Adam Cooper F1

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Having originally made his name while at IMG, Jakobi has worked with the likes of Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Jacques Villeneuve in the past.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.”

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier says that Quantum has promised to confirm its eagerly awaited funding in the next week.

Many paddock observers remain sceptical about the prospects of the deal finally coming together.

“I hope so, it’s what I’ve been told,” said Boullier. “For the team itself, for Genii, for everybody it would be great to have this completed. We have to put in place, obviously, all the plan for the team. And that’s going to be the deadline.

“That would first be a great reward for the team, and a great reward too for Genii Capital, who believe in our team and pushed very hard for the last four years. And with this completed we would be let’s say money-wise safe for more than a couple of years, and you can then work on a proper strategy to establish your team and make everybody and all the people in your team reassured about the future. And obviously rebuild the trust and confidence in everybody as well.”

Meanwhile Nico Hulkenberg’s prospects of joining the team remain tied to the Quantum funding.

“I think he wants to join us, or he would like to join us, and we would like to have him on board. I believe having Hulkenberg and Grosjean would be one of the best pairs in the pitlane, and actually a very affordable one, if may say this. I understand his position as well. He had a very bad experience when he was dropped by Williams, he doesn’t want to be in the same situation. I cannot blame him to sign or to commit somewhere else if we have failed with the timing.”