Jules Bianchi is set to take over the role at Ferrari currently occupied by Giancarlo Fisichella.

The Italian team announced on Thursday that Frenchman Bianchi, a frontrunner in the GP2 series this year, will be a Ferrari “test driver” in 2011.

But Ferrari has not yet clarified if this means Bianchi will be taking over from Fisichella as the third/reserve driver.

Italian publication Autosprint believes he will.

The report said Fisichella will instead “be concentrating on racing touring cars” in 2011.

Mark Webber will not be testing Pirelli’s 2011 tyres in Abu Dhabi late next week.

But Red Bull boss Christian Horner denied the news is a sign the Australian’s disparaging comments in Brazil, and ensuing rumours that Webber will be leaving the team, had motivated the decision.

Instead, the fact that only Sebastian Vettel will be testing the new tyres for Red Bull next week was taken “six weeks ago”, Horner insisted.

It emerged on Thursday that neither of McLaren’s race drivers will be doing the Pirelli test.

But at Mercedes, Nico Rosberg will be equally sharing track time on the new tyres with his teammate Michael Schumacher.

“It is an important test because there is a lot to learn in a short time,” Rosberg is quoted in Abu Dhabi by Turun Sanomat.

“The new tyres will have a different behaviour that must be learned, like braking points and perhaps a different driving style,” added the German.

McLaren will be the only top team not deploying at least one of its race drivers for next week’s first Pirelli tyre test in Abu Dhabi.

“I wanted to do the test, but the team said ‘really we don’t think it’s the right time for you to be testing the tyres because they’re going to change a lot’,” Jenson Button told reporters at the Yas Marina circuit on Thursday.

Button said McLaren’s first “serious testing” with the 2011 tyres will therefore occur only after the MP4-25′s successor is launched.

Lewis Hamilton will also not be testing on 19-20 November, with Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey to drive the 2010 car instead.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) chairman Ron Walker has dashed to Abu Dhabi as a dispute threatens to race Melbourne off the 2011 calendar.

He said the country’s official motor racing body, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), is demanding $800,000 in fees to sanction the Albert Park event.

If the AGPC does not pay, CAMS is threatening to recommend to the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council that Australia be deleted from next year’s schedule, said Walker.

He said the situation follows the state Victorian government’s request that the organisation of the event be put to tender due to CAMS being “a monopoly”.

“We will not sign a new contract with CAMS unless they modernise their management and reduce their prices,” Walker is quoted by the AAP news agency.

He has travelled to Abu Dhabi for emergency talks with Bernie Ecclestone, who has said CAMS could be retained as the sanctioning body while another organiser – for example the organiser of the British grand prix – is appointed to run the 2011 race.

But CAMS “have said ‘you (must) re-hire us on our terms or we will apply to the FIA to have you removed from the calendar’,” Walker revealed.

Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Soft, Medium. Rear: Medium, Hard (both asymmetric)

The traditional two-day post-race test at Valencia proved a valuable opportunity for Bridgestone to continue with its fundamental tyre development programme and four test items were prepared for each of the 17 MotoGP riders.

The test items offered by Bridgestone were one developmental front tyre compound, two developmental rear tyre compounds and one developmental rear tyre construction, each of which was given valuable track time by almost all riders during the two days, despite their own busy test programmes.

Testing schedules were delayed on the opening day of the test due to early morning rain showers that left the track greasy, but in the afternoon Colin Edwards embarked upon an exhaustive tyre test with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team. Conditions on the second day were much improved, and with crucial track time under their belts almost all of the teams and riders tested the four new tyre specs.

The results of this test will allow Bridgestone to determine the direction of future tyre development.

Tohru Ubukata – Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyre Development Department
“This test was very valuable for us as we were able to obtain a great deal of data from our four developmental specs thanks to the support of the teams and the riders. During this test the teams and riders had intensive test programmes of their own but they dedicated time to our tyre test programme so I am very grateful to them for this. Our test programme of one front and three rear slick tyre specs is a fundamental study for our future tyre development and we obtained a lot of positive feedback and very promising data from these two days. From these results we can now start our new development strategy for the future. This test marks the end of field activity for 2010, and I want to thank all the teams and riders once more for their support of Bridgestone and our tyre testing not only these last two days but throughout the season.”

Karun Chandhok on Thursday admitted he is in talks with Force India about the 2011 season.

The Indian made his F1 debut with HRT this year but was ousted by the better-financed Sakon Yamamoto.

Chandhok has links with Force India through his father Vicky, a high ranking motor racing official who knows team boss Vijay Mallya well.

The 26-year-old has missed the past few grands prix but leaves for Abu Dhabi late on Thursday.

“I will be talking to four teams for next season’s contract and yes Force India is one of them,” he told the Indo-Asian News Service. “I am in regular touch with Vijay.

“I am also in talks with my present team Hispania. I hope to seal the deal by the end of December,” added Chandhok.

