Adam Cooper F1

The consensus in the paddock is that Force India team mates Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg are fighting each other as well as Felipe Massa for the second Ferrari seat next year, although some think that the German is on pole position for the drive.

The fact that they are high of many people’s wish lists has made the battle between the two drivers even more intriguing than usual. Both had crashes in practice this weekend, perhaps a reflection of their efforts to impress.

“There’s always pressure on,” said Di Resta. “It’s been a good in-team battle all year. At the end of the day they’ll make decisions for reasons which maybe you won’t fully understand, reasons that might lead other ways.

“If you look at what’s happened up and down the paddock with the other seats that have been taken, no driver holds the key to whatever it is. It’s the team principals and directors and management, they make decisions based upon what they feel is the way forward for the team.

“There’s probably an off track and off track reputation to be taken [into account], because clearly you need to have a full package for it. I’ve always said whenever I get a chance to drive a car that’s going to win races and win championships, I’m going to take it with both hands if I can. Fortunately Force India have said that they won’t stop it.”

Di Resta says he’s still focussed on the job in hand: “I’m here to represent the team and I’m trying to do the best job possible. The results at the end of the day do the talking. I’ve been having a good run the last few races, and I don’t want that to end.”

Lewis Hamilton was handicapped by a bad set-up call that left him struggling in qualifying for the Japanese GP.

Yellow flags on his final run made the situation worse, and Hamilton will start the race from ninth place. He is immediately behind team mate Jenson Button, who was pushed back from third by a gearbox change penalty.

“Unfortunately in this sport as soon as you start qualifying you’re stuck with it,” said Hamilton of his choice. “As soon as I did my first lap I thought immediately this is wrong. I did everything with the adjustments that I have with the steering, I had the front wing maxed out, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome the issue I had.

“We had a long run yesterday with this set-up, and it wasn’t too bad. I’m hoping that perhaps a wind direction change tomorrow and with the downforce level that I’ve got I’m hoping that perhaps it will work a little bit better than it did today.”

Asked where he thought he would have ended up without the yellow flags, Lewis said: “Probably about fourth or fifth. I wasn’t quicker than Jenson. I was about three or four tenths up at that time, and I still had more time to find later on. It still wouldn’t have been spectacular for us, I was really struggling, but it definitely would have been better than ninth.”

Hamilton remains optimistic for Sunday’s race, although he conceded that McLaren should have been ahead of some of his title rivals.

“Obviously we knew this weekend we have to win – we know we have to win every weekend, and of course looking at the Ferraris this weekend, we could see the Ferraris were struggling, but we have to remember that obviously the Lotuses are close as well. But Sebastian – all of a sudden they’ve got a very quick car this weekend, and he had a very quick car in the last race, and he got maximum points.

“He’s probably the main competitor for Fernando. But we still have six races including tomorrow, and anything can happen in those races. Perhaps they won’t finish those races and we will capitalise as a team, so we should never give up. We will keep pushing tomorrow in the hope that something magical happens.”

Fernando Alonso says he would be starting as high as third in Japan had his final qualifying lap not been compromised by yellow flags for a spinning Kimi Raikkonen.

Alonso says he would have been fourth, behind Jenson Button, and would then have gained from the McLaren driver’s penalty. Instead he finished the session in seventh, and moves up to sixth.

“We were the only ones to get it,” said Alonso. “Five seconds there were no yellow flags, the car behind me was a green flag already, so we just lost probably position four, which was our target on the split times. With Button’s penalty it would have been starting third tomorrow, so the race was much different. Very unlucky today.”

Alonso remains upbeat about Sunday’s race, although he acknowledged that the competition is tough.

“Tyre degradation seems quite high, so we need to do the maximum for that. I think the start will be also important. We have the two McLarens behind us, they have a very strong race pace, so there will be a challenge there. But points are on Sunday, so we need to be optimistic.

