Bosses of the McLaren and Mercedes teams on Saturday signalled the end of F1′s latest flexible bodywork saga.

New FIA tests to ensure the rules compliance of the front wings and floors are taking effect this weekend and at Monza in two weeks, after Red Bull and Ferrari’s cars came under the spotlight.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh told reporters at Spa-Francorchamps that the offending wings are not flexing as much in Belgium.

“I wasn’t that confident that it (the problem) would be nailed but I have to say … the wings were of a different stiffness and positional domain than they had been in previous races,” he is quoted by Reuters.

Mercedes’ Ross Brawn added: “I think all of us can see that what was visible in the last couple of races doesn’t seem to be the case here.

“I don’t know what has happened but it looks visually to me to be different,” said the Briton.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber on Saturday secured pole for the Belgian grand prix, less than one tenth ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton.

Both Red Bull and Ferrari have said they are using identical wing designs this weekend to the ones raced in Hungary before the summer break.

Fernando Alonso on Saturday said he is not worried after qualifying just tenth for the Belgian GP.
“This was the least important qualifying of the year because of the weather. Anything can happen so our goal is still the podium and victory,” the Ferrari driver told Spanish media.

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Timo Glock has lost his impressive 17th on the Belgian GP grid with a five-place penalty for impeding HRT’s Sakon Yamamoto in qualifying.

“Can anyone explain why Timo gets a penalty for holding up Yamamoto but Trulli gets nothing for hitting Lucas (di Grassi) under yellows?!” said the Virgin team on Twitter.

Lotus’ Jarno Trulli was, however, fined EUR 4,400 for pitlane speeding.

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There are few smiles in the Mercedes camp this weekend.

Michael Schumacher’s ten-place grid penalty for his Rubens Barrichello duel in Hungary drops him to 21st, and teammate Nico Rosberg is demoted to 17th due to an unscheduled gearbox change.

Neither W01 was fast enough to make the Q3 cut in Spa-Francorchamps qualifying.

“A few of the new parts we have here did not work,” Rosberg is quoted by the German media. “I am very much hoping for rain tomorrow.”

Nico Hulkenberg is close to agreeing a deal to remain with Williams for his second season in formula one, manager Willi Weber said on Saturday.

Earlier at Spa-Francorchamps, 23-year-old German Hulkenberg said talks about staying with the famous British team are not yet taking place.

“I have a contract with the team, but there are options that need to be redeemed,” he said.

Manager Weber has now told the Cologne publication Express: “Nico is doing so well that Frank Williams wants to extend his contract.

“Maybe (it will happen) even here in Spa, but I will not pre-empt Sir Frank,” he added.

A rain shower slowed the action towards the end of the final 60-minute practice session on Saturday morning, but there was frantic activity inside the Red Bull garage.

With two hours to go before the crucial qualifying hour at Spa-Francorchamps, Sebastian Vettel’s RB6 had groaned to a stop in the pitlane, requiring a push from the marshals into the team mechanics’ custody.

Team boss Christian Horner immediately said he did not know the reason for the stoppage.

Earlier, it had emerged that German Vettel would tackle the rest of the Belgian grand prix weekend with a used Renault engine, while the other leading contenders had new engines fitted.

Before the late rain fell, Vettel’s teammate and world championship leader Mark Webber – who nearly ran into the stricken sister car in the narrow pitlane – had set the fastest lap time.

After dominating on Friday, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was sixth fastest on Saturday morning; slower than both Red Bulls and McLarens.

“We must be humble because we see this morning that the Red Bulls and McLaren are so strong,” Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali told the BBC.

It is believed Karun Chandhok will not return to the Hispania cockpit until at least the end of October.

In Belgium this weekend, the Indian rookie is missing his third consecutive grand prix, with successor Sakon Yamamoto reportedly wielding more lucrative sponsors.

According to the rumour mill at Spa-Francorchamps, Chandhok’s sojourn will definitely be prolonged throughout the forthcoming Monza, Singapore, Suzuka and Korean rounds.

That leaves just Brazil and the Abu Dhabi finale.

