Ross Brawn should be firing on all cylinders as he returns to the pitwall in Monaco this weekend.

Mercedes’ team principal sat out the recent Spanish grand prix due to illness, but a scarcity of extra information triggered speculation.

One rumour was that he is seriously ill, whilst another was that his absence may in fact be due to his German employer’s high-stakes spat with Bernie Ecclestone.

The latter theory gained traction since Barcelona, with acting team boss Nick Fry taking a much higher than usual profile, including naming Paul di Resta as a possible 2013 successor for Michael Schumacher.

Explaining his absence, Brawn told Bild newspaper: “On the Tuesday before Barcelona I felt unwell so I went to the doctor and then stayed a night in hospital for some tests.

“When I got home, I decided on the advice of doctors to give myself a weekend off, to be sure that I am fit for Monaco,” the Briton said.

Partly because of Brawn’s deputy Fry’s recent comments, and also due to his paltry points tally and his crash with Bruno Senna, rumours about Schumacher’s future have intensified since Spain.

“A lot has been said and written,” acknowledged Brawn, “but we should not forget that we – the team – have let him down in three of the fives races, not delivering the job we should have.

“We must do better,” Brawn, who worked closely with Schumacher during the seven time world champion’s ultra successful Ferrari era, added.

“We saw Michael’s real quality again in the first race, so it’s for that reason that I believe we will see him on the podium this year.”

As for a possible contract extension for the 43-year-old, Brawn insisted: “When the time comes, we will sit down together and talk about the future.

“I’m sure it will become clear very quickly in what direction we will go.”

Montreal has been warned to spend around $15 million on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve or risk losing the Canadian grand prix.

La Presse reports that Bernie Ecclestone has said only a major redevelopment of the circuit will lead to talks about a new contract beyond 2014.

The report said that, in light of the F1 chief executive’s warning, Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay has appealed to higher levels of government for the necessary money.

“Negotiations are underway between the three levels of government and the bodies of formula one”, the report said.

Race promoter Francois Dumontier told RDS: “It’s premature to talk about this.

“There are still two years to go on the current contract. We have started talking, but that it’s out now I find excessive. Honestly, I don’t know where it’s come from.”

He added: “Given that the permanent installations of the circuit, including the control tower and the garages, are nearly 25 years old, it is likely that their repair is an important element in the negotiations for an extension to the current agreement.

“But it seems to me to be premature to talk specific sums.”

Norbert Haug has dismissed reports linking Lewis Hamilton with a switch to Mercedes for 2013.

With the 2008 world champion’s McLaren contract expiring, speculation had linked Briton Hamilton with the race seat currently occupied by Michael Schumacher.

“I can dismiss that speculation out of hand, as it was only ever conjured by putting two and two together,” the German marque’s Haug told Sport Bild.

“Lewis was and is a Mercedes man,” added the competition director, “but there are no agreements or conversations in that direction.

“At the moment we have one interest only — making our car as fast and reliable as possible, and then we’ll see where we stand.

“Only then will we talk to Michael about a possible extension,” said Haug.

 Mercedes is eyeing a new two-year contract extension for Michael Schumacher, according to the major German newspaper Bild.
The seven time world champion, having returned to F1 with the famous German marque in 2010, has not decided whether or not to continue his comeback beyond this season.

“Bild knows that Mercedes wants to keep him,” said the newspaper, after the Brackley based team’s new W03 car was launched in Barcelona.

The report said Mercedes has decided to offer Schumacher, 43, a new two-year deal through 2014.

“Before we talk to any other candidate, our first contact will definitely be Michael,” confirmed team boss Ross Brawn.

Schumacher commented: “I’ll decide when the time is right.”

The holdup on Nico Hulkenberg’s contract extension for 2011 is because Williams wants him to commit for a very long time, according to a German report.

It has been reported that the British team is contemplating replacing the 2009 GP2 champion next year with the Venezuelan pay-driver Pastor Maldonado.

But Sir Frank Williams has now described 23-year-old German Hulkenberg as “exceptional”, raising doubts about the reason for the delay in his re-signing for 2011.

According to Sport Bild, the Oxfordshire based team wants him to sign a new five-year contract.

The deal will reportedly include a EUR15 million ‘out’ fee in the event that Hulkenberg wants to switch to a different team before the five year term is concluded.

State oil company Petronas has extended its title sponsorship of the Malaysian grand prix.

Media statements said the contract extension is for a further five years.

Kuala Lumpur based Petronas also title sponsors the formula one team Mercedes GP.

“I am pleased that Petronas has again used formula one to let the world follow their success in the oil and gas automotive industry,” said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

The first Malaysian grand prix took place in 1999.

