Latest F1 news in brief

Interlagos

Promoter, mayor say Interlagos on track for 2017
Wolff has no problem with Ecclestone, Brawn
Wurz says Rosberg 'clearly' on the defense
Hulkenberg admits Renault deal boosting form
F1 drivers no longer drug-tested – Button
Renault: curbs cracked Palmer's chassis
Hamilton: Mexico now feels like a 'race track'
Vettel had 'no idea' Hamilton was behind

Promoter, mayor say Interlagos on track for 2017
(GMM) Race organizers insist the Brazilian grand prix remains on track for the future.

Earlier, F1 authorities cast a shadow over the race by giving the Interlagos round mere provisional status on the 2017 calendar.

But Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad on Saturday inaugurated the latest building works at the track, while promoter Tamas Rohonyi insisted the race's future is secure until 2020.

"We will fulfil our contract," Brazilian media quotes him saying.

"The race is confirmed until 2020, as it is in our contract," Rohonyi added.

On Saturday, Tamas was with mayor Haddad to reveal the latest finished buildings as part of Interlagos' renovation works. It is believed delays were behind F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's decision to give the 2017 race an asterisk.

Mayor Haddad said: "Our challenge was to carry out the necessary work to keep the race in Sao Paulo. We have managed to do that."

Toto Wolff

Wolff has no problem with Ecclestone, Brawn
(GMM) Toto Wolff insists he can still work two of the most important F1 personalities of today and tomorrow.

The first is F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who has not been shy in the last year to heavily criticize both Mercedes and its Austrian chief.

For instance, Ecclestone's latest accusation is that, unlike great bosses like Frank Williams and Ron Dennis, Wolff is primarily in it for the money.

"Bernie's probably annoyed that because of our success he has to pay more out of his pot to Mercedes," Wolff smiled to Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

And the pair have showed they are civil in Mexico: Wolff attended Ecclestone's 86th birthday party, and then sat down for a joint interview with Bild.

"I understand Bernie," said Wolff. "He wants the best possible competition and to sell F1, but I want the best team."

Another potential problem relationship for Wolff is with Ross Brawn, the former Mercedes chief who in his new book admitted he left the team because of a lack of trust.

And now, a British newspaper claims Brawn could be returning from retirement to oversee the sporting side of F1 for new owners Liberty.

"Yes, I read the article," Wolff said.

"To start with, the book he wrote is talking about the change in team management, which is never painless," he insisted.

"However, for me personally, there is no problem and in fact we are still in contact," said Wolff. "We maintain a healthy relationship."

Wolff even said Brawn would be a good candidate for a top F1 job.

"Ross has vast experience and knowledge, and is a suitable candidate to potentially contribute to the further development of formula one.

"If I need to vote for the return of Ross, then I am ready to do that," he said.

Rosberg driving for points

Wurz says Rosberg 'clearly' on the defense
(GMM) Notwithstanding Nico Rosberg's media strategy, Alex Wurz thinks the German is now playing a defensive game for the championship.

At the decisive phase of the season and 26 points ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg has effectively closed himself off to the press, insisting only that he is focused on winning every single race.

But Alex Wurz, a former driver, doesn't think so.

"I can see clearly that his head has gone from 'I'm only thinking of me' to 'Now I'm in the lead and I'm defending'," he told Austrian television ORF.

"But this is dangerous," Wurz said.

The evidence of that is Austin and now Mexico, where despite dominating Hamilton recently he is now clearly trailing the Briton's pace.

However, one paddock theory is that Mercedes is not giving Rosberg every engine power 'mode', to give Hamilton a fair chance of catching up after his recent technical trouble.

Team boss Toto Wolff denies that, saying the balance of power is simply swinging.

But Rosberg can afford to keep finishing second to Hamilton and still be world champion, so Wolff thinks Rosberg's last qualifying lap in Mexico was particularly crucial.

"It was perhaps Nico's most important lap of the season," he said, referring to the fact that, prior to that lap, the Red Bulls were ahead of him.

Nico Hulkenberg

Hulkenberg admits Renault deal boosting form
(GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted that securing his future for 2017 and beyond may be translating into a performance boost.

While Sergio Perez is the home town hero, it's German Hulkenberg who is the on-form Force India driver in Mexico as he qualified ahead of the Ferraris.

He was also strong in Austin, after Perez looked the better driver earlier in 2016.

Has the switch to the works Renault team given Hulkenberg a mental boost?

"Everyone asks me about it," the 29-year-old is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "Perhaps there is something deep inside of me.

"But I've known for some time that my future is secured for next year," he added.

However, Hulkenberg also knows that the psychological side to sporting performance is important.

"I already realized it last year with Le Mans," he said, "and how positive events can give you a small boost. If you're happier then maybe you're a little faster.

