FORMULA 1 - 2015

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A change in Argentina

Mauricio Macri has been elected President of Argentina – and that is good news for the motorsport world as Macri has plans to revive the Autódromo in Buenos Aires, in an effort to increase the country’s tourist trade.

The election ends 12 years of rule by the Peronist Party. Macri has been mayor of Buenos Aires since 2007 and during that time his economic development department has analysed what to do with the facility. Elsewhere in the country provincial governments had built new circuits but the Buenos Aires facility has largely faded away. The analysis concluded that the Autódromo should remain a motor racing facility and should be revamped with new businesses to help make it more sustainable. These will include a racing school, a motorsport museum, a hotel and car show rooms. The city’s ultimate goal is for a return of Formula 1, but it has long been clear that this will only happen if there is backing from the federal government.

Macri is reported to have met Bernie Ecclestone some years ago to discuss the possibilities, but Argentina’s economic problems have made a race impossible, although Hermann Tilke is understood to have designed a new layout, including a suitable pit and paddock complex that will need to be built. Macri has pledged to change the country’s economic policies in an effort to boost growth and stop the inflation that has crippled the country. If the money can be found, it would take around 18 months to rebuild the race track and so the earliest time we would see a race would be at the end of 2017, presumably linked to the Brazilian Grand Prix, as always used to be the case. However it is more realistic to look at 2018 and beyond, as there is a lot to do.

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Pirelli: Abu Dhabi F1 test "not nearly enough"

Pirelli boss Paul Hembery says the post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix test is "not nearly enough" for the Italian manufacturer to make significant progress with the understanding of its tyres.

After weeks of discussions, Pirelli confirmed it will run a 12-hour test at the Yas Marina circuit on December 1.

The day will be devoted exclusively to tyre development work and teams will not be allowed to test new parts.

Pirelli has long been pushing for more testing and made it one of the conditions to stay on in F1 after the 2016 season.

Hembery, however, reckons the Abu Dhabi test is just a small part of what Pirelli wants.

"To be honest, it's not nearly enough," said Hembery. "It's just one day, but at least we have top teams and a lot of the top drivers who will be testing to give us some feedback to the changes we're making.

"There's just one compound change but there are some structural changes that we are looking at and this will give us a slightly different performance in terms of integrity. The cars are getting quicker and the tyre size stays the same, so we have a constant battle with that.

"You have to be very careful because the teams are all different and one team might be doing something different to the other. We have designed a product for the most extreme circumstances, so we're doing a lot of work on integrity aspects as well."

Praise masked by media

Although Hembery admits the 2015 season had more one-stop races that Pirelli would have wanted, he insists the company has received more praise than criticism during the year.

"The most important thing to say is that when people say nice things it is never get reported," he added.

"And we have far more nice things said than negatives and that's the nature of the media, they focus on negativity and it doesn't make headlines if someone say good things.

"And that's true not just here in motorsport but is true in almost everywhere these days.

"So when people say it must be tough having criticism, the reality that is also relative. It's a compromising environment.

"You're working with some very competitive teams, at the forefront of technology, who are pushing boundaries, so sometimes you are making decisions that aren't popular as well.

"However, it does still provide a global platform that is unsurpassed in any perform of motorsport."

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Hulkenberg determined to hold on to 10th

Nico Hulkenberg says he wants to make sure he keeps Max Verstappen and Romain Grosjean behind him in the standings in the final race of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi.

Hulkenberg is currently 10th in the standings with 52 points, three ahead of his Toro Rosso and Lotus rivals going into the Yas Marina finale.

And while Force India has already managed to secure its best ever constructors' finish, the German says he is heading to Abu Dhabi determined to finish the year in the top 10.

"The final race of the season is always important because you want to finish the season well and carry the momentum into the winter months," he said in a team preview.

"We have already secured fifth in the championship but I want to make sure I end the season in the top 10 of the drivers' championship so there is still a lot to play for."

Teammate Sergio Perez is ninth in the standings, 16 points ahead of Hulkenberg, and reckons Abu Dhabi will offer a good chance of scoring a "big" result after he failed to score last time out in Brazil.

"I think we have the potential for a big result in Abu Dhabi," said Perez.

"Things didn't work out for me in Brazil so I'm determined to get back in the points this weekend and finish this great season on a positive note."

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Ricciardo says 2016 no write-off for Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo says there is no reason to think that 2016 will be a total write-off for Red Bull, even though it has still not sorted out its engines for next year.

Although Red Bull has lodged its Formula 1 entry for 2016, its power unit plans have not been finalised, although it is closing in on a deal to run unbranded Renaults.

But despite the lateness of the situation, and the fact Renault has faced big struggles this year, Ricciardo still has faith that next season will deliver more than this campaign.

"I will know a bit more when we know what is going to be in the back of the car," explained Ricciardo.

"Right now, where we stand, it is hard to say that we are going to challenge for the title - but I would like to think that next year we can get more than two podiums."

Rivals scared

Although it took until just before the Brazilian GP for Ricciardo to find out that his F1 future was secure, he says it is ultimately a 'shame' that Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda rejected engine deals.

When asked if he had ever been concerned he would not be in F1, Ricciardo said: "Obviously it was dragging on a bit.

"But now the team has confirmed we will be on grid, and I know I have a job for next year, that is already a good thing. Quite a few [engine] suppliers turned us down, but it is not concerning – just a bit of a shame.

"You see their reasons, but we have a pretty good chassis so they were a little bit scared. Whatever. We will take what we can for now and then look to 2016."

Ricciardo said he expected Red Bull's engine situation to be sorted by next week.

"I would guess by Abu Dhabi there should be some news for the last race of the year," he said. "I won't promise anything, but hopefully next week we should be able to confirm something."

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McLaren to test more 2016 parts in Abu Dhabi

McLaren will use the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi to continue to develop its car for 2016.

