F1: ten talking points from the Brazilian GP

McLaren’s dreadful season continued with another poor showing in the penultimate race of the year, although 14^th and 15^th place finishes ensured that the team got both cars to the end for only the seventh time in 2015.

Such an achievement (if you can call it that) looked unlikely at one stage, as Alonso was forced to park his car without setting a time in the first part of qualifying on Saturday.

The Spaniard still managed to entertain the fans though, settling down to watch the rest of the session in a camping chair whilst soaking up the sun in a grassy section of the circuit.

It became story of the afternoon as the excellent #PlacesAlonsoWouldRatherBe began trending on social media, and there were further laughs to be had later on as Alonso and teammate Jenson Button made a rare appearance on the podium as the pair snuck onto the top step for a cheeky photo.

Good work, gentlemen.

The Brazilian Grand Prix - usually a joyous and celebratory event - was overshadowed this weekend by the horrific news of the atrocities in Paris on Friday night.

At the time of writing, 132 people are known to have lost their lives in the attacks on the French capital, with hundreds more seriously injured.

Landmarks around the world were lit up in the colours of France’s Tricolore as a mark of unity and respect, and Formula One followed suit with tributes paid in the build-up to Sunday’s race at Interlagos.

Eventual race-winner Nico Rosberg summarised the mood after claiming the chequered flag: “I want to remember at this moment also that we have to put our sport in a different perspective after the incident in Paris. My thoughts are very much still with the family and friends of the people involved.”

Hear, hear.

Rosberg led from start to finish for the second year in a row at Interlagos, as the German secured second place in the championship with just the season finale left to race in a fortnight’s time.

The Merc driver’s job was half done in qualifying as he took pole by less than a tenth of a second from teammate Lewis Hamilton, with the Brit finding it “impossible” to pass during the 71 laps in Sao Paolo.

“I'm so happy with that one - especially at this great circuit with all this history, which makes it extra fun,” said Nico. “It was a perfect weekend for me. I was able to control the race the whole time and won with a comfortable margin to Lewis in the end.

“I look forward now to Abu Dhabi where I'll be pushing to end the season on a high. I want to be first, so I need to raise my game as this year it wasn't high enough.”

Ferrari’s challenge for the race win never materialised, although the Italian team were at least the only outfit out on track that wasn’t lapped by the dominant Mercs at Interlagos.

Sebastian Vettel’s switch to the faster soft compound tyre on lap 32 couldn’t prevent him finishing 14 seconds adrift in third, while Kimi Raikkonen was a further 30 seconds back in fourth on a two-stop strategy.

“It was quite a boring race for me, in the end,” said the Finn, largely echoing the sentiments of everyone who watched the grand prix in its entirety. “I struggled a bit with the tyres in the race so, in many ways, it could have been a lot better.”

There were some silver linings for Ferrari though. Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene reckoned they were “closer” to their main rivals now than they were at the start of the year, while Raikkonen concluded: “At least we finished the race this time.”

In a race short on entertainment, there was one highlight in the form of Max Verstappen as the teenager once again displayed why he is so highly rated in Formula One.

The Toro Rosso rookie made a spectacular pass on Sergio Perez on lap 32, overtaking the Force India driver on the outside of the ‘Senna S’ with barely any margin for error between the two racers.

“It was very tricky but, in the end, we managed to pull it off,” said the Dutchman. “It was all very close and I think I even touched with Checo a little bit. But we didn't have any damage so we gave each other just enough room and I think it was fair racing.”

Speculation about Verstappen’s prospects have grown in recent days, with Ferrari rumoured to be monitoring his suitability as a potential replacement for Kimi Raikkonen in 2017.

Christian Horner meanwhile has warned other teams against poaching talent from Red Bull, with the youngster thought to be under contract for another two years.

Then again, Renault had a contract with Red Bull and look how that’s turning out...

Rob Smedley has said that Williams will appeal against the FIA’s decision to exclude Felipe Massa from his home grand prix after one of his tyres was found to be 27 degrees above the temperature limit prior to the race.

A random selection of cars are tested in the build-up to the formation lap to ensure that everyone is complying with the regulations, although Williams deny the allegation that Massa’s right-rear had exceeded the permitted figure.

"For us it's quite critical that we understand where his problem is,” said Smedley after the decision was confirmed. “We have three independent temperature measures and none of them give anything like the measure the FIA took on the grid."

The Brazilian driver had finished eighth after a “frustrating” race, but his exclusion promoted Romain Grosjean and Max Verstappen, with Pastor Maldonado awarded the final point.

The backmarkers are putting new personnel in place for 2016, after news broke at the Mexican Grand Prix that current figureheads Graeme Lowdon and John Booth had tendered their resignations.

Alex Wurz – an ex-F1 driver and two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – is thought to be the main contender for the team principal role having retired from racing just last week.

"I was approached,” said the 41-year-old at the weekend. “I would have preferred it not be out in public but I can't deny it."

Meanwhile Dave Ryan – who was McLaren’s sporting director in 2009 – has been hired as racing director for the sport’s minnows in 2016.

The 61-year-old said: "I'm very excited to be joining the Manor Marussia F1 Team at a pivotal time in their development.

"There is clearly a big challenge ahead and a lot of work to do, but I can't wait to meet the wider team and get down to business."

Despite Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado finishing in the top ten, Nico Hulkenberg’s sixth place extended Force India’s lead over to Lotus to 44 points with only 43 left to play for in Abu Dhabi.

In reality the position was secured some weeks ago, although only with one race remaining has it become a mathematic certainty that Lotus will finish no higher than sixth.

“It’s the best result in our history and shows the progress we have made over the years,” said Hulkenberg, whose teammate Sergio Perez finished way down in 12^th.

“This fifth place is a result of all the hard work from everybody in the team and we should feel very proud of what we have achieved together,” he added.

The Venezuelan has hit something of a purple patch lately having finished four of the previous five races in the points, although he had a bit of a moment on lap 35 after contact with Marcus Ericsson in Turn 1.

Pastor was given a five second penalty at his next pit-stop following an investigation by the stewards, although ultimately it made no difference to his race as he was promoted to tenth via Felipe Massa’s removal.

Lotus’ Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane said: “I've just had a chat with Charlie about it because I can't see that he's wholly or predominantly to blame. I thought it was a racing incident but then I'm probably a bit biased.”

Sauber driver Ericsson was less forgiving, claiming that Maldonado’s move came “too late” into the corner. “He hit the back of my car, spun me around and we had to pit to check for damage,” continued the Swede. “I lost around 30 to 40 seconds and, obviously, the race was then compromised.”

F1’s governing body has invited engine manufacturers to come forward with plans for a cheaper, non-hybrid customer engine as bosses attempt to limit the power Mercedes and Ferrari currently hold within the sport.

In a statement, the FIA said it was seeking “an exclusive alternative engine manufacturer” to enter the sport as early as 2017, with only “expressions of interest” required at this stage.

Bernie Ecclestone believes the sport has taken a wrong turn by embracing hybrid technology, and the introduction of a third party engine would undermine the progress made by this season’s frontrunners.

It would also make F1 a two-tier sport, an idea which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says “does my head in.”

“I think many of us and many of you share the opinion that the 'balance of performance' engine doesn't work in Formula 1,” said the Austrian “It doesn't even work in any other category.”

Expect this saga to run for a while...