Red Bull looks to be back to its dominant best on the street confines of the Singapore grand prix city venue.

Despite some rivals expecting the RB6′s speed on high downforce tracks to have been muted by the flexibility tests, championship leader Mark Webber and Sebstian Vettel both tasted the top of the times at the end of Friday’s two 90-minute practice sessions.

“We knew nothing would change with our car before we came here,” said Webber.

“We’ve passed all the new FIA tests and we weren’t coming here expecting to be slower than we were in Budapest.”

And while Monza winner Fernando Alonso had looked quick before stopping his Ferrari after a slip into a run-off zone in the night session, the Spaniard admitted: “We know Red Bull are maybe the favourites.”

The McLaren looked the best part of a second slower than the Red Bull.

Jenson Button confided to reporters that the RB6 is “crazy quick” this weekend, but Lewis Hamilton insisted that Red Bull “definitely aren’t unbeatable here”.

Mercedes’ Norbert Haug told German Sky television: “On a track like this, Red Bull seems to have the advantage.”

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber drove in the second practice of Singapore’s fastest time – Adrian Sutil and Fernando Alonso on the pitch

top times of Sebastian Vettel on Friday from Singapore: The German Red Bull driver sat in the second session under the lights sovereign against his team-mate Mark Webber by and himself at the head of the time classifications. Vettel 1:46.660 minutes required for one orbit to the nearly five-kilometer route, pointing his pursuers significantly to the courts.

Webber-classified with more than six tenths of second place in front of Jenson Button (McLaren), who in turn lost a second on Vettel. Fernando Alonso (McLaren) took fourth place was 20 minutes before the expiry of the time, however, doomed to watch. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) took the checkered flag in fifth position, Rubens Barrichello (Williams) finished in sixth place.
The other ranks in the top 10 went to Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Robert Kubica (Renault) and Michael Schumacher (Mercedes), the first time in Singapore is on the move. Returnees Nick Heidfeld was seen just behind Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) and his Sauber team-mate Kamui Kobayashi and # 13, Timo Glock (Virgin) was 20th

A moment of shock experienced while Adrian Sutil (Force India): The German despoils about halfway through the second free practice a little too wild about the curbs at Turn ten and then lifted off, even briefly. When landing, the left front suspension breaks down, so that Sutil had to stop the training operations in a few curves – was too much broken.
Almost 20 minutes before the end of the session Alonso also suffered from premature – by the way just at the point where Sutil had parked his VJM03. Alonso also afforded a driver error and was starting to slip slightly from curve 17, but his Ferrari caught again. The Spaniard, however, missed the entrance to turn 18 and had to turn in the run-off area.

There Alonso put the car in reverse and steered back onto the track his F10, stranded there just to good: The engine died off and Alonso had to get off – and that under the previous best time in the first sector and a personal top times in the second branch. Whether the Ferrari driver at the top Vettel could endanger must therefore remain uncertain.

Kimi Raikkonen insists he still has not decided whether or not to stay in the world rally championship next year.

The 2007 world champion left formula one at the end of last season despite remaining under lucrative contract to Ferrari, and has since been driving full time for Red Bull-sponsored Citroen.

But in recent days he has been linked with a return to F1 next year with Renault, and the WRC’s official website wrc.com said a sabbatical or a renewed tenure in rallying are also possibilities for the Finn in 2011.

“I’m enjoying it (rallying) so far,” he is quoted as saying on Friday, “but I’ve not made up my mind what I’m doing yet.

“Quite soon I hope I will know but there is no rush,” added the 30-year-old.

Sebastian Vettel has refused to rule out one day driving in formula one for McLaren.

The British team’s boss Martin Whitmarsh said recently he is still interested in securing the young German’s services, despite recently slamming him as a “crash kid” after his collision at Spa with Jenson Button.

Whitmarsh admitted he tried to sign Vettel as Fernando Alonso’s replacement at the end of 2007, but found the rookie tightly under contract to Red Bull.

He is now signed up with Red Bull Racing until 2012.

“Now is 2010 so you never know what will be in 2012,” Vettel, 23, told the Singapore newspaper Today.

