Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed as “complete nonsense” Luca di Montezemolo’s new threat about a F1 series breakaway in 2013.

Just as the major teams threatened a split last year whilst in conflict with the FIA about budget caps, Ferrari president Montezemolo told international reporters this week that F1 should share more of its revenue after the current Concorde Agreement expires at the end of 2012 or lose its major players.

“It’s what he (Montezemolo) says every time he goes to Monza (Maranello) every year. ‘We need more money’,” 80-year-old F1 chief executive Ecclestone reacted to the Reuters news agency.

“They’re not going to break away,” he insisted. “They’ve tried it all before. Luca’s a lovely guy but he likes to say these things and then he forgets what he is saying.”

City mayor Anatoly Pakhomov has admitted the inaugural Russian grand prix may not take place as scheduled in 2014 if its organisation disrupts parallel preparations for the Winter Olympics.

A “worried” International Olympic Committee spokesman admitted last month that it will be “impossible” for the city to organise the two major events at the same time.

Mayor Pakhomov has now told Reuters that postponement of the F1 race is possible but he foresees both events going ahead.

“I don’t foresee any slippage of the race into 2015 being necessary,” he said.

The F1 circuit is expected to use many of the facilities that are being built for the Olympics, including the international media centre and hospitality structures.

Organisers of the 2012 United States grand prix have submitted plans for the bespoke circuit outside of Austin with F1′s governing FIA.

The lodging is earlier than expected, with the body’s Circuit Commission not scheduled to meet until February.

“Our early submission is a true indicator of our ability to meet our slated opening in 2012,” said promoter Tavo Hellmund.

FIA senate president Nick Craw met with Hermann Tilke official Peter Wahl and Hellmund in October, and according to the Austin American Statesman newspaper said: “I have a very high degree of confidence that they’ll bless it (the plan).”

Added Hellmund: “Tilke has done this a million times so they know what is needed. It’s all the civil engineering. It’s a big book, a massive document.

“It’s a blueprint for what the track is going to look like with all the cross-grading and everything,” he explained.

The submission of the plans sets in motion the process for the circuit’s mandatory homologation.

“We look forward to approval and positive feedback from the FIA Circuit Commission, which will meet in February to review our submission,” said Hellmund.

Toro Rosso on Friday confirmed that its 2011 car will be launched on the first day of winter testing.

A spokesman for the Faenza based team said earlier this month that the STR6 is scheduled to be up and running “for the first test in Valencia” on 1 February.

The team confirmed the news with a media statement on Friday, revealing that the Ferrari-powered car will be unveiled for the first time at about 9am.

Sebastian Vettel has told Paul di Resta he hopes to see his former F3 championship rival and teammate on the formula one grid next year.

Scottish driver di Resta, who is a year older than the new F1 champion, beat 23-year-old Vettel to the F3 Euro Series title by 11 points in 2006 when they were both with the French ASM team.

So when Mercedes-Benz hailed its new DTM champion in Stuttgart on Thursday, Vettel appeared by video link and according to motorsport-magazin.com told di Resta: “I hope to see you in formula one next year.”

And the SID news agency quotes Vettel as adding: “Hopefully it will not be as tight as it was in F3!”

Di Resta, who won five F3 races compared to Vettel’s four in 2006, is now strongly linked with a Force India race cockpit for 2010 after serving as third driver this season.

He is reportedly in competition with Vitantonio Liuzzi and Nico Hulkenberg, with Adrian Sutil saying again this week that he has agreed a deal to stay with the Silverstone based team in 2011.

“We have reached an agreement. The signature is a mere formality, which will happen,” DPA news agency quotes Sutil as having told the broadcaster Eurosport.

“The drivers who do not have a contract yet want to join the team because it is the best team with an open place,” the German added.

Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly bought Flavio Briatore’s share of Queens Park Rangers and now owns the “majority” of the London football club.

It was earlier believed that both Briatore and Ecclestone were keen to sever their ties with QPR, with Force India boss Vijay Mallya close to buying the club.

But British newspapers quote F1′s 80-year-old chief executive as confirming that he has increased his stake to more than 60 per cent.

“I haven’t bought the club to see my name in the papers, I have bought it to support (QPR manager) Neil (Warnock),” the Daily Star quotes Ecclestone as saying.

“Neil tells us how to kick the ball and now our aim is the Premier League,” he added.

The Mirror said the club’s departed chairman Briatore is believed to still hold a nominal shareholding.

“I now own about 62 per cent of the club,” said Briton Ecclestone.

“I’m not thinking about competing with Manchester United or Arsenal. It is just something that I enjoy doing and we will just see what happens,” he added.

As the Lotus dispute rages on, Tony Fernandes has hit back at Dany Bahar’s claim that the parties did not unite in F1 due to his “ridiculous and absurd” demands.

