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.

Jaime Alguersuari has admitted he was “hurt” by Red Bull’s late decision to oust him from Toro Rosso.
The 21-year-old announced this week that, amid speculation he might rescue his career with the reserve role at Mercedes, he will in fact be missing entirely from the F1 paddock in 2012.

In a Spanish-language statement, he admitted the career interruption was “unnecessary”.

“At the Brazilian grand prix, my continuity (at Toro Rosso) was confirmed verbally.

“After this confirmation by Red Bull and STR, we turned down a very good deal.

“A few days later, Toro Rosso sent me to the headquarters of (sponsor) Cepsa, and at a dinner I talked about my relationship with Toro Rosso and Cepsa with a script written at Faenza.

“No one has ever explained to me why, having fulfilled the expectations asked of me by the team, improving from 2010 and beating my teammate, I am stopped in December with no time to get a good position in 2012,” said Alguersuari.

He insisted, however, that he is not giving up on F1.

“I am thinking only of F1,” he said. “I am 21, have played 46 grands prix, I’m not a rookie driver anymore.

“Yes to formula one, but not at any price.

“I contacted (HRT team boss) Luis Perez-Sala, my friend and former mentor, in December, but we both agreed — HRT does not have a car for me and I cannot spend everything at my age struggling to improve a car that far behind.

“Williams? That option never even occurred to me as nowadays they only want drivers who pay.

“In January I had discussions with one of the best teams that could be decisive in my future. I was received with great affection and respect and we have opened a path.

“For obvious reasons I cannot reveal the nature of our intention, but what I can say is that I will devote myself body and soul to F1 in 2012.

“I will prepare myself, with no contractual relationships with anyone, to be ready and available for any opportunity that arises.”

Renault has imposed a deadline for the finalisation of its driver lineup for 2012.

The Genii-owned team has left open a vacancy for Robert Kubica next year alongside the confirmed Russian driver Vitaly Petrov.

But media reports in recent days have revealed that Kubica, recovering from his horror February rally crash, actually does not have a contract for 2012.

The Pole’s manager Daniele Morelli said at Monza that Renault “have given us assurances” about Kubica’s place for 2012.

But he also said the 26-year-old will “put on a helmet” next month “to give a message on what he can do” in either a simulator or a fast road car.

It now emerges that the “message” needs to be received by Renault team boss Eric Boullier.

The Frenchman is quoted by Brazil’s Globo Esporte: “I will be flexible because I really like Robert and it will be good for him to return.

“But in the middle or end of October I need a clear confirmation. My problem is that I cannot miss the opportunity to have Robert back, but at the same time I need to defend the interests of my team.

“I need to have the best driver lineup I can have, or the best I can afford,” said Boullier.

As for Kubica, reports say he is now working six hours a day on rehabilitation following his final operation to free movement in his elbow.

“I am not expecting him to be as fast as last year, because I know that when you are off the track for a year it is hard to come back,” said Boullier.

“Besides, when you suffer a serious accident as he did, it is not easy. But I need to understand if he can do it,” he added.

Reports about a new contract for 2012 were “too early”, Kamui Kobayashi has insisted at Silverstone. A few days ago, the Swiss newspaper Blick – with close links to Hinwil based Sauber – said confirmation of a new deal for the exciting Japanese is due “soon”. The report said the 24-year-old is almost certainly staying at Sauber, but he is earning increasing respect within the F1 paddock, with British pundit Martin Brundle on Saturday describing Kobayashi as a ‘world class driver’. “Sauber is a good place to learn F1 — it’s a private team and if something is not going well then Peter Sauber talks to me and I have to improve,” Kobayashi is quoted as saying by AFP. “It’s a good experience. But I still have more than nine races (to go) and it is too early to say (what will happen). Red Bull and McLaren are top teams, but I don’t think they have any space,” he added.

Ferrari is now happy with Felipe Massa, the Italian marque’s president Luca di Montezemolo has revealed.

Montezemolo said in May that there is “no question” Ferrari will honour its 2012 contract with the Brazilian, who struggled markedly in 2010 amid rumours Mark Webber or Nico Rosberg might be drafted in to replace him.

The rumours only intensified when Fernando Alonso’s contract was extended through 2016, raising suggestions Massa’s days at Maranello are numbered.

When asked about Ferrari’s driver lineup this week, Montezemolo told La Repubblica that Spaniard Alonso is “a great driver”.

“I am very happy to have signed a contract with him for a long cooperation, as we had with Michael Schumacher in his time,” he said.

“The fact that we will be together at least until 2016 is confirmation that both parties are happy with this relationship.

“I am also very happy this year with Felipe, who is reacting very well. We are pleased with our drivers; we need to improve the car to get Ferrari back where we want to be,” added Montezemolo.

The key to calling off the rescheduled 2011 Bahrain grand prix is held by Bernie Ecclestone.
That was the claim of the FIA on Friday, after F1 chief executive Ecclestone confirmed the Sakhir race is “not on” and the circuit admitted it will not host the race in October.

