Category Archives: F1 News

Pastor Maldonado looks set to be confirmed as a Lotus driver in the next couple of days, and a string of other driver announcements can be expected soon as the pieces finally fall into place after weeks of uncertainty.

The Interlagos paddock was a hive of activity as driver managers went from team to team and mixed messages emerged about how things will ultimately unfold.

The key to everything remains Maldonado, who in essence has had to make a straight choice between Lotus and Sauber. His father and manager Nicolas Todt were seen in meetings with both Eric Boullier and Monisha Kaltenborn on Sunday, and both teams told third parties that they believed Maldonado was coming to them. The consensus is that by Sunday evening he had finally opted to go with Lotus – although as we’ve seen in recent weeks, nothing can ever be certain…

The decision has been complicated by the financial situations in both camps. Maldonado’s backers have long favoured Lotus, given the team’s 2013 form, but inevitably there have been concerns that any money would be used to pay back owners Genii, who have made huge loans to the team. If that happened any fresh investment would have little impact on the operating costs in 2014. In effect PVDSA wants its funding ‘ring fenced’ so it is actually used to run Maldonado’s car.

Genii bosses Eric Lux and Gerard Lopez are clearly keen to recoup some of the money they have pumped into the team, and that remains a complication going forward, especially if – as most observers anticipate – the Quantum investment deal finally falls through.

If Maldonado is formally confirmed in the next couple of days then the pieces will fall into place at both Force India and Sauber.

Force India’s position has been complicated by the arrival on the scene of Sergio Perez. Inevitably the funding orchestrated on his behalf by Carlos Slim would be welcome at any team, and the Mexican has also proved his worth on the track in recent weeks. It’s believed that Bernie Ecclestone has also pushed hard for Perez to go to Force India, in part because of an anticipated slot for Mexico on the 2015 calendar.

The team already has contracts with Adrian Sutil and Nico Hulkenberg, making for a potential ‘three into two’ situation. However, Hulkenberg has enjoyed the possibility to not take up the deal, and it’s believed he had to make a final decision by the start of this week.

With Lotus off the radar his Plan B is to stay at Sauber. However, matters are complicated by the fact that his relationship with the team is said to have been damaged by his efforts to go elsewhere – he recently visited Lotus for a seat fitting – and by his comments in the media. Hulkenberg’s manager Werner Heinz confirmed to this writer on Sunday that the choice was still up in the air.

If Force India does end up as Perez/Hulkenberg then Sutil’s clear alternative is Sauber. Indeed some sources suggest that he could in any case opt not to stay at Force India.

Assuming Maldonado isn’t there the identity of Sauber’s other driver could be the last piece of the puzzle to be filled in. Although Esteban Gutierrez has an ongoing contract, his position is far from secure. Sources say that the team has considered cutting its ties with Mexico, despite Gutierrez still having some useful backing.

One interesting rumour that emerged at the weekend involved Jules Bianchi going to Sauber – he does of course share his manager, Todt, with Maldonado. However Bianchi, Todt and the Marussia management all denied that there was any possibility of a change of plans when asked by the writer.

Paul Di Resta’s manager kept tabs on the developing situation in Brazil but the Scot does not have any obvious F1 options at this stage, and looks set to return to the DTM.

Pastor Maldonado’s manager Nicolas Todt says that he expects to have an answer about the Venezuelan’s future soon.

Maldonado has been linked with Lotus for weeks, but he is also in the frame at Sauber, with some paddock sources convinced that the Swiss team is now his most likely destination. However, Todt would not confirm that it’s a straight choice between those teams.

Sources say Sauber will make a final driver choice in the next couple of days.

“We are very confident that we will make the right choice,” he told this writer today. “Obviously it’s always nice to know your future before the end of the season. That’s not the case, but I’m sure a decision will be taken very soon. We have been talking to a few teams, and we’re very close to a decision.

“We take every parameter into account when making such a decision, because it concerns Pastor’s future. It’s a decision we take all together, taking into account everything that goes on.”

Asked about the tricky financial situation at Lotus and Sauber he said: “Nowadays except with a top team, there is always a risk when you sign in a team, because of the economic uncertainties. We never know if the grass is greener outside our place, so there is a risk as we try to take a decision knowing the risks that there are in each team.”

Maldonado has said that he doesn’t know if PDVSA will continue, but Todt played down any talk about sponsorship.

“It’s not always a matter of sponsors. Pastor has been supported by PDVSA for many, many years, because he’s the ambassador of his country, and that’s all. Anyway, whenever the announcement will be made, everything will become very clear. I can’t tell you much more.”

Todt admitted that this year’s silly season has been a difficult one.

“It’s very challenging times. Having a few drivers under management, we have been quite busy lately, but that’s why we are here…”

Veteran driver manager Julian Jakobi is now working with Sergio Perez in an effort to find the Mexican a 2014 F1 seat.

Perez is increasingly being linked with a possible future at Force India.

Jakobi was at Interlagos on Friday, although he left for other business in Rio on Saturday. Speaking to this writer, he would only say: “Checo is getting advice from us,” stopping short of confirming that it would lead to a formal managerial arrangement.