Mark Webber has admitted he might not be “hungry enough” to extend his career beyond 2011.

The Australian has signed on with Red Bull for another season, with some suggesting the short contract extension is a sign of slight tension between him and the Austrian-owned team.

But Webber, 33, insists he only wanted to commit for one more year.

“I am taking each year as it comes now,” he is quoted by Auto Bild Motorsport.

“In two years, perhaps I will not be hungry enough anymore,” said Webber.  “But that doesn’t mean I’ll end my career in 2011.

“If you had asked me in 2005 if I would still be in formula one in 2011, I would have said ‘no way!’

“People think I’m under pressure because I have to fight each year for a contract, but that’s not right.”

Webber admitted a future move from Red Bull to another team is “rather unlikely”.

He also confessed he is not sure why he is so competitive at the wheel of the RB6, having won two races and is still within sight of the championship lead despite his frightening Valencia crash.

“Why?  No idea,” said Webber, when asked about his consistency and speed in 2010.

“One thing; in 2009 I was not a big fan of qualifying with full tanks, while this year I’m back in my element with the light cars in Q3,” added Webber, who on early Friday morning stunned onlookers by completing a F1 pitstop in front of London’s Houses of Parliament.

(GMM)

That is the claim of the Enstone based team’s boss Eric Boullier, amid a growing sense that the 25-year-old Pole is set to sign an extension of his current deal for 2011.

Kubica said in Valencia that he will make a decision about next year “very soon”, amid reports there is a 2011 option in his current contract that must be triggered by July 15.

But Boullier played down suggestions there is a time limit on the talks.

“Robert’s current contract expires at the end of this year,” he is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat.  “We want to keep him, but there are no deadlines.

“Therefore, the decision may arise at any point,” added Boullier.

(GMM)

Jun.11 (GMM)  Sebastian Vettel has played down rumours that Red Bull is pushing to secure his services for the long term.

The 22-year-old is already under contract to the end of next season, amid reports the Austrian squad now wants him to re-commit through 2015.

His teammate Mark Webber, 33, has signed a contract extension keeping him at Red Bull Racing in 2011, and Vettel on Thursday denied that the move was some sort of reaction to their recent collision in Turkey.

“I’ve known this piece of information a little longer than the public,” he said.

“In regards to the (Vettel) rumours, I can say that we have not spoken as of yet about this topic, as 2015 is quite some time into the future,” added the German.

In light of their Istanbul Park crash and rumours they are now sharing a palpably tense relationship, it is an interesting side-note that on Sunday, Germany plays Australia in the FIFA World Cup.

“Germany will clearly win the match as Australia is the weakest team in our group, so winning should be imperative, even though Mark has a different opinion on that,” smiled Vettel.

“But as we know, the both of us have lately had some different opinions on things anyway.”

Ferrari driver, Fernando Alonso welcomes the extension of the contract of Felipe Massa and comments on the development work in Maranello

Since Wednesday is clear: Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will take over the next two seasons with Ferrari at the wheel. The tradition of Maranello team extended the contract of Massa by a further two years until 2012, making the contracts, the regular drivers now have the same maturity. Alonso welcomes this decision and is happy for Massa.

“I am very satisfied,” Alonso is quoted by ‘Ticionline’. “The same group is still working so for two more years together. Stability is very important to the success of a team. I am very familiar with Felipe. We have much respect for each other and create a good harmony. And such a one also needs if one is long journey together. ”
It is also important that the development during the season, not stagnant. In relation to Ferrari, however, could be no question of such a scenario, said the Spanish driver. “It is not true that the development has stalled. The distance to Red Bull is still a few tenths. We have improved, but even they have become faster.”
“The truth is, however, that we have not made progress in Barcelona, as we had planned. The others, however good progress come,” Alonso is before the Canadian Grand Prix on record. As team boss Stefano Domenicali admits that Ferrari could have burned “specially modified in view of the new F-shaft technology something.

Alonso would not miss this development: “It was a good thing to address this matter,” says the 28-year-old. “We were so far not yet in a position to exploit the full effectiveness of this system. Other teams also seem to have trouble with it. Who the F-shaft had been from the beginning, however, retains its advantage.”

(TotalMotorsports)

Robert Kubica and Montreal – that’s a Hochschaubahn: 2007 pilot of the accident, the then BMW Sauber F1 Team at the hairpin difficult, but escaped miraculously with minor injuries. A year later he led a complete surprise double victory of his team ahead of Nick Heidfeld – it was the only win for the Bavarians in the premier class. Last year there was no race in Montreal – Kubica this year but returns to the Ile de Notre Dame. “The Grand Prix of Canada is something like my destiny race,” says the poles ‘Auto Bild motorsport’.

