FORMULA 1 - 2016

[MIKA27]

Singapore doesn't want a Formula 1 race anymore - Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone believes Singapore will dump its Formula 1 race once its current contract expires next season.

There had been speculation that Singapore race organisers were considering scrapping the race, having achieved their goal of boosting tourism to the country.

Ecclestone said he wouldn't be susprised if that was the case, given the same thing happens with manufacturers and will likely see current champions Mercedes quit "one day", despite the huge success they're currently enjoying.

"It could happen to us that Mercedes and Ferrari leave," Ecclestone is quoted as saying by Auto Motor und Sport. "But honestly, if the racing gets better, that may not be such a terrible situation.

"We have to expect the manufacturers to leave us. Mercedes will retire on the day it suits them and it’s something we have had before – look at Honda, BMW and Toyota.

They go when Formula 1 has done the job for them. There is no gratitude."

Although Singapore is one of F1's most recent success stories, boosting the economy there by more than $110 million annually according to government sources, it has now achieved what organisers set out to do, and that will lead to the country dropping off the calendar according to the 86-year-old.

"It is the same with the organisers. Look at what we've done for Singapore. Yes, the race has cost Singapore a lot of money, but we’ve also made them a lot of money.

"Singapore was suddenly more than just an airport to fly to or from somewhere. Now they believe they have reached their goal and they do not want a grand prix anymore."

[MIKA27]

Ross Brawn fears 2017 rules will lead to one team dominating again

Ross Brawn fears the introduction of major regulation changes next season will only lead to more of the same, whereby one team gets it right and dominates, whilst the others spend two or three seasons playing catch up.

That has happened on several occasions, recently with Brawn and Red Bull and now with Mercedes. The Anglo-German outfit has won 50 of the 58 races since the introduction of the hybrid-V6 power unit and only now are its rivals beginning to catch up.

Brawn suspects that will happen again, and whilst it might not be Mercedes that is leading, it will inevitably be one of the major teams.

""What you may well see next year is somebody takes an interpretation of the regulations, gets ahead of the game and has a big advantage," Brawn told ESPN. "I don't know who that might be, but you could easily see someone disappearing [into the distance]."

The Briton suggests leaving the regulations stable for a longer period of time would do the spectacle some good.

"I think the reality is the longer you leave the regulations the same, the closer the teams get - and you are starting to see that now. Mercedes is still winning but people are starting to nip at their heels and more time with the same regulations would make that even closer I'm sure."

Brawn is also concerned by the new rules themselves. Whilst they're likely to achieve the targeted five-second per lap improvement, it won't necessarily lead to better racing.

"To drive that car at maximum speed for 50, 60 or 70 laps is going to be very challenging for the drivers. Therefore, I think you'll see more variation during a race of drivers fatiguing and losing performance - that will be a positive element.

"[But] most of the performance gain appears to be from aerodynamic benefits and I'm always a little bit nervous about that because of the relationship between the cars on the track.

"The more aerodynamic performance you create, the more sensitive you are to the wake of the car in front. It's not always the case, because the aerodynamics can be profiled and shaped and managed to reduce that impact, but inherently that is the case. So I hope these regulations aren't going to impact the ability of these cars to race together."

MIKA:

Quote

 "What you may well see next year is somebody takes an interpretation of the regulations, gets ahead of the game and has a big advantage," Brawn told ESPN. "I don't know who that might be, but you could easily see someone disappearing [into the distance]."

Hasn't this always been the case in Formula 1? Not just Brawn, Red Bull and Mercedes, look prior to those teams, Ferrari, McLaren etc. There's nothing new here, it does come down to who is best at interpreting the rules. Now with more downforce etc, watch out for RBR dominating with Adrian Newey at the helm.

[MIKA27]

Sainz: It’s like Alonso has five or six titles

Fernando Alonso may only have two World titles to his name but Carlos Sainz reckons he will go down as "one of the best in history."

Alonso won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 but had several near-misses in the race for the championship.

Racing for Ferrari, he was runner-up to Sebastian Vettel in 2010, 2012 and again in 2013 while his third place in 2007 saw him finish on 109 points.

That tied him on points with Lewis Hamilton with both McLaren drivers a single point short of Kimi Raikkonen's title-winning tally.

But despite only having two to his name, Toro Rosso driver Sainz feels the Spaniard is the one of the best that Formula 1 has ever seen.

"It's like he has won five or six [championships]," he told Autosport.

"What he did with that Ferrari those years was something not many people could do and what he is doing with the McLaren is standing out.

"It's just a number, the World Championships.

"If you ask the whole paddock, everyone agrees he's one of the best in history.

"Championships depends on the car or being in the right place at the right moment.

"What really makes your career and your respect, like [Ayrton] Senna did, is your performance every year."

Alonso is racing to finish this season inside the top ten in the standings where he is currently P10, two points ahead of the retiring Felipe Massa.

[MIKA27]

McLaren ‘talked’ with Apple, but no bid was forthcoming

McLaren did hold talks with Apple earlier this year regarding a possible takeover but it “never matured to a definitive proposition.”

Earlier this year the Financial Times reported that Apple was looking to take over, something McLaren denied at the time.

However, Mike Flewitt, the CEO of McLaren Automotive, has now confirmed that talks did take place.

“There wasn’t a bid from Apple,” he told Reuters.

“They visited. We talked. We talked about what they did. We talked about what we did. They toured. It never matured to a definitive proposition.”

He also confirmed that there have been other bids for McLaren but that the shareholders have rejected all of them.

“There have been a number of bids,” Flewitt added.

“I am comfortable with where our current shareholders are that they want to retain ownership of the company… They want to develop both companies. I genuinely believe they are very committed to them.”

The latest bid was reportedly by a Chinese investors with chairman Ron Dennis playing a role as he sought to save his place on the McLaren board.

He was, however, ousted earlier this week following a boardroom battle.

[MIKA27]

Massa on his pending retirement and Schumi

As he gears up for his F1 swansong, Felipe Massa says he is “something in between” happy and sad as his F1 career draws to a close.

The Brazilian will take to the Abu Dhabi grid for his 250th and final start next weekend at the Yas Marina circuit.

The race will bring an end to Massa’s 15-year Formula 1 career that included stints at Sauber, Ferrari and Williams, 11 grand prix wins and a runner-up finish in the 2008 World Championship.

Asked whether he is feeling ‘happy or sad’ as he contemplates the end, he told the official F1 website: “Something in between.

“I am definitely happy with my decision, but I also became aware that I maybe will miss something.

“I love to drive – but I am also convinced that it is the right thing to do. I am very ready for my next step in life.”

And come Monday after Abu Dhabi, Massa reckons it will be a “relief.

“Sure I will miss some things, but I think that there is the same amount of things I definitely will not miss.

“Driving – to compete: that I will miss.

“If you are entrenched in a world of competition for so long then it becomes second nature – and then stopping sure creates a certain void.

“So I will have to fill that void with other things.”

