FORMULA 1 - 2016

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BRAWN: I’D LOVE TO WORK WITH BERNIE

Since his departure from Formula 1 in 2014, Ross Brawn kept a low profile until the past week where he has re-emerged on the scene giving his views on Formula 1 and capturing numerous headlines in what many believe is him, along with Liberty Media, paving the way for his return to the sport in a senior management position.

Initial reports suggested he was being lined up to replace Bernie Ecclestone at the helm of the sport, but it appears more likely that Brawn will slot in alongside Ecclestone as Liberty prepare for the 86 year old’s departure at the end of 2020.

Until then Brawn may well find himself working alongside Ecclestone, “I’d love to work with him, actually. It would be fascinating to work with him. Bernie’s never accommodated anyone in the past but even Bernie knows he’s mortal, we’re all mortal. I think he said himself, death and taxes are the only two certainties in life.”

“No-one could replace him directly, but could a group of people under his supervision, guidance, start to manage Formula One? Who knows. I don’t think there’s an individual who could do what Bernie did.”

Brawn explained why he thinks Ecclestone is in fact irreplaceable. “I think because of the relationships he’s built over the years. You just don’t walk into those relationships, it’s impossible. A lot of the approach and success he’s had is based on those relationships and that experience.”

“No-one can pick that up, it’s impossible to, and therefore whatever comes after Bernie will certainly be a different structure. I think if you tried to replace Bernie with something the same, I think it would be a disappointment because I don’t know what there is that is the same,” mused Brawn.

During the Brawn GP and Mercedes days Ecclestone and Brawn were often at loggerheads, seldom seeing eye-to-eye, but he is adamant that there is respect between them.

“I haven’t spoken to Bernie since I left the sport,” said Brawn. “We had an understanding, if you like. I probably rankled him on occasion because I stuck to my views and not everyone did. So I think there were times I irritated him. But I always respected what Bernie’s achieved.”

However Brawn points to vastly different management styles between the two, With regards to Ecclestone, Brawn said, “My approach is methodical and structured and Bernie’s is chaotic and impulsive. If those two things ever came together it would be an interesting combination.”

When asked by Bild about Brawn becoming the new F1 chief, Ecclestone scoffed, “This is total nonsense. Ross cannot do anything for us right now. We don’t need an engineer or someone with his kind of skills.”

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GERMAN GRAND PRIX IN DOUBT AGAIN

According to Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone the German Grand Prix could drop of the 2017 Formula 1 calendar.

In an interview with the official F1 website, Ecclestone said, “There is nothing sure yet. We are trying to make it happen. It seems that the promoter can’t make it financially viable. They cannot pay a fee, which is a very reduced fee that we’ve done for them…”

“It is not fair that they should pay a fee which is a lot less than the other European venues pay. We are trying to keep all the Europeans at the same amount.”

Considering Germany’s history in the sport – the success of Silver Arrows and a grid with high profile drivers such a as championship leader Nico Rosberg, four times world champion Sebastian Vettel, crowd favourite Nico Hulkenberg and promising rookie Pascal Wehrlein – it appears strange that enthusiasm for the race is not high.

“Maybe they don’t want Formula 1,” mused Ecclestone. “It is very strange if you see their F1 history – with several [sic] World Champions and a very successful team. I don’t know what more they could have.”

Meanwhile GPUpdate quotes a Hockenheim official, “Hockenheim is certainly interested in hosting the race if Nürburgring declines and [if] the conditions are right, meaning there is no financial risk for the Hockenheim-Ring GmbH.”

Traditionally Hockenheim and Nurburgring have alternated in hosting the German Grand Prix. The race was not run in 2015.

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HONDA DYNO TESTING 2017 POWER UNIT

Honda F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa has reveled that his team are already dyno testing their 2017 power unit which he and McLaren hope will lift the legendary team out of the midfield and start challenging for podiums, if not wins.

Hasegawa told F1i, “The concept is nearly finished. We have started engine testing on the dyno for 2017, so we will continue to improve performance through testing until very close to next season. We cannot go into any details at this point.”

“Some of the development that we have put into effect in 2016, like weight reduction and reliability updates will always be useful in any situation. Though we cannot go into technology specifics for 2017, the overall power unit regulations will not change drastically, so many things we learned from 2016 can be used as fundamental technology and data for 2017,” explained Hasegawa.

As for the final two races of the season, the Japanese engineer said, “We do not expect to bring in anything new specifically to target 2017. However the mappings and settings we perform for each circuit always proves worthwhile gathering data for next year.”

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PROST SAYS WHITING HAS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

Formula 1 legend Alain Prost has questioned race director Charlie Whiting over what he believes were officiating inconsistencies during the Mexican Grand Prix.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was penalised for a track cutting infraction late in the race. The penalty of five seconds cost him third place and demoted him to fourth.

However, earlier in the race both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg cut the track at the same place but escaped without any sanction. The Mercedes pair finished the race in first and second respectively.

Prost said of the incidents, “I am not judging any of the drivers, it’s important to ask if there is a rule or no rule.”

“At the start, Lewis made a mistake and got the advantage [by cutting the track], but then there was the safety car so the advantage he had was eliminated. But it’s necessary to ask the FIA and Charlie Whiting what might have happened, with Hamilton, if there had been no safety car.”

“Otherwise, anyone who starts from pole position but does not want to lose the lead at the beginning of a race can just cut the first corner. It is a serious problem,” observed Prost.

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STROLL’S ROAD TO F1 COST HIS FATHER BIG MONEY

Canadian teenager Lance Stroll is a Formula 1 driver and will make his grand prix debut in Australia next year, but it has taken an estimated $80-million from his billionaire father’s account to reach that point.

Doing the maths is revealing exercise, as Auto Motor und Sport claim that the drive with Williams – the most expensive in the sport’s history – cost clothing tycoon Lawrence Stroll around $35-million, a small dent in a fortune which according to Forbes is worth $2.4 billion.

Prior to that the Stroll’s spared no cash in ensuring young Lance had the best of the best during his rise through the sport, starting with his karting years which began in 2008 and continued until 2014.

Karting insiders reveal that the Strolls spent handsomely to have the best equipment and during the three European seasons they spent an estimated $10-million.

The 2015 and 2016 seasons, which saw Lance racing in F3 with Prema Powerteam and contesting the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand with M2 Competition, cost around $15-million – including the bill for buying the entire Prema operation.

Add to that at least $20-million funding for a high-tech simulator at Williams HQ in Grove and an intensive private testing programme, on the road since August, using a Mercedes hybrid powered 2014 Williams FW36.

No expense has been spared as a 20-strong test team puts Stroll through his paces, including five Mercedes technicians to look after two specially built test engines, plus Pirelli providing so-called Academy tyres with hard, medium and soft compounds for the youngster to mimic a grand prix weekend.

The private F1 test program began at Silverstone and included days at Hungaroring, Red Bull Ring and Monza where he was testing during the recent United States Garnd Prix weekend.

Still on the agenda for Stroll junior are tests in Barcelona, Abu Dhabi, Austin, Sochi and possibly Shanghai.

