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Luca di Montezemolo has defended Ferrari’s actions regarding the Vettel/Vergne Brazilian GP incident – and taken the opportunity to tease Bernie Ecclestone.

After Bernie responded to the yellow flag saga Montezemolo made reference to Ecclestone’s age – and Bernie in turn pointed out that he had once dealt with an 88-year-old Enzo Ferrari. Montezemolo struck back today.

“Every so often, Bernie likes to play the boss and gets involved in matters that don’t concern him – godfathers no longer exist, at least not in Formula 1,” said Montezemolo at a media event.

“Interpretation of flags, be they yellow or blue is nothing to do with him and he used expressions that I do not accept. Our behaviour in this instance was not only transparent, but perfect, and maybe he would do better to think about attracting bigger crowds and more youngsters, and to discuss more with the television stations and the media.”

He also made it clear that it was time to for F1 to plan for life after Ecclestone.

“We are approaching a time when we need to think about the future, because all eras must inevitably come to an end, as happened to us when Todt, Brawn and Schumacher left. It’s not a case of replacing Bernie and in fact I do not like doing to others what I would not want to happen to myself.

“It’s a question that needs to be tackled with the current owners of this sport, CVC which, let us not forget, is an investment company looking for a financial return on what it has invested in Formula 1. The era of the one man show cannot continue – the future should be in the hands of a team that will look after all the different areas.

“We are slowly approaching the end of a period characterised by the style of one man who has done significant things. It’s a bit of a similar case to what will happen to me: within the decade I will face this question, but when I am 75 not 82…”

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insists that the Italian team made the right decision in retaining Felipe Massa for another season, despite his poor first half of the 2012 season.

Montezemolo insisted that there was no one available for 2013 who could have done a better job.

“The Brazilian improved a great deal in the second half,” he said at a media event in Italy. “In fact in the first part, it seemed he’d gone on a round the world holiday! Joking apart, I think the decision to reconfirm his position was the right one. If we had changed, then one would need to take on someone who would make a difference, and I can’t say I noticed many drivers around who would be quicker than Felipe.

“Also, we did not want to change the balance and the good atmosphere within the team. Domenicali and I told ourselves it was best to wait and I think that the facts proved us right. Towards the end, when Felipe was even faster than Fernando a couple of times, the points he scored played a vital part in securing our place in the Constructors’ championship.”

Regarding the championship as a whole, Montezemolo said there were positives and negatives.

“You can see the glass as half full or half empty, but clearly there is great regret. Because the outcome went down to the wire, because after that first lap in Brazil, maybe things could have turned out differently, because Fernando went on holiday at the start of the summer break with a 40 point lead over his closest challenger and because, when it came to collisions we were forced to retire, while others kept going as if nothing had happened. However, the biggest regret is that we did not have a car that was quick enough to win the World Championship.

“On the glass half full side, we had amazing reliability which allowed us to come second in the Constructors’ championship, despite the fact McLaren was quicker than us, and despite the fact that, in the first half of the season, we pretty much only had Alonso’s points to count on.

“There were those great starts and pit stops and the fact Fernando had an extraordinary season, the best since he has been in Formula 1. Next year, let’s hope we can say it was our best season, given that we want to give him and Felipe a car that’s competitive right from the start.”

Marussia has confirmed the not unexpected news that Max Chilton will partner Timo Glock in 2013.

Chilton, who impressed in GP2 this season, drove for the team in FP1 in Abu Dhabi, and was its official reserve for the last six races.

He will be Glock’s fourth team mate in four years after Lucas di Grassi, Jerome D’Ambrosio and Charles Pic.

“It comes at the end of what has been a fantastic year for me,” said Chilton. “And those steps – my GP2 pole positions and wins, my performances in the F1 Young Driver Test and in FP1 at Abu Dhabi – have given everyone the confidence in my ability to compete at the highest level of motor sport.

“I am very fortunate to have spent the last six races with the Marussia F1 Team as Reserve Driver, which means that instead of a standing start, I am already up to speed and at ease with the people, the culture, the systems and of course, the 2012 package.

“During the period since the Japanese Grand Prix, I have watched at very close quarters the incredible commitment and determination to succeed that saw everyone in the team pushing until the very last race. I feel very lucky to be able to embark on my F1 racing career with this group of people.”

Team principal John Booth said: “We have spent a significant amount of time evaluating his performances during 2012, both in our own car in a testing situation and also from the pit wall as we monitored his progress alongside the other members of our junior talent pool during Grand Prix support races.

“We felt confident enough in his ability and potential to appoint him to the role of Reserve Driver in September and since that time his development has been rapid in all aspects. First and foremost, he has shown himself to be extremely capable in the car.

“Most recently, in Abu Dhabi, he was put to the test in a competitive environment which included providing him with an opportunity to demonstrate his outright pace and consistency over a single lap. We saw just how much he has progressed even since the Silverstone test in the summer and through the succession of GP2 races thereafter, when he achieved two pole positions and two race wins.

“Not only that, Max very quickly embedded himself within the team, thanks in no small part to the fact that he is a lively and affable character who we’ve enjoyed having around. Having been integral to our race weekend engineering environment for the past three months already – as well as having undertaken a significant part of our simulator programme – Max has already found his feet.”

With Romain Grosjean confirmed at Lotus earlier today Kamui Kobayashi has now conceded that he won’t have an F1 race seat for next season – but he insists that he will return in 2014.

The Japanese driver has been ousted from Sauber, and has been the focus of a campaign to raise funds from fans. While that on its own was never going to get him a seat it did catch the attention of some commercial sponsors in his home country.

“Unfortunately the time was still short and I am not able to secure the seat with [a] competitive F1 team for 2013,” said Kobayashi on his website today. “I have to admit that it is very sad and feel sorry for fans and Japanese companies who supported me.  But I am still confident to make it happen in 2014.”

Kobayashi said that the high-profile campaign had led to serious interest from potential sponsors in Japan.

“Thank you for the big support.  I am very appreciated that many of you have donated and trying to make donation. I must mention this that since the donation started, it has become quite big news in Japan. And because of your big support, it gave huge influences to some of Japanese companies and I started receiving good support from them.

“And I was in the position to bring a budget of 8 million Euro at least. If you could imagine the time I had, it was overwhelming reaction and it shows there still is a great potential from Japanese companies.

“I would like to stop the donation for now and while I will save all the money for 2014, I start to look what is the best option for 2013 and also 2014.  My main priority is to secure the competitive F1 seat in 2014.”

Regarding his short term future, he said: “I have no interests to race any other categories. I will make an announcement as soon as I make a decision for 2013. So, please wait and really looking forward your support for coming year, too.”

One of the last remaining pieces of the 2013 F1 puzzle fell into place when Lotus confirmed that Romain Grosjean will stay on alongside Kimi Raikkonen next season.

The Frenchman, who won the Race of Champions in Bangkok on Sunday, endured a tough 2012 season. However, the team has kept faith with him.

“It’s superb to have the support of everyone at Enstone,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to rewarding their faith when we take to the track in Australia. I learnt a lot in my first full season in Formula 1 and my aim is to put these lessons into practice with stronger and more consistent performance on track next year.

“There are a lot of exciting developments occurring behind the scenes at Enstone and I am very excited with the prospect of the E21. I’ve already had my seat fitting and spoken with all the personnel involved with the build of the new car. I just can’t wait to get behind the wheel.”

Team boss Eric Boullier explained: “Romain is a great talent and we are pleased that he is continuing with us for a second season. With the continuity of two exceptional drivers like Romain and Kimi we are well placed to build on our strong 2012 with even better results in the year ahead.

“Both drivers worked very well together in their first year as team-mates, and I think there is the potential of even better things from the season ahead. We were regular visitors to podiums in 2012 and we certainly intend to continue with this trend in 2013.”

