Just over two hours before opening practice at Spa-Francorchamps, it is raining heavily at the famous circuit.

A very poor day of weather in the Belgian Ardennes is forecast, with both of F1′s 90 minute practice sessions likely to be affected.

“I hope the weather clears up as it doesn’t look so great out there at the moment,” Lewis Hamilton told reporters on Thursday.

Earlier, it seemed there was the prospect of some sunnier spells at Spa this weekend, but local reports now predict the chance of variable rain throughout the event.

A Red Bull-style blown exhaust and diffuser layout is “in the works”, according to Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi.

Although still owned by the energy drinks maker, Faenza based Toro Rosso is now going it alone from a technical perspective, no longer receiving updates from Red Bull Technology in the UK.

Toro Rosso is the lowest ranked of the established teams in the constructors’ championship, and concerned about falling further off the pace.

With all F1 teams except the newcomers now running a blown floor, Buemi said the innovation is “in the works” for the Ferrari-powered STR5.

“We just want to do it thoroughly and properly before we use it at a race weekend,” the Swiss is quoted by German language Speed Week.

His teammate Jaime Alguersuari is confident the car might look stronger at the faster Spa-Francorchamps layout than at recent outings.

“If our closest rivals have tended to look stronger than us in medium to high downforce configuration, I am hoping that Spa might see us run more competitively,” said the Spaniard.

Renault is likely to supply not only the engine but also the gearbox to Lotus in 2011, according to reports.

Turun Sanomat, close to the team’s Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen, also said that after using standard Xtrac hydraulics this season, Lotus is designing its own system for 2011.

The Lotus/Renault tie up, with the French marque also to supply the F1 team’s electronics next year, could be part of a bigger arrangement with Group Lotus, the separately Malaysian-owned sports car company.

Currently, Lotus road cars are powered by Toyota engines.

“Next year’s (F1) car is well under way,” technical boss Mike Gascoyne told F1′s official website. “The main focus now is on 2011 — to make sure we take a big step forward.”

Red Bull is reportedly closing on a deal to be equipped with Mercedes engines for the 2011 season.

The German newspaper TZ reports that the move would involve the currently Mercedes-powered Force India team switching to Red Bull’s current engine supplier Renault.

Red Bull has been pushing for a Mercedes deal for some time, or minimally an allowance amid the engine development ‘freeze’ to bring the underpowered Renault V8 up to speed.

The report said Mercedes may be amenable to ending its relationship with Force India due to the Silverstone based team missing scheduled payments.

It is said that F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is involved in the negotiations, as McLaren remains in a position to veto Mercedes’ alliances with customer teams.

Championship leader Mark Webber said on Thursday that the weakness of Red Bull’s otherwise dominant RB6 is its engine power.

“We know that running on long straights is not a strength of the car and hasn’t been for quite a few years and we know why,” said the Australian.

“We can still keep up at these tracks, but I think if we had to have 17 races in a championship, we wouldn’t choose Spa and Monza to have races at,” added Webber.

Norbert Haug has confirmed that Mercedes will not appoint a formal replacement for its departed F1 reserve driver Nick Heidfeld.

With just seven races to go in 2010, the Brackley based team agreed to release German Heidfeld so that he can become Pirelli’s permanent tyre development tester.

Departed Virgin tester Andy Soucek was mentioned as a possible replacement, but reports also indicated that Mercedes might decide not to fill the vacant role for the last third of the season.

“We do not intend to fill this role for the remaining races in 2010,” confirmed Mercedes’ Haug in an interview with SID news agency.

He also tipped 33-year-old Heidfeld to use his new Pirelli role as a springboard back onto the formula one grid.

“Absolutely. Don’t forget that Nick has already beaten the current championship leader Mark Webber as a teammate (at Williams in 2005),” said Haug.

Brawn’s fight for survival affected the design process of the 2010 Mercedes car, according to Michael Schumacher.

Despite aiming for the world championship with the W01, Mercedes GP is a distant fourth in the constructors’ standings, a year after the same Brackley based team won the 2009 titles before being sold to the German marque.

