Petrov given deadline over future

 

 Vitaly Petrov will find out if he is staying with Lotus Renault next season on December 10, according to his manager. 

After Kimi Raikkonen was confirmed as one of the 2012 drivers on a two-year contract, Oksana Kosachenko went to the team's headquarters to speak about Petrov's future. Petrov has a deal for next season but after criticising the team following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix he admitted that if it wanted to get rid of him the team could, and Kosachenko confirmed that his seat was not guaranteed.

"After today's decision was announced, I was given a very short amount of time, literally ten days," Kosachenko told Ria Novosti. "We have until December 10 to decide if Vitaly stays or leaves."
Kosachenko was asked if Petrov could learn from 2007 world champion Raikkonen assuming he remains with the team.

"You ask the question in the right way: if Vitaly stays in the team. It's better to put it this way: will the management come to an agreement with the owners? If we do, then Vitaly should take it as a given [that he stays next year]."

Raikkonen will need time - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel believes Kimi Raikkonen will need time to adapt before he is back at his best in Formula One car next year.

Raikkonen is returning to the sport with Renault in 2012 after a two-year absence from F1 in which he has competed in the World Rally Championship and NASCAR. Vettel and Raikkonen reportedly meet near their Swiss homes to play badminton on occasion, but Vettel warned that his friend could face the same problems Michael Schumacher has since his return to the sport last season.

"We have all seen Michael's comeback," he is quoted by France's 20minutes.fr on a visit to Red Bull's engine supplier Renault. "He [Schumacher] left when he was at the top, but when he came back he said a lot had changed and that he needed time to adapt. If I think about the car I drove two years ago, so many things have changed. It's amazing.

Even during a season, new buttons appear on the steering wheel. I can imagine it would be very difficult to return straight away to the same level as before."

Renault boss Eric Boullier revealed on Tuesday that Raikkonen will soon be able to use the team's new driver simulator and get some laps under his belt in a two-year-old "demo car" before real testing begins in February.

Renault confirms Kimi Raikkonen will return to Formula 1 in 2012

Renault has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will return to Formula 1 racing next year, after securing a two-year deal to compete with the squad.

Raikkonen, who had left Formula 1 at the end of the 2009 season after being dropped by Ferrari, had been in talks with the Williams team about a possible return next year, but the deal fell through.


That prompted speculation of a Renault tie-up, with team principal Eric Boullier confirming in Brazil last weekend that the Finn was on the shortlist of candidates for 2012 - when his outfit will be renamed Lotus.

Speaking about his return, Raikkonen said:

"I'm delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I'm grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity. My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can't deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming. 

"It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP as I have been impressed by the scope of the team's ambition. Now I'm looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid."

Team owner Gerard Lopez added:

"All year long, we kept saying that our team was at the start of a brand new cycle. Backstage we've been working hard to build the foundations of a successful structure and to ensure that we would soon be able to fight at the highest level.

"Kimi's decision to come back to Formula 1 with us is the first step of several announcements which should turn us into an even more serious contender in the future. Of course, we are all looking forward to working with a world champion. On behalf of our staff, I'd like to welcome Kimi to Enstone, a setting that has always been known for its human approach to Formula 1."

Raikkonen, 32, moved from Formula 1 to the World Rally Championship in 2010, where he spent the last two seasons while also competing in one race of the NASCAR Truck series and one Nationwide event.

The Finn won the Formula 1 world championship in 2007 with Ferrari, having scored a total of 18 wins since he made his grand prix debut in 2001.

Renault was forced to search for another driver after Robert Kubica confirmed last week that he would not be ready to start the 2012 season following his dramatic accident in February.

Europe 'finished' for F1 - Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone believes that there will only be five races held in Europe in the near future, saying that it is "finished" as a Formula One hub.

Formula One has traditionally been based in Europe, with all of the team headquarters found within Britain, Italy, Switzerland and Spain.




 
There were nine races in Europe this season, and the number will shrink to eight next year when the Turkish Grand Prix disappears from the calendar. Ecclestone, however, still feels that number is too high and expects more to fall by the wayside in the not-too-distant future.

"I think in the next few years, Europe will be left with only five races," Ecclestone is quoted by Marca. "I think Europe is finished. It will be a good place for tourism but little else. Europe is a thing of the past."

When asked if Europe was the spiritual home of Formula One, Ecclestone responded: "It used to be."
Ecclestone was clear where he was hoping to expand to in the future too, with the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi already planned for 2014.

"Russia for sure, we have a contract there ... Maybe South Africa, Mexico."

McLaren in no rush to sort out Lewis Hamilton's new contract

McLaren is in no rush to sort out a fresh contract extension with Lewis Hamilton, despite suggestions the former world champion is ready to commit his future to the Woking-based outfit.

Hamilton's current deal with McLaren runs out at the end of next season, and there has been speculation he could then be in the frame for a switch to Red Bull Racing ever since he held secret talks with its team principal Christian Horner at the Canadian Grand Prix.

But even though McLaren has already tied down Jenson Button's long-term future, it appears that a decision on Hamilton's plight will now wait until the 2012 campaign is under way.


When asked  about the Hamilton contract situation going forward, Whitmarsh said:

"We will see. Lewis and ourselves are in a really good place, and he is in a good place. He loves the team, we know him well, so we are not putting any timeframe on it.

"We will see what happens in the course of the next year. There is plenty of time."

Hamilton was widely quoted by the British media on Tuesday as saying that he was happy to wait too - so both parties would have a better idea of how much they have recovered from the trials of this season.

"I am in no rush," he said. "I don't think there is any real pressure about my commitment to the team so there is no rush to have to do anything. Just focus on the next stage.

Martin [Whitmarsh, McLaren's team principal] has spoken to me about re-signing already. I know it is there. At some stage, when we have time, we will sit down and discuss it. Again, the most important thing is to focus on the season ahead.

"I feel positive about it. I feel fortunate to be in the position I am in. I still feel very, very fortunate about the opportunities I have ahead of me and I feel fortunate I have still got a year left on my contract."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali bullish on 2012 team prospects

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has faith that his outfit will deliver a better car for Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa next season.

On the back of a disappointing 2011 campaign, Ferrari has undertaken an extensive staffing reshuffle, and promised a more aggressive approach to car design, for next year.

Those efforts appear to be paying off, with Domenicali stating that he is bullish about the step forward that Ferrari can make, and that its 2012 car will be a good deal better.

"That is what I want and that is what I hope," said Domenicali. "And considering the persons that are around in the factory, that is what I believe will happen next year.
"But the facts come out when you go on the track. The only thing I can say is that we have put down targets that are very aggressive and we work around these targets.

"We need to wait and see what the others are doing and wait and see where the cars will be in the first qualifying in Australia. But I am confident we will do a good job."

Domenicali said that the troubles of this season had highlighted that Ferrari needed to improve all aspects of its car if it was to produce something that could take the fight to Red Bull Racing next year.
"We know we have to improve the car all around because otherwise you cannot be competitive," he said. "For sure the main area of improvement is aerodynamics and, with the regulations, this is the reason why we have anticipated the development of the car.

