Latest F1 news in brief

Hamilton can't figure out why his car doesn't feel right anymore

Hamilton admits 'less comfortable' since Singapore
Rosberg plays down Hamilton 'less comfortable' claims
Lotus allowed to skip Thursday scrutineering
Alonso harder teammate than Hamilton – Button
Williams Selects Lance Stroll for Young Driver Development Program
CNBC becomes Premium Partner of the Sauber F1 Team
Abu Dhabi and Lewis Hamilton Celebrate '44' Together
Infiniti Red Bull Racing Extends Innovation Partnership With OZ Racing

Hamilton admits 'less comfortable' since Singapore
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton has traced teammate Nico Rosberg's surge in form back to a technical change Mercedes made seven races ago.

Overall, the new triple world champion says 2015 has been the "best year of my career in terms of my driving and overall performance".

Indeed, he dominated Rosberg for most of the season, wrapping up the drivers' title in Austin in September.

But it is German Rosberg who is finishing the season the strongest, with a five-race run of poles and charging for a hat-trick of wins as the calendar concludes in Abu Dhabi.

"People have been asking whether I have subconsciously backed off a little because the championship has been won," Hamilton told the BBC. "Of course you will never know whether that's the case, but it has certainly not been my intention."

And he also plays down the magnitude of his supposed 'slump', insisting that in Mexico and Brazil he had Rosberg's pace in the race but simply couldn't overtake.

But Hamilton does admit that he has felt less comfortable at the wheel since Singapore, where Mercedes famously suffered its famous and mysterious performance slump.

"In terms of my overall performance in the last few races, what I can definitely say is there has been a change in the car," he revealed.

The Briton says no one at Mercedes really knows "what on earth" happened in Singapore, where the team was mysteriously off the pace.

"The engineers looked into it and came up with lots of different explanations and we grabbed at one and changed a few things," said Hamilton.

"But the car had been fantastic all year, so that doesn't really completely make sense to me. And the car balance has not felt the same since.

"It has gone from being underneath me – as racing drivers describe it when they feel confident in what the car will do – to not underneath me.

"The car balance has changed and it has not been as comfortable, while Nico seems to be more comfortable with it," he added.

"I've still got the pace in the race, but it has definitely taken some of my advantage away overall, so now I have to push to try to get the car back to where it was for me."

Do Wolff and Lauda dictate who wins in the Mercedes team? Quite easy to do as the engineers can make it so with a few computer keyboard strokes.

Rosberg plays down Hamilton 'less comfortable' claims
(GMM) Nico Rosberg on Thursday played down teammate Lewis Hamilton's claim that the balance of power at Mercedes changed for technical reasons.

World champion Hamilton, who was beaten by Rosberg at the last two races consecutively, says the team made a change to the car in response to the mysterious performance slump of Singapore.

"But the car had been fantastic all year, so that doesn't really completely make sense to me," Hamilton told the BBC.

"The car balance has changed and it has not been as comfortable, while Nico seems to be more comfortable with it," he added.

When asked about Hamilton's comments, German Rosberg said in Abu Dhabi: "I don't know what he's referring to.

"I think the feeling in the car is the same. We were always quite close together, the pendulum has simply swung in the other direction," he is quoted by Speed Week.

However, some think the change is due to Pirelli's new higher tire pressure instructions, or some other technical detail.

"I think this is all reading tea-leaves," Rosberg insisted. "Clearly a lot of work has gone into it but there's no particular reason why I am currently ahead.

"The right question is not why I'm faster now, but why I was not faster before," he added.

Meanwhile, although he is charging for a hat-trick of victories to round out the season this weekend, Rosberg also admitted he will suffer a horse power deficit.

Reports have suggested the German will use a single engine throughout the Abu Dhabi weekend, after a water leak was discovered in his Brazil unit following his win at Interlagos.

Rosberg said the troubles actually date back to Monza, where he also ran into engine issues.

"This has played quite a big role in the later races, and especially in Abu Dhabi which is an engine track," he said.

"It means I have had basically three engines for the whole season. Now we need to think about how much practice I need to do to find a good rhythm and setup without compromising the power even more," Rosberg added.

Asked how much the disadvantage is in horse power terms, he answered: "I cannot say how much it is, but it is something."

Lotus given a break

Lotus allowed to skip Thursday scrutineering
(GMM) The FIA has allowed Lotus to sit out the scrutineering deadline in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Normally, a car will be excluded from the race weekend unless it is officially examined by officials before late afternoon on the Thursday.

