Latest F1 news in brief

Marcus Ericsson says Raikkonen faster than Bottas

Raikkonen 'faster than Bottas' – Ericsson
Magnussen failed to meet 'clear goals' – Dennis
Suspension tweak falters for struggling Hamilton
Hamilton hits back after Ron Dennis comments
Rosberg must watch out for Hamilton at start – Lauda
Kvyat admits to nerves over future
Red Bull future to be cleared on Sunday – Marko
'Most teams' support Ferrari-Haas query
Verstappen brand value worth 'millions' – manager
'Good time' for VW to enter F1 – Ecclestone

Raikkonen 'faster than Bottas' – Ericsson
(GMM) Marcus Ericsson has backed Kimi Raikkonen to win Sunday's 'clash of the Finns'.

Raikkonen and Finnish countryman Valtteri Bottas had two high-profile collisions recently, and as the 2015 season concludes in Abu Dhabi, the outcome will cement one of them as fourth overall in the drivers' world championship.

"I grew up watching Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso," said Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson, "and in my opinion Kimi is faster than Valtteri and will win this 'Finnish championship'."

Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen gets the head-start in Abu Dhabi with his third on the grid, but Piero Ferrari – the son of the great Enzo Ferrari – acknowledged in Abu Dhabi that the 36-year-old's season has not been perfect.

"Kimi has driven well," he told Ilta Sanomat newspaper, "but there have been problems.

"Overall, Kimi's season has not been as good as it should have been, so with a new car and new performances next year, let's hope for better," Ferrari added.

Even F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone weighed in on the argument, admitting he is "always disappointed if Kimi isn't winning".

On the other hand, Bottas is "doing a super job," the 85-year-old added.

Ferrari has elected to keep Raikkonen for 2016 rather than sign the younger Finn Bottas.

"Compared to last year, this was a good year for Kimi," said team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, "but it had its ups and downs.

"The fact is that he is doing his job well. That does not mean that he could not have been better, but I expect that he will improve even further.

"I am sure he will because he is a great driver," the Italian added.

Kevin Magnussen wasn't fast enough for the size of his check

Magnussen failed to meet 'clear goals' – Dennis
(GMM) Ron Dennis says Kevin Magnussen left McLaren because the Dane failed to meet "clear goals" that had been set by the team.

On his first visit to an F1 paddock for several weeks, the Woking team's 'supremo' hit back at Magnussen's recent claim that being ousted via email on his birthday came as a surprise.

"It is simply ridiculous that Kevin said he did not know (beforehand) that his contract would not be renewed," Dennis is quoted by the Danish newspaper BT.

He explained that McLaren made the decision to sever its ties with the 23-year-old because the driver failed to sufficiently shine.

"He (Magnussen) got every opportunity," Dennis insisted, "(including) a season in formula one with a number of very clear goals he had to meet. And he didn't meet them."

When asked what those missed goals were, Dennis answered: "It would not be appropriate to go into details. But Kevin knows in his heart that he did not perform as he should have."

He denies that it is McLaren that failed to fulfill its promises to Magnussen.

"You try to be constructive and helpful, just as every McLaren driver has had our support — if he wants it," said Dennis.

"We supported and paid for many drivers' careers," he added. "Kevin, also Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg. Drivers come and go in formula one.

"Kevin's career was in his own hands, but he didn't deliver what was expected of him."

Now, McLaren has replaced 2015 reserve Magnussen with the new reigning GP2 driver Stoffel Vandoorne, as Dennis said: "Kevin is a good, talented driver who certainly can succeed in formula one.

"But there are many drivers who also could, without ever getting the chance to do so. So they simply have to find other places to make their careers."

TV2, a Danish broadcaster, said Magnussen will not race at Le Mans with Porsche next year because the German manufacturer has decided to no longer run a third car.

Magnussen will test Mercedes' DTM car at Jerez next week.

Hamilton waves after qualifying 2nd

Suspension tweak falters for struggling Hamilton
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he has traced his current failure to match teammate Nico Rosberg's pace to a change Mercedes made to the car's suspension two months ago.

Rosberg's five-pole streak became six in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, despite the fact the German was worried an "extremely old" engine would cost him horse power against Hamilton.

"To be that far ahead, I'm very chuffed," Rosberg said, referring to his four-tenth gap to Hamilton.

Since his losing streak to Rosberg began, Hamilton has been hinting at a technical change made by Mercedes as a reaction to the team's Singapore slump in late September.

In Abu Dhabi, he traced it to a suspension part or setting.

"Coming into this weekend I tried to make some changes," the triple world champion said.

"I have used that (suspension setting) for the last six races and today I thought I would be able to get back to where I was before, but obviously it didn't work out."

Rosberg dismisses that theory, insisting the pendulum of form has simply swung in his direction lately.

