Kimi Raikkonen’s managers have revealed they only now take a back seat in the career of the 2007 world champion.
Britons David and Steve Robertson have guided the famous Finn throughout his motor racing career.

But Steve told Finland’s Turun Sanomat that they only intervene now when the 32-year-old driver requests it — such as when he needed to negotiate last winter with Williams and his ultimate 2012 employer, Lotus.

“We came to the end of the road really in late 2009,” he said.

That is when Ferrari bought out the rest of Raikkonen’s contract, and he headed to world rally.

“We can’t honestly say that we are real rally fans — it’s alien to us, while we know F1 through and through.

“When Kimi wanted to go back to F1, he turned to us for help with the agreement. After a few months Kimi got what he wanted.”

Robertson, however, explained that the father-son duo are no longer involved in the “day to day” running of Raikkonen’s career.

“I have known Kimi for 11, 12 years, and he has become really close to us. When he asks for help, he knows that we are always ready to give it,” he continued.

“I was delighted when he wanted to come back where he really belongs (in F1),” said Robertson. “There is so much nonsense about Kimi’s problems with motivation.

“The truth is that he wanted to come back for one reason only — because he is super-motivated to race in F1 again.

“By taking Kimi, it shows the (Lotus) team’s desire to succeed. I think Kimi and Romain Grosjean are a good combination.

“By changing the drivers the team has showed that it was not satisfied with the level of last year and that they want to come back to being among the big teams,” he concluded.

Peter Sauber has admitted his Swiss team is flattered after Red Bull apparently copied the C31′s exhaust layout ahead of the 2012 season.
Red Bull ran at the initial Jerez and Barcelona tests – and then the two opening days of the final Barcelona test – with its own solution in the wake of the FIA’s blown exhaust clampdown.

“We had a nice surprise on the penultimate day (of winter testing),” Sauber team boss Peter Sauber wrote in his column for Sonntagsblick newspaper.

“Red Bull announced their plans to use a heavily modified car, as it will race in Melbourne.

“Compared to their first version it had a completely different rear, which differs significantly from most cars — but not ours.

“The Red Bull and our C31 have a very similar concept, concerning the management of the airflow at the rear.

“For our engineers, it was an extra confirmation that they have chosen the right development direction. They are convinced that this concept has the potential for further development,” added Sauber.

 Red Bull and McLaren have the quickest cars as formula one teams prepare for the final pre-season test before Melbourne.

That is the view of Sauber designer Matt Morris, despite the Swiss team’s Kamui Kobayashi setting the fastest overall time at last week’s Barcelona test.

“The top teams are yet to show their hands,” read a report in the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

Morris agrees with that assessment.

“If we are to believe our own analysis then Red Bull and McLaren are in front, there is a question mark about Ferrari, and behind them is a very close group of several teams.

“I think the gaps between those in this central group will be smaller this year,” he added.

The F1 world’s real gaze this week will however be on the apparent title contenders, with Lewis Hamilton quoted by the SID news agency as saying: “Maybe Red Bull are a bit quicker than us.”

But McLaren’s team boss Martin Whitmarsh revealed: “We will have a fairly substantial (update) package in Barcelona this week.

“We assume Red Bull will do the same,” he added.

Unlike last year, however, there will be no last-minute technical sensation that determines the pecking-order for the start of the season.

Sauber’s Morris explains: “There will be nothing spectacular; the rules don’t allow it any more.”

But he admitted that the best-funded teams will continue to tinker at the edges, as demonstrated by McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull who have so far run several different exhaust configurations in the wake of the blown diffuser ban.

Morris said: “Any modification in this area is an expensive pleasure, while before we (Sauber) do anything, we have to be sure that it is clearly better.”

It is too soon to be picking the winners and losers ahead of the 2012 season, reigning back-to-back world champion Sebastian Vettel insists.
An early analysis might suggest Ferrari is struggling whilst Lotus could be set to join the pacesetters this season.

But German Vettel, who drives for 2010 and 2010 constructors’ champions Red Bull, said after the Jerez test that it is way too soon to be drawing conclusions about his rivals’ form.

“There is a bit of a reference when you look at what runs they’ve been doing, but if you look at previous years at this time of year it’s all up and down. Nothing really shows yet,” he is quoted by PA Sport news agency.

“Now we wait for Mercedes (to launch their 2012 car) and then we will know a little more, certainly at the last test in Barcelona,” added Vettel.

“The change in rules have also given people an opportunity to catch up, so we’ll see what happens.”

One of those with potential to catch up is midfield team Sauber, but boss Peter Sauber insisted that Jerez provided “no more than a snapshot” with two group tests yet to run before Melbourne.

“For me, any attempt to create a pecking order based on Jerez is no more than reading tea leaves,” he told the Swiss Sonntagsblick newspaper.

