Group Lotus will no longer sponsor the formula one team that bears its name.

But – as F1′s perpetually bizarre ‘Lotus’ saga takes another twist – the Enstone based team, formerly Renault, will continue to be known as Lotus in the coming years.

Last year, and in 2010, ‘Lotus’ was the name of the team that is now called Caterham, but a bitter dispute soured that relationship as the Proton-owned car company Group Lotus ended the naming license and made its own bid to enter F1.

Group Lotus’ new foray blossomed in 2012 with Renault’s renaming to Lotus, amid speculation team owner Genii was keen to get more involved with the iconic sports car marque.

When asked recently about his team’s relationship with Lotus, Kimi Raikkonen answered clumsily on the Top Gear motoring programme: “Well it’s, er, it (the car) is not a Renault. Lotus is just a sponsor.”

The Autosport website revealed on Good Friday that the sponsorship deal has been “terminated”.

However, “We are happy to carry the Lotus name as we believe it is a good name for F1,” explained team owner Genii’s Gerard Lopez.

“So Lotus are still Lotus despite no longer being sponsored by Lotus?” the Telegraph’s Tom Cary wittily surmised on Twitter.

And in yet another twist, Lopez refused to rule out a scenario in which Genii actually takes over Group Lotus.

“We don’t know yet, because we really do not know what the new owner wants to do with it,” he said.

 Most leading specialist publications see Red Bull as the continuing pacesetter in formula one.
In their recent analysis, outlets including Auto Motor und Sport (Germany), La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy) and Autosport (Britain) believe world champion Sebastian Vettel again resides the best car ahead of the 2012 season.

“They still have an advantage, but it’s smaller,” agreed Jenson Button, according to Brazil’s O Estado de S.Paulo.

His boss Martin Whitmarsh added: “Red Bull has a solid, fast car, better than us in slow corners, but we’re better in the fast ones.”

Switzerland’s Sonntagsblick, however, sees McLaren actually ahead of the energy drink-owned team, with Mercedes in third place and Force India a surprise fourth.

“Red Bull is faster (than Mercedes),” said the German marque’s boss Ross Brawn, “and clearly a little more than we had hoped for,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.

The international publications said Lotus, amid their chassis flaw problems, rank anywhere between third (Auto Motor und Sport) and eighth (Blick).

According to the same press, Ferrari is in trouble, ranking no higher than fifth in the lists of the aforementioned publications — and the authoritative Auto Motor und Sport predicting nothing short of a disastrous season for the fabled Italian team.

Felipe Massa is quoted by Spanish reporters as saying Barcelona was “a little more positive” than the Jerez test recently, and he was asked to rank the development of the new F2012 car out of ten.

“Probably more than five. There is still much to do, but now we are closer than we were,” said the Brazilian.

As for whether the car is a race winner, Massa added: “I hope so, but it’s very difficult to say anything in testing,” he is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat.

Indeed, Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi ended last week’s Barcelona test with the quickest time, but Blick’s veteran correspondent Roger Benoit warned against taking that too seriously.

“When with the same tyres at the same time, (Mercedes’ Nico) Rosberg was a second faster per lap than Sauber’s Japanese,” he said.

“In testing, the truth is seldom revealed — if the teams used lie detectors, they would all be laying exploded around us.”

According to Britain’s Sun newspaper, Kobayashi confirmed: “I don’t think McLaren and Red Bull are slow.

“We don’t really wish for wins or podiums. For us this is a bit too far away.”

Instead, the midfield battle looks extremely tight, with Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio surmising that Sauber as well as Force India, Toro Rosso and Williams are all in there.

“It will be race to race,” Toro Rosso’s Giorgio Ascanelli told the Italian press. “From what we’ve seen so far, this fight will be amazing.”

And Oricchio concluded: “As for HRT and Marussia, who have not even presented their 2012 cars, they undoubtedly have capable people, but also almost as many difficulties.”

Team boss Ross Brawn takes the Mercedes-good benefits from the fact that one understands the vote better, and can optimize performance.

