FORMULA 1 - 2013

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Kovalainen: I was anticipating that it would be easier to come back and race competitively

The tumultuous 2014 silly season is taking yet another twist, as Heikki Kovalainen’s hopes of returning full-time next year dipped dramatically after another below par performance for Lotus.

Mere days ago, the Finn was a powerful new player in the speculative hot-bed of the driver market — on the verge of signing for Caterham, and signed up by Lotus for the last two races of 2013 to replace Kimi Raikkonen.

But, despite some flashes of speed, just two races later, 32-year-old Kovalainen’s hopes are dwindling, after he failed to score a single point in the otherwise highly competitive black and gold Lotus.

“I think the car is great,” he said on Sunday, “but I was not able to unlock the pace. I was anticipating [that] it would be easier to come back and race competitively.”

“These two races were not the best,” he is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat. “I knew it was a bit of a risk [replacing Raikkonen] but I did not think it would be so difficult.”

The Enstone based team therefore finishes the season only fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, millions in crucial prize-money behind its foes Mercedes and Ferrari.

The wilder reports had suggested that Kovalainen had became a late contender to race full-time for Lotus in 2014, but now even his hopes at Caterham appear to have faded.

Marcus Ericsson, a Swedish GP2 driver, smiled on Sunday as he refused to comment on growing paddock speculation that he will be racing a green car in 2014.

Caterham may now be looking for supplementary income, after finishing behind back-of-the-grid rival Marussia for the lucrative final spot in the top-ten paid positions in the Constructors’ Championship.

Lotus reserve Davide Valsecchi was aggrieved not to be chosen to replace Kimi Raikkonen

“At the moment I do not have an agreement [for 2014],” said Kovalainen. “I can only say that it’s looking good.

“Caterham is still the most likely option for me,” he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3. ”Nothing has been signed yet, but I don’t think these two races with Lotus changes things too much.”

Disgruntled Lotus reserve driver Davide Valsecchi, meanwhile, thinks Austin and Brazil is evidence that Lotus made the wrong choice.

“I told the team it would have been better to choose my heart and my motivation than the experience of Kovalainen,” he said on Twitter. ”I’m really sorry they didn’t do it.”

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Hamilton: With hindsight perhaps I should have just let him past

Lewis Hamilton admitted after his incident packed Brazilian Grand Prix that he did not know what happened when he banged wheels with Valterri Bottas, which saw the Williams driver retire on the spot and the Mercedes driver handed a drive through penalty for causing a collision.

It was a crestfallen Hamilton who spoke to media immediately afterwards, “I don’t know what happened exactly. I thought that I had moved to the left, he outbraked me and then we touched but it happened so quickly and it was obviously judged [by the stewards] that I did something wrong.”

“I guess it’s a racing incident really. I saw him catching me and I moved over and then I didn’t think he was going to make it in time because we were in the braking zone, so I started creeping back to turn and he dived down the outside and braked quite a lot later.”

“He couldn’t have gone round the outside, plus he was a lap down. For me I was thinking that I was trying to catch Fernando so if [Valterri] goes past I might lose time to Fernando. With hindsight perhaps I should have just let him past because obviously we would have avoided that incident. He was quite quick, he had newer tyres than me – he had just pitted – so it’s something that we’ll learn for the future.”

“I was having a good race until that point in fourth place and a podium might have been possible as I was closing on Fernando. A podium was achievable, which is why it was so disappointing. I am just glad it’s over,” said Hamilton.

But added, “Of course I’m delighted for the team. They have done an incredible job this year and really deserve this result. It’s the reward for what I know has been many years of hard work and my thoughts are with everyone here at the track and back at our factories at Brackley and Brixworth. We’ve got so much to look forward to next season so I’ll put [this race] behind me quickly and focus on what should be a great year in 2014.”

Bottas had little to say, “I tried to keep my line overtaking on the outside and we touched. It’s disappointing to end the season like this but a points-finish may have been too much for us.”

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Silly Season Latest: Hulkenberg and Perez to Force India and Sutil to Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg reportedly physically signed on the dotted line of a 2014 Force India Formula 1 contract in Brazil on Sunday.

That is the claim of the normally reliable Sport Bild, as it emerged that the German had until midnight to take up an option granted recently by the Silverstone based team, for whom Hulkenberg raced last year.

The 26-year-old had joined Sauber for 2013 after Force India was late in its salary payments to the German, but it was the Swiss team that found itself in the deeper financial trouble this year.

So, in a sure sign that Lotus’ ‘Quantum’ investment deal will ultimately collapse, Hulkenberg opts for Force India, who according to Sport Bild have included a bank guarantee of €1.9 million to cover the unpaid wages of 2012.

It is believed that Hulkenberg’s teammate next year will not be countryman Adrian Sutil, despite Sutil hinting repeatedly in recent weeks that his is a done deal.

In fact, it is understood the experienced Sutil is taking his Medion sponsorship to Sauber. Force India’s other 2013 driver, Paul di Resta, is almost certainly leaving Formula 1.

“People are saying it’s not budget related,” the Scot told BBC’s radio Five Live, “but there are things which are. I go into the winter with my head held high.”

