FORMULA 1 - 2015

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MAGNUSSEN TARGETS F1 RACE SEAT FOR 2017

Marginalised Kevin Magnussen is targeting 2017 as an opportunity to get his F1 career back on track.

The 23-year-old Dane, who has been ousted by McLaren, is thought to be looking into an alternative reserve driver role for 2016 in combination with a race seat elsewhere, potentially with Porsche at Le Mans.

Magnussen says he was recently misquoted when reports suggested he had ruled out staying in F1 next year as a reserve driver.

“We could well consider it,” he told the Danish newspaper BT. “At least I don’t exclude it. But there is nothing in place and I am still considering my options.”

Magnussen, who was shifted into the reserve role by McLaren this year after a single racing season in 2014, thinks keeping a toe in the F1 water might be a good idea as 2017 is shaping up as a potential opportunity.

“There will probably be a reshuffle of drivers soon,” he said. “Maybe in 2017 or within a couple of years, when quite a lot of seats should open up.”

He is referring to the fact that, while the grid is staying largely the same next year, many experienced drivers – Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso – are now into their mid 30s.

“So it would be good,” Magnussen explained, “to remain associated with formula one as much as possible.”

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AUSTIN YET TO PAY FORMULA 1 FEE FOR 2015

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone hopes Austin can get the future of its US grand prix back on track.

It emerged recently that the popular race at the Circuit of the Americas is endangered because the Texas government has wound back state funding.

Writing for the local American Statesman newspaper, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt revealed that organisers have not even paid the estimated $33 million fee for the 2015 race.

“We said they can pay late this year,” F1 supremo Ecclestone confirmed. “They get money from the state, and the money from the state is late, so that’s why they are late.”

Circuit chief Bobby Epstein has dramatically declared that the funding dispute means the US grand prix is “screwed”, and has not ruled out legal action. He is still pessimistic.

“It’s ok paying after the race, but if they don’t give you enough to pay the sanction fee, you still can’t do it,” Epstein said.

Ecclestone, however, is more confident about the future, even though he has admitted to already looking into an alternative US race venue in California.

“The person (in Texas) who dealt with this in the first place is no longer there. The governor is no longer there. So they have got new people, but they should pay what was agreed. I think we will get the funding back on track again,” Ecclestone added.

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RBR spending hit record £200m in 2014

Red Bull Racing's spending hit new records in the last financial year as they became the first Formula 1 team to hit £200m in one season.

After winning four back-to-back Championships, the 2014 F1 season proved to be a difficult one for the Milton Keynes as they were overtaken by Mercedes in the pecking order and won only three races.

The sport changed to the new 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid engines at the start of 2014 and the team admit that "adapting to new technical regulations, in particular the adoption of a new power unit, were the most significant cost drivers".

Their latest accounts reveal that spending went up by £7.4m to £203.6m with research and development getting the biggest chunk of £80.8m.

Employee numbers increased by 19 to 294 and the total expenditure on staff pay rose to £62.9m, with team boss Christian Horner reportedly receiving £2.6m.

After months of speculation that Red Bull could pull out of F1 at the end of the season, Horner once again assured supporters that things won't change in the next year.

"(Our) ultimate parent undertaking, Red Bull GmbH, confirmed to the directors that it has no plans or intentions that would materially affect the ordinary operations of the company within the next 12 months," he told the Daily Telegraph.

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Wehrlein says he has a 50% chance of making 2016 grid

Mercedes reserve driver and current DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein believes his chances of making the 2016 Formula 1 grid are roughly 50 per cent.

The 21-year-old became DTM's youngest champion this year and has impressed hugely during recent F1 tests with Mercedes and Force India, but that doesn't guarantee him a place on the grid next season, though he has been linked to the Manor-Marussia team.

"I hope so!" Wehrlein replied when asked if he will be the fourth German on the grid next year. "My clear goal is to drive in Formula 1 one day."

However he admits he could remain in DTM for another season before making the switch.

"At the moment, chances are probably 50-50. I may do another year in DTM, which would not be bad. DTM is pretty fun.

"I could try to become a two-time champion. I would not settle for anything else. But of course, F1 remains my goal. I feel ready for the next step."

As for rumours he could land a Manor seat, Wehrlein says he isn't too concerned by the recent management changes at the team, as he believes they're heading in a good direction.

"Next year's team will have little in common with the current one. Manor will get Mercedes engines but also support from Williams, which is changing many things. They will be much more competitive than in 2015," he predicts.

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Wurz turns down Manor team principal offer

Alexander Wurz has turned down an off by Manor Marussia team owner Stephen Fitzpatrick, after he was asked if he'd consider becoming team principal.

With the resignation of both Graeme Lowdon and John Booth, the team has been left without some key high-level staff members.

However the team recently announced that former McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan would fulfil the role of racing director, whilst Wurz was offered the top job.

Speaking to the BBC, Wurz confirmed he had turned the offer down: "After a period of consideration, I have informed Stephen Fitzpatrick that I have taken the decision not to make myself available to Manor."

