Two more race cockpits for the 2011 season are locked out, according to reports.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims that Vitantonio Liuzzi is already under contract with Force India for next season, while Kamui Kobayashi is set to stay at Sauber due to the existence of a 2011 deal.

The existence of Japanese rookie Kobayashi’s ongoing contract was also reported recently by Finland’s Turun Sanomat.

It is a different story, however, with the other Sauber seat, currently occupied by Pedro de la Rosa.

The Spanish veteran had an awful weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, crashing into the barriers during qualifying and then losing a points-scoring position with another incident in the race.

In the post-race statement, Peter Sauber did not even mention the 39-year-old.

It is rumoured that former BMW-Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld is a candidate for the 2011 place, and his attractiveness for next year has been boosted by his new Pirelli testing role.

The German was not seen in the Spa paddock at the weekend, and it is believed he has been asked by Pirelli not to speak to the media in the midst of the 2011 tyres’ development.

Pirelli wants to contribute to the “show” as the new tyre supplier, but acknowledges that 2011 will be a learning year.

The quality of F1′s spectacle is often blamed on aerodynamics and braking distances, but on several occasions this year, it is the allocation and performance of Bridgestone’s tyre compounds that have spiced up the action.

Incoming sole supplier Pirelli has already vowed to attempt to contribute to the “show” in the design and supply of its products.

“We will seek to do this, alongside the needs of the teams,” the marque’s racing chief Paul Hembery said in an interview with O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper.

“To produce durable and high performance tyres is not a problem,” explained Hembery.

“The challenge is to find the right compromise between lifespan and durability, with regards to the show.”

Pirelli has already begun its on-track 2011 tyre development programme, with a schedule through to November including Mugello, Paul Ricard, Jerez, Monza and Abu Dhabi.

Said Hembery: “It could be that because we cannot test at all the (grand prix) circuits that we need to be more conservative at some places, so that the tyres can survive but the show doesn’t benefit as everyone would want.

“It must be understood that 2011 is our first year,” he added.

With six and possibly just five races to go in 2010, the psychological games are now well and truly in play by the main players.

After the Belgian GP on Sunday, McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh denounced Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel as a “crash kid” for his “junior formula” crash into Jenson Button.

But fingers were also pointing in the other direction.

“Button braked early, Seb wanted to avoid him and lost it on a bump,” Whitmarsh’s Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Helmut Marko described Button as driving “so slow” at the time of the incident, but the reigning world champion hit back by insisting he “certainly didn’t brake any earlier than usual”.

Marko added: “He (Vettel) could not just sit behind Jenson.  He was so slow that Sebastian was losing one second per lap to Hamilton.”

Horner also said Hamilton was the “luckiest man in Belgium” for managing to drive out of a gravel trap prior to winning the race.

“Sometimes you ride your luck and he’s had a bit of that this year,” said the Briton.

It is also increasingly rumoured that the world championship could be curtailed to just 18 races, with South Korea only now laying the asphalt for the track surface.

Now 41 points behind the championship lead, a five-race run to the season finale would be a blow for Fernando Alonso.

“Our intention is to race in Korea,” he told Spanish reporters on Sunday.  “I have no information to the contrary so we should be there.”

As Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber pulled out a championship lead on Sunday, F1′s attention turned once again towards the spectre of “team orders”.

The pair are now 31 and 28 points respectively ahead of nearest title challenger Sebastian Vettel, causing Webber to suggest that the time may be nearing for Red Bull to back him over his young German teammate.

McLaren figures trotted out the party line about driver equality, with Hamilton insisting that he will not receive “any preferential treatment” over Jenson Button.

“I think it’s too early, but maybe there’s a different strategy compared to McLaren,” said Webber.

“It’s still too early at the moment but not far away, I would say,” added the Australian.

However, when team boss Christian Horner was asked if Vettel is now going to play second fiddle to Webber, he answered: “That would be team orders.  And those are not allowed!”

