Force India is already missing the input of its departed technical director James Key.

The team is locked in a close battle with Williams for sixth and seventh places in the constructors’ championships, which some analysts believe is worth $5 million.

Force India has had some difficult races recently, including in Singapore, where Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi qualified on the 8th and 9th rows of the grid.

The Silverstone based team and Williams then had a bitter post-race argument in the stewards’ office, with Sutil initially penalised for cutting a corner and then Force India lodging a protest about Nico Hulkenberg doing the same.

Sutil confided to Auto Motor und Sport that the loss of Briton Key to Sauber has not been without consequence.

“I actually thought there would be no problem,” said the German, who is thought to be close to deciding whether or not to stay at Force India beyond 2010.

“I have confidence in the people who have taken over,” Sutil continued.  “His successor Mark Smith is doing a good job, but I’m sorry to say that we have lost ground.

“It’s no longer easy for us to get into the top ten in qualifying.

“You only see how good a person really is when he is no longer there,” said the 27-year-old driver.

With only four races to run after Sunday’s Singapore grand prix, Red Bull appears no closer to making championship leader Mark Webber its number 1 bet for the world championship.

The Australian, 24 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel, has struggled relative to his front row-sitting teammate in Singapore, qualifying three paces behind the sister RB6.

“We have two drivers competing for the world championship and we will continue supporting them until for one of them it is not mathematically and practically possible for them to win the championship,” team boss Christian Horner said in Singapore.

But Webber, 34, answered “yes” after a long pause when asked by British television BBC if he would accept preferred status for the balance of the season.

“For me it’s an unique opportunity that I might never get again,” he also said in an interview with Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

“But I can’t yet say ‘Hey Seb, let me have this opportunity because you might have the chance for another ten years or more’,” added Webber.

At the same time, he concedes that – despite some earlier ructions within the Austrian camp – Red Bull would be happy if he wins the title.

“It was rumoured that Helmut (Marko) would prefer Vettel, because they might have a closer relationship.  But he would be very happy if I won the world championship today,” the Australian insisted.

“If we did it, everyone would have a headache from the party, no matter which of us is champion.  The team situation is completely neutral,” added Webber.

He also played down rumours he is disaffected at Red Bull, revealing that when he decides to stop driving, he will probably continue to work with the energy drinks company.

“What Red Bull did when I broke my leg was impressive and I’ll never forget it,” he said.

“They backed me when I was totally in the shit.  Yes, maybe we can continue to do something together,” added Webber, who is under contract only until the end of 2011.



McLaren newcomer and reigning world champion Jenson Button has admitted that he has not been as fast as his teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2010.

The 30-year-old, who has won two grands prix compared with Hamilton’s three so far this season, said his countryman has been better at the wheel of an unbalanced car, and over a single qualifying lap.

“I need a car that is more stable than he does.  In that respect Lewis is very strong,” Button said in an interview with The Independent.

But the Briton insists he has not been destroyed this year by 25-year-old Hamilton, who was groomed by McLaren since he was a boy.

“Overall I think it’s been very close with Lewis.  But I am behind him, not in front.  So qualifying is something that I still need to work on,” Button acknowledged.

Some figures in the paddock believe that Button was effectively ousted by Brawn at the end of last year as the re-branded Mercedes GP wanted to pair the seven time world champion with the already-contracted Nico Rosberg.

But Button insists it was his “decision” to switch to McLaren, despite having had no input into the initial development of the MP4-25.

“I have made a lot of wrong decisions but I’m really happy with the one to move to McLaren,” he said.

The winner of Bruno Senna’s helmet competition is certain – the design is to remember his unforgettable uncle Ayrton

HRT driver Bruno Senna had advertised a competition in which fans worldwide were able to design a helmet that is to remember his uncle Ayrton. The three-time world champion had on 21 March’s 50th Birthday celebration. The winning design will Senna contribute one of the remaining races. Over 500 proposals were submitted and in the end it went to very short. Finally, the design of the Brazilian Rai Caldato was named the most beautiful.

Among five finalists selected Senna himself, his family members and the designers of Ayrton unmistakable yellow helmet in the winner. Caldato finally got 8892 votes. Another Brazilian, Bruno Mantovani has led to the final round, but had to admit defeat with 8093 votes.
The winner will now look forward to his helmet from Senna is worn on a race weekend. Where and when will this happen, soon to be announced. Caldato will get a replica of the helmet that is signed by Senna. Given a signed photo with the head protection is worn. The original helmet will be auctioned and the profit goes entirely to the Ayrton Senna Foundation.