Jules Bianchi has been named by Ferrari as an official F1 test driver for the 2011 season.

But a spokesman insisted that the Italian team’s full plans for its support driver programme for next year have not yet been divulged.

Frenchman Bianchi, 21, who raced in GP2 this year and was a frontrunner, was already under long term contract to the Maranello based team as a development driver.

Ferrari announced on Thursday that he will be a “test driver” for the F1 team in 2011, and will contest the two-day young driver test in Abu Dhabi next week.

But the third/reserve role is different, and in 2010 it was fulfilled by Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gene. Luca Badoer is also a Ferrari test driver.

Bianchi is managed by Felipe Massa’s manager Nicolas Todt.

He is the grandson of Mauro Bianchi, a GT world champion, and the nephew of Lucien, Le Mans winner and competitor at 19 grands prix in the 60s.

The Ferrari spokesman said more announcements about F1 testing roles for the 2011 season are scheduled for later this year.

Daniel Ricciardo’s role for the 2011 season is not yet clear.

The Australian, at the very top of Red Bull’s junior programme, has been the F1 reserve driver in 2010 and is scheduled to drive the title-winning RB6 in next week’s post-season tests.

But after finishing this year’s Formula Renault 3.5 series in second place, the 21-year-old’s full time role for 2011 has not yet been announced.

Red Bull’s secondary F1 team Toro Rosso has said it is retaining both Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari next year.

GP2 might then be seen as the logical next step for Ricciardo.

But Red Bull’s motor sport consultant Helmut Marko admitted to Auto Motor und Sport: “We still don’t know what we are going to do with him next year.”

Ross Brawn has denied claims a wave of layoffs is on the cards for the Mercedes GP staff.

At the end of a disappointing 2010 season, it is expected that – for example – chief driver engineers Andy Shovlin (Michael Schumacher) and Jock Clear (Nico Rosberg) are set to be replaced ahead of next season.

But team boss Ross Brawn insisted: “We are not letting anyone go, but some engineers will have new responsibilities.

“There are a few new people too,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.

Schumacher’s new engineer is believed to be Mark Slade, who arrives from Renault having worked alongside Vitaly Petrov in 2010.

And Rosberg’s new engineer will be Tony Ross, who worked with the German driver for years at Williams.

Mark Webber on Thursday denied that Sunday’s Abu Dhabi grand prix could be his last.

The Australian, in the running for the 2010 title, was outspoken about his position at Red Bull a week ago in Brazil, sparking rumours he is set to walk away not only from Red Bull but also formula one.

But the 34-year-old has a contract for 2011 and he told Auto Motor und Sport that he is still feeling good about his career.

“I still feel butterflies in my stomach before a race. When I no longer care if I’m beaten or not, that’s the time to stop,” he told the German publication.

But Webber, who has lived in the UK for years, admits that it has been hard at times to be away from his real home.

“A racer’s life takes a lot of effort and many sacrifices,” he said.

“My opponents live in Europe and between races often go home. But I’m in Australia maybe five weeks a year. I still have the motivation at the moment,” added Webber.

But he is not willing to commit beyond 2011.

“Yes, pretty much I’m taking (my career) on a year by year basis,” he told the Australian news agency AAP, also denying he has any plans to quit after Sunday.

But he acknowledges that retirement is looming at some point in the future.

“I’m a little bit wary of it,” he continued to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“For everyone in it (F1), your whole rhythm of life revolves around it. When you wake up on Monday morning, you check on the computer the data from the race sent by the team.

“Then I speak to my race engineer on the phone. Your life (in retirement) takes a whole new direction.

“It will be a new experience. You’ve spent most of your life doing nothing else but racing. I’m not there yet, but I really want to get the timing right.”

Timo Glock on Thursday sounded more confident about his future.

Days ago, the German refused to definitively confirm that he will still be with the Virgin team in 2011.

Earlier, the new British team’s boss John Booth said the German’s contract for next year is “set in stone”.

But when asked for confirmation at Interlagos, 28-year-old Glock said when asked if he is staying in 2011: “At the moment it looks like it.”

He was present on Thursday for the announcement that Russian supercar maker Marussia has bought into the team and will become title sponsor in 2011.

“I see this as a positive step because it gives the team financial security and a boost in the right direction,” Glock is quoted by the SID news agency.

“This is what we need to take a step forward,” he added.

Also at the announcement at the magnificent five-star Yas Marina Hotel that straddles the F1 track, team boss John Booth said Glock’s teammate for 2011 was currently the subject of discussion.

“Certainly I’d think (a decision will be made) before Christmas,” he said.

Virgin will announce officially on Thursday morning that it has sold a major stake in the new British F1 team to Russian supercar maker Marussia.

The announcement will take place at the plush Yas Marina Hotel, which straddles the formula one circuit.

Virgin confirmed that announcements about the team’s “plans for 2011″ are scheduled for Thursday at 11.30 local time.

