Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he would welcome Kimi Raikkonen back to Formula 1.

The 2007 world champion, having driven mainly in world rally but also Nascar-style racing since leaving Ferrari two years ago, is being strongly linked with a comeback with the Williams team.

New reports, including in the major Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, claim the 32-year-old has been training hard for the past four months to get back into shape for F1.

“It would be nice to see him do it,” F1 chief executive Ecclestone told Finnish broadcaster MTV3. “I am not sure if he is serious about it.”

Throughout the Indian grand prix weekend, Williams chairman Adam Parr batted away the Raikkonen speculation.

But he finally relented on Sunday in a television interview with the BBC. “From what we can all see, he (Raikkonen) is very hungry to come back,” said Parr, as Williams reportedly contemplates pairing Raikkonen with Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.

“And I think having a world champion in your midst of course energises people.” Contrary to recent speculation, Helsingin Sanomat said Williams does not need to secure new sponsors to sign Raikkonen.

“We need to get the best driver lineup for next year,” said Parr.

The feud between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa is entering a “dangerous phase”, a Brazilian correspondent wrote after Sunday’s Indian grand prix.
The 2008 championship challengers’ series of on-track collisions continued at the new Buddh circuit, but this time it was Massa who was penalised.

The suspicion is that by finally putting some blame on the Ferrari driver, tensions might equalise and the quarrel may end.

Johnny Herbert was the driver steward in India, but Alex Wurz has also fulfilled the FIA role in the past.

“In my opinion,” said the former Benetton and Williams driver, “it was 50:50. It was a normal racing incident.”

Still, tensions are high. Briton Hamilton put his arm around Massa after the minute’s silence on the grid to mark the deaths of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli.

“He hadn’t spoken to me for a long, long time,” revealed the McLaren driver. “I wished him good luck for the race and he gave me a really small acknowledgement, but I wasn’t expecting anything more really.”

Brazilian Massa later rubbished Hamilton’s pre-race efforts.

“He just said ‘Have a good race’. This is trying to — what?” he asked reporters. “‘Have a good race’ is not part of any talking.”

Then came the collision, and Hamilton did not comment at length afterwards as, according to the Telegraph, boss Martin Whitmarsh advised the driver to leave the track quickly.

According to O Estado de S.Paulo journalist Livio Oricchio, it is not just the media intrigue that must stop.

Shortly after two fatalities in premier motor racing, “Next time, it is them (Massa and Hamilton) who could be hurt,” he noted.

Sir Jackie Stewart, a staunch advocate of safety, was told the pair have touched on track in six of the 17 grands prix so far this year.

“It’s an alarming statistic,” said the triple world champion.

Whitmarsh urged them to sort it out.

“They’re young drivers but they’re not that young,” said the McLaren chief. “They’re men. They’ve been coming together too frequently.

“Felipe is under enormous pressure within that team and that causes him to react and, in truth, Lewis will be feeling under pressure because of the great performances of Jenson Button at the moment,” he added.

Nico Rosberg could be eyeing a switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, a “source” has told a German tabloid newspaper.
Mercedes chiefs Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug in India indicated they want to keep the 26-year-old beyond his contract, which according to reports is set to run until the end of next season.

But they also acknowledged that the “market is open”.

“In general you can go to the wrong team at the wrong team, which is a mistake every driver should try to avoid,” said motor sport director Haug.

Interestingly, Rosberg’s link to Ferrari follows the latest controversy involving Felipe Massa, after which the Brazilian continued to angrily slam his nemesis Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari has said it will honour Massa’s 2012 contract but may look to replace him beyond then.

Explaining Massa’s anger after his collision and penalty, Hamilton’s boss Martin Whitmarsh noted that the 30-year-old is “under enormous pressure within that team”.

The Cologne tabloid Express, meanwhile, noted that Mercedes is actually yet to confirm Rosberg, even for next year.

And the newspaper quoted a source as saying: “Nico is thinking about Ferrari.”

Sebastian Vettel on Sunday couldn’t resist pushing for F1′s coveted ‘clean sweep’ in India.
Having started from pole, and while comfortably leading at the new Buddh circuit, the back to back world champion pushed hard towards the end of the race to also capture the fastest race lap.

