Mateschitz: Vettel will be better in 2011
Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz believes new World Champion Sebastian Vettel will be even stronger when defending his title in 2011.
Vettel clinched the race victory at the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP, winning his maiden Drivers' Championship title by four points ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
And Mateschitz believes Red Bull fans can expect even more from Vettel next season.
"Yes, on condition that we are once again in a position to provide him with a competitive car," the Austrian said in an interview published in Sunday's Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper.
Mateschitz also told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that the plan from the beginning has been to create an era of F1 dominance akin to that of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, who won five of his titles between 2000 and 2004 with Ferrari.
"There is no guarantee but that has been our plan from the outset. And now we will try it," he said. "I have said in the past that he will be the next superstar in Formula One."
The Austrian billionaire said he expected Vettel to spend many years at Red Bull as long as the team delivered.
"He will drive for Red Bull Racing as long as we provide him with a car that can win races. If not, we would let him go even if he had a contract."
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Marko taunts McLaren team boss
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has taunted McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh by telling him to resolve his own team's problems before commenting on those of others.
Marko, right-hand man to owner Dietrich Mateschitz, was naturally in an ebullient mood after witnessing Sebastian Vettel become the youngest World Champion in Formula One history on Sunday.
Marko has made no secret of his favouritism towards Vettel over the course of the season, notably siding with the 23-year-old following his collision with team-mate Mark Webber in Turkey.
So after Vettel's moment of glory in Abu Dhabi, Marko was able to gloat, in particular when asked about Whitmarsh's comments after the Belgian Grand Prix in August when Vettel crashed into Jenson Button.
Whitmarsh remarked that Vettel's driving was more reminiscent of junior formulae than Formula One.
Standing on firm ground on which to strike back, especially given Lewis Hamilton's accidents that followed in Italy and Singapore, Marko said: "Whitmarsh was trying to put a lot of pressure on us.
"But he should look to try and keep Hamilton on the road instead.
"I think it would have been better for his team instead of looking at others and making comments which were not justified."
Marko did not stop at Whitmarsh with his comments as he also claimed Fernando Alonso was fortunate to still be in the hunt for the title come the last race.
The Austrian was referring to the fact Alonso inherited two of his five wins from Vettel, initially in Bahrain when a spark plug issue dropped the young German from first to fourth.
Most significantly there was Korea when Vettel's engine blew nine laps from home, and not forgetting in Germany where Felipe Massa pulled over to allow by Ferrari team-mate Alonso.
"The way we have gone with Red Bull is straightforward," added Marko.
"We won won in a very sporting way, never with any tactics. Both drivers had the same chances.
"Of course, this was a risky strategy because we could have lost the title to Alonso, who was always lucky.
"Whenever we had problems he was the one benefiting, so now we are very happy. These two titles (Red Bull also winning the Constructors') are more than I could have hoped for."
Marko is convinced the team and Vettel will now go from strength to strength, with the aim to repeat the feat next year and further put the noses out of joint of established marques McLaren and Ferrari.
"Sebastian will become more mature, more relaxed, and as for the team, everyone is so committed," said Marko.
"When the boss (Mateschitz) said in 2004 he was going to buy an F1 team, but that we had to win, I knew it would be difficult but possible.
"But to win both Championships in a relatively short period of time means the whole team, the whole approach of everyone was right, and there is a lot of satisfaction.
"Everyone is now focused on repeating this next year, that is what we are going for - but hopefully not in the last race!"
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Newey urges duo to be 'magnanimous'
Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey has urged Sebastian Vettel to be "magnanimous" should he find himself in a position where he can help Mark Webber become Formula One World Champion.
Newey has been the brains behind Red Bull's astonishing rise over the last six years, the team emerging from the wreckage of Jaguar's failure to become Constructors' Champions.
But with one race remaining in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, for Newey the crowning glory to a remarkable year would be to see either Webber or Vettel clinch the Drivers' crown.
Webber stands eight points behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, with Vettel 15 points back, guaranteeing a pulsating end to the season.
One of the major talking points, though, is whether Vettel will aid Webber's cause should he be in a position to do so, and so prevent Alonso from winning his third World Championship.
"We've always said we would leave the drivers to it. It's a Drivers' Championship, and that's how it should be," said Newey.
"We would honestly like to win both (titles) if we possibly could, and if we're in a position where we can win the drivers', that is what we must do now.
"Ultimately, if one of the drivers is out if it, then I hope he would be magnanimous enough to help the other."