“Sure.  I think teams that are at the top are always very interesting because ultimately, my target is to win races.  McLaren has been up there for a long time so who knows,” he added.

Even with greener and more road relevant engine rules on their way for formula one, BMW is not expected to return any time soon.

That is the view of Dr Mario Theissen, the German carmaker’s motor sport director and former BMW-Sauber team principal.

BMW pulled out of formula one at the end of last year, insisting that its focus will instead be directed towards “sustainability and environmental compatibility”.

In 2013, F1 will install a new engine formula, featuring small turbo 4-cylinder units with an emphasis on energy-recovery KERS technology.

But when asked by 422race.com if it will entice BMW back onto the grid, Theissen answered: “Don’t expect that.”

Instead, BMW is focusing on Le Mans-style sports car programmes and probably the German DTM series.

“When we pulled out, this was a decision for many years, because it takes many years to put something together like this,” added Theissen.

“And the main reason was that we wanted to focus on production car racing instead of formula car racing.”

Pirelli’s 2011 tyres are currently only about one second off the pace of the sport’s existing supplier Bridgestone.

The Italian marque, arriving in F1 next year to replace the departing Bridgestone, is currently embarking on a track testing programme with a 2009 Toyota.

Anecdotal reports after the recent Monza outing, with Nick Heidfeld at the wheel, indicated that the white car was about 3 seconds slower than the lap times recorded during the Italian grand prix two weeks ago.

“So far our results are very encouraging,” said Pirelli chief executive Francesco Gori, according to motorline.cc.

“We have already done more than 4000 kilometres with very good results.

“If you consider that we are using a car from 2009 and therefore not as developed as the current cars, we are currently only a second off the lap times with the current tyres,” he added.

Heidfeld, now returning to racing with Sauber and replaced at Pirelli by Romain Grosjean and Pedro de la Rosa, said in Singapore: “I believe it will be a good tyre that we will see next year.

“So far they have been reliable, no technical problems whatsoever.  The grip level is within the range, so it looks positive for now,” added the German.

It almost would have worked out today evening in Singapore with Michael Schumacher’s first fastest time since the third free practice session at Suzuka in 2006, but in the end, the Mercedes driver had to be content with second place. Because after the 90 minutes it championship leader Mark Webber just displaced from the top.

The Red Bull driver lapped the street circuit in 1:54.589 minutes, thus faster than Schumacher, 0.119 seconds, which was to always find the leaders, although he learn the new route for it first had to. However, be the strong results of the seven-time world champion exaggerate not, after it was damp at the start and the track dried out slowly. Therefore, de facto, included only the last ten minutes on slicks.
In which it was quite turbulent, to – again and again took the driver exit or cut off one of the chicanes. However, none provided a truly devastating mistake, so the session went without any major incidents to an end. Exciting it was only in the closing stages, as the big favorites spared in moist conditions at the beginning of their tires and engines from the box and watched.

Only shortly before the finish was so surprised man Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) from the top displaced and still passed through to twelfth place. The Japanese ended up 1.750 seconds behind Webber, but remained narrowly ahead of his teammate Nick Heidfeld (13 / 1.869), returning to Singapore in the Grand Prix circus. Accordingly, the German looks happy: “With the first session, I am very satisfied,” he notes.

“I had this at the beginning take it easy, for I am ever not ridden in the wet. Also at the end, when it was still a bit damp, it was important for me to shoot many rounds,” said Heidfeld. “When I saw then, that not much time, I’ve been a bit more gas. Of course, I’m with the settings of the car not quite satisfied. The basis should be good, but because you can fine-tune still a lot.”

The second comeback was less striking: Christian Klien (HRT / 8.835) was due after 20 minutes the first rider to set a time landed, but after 90 minutes only on rank 23 – well before Lotus tail light Fairuz Fauzy (11.105), but just as well behind his team-mate Bruno Senna (22 / 5.194). Another new name, Jérôme D’Ambrosio (Virgin / 4.686), was a good 21, just behind stable-mate Timo Glock (20 / 4.445).

