Tony Fernandes has admitted he is no admirer of formula one’s kinetic energy recovery systems, otherwise known as KERS.
Since 2009, the systems have re-used heating energy collected under braking in the form of a power ‘boost’ controlled via a button in the drivers’ cockpit.

From 2012, the Caterham drivers will enjoy the boost for the first time, with the system supplied by the team’s gearbox and hydraulics supplier Red Bull.

But team boss Fernandes is no admirer.

Referring to the high costs involved in running a F1 team, the Malaysian said: “There is still too much money spent, and above all too much in the wrong places.

“We used to talk about a million euros rent for using KERS, but now we are talking about three to five million,” he is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“For what? Our (F1′s) KERS contributes nothing to the environment.”

Rubens Barrichello agrees with Sebastian Vettel that Kimi Raikkonen might struggle to re-adapt to formula one.
World champion Vettel said this week he can imagine “it would be very difficult to return straight away to the same level as before” after a two-year absence from F1.

Brazilian Barrichello, who was an outside contender for the Lotus Renault race seat now occupied by the 2007 world champion and Finn, agrees.

“We only have the example of Schumacher,” said the 39-year-old, referring to Michael Schumacher who struggled last year when he returned to F1 after a three-year retirement.

“If there was someone who we could be sure would walk back in and be there (on the pace), it was him.

“They (Raikkonen and Schumacher) are different so you can’t say whether it will be easier or harder (for Raikkonen),” Barrichello is quoted by Brazil’s Globo.

“But I have no doubt that after two years off, he will feel the difference in terms of how the category has changed, and of course the tyres.”

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said Raikkonen’s return is good news.

“I am really happy to see Kimi again where he belongs, in formula one,” the 81-year-old is quoted by German news agency DPA.

“I am convinced that he will be looking forward to seeing his fans again.”

Valtteri Bottas could make his grand prix debut at some point in 2011, the Williams team has hinted.
The famous British team raised the prospect in a media statement issued late on Thursday to confirm that Pastor Maldonado has retained his race seat for 2012.

Williams did not say who will be the PDVSA-sponsored Venezuelan’s teammate, but the Oxfordshire based team did say that Finnish rookie Bottas is stepping up to the role of “reserve driver”.

“We anticipate that Valtteri will participate in a Friday practice session at 15 grands prix next year, most likely with a more experienced driver taking over for the remainder of the race weekend,” said Sir Frank Williams.

“We will announce the identity of that driver in due course.”

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport presumes it will be either Adrian Sutil or Rubens Barrichello.

Bottas, 22, was already Williams’ test driver in 2011.

“The opportunity now to continue this unique development with the position of reserve driver will enable me to gain essential experience as part of the race team in 2012,” he said.

Kimi Raikkonen’s co-driver for the past two years hopes the Finn will continue his passion for rallying.
After leaving F1 at the end of 2009, the 2007 world champion has now decided to return to formula one for at least the next two seasons with Lotus Renault.

“I hope that Kimi will keep rallying as a hobby sometimes,” his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper.

“Driving on the track of course is more of Kimi’s own environment but I must say that he fared very well in rallying in such a short experience.

“His work is his priority, and F1 is his work now, but I hope the rally stays a hobby.”

Raikkonen’s predecessor at Lotus Renault, Robert Kubica, is still recovering from horror injuries sustained in a minor rally last February.

Gerhard Berger has emerged as a contender to work with the Lotus Renault team.
Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport and Finland’s Turun Sanomat report that the former grand prix winner, BMW motor sport director and Toro Rosso co-owner has been sounded out by Lotus’ owner Genii Capital.

“Team boss Eric Boullier is rumoured to be leaving his duties,” wrote journalist Heikki Kulta.

Additionally, former McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan was in the Renault garage last weekend at Interlagos, with team figures coy about his possible full-time involvement for 2012.

Genii’s Gerard Lopez said this week: “Kimi (Raikkonen’s) decision to come back to formula one with us is the first step of several announcements which should turn us into an even more serious contender in the future.”

Vitaly Petrov’s manager has devised a “plan B and plan C” in the event the Russian has already raced his last grand prix with Renault/Lotus.
Petrov has a valid contract for next season, but his manager Oksana Kosachenko rushed to Enstone this week for urgent talks, revealing that it is possible the 27-year-old is set to leave the team.

“We have a meeting to decide what we do, whether we stay or not,” she is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport, confirming there is a ‘plan B and plan C’.

The report said new GP2 champion Romain Grosjean is the frontrunner to be Kimi Raikkonen’s teammate in 2012, with a return to the team next year for Robert Kubica considered unlikely.

Team boss Eric Boullier insisted: “We are committed to Kimi. The second driver, we will confirm when we are ready.”