Sauber agreed with Vettel that the final test in Barcelona next month will “lift the fog” ahead of the trek to Australia for the season opener.

“Only at the last test will we see the teams using their technical packages for Melbourne,” he said.

Vettel added: “Lotus looks quite good from what I’ve seen — fast and consistent.

“Ferrari and McLaren are the big unknown, and perhaps us as well,” he is quoted by Spain’s Europa Press.

Sauber’s Monisha Kaltenborn has admitted the Swiss team will return to Bahrain this year if F1 officials say so.
She is referring to the fact that, despite the island Kingdom’s scheduled return to the calendar in April, there are reports the situation inside Bahrain is not yet stable.

“We are not in a position to judge it too well,” Sauber’s managing director is quoted by Europa Press, “so we have to trust the FIA and the commercial rights owners.

“If they believe it is right to go there, we definitely will.”

Agreed Lotus team boss Eric Boullier: “It is not an easy topic. We are currently awaiting comments from the FIA about whether or not to go there.”

Team owner Gerard Lopez added: “What I have heard is that there are a number of guarantees in terms of what will happen, so if things look good there is no reason why we shouldn’t go.”

Adrian Sutil – 8th: “We’ve been saying all week that this is a special race for us so I’m very happy with today’s qualifying performance. We are so determined to do well here and today’s result is the first step towards that. P8 is one of my best qualifying results of the season and I think it was the maximum we could achieve from the session. The balance of the car was excellent and I really enjoy this circuit, which seems to suit my driving style. But tomorrow is the important day and now we have to think hard about the strategy we will run. I feel very comfortable with the car and I think we will be more competitive than we were in Korea.”

Paul Di Resta – 13th: “Starting P12 is a bit disappointing really, because we looked quite strong this morning. But I struggled with a bit of understeer in the high-speed corners and we couldn’t fix it during the session. I think the conditions cooled a little bit, which maybe didn’t help us because I couldn’t get the balance quite where I wanted it. I feel that points are still achievable tomorrow and we seem quite strong on the longer runs. There’s a hard task ahead, but I will stay focussed and try to do the best job possible in the team’s home race.”

Dr. Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “Another excellent day of track action at Buddh International Circuit and I’m delighted to see a Sahara Force India starting the very first Indian Grand Prix from the fourth row of the grid. The whole team has worked very hard to bring our final upgrade package here this weekend and I think that showed in our performance today. Adrian clearly loves this circuit and was on top form this afternoon. Paul has also been very strong, but unfortunately he lost the sweet spot he had with the car this morning and missed out on making Q3. Still, we know we have a strong car for tomorrow and I’m hopeful both drivers can be in the hunt for points. It’s our home race and I hope all the fans will get behind Sahara Force India in what will be a spetacular and historic moment for India.”

Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta are refusing to believe they will definitely front Force India’s race driver lineup in 2012.
It is now expected that the team’s long-time regular Adrian Sutil may have to seek alternate employment, with Friday driver Hulkenberg set to step up to the race seat alongside rookie Scot di Resta.

“There are quite a few rumours going on. At the moment, that is what they are,” admitted Hulkenberg in Delhi this week.

“A decision has not yet been taken,” said the 24-year-old, referring to his boss Vijay Mallya’s scheduled announcement in mid December. “I’m waiting for that day.

“Hopefully, the association (with Force India) will be a good one and I look to a good future with them.”

Even di Resta, Sutil’s current race teammate, is not feeling comfortable.

“It (the December announcement) does play on your mind, I won’t deny it,” he told the Guardian. “You have got to keep showing the results, maybe show them even a bit more.”

For only the second time in 2011, there will be two separate DRS zones in use this weekend.
The debut of two independent DRS detection and activation points was at the Monza race in September.

Now, Pastor Maldonado’s race engineer Xevi Pujolar has revealed that there will be two separate DRS zones in India, even though the news is “not official yet”.

The detection zone for the first zone will be at the exit of turn 15, with chasing drivers then able to pass down the pit straight.

The second zone’s detection point will be on entry to turn 3, with activation between turns 3 and 4, according to the Spanish website caranddriverthef1.com.

Formula one drivers are worried Korea could this weekend host some of the worst tyre degradation of the season.
“We will definitely stop more than twice (in the race),” McLaren’s Jenson Button is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Pirelli’s decision to bring its softest tyres to Korea, a rarely-used circuit whose surface was visibly dirty on Thursday and then watered by Friday morning’s rain, has raised eyebrows within the paddock.

“It will be interesting to see how they work,” said McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who recalled 2010 when even the Bridgestone tyres grained.

Added Button: “Some (drivers) may need to stop five times and then if something goes wrong, your supply of tyres runs out.”

“We will see high levels of tyre degradation,” Ferrari’s Felipe Massa is quoted by La Repubblica. “It will be a tough race with the soft and super soft tyres, not only for us but for everyone.”

