Last Sunday proved that Pastor Maldonado is no mere ‘pay driver’.

“If he was a fool, he would not be with us, no matter how much money he brings,” Sir Frank Williams is quoted by Brazil’s Globo Esporte.

Venezuelan Maldonado, whose links to the state owned oil company PDVSA and president Hugo Chavez controversially deliver many millions to Williams’ Oxfordshire based team, became F1′s fifth different winner of 2012 last weekend in Spain.

It has helped him to shake off the ‘pay driver’ insult, Williams insisting he is now a potential world champion instead.

“Without a doubt. He is very fast and makes no mistakes,” the newly 70-year-old Briton said.

Williams does, however, acknowledge that Maldonado’s money was a key factor in the decision to sign him.

“Yes, it was to some extent,” he said. “I don’t deny that. But he’s also a real driver. He fully deserves to be on the team, with or without money.

“The truth is that if you don’t have money, you don’t get to be in formula one,” added Williams.

Team shareholder Toto Wolff agrees: “If you want to race in GP2, you need a few million pounds. So, the drivers need not only to be fast and talented, but able to attract the sponsors.

“So let’s forget this thing about ‘pay drivers’,” he insisted.

Triple world champion Nelson Piquet, however, has some lingering doubts.

He ran Maldonado in his own GP2 team some years ago, and this week recalled a driver who was often “too aggressive” and made too many mistakes.

“We’re not talking about a guy who shone in his youth, like Nico Rosberg,” said the famous Brazilian, “or someone like Lewis Hamilton, who always had everything he needed thanks to Ron Dennis.

“In GP2, when you don’t stand out in your second year, you begin to be doubted. In Maldonado’s case, he only shone in his fourth year.

“Perhaps because of this he only made it to formula one as a paying driver, without having anything special, apparently. He was perceived as just a good pilot, but clearly no Alonso.

“Now he was at the right place at the right time but he still managed to beat Alonso in Spain as well as another world champion, Kimi (Raikkonen). So hats off to him.”

Rubens Barrichello has advised his friend and countryman Felipe Massa to remember to enjoy his job, amid rumours the Brazilian is speeding towards the exit at Ferrari.

Speculation is rife that amid his apparently worsening performance slump, Massa will be replaced by the famous Italian team — perhaps as soon as within the 2012 season.

F1 veteran Barrichello, who has switched to Indycar this year after losing his Williams seat, told Brazil’s Globo Esporte that he thinks Massa’s problem is psychological.

“It’s not a speed problem,” he said, “it’s something that he needs to solve within himself.

“He has to close his eyes and enjoy, remembering that he does this because he likes it.

“Every time that I lost a little bit, it was because I had forgotten that I did it because I liked to. So we (drivers) have to relax and improve that way.

“(For Massa) it is just a moment, and every moment and race in formula one is a cycle of life.”

Barrichello’s advice for Massa may be particularly relevant, as he was at Ferrari during Michael Schumacher’s ultra-successful reign last decade.

Now, it is Fernando Alonso who is the Maranello team’s favoured son.

“Of course Ferrari loves Alonso, because he is one of the best, if not the best who is there (in F1) now,” said Barrichello, 39.

“So, it’s tough for Felipe.”

Barrichello also laughed at the results of a recent fans’ poll in the Italian media that showed he would be a highly popular choice as Massa’s replacement.

“It was very unexpected,” he said. “Maybe it was a way (for journalists) to see if Italians would pick an Italian driver, and suddenly I win.

“It is a very public business and shows that I must have left something behind,” added the winner of 11 grands prix.

Jenson Button has laughed at reports linking him with a move to Ferrari in 2012.
The speculation was triggered by the British driver’s protracted talks with McLaren over next year and beyond, and spurred on last week by a report in the Brazilian press.

It is said Button wants to be contractually free at the end of next year so as to be available when Felipe Massa comes out of contract.

“It’s hilarious because it’s not true,” Brazil’s Globo Esporte quotes the 2009 world champion as saying.

“I don’t know who put it out but it wasn’t us and it wasn’t Ferrari,” said Button.

The Briton admitted that the rumours are only gaining wings because of his lengthy talks with McLaren.

“Hopefully it will be sorted out as soon as possible. I hope it is anyway because I don’t want to be talking about it for too long and I don’t want to leave people hanging,” Button is quoted by PA Sport.

“I actually don’t mind being asked about it (the Ferrari story) because I find it quite fun,” he smiled.

At Ferrari, meanwhile, Brazilian Massa said he is determined to stay beyond next year.

“I have a contract until the end of 2012 and after that we’ll see,” he told the Singapore newspaper Today. “I hope to stay here a long time.”

Bruno Senna, the nephew of the great Ayrton Senna, is in talks to switch for 2011 from struggling HRT to F1′s best new team Lotus.

That is the claim of Brazil’s Globo Esporte, noting that the move would reinvoke the fabled Lotus/Renault/Senna combination of the 1980s.