"We try to have more time in the wind tunnel, try to work as hard as we can in the new situation where we can rely more on the data we are analysing - work hard, head down and looking forward to coming back next year."

Hamilton ends feud with Massa with a hug after the Brazilian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton ended his recent stand-off with Felipe Massa after embracing his Ferrari rival immediately after the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Briton has experienced several run-ins with his Brazilian rival over the course of the campaign - which has included collisions in Monaco, Britain, Singapore, Japan, and India.
The pair had never spoken about their situation, with Massa claiming Hamilton had snubbed him in Singapore and the McLaren driver suggesting he saw no need to speak to his rival.


But in a bid to draw a line under the tensions that have developed this season, Hamilton visited Massa at the Ferrari motorhome while he was speaking to Brazilian journalists.
Speaking about what happened, Massa said: "I never had anything against him. I always respected him, even this year after everything that has happened.

"I think it is nice of him to come here because it was never going to come from me because I did nothing wrong during the year."

Hamilton said about the moment: "It's been a long hard year for all the drivers, and I hope they all have a good winter. It was good to have a nice chat with Felipe after the race. I have great respect for him and I'm already looking forward to racing him again next year."

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali also praised Hamilton for going to see Massa after the race.
"I think that I was pleased today to see Lewis Hamilton coming here today and hugging Felipe, because at the end of the day that is what it is all about," he explained. "It was a good gesture and I am happy it is pretty cleared up. I am very pleased for that."

Rubens Barrichello 'just wants a competitive car' for 2012

Rubens Barrichello says all he wants for 2012 is a competitive car - after revealing that he has the motivation, the backing of his family and a new helmet design already in place for next year.

The Brazilian experienced an emotional Interlagos weekend, with uncertainty about his future in Formula 1 leaving him unsure whether it was his last grand prix.

However, Barrichello has reiterated his hunger to carry on – and says his spirit has been boosted by a 2012 helmet design that his youngest son Fernando drew for him before the race.

"My son painted the helmet for me for next year, and if I sign the contract that will be my design for the first race," said Barrichello. "I really am not ready to finish yet."


Barrichello said that such is his conviction that he will get an F1 race seat that he did not want to wave goodbye to fans after the chequered flag – or do a donut in case it earned him a penalty for next season.
"The only thing that I knew when I was on the slowing-down lap was that I could have said goodbye to them [the fans], but I was just waving – I know I will be back," he said.

"I was revving the engine like mad at the end, because I know you could get a penalty for donuts. If it was my last race then I would have done donuts everywhere, but I have to think of next year."
Barrichello believes that the efforts he has made with Williams – which is believed to be seriously considering signing Adrian Sutil – should justify another campaign with the outfit.

"I think I deserve the race drive for next year," he said. "This year it was tough to lead the team, with the exit of Sam [Michael] and the entry of Mark [Gillan] – but they know if anyone can lead, I can do it.
"In F1, people come and go because pretty much you don't have the situations you have in F3, F3000, GP2 or whatever. The pressure is a lot more involved in F1 and sometimes the teams need to make decisions that make you disappointed, so with that, you can get depressed.

"People just come and go, and so many fast drivers went because they were not so happy with F1. How many drivers we have seen like that? When [Juan Pablo] Montoya left F1, we heard that F1 was so crap and people just don't like it – but I love it.

"I am using the positive side and the negative is gone. I am ready to give everything I have for the passion I have behind the steering wheel. Just give me a piece of paper with three lines: you sign on your side, I sign it and I am ready to do it.

"I don't need a big contract; I just need something that tells me I am driving next year in a competitive car. I just want a competitive car. I don't want any favours and I don't want to drive just for the sake of driving."

McLaren gaining confidence that it can beat Red Bull in 2012

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has urged his outfit to go on the attack this winter to build a Red Bull beater, amid growing confidence over early progress with its 2012 challenger.
Although Red Bull Racing dominated 2011, securing both championships before the end of the campaign, Whitmarsh sees no reason why his team cannot overhaul its rival to stop RBR claiming a third consecutive crown.
"They have done a very good job in terms of performance and reliability, but it can change," said Whitmarsh. "We have been there. We have had back-to-back world championships and then lost form, so we have to attack and go for it."

McLaren secured back-to-back world titles with Mike Hakkinen in 1998 and 1999, but the following year Ferrari triumphed as it began an era of dominance.
Following the lessons learned this year, when McLaren endured a troubled pre-season testing campaign, the team has openly admitted it needs to ensure it starts 2012 at the front of the field if it is to launch a title campaign.


Whitmarsh said that early feedback from the engineers was that the team was making some good progress with the design of next year's car, but he conceded that through the winter period it is always difficult to gauge how successful a new car will be.
"I sat in the project review meeting last week and we had made some really good progress, so I came out of it really feeling good," he explained.

"What happens in the review is that week by week, you make a load of performance or you have had a quiet week of making performance and you start to worry.

"During the season, every fortnight, you see the competitors, you see what they have done and you see that reference point. But during the winter it goes off the radar screen and you are flying blind.
"It ebbs and flows, you set targets and if you are meeting those targets you start to get punchy and believe you can do it. There have been years when you come out of that process and you are only half confident, and it all comes good. And there are years when you hit your targets and you go out and you find that someone has moved the target somewhere else when you weren't looking.
"At the moment we had a good week so I feel quite chipper about it right now. We have to keep that momentum now. I think the team is working well, and I am sure we are going to have both drivers in good shape next year."

Whitmarsh is hopeful that his staff have learned lessons from last year's troublesome pre-season testing build up, where work on a radical exhaust system proved a disaster and McLaren had to redesign its concept before the first race.
"I think we had a shocking winter, probably one of the worst winters we have had," he explained. "We were nowhere near competitive and had not done a race distance before we finished the Australian GP.

"That is not how you should start a season. I think we have taken some decisions based on what happened, and hopefully taken some learning from that.
"We were taking some non-productive risks last year, and although it is easy for me to step back, I got reasonably involved at the end of it.

"But we have some really clever creative people. If I go around and say 'don't take risks', I would be stifling to people who are much cleverer than me and more inventive."

Win makes up for bad luck in 2011 - Webber

 

Mark Webber admitted he was a little bit lucky to beat Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel to victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but said it made no difference to him after a difficult year.

Vettel suffered with a gearbox problem which slowed his pace for most of the race and saw him concede the lead to Webber on lap 29. It was Webber's first win of 2011, after a difficult year getting used to the new Pirelli tyres and suffering with KERS issues early in the season, and he said he did not really mind how it came.


"I felt good all weekend to be honest," he said. "Seb did a great lap for pole yesterday but today I got a little bit of the rub of the green - it would have been nice to have a race with Seb all the way through but I think he had a little bit of a problem.

"It's a win that obviously I'll take because I've had enough bad luck or whatever you want to call it and that's how motorsport goes sometimes. It was a very important win for me and the team that get to finish on a high."
Webber set the fastest lap towards the end of the race, despite his team telling him to take it easy, and he said he enjoyed the closing stages of the race.