In the last race, Mercedes has well presented, although the development of the W01 is set for a long time and the concentration to 2011. Team boss Ross Brawn sees the good form the fruits of efforts to improve the car and the structures within the team. Michael Schumacher missed the podium but in South Korea, but the speed of Nico Rosberg was up to the involuntary loss of strong and a podium would have been possible.

“We are making progress. It probably took longer than expected, but we see really good progress,” Brawn is of ‘Autosport’ quotes. “We do everything together for next year. Now we get everything to work properly. The F-shaft is good and we have the highest speed on the straights. We do not change many things, but to understand how we need to tune the car. It is a consolidation and a lesson. ”
When asked whether the team will benefit in the coming year, Brawn replied. “Maybe I do not think things can be transferred directly, but we have learned over the past few races a lot.

In South Korea, Rosberg could have the first time in Silverstone again climb on the podium. “He was very happy with the car, but I will not speculate. He was doing very well, has felt the car well and might have looked very strong.”

Renault’s 2010 car will finally be fitted with an F-duct system for the Belgian grand prix this weekend and beyond.

The Enstone based team decided later than its rivals to develop the downforce-stalling concept that was pioneered this season by McLaren.

Boss Eric Boullier said in July that it was “very likely” Renault’s version would be seen at the grands prix after the August break.

The first two grands prix after the break, first at Spa-Francorchamps and then at Monza in Italy, are high speed in nature, where reducing the drag of the rear wing on the long straights will be most beneficial.

France’s authoritative Auto Hebdo publication confirmed in July that the Renault F-duct would be seen for the first time in Belgium.

The news has now also been confirmed by Italy’s Autosprint and Autosport in Britain.

His good result from the Hungaroring and the innovations of James Key let Pedro de la Rosa’s growing self-confidence
Just like Michael Schumacher was also returning to Pedro de la Rosa race break after three years at first some difficulty with the formula first But during the seven-time world champion more still further behind, shows the shape of the curve Sauber veteran apparently sharply upward.

De la Rosa at Silverstone for the first time secured a one-digit start position (9) repeated this feat in Budapest and went there even for the first time in seventh in the points. This is of course the one hand, because the C29, directed by technical director James Key (“Our progress is also his merit”) was developed, but the Spaniard is indicated that even after getting better.
“I do not know,” he answers to the question of ‘Autosport’, why it works better for him than for Schumacher, “but I feel better with every race. The failure at Silverstone to accept struck me hard, because we were very competitive, but in Hungary we moved back in Q3 and collected points for the team. I think I’m getting better with every race. To other drivers, I’m not thinking, but still can slow a very good level. ”

Fast curves were for the C29 anyway “never a problem,” said de la Rosa. That, however, he was just as competitive on the narrow Hungaroring, was a surprise, “because our biggest problem was always low speeds – and Hungary is just as slow as Monaco”. But the new features introduced since Valencia appear to be exactly as desired auszuwirken.

“The targeted all aimed at slow corners,” said de la Rosa. “So I had to Hungary so excited, because Hungary would indicate to us whether it is in the right direction or not. Without testing, it is now difficult, but we have definitely made the right changes in the way. Now we can say, that We compete not only in ultra-fast circuits like Silverstone. “

According to Adrian Sutil, Force India is unlikely to ever be in the running for a world championship.

The 27-year-old has been with the Silverstone based team throughout his formula one career, beginning as a test driver with Midland in 2006.

He moved up to the race seat when the team became Spyker in 2007; a period the German describes as “a big mess” in an interview with Autosport.

Even 2008 was difficult for the team, after once again being taken over and rebranded, this time by the Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.

“It took a while until I realised that this team has a future,” admitted Sutil.

“My plan was to stay another year, maybe two, but then find a drive somewhere else.”

But despite being linked with a move to Renault for the 2011 season, Sutil says Force India is now on the right track.

“When Vijay Mallya took over the team, I suddenly had a much better feel. Since then I am absolutely happy here and I believe in the team,” he said.