The team looks set to record its worst result in the constructors' championship in 25 years this weekend, as it appears destined to finish ninth in the standings behind Sauber. The return of Honda power has rendered the MP4-30 unreliable and under-powered this season, making the competitiveness of the chassis hard to pinpoint.

Racing director Eric Boullier says work on the car will continue over the final round of the season in order to give the team the best possible platform for success in 2016.

"Although it is the last race of the season, our development has not stopped, and we are still bringing new parts and design elements to the car for the final grand prix," Boullier said. "Our development is constant and we place huge importance on learning at every opportunity.

"All of our efforts this weekend will be beneficial to next year's car, and it's essential that we maximise the final sessions of the year, not only to end the season on a high, but to use the invaluable information we can glean from them and channel it into tangible progress over the winter period."

Honda's F1 boss Yasuhisa Arai says the power unit has come a long way since its debut in last year's post-race Abu Dhabi test, when it completed just five laps in two days of running.

"So much has happened since McLaren-Honda's new beginnings here in Abu Dhabi last year," Arai said. "We have come a long way since that first test, and although we have had a difficult and eventful season in 2015, the team is as united as ever.

"The amount of changes that have gone into both the car and the power units this year with such speed has been incredible. Both Woking and Sakura have been working tirelessly throughout the year, and together with the drivers, their bond has become stronger as the season progressed. I am thankful for all their hard work, and encouraged by their enthusiasm to improve further over the winter."

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F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Button ready to start ‘next McLaren chapter’

Jenson Button says he is ready to start the 'next chapter' of his McLaren endeavour as he prepares to put a dismal 2015 Formula 1 season firmly behind him in Abu Dhabi.

In a season characterised by McLaren-Honda's woeful reliability and disappointing performance, Button is destined to finish the 2015 season well outside the overall top ten having managed just four top ten finishes over the course of the year with one race remaining.

Despite this, Button – who only confirmed his place in McLaren's 2016 line-up in October - has emphasised his commitment to the McLaren-Honda project and while he acknowledges the struggles of the 2015 season, he is determined to head into the winter on a positive note.

“It's great to be heading back to Yas Marina, not least because of the excitement and buzz that the fans bring and the incredible setting Abu Dhabi provides for a racing venue, but also because it is the end of a long and challenging year for the whole team. Although we've had some difficult weekends over the past few races, the mood back at MTC is still very upbeat, and everyone is already working hard for next year.

“If we can push for some points in Abu Dhabi, it'll definitely be a boost for the team to end the season, and will reward all the efforts from every single member of the team over the past year. We already have our heads firmly on the development push over winter, so anything positive we can take from this weekend will help us start our next chapter together with even more energy. Our motivation is as strong as ever.”

Indeed, though Button says the Yas Marina Circuit is unlikely to suit the compromised MP4-30 package, he expects to go better than in Brazil.

“It's testament to the strength of our team that we continue to come out fighting every race weekend, and Abu Dhabi will be exactly the same. Yas Marina is a tricky circuit with lots of different elements coming together: sweeping faster sections, two long back straights, and a slower-speed tight, twisty infield section at the end of the lap. It makes set-up a challenge and particularly for our package it's not well suited, but we're hopeful of a more positive performance there than we found at Interlagos.”

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Hembery: One-make the best way to determine top talent

Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery has suggested the return of a one-make formula would be the best way to answer the age-old question of who the best driver in F1 might be.

Fortunately for F1 purists, the Briton is not suggesting that the top flight adopts a uniform chassis-engine combination, but he's not the first to wonder whether an all-star event should make a return to the grand prix weekend, particularly with the teams' development race steaming ahead at record pace.

“It is still very much a technology-led sport and, for some who have a different point of view, that's very much the way it should be,” Hembery noted, “The problem for me is that the driver is still not the star and that's the single biggest problem we have as a sport.

“We still have star drivers of course, but the most common question you get asked is 'who's the best driver?' because the public can't work it out. Maybe we could go back to when they had the BMW Procars, the M1s, back in the '80s. Maybe we could have a race on the Saturday… Ferrari and McLaren make some great sportscars, Mercedes make sportscars, so get them to do a Saturday one-make race series like they used to do back then.”

When asked why F1 drivers could not transcend the team in the same was as football's finest such as Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have, Hembery was quick to point out the two sports were very different.

“Football's a team sport in a very different way,” he confirmed, “You can see individual brilliance there, but I think it is very hard for the public to perceive individual brilliance [in F1].

“Yes, we have some extraordinary, amazing drivers at the moment, an amazingly good batch of drivers. If you look at the Red Bull and Toro Rosso young drivers we have, they're clearly four drivers with a big future. If you look at McLaren, if they bring [stoffel] Vandoorne in, there's some very talented drivers coming through. That's good for the sport but, if you get into a debate about who is really the best driver, all we can do is compare team-mates, and that's a little bit of a shame.

“The drivers have to be the stars, they're the ones people look up to and idolise. People have dreams about owning these amazing cars, but I think the people watching the television screen are idolising about wanting to be the Kimi, Vettel, Jenson, Alonso of the situation, and that's a bit lost.”

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F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Driver spats expected with equal status – Wolff

Toto Wolff says conflict can always be expected between two drivers with equal status within a team, insisting Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's sporadic fallouts haven't had a detrimental effect on Mercedes.

Since Mercedes became the dominant force in F1 with the change in the regulations from 2014, Hamilton and Rosberg's rivalry has occasionally boiled over into conflict, most recently in the United States after the German complained Hamilton – who clinched the title on that day – was too aggressive at the start of the race.

With Wolff likening that particular spat to that of Spa-Francorchamps a year earlier, the Mercedes F1 boss said discussions had taken place behind closed doors to clear the air, even if Hamilton dismissed the necessity of them at the time.

With neither driver giving much away about the talks in the aftermath, Wolff played down the state of the relationship, saying it is symptomatic of having a team with no defined No.1 and No.2 status driver.0

“I think the relationship is okay. It is as good as it can be when you've got two drivers competing, being as close as they are in the same car, for the world championship. You cannot expect them to be best friends.