Wurz has yet to confirm his future plans after announcing his retirement from motorsport last week.

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Arai says Alonso, Button understand Honda's plight

Honda Formula 1 boss Yasuhisa Arai says both Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button understand the Japanese manufacturer's plight and are patient enough to wait for progress despite a frustrating season.

The McLaren duo has endured one of the worst years of their careers in terms of results, as the team has struggled for pace and reliability in Honda's return to the sport.

Button is 16th in the standings, one place ahead of a Alonso, with a total of 27 points between the two.

Arai said, despite the frustrating period, he has a lot of respect for how the drivers have handled the situation.

"I have much respect for Fernando and Jenson," said Arai. "We have so many new things on the car, it's not just the engine. Every race there's something new and they have to test it.

"But they are very patient and professional about it during all the year, so I have much respect for them.

"They understand why we're trying to do it, why we need to do it in order to progress."

Humour helping the team

Arai says that the sense of humour Alonso and Button have displayed amid their struggles has actually helped the team's atmosphere.

The duo famously climbed onto the podium at Interlagos after qualifying and shared a photo of themselves.

"Obviously Fernando is in a frustrating situation and we think that he himself has frustration with him, but that the two of them to show that kind of humour helps the team," Arai added.

"For everyone in the garage and in the team I think it's makes better to have that kind of humour.

"I have much respect in the regard that they have that kind of mentality, that professionalism. To use that humour helps the rest of the team, so I respect that."

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Vettel "obstinate" upon arrival at Ferrari - Arrivabene

Ferrari has revealed that Sebastian Vettel was originally obstinate about how things should be done when he arrived at Maranello, but quickly changed his attitude.

The four-time champion has played a key role in transforming fortunes at Maranello, with his three victories for the Italian team having laid the platform for a potential title challenge in 2016.

Reflecting on the role that Vettel has played, team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said that there was a period of readjustment to his new environment as both driver and team got to know each other.

"He's a guy who jumped into the world of Ferrari, really 360-degrees," said Arrivabene. "He didn't arrive with the look of the four-time world champion, but with the attitude of a normal person.

"I must say I've seen many qualities in him. At first, he was obstinate on certain details, but then, when he started to learn more about the Ferrari, he realised it was a great company, with a great team.

"All the boys want very well to work with him and they know how to love each other."

New environment

When asked for more explanation of in what areas Vettel was obstinate, Arrivabene said: "When you're very attentive to detail and do not know the company well, maybe you think that talking about your past experience, you can bring something useful. But it was not so.

"I think that for him this was a lesson that helped him to integrate even more. After all, I can tell you that it is a mistake I made myself at the beginning.

"I thought I would get to Maranello and change so many things. And, instead, the first thing to do was to try to understand where I was.

"When I realised, I just said one moment, 'here is a company with a great history. The thing I can do is just know it well and then try to give my contribution in the knowledge of adding just one line in a book that was written by a certain Enzo Ferrari."

Raikkonen relationship key

Arrivabene has also said that one of the more positive factors of the season too has been how his relationship with Kimi Raikkonen had panned out.

"The most important thing is that he also has a great relationship with Kimi," he explained. "The beauty is that even though he was well integrated in Maranello, he didn't create a wall with the other driver.

"To Austin they travelled together, and sometimes they do that. And often they exchange information in the briefing, which is helping a lot."

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Bottas ‘proud’ of Williams, but wants more

Valtteri Bottas says he is 'proud' of the Williams team after it secured third position in the Formula 1 constructors' standings for the second season in succession.

After enduring the hardship of worst season since its 1977 F1 debut in 2013, Williams has bounced back under the current set of technical regulations, finishing third overall in 2014 and now doing the same in 2015 with Bottas' fifth place finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

It is a result that the Finn – a two-time podium winner in 2015 – is proud of compared with the financial advantage of the teams around it. Despite this, he still believes the Grove-based team is capable of more going forward.

“It means a lot, because it's nice to secure third,” he said. “It's the same as last year, so I'm proud that with such a small team we can fight with the big teams. That's good but we all want more.

“We need to say thank you to people in the race team and at the factory for all the hard work done, but also to Mercedes for their engines. Without them we couldn't do this, but we are a team that wants to win, so we want more.”

Though Williams has scored 'only' four podiums in 2015 so far – compared with the seven it managed at the same point in last year's championship -, it is just one point shy of its total points compared with the total from last year's Brazilian Grand Prix. The double points Abu Dhabi decider last year yielded two more podiums for Williams tally in 2014.

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Raikkonen plays down Lauda ‘power’ comments

Kimi Raikkonen says Ferrari should be given credit for the improvements it has made in 2015 across the board and not just in terms of its engine gains.

Compared with the 2014 season, Ferrari has made the most notable stride compared with its rivals in 2015 having established itself as the closest and most consistent threat to Mercedes throughout the season.

However, while many have particularly praised the gains of the car in terms of engine power, most notably Niki Lauda, Raikkonen insists Ferrari has made significant improvements everywhere since 2014.