However, he thinks the team – sixth in the constructors’ championship at present behind Renault, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull – might have reached the peak of its potential.

“I would not say that we can become a winning team,” admitted Sutil.

“People should be a bit careful, because in my opinion it is not possible to keep up with the top teams.

“Top five, top six, that’s where we find ourselves, in the midfield. We will try to rise up, but that could be difficult.

“I honestly do not see that we will fight in the coming years for the world titles. That is unrealistic,” he added.

Red Bull can avoid the alleged detriment of engine performance been good. But team boss Christian Horner is not sure whether this can succeed again in 2011. His team will also start next year with Renault engines. “According to studies, we have three percent less power,” Horner says to ‘Autosport’ to compare the engines of Renault and Mercedes top of the class.

“These are about 30-35 hp, which may account for duchaus four tenths per lap. As long as we have not rehearsed on independent test facilities, we can not say exactly,” said Horner. He added: “We hear Ross Brawn often talk about weight, focus or efficiency of cooling. The more power you, the more heat is also generated. You have to see it holistically. When can the aerodynamic rules little room, then the motor an important factor. ”
Horner himself is now sorry to have to bring the subject motor alignment always on the table. “In the regulations it is not clearly defined, that is the problem.” The Red Bull team boss wants to know his words understood nich as criticism of Renault. “We have a great relationship with Renault. Unfortunately, the product is frozen in the development, at the same time remains of course the deficit.”

“Mercedes has made clear that they will serve no other team, so we must find other ways for the coming season to establish a healthy balance,” said Horner. “It is not good if one engine is significantly superior to all others.” The Renault engine but also have advantages: “It is compact, a good machine – just like the Ferrari. But lack of PS-figures can not be offset by other things.”

Although we will not successes, Mercedes continues to focus on the current cars and does not focus exclusively or even to 2011. The team led by Ross Brawn had in 2008 decided early on to go back to the weak development of the Honda, and to focus on the upcoming season. With success, for there were both won World Cup titles. But unlike today, the rules were then already in place. Currently, there are officially in the coming year still no tire manufacturer and is about the return of the KERS energy recovery system and an adjustable rear wing still spoken.

In addition, says an old Formula 1 Wisdom: If you do not understand the problems on the current cars, it does not help to incorporate these difficulties in the coming model. Therefore, the Mercedes team is working feverishly to close the gap to McLaren and Red Bull. “I think every team is already thinking about the car for 2011, but we want to achieve with the current model, some important improvements,” Brawn says to ‘Autosport’.
“In the second half of the season, we must then consider our position. We hold nothing back on the engine. A little bit of focus but we have to next year,” the team boss. The riders start in 2011 but already think. Michael Schumacher said after Montreal that his title chances this season would be virtually over, and his focus shifts to the coming year.

(TMS)

For Timo Glock, the trip paid to Montreal in the past for ever. The 28 year-old made his debut in 2004 for Jordan as a substitute pilot for Giorgio Pantano. In the qualifying Glock was only one place behind team-mate Nick Heidfeld. In the race, he captured his seventh first championship points and thus belongs to a small group of riders, who succeeded, at the debut. In 2005 Glock would have won by a hair, the race of the Champ Car Series at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The last appearance in 2008 conquered the German his first points for Toyota.

The presence at the moment does not look rosy. The Virgin was too slow on Friday and was even beaten by HRT. Points lie outside the range, but with a crazy race and the happiness could Montréal for the weekend, Glock nor the conciliatory. “Every time I’ve driven in Canada, is something special happened in the race,” says Glock recalls in an interview with ‘Autosport’. “Hopefully it will be another crazy weekend and we can benefit from it.”
Ideally, the new team plays the fight for third place from 19th Nevertheless, it is difficult to motivate Glock not himself, “I just hide from the 20 cars ahead of me. I have never been so hard fought for a 19th place as recently in Turkey. The battle to win under new team is our only option get a sense of victory. If you’re not even a goal, you will lose power. The duel with Lotus is a way to motivate yourself. ”

Glock only twice in the seven races so far has seen the checkered flag. Despite the difficult season, he is convinced of Virgin: “I am very satisfied. It’s easy to say that I or anyone at Renault would have to wait still can, but you never know what happened, so I made the right decision. Virgin developed in the right direction. The problem is that you only see number 20 and nothing more. We have, however, improved a lot. ”
“The car is more difficult to drive than the Toyota is missing. Especially in medium and slow corners us contact pressure. Then we placed our focus.” It can also bring his experience from Glock recent years. “In discussions I am now a little more aggressive. The team can respond very well, but unfortunately we have not had the capacity as Toyota, where new parts were produced very quickly.”