Vettel told Auto Motor und Sport: “There are still some races to go and we have seen how quickly things change.

“Monza will be hard for us and today we should at least have been on the podium, but everything is still in it.  Head up, we move on.”

Interestingly, the spectre of team orders could actually deliver Red Bull some points if the World Motor Sport Council decides to penalise the Ferrari drivers at its disciplinary hearing.

Vettel finished behind both position-swapping Ferraris at Hockenheim, moving Red Bull’s Helmut Marko to observe on Sunday to Auto Motor und Sport: “On September 8 there could be ten more points for Sebastian.”

Hockenheim winner Fernando Alonso told Spanish reporters on Sunday: “No, I don’t think so, we’re relaxed.”

As well as improving the F10′s pace and fending off the World Council’s wrath next month, another headache for Ferrari could be in the engine department.

The next race, Monza, is among the toughest on engines, and at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, the newly-installed Ferrari engine in Pedro de la Rosa’s Sauber had to be replaced.

With seven races to go, the unscheduled change tipped the Spaniard over his allocation of eight engines for the season, resulting in a grid penalty.

And a cursory look at the allocations of F1′s other cars at Spa shows that while most drivers are now on their fifth new engine, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa have used six.

“I see no reason to worry,” said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Recovered with interest the success of failure of last year. Pedrosa dominates at Indianapolis centering the 3rd win of the season and 34th career MotoGP (11 of them in MotoGP), putting into practice his favorite among race strategies : the escape. Fourth after the first round, three-time World Champion has passed sequentially Hayden, Dovizioso and especially Ben Spies, a leader in the first seven laps later, giving the pole position yesterday. Since that time the road was inevitably downhill, with a wheelbase of reach for anyone not a matter of 2-3 tenths as shown by the evidence, but a “net at will, when necessary, when necessary. Couple as an important victory in sight last part of the championship, which could put it mildly for the championship (68 points are to be recovered), but portends a different for the 2011 Honda is finally following a path (which is one. .) development of the RC212V less dancing than usual, as only tamed Dani Pedrosa was unable to do in recent years.

America is called “runner up”, the second good, and today was definitely Ben Spies on the podium again after Silverstone, but this time after a weekend protagonist with the pole on Saturday and a valuable 2nd place in race . With the Tech 3 Yamaha team with technical updates of nature “motor” from Laguna Seca, a track like Indy, where he finished the 6th even with Suzuki in 2008, the Superbike World Championship in office did not miss the call using favorable opportunity to celebrate the best promotion to the official team for 2011.

A performance that could be a warning bell for Jorge Lorenzo, but the safety, speed and talent of the leader of the world does not pose any concerns, just think that today’s third place was his worst result of the season … down from the podium Valentino Rossi, 4th salvage in a weekend by three falls in four practice sessions (two days), paying duty against Lawrence, but also of Spies. Misano 7 days between the time comes to take stock of the situation to understand what is wrong if only compared to races like the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca.

There is the desire of the nine times world champion to fight for the top positions even in these his last adventure races for Yamaha before moving to Ducati Nicky Hayden in sixth place behind Andrea Dovizioso (15 “by the accused teammate Pedrosa) and Casey Stoner crashed in the early laps when he had his own “heir” with the Desmosedici for 2011.

If the 7th Marco Simoncelli resists attacks with a surprising Alvaro Bautista Suzuki Loris Capirossi has not gone beyond the eleventh place. On the ground Marco Melandri, only 13 riders at the finish line including the returning Hiroshi Aoyama preceded Randy De Puniet, returned in Misano Adriatico in 5 days where there will be time to recover from ailments, even for Dani Pedrosa to celebrate a success without discussions.