Two weeks ago in Korea, the German – having similarly cruised to victory – was chided by his Red Bull bosses after ignoring a request to resist the lure of being the race’s quickest driver.

In India, they tried again. “I got some calls from my engineer reminding me what is the target, (that) there is no trophy for fastest lap,” confirmed Vettel.

Those calls came before the penultimate lap, when the 24-year-old sped up. On the last lap, he was faster still.

“We spoke about doing that after the last race and Seb apologised,” smiled team boss Christian Horner, according to the Telegraph.

“And yet two weeks later here we are. But he’s a sensible boy. I’m sure that he builds in a pretty big margin.”

Red Bull did its best to guarantee that ‘margin’ by instructing Vettel to turn his engine down, and the KERS system off altogether.

“And he was still setting purple sectors at the end,” added Horner.

Vettel denied that collecting statistics and challenging records at present is one way to motivate himself now that he is dominating the sport.

“We are still hungry so we are not lacking motivation,” he insisted. “All the people come with their questions but we seem to give them the right answers.”

French hopeful Charles Pic has entered the race to replace Rubens Barrichello at Williams next year.
The 21-year-old GP2 driver’s mentor Olivier Panis, working with the Lagardere group, admitted recently he is in talks with Team Lotus and Virgin about 2012.

French broadcaster TF1 announced on Sunday morning from India that Pic, who is understood to carry some millions in potential backing for an F1 employer, has now signed with Virgin for 2012.

His press officer denied the news, telling Provence: “At this point, no agreement has been formalised.

“Charles is still in contact with three teams — Lotus, Virgin and Williams,” spokeswoman Muriel Belgy told the regional daily.

 Sebastien Buemi was close to tears after exiting Sunday’s Indian grand prix in a cloud of smoke.
The Swiss is under immense pressure to prove to Toro Rosso that he should be retained for 2012, as team owner Red Bull looks to place young hopefuls Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Jaime Alguersuari on the other hand appears increasingly established at the Faenza based team and in India pulled out his gap to Buemi to 11 points.

Buemi however was running eighth when his Ferrari engine failed.

He solemnly admitted to Blick newspaper that, given the driver situation for 2012, his current form is worrying.

“Sure. For 2012 only the results matter,” said the Swiss on the eve of his 23rd birthday.

“I hope the bosses will see that out of us (Buemi and Alguersuari) I’m the fastest driver on the track.

“Without luck, what can I do? I give everything but you’re helpless against fate. I will continue to push even though I’ve never seen so much Scheisse (sh*t).”

There are just two races left in 2011 for Buemi to show Red Bull that he should continue to be backed.

“In Abu Dhabi and Brazil you will again see a strong fight from me, even though I have much to lose in the battle. But I never give up,” he said.

As for whether he sees himself at Toro Rosso for a fourth consecutive season in 2012, he answered: “I can only hope.”

A point of interest throughout the Indian grand prix weekend was Ferrari’s “fluttering” front wing.
It is believed the Italian team, with a firm eye on 2012, is publicly experimenting with the sort of legal wing flexibility that is being mysteriously achieved by Red Bull.

At high speed at the Buddh circuit, a prototype version on Felipe Massa’s car was often seen wildly oscillating; a phenomenon referred to in the aviation industry as “flutter”.

“It does seem a bit exciting,” chuckled Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn after seeing the television images.

Given Ferrari’s good pace in India, some observers wondered if the wing movement might even be intentional.

Ferrari chief Stefano Domenicali played down that possibility.

“We will analyse the data now to see what causes this fluttering,” he is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

An amused onlooker this weekend was Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s revered designer.

“I don’t think Ferrari had this effect in mind,” he said. “Somehow it doesn’t look quite right. But if we are being used as a model, we take it as a compliment.”

 Martin Whitmarsh on Sunday confirmed reports McLaren is still opposed to the idea of ‘customer cars’ in formula one.
The possible redefinition of a ‘constructor’ will be debated next week at the F1 Commission in Geneva.

It is believed Bernie Ecclestone is now supportive of Ferrari’s renewed push to be allowed to sell an entire chassis to a small team.

The F1 chief executive’s support could be a move to further split the unity of the teams’ association, with McLaren and Red Bull reportedly opposed to the third car idea.

McLaren’s Whitmarsh is also the head of the team alliance FOTA, whose unity is already being tested by alleged breaches of the cost-limiting resource restriction agreement.

