'Suzuka will play to my strengths' - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton believes his attacking driving style will pay dividends at next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix on the high-speed Suzuka circuit.

Hamilton has vowed not to change his approach to racing despite being involved in a string of incidents this year, two of which have resulted in retirements while the others have cost him points. But it is his ability to attack the circuit over a single flying lap that he thinks will really put him in good stead in Japan as he looks to bounce back from another below par result in Singapore last weekend.

"I think Suzuka will play to my strengths: it's a track that really requires you to drive in an attacking way to be able to get a good lap time," he said. "It's an uncompromising place. But that's when the thrill of driving a Formula One car is at its highest; when you know you can't afford a single mistake and where driving on the absolute limit is the only way to get the best time. In that sense, it's a lot like Monaco, and maybe that's why I like the place so much - it's unique."

Hamilton has yet to finish on the podium since Formula One returned from its summer break in August, while Sebastian Vettel has won all three races in the Red Bull. The McLaren driver said he will be wary of Red Bull's pace in Japan but is confident his team can also challenge for victory.

"I think we're headed there in pretty good shape: we know that the Red Bulls will be strong - but we also have a very quick car, and we can make it work on different kinds of circuit," he said. "Suzuka is another reasonably high-downforce track, which should play to our strengths. The weather in Japan in the autumn is always unpredictable - we've seen before that it can be beautifully sunny and hot or extremely cold and wet. I'll take any conditions as long as I can race hard."

Mercedes targets Spa repeat at Suzuka

Mercedes is hoping to finish in the top six at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix after a difficult round in Singapore last weekend.

 Nico Rosberg finished seventh on the Marina Bay street circuit, but found himself battling with the Force Indias rather than assuming Mercedes' usual position behind the top three teams.

 

However, the characteristics of the Suzuka circuit in Japan are closer to Spa-Francorchamps and Monza where Mercedes was more competitive, and while the team is not expecting to challenge the top three on outright pace, motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug is hoping for a return to the success the team enjoyed in Belgium and Italy.

"The layout is unique and one of the drivers' favourites; a mega-challenging circuit that is said to divide the men from the boys," he said. "In terms of average lap speed, Suzuka ranks - together with Spa and Monza - among the top five of the season, which should mean our technical package should be better suited here than at the slower speed tracks. Having said that, it is clear to us that we cannot change the current pecking order at Suzuka; our target will be to produce performances like we delivered in Spa and Monza."

Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher is looking forward to returning to Suzuka, where has won six times before.

"Suzuka is a very special circuit, and one which has held great races, and great memories, for me over the years. I always enjoy the challenge of driving here and getting the technical setup of the car right to get the best from the demanding layout of the track. A great first sector, high-speed turns, and interesting corner combinations all make Suzuka one of the best race tracks of the year, and definitely one of my favourites. We will be working hard to make the most of our weekend here, and hopefully we can come away with a strong performance and some more points."

Big upgrade for Sauber in Japan

Sauber will bring an extensive upgrade package to its car at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, which it hopes will prompt a return to regular points finishes.

 Sauber has scored just one point from the last four races and has been overtaken in the constructors' championship by Force India while Toro Rosso has closed the gap to its current seventh place position. However, it is ready to fight back at the remaining five races, staring in Suzuka where it will have a significant set of upgrades.

"We will bring a wide ranging aero package for the car, which includes a completely new front wing, new rear wings, new turning vanes and side pod deflectors, new brake ducts and modifications to the floor," technical director James Key said. "This was always planned for Suzuka and, if it all works well, it should give us a reasonable step forward. Obviously we want to bounce back from some recent bad luck. Going into the final quarter of the season there will be tracks which should suit our car better. It would definitely be great to get a positive result for all our supporters in Japan in what has been a very challenging year for the people there."

The Japanese Grand Prix is Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi's home race and he is hoping to put on a special performance for his fans, despite not knowing Suzuka that well.

"It is always very exciting going back to Japan to race, but when I went back last year it had been a long time since I had raced there and it felt especially good to be there. There were so many fans around and that in itself was very impressive. For me this year will only be the third time I have ever raced at the Suzuka circuit.

"Last year was my first time in a Formula One car, and before that I just did one Formula Toyota race in 2003 when I was 17-years old. Because of this I don't know it that well, and certainly most of the other drivers know it better than I do. Nevertheless Suzuka is one of my favourite circuits, and I also think one of the best tracks as well. Racing there is exciting and cool. I think every driver likes it. It is really enjoyable to drive on if you get in the right rhythm. The S Curves - two, three, four, five and six - are my favourites.

"This is my home country and so many fans are waiting, so I really think it is great to do. I believe Japan is very important for Formula One and I think we can put on a good show for the sport, which is a good thing for the Japanese fans. I think my parents may be coming to see me race there as they came last year."

Toro Rosso not for sale - Mateschitz

Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz insists his Formula One teams are not for sale, although he would consider taking on a partner in Toro Rosso.

There was speculation earlier this month that Toro Rosso would be sold to the Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), and while its brand CEPSA has appeared as sponsorship on the cars, Mateschitz says there are no plans to sell.

