Even Ferrari smelled a rat on Sunday when Sebastian Vettel let his teammate Mark Webber pass for victory during the 2011 season finale.
Before the Brazilian grand prix, Australian Webber had failed to win a single race all season but was mathematically still in the fight for second place in the drivers’ championship.

In the race, he passed dominant back-to-back world champion teammate Vettel after the 24-year-old developed what Red Bull described as a gearbox problem.

But suspicions were roused in the media centre when the young German continued to set fast laptimes from second place, and it also emerged that Vettel’s gearbox had been freshly installed before the event.

“They are really good at dealing with problems,” Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali is quoted as having coyly told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Vettel, who compared the situation to Ayrton Senna in 1991 when the fabled Brazilian managed to drive around a gearbox problem at Interlagos to win, insists his issue was genuine.

“I can tell you that I had a gearbox problem,” he said when asked by a cynical reporter.

And Webber told O Estado de S.Paulo’s Livio Oricchio: “I’ve agreed with you many times this year, but not this time.”

Auto Motor und Sport quotes the race winner adding: “I could smell it (Vettel’s failing gearbox). And you could see that he was losing oil.”

Indeed, the team’s Dr Helmut Marko told German broadcaster RTL that Vettel’s gearbox was almost completely depleted of fluid after the race.

“I think Adrian Newey usually says ‘There is too much oil in the gearbox’,” the Austrian smiled, “but I think he can see now that it is all there for a reason!”

Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa on Sunday came close to following recent advice to ‘kiss and make up’ after their spat-fuelled 2011 season.
The pair, jointly awarded the tongue-in-cheek BBC “naughty boy” prize earlier this weekend, shared a hug after the season finale in Brazil.

“I’m going to make it up with him,” said the McLaren driver before approaching Massa during the Ferrari driver’s media appearance for Portuguese language reporters.

Those watching the embrace, in the context of the duo’s spate of on and off-track run-ins, smiled and clapped.

“That was a really nice gesture,” agreed Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Said Hamilton’s boss Martin Whitmarsh: “It was not planned at all, Lewis had simply changed his mind and wanted to take a step forward.

“I think both of them are adults and wanted to just look ahead to the future,” added the McLaren chief.

Massa is quoted by Brazil’s Globo: “I never had anything against him, there has always been respect in all these years.

“After everything that happened this year, I found it very cool for him to come here to talk to me. I would not go there because I did nothing wrong.”

Hamilton’s gesture followed a notable change of mood for the Briton, who sounded determined to bury in the past his tumultuous 2011 season.

“There have been times this season when I have not performed as well as I could. But I got that out of the way and made sure they (McLaren) know that I am aware of it,” he said.

Virgin on Sunday finally confirmed the open secret about its 2012 driver lineup.
With Timo Glock already signed for next season, the team – to be renamed Marussia – announced that French rookie Charles Pic is replacing Jerome d’Ambrosio.

Pic, 21, is mentored by Olivier Panis and reportedly backed financially by his family’s business Groupe Charles Andre, a leading European freight company.

A GP2 driver in the past two seasons and fourth in 2011, Pic made his F1 debut recently at the Abu Dhabi young driver test.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jerome d’Ambrosio for his hard work and important contribution to our team over the past 12 months or more,” said team boss John Booth.

“He has an exciting future to look forward to I’m sure and we wish him every success.”

Jaime Alguersuari has hinted strongly that he knows he is being retained by the Toro Rosso team in 2012.
Earlier at Interlagos, the Spaniard said he would leave formula one if the team’s owner Red Bull decides to replace him, with the energy drink company’s newest rookies Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne waiting in the wings.

But after the 2011 season finale at Interlagos on Sunday, 21-year-old Alguersuari told Europa Press he is “very clear” what he will be doing next year.

“It’s been an incredible year and I am very clear where I will be in 2012,” he is quoted as saying.

“Now that the season is finished, and for those who worry about my future, I will say that I am very clear about where I will be in 2012,” Alguersuari repeated.

He said he had achieved his objectives for 2011; his second full season in F1.

“I asked for three things: to improve my final position in the standings, to score more points than in 2010, and to beat my teammate. I basically achieved them all.”

Much more uncertain is the future of his teammate Sebastien Buemi, who Alguersuari described as “a formidable driver and an excellent person”.

Sebastian Vettel celebrated breaking a nearly two-decade-old record with a cheeky dig at its previous holder.
Although the back to back world champion took a couple of races longer to achieve it, Vettel on Saturday raced past Nigel Mansell’s 1992 record of 14 poles in a single F1 season.

The 24-year-old admitted beating “the master” – who 19 years ago set the record in an Adrian Newey-inked Williams – was “very special”.

But he later stuck on a giant orange moustache whilst celebrating with his mechanics; a cheeky nod to Briton Mansell’s 90s look.

