Latest F1 news in brief

Ecclestone and Todt (left-front) met in Mexico and agreed to no change in weekend F1 format

Weekend format not changing for now – Todt
Haas almost signed Magnussen for 2016
Teams will be happy with Interlagos upgrade – Ecclestone
Rosberg revival too late for 2015 'show' – Ecclestone
Massa open to retiring after 2016 season
Bottas says Raikkonen clashes 'not personal'
Haas F1's Technical Partnership With Ferrari Outside Of Regulations, Claire Williams Says
Alexander Rossi: Mexican GP Postscript

Weekend format not changing for now – Todt
(GMM) F1 has for now ruled out tweaking the race weekend format.

As the sport looks to beef and speed up in the next couple of years, some have also suggested that the race weekend format should be looked at afresh.

In fact, Speed Week reports that the strategy group talks about it on a "regular basis".

One idea is to have qualifying on Saturday morning followed by a short afternoon race that forms the grid for Sunday's main feature.

"The discussion is not new," agreed Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder, who is not convinced it is the right way forward for F1.

Some of the drivers are also not keen. "I am a traditionalist," admits Sebastian Vettel, "and I think it would take something away from what grand prix racing is."

Nico Rosberg agrees: "History is important to me, and we don't suddenly see there being seven tennis grand slams instead of four. So in that way we need to be careful."

But for now at least, the current race format appears safe.

FIA president Jean Todt is quoted by Speed Week: "It's simple — so far we have found nothing that in our view would be better than the current format.

"If we do find something that we are convinced is really a step forward, then we would look at it very carefully."

Steiner and Haas almost signed another non-American

Haas almost signed Magnussen for 2016
(GMM) Ousted McLaren reserve Kevin Magnussen's tattered F1 career was almost rescued by Haas, it has emerged.

After a single year of racing, and then serving as reserve for most of 2015, the 23-year-old Dane has been ousted by McLaren.

"He came in and they (McLaren) ruined his career unfortunately," current Force India star Sergio Perez – another driver discharged prematurely by McLaren two years ago – told the Telegraph.

Magnussen is now attempting to rebuild his motor racing career at Le Mans, where he will shortly test Porsche's leading LMP1 prototype car.

But Gene Haas, founder of the new American F1 team, says Magnussen was under consideration for the "primary seat" at Haas for 2016.

"He was very well respected by the McLaren team," he told F1's official website. "In fact if Romain (Grosjean) had declined we would have taken Magnussen as the primary seat."

It is believed continuing Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg was another candidate who had detailed talks with Haas, the team who last week completed its first driver lineup with Ferrari reserve Esteban Gutierrez.

Interlagos gets upgrades

Teams will be happy with Interlagos upgrade – Ecclestone
(GMM) F1 team equipment is beginning to arrive at an upgraded Interlagos circuit ahead of next weekend's penultimate round of the 2015 season.

Bernie Ecclestone joined Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad at the circuit on Wednesday to inspect the brand new team office building and slightly expanded paddock area.

"It was the worst circuit for the teams to work at," the F1 supremo was quoted by O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, "so the teams will be happy.

"In the past I was upset that the teams did not have a good place to work but it has improved this year," he added.

"I don't want to say I was surprised, because the work was planned to happen over a year ago and was delayed," said the F1 supremo.

The next phase of the work, scheduled to be completed ahead of the 2016 race, is the construction of a brand new pit and paddock complex, giving teams triple the space enjoyed at present.

"The original plan was to build the new pits next to the back straight," Haddad said, "but it was better evaluated and it is fine where it is."

Ecclestone, meanwhile, said he is happy Haddad reacted to his complaints in order to safeguard Brazil's traditional and long-standing place on the calendar.

"We have been here (in Brazil) for more than 40 years, never missing a year," Ecclestone said. "I hope it continues like that."

It is reported that Ecclestone and his wife, Brazilian citizen Fabiana Flosi, own a gourmet coffee farm in Sao Paulo state. "I do feel a little Brazilian," the 85-year-old Briton smiled.

Rosberg revival? Hamilton felt the team gifted Rosberg the win after gifting Hamilton the win in Austin

Rosberg revival too late for 2015 'show' – Ecclestone
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone on Wednesday said he is continuing to work hard to improve the F1 'show'.

The F1 supremo was speaking at Interlagos, where next weekend Brazilians will flock to the penultimate round of the season despite already knowing the outcome of the title battle.

Ecclestone agreed that 2015 has been too one-sided.

"We are changing some things to get people more interested again," he is quoted by UOL, when asked about the current health and spectacle of F1.

"I think we need to give a better show than we are at the moment. I remember McLaren on their own (in the 80s) but at least they had two drivers fighting each other.

"In a way, (Lewis) Hamilton is so much in the public's focus that no one cares about anyone else. I think it will improve in 2017 for sure," Ecclestone said.

As for the fact that the title was decided with three full rounds remaining, he added: "We've seen it before with Schumacher or Vettel. But never like this.

"I don't care that it finishes early because their (Mercedes') car is better than the others, but I think Nico (Rosberg) could have done a better job this year.

"We saw in Mexico that he won the race easily, so he will come here trying to repeat it for sure, but a bit late," he added.

2016 might be final year for Massa

Massa open to retiring after 2016 season
(GMM) Felipe Massa says he will retire from F1 at the end of next year if he cannot secure a competitive seat.

Behind Kimi Raikkonen, 36, and Jenson Button, 35, the 34-year-old Brazilian Massa is the third-oldest driver in formula one today.

Massa has been on the grid since 2002, meaning that 2016 will be his fifteenth consecutive world championship campaign, including eight years at Ferrari.

But it is his strong form this year alongside Valtteri Bottas, a highly-rated 26-year-old Finn, that has earned Massa at least one more year at Williams.

"Next year will be the last of my contract," he confirmed to UOL Esporte, "so I think it will be the most important season to understand if I continue or not.

"If I have the chance to race on a competitive team, I stay. Otherwise, I stop," Massa announced.

"I will be in F1 if I have a team like Williams, where I am very happy to drive and they are also happy to have me. When you love working somewhere and feel loved as well, that is what gives the motivation to continue," he added.

But if the 11-time grand prix winner does call time on his career at the end of next season, Massa says he will walk out of the paddock with his head high.

"I don't think I will be afraid to stop," said Massa. "I think I'll be fine as I know that everyone has to stop at some point. But I don't think that time has come yet."

For that reason, Massa says he is not yet putting his mind to making clear plans for his post-F1 life.

"I don't know if I'll move back to Brazil or stay in Monaco," he insisted. "I love Miami, maybe I'll go to live there. I have time to think about it."

Asked if Nascar might be a post-F1 option for Massa, he answered: "They race too much! I think my family would kill me if I was racing every weekend."

Bottas laughs – nothing personal

Bottas says Raikkonen clashes 'not personal'
(GMM) Valtteri Bottas has moved to play down a spiraling controversy billed especially in his native country as a 'clash of the Finns'.

Bottas' first crash with fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen was in Russia, with the sequel in Mexico last weekend described by some as a revenge move by the Williams driver.

Afterwards, their post-race comments played out as an extended fight via the media, but Bottas insists the episode was not "personal".

"We obviously had different views, but that's ok, everyone is entitled to that," the 26-year-old told Brazil's UOL Esporte.

"It will not change the way I drive against him," Bottas insisted, "so nothing changes. I think he's a good driver and no, there's nothing personal."

Bottas' comments come in the wake of an intense reaction to the Russia-Mexico clashes, particularly within his and Raikkonen's native Finland.

"Honestly, I don't know what has been discussed on the internet in Finland," Bottas insists. "I made the mistake in the past to read something and I decided not to go back!

"Of course, in Finland, I know that Kimi has a lot more fans than I do, but that's ok," he added.

Both Bottas and Raikkonen have played down the need to get together to sort out the dispute, but another famous Finn believes the pair should consider it.

"I know from my time that I had discussions with many drivers when I or someone else has made a mistake," two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen, involved now in Bottas' management, told Ilta Sanomat newspaper.

"In general, these discussions have resulted in at least some sort of consensus, so I hope that occurs now between Kimi and Valtteri," he added.

"They are professional drivers and adults and I believe that things will be done in the right way," said Hakkinen.

Unlimited wind tunnel testing for Haas until their first race

Haas F1's Technical Partnership With Ferrari Outside Of Regulations, Claire Williams Says
Haas F1's technical partnership with Ferrari has received scrutiny from a rival team principal, who called it "outside of the regulations." The close alliance between the U.S.-based team, which will enter the series in ’16, and the Italian manufacturer has triggered much controversy within the F1 paddock. As part of a multiyear agreement, which was announced in Sept. '14, Ferrari will provide its power unit, gearbox and overall technical support to Haas F1.

The partnership has been called "very intelligent" by Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Head Toto Wolff. But not every team has admiration for Haas F1's approach of joining the series.

Asked if the Haas F1 concept could become a model for future teams to enter F1, Williams Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams said, "I can't answer that because it's outside of the regulations. … I'd rather not answer that question." Williams did not elaborate why she thinks the partnership violates FIA regulations.

REGULATIONS LOOPHOLE: Rival teams have suspected Haas of running a joint wind tunnel program with Ferrari, which could benefit from its findings. Current restrictions limit wind-tunnel time to 60 hours and 65 runs per week. However, those restrictions do not apply to Haas F1 as it is not an official competitor yet. Ferrari did not respond to a request for comment.

Haas F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner told SBD Global the team is confident it is operating within FIA guidelines. "The regulations are there to read for everyone on the FIA website, so there’s no secret about what the rules are," he said. "We know what we are doing, and we know we are within the rules."

It is not known if Williams intends to file a complaint with the FIA. Steiner added the team has not received any official communications from the FIA or any other team. Earlier this year, the FIA sent aerodynamics consultant Marcin Budkowski to Maranello to inspect the situation at the wind tunnel and found nothing wrong. HJ Mai SportsBusinessDaily.com

Overlooked by the Haas team because his checkbook wasn't big enough, Rossi is getting the job done against his teammate in the slug Manor

Alexander Rossi: Mexican GP Postscript
The biggest takeaway from Mexico, outside what we all did on track, was the wonderment from the fans, the overall turnout, and just how excited everyone was to have Formula 1 back in Mexico City. Other venues and audiences could learn a lot from the enthusiasm Mexican fans showed for F1.

It's not the greatest layout I've ever driven, but despite that, and because of the passion of the fans and the atmosphere, I'd have to say it was one of my favorite races I've ever done. It was that impressive.

The impact started to set in during the drivers' parade. When you're going around the track and 130,000 people are cheering for you and are stoked for everyone going by, it's pretty amazing. I was talking to Marcus Ericsson after the parade and he said it was the best one he'd ever experienced.

And in the car, while you don't register the individual people as you're racing, you do register the explosion of colors in the back of your mind. The wall of fans you'd see when you entered the stadium section–easily as passionate as the Japanese fans, but a little less crazy–filled your field of view. They were so in love with the sport, and it was refreshing because it takes you back to the same kind of passion you felt when you first learned about Formula 1.

After four races with the Manor Marussia team, I can say there's more of an awareness among the drivers and teams that I'm on the grid, but you don't have a lot of time to wander down and make new friends. The two or three drivers I was friendly with coming into the season haven't changed, and the only difference now is you say hello to a few more drivers than you did before–or at least there are more who say hello to me, which is nice! I don't feel like the freshman on his first day in high school anymore.

My race went well; we qualified ahead of our teammate and finished in front again, and one thing that was cool to experience at Mexico was the top speeds at the end of the main straight. The high elevation and thin air took some power away from everyone's engines, but the thin air also made up for it with some really serious drag reduction. The Williams-Mercedes guys saw almost 230 mph going into the braking zone…

We were still in more of a top speed range closer to what we had at Monza since our engines, which are the 2014-spec Ferraris, were never rated for Mexico's altitude because it wasn't on last year's calendar. We had to turn the engines down a little bit because of that and we had no issues whatsoever in the race, but it was noticeable on the straights.

It was pretty alarming when one of the Williams' went blowing by at full speed…you're like…wow…shit…that thing's moving! Then it pulls a two-second gap before you're into the brakes, and that's when you know some guys were playing with crazy top speeds.

I have one more race to go with Manor Marussia, and I'm more relaxed than ever when you look at next year. There are two seats that remain open, and things are progressing; we had another good weekend, everything's on an upward progression, and people are pleased with how things are going along. I couldn't be less stressed about the situation. There are a lot of people going for the open seats, I'm currently in the car, and I think we're in the best position we've ever been in to secure a seat for next year.