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Senna may have missed out – somewhat controversially – on the Oscar short list, but the film is still in line for some major awards.

Screenwriter Manish Pandey has been nominated in the documentary category of the WGA (Writers Guild of America) awards, which take place next month.

Recent winning films have included Inside Job, The Cove, Waltz with Bashir and Super Size Me.

“I’m the only British writer in any of the major categories and I’m planning to fly the flag with great pride on February the 19th!,” says Pandey.

“Anything that brings F1 to the front, there, is a joy.  Our sport should be there.  The nomination is a great opportunity to brag to the US film world about how wonderful F1 is – and I shall use the opportunity to the full.”

Pandey’s competition includes legendary German director/writer Wim Wenders, nominated for his film about dancer Pina Bausch.

Meanwhile Senna’s James Gay-Rees has been nominated in the PGA (Producers Guild of America) Awards, which take place on January 21.

The film has also made the ‘longlist’ in six BAFTA categories, including Best Film, Best Documentary and Outstanding British Film. The shortlists will be made public on January 17.

Kimi makes himself comfortable in the Lotus Renault

Kimi Raikkonen insists that he is unfazed by the inevitable criticism of his F1 comeback with Lotus this year.

The Finn, who was at the team’s factory today for a seat fitting, says that the important thing is that he is happy with what he’s doing – and he’s not worried about what others think.

“It has no effect on me,” he said in a Q&A on the team website. “Sometimes you hear some nonsense and sometimes you hear nice things. The main thing is that coming back is what I wanted, and I have a good opportunity with the team, so I’m happy. I have never really looked at what people say or think. I do my own thing and as long as I’m happy with it then that’s the main thing for me.

“There has been quite a bit of noise in the press about my comeback and there have been a lot of rumours. For me, coming back to Formula 1 is a good thing and I hope it will be for the team and the fans also!

“I love this time of the year at the factory. There’s a real buzz surrounding the new car, every single department is working flat out in order to have everything ready on time. You can really feel people’s dedication and it’s nice to be a part of it.”

Although he briefly tried the cockpit on a previous factory visit today’s seat fitting was the first time that Kimi has properly sat in an F1 car – with a helmet – since the 2009 Abu Dhabi GP.

“It felt a bit odd at first because the cockpit seems a bit small, but that’s normal. It’s just like in the past when I have done seat fittings – it feels a bit strange when you first step into the car but you quickly adjust. It will be nice to get back to racing.”

Sebastien Buemi has been given an F1 lifeline after landing the role of test and reserve driver at Red Bull Racing.

He has been given the nod over his erstwhile STR team mate Jaime Alguersuari.

Team boss Christian Horner said: “It was entirely logical for Sébastien to continue with Red Bull having been a member of the Junior Team since 2004. He already knows the team well from his time with us in 2008 and has gained significant race experience over the past three years. He will complete important test and simulation work for us throughout the year and will be in attendance at each grand prix.”

Buemi added: “It’s good to remain with Red Bull for another year and have this opportunity with the World Championship winning team. I would prefer to be driving at the races of course, but working with Red Bull Racing on the development of their car and providing them with feedback throughout the
season is the next best thing.”

Meanwhile Buemi is in the unusual position of also being reserve driver for the team that has dropped him, as he will also have that role for sister team Toro Rosso.

The Italian team confirmed on its website today: “If for any reason, Scuderia Toro Rosso found itself short of a driver at a grand prix, then Sébastien would step into the cockpit for us.”

The FIA published the definitive 2012 F1 Sporting Regulations today, providing some extra detail on changes agreed by the World Motor Sport Council and already announced.

The aspect most likely to lead to controversy over the course of this season relates to an update to the one change of direction rule.

Article 20.3 reads: “More than one change of direction to defend a position is not permitted. Any driver moving back towards the racing line, having earlier defended his position off‐line, should leave at least one car width between his own car and the edge of the track on the approach to the corner.”

New to the rules is a reference intended to stop drivers from taking short cuts to gain time during in or out laps in qualifying, as practised by Sebastian Vettel in Korea: “A driver may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason”.