Even with his former employers after two years, many ideas in the Glock-2010s construction of the model incorporated. The 28-year-old has seen the Toyota for the current season and is convinced of the merits: “The car would have been very fast. Everyone laughed when I said that we want to fight for the title. We were constantly in the top 5 been. But unfortunately the car is never driven on the track. It is a pity, but that was precisely the decision. There were few details on the car, where I could see my signature significantly. It would have been nice, the fruit of hard work to harvest. ”
(TotalMotorSport)

The tires are putting confusion in Formula 1 It is still unclear which tire manufacturers in 2011 awarded the contract – Bridgestone stretches back even with the end of this season from the “king class” of motorsports. While Pirelli has already claimed that the deal should be confirmed with the FIA between the races in Montreal and Valencia, is how the French competition is still not out of the race.

Michelin motorsport director Nick Shorrock, who negotiated in Istanbul with the teams expected to ‘Autosport’ soon a decision, “urges the time to develop a product that is reliable, has good power and above all things is secure. Michelin has an enormous competitive experience in Formula 1 and this gives us a strong base in the development of each tire. The sooner the better, because then we can seriously start working. ”

According to Shorrock, the teams have to rely on an early decision, because “you start at this time to work on next year’s car. When one around June or July is not your turn, you will have problems.”
(TotalMotorsports)

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has added weight to recent reports that an American team could soon be a reality in formula one.

In the wake of the USF1 debacle, scepticism accompanied the recent news about a US-based outfit called Cypher Group submitting a “letter of interest” about obtaining the last spot on the 2011 grid.

But a few days later, USF1 backer and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley’s aide Parris Mullins admitted to Autosport that “I would be lying if I said that I haven’t been exploring other ways of entry into this sport”.

“I am part of a project right now that is trying to enter the sport,” he added, admitting that he sees a customer car as a viable initial route.

And Montezemolo, who has been pushing hard for a rule change to allow three-car team entries, told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I dream of a third Ferrari managed by an American team, with the stars and stripes flag.”
(GMM)

Full qualifying times for the third round of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park.

1. Will Power Penske 1m 10.1356s
2. Mike Conway Dreyer & Reinbold 1m 10.6501s
3. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m 10.6569s
4. Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport 1m 11.0701s
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m 11.3557s
6. Takuma Sato KVRT 1m 11.4387s*
7. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m 10.6307s
8. Tony Kanaan Andretti Autosport 1m 10.6903s
9. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m 10.7602s
10. EJ Viso KVRT 1m 10.7757s
11. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 1m 10.7760s
12. Mario Moraes KVRT 1m 11.5219s
13. Simona de Silvestro Stargate Works/HVM 1m 11.0262s*
14. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport 1m 10.7449s
15. Graham Rahal Sarah Fisher 1m 11.1495s
16. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 1m 10.9524s*
17. Hideki Mutoh NHLR 1m 11.2855s
18. Raphael Matos de Ferran Luczo Dragon 1m 11.0507s
19. Danica Patrick Andretti Autosport 1m 11.5340s
20. Vitor Meira AJ Foyt 1m 11.1348s
21. Alex Tagliani FAZZT 1m 11.5669s
22. Mario Romancini Conquest 1m 11.6020s*
23. Dan Wheldon Panther 1m 11.6095s
24. Milka Duno Dale Coyne 1m 15.9800s
25. Bertrand Baguette Conquest 1m 11.9800s*

* denotes rookie driver