“Ross (Brawn) was busy last year with quite a few other things, like securing the future of the team. So he could not fully concentrate on the development of the (2010) car,” Schumacher is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“I can live with the situation even if I am not happy about it,” added the seven time world champion. “We have to recognise the reasons.”

Jos Verstappen will be seen in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock this weekend.

The Dutchman contested more than 100 grands prix dating back to 1994, most recently with Minardi in 2003.

He announced in his latest column for De Telegraaf newspaper that he will attend the Belgian grand prix with his son Max, a keen karter.

“It was a long time ago that I was physically present at a grand prix,” announced Verstappen, 38.

“I asked Bernie Ecclestone very nicely for a pass and I’m happy that The Big Boss still knows who I am!” he added.

Adrian Sutil has hinted once again that he might not be lining up in next year’s Force India car.

The German has been with the Silverstone based team since it was called Spyker in 2007, but has been linked with a move to Renault for 2011.

Sutil, 27, recently played down those rumours, but in a new interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper he admitted he is hoping for a “big break” in his career.

Asked if he can become champion with Force India, he answered: “That would be a dream but it’s probably unrealistic.

“There are several options for 2011, but right now I want to concentrate on this season and not talk about next year,” added Sutil.

However, he said he feels ready to make the next step.

“I want to fight for the championship. At the moment it’s about the top ten, but it must progress.

“My motivation is that, at some point, my big break will come,” added Sutil.

Toro Rosso’s current drivers cannot relax even if they have been confirmed for the 2011 season.

That is the warning of Dr Helmut Marko, motor racing consultant at Red Bull, the Faenza based team’s owner.

There have been mixed messages from Toro Rosso recently: boss Franz Tost insisting that the drivers are staying put, but Red Bull-contracted pair Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi sounding less bullish about their future.

“The drivers must confirm themselves and develop,” Marko said in an interview with Austria’s laola1.at.

“Of course, moves like when Alguersuari crashed into the back of Buemi should not happen.

“At the moment it is looking good (for them), but with Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, we have two very fast juniors,” added Marko.

He indicated that Ricciardo and Vergne can expect to get some F1 laps under their belts at the post Abu-Dhabi young driver test.

“November is still quite a long way away, but it would be a logical consequence of our junior programme,” said Marko.

“To what extent and for which team (they will test) has not been decided yet,” he added.

Mercedes is resisting efforts to create parity in engine performance within formula one, according to Helmut Marko.

He is the motor sport consultant at Red Bull Racing, who are still pushing for clearance to have its Renault engines brought up to speed amid F1′s current development freeze.

“It’s frustrating,” Dr Marko said in an interview with Austria’s laola1.at.

“Renault is losing about three tenths of a second per lap, but so far there is no green light (for parity).

“First we would need an agreement within FOTA, but so far Mercedes is resisting,” added Marko.

Max Mosley admits it is “quite possible” Flavio Briatore is gearing up to return to formula one.

The former FIA president last year oversaw the imposition of the ousted Renault boss’ lifetime motor racing ban for the crashgate scandal.

But Briatore overturned that verdict in a civil court, before Mosley’s presidential successor Jean Todt agreed to let the Italian and Pat Symonds back into the paddock in 2013.

It is rumoured that Briatore, 60, could return in a promotional role alongside his friend and business partner Bernie Ecclestone.

“It’s quite possible,” Mosley said in an interview with Germany’s Welt newspaper.

“Should he come back, then it will certainly not be as team boss, but rather as a promoter or a manager of his drivers,” added the Briton.

Mosley acknowledged the rumours about Briatore possibly working alongside F1 chief executive Ecclestone.

“Bernie and Flavio are good friends and often go to lunch at a restaurant in Brompton Road, opposite Flavio’s London office.

“That’s all I know,” said the 70-year-old.

Mosley said he is still in contact with Ecclestone “from time to time”, but predicts trouble for the stability of today’s period of peace.

“Within the parties that make up this sport – the teams, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone – there is constant friction. The cooperation is extremely fragile,” he warned.