"No," he told the Independent when asked if it is for sale, "although partnerships would not be ruled out, as long as the partner is the right one."

With the senior Red Bull team on the verge of its second championship success in as many years, Mateschitz said he has no plans to sell a stake in that either, but added: "A forecast is difficult and a decision always depends on the wider picture, the politics, influence of F1 shareholders and many other factors".

And he does not think it is likely Red Bull will take on a title sponsor - like Vodafone is to McLaren - as it is "difficult to find one due to the strength of the Red Bull brand".
He added: "The return on investment [for Red Bull] is the marketing value, which depends on the race performance and results."

Red Bull still improving 2011 car - Newey

Red Bull technical director Adrian Newey has revealed his team is still pushing the development of this year's car in order to secure the constructors' championship as soon as possible.

Sebastian Vettel has all but won the drivers' crown, needing just one point from the remaining five races, but the constructors' title is less certain as Red Bull leads McLaren by 138 points with a maximum of 215 still up for grabs. Although Red Bull is by far the favourite, Newey said his design team would not slacken its efforts and has not yet committed its full attention to the 2012 car.
"It's that time of the year now where we desperately want to get the double in the championships if we can," he said. "We want to keep pushing the current car, keep it reliable if we can, and then we really have to have our attention on next year's car at the same time. We're deep into the design of the chassis and the gearbox [of the 2012 car], and as the two longest lead items we have to be, time scales demand that.

"But the things we learn on this car can go into next year's car and vice-a-versa. The regulation changes are fairly small for the winter, the most significant one is that we are much more restricted with what we can do with the exhaust system, but apart from that it's fairly similar rules."
He added: "It's a matter of keeping our feet on the ground; things can easily go wrong still. We're not there in the constructors' yet and we've still got five races to go. We'll continue to take each race race-by-race and try to do the best job we can and hope that that's good enough."
After winning back-to-back races at Monza and Singapore - two very different circuits - team principal Christian Horner congratulated his team on producing such an adaptable car this year.
"What's been really gratifying this year is that we've been competitive from Monaco to Monza and I think that's testimony to hard work in the team and from lessons learned last year," he said. "I think Adrian and his team have done a brilliant job in making the car versatile for different types of track and this track is probably the toughest test on the calendar in terms of the punishment that car gets round here with the kerbs and the bumps and the heat."

Costa and Willis join Mercedes' technical staff

 

Ex-technical directors from Ferrari and HRT will join Mercedes later this year in order to bolster the team's technical staff.

Aldo Costa, who parted ways with Ferrari earlier this year, and Geoff Willis, who has been working at HRT since 2010, will join the team led by Ross Brawn to work under technical director Bob Bell. Costa, who will join at the start of December as Mercedes' engineering director, has worked with Brawn before during Ferrari's multiple-championship winning years in the early 2000s and Willis, who will join on October 17 as technology director, worked at the Brackley-based team when it was under running under the BAR name.
Costa will be responsible for design and development and Willis will head the aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, control systems and simulation functions.

"I am delighted to announce that Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis will be joining the Mercedes GP Petronas team," Ross Brawn said. "Geoff is a highly respected engineer with over twenty years of Formula One experience, and we look forward to his arrival next month. Having worked closely with Aldo for many years, I know that he will bring dedication and championship-winning expertise to the team when he joins in December.

"Building a winning team is an exciting challenge for us all as we work towards the competitiveness and standards that we aspire to as the Mercedes-Benz works team. With a strong technical structure led by Bob Bell, we are moving ourselves into the best possible position to achieve our ambitions."
Mercedes motorsport vice president Norbert Haug is confident the new arrivals will boost the team's competitiveness after two years off the pace of the front runners.
"Since Mercedes GP Petronas was formed as a new team in early 2010, we have been putting in place the building blocks for success," Haug said. "Our technical organisation was strengthened by the arrival of Bob Bell and, working closely with Ross, he has identified the areas where we can improve still further.

"Aldo and Geoff will reinforce our technical management and bring the experience required to harness the talents of our people in Brackley; we have also recruited and invested at other levels in order to maximise our competitiveness under the Resource Restriction Agreement. Our goal remains to progress step by step in order to establish ourselves as a front-running team for the long term, in line with the tradition of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows."

Teams' association 'unneccesary' - Ecclestone

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has labelled the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) "unnecessary", insisting its members' financial interests are best served by him.
FOTA was established in 2008 to give the teams a single voice in issues affecting the future of the sport. In 2009 it locked horns with the FIA over plans for a budget cap in 2010 and threatened to create a new series, separate from Ecclestone's F1 brand. In the end it came to an agreement with the FIA and has since enjoyed a more harmonious relationship, but it is currently pushing for a bigger share in the Formula One Group's profits under the next Concorde Agreement.
When asked in a recent interview on the official F1 website what he thinks of FOTA, Ecclestone responded: "I try not to think of them."
He added: "It is an unnecessary association of people who should put their sole emphasis on getting competitive cars on the grid. It's just more of what they don't have to think of. I look after that so there are enough financial resources."