Latest F1 news in brief

Niki Lauda

Rain stoppages 'not worthy of F1' – Lauda
Federal gov't backs Brazil GP future
Nasr boosts 2017 chances with million-dollar result
Verstappen revels in recovery to podium
Massa thanks fans for 'amazing' reaction
Rosberg says he 'can live with second'

Rain stoppages 'not worthy of F1' – Lauda
(GMM) The 2016 world champion will only be crowned after next weekend's Abu Dhabi finale.

Although teammate Nico Rosberg is the favorite, Lewis Hamilton has kept himself in the hunt with three consecutive wins in the US, Mexican and now a rain-soaked Brazilian grand prix.

But a mere podium finish will guarantee German Rosberg the crown in Abu Dhabi.

"At first I tried to put pressure on him (Hamilton)," Rosberg said after once again finishing second at Interlagos. "But I quickly realized that he was faster. Second place is not bad for me."

Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda said: "Bernie Ecclestone will be pleased that he will have his finale."

Hamilton was perfect in the rain, his huge downforce Aldo Costa car glued to the track. How easy is it? Hamilton said it was the easiest win of his career

Actually, the real star of the show at Interlagos was Max Verstappen, who surprised even his father Jos with his recovery from an unnecessary pitstop to finish third.

"I've seen many races he did and today it was incredible," Jos said.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner agreed it was "one of the best drives I've seen in formula one", while even Mercedes' Lauda admitted it was "outstanding".

"I knew the guy was good but he proved it again to everybody," said the F1 legend.

There was, however, a collective grumble about Sunday at Interlagos — Charlie Whiting's continuing decisions to delay, neutralize and red-flag races due to rain.

The crowd registered its displeasure with jeers and downwards-pointing thumbs, while Lauda told Bild newspaper the stoppages were "not worthy of formula one".

"These were perfect conditions for a rain race," he blasted.

"This is an example that everything is over-regulated.

"Ok, all the top drivers had their moments, perhaps with the exception of Hamilton. But this is normal in a rain race.

"I think mistakes were made today so we need to get together with Charlie Whiting to do better in the future. Race drivers have to race, even in the most difficult conditions," said Lauda.

"Some drivers should look carefully at Max and what lines this boy drives," he insisted.

But Kimi Raikkonen, who was among those who crashed and almost collected by a rival car, pointed the finger at F1's tire supplier Pirelli.

"These tires tend to aquaplane even if it's not raining hard," he said.

"Ten years ago, these conditions would have not been a problem for the tires," the 2007 world champion insisted.

The government has to prop up all F1 races for them to be financially viable

Federal gov't backs Brazil GP future
(GMM) The federal government has vowed to help Brazil secure its place on the F1 calendar.

Amid the country's economic recession, and delayed upgrade works at the Interlagos track, the race in Sao Paulo has been granted only a provisional date on the 2017 schedule.

On his way to the race venue, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone last week visited new Brazilian president Michel Temer in the capital Brasilia.

And now, local reports reveal that federal ministers Marx Beltrao (tourism) and Leonardo Picciani (sport) attended Sunday's race and said they were backing Interlagos' future on the calendar.

When asked about Interlagos' delayed circuit upgrades, minister Beltrao is quoted by Brazil's Metro Jornal: "The ministry released funds in this direction last week."

And minister Picciani added: "The continuation of the race is very important and has the support of the federal government."

The Jornal de Brasilia also quoted sports minister Picciani as saying: "This is an event for Sao Paulo and Brazil.

"Working together is essential to ensure the race circuit is in the best possible condition to continue to accommodate formula one," he added.

Felipe Nasr drove well in the rain at Interlagos

Nasr boosts 2017 chances with million-dollar result
(GMM) Felipe Nasr gave his F1 career a definite boost on Sunday by scoring Sauber's first points of 2016.

Near the end of an almost catastrophic season for the Swiss team, Sauber now appears back on track with tenth place in the championship to add to its recent rescue by investors linked with Marcus Ericsson.

It is believed the difference between tenth and last in the constructors' standings is nothing short of dozens of millions of dollars, with Manor now back on the bottom of the table.

"This is great for the team and I'll make sure I ask for my bonus," Nasr joked to Brazil's Globo after the rain-affected Brazilian grand prix.

"I'm relieved to score some points, which shows my work, how much I fight and that I want and am capable of continuing in formula one next year," he added.

Nasr, 24, is struggling to hang onto his Sauber seat for 2017, with sponsor Banco do Brasil flagging amid the country's economic recession.

So when asked if Sunday's result helps, Nasr replied: "Definitely it will help.

"The result will give motivation to the team and all those involved in the work on the car for 2017. I never lost confidence in the team," he said.

"After the race I talked with Monisha (Kaltenborn) and she was very pleased. More than anyone, she knows the difficulties we have faced this season."

Nasr said the result is also a reply to critics who have written him off.

"People judge too quickly, so when the chance appears, you need to take it," he said.

However, it appears that Nasr has some high-powered competition for the Sauber seat, including the Mercedes-financed Manor driver Pascal Wehrlein.

