Latest F1 news in brief

With Caterham belly-up, Marcus Ericsson trying to buy a ride with three other F1 teams

Ericsson in talks with three teams about 2015 – manager
Force India avoids joining backmarkers on US bench – report
Horror month for collapsing backmarker Marussia
Mercedes and Puma extend
Mosley warns F1 could lose more teams
Kobayashi feels 'very sorry' for F1 fans
Parry completes McLaren F1 test
United States GP retains two DRS zones
Caterham shareholders' loss accelerates to $75 million

Ericsson in talks with three teams about 2015 – manager
(GMM) Marcus Ericsson's manager says he is in talks with three alternative teams after Caterham ran off track.

With the Leafield based team in administration and set to miss the forthcoming Austin-Brazil double header, Swedish rookie Ericsson's teammate Kamui Kobayashi admitted he is not sure the green team will be back in action for the Abu Dhabi finale next month.

"For the moment we don't know about Abu Dhabi. Maybe we can (race), we'll have to see within the next two or three weeks. I'm just waiting for the answer," the Japanese told his fans in a video message posted on Facebook.

"At the same time I need to use this time to try to stay in formula one," Kobayashi added.

Of Caterham's 2014 race drivers, 28-year-old Kobayashi's situation appears the most grim, as Ericsson is believed to carry around $18 million per year in personal sponsorship backing.

Departed team boss Manfredi Ravetto revealed recently he had already opened talks with Ericsson's management "and to his financial backers" about the 2015 season.

But according to Ericsson's manager Eje Elgh, the fact the 24-year-old rookie is sitting out Austin and Brazil will have "no bearing on his future in F1".

Nonetheless, Elgh told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he hopes Caterham will be back on track in Abu Dhabi.

"(Bernie) Ecclestone has given them an ultimatum that they must be in Abu Dhabi to get the license for next year," he said.

"Without the license, the bankruptcy trustee cannot sell the team because it will be worthless. I am guessing that the team will be at the season finale and that Marcus will be asked to race," Elgh said.

He also said Ericsson, despite the absence of his team, will be in the paddock in Austin and Brazil because "in this business you never know what's going to happen".

But as for 2015, Elgh insisted that Caterham's woes do not affect Ericsson.

"I can't say when something will be done for next year. Whether you're 99.9 per cent sure or 80 per cent sure, you're still not sure. It will take some more time," he said.

Elgh admitted that, until Caterham's collapse, he had been in talks with four teams regarding the 2015 season.

"The only thing different now," he explained, "is that there is now greater competition for the places there are.

"We had a list of four teams, but Caterham was already at the bottom of the list."

Aftonbladet said Ericsson could not be reached for comment.

Force India avoids joining backmarkers on US bench – report
(GMM) Force India has avoided becoming the next formula one team to drop out of this weekend's US grand prix.

Now in administration, backmarkers Caterham and Marussia will miss not only Austin but also the penultimate round of the 2014 world championship a week later in Brazil.

Former FIA president Max Mosley, who for years has warned that smaller teams were in danger of collapse, predicted on Monday that Caterham and Marussia "may not be the last" struggling privateers to go out of business.

Force India deputy boss Bob Fernley has also declared this week that he is worried, as only the biggest five teams are in the decision-making Strategy Group.

"We'll lose more teams if we carry on like this," he warned.

Fernley's warning came amid reports the Silverstone based team needed to make an urgent engine payment to supplier Mercedes on Monday or risk joining Caterham and Marussia on the sidelines in Austin.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport now reports that Force India has "removed its neck from the noose" by paying the final engine installment to the German marque.

It means the team remains in the battle to catch McLaren for fifth in the constructors' world championship.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the fifth-placed team will receive $62 million in official prize money from Bernie Ecclestone, rather than $59m for sixth.

Meanwhile, because F1 has shed almost 20 per cent of its grid in the space of mere weeks, the FIA looks set to tweak the knockout qualifying format for Austin and Brazil.

"It is thought that the FIA … will have to reorder the three-session qualifying because of there not being enough cars – just 17 with (Sebastian) Vettel missing – to go through the usual knockout sequence," said Kevin Eason, the correspondent for the Times newspaper.

