HRT is hoping to get one up on its tailender rival Marussia by at least running its 2012 car before shipping it to Australia.
Marussia, formerly Virgin, has announced that after failing an FIA crash test, it will be unable to run its new Cosworth-powered car at the final Barcelona test this week.

“Of course it’s a shame,” German driver Timo Glock told the DPA news agency, “but safety comes first.”

HRT’s 2012 single seater, however, has – despite a similar delay – at least now satisfied the FIA’s safety rules and is therefore allowed to run at the Circuit de Catalunya if able.

Indeed, in the Barcelona paddock this week, the HRT motor home is present.

But team figures Pedro de la Rosa and boss Luis Perez Sala have admitted that, while now homologated, the 2012 car is not quite ready to be tested.

“The truth is that, today, the goal is to try to debut on Sunday,” de la Rosa is quoted by the Diario Sport newspaper. “If not, we would have the possibility to do a test on Monday.”

The FIA has already declared that testing on Monday – the day after the final official Barcelona test ends – is not allowed because that would be the week before Melbourne.

But HRT is yet to do its allowed filming day, team boss Perez Sala is quoted as saying on Wednesday.

“We are in the construction phase of the car and it would be great to have it ready for Sunday,” added de la Rosa.

The former McLaren test driver also revealed that HRT’s new car is designed to run KERS, unlike the 2012 Marussia.

“It is designed to use it, but the team has decided to start the season without (KERS),” said de la Rosa.

The latest spat between Bernie Ecclestone and the F1 teams’ association is set to break out.
Spain’s Diario Sport newspaper reports that FOTA, headed by McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, believes the F1 chief executive has breached the Concorde Agreement in devising the arduous 20-race calendar for 2012.

The report said FOTA vice-chairman Eric Boullier confirmed the potential disagreement in the Singapore paddock.

Diario Sport said the teams believe they have the right to renegotiate the commercial terms if Ecclestone moves beyond the maximum 17 grands prix per season.

The confidential agreement reportedly also refers to the number of races that can take place outside of Europe, with the teams concerned about the additional costs of the ‘flyaway’ events.

“We would suggest a couple of ideas and, above all, we intend to request a reconsideration of the logistics,” said Boullier.

Ecclestone reacted: “The teams don’t do the calendar, I do. They can’t come now with their proposals. It’s my decision so if someone is going to do something, it’s me.

“If someone isn’t happy they can go to the police. Wouldn’t the real problem be if there were no races to go to?” he added defiantly.

The blown exhaust clampdown, taking effect this weekend at Silverstone, could blow the wind out of Red Bull’s sails.

That is the suspicion of Nick Heidfeld, who admits to wondering why the team’s management has been so publicly outspoken in its criticism of the FIA’s mid-season move.

“Maybe they suddenly found that they will lose more than they thought at first,” the Renault driver is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

The German report said Red Bull, as well as its engine supplier Renault, have fought tooth and nail with the governing body over the issue, arguing until mere hours ago about just how comprehensive the FIA clampdown should be.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso sounds more resigned than Heidfeld.

“I do not expect much, really,” the Spaniard is quoted by Diario Sport. “They (Red Bull) have a very elaborate the efficient package that will go well on all tracks and in all conditions.”

If Bernie Ecclestone were to bet a few dollars of his fortune on the outcome of the 2011 title, he would safely back his young friend Sebastian Vettel.
The F1 chief executive is famously friendly with the 23-year-old German who last year became the sport’s youngest champion and this year is running away with the spoils.

“Put it this way,” Ecclestone, 80, told the German magazine Speed Week. “Someone else would have to have very good luck to win this world championship.

“When I look at the speed of his car, I think only his own teammate has a chance,” added the Briton.

Vettel has won five of the opening six grands prix so far this season but there are more than a dozen to go.

“Until then, it’s a long way to go,” he is quoted by the SID news agency. “Last year we saw how quickly things can change.”

Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko agrees: “Sebastian has a comfortable lead but there are 350 points to go.”

In reality, Vettel is on target to set a new record for the earliest-decided title, with Michael Schumacher holding the current record for winning in 2002 with 6 races to go.

But he is cautious: “Anything – reliability, mistakes – can happen.”

FIA president Jean Todt hopes so.

“It is obvious for the sport that it would be best to have a different winner at every grand prix, but he has done a great job and has a great talent,” the Frenchman told Spain’s Diario Sport.

