."
Curiously, Massa has now been put in the middle of Hamilton's latest championship battle, this time against his Mercedes teammate Rosberg.
Rosberg needs a driver to split the two silver cars on Sunday's Abu Dhabi podium, and in Brazil two weeks ago the German nominated the on-form Massa, who now drives for Williams.
"The best chance for Rosberg would be a technical problem," said Glock, "but nobody wants to see the title decided by that.
"I also believed that Williams can be very strong in Abu Dhabi again, so he (Rosberg) can also hope for Felipe Massa or Valtteri Bottas (to do well).
"He (Rosberg) still has a chance," Glock continued. "I think in 2010 Sebastian Vettel was in an even more difficult position and he still managed it in the end.
"I think both of them would be deserved world champions," he said. "At the end of the year Hamilton was definitely stronger, but Nico was stronger at the beginning."
Asked about the highly controversial double points, meanwhile, Glock answered: "I have found the scheme of putting so much importance on one race a little strange.
"But if Hamilton's car fails, then he probably would have lost the world championship with the normal scoring anyway," Glock added.
McLaren should pick Button over Magnussen – Herbert
(GMM) Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has urged McLaren to consider keeping Jenson Button to be Fernando Alonso's Honda-powered teammate.
With Alonso's 2015 deal now reportedly signed and sealed, it is believed the ongoing delay in the announcement is due to deliberations about the identity of his teammate.
Speed Week's Mathias Brunner reports that the team's new works partner Honda would like to pair Alonso with Button, who has an established relationship with the Japanese marque.
But McLaren reportedly prefers its in-house youngster Kevin Magnussen, who comes with a much smaller price-tag.
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| Could Abu Dhabi be Jenson Button's final Grand Prix? |
The uncertainty means Button is heading into the 2014 finale not knowing if Abu Dhabi is bringing the curtain down on his long and successful F1 career.
Herbert – British like Button and now a pundit for Sky television – said he thinks McLaren-Honda needs the 34-year-old.
"Alonso is a disruptive force," he told Express newspaper. "The team will need a calming presence in the garage and Jenson will bring that with his experience and maturity.
"For me, it's a no-brainer that McLaren should keep Jenson ahead of Magnussen," Herbert insisted.
"Magnussen had a decent start," he added, "but has made a few mistakes this season. You would expect that in a rookie, but with some of them they leave question marks whether he is the right standard."
Merhi in Abu Dhabi with Caterham race hopes
(GMM) Roberto Merhi is in Abu Dhabi where he hopes to complete Caterham's Abu Dhabi lineup this weekend.
That is the news of the Spanish publication El Confidencial, following reports elsewhere that the 23-year-old rookie's management claims it has an existing deal in place to race for the struggling Leafield based team.
Under the now-departed Colin Kolles-led management, Spaniard Merhi drove on Friday mornings several times in 2014 and may even have signed a contract to race in the event that Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson do not.
Ericsson has since terminated his contract, but it is not clear if Merhi's deal applies now that Caterham is under the control of administrators.
Also unclear is whether Merhi has the necessary super license credential.
Bianchi 'will be heavily disabled' – Streiff
(GMM) Jules Bianchi "will be very heavily disabled" if he ever emerges from his coma, according to the former F1 driver Philippe Streiff.
The Frenchman, who was paralyzed after a 1989 crash, caused a stir on Wednesday when he told French radio Europe 1 that his friend Michael Schumacher is paralyzed, can't speak and has memory problems.
He did say, however, that Schumacher can "apparently communicate with his eyes to his wife and his manager".
The fiercely-private Schumacher camp, however, has played down Streiff's claims.
Manager Sabine Kehm told the Telegraph that the comments were just "his opinions" as Streiff "did not have contact with us".
But Streiff on Wednesday also commented on the injuries sustained by Marussia driver Bianchi in Japan seven weeks ago, saying the situation is "in my opinion worse for Bianchi than it is for Schumacher".
"Unfortunately, I have no good news," he said. "He is still in a coma and I do not think he will come out of it soon.
"If he does, he will be very heavily disabled. This was no fall onto a rock, which for Schumacher was already very serious. For Jules Bianchi it is very, very serious.
"I'm afraid, if he does come out of the coma, it will be very difficult for him, for the family," Streiff added.
De Silvestro splits with backer, manager
(GMM) Simona de Silvestro has split with her manager.
After the 25-year-old female Swiss driver conducted several tests for Sauber this year, it emerged last month that her road to formula one had suddenly ended.
The former Indycar driver's program "will not continue for financial reasons", a spokesman for Sauber had said.
Speed Week now reports that de Silvestro has this week split with her manager Imran Safiulla, who according to Swiss reports earlier this year was also backing her financially.
"I will now consider the next steps in peace regarding the options for my racing career," de Silvestro is quoted as saying.
Backmarker and field filler, Caterham, thanks everyone
After a race against time in order to get the Caterham F1 Team, currently under administration, to Abu Dhabi for the final race of the 2014 Formula 1 season, the Team would like to take this opportunity to thank all sponsors, race partners, companies and fans who have made this possible – starting with Renault, Red Bull Technology, Pirelli, Dell, Total as well as the many companies and fans who have backed the Caterham F1 Team over the last ten days via the Crowdcube crowdfunding page.