It seems Force India will head into 2014 with an all-new driver lineup, completed by the McLaren refugee Sergio Perez, who is bringing a reported €15 million in sponsorship, having patched up his relationship with Telmex.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh, having dropped Mexican Perez at the eleventh hour, has hinted that he helped to broker the deal.

“I am very happy,” Whitmarsh is quoted by the Guardian. “Lots of stuff has been written but he’s a young man who has been incredibly dignified. He is very much liked in the team, is a thoroughly likeable guy and I said to him: ‘Prove us wrong’.

“We’ve done what we can to help him out and he certainly deserves to be in Formula 1, so I’m delighted for him that we’ll see his smiling face in the paddock.”

Whitmarsh admitted that it is bittersweet that, in helping Perez, fellow Briton di Resta is apparently being pushed out of Formula 1.

“It’s a complicated sport these days and there are drivers with less talent than Paul who will be in the sport, and that’s sad,” he said.

The obvious conclusion of all the latest ‘silly season’ goings-on is that Pastor Maldonado, the most powerfully sponsored driver on the market, is taking his PDVSA millions to Lotus to fill the Quantum hole.

Formula 1 correspondent Heikki Kulta, of Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper, expects the news to be announced early this week.

Alongside Sutil, the likely occupant of the other Sauber is less clear, as team boss Monisha Kaltenborn on Sunday refused to “speculate” about the future of Mexican Esteban Gutierrez.

It appears that she was waiting for midnight, and the expiry of Hulkenberg’s Force India option. Also waiting in the wings is the Russian teenager Sergey Sirotkin.

“My sources tell me that Sauber is still waiting for Hulkenberg,” former long-time Sauber driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was also managed by Hulkenberg’s agent Werner Heinz, told Germany’s Sky television.

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Button and Perez save face for McLaren in Brazil at the end of a torrid year

McLaren, the second most successful team in Formula One, have rarely welcomed a fourth place as much as they did at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix at Autodromo Carlos Pace.

Jenson Button’s result meant McLaren had failed to secure a podium finish over the course of a year for the first time since 1980 but had at least staved off the far greater ignominy of their worst season since their debut in 1966.

Until Interlagos, 2009 world champion Button and Mexican team mate Sergio Perez had been no higher than fifth – and McLaren had managed at least a fourth in every season since they started out.

“As a team we did a really good job of getting the tyre pressures right…so really happy with that,” Button, who started 14th and still looked far from elated, told Britain’s Sky television.

“A well-planned race and we came home with the best result we could have hoped for,” added the Briton, who also set a British record for the most race starts with his 247th – one more than David Coulthard managed.

Perez, who crashed heavily in qualifying and took a five-place starting penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change, took his car from 19th on the grid to sixth in his final race with the team.

McLaren ended the season fifth overall, their lowest position since 2004 when they took one sole win. In 1981, they had finished sixth, again with one win.

“To drive from 14th and 19th on the grid up to fourth and sixth was a fantastic way to finish the year,” said sporting director Sam Michael.

“For the race crew and everyone at the factory, a really good way to finish the season.”

Former McLaren principal Ron Dennis used to refer to second place as ‘first of the losers’ and the British-based outfit know they have little really to celebrate in the greater scheme of things.

McLaren have won eight constructors’ titles, 12 drivers crowns and 182 grands prix down the years and fourth places have rarely rated much of a mention in the past.

This season has been very different, with the team fielding an uncompetitive car after ending 2012 with the fastest.

“This morning, if you’d have said fourth and sixth we’d have snatched your hand off,” said principal Martin Whitmarsh. “But as racers inevitably when you are fourth, you are one away from the podium and it’s not what we are here to do.

“It’s been a pretty tough year. We’ve had a big kick up the pants and hopefully that’s what we needed. We’re working hard to make sure we don’t need one again next year.”

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No rest for Ferrari

The 2013 F1 season may be over but Ferrari won't be relaxing just yet, using the team before Christmas to focus on next season.

Alonso and Ferrari wrapped up this year's campaign with a podium result in Sunday's Brazilian GP when he brought his F138 home in third place behind the Red Bulls.

It was the Spaniard's first top-three result in six races and cemented his position as second in the Drivers' Championship.

However, next year it could be all change with new rules expected to spice up the Championship.

Formula One will undergo a major overhaul of the regulations that include the introduction of 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines with ERS.

As such Ferrari will not be resting on their laurels with Alonso revealing that work will continue at the factory until Christmas.

"Until Christmas time we are quite busy in Ferrari with some events with sponsors and then in Maranello many parties with the people working in Ferrari and their families," he said.

"We will use those days that we are already in Italy to spend some time in the simulator and to so some work looking for next year relation.

"Christmas time will probably be the first that we completely stop. Until 21st December I think we are on."

Pressed as to whether Alonso and Ferrari have a fighting chance in next year's Championship, the Spaniard insisted Sunday's podium did not boost his confidence, he always feels they can do it.

"Nothing changed, to be honest," he said. "I'm still optimistic for next year because I trust my team, I trust Ferrari preparation and philosophy for the 2014 car.

"We will be a contender, always, even this year when we haven't been competitive and we only won two grands prix, we were off the podium for the last six or seven grands prix etc, we finished second in the World Championship, so with whatever the car that Ferrari do, normally, better or worse, you are a contender.

