McLaren denies pre-jerez run for 2015 car

McLaren has denied reports it will run its Honda-powered 2015 Formula 1 car a few days before its launch and official test debut.

Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo claimed that, following news the MP4-30 will be launched on 29 January, the car will actually clock up some laps beforehand.

“A few days before [the launch], the car will run at Silverstone for a shakedown and to shoot a promotional film,” the report added. “It is hoped the software problems of the post-season test in Abu Dhabi have been solved.”

But a McLaren spokesman told us: “We are not planning to run the MP4-30 before the Jerez test.”

El Mundo also claimed McLaren is likely to enter a second consecutive season without a title sponsor, given that talks with the Spanish mobile operator Movistar are not promising.

Meanwhile, the Swiss newspaper Blick reports that Sauber is likely to launch its 2015 car in a simple pitlane unveiling ceremony ahead of the Jerez test.


*Source-grandprix247.com

Alonso to follow Hulkenberg to Le Mans?

Fernando Alonso could make a sensational debut at the fabled Le Mans 24 hours next year. 

Last week, Porsche announced that it has signed Force India's Hulkenberg to race at Le Mans and Spa six hours.

Italy's Autosprint reports that Alonso, who is close to having his full-time F1 seat with McLaren-Honda finally announced, it could be followed by a shock round of extra news.

"Porsche would not be an alternative to McLaren-Honda for Alonso," agreed Spain's El Mundo Deportivo, "but a complement."
The report said Alonso would join Hulkenberg in the third Porsche entry, along with another unknown driver.

"Despite their friendship," El Mundo Deportivo added, "Fernando would not race in the same car as Mark Webber."

The report said the biggest stumbling block to a Le Mans deal for Alonso is the fact that McLaren is a direct sports car-making rival of Porsche.

Hamilton wins 2014 F1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi

Englishman clinches his second drivers championship in style at the Yas Marina Circuit

Hamilton who started in the second place wasted no time in overtaking Nico Rosberg before the first turn and controlled the race. Due to some car trouble, Nico Rosberg had to finish way down in the 14th place.

"This is the greatest day of my life," the Brit said.

"2008 was a great year in my life. The feeling I have now is way, way past that. The greatest feeling ever."

Rosberg, who started on pole, was left struggling by the failure of his hybrid system. With two laps to go, he was told to retire by his engineers at Mercedes but said: "I would like to go to the end."

Hamilton becomes Mercedes' first champion since Juan Manuel Fangio's back-to-back titles for the manufacturer in 1954 and 1955.

Hamilton is Britain's first multiple world champion in 43 years. Jackie Stewart last achieved the feat in 1971 and would win the title for a third and final time in 1973.

Results:

1	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes
2	Felipe Massa	Williams/Mercedes
3	Valtteri Bottas	Williams/Mercedes
4	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull/Renault
5	Jenson Button	McLaren/Mercedes
6	Nico Hulkenberg	Force India/Mercedes
7	Sergio Perez	Force India/Mercedes
8	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull/Renault
9	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari
10	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari

FINAL DRIVERS' STANDINGS:

Pos	Driver	Points
1	Lewis Hamilton	384
2	Nico Rosberg	317
3	Daniel Ricciardo	238
4	Valtteri Bottas	186
5	Sebastian Vettel	167
6	Fernando Alonso	161
7	Felipe Massa	134
8	Jenson Button	126
9	Nico Hulkenberg	96
10	Sergio Perez	59

Rosberg takes pole at Abu Dhabi GP

It was a Mercedes top 4 in qualifying as Nico Rosberg took the pole in the season ender closely followed by his team mate Lewis Hamilton. 

The other two Mercedes powered Williams cars that of Valteri Bottas and Felipe Massa will occupy the second row of the grid in Abu Dhabi GP.

Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastien Vettel who were P5 and P6 in qualifying were penalized for an illegal front wing on their car and will start from the back of the grid on Sunday.

Here are the full qualifying results:

1. Nico Rosberg  Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 40.480s 
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 40.866s 
3. Valtteri Bottas  Williams-Mercedes 1m 41.025s 
4. Felipe Massa  Williams-Mercedes 1m 41.119s 
5. Daniel Ricciardo  Red Bull-Renault 1m 41.267s 
6. Sebastian Vettel  Red Bull-Renault 1m 41.893s 
7. Daniil Kvyat  Toro Rosso-Renault 1m 41.908s 
8. Jenson Button  McLaren-Mercedes 1m 41.964s 
9. Kimi Raikkonen  Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 42.236s 
10. Fernando Alonso  Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 42.866s 

11. Kevin Magnussen  McLaren-Mercedes 1m 42.198s 
12. Jean-Eric Vergne  Toro Rosso-Renault 1m 42.207s 
13. Sergio Perez  Force India-Mercedes 1m 42.239s 
14. Nico Hulkenberg  Force India-Mercedes 1m 42.384s 
15. Adrian Sutil  Sauber-Ferrari 1m 43.074s 

16. Romain Grosjean  Lotus-Renault 1m 42.768s* 
17. Esteban Gutierrez  Sauber-Ferrari 1m 42.819s 
18. Pastor Maldonado  Lotus-Renault 1m 42.860s 
19. Kamui Kobayashi  Caterham-Renault 1m 44.540s 
20. Will Stevens Britain Caterham-Renault 1m 45.095s