Finbarr O'Connell, Caterham F1 Team administrator and Team Principal: "The amount of support and backing we have received since we were appointed as administrators of the Caterham F1 Team has been overwhelming, especially during the last ten days where we have managed to not only arrive in Abu Dhabi, but also set-up and get the cars ready to race. Before we get out on track we would therefore like to thank everyone for making this possible: important race partners such as Renault, Red Bull Technology, Pirelli, Dell and Total, who we highly depend on in order to race, have been very supportive of us and made it easier to believe that it was going to be possible to be here – thank you. And, of course, thanks also to the team members who are the ‘human engine’ of this team and who have never given up on it.
"Secondly, I'd also like to thank every company as well as every single fan that has backed us on our crowdfunding page – we were convinced it was the way to go but the amount of support we have received in such a short period of time has been a very pleasant surprise, and we are very happy that so many people out there agree with us and believe that this team deserves to be here racing in Abu Dhabi and have a future. A million thank yous. Now it’s time to go racing and I hope we have a solid weekend out on track – that would definitely be the best way to thank everyone one more time and to persuade one of those interested parties to make that final purchase decision."
Ecclestone helped Caterham out (Needed someone to clean the track Friday morning)
Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that he helped out Caterham in their bid to race in the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Caterham went into administration in the run-up to the United States Grand Prix, but the team turned to crowdfunding to raise £2,350,000 that would allow them to contest the final race.
The Leafield squad's administrator Finbarr O'Connell confirmed on Friday that "fans have made the impossible possible" and their freight have been transported to the Yas Marina Circuit.
F1 supremo Ecclestone has now also revealed that he helped them out.
"They wanted to go, so we've transported them at no cost to them," he told Press Association Sport.
"We've at least helped them to some degree, something we need not have done. We've even chartered another plane to take them.
"We've gone a little bit over the top, but anyway, we've done it."
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| Ferrari and Fernando Alonso announce they will part ways after the season |
Ferrari and Fernando Alonso finally confirm F1 split
Ferrari has finally confirmed Fernando Alonso will not race at the team next season after the two parties decided to split by "common consent".
Alonso's departure has been an open secret since the Japanese Grand Prix and speculated on long before, but it was not until Thursday at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi that the team confirmed the news. Alonso is expected to move to McLaren next year, but was understood to be in negotiations with Ferrari over how to cancel his contract.
Since joining the team five years ago, Alonso has failed to win a title despite coming close in 2010 and 2012. He said it had been a tough decision to leave but he has always had Ferrari's interests at heart.
"Today is not an easy one for me, because even if I always look to the future with great enthusiasm and determination, at the end of this season my journey as a Ferrari driver will come to an end," Alonso said. "It was a difficult decision to take, but a carefully considered one and from start to finish, my love for Ferrari was a prime consideration.
"I have always been lucky enough to make my own decisions about my future and I have that possibility now too. I must thank the team for that, as it understood my position. I leave Scuderia Ferrari after five years, during which I reached my very best level professionally, tackling major challenges that pushed me to find new limits.
"I also proved to be a true team-player, putting the interests of the Scuderia before my own. When I had to take important decisions about my future, I did so with Ferrari in my heart, driven by my love for the team. I am very proud of what we have achieved together.
"Thanks to the efforts of the men and women of Maranello, on three occasions we came second in the Formula One World Championship, two of them fighting for the title right up to and including the final race, running in a championship winning position for many laps.
"Without a shadow of a doubt, these five years produced some of the best moments of my career and I also feel that, in leaving the team, it is family rather than friends I am leaving behind. Now I look to the future with great enthusiasm, knowing that part of my heart will always belong to the Prancing Horse. I want to thank each and everyone of the team for the trust they showed in me."
The team confirmed the decision had been made by "common consent" and Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci thanked Alonso for his time at the team.
"In the Scuderia Ferrari roll of honor of great drivers, Fernando Alonso will always occupy a special place," he said. "We offer him our heartfelt thanks for what has been an extraordinary adventure with the Scuderia, when in the past five years, he twice came so close to winning the world championship. I am sure that a great driver like Fernando will always hold the Prancing Horse dear to his heart and I also expect the Ferrari fans will continue to hold him in high regard in his future endeavors."
Ocon to drive in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Lotus F1 Team Junior driver Esteban Ocon will drive in Free Practice 1 for Lotus F1 Team at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 21.
The practice session outing for the current FIA Formula 3 European Champion is the latest step in Esteban's driver development program and comes following a successful two-day test in the team's 2012 E20 at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo on October 22-23.
Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Esteban will also run in the final test of the season, taking place at the Yas Marina circuit. He will drive for the first day of the test – Tuesday November 25 – with Lotus F1 Team Third Driver Charles Pic driving on the second and final day.
Esteban Ocon:
"It is a fantastic opportunity for me to drive in my first session at a Grand Prix and I am tremendously grateful to Lotus F1 Team and Gravity Sport Management. The practice session on Friday will be my first time driving the Yas Marina circuit and my first time in the latest generation Formula 1 car, so there will be a lot to learn, especially as I will be completing the team's program for the free practice session. For the test day we will have far more time me to learn and develop with the car so I'm really looking forward to Abu Dhabi."
Federico Gastaldi, Deputy Team Principal, Lotus F1 Team:
"Esteban is a superb young talent and we are particularly excited to give him this opportunity. He impressed all our engineers when he drove for us in Valencia, but this will be another step in his development program. It's great for us a team to support developing drivers, especially one with the potential of Esteban."