Narain Karthikeyan was unequivocal as he walked through the paddock gates on Saturday.
“I have to qualify. There are no two ways about it,” said the Indian.

It had been a difficult winter and an even more difficult season opener so far for the struggling Spanish team.

Saturday would be even worse, with Karthikeyan and his teammate Pedro de la Rosa indeed failing to get within 107 per cent of the fastest time in ‘Q1′.

Often, the FIA allows drivers who fail to qualify to start the race anyway, but the new F112 has simply not merited a free-kick in Melbourne.

“We did everything we could,” de la Rosa is quoted by EFE news agency.

“In the end, we have so much room for improvement and it is true to say that we have to change many things, we know what they are, so all I can say is that we all have to be patient.

“I said when I arrived in Australia that this is a test for us; this is our preseason. The downside is we are doing it in front of all the cameras.

“It should be done already but it was not possible for us, so what we do now is work for Malaysia and the following races and focus on the areas that are important to make the car better.”

A report in AS newspaper said the biggest problem with the F112 car is the hydraulic system, which cannot be repaired in time for next weekend’s Malaysian grand prix.

“I am proud of this team — you cannot ask for more than 24 hours a day of work from people,” said de la Rosa.

On the brighter side, fellow straggler Marussia did manage to qualify on merit in Australia.

“We’ve all had a great lift but we have a long way to go and plenty of hard work to do to make the car quicker,” said Timo Glock.

He told Auto Motor und Sport that it will some time.

“Over the next few weeks we will do the little things first,” said the German. “Unfortunately we don’t have the capacity of someone like Red Bull so we would rather work a little longer on a big update.”

The usual problem qualifying. Throughout the season, Valentino Rossi has encountered more problems than usual in “Time Attack” and are found today in Sepang back to earth for a slip. Shared with the second Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1 available, 9 times World Champion has remedied a place in the third row with reference to the 9 th fastest time: better than yesterday, but the problems are always the same …

” Compared to yesterday, today went a little better , “admitted Rossi. ” The main problem that has ruined our qualifications is always the same fall. The other dynamic is the same slide, we need to understand what leads to this error because it causes us to lose precious time.

After the fall are shared with the second bike with which I had the same feeling, but I managed to get a place on the third row. In the first areas where there are more challenging corners that we lose less than in T4, where, just there, leave 6 of the 9 / 10 than their opponents. We lose a lot out of the two hairpins, we need to understand why.

Thinking about our race pace has improved, but problems remain the choice of tires, everything will depend on the weather. No doubt it will be a tough race, difficult, but we did better than yesterday managed to make some progress . “

Mercedes could be “the big surprise” of the 2011 season, according to Andy Soucek.

Speaking to Marca in Spain, the former F2 champion and 2010 Virgin tester was asked to give his verdict about the looming world championship.

“I see it between the two Red Bulls and Alonso, but watch out for Mercedes, who seem likely to be the big surprise,” he said.

The Brackley based team apparently made a huge leap forwards with the W02′s upgrade package at the final Barcelona test, with Michael Schumacher clocking the fastest time of the week.

“I am confident that we can compete for podium finishes, and I am hopeful we can fight for victories at some of the races,” said Schumacher on Wednesday.

Nico Rosberg is not yet ringing the alarm bells about Mercedes’ new formula one car.
Recently, when discussing the German marque’s 2010 season, Michael Schumacher admitted he had known by the second winter test that “it was going to be a tough year”.

12 months on, Jerez this week is the scene of the second test of the 2011 pre-season, and Nico Rosberg was a worrying 3 seconds off the pace in the new silver W02 on Thursday.

“This is an interim car,” the German insisted, according to Bild newspaper.

“So you can’t just look at the pace as we have so many new parts to come.”

Also poor on Thursday was the car’s reliability, but Rosberg said technical problems are something “you always expect” from a new single seater.

At the other end of the timesheets, Thursday’s fastest runner was also not overstating the results of the Jerez order.

“The fastest time? It means nothing,” Ferrari’s Felipe Massa is quoted in the Italian media.

McLaren was testing a Renault-like forward-exiting exhaust concept on its newly launched MP4-26 car at Jerez on Thursday.

The car debuted by Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish circuit therefore differed fundamentally from the version launched in Berlin recently, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

There had been speculation that the 2011 McLaren was set to race with an unique exhaust layout this season, after Robert Kubica drove the similarly innovative Renault R31 to the fastest time in Valencia last week before injuring himself in a rally crash.

Auto Motor und Sport’s Jerez correspondent said McLaren’s rear-exiting conventional exhaust layout had mysteriously vanished when Hamilton exited the pits at Jerez on Thursday morning.

Instead, the exhausts are now exiting at the front of the sidepods, with the innovation only spotted by reporters when mechanics had to pause on one occasion whilst pushing Hamilton back into the garage after a run on Thursday.

“As with the Renault the detail is very difficult to photograph,” confirmed the German report.

Robert Kubica is slowly coming to terms with his injures and the lost opportunity of 2011.
That is the admission of the Pole’s manager Daniele Morelli, after Renault said on Tuesday that an improving Kubica “reacted well to the news about his condition and is ready to fight for his comeback”.

The reality, however, is that while the alarming medical bulletins have eased, the 26-year-old will be in hospital for weeks at least.

And there remain question-marks not about the future functionality of his right arm that was partially severed during a minor rally event last Sunday, but also his other injured limbs.

Morelli was one of the few people able to speak with Kubica on Tuesday while doctors eased pain sedatives in order to gauge the grand prix winner’s neurological condition.

“I told him about the accident, and the extent of his fractures and injuries, and Robert was shocked,” Morelli is quoted by O Estado de S.Paulo.

“He understood that he will be out (of F1) for quite a long time and he is suffering with that,” Kubica’s manager admitted.

“He would have already been driving the new car again at Jerez,” added Morelli.

At the end of his first stint with the new R31, Kubica ended the Valencia test last week with the fastest time overall.

“It’s the first time a team has conceived a car with Robert integrally in mind,” Morelli continued.

For F1, it is a tragedy that the R31/Kubica combination might have been a true title contender, but Morelli said the overriding feeling at present is relief.

“We are happy because for the first 12 hours the question was whether Robert would survive. When he reached the hospital his condition was critical,” he revealed.

“But now we are planning already to leave the ICU,” said Morelli.

Kubica’s manager also acknowledged the debate at present about the wisdom of combining being a full-time F1 driver with the much more dangerous pursuit of road rallying.

“Robert loves rallying, and he had done the previous 12 without any problems. Actually, I hadn’t thought about that — it looks like this was number 13,” he said.

13 is considered such bad luck that no competitor uses the number on the F1 grid.

And Morelli said Kubica’s reported EUR 6 million retainer for the 2011 season is the least of his concerns.

“Every driver has insurance,” he revealed, “but this is the matter that concerns us the least of all.

“We are all conscious of what lies ahead, the effort that is going to be put to have Robert sitting in a cockpit once again,” added Morelli.

The pace shown by Renault’s new formula one car at last week’s Valencia test was genuine, team boss Eric Boullier insists.

Before his rally crash on Sunday, Robert Kubica left Valencia having set the fastest time of the first group test of 2011 in the newly launched R31, which features innovative front-exiting exhausts.

“We did not try to just do a (good) laptime with soft tyres and a drop of petrol in the tank,” insisted Boullier, who was speaking before Kubica crashed during Sunday’s Ronde di Andora rally.

“It (the laptime) just came after we started to adjust the settings for the first time and (adjust) the car to the Pirelli tyres,” he is quoted by French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet’s column in Auto Plus.

“The car became more comfortable for Robert, and he did his time,” added Boullier.

It is “too early” to be publicly considering a replacement for the badly injured Robert Kubica.
That is the claim of the Pole’s Renault team boss Eric Boullier, who was speaking just hours after Kubica emerged from surgery in an induced coma after sustaining multiple injuries including a partially severed hand in a rally crash on Sunday.

The surgeon said Kubica’s injuries are likely to take at least a year to heal, which leaves Lotus-sponsored Renault in a bind after producing a new car for 2011 in which Kubica drove to the fastest time in its maiden test last week.

At the R31′s launch one week ago, the team’s new third driver Bruno Senna joked that if Kubica or Vitaly Petrov “break a leg or something like that, then … they know who is going to replace him”.

Another candidate is Senna’s fellow third driver Romain Grosjean, but as Telegraph writer Tom Cary points out, Petrov “has only one season’s worth of experience”.

“Can Renault afford to make the Russian their lead driver and promote one of their reserves to the second race seat? Or do Renault try to replace Kubica with another experienced driver?” wondered Cary.

Among the earliest candidates in that scenario are new Force India third driver Nico Hulkenberg, Team Lotus driver Jarno Trulli, Pirelli tester Pedro de la Rosa and the out-of-work Nick Heidfeld and Vitantonio Liuzzi.

And Cary continued: “Even Kimi Raikkonen(‘s name) … (was) being bandied about last night.”

Team boss Boullier is travelling with Petrov to Italy on Monday to visit Kubica.

“It is too early and impolite to think of a replacement driver. We are waiting for news of Robert and how long he will be out of action before we think of taking such a decision,” he is quoted by AFP news agency.

Fernando Alonso on Thursday said he was calm amid reports more adventurous car designs could set the pace in 2011.

With its radical front-exiting exhausts, the new Renault driven by Robert Kubica set the fastest time of all as the first group test of the pre-season concluded.

“Futuristic projects are not always better than more conservative ones,” insisted Ferrari’s Alonso, according to La Stampa newspaper.

“I have my traditional Ferrari and I’m happy that way,” he added.

The Spaniard had joked earlier that the only thing he has noticed about Red Bull’s new car was its unchanged livery.

Now also asked about the newly Lotus-sponsored Renault, Alonso answered: “One (the Red Bull) has the same colours as before, the other (the Renault) is different.”

Christian Horner, boss of the reigning champion Red Bull team, told Sport Bild that he too is cautious about drawing conclusions.

“Everyone knows that the times are insignificant at the moment,” he insisted.

Of the other main contenders, McLaren’s 2011 car breaks cover for the first time only on Friday, while there have been concerns about the early speed of Mercedes’ new W02.

“What we have on the car now is a long way from what we are eventually going to have,” warned Nico Rosberg. “Right now, I’m not worried.”

And with moving wings, scarce allocations of tyres at the test, KERS and big fuel tanks all in the mix, his Mercedes teammate Michael Schumacher is also not panicking.

“There are so many things to take into account that I don’t care about the times,” said the German.

“Some teams could be close already to what they are going to have at the first race, while for others it is different,” Schumacher is quoted by L’Equipe.

“We will have a clearer picture of the situation in Bahrain for the final test,” he insisted.

Team boss Ross Brawn agrees: “It’s too early to judge, but there is nothing wrong with this car,” he is quoted by autohebdo.fr.

His counterpart at Ferrari, technical director Aldo Costa, also said the pecking order after just three days of testing is unclear.

“I’m not saying we’re stumbling around in the dark, but almost,” he told reporters on Thursday.

The world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha rider, ended Friday in free practice on the Sepang track with the third fastest time, preceded by team-mate Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso (Honda HRC).

The Spaniard ran into difficulties, as well as for the heat and dirt on the track, in the fourth sector of the track, which caused him to lose precious tenths and did not allow him to close the session ahead. Then this will be the main goal for “Porfuera”, which is to improve on that stretch so that we can aspire to the forefront, if not the pole position, in what is the first weekend in which to meet the world title.

“The conditions today were quite difficult,” admits Jorge Lorenzo, “with the high temperatures and the dirt path. I’m happy because I felt good on the bike, I went fast and I finished near the top position.

We used the old engine again today, but tomorrow we’ll probably try the new one. We have to work a fourth area, which is where we are wasting time now, so tomorrow we’ll focus on that and try to improve it further. “

He surprised himself, Valentino Rossi. He did not expect to conclude the first session of free practice at Motegi with the fastest time, not feeling any major problems in the shoulder (on the eve of expected something else …). Everything went smoothly on Friday at Twin Ring, enough to show particularly happy with the result.

“I’m really happy today, and frankly, this is a big surprise for me to find myself in the first place, “says Valentino Rossi. “Here I expected to suffer a lot with my shoulder because there are important points of detached, but in reality are not so demanding, not folded and therefore hampers are happy to be well physically and with the bike. “

Valentino Rossi in Motegi, Jorge Lorenzo on the other hand, also has a new Yamaha engine that, according to the nine-time world champion, is already competitive enough to make more satisfied with how it ended the day at work.

“I used the new engine and I must say that Yamaha has done a great job, in the fourth and fifth gear it feels good the difference. I know that it is only Friday, but was a long time since I found myself in front and a pleasant feeling. There is a possibility of rain in the rest of the weekend and it is unfortunate, but the wet look for any to do our best. “ Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa greeted with hope to return soon in the saddle.

It almost would have worked out today evening in Singapore with Michael Schumacher’s first fastest time since the third free practice session at Suzuka in 2006, but in the end, the Mercedes driver had to be content with second place. Because after the 90 minutes it championship leader Mark Webber just displaced from the top.