Massa has partnered some of Formula 1’s best drivers during his years, especially at Ferrari where he raced against Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.

Asked who he was closest to in the garage, he said it was Schumacher.

“Michael. In many ways he was my master,” Massa explained.

“Sure, I also wanted to be in front of him, but I looked at him always like an idol – something like ‘Gee, I want to be like you!’

“He was probably looking at me like the little guy whom he wanted to help.

“It was a very different relationship to all my other team-mates. Maybe that is why I decided to announce my retirement in Monza, as there is a story attached to that.

“Kimi had already signed a contract with Ferrari two years before he actually drove for them – and the only way for me to stay with Ferrari was for Michael to retire. And he did that – in Monza 2006.

“He was probably a bit tired – and maybe he was also thinking ‘Felipe is doing a good job, so give him a chance to stay’.

“I don’t know, but that is why I also did it in Monza 2016 – 10 years later.”

[MIKA27]

2017 Renault ‘looks awesome, feels quick’ – Palmer

Jolyon Palmer reports a positive first impression of the Renault RS17 after seeing a wind tunnel model and driving it in the simulator.

Palmer, who re-signed for the team last week, said the wind tunnel version of the team’s 2017 challenger is “awesome” and is “going to be a great looking car”.

Next year’s F1 cars will feature wider chassis, larger wings and tyres in a bid to increase performance and slash lap times. “I’ve driven it on the sim and it’s quick,” Palmer confirmed.
“Of course, the new rules are the same for everyone, and we won’t know how we stack-up against our rivals until we hit the track in Barcelona, but the speeds are higher, the car is more challenging to drive and I think it’s going to be a great spectacle when we race next year.”

One year on from Renault’s purchase of the Lotus team, Palmer says he can feel the difference in the scale of the operation.

“It really feels like a much bigger team this year and you do feel part of a far greater entity,” he said. “The amount of resources and the investment coming in is really quite notable.”

“Renault have come back in as they want to be at the front. You can really feel the buzz in the factory and even at the track – where it’s been a tough season in terms of results – everyone’s been pushing really flat out to make the most of what we’ve got and also get all the foundations in place for the future.”

[MIKA27]

Experienced Magnussen will push Haas forward – Grosjean

Romain Grosjean feels Haas stands to make good gains next season following its decision to sign Kevin Magnussen for the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship. 

Magnussen will join the American team for its second season in F1 next year, replacing Esteban Gutierrez and joining Grosjean who stays on for another campaign. 

A former McLaren driver, Magnussen joins Haas from Renault, experience that Grosjean believes stands the team in good stead to make a stride amongst the mid-field for 2017. 

“He's got some great experience from McLaren and from Renault this year, they've improved from last year from the way they operate, so it will be interesting to have his feedback and his experience coming on board from McLaren, which is a really big team, and then we can work. 

“He's definitely a good racer, whenever he holds a position in a race it's hard to overtake and for the team having more bonus we need to score points with two cars, that was the idea and he knows how to do that so hopefully a good relationship. 

“Of course you always want to beat your teammate but the most important thing is you both score points and we both push the team forward.” 

By joining Haas, Magnussen will become the first driver to have sampled Renault, Mercedes, Honda and Ferrari V6 Hybrid engines.

[MIKA27]

RED BULL DRIVERS PREVIEW THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Red Bull drivers preview the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the 21 Rounds 2016 Formula 1 World Championship, at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Max Verstappen: “The track design in Abu Dhabi is quite different, there are a lot of low speed corners and combinations. The unique layout means it is challenging, a small mistake during one of the many corner sequences can ruin a lap. It is also important to have a strong car in the last sector to keep the tyres alive.”

“Away from the car Abu Dhabi has some cool features that set it aside from other races, the hotel goes over the track which is pretty special, it’s great for spectators in that sector. I have had a quick look around the area and spent a bit of time in Dubai which is always good fun. Maybe this year I’ll sample a bit more Arabic food as I haven’t really got stuck into that yet.”

“Of course it is the last race of the season and I think we can look back and be very happy with 2016. There is plenty of work to do for next year with the regulation changes and I think everyone is excited to see the new cars so I can’t wait to get started.”

Daniel Ricciardo: “I have always gone well on the track at Abu Dhabi, it’s been really enjoyable in the past, especially the last sector underneath the hotel, that’s great fun. It has a bit of a street circuit style to the layout which I enjoy. I had my first ever Formula 1 test at this track so it holds good memories and has generally been good to me.”

“I love any kind of hot climate and being warm so I’m very much looking forward to getting out there. I try to get there a little earlier than usual and stay a bit afterwards to enjoy some time in the heat and get out into the desert, ride some bikes and have some fun.”

“As it is the last race of the season I usually have some friends out for some fun and there is always a good atmosphere. It’s kind of like the Middle Eastern Monaco, and it definitely has that vibe to it. There are usually some celebrities and good parties knocking around that weekend which adds to the buzz of the season finale.”

[MIKA27]

RENAULT PREVIEW THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Renault team and drivers preview the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the 21 Rounds 2016 Formula 1 World Championship, at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Foreword by Cyril Abiteboul, managing director

Brazil was rather an eventful Grand Prix and the team has only just dried out from all the rain! The race gained a lot of attention and showed that Formula 1 is definitely a sport people like to talk about. From our perspective it was another race of lessons learnt; all aspects accumulated to assist us with our development for the future.

Abu Dhabi is our final Grand Prix in our rookie season as Renault Sport Formula One Team. It has been a tough 20 races so far on track, as we expected, but for us the story has been our real progress made behind the scenes.

In terms of our power unit this season we have taken a great step forward in terms of performance and reliability and that is something we expect to continue in 2017. In terms of the infrastructure at Enstone we’re making massive strides with our expansion programme progressing well. The first fruits of this expansion will be seen in next year’s car, the R.S.17.

On track in Abu Dhabi we want a strong and positive race to end the season. There will be a lot of attention at the front of the field as the Drivers’ Championship is decided, but for us a strong end to the year would be a good endorsement of all the hard work wrought over the last twelve months. We have faith that both Kevin and Jolyon will deliver what’s expected of them for the final time this season and for Kevin we wish him well for the future.

Vasseur’s Validation

As well as being the first season for Renault Sport Formula One Team it was the first season for Team Principal Fred Vasseur with an official F1 role. He gives his thoughts…

Are you surprised with how quickly the season has gone by?
FV: In a certain sense yes, who knows where all the time goes! We’ve certainly been busy in 2016, not only has there been the normal challenges of a race season – and a very long one at that – but we’ve been making and implementing plans for the future. It’s one task after the next so you can really feel that time flies. The season has been a long one and I think that the entire paddock will be glad come Sunday night in Abu Dhabi!

What has been the story of your season?
FV: There was a learning and discovery phase to start off with – getting to know people and their methods – and from this a feeling of mutual trust developed. The general atmosphere has been positive and very studious; we are working hard to progress and we are all focussed on the same objectives. Each week there is better collaboration and that’s an important aspect in the future success of the team. We’ve made real progress in 2016.