 Female Spanish driver Maria de Villota has revealed she is close to signing a contract to become third driver for the Renault/Lotus team in 2012.
At an event on Wednesday, the 31-year-old was quoted as saying she expected to put pen to paper “later this year or early next year”.

She said the role is to be the “Friday or the replacement driver” at grands prix, acknowledging that her work will be “focused towards 2013″, when she hopes to “be on the grid”.

“We have all the pieces, all that remains is to fit them together during a day for some simple negotiating points,” de Villota is quoted by Europa Press.

She said: “There are many women who can drive well and so it is important to try to open the way for others to see that it is not something so unusual.”

De Villota, whose father Emilio de Villota raced in F1 in the 70s and 80s, was a team guest at Interlagos last weekend.

 Mark Webber’s former teammate insists he is “100 per cent sure” the gritty Australian did not suffer from “mental weakness” in his battle alongside Sebastian Vettel in 2011.
Last year, 35-year-old Webber almost beat his young Red Bull teammate to the title, but in 2011 he won only a single race compared to Vettel’s dominant eleven.

“The brain controls the body, not the other way around,” David Coulthard, referring to Webber’s struggle alongside Vettel, said recently.

But another former Webber teammate, Christian Klien, disagrees with that theory.

“It is 100 per cent sure that he has no mental weakness,” the Austrian, who was Webber’s teammate at Jaguar in 2004, said on Austrian Servus TV.

“I’ve known him for several years and he has a very strong personality. He had a fantastic 2010 and started this year with a lot of confidence.

“His problems have been about anything but that,” insisted Klien.

Klien, also a former Red Bull and HRT driver and a test driver with Honda and BMW, said he thinks Webber’s main issue was the Pirelli tyres.

Similarly, he thinks Fernando Alonso’s only problem in 2011 was the Ferrari car.

“He’s definitely the most complete driver in the field,” said Klien, referring to the Spaniard.

 Five formula one teams are yet to complete their driver lineups for the 2012 season, the FIA confirmed this week.
The provisional entry list for next season shows vacancies at Renault/Lotus, Force India, Toro Rosso and Williams.

And confirmation of the drivers is not the only element missing at HRT, with the presently Cosworth-powered Spanish team also yet to announce its engine supplier.

However, contrary to recent speculation, there appears no doubt about Caterham’s 2012 lineup, with Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli both listed as confirmed for the start of the new season.

Kimi Raikkonen, meanwhile, has been assigned the number 9 for his return to formula one with Lotus.

 Kimi Raikkonen’s manager insists he is delighted the 2007 world champion has decided to return to formula one.
“He is back where he should be,” said Steve Robertson, referring to the 32-year-old Finn’s decision to leave world rallying and NASCAR and sign for two-years with Renault/Lotus.

“My personal opinion is that when he left F1 after 2009 he was too young and too good to be doing so.

“He still has a lot to give to the sport, and when he asked us to explore the possibilities, he was constantly pushing us forward.”

The bulk of Robertson’s negotiations were with Williams, he revealed.

“Everyone seems to know about our discussions with Williams,” he told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

“They continued for many weeks but on some of the things we could not agree. Then shortly before the Abu Dhabi grand prix we started talking with Eric Boullier.

“Both sides wanted to come to an agreement quickly,” said Robertson.

Indeed, Raikkonen told the same newspaper that his first ever phone conversation with Boullier was last Monday.

“Kimi wanted to come back and so he had to act quickly, because there are few places and a lot of drivers on the market,” Robertson explained.

He said the rear wing innovation ‘DRS’, introduced this year, will not be a problem for Raikkonen to adjust to.

“The (Pirelli) tyres are a question mark, but normally Kimi needs no more than a few laps to adjust to something very quickly.”

The next step for the former Ferrari and McLaren winner is a visit this week to Enstone, and then some testing.

“I can drive this year’s car as long as it is on GP2 tyres,” said Raikkonen. “Just a familiarisation. I don’t know the schedule yet but when the new car comes I will test it.”

Some predict that Raikkonen will struggle to re-adapt to F1 after two years away, but the Finn insisted: “It probably will not be so difficult.

“I drove F1 cars for a long time, and the last time was with the KERS and with a lot of buttons on the steering wheel.

“The biggest difference is the tyres as it takes some time to learn how to use them the best way. But it was more difficult when I changed from the Michelin to the Bridgestone tyres.

“Now, I haven’t driven on F1 tyres for two years so I did not get used to something else. In this way it will certainly be easier.

“I have talked to my friend Pedro de la Rosa and from what he told me, they (Pirelli) feel pretty good, with good grip from the outset, which for me is important,” said Raikkonen.