Latest F1 news in brief

Alonso is in Dubai, Red Bull is doing a demo in Dubai – rest assured Bernie has cut the feet out from under the Dubai IndyCar race

Ericsson 'terminates' Caterham contract
Grosjean jumps the gun on new Lotus deal
Vettel admits contemplating F1 exit
Alonso in Dubai, not Woking as wait continues
McLaren-Honda to run for the first time
Vettel, Ricciardo set for F1 demo in Dubai
Schumacher's website is relaunched
Threat Of Alcohol Ban Grows For Cash-Strapped Formula One Teams

Ericsson 'terminates' Caterham contract
(GMM) Even if Caterham makes the Abu Dhabi grid, regular driver Marcus Ericsson will not be at the wheel of a green car.

Still raising money via the controversial crowdfunding scheme, Caterham's administrators are confident the team will end its two-race absence next weekend as the 2014 season concludes.

"I do believe we will be in Abu Dhabi," administrator and interim team boss Finbarr O'Connell is quoted by the Daily Mail.

He said that in addition to the donating fans, "one individual and one group of investors have made contact about helping in the long term".

Also with an offer has been the grandfather of British female driver Alice Powell, who wants to pay Caterham $55,000 in exchange for a Friday practice drive.

Finbarr, however, played down her chances.

"We have had five people show real interest in driving," he said. "Whichever two are picked will be involved in each practice session."

The Daily Mail said new GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer, the son of former F1 driver, broadcaster and circuit owner Jonathan, is one of the leading candidates.

What is for sure is that Swedish rookie Ericsson, who has raced for Caterham throughout 2014, will not be in action for the embattled Leafield based team in Abu Dhabi.

Having signed up with Sauber for 2015, the heavily-backed 24-year-old announced that he "decided to terminate" his contract with immediate effect.

"This is a sad day," said Ericsson, "as we have greatly enjoyed working with the team through a difficult and tough season."

Before leaving Brazil last weekend, he hinted that he was in the process of breaking up with Caterham.

"We haven't got much information," he told Britain's Sky. "We haven't heard anything — we don't know what's going on. So for me and my people, there are a lot of question marks."

Grosjean jumps the gun on new Lotus deal
(GMM) Romain Grosjean has followed Sebastian Vettel's lead in jumping the gun on his 2015 plans.

This week, it has already emerged that although Vettel's switch from Red Bull to Ferrari is not yet official, the German told Italian broadcaster Sky in a television feature in Brazil that he is "a driver for Scuderia Ferrari".

The Italian team, however, is not yet ready to announce either Vettel's arrival, or even the departure of the apparently McLaren-bound Fernando Alonso.

"Neither I or anyone else (at Ferrari) have talked about it," new Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne was quoted this week by Italy's Corriere dello Sport.

"I haven't said that Alonso is going," he insisted.

Another open secret in F1 circles is that, despite his earlier candidature to join McLaren-Honda next year, Frenchman Grosjean is now set to stay at Lotus.

In fact, he announced via Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday that he is "proud to announce that I'll be racing with Lotus in 2015".

The announcement accompanied a graphic captioned with 'Together in 2015', but the social media postings were quickly deleted and a Lotus spokesperson said a "miscommunication" had occurred.

Interestingly, Grosjean's new deal could even be related to fellow Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne's chances of staying with the second Red Bull team Toro Rosso in 2015.

Grosjean is strongly backed by the French oil company Total, but with Lotus' new engine deal Mercedes comes Petronas-supplied lubricants and oils.

According to Speed Week, Total could be heading to Toro Rosso, whose own oil backer Cepsa looks set to leave F1 altogether in order to sponsor the top Spanish football team Real Madrid.

Speed Week reports that Cepsa, a Spanish company, decided to leave Toro Rosso due to disappointing results and the decision to sign the unprecedentedly-young and inexperienced rookie Max Verstappen over the better-prepared Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr.

In other F1 sponsor news, a European Union-backed public health group has written to Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone demanding that alcohol sponsorship be banned.

"A ban is only a step away," wrote Times correspondent Kevin Eason, claiming lucrative deals enjoyed by Force India, Williams and McLaren are now at risk.

Eurocare secretary-general Mariann Skar confirmed: "Allowing alcohol sponsorship in formula one seems to contradict many official guidelines for the marketing of alcohol and runs against the EU directive, which states that marketing for the consumption of alcohol should not be linked to driving."

Sebastian Vettel had thoughts about quitting F1 this season

Vettel admits contemplating F1 exit
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he weighed up switching to another team versus quitting formula one altogether ahead of the 2015 season.

It is an open secret that the quadruple world champion, having already confirmed his departure from Red Bull, is switching to Ferrari next year.

But while the man he is replacing – Fernando Alonso – continues his contractual impasse with Maranello, German Vettel is still unable to say anything.

"I am hoping to announce what is happening soon," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "but right now we have to be patient."

Still, Vettel is now giving hints away that his next overalls will definitely be red.

"I am aware that a big task is lying before me," said 27-year-old Vettel, "especially at a time when Mercedes has a huge competitive advantage."

He said staying at Red Bull would have been the "easiest decision" to make.

"Doing something else is a step into the unknown," said Vettel, "and therefore a risk. But I thought about it a lot.

"If I was not convinced that I am able to be successful there, I would not be doing it. So this is not a decision against Red Bull, but to do something new."

It does sound as though Vettel, beaten this year by Red Bull's new signing Daniel Ricciardo, needed a new challenge.

He admits he even thought about quitting the sport altogether following the controversial move from V8 to turbo V6 power.

"Naturally you think about everything," said Vettel. "Suddenly you have two (engine) cylinders less and the team doesn't restart your car but reboots it like a computer."

He said the process of harvesting energy from the brakes has been a particular struggle as it "just does not feel like a normal car to me".