What have been your most memorable moments this season? What were the highs and lows?
FV: Scoring our first points in Sochi was an important milestone for the team and also a relief. Jolyon’s first point was equally important because it was the result of his hard work and another step forward. At the end of the day, being regularly in a position to score is more important than one-offs and we’ve made decent progress to getting to that position.

Have the sporting results met our hopes this season?
FV: Our on track performance has matched the reality of our competitiveness this season. At Enstone we’ve been very much in a re-construction phase, building the infrastructure and the R.S.16 was conceived very late relative to its opposition. On paper we knew that the season would be challenging, at the same time fate was in our own hands and early on in the season we decided to focus on 2017. That meant that the 2016 car had very little development and a big chunk of those developments were destined to look ahead at next year. That said, we are still racers so we pushed to be competitive wherever possible, it’s our blood; we wouldn’t have been able to have simply let go! It’s important to progress and to look at each detail that enables us to move forward with the factories or trackside.

What are your hopes for the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi?
FV: I’d like us to continue to work seamlessly as a team and to use even the last race of the season to learn lessons for next year.

What’s the outlook for the future?
FV: Progress. We’re excited about our new car and can’t wait to see it hit the track in February. We know our driver line-up: Jolyon is already part of the family and we look forward to be starting work with Nico at the end of his contract with Force India. I think that we have a strong line-up for what we need to achieve in 2017.

Any final words for Kevin?
FV: We’d like to thank him for his efforts this year as we know it hasn’t been always the easiest. We’d love to see him end his final race for us in the points and we wish him well for the future as he is a very talented driver.

Heading into his final race of his rookie season, Jolyon Palmer is ready to go all night long through the twists and turns of Yas Marina…

How’s your motivation heading into the final race of the season?
JP: It’s a nice feeling as I have my 2017 drive all sorted especially as I’m continuing with Renault Sport Formula One Team. I have every incentive to bow out this year with a good result, then work hard over the winter and come back next year stronger than ever.

What are your thoughts on Yas?
JP: It’s a track I know really well as I’ve done a lot of GP2 Series laps there. I completed my first-ever Formula 1 test with Force India and then sadly it was only a few FP1 laps there last season for Lotus F1 Team. It’s a nice track and it’s a nice place to end the season. It’s a glamourous event with the additional aspect of racing into the night which is really atmospheric.

Chemical Brothers, Lionel Richie or Rhianna?
JP: Lionel Richie, all night long.

Just how difficult were conditions in Brazil?
JP: It was extremely difficult! I started in sixteenth so that was behind a lot of spray from the cars ahead, then after a pit stop we were right at the back for the second restart. Visibility was really poor and I couldn’t see a thing. You’d come up the hill to the start-finish and there was so much standing water that the car just aquaplaned everywhere. We saw so many incidents as it was a real challenge to keep the car on track. It was a real shame that I hit Daniil Kvyat, but I couldn’t see him until it was too late.

What are your feelings looking to 2017?
JP: I’m really very happy to be continuing with the team, especially as it will be for my third season working with Enstone. I’ve learnt a lot this year and I think the second half of this year has been pretty strong. I enjoying working with everyone in the team and I know we’re going places in the future.

How has it been racing with Kevin in 2016?
JP: Kevin’s a good guy, a great racer and fun to work with. I think we’ve worked well together this year when we’ve known we’ve had to push to get the most out of the car. I think he’ll do well at Haas and I’m looking forward to racing against him in different coloured cars next season.

What are your thoughts on the team’s driver line-up for 2017?
JP: Obviously I’m very happy indeed about 50% of the line-up! I haven’t had the opportunity to get to know Nico yet so I’m looking forward to this happening. Everything I’ve heard about him has been positive and I have faith in the team to have chosen the right drivers for next year and beyond. He’s a highly-rated and hard-working driver so I think we’ll have a positive line-up.

Having been part of the team since 2015, what are the differences you’ve seen this season?
JP: It really feels like a much bigger team this year and you do feel part of a far greater entity. The amount of resources and the investment coming in is really quite notable. Renault have come back in as they want to be at the front. You can really feel the buzz in the factory and even at the track – where it’s been a tough season in terms of results – everyone’s been pushing really flat out to make the most of what we’ve got and also get all the foundations in place for the future.

What are your plans for the off-season?
JP: I have a busy few weeks wrapping up the year after Abu Dhabi, then Christmas at home and New Year in Thailand. There’s plenty of training planned amidst this, but I’m really looking forward to getting a decent break after 21 races this year.

What can you say about next year’s car?
JP: I’ve seen the wind tunnel model and it looks awesome! It’s going to be a great looking car. I’ve driven it on the sim and it’s quick. Of course, the new rules are the same for everyone, and we won’t know how we stack-up against our rivals until we hit the track in Barcelona, but the speeds are higher, the car is more challenging to drive and I think it’s going to be a great spectacle when we race next year.

Heading into race 21 of 21 of the 2016 Formula 1 season, Chief Technical Officer Bob Bell gives his thoughts on where we’re at.

What are the challenges of Yas Marina Circuit?
BB: There are no particular challenges, rather it’s quite a generic track in terms of its requirements. The track surface is smooth, so ride is not too much of an issue – which is a positive for us considering the R.S.16 which can struggle somewhat on bumpier surfaces. In terms of layout, there’s a mix of long straights – a couple connected by a chicane – with some twisty stuff too meaning there’s a bit of everything.
More particular is the timing of the race, as it takes place under twilight conditions. FP1 and FP3 take place earlier in the day than qualifying and the race, so they’re not terribly representative of competitive conditions. The track temperature decreases quite a bit after the sun sets so we need to consider this when determining a set-up for the car, making it less straight-forward than at other race meetings.

What are the hopes for the team for Abu Dhabi?
BB: As a start we’re expecting far more predictable weather conditions than we saw in Brazil, so it would be really nice to have both cars in Q2 and to end the race adding to our points tally for the year. It’s a realistic hope if everything goes our way over the weekend, including some misfortune for others! It would be a tremendous boost for the team going into the winter.

What was learnt in Brazil?
BB: It was a wet and exciting race and the first time we’ve run around there on Pirelli wet tyres so that was something of an unknown for everyone. It was essentially a wet tyre race for most of the time, albeit with some periods when the inters came to the fore. Kevin in particular looked good on the intermediates later on in the race, so there were some positive lessons learnt. It was unfortunate Jolyon retired from the race, but when you see the on-board footage with the level of visibility it’s not surprising an incident like that happened due to the sheer amount of spray. We did evaluate if there was sufficient time to repair the car under the red flag conditions but there was just too much work to be done in the time available. We never stop learning, both with our current car and also how we work and approach race weekends, so there was plenty accumulated in the knowledge bank for the future.

