A mechanic has been dismissed by Toro Rosso following an incident before Sunday’s Singapore grand prix.

Jaime Alguersuari qualified a strong eleventh under the street circuit’s lights, but then had to start the race from the pitlane due to a coolant leak.

“My hopes of having a good day disappeared,” recalled the Spaniard.

According to Spanish reports, including in the AS newspaper and the Motor21 website, an unnamed mechanic apparently discovered the leak with five hours to spare but did nothing but regularly wipe up the water puddle.

The problem therefore only came to the attention of the Faenza based team in general after Alguersuari left the pits to form up on the grid.  There was then not enough time to replace the radiator before the pitlane closed.

Toro Rosso has been contacted for comment.

Formula one teams have agreed a budget cap for operational spending in 2011 and beyond, according to an Italian media report.

Earlier this week, we reported that team bosses discussed the so-called Resource Restriction Agreement in Singapore last weekend.

There are signs that, despite the cost-cutting pact negotiated at the end of the 2009 political war, some teams – notably the new and independent ones – are still struggling financially.

Italy’s Autosprint reports that a new operational budget limit was therefore agreed within the FOTA group, with engine and transmission costs not included.

The report said teams may no longer spend any more than EUR 20 million each on operational elements, while team staff numbers have been capped at 415.

Norbert Haug has admitted that Mercedes might line up on the 2011 grid with some new employees.

“In 2011 we will make a step forward.  So we need to have the best possible staff, which may include some new people,” he is quoted by the Cologne newspaper Express.

But amid rumours it might be Ross Brawn or Michael Schumacher who depart, the Mercedes competition director insisted the famous duo are actually going nowhere.

“In 2011 the drivers are Michael and Nico Rosberg,” Haug announced.

“And we believe in Ross and his team,” added the German, amid rumours of tension between Brackley in the UK and Mercedes GP’s German side.

“We just know what victory feels like, so perhaps we are sometimes a bit grumpy,” said Haug, explaining the apparent tension in the paddock at present.

One answer might be to plough more money into the team, or make a big offer for a high profile signing like Adrian Newey.

“Of course we could put another 10 million euros into F1, but we don’t want to,” said Haug.

Red Bull’s dominance has been curbed because it is no longer fielding an illegal car, according to Lewis Hamilton.

The 2008 world champion said that after the team’s RB6 utterly dominated in Hungary in August, the tighter FIA flexibility tests have obviously affected the pace of the Adrian Newey-penned car.

“Good question,” McLaren driver Hamilton told Bild newspaper on a visit to Berlin this week.

“In Hungary they were 2 seconds per lap faster than the rest of us.  It is simply impossible to have a lead like that.”

When asked specifically if he thinks Red Bull were cheating earlier in 2010, Hamilton answered: “We have always kept to the rules.

“Our people wondered if their car was legal and we asked the FIA.  After that Red Bull had to rebuild their car and take a step back.

“It was a good decision by the FIA,” said the Briton.

He was also asked about the apparent psychological warfare being deployed by his championship rivals at present, particularly by his former McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso.

“It’s normal that, at the end of a season, the mind games begin.  I’m strong enough and ready for it.  I’m not worried, but I think it’s best if you just do your talking on the track,” said Hamilton.

And despite almost writing off his championship chances after Singapore, Hamilton now insists he is ready for the challenge of the final four races of 2010.

“I was back at home in Zurich for one day; I woke up in the morning and went for a run in the forest with rap music on my headphones.  So I’ll be back,” he insisted.

Vitaly Petrov has moved into pole position to keep his Renault seat in 2011, with German sources reporting that three potential alternate candidates are now out of the running.

And the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat said Citroen rally driver Kimi Raikkonen “has never been interested” in returning to formula one next year with anything other than a title-contending car.

The German sources said Adrian Sutil, Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock are no longer talking to Renault, because the Enstone based team is now on the verge of re-signing the Russian rookie Petrov.

Insiders suspected that political moves were afoot when team boss Eric Boullier said he would only take Raikkonen’s apparent interest seriously if the reticent Finn met with him to prove his motivation.

“I want to understand more about his wish to come back,” the Frenchman is quoted by The Sun newspaper.

As for Petrov, Boullier said he wants the 26-year-old to show more potential: “If he is already at the limit, then it is a different matter.”

The Turun Sanomat report surmised that this, and the Raikkonen story, is to put “additional pressure on Petrov and his sponsors”.

“I am not worried,” Petrov said last week in Singapore when asked about those reportedly eyeing the 2011 race seat alongside Robert Kubica.

