Adam Cooper F1

Talented British GP2 driver Sam Bird will get his F1 chance with Mercedes at the young drivers’ test after the Abu Dhabi GP.

The 23-year-old is driving for the ART team this year, and won the feature race at Monza. He is fifth in the championship with just Abu Dhabi to come.

His Mercedes connections stem from his F3 EuroSeries days, when he drove for Mucke Motorsport. He was third, and best Merc runner, at Macau last year. Previously he was the best rookie in his debut seasons in British F3 and Formula Renault.

“Sam has done an impressive job in the GP2 Series during his first season,” said Ross Brawn. “He is the highest-placed rookie in the championship order with some excellent results over the year. We are very pleased that Sam will be joining Mercedes GP Petronas for the Young Driver test next month and are confident that he will provide the team with the essential consistency and feedback we require.

“This is also an excellent chance for Sam to continue his progression in motorsport and widen his experience of Formula One. Sam has been chosen due to his relevant current single-seater pedigree through his competition in GP2, the F3 EuroSeries and British F3 and as an added bonus, he will have experience of the track from his GP2 racing over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. We look forward to working with Sam at the test and to seeing his progress and feedback over the two days.”

Norbert Haug added: “For the upcoming Young Driver test days in Abu Dhabi, it was important for us to find a young and talented driver with single-seater and preferably GP2 experience. Sam Bird, who competed in the F3 EuroSeries last year with our DTM partner team Mücke Motorsport before he progressed to the ART team in GP2, who are also partners with Mercedes-Benz in F3, fulfils these requirements. With the experience that Sam will gain during the GP2 races in Abu Dhabi, I am sure he will be well prepared for the test.”

Lewis Hamilton says he’s looking forward to a strong race in Brazil and stresses that his target is to go to Abu Dhabi still in with a shout of the title.

After Korea he lies 21 points behind Fernando Alonso, while Mark Webber is also still in front of him.

Hamilton won the title in Brazil with his charge back to fifth place in 2008, and had a good race to third last year from a lowly grid position.

“It’s going to be tough – we saw again in Korea that we’ve probably only got the third fastest car, so we’re probably not the favourites – but that’s okay,” he said on his website.

“We’re bringing new parts to the car all the time, and I know we’ll have some more upgrades in Brazil. Whether that will be enough, we need to wait and see. But I’m going to enjoy pushing. I’ve had some good races in Brazil, it’s a place where you can really make a charge work, so I go there feeling very optimistic and hopeful of another good showing.

“At this stage, the aim has to be to go to Abu Dhabi with a mathematical possibility of winning the title. As we’ve seen so many times before, anything can happen at the final race, so Brazil will be all about prolonging the challenge and then maximizing everything for Abu Dhabi. Of course, it would be nice to take a win at Interlagos, but we’re taking it all one step at a time at the moment.”

Hamilton admitted that conditions were initially very tough in Korea last weekend, although things improved rapidly.

“During the first start behind the Safety Car, it was pretty tricky – mainly because visibility was so limited. There didn’t seem to be too much rain, but there was a lot of water in the air, and that meant that the spray was pretty intense. You couldn’t see much in front of you, so it was a good move to red-flag the event.

“But when we restarted again behind the Safety Car, I didn’t think conditions were too bad. We’ve had some pretty full-on wet races over the last couple of years – Fuji 2007, Silverstone ’08 – and I think the conditions in Korea were definitely comparable to those. That’s why I wanted to go racing.

“Actually, the strangest conditions were at the very end of the race, when it started to get darker, which was another challenge – and something that you’re not used to as a Formula 1 driver. I actually think the race organisers got it just right. Yes, the light was fading towards the very end of the race, but I think it would have been a controversial decision to stop the race before full distance, as it could have potentially favoured one team or driver over another. And, as we saw, the light levels dropped really sharply once we’d got out of the cars, so I think we got it just right.”

Intriguingly Hamilton says he doesn’t think he would have stayed in front of Alonso even if he hadn’t run wide at the restart and let the Ferrari through.