Despite the friction that has existed between Webber and Vettel this season, highlighted by fall-outs such as after their crash in Turkey, Newey feels the team have acted fairly with both drivers.
"They have pushed each other hard, which is good, a little bit too hard once or twice, but overall we're very happy," added Newey.
"At the end of the day it is a Drivers' Championship and that means there shouldn't be team orders."
In helping Red Bull clinch the Constructors' title, Newey has now completed a stunning hat-trick after previously designing race and title-winning cars with Williams and McLaren.
From virtually nothing with Red Bull, however, his sentiments after this success were understandable.
"Williams and McLaren had already won Championships as they were well established teams, so this one is certainly very special," said Newey.
"To join Red Bull and develop the car from what was Jaguar, from a mid-field runner to where we are now, is fantastic.
"In a way I've had to pinch myself because when I joined we had aspirations, but having those and achieving it are two different things.
"I still can't quite believe it, and to get both would be amazing. We can but hope, but what can you do.
"The car has proved itself to be capable of it, but we've had some bad luck here and there."
2010 365 Media Group Ltd All Rights Reserved
Renault sign Bulls & Lotus engine deals
Renault has announced a double coup by agreeing engine supply deals with Red Bull and Lotus Racing.
Both contracts cover next season and 2012, and means Renault joins Mercedes, Ferrari and Cosworth in supporting three teams on the grid.
The extension of the arrangement with Red Bull will now run to six years as the team and manufacturer initially joined forces in 2007.
As for Lotus, they were able to break free of a three-year tie-up with Cosworth earlier this season, with Friday's confirmation of a Renault partnership unsurprising in Formula One circles.
Bernard Rey, president of Renault Sport, said: "Renault is delighted to announce an expanded agreement with Red Bull and the arrival of a new customer.
"These new agreements mean Renault engines will power three teams next year - in simple terms, 25% of the cars on the grid.
"We remain firm believers in the benefits of our successful involvement in F1. It positions Renault as a technological leader, and boosts awareness of the brand across the globe."
In recognition of the new deal with Red Bull, Renault branding will feature more strongly on the cars and drivers' helmets, starting with this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.
Team principal Christian Horner said: "We have always enjoyed a very straightforward relationship with Renault.
"They have supported us extremely fairly during the past four seasons, contributing to our 13 grand prix victories so far.
"The relationship continues to evolve and we look forward to working with them during our 2011 Formula One World Championship campaign."
Lotus Racing owner Tony Fernandes is naturally hoping working with Renault will guarantee continued growth and ultimately success for his team.
"There has obviously been a great deal of speculation about which engine will be powering our cars from 2011 and now the announcement has been made I think everyone can see just how ambitious we really are," said Fernandes.
"The partnership with Renault will dramatically accelerate our development plans, both on and off track.
"We are realistic, we know what needs to be done to be challenging for ultimate honours in Formula One, and this partnership will play a very important role in helping us push ahead."
2010 365 Media Group Ltd All Rights Reserved
Alonso not thinking of title in Brazil
Championship leader Fernando Alonso says he will do maths only in the final race of the season, as he insists he is not thinking about clinching the title at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Heading into the Interlagos race, the Ferrari driver leads by 11 points from Red Bull's Mark Webber following his win in Korea.
The situation means Alonso is the only driver who could clinch the title in Brazil.
But the Spaniard insists he will not be changing his approach for the race, and says he has his mind set on clinching his third title in Abu Dhabi.
"Naturally, I've got great memories of this track because it was here that I secured my two titles, in 2005 and 2006," he said.
"Every time I go to Sao Paolo it's a special feeling and the atmosphere is really great. I don't want to think about the chances of history repeating itself for a third time: I know it is theoretically possible, but that does not count for me.
"We want to tackle this grand prix in the same way as all the others, concentrating on ourselves with our feet on the ground, trying to do a good job, without making mistakes and with the aim of beating our rivals. I have said it before and I say it again: we will do the maths in Abu Dhabi."
Alonso said the new points system means his gap to Webber is not big enough to relax, but conceded he was glad to be the one chased rather than the one chasing.
"I am back in the lead of the championship for the first time since way back after the Australian Grand Prix," wrote Alonso on Ferrari's website.
"However, we know that with this points system and the gaps as they are, the standings don't really mean that much: it only takes one race - as indeed we saw in Korea – for the situation to turn itself round.
"All the same, It's always better to be in front than behind! Knowing that achieving our objectives is in our hands means we are a fraction calmer, but in no way does it change our approach.