Bahar, Group Lotus’ CEO, had responded to journalists’ claim this week that the logical solution was a deal with Fernandes rather than the confusing prospect of two warring teams both called Lotus in 2011.

The Swiss had gone so far as to reveal that Fernandes demanded “three times” the money that has ultimately been invested in the Renault deal.

“Interesting to read Dany Behar’s comments about wanting to work with us, don’t think anyone here noticed that!” said Team Lotus technical boss Mike Gascoyne on Twitter.

The Briton’s boss also slammed Bahar’s claims.

“The thing that has annoyed me most is Dany Bahar implying we wanted too much money and that Renault was a third of the cost of what it would have been to do a deal with Lotus Racing,” Fernandes told the BBC.

“They have been quoted saying they are spending in the region of 15-20m (pounds) a year on Renault, which implies we asked for 45-60 million. That’s more than our entire budget,” said the Malaysian.

“We were never close to an offer and it’s completely untrue to say we requested three times what they’re paying Renault.”

The worsening war-of-words between the two Lotuses has highlighted the need for a resolution, and Bahar said this week he is confident the two Malaysian sides – Group Lotus owner Proton and Fernandes – want to avoid a deeper battle.

“We are pragmatic,” said Fernandes. “There should be a solution, but we should also do what is right for the brand.

“Our licensing agreement was unceremoniously terminated unlawfully and at any stage we would welcome a way to sort this out. But it’s got to be equitable and respect what we have done,” he insisted.

“If they (Group Lotus/Proton) come off their high horses, who knows?

“I’d say it’s highly unlikely but three months ago if you’d said Group Lotus would be sponsoring Renault, I’d have laughed at you. It’s a branding disaster,” added Fernandes.

According to Luca di Montezemolo, there is still a risk that formula one teams will break away and form a rival series after 2012.

Although the political row with departed FIA president Max Mosley ended with peace, the current Concorde Agreement expires before the 2013 season and the Ferrari president hints that the teams are once again pushing for more of the sport’s lucrative revenue.

According to the Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary who attended Thursday’s media dinner with Montezemolo, the 63-year-old likens F1 at present to a “prison”.

“We are at a crossroads,” said Montezemolo.

He said three scenarios are possible: the status quo, new owners for the sport with Bernie Ecclestone in charge, or a model like “the NBA”.

America’s premier basketball league is owned by the teams.

“In the end we can always find a different promoter. At the end of the day this business is not so complicated,” said Montezemolo.

Whether or not the latest breakaway threat will fail as did all the others, Ferrari’s clout is as powerful as ever and Montezemolo made clear he is no fan of the new four-cylinder engine formula for 2013.

Suffering from a bad cold and not eating dinner along with his colleagues, Montezemolo was quoted by Germany’s Welt newspaper: “We must not exaggerate the savings.

“We also must not overdo it, as we have done already with the testing ban.”

The Spanish newspaper El Pais quotes him as adding: “Ferrari will never make (road) cars with four cylinders.

“(And) what they (FIA) want to do is cut costs, but all they do is raise them if the rules change every five minutes. This is formula one, which should be the spearhead of technological development.”

He played down persistent rumours that, as a reaction to Ferrari’s championship loss due to a simple strategy mistake, significant heads will roll.

“At Ferrari we believe in stability,” the Spanish sports newspaper Marca quotes him as saying.

“But that doesn’t mean the team is locked, we need to open the window from time to time to breathe fresh air.”

On the subject of newly-legalised team orders, Montezemolo admitted for the first time that Ferrari went too far in Austria in 2002; the place-swapping controversy that triggered the ban.

“I think it (the team order in Austria) was too soon (in the season), but not in the case of Germany (2010),” he said. “Fernando was faster than Felipe.

“What is not right is when it is taking place in the first races of the year.”

He said Felipe Massa will therefore begin 2011 on an equal footing with Fernando Alonso. “I want two drivers fighting for the championship, not someone frustrated at the first race.

“This is very important, but in the second half of the season we will have an open mind and understand that the drivers know what to do if needed.”

Montezemolo promised that if team orders are deployed, it will be done transparently for the benefit of the spectators.

He also teased those present who were hoping for a shock announcement about his decision to enter Italian politics.

“I have an important announcement to make,” he joked. “I am starting my own party!

“Seriously, I have spoken with the Ferrari family and I can say that my future is here. This work is my life and it will remain so.”

Team boss Colin Kolles on Wednesday blamed HRT’s lack of success in 2010 on its selection of inexperienced drivers.

The Spanish team, ultimately 11th in the constructors’ championship ahead of Virgin but with the least competitive car in the field, began its debut season with the rookie pairing Bruno Senna alongside Karun Chandhok.