“I think we improved in all the areas, not just in power,” he replied when asked about Lauda's comments. “Since the end of last year we improved a lot but we still have a long way to go to be exactly where we want to be.

“Mercedes is ahead of us, but I don't think there's one area where we have been improving more than in others.

With this in mind, Raikkonen is optimistic that there is yet more to come from the Ferrari package that could see it get on terms with Mercedes.

“I think it's the whole package that has improved, but there's work to be done in all areas before we can be happy. The rules are the rules and I'm sure we can make another step for next year. If it will be enough I don't know, we'll see next year.”

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HAMILTON HAS A JAB AT VETTEL, WEBBER AND RAIKKONEN

In one fell swoop, reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has maligned three more Formula 1 stars.

Recently, the new triple world champion had to hit reverse gear after suggesting F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s record seven titles were won with questionable tactics, while his own were the result of “my natural abilities only”.

Now, the increasingly controversial 30-year-old has made his latest verbal headline grabber in conversation with the German magazine Sport Bild.

When asked about the quadruple world champion and likely 2016 title challenger Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton said: “I have a lot of respect for him, but it’s difficult to assess how good he really is.

“He’s never been in a team with someone like Fernando Alonso, but always with people like Mark Webber, who was not on his level, and Kimi Raikkonen, who is no longer at the peak of his performance,” the Briton added.

Before the Sport Bild interview, Hamilton’s former McLaren teammate Jenson Button warned the Mercedes driver about letting his recent success make him “arrogant”.

When asked about his arguably excessive confidence, Hamilton told Sport Bild: “I would not call it self-confidence, but extreme faith in myself.”

“That is the key to success,” he argued. “Before my debut in 2007, I knew it would be hard to beat Fernando, but I also knew that I could do it.

“I still remember before the first race, Ron Dennis said I shouldn’t be too disappointed if Alonso beats me really badly. But I knew that it wouldn’t happen,” added Hamilton.

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MASSA: WITH THE SAME ENGINE AS MERCEDES WE CAN CLOSE THE GAP

Felipe Massa is hoping Williams will get back on par with its engine supplier Mercedes to tackle the 2016 Formula 1 season on equal footing to the world champions.

While dominant Mercedes and its customer teams are believed to have enjoyed identical equipment in 2014, Williams, Lotus and Force India fell one specification behind the German carmaker in the middle of this season.

Mercedes argued that its development specification for 2016 was not sufficiently tested for it to be released to customers, and it was also heard that the Brixworth factory was struggling to manufacture enough parts for all four teams.

Brazilian Massa hopes that all changes in 2016. Speaking to Globo Esporte about the tail end of Williams’ 2015 season, he said: “The positive side is that we have third in the championship and that’s very good.

“I certainly hope to finish the year well, but we are now looking to the last race and thinking 100 per cent for next year,” the Williams driver added.

He said the specification of Williams’ car will not change for the season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend, “The team has been thinking about the next (2016) car for a few months now and I hope it will be more competitive than this year and we can keeping fighting in the season.”

When asked about next year’s car, the Mercedes-powered FW38, he answered: “We have not tested any parts yet, but we have ideas.

“If we have the same engine (as Mercedes) we can reduce this advantage. We do not have a better car than them, but they have a very good car and an engine that is a bit better than all of the others,” Massa added.

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HONDA APPOINT MORE CONSULTANTS FOR F1 AILING PROJECT

Honda has had a change of heart towards the end of its abysmally-bad return to Formula 1 this year.

Earlier, the proudly nationalistic Japanese carmaker was refusing to speed up the process of improving by poaching experienced F1 engine personnel from outside of Honda.

But Michael Schmidt, the respected correspondent for Auto Motor und Sport, said Honda is trying a new approach.

It was already known that engine expert Gilles Simon, formerly of Ferrari and more recently the FIA, has been working as a consultant rather than an employee for Honda.

And now, “While no foreign engineers will be installed at Sakura, Honda wants to engage more consultants” for the beleaguered F1 project, Schmidt said.

Indeed, McLaren-Honda drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso are expecting a major step forward for 2016, having managed to beat only the backmarker Manor in 2015.

“If you look at the balance of power today,” 2009 world champion Button is quoted by Speed Week, “then it is fair to say that the best teams will be Mercedes, Ferrari and perhaps Williams next year.

“But a lot can change in a winter. We are a team that will make massive progress. And I’m not saying ‘I hope’, I’m saying ‘we will’,” he added.

Meanwhile, Alonso’s patience with the project has appeared to be flagging recently, but he insists that while it is a “difficult” period, he is in “the right place” at McLaren-Honda.

“It’s been difficult,” he admitted to UOL Esporte, “but in my case it has been difficult for some time. It was difficult when Red Bull was a second faster than anyone, and then last year when Mercedes was so much better as well.

“It was one of the reasons I came to McLaren, because the only way to beat Mercedes is to have a different approach. And I think I’m in the right place,” the double world champion added.

