The legions of motorsport fans around the world emitted a collective ‘eh?!’ this afternoon after HRT announced that they had signed Spanish veteran Pedro de la Rosa on a two-year deal.

Both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are hoping to end the season on a high for Mercedes in Brazil next weekend. Although neither driver mentions their position in the drivers’ championship, both would like to finish the season as the top driver within their team. Currently, Rosberg is seven points ahead of his team-mate.

Sauber head to Brazil next weekend still harbouring ambitions of overtaking Force India in the constructors’ championship and securing a valuable sixth place in the standings.

The Anglo-Asian team based in Hingham, Norfolk ,will bid farewell to their iconic name next weekend as the 2011 Formula 1 season heads to the final round Brazil. Team Lotus will become Caterham over the winter break, as their two-year adoption of the famous Lotus brand becomes to end at Interlagos.

Jean-Eric Vergne was fastest on Day 3 of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi to complete a clean-sweep of dominant performances for Red Bull this week.

Jean-Eric Vergne was fastest once again for Red Bull on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Kevin Ceccon and Stefano Coletti, both driving for Toro Rosso, were eighth and eleventh on the timesheets on the third and final day of the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test

Mirko Bortolotti, driving for Williams, was the seventh fastest driver on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Max Chilton, driving for Force India, was the fifth fastest driver on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Esteban Gutiérrez was sixth fastest for Sauber on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Nathanael Berthon was twelfth fastest for HRT on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Alexander Rossi, driving for Team Lotus, was the ninth fastest driver on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Robert Wickens and Charles Pic, both driving for Virgin Racing, were thirteenth and fourteenth fastest on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Jan Charouz was tenth fastest for Renault on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Jules Bianchi was third fastest for Ferrari on the third and final day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Investigations by Pirelli have ruled out tyre failure as a cause for the puncture that ended Sebastian Vettel’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.