Two touted contenders for victory in Sunday’s Turkish grand prix had a troubled afternoon practice session at Istanbul Park.

Frustrated Barcelona/Monaco winner and joint championship leader Mark Webber, although second fastest behind Jenson Button, suffered what is suspected to be a failed engine failure.

After skilfully reversing his Red Bull through a gap in the fence, the Australian then amusingly lost his temper with Turkish marshals who could not decipher his desire for a fire extinguisher to be used to chock the wheel.

2006-2008 Istanbul winner Felipe Massa, meanwhile, had the canvas showing on a set of his soft Bridgestone tyres after spinning sideways in the challenging Turn 8.

(GMM)

Adrian Sutil had a big crash at the end of Friday’s opening practice session in Turkey.

The German driver went off the track at high speed on the exit of the Istanbul Park layout’s famous four-apex Turn 8 corner, incurring heavy damage to the Force India car.

“He said he had understeer and went off into the marbles, which then put him into the barriers,” the team said on its Twitter page once Sutil had returned to the garage.

It was otherwise a fairly quiet session under warm and blue skies and near-empty grandstands, amid rumours there is a chance of light rain for Sunday.

Bruno Senna had to sit out the initial 90 minutes of practice in deference to Friday test driver Sakon Yamamoto, who ended the session slowest of all.

Also making its 2010 debut was Red Bull’s first F-duct solution, fitted only to Sebastian Vettel’s car in order to provide a back-to-back comparison with Mark Webber’s RB6.

Vettel ended the session fifth, two tenths faster than Barcelona/Monaco winner Webber.

Lewis Hamilton topped the times in his McLaren, but he might now be reprimanded by the stewards for wearing newly-pierced earrings under his helmet.

The wearing of jewellery is prohibited according to article 2.2.1 appendix L of the sporting regulations.

Practice 1.1 -  Istanbul Park

.1º  	2  	 	Lewis Hamilton  	McLaren  	00:01'28''653
.2º 	1 		Jenson Button 		McLaren 	00:01'29''615 	00:00'00''962
.3º 	3 		Michael Schumacher 	MercedesGP 	00:01'29''750 	00:00'01''097
.4º 	4 		Nico Rosberg 		MercedesGP 	00:01'29''855 	00:00'01''202
.5º 	5 		Sebastian Vettel 	Red Bull 	00:01'29''867 	00:00'01''214
.6º 	11 		Robert Kubica 		Renault 	00:01'30''061 	00:00'01''408
.7º 	12 		Vitaly Petrov 		Renault 	00:01'30''065 	00:00'01''412
.8º 	6 		Mark Webber 		Red Bull 	00:01'30''097 	00:00'01''444
.9º 	8 		Fernando Alonso 	Ferrari 	00:01'30''294 	00:00'01''641
.10º 	14 		Adrian Sutil 		Force India 	00:01'30''501 	00:00'01''848
.11º 	23 		Kamui Kobayashi 	Sauber 	        00:01'30''615 	00:00'01''962
.12º 	15 		Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Force India 	00:01'30''853 	00:00'02''200
.13º 	7 		Felipe Massa 		Ferrari 	00:01'30''867 	00:00'02''214
.14º 	16 		Sebastian Buemi 	Toro Rosso 	00:01'31''011 	00:00'02''358
.15º 	22 		Pedro de la Rosa 	Sauber 	        00:01'31''238 	00:00'02''585
.16º 	10 		Nico Hulkenberg 	Williams 	00:01'31''355 	00:00'02''702
.17º 	9 		Rubens Barrichello 	Williams 	00:01'31''464 	00:00'02''811
.18º 	17 		Jaime Alguersuari 	Toro Rosso 	00:01'31''735 	00:00'03''082
.19º 	19 		Heikki Kovalainen 	Lotus Racing 	00:01'32''161 	00:00'03''508
.20º 	18 		Jarno Trulli 		Lotus Racing 	00:01'32''990 	00:00'04''337
.21º 	20 		Karun Chandhok 		HRT 	        00:01'34''876 	00:00'06''223
.22º 	25 		Lucas di Grassi 	Virgin Racing 	00:01'35''137 	00:00'06''484
.23º 	24 		Timo Glock 		Virgin Racing 	00:01'35''583 	00:00'06''930
.24º 	21 		Sakon Yamamoto 		HRT 	        00:01'36''137

(GMM)

Rumours persist that this weekend’s grand prix will be the last in Turkey.

