Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that formula one destroyed his long marriage.
The F1 chief executive was married to Slavica, the mother of his two daughters, for almost 25 years until 2009.

“I have worked very, very hard for formula one and probably so intensively that it destroyed my marriage,” Ecclestone, to turn 81 on Friday, told Germany’s Die Welt newspaper.

“I’m too busy and I enjoy what I do,” he explained. “Most of the time I work from nine to six, and even then in the evenings, seven days a week.

“She (Slavica) was not happy about it. I tortured her with my work for 25 years and now she travels around the world like there’s no tomorrow. She’s trying to catch up,” said Ecclestone.

Asked if he ever goes on holiday, the diminutive Briton answered: “Very rarely, and not for long anyway. Ten days off was the most I’ve done in 50 years. I don’t need to rest.”

Mark Webber has admitted he is focused on overtaking his rivals to take second place in the drivers’ world championship.
With the drivers’ and constructors’ titles now both in the bag, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said recently that helping Webber climb from fourth to second is the team’s remaining objective for 2011.

Asked if he is happy to give up wins so that Webber can outscore Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, world champion Vettel admitted: “Yeah, definitely.”

Australian Webber told India’s Mid Day: “The entire team is behind me in support for the number 2 position.

“With the constructor’s title in the bag, and Seb having won the drivers’ title, a Red Bull one-two in the drivers’ championship will be a great achievement and a fantastic way to end the season.”

And ahead of 2012, Webber denies he will be under pressure to finally beat Vettel for ultimate spoils.

“Not really,” the 35-year-old insisted. “In fact, I think the pressure is on him because he has to defend.”

The promoter of F1′s newly announced New York round has denied doubting the separate US grand prix in Texas will ever take place.
Austin is scheduled to host the sport on a purpose-built circuit late next year, but there has been speculation construction is seriously delayed and that state funding may be in danger.

New Jersey’s 2013 race, however, will take place on existing roads alongside the Hudson river, and the event is being funded privately.

“There’s not a yard of dirt being moved,” promoter Leo Hindery told a New York Times blog. “We’re pennies on the dollar compared to Austin.”

The column also quoted Hindery as saying: “I wouldn’t bet on Austin making it.”

But in a telephone interview with the Austin American Statesman newspaper on Wednesday, Hindery denied making the latter statement.

The NY Times author Jonathan Schultz insists however that Hindery was quoted accurately.

But Hindery told the local Austin publication: “I have no scepticism about Austin.”

Vicky Chandhok experienced a classically harrowing moment on Wednesday when greeted by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone at the new Buddh circuit.
The first Indian grand prix has endured a tumultuous build-up, but the Hermann Tilke-designed venue has ultimately been delivered just on time.

“You are always nervous,” Tilke admitted to the German news agency DPA. “Little things do go wrong at a (circuit’s) first grand prix.”

One of those ‘little things’ was the presence of mouse droppings all over the brand new team facilities buildings, and faulty wiring that had to be fixed, an unnamed member of the Williams team revealed.

Tilke told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper: “We did the project and advised the work. We are not responsible for the buildings.”

And Germany’s Die Welt revealed that there was a worrying glitch during a safety test this week when key marshals could not find the medical centre even after 20 minutes.

Vicky Chandhok, the boss of India’s motor sport clubs, admits he felt a rush of adrenaline when sternly greeted by Ecclestone on Wednesday.

“I had Charlie (Whiting) drive me round the track this morning, and afterwards Bernie came up, slapped my face and he said to me, How did you put up such rubbish?” he told the Daily Mail.

“I looked at him aghast and said, What are you saying?” added Chandhok.

“Then he laughed, gave me a big hug, a slap on the back and said ‘Great job’.”

 French GP2 driver Charles Pic’s manager has confirmed talks about securing a place in formula one next year for the 21-year-old.
Pic, fourth in this year’s GP2 championship, has been linked recently with a Toro Rosso test in Abu Dhabi next month, and possibly a race seat with Virgin in 2012.

His mentor and manager Olivier Panis, however, indicated that a role as a “third driver” for Pic is most likely.

“We have had discussions mainly with Team Lotus and Virgin Racing,” said the former grand prix winner, working with Pic’s management Lagardere.

“There are two other possibilities that Charles will be in F1 next year, as a third driver, but nothing is signed yet and the discussions are continuing,” Panis told the French daily L’Equipe.

He admitted that the first step for Pic is a seat in November’s young driver test in Abu Dhabi.

“It is important he takes part in the rookie days in order to gain experience,” said Panis.

Ferrari’s 2012 car will borrow some ideas from Red Bull and other rival teams in formula one.
That is the admission of chief designer Nikolas Tombazis, who is heading the project of what has been described as an “aggressive” change of direction for the famous Italian team.

