Amid speculation regarding Felipe Massa’s immediate future, Sergio Perez’s father has revealed that Ferrari approached Sauber.

Earlier, Sauber driver Perez played down the rumours about Massa’s future, including the suggestion he was at the very top of Ferrari’s replacement list.

“Sergio is focused one hundred per cent on (performing in) Malaysia,” the 22-year-old Mexican’s father Antonio is quoted by the Spanish-language Medio Tiempo.

Perez snr’s son is the cream of Ferrari’s development driver ‘academy’ programme.

“Since last year, Ferrari has had three drivers: Alonso, Massa and Perez,” he said.

“‘Checo’ has a great relationship with the team but I can say today that Perez is signed only with Peter Sauber.”

Nonetheless, it has been suggested Ferrari made an approach to Sauber recently, amid Massa’s performance slump.

“Yes, Monisha (Kaltenborn), who is the chief executive of Sauber, confirmed that Ferrari people approached her to talk about Sergio,” said his father Antonio.

At the very least, Perez is a candidate for Massa’s seat next year.

“That would be a good package,” the Mexican answered when asked about the potential pairing of his son with Fernando Alonso.

“I see it only as a matter of time. We have to wait and be patient rather than distract Checo from what he is doing now.

“Sergio was not even aware of the statements made by Ferrari: he was training and focused on his fitness,” added Perez snr.

Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s president, urged calm over the famous team’s current situation, including the calls for Massa’s scalp.

“I understand that the fans are disappointed,” he is quoted by Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper, “but I ask them to remain calm.

“We must remain calm and focused.”

Still, the rumour mill waits for nobody, and even Ferrari’s official ‘Tweet’ about the “reasonable job” done by Massa on Saturday did not go unnoticed.

“I take that to mean, ‘You’re useless!’ German RTL commentator Christian Danner joked.

 Mika Salo – a former Ferrari, Sauber and Toyota race driver – has admitted his surprise at how F1 technology has moved on since he retired in 2002.
The now 45-year-old Finn got back at the wheel of a modern grand prix machine last weekend at Suzuka, during the Ferrari Racing Days event.

“The power came as no surprise,” he told the broadcaster MTV3, “but the grip was quite unbelievable.

“It was almost contrary to the laws of nature, how hard you could be pushing on sixth or seventh gear in a corner.

“I would have needed many more days to really get back on terms with it,” said Salo. “I have to admit there is no way I could do a race right now.

“Secondly, my fitness really is not enough — I have such a sore neck and hands now that I could barely carry my bag at the airport,” he added.

 Bruno Senna has confirmed reports he has signed with Williams for a single season only.
We reported recently that the former HRT and Renault driver, reportedly taking EUR 14 million in sponsorship to the famous Oxfordshire based team, is guaranteed the seat for 2012 only.

With countryman Felipe Massa’s Ferrari contract also expiring this year, the situation raises the prospect that there will be no Brazilians in F1 in 2013.

“All drivers, Brazilian or not, have great pressure to deliver results,” Senna is quoted by Agencia Estado.

“Of course it is very important to have Brazilians in formula one, but we always do the best we can, regardless of the duration of the contract.

“I think this is the beginning of my career, as with a good job this year, we can extend the contract and, god willing, keep on getting better in the future,” he added.

“Last year at this time all I could do was work on my fitness, but now I am driving the car, working with the engineers in the team and doing everything else that has made all the difference in this preseason.

“I have got to this stage of the championship with a preparation probably better than last year when I finished the race in Brazil,” he added.

The 28-year-old said Williams’ target for this season is to score points regularly, after a woeful 2011.

“All the teams have taken a leap forward; I think Force India, Toro Rosso and Sauber are strong,” said the Brazilian.

“Lotus seems to be strong, Mercedes as well. Ferrari do not seem to have the performance, unless they are hiding their game.

“It seems like McLaren and Red Bull are a little in front of everyone.