Sakon Yamamoto will not be driving in Singapore this weekend because he has food poisoning, HRT team boss Colin Kolles said before Friday’s initial evening practice practice.

The Japanese driver, who due to his powerful Japanese sponsors replaced team regular Karun Chandhok earlier this season, will be replaced by Christian Klien.

Austrian Klien, 27, a former Honda and BMW test driver, is the struggling Spanish team’s reserve driver, with almost 50 grands prix of experience with Jaguar and Red Bull.

Despite saying he thinks Yamamoto has food poisoning, Kolles said he cannot guarantee the 28-year-old will be recovered by his home race in Japan in two weeks.

Jarno Trulli has reportedly signed a contract to remain with Lotus for the team’s second season in 2011.

On Friday afternoon in Singapore, just before a heavy rain downpour, the Malaysian owned team confirmed reports that it will be known as the historic Team Lotus next year, rather than Lotus Racing.

The move follows team boss Tony Fernandes’ purchase of the name from David Hunt, with the separate Group Lotus believed to have signalled its intention to no longer allow the team to use the Lotus Racing moniker under license.

Lotus did not also confirm reports that it will be powered by Renault engines next year, but it is expected that an announcement about the team’s drivers for 2011 is imminent.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat claims that while Heikki Kovalainen signed a contract at Monza two weeks ago, his Italian teammate Trulli may only have inked a deal this week in Singapore.

Bernie Ecclestone has tipped Mark Webber to hold on to his championship lead until November’s chequered flag in Abu Dhabi.

“I am a big fan of Sebastian Vettel,” the F1 chief executive is quoted by Express newspaper in Singapore, “but Mark has done brilliantly well and at his age he is so hungry for it.”

Australian Webber, 34, holds a five-point lead over four other title contenders all within a points margin of a single race victory.

“He knows this might be the best chance of his career, maybe the only one, and that makes him very dangerous,” added Ecclestone.

Fernando Alonso is also singling out Webber as a major title contender.

“Mark has surprised everyone,” the Spaniard told Bild newspaper.  “He has been the most consistent of all of us and deserves his lead.”

After the two power circuits at Spa and Monza, Red Bull’s RB6 should be back to top form on the tighter streets of Singapore.

But some figures, notably those at McLaren, are expecting Red Bull’s dominance to have been numbed by the new flexible bodywork tests.

“I know from experience of testing the parts that they had, doing things they were doing, it was worth a lot of time,” said Lewis Hamilton.

“If they have stopped doing it then they will have lost a lot of time.”

But team consultant Helmut Marko warns that the RB6 could actually be faster than ever this weekend.

“We have come with an upgrade package that should make us two tenths faster,” he told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

But Webber cannot yet count on the support of his teammate Vettel.

Asked if he is now happy to back the Australian’s championship challenge, the German said in Singapore: “Things can change quickly.  There are no guarantees.

“Mark is in top position now but who knows in a few races’ time.”

Mark Webber, Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa have played down wild paddock rumours about possible movement in the 2011 driver market.

All three drivers are under contract with their existing teams for next year, but that has not stopped rumours that Webber or Kubica could be heading to Ferrari, while Massa is ousted from the Italian team to possibly find refuge at Sauber.

“I have a contract with Red Bull and I’m a man of honour,” Australian Webber is quoted by Turun Sanomat newspaper.

“I’d be very surprised if I’m not here next year.

“Moving to another team is something I’m not interested in.  It doesn’t seem to make sense to go and learn to work with another 500 people,” he said.

Asked if he would enjoy having Fernando Alonso as a teammate, Webber answered with a smile: “I doubt he is coming to Red Bull.”

Brazilian Massa also responded to the rumours.

“Every year we talk about who is going to replace me; I’m used to it,” the Brazilian is quoted by El Periodico.

“It has been Rossi, Kubica, Vettel — Alonso!” Massa smiled.  “I have signed a contract renewal for two seasons so this kind of thing makes me laugh.”

And Pole Kubica, currently at Renault for the foreseeable future, answered: “Of course I’m aware of the rumours.

“I don’t know where they come from.  All I can say is that I am with Renault.”

Lucas di Grassi is disappointed to be sitting out Friday evening’s initial practice session on the streets of Singapore.

For the next four initial Friday sessions in Singapore, Japan, Korea and Brazil, the Brazilian rookie must give up his Virgin cockpit to the team’s new test driver Jerome d’Ambrosio.

Di Grassi is quoted by the Brazilian outlet Agencia Estado as admitting that missing practice in Singapore is a particular disadvantage.

“This is my first time in Singapore.  It’s a pity I am missing the first session as the circuit is one of the most difficult in the entire calendar,” he said.

“But it was a team decision based on a financial issue and I must respect it,” added the 26-year-old.

“It’s going to affect my adaptation to the track conditions and also the balance of the car,” di Grassi warned.  “But I will do everything I can to make up for the lost time in the second practice.

“As a competitor, it’s a frustrating situation, but it’s a challenge that will not stop me from trying to do my best throughout the weekend,” he added.

If Belgian d’Ambrosio can amass EUR 5 million in sponsorship, it is believed Virgin is considering signing him to be Timo Glock’s 2011 teammate.

According to rumours in the Singapore paddock, the Toro Rosso and Sauber teams could be set for new ownership.

The Basler Zeitung newspaper claims Nick Heidfeld’s new tenure at Sauber could be short-lived because Mexican GP2 driver Sergio Perez stands a good chance of becoming Kamui Kobayashi’s 2011 teammate.

The rumours linking the Swiss team with Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, who sponsors Perez through his Telmex company, have been circulating for some time.

Sauber has already signed a Mexican, the teenaged Esteban Gutierrez, as its 2011 reserve driver.

Meanwhile, the Swiss newspaper Le Matin reports that Dietrich Mateschitz wants to sell Red Bull’s second formula one team Toro Rosso.

The report said the Austrian billionaire stands to make a handsome profit from the deal, because after buying Minardi for $40 million in 2006, the Faenza based team is now be worth three times that much.

Jacques Villeneuve/Durango was mentioned as a possible buyer.

Michael Schumacher on Thursday swiftly dismissed rumours he is considering returning to retirement at the end of the 2010 season.

Given the seven time world champion’s disappointing return to formula one this year, the latest rumours had been spurred on by Eddie Jordan, who said he sensed a flurry of paddock activity at Monza relating to a race cockpit possibly opening up at Mercedes.

But 41-year-old Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm dismissed that speculation, and the German driver was asked personally about the rumours in the floodlit Singapore paddock on Thursday night.

“You won’t get rid of me that easily!” he jokingly hit back at the local Asian reporter’s question, according to the German news agency SID.

Indeed, he said the Brackley based team has now completely switched its focus to 2011, and that he has been involved in “every detail” of the W01 car’s successor.

“The focus of the 2011 car is now 100 per cent,” said the record winner of 91 grands prix. “There will be no more development steps with the 2010 car, even if I think some good results are possible,” revealed Schumacher.

He is already signed up for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

“Our goal is the world championship — and the sooner the better,” said the former Ferrari driver.

“But we are in a process; we are not magicians,” added Schumacher. “But we have already started our process, while the teams fighting for the (2010) world are somewhat further behind.

“We are hoping for a small head start for 2011,” he said.

September 21, Touted as the belated final inspection date for Korea’s new F1 circuit, passed without notice.

That’s because it has been agreed with the struggling race organisers that the inspection can take place next week instead, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

Charlie Whiting’s inspection will now take place next Tuesday, despite the FIA rules requiring circuits to be given the green light several months before their debut race date.

But according to the German media report, it is only next week that the final layer of asphalt will be laid on the surface of the Yeongam layout.

Also to be inspected by Whiting will be the run-off areas, fences, walls and tyre barriers; crucial details that mere days ago were essentially incomplete.

Auto Motor und Sport said that, from a commercial point of view, the organisers have fully paid their race sanctioning fee.

“I believe it (the Korean circuit) will eventually be signed off because Bernie (Ecclestone) is desperate for it to be signed off.

“But it’s not great PR for the circuit or the FIA,” said Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary.