The FIA could sanction F1′s reigning back-to-back world champion for his behaviour during the recent Malaysian grand prix.

Before calling backmarker Narain Karthikeyan a “gherkin” and “idiot” in the wake of their collision, Sebastian Vettel was captured by his on-board camera twice displaying his middle-finger to the Indian driver.

“I think he’s highly frustrated because he’s having a tough season,” Karthikeyan told the Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday.

“It’s completely unprofessional to blame me for the incident. The derogatory remark only goes to show him in bad light.

“Just because he has a good car, he can’t call others an idiot,” Karthikeyan continued.

“I have won races in all the previous single-seater championships I have participated in so I don’t need a certificate from Vettel.”

Reports in Germany, including in the Kolner Express, Bild and Die Welt newspapers, claim that Red Bull driver’s behaviour may have breached the new stricter code of conduct introduced by FIA president Jean Todt.

The FIA has been contacted for comment.

“He has breached the code of conduct,” former F1 driver Marc Surer told Germany’s Sky television. “You sign it when you get the license and then you have to behave correspondingly.

“Any behaviour that hurts other people or the sport is an offense,” added the Swiss.

Asked what the penalties might be, Surer explained: “Anything from a warning to a license revocation. In this case I think it was quite understandable and there will be a mild punishment, if there is anything.”

Hans-Joachim Stuck, however, is slightly less forgiving.

“When you’re overtaking, misunderstandings can occur. I think Vettel needs to learn this.

“With him, the curve was always upwards and now it’s not the case, and he needs to deal with that,” the German legend told the DAPD news agency.

As for Vettel’s description of Karthikeyan as a “gherkin”, Stuck insisted: “It’s better than ‘asshole’.”

Vettel’s attack, however, was sustained, with Kleine Zeitung newspaper now quoting the Red Bull driver as having said: “Maybe formula one is not the place to learn how to drive.”

Stuck responded: “If Sebastian had left more space, it would not have happened. It happens sometimes so it’s a racing incident.

“He (Karthikeyan) didn’t do it on purpose and it always takes two.”

The HRT driver hit back by calling Vettel a “bully”, and even David Coulthard – a Red Bull team consultant – defended Karthikeyan.

“He can’t make his car invisible,” the Scot is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

Also defending Karthikeyan was Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg, who told the Indian press this week: “From what I saw, it was not Narain’s fault.

“So I don’t really understand why he (Vettel) said all that.”

Hukenberg’s Force India teammate Paul di Resta added: “Narain is entitled to do as much on the track in comparison with someone like Vettel.

“Both are F1 drivers and are there to represent their teams.”

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.”

A small error has denied Dani Pedrosa may play pole position to Motorland Aragon. Leading by two tenths in the first two areas, the Honda rider came off at losing a turn, finding themselves thus taking the third position for a (precious) front row: the start will be very important.

“I am happy to be in the front row, “admits Dani Pedrosa. “That was our main goal of the day. Unfortunately I made a small mistake on my last lap when I was 2 / 10 in the fastest time, so I think the pole would have been possible. The front row is important, however, can and must start well tomorrow because the first curve is close to the grid. ”

Strong victories at Indianapolis and Misano Adriatico, Pedrosa will aim to tris tomorrow even if it is not easy: he thinks the race will be fought most of the season.

” It’a new circuit, we have never raced here and can not know how the tires react on the race distance. We are still improving in recent races and my goal is always to fight for victory. I think the race is more uncertain of the season, because all we are left without references and with some question marks. “

At Misano Valentino Rossi, while away from Pedrosa and Lorenzo, was able to return to the podium finish in third position, particularly showing signs of improvement in the final stages of the race where he managed to stand out the best lap times. An important figure in anticipation of the Grand Prix this weekend in Aragon, track where the 9 times world champion was able to turn last week with a Yamaha R1.

“I must say that I really like the track, “admitted Rossi. “ And’complicated, but fun and fast, I think will be a real test for everyone. The best part is definitely the entrance of curve 16, really can not wait to ride my M1 there. “

Leaving the podium to Misano has been a difficult weekend for the tragic death of Shoyo Tomizawa, and also hopes that a good race at Alcaniz to remind the young Japanese driver.