Brazilian Senna contested most of the season but the more experienced Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien also drove for HRT in 2010.

“It was a difficult year but we were the most reliable new team,” said Kolles in an interview distributed by the Spanish team.

“I think the only reason why we did not finish tenth is that teams like Lotus and Virgin had more experienced drivers during the whole season.

“I think that in testing we showed quite a good performance in relation to the other new teams,” he added.

Speculation has surrounded the future of Hispania, particularly with the split with 2011 partner Toyota leaving the team precious little time to prepare a better car.

Reports in recent days indicated a possible link with former Super Aguri technical director Mark Preston’s Formtech company, but the Australian has confirmed that he has not been in contact with HRT.

Kolles nevertheless sounds confident.

“We are working to have a better package than last year. Obviously this depends on a lot of factors but we are working to achieve our goals,” he said.

After Renault apologised last week for calling him a liar and blackmailer, Nelson Piquet has now issued his own apology to the wider world.

Having lost his Renault seat last year, the Brazilian revealed to the FIA that he was ordered by his team bosses to crash deliberately in Singapore 2008 to aid his teammate’s winning race strategy.

The saga became known as ‘crashgate’ and Piquet, now 25, is rebuilding his career in America, including by agreeing a deal to race full time in the NASCAR truck series in 2011.

Asked in Sao Paulo about the crashgate affair, Piquet is quoted by Brazil’s Globo Esporte: “It was an unfortunate episode that is over now.

“I made a mistake, I was immature, I apologise.

“It happens to many young people who get to a position in a global sport and they’re not prepared.

“What I can guarantee is that it will never happen again. I am restarting my career, getting a second chance, and I think I deserve it. I’ve already proved to everyone that I am a winning driver,” he insisted.

Piquet said his goal now is to open the door for Brazilians to succeed in NASCAR.

“I want to be one of the first Brazilians to do a full season and to be the first Brazilian champion,” he revealed.

“It’s great to open the door for other Brazilians coming to America. There are already many Brazilians racing in Europe and worldwide.”

Piquet admitted it might take him some time to reach the pinnacle of the American racing scene, the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“Our plan is to be in the main category in five to six years,” he said. “We don’t really know how quickly it will evolve, it could be a little more (time) or a little less.

“But I don’t want to get to the main category unprepared to compete for the title,” added Piquet, who is moving to North Carolina.

Jaime Alguersuari has revealed he has “no idea” why the recently published FIA entry list does not feature his name.

But the Spaniard is quoted by the sports newspaper Marca as insisting he will be on the 2011 grid next March at the wheel of a Toro Rosso.

The Red Bull-owned team has announced on more than one occasion that Alguersuari, 20, and his Swiss teammate Sebastien Buemi are staying put for 2011.

And even after the publication of the double ‘TBA’ on the entry list alongside Toro Rosso’s name, official team sources clarified that the driver lineup is not in doubt.

Asked why he was left off the list, Alguersuari – a keen amateur DJ – joked: “Because I’m thinking about leaving F1 for music.

“I am with Toro Rosso, for sure. I don’t know why people are playing this game — I am in formula one, 100 per cent.”

He said his goal for 2011 is to “be among the top ten in every race”.

“I want to keep doing the work we have been doing and above all to finish seventh or eighth in the constructors’ championship,” added Alguersuari.

“The team and I gave everything this year. We didn’t have the car for any more. On a personal level I’m happy with myself and I hope that in 2011 we can keep improving,” he said.

On his goals beyond 2011, Alguersuari told La Vanguardia: “I want to be with Red Bull (Racing) and I’d like to be there in two years.”

He admits that “depends on how next season goes”.

On team orders being legalised for next season, Alguersuari commented: “I see it as positive because each team needs to look out for its own business.”

As for his tip for the 2011 title, he admitted: “I sense that McLaren will have a great car next year, I don’t know why. I think Hamilton can win.

“Ferrari’s (car) will also be great. I see the title between Fernando and Lewis and Red Bull surely also there and very competitive,” added Alguersuari.

Vitantonio Liuzzi has declared once again that he has an ongoing contract and therefore expects to stay at Force India in 2011.

Although next year’s FIA entry list currently lists no drivers as confirmed for the Silverstone based team, it is widely believed that Adrian Sutil is staying put.

Speculation also suggests that Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg are the candidates to race alongside German Sutil next season.

Italian Liuzzi confirms: “Every time a driver is mentioned who Force India might be interested in, it always seems that I am the one who will have to make the space.

“But this is only what some media say, because from my side I am very calm,” the 29-year-old said in an interview published on Italian magazine Autosprint’s website.

“On the team’s side, no one has said anything to me about it. I have a contract for next season and I am already working from that perspective,” added Liuzzi.