The 26-year-old, in Belgium on Friday on radio commentary duties for the BBC, is signed up to demonstrate a Red Bull in Korea’s new Yeongam circuit next Saturday.

“It was a while since I drove an F1 car so I decided why not,” Chandhok said.

And the rumours suggest that, at Suzuka two weeks prior to the inaugural Korean grand prix, Chandhok will once again be on PR duties for the energy drink-owned team.

HRT is refusing to divulge its driver plans for the rest of the season, but Chandhok is confident he might return before the end.

“The reasons (for missing races) seem fairly obvious but at the end of the day, the team has its reasons, financial or circumstantial,” he said.

He thinks he might return to the grid for “two or three races”.

“I think I will do two or three races before the end of the year but honestly, our focus has now shifted to 2011,” said Chandhok.

“Over the summer break, we spent time discussing future options and I’m quite optimistic.  We’re looking in good shape for 2011,” he revealed.

He ruled out a switch to Force India.

“I’m not a part of their future plans and a racing seat is not available there anyway,” said Chandhok.

Mark Webber thinks the rest of the 2010 championship will be played out in two parts.

The championship leader admits that at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, and then in two weeks at Monza, the Red Bull’s Renault V8 might struggle to keep up with more powerful engines.

“I think Monza will be our weakest circuit of the remaining seven,” said the Australian.

“Spa is (also) a big horse power circuit and we are lacking a bit in that department,” Webber acknowledged.

“But if we can come away from the next two races with a good tally of points it would set us up nicely for the remaining five tracks, which we believe play to our strengths,” he added.

Lewis Hamilton agrees that the long straights at Spa and Monza are an opportunity for Red Bull’s rivals.

“We’ve really got to optimise and capitalise on these two races,” said the Briton.

His McLaren teammate Jenson Button agrees: “We know these two races are important for us.

“They will suit us for one reason or another,” said the reigning world champion.  “This is a little window for us.

“Our pace will be a lot closer and we need to make that count before we get back to high downforce tracks,” added Button.

But according to Webber, it is Fernando Alonso – quickest in both Friday sessions in Belgium – with arguably the best shot at the title, despite his 20 point deficit.

“For me it’s maybe Alonso in the best situation,” he is quoted by Swiss newspaper Blick, “because Ferrari are concentrating on him fully.”

The Spaniard disagrees that he is the Italian’s number one, but still rates his chances of winning in 2010.

“There are only 20 points to the leader now.  That’s less than one race,” he is quoted by the Guardian.

“We need to be very consistent, to be on the podium in every race if we can, and for sure to win at least two of the seven,” added Alonso.

Ferrari’s front wing design has not yet been tested by the FIA at Spa-Francorchamps.

On Friday, the governing body – having introduced a more stringent flexibility test for the Belgian event – declared legal the wings on the McLaren as well as Red Bull’s controversial RB6.

But alongside the Red Bull accusations, there have also been suggestions the Ferrari wing has been bending too much towards the ground at recent grands prix.

“On our part we have not changed anything, we have the same parts (wings) as in Hungary,” Fernando Alonso is quoted by the Italian press.

It is understood that the FIA is planning to test the Ferrari wing at some point on Saturday or Sunday.

At the wheel of the F10, Alonso was quickest in both of Friday’s practice sessions.

“It was definitely a positive day because the car seemed to respond well in all track conditions we encountered,” said the Spaniard.

A red car has won this year carried 500 miles by Dario Franchitti, a motorcycle of the same color has commanded the first MotoGP practice session at Indianapolis. This is the Ducati Desmosedici GP10 of Casey Stoner in one of his last appearances with the Borgo Panigale, but legitimizing the best contract offers itself as a leader in the second American trip in the world. Three times under the wall dell’1’41 “best reference final lap in 1’40″ 884 22 laps along well, a lot compared to its usual standards.

Good sign for the 2007 World Champion who has promised a victory before moving to Ducati / Honda to return next season, trying to beat “Ironman” Jorge Lorenzo in second place already paying a little more than 2 / 10 in comparison stopwatch unable dell’1’41 to beat the wall. “ From his second script, is the “race pace” for a few laps approached by Stoner and, early in the session, including Ben Spies, only to fly to the ground in the last minute to turn 13 in one of his fastest laps (it was below 31 milliseconds to T1) losing ground in the standings (8 th after being in the head).

