May 27 (GMM)  Lucas di Grassi will this weekend finally race Virgin’s updated car, but it may still be slower than the one piloted by his teammate Timo Glock.

Due to the volcanic ash cloud and then the short turnaround between Spain and Monaco, di Grassi had to drive the original car with the famously small fuel tank while Glock raced one with significant developments.

Rookie di Grassi, 25, will finally receive the longer-wheelbase VR-01 in Turkey, he confirmed to Brazil’s Globo.

“For the first time I have the upgraded car,” he said ahead of the Turkish grand prix, “although it is a little heavier than Glock’s, because of our difference in height.”

Heavier drivers are not normally penalised with heavier cars in F1, due to the 620 kilogram car-plus-driver minimum weight.

But because Virgin’s basic car-plus-driver weight exceeds the 620kg minimum, the 10cm-taller di Grassi is unavoidably penalised in performance terms.

But di Grassi is still hopeful of taking a big step forward at Istanbul Park.

“These improvements will bring half a second in our laptime,” he said.

“I love to race in Turkey, a track where I have won twice in GP2.  I know it’s a quite different reality now, but let’s look to be the best team among the newcomers.

“We are focused on solving our problems of reliability and looking to get a good result,” added di Grassi.

A warm and sunny day has greeted the formula one world ahead of the 2010 Monaco grand prix.

There is just a smattering of white cloud in the sky, and still the odd local forecast predicting a slight possibility of afternoon rain.

Causing more nervousness than the Monte Carlo forecasts, however, are reports that say the Icelandic volcano ash cloud is “rapidly encroaching” British airspace.

Airports in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man have already closed, and officials are warning that flights into England and other parts of Europe are also set to be disrupted in the coming days.
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A team bosses meeting in Barcelona is likely to knock on the head the concept of a ‘split’ initial qualifying session for Monaco.

Some drivers want the split so that cars with vastly different speeds are not tangled up in traffic on the Principality’s famous twisty curves.

“I expect teams from the middle of the grid downwards to vote against dividing qualifying,” said FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh before the meeting on Sunday.

After a cold and overcast start to the day at the Circuit de Catalunya, the sun is now shining with two hours to go until the race.

Predicted rain should hold off until after the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, occupants of the paddock are relieved to hear that Barcelona airport was reopened on Sunday due to the volcanic ash cloud moving on.

But with next week’s grand prix to be held in Monaco, Spanish radio said the cloud is now heading to the south of France!

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May 6 (GMM)  The famous and unpronounceable Icelandic volcano could be set to once again disturb the travel plans of the formula one world.

European airports ground to a halt due to the dangerous ash cloud nearly three weeks ago, stranding the sport’s travelling circus in China.

On Wednesday and early on Thursday, it emerged that the ash is threatening to once again drift over the north of Europe, and multiple British airports have already had flights cancelled.

When contacted, the European air traffic agency Eurocontrol admitted that hundreds of other flights across Europe could also be affected.

The Civil Aviation Authority said main airports serving London have not yet been disrupted, but the Icelandic Met Office warns that the volcanic eruptions “will continue at full force in the next days”.

However, the situation is now far less severe for F1, in the wake of the initial ‘flyaway’ segment of the 2010 calendar.

The bulk of the equipment is transported by the teams to European venues by road, even if many of the personnel travel by plane for convenience.

Apr.30 (GMM)  Red Bull will not have an F-duct on its 2010 car at next weekend’s Spanish grand prix.

While admitting the Milton Keynes-based team is working on the McLaren-pioneered downforce-stalling innovation, driver Mark Webber told the BBC that it is still in development.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said before leaving China amid the volcano-induced traffic chaos that the RB6 could be equipped with a F-duct in Barcelona “providing we make it back to Europe” quickly.

Ultimately, the ash cloud subsided and teams have not been overly delayed in preparation for the first European race of 2010.

But Australian Webber said on Friday: “As soon as possible would be nice, but it’s not going to be Barcelona, that’s for sure.

“We don’t know when we’re going to have it, but we are looking at something, as I’m sure all teams are,” he added.

Apr.22 (GMM) Most of the Force India and HRT teams are still stranded in Shanghai, it emerged on Thursday.

Four days after the chequered flag waved at the end of the Chinese grand prix, it was reported that most teams – and the crucial F1 freight and cars – are now arriving back on European soil.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner said the air travel delays due to the famous volcanic ash cloud will have little effect on the team’s plans for Barcelona, while Lotus’ Mike Gascoyne said planned developments for Spain will be applied “to both cars”.

But a Force India spokeswoman said in Shanghai on Thursday that while the drivers are back in Europe, “the majority of the team” is still in China.

