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Alonso set for McLaren switch
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FERNANDO Alonso is set to join McLaren with the former two-time world champion’s move due to be confirmed before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 23, according to a report on the Autosport magazine website.
Last month Luca de Montezemolo, the outgoing chief of Ferrari, the Spaniard’s current team, said the 2005 and 2006 world champion would leave the Italian giant at the end of the current campaign, two years before his contract expires, because of the team’s failure to provide him with a car where he could challenge for a third world title.
Alonso finished sixth in last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix and the 33-year-old is currently fifth in the overall standings for this season.
Autosport added that the only reason why Alonso’s move to McLaren, for whom he drove in one turbulent season in 2007, had not yet been confirmed was because the management of the British team had still to decide on which of its two current drivers, Jenson Button and Kevin Magnusson, would remain to pilot its other car. Button, after finishing fourth at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo on Sunday, said he was still in the dark regarding McLaren’s driver line-up for 2015.
“To beat both Red Bulls, both Ferraris and a Williams is not a bad day’s work. But that’s all I can do right now — go out and enjoy my racing,” the 34-year-old Briton said.
Last month, reigning champion Sebastien Vettel announced he was quitting Red Bull, with whom he was won four successive world titles. That led to reports the German was being lined up for a move to Ferrari.
On Sunday, Nico Rosberg didn’t let victory slip away. A week after seeing Lewis Hamilton overtake him to win the United States Grand Prix, Rosberg fended off another strong challenge by his Mercedes teammate to secure the victory at the Brazilian GP and close in on his rival in the Formula One title race.
The German cut his points-deficit to 17 but Hamilton will keep the upper hand going into the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton has 334 points to 317 for Rosberg. The championship could not be decided at Interlagos because the race in Abu Dhabi on November 23 will be worth double points.
Brazilian Felipe Massa finished third for Williams in his home race, while Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was fifth.
F1 season set for thrilling climax at Abu Dhabi
BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton leads Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg by 17 points after Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Double points will be awarded for the first time at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 23 that could hand the title to either of the two contenders. The points are normally awarded 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. In Abu Dhabi this will be 50-36-30-24-20-16-12-8-4-2. Hamilton currently has 334 points, Rosberg 317.
Hamilton will be champion if he finishes:
First or second.
Third, fourth or fifth and Rosberg fails to win.
Sixth with Rosberg out of the top two.
Seventh or eighth with Rosberg not in the top three.
Ninth and Rosberg is not in the top four.
Tenth (or lower) and Rosberg is no higher than sixth.
Rosberg will be champion if:
He wins and Hamilton is not second.
He finishes second and Hamilton is not in the top five.
He is third and Hamilton is out of the top six.
He is fourth and Hamilton is no higher than ninth
He is fifth and Hamilton is no higher than 10th.
Rosberg cannot win if he finishes sixth or lower.
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