"I enjoyed the last few laps to be honest," he added. "It's always nice when you can pit a bit later than people and cover people off, so that was good. It was a nice way to finish."

'Mark deserved to win' - Vettel

 

 Sebastian Vettel said Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber deserved to win the Brazilian Grand Prix after the pair's battle was cut short by a gearbox problem on Vettel's car. 

Vettel led from the start and was building up a lead when his team informed him to back off and look after his gearbox. On lap 29 he conceded the lead to Webber in turn one, but said he was not upset about the outcome.



"Mark drove a fantastic race and deserved to win," Vettel said. "I don't really like calling this bad luck, surely if something like this happens it's not in your hands, but I tried to do my best, tried to stay as close as I could and tried to keep the gap to Fernando [Alonso] for most of the race, and Jenson [Button] at the end. I think we had a pretty amazing season and I think it would be over the top to be upset now.

"So we take the second place and the one-two for the team and it has been a phenomenal year and a very strong finish as well. I think we are all ready for the winter and we are looking forward to the break to recharge our batteries and come back as strong next year."

Vettel compared his afternoon to Ayrton Senna's race win in 1991, when the McLaren driver had to hold his car in higher gears to take his first victory on home soil.

"It was a real shame because I had a good start and then a very good feeling and I was able to pull a gap straightaway at the beginning of the race," he said. "Very early on I got the call that I'd have to manage a gearbox problem. I had to turn down the engine and short shift but it just kept getting worse throughout the race so I ended up using higher gears pretty much everywhere and that's why the comparison [with Ayrton Senna in 1991] came into my head."

Button bemoans soft tyre pace

Jenson Button said that his lack of pace on the soft tyre prevented him from finishing higher than third in the British Grand Prix.

Button started third and held that position for the early part of the race before Fernando Alonso past him with a brilliant move around the outside of Ferradura. Button did two stints on the medium tyre and managed to match pace with those ahead before catching and passing Alonso after the final pit stops, but he said that he initially lost out due to a combination of a lack of pace and debris on the track.







"It was a difficult race for me on the softer of the two tyres," Button said. "Fernando was very close out of turn five so I covered the line in to six; normally an easy place to block, but I looked at where he was and when I looked back forward there was lots of debris on the inside - I think it was Michael's tyre and a bit of front wing - so as soon as I saw that I didn't want to drive through it. I couldn't pull to the left because Fernando was already there so I had to back out of it and just pull in behind Alonso. So that was a bit disappointing and a little bit unlucky, but I just didn't have the pace on the softer of the two tyres."

Button also said that he was pleased with the switch to medium tyres, but that he couldn't catch Sebastian Vettel despite pushing as hard as possible in the closing laps.

"We decided to put the harder tyre on for the last two stints and it worked pretty well for me, especially in the last stint when I could hunt down Fernando. Ferrari, I think, struggle on the harder of the two tyres. [I was] able to make the pass, but third was as good as we could get; I was qualifying every lap but I still couldn't catch Seb."

Mark Webber grabs first win of the year in season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix

Mark Webber finally claimed his first victory of the 2011 Formula 1 season in the very last race of the year, as gearbox troubles for world champion Sebastian Vettel opened the door for his Red Bull team-mate in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

 

Red Bull absolutely dominated the Interlagos race, with Vettel holding the lead at the start, and Webber fending off the cars behind for second despite a slightly slower getaway.

 

Vettel soon opened up a stable three-second gap to Webber, as the Red Bull duo left the rest in their wake at a rate sometimes up to one second per lap.

But from the early laps Vettel was receiving radio messages warning him to short-shift to nurse a developing gearbox problem, and as the warnings became more vehement, his pace slowed enough for Webber to sweep into the lead on lap 29.

While the Australian went on to take his first win since the 2010 Hungarian GP, Vettel still had enough pace to hang on for second.

 

He was helped by McLaren's Jenson Button and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso battling over third. Alonso passed Lewis Hamilton's McLaren at the start, then claimed third from Button with a spectacular move around the outside at Ferradura on lap 11.

 

Alonso then pulled away, only to lose pace on the harder tyres in his final stint, allowing Button to catch and re-pass him nine laps from the finish with an easy DRS pass after various earlier attempts were rebuffed.

 

Hamilton was set to battle with Felipe Massa - who stopped just twice while most made three pitstops - for fifth until a gearbox failure halted the McLaren, ensuring the Ferrari could keep the place.

 

Adrian Sutil charged to sixth for Force India, beating Mercedes' Nico Rosberg and the second Force India of Paul di Resta.

 

Ninth place for Kamui Kobayashi ensured Sauber beat Toro Rosso - which failed to score - to seventh in the constructors' championship. Vitaly Petrov completed the points-scorers for Renault.

 

His team-mate Bruno Senna clashed with Michael Schumacher at the Senna S early on, giving the Mercedes a puncture. The stewards awarded Senna a drive-through penalty for the collision and with gearbox troubles also developing, he fell to 17th, while Schumacher got back to 15th.

Rubens Barrichello was unable to score in what could be his final grand prix. A poor start dropped the Williams to 21st and he was only able to recover to 14th.

Sebastian Vettel grabs record-breaking 15th pole position in Brazil

Sebastian Vettel flew to a record 15th pole position of the 2011 season with an imperious performance in Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying at Interlagos.

The world champion topped Q2 then absolutely dominated Q3. Vettel's initial 1m12.268s effort put him a quarter of a second clear of the pack, and he then improved to 1m11.918s with his final attempt.

Mark Webber made it an all-Red Bull front row, winning a battle with McLaren's Q1 pacesetter Jenson Button as the Briton ended a run of Interlagos qualifying disasters to take third. Button had looked like he might manage to hang on to a front row slot until Webber came through with a 1m12.099s on his second run.

Lewis Hamilton was back in fourth in the other McLaren.

The Ferraris took fifth and seventh - Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa split by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, who had been a surprise second in Q2. Rosberg's team-mate Michael Schumacher did not attempt a final lap in Q3 so will start 10th.

 

Adrian Sutil took eighth in the leading Force India, ahead of Bruno Senna, who impressed on home ground to deliver a now rare Q3 appearance for a Renault.

Outside the top 10, Rubens Barrichello produced a strong performance to get his Williams up to 12th for what may be his last grand prix start.

Paul di Resta (Force India) and Vitaly Petrov (Renault) could not match their respective team-mates and will start 11th and 16th. The Toro Rossos will share row seven, while the Saubers made up the tail of the Q2 pack.

 

Pastor Maldonado was half a second down on Williams team-mate Rubens Barrichello as he ended up on the wrong side of the Q1 cut-off in 18th.

Lotus' new rear wing did not bring the hoped-for Q2 progress, but the team did move a further step closer to those ahead, with Heikki Kovalainen within half a second of Toro Rosso, Sauber and Williams pace.