“We've had our ups and downs but, in general, it wasn't detrimental for the team, it was respectful and when you decide consciously to have a line-up with two drivers with equal status, it's clear that it sometimes needs balancing out but we'd rather do that than have a number one and number two.”

Hamilton achieved his third career world title with three races to spare, though Rosberg has won the last two events in Mexico and Brazil leading up to the Abu Dhabi finale.

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FORMULA 1 SET FOR RECORD BREAKING FINALE AS THE SUN SETS ON THE SEASON IN ABU DHABI

Mercedes is poised to finish the 2015 Formula 1 season with the highest percentage of points scored in any year of the world championship.

The German team has achieved 85.3 per cent of the points on offer so far this season with just one race of the year left, the season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Mercedes’ points percentage is higher than the current record hold, McLaren’s 82.9 per cent in 1988, and an improvement on the 81.5 per cent it scored in 2014.

Nico Rosberg has beaten Lewis Hamilton in the two most recent races, in Mexico and Brazil, after the Briton secured the 2015 title at the US Grand Prix. But after the race at Interlagos, Hamilton voiced his frustrations at Mercedes’ policy of keeping both drivers on the same strategy.

BBC pundit, and former F1 driver, David Coulthard recently asked in an online column for the broadcaster whether Mercedes could let its drivers race with different strategies in Abu Dhabi as a one-off event now the championship is finished.

He wrote: “With one race of the season to go, though, wouldn’t it be cool if Mercedes – now they have nothing to lose and both championships are tied up – just let their drivers and their respective engineers off the leash and ran a gloves-off race in Abu Dhabi next weekend?”

But as was explained in last week’s UBS Race Strategy Report, such a switch would leave the team exposed to dangerous precedents, as well as creating a blame culture that could affect the team in a future title battle with another outfit.

The possibility of Hamilton and Rosberg being allowed to run different strategies also appeared to be shut down by Mercedes’ motorsport boss, Toto Wolff, who denied the team was considering the move after the race in Brazil.

He said: “If the driver in the car starts to determine strategy then he is going to lose every single race because that is not an instinct-driven decision.

“Your instinct might be right sometimes, but if you don’t have the full set of data then you are going to get the majority of the races wrong. We will keep it like this.”

Misery continues at McLaren

McLaren’s worst season in F1 since 1980, the last time it finished ninth in the constructors’ championship, comes to an end in Abu Dhabi but the team’s troubles with its Honda engine means it has completed the least amount of laps of any competitor on the F1 grid.

The Woking-based squad has racked up just 3,715 laps across all F1 sessions in 2015, even Manor, which missed the Australian Grand Prix and could not get Will Stevens going in Malaysia, has completed 3,818 laps.

Despite the disappointment of 2015, Jenson Button has called on McLaren to finish the season with its head held high as it pushes on with improvements ahead of 2016.

He said: “If we can push for some points in Abu Dhabi, it’ll definitely be a boost for the team to end the season, and will reward all the efforts from every single member of the team over the past year.

“We already have our heads firmly on the development push over winter, so anything positive we can take from this weekend will help us start our next chapter together with even more energy. Our motivation is as strong as ever.”

A Ferrari finale win?

This weekend’s race in Abu Dhabi will be contested on Pirelli’s soft and supersoft tyres and Ferrari has been able to get clos to the Mercedes cars on races that used this combination throughout the season. That culminated in Sebastian Vettel’s victory in Singapore, where Mercedes was off the pace, although the German squad was able to win on the soft and supersofts in Russia.

Vettel was only 0.2s slower per lap than the Mercedes drivers in Brazil and the German finished just 14.2 seconds behind Rosberg in the race. This has raised hopes of the Scuderia taking the fight to Mercedes in 2016.

Vettel said after the race that making the biggest step of any team during the winter has to be Ferrari’s aim.

He said: “In the winter there is a chance to make a big step but that is also true for the other teams. Our target has to be, again, to make the bigger step compared to everyone.

“I am told I had more podium finishes than any other Ferrari driver at his first season with the Scuderia: so I hope I can turn all of these 13 podiums into victories next year!”

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MALDONADO: I KNOW I HAVE THE TALENT TO BEAT HAMILTON

Accident prone Pastor Maldonado has defended his reputation as the ‘crash king’ of Formula 1, and is adamant that at the wheel of a Mercedes he he could beat world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Following the controversial Venezuelan’s latest crash – with Marcus Ericsson in Brazil – former double world champion Mika Hakkinen hit out, insisting that “tougher sanctions” should be applied because “Maldonado does not seem to learn anything from his mistakes”.

But the Lotus driver, who brings millions to his race seat in the form of Venezuelan state oil funding, insisted: “I have always had the balls to go over the limit.

“I have always driven very aggressively. All my career,” Maldonado, 30, told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

“When I put on my helmet, I go as fast as I can. And sometimes even more. Sometimes you make this mistake, but to explore the boundaries, you have to exceed them.

“Even from my first race in karts, with cushions on the seat so that I could see, I was always a daredevil. All or nothing, that was my motto.”

But when asked about all of his incidents and crashes in F1, the pinnacle of motor racing, Maldonado insisted: “It’s part of the game. Other drivers also crash and no one talks about it afterwards. I crash and immediately it’s a scandal. Sometimes I think it’s not fair that it’s always (said to be) my fault.”

Maldonado says that despite his reputation as F1’s regular crasher, he actually has many friends in the paddock, “More than you would think! Probably more than Lewis Hamilton, for example.

“I’m friends with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, and I even get along well with Sergio Perez, even though we have had tough battles for many years.”

Asked if he thinks he could keep up with the reigning triple world champion Hamilton at Mercedes, Maldonado answered: “I would like to find out!

“Unfortunately I have not had the chance to sit in a winning car, but I believe that if I was at Mercedes I could keep up with Lewis. I definitely have enough ambition and fighting spirit. And I know I have the talent to beat him.”

MIKA: Tell him he's dreaming!