But former Sauber driver and Haas refugee Esteban Gutierrez is also in the frame, after he was spotted meeting in the Sauber hospitality area with Kaltenborn in Brazil.

Meanwhile, the Swiss newspaper Blick says Nasr could switch to Manor, with Gutierrez and also former team driver Rio Haryanto also on the shortlist.

Max Verstappen had much newer rain tires at the end then everyone else so of course he was faster

Verstappen revels in recovery to podium
Max Verstappen hailed an "amazing" podium as he put on a stunning recovery drive to charge from outside of the top 10 to third in the closing stages of a rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix.

Red Bull driver Verstappen passed Ferrari rival Kimi Raikkonen at the start and later swept around the outside of Nico Rosberg through the Curva do Sol to emerge in second position.

Verstappen retained the place despite suffering a huge moment through Subida dos Boxes, sliding sideways and missing the guardrail by mere inches, as he still kept Rosberg behind.

Red Bull gambled for Intermediates but further heavy rain required Verstappen to pit once more for Full Wets, a situation which dropped him outside of the top 10.

However, Verstappen charged through the pack with a series of incredible moves to claim third position, and was voted 'Driver of the Day' by fans.

"It was an incredible race, there were red flags, difficult conditions, especially along the last straight, it was really, really slippery," he said.

"In the final restart I managed to overtake Nico, I was in a comfortable positon over there, and then I had a massive moment.

"I clipped a bit the curb, I had a massive moment, locked all four wheels, but managed to keep it out of the guardrail, and continued still in second.

"We decided to pitted for Intermediates, but unfortunately it started to rain afterwards, so it didn't work out.

"After that I think it was 15th, 14th, but then [there were] some great overtakes afterwards; to come onto the podium was amazing."

'Driver of the Day' awards in 2016:

Australia – Romain Grosjean (6th)
Bahrain – Romain Grosjean (5th)
China – Daniil Kvyat (3rd)
Russia – Kevin Magnussen (7th)
Spain – Max Verstappen (1st)
Monaco – Sergio Perez (3rd)
Canada – Max Verstappen (4th)
Azerbaijan – Sergio Perez (3rd)
Austria – Max Verstappen (2nd)
Britain – Max Verstappen (2nd)
Hungary – Kimi Raikkonen (6th)
Germany – Daniel Ricciardo (2nd)
Belgium – Lewis Hamilton (3rd)
Italy – Nico Rosberg (1st)
Singapore – Sebastian Vettel (5th)
Malaysia – Max Verstappen (2nd)
Japan – Max Verstappen (2nd)
USA – Max Verstappen (DNF)
Mexico – Sebastian Vettel (5th)*
Brazil – Max Verstappen (3rd)

Massa waves to fans after he crashed out of his last Brazilian GP

Massa thanks fans for 'amazing' reaction
Felipe Massa thanked fans for their "amazing" reaction after he retired from the Brazilian Grand Prix, his final Formula 1 race on home soil.

Massa was running 13th, just ahead of Williams team-mate Valtteri Bottas, when he lost control of his car exiting Subida dos Boxes and hit the wall.

After sliding back across the track, towards the pit entry, Massa stepped out of his car and was greeted to cheers from the grandstands.

Massa subsequently walked to the pit lane, with a Brazilian flag on his back, where he was given a guard of honor by Mercedes mechanics.

"It's impossible to explain my feelings," said Massa.

"We couldn't finish the race. I wanted to finish in the right way, with the flag on the top. Unfortunately, I couldn't, but I think God knows what to do.

"I was just walking, in front of my people, with this amazing reaction. Not just from the fans but from all the people in Formula 1 coming out to clap their hands for me.

"It's impossible to explain these emotions.

"I never expected this in my life, I don't think I deserved as much as this, [so] the minimum I can say is thank you very much to everyone, all the people I've worked with, all of the fans."

He summed up: "I will never forget this day."

'Stroker-Ace' Nico Rosberg driving conservatively to the title

Rosberg says he 'can live with second'
Nico Rosberg says he can "live with second" as he trailed Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton during a Brazilian Grand Prix affected by persistent wet weather.

Rosberg was never able to challenge Hamilton at Interlagos and for a while slipped to third, having been passed by Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the Curva do Sol.

However, Verstappen dropped back after an ultimately fruitless call for Intermediate tires and, while he recovered to third, Rosberg was safe in second as he completed a Mercedes one-two.

Sunday's result means that Rosberg will head to the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a 12-point lead over Hamilton in the championship standings.

"Of course it didn't go my way with the win, Lewis just did a great job," said Rosberg.

"But there were very difficult conditions out there, [so] I can live with second today."

Rosberg also had a moment when he lost control on the run up the hill towards Subida dos Boxes, but recovered to preserve second position.

"That worked out fine to stay on track!" he commented, referring to the moment.

Rosberg added that he felt Race Control judged the situation correctly, in a race which started behind the Safety Car and was twice red-flagged.

"It was on the limit but in the end, yes, they got it right, they did a good job judging it, but it was quite a fine line out there," he concluded.