Lewis Hamilton swerved a conviction but not a $500 fine after a court hearing in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The 2008 world champion, who did not travel to Australia for the hearing, was arrested, charged and summonsed for driving dangerously near the Albert Park circuit during March’s grand prix weekend.

He was represented by a lawyer in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, who pleaded guilty on the 25-year-old Briton’s behalf.

Lawyer Sandip Mukerjea said the McLaren driver, who addressed two letters to the court, suffered “embarrassment, humiliation and distress” over the incident due to the widespread media coverage.

In one of the letters, Hamilton said the incident was due to a “momentary lapse of judgement” that had caused “immense” publicity that was a “form of punishment”.

He also insisted that he was “in control of the car at all times”.

His lawyer asked that a conviction not be recorded because it may impede Hamilton’s ability to travel internationally.

The FIA also provided the court with a character reference.

The magistrate said Hamilton escaped conviction because it was his first offense, but “this is about somebody in a responsible position behaving like a hoon”.

“It doesn’t show the general application of the level of responsibility and maturity that he must use every day on the race track,” added magistrate Clive Alsop.

Mark Webber has been tipped to still have his championship lead when the chequered flag waves at the end of November’s 2010 season finale.

Even though Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso are all still within a mere 20 points of the Australian title leader, Max Mosley thinks the 33-year-old is ready to be world champion.

“He is very experienced and mentally strong,” the long-time former FIA president is quoted by Germany’s Welt newspaper. “He has the makings of a champion.

“He has improved once again this year as a driver, and is in the best car. I also think the public likes his story — a man who fought for years and could now be rewarded for this admirable energy,” added Mosley.

Webber’s German teammate Vettel is often referred to as the better of the pair, but Mosley thinks it is Webber who is “better equipped for the current situation”.

23-year-old Vettel, however, is “an extremely dynamic driver with a great future”, according to Mosley.

Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard agrees with Mosley that it is the Milton Keynes based team occupying the role of favourite for the 2010 titles.

“People will say I am biased given my professional relationship with the team, but I’m sure they won’t thank me for increasing the pressure on them,” he said in his latest column for the Telegraph.

“The reality is they have had the quickest package all year and the gap, if anything, is growing,” added Coulthard.

The Scot, however, thinks the remaining seven races of the season, to all take place within the next 12 weeks, are an exciting prospect for F1 fans.

“Certainly no season that I can recall has been as open and competitive,” said Coulthard, now a F1 pundit for British television and a DTM driver.

Priority number one: delete slipped Brno With this belief, the Forlì Andrea Dovizioso going to compete in the Indianapolis circuit for the eleventh round of the 2010 season. The defeat of the Czech Republic in fact, with dangerous crash at turn ten, during the third lap, with bike and rider remained at the center of the track, was doubly bitter if you count the pilot Honda HRC had shown more than a step competitive all weekend.

A race pace definitely more important than that incurred last year on the American track, where he took fourth place in each event final. But the performance of teammate at Indy in the 2009 season bodes well Italian, for a benefit to help him climb the charts and change the downward trend over the first half of the season.

“I always look good with eye on competing in the U.S.”says Andrea Dovizioso, “and this time is no different. I like to visit America, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the typical American home with great facilities and huge galleries. The MotoGP circuit is not particularly interesting but the atmosphere is always special. The circuit has many different types of surface and last have made everything difficult enough, but I think with the package available now, especially with this weight distribution, varieties of asphalt and different grip levels will not be a problem.

Looking back at the Grand Prix at Brno I must admit that, except the final result was a good weekend. We were competitive, our race pace was good but the result has not arrived. So now we go to Indy determined to transform this good performance results. We need good performance for the team and the classification. Last year I finished fourth, but we were not as fast as the front runners, and Dani (Pedrosa) is very fast. But this means that we have the potential to do well, and this is another reason for the weekend. “

After a solid second place in Brno, preceded only by compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa looks to the second weekend of the season on American soil with the head turned a possible victory, since the feeling shown last year with the circuit Indianapolis. Honda HRC fact, in the 2009 season, dominated the U.S. circuit on the historic first practice session at the qualifying session, in which he won the pole position.

Advantage unfortunately thrown to the winds in the race, due to a slip in the opening laps, with a consequent rise in the saddle and tenth place overall. A similar epilogue for Catalan took place in the previous round stars and stripes at Laguna Seca, and for this reason a pupil of Alberto Puig has every intention of crossing the line, on Sunday in the first place.

“I’m going to Indianaplis in a good state of mind”, says Dani Pedrosa “I am ready to finish the job that we could not finish the race last year. I felt very comfortable in driving at Indy last year. I was at the top of the standings after the first practice session, I got pole position and the only mistake made was in the race. So I hope this time you can put together a solid race weekend and get another good result. We were quick and consistent in the last race in Brno, and try to get back on the right step also this weekend.