Hamilton said: "It might look like the other side is going a lot better but I see it differently. Our side has gone a lot worse."

Even more worrying for Hamilton is that Mercedes insists its car development direction is correct, with the British driver agreeing that the team intends to keep following that course into 2016.

"We are developing the car constantly, bringing new parts," team boss Toto Wolff told Bild newspaper. "On paper, the car is faster, even if it may feel differently for Lewis."

Rosberg is also not buying Hamilton's explanation, insisting the development of the car has already moved on so much since Singapore.

"You can't compare the setup of Singapore or anywhere with here," he told Auto Motor und Sport, "because every circuit it is different. Everything we did after Singapore was to avoid making the same mistakes."

Niki Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, puts the hierarchy change at Mercedes down to Rosberg's good form, particularly with his engine power deficit in Abu Dhabi.

"It's unbelievable what he did on that lap," he said. "I can only take my hat off to him, because it's a miracle if you compare it to Lewis.

"Nico is currently on a high that has lasted for several races. He has simply done a very good job — no need to say any more."

Hamilton with his gold jewelry, diamond earrings in his pieced ears and blonde hair. Now all he needs is a ring in his nose and a tongue stud.

Hamilton hits back after Ron Dennis comments
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at former mentor Ron Dennis' claim he has gone "off the rails" with his behavior since switching to Mercedes.

McLaren supremo Dennis, having groomed the British driver from childhood to F1 stardom, said this week that while he was once a "surrogate father" to Hamilton, he now has "mixed feelings".

"Wait a minute — surrogate father? Isn't a woman a surrogate mother? Is there (such a thing as) a surrogate father?" Hamilton wondered.

That aside, 30-year-old Hamilton lashed back at Dennis' claim that the reigning world champion "wouldn't be behaving the way he is" if he was still at McLaren.

"I am a three-time world champion," Hamilton hit back. "Who I am today is who I am, and I will behave this way regardless of who I am working for.

"I don't feel like I behave wrongly. I don't think it is a negative. It has obviously been a positive impact on my career so it is not me that needs to make any changes," he added.

Indeed, it is Hamilton and Mercedes who dominated in 2015, while McLaren has had arguably the worse season in its entire history with works Honda power.

Referring again to Dennis' comments about his behavior, Hamilton added: "I don't know why he is touching on that subject. Maybe he has nothing else positive to talk about!"

Will Hamilton (R) get Rosberg on the start?

Rosberg must watch out for Hamilton at start – Lauda
(GMM) Nico Rosberg will have to watch out for a more aggressive than usual Lewis Hamilton at the start of Sunday's year-ending Abu Dhabi grand prix.

That is the warning of Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda, revealing that after a six-pole losing streak to Rosberg – and with the German now gunning for a third straight race win – Hamilton will be determined to lead into turn one.

Indeed, Hamilton has bemoaned the fact that, when running second to Rosberg, not only do the cars' aerodynamics not favor overtaking, Mercedes' race strategies always help the leading driver rather than his pursuer.

"Lewis will try everything possible to get to the first corner before Nico," predicts Lauda, himself a former triple world champion.

"He will try even more aggressively than in the past, risking more, because he knows this is the last opportunity to win a race this year and he can do it if he takes the lead (early).

"So Nico must be careful about Lewis," Lauda added.

When asked about Sunday's race start, Rosberg told the German newspaper Bild: "My tactic? No matter where he (Hamilton) is, I have to make sure he stays behind me.

"That he is going to be aggressive or not doesn't affect me," he added.

Daniil Kvyat

Kvyat admits to nerves over future
(GMM) Daniil Kvyat has admitted he is keenly waiting for an official announcement about his future in formula one.

Team boss Christian Horner said recently that if Red Bull stays on the grid beyond Sunday's 2015 finale, Kvyat will keep his seat alongside Daniel Ricciardo.

Red Bull has now declared that it is staying in F1, but the 2016 engine deal is still unofficial amid Renault's deliberations over its own future.

So while there is still doubt, particularly with Toro Rosso's sensational rookie Max Verstappen also under contract to Red Bull, Russian Kvyat admitted to some nerves.

"I think everything is in order," he said. "You just need to wait for official news."

The 21-year-old, however, admitted his nerves were relieved somewhat when Horner said Red Bull is staying in F1, with Kvyat to keep his seat.

"Of course I was relieved when I heard it," said Kvyat. "But as long as there is instability, it means that at one race you're happy and at the next you're not.

"I want to make sure this instability is gone," he added.

Dr Helmut Marko (R) chats with Christian Horner

Red Bull future to be cleared on Sunday – Marko
(GMM) Red Bull's future in F1 could finally become clearer on Sunday, official Dr Helmut Marko says.

