Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Paddock News from 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Either Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg will be crowned Formula One world champion on Sunday, and things have already gotten interesting before a single wheel has been turned.
During the pre-race press conference, Rosberg publicly called for Hamilton to ensure he drove a clean race, prompting a quite magnificent silent reaction from Jenson Button.
The McLaren man could be set for his final race in F1 this weekend, with Fernando Alonso set to take his—or team-mate Kevin Magnussen's—place at the team. The Spaniard's departure from Ferrari was finally made official on Thursday, as was Sebastian Vettel's arrival at the Scuderia.
Elsewhere, Friday will see the race weekend debuts of Esteban Ocon and Adderly Fong, driving for Lotus and Sauber, respectively.
And Abu Dhabi is set to remain on the F1 calendar for many years to come.
Read on for a full roundup of the top stories heading into the race.
Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari Arrival Finally Made Official
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Sebastian Vettel has been confirmed as a Ferrari driver from 2015 onward.
Ferrari made the official announcement on Thursday. The four-time world champion joins the Scuderia on a three-year deal.
In a statement on the team website, team principal Marco Mattiacci said:
"Scuderia Ferrari has decided to put its faith in the youngest multiple champion in the history of Formula One.
In Formula One terms, Sebastian Vettel is a unique combination of youthfulness and experience and he brings with him that sense of team spirit which will prove invaluable when, together with Kimi, they tackle the challenges awaiting us, as we aim to be front runners again as soon as possible.
With Sebastian, we all share a thirst for victory as well as enthusiasm, a strong work ethic and tenacity; key elements for all the Scuderia members to write together a new winning chapter in the history of Ferrari.
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Vettel said:
"The next stage of my Formula One career will be spent with Scuderia Ferrari and for me that means the dream of a lifetime has come true. When I was a kid, Michael Schumacher in the red car was my greatest idol and now it’s an incredible honour to finally get the chance to drive a Ferrari.
I already got a small taste of what the Ferrari spirit means, when I took my first win at Monza in 2008, with an engine from the Prancing Horse built in Maranello. The Scuderia has a great tradition in this sport and I am extremely motivated to help the team get back to the top. I will put my heart and soul into making it happen.
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Unofficially, everyone has known this was coming since Vettel's announcement prior to the Japanese Grand Prix that he would be leaving Red Bull.
Ferrari's two drivers, Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, get on well and their relationship shouldn't be a problem. The biggest issue will be the same as it has been for years—building a car which can compete on raw pace for the title.
That means a car better, relative to the competition, than anything they have produced since 2008.
There will be no titles heading to Maranello until that happens.
Nico Rosberg Hopes Lewis Hamilton Will Drive Cleanly, Amuses Jenson Button
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Nico Rosberg has fired a couple of shells in the psychological war for the title, openly stating he hopes Lewis Hamilton will drive cleanly in Sunday's race.
His remark during the FIA pre-race press conference followed a series of questions to Hamilton, in which the Briton was asked for his thoughts on whether it would be a clean race. The Briton said he didn't think there was anything different he could do to ensure nothing untoward occurred.
Rosberg was then asked if he had anything to add, and he said, "No, just that yes, Lewis can do something to keep it clean which is drive cleanly himself. So it’s not like he can’t do anything."
Button's priceless response was captured in BBC Sport's tweet:
"Jenson Button can't hide his surprise at Nico Rosberg's Lewis Hamilton jibe. Watch: (UK only) http://t.co/u0GtZIZNIN pic.twitter.com/7xoNZEsq7L
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 20, 2014"
Rosberg has twice raised eyebrows with his driving in 2014. The Guardian's Paul Weaver reveals most in the paddock feel his Monaco qualifying "error" was deliberate, while Hamilton accused Rosberg of intentionally causing the pair's Spa clash. Sky Sports reports the German was later disciplined by Mercedes.
Was Button's reaction and subsequent amusement a visual "that's rich, coming from you," or merely shock at the blunt manner in which Rosberg spoke?
Video of the question is available on the BBC website (UK viewers only) or on YouTube (at 31 minutes). What do you think?
Esteban Ocon and Adderly Fong to Drive in Free Practice 1
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Friday will see Esteban Ocon and Adderly Fong make their F1 debuts in the first free practice session.
Ocon is one of the most exciting young prospects around. The 18-year-old Frenchman won the 2014 European Formula Three championship, defeating Toro Rosso-bound Max Verstappen.
He won nine of the 33 races and stood on the podium a further 12 times. He will drive for Lotus in the session, having already taken part in tests for Lotus and Ferrari.
