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Tony Fernandes has confirmed that his road car and racing interests will henceforth come under the umbrella of the Caterham Group, run by CEO Riad Asmat.

Technology and composites arms have been added to the mix, and will be based in Norfolk, while the race teams are moving to a new location – expected to be officially revealed soon as Leafield, former home of Arrows.

It’s all a bit complicated, so let Fernandes explain it himself…

“We have been talking for some time now about our plans for Caterham in all its guises, from the road car company to Formula 1 and GP2, and in the technology, design and innovation fields.

“Under Riad’s guidance, there are currently four main areas of the business, and we will be adding more in the future. I will go into more detail about each arm of the Group, but in simple terms we have Caterham Cars, Caterham F1 Team and other motor racing investments including our GP2 team Caterham Racing, Caterham Technology and Innovation (CTI) and Caterham Composites.

“Caterham F1 Team is the new and permanent incarnation of our Formula One investment. On and off track we continue to invest in people, infrastructure and technology and 2012 is a critical year in our development.

“Underneath the F1 team sits Caterham Racing, the new name for our GP2 team, and then we have our driver development programme that encompasses various motor racing formulae from karting, GP3, World Series by Renault and right up to F1 – a staircase of talent that gives opportunities for drivers, engineers, mechanics and all the associated skill-sets across the motorsport industry the chance to learn, develop and reach the top.

“This is also complimented by the various Caterham Cars racing series, currently with approximately 700 cars competing in series around the world and now given a new impetus by the direct links to the F1 team and all our associated motor racing interests.

“Then we have CTI – Caterham Technology and Innovation. We launched CTI in September and they are working closely with Caterham Cars on the development of a completely new line of accessible and affordable sportscars inspired by the lightweight, minimalist philosophy of the Seven, as well as drawing on the advanced technologies and materials from the Group’s Formula One and Caterham  Racing GP2 motorsport operations.

“In addition to the next generation of Caterham Cars, CTI will undertake advanced projects for external companies operating within the automotive and aerospace sectors, including a current project looking at a radical new in-flight entertainment system.”

“Completing the Group is the newly formed business Caterham Composites. Mike Gascoyne will combine his role as CTO of Caterham F1 Team with that of CEO of Caterham Composites and will head up a company specialising in the composites industry.

“They are already working on projects across the aerospace, nautical, motorsport and roadcar industries and will work closely with all our associated companies to provide their market-leading experience in the composites field to complete the Group’s interests.

“With those four arms in place, and more to be announced in due course, we have a dynamic group of businesses already working together that gives a clear vision of what our long-term strategy is in their respective fields, and as one entity under Caterham Group.

“The group will be based across a number of centres of excellence – Caterham Cars, Caterham F1 Team and our motorsport interests will be based in one location that we are close to announcing, and our technology and composites interests will be based in Norfolk.

“With those plans now complete we have the foundations in place for long-term growth and success, and now we are in complete control of our own destiny. We have a very exciting future ahead of us and are all looking forward to seeing the rewards of our hard work pay off for many years to come.”

Ferrari technical director Pat Fry says that changes in the way the Italian team works have already paid dividends.

Ferrari has made no secret of its desire to be more aggressive with its 2012 car, and Fry made some interesting observations about the way the team has operated.

“I think we have learned a lot from this year and I have had to learn how the team works once I joined it,” said Fry. “Within our team, there are certain things that work very well, and others that have not. At the moment we are trying to concentrate on those areas that need improving.

“We have made some changes in the aerodynamic department, and I feel that has been successful, as the work we are doing is more creative than before. Now we must see if we can deliver the goods, but as always we will not know exactly how successful we have been until the cars roll out in Melbourne next year.”

Intriguingly Fry said that in the past Ferrari technical people have been too afraid to take risks.

“It has been important to create a working environment where people feel prepared to take more risks without worrying about what the fallout would be if something they try goes wrong.

“For an F1 car to be quick, everything in design terms has to be on the edge, and if you are too conservative, you end up with a package that is slow. So you must push to the limit, and there will be times when we go over it. But people should not be afraid of that. We have to be sensible and take risks where there is a big benefit in lap time performance, but not take silly risks.

