Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Nico Rosberg Error, Alonso/McLaren and More
Nico Rosberg has revealed that an error deploying his car's hybrid power opened the door for Lewis Hamilton to take the lead at the United States Grand Prix.
As he edges ever closer to the 2014 crown, Hamilton's fellow countryman, motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss, believes the championship leader could end his career with as many as six titles.
Away from the front of the grid, Fernando Alonso's move to McLaren is reportedly closer than ever, while Adrian Sutil's F1 future could be saved by the new Haas team.
Another future looking to be saved is that of the midfield teams, and with them the sport as we know it.
Whether they can continue or not rests largely on the shoulders of Bernie Ecclestone, major shareholder CVC and the "big teams" currently enjoying favourable commercial deals.
Ecclestone wants teams like Ferrari and Red Bull to make sacrifices. Ferrari and Red Bull want any necessary funds to come from Ecclestone and the promoters.
It may prove difficult to find a new solution which all parties agree to.
Read on for a full roundup of the top stories following the United States Grand Prix.
Nico Rosberg Admits Mistake Cost Him Austin Victory Chance
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Nico Rosberg has blamed an energy-deployment error for letting Lewis Hamilton close up and pass him during Sunday's United States Grand Prix.
Hamilton had reduced Rosberg's lead from 2.5 seconds to one second in the space of three laps. After a couple of tours in which he couldn't quite get close enough, the Brit went down the inside of his team-mate under braking at Turn 12.
The 24th-lap move handed Hamilton his fifth successive victory, but Rosberg says it would not have been as easy without a mistake he made.
Though "KERS" as we knew it last season, complete with button to deploy, no longer exists, the drivers can still manually call on some extra electrical power.
Speaking to Autosport's Jonathan Noble, he said:
"I made a mistake because I used the wrong thing to get more KERS. When I saw him coming I decided to go for extra boost but I never got it.
I thought I was using the right thing, but there was a delay in that one. If I did it with a button it would be immediate, but with a switch there is a delay, so I never got the extra KERS. I had a big drop off, which is why in the last metres he got a good jump on me.
"
The German added that, in hindsight, he could have done more to defend, saying:
"I am sure I could have done better, but it is a judgement thing. If I defended a lot he would brake late on the outside and get me on the next one. I thought indicating I am closing the door would have been enough to stop him from trying, but it wasn't.
Because I was part way over already, I thought that was enough for him to think he should not try, but it wasn't.
"
Following his victory at the Italian Grand Prix in September, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 he felt Rosberg was vulnerable to pressure—and this latest error seems to add further weight to that belief.
Before Austin, Rosberg had made three significant mistakes under pressure from Hamilton this year—in the Canadian, Italian and Russian Grands Prix. We can now add the U.S. event to that list.
This apparent inability to cope with high-intensity on-track action could prove decisive in the title battle.
Fernando Alonso's McLaren Switch Edges Ever Closer
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Fernando Alonso has been at the centre of one of the longest-running "silly season" stories in recent memory, but his move to McLaren appears to be edging closer.
BBC Sport's Andrew Benson reports the deal is "all but done," and that Alonso looks set to sign a two-year deal with an option—on his side—for a third. It further states that Jenson Button is likely to be the man to make way.
This revelation may come as a surprise to anyone expecting something a little more spectacular after his words over the weekend. Alonso told press at Austin:
"I have a very ambitious plan in my head for my future, which I think is the best for Ferrari as well.
If that happens, people will be very excited, as I am. I am extremely happy. All the things in the last two or three months follow exactly the plan I had.
"
If the BBC report is true, one can only suppose that doing exactly what was expected counts as "exciting" in the Alonso household.
But nothing is certain as yet.
Smaller Teams Set for £100 Million Boost, but Boycott Threat Remains
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Formula One's largest shareholder, CVC Capital Partners, is set to pay the smaller teams £100 million in an attempt to prevent more of them from collapsing and ward off further "strike" action.
The Guardian's Paul Weaver reports the investment firm are ready to act after Lotus, Force India and Sauber threatened to boycott the United States Grand Prix in protest at the sport's lopsided revenue distribution model. The paper quotes Lotus boss Gerard Lopez saying:
"I know CVC and Bernie have been looking at this. It’s going to be a base payment [over and above the money paid for positions in the championship] given to the smaller teams, which is essentially going to make it possible for a normal budget to work.