 

HRT managed to get both its cars ahead of both Virgins, while Jerome D'Ambrosio outqualified Timo Gloc

Sebastian Vettel tops final Brazilian Grand Prix practice

Sebastian Vettel edged out Jenson Button to set the fastest time in the final free practice session ahead of Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying at Interlagos.

Their respective Red Bull and McLaren team-mates Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth.

As had been the case on Friday, most of the session was a Red Bull versus McLaren battle at the front.

Hamilton was the big-hitters to post a quick time with a 1m13.988s after 17 minutes. Things moved fast in the next five minutes as everyone got fully up to speed, with Vettel hitting the front very briefly, being beaten by Button, then returning to the top with a 1m13.166s.

That kept Vettel at the head of the order for 20 minutes before Mark Webber edged ahead, and then Force India's Adrian Sutil made a surprise appearance in first place with a 1m13.113s on softs.

The German enjoyed six minutes in the spotlight prior to the bigger teams bolted on soft tyres too, with first Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), then Hamilton going to the front before Vettel blasted in consecutive laps in 1m12.508s and 1m12.460s - both faster than anyone else would manage.

Button ended up 0.087 seconds shy in second, followed by Webber, Hamilton and Alonso.

Sutil's lap kept him up in sixth place, ahead of the two Mercedes, the sister Force India of Paul di Resta and Ferrari's Felipe Massa. The Brazilian had a complicated end to the session with near-misses with Timo Glock's Virgin on track and Schumacher in the pit exit.

 

Further back, Bruno Senna lost some track time to engine issues on his Renault, and Sebastien Buemi did not get chance to set a time due to a hydraulic leak on his Toro Rosso.

Lewis Hamilton tops second Friday practice for McLaren in Brazil

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton led the way in the second free practice session for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

Amid continued perfect weather at the Sao Paulo track, Hamilton spent the vast majority of the afternoon at the head of the order.

His first serious lap time of the session - a 1m13.852s - put him on top from the 11th minute to the 49th, and was only beaten when others switched to the softer tyres.

It was Michael Schumacher's Mercedes that deposed Hamilton, as the former champion put in a 1m13.723s. But six minutes later Hamilton was back out on soft rubber too, improving to first 1m13.653s, then the 1m13.392s that would keep him on top to the end.

World champion Sebastian Vettel eventually claimed second for Red Bull, 0.167 seconds off Hamilton's pace, and just ahead of RBR team-mate Mark Webber.

Fernando Alonso was the leading Ferrari driver in fourth, with Schumacher staying among the frontrunners in fifth.

Felipe Massa completed the top six for Ferrari, while Jenson Button spent a long spell just behind team-mate Hamilton in second before falling to seventh as he did not make a particular large pace jump on softs.

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) and the Force Indias of Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta completed the top 10.

The only notable incident of the session was a gearbox failure for Sergio Perez, which stranded his Sauber on the climb out of Juncao with a few minutes to go.

Mark Webber fastest in opening practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix

Mark Webber was quickest for Red Bull in the opening Brazilian Grand Prix practice session at a dry and sunny Interlagos.

A 1m13.811s lap for Webber heading into the final quarter of an hour saw him depose the two McLarens, with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton second and third ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the second Red Bull. All four were within 0.214 seconds.

The McLarens and Red Bulls had dominated the top of the standings once the serious running began after the first half hour, with Hamilton and Button up front for a quarter of an hour before Vettel took a turn in first place.


Button usurped the champion around the one-hour mark, with Hamilton coming in behind him to briefly form a McLaren one-two, before Webber set what proved to be the morning's fastest time.
The Ferraris completed the top six, with Felipe Massa ahead of Fernando Alonso - who parked with an engine failure four minutes from the end.

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg's Mercedes took seventh and 10th, sandwiching the Force Indias of Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta.

Hulkenberg was just one member of a large test and reserve driver contingent in action. Romain Grosjean was 12th for Renault despite stopping in the pit exit with clutch trouble after an hour. Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne took 18th, Luiz Razia was 20th on his return to Lotus duty, and Jan Charouz's grand prix weekend debut saw him slowest but within 0.6s of HRT team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.

There were no significant off-track incidents in the session bar a handful of trips over the run-off area and a swift spin for Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi.

Schumacher hopes Barrichello can secure an F1 drive in 2012

Michael Schumacher hopes that Rubens Barrichello does get given the opportunity to continue in Formula 1 next year, and that he is not dropped by Williams in favour of a pay driver.

With Barrichello unsure about his future, and heading into what could be his final grand prix in Brazil this weekend, Schumacher thinks that F1 would be a poorer place if his former team-mate is not kept on.
"He has been one of the icons that you have in F1," Schumacher told the Brazilian Totalrace website.

"It would be sad not to see him next year.
"I cross fingers that not only money talks and that quality talks, and that he should have a drive for next year."

Barrichello is determined to keep on in F1, but Williams is weighing up a host of drivers for next year - including Valtteri Bottas, Adrian Sutil and Kimi Raikkonen.

Kubica hopes to start season

 

 Robert Kubica's manager Daniele Morelli has said that "Renault has changed Robert's words" and that "it's not true he won't be ready for 2012". 

Renault announced on Wednesday that Kubica would miss the start of the new season, even carrying quotes from Kubica himself saying that "I came to the conclusion that I am not yet certain to be ready for the 2012 season". However, Morelli says that Renault has twisted the words and that Kubica is still hoping to be fit for the start of next year, while also denying the team's claims that he will be contracted to the team throughout 2012.



"I don't understand why Renault has changed Robert's words," Morelli told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It's not true he won't be ready for 2012. He stated he doesn't have certainty that he will be in shape for the first tests in February. We count on and hope to be ready, but in any case the delay will be a few months.

"Renault will go its way with regards to the drivers, while we will look for alternative solutions. His contract does not extend into 2012. It ends at the end of December, so from January 1 will we be free to go in whatever direction."

Morelli did admit that the recovery had been taking longer than expected, but that the last month has seen a "nice acceleration" of his progress.

"Plans have gone out of the window. But if Robert comes back that's because he will be competitive like before and attractive for the top teams. He is a bit overweight, but his right leg is almost the same as the left one muscle-wise.

"His elbow's external brace will be removed on Tuesday, so from that point on he will be free from that scrap metal. The hand's sensitivity is OK. The only limit is strength as the forearm's muscles have been immobilised for a long time so there's a lot of work to do. But it's a matter of time, by the end of January the strength should be adequate."

Ferrari 'stronger' in 2011

 

Alonso says that Ferrari has been "stronger" this year than it was in 2010, despite only one grand prix victory. 

 

After just missing out on the drivers' championship last season, Ferrari was expected to provide an even sterner test for Red Bull in 2011. However, it started the season off the pace and while Alonso has finished on the podium nine times his sole victory came at the British Grand Prix. Despite having fallen out of championship contention in Singapore, Alonso believes that Ferrari has learnt from last year's mistakes.

