Mark Webber might have signed a pre-contractual agreement with Ferrari, one of Spain’s leading F1 correspondents has revealed.

Raymond Blancafort, writing for El Mundo Deportivo, referred to widespread speculation in the paddock about Sergio Perez’s likely future alongside Fernando Alonso.

“There may be a pre-contract,” he said, “but between Ferrari and Webber.”

Australian Webber was also linked with Ferrari last year, before Red Bull decided to sign him up for another single season.

The 35-year-old was overshadowed by his teammate Sebastian Vettel last year, but he has begun the 2012 season more strongly.

And Webber warned before the 2012 season began that if Red Bull didn’t re-sign him for 2013, “I’d need something (else) competitive (to drive)”.

“Being at the front, is certainly a big, big factor of me staying very hungry and motivated.”

Ferrari may be looking to replace Alonso’s current teammate, the struggling team veteran Felipe Massa, for 2013.

“They (Ferrari) would be able to take advantage of his (Webber’s) experience, the consistency of his results and the fact that he gets along with Alonso.

“Interestingly, Webber is also still involved with Flavio Briatore”, as is Alonso, Blancafort noted.

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted F1 teams will breach their contracts if they do not race in Bahrain next weekend.

Earlier, as the controversy surrounding the sport’s continued plans to travel to the troubled island Kingdom deepens, an unnamed team boss admitted his peers would prefer if the event was called off.

The Times newspaper then quoted F1 chief executive Ecclestone as saying that “If the teams don’t want to go, then we cannot make them”.

“We’ve no way we can force people to go there,” he also told the PA Sport news agency on Tuesday.

But in actual fact, teams are contractually bound to race at each event on the F1 calendar, with breaches punishable by exclusion from the sport.

“We can’t say ‘you’ve got to go’ – although they would be in breach of their agreement with us if they didn’t go – but it doesn’t help,” the 81-year-old clarified.

“Commercially they have to go, but whether they decide to or not is up to them,” said Ecclestone.

“I’ve had no one say anything other than ‘we’re going to be racing in Bahrain’.”

He said the local race organisers, and the national sanctioning body, are the ones that could cancel the race.

F1′s governing body, meanwhile, is the FIA.

“I’ve spoken to (FIA president) Mr (Jean) Todt,” Ecclestone revealed, “we keep in close contact, and he’s going out there (to China), so we’ll have a chat then, and we always meet with the teams.”

It also emerged on Tuesday that Ecclestone has phoned Dr Ala’a Shehabi, a prominent Bahraini journalist and activist.

She revealed that Ecclestone wants Bahrain’s government opposition to “have a press conference” at the grand prix “in which opposition can get their message across”.

Shehabi said Ecclestone is “very concerned” about the situation in Bahrain, including the fate of human rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, who amid his hunger strike in jail is said to be close to death.

 He may not have a race or even a reserve seat, but Jaime Alguersuari will at least be a regular face in the formula one paddock in 2012.
The axed Toro Rosso driver will be experienced broadcaster James Allen’s co-commentator for British radio BBC 5 Live, the Telegraph newspaper reports.

Journalist Tom Cary said the news will be confirmed officially on Tuesday.

Still just 21, Spaniard Alguersuari revealed last month that he will remain fully focused on formula one this year.

“I am thinking only of F1,” he said. “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.”

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.”

Robert Kubica may be contractually free to leave the Renault team at the end of next year.

The French team announced on Wednesday that the Pole has extended his current deal to include the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

But although boss Eric Boullier indicated that the “multi-year deal” will stop the “many rumours” surrounding the 25-year-old’s future, speculation about Kubica’s services looks set to continue.

When Renault announced Kubica’s 2010 contract last October, the media statement said he will race for the Enstone based team “from the 2010 season onwards”.

But we reported in May that the 2010 contract included an option that would allow Kubica to leave if the team is not fourth in the constructors’ championship by July 15.

At the time of writing, Renault is currently fifth, 20 points behind Mercedes.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat reports that Kubica will be similarly free to leave Renault at the end of next season if Renault does not meet more contractual performance targets.

The report also said Kubica’s retainer will be higher in 2011, as will the jointly Genii Capital and Renault-owned team’s overall budget.

Jul.7 (GMM) Christian Horner wants to sit down with Sebastian Vettel at Silverstone this weekend and talk about the future.

23-year-old Vettel is already contracted to Red Bull Racing for 2011, but the Milton Keynes based team reportedly wants a much longer deal.

Germany’s Sport Bild said the team, owned by Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz but run by Briton Horner, is eyeing a deal through 2015.

But when asked precisely how long he would like Vettel to commit, Horner joked: “2028.

“Then he’d be 41, like Michael Schumacher.”

Vettel handles his own contractual negotiations, with only the assistance of his father Norbert.

Horner said: “I know that Mercedes would have Sebastian. Ferrari too, and even McLaren would not be averse. That’s why we want to have him for the long term.”

The media report said a new deal to 2015, with options through to 2018 with a ten per cent retainer increase per additional year, would boost Vettel’s retainer to about EUR 12 million per season.

Said Horner: “Sebastian is the future. He is going to be around, winning, for many years.”

And Vettel commented: “I already have a contract with Red Bull. What happens next, we will see.

“For me, it’s not about the money but about sitting in a competitive car with a team I feel comfortable with.”

Robert Kubica’s manager has hinted that the Polish driver is not likely to change teams ahead of the 2011 season.

The 25-year-old moved from BMW to Renault this year, but amid his strong performances it has been rumoured he could switch to Ferrari to replace Felipe Massa.

But it is believed Massa is now close to extending his contract.

Speaking in Turkey last weekend, Kubica insisted it is “not the time” to be contemplating “whether I will be staying with Renault or not”.

When asked about the Ferrari gossip, his manager Daniele Morelli told Finland’s Turun Sanomat: “It appears that is a desire perhaps by some journalists rather than actual news.”

Kubica is a healthy sixth in the world championship, ahead of rivals including Massa and both of the Mercedes drivers.

“Robert does not make mistakes.  His results are the best he is able to do when he does not have a winning car,” said Morelli.

“When he led the championship two years ago, we were firmly attached contractually to BMW, and then his car was weaker last year when we were finding a new team.

“Right now, we do not need any interest in Robert except from within his own team, so that the car can be developed to be even more competitive,” he added.

Morelli said Kubica feels much happier with the Enstone based team than he was with BMW.

Kubica confirmed: “Many people, when I signed for Renault, told me I was wrong, that it was a bad move.

“But I’m pretty happy with my decision and I hope I can rely on my decision-making for the future.”

(GMM)

Adrian Newey looks set to stay at Red Bull for the foreseeable future.

The 51-year-old Briton joined the Austrian team from McLaren in 2006, and as chief technical officer is widely credited for the success of the dominant RB6.

Germany’s Sport Bild claims Newey, arguably the most sought-after figure in the entire world of formula one, intends to stay put.

“Contractual matters are confidential, but it’s true,” team boss Christian Horner said of the report.

“Last year, Adrian requested to remove a clause that would have ended his contract this year,” he revealed.

Former grand prix winner Gerhard Berger backs the move, insisting that Red Bull will remain on the pace “as long as Newey and Vettel are there”.
(GMM)

Jaime Alguersuari has indicated he risked losing his F1 seat this year due to “problems” between Toro Rosso and Red Bull.

In between the 2009 and 2010 seasons, it was strongly rumoured the Faenza based team was considering replacing the then teenage Spaniard with a pay-driver.

Alguersuari, who had debuted only several races earlier due to the mid-season expulsion of Sebastien Bourdais, told Diario Sport in an interview this week that he never felt his career was in jeopardy.

He revealed: “I had a contract with Red Bull and the word of Dietrich Mateschitz. I knew I was a future project for them and that it made no sense for them to make me quickly debut and then leave me out for the next season.

“The only thing about the situation is that Toro Rosso had economic and contractual problems with Red Bull, but I just kept doing my work in a calm way,” added Alguersuari.

Having taken a tangible step forward in comparison to his teammate Sebastien Buemi this year, Alguersuari admits he would like to be in a fully competitive car sooner rather than later.

“Red Bull has a winning car and I must fight to have one as well,” he said.

Earlier rumours suggested Mark Webber might move on at the end of 2010, opening up a cockpit for Alguersuari or his teammate Sebastien Buemi, but speculation is now strengthening that Red Bull will retain its current lineup next season.

“I am learning, and if some day I can take the wheel of a Red Bull or win a world championship with them, it would be fantastic,” admitted Alguersuari.
(GMM)

Apr.22 (GMM)  The boss of the Italian carmaker Fiat has backed calls for Valentino Rossi to switch to formula one in 2011.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo this week said he wants F1′s rules to be changed so that the Italian team can enter a third car for the multiple and reigning champion of MotoGP.

Sergio Marchionne, the chief executive of the Ferrari parent Fiat, admitted that Rossi at the wheel of a Maranello built single seater is “a great idea”.

“Luca says he would like to have a third Ferrari car with Valentino — it’s a great idea if he (Rossi) is willing to do it,” said Marchionne in Italian reports.

The comments are despite Rossi’s contractual ties to Fiat, with the carmaker a major sponsor of his MotoGP team Yamaha.

Marchionne said he “cannot say anything” about Rossi’s future, with the 31-year-old’s contract expiring this year.