Tony Fernandes on Friday admitted he would like Group Lotus, the Proton-owned maker of British sports cars, to be involved with his formula one team.

But in reality, Lotus Racing – Fernandes’ entirely separate Malaysian-owned outfit – and Norfolk based Group Lotus, seem to be moving even further apart.

Group Lotus is reportedly retracting the license for the Lotus Racing moniker, meaning Fernandes has had to buy the separate and historic Team Lotus name in order to continue to be called Lotus in formula one.

At the same time, the Malaysian airline millionaire admitted he was surprised when he learned that Group Lotus is getting involved in GP2 next year with the top team ART.

Asked pointedly in Singapore if there is a link between Lotus Racing and Group Lotus’ new motor racing plans, he answered: “No.”

Fernandes admitted that, when originally founded by Colin Chapman in the 50s, Group Lotus and Team Lotus were entirely cooperative.

“Of course they cooperated and of course we would like to cooperate but if Group Lotus doesn’t want to then there’s not much we can do about it,” he said.

“The door is always open,” continued Fernandes. “It makes sense if they did.

“If I was sitting there and there was a formula one team going around the world with 20 races, promoting a brand, if I was the CEO, I would definitely want to get involved, especially if I’m not putting any money in it,” he added.

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber drove in the second practice of Singapore’s fastest time – Adrian Sutil and Fernando Alonso on the pitch

top times of Sebastian Vettel on Friday from Singapore: The German Red Bull driver sat in the second session under the lights sovereign against his team-mate Mark Webber by and himself at the head of the time classifications. Vettel 1:46.660 minutes required for one orbit to the nearly five-kilometer route, pointing his pursuers significantly to the courts.

Webber-classified with more than six tenths of second place in front of Jenson Button (McLaren), who in turn lost a second on Vettel. Fernando Alonso (McLaren) took fourth place was 20 minutes before the expiry of the time, however, doomed to watch. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) took the checkered flag in fifth position, Rubens Barrichello (Williams) finished in sixth place.
The other ranks in the top 10 went to Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Robert Kubica (Renault) and Michael Schumacher (Mercedes), the first time in Singapore is on the move. Returnees Nick Heidfeld was seen just behind Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) and his Sauber team-mate Kamui Kobayashi and # 13, Timo Glock (Virgin) was 20th

A moment of shock experienced while Adrian Sutil (Force India): The German despoils about halfway through the second free practice a little too wild about the curbs at Turn ten and then lifted off, even briefly. When landing, the left front suspension breaks down, so that Sutil had to stop the training operations in a few curves – was too much broken.
Almost 20 minutes before the end of the session Alonso also suffered from premature – by the way just at the point where Sutil had parked his VJM03. Alonso also afforded a driver error and was starting to slip slightly from curve 17, but his Ferrari caught again. The Spaniard, however, missed the entrance to turn 18 and had to turn in the run-off area.

There Alonso put the car in reverse and steered back onto the track his F10, stranded there just to good: The engine died off and Alonso had to get off – and that under the previous best time in the first sector and a personal top times in the second branch. Whether the Ferrari driver at the top Vettel could endanger must therefore remain uncertain.

Kimi Raikkonen insists he still has not decided whether or not to stay in the world rally championship next year.

The 2007 world champion left formula one at the end of last season despite remaining under lucrative contract to Ferrari, and has since been driving full time for Red Bull-sponsored Citroen.

But in recent days he has been linked with a return to F1 next year with Renault, and the WRC’s official website wrc.com said a sabbatical or a renewed tenure in rallying are also possibilities for the Finn in 2011.

“I’m enjoying it (rallying) so far,” he is quoted as saying on Friday, “but I’ve not made up my mind what I’m doing yet.

“Quite soon I hope I will know but there is no rush,” added the 30-year-old.

Michael Schumacher on Thursday swiftly dismissed rumours he is considering returning to retirement at the end of the 2010 season.

Given the seven time world champion’s disappointing return to formula one this year, the latest rumours had been spurred on by Eddie Jordan, who said he sensed a flurry of paddock activity at Monza relating to a race cockpit possibly opening up at Mercedes.

But 41-year-old Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm dismissed that speculation, and the German driver was asked personally about the rumours in the floodlit Singapore paddock on Thursday night.

“You won’t get rid of me that easily!” he jokingly hit back at the local Asian reporter’s question, according to the German news agency SID.