Williams technical chief Pat Symonds said, “The last novice who with so many kilometers of testing before entering Formula 1 was Jacques Villeneuve.”

Whatever the case, 18 year old Stroll will have more Formula 1 mileage under his belt than a large section drivers already on the grand prix grid for a year or two thanks to hours of pounding race tracks scattered around the globe.

Stroll said at the Williams announcement, “Everyone has their own opinion, I can’t change that. I come from money, I’m not going to deny that, but I believe I earned my shot in F1 because I’ve won every championship that I’ve competed in.”

“I don’t want to say exactly when I’ll be able to show everyone that I’m not just here for money because that depends on so many other things and details coming into place, but I’m just going to worry about my business,” added Stroll.

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INSIDE LINE: GRAVEL, WALLS OR CONES?

The big question to arise in the aftermath of the recent Mexican Grand Prix is: how to prevent drivers from straying off track after making a mistake in a corner without any consequences.

The rot started on lap one, when pole winner Lewis Hamilton braked too late into Turn 1, to prevent himslef from spinning he simply took to the grass, missed Turn 2 altogether and rejoined the track with a greater advantage over his rivals behind him.

His Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg did the same thing with Max Verstappen beside him as they exited the first turn. Neither Mercedes drivers were penalised for their transgressions and finished the race first and second respectively.

Much later in the race Red Bull’s Verstappen did pretty much the same thing while dueling for third place with Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel. Race stewards slapped the teenager with a five seconds penalty for the move which was almost a carbon copy of what the Mercedes duo done.

Interestingly, prior to the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone suggested that walls made for a very good deterrent for drivers needing to stray off track to save an over-eager move or an ambitious lap time.

Needless to say the incidents in Mexico have created a debate regarding how best to prevent drivers surviving an off track excursion without any consequences. In other words mistakes should be punished and by no means should a mistake become an advantage is the obvious consensus.

Ecclestone’s wall solution is one extreme of the spectrum which indeed works on street circuits. At Monaco earlier this year, Verstappen cut through the chicane (behind the Piscine) got airborne and lost traction and slammed the barriers exiting Turn 16.

Street circuits tend to be mean that way. Little chance to escape a mistake without suffering the consequences.

But not all grand prix circuits are street based, so what is the solution for permanent racing venues?

Juan Pablo Montoya enjoyed a high profile weekend in Mexico and during it he was asked his opinion regarding the track cutting saga.

The former F1 driver proposed, “Build a gravel bed and the debates ends.”

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo agrees, “I’m a fan of gravel. Because it punishes you, even if you do not get stuck. You then have stones on the tyre or in the coolers. This eliminates the advantage that the shortcut or the faster line [off-track] might bring you.”

Ricciardo was not happy after seeing his teammate and both Silver Arrows drivers taking advantage of the Turn 1 shortcut.

He said one the radio after the race, “What about all these guys out-braking themselves at the first chicane? I mean Lewis at the start and Max the same. Put a f*cking wall there and they will not do it. That’s bullshit guys. F*cking kindergarten stuff.”

After the race Ricciardo said of Hamilton’s first lap excursion, “If that was not an advantage then I do not know. If there is no punishment for it, everyone does it.”

Although gravel seems to be a logical solution, the FIA is not keen to explore this option for safety reasons. As soon as a n F1 car travels at speed over gravel it can dig in and a s result flip, cart-wheel or barrel roll.

Fernando Alonso’s accident during the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne was an example of what happens when an out of control car hits a gravel trap at high speed.

Nico Hülkenberg suggests that they “could also build a narrow lane of cones in the run-off area, as in Monza at the first chicane. If you go straight you have to weave you way through and you lose time appropriately.”

Track cutting prevention is a debate which will rage as long as nothing is in place to discourage drivers from doing so, because policing of transgressors by race stewards is clearly not working and inconsistent which only launches a myriad of conspiracy theories and harms the credibility of the sport.

Personally I would put down gravel at corners or areas where off track jaunts are discouraged and have repercussions. Sure it is dangerous but let’s face it motor racing is dangerous – it says so on the stickers – and why should walls be okay for some tracks such as Monaco, Motreal, Baku etc and gravel ok for the likes of Melbourne, Bahrain, Barcelona etc but not for others?

In the end this is a sporting matter which is the realm of FIA, so all there is to say is: over to you Mr Jean Todt…

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Audi WEC technical director Jorg Zander set to join Sauber

Audi's technical director in the World Endurance Championship is set to make a return to Sauber as part of the Swiss team's recruitment drive ahead of the 2017 season, following its recent takover by Longbow Finance.

Jorg Zander is expected to leave his position at Audi later this month, after it was confirmed the German manufacturer had cancelled its involvement in the WEC series as part of parent-company Volkswagen's decision to scale back its motorsport involvement following the emissions scandal.

Zander enjoyed a long and successful career in Formula 1, having worked at Toyota, Williams, Honda and Brawn GP among others, before leaving to set up his own engineering company in 2009. He later joined the Audi WEC team as technical director.

It's believed Sauber - where Zander held the position of chief designer during the BMW days - will confirm his return as it looks to replace recently departed technical director Mark Smith.

 Zander's signing would be one of many in recent months, including head of trackside engineering Xevi Pujolar, head of aerodynamics Nicolas Hennel de Beaupreau and ex-Ferrari and Haas strategist Ruth Buscombe.

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Haas wary of McLaren, Renault 2017 challenge

Haas need to make a “huge improvement” ahead of next year’s championship if they want a chance of keeping pace with McLaren and Renault, says chief race engineer Ayao Komatsu.

Although Haas were running inside the top five in the Constructors’ Championship in the early part of this season, progress by the likes of McLaren and Toro Rosso meant they have fallen down the order.

With 29 points in hand, 21 ahead of Renault, and just two races remaining this season, Haas look set to finish their first campaign in eighth place.

However, improving on P8, or even holding onto it, may be a difficult task next season.

“If you look at top three teams, they’re gone,” Komatsu told Motorsport.com. “Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, they’re gone. Then you got Force India, Williams, then you got McLaren, Toro Rosso, and then us.

“In terms of points we are behind Toro Rosso and McLaren, but in terms of competitiveness I think we’ve been quite close together. So it’s very close to be able to be P6, but with various things we are lacking or need improving as a new team, we are P8.

“But next year even trying to stay where we are is a huge challenge. Obviously McLaren-Honda, they’re going to have a huge improvement. They are a full works team. Honda engines are going to improve as well. I’m sure McLaren will do a good job.

“Toro Rosso, their aerodynamics is pretty good and they’re going to have a Renault engine next year. I’m sure Renault’s engine is going to be much better next year.

“Then we’re going to have the Renault works team, who are behind us at the moment in P9. But their improvements will be massive. So even to keep P8, we need to make a huge improvement.

“I don’t think I can sit here and say I’m confident about next year. I think we need to be humble. But we really need to understand the challenge for next year, even to stay where we are, is huge. Because we are not a works team.”

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Kevin Magnussen's Haas talks for F1 2017 normal - Renault

Renault team principal Frederic Vasseur believes it is normal that current driver Kevin Magnussen has held talks with Haas over a 2017 Formula 1 drive.

It emerged during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend that Haas had spoken with Magnussen, who is still in the running to remain at Renault alongside new signing Nico Hulkenberg for next year.

Renault has admitted it is evaluating several young drivers as well as Magnussen and his current team-mate Jolyon Palmer for next year, with a decision expected before the end of the season later this month.

On the subject of Magnussen's talks with Haas, Vasseur told Autosport: "Everybody is talking with everybody, that's life in the paddock.

"As long as I've not taken a decision then it's quite normal everybody is talking.

"We will make our own choice, like Gunther [Steiner, Haas team principal] will make his own choice and everybody will be happy."

Vasseur has dismissed Palmer's suggestion the fight for the second seat is simply a straight one between himself and Magnussen, and he has already said the high performances from all of the drivers under consideration for the drive is making the decision tough.

"I'm not considering the situation like this," he added.

"It's not a fight between Kev and Jo, or Jo and another one."

TEAM IMPROVEMENTS NOT ENOUGH

While Vasseur is happy with the level of progress Renault has achieved in its difficult first year back as a full constructor, he accepts it still has a long way to go.

"I am expecting us to score points, but if you have a look at the last six or seven races compared to the end of June, it was quite a tough moment, we were mainly at the back," he said.

"Now we are fighting with McLaren and Toro Rosso, and I feel we've made a big improvement.

"It's not enough, everyone in the team would like to be in better shape, but that's life.

"We have to be realistic, and we know where we are coming from, and we are improving step by step."

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FERNANDO ALONSO RANKS DANIEL RICCIARDO AS THE BEST CURRENT F1 DRIVER

Fernando Alonso reckons Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo is the best driver on the current Formula 1 grid.

The McLaren driver was asked by BBC 5 Live’s Chequered Flag podcast who he would rate as the top driver out of his rivals and Alonso picked Ricciardo, who is third in the 2016 championship and has won four F1 races since the start of the 2014 season.

“I would say Ricciardo right now because in the way he approaches racing he’s always very committed to everything he does,” said Alonso.

“On the track you cannot see any mistakes when you are together with him. In the overtaking manoeuvres probably he is the best out there. When he commits to one movement, 99 per cent [of the time] he will achieve the result that he wanted.”

Alonso highlighted Ricciardo’s pace in the 2014 season – where the Australian driver took three wins including one in Hungary where he overtook the Spaniard’s Ferrari late on in the race – as one of the reasons why he rates the 27-year-old so highly.

The double world champion also explained that he had been impressed by Ricciardo’s performances that season against his then Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel, who had won four straight F1 titles in the years preceding 2014.

He said: “Obviously in 2014 together with Vettel, it was an amazing performance that he showed and he was way ahead of Vettel in every single point – in the driving, in the approach, in the starts, in the pitstops, in the overtaking. He was beating Vettel so easily, so I have to say that he would be right now my choice.”

On hearing Alonso’s words, Ricciardo expressed his pleasure at being singled out for praise by the 32-time F1 winner and explained that he felt he had earned his rival’s trust during their on-track battles in 2014.

He said: “[It’s] pretty awesome I guess. I’m not going to lie, you can’t ignore a comment like that in terms of you can’t just say, ‘oh yeah, whatever’. Before I got to the sport he was already a double world champion and a guy [that] when I got to the sport I was like, ‘this is one of the big dogs’. In a way I guess someone you look up too because you look up to what they’ve achieved and you want to be like them [and] have that success.

“I feel liked I earned a lot of his respect and trust on-track in 2014. We had some good battles and I feel like since then we’ve got on pretty well and it’s cool that he thinks that. It’s nice that it’s been recognised by a bit of a legend of the sport.”

When asked if the positive respect from Alonso was mutual, Riccardo explained that while he was wary of praising a competitor too much, he did rank the McLaren racer as one of F1’s elite drivers.

He said: “You’re competing against these guys so you don’t want to give them too much credit, of course. But from the start when I came in respected all of the top guys in the sport, the guys that have won world championships, you have to respect that.

“I’ve always put him up in the top, very few, top drivers. Even [in] 2014, having the battles with him I had complete trust in him that he wasn’t going to take me out and I just felt that we had some good honest hard fights and for me that was supercool.”

In addition to his four Grand Prix victories – the most recent of which came at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix – Ricciardo has racked up 18 podium places for Red Bull after being promoted from Toro Rosso at the end of 2013.

He has also set eight fastest laps and scored his first F1 pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier this season.

Alonso, who celebrated the tenth anniversary of his second and most recent F1 world title last month, scored his last race win at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix and has not appeared on the podium since the 2014 event at the Hungaroring where he came close to holding off Ricciardo and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton for the victory.

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RAMIREZ: MCLAREN WILL LOSE ALONSO

McLaren stalwart Jo Ramirez believes the team he used to work for has been slow to progress since their reunion with Honda and this is not only costing the team in terms of sponsors abandoning ship, but they may also lose their ace driver Fernando Alonso.

Ramirez told AS newspaper, “McLaren’s evolution is good but it’s too slow. They are losing sponsors and will lose Alonso as well.”

“He is a winning driver and he has to win. I don’t believe he will tolerate more hardships next year. I do believe that he is near his limit.”

Asked if he saw a time in the future when McLaren would return to their winning ways, Ramirez said, “I am not sure, but of course I hope it will happen because the talent is there. But sponsors are leaving, because in the F1 business if you don’t win, it becomes difficult.”

“I believe that this season they should already have been fighting for the podium. They have to do everything in their power to improve, because next year is McLaren’s last chance.”

“I think they have a lot to work on in many areas, because I cannot think that it is all the fault of the power unit. Yes the engine is still not good, but I don’t think it’s the best chassis in the world.”

“So they have to work together, McLaren and Honda, as if they were a single team, and keep Alonso,” added Ramirez who was a close confidante of Ayrton Senna during during the first McLaren-Honda era which delivered so much in terms of victories and titles.

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Lewis Hamilton 'focused' on taking first Formula 1 win in Brazil

Lewis Hamilton says he is "focused" on taking his first Formula 1 victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, as he chases down team-mate Nico Rosberg in the fight for the title.

The British driver is 19 points behind Rosberg with two races remaining, having closed the gap with back-to-back victories in the USA and Mexico.

Hamilton says he is going to keep pushing to the bitter end, knowing that things can change very quickly in F1.

“It's a great feeling when you're able to show the kind of pace I've shown at the past two races,” he said.

“Everyone has worked so hard and the car has really been faultless. The speed has been there all season - I just haven't always had the opportunity to take advantage of it.

“In terms of the championship, it's an unusual scenario to be in - fighting for something and not knowing for sure that what you do will guarantee you're able to make it.

“One outcome would be painful and the other would be a great achievement. Regardless, I'm going to keep pushing.

“Since the beginning of my Formula 1 career I've seen that everything can change even at the very last moment, so you have to fight to the bitter end. I've never won in Brazil, so I go into this weekend focused on changing that.”

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Tost: Sauber’s 2017 engine decision a big disadvantage

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost has warned Sauber that their decision to run year-old Ferrari engines in 2017 will put them at a “big disadvantage.”