Having originally made his name while at IMG, Jakobi has worked with the likes of Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Jacques Villeneuve in the past. He formed GP Sports Management in 2010, and his client list includes Dario Franchitti, Allan McNish, Pedro de la Rosa, Lucas di Grassi and Sebastien Buemi. He remains close to the Senna family.

Jakobi’s Franchitti connections mean that he could obviously help to steer Perez into the vacant Ganassi seat, but the driver insists that his priority is still F1.

Perez parted company with former manager Adrian Fernandez earlier this year.

McLaren had hoped that rain in Brazil would create an opportunity, but in fact Q2 proved to be disastrous for the team as Sergio Perez and Jenson Button took 14^th and 15^th, and the Mexican had a heavy crash.

Button said that both drivers had simply struggled to get the car to work in the conditions.

“It was a tough Q2,” he said. “In Q1 the car was working well. In P1 we were fourth quickest with the car, and we made a few changes for the better, and in Q1 we were again quick, when I set my lap I think I was fifth or sixth quickest. So it was working well in those driest conditions, the drier side of the intermediate tyre.

“But in Q2 when there was more water on the circuit we just couldn’t find our feet really, just sliding all over the place, and I think that was the case for both of us. If you look at the traces we’re driving the car very differently, but it comes out with the same lap time. We’re trying everything we can out there, but we’re not able to get something to work in those conditions. Whether it would have worked if it was wetter, and we were running the wet tyre, I don’t know. A tough qualy session.”

Button insists that McLaren could still enjoy a good Sunday.

“Tomorrow the race will be a little bit drier, or not as wet, so I think we have a good opportunity tomorrow. A tough day and not a great way to end our qualifying season, but there is still tomorrow, and I think we can still have a great race.”

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier says that the Quantum investment deal is still happening – in the face of widespread scepticism in the paddock.

The team admits that no funding has arrived, despite the deal being announced in June. Until the situation is clear the team cannot confirm a partner for Romain Grosjean, as it will otherwise have to rely on a driver who brings major sponsorship.

“Well, there is still some discussion ongoing, especially now between bankers,” said Boullier. “The process is not fully completed but I think part of it has been done, which is obviously a good sign for the weekend and we hope that everything is closed by early next week.

“Obviously you need to have the right package to get the right driver. But obviously sometimes the right driver is with the right package. So we will do our best to keep our force all together. That for me is the main point. Make sure the team is sticking all together. Keep, let’s say, the best expertise we have onboard and make sure we can deliver the right cars and the right package on track, that’s the most important point.

“I’m still confident I will get one of the guys I want.”

Asked about negative stories on Quantum boss Mansoor Ijaz’s business background – and how much due diligence the team had done – he said: “Fortunately we don’t have to base our judgement only on Google, with all respect to Google for what they are doing. To answer the question, yes, we have very serious proof of funds and good compliance of what is Quantum Motorsport.”

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were the two most vocal opponents when the GPDA discussed the matter of raising the 2014 car weight limit today.

The subject of driver weight has been a topic of major debate recently, with taller drivers worried that they will be at even more of a disadvantage than in the past.

Intriguingly one of those keen for the change to go through was Sebastian Vettel, who freely admitted that he has had an advantage over Mark Webber for the past few seasons.

In the end the drivers don’t have any formal say in any attempt to change the rules as they are not part of any process.

The FIA has been looking into a 10kgs change, but one senior team boss told this blog that Mercedes has blocked the plan.

Pastor Maldonado continues to send out mixed messages about his future plans, indicating that he is close to a deal while at the same time insisting that he still has chances at Lotus, Sauber and Force India.

While the Venezuelan has been linked to Lotus for months he recently became a serious contender for a Sauber seat as well.

“For sure everything is running,” he said when asked by this writer. “I really hope to have a confirmation quite soon. But I don’t have any hurry, we are working on that. We’ll see. It could be hours, days, even months. I hope to get the 100% from the negotiations.

“Sometimes when you are negotiating, it takes some time, and it’s taking some time. But it’s quite clear that I will be in F1, it’s quite clear where, and everything. I still have some options, but I have my preference. It’s my personal view, I’ve been discussing with my manager, my backers, my father, the close people who are supporting me at the moment.

“Lotus for sure is a good option, but even Sauber is a good option, even Force India is a good option, they showed that they are good teams, they’ve been very competitive, they’ve been more competitive than McLaren this year at the beginning. I think all of them have good potential for the future. We all know very well where are the available seats, I will be in one of them. And we’ll see.”

He says he’s aware of the financial situation at Lotus: “When you value a team for sure you value everything, the background, the sponsoring situations, everything, not only the car.”

Maldonado also says that he doesn’t know whether main sponsor PDVSA will continue or not, casting a little further confusion over his situation.

“It’s not down to me, the decision of PDVSA. For sure they’ve been supporting me for a while. Maybe they don’t want to continue. They left Williams from this race, this will be the final race for both, and I don’t know exactly if they want to continue. Maybe not, maybe yes. I don’t know that 100% they want to continue, they want to go for another team or not.”