“I think it would have been extremely difficult. For the whole race, I was struggling with grip, and having trouble getting the car slowed down without locking the fronts. And that’s why I ran wide at the exit of Turn One – just because it was so difficult to get the car slowed for the corner. That’s where Fernando passed me, but I really think it would only have been a matter of time before he’d been able to get through anyway.

“We had pretty decent pace through sectors one and two, but the car wasn’t fast enough through the final sector, where I was losing a couple of tenths, so I think I’d have been a sitting duck along the pits straight going into the first corner. So I don’t think it would have changed the overall result.

“Also, in the closing laps, my tyres started falling away really sharply and my lap times just plummeted, it was so hard to keep the car on the track. So I’m pleased with those 18 points for P2 – I could have done with seven more points for the win, but I’m happy with what I got.”

Button had a nightmare weekend in Korea

Jenson Button says he’s not giving up on the quest for the 2010 World Championship, despite being a distant fifth in the table with just two races to go.

Having failed to score in Korea the reigning champion has fallen 42 points behind leader Fernando Alonso. However he says he has little to lose by continuing to fight.

“I’ve always said that I will fight until it’s mathematically impossible,” said Button on his website today. “Sure, looking at it written down on paper, you’ve got to admit it’s a long shot, but I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I chose not to go for it, and then circumstances transpired to give me a full run at the title.

“So, for me, the situation’s the same: I’ll be fighting until it’s no longer possible for me. In Formula 1, you just never know it’s totally possible that I could win at Interlagos, take home maximum points and have none of the other title contenders finish. If it’s another wet race, that could easily happen Basically, you learn early on in this sport that it’s not over until it’s over.”

Button says that there is no reason why McLaren can’t be fast in the next race in Brazil.

“Our performance has been a little bit up and down recently. We nearly had the pace to win in Monza, we looked faster than the Red Bulls in Singapore, and our race pace was very good at Suzuka. So it’s difficult to say precisely where we are. In Korea, we looked extremely quick during all the practice sessions, only to see that pace narrow in qualifying and the race. So I think we have every reason to still feel optimistic.

“For Brazil, we’re bringing more updates to the car. That’s something that’s always impressed me about this team the pace of development is just incessant, and everybody is so determined to make the car faster.

“We’re always trying out new parts, and making changes. We haven’t backed off the development stream just yet, so, once again, we’re hopeful of another step forward in performance for Brazil. It’s a track that should suit us, so I’m already looking forward to it.”

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo warned his team that they ‘have not won anything yet’ and cautioned them to prepare properly for the last two races of the season.

Montezemolo was speaking to the Scuderia employees at the traditional post victory gathering at Maranello.

“First of all, I want to congratulate and thank you all, because this great fight-back is down to you,” said Montezemolo. “In these last few races, we have seen Ferrari working perfectly, both at the track and at home. This is the image of the team I like to see projected to the outside world, one of a team of competent and capable people, proud to represent a winning side of Italy, which was clearly visible in the faces of those you who stood beneath the podium on Sunday.

“I was happy to see Fernando once again proving to be very strong and focussed, not putting a foot wrong and I was also pleased to see Felipe back on the podium, going into his home race, where I have no doubt, he will enjoy a great weekend.

“We were not useless before and we have not become genii now, we are just a team that never surrenders. However, we have not actually won anything yet. I have said this to all of you before – each one of us must aim for pole in our own roles, going about our business in a level headed fashion, with concentration and determination, then we can add up the figures in Abu Dhabi.”

Meanwhile team principal Stefano Domenicali said: “Now comes the hard part and that’s something we must bear in mind. Over the next three weeks, we have to do everything perfectly – reliability, the work at the track and at home and preparation for the race. These are things we are well used to, but it still merits repetition.

“I have always said that this year, keeping a cool head is what will make the difference and we must not get carried away with the words of praise, just as we did not get downhearted by the criticism in the most difficult moments. We should leave unguarded enthusiasm at the door.”