Without an engine supplier for this year’s championship, Toro Rosso returned to Ferrari power but run the Scuderia’s late-spec 2015 engines.

While that served them well at the start of the campaign, as the year progressed and the engine manufacturers updated their power units, Toro Rosso fell further down the order.

Despite witnessing their rival’s trials, Sauber have opted to run year-old Ferrari engines in the 2017 championship.

The team, which has yet to score a point this season, made the desire based on a need to focus on their chassis development in light of the new 2017 rules.

Tost, though, has warned they will be a huge disadvantage because of it.

“I don’t know all the reasons and background stories why Sauber decided to go with this year’s engine,” he said.

“I wouldn’t like to be in this situation because it’s a big disadvantage on the performance side to run with last year’s engine.

“From the regulation side, I think it should be kept open because a one year old engine is most-often cheaper than the newest specification.

“Therefore the regulation should allow it. From the performance side the team anyway is disadvantaged.”

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Mateschitz says Red Bull never considered quitting F1

Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz insists his energy drinks company never seriously considered quitting Formula 1 last year, despite its public fallout with Renault.

The soap opera surrounding Red Bull and its French manufacturer partner was one of the major talking points of the 2015 season, when relations broke down on the back of competitive struggles.

But despite the engine deal being terminated and Red Bull trying to get deals with Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda, in the end it had to go back to Renault for a deal that allows it to run rebranded TAG Heuer power units.

At the time there was talk that Red Bull could quit F1 if it could not get a competitive engine – but Mateschitz insists that its threats to leave were never too serious.

"Really, we never thought about it," said Mateschitz in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca on Monday.

"Although, in theory, there were always circumstances that could have made us go down that route, like for example, the obvious case of not having been able to secure a power unit supplier."

     

Verstappen like Senna

Red Bull has turned around its fortunes over the past 12 months, winning two races so far this year, and is now tipped to be Mercedes' main challenge for the title in 2017.

Mateschitz also expressed his delight at the way that Max Verstappen has progressed – and thinks he has the potential to become as big in F1 as former champion Ayrton Senna

When asked if he was the like the famous Brazilian, Mateschitz said: "If you consider his natural talent, his mental strength and the courage he has shown in the races, then yes.

"But he also needs to be capable of keeping his speed, his skills and his strength up for a period of several years. Nobody knows if that will happen, but we believe he has the potential."

Mateschitz also believes that Toro Rosso's Sainz has great promise – as he explained why the energy drinks company did not want to let the youngster go for next year.

"Carlos is a great sportsman, with a great personality, charisma and talent," he said.

"His problem is that with Max and Daniel we already have two great drivers at Red Bull and the performance of the Toro Rosso is not strong enough to challenge the leading drivers at Mercedes and Red Bull.

"I firmly believe that it will be good for Carlos to stay with our rookie team next another year, especially since we hope to improve significantly the performance of the car."

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Manor says losing both drivers not a big worry

Manor racing director Dave Ryan insists he would not be too worried if the team were to lose both Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon next year.

Both drivers are contracted to Mercedes and have been linked with drives elsewhere, including Force India and Renault, who are yet to complete their 2017 line-ups.

As both Ocon and Wehrlein - in their debut F1 season - are sub-contracted to Manor, the team's line-up is essentially in Mercedes' hands.

But Ryan says that nurturing young drivers to prepare them for another team is not generating any frustration for Manor.

"It's not frustrating in any way, shape or form," Ryan told Motorsport.com. "It's really nice working with young guys who come on board with great ambition and huge desire to progress and be champions.

"And to be a little part of that along the way is pretty nice. I think it's great.

"We loved having Pascal and Esteban as part of the team and have them along for the ride. They've contributed massively.

"If they ended elsewhere then that's how it goes, you know, and we would have two replacement drivers who I'm sure would work really well with the team as well."

Ryan reckons both drivers have a bright future in Formula 1 after seeing how they have performed this year.

"They are both brilliant," he added. "They are both very talented, both got a great future in the sport.

"And I'm sure they will be in Formula 1 for quite some time."

Ocon joined the team when he replaced Rio Haryanto in the Belgian Grand Prix and, despite having just seven races under his belt, Ryan admits he has been very impressed by the Frenchman.

"It's quite incredible, you know. The first time he sat in our car was at the first practice session in Spa," he said.

"After his first couple of runs it was quite evident that he's quite at home in a Formula 1 car and very, very capable. And he's gone on to show that."

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Liberty F1 deal facing UK anti-competition investigation

Liberty Media's planned acquisition of Formula 1 is to face an investigation by Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ensure it does not breach anti-cartel laws.

The CMA announced on Monday that it is considering whether or not Liberty's plans to control grand prix racing are in line with Britain's anti-competition legislation – laid down in the Enterprise Act 2002.

A statement of the government department's website said: "The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if, so, whether the creation of that situation has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services."

Interested parties that have concerns that Liberty's involvement in F1 will lessen competition in the UK have been asked to submit their claims by November 21.

The CMA said that the deadline then for a decision on whether or not the Liberty Media would face a more formal investigation would be made on January 5, 2017.

Liberty Media announced an $8 billion (USD) deal earlier this year to buy all of F1 holding company's Delta Topco's shares in the sport.

"The transaction price represents an enterprise value for Formula 1 of $8bn and an equity value of $4.4bn," Liberty Media confirmed in a statement that said it was initially taking an 18.7 percent stake in grand prix racing.

At the time, the American company said that completion of the deal was subject to certain conditions – which included 'clearances and approvals by antitrust and competition law authorities in various countries'.

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Hamilton opens up on heartbreak after Brawn's Mercedes split

Lewis Hamilton says he and Mercedes owes huge gratitude to Ross Brawn for his foundation work before the team's era of F1 dominance and also reveals how he shares the celebrations with the former team boss. 

After signing for Mercedes ahead of the 2013 season, Hamilton confessed Brawn's direct involvement and presence became one the major factors for his decision to leave McLaren. 

By the end of his first season with the German manufacturer, it was clear Brawn would be heading for the exit after managerial disputes with Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda - something which hit Hamilton hard. 

“I was sad to see him leave because when I joined the team part of the decision process was that he was a part of the team, then obviously he left shortly afterwards, which was not great,” Hamilton said. “I think what he built over the years is what we are now standing on top of and succeeding upon, so he really helped build a platform, build the foundations and I'm appreciative. 

“I loved working with Ross. I grew up watching Formula One with Ross at Ferrari and then the next thing you know I'm in my mum's kitchen having a cup of tea with him, he's come to visit me to talk about joining the team and how he would love for me to drive for them. I felt very honoured that he had wanted me. 

“Working with him was great, he created a really good atmosphere, very approachable for everyone. I think everyone was really relaxed with him.” 

Hamilton says he regularly pays tribute to Brawn for his architectural role in his world championship success with Mercedes, having claimed back-to-back F1 world titles, and tries to include the former boss in the celebrations. 

“When we've won the championships I've generally tried to share it with him because he worked for years without having championships and then finally we had them,” he said. “Generally the bosses don't improve you as a driver but they give you an opportunity for you to grow and that's definitely something that Ross was a part of.” 