Chronicle of Race

Spies has an excellent behind the 2nd pass Dovizioso on Hayden, Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Rossi, Stoner badly as much as 9 °. Nothing changes in the first round, wait overtaking Pedrosa Hayden at the damage curve 10 which is the third position in pursuit of Spies and Dovizioso who have already taken a few meters ahead. Intermediate phase of stroke to “warm up” the tires on the third lap Lorenzo’s passing Hayden, Pedrosa takes second position with the fastest lap in 1’41 “406, Melandri finds himself on the ground in an attempt to Stoner to resist the 7th square bitterly closing its 200th Grand Prix in MotoGP.

Skip a few laps before you see the race enlivened somewhat by passing Stoner Rossi Hayden rejoining except fall near the seventh lap ending in zero from the first race at Le Mans this part. Virtually the same time Pedrosa exploits the wake of Ben Spies and sets the command, following a step-by-race with frightening 1’40 “8 eleventh round, a” better than everyone, including Jorge Lorenzo which bypasses Dovizioso for third place.

He stops in the pits to a technical problem Colin Edwards, his teammate Ben Spies takes the comparison distance with Jorge Lorenzo view and does not seem to have trouble keep the second place: much more complicated the work of Andrea Dovizioso now also approached Valentino Rossi.

Towards the final rush falls Mika Kallio when he was in 9th place near Bautista and Simoncelli, there are more changes with Dani Pedrosa wins by dominating Ben Spies, Jorge Lorenzo was third followed by Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Nicky Hayden and Marco Simoncelli. Appreciable eighth Alvaro Bautista with Suzuki, Loris Capirossi only better than 11 percent.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Indianapolis Race Standings

01 – Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 28 laps in 47’31 .615
02 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 3575 +
03 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 6812 +
04 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 12,633 +
05 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 21,885 +
06 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 35,138 +
07 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 36,740 +
08 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki – Suzuki GSV-R – 36,825 +
09 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 44,905 +
10 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 51,368 +
11 – Loris Capirossi – Rizla Suzuki – Suzuki GSV-R – 55,386 +
12 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda – Honda RC212V – 57,903 +
13 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda – Honda RC212V – 1’04 .139 +

Renault looks set to become a second formula one team to take the F-duct system off its car for the forthcoming Italian grand prix.

Prior to this weekend’s event in Belgium, it emerged that the technology’s pioneers McLaren were considering removing the F-duct for Monza.

On the face of it, the long straights of the Autodromo Nazionale seem perfect for the straightline speed-boosting device.

But in fact, the ultra-low downforce nature of the circuit means a lighter, sleeker and more efficient rear wing and engine cover might prove the better option.

Renault finally brought its F-duct to the R30 for this weekend’s Spa-Francorchamps event, where Robert Kubica was a standout performer.

He said the F-duct worked “very well” throughout the weekend.

But after finishing second on Sunday, he said: “Monza will be quite a tricky race.  It is a completely different downforce level track and I most probably will not have the F-duct there.”

Interestingly, the Pole also said the F-duct will probably not be fitted to the car for the subsequent Singapore street race — perhaps because the layout does not feature enough straights.

“Singapore should be a good one for us,” said Kubica.  “It is good track for us but most probably we won’t have the F-duct there unfortunately.”

Meanwhile, McLaren is not confirming whether its F-duct will definitely be removed from the MP4-25 for Monza.

“I don’t see any merit in us declaring to our competitors what we are going to do before we get there,” said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Martin Whitmarsh was highly critical of Sebastian Vettel after Sunday’s Belgian grand prix.

Vettel, 23, lost control of his Red Bull at Spa-Francorchamps whilst attempting an overtaking move and took out McLaren’s Jenson Button.

Earlier, McLaren team boss Whitmarsh admitted he thought the German “got off lightly” with a drive-through penalty.

“Sebastian is an exceptional and very fast driver,” he is quoted by German media.

“But he makes a habit of colliding with other drivers.  Jenson was in a strong position and it hasn’t only damaged his world championship chances but it’s also bad for our team,” added Whitmarsh.

