Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus Nose and More

Kimi Raikkonen's lack of pace is all in his mind, according to his former Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa.

The Brazilian believes the domineering presence of Fernando Alonso at the Scuderia is enough to cause any driver's form to drop—the seemingly unflappable Finn included.

Further toward the back of the grid, a key supplier to the Caterham team has entered administration. Caterham Sports Ltd—the company which builds and designs the cars, and which was until recently the employer of most of their staff—is now under the control of administrators Smith & Williamson.

In other news, Nico Hulkenberg will remain with Force India in 2015, Lotus will trial a more attractive nose design in Austin and the FIA has revealed the composition of the 10-man panel which will investigate the circumstances of Jules Bianchi's crash at Suzuka.

Read on for a full roundup of the top stories from the last few days.

Felipe Massa Thinks Kimi Raikkonen's Problems Are Psychological

Rob Griffith/Associated Press

Felipe Massa believes Kimi Raikkonen's lack of pace relative to Fernando Alonso is all in his mind.

The current Williams driver spent four years alongside Alonso at the Scuderia from 2010 to 2013, and his form appeared to suffer as the Spaniard dominated the team. Now, he says the same is happening to Raikkonen.

Speaking to Brazilian publication Lance! (h/t motorsport.com for English translation), Massa said:

"

I think Kimi's problem is psychological. I also suffered a lot when Alonso arrived. Kimi is undoubtedly a lot better than he is showing, just based on what he has done in the past.

But with Alonso in the team, he [Raikkonen] lost his head a little and is not doing the job he is capable of. We live in a world of details, and if it's not working psychologically, you are unable to do a perfect job.

It's easy to say Kimi is unmotivated, just as with me they said it was because of my accident [in Hungary 2009].

But in my opinion, Alonso is the strongest driver on the grid, so if you're not perfect, it is very difficult to be in front of him. He [Alonso] is also very intelligent and is able to get the team on his side. That's what makes the other driver suffer.

Then when you see the other driver getting more attention from the team, the situation becomes very difficult to turn around.

"

Raikkonen, who showed excellent form in two seasons with Lotus after returning to F1 in 2012, has been significantly outperformed by his team-mate this year.

Alonso currently lies sixth in the drivers' championship standings, with 141 points and two podiums to his name. Twelfth-placed Raikkonen has just 47 points, and he has finished no higher than fourth.

Raikkonen himself has put his issues down to being unable to set the car up the way he likes, telling Autosport at the Austrian Grand Prix:

"It's really about how the car handles, what I prefer, and the way the tyres work. It's a combination of that. We have a lot of work to do with the car now, and we are missing traction and we are missing a bit of grip on the mechanical side.

We try somehow to balance it out and try to have a front end on the car, but it is very, very difficult. I hate it when there is no front end on the car.

And right now, if we sort out the front end we lose the rear and it is trying to balance it out—and somehow get it working. We have a lot of work to do before we have good things, but for sure we will get there."

Whether there is any truth in Massa's words, only Raikkonen knows, but it's hard to see the famously laid-back Finn suffering as much as the more emotional Brazilian.

It seems more likely the issue is simply that Raikkonen doesn't like the F14 T's characteristics and is unable to drive around them as well as Alonso.

It'll be interesting to see how Raikkonen fares next season, alongside Sebastian Vettel—who has also struggled with a car he seems uncomfortable with this term.

FIA Names 10-Man Panel to Investigate Jules Bianchi's Accident

Valdrin Xhemaj/Associated Press

The FIA has announced a 10-man panel which will investigate the circumstances surrounding Jules Bianchi's accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.

It will be headed up by Peter Wright, chairman of the FIA Safety Commission. He has been involved in the sport on the engineering side since 1967, and he began working for the FIA in 1995. Per his FIA biography, his roles have included work for the FIA Institute of Motor Sport Safety and the FIA Safety Commission.

Also present on the panel will be (information from the FIA):

• Ross Brawn, former Team Principal of Mercedes F1 Team, Brawn Grand Prix and former Technical Director of Scuderia Ferrari.
• Stefano Domenicali, former Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari.
• Gerd Ennser, Chief Stewards’ representative.
• Emerson Fittipaldi, President of the FIA Drivers’ Commission, F1 Steward.
• Eduardo de Freitas, World Endurance Championship Race Director.
• Roger Peart, President of the Circuits Commission, President of the ASN of Canada, F1 Steward.
• Antonio Rigozzi, Advocate, Judge at the International Court of Appeal of the FIA co-opted by the teams.
• Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Institute and President of the Medical Commission.
• Alex Wurz, President of the GPDA, drivers’ representative.

Respected F1 journalist Will Buxton spoke for many in his tweet:

"

Very sensible line up on FIA panel looking at Bianchi incident. Vast range of backgrounds and experience. No conflicts of interest.

— Will Buxton (@willbuxton) October 20, 2014"

A number of names will stand out as familiar to fans. Brawn in particular gives the panel a "heavyweight" look, while former drivers Fittipaldi (a two-time F1 world champion and Indy 500 winner) and Wurz (president of the drivers' "union") will provide a view from the cockpit.

Freitas is the WEC counterpart of the FIA's Charlie Whiting, while Dr. Saillant, per the Daily Mail, advised on Michael Schumacher's treatment following his skiing accident and has also visited Bianchi in hospital in Japan.

Nico Hulkenberg Will Remain with Force India in 2015

Drew Gibson/Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg will remain with Force India for the 2015 season.