But recently in Korea, Ferrari ran a 2012-style new wing that some observers analysed as similar to the philosophy seen this year in Red Bull’s dominant car.

“One can not ignore the competition, nor that Red Bull wins (the championships),” Tombazis is quoted by the website of Italian magazine Autosprint.

“But Red Bull are not the only ones with interesting solutions; there are also solutions to consider on the slower cars,” he said. “We don’t need to hide that.

“However I believe that next year’s car will have lots of different elements, all ours. It would be absolutely unfair to say that it is a Red Bull.

“It will be a Ferrari but it will be different in different areas, with new solutions in other areas. It will be a mix,” added Tombazis.

The Russian federal government has committed to invest heavily in the country’s inaugural grand prix in 2014.
The Ria Novosti news agency reports that the circuit in Sochi, located on the Black Sea coast, is to be built at a cost of towards US $200 million.

And the Krasnodar region’s deputy governor Alaxander Ivanov is quoted by Reuters: “The federal government has allocated $195.4 million for this project.”

Officials said the remaining few million will be financed through sponsorship and private investors.

In contrast, this weekend’s Indian grand prix has been financed entirely by the private promoter Jaypee, and the 2013 New Jersey race will also not receive any state help.

The New Jersey promoter Leo Hindery told Austin American Statesman newspaper: “As a matter of principle, I don’t believe in government subsidies for sporting events.

“I would never have done this project if it took a subsidy.”

Formula one’s travelling circus has offered a mixed reaction after touching down ahead of the first ever Indian grand prix.
Tax, security and circuit construction issues made headlines many weeks ago, but a couple of drivers this week were still grumbling about the difficulty of obtaining a visa to the burgeoning south Asian country.

“I had a bit of a feeling that the Indians didn’t really want to see us,” Virgin driver Timo Glock is quoted as saying by Germany’s T-Online.

“I hope the fans take us closer to the heart than the local immigration authorities did,” he added.

It has emerged that fellow German Nico Rosberg, who arrived in Delhi on Tuesday, was initially denied entry to India.

Also grumbling is Finn Heikki Kovalainen: “I had to fill in about 70 pages of paperwork. It’s unreal how complicated it was.”

But Speed Week correspondent Mathias Brunner revealed that once his visa was in his hand, he was surprised that actually entering India was easy.

Then came the smog and his taxi journey to the hotel.

“If you’re thinking of yourself driving a car in India — don’t do it!” he jokingly warned.

“The typical Indian driver honks with one hand and talks on the phone and gestures with the other. There’s not much capacity left to steer,” said Brunner.

“And I have never in my life seen such a dirty city. The rubbish lying on the streets beggars description, as though the garbage men are on continuous strike.”

A ten year deal for a waterside American grand prix amidst the New York skyline was announced officially on Tuesday.
New Jersey governor Chris Christie made the official announcement but the street race, to debut in mid 2013, will be privately funded, headed by Leo Hindery, a well-known American businessman and Le Mans class winner.

Unlike Texas’ purpose-built circuit for next year’s US grand prix, Hindery said the roads for the street race are already in place and only need to be resurfaced.

“We build our stands, our pits and paddock club. We put up barriers and catch fences. We put it up and take it down,” he said.

Also unlike Austin, there will be no government help.

“We are not receiving and never asked for any subsidies,” he insisted.

Tavo Hellmund, the Texas promoter, offered his congratulations and said the two US events – separated by more than 3000 kilometres – can coexist.

“I am excited for the east coast and feel Tuesday’s announcement is yet another acknowledgement of the viability, fan interest, economic benefits and prestige an F1 grand prix event brings to a region,” he said.

Even more excited is F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for years,” he told the Bloomberg news agency via telephone. “You’ll be able to see the Manhattan skyline on TV.”

Adrian Sutil insists he has not been ousted by Force India.
Reports are growing strength that the German, who has been with the Silverstone based team since its Spyker days, will be replaced in the race seat next year by Nico Hulkenberg.

Boss Vijay Mallya, however, will not be making the 2012 driver announcement until mid December.

“Vijay has told me that there has been no decision yet and that the (Hulkenberg) news is not right.

“I have no reason to disbelieve him as he has always been open and honest with me,” Sutil told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

The magazine, however, is convinced that Sutil’s “marriage to his long-time employer seems over”, with new team co-owner Sahara meaning Force India is “no longer dependent on Sutil’s sponsors”.

His only alternative for 2012 appears to be Williams, with Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann reportedly ruling out a switch to Lotus, Virgin or HRT.

Renault has a vacancy for next year, but Sutil remains locked in a legal dispute with that team’s co-owner Eric Lux.

For its driver choice, Williams is in a position of luxury, with Sutil but also Rubens Barrichello and apparently Kimi Raikkonen all keen on the seat alongside Pastor Maldonado.