"You do find yourself wondering 'What has this got to do with racing?'

"But what is the alternative?" Vettel continued. "Yes the cars have become slower, but they are still the fastest you can race."

Alonso in Dubai, not Woking as wait continues
(GMM) Yet another week is threatening to pass with Fernando Alonso's future still unclear.

Most insiders are utterly convinced that the Spaniard is heading to McLaren-Honda, amid reports the 33-year-old is even scheduled to visit Woking this week to sign what is expected to be the most lucrative deal in F1 history.

But Alonso has posted photos to his Facebook and Twitter accounts of what is obviously a post-Brazil break in Dubai, some 7,000 kilometers from the UK.

"Sunny in Woking today!" one of his Facebook followers commented cheekily.

At the same time, Ferrari is also continuing the apparent contractual impasse with its number 1 driver.

New president Sergio Marchionne, pressed by the media about Alonso this week, is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I do not talk about the drivers, that is the task of the team management."

The uncertainty is also prolonging the wait for Jenson Button, who could be the existing McLaren driver who is pushed aside for Alonso and out of F1 altogether.

"Hopefully soon I'll be able to give you more info about my future," the Briton said this week on Twitter, adding the hashtag 'ExcitingTimes'.

If his 15-year F1 career does end, it is believed 34-year-old Button will either become a full-time triathlete or switch to Le Mans prototype sports cars.

Speed Week linked him with the 2015 Le Mans competitors Porsche, Toyota, Audi or Nissan.

Mark Webber, who made the switch from F1 to Porsche this year, 'tweeted' to Button: "Matey, just sign that sports car contract and get on with it.

"Be mega to have you with/against us next year," the Australian added.

Can Honda compete with the Superior Mercedes power unit?

McLaren-Honda to run for the first time
(GMM) McLaren is taking the 90 minute trip from its Woking headquarters on Friday to Silverstone, where the new works Honda era will begin.

A source at the British team told us this week that a decision about whether to take an interim 2014 car fitted with the Japanese carmaker's all-new turbo V6 engine to Abu Dhabi has "not yet" been taken.

The source was speaking after team boss Eric Boullier told a Spanish newspaper in Brazil: "We will take the decision in ten days but it (the debut) could be in Abu Dhabi.

"If we are not ready then we go to plan B or C," the Frenchman added.

Boullier was referring to the post-race Abu Dhabi test, set to take place in the days immediately after next weekend's season finale, where it was expected the 'MP4-29H' would get its proper track debut.

It appears that 'plan A' is indeed on track, with McLaren announcing on Thursday that it is "getting set for Silverstone tomorrow for a filming day".

"We'll be parading the interim Honda-engined MP4-29/1X1 and 2 classic McLaren-Hondas," the team added on Twitter.

A number of filming days per team are exempt from F1's testing ban, so long as the cars are running only uncompetitive promotional tires.

It is likely that Friday's debut for the MP4-29H will be treated as a systems check for Abu Dhabi.

McLaren said testers Oliver Turvey and Stoffel Vandoorne will be doing the driving.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said spectators and photographers will not be allowed to attend.

Vettel, Ricciardo set for F1 demo in Dubai
Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo will conduct a Formula 1 demonstration in Dubai next week, in the build up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Taking place on November 19 and opening the Dubai Motor Festival, the event will see the pair showcase the double title-winning RB7, and Infiniti's Q50 Eau Rouge.

The aerodrome's sizeable runway and apron area will be set aside from 4.30pm local time for a sequence of straight line runs and donuts.

Schumacher's website is relaunched
Michael Schumacher's official website is to be relaunched today, 20 years after the German claimed his first of seven Formula 1 titles.

Schumacher, 45, is continuing his rehabilitation at home after suffering severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps last December.

On Wednesday, Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, revealed that his website will be reactivated to mark the achievement, with the hope that it will provide a "home" for fans worldwide.

Schumacher beat Damon Hill to the 1994 Formula 1 crown by one point after the pair collided at the final round of the season in Adelaide, Australia.

"November 13, 1994, is a special day in the sporting life of Michael Schumacher – 20 years ago he was the first German to ever win the Formula One World Championship title, his first of seven titles," read a statement issued by Kehm.

"To mark the 20th anniversary of his first World Champion title we will reactivate Michael's homepage. We hope to thus give the many fans from all over the world, whose sympathy is still unbroken after his accident, a home.

"The newly designed homepage features many pictures and stories of Michael's unparalleled career, all races, data and facts. There is also a fan-area where fans can send their Twitter-messages to."

Schumacher's website – www.michael-schumacher.de – is now active.

Threat Of Alcohol Ban Grows For Cash-Strapped Formula One Teams
F1 was told to ditch tens of millions of pounds of sponsorship from drinks firms "as the sport moves closer to a ban," according to Kevin Eason of the London Times.

A key group underwritten by the European Union and representing 57 public health organizations from 25 European countries "has demanded the sport rip up sponsorship deals involving some of the biggest names in the drinks industry."

Letters have gone out to FIA President Jean Todt and F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management company "with warnings that sponsor deals in sport with drinks companies contravene European Union rules and should face an immediate ban."

Only two months ago, Diageo, the world's biggest whisky producer, "signed an agreement with Ecclestone." Although this is a letter from a pressure group, the organization, which calls itself Eurocare, "is underwritten by the European Union and next week holds a conference in Brussels in the heart of government" London Times

It "has been a bumper year for alcohol advertising in Formula One, with the return of Martini to Williams" in a deal worth around $15.8M, and the announcement of Johnnie Walker as the official whisky supplier of the championship. McLaren "also have Johnnie Walker" on the side of its car, which is thought to bring $24M a year. Smirnoff "signed an agreement with Force India in May."