How would you sum-up Renault Sport Formula One Team’s first season?
BB: This year was not solely about sporting achievement, it’s been about building for the future so we can create a better car and build a better, stronger team. We’ve seen that Viry have taken a huge step forward with the power unit, and Viry has also been adapting to its new status as being part of a works team rather than a stand-alone power unit supplier. Enstone, however, has seen the bulk of the changes and off-track growth has been the key message from this season. The foundations for the future have been laid.

What happens after Abu Dhabi?
BB: We’re rather occupied with producing the R.S.17! We are also continuing unabated with recruitment and replenishing the infrastructure at Enstone. There’s lots of new equipment arriving almost on a daily basis and parking spaces are becoming a yet more scarce commodity! The challenge is not only developing and building next year’s car, but building and developing the organisation in unison with this. Anyone who wants to see the commitment of the team and Renault to this project should come visit Enstone.

[RijkdeGooier]

How about this scenario.

 

Turn one will see Rosberg take out Hamilton and secure his only Championship. 

 

[Lotusguy]

How about this scenario.

 

Turn one will see Rosberg take out Hamilton and secure his only Championship. 

 

I'm positive it has crossed his mind and if I was him, I'd do it.

[BrightonCorgi]

I want Hamilton can win another.  Whatever the outcome is, I hope it's a race and fought without incident.  I want to see a battle to the last corner like when Hamilton beat Massa.

 

@Lotusguy Do you own a Lotus?

[MIKA27]

BROWN APPOINTED MCLAREN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

American marketing executive Zak Brown, who has brought numerous top sponsors into Formula One motor racing, has been appointed executive director of the McLaren Technology Group.

Brown, former head of CSM Sport & Entertainment, had been linked to the position after Ron Dennis was forced out as chairman and chief executive of McLaren last week.

“In this senior role, Zak’s appointment will be a significant part of a restructuring programme that will align the Group’s commercial and strategic operations relating to achieving success in Formula 1,” McLaren said in a statement.

Brown added: “Having worked closely with McLaren for many years, I’ve been struck by the talent and ambition of the entire workforce, and I very much look forward to complementing the business’s many existing strengths, and building on them to drive future success in everything we do.

“I’ll be able to combine my absolute passion with my unparalleled area of expertise – respectively motorsport and marketing – while ensuring that the two stay totally aligned.”

McLaren said Brown and CEO Jonathan Neale, reporting directly to the Group’s Executive Committee, would jointly lead the businesses as part of the first step in the transition to a new and strengthened organisational structure.

McLaren, whose team last won a race in 2012, are currently looking for a new Group Chief Executive Officer.

Dennis relinquished his duties on Tuesday following a decision by the majority shareholders to put him on ‘gardening leave’ until his contract expires in mid-January.

Sky News reported that Dennis was forced out because of a dispute over a Chinese takeover bid that he backed and other investors opposed.

Founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren and known for winning titles with drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, the British brand set up a separate sports car maker known as McLaren Automotive in 2010 to rival the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin.

Mike Flewitt, CEO of the brand’s automotive firm, told Reuters on Friday that shareholders in McLaren’s Formula One team and luxury sports car sister company are committed to both businesses and have turned down bids from prospective buyers.

Dennis, who has been involved with McLaren since 1980 and is one of F1’s leading lights, stood down as team principal in 2009 but returned as group chief executive in January 2014.

The 69-year-old, who has a 25 percent stake in the McLaren Technology Group, remains a shareholder and director.

He plans to use his shareholding and board position to “protect the interests and value of McLaren and help shape its future” and will also launch a new technology investment fund.

MIKA: This is a joke...right?

Sure Zak Brown is a fan of Motorsport and has "Dabbled" in various racing series, NOT F1, but that's a massive step away from Ron Dennis' experience "Managing" a Championship winning F1 team with 8 Constructors and 12 Drivers world championships. Regardless if McLaren haven't won in a while, they have pedigree in the sport. I seriously don't get this appointment. Perhaps I will be proven wrong?

[MIKA27]

BUTTON: IT’S GOING TO BE HUGELY EMOTIONAL

Jenson Button admitted he is braced for a “hugely emotional” weekend ahead of what could be the last race of his world championship-winning Formula 1 career.

Button, who will not be racing in the sport next season, brings to an end a run of 17 consecutive seasons of grand prix racing in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The 36-year-old will take up an ambassadorial role for McLaren next year with the British team’s highly-rated reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne partnering Fernando Alonso.

McLaren has an option for Button, who has competed in more than 300 grands prix, to return to their race set-up in 2018, but it is one which is largely viewed as an insurance policy should Alonso walk away from the British constructor.

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend, and have been for a few races now,” said Button, who began his career as a 20-year-old for Williams at the turn of the century.

“It marks a very special chapter in my life and I’ll have my friends and some of my family out in Abu Dhabi with me which I’m very excited about.

“It’s going to be a hugely emotional weekend and I hope with the support of the fans, the team and the people that are closest to me, we can go out there and give it our absolute maximum and enjoy the weekend.”

Button will still attend some of the grands prix in 2017 as back-up to Vandoorne and Alonso, but his definitive plans are unclear.

He has been earmarked as a pundit, while he stressed he is keen to take part in more triathlons. A career in rallycross, one pursued by his late father John Button, is also be an option.

The Englishman won the championship with Brawn GP back in 2009 before a lucrative move to McLaren followed. He beat Lewis Hamilton on points in the three years in which they were paired together.

But while his career there began in spectacular fashion – he won in only his second appearance for McLaren – the British team have fallen down the grid in recent times.

Button, who finished last at the recent Brazilian Grand Prix, has not won a race, nor stepped on the podium, in four years.

“It’s not the end of my career with McLaren-Honda, but it’s the start of a new phase that I’m incredibly positive about,” Button added.

“This race marks the culmination of a huge amount of hard work, dedication and passion for the sport that I love and I’m immensely proud of everything I’ve achieved in the past 17 seasons, and the fantastic progress we’ve made over the past couple of years with McLaren-Honda.

“It’s been an amazing project to work on and my involvement certainly won’t end here. I’m looking forward to concluding this chapter in style and starting a new one with just as much enthusiasm, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

[MIKA27]

MALAYSIA TO HOST ITS FINAL GRAND PRIX IN 2018

Malaysia will not host a Formula One Grand Prix after the current agreement expires in 2018, the country’s tourism and culture minister said on Monday.

“After 2018 no longer,” Nazri Abdul Aziz told reporters in parliament when asked about reports that the country was considering halting the annual race.

“(From the) longer term perspective, it’s probably the correct decision because it’s more expensive and no longer that attractive,” the minister added, according to audio recordings of the comments heard by Reuters.

Malaysia had been considering cancelling the race due to declining ticket sales and TV viewing figures.

Earlier in the day, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubt over the future of the sport in Southeast Asia by telling a German magazine that Singapore no longer wanted to host a grand prix after its current deal expires next year.

The Malaysian Grand Prix was last held in October, when Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo claimed his first win of the season.

State oil and gas firm Petronas are the title sponsors for the F1 race in Kuala Lumpur. The company has been hit hard in recent times by the tumble in oil prices.