Brawn had been rumoured to become Bernie Ecclestone's successor as head of F1 in the near future but the 61-year-old has since denied this, preferring to reiterate his ambition of returning to the sport in a strategic role rather than with a team or as Ecclestone's direct replacement. Brawn is currently completing consultancy work for new F1 owners Liberty Media. 

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MERCEDES PREVIEW THE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX

The 2016 Formula One World Championship season continues this weekend with Round 20, the Brazilian Grand Prix, from São Paulo.

Nico Rosberg: “Mexico wasn’t ideal. I was going for the win as always but Lewis was just a little bit faster all weekend. Sometimes you just have to accept that and be satisfied with your work. I’m not going to change my approach. I need to keep doing what helps me perform at my best and that’s going for the win every time. There are still two races to go and anything can happen in this sport, so I need to focus my energy on the factors that I have in my control. I’ve got good form in São Paulo. It’s one of the real classic tracks, which usually produce some exciting races, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and having a big battle in front of those awesome Brazilian fans.

Lewis Hamilton: “It’s a great feeling when you’re able to show the kind of pace I’ve shown at the past two races. Everyone has worked so hard and the car has really been faultless. The speed has been there all season – I just haven’t always had the opportunity to take advantage of it. In terms of the Championship, it’s an unusual scenario to be in – fighting for something and not knowing for sure that what you do will guarantee you’re able to make it. One outcome would be painful and the other would be a great achievement. Regardless, I’m going to keep pushing. Since the beginning of my Formula One career I’ve seen that everything can change even at the very last moment, so you have to fight to the bitter end. I’ve never won in Brazil, so I go into this weekend focused on changing that.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “Mexico brought us the best possible result from a race which was far from straightforward. It also leaves us with a fascinating scenario heading to Brazil. For Nico, all this talk of just needing to finish second in order to make it to the end is over. He has it in his hands. If he wins the race in Brazil, he is Champion. We’ve seen many races, particularly in the second half of this season, where he has coped well under pressure. But, mentally, I think this new situation is actually a bit easier in terms of tackling the situation with a little less pressure, as he still has another chance in Abu Dhabi. Equally, Lewis knows what he must do to keep his title hopes alive. He will never back down and that’s what makes him one of the great ones. He has three Championships and 51 victories under his belt – and no matter the outcome this year, we all know there will be more to come. It’s a really interesting dynamic and great for the fans. As a team, we will do all in our power to provide both with the opportunities they need. We’re maxed out on performance, as is normal at the end of a regulation cycle, and when that happens everything becomes more marginal. This is where we find ourselves right now, so we must remain focused on every last detail.”

Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical): “The Drivers’ Championship is getting very exciting with only two races to go. That’s the big focus of everyone’s thoughts and, as usual, we will do our very best to treat this as a normal race – approaching the weekend with the highest levels of discipline and an overriding objective to ensure we provide both drivers with the best equipment for a fair competition. Interlagos is a great track – quite a short lap, with a lot of elevation changes. Similar to Mexico City although not to the same extreme, São Paulo has slightly lower air pressure than the normal ambient, which has an effect on drag. The race weekend is also often affected by rain, which can make it an extremely challenging few days both on and off track. Another interesting feature of this circuit is the long run up the hill from the final corner to the first, which provides a good overtaking opportunity. It’s not easy to pass there but it’s definitely possible, which usually leads to close racing and some bold moves through that particular sequence. In fact, this venue has seen many dramatic moments over the years – including a number of Championship finales. The Brazilian crowds are highly passionate and enthusiastic, so overall we look forward to another entertaining race weekend.”

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RENAULT PREVIEW THE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX

Renault preview the Brazilian Grand Prix, Round 20 of the 2016 Formula 1 World Championship, at Interlagos in Sao Paulo.

Foreword by Cyril Abiteboul, managing director

Brazil is the penultimate race in our first season as a full factory entry in Formula 1. As many in the paddock ask at this time of year, where did all the season go?

Mexico was another fabulous event with strong passions displayed on track and off. In terms of our performance it was a weekend of mixed emotions. The potential was there, as we saw from Kevin’s strong qualifying performance and Jolyon’s strong race from the back of the field. There was also frustration too; Kevin’s race was more muted and Jolyon missing qualifying was never part of the plan! As always, we’re investigating these areas so we learn and make progress from them.

Brazil is a tremendously important country for Renault; historically it’s our second biggest market in the world. We have a significant factory in Curitiba where over 4000 people are employed. The facility is named the Ayrton Senna Complex and sees the production of Logan, Sandero, Duster, Oroch, Mégane II and Master III models. Significantly for Renault Sport, the Sandero RS was designed for Latin America and is helping to establish our performance arm in this crucial region.

Globally, sales of Renault Sport cars have increased by 30% over the past twelve months with the new Mégane GT and Twingo GT both proving to be big successes, especially in Europe. This is great news for the Renault Sport brand and it motivates us all to push harder still in our motorsport programme.

For Brazil, as ever, we want to see both cars in the points to cement our progress. There’s much more to come for 2017, but we still want to end this first season in the best way possible.

Maximum Extraction

Making the absolute most of what we’ve got is Team Principal Fred Vasseur’s target for the penultimate race of the season.

What do you expect from the next race in Brazil?
Fred Vasseur: We are seeing for a while now that we have made a step up in terms of performance regardless of the circuit we are visiting, so that is encouraging. We are seeing that the gaps in the midfield are getting smaller all the time and it’s up to us now to put it all together in terms of set-up, tyre management, and extract everything possible from the potential of the car.

What do you want to see from the last two races of the year?
FV: I expect further progress on track as we continue to extract the maximum from the R.S.16. There are still areas that we can work on to improve the overall team performance whether it is pit stops, set-up work or tyre management. I know that the team is completely focussed on that and it’s good to see their motivation.

The 2017 wheels and tyres are considerably bigger than the current ones: aside from performance, what are the implications for the team?
FV: It’s true that it will require a bit of a different set-up! The crew will certainly have to focus their training in this area as the tyres will be heavier and we’ll also need different equipment ranging from racks to tyre blankets. We will need to conduct a lot of pit stop practice – as we always do – as the rear tyres are significantly wider as well as heavier. It’s going to take some time to adapt, but that is always part of the challenge of Formula 1. We’ll pay a considerable amount of attention to this before the first race of 2017.

What’s the plan for the off-season?
FV: 2017 is a big challenge: we have a new technical challenge with the changed regulations and it will be the first car we produce under our new regime. There is a real excitement about the new car and the factory has some very busy months ahead producing it. There is a big unknown for next year as everyone is creating their new cars in isolation and we won’t know how we compare until we hit the track at the first test in Barcelona. That is part of the excitement in this industry. We can’t wait to be out on track for the first day of testing to get a feel of where we are at. But, until then, we have the two final races of 2016 and, rest assured, we’ll push all the way on track in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

Lucky number 20

As the Formula One calendar enters into its 20th race, our number 20 – Kevin Magnussen – gives his thoughts on the prestigious Interlagos circuit.