“Misano was a very sad weekend for our sport, but now we hope to get a good result in memory Tomizawa. I feel stronger and fit day after day, I am sure I can point to the podium on this occasion, “said Valentino.

When Mark Webber in failed to overtake Heikki Kovalainen, the rear wheel of the Lotus drivers, met the Australian was just a passenger. His car lifted into the air, turned 180 degrees in the air rang with the cockpit down on the tarmac, turned 180 degrees again and then slid with even high speed into the tire barrier. The Red Bull driver was able to enter the car luckily unhurt on their own.

“Well, you always need two for a tango, right?” Webber said in an interview with the ‘BBC’. ‘In this incident we were both involved. I looked for the best wind shadow lookout to do the job and to pass him. He defended himself pretty hard, and inside, blocked suddenly become very aggressive.
“Finally, I was surprised by the fact, as he braked early,” said the experienced racer. “This is what caught me cold. It did not matter where I was, or how close I was driving in the slipstream, I still had everything under control.”

“This was a horrible incident. Obviously, I was surprised about what happened on the access to this curve. At first I thought, ‘Okay, it me pass’ can be, because the speed difference was of course enormous. Then he started, the door , zuzuschmeißen and he showed this little maneuver. I thought ‘What’s he doing there? “.”

“Yes, he was slowed by the gas, or whatever. It turned out that this was the case 80 meters earlier than I had slowed down in the previous round. This means that this was the case in a different category than in the few laps before. “

Lewis Hamilton was not only on the qualification for the European Grand Prix with his third place easier, but after the race at Valencia, he was able to finish on the second position – despite a drive-through. This had brewed the McLaren-Mercedes driver as he overhauled the Safety Car irregularly.

“I think it’s just very, very positive, leading the championship,” said the McLaren-Mercedes driver, who lies at 107 meters by six points ahead of team-mate Jenson Button. “Both Jenson and I have worked hard all year, and the results show the efforts that each invested. It’s great to achieve those results, we can earn. Hopefully we close the gap on Red Bull and then they really . challenge ”
The situation with the safety car could have cost the former Formula 1 world champion much more: “I really do not know. When we riding around the first corner, I saw the safety car line. I saw that the safety car next to me and thought that I had passed it, so I kept going and that was it. ”

Turbulent it went straight to after the start, when he was in a duel against Vettel the front wing damaged, “I had passed clear to Mark that I saw for this reason, not where he went. I came through the first corner, and Sebastian was very close . I could see the available gap and tried it. I brake it and we went with the same speed in the curve. ”
“I was inside came through half of the curve. I gave him room, but we touched and broke my front wing. During the safety car, I came into the pits and the team did great work to change the wings and tires .

“After that, the speed was much stronger. I was able to put him under pressure. It was impossible to overtake him on that line, when the cars were within one second, even with the F-bay system. “

Red Bull has presented an open and McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari also rely on the big leap. The days of lazy Sunday drives by Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are at the top of the Formula 1 field over. At the latest by the two McLaren-double victory in Istanbul and Montreal, this should be clear. The British want to take the momentum now to Valencia.

“We took out the last two races, the maximum score. It seems as if we had a good run,” said Jenson Button before the race in Valencia. “The team is a unit, of which we want to benefit again in Valencia.” The question is still how well the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25 on the Spanish roads is.
“While it is a road course, but nevertheless different from Monaco or Singapore,” says the reigning world champion. “The track is faster. There are some sharp curves, but also quick direction changes and long straights. Regarding the setup is it interesting. It is not only to maximize output from. This could accommodate us very much.”

Button for Valencia is a small hurdle to overcome two major events yet to be. “There then follow two home games: Grand Prix at Silverstone and Festival at Goodwood. Both events incomprehensible many British fans will be. As world champion I am looking forward to it. Silverstone is a great experience and at Goodwood I may fulfill a childhood dream.”
The champion is the famous “Festival of Speed” at the McLaren MP4/2C sitting with Alain Prost was driven in 1986 for his second title. “I can not even partially believe how happy I am,” says Button is looking forward to the special trip as a child. And team-mate Lewis Hamilton will be allowed to drive the vehicle through the historic park in Goodwood.