MIKA: Oh thank god!

[MIKA27]

SAUBER CONFIRMS ERICSSON FOR NEXT SEASON

Marcus Ericsson will continue to race for Sauber next season, the Swiss-based Formula One team said on Monday.

Sauber said in a statement that their second driver, currently Brazilian Felipe Nasr, would be announced ‘in due course’.

Ericsson, 26, will be starting his third season with the Ferrari-powered team, who had not scored any points this year until Nasr finished ninth in his home race in Sao Paulo eight days ago.

“I have spent two years with Sauber now, and I really feel at home,” said the Swede, who had been expected to stay at Sauber given his strong sponsorship backing and lack of opportunities elsewhere.

“We have had ups and downs but we always stick together and work as hard as we can. Since the new ownership (of Sauber), there has been a positive push in the team, so it will also be exciting to go into this new era.”

Formula One’s rules are also changing in 2017, with bigger tyres and new aerodynamics to make the cars faster and more aggressive-looking.
Ericsson’s best finish so far this year has been 11th place in Mexico last month. The season ends in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

[MIKA27]

ECCLESTONE: THE F1 RULEBOOK SHOULD BE RETITLED DON’T RACE

It is no secret that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is no fan of the sport’s current rules, saying that they prevent drivers from being able to race properly.

“The regulation book should be retitled ‘Don’t Race’,” he said. “They are written in such a convoluted way and there are so many that nobody, including the drivers, knows the right thing to do.”

“The proper drivers are frustrated; so are the viewers, and so am I. It is crazy. We need to make it easier for drivers to race fairly.”

“I don’t think they should deliberately bang wheels, but if they are racing each other and they go close and touch, so what? I often wonder if some of these guys want to race or just be out there in an F1 car,” ventured Ecclestone.

The sport’s boss has lobbied strongly for rules to be simplified if not scrapped altogether. His influence on the matter at the recent F1 Strategy Group meeting resulted in FIA race director being mandated to revise the rule book ahead of next season.

“The rules must be written so that I understand them,” insists Ecclestone.

[MIKA27]

ALONSO: JENSON IS THE BEST TEAMMATE I HAVE HAD

Forget Lewis Hamilton, forget Felipe Massa, for Fernando Alonso his current McLaren teammate Jenson Button is the best teammate he has had in Formula 1.

On the eve of what is likely to be Button’s final grand prix, Alonso said, “For me Jenson is probably the best teammate I have had.”

The pair have been teammates for the past two years, although the Honda powered car at their disposal has been woeful Alonso has seen flashes of brilliance and resolute commitment from the 2009 F1 world champion.

“He’s very fast, very competitive in all track conditions,” said Allonso. “But out of the car he’s a very nice guy, a true gentleman. He is very committed to the sport. Always works hard in the simulator, works well with the engineers and spends a good deal of time with the team.”

“Physically, it remains 100% throughout the year. As a whole, I think he is the best,” concluded Alonso.

[MIKA27]

SMEDLEY: MY DECISION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FELIPE’S CHOICE

Rob Smedley’s name is synonymous with that of retiring Felipe Massa, the two working together at Ferrari for several years before both moving to Williams, thus it is no surprise as the Brazilian says goodbye to F1 so does his long time engineer and friend.

But 42 year old Smedley insists, “My decision has nothing to do with the choice Felipe is making. I have been traveling the world now for 20 years, from and to every race, and that’s quite a long time. For that reason I think I’ll be putting the brakes on for two or three years.”

“From a professional point of view it is, of course, necessary to go to every race. But on the other hand, I miss my family.”

“And I’ll still be a part of F1 and Williams. I made a commitment to help them with the rebuilding toward new success, but that doesn’t mean I have to be at every single race.”

Smedley has been aware Massa’s decision since last season and fully understands that the Brazilian’s time is up at the pinnacle of the sport.

“I’m happy that Felipe doesn’t ascend down the order and gets demoted from one backmarker to another. And even when I love him very much, I think his family supports his decision. His mom and dad and his wife are very good people who’ll enjoy Felipe more now, as a son, a husband, a father. I have to say I knew about his decision for a longer time then most…” added Smedley.

 

[MIKA27]

HAAS PREVIEW THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

At 21 races it is the longest season in Formula One history, yet it has moved through the calendar so swiftly that the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Nov. 27 at Yas Marina Circuit is nearly upon the inhabitants of the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Guenther Steiner

Abu Dhabi is the season finale, and it’s also the finale of Haas F1 Team’s debut season. What’s it been like to build a team from scratch and how satisfying has it been to be a part of the team’s success?
GS: “We’ve been building up this team for more than two years – almost three years – so it has been a very exciting and a very challenging mission. I call this year our first season because we showed what we can do, but we worked on it for three years. It has gone so quickly that it’s been incredible. To have the opportunity to start an F1 team – how many people can do that? So for me on a personal level, it was really something. If you’re a kid, you dream of things like this, and we got it done. It wasn’t me on my own. It was a lot of people working with me. How you define success is very difficult, but getting here has been fantastic.”

The way Haas F1 Team is set up is unorthodox, at least by Formula One standards. Does the team’s success validate Haas F1 Team’s approach?
GS: “Thanks to Gene Haas, who had the belief in the idea that we would have to do it differently because more of the same would not work. Gene’s wish was to find a different way. We did and it worked out. I think we surprised a lot of people and I think a lot of people admit it, and I think we are perceived now as one of the 11 F1 teams. Few would think that we are only in our first season, which is more than a compliment and that is what we want to be. We want to be respectable for our own sake and for the sake of F1. I think people look at us now and say they are part of the show.”

Is there a particular moment from this season that stands out the most for you?
GS: “There are two moments that stand out – going out in Barcelona for the first time with a new team during testing and then going to our first race and scoring points. It was like, ‘Wow, did we do this?’ We’ve had our ups and downs, and we will have more of them, but there have been a few moments that all the team members will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Has the season gone by quickly?
GS: “Every moment is intense. It’s deadline after deadline, challenge after challenge. You just keep on going and you forget that time is going by.”

You’ll end the season eighth in the constructor standings. If someone said at the beginning of the year that eighth is where Haas F1 Team would end up, would you have believed them?
GS: “For sure if you wish something you believe in it, but would I have signed up for eighth? Absolutely. That is what we were going for and we had a good feeling we could achieve it, but nothing is for certain in F1. You need to go out and compete and it seemed to be that eighth was very secure after the first three or four races, but then in the middle of the season somebody could have done a better job than us because we lacked a little in performance. So yes, eighth is what we deserve.”

Was there any way to know how Haas F1 Team would stack up with the other, more established Formula One teams?
GS: “It was an unknown for everyone, but we knew more than the other ones because, obviously, we did the car and we knew what was in it. It’s still a sport and a very competitive sport at that, so people make progress. We progressed this season, but so did everyone else.”