And so he feels: This year a sensation in the air – “with little luck.” Because: “The course our car will be. It’s fast on the straights and is as wonderfully out of slow corners. It is these properties are required in Montreal.” The strength in tight corners is based on the small wheel base of the Renault R30 – no current Formula 1 racing car can compete in this discipline with Kubica’s car. It showed the team had in Monaco, where the 25-year-old is the sharpest of the superior competitor Red Bull pilot was.

And although the Renault engine has a power deficit, Kubica and Vitaly Petrov scores are in the top speed is always at the front – reason is the low air resistance of the R30. Moreover, the French have for the Grand Prix of Canada, a secret weapon in the quiver: the first time is given to an in-house interpretation of the F-shaft system, which turned out on the long straights of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as a great advantage. Now the only question is whether the system works right away, or if you have it like Red Bull in Turkey to expand after the first test.

That will leave Robert Kubica after just one season, the team Renault is unlikely. After Felipe Massa contract extension with Ferrari in Maranello in 2012 the door is closed. Even if the pole for 2011 is not linked to Renault, there are few other enticing options. This Renault boss Eric Boullier had managed to retain its number-one pilots in 2011 and to his team. The Luxembourg wants to build the Renault racing team to head the Polish pilots around.

(MotorSportsTotal)

With their Turkish crash still loud in the news, attention is now turning to the new contracts on the table for Red Bull teammates Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

It is believed the Austrian-owned team is imminently set to extend Australian Webber’s deal for 2011, amid reports Red Bull wants to secure Vettel’s services for a much longer period.

With the young German already under contract to the end of next year, rumours suggest Red Bull also wants to tie him down through 2015.

Team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: “Mark is happy with one-year contracts.  At his age he doesn’t want to commit himself for too long.”

The magazine’s latest edition also reveals that Webber recently confided in his former Williams bosses that he was prepared to retire at the end of 2010 if he had not secured a contract extension.

The likely one-year deal ties in with rumours that Red Bull is eyeing a future seat for Sebastien Buemi, the Swiss youngster who currently drives for the junior team Toro Rosso.

(GMM)

Bernie Ecclestone on Friday scotched renewed rumours about the future of the Turkish grand prix.

It had been reported that the poorly-attended Istanbul Park event could drop off the calendar after its sixth running this weekend.

But on a visit to the media centre, the F1 chief executive told reporters in Turkey not to believe everything they read.

In fact, Briton Ecclestone said talks are already underway for a proposed 10-year extension to the current deal.

According to Germany’s Motorsport-Magazin.com, he was also asked about whether Monticello might join Austin for a second US round on a future F1 calendar, and he would not rule out the prospect.

And amid rumours an announcement confirming Pirelli as F1′s next tyre supplier is now imminent, Ecclestone admitted the sport is edging closer to a decision.

He also said F1 might have to call off this year’s inaugural South Korean grand prix if the armies of the rogue North roll in.

Meanwhile, the latest accounts for F1′s owners CVC Capital Partners were issued on Friday, showing Ecclestone is paid $5.8 million per year.

(GMM)

Red Bull Racing has given the strongest indication yet that it is ready to renew Mark Webber’s contract for 2011.

In the wake of his dominance in Spain and Monaco, chiefs of the Austrian-owned team indicated they are keen to keep the 33-year-old Australian alongside Sebastian Vettel next year.

But Red Bull’s motor sport advisor Dr Helmut Marko signalled recently that joint championship leader Webber’s back-to-back wins could have an effect on the “salary negotiations”.

Ahead of the Turkish grand prix, team principal Christian Horner hinted to Germany’s Bild-Zeitung newspaper that Red Bull is ready to simply extend Webber’s current deal.

“If we sat down together on the subject of a contract extension, it would be a pretty short conversation,” said the Briton.

Serious talks about the extension of Felipe Massa’s Ferrari contract have begun, according to Finland’s Turun Sanomat.

But the newspaper also reports that Brazilian Massa’s manager Nicolas Todt has held exploratory talks with other formula one teams — perhaps Renault.

Rumours have linked current Renault driver Robert Kubica as well as Red Bull’s Mark Webber with the 2011 seat alongside Fernando Alonso, with Massa’s current contract set to expire in December.

The 29-year-old has also been struggling with Maranello based Ferrari’s F10 car.

“We have a long contract with Alonso, and we trust Massa,” team boss Stefano Domenicali is quoted as saying. “He is doing a good job.”

Massa said: “I like it very much at Ferrari — I know everybody and everybody knows me.

“But it is always encouraging to know that there are others with fast cars who are interested in me.

“The main objective is to continue with Ferrari,” he added.