“Together with McLaren Red Bull have dominated nearly all the pole positions etc, so they keep doing an amazing job. We know that we need to improve. We are fighting against big, big cars, and big performing cars. At the moment we are doing more or less OK, saving some Sundays. But we know that Saturdays, especially over one single lap, we cannot do anything.”.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said today that he has no regrets about losing Sergio Perez to McLaren.

The Mexican is a member of Ferrari’s Driver Academy and had been tipped for a future at Maranello, despite Luca di Montezemolo recently claiming that he was not ready yet.

“I mean he had this opportunity, and I think that what we wish to him is the best for his future,” said Domenicali. “I think that he received this offer or he discussed this offer with a very important team and I think that first of all we didn’t have any right to block him or to say something in that respect, because he was a driver who is working for the Sauber team.

“As I said, I think that Ferrari gave him a bit of experience by helping him in understanding something, and that’s the way it is. We need to accept that and we will see. We are working with other young drivers that we hope we will be able to bring in our team as they will be considered ready, so that’s what I can say.”

He said there was no news on who will drive alongside Fernando Alonso next year.

“I think to go ahead with this kind of speculation I don’t think it’s so relevant or interesting. As we said very soon we will tell you what is the situation and up until the moment I have news on that I will stay quiet. Also, I would start to be very boring in giving the same answer to the same question.”

Meanwhile he also paid tribute to Michael Schumacher, who won five of his championships with the Italian team.

“He’s a seven time World Champion, but he’s still one of the top drivers in the field and as a friend of his, I’m very happy for the decision that he takes because I think that in his experience he’s come to this conclusion, and I think that considering the situation it’s the best for him. We all wish – not only from my personal side, but from all the Ferrari family – the best for his future. He’s still young, so he will do a lot of things for sure.”

Ross Brawn insists that Michael Schumacher is happy with his retirement decision – and says that it was only made in the last few days.

Schumacher announced his retirement yesterday, some six days after the Lewis Hamilton news confirmed that he had no future at Mercedes.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions with Michael over the past months, six weeks or so,” said Brawn. “And whilst Michael hadn’t made his decision in those early discussions, he came to that conclusion in the past few days. In many ways, it’s a sad moment, when someone of the calibre and achievements of Michael stops racing, but he’s happy with that decision, he’s at peace with that decision, and I think that’s the important thing.

“He’s happy with the decision that he’s made and I think we’ve all got to have huge respect for him making that decision. I think Formula One will be losing someone very important, especially as this second time that Michael came back he had a slightly different approach and I think I saw many fans who were perhaps not quite so enthusiastic during Michael’s first era coming back and really supporting him.

“When he got a podium in Valencia, it was nice to see how much support he had from the paddock. But he’s done a very, very good job for us and we’ve repeated many times that if we’d provided him with a better car then he would have won races. There are some races where he was certainly quick enough to win – this year alone, Monaco – so it’s the passing of an era and one which is hard to imagine anyone repeating the achievements that he’s managed in his driving career.”

Regarding a future management role for Schumacher within the team Brawn said that no decision had been made yet.

“We’ve not discussed that. It’s not something that we’ve explored yet. Michael’s got huge experience and everyone’s got massive respect for him. It’s not possible to say.

“I think Michael’s going to spend a few months just reflecting on – let’s say – this new opportunity he has and I’m sure he will think very seriously about whatever he’ll do, he will do extremely professionally and effectively, but at the moment, no idea what that will be.”

Nico Rosberg said today that he’s happy to welcome his former karting team mate Lewis Hamilton as his new partner at Mercedes, and insists that he has no problem with having a quick driver in the other car.

Rosberg was keen to point out that he’s faced a similarly tough challenge over the past three seasons.

“At the moment my team is a seven-time World Champion, so the talent I’m up against is very high!,” said the German. “So I think it’s going to be a similarly difficult challenge, and very interesting, and for me very exciting. It’s been a good challenge over the last three years with Michael, and I’m looking forward to the challenge with Lewis.