This is the 21st and final race of the longest Formula One season in history. Has the length of the schedule impacted the team in any way? Can the schedule grow, does it need to contract, or is 21 races the limit?
GS: “We didn’t know anything better, but it still impacts us. Everybody’s tired. Everybody’s worn out. You can see it at the end of the season. People are just tired. They have been away a lot of days. It’s tiring, but what can you do? If you go over 21 races, I think we should look into maybe having a shorter weekend or making it simpler to get to the races or we need to be cleverer logistically. Otherwise, we run out of days in the year to do races.”

How helpful is your experience from this year as the team builds and develops another new car for next year?
GS: “It definitely helps. You always learn and, for sure, the first year you should learn most of it, but it does not mean we cannot make mistakes next year. But I think we are as prepared as we can be at the moment. It will still be a tough second year for us, so everyone needs to be aware of that. We’ve done a lot of things this year that has prepared us for next year, the most important being having our own data. It will help us, obviously, but we’ll still always be five years behind the second newest team. That will not change. The only thing we cannot make up or buy is time.”

What did you learn from this year’s car build that you’re applying to the 2017 car build?
GS: “We will apply all the lessons we learned this year, and our relationships with Ferrari and Dallara are better because we all know a lot more than we did a year ago. We should be better, but I’m sure there will still be a few déjà vu moments where we had problems last year, we will have problems again this year. But the biggest unknown is how good are the other people? How good is their car next year? We could have a very efficient and better car build, but then the car performance could be down because we don’t know where other people are with their development.”

The Yas Marina Circuit is a showplace. What makes it stand out on the Formula One schedule?
GS: “They did a great job. They made a huge investment to make it a showplace. Everything is there that you would want to have there. There is nothing missing. It’s just state of the art. It’s a fantastic place to go to for the season finale.”

With the race beginning in the late afternoon and ending at night, how much does the track change as the air and track temperatures cool?
GS: “It cools down and, hopefully, that helps us with tire management because we are more competitive when it cools down. Our car seems to prefer a cooler ambient temperature, and like we saw in Brazil, when it got colder, we could get the tires to work in that window. I think it is getting cool enough that we get them in the window in Abu Dhabi.”

As you head into the off-season, how much “off” is there, or is that just a misnomer because preseason testing tends to arrive quickly?
GS: “There is no real offseason. The only off time is between Christmas and New Year’s. Everybody seems to be in a ceasefire in that period. Nobody’s going to attack, basically. So, you can chill out a little bit.”

Romain Grosjean

Abu Dhabi is the season finale, and it’s also the finale of Haas F1 Team’s debut season. What’s it been like to be a part of a team built from scratch and how satisfying has it been to have contributed to the team’s success?
RG: “It’s been a great season. Joining the team for its first year was something special. I wanted to be the first person to score points for the team and a top-five. The next two targets are podiums and wins. Wearing the Haas Automation colors on the podium would be pretty special. For a first year, it’s been a very exciting journey. There have been ups and downs for sure but, generally, I’m very proud of everything we’ve done. After Abu Dhabi there will be time to sit down and see what we can improve for the future, but overall we’ve done very well for a first season.”

Is there a particular moment from this season that stands out the most for you?
RG: “It’s always difficult to pick out one moment from the season because you have so many emotions with all the highs, the ups and the downs. If I had to say something, I’d say Australia, our first race together and our first points. When we got there, things weren’t 100 percent perfect, but we managed to pull something out of the bag and score a sixth-place position.”

Every driver wants to win races, score podiums and earn poles. However, few drivers get to help build a team. You did, and the 29 points Haas F1 Team has tallied this year are the most of any new team in this millennium. Knowing the Formula One landscape, are your accomplishments this year almost like a win?
RG: “Yes, that’s the case for all of us. I said that on the radio after our fifth-place finish in Bahrain. It felt like a win for the team. Twenty-nine points in our first year, being miles ahead of Renault, Sauber and Manor, and not that far off from teams like McLaren and Toro Rosso – that’s a huge thing for us to accomplish in the first year. We’ve had some really good opportunities. We’ve had some that we’ve missed, but generally, our yearly review is a positive one.”

How helpful will your experience from this year be when the team has to build and develop another new car?
RG: “I think it’s pretty important. That’s why the team, especially Gene (Haas) and Guenther (Steiner) wanted an experienced driver to be a part of the project. That’s why they didn’t rush to pick up the first driver back when they were looking to sign someone. So yes, I’m trying to help the team as much as I can. Experience is key to being successful. That’s helped this year, and it’ll be even more so for the future.”

The Yas Marina Circuit is a showplace. What makes it stand out on the Formula One schedule?
RG: “It’s just a great venue. The race starts in the day and finishes in the night. You have sundown in the middle of the race, which is fun. The paddock is amazing. The atmosphere is always good, and you know you’re on holiday after the race as it’s the last one of the season. I’ll still be pushing one last time, though.”

Yas Marina Circuit consists of three distinct sectors. How do you find a setup that suits all aspects of the track, or do you have to compromise in one section to take full advantage of another section?
RG: “Generally, it’s a low-speed corner circuit. The only high-speed corners are turns two and three. Normally they’re taken flat – easy flat in qualifying. The track has some long straight lines, but you mainly want to focus on getting the low-speed corners correct, especially through the last sector. That’s what you have to focus on in Abu Dhabi.”

With the race beginning in the late afternoon and ending at night, how much does the track change as the air and track temperatures cool?
RG: “Race day’s not too bad the way it changes during the grand prix. It’s more in between FP1 and FP2, then FP3 and qualifying, where you’re out at two different times of the day. You have a big difference in track temperature and car behavior. That’s something you need to keep in mind. We don’t have any data from the past. We won’t know what we’re doing in advance between FP3 and qualifying in terms of aero balance and setting up the car. These are things we have to find out for ourselves when we get there.”

What can you do to combat those changing track conditions during the race?
RG: “To be fair, conditions don’t change too much in the race. You’re already racing at the end of the afternoon, so the track temperature doesn’t actually change that much by the time it gets dark. It’s normally not too bad.”

Yas Marina is a smooth track and it seems that it takes a while for the track to rubber in. As the grip level increases over the duration of the race weekend, how do you determine where the limit is from Friday to Saturday to Sunday?
RG: “The most difficult thing in Abu Dhabi is the conditions between FP1 and FP2. You only actually have one session that is representative of the race and qualifying, and that’s FP2. FP1 and FP3 are warm, therefore you have an hour-and-a-half to determine the best setup.”

Do you have any milestones or moments from your junior career that you enjoyed at Abu Dhabi?
RG: “I won there in GT1 (in 2010 with Matech Competition). That was my first-ever GT World Championship start, and the first race with that team, and we won. It was a pretty good moment taking the win and leading the championship.”

What is your favorite part of the Yas Marina Circuit?
RG: “I quite like the first part with turns one, two and three. It can be fun.”