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WOLFF: WE WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED

The battle over the future of Formula 1 will move to Paris, on Tuesday, where the strategy group will meet, pitting Bernie Ecclestone and the governing FIA against the powerful car manufacturers.

They are arguing bitterly over the proposed new ‘parallel’ engine regulations for 2017, after Ilmor and AER lodged their interest in supplying a new twin-turbo 2.5 litre V6. Small teams struggling to pay $30 million bills for their current ‘power units’ may be interested.

Bild reports that cash-strapped Force India, Sauber and Manor are all now asking Ecclestone for an advance in their official prize money. But also interested in the ‘client engine’ idea is Red Bull, desperate to escape the control of the carmakers.

Franz Tost, boss of the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso team, said the 2.5 litre engine will cost less, give teams some freedom, and the fans something louder to hear trackside, “I think that most of the fans want to have another engine with a better sound.”

Bild newspaper, however, thinks Ecclestone-Todt against the carmakers is actually all about politics and control, it claims: “The four current manufacturers and engine suppliers agree 100 per cent, and will argue and vote against the new low-cost engine”.

It is rumoured Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda will submit a counter-proposal during Tuesday meeting: an offer to increase Todt’s proposed engine price limit from 12 to 16 million euros.

But Sport Bild reports that the FIA president may have his own carrot to dangle: a proposal to extend the current ‘power unit’ regulations from 2020 – when they are currently set to expire – until 2025.

Todt confirmed: “A stable regulatory framework is important so that other manufacturers can come into formula one.”

Some insiders regard the suggestion of ‘parallel’ rules as obviously unworkable and actually only a bargaining chip to frighten the carmakers into submission.

“We can definitely talk,” Wolff told Bild, “but we will not be blackmailed.”

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WEBBER: HARD TO GIVE UP THE ADRENALINE DRUG

Mark Webber put his Formula 1 career firmly in the past at the weekend by winning his first FIA world championship.

It is a drivers’ title he shares with his two Porsche teammates in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the ever more popular world of prototype sports car racing.

Reportedly disillusioned with the direction of the category, the now 39-year-old Australian quit F1 just before the dawning of the controversial new ‘power unit’ era.

Webber told the Daily Mail that sportscar racing is now keeping his adrenaline flowing, “Keeping the momentum in motor sport by going into world endurance to work with a team and company like Porsche has helped me.”

“It’s hard mentally to give up the adrenaline drug of testing yourself. That’s the challenge. It’s about feet out of bed in the morning – what the f*ck am I going to do?'”

He is highly critical of the changes F1 has made over the past decade in particular, rejecting the view that things like ‘DRS’ overtaking makes the mid-2000s now seem “boring” in contrast.

“They say there was no overtaking. But if you look at the grandstands they were full,” said Webber. “Look at the TV figures. Why were all those people watching then and not so many now?”

He also seems happy to have left some of his F1 relationships behind, even though Webber says his feud with former teammate Sebastian Vettel is now over.

Webber has clear views about how F1 is distancing itself from fans, “It is a technical sport, but we do not need to ram this down people’s throats. It’s almost that the audience are being over-educated about what is happening. They are given too much to consume”

“In the World Endurance Championships, we see cars side by side. Bang, bang, bang. Yes, there are loads of different tyre compounds, but does anybody care? No. They are racing each other. Awesome.The driver has to be the superstar. It is all about finding those gladiatorial components.”

“How do you make it more human? MotoGP is a fantastic example – you can see the guys physically doing their trade. The other thing we need is Formula One cars to be like nothing else. Which they are not: they have never been closer to GP2 cars and sports cars in terms of performance.”

“It needs to be an exceptional experience to watch, and drive. The cars need to be fast in the corners, not just on the straights, where if you are going 190mph or 210mph, who cares? But what about overtaking? He now has his foot right on the floor.”

As for the current breed of drivers that are often accused of being too politically correct and controlled by thir team.

Webber opines, “All the personalities are in there. It’s just that the commercial and marketing teams hide them. There are too many other factors for drivers to be asked about – tyres, drive-throughs, why DRS didn’t work. They switch off.”

As for triple F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, Webber said, “He is on fire in the cockpit. Absolutely on fire. He is phenomenally quick – that’s his big weapon. It is not the tactical, Germanic style of Michael (Schumacher) or Seb (Vettel); it is just lap time. He has feel, balance, is good in all conditions and pretty versatile.”

And if was a team boss what would he look for in a driver, Webber answered, “Lewis in terms of marketing and pace. Seb in terms of tactics and developing the car.”

As for Red Bull’s Helmut Marko, however, “We never had a relationship, so it makes no difference,” Webber said.

And his former team boss Christian Horner? In his autobiography Aussie Grit, Webber suggested he and Horner drifted apart.

“Initially Christian did well to keep his feet firmly on the ground as he started to mix in supposedly higher circles, but inevitably you could see him being seduced by the trappings of an F1 lifestyle,” he said.

Asked if he has since reconciled with Horner, Webber said: “He seems pretty busy at the moment, so we’ll leave him to it. We are both big enough and ugly enough to move on. We are all sleeping at night.”

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BRIATORE SAYS MERCEDES GAP IS STILL SIGNIFICANT

Formula 1 veteran Flavio Briatore is not sure that Mercedes can be beaten even in 2016.

The German outfit has been dominant throughout the two years of the ‘power unit’ era so far, but Ferrari is confident it can mount a championship challenge next season.

Former Renault chief Briatore, however, told Italian radio Rai: “I think the gap Mercedes has is still significant. They are very much still the favourites.

“They also have (Lewis) Hamilton, who is now very strong, has become very reliable and does not miss anything. But we will have to wait until the first race,” the flamboyant Italian added.

As for Ferrari’s chances, Briatore said: “I think they were the surprise of the season and the only team that really improved. (Sebastian) Vettel has also done a super job, motivating the team and always being consistent and fast in the races.”