“I remember racing him in go-karts, so I know it’s very tough up against him, he’s very quick, one of the best out there at the moment. It’ll be good and it’s great that he’s joining the team.”

Asked about to compare the battle with his present and future team mates, he said: “I think it’s going to be similarly difficult, similarly challenging, similarly interesting. I’m sure there are going to be a lot of differences, but what exactly, I’ll tell you more next year.

“I look forward to it, because I enjoy these sorts of challenges. That’s good, it’s good for me, it’s good for the team, it’s good for everybody. I’m generally very confident that I will do a good job – that was my approach with Michael too. I’m confident that I will do well, and I’m pushing hard to do well. How I compare with my team mate remains to be seen. I’m not worried or anything as such.”

Rosberg said he had talked to Lewis before the deal was signed.

“We spoke about it a little bit before, that the possibility was there, and we were laughing about it. We spoke about it when we were 14 years old in go-karts, ‘Imagine one day we’re team mates in F1, how cool would that be?’ And now all of a sudden it’s happening, which is quite unreal.”
Having moved to Mercedes after a long spell with Williams he agreed that changing teams can be a boost.

“I know from my change, that it was a very, very good thing for me also to get into a new environment. It opened my eyes a bit as well, because you get into a certain routine and habit, and a change is good. For me personally it was a good thing for me to chance team, for my development as a driver, a person, everything.”

Michael Schumacher says he had options to stay in F1 before he decided upon retirement – and adds that he has no firm plans for what he is going to do when he stops racing after the Brazilian GP.

“As I said I have been thinking since quite a while,” said Michael. “Obviously we had a three-year agreement, and already it was hard for me to keep the motivation and keep the energy and always go forward. With all that I have achieved it’s natural that you think about this a little bit more than maybe being young. In a way how things have developed, I’m actually very pleased.

“I’ve always been informed by the team, so I knew what was going on, and quite happy that things have developed in this direction, and I’m now free to join back my freedom that I had before.

“There is if anything relief. If I wanted to stay I had options to stay [in F1], but I didn’t really feel about it, quite honestly.”

Regarding his future, Michael said: “It was very clear what comes next, six races to go, and whatever comes afterwards we’ll see. There’s no point and need to find any decisions right now, and I do it exactly as I did the first time, although at that time I didn’t think there was a second time, but here we are, and it is just to finish and focus 200% on what I do, and then I’ll think about what I’m going to do next after that.

“There’s no more to say about this. I have options obviously, and you know some of the options, but whatever that will be we’ll decide when the time is there.”

Michael Schumacher has announced that he will retire for a second time at the end of this season.

The  seven-times World Champion joked that this time it would probably be permanent, and said that he just wants to enjoy the last six races of the season. His final race will come in Brazil exactly six years after his first retirement.

Flanked by Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug, Schumacher began by reading from a prepared statement to the assembled media.

“Basically I’ve decided to retire by the end of the year,” he said. “Although I’m still able and capable to compete with the best drivers that are around. But at some point it’s good to say goodbye. And that’s what I’m doing herewith by the end of the season, and it might this time even be forever.

“During the past month I was not sure if I still had the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on. It is not my style to do something that I’m not 100% feeling for. With today’s decision I feel release, obviously from those doubts, and in the end my ambition to fight for victories and the pleasure of driving is nourished obviously by competitiveness.

“It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goals to develop a World Championship fighting car. But it is also very clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in the whole time of my career.

“In the past six years I have learned a lot about myself. For example that you can sort of open yourseflf without losing focus, that losing can be both more difficult and more instructive. Sometimes I’ve lost this sort of out of sight in the earlier years, though that you appreciate to be able to do what you love to do, that you should live your convictions, and I was able to do so.”