Since the Istanbul Park venue hosted its first race in 2005, the layout – featuring the now famous Turn 8 – has received widespread praise.

But spectator numbers have been conspicuously low.  “It’s an enormous market in Turkey.  Eventually they will get themselves sorted out,” F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said earlier this year.

But the German newspaper Die Welt now reports that the track, managed by Ecclestone, is too far from the city and on the wrong side of the Bosphorus strait, causing long and frustrating rides from hotels through thick traffic.

“The rumours are getting louder that the fastest circus in the world will no longer make the journey to Istanbul,” read the report.

(GMM)

Reigning world champion Jenson Button has split with his girlfriend Jessica Michibata.

British daily tabloid The Sun said the 30-year-old decided to call time on their 18-month relationship shortly after the recent Monaco grand prix.

Japanese fashion model Michibata, 25, lives in Tokyo, and a friend of Monaco-domiciled Button is quoted as saying the “logistics” of the relationship “took their toll”.

“Just over a week ago Jenson reluctantly decided that his racing must be his main priority,” the source added.

A spokesman for Button confirmed: “Jenson is single again.  He and Jessica have gone their separate ways.”

Red Bull Racing has played down suggestions Kimi Raikkonen was a serious contender for a seat in 2011.

As the team edges closer to re-signing Mark Webber for next year, boss Christian Horner was asked if there was any truth to recent reports linking Raikkonen with the Australian’s seat.

“No.  Kimi has committed himself to rallying and he seems to be enjoying that environment,” he is quoted by The Guardian.

Finn Raikkonen, 30, left Ferrari and formula one at the end of last year to drive a Red Bull-sponsored Citroen in the world rally championship.

The 2007 world champion took in the recent Monaco grand prix from his yacht ‘Iceman’ and attended several parties, but never once stepped into the F1 paddock.

The Telegraph quoted Horner as saying Webber, 33, is close to signing a new deal for 2011.

“We’re just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s now,” he said.  “I would expect something will be announced within the next couple of weeks.”

Meanwhile, Felipe Massa sounded happy with the news that Ferrari is likely to retain him for next year.

“Let’s wait a bit to see what happens, but definitely I would like to stay here,” said the Brazilian.

Renault’s Robert Kubica admitted it is possible he will leave the Enstone team after just one year.

“There will be a time to think about whether I should stay or leave Renault,” said the Pole.

A development of Ferrari’s rear double-diffuser was spotted in the Istanbul pitlane.

The F10 was wheeled out of the garage so that international photographers could see the engine cover logo celebrating the team’s 800th grand prix this weekend.

But a reporter for Spain’s AS newspaper also spotted an upgraded diffuser with enlarged elements “not seen at other races”.

“We know that in Barcelona we had a disadvantage in the total downforce generated by the car and have worked on this issue,” Fernando Alonso is quoted as saying.

But the Spanish driver is not expecting Ferrari to catch the dominant Red Bulls this weekend.

“In Barcelona they were almost a second faster than the others, and in the three weeks since it is impossible to have recovered that difference,” he is quoted by El Pais newspaper.

(GMM)

French GP2 team ART could merge with an existing team rather than go it alone in formula one next year.

The outfit headed by FIA president Jean Todt’s son Nicolas has applied to debut in 2011.

But Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo reports that ART is also looking at other options, including merging with the under-financed former BMW-owned outfit Sauber.

The move would make Spanish hopeful Epsilon Euskadi, already with a state of the art headquarters, wind tunnel and proven Le Mans car-making abilities, the favourite to fill the 13th team slot next year.

“I think we have arguments that are difficult to refute,” said Epsilon’s Joan Villadelprat.

On the other hand, El Mundo said Peter Sauber’s ambition for his struggling Hinwil based squad is to “find a strong and stable partner and again retreat into the background”.

Nico Rosberg said he will never again bring his own motor home to Istanbul.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat said the Mercedes driver is the only member of the F1 grid not to be staying in local hotels this weekend.

It means he can avoid the notoriously bad Turkish traffic jams.

But German Rosberg said: “It’s definitely the last time I do it.

“The transporting charges are too high compared to the benefits gained,” he admitted.

(GMM)

Williams’ new test driver made his formula one track debut this week.

