Auto News 5

From GMM

Fernando Alonso stands to win a whopping EUR 10 million bonus if on Sunday he can win Ferrari's first drivers' world championship since 2007.

The odds are stacked against the Spaniard, given his inferior Ferrari and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel's 13-point advantage with just the Brazilian finale to go.

But Alonso is not giving up.

"Obviously it will be good to be on the podium and score a minimum 15 points and then when we cross the line we see where Sebastian is and we try to do some numbers after that," he said at Interlagos.

Italy's La Stampa newspaper said Alonso's likely reward for success would be a EUR 10 million bonus, as per his contract with the famous Maranello based team.

Nick Heidfeld, a former long-time F1 driver, thinks both Vettel and Alonso would deserve their spoils.

"I think both have driven the season of their careers, which is incredible since they are both double world champions," the German told Spox.

"But even though many in Germany don't want to hear it, I have been the most impressed by Fernando.

"I can honestly say that since I've been in F1 or watching F1, I have never seen anyone drive a whole season completely error free and always at the maximum."

Another grand prix veteran, Rubens Barrichello, agrees.

"Car for car, Vettel has the greatest chance," he is quoted by Agencia Estado on a visit to the Interlagos paddock on Friday.

"But if you think about the experience and determination of Alonso ... if Vettel takes a single breath, he will lose the title," said the Brazilian.

Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel has moved a step closer to clinching a third consecutive Formula 1 World Championship by qualifying ahead of his arch rival in the title chase, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

The weather was a major talking point during qualifying, with a rain shower just before the start of qualifying and ambient temperatures of 23 degrees centigrade along with 25 degrees of track temperature.

Webber, Hamilton and Button. (Photo: WRI2)

More rain is expected for the race tomorrow, with a 60% chance of precipitation currently forecast, which will put the same accent on tire strategy that played a major part in qualifying today.

Hamilton was quickest in Q1 held on a slightly wet track in Sao Paulo.

No more rain fell during the second session and track temperature climbed to 34 degrees centigrade in bright sunshine, with Alonso going quickest in the early stages. Vettel then set the fastest time of the session using a set of new medium tires.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull (Photo: WRI2)

The final top 10 shoot-out was run just on the medium tires in warm and dry conditions. Hamilton set a 1m12.850 lap on his very first run. He was beaten by Red Bull's Mark Webber on the second run, but then claimed pole back in the final seconds with a time of 1m12.458: his 26th career pole position, ahead of his teammate Jenson Button.

Williams' Pastor Maldonado will be moved 10 places down rid after incurring a reprimand for missing the weighbridge in the second part of qualifying.

Because the reprimand for the incident was Maldonado's third of the year, he was given a grid demotion on this occasion.

Starting grid, Grand Prix of Brazil

Row 1
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'12"458 - Q3
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'12"513 - Q3

Row 2
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'12"581 - Q3
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'12"760 - Q3

Row 3
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'12"987 - Q3
Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'13"206 - Q3

Row 4
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'13"253 - Q3
Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'13"289 - Q3

Row 5
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'13"489 - Q3
Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'14"121 - Q2

Row 6
Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'14"219 - Q2
Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'14"234 - Q2

Row 7
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'14"334 - Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'14"380 - Q2

Row 8
Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'14"574 - Q2
Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'13"174 - Q3 **

Row 9
Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'14"619 - Q2
Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'16"967 - Q1

Row 10
Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'17"073 - Q1
Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'17"086 - Q1

Row 11
Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'17"508 - Q1
Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'18"104 - Q1

Row 12
Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'19"576 - Q1
Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'19"699 - Q1

** 10-place penalty

From GMM

Pedro de la Rosa has denied rumours Alex Wurz, his former McLaren test driver teammate, could be involved in the rescue of the dying Spanish team HRT.

Spain's AS newspaper said former F1 driver and Austrian Wurz, currently a 'driver coach' at Williams but also running his own company Firma Test and Technik, has been involved in talks to save HRT, whose lead driver is de la Rosa.

"No, it's not true," de la Rosa said.

"I believe Alex has already denied it, but I am sure he is here (at Interlagos) and you can see what he says."

De la Rosa, 41, acknowledged that Sunday's Brazilian grand prix could be his last grand prix.

And he warned others in pitlane about suffering HRT's fate.

"Apart from McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and maybe Mercedes, the future of all the other teams is not very secure," he is quoted as saying.

From GMM

American multinational Mastercard could be set to return to formula one, according to the latest rumour from Brazil.

Russia's f1news.ru reported that Mastercard - having sponsored Lola's stillborn F1 effort in 1997 and then Jordan between 1998-2001 - has now agreed a trackside sponsorship deal with Bernie Ecclestone's company FOM.

The news follows American giant Coca-Cola's decision to sponsor Lotus from next year with its energy drink Burn, and the return to the calendar of a US grand prix.

Asked how it feels to have secured Coke's backing, Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez told Turun Sanomat newspaper: "As good as Kimi (Raikkonen)'s win in Abu Dhabi."

Team boss Eric Boullier, however, refused to say if Burn will be Lotus' title sponsor next year.

"I'm not going to release any more information," he said in Brazil.

"Whatever it is, it's always welcome."

Aston Martin owner Investment Dar has received competing bids from Investindustrial and Mahindra and Mahindra for half the sports-car maker, three people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Aston Martin owner Investment Dar has received competing bids from Investindustrial and Mahindra and Mahindra for half of the sports car maker, sources said.

Aston Martin owner Investment Dar has received competing bids from Investindustrial and Mahindra and Mahindra for half the sports-car maker, three people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Aston Martin owner Investment Dar has received competing bids from Investindustrial and Mahindra and Mahindra for half the sports-car maker, three people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

As a baby Benz convertible, the SLK is supposed to be posh, flashy, comfortable, and quick--a top-down, feel-good machine.

Auto writers are forever criticizing the SLK because it's not really a sports car. I don't know why it never dawns on them that the SLK isn't trying to be a sports car. As a baby Benz convertible, the SLK is supposed to be posh, flashy, comfortable, and quick--a top-down, feel-good machine. Boxster-like driver involvement and Miata-like tossability are not a part of the program.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

First Drive: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi

“E” is for eking to the max.

Dear Optimizer:

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi - Automobile Magazine

First Drive: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

News 23 Nov, 2012

BMW and MINI are planning to release up to 20 front-wheel-drive models

Renault Brazil is continuing with the old Clio model but with a facelift inspired by the redesign launched at the Paris motor show. It is called New Clio rather than the Clio Mio used in Argentina where it is built.

Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover has added the Land Rover franchise to the Jaguar concession already held by its importer in Indonesia.

News 23 Nov, 2012

BMW has confirmed that the new X4 crossover will debut in concept form at the Detroit Motor Show

Plastic Omnium is to end bumper production at its Eisenach-Thuringia plant in Germany, with the loss of 200 jobs, but has angrily criticised European automakers for the situation..

When a four-cylinder doesn't work

While acknowledging that the Chinese car market is slowing, BMW board member Ian Robertson has told just-auto that he sees positive prospects there for premium brands and BMW in particular.

News 23 Nov, 2012

Proposed ban on young drivers carrying passengers to cut road deaths

INTERACTIVE EDITOR DALE JEWETT: It's not unusual to answer questions from a neighbor or passer-by when driving a luxury car or sports car for this joband#8212;but this is the first time a full-size van has earned me an impromptu chat.

I wondered why things seemed a little quiet this week until the cent dropped: something to do with lots of travel, turkey and shopping in the US, for which many take the week off.