It is alleged the proponents of customer cars will argue that big teams are already selling their intellectual property through technology deals such as McLaren’s with Virgin.

In India, however, Whitmarsh confirmed his opposition.

“We have a duty to support the sport and the teams,” he is quoted by the Press Trust of India. “It (customer cars) will probably destroy the smaller teams.

“Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and maybe Mercedes can possibly do it, but if we manage the sport badly, the number of teams may drop to eight,” he said.

“There should be sustained business for all teams.”

 Mercedes’ works team will “definitely” be on the formula one grid in the coming three seasons, the marque’s motor sport president Norbert Haug confirmed in India.
But Ross Brawn was not willing to make the same guarantee about his job as team principal.

“I want to be here for the next three years,” the Briton told Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper in a joint interview with Haug.

“If you don’t perform, then you’re out. I am the boss. If the project is not running right, then it will be over,” predicted Brawn.

The same might be true for Michael Schumacher, whose current contract runs out at the end of next season.

By 2013, when he will be 44, will Schumacher be clearly too old to perform?

“I see no reason why,” insisted Brawn. “Everyone can see that Michael has stepped up this season and is still growing.

“If he can fight for podiums and wins next year, then why should he stop? At the same time if we are not successful next year, then his decision to stop will be easier.”

Brawn said the decision is ultimately Schumacher’s.

“It is very easy to talk to Michael about a new contract,” he said. “If he wants to continue, we will find a solution quickly. I don’t know what the outcome will be. And neither does he.

“Let’s see how good we are in 2012,” added Brawn.

Said Haug: “At the very least, I don’t think Michael has the intention to go to another team.”

It is arguably a more complicated situation with the other seat, as Nico Rosberg has clearly outperformed Schumacher in 2011 and 2011, attracting the attention of rival teams.

“The market is open,” admitted Haug. “And there are many drivers who are knocking on our door. But Nico wants to move forward and we want to do it with him.

“In general you can go to the wrong team at the wrong team, which is a mistake every driver should try to avoid.”

Brawn agreed: “Nico believes in the people here at Mercedes, and we believe in him. It’s just a matter of time.”

Haug said having the right driver is crucial for an F1 team, with the latest example being Red Bull.

“They have a fantastic car and a very stable team,” the German acknowledged, “but Sebastian Vettel makes the difference for them.

“Just look at the big gap between him and his teammate Webber, who I respect a lot. Sebastian is the key to their success,” added Haug.

 If Kimi Raikkonen does return to formula one, it won’t be because he admires the sport’s headline-writers.
Speculation is growing by the day that the 2007 world champion could return from his world rally and NASCAR experiment with the Williams team in 2012.

As for the specialist media, however, the notoriously reticent 32-year-old prefers rally.

“I have the feeling that the rally press is more interested in the discipline, and what is happening on the stages, rather than the F1 journalists who write c*** to make headlines,” Raikkonen is quoted by autohebdo.fr.

Where previously there was scepticism, however, there is a growing feeling in the formula one paddock that the Raikkonen rumours are real.

“I believe it could happen,” Felipe Massa, who paired with the Finn at Ferrari between 2007 and 2009, told Turun Sanomat newspaper in India.

Others are not sceptical that Raikkonen might return, but concerned that he will struggle even more than Michael Schumacher has during his own comeback.

“Michael has had quite a difficult time. You have to remember that when he left Michael had a much more competitive car than when he came back.

“Perhaps it would be the same for Kimi,” said Massa. “But anyway, Kimi is still young so in that sense the two-year absence is not very significant.

“When you are young, if you want to do something and you train hard enough, it is not impossible to have the same performance as you did before,” added Massa.

A mischievous rumour in the Buddh circuit paddock could help to explain the behaviour of Ferrari’s front wing this weekend.
The team set tongues wagging in India with another version of its 2012-style prototype wing.

At high speed, the behaviour of the wing has been described by observers as oscillating or – as per the aviation jargon – “fluttering”.

The wing was also flexing towards the track whilst obviously passing the aerodynamic load tests — a mysterious phenomenon first perfected by Red Bull.

Ferrari, competitive so far in India, may now be on the way to emulating the effect, less than two months after the Italian grand prix.