"We will have to try and do our utmost, making the most of all the potential we have at our disposal. The only difference is that it would be enough, so to speak, to stay ahead of our closest rivals, without having to think too much about the maths."
The Ferrari driver also all but ruled out McLaren's Jenson Button from the championship fight, the Briton 42 points behind in the standings.
"In theory, there are still five of us in the running for the title, but clearly Button is in a trickier situation," he said.
"There are not many points between us to be honest and we saw how things ended up three years ago, but the fact is that are no less than four drivers ahead of him and it's hard to imagine none of them scoring points."
2010 AUTOSPORT.COM
Alonso: My best F1 season ever
Fernando Alonso has hailed his season to date with Ferrari as the best of his career.
The revelation comes as a major surprise when you consider Alonso's title-winning exploits with Renault in 2005 and 2006.
But his remarks clearly underline his depth of feeling with Ferrari after joining the Scuderia at the start of the year.
"For me personally it's been a great 2010 Championship driving for a new team," said the 29-year-old Spaniard.
"From day one there has been great integration with Ferrari. I've felt very comfortable.
"It has been the best year of my career so far, a great experience and I'm very happy."
The crowning glory for Alonso would be to become Champion for a third time, but he concedes even if that failed to happen it would not take the gloss off his year.
"In terms of happiness, motivation, driving, the team itself, it's my best season," said Alonso, ahead of Sunday's Korean Grand Prix in which he trails leader Mark Webber by 14 points.
"It would be nice to become Champion this year, but if we cannot do it, I will still have great memories of 2010.
"But with three races remaining we will do our best to arrive to a position in (the final race in) Abu Dhabi still in the fight.
"We've made some good steps forward in the last five to six races, so it should be an exciting last few races, hopefully making the most of every weekend."
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Prac One: Another crash for Hamilton
Sebastian Vettel set the pace at Suzuka, however, it was yet another accident for Lewis Hamilton that dominated headlines.
Just before the halfway point of the session, and with only nine laps to his name, Hamilton crashed his MP4-25 at the second Degner, having bottomed out at the first. The impact caused heavy damage to his car and to McLaren's testing duties for the morning.
With the Brit, who was second quickest at the time of his accident, out of the running, it was left to his title rivals to contest the P1 slot.
That went to Vettel with a 1:32.585 while Mark Webber was second quickest, 0.048s behind his team-mate as Red Bull dominated proceedings, half a second up on their nearest rival.
Robert Kubica was third for Renault ahead of Adrian Sutil and Hamilton. As for the other two title rivals, Jenson Button was 12th, 1.4s off the pace and Fernando Alonso was 13th, 1.5s adrift.
Report: Dark clouds hovered over the Suzuka circuit as Jaime Alguersuari got proceedings underway, leading the field out for their installation laps in the opening practice session for the Japanese GP. But almost half an hour went by before Sakon Yamamoto set the first lap time of the morning, a 1:42.950 for the Hispania driver.
He was soon joined by Kamui Kobayashi, who went quickest of all with a 1:34.271 with Nico Hulkneberg, Sebastien Buemi, Jerome D'Ambrosio and Vitaly Petrov lining up behind him. Hulkenberg, who reports claim could be dropped by Williams after just one season, was the next to lead the way while Kobayashi ran wide at the Degner curves but without any major troubles.
Michael Schumacher, who has won at Suzuka no fewer than six times, took second place with Rubens Barrichello fourth, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Petrov. The order changed yet again as Hamilton, who is running major upgrades this weekend, climbed to the top with a 1:33.643 before losing out to Vettel.
However, that was the end of Hamilton's session as he bottomed out at the first Degner, which caused him to go off the track at the second, hitting the barriers and causing heavy damage to the front left of his MP4-25. That will have a huge impact on McLaren's testing for today because, as mentioned, the team is running several big upgrades.
Back to the action, Adrian Sutil climbed to second place ahead of Hamilton while Robert Kubica went fourth ahead of Mark Webber, Nick Heidfeld, Barrichello and Hulkenberg. Fernando Alonso was down in 16th place before improving to 11th, two places behind Jenson Button. Webber slotted into second place, 0.048s behind Vettel as Red Bull hit the front with the 1-2.
In the final few minutes, Button almost repeated Hamilton's crash but managed to keep his car away from the barriers. Schumacher climbed to eighth place and Vettel ended the session at the top of the timesheets.
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