Construction of the 2012 US GP venue in Texas capital Austin is resuming.
Work at the Circuit of the Americas had been halted amid the dispute between event founder Tavo Hellmund, the track’s new management and financiers, and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

That dispute was settled ahead of Wednesday’s deadline of the World Motor Sport Council in India, where the race’s inaugural November date was ratified by the FIA.

“We have an agreement,” confirmed circuit spokesman Jeff Hahn, according to local KVUE news.

And Ecclestone told the Austin American Statesman newspaper: “Yes, there will be a race. We hope it will be for 10 years.”

Founding partner Bobby Epstein suggested that while Wednesday’s news is good for the event, it was also a victory for Ecclestone.

“Mr Ecclestone is a masterful negotiator. He fights hard for his company’s best interests,” he said.

As the news broke, local reports revealed that heavy machinery was rolling back onto the circuit construction site.

But after the most recent delay, time is now tighter than ever to complete the project ahead of the inaugural race date next November.

“Our construction group said they can get it done,” insisted Epstein.

The teams alliance FOTA looks set to dwindle to just seven members, as Sauber confirms it is pulling out amid speculation Toro Rosso will shortly follow.
With HRT already a non-member, the latest development follows last week’s news that the biggest-budget Ferrari and Red Bull teams had pulled out.

International media reports quoted official spokespeople for Swiss based team Sauber as confirming that notice has been given to FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh.

“The reasons were communicated to the teams of the association, but they will not be made public,” Germany’s Sport1 reported, citing a team official.

Sauber, like Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso, is powered by Ferrari engines.

“Toro Rosso has not yet announced its departure, but in practice it is certain,” wrote Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper.

The report said Toro Rosso – like Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Sauber and HRT – was not represented at Tuesday’s emergency FOTA meeting in London.

 Red Bull has clipped Mark Webber’s wings as the Australian attends his regular outdoor adventure challenge in Tasmania this week.
The event has not been run since 2008, when the now 35-year-old badly broke his leg on a mountain biking descent.

It has returned for 2011, but the local Mercury newspaper reports: “Webber was grounded (on Wednesday) by a climb deemed too dangerous for the formula one star to tackle”.

And his participation will be further shortened when he flies to India on Thursday ahead of the FIA prize-giving gala.

“I’m disappointed,” Webber said. “I would have loved to have been here for more of it, but it’s not to be.”

He insisted, however, that he does not allow his non-driving activities to be too controlled by his nervous F1 employer.

“I’m not going to wrap myself in cotton wool,” he is quoted by The National newspaper.

“Formula one rules my life for most of the year, but I am going to go away, train and have fun doing it and nobody is going to stop me.”

Recently, Webber’s teammate Sebastian Vettel wanted to try German compatriot Stefan Bradl’s Moto2 motorcycle, but Red Bull disallowed it.

“Not our champion, no,” Dr Helmut Marko said firmly on Austrian television Servus TV.

Now, Volkswagen is said to be keen to get the back-to-back world champion at the wheel of its world rally car.

“It would be great for the sport if it was possible,” the German carmaker’s spokesman Kris Nissen is quoted by Sport1, “but it’s not easy (to arrange).”

Lotus has decided to pair Kimi Raikkonen with new GP2 champion Romain Grosjean next year.
That is the exclusive claim of the Italian news source Italiaracing, citing “more than reliable French sources”.

“There is no official announcement (yet) but the contract has been signed in recent days,” read the report.

Frenchman Grosjean, who made his troubled F1 debut with the same team (then Renault) amid the ‘crashgate’ scandal in 2009, is handled by Lotus’ new owner Genii Capital’s management arm Gravity.

Also in the running for the seat were 2011 teammates Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov.

“Breaking the deadlock in favour of the Frenchman was not only his excellent performance in recent testing and his positive evolution as a driver in the last two years,” explained Italiaracing, “but also a range of commercial considerations.”

The report tipped Senna to now return to the reserve role, with Vyborg-born Petrov possibly ousting German Timo Glock as the Virgin team adopts the name of its Russian supercar partner Marussia for 2012.

Preparations for the inaugural US grand prix in Texas are set to get back into gear.
The FIA announced after Wednesday’s World Motor Sport Council meeting that the event is still scheduled to be held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin next November.

Earlier, Bernie Ecclestone had said Wednesday was the final deadline for a dispute with the organisers – who had halted construction of the circuit – to be resolved.

“Mr Ecclestone received his cheque today,” chief backer Red McCombs said in a statement.

Founding partner Bobby Epstein added: “We’re glad that Tavo (Hellmund)’s vision of bringing F1 to the people of Texas will become a reality.”

 Time will tell whether formula one actually returns as scheduled to Bahrain early next season, according to Mark Webber.
Amid the Kingdom’s civil crisis this year, the Australian was the most outspoken driver as he called for the season opener to be postponed and then cancelled completely.

F1 is scheduled to return next April, but some reports indicate that Bahrain’s troubles are not yet over.

“It’s obviously a very serious matter that went on, and potentially could be going on,” Red Bull driver Webber told the Daily Mail newspaper.

“Time is a healer, and people move on eventually,” he acknowledged. “Whether it’s enough in this situation? I think we’ll find out a bit more in the next few months.”

Asked if he can imagine the 2011 event going ahead, Webber insisted: “I think you have to take a raincheck on that.

“That’s why Bernie (Ecclestone) has so many races on the calendar knowing that there could be a few – whether it’s a commercial reason, or a political reason in terms of Bahrain’s case – that could make it (the calendar) a little bit vulnerable.”

 Nico Rosberg verged on losing his temper on Tuesday when asked by French sports daily L’Equipe about his alarming race-to-win ratio.
In 2011, the German scored over 50 fewer points compared to his first season with Mercedes last year, and yet he has signed on for a new multi-year term.

He was asked if he is alarmed that, more than 100 grands prix in and at the age of 26, he could be heading for a long and winless career.

L’Equipe said Rosberg’s answer was angry.

“All the statistics; it’s a journalist’s trick,” he answered. “I’m not worried and I don’t think about it.

“If (Jenson) Button had listened to you (journalists), he would have retired before being world champion.

“I have extended my contract with Mercedes because I feel that I can win with this team.”

Rosberg concedes, however, that when he raced the silver W02 for the first time in Australia in March, he was “a little disappointed”.

“In Melbourne we had great hopes,” he admitted, “then we realised that we were not going to be able to do anything about Red Bull.

“Now, I feel pretty satisfied with the season, especially since I have finished once again ahead of my teammate (Michael Schumacher),” added Rosberg.

The signs are growing ever stronger that Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s secondary formula one team, is set to stick with its existing driver lineup for 2012.
It was believed that Jaime Alguersuari or Sebastien Buemi – or both – could be replaced by the energy drink company’s latest newcomers Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Eric Vergne.

But Ricciardo, now in the frame for Jarno Trulli’s Caterham seat, told an Australian newspaper on Tuesday that he thinks Alguersuari and Buemi are safe for 2012.

“I don’t know what’s happening. Nothing,” Swiss Buemi is quoted by Blick newspaper.

“I do know that the decision will be in December,” he revealed.

The Swiss newspaper added that Frenchman Vergne is likely to remain in the Red Bull reserve role next season.

“I’m just taking it easy for a few days,” Buemi explained. “I just have a date with my watch sponsor Audemars Piguet and after that I will be in the Red Bull simulator in Milton Keynes between the 11th and 14th of December.

“I am continuing to work as normal,” added the 23-year-old.

Spain’s AS newspaper cited a source close to Toro Rosso’s Spanish sponsor Cepsa as believing “Alguersuari is an essential figure in the (Toro Rosso) project”.

The report agreed that Buemi also looks set to be retained for 2012.

As the event’s final deadline winds down on Wednesday, there is a growing feeling that organisers of the US GP in Austin have managed to rescue their 2012 race.
With the World Motor Sport Council in India set to take place imminently, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone had warned Circuit of the Americas bosses to stop dithering and sign a binding deal for 2012 and beyond.

A source close to the organisation has told the Austin Chronicle that the chances the race will go ahead next November are now “looking good”.

“I hope Austin goes ahead,” Red Bull driver Mark Webber, in Tasmania this week for his outdoor adventure event, told the Daily Mail newspaper.

“That track looks sensational. I’ve been shown the animations of the layout and it looks really, really special, so they’ve obviously done a good job there,” he added.

Red Bull pulled out of FOTA because the other teams were trying to curb the team’s dominance.
That is the inkling of the energy drink company’s F1 consultant Dr Helmut Marko, referring to the failed talks over the next cost-limiting resource restriction agreement (RRA).

Red Bull had been accused of breaching some of the articles in the existing agreement, and talks finally collapsed at the Brazil season finale.

Marko is quoted by the Kleine Zeitung newspaper as claiming that Red Bull’s dominance was being specifically targeted by the other teams as the cost-cutting talks went on.

“We are the best in aerodynamics and so the others only wanted to cut back the (development of) aerodynamics,” he charged.

It is turbulent times politically for Red Bull, but team driver Mark Webber seemed blissfully unaware as he began his post-season wind-down this week in Tasmania.

Asked by the Daily Mail about his employer’s withdrawal from the teams association, the Australian answered: “Haven’t got a clue, mate — doesn’t bother me.

“Didn’t know any of that had happened,” added Webber.

 The French sports daily L’Equipe on Tuesday quoted Charles Pic as saying his target for next season is to “reach the level” of his experienced teammate Timo Glock “as soon as possible”.
The French newcomer, speaking in Paris, has been signed by the former Virgin team Marussia for 2012 and 2013.