At Monza in September, Red Bull reportedly ‘lost’ an entire version of the dominant RB7′s front wing following Mark Webber’s crash.

According to Auto Motor Sport, some paddock figures “think the component ended up at Maranello”.

 The first reports of ‘Delhi belly’ affecting a formula one team this week have emerged from the McLaren garage.
SID news agency reports that the famous British team had to fly in from Woking some replacement staff, who had been placed on standby in case those in India suffered the notorious traveller’s illness.

The report quoted boss Martin Whitmarsh as revealing that four team members have been affected, with at least two already replaced.

Auto Motor und Sport says the affected number is closer to six.

“With the budget limitations (agreement), you cannot take spare staff to the races,” Whitmarsh said. “But we have had standby personnel in Britain for each position in the team.

“They all had a packed suitcase and were waiting for the call,” he added.

Vijay Mallya has flagged Abu Dhabi in two weeks as the accelerated deadline for the announcement of Force India’s 2012 driver lineup.
The billionaire had intended to hold off the call until mid December, but reports in the last week strongly suggest he has already settled on pairing Paul di Resta with Nico Hulkenberg.

That has worried Adrian Sutil, who – if he is ultimately to lose his seat – wants the time between now and the end of the year to find a new one.

“I am happy that he has understood this (need) now,” German Sutil is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Mallya told the SID news agency: “I have three top drivers, but only two can sit in the car. This is a difficult decision for me.”

He went on to hail Force India’s 2011 Friday and reserve driver, Hulkenberg.

“He has done his job very well, and the fact that he put his Williams on the pole position in Brazil (2010) says it all,” said Mallya.

Sutil, however, argues that he too has done a good job recently alongside his rookie teammate di Resta.

“I am doing the best job possible,” insisted the 28-year-old. “That should be quite obvious to people. But ultimately they must make the decision.”

With his sponsors Medion and Capri-Sun in tow, Sutil’s main alternative for 2012 is Williams.

“I will look around a bit, of course,” he admitted. “But I will behave loyally to my team that I have been together with for so long.

“Let’s wait for the decision.”

New fuel has been added to Ferrari’s push to have three cars on the formula one grid.
After India, key officials will move on to Geneva, when next Thursday the F1 Commission meets.

La Stampa newspaper reports that one of the topics on the agenda is the redefinition of a formula one constructor.

According to Italiaracing, the news emerged after a team bosses meeting in India on Friday.

The outcome of the F1 Commission vote will settle the debate about whether big teams should be able to rent or sell their chassis designs to smaller teams.

The Italian report said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is now on Ferrari’s side for a change of definition for the 2013 Concorde Agreement.

Ecclestone would reportedly like to see struggling teams like HRT be able to, for example, buy a Ferrari chassis and improve the show by running more competitively and attracting more sponsors.

And the advantage for Ferrari would be to gain a ‘satellite’ team to develop, for example, its young drivers and engineers.

La Stampa said key voices including McLaren and Red Bull are opposed to the idea.

The proponents, however, could argue that those teams are already sharing their intellectual property, including via McLaren’s deal with Force India, and Red Bull’s with Team Lotus.

With the championship victors now decided, one of the remaining points of interest in 2011 is the multi million dollar battle among F1′s non-top four teams.
“I am very disappointed,” said Peter Sauber after qualifying in India. “I was expecting more from the car and from the drivers,” he told Blick newspaper.

Kamui Kobayashi failed to speed out of Q1, and teammate Sergio Perez will start even further behind after receiving a grid penalty for ignoring yellow flags.

The Swiss team, seventh in the championship, is just three points ahead of the rapidly-improving Toro Rosso, whose drivers are both in the top ten for Sunday’s race.

The junior Red Bull team has been streaking forwards with its blown diffuser, a technology abandoned by Sauber after the FIA’s banning saga in July.

“Sauber are not our opponents,” admitted Force India team manager Otmar Szafnauer. The Silverstone based team is sixth in the points standings, nine ahead of Sauber and 12 ahead of Toro Rosso.

For Toro Rosso, the difference between eighth and sixth is many millions of dollars, distributed according to the tables in the confidential Concorde Agreement.

“We need to worry about Toro Rosso,” Force India’s Szafnauer told the Sonntagsblick newspaper.