Michael’s voice showed a clear hint of emotion when he mentioned his wife: “I would obviously like Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, the team, the engineers, all my mechanics for all the trust that they’ve put in those years into myself. But I would also like to thank all of my friends, partners and companions who over many years supported myself. But most of all I’d like to thank Corinna, my family, for always standing by my side, giving me the freedom to live my conviction and sharing my joy. That is very special.

“I would like obviously now to concentrate until the end of the season for the last races, and enjoy them together with you. Let’s have fun – thank you.”

Sergio Perez’s new manager Adrian Fernandez insists that his protégé earned his place at McLaren on merit – and says he is not bringing money to the team.

Former Champcar/IndyCar racer Fernandez worked with Sergio’s father before the future F1 star was even born, and has helped him in the background over the years via his connections with Telmex. He has now formally taken over the management role.

“Sergio is an unbelievable driver and he has earned his place at McLaren,” said Fernandez on his website. “He is not bringing money to the team. He has been hired to race. His performances earned him this position and that made my job easier because people were interested in him.

“The past few weeks have been hectic, but I am extremely proud of this accomplishment for Sergio, for his career and for our country. This is something that began a long, long time ago with Carlos Slim and Telmex – who supported Sergio’s career for many years – and the dream was realized when he joined the Formula One ranks.

“I am very thankful to Carlos and Sergio for letting me be a small part of the team then, and now to be actually taking over Sergio’s management. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help and support of Carlos and Telmex.

“It has been very enjoyable to work with McLaren, and I have to take my hat off to Martin Whitmarsh, team principal, and everyone that we worked with to make this deal possible. It took a lot of work and I was very impressed with the level of professionalism from Martin and his team and I have to thank all of them.

Fernandez also thanked the Sauber team: “We obviously owe a huge amount of thanks to Peter Sauber and his team, who gave Sergio the opportunity to compete in Formula One and show what he can do. I know that Sergio will be putting forth all his effort to finish on the highest note he can for them this year.”

Meanwhile Fernandez said he was looking forward to the new challenge: “For me, it is hard to describe how happy I am. As many of you know, I have been a part of Sergio’s life since he was a kid and his father worked for me for many years.

“He calls me “uncle” and, even though we are not related by blood, it just shows how tight our relationship is. So, to see this all the way through to today’s announcement, to know how bright his future is and to be a part of it puts me in a rare occasion – at a loss for words.

“I have been a successful driver and a successful team owner and now, with this, I hope I can be a successful manager and do a fantastic job for Sergio so he can really dedicate himself to racing and I can take care of the other areas which, to be honest, are the areas that I have been doing all of my life. I think it’s a good combination, and I definitely think we have a potential World Champion in our hands. As I have said, Mexico’s future in Formula 1 is shining brightly.”

Bernie Ecclestone has reignited the debate about turbo engines by suggesting that the changeover from V8s should be postponed or even abandoned.

The new formula is due to start in 2014, having already been postponed once. Although Jean Todt has insisted that won’t happen again Ecclestone has suggested that the FIA president might change his mind.

Ecclestone has made no secret of his opposition to the turbo rules, but his latest statement will cause considerable confusion given that we are only 18 months away from the first race of the new era.

“I listened to the noise of the engines in Maranello the other day, the new engine and the old engine, and even Luca di Montezemolo said it sounded terrible and didn’t like it,” Ecclestone told the Hindustan Times.

He added that Todt “will get rid of it. I think Luca is also saying we should suspend it for two or three years. I think it is sensible to get rid of it and stick with what we have got. It is much cheaper than the new one. It probably could be 30% of the price.”

Meanwhile Australian GP boss Ron Walker, a long time ally of Bernie, said: “The circuits would be appalled if they went ahead with that new engine now, particularly if there is no guarantee the sound will be the same. The circuits will all support Bernie in his quest to keep the same engine because it will mean great savings in the cost burden of running the sport.”

The three engine manufacturers – Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes – are gradually switching their dynos over from V8 use. The consensus is that postponing the turbo formula will still be expensive as the companies will continue to spend on development during the interim.