“Now I’m looking forward to Valencia,” said the winner of the Grands Prix in Istanbul ind Montréal. “Last year I had a great, combative racing there. In the past two years I was there each second. So this is still a score to settle,” the clear statement of Hamilton. “It’s great that there is so much variance in the tracks. From Montreal we are now fast on the narrow street circuit in Valencia.”

“Until one has never seen a lot of overtaking in Valencia, but this year it might otherwise be, given the narrow field,” promises the series leader voltage. “For me as a driver, it is difficult to estimate and not predictable. More can you ask for little. The last races were great. It would be nice if we could also offer the Spanish fans a great show. It is determined again closely.”

The Canadian Grand Prix made good on its promise of providing the best race of the season so far, and Lotus Racing put in a great day’s work to see Heikki Kovalainen finish the race 16th, ahead of Petrov’s Renault, after a great battle on track in what proved to be punishing conditions for the tyres for the whole field. Jarno Trulli, who had been showing quick pace right from the start, pulled over on lap 42 after a vibration at the front end led to a problem with the braking system that put paid to his race.

Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus Cosworth T127-01) 16th, best lap 1.20.654 “It’s been a great weekend, and I’m really pleased for the whole team with the result today. We finished ahead of Petrov and lapped the other new guys, and although it was hard work managing the tyres, it’s still great to show what we can do. The race itself was tough, but it’s all about the result – I didn’t have any technical problems with the car, but the rear wasn’t working quite as I’d have liked, and I think that was down to the tyre wear.”

Jarno Trulli (Lotus Cosworth T127-03) DNF best lap 1.20.791 “It’s such a shame I had to pull over – I had a great start and then I was really flying during the race. We got the strategy right on the tyres, and my pace was good – I was keeping up with the boys in front, and I was overtaking our other rivals. But then I felt a vibration that caused a problem with the braking system and I had to pull over. Still – we have to move on. It’s another learning curve for the team and I think it’s great to see that in the race I could really push and was putting in some very good lap times.”

Mike Gascoyne, Chief Technical Officer: “I think overall we can be very happy with the race, and the whole weekend. The one disappointment was obviously Jarno’s problem – we will have to look at it in more detail, but it looks as though the vibration put paid to his race. Before he pulled over he was absolutely flying and the strategy would have really paid out for him, so that’s a plus. Heikki drove a fantastic race, fighting all the way with the guys in front, and kept it up right to the end to keep Petrov behind him.

“I think this weekend has been a massive step forward for the whole team. Rather than being just one of the new teams, we actually got stuck in and raced the teams ahead, which is what we wanted to do, so congratulations and thank you to the whole team for getting us to this position. In the end we lapped both of the other new teams, so it was a great effort, and again, well done!”

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: “I’m very happy with the result today, and the whole weekend’s work. We got 42 laps from Jarno and Heikki drove an absolute cracker – beating a Renault was great, and Heikki did really well to hold him off, but the main aim for us is to get both cars home, and we’ll keep working on that back at the factory and at the track. Now we go to Valencia where we’ll be celebrating the 500th F1™ race Lotus has competed in, and the ninth for Lotus Racing.”

Source: Lotus

The Grand Prix of Canada is traditionally a race where there is a number of incidents. This year’s edition after a year break made no exception dar. a rare circumstance but then it was reported: There was no safety car phase. Otherwise, the fans were many – see, fortunately harmless incidents – and especially a lot of tire problems, which determined the race significantly.

In the end, as in Turkey two weeks ago, Lewis Hamilton in the lead – ahead of McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Jenson Button. After China and Turkey, the team was happy about the third double victory of the season and twice the championship lead.

Fernando Alonso on the podium there as a third party also succeeded in the Ferrari. There were points behind Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull, who had again to struggle with technical problems. Mark Webber came in fifth place.
Nico Rosberg was sixth at the Mercedes in front of Robert Kubica in a Renault, Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso, Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India driver Adrian Sutil and team-mate.