“Why must I worry?  They must worry.  I think I will continue to do my job and I think everything looks good,” he added.

Finally, the Aragon Motorland Casey Stoner and Ducati are back to victory. An important success for the Australian who won the third championship with the clear objective at this level is confirmed at the weekend in Motegi, a circuit but not particularly loved by the 2007 World Champion.

“Motegi is a track, a series of “stop and go ‘, it offers many features, and then sliding is not really one of my favorite layout, “said Casey Stoner. “Having said that is positive to consider that the bottom is smooth and there are many holes and depressions that often this season, they made us suffer.

Requires that the bike is stable under braking and acceleration and effective, because of these characteristics, I hope that the latest set of changes that we used to Aragon are effective again. In Spain, in fact we have finally managed to improve the stability and find a bit ‘more “grip” and if we do here we try to make another good result. “

The best result at Motegi Casey Stoner on the Ducati is the second in 2008, the race where Valentino Rossi won his world title at the expense of Australia.

A meeting to discuss the future of team orders in formula one has been postponed.

When the World Motor Sport Council recently met to consider Ferrari’s Hockenheim breach, the matter was instead referred to a committee to reconsider the controversial ban.

Leading FIA official Charlie Whiting had scheduled a meeting with team bosses about the matter in Singapore, but Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that it was delayed.

“We have postponed until Korea,” Whiting confirmed.  It is, of course, not entirely clear that the inaugural Yeongam event will go ahead late next month.

“The idea,” FIA president Jean Todt said a week ago when asked about the new team orders debate, “is to find out what is most healthy and transparent.”

Another rule up for discussion in the near future could be the safety car one, after lapped cars lined up in front of the leaders ahead of a re-start in Singapore.

For a time, the safety car would wave the lapped cars through before a re-start, but it is believed the practice was discontinued because it took too long.

Virgin’s Lucas di Grassi has called for the rule to be reinstated.

“I agree,” said his teammate Timo Glock.

“I don’t understand why we’re not waved through,” the German insisted.  “Then the race at the front is not ruined and we can also keep driving our races.”

If another driver had lurked beneath Michael Schumacher’s red helmet in 2010, boss Ross Brawn has admitted Mercedes GP might have ousted him.

British television pundit Eddie Jordan, Schumacher’s first ever F1 boss, said in Singapore after the German’s incident strewn run to 13th place that he “would sack him”.

“He’s clearly not good enough on this performance we’ve seen,” the Irishman charged.

Asked a similar question by F1′s official website, Mercedes GP chief Brawn admitted on Wednesday that – if Schumacher was not the famous seven time world champion and record-setting legend – the struggling occupant of this year’s car number 3 might have been shown the door.

“To be honest, probably not,” said the Briton when asked if he would have persevered with a different driver showing Schumacher’s current level of performance.

“But because we know Michael, we know that there is still a lot to come because Michael is in many fields more talented than others — in driving and in the cooperation with the team,” insisted Brawn.

“The team are very happy with the way Michael is contributing. If he were a rookie we surely would have asked ourselves if he has the capacity to advance. With Michael we know that he has,” he added.

Brawn rubbished suggestions Schumacher is on the verge of returning to retirement, and also that he might instead switch to a management role for 2011.

“I have never talked to him about such an option,” he answered.

“He is a very intelligent man with a balanced family life. I don’t know if he really wants to do that to himself.

“As team principal you don’t get the same adrenalin rush as when you are driving a car. What you get is a 10 to 12-hour working day and I am not sure if that would satisfy or motivate him,” said Brawn.

There have also been rumblings of discontent within Mercedes and particularly between Brawn and Norbert Haug, but Brawn insisted he is not about to give up.

“Of course I will retire one day, but I want to step down when I’m successful and not in a situation like I’m facing now,” he said.

“It’s sad that such rumours always get around. But let’s be clear — none of us are happy with the performance this year, and of course Mercedes want to know how and when we will improve.

“But nobody needs to tell me that it is important to win. And probably we can still improve the relationship between Brackley and the Mercedes engine factory, but Mercedes is very open to all suggestions,” continued Brawn.

“So at the moment there are no problems whatsoever. They will come if we are not able to improve in the future.”

He was asked if 2011 is the deadline for Brawn and Schumacher.

“Next year would probably be too early (to give up),” said Brawn. “I like this team. We have gone through many things together. I would never leave the team in an unclear situation.”

With just 3 or 4 races to go in 2010, there are no more signs that Red Bull is set to throw its full weight behind championship leader Mark Webber’s title tilt.