Although team boss Christian Horner has declared that Red Bull has an engine contract in its pocket for 2016, it is believed that will hinge on whether Renault decides even to stay in formula one beyond Sunday's 2015 finale.

In Abu Dhabi, the French carmaker is locked in negotiations with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone over whether Renault will receive Ferrari and Mercedes-style 'bonus' income payments if it returns to full works team status from 2016.

Several meetings have been held so far, and "no decision has been taken", Renault's F1 chief Cyril Abiteboul told Agence France-Presse.

He said that decision "is pending, but it doesn't depend only on the ongoing discussions with Bernie Ecclestone".

Another factor, he suggested, is the talks with F1's other engine manufacturers about the likely shape of the 'power unit' regulations in 2017 and beyond.

So Red Bull's Marko admits: "Nothing is fixed yet.

"Let's talk about that (Renault deal) when things are clarified. Probably tomorrow (Sunday) we'll know all answers," he told F1's official website.

Former Ferrari reserve driver Estenban Gutierrez will now drive for Gene Haas. Is it the start an arms race of how many cooperation partners you could sign up to develop at a greater speed

Most teams support Ferrari-Haas query
(GMM) Mercedes has support up and down the pitlane as it queries the collaboration between Ferrari and its de-facto 'B team' Haas for 2016.

After it emerged on Saturday that the reigning world champions have asked the stewards in Abu Dhabi to look into the matter, we reported that Force India filed a similar request.

In fact, "I think most of the teams support it", a source in the paddock told us.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff suggested teams are concerned that if the new Ferrari-Haas union flourishes, other teams will have to forge similar alliances.

That is because teams suspect that Ferrari is effectively doubling the 25 hour per week per team limit on wind tunnel testing by helping Haas as well.

"It would eventually lead to a situation where it could become an arms race of how many cooperation partners you could sign up to develop at a greater speed," Wolff said.

McLaren-Honda supremo Ron Dennis agrees: "We need to ensure it doesn't happen otherwise we will have to follow suit."

Indeed, the FIA has invited teams other than Mercedes to make their opinions on the matter clear before the stewards rule on the matter on Sunday.

Romain Grosjean, switching from Lotus to Haas after Sunday's race, said he is not worried.

"As far as I know, everything is legal and the FIA knows about everything," he said.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen brand value worth 'millions' – manager
(GMM) Max Verstappen is on the fast track to multi-million euro stardom, according to his manager Raymond Vermeulen.

The 18-year-old rookie sensation revealed this week that he moved to the tax haven of Monaco last month, even though it appears his actual salary – believed to be clearly less than half a million euros – has not yet changed.

'Yet' is the operative word.

"Max's marketing value is already worth millions," manager Verneulen, who also managed the career of the Toro Rosso driver's father and mentor Jos, told De Telegraaf newspaper.

Indeed, Verstappen is not only being obviously courted by top F1 teams like Mercedes and Ferrari, he is also being targeted by companies and multinationals that are keen to align with F1's hottest young talent.

"I think in terms of television exposure throughout the season, Toro Rosso is in the top three, which says it all," said Vermeulen.

He admitted that while his search for financial backing for Verstappen was initially difficult, now the phone is ringing off the hook.

"Max is hot property and it shows," said Vermeulen. "In the last months the interest has been increasing internationally."

He insisted that the loyalty of Verstappen's existing personal sponsors is important, but that the value of associating with Max is now so much higher.

"We do not have a rate card, but it is clear that we are not talking about a Saturday league," said Vermeulen. "F1 is global and our rates are correspondingly competitive."

But for now, Verstappen is under firm contract to Red Bull and Vermeulen says he has no problem with that.

"We have no hurry. Max is fine for now at Toro Rosso and Red Bull, as for us the sporting interests always come first," he said.

And he said that he needs more time to evaluate the corporate field anyway.

"Max as a person is pure, no-nonsense and that is a strength," said Vermeulen. "We only want brands that suit him. We do not compromise on that."

Ecclestone still trying to coax VW into F1

Good time for VW to enter F1 – Ecclestone
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone thinks the time could be right for the Volkswagen Group to enter formula one.

Reportedly, Audi was close to showing the green light to a F1 project when the Volkswagen emissions scandal – otherwise known as 'diesel-gate' – struck earlier this year.

Many industry figures think formula one is therefore the last thing on VW executives' minds now, but F1 supremo Ecclestone is not so sure diesel-gate signaled the end.

"I hope not," he told the Spanish newspaper Marca in Abu Dhabi.

"I think one (the scandal) has nothing to do with the other (F1). What happened with Volkswagen has happened to every other manufacturer in one way or another," Ecclestone added.

"Perhaps now would be a good time for them to enter F1, from the point of view of their image," he said.