The news was announced on Twitter.

"

We are pleased to confirm that @NicoHulkenberg will race with us for the 2015 season! http://t.co/vr7duNvXwU pic.twitter.com/ZmiET2GdIO

— Sahara Force India (@clubforce) October 20, 2014"

In a statement on the team website, team principal Vijay Mallya said:

"

Everybody in the team is delighted to see Nico remain a Sahara Force India driver for next season. We rate him very highly and he has done a tremendous job this year by consistently picking up crucial championship points. We know him extremely well: he’s a true racer and he knows how to motivate the team. I am convinced he is one of the best talents on the grid and I am proud that he will continue to race in the colours of Sahara Force India.

"

Hulkenberg said:

"

It’s good to confirm my plans for next season. This is a team I know extremely well and we’ve enjoyed a great year together with some special results. The team has big ambitions and I believe we can have a competitive package once again next year. We have a strong partner in Mercedes and everyone in the team is motivated and hungry for more success. I have a good feeling for 2015 and there is a lot to be excited about as we try to build on the results we have achieved this year.

"

It will be the first time in Hulkenberg's career that he has remained with a team for more than a single season.

After racing with Williams in 2010, he was dropped for financial reasons, with Pastor Maldonado taking his seat. He returned with Force India in 2012, then moved to Sauber for 2013 before going back to Force India in 2014.

This season, despite a recent slump in form, he has outscored team-mate Sergio Perez by 76 points to 47.

While the news he will remain on the grid in a Mercedes-powered car is good, many would like to see Hulkenberg given a shot at one of the top teams sooner rather than later.

Maybe in 2016...

Lotus to Trial More Attractive Nose Solution in Austin Practice

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Lotus will test a more conventional nose in practice for the United States Grand Prix.

The team's 2014 E22 features a distinctive twin-tusk design which the team felt was the best way to address this year's nose regulations. However, all noses are required to be symmetrical next season, ruling out a similar approach.

Speaking to Autosport, Lotus technical director Nick Chester said:

"

The rules are pushing everybody in that direction, so I think pretty much everybody will be looking at a fairly low and narrow nose [for next season].

We're going to test a nose like that in Austin, really just to gather feedback for next year—to do some aero measurements and see what that does on track compared to what we see in the [wind] tunnel.

We always have a curve where we tail off development of a current car and ramp up the new car. We've probably just crossed over a bit earlier.

Once we were in June we were already putting more work into the 2015 car, and whereas we might have run some developments a little later into the season on the current car, we haven't really—we've stopped those so we could put everything into next year's car.

"

The appearance of the cars' noses in 2014 was a hot topic at the start of the year, with fans widely condemning them as ugly. The two-tusk Lotus received a small share of the criticism but most of the displeasure was directed at the "finger" noses.

"

So Caterham got the CT05 launched in the end - & seem to have produced arguably the most ugly nose of all so far. #f1 pic.twitter.com/uMVXPMyi2d

— EDP F1 (@edpf1) January 28, 2014"

In June this year, the World Motor Sport Council announced a new set of regulations governing nose dimensions "to ensure improved safety and to provide more aesthetically pleasing structures."

The result will be tapered, slightly lower and hopefully more attractive noses, with less of the variation we have seen this year.

John Beamer's article on F1Fanatic includes a simple drawing of what they are expected to look like.

Caterham Sports Ltd Enters Administration

Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

Caterham Sports Ltd has entered administration, raising questions over the future of the F1 operation.

In an email sent on Monday and seen by Bleacher Report, bailiffs The Sheriff's Office—which seized a quantity of goods from the team's Leafield base last month—advised interested parties:

"

Further to your interest in the goods seized from Caterham Sports Ltd we would advise the following.

Caterham Sports Ltd have today entered into Administration (No. 7424 of 2014).

In such circumstances the goods seized and removed will be passed to the Administrators: Smith & Williamson, 25 Moorgate, London EC2R 6AY; subsequently The Sheriffs Office cannot auction any of the goods removed from Caterham Sports Ltd.

"

This new development does not immediately threaten the F1 team.

A Caterham (the team, not the company named above) spokesman was quoted in The Telegraph saying, "CSL going into administration does not affect the Formula One team in any way, as we are not part of it."

This is because the team itself is controlled not by Caterham Sports Ltd, but by a company called 1 Malaysia Racing Team (1MRT). It is 1MRT who hold the all-important F1 entry, allowing them to go racing.

CSL officially operates as a supplier to this company, with their most critical duty being the design and building the cars themselves. Until recently most of the team's staff were employed by CSL; in the last month, they were transferred to 1MRT.

But because CSL remains an important cog in the Caterham machine, their jobs remain under threat unless a continued supply agreement can be reached. Administrator Finbarr O'Connell told The Telegraph:

"

As administrator I control the machines they are working on, the computers, the factory, the intellectual property. If I don’t do a deal with 1MRT then they will have nothing to work on and their jobs could be at risk.

"

O'Connell also revealed he is not as yet sure who he's dealing with, telling ft.com (registration required):

"

Clearly, the parties who bought the business from Tony Fernandes have been unable to fund this company.

When it comes to F1 teams, you are normally dealing with one figurehead who is very much in the public eye. [However], the current owners of the Caterham Formula One team are not completely clear to me as yet.

"

The identity of the "Swiss and Middle Eastern investors" who acquired the team from Tony Fernandes back in July remains one of F1's great mysteries, so one can only hope Mr O'Connell will share his findings with the rest of us.