"I will remember it as a not bad season overall from a personal point of view and how the team approached this season, improving in areas where we were weak last year," Alonso said. "The team has been stronger and I feel that with a competitive car next year we can be very strong and fighting for the world championship.


"Last year, our starts and strategies were not so good and we had a conservative approach to the races and we improved in all those areas this year. Now, all we need is the car that can do it."
One such strategy proved costly as Ferrari covered Mark Webber in the championship decider, allowing Sebastian Vettel to snatch the title. Alonso finished the season as runner-up, but says that he is not worried about securing the same position again as people have already forgotten that fact.

"I finished second last year and no one remembers and I won't recall it in ten or twenty years time, so if I finish second, third or fourth this time, it will not be on my mind in the future. It's not a big priority, but we will try and have a good race.

"Maybe there is a possibility of rain on Sunday, which means we might not get the same result as usual with Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari always in the top five or six places. If that is the case and we do a good race, maybe I can take some points off Jenson [Button], but maybe I lose points to Webber and finish fourth. It's not so important for us, but maybe it gives me some self confidence for the future seeing myself ahead of drivers in better cars than ours."

Button 'happy' with achievements

Jenson Button said that he is "happy" with what he has achieved in 2011, saying it is been "a pretty strong year".

Button has won three races and emerged as the most consistent challenger to Sebastian Vettel in the second half of the season, with eight other podium finishes leaving him on the verge of securing second place in the drivers' championship. However, Button said that his finishing position in the standings was not as important of race wins, although acknowledged it would still be an achievement to be proud of.

"[Being runner-up] is not so important I suppose," Button said. "I think it's nice to know over a season you can finish in front of obviously some very good drivers but also some teams. To finish in front of a Red Bull would be great, considering that Sebastian's won the championship in a Red Bull. And Fernando has obviously been very strong in the Ferrari so, if I get the chance to beat them at the end of the season in terms of points, yeah, of course I'll be happy but as we all say, we'd rather come away from here with a victory, that means more to us than finishing second in the Championship - but it's still nice, I suppose, if you can come away with second.

"Looking back on 2011, yeah, I'm pretty happy with what I've achieved. We haven't been quite good enough to win the Championship but I think we've had a pretty strong year and hopefully we can build on what we've achieved this year, next year and really take the fight to Red Bull."

When asked if it had been satisfying for him to beat team-mate Lewis Hamilton over the season, Button said it was the individual race results like his victory in Japan which were more important to him.

"I think if we're fighting for the World Championship and one of us came out on top it would be a very special feeling but we're not in that position right now but for me, I'm happy with what I've achieved this year in terms of getting the best out of the car and getting some reasonably good performance. For me, Japan really stands out as being a great race, but also some other races that we haven't been able to win, so I take more comfort from just the results I've got out of…on a race weekend, and also how I've felt that I've done over a race weekend."

Police escorts for drivers at Brazilian Grand Prix

Drivers will get round-the-clock protection during the Brazilian Grand Prix as the local authorities seek to prevent a repeat of the incident last year when Jenson Button was involved in an incident with gunmen as he left the Interlagos circuit.
A report in the Times says police will guard drivers as they travel between the circuit and their hotels. The track in Sao Paulo, which hosts the final race of the season, is situated in one of the poorest parts of the city and is surrounded by shanty towns.



Last year Button's car was approached by six armed men as it waited in traffic. Quick thinking by his chauffeur, who was trained for such a situation, prevented the situation becoming more serious.


"We have more security this year," Button told the newspaper. "I think every driver you see will have a police escort in Brazil and they should do. It is a pity things happen when we leave the circuit, but I think it just shows the divide [between rich and poor]."

However, the protection will not extend to the multitude of team members. "You've got to spare a thought for everyone else because they don't have police escorts," Button continued. "It happens every year with the mechanics or engineers. There's always someone who gets held up at gunpoint and their bags get taken.

"There is a great atmosphere, so, hopefully, we won't have any of those mishaps. I love the race, but I don't know what else they can do."

Kubica to miss start of 2012

 

 Robert Kubica has told Renault he will not be ready to return to Formula One for the start of the 2012 season. 

Kubica sustained serious arm injuries in a rallying accident at the start of the year and, following several surgeries, has since been recovering. The team has been delaying its driver announcement for 2012 in the hope that Kubica would be fit enough to return, but on Wednesday he told the team he would not be ready for the start of the season.


"Even if I've been working very, very hard over the course of the last few weeks, I came to the conclusion that I am not yet certain to be ready for the 2012 season," he said in a statement. "I have called the team and I have informed them of the situation. This was a difficult decision to make, but it is the most reasonable one. I also know that LRGP [Lotus Renault Grand Prix] need to prepare for next year, and further extending deadlines would not have been the right thing to do.

"On a personal level, my recovery is still very encouraging and my doctors keep being impressed. I just need more time, as I want to be 100% ready before I commit to anything driving related. Finally, I regret not having been able to provide more news and not having appeared in the papers, and I thank my friends of the media for understanding that this has been the best way for me to cope with what has been the most difficult period of my life."

A Renault press release said Kubica can now move his hand and elbow and walk freely, and confirmed that the team is fully committed to helping him recover. The statement also revealed that Renault is in talks to extend Kubica's current contract into 2013.


"Everybody in the team is, of course, very disappointed today," team principal Eric Boullier said. "Robert not driving in Australia at the start of next season is not what we were all hoping for. However, he has taken a very mature decision, acting in the best interests of Lotus Renault GP. As a team and as a family, we remain 100% behind him and we'll help as much as we can.

"A programme composed of simulator testing, single-seater and F1 track time is awaiting him. In the meantime, we will start talking to a few drivers in order to finalise our line-up for next year as soon as possible. Robert will take it step by step and will jump back in his racing car when he feels it is the right moment to do so. On behalf of all 520 members of the team, I wish him a speedy recovery."

The news means Renault can now enter serious talks with other drivers for 2012 to partner Vitaly Petrov, who has a contact with the team. GP2 champion Romain Grosjean is believed to be a front-runner while current driver Bruno Senna is also in talks.

Honda engine rumours 'wide of the mark'

 McLaren has denied reports it is looking to enter into an engine partnership with Honda in 2014.
A report over the weekend in Auto Motor und Sport said McLaren was looking to enter into a works engine deal with the Japanese manufacturer when the new 1.6-litre turbo engine regulations come into force in three years' time. The two marques enjoyed a very successful partnership between 1988 and 1992 with four championship victories, but McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale denied there has been any contact between the two.

"That's all wide of the mark," he told ESPNF1 during the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in. "We are wedded to, very happy with and enjoying our partnership with Mercedes-Benz. We're not quite sure how or where that [news] broke from in truth, but I can stop the rumours and say we are entirely focused on the Mercedes-Benz relationship. We've had a long standing relationship with them, with many wins and championships and long may that continue."