He said Honda’s obvious deficit has been made even more conspicuous in 2015 because the Japanese marque is a full year or more behind the other ‘power unit’ makers.

“The problems that Renault and Ferrari had in 2014 were much the same as what we are having now,” said Alonso. “Only Mercedes has done everything right.

“But our numbers, compared to Renault’s numbers and Ferrari’s numbers last year, are much better. So if we do a good pre-season, we will achieve much better results than any other manufacturer,” he added.

“If we get to the (winter) tests and the car is bad, it will be a big surprise because of the direction that we have been following. I am not worried that we will not be among the best teams next year,” said Alonso.

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NO WORRIES RED BULL TO BE READY FOR FIRST 2016 TEST

Red Bull is on target to make the first Formula 1 test of the 2016 pre-season period, engineering chief Paul Monaghan insists.

Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya has announced that it will exclusively host the only winter testing early next year, on 22-25 February and 1-4 March — just 8 days in total.

Amid Red Bull’s engine supply crisis, there had been some doubt the team and Toro Rosso could get a car ready within the next three months in time for the first four-day test.

But it now appears that Red Bull Racing will use unbranded Renault power next year, with a deal expected to be announced ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale.

“We are working towards a deal,” Monaghan said, “and if one can be achieved then it will be announced in time.”

As for being ready for the first Barcelona test, he added: “We will still make it, don’t worry.”

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CELIS JOINS FORCE INDIA AS DEVELOPMENT DRIVER

Sahara Force India have announced the signing of Mexican racer, Alfonso Celis, as a development driver. The 19-year-old will get his first experience of Formula One power behind the wheel of the VJM08 at the season-ending Abu Dhabi test – sharing driving duties with Nico Hulkenberg.

Alfonso is one of the most promising young Mexicans emerging from the junior formulas. Following karting success in Mexico, he moved to Europe in 2013 to compete in the Formula Renault NEC championship, and progressed to the GP3 Series last year. This year he raced for ART in GP3 in parallel to a World Series by Renault programme with AVF.

In his development role with Sahara Force India, Alfonso will spend time on the simulator at the team’s Silverstone factory. He will also take part in seven official practice sessions at Grand Prix events during the 2016 season.

Alfonso Celis: “Ever since I started racing I’ve been dreaming of Formula One, so it’s a huge honour to begin working with Sahara Force India. It’s an amazing opportunity for me to learn about Formula One and to work closely with the engineers and race drivers. Being on the track in Abu Dhabi will be an incredible feeling. It’s going to be the biggest moment in my career and I am fully focussed on doing a good job for the team.”

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “I would like to welcome Alfonso to the team and wish him well ahead of his debut with us in Abu Dhabi. As our development driver we will work hard to prepare him for the demands of driving in Formula One and provide a good grounding in all aspects of the job. It’s a fantastic opportunity for Alfonso to learn from Sergio and Nico, and to get valuable mileage in the car.”

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WHITMARSH SAYS NO INTERESTED IN MANOR BOSS ROLE

Martin Whitmarsh has poured cold water on suggestions he might be set to succeed John Booth as Manor’s new team boss.

The British backmarker has already replaced the departing Graeme Lowdon with former ‘lie-gate’ protagonist Dave Ryan.

Earlier this week Alexander Wurz told the BBC he had turned down the role, “After a period of consideration, I have informed (owner) Stephen Fitzpatrick that I have taken the decision not to make myself available to Manor.”

Now another name linked with the job has been Whitmarsh, an experienced former team principal who worked closely alongside Ryan at McLaren.

Whitmarsh, now involved with the management of an America’s Cup team, admitted to having contact with Manor but insisted: “I do not intend to become team principal at Manor.”

He said he will “definitely say no” if Fitzpatrick asks him explicitly to lead the team in the post-Booth era.

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ECCLESTONE CLAIMS BBC CANNOT DROP F1

Bernie Ecclestone is unmoved amid reports the BBC will drop Formula 1 as part of cost cutting spree by the broadcaster.

The free-to-air broadcaster, who share the television rights with F1’s main British broadcaster Sky, has a contract until the end of 2018 but reports suggest the coverage will be dropped after the BBC failed to renegotiate the deal.

F1 supremo Ecclestone, however, denied that will happen and told the Times, “Everything is great with the BBC. They just want to pay less money.”

“I am getting very stupid and old, so I had to ask them if they had a contract with us,” added the 85-year-old. “They said they had, so I told them that we had better stick to it then.”

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Williams drops Massa appeal on cost grounds

Williams has decided not to appeal against Felipe Massa’s disqualification from the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The team said on Thursday it will not continue with its appeal as the team does not stand to gain or lose in terms of its final constructors’ championship position – which determines how much revenue it receives from Formula One Management – whether or not the appeal is successful. Williams also said the time need for an appeal to be heard was also a factor in their decision.