“Strengthening the balance of this triangle is a major problem requiring a lot of skill,” said Mosley.

There are still “three candidates” in the running to occupy F1′s 13th team entry in 2011, according to Joan Villadelprat.

He is in charge of the Spanish Le Mans team Epsilon Euskadi’s bid, amid recent rumours the outfit had pulled out due to a lack of funding.

It has also been claimed that Epsilon Euskadi might instead merge with the struggling existing Spanish team, HRT.

“I don’t know where that information came from,” Villadelprat said in an interview with the sports daily AS.

“I spoke with Jose Ramon Carabante about a possible collaboration with us as a technology provider.

“We are looking for clients and it is clear Hispania is a potential client for the type of work that we do, provided there is no conflict of interest.

“But that’s it, there was never any talk of a merger, even though I do not close any doors,” he added.

Villadelprat said Epsilon Euskadi is still vying for the 13th team entry.

“The FIA knows our project well and now they must choose between the three candidates,” he said.

“We explained our situation, including our financial one, making it clear that we have a commitment to provide the necessary budget even if the deal is not yet closed.”

Echoing the claims of Jacques Villeneuve, who is bidding for the entry in collaboration with Durango, Villadelprat said it is possible the FIA will leave the 13th team place vacant.

Asked if he would be disappointed to miss out, he answered: “Not necessarily.

“Epsilon is more than F1; we are 130 people and would not risk our stability to go where we cannot be feasible.”

Two teams are reportedly in the running to secure the sponsorship of the American credit card multinational MasterCard.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Renault was courting a deal with the New York Stock Exchange-listed company.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat now claims that Williams is also in the running, even if Renault remains the favourite.

MasterCard sponsored Lola’s stillborn F1 effort in 1997, and the Jordan team in 1998-2001.

It is Mercedes’ fault that Michael Schumacher has so far failed to step onto the podium during his 2010 return to formula one.

That is the opinion of Bernie Ecclestone, who said he is nonetheless happy that the seven time world champion decided to end his three-year retirement this season.

“If Michael would be sitting in a Red Bull, I would put my money on him,” the F1 chief executive told Sport Bild. “Then he would certainly win.”

Schumacher confirmed: “Let’s put it this way — with a Red Bull things would definitely be very different.”

Even though it has not been a success in terms of results, Ecclestone describes the 41-year-old’s return to F1 as “super, perfect”.

“We have had huge media coverage because of Michael. Thanks to him again! I admire him for making this step.”

After his duel with Rubens Barrichello against the Hungaroring pitwall before the August break, Schumacher heads into his favourite race at Spa this weekend with a ten-place grid penalty.

But the German insists he is already focused on next year.

“I still have my goal of winning another world title,” said Schumacher. “I accept that it’s going to take time and that it’s a hard challenge.”

And Ecclestone defends Schumacher against the criticism that, with a record 91 wins in his first career, he is now not good enough to beat his young teammate Nico Rosberg.

“When people tell me that Rosberg is faster than Michael, I say to them that it’s Nico with something still to prove, not Michael,” said the Briton.

Ferrari has congratulated its former driver Rubens Barrichello for notching up his milestone 300th grand prix this weekend in Belgium.

The veteran Brazilian drove for the Maranello based team between 2000 and 2005, although he often looks back ruefully at the time spent as number two to Michael Schumacher.

But Ferrari’s current team boss Stefano Domenicali said 300 career races, to be achieved at the wheel of a Williams at Spa-Francorchamps, is a “remarkable achievement” for the 38-year-old.

“He was part of our team when it was living through a great period in its history and he made a very significant contribution to our success at that time,” added the Italian.

Since 1993, Barrichello has also driven for Jordan, Stewart and Brawn, although 9 of his 11 victories were at the wheel of a Ferrari.

“I feel very privileged to have been in the sport for such a long time and it feels great to reach this milestone,” said Barrichello, who so far has contested 44 races more than Riccardo Patrese’s impressive previous record.

“I still think I am at the top of my game and plan to continue being competitive long past my 300th,” he added.