Mercedes-Benz has been supplying engines to McLaren since 1995 and became a shareholder in the team in 1999, but over recent years McLaren has bought that share back and Mercedes has bought its own F1 team. Reports suggest that McLaren will have to pay for its Mercedes-Benz engines from 2013 onwards, while its main rivals will have either a works engine deal (in the case of Red Bull) or in-house engine departments (in the case of Ferrari and Mercedes). But Neale insists McLaren, which has a supply deal with Mercedes-Benz until 2015, can still be competitive as a customer team.

"I don't think that's a concern," he said. "Of course, Mercedes have their own GP team and it's right and proper that a degree of focus is going to go in that direction, but I was just talking this morning with Thomas Fuhr at Mercedes-Benz - we speak frequently - and we want the same things. 
It's in our interest to have consistent engines together because that's how we get the highest quality. 

"Mercedes managed to get six cars [using its engines] in the top ten in qualifying in Abu Dhabi, and they take real pleasure and delight in that and so they should. But of course we like to beat them all as well, so that works for us. We make a healthy technical contribution and they are a formidable technical partner in the engine stakes and we enjoy that relationship."

Button not fearful of Brazil return

Jenson Button says he is not afraid of returning to Brazil after the car he was travelling in was the subject of an approach from armed assailants.
Button was leaving the Interlagos circuit following qualifying on Saturday evening along with his father, manager and trainer when their car was approached by a group armed with guns. Fortunately the driver was a policeman trained in avoidance techniques, and their reinforced vehicle was able to force its way through the heavy traffic to safety.



Ahead of his return to Sao Paulo Button was asked if he was afraid of going back this year, to which he replied: "No, not at all."


Button also told Sporting Life that he believes the drivers will all have police escorts to ensure their safety, but that other team members have to be more wary of their surroundings.
"Something was going to happen. It had happened so many times with the mechanics and engineers, and in the end it was going to happen to a driver. I don't think they wanted anything except for our bags out of the boot. But we have more security this year. I think every driver you see will have a police escort, and they should do.

But you have to spare a thought for everyone else in Formula One because they don't have police escorts."

Despite last year's ordeal Button said that the race is still a special one.

"It's a tough one because it's such a good grand prix. I love racing at Sao Paulo. There is a special atmosphere, even when your team-mate is Brazilian (as in 2009 with Rubens Barrichello) and you are fighting for the world championship. I still love it there because they are so passionate, and there is so much history at that circuit. It's a pity things do happen there when we leave the circuit, but I think that just shows the divide in Brazil."

Barrichello sure Williams will improve

 

Barichello is certain that Williams will make "a big step" in performance from its 2011 to its 2012 car.

Williams has endured the worst season in its history with Barrichello responsible for four of the five points that the team has scored. With only Lotus, Virgin and HRT below it in the constructors' championship, the team has undergone extensive restructuring throughout the season with the biggest change being Sam Michael leaving as technical director and Mike Coughlan coming in. Along with switching from Cosworth to Renault engines


Barrichello said that the refreshed team will make clear progress next season.
"Engine side, structure, new thinking, motivation, everything can be a big step next year," Barrichello is quoted by Autosport. "That is what I believe. I don't know if it is going to be a winning car but it will be a hell of a lot better car."

Barrichello cited a lack of leadership during the changeover period as the main reason for the team's lack of competitiveness this year, but said that it was now fully focused on improving in 2012.

"The problem this year was the leaving people until the others came in and that missing three to four months, that was no leadership at that time. Right now people are accommodating quite well, they have done everything they could to improve this car which is a very bad one, so they are putting all the efforts on a new one."

Montezemolo issues Massa warning

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has issued a warning to Felipe Massa that "he'll have to prove himself next season".

Massa has had a poor 2011, failing to finish higher than fifth in a Ferrari which Fernando Alonso drove to victory in Silverstone. Alonso has so far scored a total of 245 points, more than double Massa's 108, which has led to speculation over Massa's future. Montezemolo admitted that although Massa has not had a successful year, he has faith the speed which saw him so nearly win the 2008 championship is still there, but that he will have to display it next season.

"Let's hope [2012] goes well," Montezemolo told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have great confidence in our drivers and there seems to have been a clarification as regards the regulations. I'm sure we'll have a more competitive car. The drivers? We have a contract with Fernando until 2016 and he's the best driver in the world.


"Massa's contract will run for the whole of next season; he's been with us for quite a few years and even if he didn't have such a great season or much luck, we can't question the ability of a driver who was winning the title three years ago and who has always been fast and competitive. Let's hope he can finish the season with a good result in Brazil, we expect great things from him in 2012 and then we'll decide how to proceed. Let's say he'll have to prove himself next season."

Looking at Ferrari's 2011 performance as a whole, Montezemolo was clearly not satisfied, and said that the team's biggest error was not taking enough risks during the winter.

"A mark out of ten for our season? I'd give a 5 which I'll raise to 6 considering the effort and the victory at Silverstone exactly 60 years after Ferrari's first win in F1. But the season started badly, we didn't interpret the regulations well and we didn't take risks in the technology of our project."

I could match Webber - Vergne

Red Bull young driver Jean-Eric Vergne has said that he "would do no worse than [Mark] Webber" if he was given a race seat.

Vergne topped the timesheets in all three sessions of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi as he tested the RB7 for the first time.





With Red Bull looking at which young driver will eventually replace Webber when he retires, Vergne's immediate target would appear to be a seat with Toro Rosso.

However, with Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi and Daniel Ricciardo all competing for the same seat, Vergne believes he has shown enough to already be in position to replace Webber.

"When I came back (from the test) I saw the comments of (engineering boss) Ian Morgan and they were very positive, I cannot hide it," Vergne is quoted by Le Nouvel Observateur. "I know that the top teams are cautious of young drivers; the only one (McLaren) that dared to go with a young guy recently was Hamilton, and it worked.

"We have had a similar preparation; I did three days of testing and physically had no problems. So I think if I was put in the Red Bull, I would do no worse than Webber."

Vergne does admit, however, that he needs to impress in FP1 in Brazil to put himself in the best possible position for 2012.

"That's my impression, anyway, after these tests. But I know that the road is still long and where I go next is Brazil. This is my last practice session with Toro Rosso before I know what I will be doing next season."

Marko wary of rejuvenated Hamilton

 Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said that he would have liked Lewis Hamilton to stay off-form for longer as he "is a dangerous opponent".

Hamilton has endured a difficult season in 2011, with personal problems off the track adding to a number of incidents on it. As a result he's currently fifth in the standings going in to the final race of the year, but appeared to return to form with his third win of the season in Abu Dhabi. Marko said that he was wary of Hamilton's return to form because it makes him a threat to Red Bull for victories.


"For us, we would not have minded if Hamilton had stayed quiet for even longer," Marko told Auto Motor und Sport. "When he is back at 100 per cent, Mr Hamilton is a dangerous opponent."

Marko also said that McLaren is the team that Red Bull fears the most, because of its ability to improve so much over a season as has been evident in both 2009 and this year.

"They are like a terrier biting a bit more with each race. McLaren emerge from every crisis, which shows the class of a racing team."

Despite McLaren being a clear threat to Red Bull by the end of the season, Hamilton himself said that the team needs to be starting next year in a more competitive position.