Indeed, he said the Brackley based team has now completely switched its focus to 2011, and that he has been involved in “every detail” of the W01 car’s successor.

“The focus of the 2011 car is now 100 per cent,” said the record winner of 91 grands prix. “There will be no more development steps with the 2010 car, even if I think some good results are possible,” revealed Schumacher.

He is already signed up for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

“Our goal is the world championship — and the sooner the better,” said the former Ferrari driver.

“But we are in a process; we are not magicians,” added Schumacher. “But we have already started our process, while the teams fighting for the (2010) world are somewhat further behind.

“We are hoping for a small head start for 2011,” he said.

F1 drivers have admitted they are concerned about the prospect of rain under the Singapore lights this weekend.

During the first two editions of the sport’s first night event in 2008 and 2009, wet weather did not fall on the city street circuit.

“I’ve never driven in the rain at night,” said F1′s most experienced driver Rubens Barrichello in the Asian city-state.

“I really don’t know what to say about that. We just have to wait and see,” added the Brazilian.

The worries are that the bright overhead lights will reflect off the wet surface of the track, and perhaps even the rain droplets themselves.

There was a huge downpour in the Marina Bay area on Wednesday, and on Thursday another severe storm rolled in.

“It (Wednesday’s rain) was so heavy that rivers of water flooded the track to a point where the tyres can’t deal with it,” said Sir Jackie Stewart.

“In daylight, we can see beyond the track if we’re heading into rain. But here, the light is contained on the circuit and everything else is dark.

“So it’ll be very challenging on the drivers’ peripheral vision,” added the triple world champion.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel commented: “We’ve yet to experience any wet running on a floodlit track, so it will be interesting if that happens.”

Nico Rosberg admitted he is “definitely worried” about the weekend’s weather forecast.

“It’s going to be rather interesting if it rains, but I hope it doesn’t because it will be quite messy,” said the German.

A second is that as a victory for Dani Pedrosa. Speaking of those seven points are recovered against Lorenzo Aragon in Motorland, they can still hope for a comeback difficult but not impossible in the next five races, when to give his best to recover as many as 56 points …

“I’m quite satisfied with second place though, obviously, I would have liked to win in front of my home crowd, “said Pedrosa. “I took a big risk at the first corner, I lost several positions and it took me a while to recover and find myself behind Stoner. Then between us was a “5 and the race pace was the same as it was difficult to overcome this disadvantage.

Towards the end, unfortunately I started having problems with the tires started to lose grip at this point I said to myself “Okay, okay.” On the weekend we had more problems than others to regard the tires, but in any event the second place is good and the championship is still open although it will be difficult to recover on Lorenzo.

Now we are ready to race at Motegi, Honda’s home race, I thank them and my team because they’re working very hard and now we fast every weekend. “

For Casey Stoner on the first long fast is over, stop the bad streak of 11 races without a pole. Now the Motorland Aragon is the time to stop the sequence of victories that has gone missing from the penultimate race of the 2009 season: the restored confidence in the Ducati Desmosedici GP10 this weekend seems to be right, at least according to the same 2007 World Champion.

“In the last race weekend we tried different things to make the bike more competitive, without ever being able to make decisive progress, whereas here it seems that we have found something, “says Casey Stoner. “We have changed a bit ‘weight distribution and this gave me more grip and more confidence. Maybe it’s just the bike that fits well with this track, but in any event, we are happy to have made the pole for the first time in Qatar.

I also like to drive new circuit is always exciting where you have not already tried a million times. We wait to see how you put the race to see if I can be with other people, because this season there has already happened to realize less than has proof but we feel good in the race and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

Casey Stoner does not win the Grand Prix of Malaysia last year, a long fasting in 13 races, the longest since he started to win in MotoGP.

He wanted the front row but the fourth time in qualifying Alcaniz is not a result to be discarded for the race tomorrow to Nicky Hayden. Quick all weekend with his Ducati Desmosedici, Ducati rider feels confident and ready to achieve a positive result for the whole team.

“Overall I can say that was a good day, “says Hayden. “We had two dry practice sessions where we managed to improve the bike. Points to the first row, but we are still far away, we must be satisfied because the team is working very well so that me and Casey are in the first four. ”

Before thinking about the race the 2006 World Champion has shown a little background on preparing for this Grand Prix of Aragon.