Rubens pulls into parc ferme, his intermediates nearly turned to slicks

Rubens Barrichello was frustrated to lose valuable positions in Korea after his worn out intermediate tyres went off a few laps from the end.

Barrichello dropped from fifth to seventh place in the closing laps as Robert Kubica and Tonio Liuzzi both went past, crucially costing Williams the chance to claim sixth place in the World Championship from Force India.

“It was just unfortunate that we lost to Liuzzi,” said the Brazilian. “I just ran out of tyres. I just had no rear tyres left. I think we’re quite good in qualifying, because we use the tyres quite well. And in the race we might be a bit too heavy on it.

“I was running in conservative mode behind Michael, and he was all over the place. I thought, ‘Yeah, I’m going to have a go.’ All of a sudden it was like a switch, the tyres were gone. I still think it was positive, with so many people crashing out.”

Barrichello says that conditions were very bad during the race, and he was concerned that the race ran into darkness to such an extent.

“It was… unsafe. Curiously, the problem that we had in Fuji for example some years ago was aquaplaning. The aquaplaning word was never here. It was only visibility, and visibility with the walls was very bad. You could argue that the race started a bit too early or not, but we were safe, so we were doing the business OK. Luckily the water started to go down. And everything was running smooth. But I think the race should have stopped five or six laps before.

“I have the record in Fiorano, because Fiorano when it didn’t have those time restrictions you could run as long as you had it, and in the summer I had 9.36pm when I went out. It was as dark as this, honestly, it was unbelievably dark!

“All the directions for the race were taken into good consideration, and we were safe. It was right to put the red flag, and it was right to do this. Maybe the race started a bit too early, but it was OK to start. With all of that, I think to be perfect, we should have stopped five to six laps earlier.”

Meanwhile Rubens was positive about the GPDA’s relationship with FIA President Jean Todt, after a meeting on Saturday.

“It was OK. We had three to four items to talk about, and he was very open. He had two drivers that he worked with already, and I think with Felipe he has a very good relationship, because of Nicolas [Todt]. It was OK. All we want as GPDA is to be closer on the future of the sport, so whenever they created a new wing or a new car or a new circuit, we should have a vote. And this is quite good, he has been very receptive.”

Behind you! Todt and FIA Steward Alan Jones on the Korean GP grid

McLaren boss and FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh has praised Jean Todt for the job he’s done in his first year as FIA President.

Whitmarsh was quizzed in the context of recent suggestions that Max Mosley and associates are not happy with the way things have gone under Todt.

“I don’t know if this is about the speculation that has been in the media about Jean Todt,” said Whitmarsh, “and that there are moves within the FIA and happiness and who might be behind that. I’m not involved in FIA politics.

“But I’ve got to say that Jean Todt has I think played a good role. I think he’s busily and quietly reforming the FIA in the background, which I know has probably caused some discomfort within that organisation. I think he hasn’t used F1 as a personal platform for his own promotion, and I think that’s very, very positive.

“I think what Jean is doing is good, and we continue to support him in that position.”

Ross Brawn says he was encouraged by the performance of Michael Schumacher in the Korean GP, where the German equalled his season best result of fourth place.

Although flattered by the retirements of three cars ahead, Schumacher nevertheless did a good job to stay out of trouble and put in a much stronger showing than in previous wet races this year.

“We’re getting there,” said Brawn. “It’s probably taken a bit longer than we expected, but we’re getting there. I keep seeing these really good parts, we just need to put everything together now for next year.”

Brawn said that the light was becoming an issue for Michael: “It was getting close. Michael was asking how he’d turn down the brightness of the display as it was getting distracting. So it was right on the limit. Another few laps I think the drivers would have been complaining.”

Ross said that he team had given some consideration to a late change to fresher tyres. Although his change was prompted by a puncture, Nico Hulkenberg showed that fresh rubber generated much better lap times.

“We kept looking at the numbers. The trouble was getting through the traffic. That was the thing that was unpredictable. You saw how much chaos was there back there. We really didn’t want to get involved in that. We saw the rain moving in, which obviously missed us in the end. We said to Michael there might be a bit of rain at the end of the race, make sure the tyres have got something left in them.”