"That's my optimistic point for next year, not because we are on the podium or not on the podium."

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'Great friend, little brother'

Such is the close relationship between Rob Smedley and Felipe Massa that the race engineer says there are times he wants to "punch him in the face."

Smedley and Massa first teamed up midway through the 2006 season and have one of the closest relationships in Formula One.

The duo have been through a lot together including a near miss in the 2008 World Championship and also Massa's horrific injury at the Hungarian Grand Prix a year later.

And it's the latter that the Brit rates as the worst day of his life.

"The low moment was when he was hit by a spring and he was almost killed - in fact that was a low point of my life," Smedley told the BBC.

The 39-year-old also spoke in general about his relationship with the Brazilian, who contested his last grand prix as a Ferrari driver in Brazil on Sunday.

"He is a great friend and like my little brother but sometimes like your little brother you want to punch him in the face three or four times," he added.

Although it has yet to be confirmed, many in the paddock believe Smedley will be following Massa to Williams next season.

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Marussia feared repeat of 2012 Caterham F1 heartache in Brazil

Marussia says its 11th hour heartache from 2012 meant it could not relax about taking 10th in the constructors' championship until after the chequered flag in Brazil.

The Banbury-based outfit headed to the final race of the season ahead of arch rival Caterham in the fight for tenth spot.

But having been in a similar situation last year only to see it lose out just five laps from home thanks to a chaotic rain-hit race, it knew that there was a risk of a repeat this time out.

In the end, despite the threat of showers, the Brazilian GP passed without much incident and Caterham was unable to get the 13th position it needed to deny Marussia.

Graeme Lowdon, Marussia's sporting director, said it was alert to the dangers in Brazil, but he felt the right team had come out on top.

"It is not necessarily nerves, it is just a question of having appreciation of what can happen because we worked so hard this year, but we also worked hard last year," he told AUTOSPORT.

"Five laps from the end last year we lost it, and that was quite difficult because it meant there was no sporting reward for all of the effort.

"It was great this year for all the guys both here and back at Banbury to finally see the progress."

Lowdon believes that Marussia has shown this year that although it still needs to produce a quicker car, its performance on race weekends is something to be proud of.

"We know that the raw speed was not in the car and it takes time and a lot of money to get there, but we are confident we will get there," he said.

"We have been able to demonstrate that we can run a really good race team and I take my hat off to our guys in terms of their approach to strategy and team work.

"For example, their pit stops were excellent, and we beat a lot of teams who have been in this game a lot longer.

"It all bodes well, and we are happy with the way the 2014 programme is going. That gives us some confidence.

"The key thing to take home from here is progress and that has been elusive up to now.

"There is no change in the amount of work going in, as that has been maximum since we started.

"But now there is a little bit of reward there as well and that is really nice for everyone."

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Bottas sure he did nothing wrong in Hamilton crash

Valtteri Bottas is confident he did nothing wrong in his Brazilian Grand Prix collision with Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas was attempting to un-lap himself from Hamilton's Mercedes down the outside when they came together on the approach to the Descida do Lago.

The stewards ruled that Hamilton had caused an avoidable collision by not leaving the Williams sufficient room, although Hamilton declared himself baffled by the incident and penalty.

Bottas said he could only assume that Hamilton had not seen him coming. The Williams had a temporary pace advantage having just pitted for new medium tyres.

"At that point I was going straight and I think, possibly, he didn't see me," said the Finn, who had to retire as a result.

"It wasn't a big impact, but it was enough to damage my car. Those things, they happen so quickly.

"I feel like I didn't do anything wrong and I would do that overtaking manoeuvre again in the future. I see it as an unlucky situation as it was such a small collision.

"I think it would've been possible for me to overtake him on the outside, without going on the kerb.

"When I got alongside him there was some room, but when we got into the corner the room was getting smaller and smaller. There was no time to react to it."

The Formula 1 rookie admitted that he had not realised he was trying to un-lap himself rather than passing for a position, but still stood by his attempt to overtake.

"I didn't know I was one lap behind him, I thought we were racing," said Bottas.

"But even though I was one lap behind him, I still tried to overtake because at this track, in the middle sector, if you are behind somebody it's very easy to start graining the tyres as you slide a bit more.

"I knew with the top speed we had on the main straight we wouldn't be able to overtake there, so it was a completely planned move.

"I used up all my KERS and was trying to get him from the outside, and then we hit."

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Di Resta risks being last man standing in F1′s game of musical chairs

Force India’s Paul Di Resta is in danger of being the man who misses out on a 2014 race seat as the tempo quickens in Formula 1′s game of musical chairs.

The Scot wants to stay for a fourth season but, with more drivers than places available and talk of others already being lined up for his job, is not sounding overly confident about his prospects.

“I have no idea. I need everybody’s help if I can get it,” Di Resta said when asked about his future after finishing 11th in Sunday’s season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

“I’ve done what’s asked of me when the car is under me and who knows? I’ll be in competitive racing…but remaining [a] part of Formula has to be my ultimate goal.”

Di Resta, a cousin of three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, said last week that he would be open to a switch to Indy Cars and the Ganassi seat vacated on medical grounds by his fellow Scot.

Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg, Di Resta’s team mate at Force India last year before moving to Sauber, has been tipped for a return to the Silverstone-based outfit with media reports of a preliminary agreement already in place.

The indications are that Mexican Sergio Perez will be joining him there.

Perez, whose place at McLaren is being handed to 21-year-old Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen, signed off on Sunday with a sixth place from 19th on the starting grid and warm words from principal Martin Whitmarsh.

Asked about the Mexican’s prospects of ending up at Force India, Whitmarsh indicated that a deal was close.

“We have done what we can to help out getting him in there and he deserves to be in F1,” he told reporters, expressing sympathy for Di Resta.

“It is a complicated sport these days and there are drivers with less talent than Paul who will be in the sport – either entering the sport or remaining in the sport – and that is sad,” he said.

“It hasn’t been announced yet but I think it’s been fairly well speculated that is what is likely to happen,” he said of the prospect of Di Resta being replaced.

Speaking to reporters after the race, Perez sounded optimistic about his chances.

“It’s not confirmed yet,” he said when asked whether he was moving to Force India. “Obviously it is one of the options but there are also other options out there. I hope in the next few days we are going to have some news.”

Well-funded Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado is seen as the man who will stop the music and trigger a dash for seats once he has decided whether to opt for Lotus or Sauber. Until he does so, everyone else must wait.

Lotus have enjoyed a winning car this season but, with financial difficulties, there are no guarantees of that continuing next season when the regulations undergo dramatic change with a new V6 turbocharged engine being introduced.

Maldonado, whose place at Williams has been taken by Ferrari’s Brazilian Felipe Massa, told autosport.com that he was close to a decision.

“We have been working very hard since many months ago and now we are just waiting for confirmation – all the stuff that you need to do with contracts,” he said. “But until you sign, you never know.”

Lotus are sure to retain Frenchman Romain Grosjean, while Force India’s Adrian Sutil has been linked to Sauber if he does not stay at his current team.

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Kvyat impresses early on in his F1 adventure

Formula 1′s newest cool cucumber is Russian teen Daniil Kvyat, signed up by team owners Red Bull to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso next year

Kvyat got an early start with practice outings in Austin and Brazil and he made an immediate impression, lapping faster than Red Bull-bound Ricciardo and also his new teammate Jean-Eric Vergne in the tricky wet conditions at Interlagos, and eighth overall.

“He has big balls,” Helmut Marko observed delightedly.

Indeed, Kvyat sounds cool and relaxed about his looming Formula 1 adventure, despite many paddock insiders worrying that the pinnacle of motor racing has arrived too soon for the 19 yr old.

“The Formula 1 car is much faster than any other category,” he told Brazil’s Totalrace.

“You need to get used to it and keep your concentration at a high level.

“But once you understand what you’re doing, it is easier to put your technique into practice,” added Kvyat, who is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian as well as his mother tongue of Russian.

“It is not so very different from the other categories. It’s not like it’s another planet.”

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Brawn set to leave Mercedes this week

Confirmation of Ross Brawn’s departure from Mercedes is expected in the next few days according to sources in Germany.

Sport Bild reckons that the news is coming “later this week”, at the end of a period of strong speculation that the Brackley based team will install Paddy Lowe as the new boss.

Mercedes, and particularly chairman Niki Lauda, have made efforts to keep 58-year-old Briton Brawn on board in another role.

But the big report is he could be headed back to Ferrari, where as technical director he presided over Michael Schumacher’s ultra-dominant cars of last decade.

“Let’s see,” Brawn told the British broadcaster Sky on Sunday in Brazil, after he was spotted meeting in Stefano Domenicali’s Interlagos circuit office.

“We will advise everyone in good time, but it’s a pretty exciting year next year, so let’s see what happens,” he added.

Asked if Brazil was in fact his ‘goodbye’ to Formula 1 altogether, Brawn smiled as he insisted: “[This is] not an answer.”

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Ricciardo: I enjoyed my years at Toro Rosso but I’m pleased to be moving on to Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo finished tenth, and scored a single point, in his final race as a Toro Rosso driver. He admits to mixed emotions – leaving the team which gave him his break in F1, but moving on to bigger and perhaps better things with the World Champion Red Bull team.

Speaking shortly before departing Sao Paulo, Ricciardo said, ” I have mixed emotions because I’ve enjoyed my two years [at Toro Rosso] – but equally I’m pleased to be moving on to Red Bull Racing.”

“Mostly I’m happy that it’s ended well, finishing in the points. It means I can move on to the next chapter with cheers ringing in my ears.”

“Toro Rosso was set up as a stepping-stone to Red Bull Racing, which makes the experience a little odd, because you’re always aware that if you do well with the team, there’s a chance of exchanging Faenza for Milton Keynes.”

“Of course that happens elsewhere, but elsewhere it’s not quite so explicit and openly acknowledged,” pointed out the Australian who will be teammate to Sebastian Vettel from 2014 onwards.

Ricciardo has hardly any time to rest or take stock of his season or enjoy some well earned rest.