“I have known him since he was very young,” said his manager Olivier Panis, who revealed that Pic’s career has been supported by another former French F1 driver, Eric Bernard.

Pic is quoted by Le Figaro: “I’m flying to England tomorrow to be at the factory to get to know the staff and start working with the engineers and in the simulator.”

1996 Monaco grand prix winner Panis said Marussia is the perfect first team for Pic.

“It means a little less pressure for him to start with. Alonso started at Minardi, Vettel at Toro Rosso, I started at Ligier, Senna started at Toleman.

“There are only 24 F1 drivers in the whole world and so when you have the opportunity to do it, you do not pass it up.

“We had two options and, for me, Marussia made the most sense.”

It is believed Panis, 45, will travel with Pic throughout the 2012 season.

According to the Russian press, a shock switch to the Marussia team might be an option as Vitaly Petrov looks to rescue his F1 career.
Lotus is reviewing its options after signing Kimi Raikkonen for 2012, with Petrov only one candidate for the sister seat alongside others including Romain Grosjean, Bruno Senna and Adrian Sutil.

The Russia Today website cited a French report in claiming new GP2 champion Grosjean is the hot favourite.

Petrov’s manager Oskana Kosachenko would not confirm or deny the news other than to say “the French media is always good at supporting their countrymen”.

The report went on to say the Virgin team, assuming the official name of its Russian supercar partner Marussia from 2012, is a possible alternative for Petrov.

But that team has already confirmed Timo Glock alongside French newcomer Charles Pic.

Kamui Kobayashi has admitted he had a difficult season as ‘lead driver’ with Sauber in 2011.
As a rookie, the Japanese spent his first full season in F1 in 2010 alongside highly experienced teammates Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld.

But this year, the 25-year-old shared the Swiss team’s garage with rookie Sergio Perez, ultimately finishing the season with double the Mexican’s haul of points.

Kobayashi, however, admits that the role as the key Sauber driver “certainly wasn’t easy for me”.

“I needed to improve a lot in various areas. Not only in driving, but also in making decisions with the engineers.”

Sauber team boss Peter Sauber has decided to keep both Kobayashi and Perez, 21, for 2012.

“It was important to have an emotionally positive finish to the season,” Sauber wrote in Blick newspaper. “This was especially true for Kobayashi, who has a difficult year behind him.”

 Team owner Gerard Lopez has confirmed reports Lotus could change its driver lineup completely ahead of the 2012 season.
Already signed up for next year is Kimi Raikkonen, amid reports 2011 drivers Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov are the main contenders to be the famous Finn’s teammate.

“It’s not just a question of Vitaly or Bruno,” clarified majority team owner Genii Capital’s Lopez.

Other reports say reserve driver and new GP2 champion Romain Grosjean – whose career is handled by Genii’s management arm Gravity – as well as likely Force India refugee Adrian Sutil, are also in the running.

“We will make a decision fairly quickly,” Lopez told RTL Luxembourg radio.

He seemed to indicate that Brazilian Senna, who was drafted in mid-season to replace injured Robert Kubica’s initial substitute Nick Heidfeld, is not the favourite.

“From the second half of the season we had two young drivers in Vitaly and Bruno,” he said.

“They are really good drivers, but the huge problem at the moment is the little testing in formula one. We do not have time to build up young drivers.”

Daniel Ricciardo has admitted Red Bull may have closed the door on his promotion to its secondary team Toro Rosso for 2012.
Speculation throughout the year hinted that the Australian rookie, who mid-season stepped up with Red Bull backing to make his debut with the Spanish team HRT, would replace one of Toro Rosso’s current drivers for 2012.

But, referring to Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, 22-year-old Ricciardo is quoted on Tuesday by the West Australian newspaper: “At the moment it seems like Toro Rosso are going to stay with who they’ve got.

“It wasn’t put down 100 per cent, but it was the wording I was making out.”

Ricciardo can at least smile at the news his Red Bull contract has been extended for another year, amid reports he might take the backing to Caterham to become Heikki Kovalainen’s 2012 teammate.

“There’s a good chance if I’m on the grid next year it’s going to be with another non-Red Bull outfit,” he admitted, “but I guess the good news is I’m still contracted by Red Bull.

“They’ve agreed to continue with me.”

The Caterham link follows rumours Italian veteran Jarno Trulli, despite his 2012 contract, could be ousted.

“I would like to say there’s a chance, but at least for me that’s probably all it is for now, just a chance,” Ricciardo said.

“It would be a step up from this year, so it’s not really a bad thing.

“I doubt they’ll still be able to fight for points next year. They’ll still be towards the further end, but I think they’re progressing well.

“If Kovalainen was to be my teammate, it’s someone very good to measure up to. He’s won a grand prix before and he’s smashed Trulli this year,” he added.