“Following detailed consideration the team has concluded that despite not agreeing with the exclusion and believing it has sufficient evidence with which to successfully contest the ruling it will not formally appeal the decision as a hearing date is unlikely to be available until after the end of the season impacting a time when the team wishes to turn its attention to its 2016 campaign,” said the team in a statement.

“Given the financial climate of the sport, and the fact that the decision does not impact the team’s constructors’ championship position, it has been decided that this would be an unnecessary cost to endure.”

Williams noted that the stewards’ point of dispute over the legality of Massa’s car in his home race concerned only the temperature of one of his tyres and not its pressure.

“Felipe Massa was excluded from the results of the Brazilian GP having been found by the FIA to be in Breach of article 12.5.1 of the FIA Formula One tchnical regulations, article 3.2. of the FIA Formula One sporting regulations and Article 12.1.1.i of the FIA international sporting code,” said the statement.

“According to the FIA’s measurement on the grid, the right rear tyre on Felipe’s car did not comply with the maximum tread temperature as specified by Pirelli, the official tyre supplier, after the “5-minutes” signal was given.”

“The temperature measured on the tread of the right hand side rear tyre was reported to be 137 °C, 27 °C above the maximum tread temperature of 110 °C allowed by the official tyre supplier. The corresponding tyre pressure at 137 °C was 20.6 psi, 0.1 psi above the minimum starting pressure therefore the only point in question is the tyre temperature.”

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Was Brazil more proof F1’s overtaking gimmicks aren’t working any more?

At the end of lap one on Sunday Nico Rosberg crossed the line pursued by Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas.

An hour and a half later, after another 70 tours of the Interlagos circuit, the same drivers crossed the line in the exact same order.

The 2015 Brazilian Grand Prix was not one for the ages.

The top five was set at turn one in Brazil

Afterwards the top three finishers were asked whether it was time for F1 to make fundamental changes to allow cars to race together more closely.

“I don’t know how the battles were further back,” Rosberg began. “But of course it’s always difficult in F1 to pass – that’s why DRS has come onboard and that’s really made a lot of progress for us. So we’ve seen a lot of excitement because of that – but we need to keep working at it for sure, and keep thinking about it.”

F1 is in its fifth year with its Drag Reduction System, and the same with the ‘designed to degrade’ tyres supplied at FOM’s request by Pirelli. Was the Brazilian Grand Prix a sign these innovations are no longer bringing the excitement they once were?

Not everyone found it impossible to overtake

Hamilton spent lap after lap stuck behind Rosberg at the beginning of their second stint despite frequently being close enough to use DRS.

“You get to within a second and you just lose downforce and there’s no way you can get any closer,” he explained. “And the DRS zone is kind of maybe not long enough, if that was to be the thing to make the difference, it’s almost not long enough.”

While the DRS zone was insufficient for one Mercedes to pass the other, it was more than enough for Romain Grosjean’s Mercedes-powered Lotus to blast past Max Verstappen’s Toro Rosso-Renault, which was doing its usual trick of running out of kinetic energy just when he needed it most.

But even on a day when overtaking moves were rare this wasn’t one which stuck in the mind for most fans. Not like Verstappen’s instantly-acclaimed pass on Sergio Perez as he worked his way around the outside of the Force India at turn one, securing the inside line for the following corner with two wheels on the grass.

These three situations tell us different things about overtaking in year five of the DRS/Pirelli era. Rapid tyre degradation on Perez’s car allowed Verstappen to use DRS to set up his pass. But DRS was no use at all for Hamilton and it rendered Grosjean’s move utterly unremarkable.

Hamilton said he ‘killed his tyres’ behind Rosberg

A persistent bugbear with DRS has been how long the zones should be on each track. The different performance levels of the cars made this difficult to optimise when the teams had V8 engines which were fairly close in performance. With the V6 engines introduced last year the gap between the best and worst-performing engine is even wider, making it even harder to strike that balance.

Grosjean demonstrated how easily a Mercedes-powered car could pass a Renault-powered rival using DRS. But switch the power units around and the outcome was very different, as Daniil Kvyat discovered when he spent most of the race studying Nico Hulkenberg’s rear wing.

Similarly, while the ‘designed-to-degrade’ tyres have made for more varied strategies than we usually saw in 2010 (the single post-refuelling pre-Pirelli season) and can help drivers overtake when the have fresher rubber than their rivals, in other circumstances the tyres may be preventing drivers from making passes. Hamilton said as much after Sunday’s race: “I was behind Nico and in traffic for some time and it just killed my tyres.”

The two gimmicks Formula One seized on in 2011 have undoubtedly generated more changes of position, whether it’s because drivers are coming into the pits more often to change tyres or jabbing the DRS and shooting past on the straights. To some, this always seemed a poor alternative to genuine overtaking, and perhaps with the passage of time more of those originally welcomed the changes have turned against them. A survey of over a hundred thousand fans by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association earlier this year revealed those who believe DRS has improved F1 racing are in the minority.