He explained; “They’re giving me an introductory ‘welcome to the team’ day. Of course I know most of the people there very well, having spent a lot of time at the factory and in the simulator over the last four years. After that I’ve got a day in the simulator followed by three more the following week.”

“For drivers and fans this is the end of the 2013 season but for the teams, 2013 is ancient history already; in the race to be ready for 2014 every minute counts. Roll on Albert Park!” concluded Ricciardo with a his trademark big smile.”

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Red Bull files application for Austrian Grand Prix approval

Circuit owner Red Bull has only just filed its application to allow a sizeable race-day crowd to assemble for the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix.

The energy drink company, having demolished and rebuilt the former A1-Ring, succeeded in securing the Red Bull Ring’s return to the Formula 1 calendar for next June.

But, at the moment, local authorities reportedly allow no more than 40,000 spectators to gather at the facility at any given time.

Red Bull wants that figure to be doubled, but the 100-page application document has only just been filed, the Austrian broadcaster ORF reports.

That is despite tickets for the 2014 race having already gone on sale, sparking so much demand that internet servers strained under the load.

“[The application] will either be judged positively or negatively,” a spokesperson is quoted.

“If everything is positive, the decision could come before Christmas.”

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Ferrari Post-mortem: 2013 brought more disappointment than joy

In Formula 1 you never stop. The 2013 season only finished 24 hours ago but heads have already turned towards the next one: indeed in little more than two months we will return to the track at Jerez de la Frontera for the first of three pre-season tests.

So there’s not a moment to lose because at Ferrari we know that every bit of energy must be focused on the new car and preparation for the next Championship. It’s true that the fundamental choices have already been computed and that there is a huge amount of work still to be done in order to be ready at the start of the 2014 season.

Never before have so many rule changes led to such a technical reset and, consequently, the chance to start again from more or less the same level. Now the programme of updates to the wind tunnel has been completed it has returned to working full-time and the technical department has been boosted by the arrival of James Allison and other engineers.

All the elements are in place to compete at the highest level in the knowledge that only one result can be enough – victory. The team owes it to itself, to its drivers and to its outstanding tifosi who, even in a difficult season, have always been very close, proving themselves yet again to be the best in the world.

The moment has also arrived to take stock of a Championship, the one that finished yesterday, which has brought more disappointment than joy. Among the former the biggest was not managing to adapt the F138 to the changes to the tyres that were introduced during the course of the year.

We should say that the first target requested by Domenicali of his team, a year ago – to start straightaway with a car that was capable of winning – was achieved: two wins and a podium in the first five races and two more podiums that slipped through our fingers through particular incidents bear witness to that.

Summer didn’t lead to the change of gear in development that would have been necessary to battle with the strength of the Vettel-Red Bull partnership, which absolutely dominated the second part of the season: given why this jump in quality didn’t happen, the engineers will have to work hard in order to avoid a repeat of certain errors that have been very costly this year.

Looking at the balance sheet there are still two victories (China and Spain) and two Champions League places, to borrow a term from football: Fernando Alonso’s second place in the Drivers’ Championship and the team’s third place in the Constructors’ Championship.

Fernando has again been exceptional: the fact that he has finished in this position three times in his last four seasons with the Scuderia is down above all to his talent as well as the skill of a team that has worked hard and well at the track.

We don’t believe we are being presumptuous if we claim that our overall reliability, race strategy and pit stop work have been the best of anyone during 2013, a sign that, even when things aren’t going in the right direction, it’s always best to make sure you don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.

The team’s third place nonetheless represents a sign of continuity at the top that has no equal. No one, not just in Formula 1 but also in the other most important sporting disciplines, can say that they have stayed in the World Championship top three from 1994 to today – with the sole exception of 2009 when the Scuderia was fourth by one point.

There remains a bit of bitterness for the penalty, which was excessive to say the least, inflicted yesterday on Felipe Massa, which deprived him of a top four finish. Without the drive-through the Brazilian would have finished in fourth place and the team would have collected 27 points, 17 more than Mercedes (who would have ended up with ten points: eight from Rosberg’s sixth place and two from Hamilton’s ninth place) and would thus have been two points clear of the Anglo-German team in the final standings: a slap in the face, this penalty, which we could have definitely done without.

Interlagos signaled not just the end of the 2013 season but also the end of a relationship between the Scuderia and Felipe which began a full 12 years ago. It was a weekend that was emotionally very intense for everyone at the track but also for those at Maranello who have worked alongside the Brazilian driver for many years.

“He said goodbye with a very good performance and it’s really a shame that he couldn’t have done the same from the very podium where, five years ago, he gave a lesson in dignity and sportsmanship to the whole world,” said Stefano Domenicali, one of those who has always stood by Felipe through the highs and lows.

“Many emotions have come in quick succession through these last few days, one after another. On the slowing down lap I told Felipe over the radio that he would always stay in our hearts and, above all, that he is a world champion to us.”

Now Felipe is ready for a new adventure but there will still be a time and a chance to say goodbye to him here at Maranello at the company’s pre-Christmas events. From January 1 he will be wearing the colours of another team but he will always stay a friend of Ferrari: obrigado Felipe!

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Small factory fire not a concern - Mercedes

Mercedes has confirmed that the Northamptonshire fire brigade attended their engine factory in Brixworth on Monday night following a fire at the facility.