What do you make of the historic Brazilian Grand Prix?
Kevin Magnussen: Brazil is a legendary weekend. It’s got so much about it, many of my idols have raced at Interlagos in the past. In my childhood it was always the last race so it had that championship presiding feeling about it. I think it’s unfortunate that it’s not the last race anymore as it feels like it should be but it’s still a fantastic weekend nonetheless.

How do you find the anticlockwise Interlagos circuit itself?
KM: I know a lot about the circuit and it’s one of those famous places that’s so ingrained in Formula 1 history. It’s a short lap, it has a go-kart feeling to it as you are having to turn all the time and it flows quite nicely. Interlagos, like Austin, is one of only a few circuits that run anti-clockwise, so it’s cool that these two races are close together on the calendar.

What sort of mind set do you approach it with?
KM: From the first corner onwards, it’s a really exciting circuit and there are quite a few overtaking opportunities, especially in the first sector. It’s a real driver’s track and pretty bumpy all the way round, so set up will be crucial to getting the most out of a lap. The South American fans love their Formula 1 too, so I’m excited about getting out there. But, as a driver, Brazil is another race and we’ll give everything we have to come away with a decent result for the team.

It must be quite special to walk down the Senna esses!
KM: The first time you go there it’s a really cool experience as you’ve seen it on television so many times and watched the films of the likes of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. It has a lot of history and that makes it a very special weekend. It’s one of those unique places which makes it a good experience to race.

The Brazilians are known for their carnival atmosphere; do you notice that from the cockpit?
KM: They are very patriotic and always cheering for the drivers, especially for Massa or the other Brazilians. It’s like that everywhere you go, though. Mexico was good for that too, both countries are very cheerful so that makes it very fun to go to and enjoy.

Viva Brazil

Jolyon Palmer is aiming for a positive end to the season and hopes a fast, sweeping Interlagos track can propel him into the points.

You had a solid race in Mexico, does that put you in good stead for Brazil?
Jolyon Palmer: I’m feeling good for Brazil as it should just carry on the good momentum that we’ve had in the second half the year. It was a shame not to qualify last time out as we could have shown even better improvement. One of my best grid spots was in prospect, but we made up for it in the race. The race pace has been good for a long time now, qualifying pace has been good too. We had some decent battles with the McLarens in Mexico, so I think we can be pretty confident going into Brazil.

So Interlagos shouldn’t present any difficulties?
JP: The car is getting better every round still, and I’m driving pretty well and getting more and more out of it, so I think that combined with the fact Brazil is a nice track, means I’m hopeful for a positive weekend.

What do you think of the track?
I did FP1 there last season. I was quite new to the car but I actually really enjoyed it. It’s an interesting layout and I was pretty competitive. It’s a legendary circuit which has a fantastic atmosphere. It’s anticlockwise so you have a lot of fast left-handers which we’re not so used to! I quite like turn one and two, the Senna esses, it’s a good combination of corners. It’s good for overtaking but also easy to lock-up at the end of that straight heading into the downhill left-hander. The inside wheel is particularly unweighted as you’re braking and starting your turn-in, because of the camber of the corner. If you get it right here, you can have a decent advantage against a rival. There have been many interesting races here in the past, I remember Hamilton winning the title at the last corner and the 2012 race as well, where Vettel won too.

There are two races left, what do you hope to achieve from them?
The season has gone so quickly. We just have to give it our all. I’d love to get another points finish before the year is out, so I will be pushing for that all the way for the final two races.

Is there anything in Sao Paolo that you’d like to see or do?
I didn’t see so much of the city last year, but I like Brazil, the main thing is the passion of the crowd they always seem to bring a good, party vibe. It’s also renowned for its food and drink. I’ll probably grab some steak, especially after the race!

Keeping Pace

Tight and twisty, yet with a whopping long straight, it’s not just the unpredictable weather which gives the engineers something to think about in Interlagos, explains Technical Director Nick Chester.

What’s notable about the Autódromo José Carlos Pace?
Nick Chester: It’s an anticlockwise clockwise circuit with varying gradient and situated at quite high altitude, but not as extreme as Mexico. São Paulo is around 800 metres above sea level whereas Mexico City was over 2000, so you lose a little bit of downforce, but nothing compared to the last race. It is quite a challenging circuit to set up for because of the contrasting needs of the twisty infield and the long straight. We would like to run maximum downforce for more grip in the twisty bits, but you need to be as drag-free as possible to maximise your speed on the long straight.

What’s the circuit like on the tyres?
NC: It’s hard to generate grip at Interlagos so it won’t be too easy on the tyres. We will have the Pirelli soft, medium and hard compounds available but we don’t expect to see too much use of the hards. The track is bumpier than some of the smooth circuits we have visited recently so this will affect our mechanical set-up.

What type of work can still be done on the cars at this stage of the season?
NC: Whilst most of the focus is now on 2017, we carry on doing more work on tyre management, as all teams do. It’s still a challenge as they are tricky beasts to get working in the right range so there’s more we can do and learn. We also continue work on set-ups and set-up experiments. We’ll carry on with those as they generate data that we will be able to use next year.

How would you sum up the Mexico race?
NC: Jolyon drove a good race going from the back of the grid to fourteenth place with a huge stint on the medium set of tyres. He did his pit stop on lap 1 and did 69 laps thereafter on the same set. He put up a good fight against the McLarens, even if in the end he couldn’t quite keep them behind. For Kevin, it was a trickier race. He had a pretty good start and had a good stint on the soft tyres. At the pit stop, we put the medium set on the car and he lost a bit of pace. For his last stint he was on the super softs and he did enough to get ahead of the Haas cars and the Toro Rossos. His feedback was that he wasn’t happy with the balance of the car and it looks like he’d lost some downforce at the rear which we are investigating ahead of Brazil.

There are only two races left of the season, what are your thoughts going into them?
NC: We have proved that we are able to capitalise on any given opportunity during the races so our aim is to continue to do that and finish the final two Grands Prix in the points.

Circuit notes

T1: A tricky downhill turn at the end of a long straight, the nature of the first corner makes it easy for drivers to out-brake themselves. Turn 1 is the hardest stop of the circuit as the cars arrive at over 330kph and drop to just 110kph on entry.

T2: It’s important to get a good exit from Turn 1; carrying the momentum on through Turn 2 into the high speed Turn 3 and subsequently to the first DRS straight.

T4: The first DRS zone along the back straight presents a good overtaking opportunity heading into Turn 4, which along with Turns 5, 6 and 7 is quite high speed before entering in to the lower speed Turn 8. From T2 to the entry for T6 the driver is at full throttle for 17 secs, with just a dab on the brakes through Turn 4.

The MGU-K can recover energy through the short corners, notably Turn 1, 8 and 10.

T8: Flat kerbs through the low speed Turns 8 and 10 allow drivers a degree of freedom in their apex point.

T12: Turn 12 is crucial for a quick lap, with exit speed defining how fast you can charge up the hill and along the start / finish straight. The ICE will be straining on the edge of its power as the elevation change is just shy of 40m from the exit of Turn 12 to the braking point of Turn 1.