Red Bull's Vettel is expected to sit out qualifying as he takes a penalty for using his unscheduled sixth Renault engine of the 2014 season.

Horror month for collapsing backmarker Marussia
(GMM) October was a horror month for the F1 backmarker Marussia.

The first, tragic blow came in the shadow of the Suzuka typhoon, when the promising talent Jules Bianchi skidded into a recovery vehicle.

He remains in a Japanese hospital, but the latest unofficial news about the Frenchman is brighter.

Italy's Omnicorse claims Bianchi, 25, might soon be considered stable enough to be transferred from Japan to Europe, much to the relief of his French parents.

The report said Bianchi's next destination could even be Lausanne, Switzerland, and the very same building that until recently housed the F1 great Michael Schumacher.

At the same time, veteran F1 minds including Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali are working on a panel that is deeply investigating the circumstances, causes and reaction to the Bianchi crash.

The respected correspondent Alberto Antonini, writing in the specialist Italian Autosprint, said the FIA panel is looking into whether Bianchi's crash may have been caused by the new in 2014 'brake-by-wire' system aboard his Marussia.

Electronic brake-by-wire, working in conjunction with the complex energy recovery systems for the new turbo V6 engines, has been problematic up and down pitlane in 2014.

Antonini said some insiders suspect brake trouble may have contributed at Suzuka, after eyewitnesses did not see tire marks on the track before the Bianchi crash scene.

"Perhaps it is no accident that at Sochi, Max Chilton – the only Marussia in the race – was stopped for a reason that is not fully understood," he added.

Meanwhile, the Swiss newspaper Blick is reporting that a company called Air Zermatt is proposing that stricken F1 cars be lifted from danger by helicopter in future rather than by driving dangerous recovery vehicles into the escape zones.

"This is a safe, easy and quick method," said the helicopter company's chief executive Gerold Biner, who said Air Zermatt's standing proposal to the FIA remains unanswered.

Finally, Marussia backer Andrey Cheglakov confirmed to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass that he has indeed withdrawn from the F1 team.

"This is a sad note," he is quoted as saying, "but I want to express my gratitude to each member of the team, both at the track and in Banbury.

"We made the impossible possible, becoming the only team to earn points of the three that came to the world of formula one in 2010.

"We had the smallest budget but the most motivated staff," Cheglakov added.

Mercedes and Puma extend
The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team and PUMA, one of the world's leading sports brands, are delighted to announce a new team supplier partnership to extend their relationship which began in 2012.

Effective from January 2015, the new agreement sees PUMA become the Official Supplier of Technical Clothing and Footwear and an Official Licensee of Footwear, Apparel and Accessories. The agreement will also extend the licensed rights that Brandon, PUMA's own sports merchandise company, has for team replica and fan products.

PUMA will continue to outfit the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg with its lightweight race suits and performance footwear. The team's pit crew will also wear PUMA's latest innovations in performance race wear at the Formula One circuits.

A licensed MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS collection will continue to be developed and distributed by PUMA and Brandon with footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the team's heritage and driver personalities.

Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, Toto Wolff, commented: "PUMA has been a key performance partner for the three seasons we have now worked together, ensuring our drivers are outfitted in the lightest and most innovative performance race wear. This is an important component of our racing operation within a continually evolving and challenging industry. As a licensed partner, PUMA has excellent capabilities of designing, developing and distributing high quality products that carry our brand identity. This partnership is very important for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS and we are delighted that it will continue for the years ahead."

Bjorn Gulden, Chief Executive Officer for PUMA said: "We are very excited to continue our partnership with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, who, after an incredible season this year will no doubt continue to achieve great things. PUMA has good heritage in motorsport and we are constantly working with our partner teams to innovate our performance race apparel and footwear, and help them be the fastest and achieve success. We're proud to work with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team and look forward to the next phase of this relationship."

Max Mosley called for F1 cost reductions years ago

Mosley warns F1 could lose more teams
Former FIA President Max Mosley has warned that Marussia and Caterham "may not be the last" teams to fall off the Formula 1 grid due to the current cost of competing in the sport.

Marussia's trading company, Manor Grand Prix Racing Limited, went into administration on Monday, days after Caterham suffered the same fate.