With the team owned by the Kingfisher airline magnate Vijay Mallya, she told Reuters that they are hoping for their charter to leave “at some point tomorrow”.

Indian rookie Karun Chandhok also revealed that most of the HRT team is still in China, amid reports that hundreds of other F1-related personnel are in a similar situation and face waits for flights that could extend well into the weekend.

Apr.22 (GMM)  Despite earlier fears that the race was endangered, the Spanish grand prix next month will not be affected by the European ash cloud.

As all the sport’s freight – including the cars – were stranded in Shanghai with FOM’s six 747s unable to leave Europe, it was feared earlier this week that the fifth round of the world championship might have to be called off.

But although many F1 figures have in recent days been zig-zagging back to Europe via a host of bizarre routes, European airports and routines were returning to normal throughout Wednesday as the ash cloud subsided — even though the volcano in Iceland is still erupting.

Air China said flights to Europe are now departing.

“Eurocontrol expects approximately 21,000 flights to take place today (Wednesday) in European airspace.  On a normal Wednesday, we would expect 28,000,” the air control organisation said in a statement.

Circuit de Catalunya chief Ramon Prederas said on Thursday that “everything is in place” for the May 5 Spanish grand prix.

“We are ready and working with absolute normality.  The cloud of the volcano did not affect us,” he is quoted as saying by Diario Sport, revealing that ticket sales are currently 10 per cent higher than at the same time last year.

It is also believed that F1′s freight landed successfully in Bilbao, Spain, where the team’s empty trucks were headed on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, contrary to earlier reports, Bernie Ecclestone did in fact give Sebastian Vettel – as well as Michael Schumacher – a seat on his private plane for a return trip to the UK.

Lotus’ AirAsia charter has now arrived in Europe from Kuala Lumpur, and Nico Hulkenberg touched down in Zurich ahead of his return home to the UK.

Apr.20 (GMM) Two days after the chequered flag in Shanghai, the world of formula one is still clamouring to leave the venue of the Chinese grand prix.

Although there are signs the volcanic ash cloud above Europe might soon clear for a few days to allow its hordes of absent residents to return home, multitudes of F1′s travelling personnel are currently embarking on elaborate journeys to reunite with team bases and families.

Mark Webber flew from China to Dubai, then to Rome, and woke up in Nice on Tuesday morning after five hours of sleep with a mission to return to the UK.

Others have tackled even more bizarre routes back to Europe, including Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari who headed to Madrid via Shanghai, Beijing and New York.

Some, like Indian rookie Karun Chandhok who flew to Madras, were essentially unaffected; Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg went on vacation to Thailand, while Lewis Hamilton had a sponsor date in South Africa.

Peter Sauber went on business to Dubai and Japan.

But Nico Hulkenberg, like hundreds of others involved in the sport, are simply holed up in Shanghai with an hopeful eye on the air timetables. Sebastian Vettel is hoping for a direct flight to Switzerland on Tuesday.

Michael Schumacher proved that in F1 it’s all about who you know, as he has hitched a ride on Bernie Ecclestone’s private plane, but at last word they were still awaiting a green light to fly to Europe.

There are reports that Norbert Haug and Timo Glock found seats on Lufthansa flights to Europe on Monday night, while Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali and Aldo Costa also somehow managed to head straight for Europe.

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were aboard Ferrari’s first of several flights home, with subsequent flights also scheduled even though their destination is not entirely known.

A shared charter with fellow Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso and Sauber is plan-B.

Alonso’s friend Robert Kubica was also aboard Ferrari’s initial VIP flight, so as to be in Italy to drive a Renault Clio in this week’s Rally 1000 Miglia.

When asked by Spain’s AS correspondent if the Ferrari favour was the first sign that Alonso will have a new teammate in 2011, Kubica rolled his eyes and answered: “Sure, sure, sure.”

The Lotus team, owned by Malaysian aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes, was jetted to Kuala Lumpur to await an AirAsia charter back to Europe.

McLaren’s chartered jet, with buses waiting in Spain to then take team members on a long road trip back to the UK, is scheduled to leave Shanghai on Wednesday.

“We have said if it is a big enough plane, then anyone else can come on board,” said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Williams’ aviation partner Cloud9 is also looking into a private team charter, while bosses Sam Michael and Adam Parr flew from Shanghai to Dubai but then found themselves unexpectedly diverted to Beirut.

It is rumoured that some teams are looking into moving their cars back to Europe while the FOM planes are stuck in Europe, but the idea of putting the containers on boats has been ruled out.

“You need a plane,” said Mercedes’ Haug. “By boat, we will run out of time before Barcelona.”