Start-finish: A second DRS zone – running for 500m along the start/finish straight – boosts what is already a good spot for overtaking.

Power Unit notes

• Interlagos sits in the upper bracket for ICE difficulty. The circuit may be short, but the long, uphill pit straight takes up a considerable percentage of the lap. The driver will be at full pedal travel for around 15secs, around 25% distance, or 20% of the overall lap time.
• Interlagos sits 800m above sea level. Until the Mexican GP it was the highest race of the year by a long way, but now seems low by comparison to the giddy heights of Mexico City! The turbo will be spinning at a much higher speed to generate the same power as a sea level event, rotating at very close to its maximum. But, having worked reliably at the 2,200m Mexican GP, Interlagos is no longer the sternest test of the year.
• Due to the long periods of full throttle, the MGU-H has ample opportunity to recover lost exhaust energy. However, energy recovery is not necessarily critical as fuel consumption is relatively low due to the high altitude and lower air density.

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MARCHIONNE: THE GOAL IS TO BE COMPETITIVE AGAIN IN 2017

Fiat managing director and Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has toned down his bluster with regards to the expectations he has for his team and toning down his expectations for next season.

Speaking on the occasion of the publication of Ferrari’s quarterly figures, he said, “The goal is to be competitive again in 2017. We are not satisfied with the results, but we want to end the season as well as possible.”

A modest statement says a great deal about the situation that Ferrari are in currently. They have yet to win a race this season and are unlikely to do so despite the early season rhetoric and expectations from Marchionne.

The Reds have not been victorious for 25 races and Marcionne was forced to confess in September, “There is nothing to gloss over – we missed our targets for the 2016 season. I think we have started well in Australia, since we were not far from Mercedes, but then we could not as hoped, the development was too little. ”

On the business front Ferrari are thriving according to third quarter figures presented by Marchionne: between June and September sales of €783 million (8.3 percent growth), with a net profit of €113 million (20 percent growth). An annual turnover of more than €850 million is the target.

At Monza earlier this year, Marchionne conceded, “Maybe we waited too long to transfer our technical management to Mattia Binotto. However, we are now better positioned for the future, great developments have been launched and I have every confidence in my team that we will make 2017 better. We will see the real Ferrari then.”

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WOLFF: NICO HAS IT IN HIS HANDS BUT LEWIS WON’T BACK DOWN

With his two drivers vying for the 2016 Formula 1 world championship, Toto Wolff admits that Nico Rosberg can wrap up the title at the Brazilian Grand Prix but at the same time believes that it anyone can stop the German it is reigning champion Lewis Hamilton.

If Rosberg wins the penultimate race at Interlagos this weekend he will be champion irrespective of where Hamilton finishes. Anything less and the title will be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking ahead of the weekend in Sao Paulo, Wolff said, “For Nico, all this talk of just needing to finish second in order to make it to the end is over. He has it in his hands. If he wins the race in Brazil, he is champion.”

“We’ve seen many races, particularly in the second half of this season, where he has coped well under pressure. But, mentally, I think this new situation is actually a bit easier in terms of tackling the situation with a little less pressure, as he still has another chance in Abu Dhabi.”

Hamilton trails Rosberg by 19 points and effectively the title outcome is out of his hands, and he has to simply win all remaining races and hope that fate is kind to him and cruel to Rosberg.

Toto explained, “Lewis knows what he must do to keep his title hopes alive. He will never back down and that’s what makes him one of the great ones.”

“He has three championships and 51 victories under his belt – and no matter the outcome this year, we all know there will be more to come.

“It’s a really interesting dynamic and great for the fans. As a team, we will do all in our power to provide both with the opportunities they need,” concluded Wolff.

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MCLAREN PREVIEW THE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX

There have been two iterations of the Interlagos circuit. When it first hosted the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1973, it was a 7.960km/4.946-mile roller-coaster ride around the side of the natural bowl in which the track is located.

It was shortened and modernised following a $15 million injection in the late ’80s and the current layout has staged the Brazilian Grand Prix every year since 1990.

What makes it unique
Bumps. The track was built on marshland between two lakes, hence the name ‘Interlagos’, and its soft foundations mean bumps appear over time. The track was re-surfaced two years ago, but the new surface is already becoming increasingly bumpy.

Grip levels
High. The cars immediately circulated close to lap record pace when the new asphalt was laid two years ago and grip levels improve over time when small cracks appear in the surface. The drivers are expecting good levels of grip this weekend.

Run-off
Medium. The proximity of surrounding roads and houses means it hasn’t been possible to push back the barriers as far as might be conventional at a new circuit. But there’s ample run-off at the fastest points on the lap – on the approaches to Turns One and Four.

Watch out for…
Changeable weather conditions. Should it rain, the undulating nature of the circuit means rivers form very quickly at various points around the lap. The depth of water is particularly bad at the exit of Turn Three, where lots of cars have spun off in the past.

The drivers on: the circuit

Fernando Alonso: “I think every racing driver enjoys racing at Interlagos. It’s obviously a special place, and we saw at the last race just how important it is to have packed grandstands full of passionate fans – and Brazil is no different. For such a short lap, the track has a great flow – from the moment you cross the start-finish line, you plunge into the esses and then sweep down into the bottom of the venue’s natural bowl. Even with a couple of hairpins, it doesn’t really feel like any of the corners interrupt the flow around here, which means that, at the end of each lap, you’re already fully committed to attacking it again. I love this place.”
“Sitting on the grid ahead of the race is one of those unique Formula 1 sensations: the crowd seems to loom over you; really in your face, very close. The atmosphere and intensity are always amazing. After a disappointing weekend in Mexico, I think we’ll be looking to bounce back in Brazil. One of our aims will be to make the most of practice and qualifying, and give ourselves the best chance of maintaining a better position during the race.”

Jenson Button: “The Interlagos circuit has a bit of – how can I put it? – ‘muscle’. It’s a place that you really attack – and it’s really enjoyable, particularly when the front-end is properly nailed. A corner like Ferradura is really satisfying when you get it right; you really commit at the corner entry, barely scrubbing off any speed, and then sort of guide the car through until it rolls out of the second apex up onto the apex kerb. It’s great. Even the hairpins require a really attacking style, you can take lots of kerb, and there’s no run-off at the exits. It’s how a racetrack should be, really.”
“I love Interlagos and I’m really excited about the weekend. There’s been some absolutely classic Formula 1 races there and it’s always a good climax toward the end of the season. I hope we can have a better result there than we did in Mexico and work towards getting back into the points. There’s only two races left so we’ll be giving it our all for the awesome Brazilian fans. The atmosphere at Interlagos is always something special, so we’ll go out there and show them a great weekend of racing.”

Eric Boullier, McLaren-Honda Racing Director: “Over the past few races, we’ve seen that our form has fluctuated due to a variety of circuit-specific characteristics. We’re working hard to iron out these differences from track-to-track, but it’s inevitable that some circuits will suit our package’s strengths better than others.
“Interlagos is a real test of car and driver and often we see the best drivers shine there. It demands a lot from them, and at this time of year the circuit is notorious for tricky driving conditions if it rains, especially on the many off-camber areas of the track.
“Along with the backdrop of São Paulo, the incredibly enthusiastic Brazilian fans and the undulating nature of the circuit all make for great racing and one of the most exciting grands prix of the year. McLaren has seen a great deal of success in Brazil – both Fernando and Jenson clinched their world titles there – and it’s a special place for our team. Interlagos rightfully deserves its legendary status on the calendar and we’re aiming for a positive weekend at this incredible venue.”