Ocon told Formula1.com:
"It is a fantastic opportunity for me to drive in my first session at a Grand Prix and I am tremendously grateful to Lotus F1 Team and Gravity Sport Management. The practice session on Friday will be my first time driving the Yas Marina circuit and my first time in the latest generation Formula One car, so there will be a lot to learn.
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While Ocon is definitely a man to watch, Fong's is a slightly less eye-catching name. He will be taking part in the session for Sauber.
His first experience in an F1 car came in October. The 24-year-old Canadian-born Chinese drove a two-year-old C31 at Valencia, completing 99 laps.
He too is quoted by Formula1.com, saying:
"I am very excited about my Formula One debut in Abu Dhabi, but also at the same time a little bit nervous.
Obviously the C33 is a bit different, as it is a new generation car with a 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine. It will be interesting to see how the ERS and the brake-by-wire systems work. As I will have only 90 minutes in FP1, I will not have a lot of time to get used to the car.
It is good that I already know the track as at the same time here last year I did a GP3 race.
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Fong did indeed drive here in GP3 last season, where he finished 17th and 21st. His only points finish in the 2013 season was for a ninth-place finish at the British feature race; aside from that and an 11th-place finish in Spain, he didn't finish higher than 16th on his way to a final championship placing of 21st.
When a commitment clash caused him to miss the fourth meeting of the year, the driver who replaced him finished eighth and second in the weekend's two races.
Fong went on to score no points from eight starts in 2014.
He did win a minor Asian sports car championship in 2013, but with that sort of single-seater record, one could be forgiven for wondering exactly what he is doing anywhere near an F1 car.
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Fernando Alonso's Ferrari Exit Finally Made Official
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Fernando Alonso's exit from Ferrari has been officially announced at last, and he has admitted it has been on the cards for some time.
A statement on the team website thanked him for his five years with the Scuderia, with team principal Marco Mattiacci saying:
"In the Scuderia Ferrari roll of honour of great drivers, Fernando Alonso will always occupy a special place. We offer him our heartfelt thanks for what has been an extraordinary adventure with the Scuderia, when in the past five years, he twice came so close to winning the world championship.
I am sure that a great driver like Fernando will always hold the Prancing Horse dear to his heart and I also expect the Ferrari fans will continue to hold him in high regard in his future endeavours.
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Like Sebastian Vettel's arrival at the Italian team, Alonso's exit has been common knowledge for well over a month. He is expected to be unveiled as a McLaren driver shortly.
The Spaniard later revealed he had been considering his future with the team for well over a year due to their repeated failure to provide a competitive car. Speaking at the FIA pre-race press conference, he said:
"It was not a special moment of the year that I opened the eyes. As I said, last year I had some doubts about 2014. I knew that it was a big change of regulations, so I thought it was the best thing to check how the 2014 new turbo era was going for Ferrari and then, yeah, I had a very close relationship with president Montezemolo, we talk every week and we, more or less, agree that, if this year we were not competitive again, maybe I could think on other options.
And yes, when I arrived summer break, I said maybe it’s time to sit with the president and see if for them it’s OK, I would like to go.
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Ferrari have not produced a genuinely good car since 2008. Alonso will be bitterly disappointed to be leaving after five years, having not added to the two world titles he won in 2005 and 2006. He clearly lost confidence in their ability to deliver.
But instant success at McLaren is unlikely. It may be 2016 before he has a chance to add the third championship he so desperately craves.
Abu Dhabi to Remain on the Calendar for Years to Come
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The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has extended its contract with F1 to hold a grand prix beyond 2016. The announcement was made on Thursday on the circuit's official website, with a statement saying:
"Abu Dhabi will continue to host Formula One races beyond 2016, after organisers announced on Thursday that they had extended their contract.
The Yas Marina's current deal ran out after the 2016 event, but the success of the venue in attracting crowds has left it convinced enough to secure a fresh contract now.
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F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said:
"Abu Dhabi has played an important part in pioneering the modern era of Formula One racing.
I said when the Yas Marina Circuit was opened that it may one day be matched, but it will never be bettered. The island has continued to transform each year. We have a wonderful partner here.
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Yas Marina has hosted a grand prix every year since 2009, when it held F1's first day-to-night race—starting at dusk, ending in the dark. It is indeed a spectacular location and is visually one of the most impressive events of the year.
But "never bettered?"
Silverstone, Spa, Monza and a host of other circuits may disagree.
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