Crucially, Briatore remains involved in the management of Fernando Alonso’s career, who at the end of 2014 decided to leave Ferrari for McLaren-Honda, arguing that the only way to beat Mercedes was to join an unique project.

For McLaren-Honda, however, 2015 has been an unmitigated disaster.

“I think it was impossible to predict just how badly it has gone,” said Briatore. “The initial difficulties were predictable enough, but to see the whole season like that was an unpleasant surprise, particularly as we know how Honda works.”

“Looking forward to next year, we definitely hope there will be an important step, so we will have to see where they can be compared to the opponents,” he added.

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ROOKIE NASR SAYS HE OUTSHONE HIS EXPERIENCED TEAMMATE

Rookie Felipe Nasr is sure he has put Sauber teammate Marcus Ericsson firmly in the shade this season.

Actually, the pair are 9-9 in qualifying trim, and each appears to have taken a turn at dominating the other — Brazilian Nasr early in 2015, and Swiss Ericsson in the latter half of the season.

But it is Nasr, 23, with clearly the better results overall, as his tally stands at no less than three times the amount of points scored by Swede Ericsson this year.

“I think Ericsson is a good driver,” Nasr told UOL. “In a small team, it is difficult to show good results.

“In Sauber, we had a few opportunities to do so,” he said, apparently referring to his fifth on debut in Australia, and sixth-place finish in Russia.

In contrast, Ericsson’s best finish is a single eighth.

“He is in his second year in formula one,” Nasr said of Ericsson. “If he was going to be in front, it would have been this year. I got the much better results.”

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ANOTHER ENGINE BUILDER REGISTERS F1 SUPPLY INTEREST WITH FIA

Advanced Engine Research (AER) has joined Ilmor and registered interest with the FIA about supplying Formula 1 with an alternative power unit for 2017.

The sport’s governing body is pushing ahead with its plans to get an independent manufacturer to produce a cheaper alternative to the current engines in order to help balance the budgets of smaller teams.

British company AER, which currently supplies a twin-turbo V6 engine to WEC teams and held the GP3 engine contract between 2012 and this season, has also formally declared its interest.

“AER are very interested in the proposal from the FIA,” founder Mike Lancaster decared. “We’re putting in a submission for it. The request seems to fit nicely with our latest V6 GDI engine. They’re looking for something which produces a lot of power, and we have an engine that can do that.

“The WEC engine is the P60, the engine we’re proposing is called the P66, which is a higher revving version of that. It will be ideal for the job, we believe.”

Cosworth is also expected to register its interest in being F1’s alternative power unit supplier. The new 650 kW units can be no bigger than 2.5 litres and will not be allowed to have KERS. The FIA is confident it can equalise the regulations to ensure both engines remained equal, but Mercedes is sceptical the FIA will be able to do this successfully.

The plans for an independent engine supplier still need to be ratified by the F1 Commission next week but the FIA may well try and force it through the World Motor Sport Council regardless of whether it gains majority support.

For Advanced Engine Research, the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours race represented a major durability and performance test for the company’s new P60 engine. It was a test successfully passed the privateer LMP1 cars powered by the V6 gasoline-direct-injection, twin-turbo engine.

Winner in the privateer category was the P60-powered #13 Rebellion R-ONE driven by Dominik Kraihamer, Daniel Abt and Alexandre Imperatori. They were chased home by the sister #12 Rebellion R-ONE of Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche.

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VETTEL IMPRESSED BY TORO ROSSO ROOKIES

Four times Formula 1 World Championship Sebastian Vettel is impressed by Toro Rosso rookies Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz

“Carlos and Max have done a very good job, they stood out this season,” Vettel told journalists at the Race of Champions in London.

“Max has been a surprise because he has been very aggressive, sometimes too aggressive. But in the end he has done a very good season so far.”

“He is one to be up there in the future. With his age, he has a lot of time. I’m sure he will make us worried, the older generation, which I am part of now.”

“I know Carlos from from my time at Red Bull Racing. [At the time] he was helping a lot on the simulator, doing a lot of work for us, so it’s good to see them racing,” added Vettel.

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FORCE INDIA PREVIEW ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Force India preview the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Round 19 of the 2015 Formula 1 World Championship, at Yas Marina Circuit.

Team Principal, Dr Vijay Mallya, toasts the team’s most successful season ahead of the final race and a special milestone for the team.

VJM: “Heading to Abu Dhabi with fifth place in the championship already secured feels pretty good. It means we can approach the last weekend of the season free from pressure and with nothing to lose. Our focus is simply on enjoying the race and ending the season in style. Abu Dhabi will be a special race for us as it marks the 150th of our history as Force India, and we will aim to celebrate it with a strong performance on the track.

“All season I’ve been saying how proud I am of my team – particularly our development curve in the second half of the season. With 81 points from the last eight races we’ve enjoyed our best ever strike rate and we have been competitive at every race. With stable regulations for 2016, there is every reason to believe we can carry this form through the winter and into the new season. There is plenty to be excited about and a lot of positive energy in the team.

“This weekend’s race is simply another chance to demonstrate how far we have come. Our aim will be to qualify in the top ten and add a final helping of points to our tally.”

Sergio Perez savours his best ever season and looks ahead to the final race of the year.

Sergio: “The 2015 season has gone by so quickly, but I have lots of great memories and I’m very proud of what we have achieved. I think it’s probably been my best season in Formula One in terms of results and also the most enjoyable. We have grown a lot during the course of the year and we have had some special days, with a highlight being my podium in Russia and my home race in Mexico.

“I think Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to end the season, especially with a race under the lights. The whole venue is impressive and the track is quite a challenge from a set-up point of view. You need a car that works through the fast corners in the first sector, as well as through the slow final sector, which feels more like a twisty street circuit.

“I think we have the potential for a big result in Abu Dhabi. Things didn’t work out for me in Brazil so I’m determined to get back in the points this weekend and finish this great season on a positive note.”

Nico Hülkenberg hopes to end the season with another strong performance in Abu Dhabi.

Nico: “The final race of the season is always important because you want to finish the season well and carry the momentum into the winter months. We have already secured fifth in the championship but I want to make sure I end the season in the top ten of the drivers’ championship so there is still a lot to play for.

“Abu Dhabi is a fun place for the season finale: the venue is great and the twilight racing helps create a special atmosphere. As a track, it’s not easy to get a good lap as the layout is very technical, especially in the final sector. It’s quite easy to come into a corner too hot and make a mistake, and finding a good flow is a big challenge.

“Brazil was a very enjoyable weekend for me: the car felt great and we maximised every session to come away with a well-deserved result. I think we can realistically aim for a similar performance this weekend. It’s been a great year for everyone in the team and we deserve to finish on a high.”

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MCLAREN PREVIEW ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Yas Marina is one of the most advanced racetracks in the world. Constructed on a man-made island on the eastern side of Abu Dhabi, the 5.554km/3.451-mile track has three unique features: a pitlane exit that passes underneath Turn One, air-conditioned pit garages and the largest permanent lighting system in the world.

The track has hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009, during which time the race has always been run in twilight conditions. It starts in daylight at 17:00 (local) and ends after sunset, the night skies being lit up by spotlights that are more powerful than any in a conventional stadium.

The day-night nature of the race presents an interesting technical challenge for the teams because the track temperature drops by as much as 15 degrees when darkness falls. That has a big effect on the performance of the tyres, even though Pirelli takes its two softest compounds, the Soft (Prime) and the Supersoft (Option), to the race. The car balance shifts as the track cools and drivers have to improvise as the race progresses.

The track is one of only four circuits on the 2015 calendar that runs in an anti-clockwise direction and it’s relatively slow, with an average speed of just 200km/h (124mph). Six of the 21 corners around the lap are taken at less than 100km/h (62mph), of which only Monaco and the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore have more, and there is only one high-speed corner: Turn Two, which is taken at 260km/h (162 mph).

As with many Hermann Tilke-designed tracks, the circuit has three distinct sectors. Sector one contains the fastest corners on the lap; sector two is made up of two long straights; sector three has more of a street circuit feel, with some tight corners. As a result, car set-up is a compromise between aerodynamic grip and straight-line speed.

McLaren has a good record in Abu Dhabi: it’s one of only four teams to have won the race and it has taken two pole positions around Yas Marina. Both Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have finished on the podium on numerous occasions.

Fernando Alonso: “Abu Dhabi is a race I enjoy and, once again, we’ll give it everything to get the maximum result possible to end the season. The configuration of the track won’t necessarily suit our package, but everything we learn now will make us stronger in the future.”

Jenson Button: “The number of slow and medium-speed corners at Yas Marina means it’s quite a technical racetrack. To be quick you have to be very precise and you mustn’t overdrive the car. This will be another hard race for the team, but we’ll aim to end the year in the best possible way.”

Technical words of wisdom, Tim Goss, technical director: “If we – the engineers – have one specific challenge in Abu Dhabi, it’s predicting how the tyres will perform in the evening because we don’t get much opportunity to experience those conditions during free practice.

“We set up the car in quite hot temperatures during the day, but qualifying and the race are at cooler temperatures during the evening, when the behaviour of the tyres is very different. The grip you get from them changes, as does the balance and the amount of degradation.

“As a result of these factors, we go about setting up the car differently in Abu Dhabi. The final free practice session, for example, is not that relevant to qualifying because it takes place in the heat of the day, so we look to free practice two for qualifying simulations because it happens a bit later in the day.”

Our most memorable Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 2011

This proved to be the MP4-26’s sixth and final victory of 2011. Lewis Hamilton qualified second, but took the lead at Turn Two when pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel spun into retirement with a right-rear puncture. Lewis was untroubled for the remainder of the race, crossing the line 8.0s ahead of Fernando Alonso.

Jenson Button drove a hard-fought race to third place in the sister McLaren. He qualified third, but was overtaken by Alonso on the opening lap. Thereafter, he had to fend off Mark Webber, which he did so convincingly to come home 25.0s behind team-mate Lewis.

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SAUBER PREVIEW ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final race of the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship, which will take place on the Yas Marina Circuit. This track, surrounded by the desert sands, is quite spectacular in a unique setting with a stunning hotel that overlooks the track.

After the Grands Prix in Bahrain and Singapore, it will be the third race of this season to be held under floodlights – the start is at dusk, the finish at night.

Marcus Ericsson: “Abu Dhabi, the last race of the season – it is unbelievable how time flies. It is very exciting to come back to Abu Dhabi, and I am looking forward to enjoying the race weekend there. This Grand Prix in the middle east is always a great event attended by lots of fans from many countries. It is a race in the desert with the start at sunset. The track itself is in perfect condition, it is very modern and has some run-off areas. As the circuit has a few long straights, engine power will be crucial. On the other hand, there are also hairpins and some slow speed corners. I am quite familiar with that track from my time in the GP2 series, and I also drove there for my first test for the Sauber F1 Team in November last year. Certainly, we will again do our best to score points – for a successful completion to the season.”

Felipe Nasr: “The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is another great event, and I will enjoy driving on this track with our car for the first time. So far, I have driven there as a GP2 driver and I have also had an F1 test with Williams. I can also say, because of my family’s Lebanese roots, I always receive a warm welcome and a lot of support both in the UAE and the whole of the Middle East. They make me feel I am also at home. I like the people, their traditions, their cultures and, of course, the food. On the track it will be important again to find the right set-up, and this is where we need to concentrate our focus the most on Friday. The track in the desert sands is quite spectacular with unique surroundings. All in all, the atmosphere is special. The race starts late in the afternoon, which makes it even more interesting, because of the floodlit-style à la Singapore. We will keep on with our fight for a good result.”