"On the other hand, I also have to say that at the end of the season I understand the car and the setup more, so it's probably a combination of factors," Hulkenberg said.

Jenson Button

F1 drivers no longer drug-tested – Button
(GMM) Jenson Button thinks the world anti-doping agency (Wada) is dropping the ball when it comes to F1.

The F1 veteran said he and his rivals must comply with strict protocols, but revealed that no driver he knows has been tested recently.

The Sun quoted Button as saying his latest urine sample was taken "three or four years ago".

"I have not been tested this year," he said. "I don't know of any drivers who have been tested recently."

Button, 36, admitted that performance enhancing drugs are probably not helpful in motor racing, unlike pure endurance sports like cycling.

But with F1 cars to get faster and harder to drive next year, Button said Wada needs to get more serious.

"They used to test during the winter but random testing seems to have stopped," he said. "We used to do urine tests after the races but that stopped too."

Palmer broke his chassis by attacking the curbs too hard

Renault: curbs cracked Palmer's chassis
Jolyon Palmer's seemingly minor error during the final practice session denied him the chance to participate during qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Palmer, who wound up 14th quickest in practice, ran wide exiting Mansell, the final corner, and straddled the curb, which caused a crack in his chassis.

Renault located it on the underside of the chassis, near to the seatbelt mount, which meant the manufacturer had to carry out a change for safety reasons.

Due to the time required to conduct the repairs, Palmer was forced to sit out the qualifying session, and will start the race from the back of the grid.

"Unfortunately I had to sit out qualifying which was really frustrating as we looked pretty good in FP3 and I've been feeling happy with the car," he said.

"I ran wide and straddled the curb in the last corner during FP3. I felt a bump, but it didn't feel like a big one, so I was surprised when we discovered the chassis was broken.

"Q2 was definitely on the cards; we're going to have to go all out to get points."

Renault team-mate Kevin Magnussen will start the race from 14th position.

When you drive an Aldo Costa designed car all tracks are great

Hamilton: Mexico now feels like a 'race track'
Lewis Hamilton says the Autodromo Hermanos RodrÃguez now "feels like a race track" after he claimed pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Hamilton trailed Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg when Mexico returned to the calendar 12 months ago, amid low grip levels on a redeveloped track.

However, Hamilton turned the tables during Saturday's qualifying session, leading the way on both Q3 runs to take his 10th pole position of 2016.

"It's always a tough battle trying to pull out the perfect laps when it counts," said Hamilton during the post-qualifying press conference.

"Sometimes it's on the first lap, sometimes it's on the second lap, in which case the tires are ready.

"It's definitely very challenging, as this track always is. But this track has got a lot better [since last season], as it's got more grip… there's more grip on the track now.

"Last year we were sliding around a lot more, this year it feels more like a race track."

Rosberg was only fourth after the first Q3 runs but improved on his second attempt to move ahead of both Red Bull drivers, securing a front row berth in the process.

"Lewis' lap was brilliant, not so much mine, but I put it together when it counted," he said.

"I'm relatively pleased with that, to definitely make sure I'm on the front row, and even though it's not pole position it gives me a great chance for tomorrow."

Rosberg went on to explain his struggles relative to Hamilton this weekend.

"It took a bit longer to find the way just generally with tire temperature being on the cold side this weekend, so it's a bit nervous out there to find the way with that," he added.

"It took a bit longer but I got there in the end so that's OK."

The Ferrari is so slow Hamilton's Aldo Costa car came from nowhere to pass Vettel

Vettel had 'no idea' Hamilton was behind
Sebastian Vettel says that he had "no idea" over Lewis Hamilton's position after impeding the Mercedes driver during qualifying in Mexico.

Vettel was on a warm-up lap in Q2 when Hamilton, on a flying lap, caught him on the entry to Mansell, the final turn, and got slightly baulked.

Both made it through to Q3, where Hamilton claimed pole position, and Vettel made clear there was little he could do to get out of the way.

"I did [impede Hamilton] but I had no idea he was coming, I was told too late," said Vettel, as he spoke to reporters after qualifying.

"It's my mistake. If [the stewards] give me a penalty, go ahead."

Vettel ended the session in a lowly seventh position, five thousandths behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, as Ferrari failed to carry over its encouraging practice pace.

"We were just not quick enough," Vettel added.

"We struggled on the Super Soft tires, whereas on the Soft tires it was very good, and we were quicker than we were on the Super Soft tires, which wasn't right."

RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen beat Vettel despite an engine issue late in Q3.

"It's not ideal, as we couldn't use the second set [of tires]," said the Finn.

"I think the first qualification was good, the second qualification was a bit of a struggle. I think we had quite a lot of speed there but we couldn't really use it in the end."