Meanwhile Brawn admitted he was frustrated by the loss of Nico Rosberg when Mark Webber crashed in front of him. Had the German got through unscathed, he would have been runner-up.

“He was going to be second wasn’t he? But you never know. He was very happy with the car. If is F1 spelled backwards isn’t it? He was going very well, very comfortable with the car, and looking very strong.”

Meanwhile Mercedes continues to look strong despite switching development to the 2011 car some time ago.

“I think we’re just getting everything working properly. We’ve got the fastest straight line speed here, so we’ve got the F-Duct working properly. I think because we’re not changing a lot of things we’re understanding how to set the car up. It’s really just consolidation, which is a lesson. We’ve learned things from the last few races.

“This was a very strong circuit for the F-Duct, so it’s been helpful. The last two circuits will both be relevant.”

Adrian Sutil and Sebastien Buemi have both been given five-place grid penalties for Brazil after their crashes in the Korean GP.

Sutil was struggling with brake problems and had an incident-packed race, culminating in a collision with Kamui Kobayashi. The Japanese driver was able to continue, but Sutil himself had to retire.

“It was not because I was driving especially aggressively,” Sutil explained. “It was very hard to brake with the car, because we had a very soft material, and it just seemed to lock up everywhere.”

Meanwhile Buemi rammed into the side of Timo Glock, putting both men out of the race.

“Unfortunately it was just a big mistake by Buemi,” Glock told this blog. “He just outbraked himself and was far too aggressive on the braking point. I tried to turn in, and he just crashed into me.”

Cars leaving the pits go straight onto the racing line at Turn One...

While there is has been much talk about the pit entry in Korea, the pit exit could prove to be one of the talking points of the race.

Cars exit from the pit lane right onto the racing line in the middle of Turn One, and drivers can’t see if anyone is coming. And even if they are, come the race it won’t matter – the driver leaving the pits will go as fast as possible and hope that anyone coming leaves room. When guys are fighting for position it could be a little hairy.

In addition the cars emerge right angles to the direction of traffic, and thus could potentially be T-boned by someone who is out of control.

Lewis Hamilton admitted that he had concerns when questioned about it by this blog.

“It is a little bit tricky in the sense that as you come out the cars that come round the corner are in your blind spot, you don’t even know that they’re there,” he said. “Of course every time I come out I’m trying to see if there’s anyone there, plus you have to kind of get straight onto the racing line. I think in the race it will be… interesting to see how everyone deals with it.

“Hopefully we won’t have any problems. You just have to go for it and hope for the best, I would say.”

Jenson Button added: “And hope he hasn’t locked up and gone wide…”

One other interesting point is that cars coming out of the pits will potentially have more momentum going into and out of Turn Two, and thus get a better run down the long straight that follows. So even if you lose out at a pit stop you might still be able to gain a position at Turn Three.

Jenson Button admits he’s disappointed to be stuck back in seventh after struggling with his car in qualifying in Korea.

Button was lacking front grip and couldn’t get enough temperature into the tyres as ambient plummeted. He’ll start behind all his title rivals plus Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa. 

“Today and yesterday I was very happy with the car, and the balance was good,” said Button. “But this afternoon I’ve got very little grip and just can’t stop locking tyres. Just can’t find the pace. It’s disappointing, because yesterday every time I went out I was pretty quick and at the top of the time sheets, as was Lewis, when he went out he was pretty quick.

“It’s surprising to be so far back. I’m seventh, and Lewis is obviously a long way in front, but he’s still only fourth. The important thing is tomorrow obviously, but I’m on the right side of the grid. Just a bit further back than I thought I would be.”

Rain is expected tomorrow, and Jenson is hoping that he can continue his good form in tricky conditions.

“There’s a chance of rain tomorrow, so it’s all up in the air a little bit. You can make or break your race I think on the first lap. So I’ll be looking for a good start and making up some places.”