Giampaolo Dall’Ara, Head of Track Engineering: “After coming back empty-handed from South America, the whole team looks forward to fighting hard for more points and so to close this long season on a high at Abu Dhabi. The race start at sunset and finish in the dark means the temperatures will go in the opposite direction to what we usually experience, so the drivers and engineers will have to account for this, especially in the practice sessions happening earlier in the day in much hotter conditions. The focus will be on braking performance, as well as traction optimisation. The car will need to be reactive and precise for the final sector and, at the same time, fast on the straights that dominate the earlier part of the lap. Lastly, trading off tyre performance against durability will be a challenge in the race, as Pirelli has confirmed last year’s choice of soft and supersoft compounds.”

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WILLIAMS PREVIEW ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

It’s just six years since Abu Dhabi arrived on the calendar with Formula One’s first ever day-into-night race, yet the Yas Marina circuit already feels like one of the long-established homes.

The ultra-modern design stands apart due to its unique features, including the LED-lit hotel sprawling over the circuit and tunnelled pit lane exit, as well as joining the likes of Monaco and Singapore in boasting a trackside yacht-filled marina.

The long straights and open nature of the circuit promote entertaining racing, and the venue was the scene of celebrations for Williams in 2014 as a double podium for Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas cemented third in the 2015 Constructors’ Championship for the team.

Rob Smedley: “We have already secured third in the constructors’ championship which is a great achievement for the team and takes any pressure off, other than that that we put on ourselves. We aim to have a really strong race and finish the season on a high. The circuit should be suited to the characteristics of our car and we delivered a great performance last year so hope to replicate that. Abu Dhabi is always somewhat of a challenge as half of the practices are in the midday sunlight, but the important sessions are during the twilight hours. We have to divide our programme up to utilise this time efficiently and not get carried away with car handling data we obtain during the day. It is a great facility with a very international fan base and a great way to finish the season, they put on an outstanding event.”

Valtteri Bottas: “I really like Abu Dhabi as a place. The weather is guaranteed to be good and the facilities are great. It’s the track where I had my first official Formula One test, so I have good memories there. It’s the season finale, so it would be very nice to end the season with a strong result with both of our cars like we did last season. We have good memories from last year, everyone in the team was so happy, it was a really special feelingafter such a difficult season in 2013 to confirm third in the constructors’ and my fourth place in the drivers’championship. Hopefully we can make more great memories this time.”

Felipe Massa: “Abu Dhabi last season, I think this was the best race I’ve had in my time at Williams. To be able to fight for the victory was amazing, there have been two races we were really fighting for the victory, one was Silverstone this year and the other was Abu Dhabi. We got very close to winning the race, it was the best result for the team with both cars on the podium. The race starts in the day time and finishes in the evening, it’s almost like two separate races. I really hope we can have a similar performance as we had last year there because the car was really very strong.”

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Sauber, Manor request advance prize money payments

Sauber and Manor have joined Force India in requesting an advance on their championship payments for the 2016 season, according to Autosport.

The request has been put to Bernie Ecclestone, but requires unanimous support from all ten teams before the money can be released early.

It's believed Force India's request, which was put through last month, has already been approved.

The team sought an advanced payment due to the way in which Formula One Management distributes prize money, which is based on their position in the constructors' championship from the previous season.

Ten installments are paid monthly through February to November, meaning teams are often left with a cash shortfall during December and January when key development is taking place.

Both Manor and Sauber have now lodged an official request as they are both struggling financially.

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Pirelli 'ultrasoft' will only be used on street circuits

Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli says the new "ultrasoft" compound will only be used on street circuits during the 2016 season.

The Italian manufacturer plans to expand its tyre range for next year in order to have greater flexibility when choosing compounds for the grands prix.

The ultrasoft will join the supersoft, soft, medium and hard compounds.

Pirelli's supersoft tyres have been used in just six races this year: Monaco, Canada, Austria, Singapore, Russia and Abu Dhabi.

Hembery says the ultrasoft may have even more limited use.

"It's only for the street circuits because as we saw in Monaco and in Singapore the wear levels are very low at the moment," said Hembery.

"Cars are sliding less and the change we made is a boost in terms of wear levels.

"Maybe too much, but with the lack of testing we're not being able to make any further changes to the product so we're living with that we have because the cars will be quicker next year.

"Every year they improve, so what was okay last year may be quite dramatically different next year."

He added: "The idea is to get two or three pitstops and the compounds next year will be the same as we have this year, plus one as I mentioned, so is not going to be dramatically different.

"Although we're trying to change the internal part of the tyre to create a cliff after certain number of laps which will force teams into making a change.

"But that's not the same we had in the past in terms of degradation. We need to experiment and see if delivers what we expect."

In order to give teams more flexibility with their tyre choices, Pirelli is planning to select three compounds for each grand prix and then allow teams to choose how many of each they want.

Hembery says the final details of the plan will be announced in December.

"In this scenario each team can decide what will be their best compound," he explained. "So it takes the responsibility away from Pirelli and it makes the responsibility for the teams."

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Massa keen to re-sign with Williams

Felipe Massa says he is eager to extend his stay in Formula 1 with Williams beyond the end of next year, after his current contract with the team comes to an end.

The Brazilian has resurrected his career with two strong seasons at Williams, but is likely to face competition for the drive for 2017.

But although accepting there are no guarantees about what will happen, he has made it clear that remaining at Williams would be a great option for him.

“I am happy to work with this amazing team and I guess they are happy to work with me,” explained Massa. “But we need to wait next year on how it is going to be, and what I decide is the next step.

“If I stay with Williams, which is a fantastic team, or if I go to another team, or stop? I don't know. When you don't have the picture in front of you, it is hard to answer. But for sure I want to carry on.”

Rules shake up

Massa's determination to stay with Williams also comes amid the prospect of a rules shake-up for 2017 that could mix things up at the front of the grid.

“If one team invests something, or does a better job than the others, they will be a lot quicker and a lot of stronger,” he said. “But also it could maybe compact the grid.

“But for sure there needs to be a big change, even in the engine, to make things a bit easier for everyone.”