“A mistake like that is something you usually only see in junior formulas, not in formula one.  He is a likeable guy and we know we didn’t do it on purpose.

“He’s developing.  But when you’re fighting for the title, this sort of thing is not easy.  It affects not only him but also those around him,” said Whitmarsh.

“I’m sure he’ll learn a lot from this but it hasn’t happened only today.”

The comments come at the end of the flexible front wing saga, where Whitmarsh was among the loudest critics of Red Bull’s RB6 car.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner admitted Spa was “not a great weekend” for the team’s young driver but said Button also contributed to the incident.

“I think Jenson took him by surprise with how early he braked for the bus-stop and (Vettel) tried to avoid him,” said the Briton.

Hermann Tilke on Sunday backed reports that Korea will be ready to host its inaugural formula one race in October.

Earlier at Spa-Francorchamps, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone played down the rumours about lagging construction at Yeongam, as photos depicting asphalt finally being laid did the rounds in the paddock.

“Korea will be ready,” F1′s regular track architect Tilke is quoted by Williams’ official website.

“I’ve read some negative stories in the press and I can tell you that we’ll be there on 24 October.  The weather has delayed construction a bit, but we’re on schedule to get everything finished on time,” added the German.

Lewis Hamilton took the lead of the world championship from Mark Webber on Sunday, by beating the Australian to victory at slippery Spa-Francorchamps.

As the fickle Belgian Ardennes continued to produce changeable weather conditions, the mere 20-point gap that had separated the top five title chargers blew out to more than 40.

One big loser on Sunday was Fernando Alonso, initially taken out by Rubens Barrichello at the start of the race before crashing on his own at the end.

Also now a long way behind in the championship – 35 points – is Jenson Button, who was innocently taken out by Sebastian Vettel as the Red Bull charger lost control during an overtaking attempt.

“It’s a massive blow — a massive blow,” Button said on BBC television, shortly before Vettel said “sorry” in his own media scrum.

There is clearly no love lost between the drivers’ management, with McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh admitting he thinks Vettel “got off lightly” with a drive-through penalty.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner naturally adjudged the penalty “a bit too hard”.

“What else can you give him?” said Button.  “It was a racing incident, he didn’t do it on purpose.”

Horner added: “You need to take into account the difficult weather conditions and that Jenson braked early.”

Vettel, scoring no points at Spa and now 31 points behind his teammate, also had to serve extra pitlane time after cutting a tyre on Tonio Liuzzi’s Force India.

“Everything that could go wrong for Sebastian went wrong today,” boss Horner told German Sky television.

In the sister Red Bull, Webber’s second place on Sunday leaves him just 3 points adrift Hamilton and well clear of the next challenger.

He intimated to reporters that the team might now be wise to back him for the last six races of 2010.

“It depends how hungry they are,” he said.

But Horner said: “It’s too early for that.  Sebastian is still in it.  We have seen already how quickly the tide can turn.”

Interviewed today for “Corriere della Sera,” Niki Lauda denied having made the comments published on formula1.com that had woken the Horse Whisperer in its silent lair.

Informed of the clarification, the Whisperer had this to say: “I am very pleased Niki has denied making these statements: it shows that fresh air is really good for you!”

Source: Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton has backtracked after initially refusing to sign a helmet for organisers of Abu Dhabi’s formula one race.

It emerged earlier this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps that every driver on the grid had signed the helmet that will be used for a prize, with only the 2008 world champion demanding to be paid.

But Hamilton, recently listed as F1′s highest earner behind Fernando Alonso, has now vowed to add his autograph, after initially misunderstanding what the helmet would be used for.

“I would never ask for money to sign anything,” he is quoted by News of the World.

“The only thing I ever ask is whether it is for charity.”

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh confirmed: “Lewis has said he will sign it.