Fernando Alonso would like to see Flavio Briatore back in formula one, but he denies his arrival at Ferrari “would be like Mou in Madrid”.
The ‘Mou’ reference is to Jose Mourinho, the highly respected Portuguese football coach who arrived at Real Madrid last year and is regarded as one of the best managers in history.

In Turkey last weekend, rumours that Briatore – currently banned from formula one for the ‘crashgate’ scandal – could be heading to Ferrari were mentioned by Sky Italia.

“I would like Flavio to return, we miss him,” Alonso told Spanish broadcaster TV3. “He is an unique character but it wouldn’t be like Mou in Madrid”, he added, possibly referring to Mourinho’s latest controversies.

Instead, Alonso said Ferrari has important questions to ask itself regarding its overall approach to designing its single seaters.

“I think Ferrari has to try to change a little bit the way we work, risking more and being more innovative,” he said. “From now on we have to start inventing.”

The Spaniard insists the 2011 season is still long but acknowledged the challenge of chasing down Red Bull’s runaway Sebastian Vettel.

“We will not give up so soon but we are aware of the difficulty of having this championship,” said the 29-year-old.

Ferrari technical director Aldo Costa also said it will take some more time before the 150 Italia car is a winner.

“Probably in Barcelona we will take another step forward,” he told Diario Sport, “but we will have to wait for some more races to fight for victory.”

Fernando Alonso believes Ferrari’s rivals are “trying to divert attention” from their own problems by playing psychological games in the media.

With just two races still to run in 2010 and Alonso leading the championship, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner this week admitted it would be “frustrating” to lose to the Spaniard after the Hockenheim team orders affair.

Stefano Domenicali hit back by suggesting it is a “miracle” the energy drink-owned team has not already wrapped up the title due to its car advantage, and his driver Alonso has now weighed into the squabble.

“There are some favourite teams, who have not resolved their own problems, trying to divert attention,” he said in an interview with Diario Sport newspaper.

“Fortunately for us, we are united as a team, as we show at each race, including my relationship with Felipe (Massa),” added Alonso.

“There are always media strategies designed to make you nervous or put you under pressure,” he said.

In another interview, with the O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Alonso insisted he is not concerned that – as he bids to wrap up his third championship this weekend – his personal image within Brazil is not the best one.

“In several countries they say my image is not good, but when I land at airports or go to the hotels or race tracks, what I see is the opposite.

“I’m not worried about it. My job is to get results at the track and to have the team happy with my work,” Alonso added.

He said he hopes his teammate Massa’s home supporters at Interlagos will understand if the Brazilian pulls aside to let him win the race on Sunday.

“Those who will understand know that this sport is complicated, where at least at Ferrari, the team comes first. There will of course be those who don’t understand,” said Alonso.

“But my job is not to understand the views of the fans, but to do my job on the track.”

He denied that Massa is the weakest teammate he has ever had.

“No. Felipe is very capable, 100 per cent professional, working from January to December on his goals,” said Alonso.

Jaime Alguersuari has admitted to coveting the Red Bull seat currently occupied by Mark Webber.

Australian Webber has re-signed with the energy drink company’s main F1 team for 2011 but is “in the autumn of his career”, according to boss Christian Horner.

It means a vacancy alongside Sebastian Vettel might open up for 2012.

“I will not deny that it is very appealing,” said Alguersuari, the Red Bull-backed Spaniard who currently drives for the company’s second team Toro Rosso.

“There is no doubt that it is the place I want to be,” he added, referring to Red Bull Racing.

“For me, Red Bull and Toro Rosso are the same family, and they’ve supported me since I was 15, and trusted me for their formula one programme when I had no experience.

“I would rather win a title with Red Bull than with McLaren or Ferrari, because it’s the team close to my heart, people who have helped me all the way,” Alguersuari told Diario Sport newspaper.

Mark Webber has played down suggestions he is asking for his teammate Sebastian Vettel to play a supporting role for the rest of 2010.

At Spa-Francorchamps recently, the Australian suggested that with a growing points gap to his teammate, the time might be nearing for Red Bull to appoint a number one, depending on “how hungry they are”.

Team consultant Helmut Marko then admitted Red Bull will “sit down all together” and “assess our championship chances” after Monza, where the points gap between the drivers became 24 with five races to go.

But Vettel sounded unimpressed at the prospect of a supporting role, insisting that “team orders are banned”.