Pirelli were tasked with making tyres which degrade quickly

Vettel won the first three championships of the DRS/Pirelli era and so might be expected to have warmed towards them. But his view on how F1 cars could be made to follow each other more closely drew attention to the shortcomings of F1’s overtaking gimmicks.

“If you’re behind you always want the DRS zone to be longer because artificially it helps you to get closer,” Vettel explained. “Naturally if you are only a tenth or two quicker then it’s very difficult to pass – whereas if you’re a second quicker it becomes more easy.”

“I think in general what we need to follow another car closer in medium speed, high speed, slow speed corners is more mechanical grip. So shift the percentage between aero/mechanical more towards more mechanical. How to do that? I think we need better tyres that allow us to go quicker.”

Whether F1’s overtaking gimmicks have stopped working will depend partly on whether you thought they worked in the first place. But Brazil reinforced the view they are not a long-term solution to F1’s passing problem.

What’s needed if for Formula One to become a bit less formulaic: leave the gimmicks behind and seek closer, more natural and less predictable racing. Vettel’s suggestions seem a good starting point.

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Renault: No reason to delay changing Lotus name

Renault says there will be no delay in changing the name of the Lotus Formula 1 team for 2016, if its takeover of the outfit gets completed.

The French car manufacturer has been in talks for several months about purchasing the Enstone-based outfit so it can resurrect its works team.

It hopes to be in a position to confirm its plans around the time of the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

There had been speculation in recent weeks that Renault could keep the Lotus name for next year, because 2016 is likely to be transitional year for the team.

But Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul has made it clear that if the takeover happens then his company will apply to get the name changed immediately.

“It will be for 2016,” he told Motorsport.com. “There is no reason to wait. We know in terms of operation and performance that 2016, if we go for it, it will be a transition year.

“But there is no reason to wait in also building the marketing story, because even if the results on track are not great, there is a long old story and we cannot wait to tell that story.”

Approval process

For Renault to be granted the name change, it will require support from rival teams as well as approval from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Abiteboul said he hoped that there would be no opposition, with rivals Marussia Manor also expected to apply for a name change too.

However, Abiteboul suggested that there could be some interesting branding associated with the makeover of his outfit.

“We know what we want,” said Abiteboul. “We have a strategy in terms of naming, and we know why we would be entering F1 and to promote which brand.

“Renault is a halo brand but there are other brands associated to that. But I will not say anything in relation to that because that will be part of the announcement.

“So we know what we want, and there has to be a process which we have discussed with the governing body. We have not started the process because it would have, I guess, to go through some form of commission.

"But it looks like we will not be the only ones to go through some form of discussion in relation to change of name, so I expect people will be pragmatic about this circumstance.”

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Honda "open" to supplying multiple F1 teams

Honda was always open to supplying engines to more than one Formula 1 team, according to its boss Yasuhisa Arai.

Red Bull asked Honda if there was a chance of an engine supply deal for 2016, as the Milton Keynes team continued to try to find a power unit for next season.

But the deal was not possible, as Honda's current partner McLaren exercised a veto the team has on such a move.

"There is no debate on this," said McLaren Eric Boullier earlier this month. "Clearly there is an issue at Red Bull, which was created by Red Bull, and not by anybody else.

"We are not a charity foundation, so we are not here to help."

Arai said that, while he could not comment on the veto, Honda's plan was always to eventually supply multiple teams.

"We know what has been written in the media, but our point of view as Honda is we have always said since the beginning of the season that we are open to supply multiple teams and we come into F1 thinking about that," said Arai.

"We can't comment on the veto, but Honda is always open and thinking ahead."

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Mercedes evaluating 2016 developments to hold off 'clever' Ferrari

Mercedes is taking the threat from Ferrari next year very seriously, admitting its main rivals has made some "clever moves" this year in order to catch up.

Ferrari will finish second to Mercedes in the constructors' championship this year, but has dramatically reduced the performance deficit it had at the end of 2014. Ferrari is confident it will be leading the pack in 2016 and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is expecting a much tougher challenge from Maranello in 2016

"I am anticipating a robust challenge from Ferrari because they have done some clever moves, and they have definitely caught up," he said. "You can see that even towards the end of the race in Brazil, Sebastian was not very far away when Lewis and Nico were pushing flat out. The biggest gap was seven seconds and that is not a clear cut dominant race win. I think we will have a situation where Ferrari will be a very important competitor."

However, Mercedes is well advanced in its preparations for 2016, with the last of its engine updates this year aimed at creating a platform for bigger gains at the start of next season. In Brazil it ran a number of 2016 development parts, including an 'S-duct' in the nose of the car, and Wolff said the team is currently deciding how radical next year's W07 will be.

"You can get it pretty wrong if you go for a revolution of a car that performs pretty well already. We are not quite sure yet, there is some interesting stuff being drawn and in the wind tunnel, and one of those very interesting areas was on the car on Friday in Brazil.

"It's a permanent evaluation between evolution and revolution and it's not yet clear where we want to take it, but at the moment it is just good to have secured the championship and be able to look at things."

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VETTEL TRIUMPHS AT RACE OF CHAMPIONS

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel put in a stunning performance to eclipse 19 fellow stars of motor sport and win the Race Of Champions for the first time on a thrilling afternoon of action at London’s former Olympic Stadium.

Following Team England 1’s triumph in last night’s ROC Nations Cup, all cooperation went out of the window today as the individual Race Of Champions pitted many of motor sport’s biggest names in identical cars on a brand new Olympic cycling-style pursuit track.

On a bitterly cold but sunny day at the iconic London venue, the best-of-three Grand Final boiled down to a battle between two of the world’s biggest motor sport legends. But in the end Vettel saw off nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen to become Champion of Champions for the first time.

Vettel had never been in the Race Of Champions Grand Final before, despite his six ROC Nations Cup wins in partnership with Michael Schumacher for Team Germany. Kristensen, by contrast, has been in the Grand Final no less than four times without yet coming out on top.

Vettel said: “Of course I’m very happy and honoured to win – but that took a while! A lot of world class racing drivers have won this trophy. I’ve tried to win this many times and failed many times but finally I’ve succeeded.

“What the Race Of Champions gives us is a lot of joy. When we were kids starting to race, we did it for pure joy and this sort of event is a good reminder of that. When you close the visor, ultimately victory is still what drives you. But I’ve tried to win this so many times, today was more like a surprise. We all know this format is very difficult because no one gets much time in the cars so you need to find your rhythm quickly. Today I had the feeling I found it straightaway. It was very cold but it was a great atmosphere so thank you very much to everyone for coming to watch.”

Kristensen added: “Seb is a deserved winner – he drove brilliantly and he showed that skill in the final. I gave my all and it was close but he’s been really on it here. Obviously I retired last year but it was great to come back and remind myself how it was to compete – and to stay on the track all the way to the final. ROC is all about fun and it was good to see so many people watching in the cold conditions. Apart from Seb, the main achievement today was by the people who have been here supporting this great event.”

In the semi-finals, Vettel beat reigning Champion of Champions David Coulthard 2-1 after the Scotsman jumped the start in the deciding heat. The other race saw the end of a spirited run by Blancpain Endurance Series Champion Alex Buncombe, who was beaten 2-0 by Kristensen.

Last night’s triumphant ROC Nations Cup winners for Team England 1 Andy Priaulx and Jason Plato finally paid the price for their celebrations in the last eight, losing to Kristensen and Buncombe respectively.

In the other quarter-finals Vettel saw off the challenge of his Team Germany partner from yesterday, 2015 Le Mans winner Nico Hülkenberg. Yet another Formula 1 star went out as Brazil’s Felipe Massa was pipped by Coulthard by just four hundredths of a second.

On her last racing appearance Susie Wolff went out with a defeat by her countryman Coulthard. Other last 16 casualties included Rallycross ace Petter Solberg, beaten by Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, who was pipped by fellow F1 star Hülkenberg, and reigning Formula E champion Nelson Piquet Jr, who lost to Kristensen.

There was disappointment for the home crowd as F1 world champion Jenson Button was beaten by Massa but his fellow countrymen did better. Plato put out F1’s Romain Grosjean and Priaulx defeated Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. Then Buncombe beat Bradley Philpot, who replaced injured MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo in the draw as winner of the ROC Factor social media vote.

The first round losers were WTCC champion José Maria López, beaten by Hunter-Reay, and DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein, who lost out to Priaulx and was unable to repeat his 2014 Grand Final appearance. Motorcycling legend Mick Doohan lost to Philpot while GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer was defeated by Buncombe.

Petter Solberg earlier sealed the first triumph of the day in the inaugural ROC Skills Challenge presented by TAG Heuer. The course is designed to put the drivers through their paces over a range of tests such as slaloms, 360 degree turns and parallel parking. Solberg showed his stuntman potential as he set the fastest time ahead of Buncombe, Philpot, Vettel and Massa.

Another man making history at London’s former Olympic Stadium was stunt driver Terry Grant, who set a new world record for the most people in a car on two wheels. He packed a scarcely imaginable 16 people into his Range Rover Sport SVR as he took to the circuit and gave them the ride of their lives.

Before the racing the drivers unfurled a banner in conjunction with the institute for advanced research into brain and spinal cord injuries ICM in honour of ROC’s absent friend (and six-time ROC Nations Cup winner) Michael Schumacher as he continues his recovery from his skiing accident. ROC will also support the joint Gene Therapy research programme that Great Ormond Street children’s hospital in London and Necker Hospital in Paris are working on to find a cure for Children with HLH.

Today’s action at London’s former Olympic Stadium marks the end of the Race Of Champions for 2015. We hope you enjoyed this annual festival of motor sport and entertainment and we look forward to seeing you back next year for ROC 2016. Keep up with all the latest news throughout the year at www.raceofchampions.com, Race Of Champions on Facebook and @raceofchampions on Twitter.