It will be important, as always, be able to find a good set-up fairly quickly since Friday, and I think we have a useful basis since last year, which will allow us to find the right direction right now. We were ready to win nuobo in Brno and this will be our aim also at Indianapolis. Competing in America is different, the circuit is quite amazing and I feel very well to compete in the U.S. because the support I get here is really positive, so do not wait to get on track. “

As Casey Stoner in 2007, thanks to the monumental advantage in the standings Jorge Lorenzo already … can program the rainbow party. If Australia wanted to reach this goal at Phillip Island before succeeding with a round at Motegi, the goal for the leader of the world is to make a big fiesta at home. The dream told by the host of the show “Paddock GP” aired on TVE, is to celebrate winning the title Motorland Aragon next September 19.

“I’d like to win the title in Aragon, “said Lawrence,”but it will be almost impossible, there are still many races on the calendar and I should get with so many points ahead. ”

Now there are 77 against Dani Pedrosa at Alcaniz should quit the race to 125, gaining almost 50 points more margin in three races (Indianapolis and Misano, in fact, Aragon).

“At this point the goal is to win the championship in advance to celebrate the great Valencia, no worries. It would be nice to win it right there in front of my fans, but I hope to win the first race for more relaxed in Cheste, “said Lorenzo Valencia just won his first 250cc world.

Toyota was reportedly heading for a competitive season in formula one this year until the Japanese carmaker decided to pull out of the sport altogether.

The Cologne based team had completed its 2010 car, dubbed the TF110, when the shock decision to withdraw at the end of last season was made.

Timo Glock, now at the back of the grid with Virgin, has said earlier this year that – according to the data – he might currently be fighting for the 2010 title had Toyota stayed another season in F1.

“When we stopped the development, we had 20 to 30 points more downforce (with the new car) than the last version of its predecessor,” Toyota’s technical Pascal Vasselon has told Auto Bild in Germany.

“We had far exceeded our goals, for even the TF109 was good enough for podiums,” he added.

“Many of our aerodynamic people have changed to other top teams and we know that our downforce values were quite high,” said Vasselon.

Leaked photos of the unraced TF110, which would have been used by the unsuccessful 2010 applicant Stefan GP this year, depict it with a very high nose.

“I dare to suggest that we would have had the highest nose of all the current cars,” Vasselon confirmed.  “Only in this way would the diffuser operate perfectly.”

He said other aspects of the 2010 design were also “extreme”.

“For the first race, we had an update package with the blown diffuser in the pipeline.  So with Red Bull we would have been the first,” said Vasselon.

It is now rumoured that HRT is close to a deal to base its 2011 car on the TF110.

“We would convert the car to match the new rules, and also provide aerodynamic updates,” said Toyota Motorsport’s development manager Jens Marquardt.

Ferrari is reportedly prepared to launch civil action against the FIA if further sanctions are imposed by the World Motor Sport Council next month.

The governing body’s long-time former president Max Mosley said on Sunday that “both cars and both drivers” should lose their points after swapping places at the hand of alleged illegal team orders during July’s German grand prix.

Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that if this happens, Ferrari is prepared to tackle the FIA in a civil court, in much the same way that Flavio Briatore successfully railed against his lifetime motor racing ban.

But for now, the Maranello based team is not commenting on the possible outcome of the September 8 hearing.

“In this sort of situation, the best policy is to respect and to trust in the highest level of the sport’s governing body,” said Ferrari.

La Gazzetta dello Sport said Ferrari’s likely defence will be based on the fact that the alleged “team order” was in fact just an explanation of the situation to Massa by his race engineer Rob Smedley.

Ferrari will reportedly also argue that team orders should be permitted, so long as they do not impact the races of rival teams.

“Most teams are calling for the withdrawal of team orders, which I can understand, because it’s in their interests,” said Mosley on Sunday.

“But if we are to meet the needs of the public, who are in their millions, watching races all around the world and ultimately funding the sport, then we need to keep the ban,” he told Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

Renault’s 2010 car will finally be fitted with an F-duct system for the Belgian grand prix this weekend and beyond.

The Enstone based team decided later than its rivals to develop the downforce-stalling concept that was pioneered this season by McLaren.

Boss Eric Boullier said in July that it was “very likely” Renault’s version would be seen at the grands prix after the August break.

The first two grands prix after the break, first at Spa-Francorchamps and then at Monza in Italy, are high speed in nature, where reducing the drag of the rear wing on the long straights will be most beneficial.

France’s authoritative Auto Hebdo publication confirmed in July that the Renault F-duct would be seen for the first time in Belgium.

The news has now also been confirmed by Italy’s Autosprint and Autosport in Britain.

Mark Webber cannot guarantee he will still be on the formula one grid in 2012 — especially if he wins the world championship before then.

The sport’s current championship leader, and with his four victories the winningest driver so far in 2010, has signed a new deal to stay with Red Bull next year.

But he told Brazil’s weekly Esporte Espetacular programme: “I cannot guarantee that my head will be in the same place in 2012.

“For sure I want to go for the championship.  I know that it changes people’s lives, changes the person and I want to know how it feels,” said the 33-year-old Australian.