Among the other changes is the return to allowing lapped cars to regain their lap under a safety car – thus getting them out of the way and increasing the chance of a clean fight for the lead following a race resumption. However, the FIA make it clear that it won’t always be possible to do so.

Article 40.12 reads: “If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message ‘LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE’ is shown on the timing monitors, any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.

“This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.

“Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car.

“Whilst they are overtaking, and in order to ensure this may be carried out safely, the cars on the lead lap must always stay on the racing line unless deviating from it is unavoidable. If the clerk of the course considers track conditions are unsuitable for overtaking the message ‘OVERTAKING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED’ will be shown on the timing monitors.”

Under Article 42.3 lapped cars also have the chance to get their lap back under a red flag suspension: “At the two minute point any cars between the safety car and the leader, in addition to any cars that had been lapped by the leader at the time the race was suspended, will be waved off to complete a further lap, without overtaking, and join the line of cars behind the safety car.”

Nico Hulkenberg says that he’s a much stronger driver after his year as Sahara Force India’s reserve.

The German drove in 14 practice sessions over the course of 2011, and did enough to justify a race seat for next season.

“I haven’t been racing, but I have been driving the car, I have been around, I’ve done the simulator, and I’ve been involved with everything,” he told this blog. “So it’s not as new to me as in the beginning of 2010. I’ve still developed and learned in different ways.”

He admitted that being out for a year has made him more motivated: “It’s absolutely true, it makes you appreciate what you have then.”

Hulkenberg says he doesn’t know what the team’s real potential is for next year, although obviously showing well against Paul Di Resta is a priority.

“I wouldn’t say so much in terms of results. I’m back now, I want to establish myself, satisfy my team. As you say, your team mate is always the reference point. He’s very competitive, and in his second year he will also up his game a little bit, so it’s difficult to judge. I’m just pleased for the moment that I’m back, and I’ll try as hard as I can to make myself and the team happy.”

Kimi Raikkonen says he’s fully motivated and doesn’t expect to have any problems in getting up to speed in 2012.

He’s also confirmed that in January he will have a run in a two-year-old car, which is allowed under the testing restrictions.

“I am more motivated than ever and I don’t think I’ve lost any speed,” the Finn said in an interview with the LRGP website. “Getting on top of the tyres will be the hardest thing, of course, but I’m not really worried.

“Although the technical regulations don’t seem to change much, they apply to a lot of areas and quite a few elements will have to be re-designed. As a result, the cars will be significantly different next year. The order could be shaken up, which will make things very interesting.”

Raikkonen said he’s been impressed by the team so far.

“My two visits to Enstone have been great. The first one, at the team’s Christmas party, made me realise how much support I have there. The second one, last week, allowed me to understand that this team has not been world champion by coincidence. I also saw all the investments they have made recently: new simulator building, CFD upgrade, 60% wind tunnel… It gives me a lot of confidence for the season ahead.

“We don’t test the new car until February so it’s a long wait. However, I should be able to jump into a two-year-old F1 car in January. Of course, there will be the usual training, but I will also be working on getting to know the team better and making sure I fully understand all the changes since I have been away.”

Asked about his targets for testing, he said: “Finding out if we have a fast car! For me, learning how the team works will be another important aspect. Learning Pirelli’s tyres will be the most important job, as it’s a different approach from what I experienced before.”

Somebody paid $984,000, including fees, for Michael Delaney's race suit...

A set of overalls worn by Steve McQueen in the Le Mans movie has been sold at auction for an amazing $984,000 including commission fees – making them the most expensive item of motor racing related memorabilia we’re ever likely to see, excluding complete cars.

The overalls, bearing the name Michael Delaney, were given away in a UK newspaper competition in 1971.

The Profiles in History auction catalogue explained it thus: “When principal filming of Le Mans was completed, Solar Productions donated this suit to the British newspaper, The Observer for a special Le Mans-themed contest in 1971. By answering 3 Le Mans history questions correctly, 12 year-old Timothy Davies of Wolverhampton, England was chosen as the winner and presented with the suit by racing driver Richard “Dickie” Attwood, winner of the 1970 Le Mans race and driver of the Porsche 917K Gulf car during driving sequences in the film.”

Davies is not the big beneficiary however, as he had sold the overalls on. No doubt for somewhat less than they went for…

Also in the auction were items such as Marilyn Monroe’s wedding ring and the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, although the latter failed to sell.

Luca di Montezemolo used Ferrari’s Xmas lunch today to encourage the team to work harder in the build-up to 2012.

Over 1000 team members and suppliers – including the drivers – were present to hear Montezemolo celebrate 20 years in the job.

He made it clear that the team underperformed this season, but said he was positive about next year.

“I want to be optimistic, because I can see the concentration and the attention to detail which characterises the efforts being made by Domenicali and his people, by Fry, Marmorini, Lanzone and Tombazis,” he said in a speech to the assembled staff.

“Work is going on in all areas to improve, from the design of the new car, to the simulation work, from preparing for the pit stops, to the starts and so on.

“We cannot be happy with the way this year went and there is a great desire to redeem ourselves, because results don’t come on their own, they are not delivered by a stork. It will take hard work from every one of you, it will come from the ability to be perfect, to start from pole position and that ability is the strength of this company. Behind amazing products there are amazing men and women.”

Montezemolo emphasised that Felipe Massa has to raise his game.

“All the ingredients are in place to start winning again. Great things are also expected from our drivers for next season. Felipe knows next year is very important for him, but it is up to us to give him a competitive car. If we manage it, then I am sure we will rediscover the Felipe who delivered so much and who could be quicker than Michael and Kimi.”

He also praised Fernando Alonso.

“Fernando has had an amazing season, even though he did not have a competitive car and he made us all happy at Silverstone, with an emblematic victory, given it came at the same circuit and in the same month in which, sixty years ago, Ferrari took its first ever Formula 1 win.

“What I like about our drivers is their ability to work with the team. I knew that about Felipe and it was a pleasant surprise to find out the same applied to Fernando. I don’t like drivers who turn up at the track with their briefcase and do not share in the daily life of the team – they are not Ferrari people.”

He concluded: “My job is to provide the best possible conditions for you to do yours. I expect a big effort from you and a great desire to do well. Winning depends on us, not on others.”

Most people have better things to do on a Saturday afternoon before Christmas, but today the hard working HRT press office has dispatched a Q&A with new team principal Luis Perez Sala. Given that the team is undergoing change – and that it has one of only two available seats –  I thought it was worth running here in full. So if you are not out shopping you can read it too…

Q: You arrived at HRT in July as a sporting advisor and now you are the Team Principal, what are your feelings and how are you taking on this new task you are presented with?

“This past July, the owners of HRT offered me the opportunity of advising them in this project they were embarking on and it felt an interesting challenge. This new step from advisor to Team Principal is a very important one and it is a great honour for me that the new owners have placed their trust in me to take on the bigger responsibility that comes with this job. It is an important challenge to be at the head of this team, even though it is a small one, and build a project that would be viable in the future and one that we can all feel proud of. It is a nice challenge. I will try to contribute my experience so that the goals we’ve set ourselves become a reality, never forgetting to be humble and knowing that we have a lot to learn and much work to do.”

Q: As a Formula 1 driver you raced for Minardi who, just like HRT, were a small team. How has F1 changed since then?

“I keep very good memories of my experience with Minardi. Since then, Formula 1 has evolved a lot, mainly technologically in aspects such as aerodynamics and electronics. Back then, it was already very professionalized but now the teams have considerably enlarged their structures and it’s all a lot more sophisticated. And there are still a lot of people from back then working in F1.”

Q: All that hard work is paying off and now the team is making a notable change. How do you think the Formula 1 world and the general public are portraying these changes?

“We’re a small team and sometimes it is hard to realise what that entails. Still, especially on a national level, I think people perceive positively the change in direction that the team has been taking these last few months. Little by little people are starting to trust us. Internationally there are still perhaps some doubts with respect to what will happen, but those doubts can only be cleared with time. With every grand prix people will see how implicated we are, our continuity and the serious work we are carrying out.”

Q: HRT is undergoing a profound restructuring and identity process ahead of its third season, which is the path to follow now?

“As of now our main objective is to consolidate the structure of our team. We still have to bring in people and determine important roles but that’s normal and we are ready for it. Now the most important thing is, with the strategy defined, to finish setting the basis so that, from there, we can begin to grow and build a future.”