At the start of the race was able to retain their top positions, while the back of the box were some collisions. Vitantonio Liuzzi in his Force India collided with Felipe Massa in a Ferrari. Even Pedro de la Rosa was in Sauber in a collision with Vitaly Petrov involved in the Renault and had in the pits to pick up a new front wing, as well as Massa. Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes was “only” 13 to the Rank returned.

De la Rosa’s team-mate Kamui Kobayashi crashed his Sauber into the “Wall of Champions” after one to overtake Nico Hulkenberg failed in the first chicane and he jumped over the curbs. The Japanese were forced to leave the car a short time later.

The order after the first three laps before Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Robert Kubica, Adrian Sutil, Michael Schumacher, Nico Hulkenberg, Jaime Alguersuari and Sébastien Buemi in eleventh place. Nico Rosberg 13, Timo Glock 19th and Felipe Massa 23rd

In the fifth round, Webber was able to pass on button. In the sixth round Rosberg and Trulli were already on the pit stop. A lap later followed Button, Sutil and Hülkenberg – while Vettel was in front much faster than Hamilton and attacks launched. Now the soft tires began to significantly sacrificing performance.

In the seventh round of Hamilton and Alonso entered the pits – so that the two Red Bull took the lead. It started off a bit earlier and Alonso came alongside Hamilton in the pit lane, who was taken off later. That should look at the race closely, because who goes first in the pit lane has right of way actually.

Nico Hulkenberg experienced a setback in the eighth round, when he started up under braking for the hairpin curve on a front man and in so doing damaged the front wing. In the tenth round Kubica came into the pits, which, however, was already on the hard tires. The Pole had to bring up again the hard tires. The race management reported in the eleventh round of a drive-through for Vitaly Petrov. The Renault driver had made an early start.

The order after eleven laps before Vettel Webber, Schumacher, Buemi, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Kubica, Sutil and Kovalainen in tenth place. Hülkenberg twelfth, thirteenth Rosberg, Glock ranked 16th and Massa on 22 Rank. Meanwhile, Barrichello tried the box on an unscheduled stop, and was the last to return to the track.

In the 13th Schumacher came round to the pits. The Mercedes driver was at eye level with Kubica back on the track. No one had the other go first, so the following two at the chicane drove through the grass. In the 14th Webber came round to the stop, one lap later, Vettel. Unlike Webber Vettel put on the soft tires! Meanwhile, Schumacher came into the pits again – unscheduled. May have been damaged during the battle with Kubica a tire.

The order for 25 of 70 laps: Hamilton 0.7 seconds ahead of Alonso, 2.5 ahead of Button, Vettel 3.5 before, 5.7 ahead of Webber, 16.6 before Kubica, Sutil 17.3 before, 18.0 before Buemi, 20.1 before Rosberg, Schumacher before 34.9. Hülkenberg with +48.3 seconds to rank twelve. Massa 18th Glock and 20th

In the 27th Hamilton and Kubica came round to the second stop, one lap later followed by Vettel and Button. Sutil was forced to a slow lap to the pits to come – the right rear tire had burst. In the 28th Round the stewards announced a drive-through penalty against Nico Hulkenberg – the Williams driver had been in the pit lane too fast. In the 29th Circulation also contributed Alonso into the pits.

In the 32th Round had to leave Pedro de la Rosa’s Sauber with a technical defect end of the start-finish straight. In the 34th Schumacher came round to his third stop and picked up the soft set of tires.
At the halfway point of the race shaped the distances as follows: Webber 11.6 seconds ahead of Hamilton, 13.1 ahead of Alonso, 15.6 ahead of Button, 16.4 ahead of Vettel, Kubica before 32.7, 36.4 before Rosberg, 40 , 1 before Buemi, 54.5 before Alguersuari, 62.3 before Schumacher. 66.6 before Hülkenberg in eleventh place, followed by Sutil (+68.9 seconds). Glock 21st (+2 Laps).

At the head of Webber began from the 39th to get round problems with the tires – in some cases he drove over a second slower than the second placed Hamilton. Vettel, meanwhile, turned in fifth place lying on the provisional fastest lap. In subsequent rounds the times Webber could stabilize somewhat. In the 48th Round Vettel radioed to the pits, “How am I to pass, when I slow down?”. What he radioed his team: “We are trying to solve a problem.” Even the Heppenheim had extremely fluctuating lap times.