Webber manager Flavio Briatore’s view is strident, insisting that maintaining parity between the pair is what Red Bull should do “if they don’t want to win the championship”.

Spain’s Diario Sport now quotes Webber as saying: “Help from Vettel? It depends on the team.

“Rest assured I have not asked for anything. It’s the same at McLaren,” said the 34-year-old championship leader.

Italian police have handed back Flavio Briatore’s luxury yacht.

The former Renault boss’ 60-metre boat ‘Force Blue’ was seized a month ago on suspicion of tax fraud.

But according to a report in the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, Briatore has taken back possession with two conditions.

The first is a deposit of 5 million euros, and the promise that the boat will not leave Mediterranean waters.

The Sunday Times said in May that the evasion of millions in taxes could cost Briatore, expelled from F1 for the 2009 crashgate scandal, EUR 40 million in fines or a six-year prison sentence.

The 60-year-old denies any wrongdoing.

“It was a big television production by the police and completely unfair, so we are fighting them now,” he told the Telegraph.

“That boat was a commercial boat with a 50 million euro turnover in the past four years, but the police seem to think that was all for me.”

Briatore does not deny using the boat, and claims he is supported by seven Italian MPs who have written to the government “to find out what happened”.

“Of course, I use the yacht, because if you are going to own a business, it may as well be one you can enjoy — otherwise, I would have bought a funeral home.”
(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)

(GMM)  Costs in formula one must be further cut so that the sport’s newly arrived teams do not fall at the first hurdle, Jean Todt said on Tuesday.

While announcing that he is pushing for KERS to return to the grid in 2011, the FIA president vowed to support new teams Virgin, Lotus and HRT, on the same day he intended to visit the Spanish headquarters of hopeful entrant Epsilon Euskadi.

“We must ensure the survival of those teams who have just entered the championship,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“That doesn’t mean I’m thinking about a spending cap for each team.  There are many ways to reduce costs,” added Todt.

A report in El Universo newspaper said Todt is hoping the reintegration of KERS will make F1 “the ambassador of new technology” and entice sponsors to return.

He admitted that Ferrari is never likely to support budget caps but said “there is obviously great disparity” in the funding of the current teams.

He also said drastic changes to the aerodynamic regulations must accompany the sport’s new engine formula for 2013.

Spain’s Diario Sport quotes Todt as saying: “These (current) rules give excessive prominence to aerodynamics and make overtaking too hard.

“Unless there are difficult weather conditions, then the car in front stays there throughout the race and this is mostly due to the aerodynamics,” said Todt.

(GMM)  Bad weather on Tuesday prevented Jean Todt from visiting the headquarters of hopeful 2011 formula one team Epsilon Euskadi.

The FIA president was in Spain for meetings with government and motor racing officials, and had been due to fly to Azkoitia in the Basque Country to inspect the team’s facilities after it expressed interest in racing next year.

But local reports said strong winds at Madrid’s Torrejon de Ardoz airport halted the flight, and the Frenchman’s itinerary was too tight for a rescheduling.

However, Spain’s Diario Sport newspaper insists that Todt already supports Epsilon Euskadi’s F1 project, after many years of knowing its principal and F1 veteran Joan Villadelprat.

“Todt knows very well that Epsilon has first class facilities,” read the report.

The newspaper added that Todt will attempt to inspect the facility at a later date.

“First of all I want to thank Mr Todt and Mr (Carlos) Gracia … for their interest and their willingness to organise this visit and the efforts until the last minute that the meeting take place,” said Villadelprat.

“It was important to present the project to the president of the FIA, both as regards to the possibility of entering formula one and for other projects in the automotive field we are working on,” he added.

Apr.22 (GMM)  Peter Sauber has reassured a close supporter of Pedro de la Rosa that the Spanish veteran is not about to lose his race seat.

39-year-old de la Rosa, who returned to the F1 grid this year after a long stint as McLaren’s test driver, played down the rumours about his near future in China last week.

His boss Sauber had expressed doubts about the time it was taking the Spaniard to reacclimatise to racing, with de la Rosa insisted he is “driving well”.

At a media event this week ahead of the forthcoming F1 race in Barcelona, the head of the Spanish motor racing federation called on the press to support the Spanish drivers, especially de la Rosa.

A report in the Diario Sport newspaper added: “Carlos Gracia said Peter Sauber had assured him that he (de la Rosa) is not in doubt.”

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.