To be honest, it’s really not a complicated thing to do. It just requires a bit of goodwill. The overall amount we’re discussing, once you start dividing it by the number of teams, is not that massive.
"
Unfortunately, such a payment would only be papering over the cracks. A permanent change in the way the sport's income is shared out is needed, and that will only happen if a lot of snouts can be extracted from the trough they so happily feed from.
Per Nigel Roebuck of Motorsport magazine, Bernie Ecclestone gave certain teams significantly enhanced financial packages several years ago to encourage them to leave teams' group FOTA, which was seemingly getting too powerful for the F1 chief's liking.
Ecclestone, who along with his fellow shareholders siphons huge quantities of money out of F1, said at the weekend, per ESPN F1's Laurence Edmondson, that he felt it was down to these favoured teams to now give up some of their benefits.
Ferrari receive more than anyone. Per F1 journalist Joe Saward, they get 5 percent of the sport's revenues on top of their usual share of the prize fund, just for being Ferrari. Their team principal Marco Mattiacci didn't like Ecclestone's idea.
He told press in Austin, "Ferrari is very focused to make the cake bigger and not to change the different ways of how to slice the cake."
Red Bull were also given favourable terms. Their team principal Christian Horner's response was similar to Mattiacci's.
He told Autosport's Jonathan Noble at the weekend, "If the commercial rights holder wants to put in place more money to the smaller teams then that is their choice and their responsibility. Teams are here to compete, not sponsor each other."
Doesn't sound promising, does it?
Whatever happens, the three teams are not willing to wait around for answers. BBC Sport reports Lopez told German publication Auto Motor und Sport that if solid proposals were not made by the coming Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, they would consider boycotting the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
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Haas F1 Team May Save Adrian Sutil's Career
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Adrian Sutil's F1 career could be saved by the new Haas F1 Team.
Marcus Ericsson was confirmed as one of Sauber's 2015 drivers over the weekend. Giedo van der Garde—heavily backed by the McGregor clothing label, in which his billionaire father-in-law has substantial interest—is rumoured to be the leading candidate for the second seat.
German publication Auto Motor und Sport (reported in English by Autoweek) believes this is the case. That would leave Sutil and team-mate Esteban Gutierrez out in the cold.
But speaking to Speed Week (h/t Inautonews.com), Haas team principal Gunther Steiner said:
"We are a new team and we don’t want to take any big risks. If there is a fantastic U.S. driver, then yes. But if he is a rookie with no experience. . .we want an experienced driver.
I have no names, but if Sauber changes its drivers then Adrian Sutil could be on the market, as well as the Caterham and Marussia drivers.
"
Sutil has been in F1 since 2007. He's yet to set the world on fire and it's unlikely he ever will, but he does at least bring an element of reliability.
The German also has a modest sponsor package, with backing from computer manufacturer Medion and drinks company Capri-Sun.
His mixture of ability and cash has prolonged his career, and he could well carry on even longer with Haas.
Stirling Moss Says Hamilton Could Win Six Titles
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F1 legend Sir Stirling Moss believes Lewis Hamilton could win as many as six world championships.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live:
"I can't see any reason why he can't get four or five or six championships. He is as good as we've got, and we're very lucky to have him.
Hamilton looks to be unassailable, quite frankly. He's up with Jimmy Clark, and people like that. He is that good. The cars are that reliable these days, therefore one can judge a man by his talent—his enormous talent. He's exciting to watch.
"
Hamilton became the most successful British F1 driver of all time in Austin. His 32 wins places him one above previous record holder Nigel Mansell, and joint-fifth with Fernando Alonso in the overall standings.
Providing he stays in a competitive car, there is indeed no reason he couldn't win six titles. While comparisons to Clark may be a tad premature, Hamilton is without question one of the small group of elite drivers currently plying their trade in F1.
But he'll need the right machinery. Ability only takes a driver so far—no degree of talent can make a bad car into a championship winner.
As Fernando Alonso (two titles) and Sebastian Vettel (four titles) will confirm, being in the right place at the right time is essential.
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