In the 49th Webber his lead lap was going on and had Hamilton in the neck, while Vettel in this round, only one could drive 1:21.2 – one second faster than his teammate. A lap later, Webber was due – Hamilton, at the conclusion of the start-finish straight past the Australian. Webber came at the end of the round to the pits to switch on the soft tires. Timo Glock had his car in the 55th Round park in the pits.

The distances to the 55th Lap: Hamilton by 2.4 seconds ahead of Alonso, 3.6 ahead of Button, 8.4 ahead of Vettel, 19.7 ahead of Webber, Kubica before 47.1, 54.3 before Rosberg, one lap before Schumacher, Buemi, and Hulkenberg Massa and Sutil on the 12th Rank. In the 56th Alonso lost round one position and thus rank second to Button. While lapping him Chandhok stood in the way, which the Spaniards lost momentum.

In the 61 Lap Schumacher grabbed Buemi and thus came to the eighth rank forward. In the 64th Round Massa tried to get past Schumacher, the Ferrari driver while touching the rear of the Germans, so the front wing was damaged. Massa fell through the pit stop at 15 Square back. The race will investigate the incident after the race.

The order of four laps to go Hamilton ahead of Button, Alonso, Vettel, Webber, Rosberg, Kubica, Buemi, Schumacher, Liuzzi and tenth on the field. Eleventh Sutil, Hülkenberg 13th, 15th Massa In the last round, it still managed the two Force India drivers to get past Schumacher.

(Totalmotorsports)

With the fifth place in the first free practice session in which Red Bull is almost always with a lot of fuel on the road, pointing to Sebastian Vettel, that he could be competitive in Montreal. The Germans lacked less than half a second to Jenson Button, of the McLaren F-shaft system and Mercedes-Power has two advantages that fall on the long straights particularly significant.

“This track is an interesting test for us,” says team boss Christian Horner. “It should help the Mercedes team and the teams with F-bay system – and we have not both, so we must try to extract otherwise lap time out of our car. When we are fast, then it should be in this be no more World Cup races, in which we have to fear us. ”
For Red Bulls great strength is the high contact pressure, which affects mostly in fast curves, on straight lines but does nothing. In the first free practice at least another five were missing Red Bull to ten km / h top speed. At least, appear after the collision of Istanbul smoothed the internal waves to be. Furthermore, the decision was taken that Vettel and Mark Webber continues to be free to go against each other.

“Both drivers agree that it was a bad outcome for the team and for themselves, as both have lost points,” said Horner. “But it was wrong to let them go against each other? I think not. If we want processions, we would apply to drivers immediately after the start to hold the positions, but that’s not what Red Bull is – and it is also not what we mean by Grand Prix racing. ”
“Therefore we will continue to allow our drivers to drive against each other, but we expect them to respect themselves as teammates, as they have done in the past so many times,” Horner for the record. He also admits that it was a mistake to discuss the question of guilt in public, but for a new team like Red Bull are just such situations, even a “discovery trip”.

“We are a young team, but the progress we have made over the past five years is remarkable,” said Horner. “Two cars in front have to compete for the Grand Prix victory is the reward for the hard work in the factory, and behind the scenes. But I must admit: from team perspective, from an individual perspective and from the driver’s view you can still learn something. ”
(TotalMotorSports)

“I like it when the walls are close to the track and if you can not afford any mistakes, because that is challenging and makes driving more fun,” said Kubica. “Even in the Macau Formula 3 I especially liked or in Formula 1 Monaco. The only street circuit, which I do not like is Singapore. Why am I not there, the track may, but I can not say for sure.”

The discussion is now about to go in the direction the formula 1, for among the fans, the discontent with Bernie Ecclestone’s house and court architect Hermann Tilke increasing. The German has built in recent years superb facilities such as Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, but is criticized for its routes have no character. Many fans believe that the idea of safety is partly already taken too seriously.