Auto Motor und Sport said 2007 world champion Raikkonen has tired of rallying, has some sponsorship in tow and is “training hard” for his F1 comeback.

“A quick decision by Williams, as hoped for by Sutil, is not likely,” said the German report.

The rookie lineup for next month’s young driver test in Abu Dhabi is taking shape.
Some brand new names are in the mix, according to Italy’s Autosprint magazine.

One is the 22-year-old Monegasque driver Stefano Coletti, who has reportedly secured one of the seats that according to speculation has been sold by Toro Rosso.

Team boss Franz Tost is reportedly also in talks with Italian teenager Kevin Ceccon.

Another teenager, 18-year-old Estonian Kevin Korjus, will apparently run with Renault, as will the German DTM driver Christian Vietoris.

It was believed Frenchman Charles Pic was in talks with Toro Rosso, but the GP2 star will reportedly run at Yas Marina with Force India.

He may not race in his native India this weekend, but Karun Chandhok could have a future with Team Lotus, boss Tony Fernandes said on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Malaysian businessman had to announce that, to his emotional disappointment, he must stick with the team’s regular lineup of Heikki Kovalainen alongside Jarno Trulli.

Fernandes had openly contemplated putting Chandhok on the Delhi grid, but ultimately decided that Team Lotus must safeguard its lucrative tenth place in the constructors’ championship.

“We had to make the best decision for the future of the team,” he said.

“While this is obviously not the decision Karun wanted us to take he understands that we have to take the long-term view and do so in the best interests of the team.”

Fernandes hinted that Chandhok, who replaced Italian Trulli for a one-off race at the Nurburgring earlier this season, may get his chance in the future.

“He understands that his relationship with our team is not about just one race, it is about growing together.

“While this is an historic event, there will be many opportunities to race in India in the future, and he is in the best possible place with us to take advantage of those chances in seasons to come,” added Fernandes.

And he said on Twitter: “If we don’t have the right finances there won’t be a team, and that includes Karun.”

Chandhok, who will nonetheless practice on Friday morning, admitted he is “obviously disappointed” he won’t be racing in front of his home crowd.

“I understand that this isn’t about me, it’s about the team and everything the 254 people on track and back at the factory are doing to build for the future,” said the 27-year-old.

Karun Chandhok has warned motor racing that danger and risk must not be removed entirely.
The recent Indycar and MotoGP deaths of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli respectively has put the spotlight on how to further reduce the danger of premier motor sport.

F1 is regarded as much safer than the aforementioned sports, but Team Lotus reserve driver Chandhok insists no form of racing should be completely safe.

“Enough element of danger is also involved in F1,” he told the Press Trust of India. “But it’s an exciting career and the essence of excitement would get lost thinking of too much safety measures.

“You have to take your chances on the track. No one asked us to join formula one or placed a gun on our head that you have to race. It’s a career we chose,” he added.

Chandhok insisted that global motor racing should not be regarded as in “crisis”.

“It is not like that,” he is quoted by Calcutta’s Telegraph. “What has happened in the last one week is extremely sad but accidents do happen.”

The second US race on the 2013 formula one calendar could be called the American grand prix, it has emerged.
The sport and New Jersey are expected to jointly announce on Tuesday that a street race on the Hudson River, with New York’s famous Manhattan skyline in the background, will take place.

The Associated Press cited an unnamed official as revealing that the tentative name for the event is the ‘grand prix of America’.

That is because the more familiar United States grand prix title is already assigned to the 2012 event scheduled to take place on a bespoke circuit in Austin, Texas.

“It (the news) is incredible,” said West New York mayor Felix Roque, according to the BBC. “This is going to be an economic boom for this whole region.”

The US has been absent from the F1 calendar since Lewis Hamilton won the last race at Indianapolis in 2007.

Organisers of the inaugural Indian grand prix have sold 80,000 tickets ahead of Sunday’s race.
The capacity of the new Buddh circuit is 120,000, the AFP news agency said.

“We have sold close to 80,000 tickets which is pretty encouraging considering that its the first F1 race ever in the country,” said a spokesman for race promoter Jaypee.

“Of course we would have been happier had we sold off 90 per cent tickets because ticket sales are the only source of revenue for us. But there are still a few days to go and we are keeping our fingers crossed,” he added.

In a late bid to fill the circuit, tickets are now being sold at a discounted rate.

London’s Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary wrote on Tuesday that the Buddh circuit is “rough and almost ready” for Sunday’s race.

“But what do you expect?” smiled the country’s motor federation president Vicky Chandhok. “I think people anticipated worse.”

This weekend is proof that India, now a major economic player on the global scale, has also arrived in formula one.

“I would not put it past the (race promoter) Jaypee Group to start investing in a formula one team,” said Chandhok. “That may be the next step.”