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WEBBER A WORLD CHAMPION AT LAST

ormer Formula 1 driver Mark Webber won the world endurance championship in Bahrain on Saturday with Porsche team mates Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard.

The Australian, who left Formula One at the end of 2013 after Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel had won a fourth successive championship, took the title after his number 17 Porsche finished fifth in the Six Hours of Bahrain.

The Australian-New Zealand-German trio, who had to make two unscheduled pitstops, prevailed by five points to became Porsche’s first world sportscar champions since 1986.

The Bahrain season-ender was won by the number 18 Porsche of Switzerland’s Neel Jani, Germany’s Marc Lieb and Frenchman Romain Dumas – a victory that ensured the title for the sister car by denying rivals Audi.

“We had a lot of problems and it was very stressful. We got the car home and we had enough points and enough wins to be world champions,” said Webber.

While the Australian was savouring the moment, Vettel was also triumphant in London – winning the Race of Champions individual title in the event at the Olympic Stadium.

Webber made 215 grand prix starts, in a Formula 1 career which began at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix and ended at the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix. He scored nine wins and 42 podiums during this period.

The Australian, known for his True Grit, never won a F1 world title but did finish third on three occasions – in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Webber and his teammates, Hartley and Bernhard, won the 2015 WEC title despite a DNF in Round 1, but bounced back with third place at Spa-Francorchamps, then by second place at Le Mans and then four wins in a row – Nurburgring, Circuit of the Americas, Fuji and Shanghai – followed by fifth in the season finale to claim the title.

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DESPITE THE HOSTILITIES RENAULT AND RED BULL SET TO STICK IT OUT

Despite the high profile and supposedly ‘ongoing divorce proceedings’, Red Bull appears set to stay in Formula 1 with Renault power in 2016.

Earlier, the energy drink company risked dropping off the grid amid its crumbling relationship with the French carmaker and failed negotiations to secure an alternate deal.

“Quite a few engine suppliers said no, which is a shame,” Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was quoted as saying on Friday by Speed Week. “But I can understand their reasoning: we have a pretty good chassis so they’re probably a little scared of us.”

It has been an uncertain and speculation-filled period for the energy drink-owned outfit, but it appears now that Red Bull is staying with Renault – to run unbranded or perhaps Infiniti-labelled power units – while Toro Rosso moves on to Ferrari.

“Both teams will be there next year,” confirmed Dr Helmut Marko. “Exactly how it will look, I can’t talk about at the moment so I ask for your patience.”

It appears that both deals will be for one year only, as Red Bull is keen to leave the grip of the car manufacturers and link up with the sport’s new independent supplier from 2017.

Reportedly to be paid $32 million next year, Renault seems happy to keep working with Red Bull.

“For me it has always been clear that we do not want to burn bridges,” Renault Sport F1’s Cyril Abiteboul is quoted as saying.

“It is no secret that we want to catch up, and I think you can always do better with two teams rather than one,” he added, undoubtedly referring to Red Bull and also Renault’s own plans to buy Lotus and run it as a works outfit.

As for when the news will be made official, Ricciardo suggested it is coming soon, “Basically, Dr Marko has confirmed that we will be on the grid next year, so I’ll have a job which is good news. I guess around Abu Dhabi time we will have something to announce.”

“I can’t promise anything, but in the coming week, we should know more,” he added.

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MONTEZEMOLO: TO SEE SCHUMI IN THIS SITUATION IS TERRIBLE

Luca di Montezemolo, the former long-time Ferrari president, has described as “terrible” the current plight of F1 legend Michael Schumacher.

Almost two full years ago, the seven time world champion struck his head in a skiing crash, and while now recovering at his home in Switzerland the precise condition of the now 46-year-old German Schumacher is not known.

“Michael was fundamental to Ferrari,” Montezemolo, who is also no longer involved with the fabled Italian team, told the German broadcaster RTL. “For me, for our lives.

“He is an extraordinary person, who even in the most difficult moments was an absolute team player. To see him in this situation is terrible.

“It’s a situation in which you don’t know what you should do. So I try to recall so many great moments in life that we celebrated together. I always think of an exceptional driver, man, friend.

“I must also say that I admire the courage and strength of his family, of Corinna and the children, and how they help Michael. From the bottom of my heart I hope to hear good news soon,” Montezemolo added.

Montezemolo revealed that, all the way back to Sebastian Vettel’s pre-championship winning days at Toro Rosso, Schumacher was recommending to Ferrari that it look into working with the younger German for the future.

“The first one who encouraged us about Sebastian was Michael,” he said. “He said he is alert, well-behaved, trustworthy, fast.”

However, it was Fernando Alonso who ultimately preceded Vettel at Ferrari, Montezemolo explains: “We were looking for people with a little more experience and so we chose Fernando, who – please let’s not forget – spent four very successful years with us.

“But we always kept Sebastian in mind, especially after his great successes with Red Bull.

“Of course, he came at the right moment to initiate a new cycle and victorious era, and like Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher he can be part of the history of Ferrari. And for him I wish nothing but the best,” Montezemolo added.