Official confirmation from the sport’s governing body, however, is still missing, with the FIA website showing Bahrain deleted from the calendar despite the recent World Motor Sport Council decision and India – originally with the October 30 date – now unlisted as “to be announced”.

“In the light of the statement by the Bahrain International Circuit, we are now waiting for the commercial rights holder (Ecclestone) to suggest a new calendar to the World Motor Sport Council,” a FIA spokesman is quoted by Reuters.

Bahrain will not only controversially return to a reshuffled 2011 schedule, the island Kingdom will also kick off the 2012 season.
The news was confirmed in a media statement issued by the governing FIA after its Barcelona meeting on Friday.

The Paris-based body said the decision to reschedule Bahrain to October 30 this year “reflects the spirit of reconciliation” in the troubled Kingdom, following months of civil unrest.

“The World Motor Sport Council feels that reinstating the grand prix is a means of helping to unite people as the country looks to move forward”, the FIA added.

A new date for India has not yet been set, but the FIA hinted strongly that it will be in December, “combined with the FIA annual general assembly and prize-giving gala” in Delhi.

Ross Brawn said in Monaco that December is “totally unacceptable” to the teams, so well-known F1 photographer Darren Heath on Friday dared the teams’ group FOTA to show its mettle.

“The safety of everyone in F1 will surely be put at risk,” he wrote on Twitter.

FOTA responded by saying Friday’s decision will be “discussed internally” with a position to be announced later.

Also on Friday, Bahrain was announced as the season opener for the 2012 season, with the provisional calendar for next year featuring an unprecedented 21 grand prix dates.

Turkey in May, however, accompanies an asterisk warning it is “subject to confirmation”, while Texas is as expected paired with Canada in June.

The FIA also reinforced the 2013 engine rules featuring four-cylinder turbos, but said the “implentation date” could be reconsidered by fax vote “by June 30 latest”.

Next year, meanwhile, the cars’ nose tip height will be limited for T-bone style crashes, while the minimum weight will increase to 660kg.

The FIA has banned the aggressive blowing of exhaust gases when drivers are not pressing the throttle, according to rumours on Tuesday.
Many teams, including grandees Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, Renault and others, have devised sophisticated exhaust layouts and engine maps for 2011 that exploit the aggressive blowing of gases through the diffuser when the drivers are off the throttle to maximise downforce in corners.

But according to the latest rumours, the FIA has issued ‘Technical Directive 15′ that means maximum throttle is limited to just 10 per cent when the driver is not pressing the throttle.

It is believed the directive was issued last week with immediate effect.

F1 teams have been contacted for confirmation.

Jaime Alguersuari insists he has no problem with new Friday driver Daniel Ricciardo breathing down the necks of Toro Rosso’s regular racers in 2011.
Australian Ricciardo is the new cream of Red Bull’s young driver programme and next in line to take a Toro Rosso to the grid.

In 2011, the 21-year-old will switch between Alguersuari and teammate Sebastien Buemi’s race cars in the Friday morning practice sessions, but Spaniard Alguersuari insists he fully accepts the situation.

“His appointment is a very good confirmation of the operation of the Red Bull junior team,” said 20-year-old Alguersuari.

“Without this programme and the determination of Dr Helmut Marko, I would not be in formula one,” he is quoted by France’s autohebdo.fr.

Marko’s driver development scheme has gained a reputation over the years for being particularly cut-throat, but Alguersuari has only praise.

“Sure, but that’s what the Red Bull programme has taught us. For us there is nothing more normal than to see Ricciardo, Buemi, Vettel or myself do our best without worrying about the others,” he insisted.

Alguersuari therefore wishes Ricciardo all the best for 2011.

“His participation in the Friday practices will be a great experience for him, because he will be sharing information with me and Buemi and it will make him a better driver and a serious candidate for a place at Toro Rosso in the future,” he said.

Using a football analogy, Alguersuari contrasted Red Bull’s approach to drivers with Ferrari’s.

“Red Bull is like Barcelona, building its drivers from when they are 15 and turning them into champions,” he is quoted by Diario AS in Spain.

“Ferrari is more like Real Madrid, buying the most expensive players in the market.”

Nico Hulkenberg has confirmed reports that he will be driving the new Force India on the Friday mornings of grands prix all season.
It had been suggested that the former Williams driver’s new long-term deal included the Friday work, but until now there had been no confirmation.

“I’m still in F1,” said the 23-year-old German at Valencia, where he drove his new Silverstone based employer’s 2010 car.

“I will be driving on every Friday in free practice so the good thing is that I can still show what I can do,” added Hulkenberg.

“I have the make the best of it. I have the year to convince the guys at Force India,” he is quoted by the SID news agency.

Replaced at Williams by the well-funded Pastor Maldonado, Hulkenberg has been visibly downcast at Valencia this week.

“It hurt a lot and it’s no secret that I am very disappointed,” he admitted.