“I think we are always going to be looking for new elements in terms of restructuring, even if I am quite happy with the way most of the organisation is working and responding. There are still some small areas that need sorting out, and we will be doing that in the future. What I admire everyone for at Ferrari is their work ethic, and just how hard they work.

“Now we need to get everyone working together as one. If we can do that, we should be in good shape. As far as the new car is concerned, hopefully everything is in place to deliver a car for the first winter test and then be in a position to upgrade it for the third test. We need to provide both drivers with a better car for 2012.”

Fernando Alonso has qualified in his customary 2011 fifth place in Interlagos, and the Ferrari driver is hoping that a wet race will give him a chance to record another podium finish at a track where he has yet to win.

“The Mercedes looked very quick and it was a threat for us, and in fact Rosberg qualified in front of Felipe,” said Alonso. “In Q3 we were looking more at the McLarens, we were one tenth off the McLarens and looking at the mirror to see which one was sixth. Overall, same position as always, and we have quite a good feeling.”

Alonso says he’s looking forward to rain on Sunday, but admits that it’s impossible to second guess form.

“I think it will be more interesting for the people to watch. No one knows how competitive the cars will be in the race in wet conditions, so we’ll see. I think we have to do a good race, a good start, good pit stop strategy, and we’ll see what is the final position.

“We have no big worries, the championships are over, so the rain is only welcome for the show. If it’s good or it’s bad for our team, we will discover tomorrow. Either of the cases, we will enjoy the race.”

Alonso admits that the track has been good to him: “It’s a fantastic place to race, great memories for me. I finished more times here on the podium than any other circuit, six times. I never won here but I prefer to take the championship here and not win races, that will be a good combination if in the future, if it happens.”

Lewis Hamilton was frustrated to qualify only fourth in Brazil, and admitted that he couldn’t squeeze any more time out of his car, having finished the session some 0.2s down on Jenson Button.

This is the third time that Lewis has qualified fourth in Brazil, after 2008 and 2010. The only time he did any better was second on his first appearance at Interlagos in 2007.

“I just struggled to be any faster than I was with the package that I have,” said Hamilton. “Jenson was quicker than me today which has not always been the case in qualifying, so he’s obviously done a great job. I think I could definitely been a couple of tenths faster but I just wasn’t able to find that time.

“It’s a little bit disappointing, really. We’re still on the second row but of course we would have loved to have gone quicker. My performance, I’m not really too happy with that – again I just wasn’t quick enough.”

Asked about the advantage of the Red Bulls, Lewis said: “It’s downforce. If you look the Red Bulls put 8km/h worth of downforce on this morning, and we don’t have any more downforce to put on. They slowed down quite a bit [in a straight line] compared to us.”

Fernando Alonso is hoping that rain in qualifying or the race in Brazil will give Ferrari a better chance of a podium this weekend.

Alonso lost some track time this morning after an engine failure, and was fourth in the afternoon. He says that Ferrari’s pace suggests that the two cars are set to be on the third row, and are even potentially under threat from Mercedes in the dry.

“I think we need to wait and see what the weather is doing,” said Alonso. “In a dry race we are maybe not competitive enough with McLaren and Red Bull. Realistically we understand it’s more or less our position the last 10 races, being fifth and sixth. Here it seems even more obvious, this fifth and sixth. Even the Mercedes are a challenger for us as well, coming from behind. So in a normal race, not easy.

“From fifth we’re dreaming of a podium in the race, if it rains Saturday or Sunday anything can happen, then it’s much more open. Also if we had to choose maybe after today’s practice the rain would be welcome I think for us.”

Sebastian Vettel was happy with Red Bull’s progress at Interlagos today, but said that there was more to come – and cautioned that everything could change anyway if the expected rain arrives.

Vettel was fourth in FP1 today and moved up to second in the afternoon session.