But: “That just is not that,” said Kubica. “I’m a fan of street circuits, but also a fan of security, because I had here a serious accident. It depends on the balance between risk and safety. The formula one has become, thanks to the FIA and thanks to the team much more secure. If I would indeed like this happens an accident ten years ago, today I would not be sitting here, maybe more. ”

In discussion forums time and again the argument that run-off should not be paved, as this driving mistake will be punished only lightly. We used to cut the chicane in from Montreal, was quick views of the front wing off, now it is hardly out of the wind shadow of the man in front. But the tarmac run-off areas have their advantages.
Rosberg against gravel beds

“In turn eight in Istanbul, many people took off,” says Nico Rosberg. ‘If there is a gravel and would have had to close the track standing wall, there would have been serious accidents. The risk is mainly that the car in the gravel into place and somersaults. That would be dangerous, so I think it is a good development, in such a tarmac run-off to have curves. ”

Felipe Massa puts it even more plainly: “Turn Eight in Monaco would not be very nice,” the Ferrari driver. The drivers love the one hand the great challenges such as Spa-Francorchamps Suzuka or most are, but at the same time conscious of the fact that the formula is an extremely dangerous and the security therefore must not be left out of sight. Lewis Hamilton is among those who see the rather loose.

“My intention is only to the asphalt between the white lines,” the McLaren star. “The FIA makes this line around a great job in terms of security, so we need to focus not. The most important thing is how cool the track – and that is between the white lines.” Hamilton also insists that it is “a fine line” between safety and danger aspect.

Nico Rosberg insists he is not disappointed with the reversion to the newer long-wheelbase Mercedes car for the forthcoming Turkish grand prix.

After Michael Schumacher struggled with the original short-wheelbase car earlier in 2010, he was the team’s pacesetter in Barcelona, where a longer-wheelbase was introduced along with other car developments.

But for the twisty curves of Monaco, the original car is being used once again, and Rosberg has once again been in front of his famous teammate.

But for F1′s next stop in Istanbul, it has been confirmed that the newer car will be back in action.

Rosberg, however, insists it will not disadvantage him.

“Michael and I have the same driving style,” he told Germany’s Bild-Zeitung.

“Even if Ross Brawn wanted to make a car that only worked for Michael, it would also work for me,” insisted Rosberg.

(GMM)

Like fellow new team Lotus, Virgin is also not planning to develop a so-called F-duct system in 2010.

Confirming the news, Lotus’ Heikki Kovalainen said in Barcelona last weekend that he hopes the team soon shifts its full focus to next year’s car.

F-ducts, the downforce-spoiling innovation pioneered this year by McLaren and subsequently emulated by Ferrari, Sauber and Williams, have been banned for 2011.

German driver Timo Glock told Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday that it would therefore be “nonsense” if Virgin “invested time” on an F-duct rather than on more fundamental areas.

And team boss John Booth also said in Monaco that Virgin’s priorities are elsewhere.

“99 per cent of our effort is on reliability but hopefully from this race forward we can start adding performance to the car,” he said.

McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh admitted this week that he is disappointed with FOTA’s decision to ban F-ducts.

“It’s a low-cost technology.  There are lots of reasons why it’s good for the sport,” said the FOTA chairman, whose MP4-25 is the only car fitted with an F-duct for the twisty curves of Monaco.

Ferrari’s F-duct will be back on the F10 at Istanbul, where it is expected that Red Bull could get the technology running for the first time.

Whitmarsh said on Thursday: “It’s something that will work better on the long straight than a circuit like this.”

(GMM)

Mercedes will revert to its original 2010 car for the Monaco grand prix this weekend.

The Brackley based team unveiled a car with a longer wheelbase in Spain last weekend, which is tipped to have helped Michael Schumacher get the upper hand over his teammate Nico Rosberg for the first time in 2010.

But according to German media sources, the pre-Barcelona package – which in Rosberg’s hands was driven to the podium twice in four races – will be up and running again in Monaco because it better suits the slow and twisty curves of the unique street layout.

The shorter-wheelbase car will however be fitted with the latest aerodynamic innovations in Monaco, including the knife-like rollover structure and engine cover air inlets.

“I am very optimistic that we will be more competitive than in Barcelona,” team CEO Nick Fry is quoted as saying by Germany’s RTL.

(GMM)

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!

(GMM)