A tweet sent by the fire department sparked concern amongst fans on Twitter, but the team has confirmed it was nothing more than a minor incident when a small amount of oil ignited on its engine dyno.

"Incident 25/11/13 21:56 turbo unit on test engine involved in fire. #Brixworth", read the tweet.

A spokesperson for the team confirmed that it was normal procedure for the emergency services to attend and there was no damage to the facility or the dyno itself.

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Webber: I still don’t know what Marko’s role is at Red Bull, but he was very critical of me from day one

Comments in which Mark Webber was highly critical of his former Red Bull colleagues have been removed from the Australian’s official website, not in time though to be noted that his relationship within the Red Bull outfit was strained to say the least.

It has been no secret that Webber, who has left the world champion team and Formula 1 to lead a more relaxed life with Porsche, has been enduring strained relationships with bosses Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and teammate Sebastian Vettel.

Once very close friends and even sharing ownership of a GP3 team with the 40-year-old Briton, Webber admitted in the deleted comments that he and Horner are “probably not as close now as we once were”.

“Christian is going to be with the team for a long time – indefinitely, you’d imagine, unless he gets an approach from somewhere else – so he’s got to make sure that he tries to keep everything as smooth as possible,” said Webber.

“In some cases that hasn’t been something which might have benefitted me. That’s put a stress on the relationship.”

Webber’s strained relationship with Austrian Marko, who has always vigorouslychampioned Vettel’s cause, has been much more obvious.

He said in the deleted comments: “I still don’t really know his (Marko’s) role in the team, so … yeah. He was very critical of me from day one but in the end he’s obviously brought Seb through and done a great job with that.

“He’s probably disappointed that Formula 1 teams have to have two cars. But they do,” added Webber.

Webber, 37, began his comments about former teammate Vettel in a complimentary tone, describing the new four-time world champion as “phenomenally gifted”.

“We know that his strength is qualifying and the first five laps of the race. That’s his signature punch. That’s the hardest part to control,” said Webber.

As for their relationship, however, Webber said: “There’s so much water under the bridge between us that it’s hard to think of more positives than negatives.

“That’s a bit disappointing because you want to keep everyone in a respectful light, and give them as big a chance as possible, for as long as you can,” he added.

“But I think there’s probably too much that’s gone on between us. Maybe when we’re 50-odd things will be different but with what we’ve been through it’s hard to draw a line under too much of it,” said Webber.

“For sure I’m not super-bothered by it and nor is he. That’s just the way it is,” he concluded.

Auto Motor und Sport reports that, when Bernie Ecclestone presented the retiring Webber at his last Grand Prix with a Brazilian flag bearing the signatures of his fellow Formula 1 drivers, Vettel’s was the only missing name.

But Ecclestone reportedly appeared after the post-race press conference at Interlagos and personally asked Vettel to sign the flag. “Webber was not pleased,” said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

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Brawn to exit Mercedes today, with Honda F1 project his likely destination

Mercedes will announce on that Ross Brawn is leaving the German team today.

Brawn, 58, has been the Brackley based team’s principal since even before the Stuttgart marque took over in 2010.

But Paddy Lowe, the former McLaren technical director, arrived at Mercedes earlier this year and has always been in line to succeed Brawn.

Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda reportedly tried to keep Brawn on board in a new role, but the Briton has pushed ahead with his decision to leave.

Bild said Brawn announced his decision to team staff at its Brackley headquarters on Wednesday.

The news will be made official on Thursday, the major daily newspaper added.

Bild added that Lowe will now split Brawn’s responsibilities with Austrian Toto Wolff, with triple world champion Lauda continuing to oversee the board.

The report said Brawn will take some months off to indulge his passion for fishing, but that there is a “very good chance” he will return to Formula 1 with McLaren’s 2015 engine supplier, Honda.

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Hamilton: I look back on joining Mercedes as absolutely the right decision

Late last year Lewis Hamilton shocked the Formula 1 world with his decision to leave McLaren and move to Mercedes, now 12 months on he is adamant that he has made the right decision while revealing that he “set the priorities right” in his life.

Hamilton wrote in his recent BBC column, “I learned a lot this season about prioritising my life a little bit better, putting the right things in place, better use of my time throughout the year. It’s just generally been a strong year for me personally.”

Many doubted that the decision to leave McLaren, with whom he had been involved with since the age of 13, was a good call. But Hamilton believes 2013 has vindicated that decision.

“I look back on joining Mercedes as absolutely the right decision to [have made]. I’ve really enjoyed working with the team and I’m confident [that] we are going to do well in the future,” said the 28 year old.

However, he admits; “It has brought some challenges, particularly getting comfortable with the car and nailing the set-up. I haven’t managed to get the car to feel the way I like [it] very often. I can get 85% of the way there, but that really limits what you can achieve.”

“I never expected that; it’s not something I’d struggled with before very often. But the cars are a bit more complex now and it makes it tricky. But you can’t dwell on that sort of thing. You just have to learn from it and try to move forward.”

On the upside he won a race and was on the podium five times, while McLaren suffered one of the worst seasons in their history – zero wins, zero podiums.