“Both Lewis and Jenson do more signature signings than any driver I have ever witnessed and they do it with good grace.  They never ask for money,” he insisted.

Bernie Ecclestone insists he is confident Korea will be ready to host its inaugural formula one race in October.

Envoys from some teams recently visited the Yeongam site, and were dismayed to find that the track asphalt has not yet been laid, while trackside buildings were not even close to being finished.

“What concerned me most was that in the photos I saw, there were very few people working,” Eddie Jordan is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

The track is due to open next weekend, and Red Bull is sending a demonstration car for Karun Chandhok to drive.

“If there is no asphalt, it might be a short demonstration,” smiled team boss Christian Horner.

However, it was rumoured late on Saturday at Spa-Francorchamps that the track surface in Korea is now being laid, and some insiders believe there is time for it to correctly dry and cure.

When asked about the event, F1 chief executive Ecclestone answered ambiguously: “It is still on the calendar.”

Asked if he would bet on the Korean GP taking place on October 24, he added: “Yes, I would.  They will get it done somehow.”

And Ecclestone played down rumours that, to preserve the 19-race nature of the 2010 title chase, another circuit will be drafted in should Korea not be ready.

He said: “Tell me the name of the (replacement) place and who’s paying for it.”

Mercedes is still having problems with the ongoing development of its 2010 car.

Although the German marque’s focus has already switched to the design of a better car for next year, Mercedes recently introduced a blown diffuser that has been troublesome.

At recent races, the hot fumes were burning and distorting the diffuser shape, and improvements were brought to Spa-Francorchamps for this weekend’s event.

“Our developments have worked better here than in past races,” said Michael Schumacher on Saturday to Auto Motor und Sport.

But team boss Ross Brawn is less upbeat.

“We are still having problems with the diffuser with heat.  It’s still not working the way we want it to, which is a little frustrating,” he admitted.

Schumacher’s more buoyant mood, given his very low grid starting place for his favourite Belgian GP, may be explained by the fact that he has written off 2010 and is hopeful about the W01′s successor.

“It is true that the same people who built this car are building the next one, but it is also true that these people made the 2009 car, which won the championship,” said the German.

Teammate Nico Rosberg thinks another factor contributed to the 2010 anomaly for Mercedes GP.

“We mustn’t forget that Mercedes developed this car with about 400 people, while Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren still have 800 or more.

“But over the winter, these teams have to follow suit because of the agreed personnel cap.  So that’s an advantage for us,” Rosberg said in an interview with Frankfurter Rundschau.

Rival teams are pointing fingers at Red Bull not only because the RB6 is quick, according to Dr Helmut Marko.

Team consultant Marko, Austrian team owner Dietrich Mateschitz’s right-hand man, is referring to the fact that powerful F1 rivals have been complaining all season about the alleged illegality of the Adrian Newey-penned car.

“It is not just our success,” he is quoted by Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

“We have at most the third biggest budget in formula one.  We are a private team, not a car manufacturer, and that hurts them even more,” added Marko.

He said he has “lost count” of the number of legality tests carried out by the FIA that the RB6 has always passed.

“It is continually suspected that our cars are not according to the rules,” said Marko.

“If we put in the same amount of energy on watching what the other teams are doing, as some of the others do, then our car would not be as fast.

“This is just part of the psychological warfare.  We can only take it in our stride,” he added.

Marko also revealed that the men who have contributed to the success of the dominant RB6 are constantly courted by rival teams.

“All of our top talent have long-term commitments, but they’ve all had other offers,” he said.

“Adrian (Newey) could earn more money somewhere else, but it is with us that he can really work freely.  Our philosophy suits him best, the spirit in our team is unique and we are all aimed in the same direction.”

Even though the leads should arguably be much bigger, Red Bull is narrowly heading both championship tables at present.

“There are seven races left,” said Marko.  “It will be crucial to have no failures, because our goal is the world title.

“And we want to maintain this same level for the next five years,” he added.