The news follows reports earlier this week that team sponsor Marussia, headed by racing driver and Russian Top Gear presenter Nikolai Fomenko, is buying into the team.

Fomenko confirmed to state owned news agency Ria Novosti that Marussia Motors has acquired a “significant stake” in Virgin Racing.

“Now we can state with full certainty that we have our team in formula one,” he said.

“Of course, it was not an easy decision for us. I’m not entitled to disclose the contract value, but it’s big money, believe me.”

The contract was reportedly signed in London last Saturday, with the team to be called ‘Marussia Virgin Racing’ and the 2011 car to be launched in Moscow early next year.

Marussia co-investor Andrey Cheglakov said the marque wants to keep ‘Virgin’ in its F1 name “to gain better recognition for the team itself”.

A report in the Financial Times said Marussia is buying out the team stake previously held by Lloyds Banking Group.

In 2010, Renault rookie Vitaly Petrov became the first Russian driver in F1, and a deal for a Russian grand prix near Sochi in 2014 was signed.

Fomenko said he would be interested in signing Petrov in the future.

“Today I am unable to provide him with a competitive car. And he needs to continue his career in a fast car. Just wait for one more season,” he said.

Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina venue can stay on the F1 calendar “for ever”, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has enthused.

“If only all the venues were as superb as Abu Dhabi I would be one happy man,” the Briton told Gulf News.

Abu Dhabi joined the tail-end of the F1 schedule last year, with the more than billion-dollar venue situated on the harbour of the superb tourism island Yas and straddled by a colour-changing five-star hotel.

Said Ecclestone: “After last year’s debut race there I just sat back and wallowed in all the compliments that were heaped on the place from people all over the world.

“How long is their arrangement to hold a grand prix? For ever. For as long as they want it. That’s how satisfied I am with the entire setup,” he added.

The 80-year-old’s enthusiasm might of course be coloured by the premium annual race fee of $40 million paid by the organisers.

Ecclestone replied: “I am well aware that I am regarded as hard, uncompromising and uncaring and that I am driven by money. I don’t care.

“There are plenty of people in F1 who are very wealthy because of the way I am and my attitude to business and the sport. And they should be thankful for the positions I have taken, not always popular, over the years to give F1 an international profile.

“Sure, I have benefited personally, but so, too, have the teams. I have put a lot back. A lot of effort. Between us we have a duty to be sure that F1 survives at all levels as an enhanced spectacle,” he said.

Ecclestone said F1′s other Middle Eastern host, Bahrain, is also one of his favourite stops on the calendar.

“I have nothing but the highest praise for the people behind both venues. They have been absolutely brilliant, a total treat to deal with, and have achieved everything I have asked without a single word of disagreement,” he said.

Christian Klien will follow up his Interlagos race seat with another grand prix outing for the HRT team in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

A hint about the struggling Spanish team’s driver lineup for the 2010 finale came earlier this week, when it emerged that Austrian Klien had travelled from Brazil to the Middle East while Japanese regular Sakon Yamamoto was still in Tokyo.

As was the case in Brazil, HRT is shedding no light on the reasons for the Yamamoto substitution.

But it is believed the team is hoping to luck into a good result late this season in order to beat Lotus to the coveted tenth place in the constructors’ standings.

Klien, 27, has appeared to be the most competitive of the four drivers fielded this year by HRT, including Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok.

“It’s my third chance to compete for the team this season and I’m getting more and more used to the car and the crew,” said the Austrian, who will be learning the Yas Marina layout on Friday.

Sebastian Vettel says thinking about a team strategy this weekend is his third priority at best for the Abu Dhabi season finale.

If – as he did in Brazil last weekend – the German wins on Sunday ahead of his teammate Mark Webber, it will be Fernando Alonso who is crowned world champion.

With ‘team orders’ illegal and ruled out by his employer Dietrich Mateschitz, whether Vettel will voluntarily move over to help Webber win the title is therefore “hotly debated” at present, the 23-year-old admitted.

“Without joking, I am not thinking about it now,” he told Bild newspaper whilst travelling by plane to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

“My first goal is pole position, my second is winning the race. And if necessary I can analyse the situation and decide very quickly,” added Vettel.

The marketing professor at the top Spanish business school IESE thinks Mateschitz’s approach to the 2010 season finale is very clever.

Red Bull car designer Adrian Newey is the latest to weigh in on the debate, insisting that both drivers will have a free run to the title this weekend but hoping that one might be “magnanimous” enough to help the other.

“If they lose the championship, they have not betrayed the values that convey the brand, so Red Bull still wins. They cannot lose,” marketing professor Jose Luis Nueno told El Pais newspaper.

Another global marketing expert, Josep Franch of the ESADE business school in Barcelona, asked rhetorically: “Is if profitable for Red Bull to fail to win in order to defend their ideals?”

Answered Miquel Altarriba, of the Universitat Ramon Llull: “I do not think Red Bull will betray its identity.”

“If they lose with this strategy, it will not work out badly for them,” he thinks.