“There have been a number of highlights,” said Hamilton. “Obviously winning in Hungary was a big one, but there were plenty of others too – going to the factory for the first time before the season, the first day driving the car, our first podium in Malaysia, and so on.”

One victory did not do justice to Hamilton’s season as he was a contender for a few more top spot finishes, but luck was not always on his side.

“The British Grand Prix I have mixed feelings about. I should have won there, only to get a puncture after seven laps when I was leading comfortably. After I’d got back to the pits and changed tyres I was the fastest guy on the track, and fighting back up to finish fourth was a good feeling even if we just missed out on the podium,” mused the 2008 F1 World Champion.

Tyres captured the headlines for most of the year, and many point to Pirelli changing the tyre build mid-season as the turning point. From then on most teams failed to evolve their cars in a manner capable to contain, let alone match, Red Bull. The impact of these changes was also felt by the Silver Arrows.

“We at Mercedes were close to Red Bull before the tyres were changed mid-season as a result of the series of failures at Silverstone. But Red Bull got on top of the new tyres better than anyone else and no-one [was] able to get near them [after that],” ventured Hamilton.

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Montezemolo: We will prohibit Alonso from Twitter

Fernando Alonso has been banned from communicating to his fans about Ferrari via his personal Twitter account – @alo_oficial - by order of team president Luca di Montezemolo.

The Spaniard had his ear tweaked Montezemolo earlier this year, after making a series of disparaging remarks about the development of Ferrari’s 2013 car and the team itself.

“We will prohibit him from Twitter,” Montezemolo is reported to have said during his in-depth interview with Italian television Rai Uno this week.

“Although Alonso, like anyone else, can write on Twitter what he wants, everything concerning Ferrari will be communicated by Ferrari,” he declared.

Alonso explained that he has embraced Twitter, more aggressively than any of his peers, as it provides him with a direct line of communication between him and his fans.

“Since I started using Twitter, I am the one who says what I am doing,” explained the Ferrari driver. “Before, it could be said that I was spending my holiday with elephants or that I was having dinner with Obama, but now for example, I can be the one to say that I was in Italy, skiing on New Year’s day before going to Russia and from there to Brazil to take part in the kart race organised by Felipe.

“Tweeting means I can be in direct contact with my fans, to help them discover aspects of my job that they would never get to know otherwise. Of course, I can’t say everything because in Formula One, a lot of information has to remain confidential, but I think it is still a fun and useful tool,” added the Spaniard.

A year ago, almost to the day, Ferrari took action to clamp down on Alonso’s Twitter and Facebook activity, which prompted him to comment, “There are a lot of interesting things I could tell the fans during a race weekend, but of course there is also a press department that keeps an eye on me constantly.”

Alonso has yet to respond to the latest clampdown order from the team’s big capo.

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Haug doubts Mercedes can break Red Bull and Vettel dominance

Norbert Haug, former Mercedes competition boss, has bad news for the team Stuttgart where he spent the final years of his career in motyorsport.

To now be headed by Paddy Lowe, Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda, Mercedes is bullish about its 2014 hopes, having finished second in 2013 to the runaway champion team, Red Bull.

“For everyone and for me the target is to win the world championship, both championships,” driver Lewis Hamilton told the British broadcaster Sky after last weekend’s 2013 finale in Brazil.

“If we don’t do it naturally there will be some disappointment but we’re not even going to put that negative energy out there,” he added.

Haug, however, has filled that Mercedes-sponsored void of negativity.

“I don’t think Sebastian Vettel’s dominance can be broken yet,” the 61-year-old, who was replaced by Wolff ahead of the 2013 season, told German radio Sport1.

“He understands these modern cars perfectly and we’ve hardly ever seen dominance like it, even by Michael Schumacher.

“I also don’t think Red Bull is going to be much less competitive after the coming winter,” added Haug, “even with the biggest technological revolution (in Formula 1) in 25 years.”

However, Haug does think Mercedes can be a contender for the 2014 title.

“With Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, the team is very well placed,” he said. “Moreover, we began to think about the new generation of engine some five years ago.

“I believe that Mercedes can fight for the world championship,” added Haug.

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Marussia could merge with Sauber and reduce F1 grid to 10 teams

Formula 1 could be set to shed yet another team from the back of the grid ahead of the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship season.

Twelve teams contested the 2012 world championship, but struggling HRT succumbed at the end of last year. This year there were 11 teams.

Now, according to Auto Motor und Sport, the sport could be reduced to just 10 teams and twenty cars ahead of the 2014 season.

Respected correspondent Michael Schmidt said backmarker Marussia could merge with the financially struggling but far more established midfielder Sauber.

“(Marussia team owner) Andrei Cheglakov is apparently fed up with digging so deep into his own pockets only to be at the back of the field,” said Schmidt.

“But he wants to stay in Formula 1. First, he wanted to buy Toto Wolff’s Williams shares,” the German correspondent added.

“Bernie Ecclestone is said to have endorsed the deal, but Claire Williams rejected it because they want to remain independent.

“Now, the Russians apparently have Sauber in their sights,” said Schmidt.

Meanwhile, RTL Nederland has reported that Marcel Boekhoorn, a Dutch businessman and billionaire, could be interested in buying into Force India.

Fascinatingly, Boekhoorn is Caterham driver Giedo van der Garde’s father-in-law.

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Ferrari to abandon pullrod layout for 2014

Ferrari has almost certainly abandoned its approach to the pull-rod front suspension layout ahead of the 2014 season.

That is the claim of the authoritative Italian publication Autosprint, after Ferrari came close to winning last year’s title with the ‘pullrod’ system not previously seen on the Formula 1 grid for more than a decade.

Ferrari, however, fell well short of having the fastest car in 2013, despite Fernando Alonso managing to finish runner-up behind Red Bull’s dominant Sebastian Vettel.

Autosprint reports: “The 2014 Ferrari will almost certainly abandon the pull-rod front suspension to return to classic pushrod, as per all the other teams apart from McLaren.”

Indeed, McLaren – despite having arguably the fastest car at the end of 2012 – followed Ferrari’s lead into pullrod technology for 2013, and promptly had its worst season in decades.

Ferrari’s change of direction may have been influenced by newcomer James Allison, who was responsible for the highly competitive Lotus cars of recent seasons.

“In Formula 1, you don’t fix everything overnight,” the Briton is quoted. “The team has analysed its weak points, one by one, and we are continuing to do that.

“It is no secret that we have been lacking in the aerodynamic area in recent seasons,” added Allison.

Bernie Ecclestone hopes that the famous team, arguably the most important name in Formula 1, can get back to winning ways in 2014.

“People think the Ferrari name is enough to win,” the Formula 1 chief executive told Marca, “but I think Mr [Luca di] Montezemolo has put much more into the team for next year and we will see a very different Ferrari.”

Asked by the Spanish sports newspaper what he thinks that Ferrari did wrong in 2013, Ecclestone answered: “I don’t know if the problem was Ferrari or Fernando [Alonso].

“I hope he has not lost the enthusiasm that he had – the problem is that if you think the team can’t give you the car you want, it’s a problem, isn’t it?”

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Montezemolo: Horner as Ecclestone’s successor a joke

Luca di Montezemolo has dismissed as a joke Bernie Ecclestone’s claim that Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is his ideal successor as Formula 1 supremo.

Amid the Ecclestone corruption affair, and the 83-year-old’s advancing years, it is believed the sport’s owner CVC would prefer to headhunt from outside the sport.

But, even though Horner subsequently reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull, Formula 1 chief executive Ecclestone said last week that he would be “happy” to help the 40-year-old find his feet if the younger Briton indeed took charge of the sport.

And when asked about his comments this week by Spain’s Marca newspaper, Ecclestone answered: “[Horner] is an intelligent man and I think he would get on with all the people [with whom] he would have to.”

When asked about Ecclestone’s apparent naming of his chosen future successor, Ferrari president Montezemolo told Italian television Rai Uno that it was a joke.

“As the years go by, he more and more enjoys making jokes and I’m happy [that] he still has the desire to do so.”

Montezemolo also questioned Ecclestone’s nomination of Red Bull’s new quadruple World Champion Sebastian Vettel as better even than Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna.

“Ecclestone says what suits him,” he answered, “[and] there is no doubt [that Vettel] is a great driver. He is a serious young man who has won a lot and therefore he deserves respect.”

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Ecclestone still unhappy about F1 switch to V6 turbo engines

Formula 1′s V8 power plants have roared for the last time, but Bernie Ecclestone still thinks moving to turbo-charged V6 engines next year is a bad idea.

Asked by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca if he thinks the radical rules shift for 2014 was necessary, the Formula 1 chief executive answered: “No I don’t, but let’s wait and see.”

Ecclestone, 83, also answered “yes” when asked if he thinks forcing teams to spend extra in already tight economic conditions is a mistake.

“I think it is a mistake, but I don’t think it is going to change Formula 1,” he insisted. “We have changed the rules many times and it has always been the same sport.”

Ecclestone admitted that he is still worried about the milder sound of the new turbo engines. “What we had is good, everyone likes it, so why change it?” he wondered.

“It was thought that, if we had smaller engines, more manufacturers would be attracted to Formula 1. But nobody else seems to be coming,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ecclestone did not confirm reports that Korea and New Jersey will not be on next year’s Formula 1 calendar.

Asked about the reports, he answered: “We will not have Mexico and India next year.”

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Alonso predicts that he will win more F1 titles before retiring

Fernando Alonso believes that he will eventually walk away from Formula 1 with more than two World Championship titles to his credit.

Speaking to the BBC Alonso said, “Inside, I am still thinking that when I retire I will have more than two [titles]. I don’t know how many, but I will have more than two.”

“If I cannot achieve that it will be a shame, it will be sad, because I had so many opportunities – but at the moment I am thinking we will have more opportunities and the next ones we will not lose any more,” admitted the Spaniard who won his two titles, back to back, in 2005 and 2006. At the time the wins broke Michael Schumacher and Ferrari’s five year reign.

The 32 year old added, “I still believe that I have many years in front of me to recover some of the Championships that I could have won probably, like 2010 and 2012. They are clearly examples.”

Since his F1 debut at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, Alonso has started 216 grands prix of which he won 32. He has taken 95 podiums in total.