Rookie Senna, who turned 27 earlier this month, has had a difficult debut season in 2010 at the wheel of the slowest and least developed car on the grid fielded by the Spanish newcomer Hispania.

“Bruno Senna is close to getting something better,” said the Portuguese language report.

“He is in talks with Lotus and these talks are already well advanced,” Globo added, nominating Jarno Trulli as the driver most likely to leave the Malaysian team in the event that Senna is signed.

The report cited sources “close to the driver” as insisting that Senna cannot finalise the deal until his sponsors agree, adding that these talks with “several companies” are also already taking place.

Globo Esporte also said Lotus’ announcement of its Renault engine deal for 2011 will be made next weekend at Interlagos.

Late triple world champion Ayrton Senna won his first grand prix at the wheel of a Renault-powered Lotus in 1985.

He won a further 5 grands prix in a Lotus-Renault, as well as 24 podiums, 16 pole positions and 150 points before moving to McLaren.

The mayor of Sao Paulo has played down fears poor circuit facilities will see the Interlagos venue fall off the annual formula one schedule.

Mayor Gilberto Kassab was at the scene of next weekend’s Brazilian grand prix at the weekend, as the circuit performed safety checks for the forthcoming race.

Asked if he is worried that many in the F1 circus – including the sport’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone – believe Interlagos features arguably the worst facilities on the calendar, he answered: “I am not.

“The city of Sao Paulo has a great interest in staying on the schedule and has invested a lot for it.

“The organisers of F1 also have an interest in having the race here,” he is quoted by Agencia Estado news agency.

“After all, Sao Paulo is one of the major cities of the world, and there’s no reason for Brazil to not be in the loop,” added Kassab.

For the 2010 event, new ‘softwall’ barriers, anti-slip paint, synthetic grass and better drainage have been installed around the circuit.

More comprehensive upgrades to the ageing facilities have not been done yet, but the mayor said a ‘Master Plan’ will be drafted at the end of the year.

Kassab is also quoted by Globo Esporte: “There are some things missing, but I like what I see. I am very calm. Every year we improve the autodromo, which is one of the best in the world.

“If not the largest, F1 is one of the major events of the world. It generates jobs and income for the city. That is why we invest so much in it,” he added.

On the other end of the scale is Abu Dhabi’s impressive Yas Marina circuit, which is set to host the 2010 season finale one week after Brazil.

Ecclestone told Gulf News: “If only all the venues were as superb as Abu Dhabi, I would be a happy man.

“How long is their arrangement to hold a grand prix? For ever. For as long as they want it,” added the Briton, who turns 80 this week.

Williams has delayed the announcement of its drivers for 2011 because the British team is considering whether or not to retain Nico Hulkenberg.

That is the suggestion of Rubens Barrichello, amid widespread expectations the Brazilian veteran has now signed a new contract to stay with the Cosworth-powered team next year.

“On my side I think it was an easier decision,” the 38-year-old is quoted by Brazil’s Globe Esporte.

“They (Williams) are waiting. I think they are analysing the Nico Hulkenberg situation in order to do it (an announcement) together for next season,” explained Barrichello.

“My part is done, all that is left is the papers to make it confirmed. That I will be with Williams in 2011 is 100 per cent,” he confirmed.

A decision about Martin Whitmarsh’s successor as FOTA chairman has not yet been taken, the McLaren team boss has insisted.

At Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, it was reported that Briton Whitmarsh will be replaced as head of the teams’ organisation by Williams’ Adam Parr.

The Italian report also said Toro Rosso’s Franz Tost will succeed Whitmarsh’s current deputy Stefano Domenicali.

But a report in the Portuguese language Globe Esporte insists that Whitmarsh’s tenure will not end until the end of the year.

However, Globo said it is likely that the next FOTA chairman will represent an independent team, meaning that Williams’ Parr is a likely candidate.

“My mandate runs until the end of the year,” Whitmarsh is quoted as saying.

“A vote is likely to happen between November and December,” he added.

Sebastien Buemi has confirmed he will still be driving for Toro Rosso in 2011.

The Swiss 21-year-old initially denied team boss Franz Tost’s announcement that he had signed a deal for next year.

“I haven’t signed yet,” Buemi told Switzerland’s Blick.

“There are some details missing and the driver market is still open,” he added.

Sunday’s edition of the same newspaper then explained the discrepancy by revealing that Toro Rosso had the right to retain Buemi due to his ongoing Red Bull contract.

Buemi subsequently said he is “very happy” to be staying in the Red Bull family.

And he is now quoted by Brazil’s Globo Esporte: “I have been with Red Bull for almost my entire career in motor sport and I have a contract with them for the near future, including next year.

“If I had not signed anything before, it is because there was nothing to sign. I’m very happy where I am and I am sure I would not be here if it wasn’t for Red Bull.”