Q: What would you say are the strengths and weaknesses of the team?

“Right now the main strength of the team is the people that make it up. There is a good group of professionals, with a lot of desire and willpower and faith in this project, this is very important because the sacrifices that are being made and that will have to be made are big ones. The major weakness is that the team is still going through a process of change and we are in December and Formula 1 doesn’t stop. This is a competition where the deadlines are established and where you’re being examined publicly, officially and permanently. That is the main inconvenience for us at this time of restructuring. But one thing is for sure and that is that we will work to the fullest and put in all our effort.”

Q: What are HRT’s goals in the short, medium and long term?

“In the short term the main objective is to consolidate the project. Create a strong team in Spain that works, with the technical area in Munich. And of course to have the 2012 car ready for the start of the season to be able to take part in the first race and all the preseason tests that we can. In the medium term we intend to improve the car and get closer to our rivals than last year. To see which are our strengths and weaknesses and work on them to improve at every grand prix. In the long run, with a better car and a solid structure, we will think about the strategy for 2013 and, above all, 2014 when there will be major changes to regulations.”

Q: In just under two months preseason testing gets underway, how do you think that the changes the structure is going through will affect the team at the start of the season?

“The task ahead of us, with the design of the car and change of headquarters, is huge. Formula 1 is very complicated and implies a lot of preparation work as it so, in this respect, HRT is a little bit behind other teams. We will feel the effects of this transformation the team is going through and will have “pay” for it at the start of the season. We’re not going to be at the same level as when we finished this past season, where the same team had been running for two years, but we’re aware of that. We’re taking a step back so that we can take two forward. 2012 will be an important year for us to settle and face a more natural and stable situation in 2013.”

Q: Pedro de la Rosa said that one of the main reasons for him to join this project was you and Saúl Ruiz de Marcos. How do you assess that?

“It makes me very happy that Pedro has trusted so much in us and I hope that we can return his trust with results. As our relationship grows I hope that he feels proud to have made this decision.”

Q: Talking of drivers, at what stage is the decision regarding the second driver?

“We are in advanced talks with several drivers but we can’t anticipate anything yet. It’s a decision we surely won’t make until the start of next year because, at this stage, who will be the team’s second driver for next season is perhaps the least urgent one right now.”

Q: The other question is where the team’s base will be. What can you tell us with regards to this?

“Right now we are working at a provisional base in Valencia until the location of the permanent headquarters is defined. There a few strong options but nothing is closed yet. Once everything is sealed we will make it official.”

Sahara Force India has finally confirmed the not unexpected news that Nico Hulkenberg has been promoted from his third driver role to partner Paul Di Resta in 2012.

Dr Vijay Mallya waited until the day after the team’s Xmas party – which he signalled as a deadline some time ago – before making the news public. No third driver has been named as yet.

Mallya said: “In Paul and Nico we have two extremely talented drivers with tremendous potential.

“I think Paul caught the eye of everybody in the pit lane during his rookie season. His speed, maturity and racecraft confirmed that we were right to believe in him and we look forward to working with him again next year.

“As for Nico, we identified him as a rising star at the end of 2010 and chose to evaluate him during the course of this season. Despite having only limited time in the car, he convinced us that he deserved a race seat for 2012.

“Our new line-up means we say ‘goodbye’ to Adrian Sutil, who has been with the team since we entered the sport. He has been an integral part of our success over the past four seasons and we wish him well for the future.”

Hulkenberg has had to be content with Friday FP1 sessions this year after being dropped by Williams at the end of last season.

Hulkenberg said: “I’m obviously delighted to be staying with Sahara Force India and to be given the chance to race next year. It wasn’t easy to watch from the sidelines this season, but I did my best to help the team and show what I was capable of.

“I’m extremely motivated for 2012 and would like to thank everyone for believing in me and giving me this chance. I’m keen to get down to work over the winter to develop our new car and help the team build on this year’s achievements. The first test in Jerez can’t come soon enough.”

Adrian Sutil, who finished ninth in the 2011 World Championship, is thus by co-incidence relying on landing a seat at Williams. However he faces stiff competition given that several other drivers, including some with budgets, are now on the market.

More later…