Adrian Newey has emphasised how frustrated he is by suggestions that Red Bull Racing has overstepped the limits of the technical regulations.

Newey was speaking in a superb new documentary made by Red Bull and available on the team’s website and YouTube channel.

“Since 2010 in particular the level of sniping at us just got silly, to be honest,” says Newey in the 29-minute film. “It seemed like every race we were accused of doing something illegal. The car of course was using the regulations to the edge, that’s to me is what you should do in F1.

“There’s no such thing as the spirit of the regulations, it’s black and white printed you can’t do this, you can do that. We took the can do bits right to the edge. The bottom line is the car was legal, and we won the races.”

Meanwhile team boss Christian Horner praises Newey: “What he’s achieved is quite phenomenal. I think he’s now arguably the best ever designer in F1. He surpasses what even Colin Chapman achieved.

“He is absolutely relentless, his desire for excellence, his desire to keep improving the car.”

Complimenting Newey on his pursuit of the limits, Mark Webber says: “I don’t think it’s any secret that our car is one of the hardest cars to work on, and that’s how Adrian just does things, you’ve just got to get on with it. The boys are destroyed.”

The documentary, which also features Sebastian Vettel, gives a fascinating insight into the development of the team since 2005.

It can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/redbullracing

Norbert Haug is to leave Mercedes-Benz at the end of 2012 after 22 years as the company’s head of motorsport.

The company said that “his contract will come to an end by mutual agreement with the Board of Management. Preparations for the forthcoming season continue as planned.”

The news comes a few months after Niki Lauda was made chairman of the board of the AMG Mercedes F1 team, a move that appeared to weaken Haug’s position.

Former magazine editor Haug joined Mercedes in October 1990, when the company was competing in the World Sportscar Championship with Sauber and Michael Schumacher.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars and CEO of Daimler AG, said: “Norbert Haug was the face of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport programme for more than 20 years. For me, he put his stamp on a whole era and, as a highlight, he was responsible for the successful comeback of the Silver Arrows to Formula One. In the name of the Board of Management and the whole motorsport family, I would like to thank Norbert for his extraordinary commitment to the three-pointed star.”

Haug added: “I would like to thank the best car company in the world for more than 22 years, which never had a single moment without passion for me. I particularly wish to thank the Board for the trust and freedom they have always given me with all my activities.

“Since 1991, we had tremendous achievements and wins, for which I want to thank all of my colleagues. Unfortunately, with one victory in 2012 since founding our own Formula One works team in 2010, we couldn’t fulfil our own expectations. However, we have taken the right steps to be successful in the future. Our team and our drivers will do everything to achieve these goals.”

The FIA World Motor Sport Council says  that the 2013 German GP will be moved to July 7, one week after the British GP.

The change has been made to free up July 21 for what it terms “another European event.” Bernie Ecclestone admitted recently that France is looking unlikely and that Turkey was a more promising candidate to be the 20^th race.

Meanwhile the FIA has agreed some changes to the technical and sporting regulations for 2013 and for the start of the turbo era in 2014.

For 2013 it will introduce more stringent front wing deflection tests, while “minor changes” have been made to the front roll structure design. There will also an increase in minimum weight to compensate for an increase in the weight of the 2013 specification Pirellis.

As revealed by Charlie Whiting in Austin, the “force majeure” excuse when a car stops on the track in qualifying will no longer be in use, and the FIA will determine how much fuel the car would have used to get back to the pits, and add it to the one litre sample minimum.

Also as revealed by Whiting, use of the DRS during practice will now only be allowed in the zone or zones in which it will be used on the track in the race.

In a further clampdown on teams who bring parts at the last minute the personnel curfew will be extended from six to eight hours on Thursday night, and only two exceptions will be allowed during a season, instead of four.

Meanwhile with regard to 2014, the FIA noted that “a new draft with numerous changes was discussed and agreed by the F1 Technical Working Group and Powertrain Working Group,” adding that “a number of changes have been made to the power unit regulations with the aim of limiting technology in some areas in order to reduce development costs.”

Intriguingly the FIA also noted that “changes made to bodywork design, originally aimed at reducing downforce and drag for increased efficiency, have reverted to 2012 specification.”

As previously noted, the requirement for cars to be driven under electric power in the pit lane has been postponed until 2017, while the minimum weight limit has been raised to compensate for additional power unit weight.

Ferrari said today that it accepts the FIA’s explanation regarding Sebastian Vettel’s pass of Jean-Eric Vergne in the Brazilian GP and accepts the matter is now closed.

Ferrari wrote to the FIA on Wednesday asking for official clarification about the move despite evidence on the internet showing that a green flag was being waved, making the pass legal.

While the team is fully entitled to pursue such a route it might have been wiser to have taken a more low-key route and accepted the inevitable somewhat earlier, given that the furore of the last few days. The affair has unfairly cast a shadow over Red Bull’s win although ultimately Ferrari may have shot itself in the foot in PR terms, having initially accepted defeat on Sunday in a dignified manner.

A Ferrari statement said today: “The request for a clarification from the FIA, regarding Vettel’s passing move on Vergne, came about through the need to shed light on the circumstances of the move, which came out on the Internet only a few days after the race. The letter to the FIA was in no way intended to undermine the legality of the race result.

“We received tens of thousands of queries relating to this matter from all over the world and it was incumbent on us to take the matter further, asking the Federation to look into an incident that could have cast a shadow over the championship in the eyes of all Formula 1 enthusiasts, not just Ferrari fans.

“Ferrari duly takes note of the reply sent by the FIA this morning and therefore considers the matter now closed.”

Meanwhile the FIA said: “The FIA received a letter from Scuderia Ferrari, seeking clarification on Sebastien Vettel’s overtaking manoeuvre in Sao Paulo on Sunday.  In the spirit of transparency and goodwill, the FIA wishes to make public the receipt of this letter.

“The Federation also informs it has replied to Scuderia Ferrari, in the same constructive spirit, stating that as the overtaking manoeuvre was not in breach of the regulations, and therefore there was no infringement to investigate, it was not reported to the Stewards by Race Control.”

Ferrari confirmed today that it has formally contacted the FIA regarding the Brazilian GP yellow flag controversy – but the team is wasting its time.

Yesterday the team said that it was reviewing video footage apparently showing Vettel passing Jean-Eric Vergne before a yellow light board and with yellow signals on his dash.

An official Ferrari Tweet then confirmed today: “Ferrari asked, by means of a letter, for a clarification from FIA regarding VET’s overtaking move on VER during lap 4 of the Brazilian GP.”

However FIA sources have confirmed what this blog said yesterday – footage also shows that Vettel clearly passed a green flag on the left before he started the passing move, and before he used KERS. And that means that the pass on Vergne was legal, and there is no case to answer, as I suggested here.

As stated yesterday, traditional flags have priority over dashboard lights and trackside light boards. In effect the first flag or board passed denotes a yellow or green zone.

Unfortunately Ferrari is likely to emerge from this affair looking like a bad loser, a shame given that the team initially seemed to accept defeat with some dignity on Sunday afternoon…

Nobody would have had a problem had Ferrari flagged up (no pun intended!) the incident with the FIA during the race, or even in its immediate aftermath, before the results were official. Teams are always contacting race control pointing out potential indiscretions by others, in the hope of generating penalties.

While there was a lot going on one wonders why at this critical race the team did not have a staff member dedicated to following the Vettel on-board feed and looking out for yellow flag passes, any advantage gained from an off-track excursion, or other possible crimes. That would have been a logical move.

If they did have someone doing that job and he didn’t spot the Vergne incident then perhaps the team should be asking him why.

Instead this matter developed from some good ‘citizen journalism’ by internet-savvy fans who brought it to the world’s attention, and who between them ultimately presented both sides of the story. Well done guys…