In January, the British team signed 20-year-old Finnish F3 driver Valtteri Bottas.

As well as race driver Nico Hulkenberg, he drove the FW32 car on Monday at Silverstone.

“It was a great day for Valtteri,” spokeswoman Claire Williams is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat, “and the team was also pleased.”

(GMM)

HRT is interested in moving into Toyota’s F1 headquarters in Cologne, and is also eyeing the departed Japanese teams’ 2010 car, according to reports.

Spain’s sports newspaper Marca said the Spanish team’s owner Jose Ramon Carabante has already visited the German site on two occasions.

Italiaracing, meanwhile, reports that the Hispania team is also interested in taking over Toyota’s unraced 2010 chassis, the TF110.

The news follows HRT’s confirmation that it has split with its existing chassis maker Dallara.

But the move to buy the Cologne facility would be at odds with HRT’s earlier plans to set up a long-term base in the Spanish region of Murcia, a team sponsor.

The reports could therefore trigger speculation that Carabante is looking to sell the team, even though on Thursday HRT revealed the identity of its new board.

“This shows how (the team) is strongly trying to keep on growing day by day in order to develop to a more strong, lasting and competitive team in formula one,” read a statement.

(GMM)

Michael Schumacher admits he does not believe Fernando Alonso when the Spaniard says he knew overtaking was not allowed at the last corner of the recent Monaco grand prix.

Due to the safety car rules confusion in the wake of the recent controversy, the FIA has vowed to clear up the regulations.

But when asked in Turkey if he still thinks Schumacher should have been demoted out of the points for the pass in Monaco, Alonso said: “Yes.

“Because it’s in the rules.  For me it’s clear.  When the safety car is on the last lap it’s not possible to overtake.”

But former Ferrari driver Schumacher, who now drives for Mercedes, suggested in Istanbul that Alonso might not be telling the truth.

“He almost hit the wall in attempting to defend his position!” the German is quoted as saying by Auto Hebdo.

Robert Kubica in Turkey has admitted concern at the growing number of F-duct solutions within the F1 pitlane.

Renault is still working on the innovation, while the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes and Force India are all trialling the downforce-stalling concept on their cars this weekend.

“Some of our competitors have the F-duct now which will give them better top speed,” the Pole is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“In Barcelona Sauber showed how much you can get out of it when the system is working.

“We don’t have it, so it may be that we will fall behind somewhat,” warned Kubica.

(GMM)

Sebastien Buemi is wearing a bandage on his right elbow in the Istanbul paddock.

“It was my fault,” the Toro Rosso driver is quoted by Speedweek.  “I was jumping over a railing and hit my arm.”

Asked by a reporter if his participation in this weekend’s Turkish grand prix was ever in doubt, the young Swiss answered: “Not for a second!”

(GMM)

Sebastian Vettel on Thursday refused to deny that unspecified damage to his chassis caused him to trail his teammate in Spain and Monaco.

It was those back-to-back races that Mark Webber won commandingly from pole, and after which Red Bull decided to replace the sister RB6 driven by 22-year-old Vettel.

“I think it (the damage) explains a lot and on top of that we found also other things that weren’t in proper shape anymore,” he told reporters in Turkey.

Asked to specify how the damage affected his recent pace, Vettel added: “It’s difficult to say.

“Whereas he (Webber) always seemed to be quite happy, I wasn’t.”

Webber was also asked at Istanbul Park about Vettel’s chassis switch, and how the situation might explain the outcome of the Spain/Monaco double header.

“Obviously I wasn’t driving his car, so it’s difficult to know, to be honest.  We’ll see,” said the Australian.

(GMM)

Christian Klien on Thursday said it has not been decided if he will drive during the opening practice session in Turkey.

Soon after he was appointed as a reserve and Friday driver by the HRT team, Austrian Klien drove in morning practice in Barcelona.

It then emerged that HRT’s other reserve driver, Japanese Sakon Yamamoto, would likely be in action on Friday morning in Turkey.

“All four drivers will be in Turkey,” Klien, 27, said, referring also to race drivers Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna.

“Who gets to drive the Friday practice is a decision entirely left to the team management after weighing all factors,” he explained.

“Track time has become a scarce commodity.  And the test ban hurts a new team even worse than the established ones,” said Klien.

(GMM)