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Abu Dhabi GP - One more opportunity

The Formula One championship is coming to an end with the final race of the season taking place in Abu Dhabi. Scuderia Ferrari’s head of press office, Alberto Antonini reveals what the mood is like in the team going into this round. “We head for Abu Dhabi keen to get the best possible result, off the back of a season in which we have been prepared to take risks and which has seen us make progress. Even if both titles have already been decided, we will do our utmost to give our fans something to smile about”.

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HAMILTON WANTS TO END F1 SEASON ON A HIGH

Lewis Hamilton will find his number is up in lights in Abu Dhabi, and that can only be a good omen as the triple Formula One world champion seeks to end another dominant season on a high this weekend.

The number 44, the one the Briton has on his Mercedes, figures prominently on roadside illuminations as the United Arab Emirates celebrates the 44th anniversary of its founding on 2 December, 1971.

The return to Yas Marina will also bring back fond memories for the 30-year-old who clinched his second title by winning at the circuit last season and can take his 50th career pole position this weekend.

“Last year, this place brought probably the most intense weekend of my life. I didn’t sleep much through nerves and not knowing what was ahead,” the race favourite recalled. “But this time around there’s no pressure, so I’ll be well-rested and aiming to go out on a high.”

“A lot of British fans come out to Abu Dhabi so it’s like another home crowd for me. To win for them and show how grateful I am for the fantastic support I’ve had all year would be the best way to end an incredible season,” he added.

Another win would also be his 11th of the season, matching his 2014 tally. For Mercedes, regardless of who wins, a 12th one-two finish from 19 races would also be the icing on the cake by breaking their own record set last year.

With first and second assured in the championship for the second year in a row, and the constructor’s title retained, there is also the hope of seeing both Mercedes drivers battling wheel to wheel.

There was none of that in Brazil two weeks ago, or in Mexico, as Mercedes made clear that their priority was to secure second place for Nico Rosberg.

“We will not be backing off – and an entertaining battle at the front between our boys for one last time in 2015 will be the ideal way to show that,” said motorsport head Toto Wolff.

Rosberg will be aiming to continue two sequences of his own, the German chasing his third win in a row and sixth successive pole to go into the winter with at least some bragging rights.

“I’ve had two really great weekends now in Mexico and Brazil, so I’m heading into the final race on a massive high,” he said.

Rosberg started on pole in the day-to-night race last year but a mechanical failure dashed his hopes, “Of course, it will be close as always with Lewis and we saw a big push from Ferrari in Sao Paulo, so it won’t be straightforward. But I’m up for a battle and hopefully we can put on a great show for the fans to end the year.”

With little movement in the driver market and familiar line-ups for 2016, there will be fewer farewells than usual in the paddock’s end of term atmosphere.

Abu Dhabi will be Frenchman Romain Grosjean’s last race for Lotus before moving to the new Haas team while Manor Marussia principal John Booth and sporting director Graeme Lowdon are leaving the tail-enders.

Renault’s future in the sport may also become clearer, with the manufacturer set to take over Lotus – whose name looks destined to disappear again.

Abu Dhabi Grad Prix Stats & Facts

• Lap distance: 5.554km. Total distance: 305.355km (55 laps)
• 2014 pole position: Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes
• 2014 winner: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes
• Race lap record: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull One minute 40.279 seconds, 2009.
• Start time: 1300 GMT (1700 local)
• Tyres: Supersoft (red), Soft (yellow)
  Mercedes have retained both titles, with the constructors’ crown secured in Russia and Lewis Hamilton taking his third championship in Texas last month.
• Hamilton is the 10th driver with three or more titles.
  Mercedes have had 11 one-twos this season and won 15 of the 18 races so far.
• No team has ever had 12 one-twos in a season.
• Hamilton (10) is the first driver to win 10 or more races in successive seasons. He won 11 last year. Rosberg has won five, the same as last year, and is chasing his third victory in a row.
• Four-times world champion Vettel has won three races for Ferrari this season. That is the same number that Schumacher won in his first season at Ferrari in 1996.
• Hamilton has 43 career wins, putting him third in the all-time lists and pushing Vettel down to fourth with 42.
• Schumacher holds the record of 91, with Alain Prost on 51.
• Fernando Alonso has 32 wins, Kimi Raikkonen 20, Jenson Button 15 and Rosberg 13.
• Ferrari have won 224 races, McLaren 182, Williams 114 and Red Bull 50. Mercedes have won 44.
• McLaren have not won for 56 races, a run that dates back to Brazil 2012.
• Hamilton has been on pole 11 times this season, Rosberg six. The Briton has 49 career poles, Rosberg 21. Vettel has 46 career poles.
• Only two drivers in F1 history have had 50 poles or more: Schumacher (68) and Senna (65).
• Rosberg has been on pole for five races in a row, winning only the last two.
• Ten drivers from six teams have been on the podium in 2015: Hamilton, Rosberg (Mercedes), Vettel, Raikkonen (Ferrari), Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa (Williams), Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), Romain Grosjean (Lotus) and Sergio Perez (Force India).
• Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel have shared the podium in nine races.
• Rosberg has been second seven times this season.
• Vettel has had 13 podium finishes so far this year, more than in his title-winning 2010 and 2013 seasons.
• The sport’s first day-to-night race. Cars hit top speeds of 320kph with an average of around 195kph. There are nine right turns and 11 left on the anti-clockwise layout.
• Only three drivers have won in Abu Dhabi: Vettel (2009, 2010 and 2013), Hamilton (2011, 2014) and Raikkonen (2012).
• Just one of those wins came from pole position: Vettel’s in 2010, when he became the youngest champion at 23.
• Only once has the winner not started on the front row — Raikkonen from fourth in 2012 with Lotus.
• Vettel and Hamilton have both qualified on pole twice at Yas Marina, Hamilton in 2009 and 2012.
• Hamilton won his second title in Abu Dhabi last year.
• Force India will be starting their 150th race.
• Dutch rookie Max Verstappen has scored in his last six races, the longest such streak in his Toro Rosso team’s history.