Describe a lap around the Yas Marina Circuit.
RG: “Straight line to the first corner – it comes pretty quickly – a 90-degree left-hand corner, normally in fourth gear. Turns two and three are then flat out. You go down the hill, braking into (turn) six – very tricky braking turning into six, then straight away into (turn) seven. You need to be well positioned for the hairpin going down the backstraight. It’s tricky to get the car to turn. Long straight line, big braking for the chicane, and again you need to be well positioned between the left- and right-hand side corners. Then it’s another straight line on to (turns) 11, 12 and 13. It’s a triple chicane and as soon as you exit that part you go flat out then brake for turn 14, which is a 90-degree left-hand side corner. Flat out again into (turns) 16 and 17, two right-hand side corners flat out. As soon as you go out of (turn) 17 you have to brake again for (turns) 18. (Turns) 19 and 20, you’re going under the hotel, with a tricky exit out of (turn) 20. The second to last corner is good. It’s high speed in fourth or fifth gear. Then the last corner is very tricky. It’s very wide on the entry phase with the pit lane on the right-hand side. It’s not easy to find a line. Then you go as early as you can on the power to finish the lap.”

Esteban Gutierrez

Abu Dhabi is the season finale, and it’s also the finale of Haas F1 Team’s debut season. What’s it been like to be a part of a team built from scratch and how satisfying has it been to have contributed to the team’s success?
EG: “It’s been a very nice experience, but with a lot of challenges. There were some very difficult days for the mechanics, working day and night for quite a lot of time, the engineers as well. Being a new team, you don’t have a lot of people that you can really rotate, so it was quite a challenge for everybody, but also for myself.”

Is there a particular moment from this season that stands out the most for you?
EG: “I would say Monza when we got into Q3 for the first time. That was a special moment.”

Every driver wants to win races, score podiums and earn poles. However, few drivers get to help build a team. You did, and knowing the Formula One landscape, are your accomplishments still satisfying?
EG: “I would’ve liked them to be better, but the fact of building a new team was definitely something special – something you don’t really get to live very often in life. We built up something from scratch.”

The Yas Marina Circuit is a showplace. What makes it stand out on the Formula One schedule?
EG: “It’s luxurious and it’s modern. It’s an incredible track. There was a lot of investment in it. Every time you get there it’s like a whole different world, like a Disneyland more or less. It’s nice to get there and have the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi.”

Yas Marina Circuit consists of three distinct sectors. How do you find a setup that suits all aspects of the track, or do you have to compromise in one section to take full advantage of another section?
EG: “You have to compromise in the first sector, which is mainly about high-speed corners. Then you have sectors two and three, which are about straight line speed and braking into chicanes and slow-speed corners. You have to manage the tires, and that’s the most challenging part.”

With the race beginning in the late afternoon and ending at night, how much does the track change as the air and track temperatures cool?
EG: “Once you are into the race, it doesn’t really change much. It changes a lot after three or four o’clock and the sun starts to go down and by the time the race starts it’s already on a very good level. Everything is more stable. The temperatures are more stable, the tires are working better and, usually, you can manage them better by not overheating them.”

What can you do to combat those changing track conditions during the race?
EG: “You just have to consider how the balance of the car is going to evolve during the race. Basically, what’s the plan going to be in terms of changing the car balance a little bit through the race with the front wing and with all the tools we have in the car.”

Yas Marina is a smooth track and it seems that it takes a while for the track to rubber in. As the grip level increases over the duration of the race weekend, how do you determine where the limit is from Friday to Saturday to Sunday?
EG: “It’s very simple. You always go to the limit, and then if the limit is on one level, you reach that level. If it goes increasing through the weekend, you adapt to that.”

Do you have any milestones or moments from your junior career that you enjoyed at Abu Dhabi?
EG: “Abu Dhabi was where I got to test a Formula One car after driving a season in GP2.”

What is your favorite part of the Yas Marina Circuit?
EG: “Definitely the first part, sector one.”

Describe a lap around the Yas Marina Circuit.
EG: “Coming down into turn one, 90-degree corner, very nice entry starting the lap. You approach with full speed in turns two, three and four, which is almost flat out. Approaching into turn five, you enter with a lot of speed, going deep into the braking but, at the same time, optimizing the line into turn six and preparing everything for the hairpin in turn seven, which is one of the most important exits of all. Coming down into one of the longest straights of the track, down into turn eight, very high braking, it’s important to be very consistent between (turns) eight and nine, keeping a very nice balance. You always try to get the nice traction out of turn nine, which is always quite tricky. Coming down through turn 10 into turn 11 for the chicane, which is quite an interesting corner. You want to get the right apex at turn 11 because it’s important to then follow through (turns) 12 and 13. A very challenging corner is (turn) 14 because you have off-banking, which makes the car slide a bit. It’s quite tricky. You come flat out into turns 15 and 16 and you brake with a lot of lateral braking, which is usually quite important to set the brakes correctly. Turn 17 is a 90-degree corner, and (turns) 18 and 19 are a bit similar to (turn) 14 which is a bit off-banking, so it’s quite challenging to get the right grip. Very high-speed corner into (turn) 20, medium- to high-speed corner, which is important to have a good rhythm. Then you come into (turn) 21 with the tires completely overheated and trying to get the right grip for the exit onto the start-finish line.”

[MIKA27]

MERCEDES PREVIEW THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

The 2016 Formula 1 World Championship season concludes this weekend with Round 21, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at the Yas Marina Circuit

Nico Rosberg: “Obviously, the result in Brazil wasn’t the one I was going for. But Lewis did a great job and second place wasn’t a disaster in the end. I’m looking forward now to Abu Dhabi. It feels great to be in the World Championship battle with Lewis for a third year in a row. I will give it everything to end the season with a win. I’ve had a great week, relaxing and catching up with my family and friends, so I feel like I’m in a good place. In Brazil, after the race, I was joking that I would still be taking things one race at a time. But, the more I think about it, the more that’s actually not as crazy as it sounds. I have to treat this like any other race. Doing a good job on a Grand Prix weekend is always a challenge. Nothing in this sport is easy, so this won’t be any different and I still have to go all out for a good result. I have great memories from winning at this track last year and it’s somewhere I’ve usually been strong in the past, so I have every reason to feel confident. The closer it gets, the more I’m feeling excited. It will be a big battle and hopefully the fans will get a great show to end the year.”

Lewis Hamilton: “To finally win in Brazil was a moment I’ll never forget. It had been a long time coming. I’m in a good place right now. I’m feeling super strong in this amazing car that everyone at the factories has worked so hard to give us. I’ve had 31 wins in four years with this team so far, which is just crazy. I’m so thankful for the great opportunity these guys have given me. We’re continuing to make history together. It’s not been a perfect season and I’m faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend. But I can’t and won’t give up. You never know what might happen – however unlikely it may seem. I’ll be proud of myself and what I’ve achieved as long as I feel I’ve given my all and performed at my best. And, whatever happens, I’m proud of everyone who’s been a part of the success we’ve shared over the past few years. I’m approaching this weekend the same as I do every race. I want to win and I’ll give it everything to finish the season on a high.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “Last weekend we saw yet another classic Interlagos race. To come away from all the drama of the crazy weather, the re-starts and the extreme track conditions with a 1-2 finish was a special result. Of course, the bigger picture is an exciting finale in Abu Dhabi. To have the title decided between our two drivers at the final race of the season, for the second time in three years, shows just how closely matched they are. It also shows how much this team has achieved. We can be very proud of that. But, as a group, we now have one very important final duty this season – to give Nico and Lewis the platform they need to battle it out to the flag. Both of them have been exceptional and either one would make a worthy Champion. It’s been a gruelling year for us all, with a record-breaking calendar and the added challenge of a new regulation set to prepare for in 2017. After such a battle of endurance, the winner can say without doubt that they earned it. We are all excited to see who that will be. May the best man win.”

Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical): “This is the first time we’ve had a 21st race in any Formula One season and it’s fitting that such a record-breaking year should conclude with the Drivers’ Championship being fought right to the very end. It’s great for fans of the sport. Of course, it also means significant tension within our particular camp – but the team has shown itself highly adept at managing this type of situation over the past few years. We will approach this weekend as we would any other, with the primary objective of ensuring that the title is decided on track in a fair fight. While there have been occasional issues over the course of the year, 2016 has actually seen the strongest reliability record in the history of this team – both technically and operationally – giving us good faith in the underlying progress that we’ve made. The drivers too are in great shape, so we’re looking forward to a close and hard-fought competition. Pirelli have included the UltraSoft compound tyre for this weekend, so we could well see Qualifying times faster than ever before at this circuit. All in all, we’re hoping for a spectacular finale under the magical setting of those Marina lights, giving everyone something to remember as we cap off an incredible year.”

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Ecclestone proposes two-race format

Formula 1 should look into ditching the current race format in favour of a two shorter races, that’s according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The F1 supremo has been sharing his thoughts on what the sport could do to attract new viewers and keep the existing fans glued to their televisions come Sunday afternoons.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Ecclestone proposed a shake-up of two short 40-minute races separated by a 40-minute break.

He feels that break would allow for driver interviews as well as giving teams time to work on their cars.

“People have a much shorter attention span and a lot of sports are looking at introducing shorter forms of their games,” said the 86-year-old.

“The television audiences went up for Brazil. We had a long race with the heavy rain and a couple of crashes but that meant we had two starts because of the red flags and people tuned in.

“We need to look at the traditional concept of one long race.

“Two 40-minute races with a 40-minute break in the middle when the drivers could be interviewed, cars worked on, would be attractive to viewers, the TV companies, the sponsors and advertisers would love it.

“Cars would qualify on a Saturday as usual for the first race and that would set the grid for the second. It would shake things up with lighter, faster cars.

“But I don’t know if we have the courage to change. Times change though and it is something we must look at.

“All American sports have time-outs built in, mainly because American audiences can’t concentrate. They grow up with everything in 15-minute segments on TV. People are the same everywhere now.”

Ecclestone also weighed in on the sport’s current “crazy” regulations, saying drives should be free to race.

He said: “The regulation book should be retitled ‘Don’t Race’. They are written in such a convoluted way and there are so many that nobody, including the drivers, knows the right thing to do.

“The proper drivers are frustrated; so are the viewers, and so am I. It is crazy.

“We need to make it easier for drivers to race fairly. I don’t think they should deliberately bang wheels, but if they are racing each other and they go close and touch, so what?

“I often wonder if some of these guys want to race or just be out there in an F1 car.”

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Force India says securing fourth would be "remarkable achievement"

Force India thinks that ending the Formula 1 season ahead of title-winning teams McLaren, Williams and Renault would be a 'remarkable' achievement considering its budget.

The Silverstone-based outfit is 27 points ahead of Williams in the fight for fourth place in the constructors' championship with only the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remaining.

Accepting that only a freak result would allow its main rival to get in front, Force India senses that its fourth place spot is now well within its grasp.

When asked what capturing that position would mean, deputy team principal Bob Fernley told Motorsport.com: "I just think from a morale point of view, to have three world championship-[winning] teams in front of you and three behind of you, given our budget with the fact that we have done it progressively over a period of time, it has not happened by accident.

"It is a remarkable achievement. We have got 380 people to thank for that."

     

Mallya praise

Fernley thinks that one of the key elements that has allowed Force India to punch about its weight is the way that team principal Vijay Mallya has gone about supporting his outfit.

He believes that Mallya's backing, allied to a motivated and hard-working staff, has helped Force India thrive while some rival outfits have struggled.

"I think it's down to these people," he said. "I think this is really a strong race team and everyone has a tremendous work ethic, a tremendous competition ethic and we are driven by a good owner, who has put in resource when he can to make sure that we have all the elements necessary.

"We certainly don't have the budget of teams that are ahead or behind us, but I think it just goes to show how competitive you can be if you do the job well."

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Manor has to "deal with it" after losing 10th to Sauber

Manor racing director Dave Ryan says the team will have to "deal with it" after losing 10th place in the constructors' standings to Formula 1 rival Sauber.

Manor had been in 10th position since Pascal Wehrlein scored his first point in the Austrian Grand Prix thanks to a 10th place finish.

Securing that spot would come with a big financial bonus for either team, who have both been at the back of the field this year.

But Sauber moved ahead of Manor in the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend thanks to Felipe Nasr's ninth place, and Ryan admitted the Swiss squad had simply done a better job.

"It's racing. I've been in it for a little bit now. These things happen," said Ryan. "We were pretty pleased with 10th place, but Sauber has done a pretty good job. Ericsson's performance the weekend before was pretty impressive.

"You can't deny the fact that they've done a very good job and credit where credit is due.

"There is a fairly big financial reward for coming 10th over 11th and it would be nice to have it, but if we haven't got it we are just going to have to deal with it. It's as simple as that."

He added: "It wasn't ideal, but all credit to Nasr, who drove a superb race. We did as good as we could. It was close. We had two cars in the points for quite a long time. We were genuinely part of the race, so that was good.

"We were on top of it right until the last restart. We knew what the points situation was. I think the team did a great job, but in the end we weren't quick enough."

Ryan conceded that regaining 10th place in the final race in Abu Dhabi is unlikely given the weekend is expected to be dry, but he insisted Manor will push until the end.

"We still have one race to go," Ryan added. "Ericsson from last nearly scored a point in the previous race so... It's going to be really tough.

"We are not going to get weather intervening, but we won't give up until we cross the finish line in Abu Dhabi and anything can happen."

When asked if losing the money prize from 10th place would have an impact on next year's driver line-up, Ryan said: "No, I don't think so."

[skalls]

RE: Malaysia going.  Good.  Get another race in America (Vegas street course) or  something else already in place (indy/daytona/watkins glen/road america).

Re: 2 race format -- Go away Bernie.  Your drunk.

 

As for this weekend, I'm pulling for Nico having a trifecta.  Poll, Win and fastest lap.  I think he will do no worse than third though.  I don't expect any shenanigans.