Yusuke Hasegawa, Honda R&D Co Ltd Head of F1 Project & Executive Chief Engineer: “The Brazilian Grand Prix is always a special place for Honda due to our history with the great Ayrton Senna. We receive a warm welcome from the local fans every time we go there and that has always been the power that fuels us over the weekend.
“The classic track at Interlagos, however, is a challenging one. The swooping corners and the consecutive quick elevation changes make for beautiful scenery, but these turns ask a lot of the car balance. The track is also narrow, and the infield section is slow and twisty, so overtaking is always going to be difficult.
“Last year, we made more noise in qualifying with Fernando on social media than we did on the track. This year, we know that we can show our progress to our fans in Brazil with a better performance, and we’re hoping for a good weekend of racing.”

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WILLIAMS PREVIEW THE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX

It may be one of the shortest tracks on the Formula One calendar, but the 4.3km Autódromo José Carlos Pace presents a number of challenges to teams.

It combines a long sweeping start/finish straight with a tricky infield section, so choosing the right setup compromise is paramount. The high altitude (800m) leaves the power units feeling breathless, whilst the bumps and undulations keep the drivers on their toes.

The Brazilian crowd always gives their countrymen a raucous reception, especially Felipe, who will be chasing a sixth podium at his home race, and the penultimate grand prix of his Formula One career.

For Brazil, Pirelli have made available the hard, medium and soft tyres.

Pat Symonds: “We are expecting very poor weather in the lead up to the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend with a chance of showers on both Saturday and Sunday. We are hoping it will be dry, however we could see a situation similar to 2013 when the first real dry running we had was on race day. Interestingly, Pirelli have gone one step harder than last year, as opposed to going a step softer as normally happens, so we have the hard, medium and soft compounds available; the first time we’ve had that combination since 2013. Generally, we expect a two-stop race irrespective of tyre choice. In qualifying the laptime is very low, probably approaching 70 seconds this year, and so this leads to a very close grid where hundredths of a second really count. As a circuit it is quite sensitive to mechanical grip, more so even than downforce, although good aerodynamic performance counts in the middle sector. Whilst straight-line speed is important for overtaking, the preferred pass into turn one comes largely from getting a good exit from turn twelve.”

Valtteri Bottas: “First of all, I think this is going to be such a cool race for Felipe as he is retiring and it’s going to be his last home race. I hope we can do well there and that he enjoys the weekend. Last year we did a good race and picked up some decent points. Brazilian fans are also always really passionate about Formula One. There is a nice combination of different types of corners on the track and it’s quite technical. The new tarmac that was laid there a couple of years ago has made it very grippy since, so I really enjoy racing at this track.”

Felipe Massa: “Interlagos is home. It’s the place that I grew up. It will be emotional racing there for the final time on such an amazing track. I’m looking forward to enjoying every single lap and hopefully I can manage to finish the race with a good result. I have won twice at Interlagos and have finished on the podium many times over the years and I hope we can get another one. It won’t be easy, but I will do everything I can for my people and for Brazil in my last race at home.”

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FORCE INDIA PREVIEW THE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX

Image credit Sahara Force India Formula One Team. 

Force India preview the Brazilian Grand Prix, Round 20 of the 2016 Formula 1 World Championship, at Interlagos in Sao Paulo.

Vijay Mallya on Brazil

VJM: “Our strong showing in Mexico proved how competitive we are at the moment and gives us further encouragement for this weekend’s race in Sao Paulo. We’ve had some good memories from Brazil over the years and it’s a circuit that has staged some special races – often helped by wet weather.

“It’s a very important weekend for us as we reach crunch time in our battle for fourth place in the championship. With two races to go and a nine-point advantage, every point becomes potentially decisive. We need to be at the top of our game to ensure we finish the job we have done so well all year.”

Sergio Perez on Brazil

Sergio: “Brazil is a very welcoming country and it shares a lot with Mexico. The people, the culture, the food – there’s so much that Sao Paulo can offer.

“The track is very complex to master and has some tricky corners. It’s one of the few anti-clockwise layouts, which makes it harder from a physical point of view, especially for the neck. It’s a race where there’s always some external factor playing a big role, whether it’s the weather or something else: races at Interlagos tend to be special.

“It’s a very short lap – it almost feels like driving a kart circuit with a Formula One car! Because the lap is short, you can easily lose a lot of positions with a small mistake. You have to be precise in every single corner and aim for the perfect lap. You need a car that is stable at the rear, with no understeer so that you can make the most of all the changes of direction.

“You cannot race in Brazil without thinking about Senna. He is a legend for most of us driving in F1 and his presence is felt everywhere at the circuit.”

Nico Hulkenberg on Brazil

Nico: “I have lots of good memories from Brazil: it’s where I got a pole position in my debut year in 2010 and where I had one of my best days in 2012. That was a very special race, leading for 40 laps in mixed conditions. It was exciting from the lights: it was dry, then it started to drizzle and some people stopped for intermediate tyres, but I stayed out, took a risk and made it work. It was a special experience and one of my best performances to date.

“I feel really comfortable and happy in Sao Paulo. The lifestyle of the Brazilian people really attracts me: the vibe of the city is great and I love the food too. I think feeling at ease somewhere plays a big part in performing well, so I am looking forward to this weekend.

“There is a lot of history at Interlagos and it’s an enjoyable track to drive. My highlight is the second sector: it’s twisty and technical, and a challenge to get it just right. The Senna Esses are an interesting corner combination as well – you can easily ruin a lap very early on if you get them wrong.

“The weather changes very quickly in Sao Paulo – the clouds come up to the track all of a sudden and hit us, which makes for some crazy weather and some crazy races, which is something I quite enjoy!”

 

[MIKA27]

Haas to try new brake manufacturer during Brazilian GP practice

The Haas F1 team will try a new brake manufacturer during practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix in an attempt to overcome the brake issues it has been experiencing this season.

The team have suffered numerous retirements through brake failure and believe the disc and pad materials supplied by Brembo could be to blame. Therefore they will trial a different manufacturer in practice before making a final decision on which to use in the race.

"We will conduct a test in either FP1 or FP2 with a different brake manufacturer," explained team principal Guenther Steiner.

"It is a test to see how the other material reacts and how the drivers like it or don’t like it. We will try to find out as much as possible in the short time we have available."

The team will also trial the Halo cockpit protection device for the first time, meaning they have a lot to complete across the two 90-minute sessions.

"We are planning to run it with Romain in FP1 in Brazil. We’ll get his feedback and provide it to the FIA. 

"There needs to be more testing done and we’re happy to contribute. Even though the halo won’t be introduced next year, it’s a step toward finding a device that provides protection but also allows drivers to get in and out of the car quickly."