"Our car is always as good as the Red Bull eventually," Hamilton said. "It would be helpful for the future if we get there earlier than we have been."

Teams to test 2012 compounds

Pirelli will be supplying the teams with 2012-specification soft tyres for the Brazilian Grand Prix, while they will also test a hard tyre during Friday practice.
With Pirelli having been central to the increase in overtaking and more exciting races in 2011, it has been focusing on next season's compounds throughout the second half of the season.


Teams were able to use the new tyres during the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test last week, and motorsport director Paul Hembery said it would be using the 2012 version of the soft tyre for the race at Interlagos.
"Preparations for the 2012 season are well underway, so it will be really interesting to hear the thoughts of the drivers about the new hard and soft tyres that we will be trying out in Brazil," Hembery said.

"We've already collected plenty of information on the new soft tyre from the young driver test, so it will be useful to compare that to real race data."

Hembery also warned that the compounds could end up changing classification as Pirelli works towards an aggressive selection of tyres for next season.

"It's important not to get too distracted by the names of the tyres though: what we're calling a 'soft' for now could end up as a medium for next year, as that's what the testing process is all about. In general, the tyres are going to be less conservative next year as the second half of this season has shown how well the teams have understood our product, allowing us to make some reasonably aggressive choices such as supersoft and soft for Korea."

off the track : Assassins Creed Revelations

New rear wing for Lotus in Brazil

Lotus will be bringing a new rear wing to the Brazilian Grand Prix which should see it close the gap to the midfield in qualifying.

Lotus has made steady progress throughout the season but still remains clearly off the midfield pace, especially in qualifying due to a less effective DRS system. In Q1 in Abu Dhabi Heikki Kovalainen was 0.7s slower than Pastor Maldonado, and over a second off the pace of Sebastien Buemi. In the races, though, Lotus has tended to be more competitive as DRS can't be used as often, and Mike Gascoyne said that the new wing should help address the qualifying weakness.


"Our progress on track has been clear to see and another sign of our ongoing development this year is the fact we are bringing a new rear wing to Brazil," Gascoyne said. "Our race pace has been good all season, but we have not been able to match that in qualifying, and the update to the rear wing is designed to help us do that by improving the efficiency of our DRS system.

"In simple terms, because DRS can be used anywhere on track in qualifying our performances in Q1 have not matched our race performances where DRS usage is limited, and bringing a new wing that gives us more downforce and improves the efficiency of the system should see us being able to close the gap in qualifying to the cars ahead compared to the previous races."

Gascoyne also said that it was a sign of Lotus' progress that it was still bringing new parts to the car, and that it was an approach it would be looking to continue taking in the future.
"Last year we had stopped development on the T127 halfway through the season and this year we have new parts right up to the final race and that is how we will be operating next year and for many seasons to come."

Force India not taking sixth in constructors' for granted

Force India has vowed not to become complacent over its current sixth place position in the constructors' championship.

Sixth place is worth a significant amount of prize money to the team and it has pushed the development of its car at recent races to stay ahead of Sauber and Toro Rosso. After scoring six points in Abu Dhabi the team appears to have cemented its position ahead of its rivals, with a 15-point advantage over Sauber, but COO Otmar Szafnauer insists it is not taking anything for granted.


"The gap is not insignificant, but it's not insurmountable, so in Brazil we still have to do everything we can to get both cars in the top ten in qualifying and in the race," he said. "Things that are out of our control, like the weather, we'll just have to see. The weather can throw up some unexpected results and in Brazil at this time it can rain, so it does happen."

If all goes to plan, Szafnauer is confident Force India will be strong at Interlagos next weekend.
"I think we'll go pretty well there," he added. "Maybe we won't have the same advantage that we had in Abu Dhabi, but we'll still be competitive in Brazil. Adrian [Sutil] likes the circuit and is usually pretty quick there. If it is wet I think we'll be quick too. We just have to do a solid job over the weekend, make no mistakes, and qualify and race well."

But after losing out on sixth place in the constructors' last year, the team will be aiming to maximise its potential.
"That's exactly what we're trying to do," Szafnauer said. "We have to maximise our performance to the end. I think we're in a better position than last year, but by no means are we guaranteed that sixth place, so we still have to fight for it."

Boullier says Petrov incident is closed

Eric Boullier says that Vitaly Petrov's outburst is a closed matter after Petrov apologised to the Renault team.
Petrov complained to Russian television about a lack of progress made by Renault throughout the season, and blamed poor strategy and pit stops for costing him positions.

However, Petrov apologised to the whole team via letter, saying that adrenaline was running high after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Boullier said that it was understandable such things could be said in the heat of the moment, and that it showed Petrov's competitive edge.


"Well, the interview was made minutes after Vitaly jumped out of the car last Sunday," Boullier told the official Renault website. "The race was tough, he was upset not to have scored points, he was exhausted. Drivers are not robots, they're human beings. Also, like every driver, Vitaly is a competitor. Had he been on the podium in Abu Dhabi, he would have complained about not winning the race."

Boullier also said that the apology meant that the incident was over.
"We take this incident as exactly this - an incident. Vitaly has apologised to the team and sent an email to all the staff at Enstone. As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed."

'Bold' R31 experiment failed

Renault technical director James Allision has described this year's car, with its unique front-exiting exhaust, as a "bold but ultimately failed experiment".

Renault took the blown-diffuser concept to new levels by positioning the car's exhaust at the front of the sidepods in order to energise the air flowing under the length of the car and improve downforce.

The R31 proved successful in the early races, taking podiums at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix, but has since struggled for performance with just two points from the last five races.


The car has proved tricky to set up and has struggled for traction at slow-speed tracks, factors that have led Allison to admitting the concept ultimately failed.

"I regard it as a bold, but ultimately failed experiment" he said. "We were the only team to adopt a forward exhaust layout, and we did so with high hopes, buoyed by very strong wind tunnel numbers. We came out of the blocks adequately well, although it was clear from the first test that the delivered downforce was not as high as we had expected.

"The season which followed has been difficult for everyone at Enstone. The layout which had promised so much (and which, had it delivered, would have been almost impossible to copy) proved very tricky to develop and had a fundamental weakness in slow corners that has been an albatross around our neck all year. We look forward to moving on in 2012 with all-new exhaust rules and a chance to wipe the slate clean."

Blown diffusers will be banned under the 2012 regulations, which stipulate exhausts must exit from the top of the engine cover. Allison said work is well under way on the new car, but the team was preparing itself for an intense workload over the winter.

"This time of year is frantic," he said. "It is very busy right now, but the intensity of the new car will build steadily to insane levels as January approaches. There is always way more to do than time to do it, and yet somehow each year it all gets done in time to put the new car on the track for winter testing. A change for this year, which requires all teams to have passed their FIA crash tests before they are allowed to take part in pre-season testing, adds even more tension to an already difficult period."