Vettel’s Interlagos pole was less than two tenths faster than the Q3 time set by his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber.

“Unfortunately I could not look after old Nigel today,” the Australian joked, “I tried to help him but it didn’t work out, so a good lap for Seb.”

Another consolation prize for Webber this weekend was receiving the DHL Fastest Lap award, with his six fastest laps of the race to be unbeaten by any rival in 2011.

“It’s a lot better than a lot of the trophies we get on the podium; a lot of them are quite boring but it is quite a nice trophy and also a beautiful Rolex,” he said.

Even Toro Rosso’s team boss insists he doesn’t know who will be in the race cockpits next year.
He told Marca sports newspaper that the decision will be referred to team owner Red Bull’s Salzburg headquarters.

“Right now nothing is decided,” he said, amid rumours Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari might be ousted to make way to newcomers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

“When this race is finished it will go to Salzburg for a detailed analysis of what the drivers have done. They will decide what is best for the team,” said Tost in Brazil.

The Austrian however said he has been satisfied overall with Buemi and Alguersuari in 2011.

“When the car was good, they have had a good performance. Yes, in that way we’re happy,” said Tost.

Swiss Buemi, however, is the more experienced of the pair but he has scored fewer points, even though he has had the lion’s share of the technical problems recently.

“Jaime has had two or three really good races, really good,” said Tost.

But he refused to estimate the chances that he might be working with a new driver in 2012, or possibly Australian Ricciardo as well as Frenchman Vergne.

“There is always the possibility,” said Tost. “Nothing is ruled out at this time.”

 A rumour in the Interlagos paddock could spell bad news for Red Bull and Ferrari, as the FIA looks to clamp down on flexible front wings.
The issue has returned to the fore at recent races, with Ferrari testing a Red Bull-style wing that is so flexible at speed that it often “flutters” and sends sparks flying from the bottoming endplates.

Spanish sports newspaper Marca said the governing body has been looking at how to further improve its scrutineering load tests so that teams cannot pass them with clearly flexible wings.

“Marca has learned that the FIA intends to put the issue on the table next week”, the report said, with the issue needing to be resolved quickly ahead of the 2012 season.

The report said McLaren would be the biggest beneficiary, with its 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton quoted as admitting Red Bull has been “light years ahead” for some time.

“They’ve had basically the same car for three years,” said the Briton, “and it’s been light years ahead, especially at the beginning and in the middle of a season.

“I don’t think they’ve broken down even once. It’s a serious machine,” added Hamilton.

But with the flexible wing advantage now in doubt, Red Bull’s advantage may also be further reduced due to the prohibition of blown exhausts next year.

“When you stop a team from utilising what has been the most important factor in their performance, the tendency is that they do lose some strength,” Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn confirmed to O Estado de S.Paulo.

 Felipe Massa has given his 2011 season a “very low score” and vowed to fare better next season, when his Ferrari career will be on the line.
Brazil’s Globo quotes him as saying at Interlagos, his home race: “For me, the score is low. You can come up with any number, maybe a little more than five.

“But it is very low,” said the Brazilian.

Massa, 30, is an Interlagos specialist and two-time winner, but he seemed to acknowledge only an outside chance he will end this weekend with a mere podium finish.

“If the podium is possible, great, it would be an excellent result. In 2012 everything will change. It is a completely different car.”

Adrian Sutil is on pole position to replace Rubens Barrichello at Williams for 2012.

Multiple sources are now reporting that the door at the famous British team has been closed to Kimi Raikkonen, with Marca sports newspaper saying the Finn was asking for a whopping EUR 12 million for a single season.

“Contact (with Raikkonen) was called off last week,” said Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that Sutil and Valtteri Bottas are now the frontrunners, while the 2007 world champion opens new talks with Renault.

But veteran Barrichello might stay at Williams, after successfully finding about EUR 5 million in sponsorship to compete with Sutil’s Medion backing.

Auto Motor und Sport said Sutil’s negotiations are nonetheless detailed, with Williams reportedly wanting a two-year deal but the Force India driver wanting to be free to switch to a bigger team in 2013.

At Interlagos, he sounded frustrated with Force India’s dithering over its 2012 plans.

“I wanted to know much earlier, but somehow it did not work out,” Sutil told the German broadcaster Sky.

“Now we’ll see if we know in the next week, at least for us, how it stands,” he added.

Emerson Fittipaldi railed against the organisers of the Brazilian grand prix on Friday.

The double world champion and legendary Brazilian revealed that, whilst visiting the Interlagos paddock, he “tried to see Bernie” Ecclestone “but was blocked by a lady named Roseli”.

“(I was) better received last weekend at NASCAR,” the 64-year-old charged.

According to Globo, the race organisers reacted “with surprise” to Fittipaldi’s complaint about not being allowed into Ecclestone’s office building.