The Red Bull driver lapped the street circuit in 1:54.589 minutes, thus faster than Schumacher, 0.119 seconds, which was to always find the leaders, although he learn the new route for it first had to. However, be the strong results of the seven-time world champion exaggerate not, after it was damp at the start and the track dried out slowly. Therefore, de facto, included only the last ten minutes on slicks.
In which it was quite turbulent, to – again and again took the driver exit or cut off one of the chicanes. However, none provided a truly devastating mistake, so the session went without any major incidents to an end. Exciting it was only in the closing stages, as the big favorites spared in moist conditions at the beginning of their tires and engines from the box and watched.

Only shortly before the finish was so surprised man Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) from the top displaced and still passed through to twelfth place. The Japanese ended up 1.750 seconds behind Webber, but remained narrowly ahead of his teammate Nick Heidfeld (13 / 1.869), returning to Singapore in the Grand Prix circus. Accordingly, the German looks happy: “With the first session, I am very satisfied,” he notes.

“I had this at the beginning take it easy, for I am ever not ridden in the wet. Also at the end, when it was still a bit damp, it was important for me to shoot many rounds,” said Heidfeld. “When I saw then, that not much time, I’ve been a bit more gas. Of course, I’m with the settings of the car not quite satisfied. The basis should be good, but because you can fine-tune still a lot.”

The second comeback was less striking: Christian Klien (HRT / 8.835) was due after 20 minutes the first rider to set a time landed, but after 90 minutes only on rank 23 – well before Lotus tail light Fairuz Fauzy (11.105), but just as well behind his team-mate Bruno Senna (22 / 5.194). Another new name, Jérôme D’Ambrosio (Virgin / 4.686), was a good 21, just behind stable-mate Timo Glock (20 / 4.445).

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. “

Andy Soucek has dissolved its contract with Virgin actually test driver. The reigning Formula 2 champion was joined in the hope of the new British team that he would deny some bets on Fridays. But this never materialized. In contrast to the replacement drivers at teams like Lotus, Force India or HRT was the Austro-Spaniard no opportunity to gather as part of racing weekends of experience in Formula 1 car.

“Added Andy and the team by mutual consent agreed to resolve the contractual relationship, so that Andy can concentrate on his racing activities in other series,” says a statement by Soucek management. However, the career of the 25-year-old formula by the formula 1 test commitment has been thwarted. Last we saw him again in the Super League.
“Andy was in the season attended by ten races as a substitute driver in case of injury or illness of a master pilot. He has always taken part in technical meetings with engineers,” says the opinion, which sounds in this passage as a reference. Soucek had allegedly stopped the payments due to Virgin, as you originally promised him two test missions obviously could not call into view.

“The current test regulations in Formula 1 has the consequence that for test pilots are no bets in your car. Andy is very ambitious and requires kilometers of racing,” says Soucek of-management. “Therefore, he decided to focus on its opportunities in other categories. Andy has enjoyed his time at Virgin, the two sides separate for good, and wish each other the best for the future.”
The termination of contracts is not just for Soucek a setback on his way to the longed-for Formula 1 cockpit. The formula has had to take two so indirectly, a bitter defeat. Jonathan Palmer had wanted to establish the series as a unique climbing towards the summit motorsports. This does not seem to be succeeding. Not even a test Soucek fastest time in the Young Driver Days in December, Williams paid off eventually.

With Virgin now remains the only Luiz Razia replacement pilot. The young GP2 driver has seen come and go now, and two colleagues. At the beginning of the season, the UK team Álvaro Parente, as a first test and reserve driver in front. But the contract with the Portuguese ended just days later, so that the space for Soucek was free. Soucek manager Julien Jacob, among others already discussed Ayrton Senna, should now find new opportunities for the Austro-Spaniard.

Jun.25 (GMM)  The first practice session of the 2010 European grand prix took place under sunny skies on Friday morning.

In Valencia, expected to remain fine for the whole weekend, Nico Rosberg ended the 90 minute session with the fastest time as Mercedes experimented with its new Red Bull-like exhaust layout and driver-adjustable F-duct.

He was faster than the McLarens, but Renault, Ferrari and Red Bull were all also within a second or so of the leading pace.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel clocked the sixth fastest time, amid breaking news his Montreal-spec gearbox has been repaired, meaning he will not move back five places on Sunday’s grid.