Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Paddock News from 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix

As Formula One arrives in South America for the 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso is finally set to be confirmed as a McLaren driver for next season.

He looks set to replace Jenson Button, ending the most protracted "transfer" saga in recent motorsport history—and the 2009 world champion's F1 career.

Another top-level career which could be over is Adrian Sutil's, but goings-on at Sauber may not be as clear as they seem. Four drivers are thought to have contracts for 2015 race seats, and four into two doesn't go.

The German isn't entirely sure where he, or the team, stands.

Sauber are also involved in discussions for a new financial deal for the smaller teams. Red Bull's Christian Horner wants them to stop talking about it in public. Fortunately, Monisha Kaltenborn disagrees.

And with the ugly spectre of double points looming over the title race, Nico Rosberg admits he needs a little bit of good fortune to snatch the crown from under Lewis Hamilton's nose.

Read on for a full roundup of the top stories heading into the race weekend.

Christian Horner Wants F1 Finance to Remain Behind Closed Doors

Shizuo Kambayashi/Associated Press

Christian Horner thinks F1's financial situation should be sorted out behind closed doors and not in the public eye.

The possible demise of Caterham and Marussia sparked the three smallest teams—Lotus, Sauber and Force India—to threaten a boycott of the United States Grand Prix.

The three teams (and the two missing teams) feel it's unfair that the sport's revenue split is heavily biased towards the larger teams.

But Horner would rather not talk about it. He is quoted by BBC Sport as saying:

"

What F1 has done during the last couple of weeks, with the public slanging matches that have gone on, is not good for the sport. Doing it publicly is the wrong way to do it.

The sport should be focusing on what we have seen in America—good racing, wheel-to-wheel racing.

The politics and the fiscal issues should be dealt with behind closed doors, with the commercial rights holder, and get sorted.

"

Horner heads up one of the teams receiving favourable financial terms from Bernie Ecclestone and the commercial rights holders.

These terms were agreed in secret discussions, as were those of all the other teams, and they are what caused all these problems in the first place.

Sticking with this approach would just mean the smaller teams could once again be bullied into paltry settlements away from much-needed public and media scrutiny. That wouldn't enhance the sport's reputation at all.

Whereas kicking things out into the public domain and adding a bit of much-needed transparency to proceedings certainly would.

Monisha Kaltenborn Reveals Talks on New Deals Are Ongoing

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Monisha Kaltenborn has revealed talks are ongoing regarding a new financial settlement for the smaller teams.

Her Sauber team were among three which threatened to boycott the United States Grand Prix, leading CVC chairman Donald MacKenzie—head of F1's largest shareholder—to get involved, per BBC Sport.

The current model is heavily skewed towards the big teams, and the "minnows" feel this needs to change if they are to survive.

Speaking to press including Autosport in Brazil, Kaltenborn said:

"

The dialogue is going on, and now we'll sit together here and see how it goes ahead. It was important to get into this dialogue, but it's equally important to have actions taking place, not just talking.

We have put our views together, and that is what we are discussing now. The fact they [CVC] are in a dialogue with us says they see the issue and they have to find a solution to this.

I do think we did get that far last weekend, that the points we made have been acknowledged and this is what started the conversation.

"

But she added the talking stage could not be allowed to drag on, saying:

"

So there is this dialogue there, but something definitely has to be done within this season.

The signals are good, but one thing is talking, another thing is then taking actions. It has to be done very quickly.

"

Kaltenborn has been a leading figure in doing what Christian Horner doesn't like—putting things out in the open.

The Indian-born lawyer never intended to become a big-time player in F1. Per the Times of India, her arrival at Sauber came about through chance.

But she rose to become the sport's first female team principal and comes across as one of the most passionate people in the pit lane. She deserves a lot of credit if anything does change.

Fernando Alonso to Replace Jenson Button at McLaren: Announcement "Imminent"

Felipe Dana/Associated Press

Fernando Alonso looks poised to replace Jenson Button at McLaren, bringing to an end months of speculation.

Sky Sports F1 reported that confirmation of Alonso's switch from Ferrari is imminent, and McLaren consider Kevin Magnussen a more suitable team-mate for the two-time world champion.

Button seemed accepting of whatever the future held, telling press in Interlagos:

"

It’s been going on for months now. Initially, I was ‘OK, what’s all that about?’ But then it makes you think about other opportunities and challenges, in F1 and other motorsport.

There’s so much out there, so many challenges I am interested in taking on. Whatever I'm going to do next year, it's going to be exciting and a challenge—I'm looking forward to it.

"

A switch to the World Endurance Championship is thought to be a strong possibility. Button's manager, Richard Goddard, was quoted by The Daily Mail in October, saying:

"

He’s too good to sit at the back of the F1 grid, so he either gets a competitive car in F1 or he goes to get one elsewhere. Jenson is still focused on F1 but would only want to be in one of the top teams. So we’re always open to talking to anyone.

The world endurance championship is a formidable series that is gaining strength and Mark [Webber] going there has added a lot.

"

It would be a shame to lose Button from F1—in the second half of the season especially, he has proven he still has what it takes to compete near the front of the field.

Like Mark Webber last season, he would be leaving a little before his time.

But if he is indeed the man making way, it makes sense in a coldly logical way. Button is older, more expensive and—one imagines—more politically involved in the McLaren team than Magnussen.

None of those attributes are positives with Alonso on the way.

Adrian Sutil Confused over Contract, Unsure of Sauber Future

Andre Penner/Associated Press

Adrian Sutil has raised doubts over Sauber's future in the sport after being dropped from his seat in 2015—and indicated the contract situation is not as clear as it seems.

The German was believed, per ESPN, to have had a contract to continue with the Swiss outfit next season. However, they have announced Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson as their race drivers.

Speaking at the official FIA press conference, Sutil said:

"

They've confirmed two drivers but that doesn't mean the drivers can drive and it doesn't mean that the team's going to drive. So there's no real change from last weekend to this weekend. It's just an announcement and now, of course, my situation, I think I have to do some talking, to sort out the things.

"

Sutil's girlfriend, Jennifer Becks—a regular feature on the pit garage cameras—added her own inside opinion on Twitter.

"

Strange move from @SauberF1Team I thought it was forbidden to sign three contracts at the same time...

— Jennifer Becks (@jennifer_becks) November 6, 2014"

Giedo van der Garde may be scratching his head, too. Adam Cooper reported that sources say the Dutchman also had a contract to drive for the team in 2015.

Four-car teams, anyone?

Nico Rosberg Admits He Needs Luck for Title Triumph

Felipe Dana/Associated Press

Nico Rosberg has admitted he needs to rely on good fortune if he's to win the world title.

The Mercedes man goes into the Brazilian Grand Prix 24 points behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Even with double points being awarded at the final race of the year, Hamilton could finish second to Rosberg in the next two races—easy in the dominant W05, providing it doesn't develop any problems—and still take the title.

Asked in the official pre-race press conference whether he needed to rely on luck, Rosberg said:

"

Yeah, it's clear that I need to rely on something happening. Yeah, for sure there's not enough for me to win, unfortunately, but that's the way it is. Anyways, in sport so much can happen, so I'm still very optimistic.

"

Earlier in the season, Rosberg said of double points in his Daily Mail column that "The concept is really artificial, I don't like it." Asked at the press conference if his view had changed, he said:

"

It's. . .for sure it's great. Great news that for sure this year I have a chance to win the championship the way it is now. That's a good thing. I'm also happy because it's good for the fans that it's going to be exciting until the very end. And, yeah, for sure it keeps me very, very optimistic.

"

Most fans would probably disagree that it's "good" for them, as an overwhelming majority appear to loathe everything about double points.

It's an absurd, artificial, money-driven gimmick which makes F1 look ridiculous and should never have been introduced in the first place.