Sebastian Vettel said the situation “will be worsened” further with the Friday rain. Rubens Barrichello said F1 learned last year that rain in Korea leads to mud sliding onto the track.

“All the preparation for the race may have to take place on Saturday morning,” predicted McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Vijay Mallya on Friday denied reports he is close to selling his formula one team Force India.
Citing “sources”, the Asian Age said the buyer is Indian business conglomerate Sahara India, with the deal “on the verge of being finalised”.

The Deccan Chronicle said initially that as billionaire Mallya was travelling he could not be reached for comment.

But Reuters later quoted him as saying in a statement: “No question of my getting out of Force India.”

With his native India hosting its inaugural grand prix later this month, Mallya added: “I have even more reason to improve team performance when India comes on the formula one map.”

Karun Chandhok is today a shadow of the boy who a decade ago dreamed of emulating his heroes.

On a trip to Delhi this week, he revealed to the Daily Pioneer that when he left high school he peaked at 96 kilograms.

“I was told that if I wanted to race I had to lose weight in order to first fit in the car,” said Chandhok, who as Team Lotus’ reserve driver is tipped to contest India’s inaugural grand prix late next month.

“So I lost 26 kg in less than six months and went on to win the Indian national racing championship. I guess that was the turning point for me,” added the now 27-year-old, who graduated to British F3 and then GP2.

Michael Schumacher was the best, but Mercedes should now be looking for a faster driver.
That is the view of the German’s former Ferrari teammate Eddie Irvine, who always said openly that Schumacher is simply better than him and his peers.

But, with Schumacher now 42 and struggling even for a podium in his comeback, Ulsterman Irvine said his former colleague is now being simply outclassed.

“There’s no point either for him or for his team,” he told Germany’s Auto Bild.

“His curve is downwards, so Mercedes is investing in falling stock,” added Irvine.

“Michael was an absolutely super driver. Everyone said he is a leader, the best developer, blah, blah blah — bullshit. He just had the most talent, incredible car control, incredible speed,” said the 45-year-old.

Schumacher admitted to Germany’s Sport Bild this week that he is no longer as good as he was when he won five consecutive titles at Ferrari.

“Am I as good, as perfect as I was during this time? Probably not,” he said. “I am after all 42.

“But am I still good enough? I would say definitely yes.”

Geoff Willis has not left the HRT team yet, a spokeswoman for the Spanish team insisted on Friday.

It has been reported in recent days that Briton Willis – the former Red Bull, Williams and Honda technical chief – was leaving due to not being happy about the plans for the 2012 budget and car.

The reports also said former BMW and Brawn designer Jorg Zander is set to join HRT.

The team’s communciations boss Maria Serrat said on Friday that Willis is officially “still rendering his services to HRT”.

It is understood, however, that the 51-year-old will definitely not be leading the 2012 car project.

Fabio Leimer could be a formula one race rookie in 2012.
The Sonntagsblick newspaper reports that the 22-year-old Swiss’ career is backed by Rainer Gantenbein, who says he has spent more than $17 million already.

Leimer is currently ranked 14th in the GP2 championship.

The Swiss newspaper said Gantenbein is in “intensive negotiations with several F1 teams” about the 2012 season.

“If Virgin demands five million (Swiss) francs, then that is what I will raise,” he said at Monza.

The first step for Leimer will be his debut F1 drive during the young drivers’ test session in Abu Dhabi after the penultimate grand prix of the season.

Jenson Button furrowed his brow at Monza when he considered how Sebastian Vettel had dominated qualifying.
“Difficult to understand,” said the McLaren driver.

Vettel, indeed, was half a second quicker around the high speed Autodromo Nazionale with a small wing setting and a Renault engine not expected to dominate.

His top speed was the least impressive in the entire field, a full 22kph down compared with the best.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the answer to the “mystery” is that the 24-year-old German’s RB7 was set up specifically for qualifying, with a very short seventh gear.

“Vettel is planning to drive away from the front,” Mercedes’ Ross Brawn speculates.

“If he gets away at the start he will go on and have a lonely race. His car is tuned to laptime, not top speed,” added the Briton.

If Vettel is passed at the start by a McLaren, then, he may be in trouble, unable to keep up on the straights or make best use of DRS because of the short gearing.

“In fact, we have a good chance to get our first one-two of 2011 — I’m optimistic,” said fellow front row-sitter Lewis Hamilton.

Added Button: “If he (Vettel) wants to pass someone, he will be on the limiter.”

“If he (Vettel) falls behind, it will be hard to get back past,” a Renault engineer agreed.

As for the ranks of passionate Tifosi, they are likely to be disappointed on Sunday. “We will try to have some fun and to get on to the podium,” said Fernando Alonso ahead of Ferrari’s home race.