But financially-troubled Lotus, waiting desperately for confirmation of the Renault buyout, was absent altogether on Wednesday amid a dispute over unpaid bills with the Yas Marina organizers.

Lotus' freight boxes were delivered to the garage early on Thursday, and by mid-afternoon, while mechanics were frantically putting together the pit facilities, the black and gold cars were conspicuously absent from the garages.

The team duly applied to the stewards to be able to miss Thursday's scrutineering deadline, and instead get the rubber-stamp for the cars from the FIA ahead of Friday practice.

The stewards agreed with Lotus' request.

When asked about the team's late arrival in Abu Dhabi, the Haas-bound Lotus driver Romain Grosjean answered: "It's something we have experienced in the past.

"We have always managed to put it on track on time. As long as it's ready for FP2 then I'm happy," said the Frenchman, who will sit out the initial session to his 2016 successor Jolyon Palmer.

"It's just harder work for the guys who don't deserve this," Grosjean added, "but they are going to do the maximum and then from there we try to score some good points."

Button says Alonso better than Hamilton

Alonso harder teammate than Hamilton – Button
(GMM) Jenson Button says Fernando Alonso is a harder teammate to beat than Lewis Hamilton.

2009 world champion Button has an unique vantage point on assessing two of the very best drivers in F1, having shared the McLaren team with Hamilton in 2010-2012, and with Spaniard Alonso with Honda power this year.

Hamilton, now at Mercedes, is the sport's new and ultra-confident triple world champion, but Button said in Abu Dhabi: "Fernando is an incredibly complete driver in the race.

"For me he is a greater challenge than Lewis," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport, "because he never gives you a second of rest, whether he's in front of you or behind you.

"With Lewis, there are days when he is invincible, and then at the next race you wonder 'Where is he?'"

Lance Stroll

Williams Selects Lance Stroll for Young Driver Development Program
WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING has appointed Canadian teenager Lance Stroll to its Young Driver Development Program.

The 17-year-old, who was a race winner in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and champion of the Toyota Racing Series New Zealand in 2015, will receive the team's support in the next stage of his racing career.

Stroll will be fully-immersed into the WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING team during 2016, in a similar capacity to that of Valtteri Bottas when he first joined the team in a development role in 2011.

The program includes extensive simulator time, work placements in several departments throughout the factory, as well as specific training in the fields of race engineering and marketing.

Stroll will continue to race in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2016.

Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, said: "At Williams, we are committed to using our resource and expertise to help talented young drivers to reach their potential. We have a track record of success in this area, having supported Valtteri Bottas in his growth from a development driver role to a race driver and one of the most respected talents in Formula One.

"We have identified Lance as a promising talent for the future and we are happy to provide our support to his development as a driver. We look forward to working with Lance in 2016 and to the success he can achieve in the future."

Commenting on his new appointment, Lance Stroll, added: "I'm really honored to be part of such a great team and one with so much history and success. I cannot wait to start working with Williams and very much hope we can achieve great things together in the coming years. It's a very exciting and crucial time in my short motor racing career. Reaching F1 was always the ultimate goal, I suppose ever since driving a go-kart my father had bought me for my fifth birthday.

"Williams has a long history of nurturing young drivers at the start of their F1 careers. David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Nico HÃ¼lkenberg and most recently Valtteri [Bottas]. This element was something that was important to me in making the decision to join Williams. I won the Italian Formula 4 Championship last season in my first year of car racing after karts, won the Toyota Racing Series at the beginning of 2015 and finished fifth in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship in my first year which, having also won a race, hit my pre-season target. My future is now with Williams, which I'm very excited about."

Monisha Kaltenborn

CNBC becomes Premium Partner of the Sauber F1 Team
The Sauber F1 Team is pleased to announce CNBC as a Premium Partner for the 2016 FIA Formula One Championship. CNBC is the leading global broadcaster of live business and financial news and information. This is the first time the Sauber F1 Team has partnered with an international broadcaster.

CNBC and the Sauber F1 Team will use the global Formula One media platform to maximize their potentials, as well as to reach a broader audience around the globe. The CNBC branding will appear on the rear wing end plates of the Sauber C35, on the drivers' overalls of Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr, as well as on the team's clothing.

To launch the partnership with CNBC, the logo will be visible on the rear wing end plates of the Sauber C34-Ferrari during the 2015 Formula One season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.

Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal of the Sauber F1 Team:
"CNBC and the Sauber F1 Team have many common values such as accuracy, speed and credibility. Both companies maintain these values on a global level. It applies to both of us that we face a tough competition in our field with the objective being perfection. These similarities build a strong basis for a solid partnership."

KC Sullivan, President and Managing Director of CNBC International:
"This partnership joins two organizations with strong heritage and exceptional ambition. Working with the Sauber F1 Team, CNBC is joining a family of professionals and corporate partners committed to the standards of excellence and performance that elite sports demand."

Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi and Lewis Hamilton Celebrate '44' Together
Lewis Hamilton will be celebrating the UAE's 44th National Day during this weekend's 2015 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX as he carries the UAE colors and ‘44' on his race helmet and gloves at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 2015 Formula 1 Driver's World Champion, who won his second World Driver's title at Yas Marina Circuit last season, has partnered with Tourism & Culture Authority Abu Dhabi (TCA Abu Dhabi) and is delighted to be helping the nation celebrate ‘The Spirit of the Union' for the #UAE44 National Day.

"The 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a special weekend for me," said Lewis Hamilton. "The UAE holds fantastic memories, especially with winning the World Championship here last year. This year I return as World Champion but the pressure is on to win as always.

"As the flag drops on the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, celebrations begin in the lead up to the 44thUAE National Day. My race number is 44 and for this race, in celebration of the 44thUAE National Day I am proud to carry the colors of the UAE with this specially designed logo displayed on my gloves and helmet.

"I will be pushing for victory as always but this weekend I will feel special energy from the UAE, and if I win… It will be my 44thGrand Prix win!!

"I hope I can bring home the victory! Wish me luck UAE!"

Director of Events Bureau, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), Faisal Al Sheikh, added: "It is a special week for those associated with the number 44, with both the people of the UAE as well as Lewis Hamilton, who has yet again proved himself to be a champion, with good reason to celebrate.

"Just as Lewis, with his driver number being 44, can celebrate with us here at our iconic Yas Marina Circuit his third overall championship, so in the same week our country can celebrate its 44th National Day.

"As our National Day celebrations give us the opportunity to champion our own unity, so Lewis can celebrate being reunited with his champion's trophy."

As part of Lewis Hamilton's UAE National Day support, the driver will meet and greet fans at Yas Marina Circuit and this evening will engage with them online as he takes over the circuit's Twitter account from 8pm. He will also be posting unique #UAE44 content, including videos and pictures across his official social media during the weekend.

With the World Champion looking for race win number 44 at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, he will be hoping to end the season on a high having secured his third Word Championship at the USA Grand Prix in Austin.

Memories of last year's memorable title win will no doubt come flooding back for Hamilton at Yas Marina Circuit, where a host of UAE National Day celebrations are planned.

CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, Al Tareq Al Ameri added: "Lewis Hamilton is an amazing champion and we are delighted that he is partnering with Abu Dhabi to mark this special occasion.

"Having watched him win his second World Championship last year at Yas Marina Circuit and to see him back here as a champion again this year makes it very fitting that he is a part of our #UAE44 National Day celebrations."

Red Bull to use OZ wheels

Infiniti Red Bull Racing Extends Innovation Partnership With OZ Racing
Infiniti Red Bull Racing has announced an extension of its longstanding partnership with wheel manufacturer OZ Racing for a further three years until the end of 2018.

The wheels supplied by OZ Racing are exceptionally lightweight, whilst at the same time easily withstanding the extreme forces experienced on track; making them a great partner for Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

OZ Racing is an Italian company with its main headquarters and production facility in San Martino di Lupari, Padua, Italy. They sell light alloy wheels through a global network into multiple sectors, including: racing, after-market, motorbike, and OEM.

OZ has been involved in motorsport for more than 30 years as supplier of top teams across a variety of global race series. The quality and performance of OZ's racing products is evidenced in the number of victories and World Titles their customers have achieved during a long history in motorsport. OZ use these years of racing experience to develop a superior performance product, offering wheels which combine cutting edge material and manufacturing technology, quality and safety.

Claudio Bernoni, CEO, OZ SpA: "Our partnership with Infiniti Red Bull Racing demonstrates the value, competence and reliability of our products. For us, this is the best opportunity to test our products in extreme conditions and transfer the experience to our wheels dedicated to street use."

Christian Horner, Team Principal: "We select our innovation partners carefully, and in each case have selected what we believe to be the best available product for the job – as well as a great partner to work with. OZ Racing are no exception to this, and we're pleased they will be continuing as a partner to deliver exceptional products to us for another three years".