Hamilton 'determined' to win in Brazil

Lewis Hamilton says that his victory in Abu Dhabi has made him "even more determined" to win the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hamilton's triumph at the Yas Marina Circuit was his first since the German Grand Prix in July, and came after a run of poor form attributed to problems in his personal life. Looking ahead to the final race of the season Hamilton said that he wants to end the season on a high, and is preparing himself to the potential unknown of wet weather.



"Winning in Abu Dhabi last week was a fantastic feeling, and it's made me even more determined to finish the 2011 season with a victory," Hamilton said. "It would be great to go into the winter off the back of another win, so that'll be my aim next weekend.


"It's rare for there to be a straightforward race at Interlagos - particularly if the weather plays a role. I hear it's been raining heavily in Sao Paulo at the moment - if it rains on Sunday, anything could happen."

Having won been involved in two championship deciders at Interlagos in the past, and in contention for the title last year, Hamilton said that the fact that both championships were already decided would not have a negative effect on the race.

"This year, with both titles already wrapped up, I want to enjoy myself: and I think we have the car to once again make a difference - we'll pick up where we left off in Abu Dhabi, I hope. I think we're all set for a great end to the 2011 championship: Interlagos is a fantastic circuit, one of the best on the calendar, and I think the combination of KERS Hybrid and DRS, plus the possibility of wet weather, mean we're all set for a fascinating race."

McLaren must start 2012 quickly

Martin Whitmarsh says McLaren must be winning races from the start of the 2012 season in order to challenge for the drivers' and constructors' championships.

Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last weekend was McLaren's sixth of the season, but came three races after Sebastian Vettel had secured the drivers' title and two after Red Bull was crowned constructor's champions. Speaking at the opening of the new McLaren Production Centre at the team's headquarters, Whitmarsh said that the problem had been a slow start to the season, and that McLaren couldn't afford the same in 2012.

"We're very proud of the performance at the weekend in Abu Dhabi to win that race," Whitmarsh said. "That brings us to six victories, and obviously we'd like to make it seven (in Brazil) before the end of this year. But by the high standards of McLaren this has not been a vintage year. We've secured second place in the constructors' championship, but clearly we want to win more races than this.

"We had a slow start this year, so we have to get out of the blocks quickly and effectively at the start of next year to make sure we are winning races straightaway. We've two great drivers, a fantastic team of men and women here who are continuously innovative and moving us forward to be competitive. So we're optimistic about next year. If we weren't then we would have to change something because we are here to win."

Managing director Jonathan Neale said that the team doesn't win enough titles, but that it needs to "graft" over the winter to ensure it is in a stronger position at the start of next season.

"We've consistently won races, we're consistently on the podium, but we don't win championships enough and that's a frustration," Neale said. "We love winning races, but we need to win more championships. We have shown we can out-develop and stay close to everybody, but we have to get out of the blocks, start quick. We do that with graft. Lewis and Jenson, as back-to-back world champions, deserve the best, so that's a clear target."

Ecclestone gives Austin one week

Bernie Ecclestone has issued the Circuit of the Americas owners with a deadline of "next week" to try and save the United States Grand Prix.

Construction work on the site in Austin, Texas has halted since it was revealed that the promoters didn't have a contract in place to host the race in 2012 following a breach. With state funding in advance of the event having also been withdrawn, Ecclestone said that a contract would need to be signed before the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) meets on December 7 to ratify the final 2012 calendar.

"It needs to be before that," Ecclestone said. "We don't need any deadlines, having to thrash around at the last minute to do something. It's gone on long enough. They [the Texas circuit owners] have got next week anyway. We are going to be in Brazil so they can come back next week."

 Asked if that would be the end of the race if the deadline was not met Ecclestone replied: "Yeah, yeah."

Ecclestone also said that it was not a case of brinkmanship, and that he would have no option but to cancel the race completely if Austin could not find the funds to secure a deal.

"There's nothing to save. They can't bloody well pay. What do you want me to do, wait until next year? To put all our cars on it, run around the circuit and everything and come back with no money? The teams want paying. It's not brinkmanship; it never has been with me. I've been trying to do a deal now with these people for 18 months or more … if they had the money, I'm sure there would be no problem."

A statement from Circuit of the Americas president Steve Sexton said that it would look to put together a deal to host the race from 2013 onwards in order to ensure the track has the maximum preparation time.

"We have been excited for and working towards a 2012 USGP race and now understand that Mr Ecclestone is interested in moving the Austin race to 2013," Sexton said. "We know the US market is important to the teams and their sponsors and 2013 certainly allows time for the Circuit of the Americas to be ready."

Race promoter Tavo Hellmund said that Ecclestone had been as helpful as possible, and that the circuit owners only had themselves to blame.

"The reason we don't have a contract with Formula One is because as a project, we have failed many times over to fulfill our financial obligations to Formula One. It's literally that simple," Hellmund said. "Right now we should be praising Mr. Ecclestone. We were in breach on multiple issues as late as May. And he sent numerous requests and letters that we were all aware of how to fix it and we failed to do that."

Ecclestone on verge of scrapping Austin Grand Prix

Bernie Ecclestone has said he is prepared to scrap the 2012 US Grand Prix in Austin after revealing there is no longer a valid contract to run the race.

It emerged this week that construction at the brand new circuit had ground to a halt amid contractual dispute between promoters Full Throttle Productions and the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). But Ecclestone has now revealed to the Press Associationthat the original race contract, issued to Full Throttle Productions, has been cancelled and that he is waiting on COTA to prove it has the money to pay for the race before he issues another.

"We've done everything we bloody well can do to make this race happen," Ecclestone told the Press Association. Asked if it could be dropped ahead of a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on December 7, where the 2012 calendar will be ratified, he added: "Yes, it will be, for sure, 100%."

"We had an agreement with Full Throttle Productions," Ecclestone explained. "Everything was signed and sealed, but we kept putting things off like the dates, various letters of credit and things that should have been sent, but nothing ever happened.

"Then these other people (COTA) came on the scene, saying that they wanted to do things, but that they had problems with Tavo. They said they had the circuit, and that they wanted an agreement with me. I told them they had to sort out the contract with Tavo, which they said they would.

"But that has gone away now because we've cancelled Tavo's contract as he was in breach. We've waited six months for him to remedy the breach. He knows full well why we've cancelled. He's happy. But these other people haven't got a contract. All we've asked them to do is get us a letter of credit.

"We are looking for security for money they are going to have to pay us. That is via a letter of credit, normally from a bank. If people don't have the money they find it difficult to get the letter of credit, and so we don't issue a contract."

Part of the funding for the race fee was supposed to be coming from the Texas Major Events Trust Fund, but state comptroller Susan Combs revealed on Tuesday that the $25 million set aside would only be made available after the race.

"Let me state clearly: We have not paid out any money for the Formula One event," she said in a statement. "The only dollars that can be spent on the United States Grand Prix are tax revenues attributable to the successful running of a race. The state of Texas will not be paying any funds in advance of the event. Further, as is the case with all METF events, each application will be reviewed and analyzed for its likely economic impact and only after the race occurs would any funds be disbursed."