The Australian would openly accept number 1 status over Sebastian Vettel, and recently consultant Helmut Marko indicated the team would soon consider the possibility.

But Vettel, who remains 21 points behind Webber, put his campaign back on track with a strong weekend in Singapore, and afterwards announced his intention to push on.

“The drivers championship is still open,” said the 23-year-old German in Singapore.

According to the German newspaper Die Welt, he announced that he and Webber have agreed to a “professional approach” to the next decisive races.

And “We will find out who is better,” Vettel is quoted as saying.

It means that of the three top teams in with a chance of the 2010 title, only Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso can currently count on the backing of his teammate.

“It is almost inevitable with the way the season has swung backwards and forwards that this will go right down to the wire,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

Alan Jones, the last Australian to become world champion in 1980, backed his countryman to beat Vettel in a dog-fight.

“I think if it gets down to a bit of a head-game, I’ll back Mark every time,” said the former Williams driver.

“It’s a fascinating championship,” added 63-year-old Jones.  “We haven’t had one like this for years, where five people could become world champion with four races to go.”

Michael Schumacher’s first formula one team boss remains unimpressed with his 2010 return.

Eddie Jordan, who gave the then young pay-driver Schumacher his first cockpit in 1991, has been among the 41-year-old German’s staunchest critics so far this season.

But in Singapore the former team owner ramped up his attack.

After Schumacher’s incident-strewn race to finish 13th and a lap down, Jordan – now a pundit for British television – told the BBC: “Let’s ask this question.

“If Michael Schumacher was not Michael Schumacher, driving as he is currently, would he be in the seat next year?

“My guess is no,” the Irishman said.

“I’m sorry, I’m going to be controversial this time,” Jordan continued.  “I would sack him, he’s clearly not good enough on this performance we’ve seen today (Sunday).”

He said Schumacher is risking his “legacy and his reputation” by struggling this year at the wheel of a Mercedes.

Schumacher is under contract for the next two seasons, but there are rumours he might move into a management role for 2011, to be replaced by countryman Adrian Sutil.

“I was very surprised when I heard about Michael’s return,” Fernando Alonso, who beat Schumacher to the title before the German originally retired in 2006, told German language spox.com.

“He could be relaxing at home.  But our life in racing is so intense that it’s difficult to lead a normal life,” added the Ferrari driver.

“So if you get the chance to try it again, then it’s hard to say no,” Alonso said.

Asked where he will be in his 40s, the double world champion insisted: “I will be sitting comfortably on my sofa!”

Jaime Alguersuari has offered a less than flattering opinion about the personality of his fellow Spaniard and F1 driver Fernando Alonso.

“He is cold (frio), very cold,” said 20-year-old Alguersuari, the youngest driver on the grid who races with the second Red Bull team, Toro Rosso.

“He is a man of few words,” he is quoted as saying by Dir Emotions.  “I have no relationship with him.”

Alguersuari also described the Ferrari driver and double world champion as “a great” F1 racer.

Alonso, 29, recently moved to clarify some misperceptions by revealing that when people actually meet him, they often remark that he is “nicer” than his media image.

The German-language spox.com compared Alonso’s apparent win-at-all-costs attitude with that of Michael Schumacher.

“In the media we read again and again things about ourselves that are not right,” said the Spaniard.

“People are making judgements from the outside, but that’s the business.”

Asked to clarify the misperceptions, Alonso said: “I am very calm and relaxed, even romantic.  Actually, I’m a normal guy.

“A little bit shy, but when everything’s right, that’s when the Spaniard in me comes out,” he laughed.

In Singapore last weekend, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali agreed that Alonso is “cool and calm and sometimes difficult”.

And after back-to-back victories from pole, Alonso says he is on the top of his game.

“The F1 championship is very long compared to other sports so you can’t be completely fit, focused, motivated 100 per cent of the time.

“But now, in this part of the championship, I’m at a peak,” he is quoted in the Spanish press.

Mike Gascoyne has committed to Lotus until “at least 2015″, the new-in-2010 formula one team announced on Wednesday.

47-year-old Briton Gascoyne, one of the original members of the Malaysian owned team, is the chief technical officer.

“It was always my intention to finish my career here, so it’s great to have formally agreed a five-year deal,” said Gascoyne, who has formerly held prominent technical roles at Jordan, Renault and Toyota.

He said he will consider staying at Lotus “even beyond” 2015.

“I’ve really enjoyed the last year that we’ve been working together, and I’m very excited about working with Mike for many years to come,” added team boss Tony Fernandes.