“But I’ve had some weeks to get over it. I am trying to put it behind me and look positively into the future.”

It may be two more weeks before an announcement about Nico Hulkenberg’s role for the 2011 season is made, his manager Willi Weber has clarified.
On Monday, the newspaper Blick reported that the German 23-year-old will be the Friday driver at Force India in 2011, working alongside racers Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil.

However, that report has now been deleted from the Swiss publication’s website.

In the report, Weber was quoted as saying that Hulkenberg had also been a contender for the third seat at McLaren but “Martin Whitmarsh was worried that it would be seen as a threat to Button”.

Weber has now told the German news agency SID that Hulkenberg’s future will actually only be decided in mid-January.

“I am negotiating with several teams,” he insisted.

Another member of Hulkenberg’s management team, Timo Gans, did not deny that Blick’s story of Monday was false.

According to motorsport-magazin.com, he insisted that “the official statement is made usually by the team”.

“So we don’t want to make any official statements before the team does,” added Gans.

Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann was also cautious when asked about the Blick story.

“I don’t know where it comes from — probably from Willi Weber because it says Nico Hulkenberg will be test driver,” he said.

“I can only speak for us. We are basically in agreement with Force India, the contract is being drafted but it is not signed.”

Zimmermann added that confirmation could take between 10 and 14 days.

Silverstone based Force India did not comment.

Jerome d’Ambrosio is on the verge of securing his formula one race debut.

The 24-year-old completed the 2010 season as Virgin’s Friday morning driver in the place of Brazilian rookie Lucas di Grassi.

Timo Glock is staying with the British team next year, and the Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure and La Libre say d’Ambrosio will almost certainly be his teammate.

The reports said Virgin Racing approved the deal last week, and it must now be signed off by the team’s new Russian shareholder and title sponsor Marussia.

Confirmation is expected before Christmas, and d’Ambrosio admitted he is “confident”.

“I have done what I can, now I am waiting,” he added.

German Glock backed the delay in the confirmation of his 2011 teammate.

“I think it is right to take our time and make sure we have the best combination of youth and experience, plus the best information going back into the team at testing and races to ensure we can develop as quickly as we want to and keep moving forward,” he said.

Adrian Sutil has confirmed his manager’s claim this week that he is set to stay with the Force India team in 2011.

The German’s manager Manfred Zimmerman said on Monday that his charge has agreed a new deal with the Silverstone based team but not yet signed an actual contract.

Zimmerman said confirmation is due “within the next two to three weeks”.

Sutil said: “It would be nice to move into a really top team, but right now there are no such opportunities.

“So I’m very happy to stay with Force India for another season,” he is quoted by Bayerischen Fernsehen television.

Sutil had been linked with a move to Renault, but the Enstone based team is believed to have decided to keep Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov in 2011.

And the 27-year-old was tipped as a candidate to replace Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, but the seven time world champion insists he remains committed to his F1 return.

Sutil said he is ready to sign a new deal with Force India.

“I hope it happens in the next two weeks,” he revealed.

“It’s a lot of fun to be with Force India, because we came from the back.  Every year we improve, and 2010 was our most successful yet.

“We have to ensure that we maintain the trend, unlike at the end of this season where we got a bit lost,” said Sutil.

Timo Glock on Thursday sounded more confident about his future.

Days ago, the German refused to definitively confirm that he will still be with the Virgin team in 2011.

Earlier, the new British team’s boss John Booth said the German’s contract for next year is “set in stone”.

But when asked for confirmation at Interlagos, 28-year-old Glock said when asked if he is staying in 2011: “At the moment it looks like it.”

He was present on Thursday for the announcement that Russian supercar maker Marussia has bought into the team and will become title sponsor in 2011.

“I see this as a positive step because it gives the team financial security and a boost in the right direction,” Glock is quoted by the SID news agency.

“This is what we need to take a step forward,” he added.

Also at the announcement at the magnificent five-star Yas Marina Hotel that straddles the F1 track, team boss John Booth said Glock’s teammate for 2011 was currently the subject of discussion.

“Certainly I’d think (a decision will be made) before Christmas,” he said.

Rubens Barrichello is sitting tight in the hope that Williams will call him back for another season in 2011.

The Brazilian veteran has had a solid first season with the British team, but confirmation of the 2011 driver lineup is on hold while Williams tests Venezuelan pay-driver Pastor Maldonado next week in Abu Dhabi.

“My future depends on Williams,” 38-year-old Barrichello is quoted by Globo Esporte in Portuguese.

“I want to stay and we are working on the car for next year, and after Abu Dhabi we will test with the new (Pirelli) tyres.”

He said he will be disappointed if his tenure at Williams ends after just one season.

“My project with Williams was not for one year only,” Barrichello said on SporTV.

“I’ve been talking about my contract for a long time. I cannot announce anything, because it is not signed.

“But I am working on the car for next year already. I don’t see myself leaving,” he added.