And Valentino Rossi? Only the last staff around the “save” from a position in the standings otherwise problematic fifth, but recovered by 7 / 10, traveling to all 60 minutes of the session with a (minimum) at a disadvantage compared to the leading drivers. In contrast to Stoner, the long pauses and gestures seem to leave the pits not bode well for this first weekend after the announcement of his move to Ducati, also seeing the comparison with other competitive Yamaha, Colin Edwards see a renewed the sixth time.

Despite a fall in assets, hitting back with my left hand aching since Brno, Nicky Hayden feels the air of home wins and the 3rd time on a circuit where he finished on the podium in both 2008 (2 °) than in 2009 (3 °, the first podium with Ducati). Among the top 10 also included Andrea Dovizioso with the seventh time, Aleix Espargaro surprising with the 9th time trial, leaving behind the Honda Gresini pair in the order made by Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli. Alvaro Bautista, 14 °, is the first of the Suzuki riders just ahead of team-mate Loris Capirossi to return back Hiroshi Aoyama and Randy De Puniet still not the best, fully justified the disadvantage of 2 “one from the top.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Indianapolis Free Practice 1 Rank

01 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1’40 .884
02 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0225 +
03 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 0521 +
04 – Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0537 +
05 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0739 +
06 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0780 +
07 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0799 +
08 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0838 +
09 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1108 +
10 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1263 +
11 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1384 +
12 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1484 +
13 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1716 +
14 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki – Suzuki GSV-R – 1812 +
15 – Loris Capirossi – Rizla Suzuki – Suzuki GSV-R – 1906 +
16 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda – Honda RC212V – 1990 +
17 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda – Honda RC212V – 2103 +

Red Bull’s car was declared legal on Friday after undergoing the latest wing and floor flexibility tests at Spa-Francorchamps.

Amid suggestions the front of the RB6 is too low at the front when at speed, the FIA ramped up the wing flexibility test for the Belgian event.

This was carried out on championship leader Mark Webber’s car, as well as the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, after Friday practice.

The FIA confirmed that the cars’ wings and floors “were found to be in conformity” with the regulations.

“Our car has complied with the rules at every race so far and it will comply here,” team boss Christian Horner said earlier.

“We take all the talk about our car as a compliment, it shows the others don’t know what we’re up to,” he told the BBC on Friday.

The next hurdle for Red Bull will be the tougher floor tests and rules to take effect at Monza in two weeks.

Horner added: “Adrian Newey seems pretty relaxed about it.  It will only affect us as much as any of the other teams.”

Mercedes’ Ross Brawn admitted on Friday that some teams, perhaps also Ferrari, have not been happy with the recent insinuations about flexing cars.

“I know some of the teams involved were not very happy with comments I made, or McLaren made, but then I was not happy about comments they made about the double diffuser last year,” he said.

“It is the nature of formula one,” insisted Brawn.

Costery of Bridgestone

Mercedes’ Norbert Haug and Force India on Friday played down reports about movement in the customer engine market for 2011.
Citing unnamed sources, a report in the Bayern newspaper TZ said Red Bull could be powered by Mercedes next year, with Force India switching to Renault.

Force India denied the story, insisting it has a valid contract with Mercedes until the end of 2012.

Also contrary to the report, the Silverstone based team said its payments to Mercedes are up to date “and always will be”.

Mercedes also responded to the report, with motor sport vice president Haug insisting the marque is also contractually bound.

“We would have worked with Red Bull already this year,” he told German television Sky.

“However, we have an exclusive contract with McLaren. Understandably, McLaren has put in the veto,” explained Haug.

“We have to respect contracts, of course. That is the situation.

“I would be very happy to see Mark Webber, who was formerly with us (Mercedes), and of course Sebastian Vettel, drive with our engines.

“But at the moment that is not the case,” said Haug.

The pecking order is unclear after three hours of practice at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday.

After a mostly wet day of running, even though the Belgian track was drying in the afternoon session, Mercedes’ Norbert Haug was asked who he thought was looking quickest so far.