“I feel safe, not only because of the contract in my hand but also because of my good relations with the team,” he continued.

“The team has told me they cannot stop the media (speculation), and already at a press conference at Suzuka they denied the rumours,” said Liuzzi.

Indeed, ahead of the Japanese grand prix in October, deputy team principal Robert Fernley answered “yes” as to whether both Sutil and Liuzzi are staying in 2011.

But subsequently, team owner and boss Vijay Mallya said Force India has “open spaces” for 2011.

The 2011 entry list appeared to confirm Mallya’s statement.

Liuzzi responded: “The fact that my name is not on the list has nothing to do with it as there are also other drivers (not on the list) who have already signed.

“Between myself and Force India, the situation is more than clear,” he insisted.

“I have heard many things but then you realise they have come from nowhere. If you remember, according to some journalists di Resta was already sitting in my car in the middle of last season, but then I finished normally.

“So I have decided to pay no attention to anything except for what I am told directly by the team,” added Liuzzi.

A cheeky Italian journalist risked the ire of Luca di Montezemolo on Tuesday during the Ferrari president’s annual Christmas dinner for the country’s media.

Asked what Christmas present he is planning for Fernando Alonso, the 63-year-old replied: “What the heck do you give him?

“He earns enough,” laughed Montezemolo, who gave each of the reporters a model of this year’s F10. “And I already give him a F1 car!” he quipped.

Amused that Montezemolo seemed not to be planning a gift at all, the questioner cheekily hit back: “I’m not asking you what you’re going to give Chris Dyer…”

Chief engineer and Australian Dyer is thought at risk of losing his job after bungling the race strategy that cost Alonso the drivers’ title last month in Abu Dhabi.

Montezemolo repeated again that Ferrari is not planning a major staff upheaval before the 2011 season, but that “some adjustments” are likely to take place.

He also played down rumours he is preparing to enter Italian politics, or that Ferrari to be floated on the stock exchange.

Montezemolo will similarly meet with international journalists on Thursday.

Giedo van der Garde might still be in the running for the Virgin seat alongside Timo Glock in 2011.

Last week, it emerged that Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio’s hopes had advanced so far that he only needed the approval of team partner Marussia to secure the race seat.

But Dutchman van der Garde, whose manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen is also commercial director of the fashion brand McGregor, has also been strongly linked with Virgin for 2011.

“Giedo is ready,” said ten Hoopen. “We hope that a decision is taken for Christmas.”

The magazine formule1.nl reports that Lucas di Grassi, the seat’s 2010 occupant, also stands a chance of staying at Virgin.

Ten Hoopen denies that money alone will determine the victor.

“Teams look at three things: speed, potential and budget,” he insisted.

“It’s not like the one with the most money automatically gets the spot. Giedo has developed enormously in recent years and is thus an attractive partner for a team,” he added.

“The plan we set out has largely been realised: champion in the Renault World Series, a good debut in GP2 with a top classification and some wins, and in the second year champion.

“The latter didn’t quite work out for various reasons not only under Giedo’s control.

“He is right when he said going into formula one will be difficult, but we do believe that he has a chance,” added van der Garde’s manager.

Mark Webber has played down the likely impact of F1′s lifting of the ban on team orders.

“People shouldn’t get too nervous about it. They’re not going to see it every weekend,” said the Australian.

Webber was an advocate of a team strategy in Red Bull’s recent championship campaign, arguing that the 2002 ban did not stop orders from being imposed in F1.

The FIA has decided to lift the ban for 2011 after Ferrari’s team strategy at Hockenheim this year showed that enforcement is difficult and controversial.

“I think the Ferrari one was pretty brutal and that’s as bad as it gets,” Webber said on Tuesday on BBC radio.

But as for team orders ‘returning’ next year, he laughed: “Yeah, like they ever went!

“When you’ve got two drivers driving for a team and you can swing the results around every now and again to help the team achieve a better result … it has been done in the past, it’s been done up and down the field.

“I’ve done it myself at times. I’ve been on the receiving end of it and done it as well in teams I’ve driven for in the past,” revealed Webber, 34.

His comments are at odds with the policy of strict driver equality at Red Bull, but Webber insists that his spats were never so serious in 2010 as to cause him to think about leaving.

“I knew as a team we could go through growing pains this year and go forward from it,” said Webber.

“So it never went through my mind that I needed to go somewhere else.”

During the interview, however, Webber did admit that most F1 drivers secretly covet a Ferrari seat.

“I will take each year as it comes,” he said. “Contract time always comes around and you’re either wanted or you’re not. Let’s see what happens in 2012.

“I still need to want to do it. What’s really important is that you finish on top of your game. I don’t want to be beaten by some guys who I don’t think should (beat me).”