Both teams will skip this weekend's United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas.

"It's not a fair competition anymore," Mosley told BBC Radio 5 live. "The big problem is that the big teams have so much more money than teams like Caterham and Marussia.

"In the end, they [Caterham and Marussia] were bound to drop off – and they may not be the last."

Mosley says it is vital that Formula 1 looks at the way it shares revenues moving forward, while he is still keen to see a budget cap, despite plans to introduce restrictions for 2015 falling through earlier this season, six years on from the last failed attempt.

"From a sporting point of view, the sport should split the money equally and then let the teams get as much sponsorship as they can," added Mosley.

"A team like Ferrari will always get more sponsorship than Marussia, but if they all get the same basic money, then they all start on a level-playing field, particularly if you have a cost cap where you limit the amount of money each team is allowed to spend."

One of the main burdens for teams this season has been the dramatic rise in customer engine costs, following the introduction of turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 power units.

While Mosley says he supports Formula 1's push to be greener and more road relevant, he has drawn a link between the change and various teams' struggles.

"I'm in favor of the greener engines," he explained. "The mistake was not saying to the big manufacturers that you can spend as much as you want on research but the maximum you can charge per season is something like Â£3-4m instead of the Â£15-20m, which I believe it is now."

Kobayashi feels 'very sorry' for F1 fans
Kamui Kobayashi says he feels "very sorry" for Formula 1 fans ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, which will take place without Caterham and Marussia.

Following a public dispute between former owner Tony Fernandes and buyer Engavest, Caterham was handed over to administrators last week.

It has been given dispensation to miss the Austin and SÃ£o Paulo rounds, with the hope that a buyer can be found in time to compete in Abu Dhabi.

"Unfortunately, due to team's situation, I will not able to race in United States GP and Brazilian GP," said Kobayashi on his official Facebook page. "I am very sorry for the fans looking forward those races.

"While I am carefully observing the situation, I will evaluate possibilities and make best choice for my future."

"Turbulent times. A lot of things going on at the moment," added team-mate Marcus Ericsson via Twitter.

"But I'm pushing on as usual and keeping my spirit high. Thanks to all my amazing fans for all your support."

It was confirmed on Monday that Marussia has been placed into administration and will join Caterham in missing this weekend's race.

Parry completes McLaren F1 test
Matt Parry completed his reward for winning the 2013 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award on Monday, getting his first taste of Formula 1 machinery at Silverstone.

Jenson Button driving the McLaren MP4-26 en route to an epic victory at Montreal in 2011.

The 20-year-old conducted three, five-lap runs in the McLaren MP4-26 Jenson Button raced to victory at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.

"It was extraordinary to be sat in the car for the first time," said Parry, the winner of last year's Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup.

"The nerves kicked in a little bit while I was waiting for the signal to go, as I was a little concerned about getting out of the garage without stalling – especially with everyone watching!

"But once that was out of the way, the racing driver instinct kicked in and I just tried to utilize the experience as much as possible and have fun out there."

Parry, whose outing was delayed by a couple of hours due to telemetry issues, had previously tested Formula 3 and Formula Renault 3.5 machines, but conceded that Formula 1 was a significant step up.

"The speed is the biggest thing – it's hard to describe the power, but it pulls in every gear and, even in seventh, it feels like you are in first! It's just continuous power everywhere," he said.

"Of course, the brakes are good being full carbon, and they were incredible to experience as well, especially with the downforce."

United States GP retains two DRS zones
The FIA has chosen to retain two DRS zones for this year's United States Grand Prix.

Circuit of the Americas will have two DRS activation zones this weekend.

The first activation zone at the Circuit of The Americas is situated between Turns 11 and 12, with the second following on the start/finish straight. The detection points have been placed just before Turns 11 and 19.

Austin's maiden race featured a sole DRS zone, before a second area was added last season.

Caterham shareholders' loss accelerates to $75 million
The true scale of the financial crisis which brought down Caterham has finally been laid bare. CaterhamSports, the company which ran the team and collapsed into administration last week has an estimated shareholders deficit of just over Â£41m and owes a total of Â£16.2m according to an article in the Daily Telegraph by Christian Sylt

Caterham Sports provided design, testing and race support services to 1Malaysia Racing Team (1MRT), a Malaysian business which owns the coveted Formula One grid slot. Court documents reveal that Caterham Sports owes money to nearly 400 parties stretching across all areas of the sport from teams and circuits to members of the media such as publishing company Haymarket and Speedmerchants, the business run by F1 commentator James Allen which is due Â£7,200.

Caterham Sports hasn't even paid an outstanding bill of Â£20,942 to Formula One Hospitality and Events Services which is run by F1's boss Bernie Ecclestone. Little wonder that he recently Said "it's better they go. I don't want people going around with begging bowls".

The biggest creditors include the Â£784,090 owing to oil company Total and the Â£711,134 due to computer manufacturer Dell. However, both are eclipsed by the Â£7.4m unpaid bill to Renault for the V6 F1 engines it supplies to Caterham. The French car manufacturer is by far the biggest creditor and, remarkably, it has not been paid despite paying Caterham Sports Â£3,042,405.16 this year for sponsorship of the team. This has been its single biggest source of revenue in 2014 according to Constantin Cojocar who bought Caterham Sports from 1MRT in September.

Cojocar, a former professional footballer and director of Romanian transport and logistics company SC Transbus Codreanu, said in his witness statement during the Caterham Sports administration proceedings that "the Company generates very little revenue (Â£5,000,000 in nine months of trading)." He added that "the draft balance sheet shows an estimated shareholders deficit of just over Â£41,000,000."

The relatively small sum of money that has been flowing into the company explains why it has not cleared its debts. Earlier this month Pitpass revealed that Caterham Sports had failed to settle 34 unpaid bills totaling Â£750,000 with the smallest coming to just Â£424. As we pointed out at the time, it would be a sorry state of affairs if a Â£424 bill was left unpaid by you or I let alone an F1 team.

The catalyst of Caterham Sports' troubles was an event which took place just over two months before Cojocar acquired the company. At the end of June a deal was struck to sell 1MRT which owned Caterham Sports at the time. The owners of 1MRT were a group of businessmen led by Caterham's former team principal Tony Fernandes. The team joined F1 in 2010 but hasn't scored a single point since then. Its lack of success on track led to Fernandes deciding to exit and he agreed to sell 1MRT to a consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern investors advised by former F1 team boss Colin Kolles.

However, although the sale of Caterham Sports went through, the sale of 1MRT did not. As Cojocar says in his witness statement, "I understand that the sale and purchase agreement was a conditional agreement and completion has not yet occurred, but that the Purchaser appointed directors to the Company and 1MRT, and the previous directors resigned."

In summary the new owners took control of 1MRT but did not own shares in it. Bills were left unpaid in this vacuum and, crucially, one of them was the fee to Caterham Sports for providing the design, testing and race support services.

In turn Caterham Sports could not pay its bills so creditors took action in the courts. This led to bailiffs seizing equipment from its factory earlier this month so that it could be sold at auction to pay the bills.

Cojocar said in his statement that he had a deal with Romanian investors who were due to provide Â£2m per week to finance Caterham Sports but they were put off by the legal proceedings and the action by the bailiffs. With insufficient revenue coming into CaterhamSports, Cojocar said he had "no choice but to request that the Company is put into administration."

Last week the administrator Finbarr O'Connell said around 200 staff previously worked at Caterham Sports' factory but have had their contracts transferred to 1MRT in the past few weeks. However, he added that their jobs and the team could be at risk if an arrangement to sell Caterham Sports' assets to 1MRT is not struck soon.

In order to race in F1 1MRT requires the design, testing and race support services which Caterham Sports was providing. If 1MRT doesn't do a deal with the administrator to get these services then it places the future of its staff and the team in jeopardy. This raises the question of why 1MRT decided to sell Caterham Sports in the first place given that it was so crucial to its operation as an F1 team. It seems that this decision was driven by the fact that creditors' claims against Caterham Sports are so high as the Telegraph article reveals.

O'Connell is due to be at this weekend's United States Grand Prix in Texas to try and finalize a deal and, to give him some breathing room, Caterham will not be racing there. If it was, it would burn up further costs which would compound its problems. Time will tell whether it will ever race into the clear. Pitpass