Timo Glock has acknowledged that Virgin finishing tenth in this year’s constructors’ world championship is very unlikely.

None of F1′s new teams have come close to scoring a point so far this season.

But Heikki Kovalainen’s 13th place finish in Australia in late March means Lotus is currently tenth, ahead of fellow non-scorers Lotus and HRT.

Apart from special new team bonuses promised by Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s commercial prize-money pool is shared between only the top ten teams, based on their ranking in the constructors’ championship.

It means the new teams this year are battling for literally millions in additional and crucial funding.

“It is an innovative structure, and if you do well on the track then you get very well rewarded,” Virgin’s team chief executive Graeme Lowdon admitted earlier this year.

So confident was main sponsor Sir Richard Branson at the start of 2010, he agreed with Tony Fernandes – boss of the rival Lotus team – that the loser should spend a fully-uniformed day as a stewardess on the other’s airline.

“I think Tony will be fetching as a Virgin stewardess,” billionaire Branson said last weekend.

“I think he is making an outfit for me as well,” he confirmed.

But according to lead driver Timo Glock, he thinks it unlikely the Virgin team will be able to dislodge Lotus from the coveted tenth position by recording a twelfth place finish in one of the remaining races.

“It will be very difficult,” he told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“Maybe if there’s a crazy wet race or something like that.  Otherwise I don’t see any chance,” he added.

Stewardess or not, Branson said he remains committed to formula one for now, and sounded bullish about 2011.

“Our staff are looking for new sponsors for next season, so there will be less room (on the car) for Virgin,” the Briton is quoted by France’s Auto Hebdo.

Group Lotus terminated the naming license for Malaysian millionaire Tony Fernandes’ formula one team because of a dispute about t-shirts, team chief executive Riad Asmat has revealed.

On the face of it, the Proton-owned British carmaker has simply had a change of heart, deciding now to ramp up its involvement in motor sport and regretful that its brand is already separately deployed in formula one.

It emerged last week that Group Lotus has decided to enter feeder categories GP2 and GP3 with ART, and it has now been announced that the carmaker is continuing its Indycar foray in 2011 whilst designing a prototype sports car for the LMP2 category.

Group Lotus also said it is upgrading its test track in Norfolk which will be eligible for “F1 testing”.

“It’s important for people to realise just how committed we are to doing our heritage justice,” said director of motor sport Claudio Berro.

At the same time, Lotus has withdrawn its naming license to the current F1 team Lotus Racing, and has vowed to fight the team’s intention to deploy the alternative ‘Team Lotus’ name in 2011 and beyond.

Group Lotus owner Proton is also withdrawing its on-car sponsorship of Fernandes’ team.

“Unfortunately we never reached the point where we discussed extending that one year deal,” said the team’s chief executive Asmat.

He revealed that the naming license has been terminated due to “some very trivial points”, including “t-shirt design approvals of all things”.

Asmat said there will need to be talks with Group Lotus about the real reasons for the termination because “we thoroughly reject” the marque’s right to have done so.

“Initially there was good cooperation but then issues cropped up after that and it came to a point where they said we were detrimental to their brand and infringed their rights,” he told MediaCorp.

“One of these was about producing t-shirts, which we were told did not follow correct procedures and they terminated our agreement about two weeks ago,” said Asmat.

He indicated that continuing to be called Lotus is crucial for the team, which explains the decision to take the matter to London’s High Court.

“There are livelihoods at stake and we had to take this course of action in the courts,” he said.

Sam Michael has scoffed at Red Bull’s claim that the Renault engines in the rear of the championship-leading RB6 are significantly down on power.

Red Bull has consistently claimed its Renault V8 is up to 30 horse power behind, revealing that McLaren is blocking its move to industry leading Mercedes.

The Austrian team is also openly upset that the FIA will not impose performance parity, with Mercedes refusing to voluntary de-tune its engines.

Bluntly, Australian Michael – technical director at Cosworth-powered Williams – denounces the saga as “bullshit”.

“It’s simply to gain an advantage,” he is quoted by the German language motorsport-total.com.

“This (Renault) engine has often been on pole position this year. You cannot tell me it has not enough power,” insisted Michael.

“They’re just lobbying for an upgrade. That’s ok, because it’s part of the business. These teams are trying to strengthen their position.”

He believes all the engines in F1 at present are separated by “no more than one or two tenths”.

It was believed Williams, like Lotus, was considering switching to Renault for 2011, but the British team has now confirmed it is staying with Cosworth.