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[scotty]

That's them getting an extra $30 million next year.

Wait, serious? I didn't think one extra place in the CC was worth as much as that. Or is it to do with the fact that they've only just become eligible for it?

MrF was just interviewed and mentioned that finishing 10th 2 years running is worth circa $30 mill (I assume it was dollars as he never mentioned the currency).

Just seen the BBC forum myself... it is indeed dollars. Still crazy though. I thought it was only around £3m per place (if you get me).

[What's Burning?]

That's them getting an extra $30 million next year.

Wait, serious? I didn't think one extra place in the CC was worth as much as that. Or is it to do with the fact that they've only just become eligible for it?

MrF was just interviewed and mentioned that finishing 10th 2 years running is worth circa $30 mill (I assume it was dollars as he never mentioned the currency).

Just seen the BBC forum myself... it is indeed dollars. Still crazy though. I thought it was only around £3m per place (if you get me).

I think I read that the payments are done in arrears, so this year's payment was from last year's results. That's why teams often delay a name change so they can cash in money coming to them. I vaguely recall reading somewhere last year that the top teams get in excess of 150 million, even breaking 200. So I'm not surprised it's still 30 million even down in tenth place.

[f1usa]

Reuters:

Formula One champions Red Bull scoffed at suggestions they manipulated the Brazilian Grand Prix to hand Mark Webber a first victory of the season.

Team boss Christian Horner told reporters he was astonished that double world champion Sebastian Vettel finished the season-ending race, let alone in second place, after Red Bull advised him of a gearbox problem.

The fact Vettel set a number of fastest laps after allowing Webber to go past 30 laps into the 71-lap race aroused suspicions in the media room but Horner said there had been no deception.

"Of course there will always be people that have theories but categorically there was an issue," he said.

"How on earth that gearbox got to the end of the race is beyond me. Thankfully it did and Mark ended up a deserving winner.

"If anybody thinks that was concocted in any way I can absolutely hand on heart guarantee you, based on the blood pressure that was on the pit wall ... it was a genuine issue," added Horner.

Webber had started second on the grid, alongside Vettel who had taken his record 15th pole of the season and was chasing a 12th win of the year.

The Australian's last victory was in Hungary in August 2010 and Red Bull were eager for him to end the year as overall runner-up but his chances looked dim until the gearbox problem surfaced.

Vettel said he made clear to the team on the radio he could not keep the lead with the problem, or even be sure of finishing, and was willing to let Webber through to ensure the team still won the race.

The 24-year-old said he felt like the late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna, who famously won at Interlagos in 1991 with a McLaren whose gearbox failed progressively so that he ended up negotiating tight corners in sixth gear.

At the end of that race Senna had to be lifted from the car suffering from exhaustion and Vettel recognized the comparison was somewhat exaggerated.

"Obviously it was totally different for him, he was Brazilian and he still managed to win the race," he said.

"I was forced to push in areas where I was allowed to, in the corners, but as soon as I went on the straight I obviously had to shift earlier."

Horner said that by the finish the gearbox was operating right on the limit.

"There must be zero oil left in that gearbox because it literally went off the scale in those last five laps," he said. "We were glued to the data to see if it was going to make it to the end."

I would tend to believe the Vettel gearbox problem was a ruse. Webber had to win the race to take third place in WDC standings, 258 to 257.........one point ahead of Alonso.

[bud]

Difference for Senna was he had to man handle his car to victory Seb and could barley lift his winners trophy

[Frontrunner]

yah! Webber wins. Now bring on 2012

[Hammer278]

Look...Vettel winning his first hot wheels race:

[oaba09]

Just watched the replay...Bad luck for lewis, solid drive by jenson....Red bull dominated again(as usual)...Kudos to sutil for finishing 6th...

[vlad]

I watched the race today, nothing special, some mechanical issues that caused some DNF's and position switches, but, sadly, no rain... So, that's it for this year...

[Bubbie]

Good race, nothing special. But one question... Where were the Brazillian Grid Girls? What a rip!

[andrew]

I would tend to believe the Vettel gearbox problem was a ruse. Webber had to win the race to take third place in WDC standings, 258 to 257.........one point ahead of Alonso.

This is the first conspiracy theory of the off season that started in record time.

Look at the facts - the gearbox was nearing the end of its life-cycle, the team kept ordering Vettel to slow down (why would they risk loosing 2nd place?), Vettels rear light was flashing - thins only happens when the car is changed to a wet weather set-up. The wet weather settings provide softer gear changes reducing strain on the gearbox. The conspiracy theory has no credibility at all.

[racechick]

Very suspiciuous Red Bull gearbox problem Id say. It was a new one Andrew. Vettel retired from the last race.

[scotty]

Vettel's problem makes sense on a technical level. Oil leak in gearbox = excess heat = change up at lower revs to reduce generated heat (and therefore wear). The fact that he could still set quick laps is irrelevant considering the nature of his problem, and considering his probable potential pace. I can't believe people are giving this conspiracy value, it's almost as ridiculous as the Glock/Hamilton one that started 3 years ago.

[darwin dali]

That's them getting an extra $30 million next year.

Wait, serious? I didn't think one extra place in the CC was worth as much as that. Or is it to do with the fact that they've only just become eligible for it?

MrF was just interviewed and mentioned that finishing 10th 2 years running is worth circa $30 mill (I assume it was dollars as he never mentioned the currency).

Just seen the BBC forum myself... it is indeed dollars. Still crazy though. I thought it was only around £3m per place (if you get me).

I think I read that the payments are done in arrears, so this year's payment was from last year's results. That's why teams often delay a name change so they can cash in money coming to them. I vaguely recall reading somewhere last year that the top teams get in excess of 150 million, even breaking 200. So I'm not surprised it's still 30 million even down in tenth place.

Here's clarification:

ESPNF1:

Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes said he was almost in tears after taking tenth place in the constructors' championship on Sunday, a result that secures his team a significantly larger sum of F1's prize money.

By virtue of three 13th places to HRT's one, Lotus finished tenth in the title race for the second year in a row despite failing to score any points. The result means the outfit is now classified as a 'Column 1' team under the income distribution tables in the Concorde Agreement and is therefore eligible for a larger share of the sport's revenue.

"It's critical," Fernandes said. "We've gone from earning less than $8 million to $36 million, something in that region."

[Jabberwocky]

I think Webber should be stripped of his win. He did not replace the steering wheel back onto the car at the end of the race

[racechick]

Vettel's problem makes sense on a technical level. Oil leak in gearbox = excess heat = change up at lower revs to reduce generated heat (and therefore wear). The fact that he could still set quick laps is irrelevant considering the nature of his problem, and considering his probable potential pace. I can't believe people are giving this conspiracy value, it's almost as ridiculous as the Glock/Hamilton one that started 3 years ago.

Vettel set the fastest lap.....on lap 68....with a poorly gearbox? Anyway Im really not bothered if Red Bull wanted to give Mark a win. They had everything else sewn up, didnt interfere with the championship and didnt harm anyone else in another team. I dont suppose we'll ever know