But Webber also said one of his other goals is to be a mentor to young people who “expect little from their life”.

“I want them to realise that they can dream higher and achieve.  Maybe I will do a little mountain climbing, who knows.

“Definitely (I will do) some more sporting challenges,” he explained, “before I get too old and return to Australia to drink red wine.”

Lewis Hamilton is not travelling to Australia early this week despite being due in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The McLaren driver was arrested in the city earlier this year for dangerous driving in a road car near the F1 circuit, later receiving an official charge and court summons for August 24.

But with this weekend’s Belgian grand prix now looming, the News of the World tabloid in Britain said Hamilton, 25, will be represented in court by a lawyer.

“It was something small,” he is quoted as saying.  “You pay the price and learn from it.”

A sponsorship deal between formula one and UBS, the Swiss based global financial services company, was announced on Monday.

UBS is headed by chief executive Oswald Grubel, who previously brought the Swiss bank Credit Suisse to F1, and was a BMW-Sauber board member.

“The global reach of F1 complements the many local activities we support,” said Grubel.

The deal will be formally launched at the Singapore grand prix next month.

Ferrari should receive a significant sporting sanction for breaking the rules at Hockenheim, according to the controversial former president of F1′s governing body.
After the Italian team angrily slammed Niki Lauda for predicting a similar outcome at next month’s FIA disciplinary hearing, Max Mosley waded into the debate during an interview with Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

Race leader Felipe Massa moved over to let Fernando Alonso win the German grand prix in July and “both cars and both drivers should lose the points they achieved”, 70-year-old Briton Mosley said.

“I will not make any recommendation, but on the facts at the moment there should have been some sporting sanction and not only a fine,” he added.

Mosley said “most teams” would like the team orders ban to be repealed, but he said the rule was designed to “meet the needs of millions of fans”.

“In the event that it (team orders) is brought into play, we have to impose a severe punishment,” he explained.

Kimi Raikkonen has given the strongest indication yet that he does not intend to return to formula one.
The Finn switched to world rallying for 2010 but on only a one-year contract, which has nurtured constant speculation that he might return to F1 as soon as next season.

But Raikkonen, 30, told the French sports daily L’Equipe that “times have changed” since he drove to the 2007 world championship.

“You never know but I will probably never return to formula one,” he said.

“It’s something I did for many years, I had many great moments. I won a world championship title, which is what I always wanted, but times have changed,” added the former Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari driver.

“Now I’m in rallying and there are many other things apart from formula one in life.”

Raikkonen said contesting Le Mans one day is a possibility.

“I would like to try but you need to find the right team.

“If you want to win, there are only two, Peugeot and Audi. One day, I hope, there will be an opportunity,” he added.

Ferrari has hit back at Niki Lauda’s prediction that the famous Italian team will “get a pasting” at the FIA’s disciplinary council next month.

In an interview with F1′s official website, former champion Lauda – who won two of his three titles with Ferrari – slammed the Maranello based team for allegedly using team orders at Hockenheim recently.

“What they’ve done is wrong and they got an immediate punishment — and they will get a pasting from the World (Motor Sport) Council, that is for sure,” said the Austrian great.

“And that has nothing to do with Alonso.  He’s no Schumacher,” added Lauda, when asked if Fernando Alonso was taking a tight grip on Ferrari.

In response, a disparaging column posted on the official Ferrari website depicted the 61-year-old as someone who “has never missed out on a chance to dispense opinions left and right”.

“This time, good old Niki has missed out on a fine opportunity to keep his mouth shut, given that, when he was a Scuderia driver, the supposed Ferrari driver management policy suited him perfectly,” read the Ferrari column.

Also upset about Lauda’s recent interview might be the struggling new teams, who are all receiving an extra contribution to their budgets this year from Bernie Ecclestone.

“I am strictly against having them on life support.  Either they are able to stay alive on their own or ‘bye bye’,” said Lauda.

According to reports in Spain, there might be merger talks afoot between the struggling HRT team, and hopeful 2011 entrant Epsilon Euskadi.

The news agency EFE said the latter’s chief Joan Villadelprat is weighing up two options: the first being acceptance by the FIA to be the 13th team entry in its own right next year.

The second option is reportedly a merger with Hispania, F1′s existing Spanish entrant that is lagging at the rear of the grid and yet to pen a concrete deal for the construction of its next car.

F1 veteran Villadelprat has reportedly already been in contact, some days ago, with Jose Ramon Carabante, the owner of Murcia-based HRT.

Spaniard Villadelprat reportedly asked Carabante “what Hispania needs, what Epsilon can offer and if there is the possibility of collaboration”.

He apparently acknowledged that Le Mans prototype constructor Epsilon Euskadi’s infrastructure rates among “the top five” of the existing F1 teams, but lacks 17 million euros in investment.

The news follows HRT’s split with its 2010 car partner Dallara, and the news that advanced talks were taking place between the team and departed Toyota’s F1 arm Toyota Motorsport.