“Nobody knows exactly,” he told German Sky television.

He said the timesheets threw up a few clues, with Red Bull “stronger than they seem” and also Force India’s Adrian Sutil apparently in the running.

“Ferrari and McLaren will be good,” added Haug, confirming that Mercedes is running a modified F-duct system this weekend.

“I don’t think the pecking order has really changed.  I also don’t think we are making a great leap forward.

“We think the floor is working a little better, but we’ll learn more about that on Saturday,” added Mercedes’ competition boss.

Haug gave a clearer prediction about the weekend weather forecast.

“I suspect Saturday will be wet as well,” said the German, just as the GP2 race on Friday afternoon was stopped due to heavy rain.

Added Renault’s chief engineer Alan Permane: “It’s the same (forecast) for Sunday.”

Fernando Alonso was fastest in both of Friday’s practice sessions at Spa-Francorchamps.

But after emerging from his Red Bull with the 18th quickest time in the afternoon, championship leader Mark Webber warned observers not to read too much into the first day’s results.

Indeed, the track was wet for most of the running, and when the sun was shining at the end, the red flags were waving due to spectators climbing a perimeter fence.

But on a late dash on dry tyres, Alonso followed up his wet morning time with the best time of the day in the afternoon, causing HRT driver Karun Chandhok to describe Ferrari’s pace as “ominious” on BBC radio.

The Italian team has another blown diffuser development in Belgium this weekend.

“I think we have improved the car over the last three grands prix, which means we now have a very competitive package,” said Spaniard Alonso.

Sebastian Vettel’s sixth place was the fastest Red Bull time on Friday afternoon, but Alonso said on Thursday that the Austrian-owned team is still favourite.

“I don’t see how they would lose a one second advantage since Hungary, but this race and the next one at Monza requires special low downforce and it will be interesting to see who makes the best job of running this configuration,” he said.

Red Bull is using an unchanged front wing at Spa-Francorchamps, but the floor of the RB6 might soon have to be tweaked to satisfy tougher FIA scrutineering tests.

The front wing flexibility test was altered for Belgium, essentially to ensure that wings are bending downwards only in a linear fashion when weights are proportionately applied.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said these tests had not necessitated a design change since the car dominated in Hungary, but it has emerged at Spa that the FIA also has its eye on other aspects of alleged flexing.

It is believed that the RB6 is getting its front wings so close to the ground also due to having a bendy floor.

Tweaked floor flexibility tests, and new rules stipulating the amount of breaks or joins allowed underneath the cars, will reportedly be applied as of the Italian grand prix at Monza next month.

“I cannot say whether we will be affected more or less than any other team,” said Horner on Thursday.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the existing floor tests involved applying 200 kilograms to the front of the floor, allowing flexibility of no more than 5mm.

At Monza, the new tests will reportedly involve additional loads being applied now at several locations underneath the cars.

“Webber said in an interview a couple of weeks ago that if you have a very special device on the car, people should have to build their own.

“I didn’t know they had a device on the car, so there you go,” said McLaren’s Jenson Button on Thursday.

“We’ll see what happens here, and we’ll see how their pace is compared to us,” he added.

Red Bull’s 2010 title charge would be easier if F1 dropped a race, but Mark Webber is confident the sport is still headed to Korea.

There have been widespread doubts about the readiness of the new Yeongam venue for its inaugural October 24 date; one of the remaining seven rounds this season.

Australian Webber is currently leading the drivers’ championship by a slender 4 points, and he admitted on Thursday that he would be feeling more comfortable if there were fewer races still to run.

“If this was the last race,” he said at Spa-Francorchamps, “then we would be in a very good position. But you can’t think about it that way.

“Obviously if there were 30 races left then our position would be worse than with 6 or 7 to go.

“But I think we are going to Korea and we are going to race there,” added Webber.

The optimism about Korea of Webber, who turns 34 on Friday, could be significant, given Red Bull’s participation in the circuit’s inaugural laps late next week.

Karun Chandhok is scheduled to drive a Red Bull show car around the new Korean layout next Saturday.

“It will be a real honour to be one of the first people to drive around the new Korean circuit,” said the Indian driver.