“It was so-so,” said the German. “I think this morning I wasn’t too happy, but this afternoon I was happier. We were able to improve the cars, but definitely we need to make another step. It seemed to be very hot today, the circuit. It was very slippery. Arguably that’s not going to be the case tomorrow and Sunday, as there’s some rain on the way or rain forecast. It changes here pretty quickly. We’ll see tomorrow.

“The long run was pretty good, I was pretty happy with that. They didn’t fall apart. I haven’t checked what the others did, but ours seem OK.”

Vettel won the final race of the year in 2009 and 2010, and would be happy to lodge a third success.

“I think that’s why we’re all here. It would be great. Obviously it’s nice to finish with a good race, and ideally we’d like to win. It’s a long weekend, here is a crazy place, a lot of things happen, usually on Sunday. As I said possibly some rain, so we’ll see.”

Silverstone, Monaco and the season finale in Brazil are among the 10 races set to be shown live in the UK on BBC1 next year.

The other races in the live package (which includes BBC HD) are China, Spain, Europe, Belgium, Singapore, Korea and Abu Dhabi. These races will be covered as this year, with qualifying live and practice sessions shown on the Red Button.

The remaining races will be shown live on Sky, with highlight packages of 90 or 120 minutes shown on BBC1.

Those falling into this category are the first two events in Australia and Malaysia, plus Canada, the US, Japan, Germany, Hungary, Italy, India and Bahrain.

Highlights of races with an early start in the Asia-Pacific region will be shown at 1400, while races with a normal European start time will be at 1730. For some reason the timing for Montreal and Austin have not been specified. There will also be 75 minute qualifying highlight programmes of these events.

Tonio Liuzzi has a helmet design that he can modify at will

After sitting out FP1 Tonio Liuzzi will take to the track in FP2 today wearing a unique ‘home made’ design on his helmet.

The Italian has had a helmet specially painted with a matt black material that serves as a blackboard. The basic lines of his usual helmet were painted in in white, and then he’s filled in the gaps with his own chalk design – one that he can modify between sessions.

It remains to be seen what will happen if it rains. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t all run down his visor…

The message on the back is 'Thanks Colin,' addressed to Mr Kolles

COTA says that it is ready to pay Bernie Ecclestone the sanctioning fee for the 2012 US GP – but in the same breath accuses the F1 boss of making “unrealistic and unfeasible demands.”

COTA has signed its own version of the contract presented by Bernie and returned it to him.

A statement said: “Circuit of The Americas has responded to Formula One Management’s contract requirements by agreeing to an immediate cash payment of the sanctioning fee for the 2012 United States Grand Prix (USGP). In addition, Circuit of The Americas has offered to establish an advance payment schedule for USGP races beyond 2012. The offer comes after several weeks of talks, and once accepted, will secure the USGP on the Formula 1 race calendar.”

“We have been ready to send Mr. Ecclestone a sanctioning fee check for some time now,” added COTA’s Bobby Epstein. “He hasn’t received it yet because the new contract presented to us two weeks ago contained unrealistic and unfeasible demands. We have signed and returned a contract similar to what we anticipated receiving.

“This race should be a reality, but if we are going to make the 2012 race date, we must receive a countersignature in the coming few days. We believe the teams, fans, sponsors and local business share our enthusiasm and hope that their voices will be heard.”

Asked by this blog about Epstein’s comments, Bernie said:

“The guy that was going to do it in the first place [Tavo Hellmund] didn’t think it was unfeasible, and it’s not for him [Epstein] to say that it was unfeasible. What he should do is go to the bank and see if he can get some money.

“If he does what we asked him to do he’ll have a contract.”

Former McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan is back in the F1 paddock working for Lotus Renault GP.

Ryan joined McLaren in 1973 but left after the 2009 Malaysian GP in the wake of the Melbourne safety car scandal. He has since set up a GT3 team.

He is believed to be back this weekend in a temporary role with the job of taking a good look at the team and its operations, and reporting back to the management.

Having arrived from London today he had a meeting with trackside operations director Alan Permane at the track this morning. Thus far he has not donned an LRGP shirt…