A spokesperson explained that a receptionist had simply asked Fittipaldi to enter and exit through the correct door so that his electronic credential was not invalidated.

“This everyday episode at a big event does not justify the emotional tone (of Fittipaldi), especially from someone who is known for his education and respect for the rules,” the official reportedly added.

 Attacked by armed bandits outside the circuit a year ago, Jenson Button on Thursday had trouble gaining entry to Interlagos.
Express newspaper reports that even Bruno Senna, whose famous uncle Ayrton was revered by Brazilians, couldn’t penetrate the tighter security in 2011.

“We were saying ‘We’ve got the FIA press conference, will you be paying our fine?’” Button told reporters on Thursday.

Security is always a point of interest in Sao Paulo, with Germany’s Bild newspaper amused to reveal the armoured Mercedes with bulletproof tyres used this weekend by Michael Schumacher.

And Thursday’s usual autograph session was called off.

Police escorts have been made available to all the drivers, but Mark Webber told the Associated Press: “I’m still driving to the track on my own. No changes for me.”

And world champion Sebastian Vettel insisted: “This is my sixth time here and nothing has ever happened to me.”

 A damning report into the unrest in Bahrain earlier this year does not endanger the Kingdom’s return to formula one in 2012.
That is the claim of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, as further turmoil kicked off in Bahrain surrounding the release of the report confirming the government was heavy-handed with its citizens this year.

The 2011 unrest caused the cancellation of the 2011 season opener but Bahrain is scheduled to return to the calendar next April.

That race will go ahead “unless something terrible happens to stop us,” Ecclestone told reporters at Interlagos.

Another race in doubt for 2012 is the one in South Korea, with the country’s first two races poorly attended and organisers now dithering over the cost of the event.

“We’re having a look at that with the promoter,” said Ecclestone, “because it isn’t working for them. We’ll try and find the reason it isn’t and try to help them.”

 Perhaps the last point of interest in the 2011 world drivers’ championship is the race for second place behind Sebastian Vettel.
With a ten point advantage, Jenson Button is the favourite to beat Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to the runner-up spot after Sunday’s season finale.

“Winning (the race) here is not a high priority,” insisted Alonso at Interlagos, “but the motivation is that none of us like to lose anything,” he is quoted by EFE news agency.

The Spaniard thinks he has “little chance” to beat McLaren’s Button to second place.

“On a dry track I cannot really take ten points more than him, but with a strange race, such as can happen in Sao Paulo with rain and retirements, anything can happen,” he acknowledged.

Alonso said he is “fairly happy” with his 2011 season, and confident that he will be “happier” at the end of next year.

“The whole team has been thinking about the coming season for some time,” he added.

 HRT will have to buy out the remainder of Vitantonio Liuzzi’s contract if the Spanish team wants to replace him for 2012.
That is the claim of the Italian magazine Autosprint, after HRT announced that Pedro de la Rosa has been assigned one of the two race seats for next year.

It has been reported that several candidates are in the frame for the other seat, with HRT needing to sign a pay-driver because Spaniard de la Rosa does not come with lucrative backing.

Autosprint reports that the decision to sign de la Rosa was made by HRT’s new Spanish management and had “nothing to do with (boss) Colin Kolles”.

“Liuzzi has a three-year contract and a buyout clause in his favour,” said the magazine. “If the team decides to let him walk, they must pay a large sum.”

But if Liuzzi stays, then Daniel Ricciardo and the Red Bull dollars that come with him will go.

Australian Ricciardo could instead end up in Jarno Trulli’s Lotus/Caterham seat , with Toro Rosso looking increasingly likely to keep both Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi for 2012.

Italiaracing reports that Jean-Eric Vergne might therefore have to spend next season as Toro Rosso’s Friday driver.

“A few of us are not really sure what’s happening next year,” Ricciardo said at Interlagos. “Hopefully I’ll keep Dr (Helmut) Marko and the guys at Red Bull happy and see what opens up for next year.”

A growing rift between Robert Kubica and the Renault team has deepened further.
After Renault this week announced the injured Pole will not be ready for the start of 2012, Kubica’s manager Daniele Morelli accused the team of twisting his words and indicated he is looking around for a different employer.

Team boss Eric Boullier reacted with surprise, insisting Morelli approved the wording of the media statement.

“He approved the communication so everything was fine,” the Frenchman said at Interlagos. “He approved it, I can show you the email. And now he is upset with I don’t know what.

“He is creating stories from nothing,” Boullier told reporters in Brazil.

Earlier, Morelli had insisted Kubica may be ready for 2012 but not the February tests, amid speculation Ferrari and Red Bull might be interested in eventually securing the services of the now 26-year-old.

“If Robert comes back that’s because he will be competitive like before and attractive for the top teams,” he told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport.