Full Throttle

Bruno Senna - expected to drive for either the new Campos Meta or Manor GP teams in Formula One next season - drove a two seater F1 car around the new Yas Marina circuit.

The track is 3.45 miles long and has 21 corners. It’s going to be quite tough on brakes as it has four large stopping areas, where the cars come down from almost 200mph to a second gear corner.

That may give an advantage to the KERS cars, Ferrari and McLaren.

The pit exit looks to be a potential problem area. How soon before the drivers complain of poor visibility in the “tunnel” and extra lights are rigged up?

IN OTHER NEWS

Fernando Alonzo spent most of Friday’s two 90-minute practice sessions towards the bottom of the order before vaulting to the top of the times in the dying seconds of second practice to deny Sebastien Buemi and Toro Rosso day-one bragging rights.

Then he let the cat out of the bag; “It is always nice to be on top of the table, but it is a little bit unreal,” he told reporters.

“We have been in the last three or four positions all session and then at the end we dropped some fuel and we put ourselves in a good position.

“But I think something in the middle is I think our target for tomorrow.”

Brazil Friday quotes: Ferrari

Giancarlo Fisichella - 20th: “Eighteenth and twentieth places in FP2 is not a result we can be happy about but, to use a footballing expression, it’s all looking very tight, as it has been in fact for much of the year. On top of that, we are also working a lot for 2010 which makes it even harder to understand precisely where we stand compared to the others. We are really struggling in the second sector, where what counts the most is aerodynamic downforce, an area in which the F60 does not really excel. Tomorrow, it will be vital not to make the slightest mistake to try and get a good qualifying result: here it will only take a tenth or even less to fail to make it past Q1.”

Kimi Raikkonen - 18th: “I’d say this Friday was not too different to others we have experienced this season, especially in recent races. It’s all very close so it will only take a small step forward to climb back up the order, but we are definitely facing a difficult weekend. The tyres suffered with a bit of graining, which made itself felt especially in the second sector, but I believe that, as often happens here, once the track rubbers in, the situation will improve.”

Jenson Button claims Interlagos has given him a certain amount of calm, if not confidence; “I feel a lot more relaxed here compared to Japan and maybe the last few races. It is a very different situation. They have to do me by four points at least - and Sebastian has to beat me by six. That is if I want to win the championship here.

“It is a good situation to be in. This is a circuit I enjoy. I know Rubens is always fast here, but I have had some very good results here in the past as well.”

I bet after seeing a weather forecast of intermittent rain throughout the weekend that confidence is mooted somewhat, especially considering Sebastian Vettel has taken over the mantel once owned by 7-time champ Michael Schumacher as the current Master of the Rain.

The ongoing drama that is A1GP has touched the new Lotus F1 team with rumors swirling the team would merge with A1 Team Malaysia.

The Malaysian Insider on Thursday cited a “source” as revealing that “deep discussions” between Lotus team officials Tony Fernandes and Gascoyne, and A1 team boss Jack Cunningham, took place recently at the Singapore Grand Prix.

In a later report technical director Mike Gascoyne confirms that he met with the A1GP team’s CEO during the recent Singapore Formula One Grand Prix but says the subject of cooperation was not broached.

“I have met (A1 Team Malaysia CEO) Jack Cunningham, but there have been no talks about his team playing a part in Lotus F1,” said Gascoyne.