“With the simulator we have in Ducati reference was provided lap of 1’49″ and a pole was 1’48 “9: unbelievable, it means that the company is working very well by each of the tasks to perfection! Tomorrow I hope to repay them with a good result we want at this time. “

End of a long fast. After 12 races Casey Stoner back in pole position, a result that he lacked even the onset of the season in Qatar facing a difficult championship, to be forgotten, pending transition of its change of brand for 2011. With his Ducati Desmosedici GP10 has been found well to Motorland Aragon: best time in the wet yesterday afternoon, just this morning in optimal climatic conditions. The next step was the pole position this time has not escaped Iridium 2007, to reach a lap of 1’48 “942 like a thunderclap in the fighting ending of formal qualifications.

At the 20th career pole in MotoGP, Stoner trimmed to 3 / 10 Jorge Lorenzo, left to watch … especially the last (fast) sector where Casey made the difference. The leader of the world has recovered from a difficult morning, leaving behind Dani Pedrosa also, this time for his mistake on the last lap useful when it came off after a strong reference in the first two best lap of the circuit of Alcaniz. Okay for the driver of the Honda (and will remain for the next two years alongside his Stoner), especially considering the pace established in the practice sessions.

The challenge will be wide open with some uncertainty about the weather and the role of Valentino Rossi, 7th on the grid equaling worst result of the season at Indianapolis. A real “shot back” allowed him to gain half a second on his last lap certainty of finding the entire third row also tricolor with Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli, but still behind Nicky Hayden, Ben Spies and Randy found a De Puniet from 4th to 6th on the grid.

Complete the top ten Hector Barbera, Alvaro Bautista can not do better than the 12th time with the only deployed Suzuki, Marco Melandri after tests in the wet to say the least convincing is found only at 14 ° in an unrecognizable Hiroshi Aoyama and Mika Kallio , 2 “from the top 5. For them it is ready the rain dance.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Motorland Aragon Qualifying Standings

01 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1’48 .942
02 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0309 +
03 – Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0401 +
04 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 0564 +
05 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0623 +
06 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda – Honda RC212V – 1010 +
07 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 1075 +
08 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 1104 +
09 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1146 +
10 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1381 +
11 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 1498 +
12 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki – Suzuki GSV-R – 1581 +
13 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1595 +
14 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1638 +
15 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda – Honda RC212V – 1894 +
16 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 2548 +

At night race in Singapore Formula 1 is in the spotlight. 1,500 lighting ensure that the track also appears as bright as day in the late evening, the cars in bright colors seem almost unreal. “Visibility is surprisingly good. There is absolutely no problems with shadows, you will never blinded by the floodlights.”

“Before we first have driven there, there were some reservations,” reports the Lotus-pilot, who took in recent years as a McLaren driver in the Asian metropolis. “In the flood, the cars just look cool. You are almost in the spotlight again and look a lot better than usual”

“I fly at the last minute of the race, so my body can not enforce the will to get used to the time zone,” said the Finn. “Because it is a night race, then you have to maintain the European rhythm. I am not even at my clock. The hotel must be able to darken the window well. We see almost only artificial light.”

“The track is nice, aside times of the bumps,” said Kovalainen. “So far they have not be able to get a grip. No light waves, but really heavy blows. Are the real jump hill. Some drivers were already there back injuries because of it. We are deep in the car, have little suspension – comfort is not the .

“Let’s see how it will be this year. If they have smoothed out the bumps better, it’s just a great road course – a track where I really have a lot of fun,” expressed the 28-year-old from his anticipation. Specifically for the Lotus Event in Singapore is obviously important. It has been “spectacular news,” announced the driver election 2011, change of name of the team and switch to Renault engines.

Pedro de la Rosa is set to replace Nick Heidfeld as Pirelli’s permanent tyre development tester.

It is expected that German Heidfeld, who left his role as Mercedes’ reserve driver in order to take up the Pirelli job, is now set to immediately replace de la Rosa in the Sauber race seat.

Heidfeld, 33, has already done two Pirelli tyre tests, and Auto Motor und Sport reports that his last outing in the role will be this week in Spain.

Testing veteran de la Rosa is an ideal replacement, with seven years of recent experience as McLaren’s main and highly respected third driver.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims there were moves to replace de la Rosa with Heidfeld as long ago as Silverstone, but Sauber gave the Spaniard a stay of execution because of a good performance at Valencia.

“Peter Sauber will not be commenting about drivers,” a spokesman for the Hinwil based team said on Monday.