“I think the big surprise has been Caterham, who seem to have a reasonable performance. So it’ll be very interesting to see what will happen,” added Senna.

He reached his teammate Casey Stoner in the computation of the poles in his career won the World Championship in three classes (37). A great result for Pedrosa , back in pole position, the second of the season after Brno, this time with the stated goal of winning a victory to mortgage the third position in the league. With these conditions evidence, by his own admission, will not be easy …

” It ‘was a very difficult session, it was very hot, I could hardly breathe inside my helmet , “says Dani Pedrosa. ” At first I slipped and I did not expect this. Luckily we were able to return to the track, solve problems and win the second pole position this season.

I think it was possible to improve again, but unfortunately on my last run I met the traffic. However, it’s nice to be back on pole and I hope that our race pace is just as competitive. We must continue the work of setting up the bike and choose the right tire to face a tough race, because here our rivals are very competitive.

Will no doubt be a tough race especially as weather conditions will test your fitness level, I hope to stay focused and to repeat today’s result although opponents will not fail . “

Heinz Harald Frentzen has played down the importance of fitness in formula one.
The retired grand prix winner, who last raced with Sauber in 2003, was one of the last drivers in the sport who was an occasional smoker.

But fitness is today a keyword in the F1 paddock, with drivers including Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg now so fit they enter triathlons for fun.

Frentzen, 44, told Welt newspaper: “The issue of fitness was and is overrated in formula one.

“I remember driving in Hungary in 1998 with salmonella poisoning and finished fifth.

“Yes it’s important, but the boys of today are all fit by default. It is the g-forces that my body could no longer withstand.

“I would need about three months to train the muscles to do maybe ten laps,” added Frentzen.

Michael Schumacher should ditch his dreams of adding an eighth title to his unprecedented formula one record.
That is the claim of his former boss Flavio Briatore, who nonetheless said he supports the 42-year-old’s often-criticised return to the grid.

“Michael is a great driver,” the former Benetton and Renault boss told Bild newspaper.

“He changed formula one, not just in how to drive the car but how to prepare it and yourself. With his fitness and his discipline he created a new generation of drivers.

“Vettel, Alonso and Rosberg have all followed him,” said the flamboyant Italian.

“And it is good for formula one that he came back. If it entertains him and he understands his role as a helper for Mercedes – leading them back to the top – then that’s good,” added Briatore.

A fourth, given the turn of the weekend in Indianapolis in trial, is almost half success. To Valentino Rossi, the race circuit on the historic U.S. was more difficult than expected, with the Fiat Yamaha rider made the cross from the hot weather appeared on American track on Sunday, which put a strain on the physical form of Pesaro, of certainly not perfect after recovery from injury.

After three drops in the test, the “Doctor” was able to put together a decent test, finishing fourth and making it the third Yamaha rider at the finish, behind his successor Ben Spies official anchor and teammate Jorge Lorenzo . The trial next week in front of the warm public Misano, will be critical to test the psychological condition of the nine-time champion, as well as physical.

“Considering the weekend we have experienced, this was a good race for us,” said Rossi. “Fourth is a good result given the circumstances, but the important thing is that my race pace was good and I feel much more comfortable on the bike.

I made some good laps and I was not very far from the other Yamaha’s, but unfortunately I paid too much lack of fitness in this heat, and in the end I had to stop pushing because I had no strength remaining in the body. I’m happy anyway, since we have returned to a good setting and I drove well and if we consider the three falls piccoel remedied, fourth place is not so bad. I now look forward towards Misano, my home race “

For Jaime Alguersuari Formula 1′s summer break, now in the harder phase: Fitness Camp in Austria, Italy in Karting
While many other Formula 1 driver still occupies a bed in a dream beach, Jaime Alguersuari goes back to work. The young Toro Rosso driver will enter on Monday back to the intensive fitness training to prepare for the rest of the season. “I will be with Sebastien Buemi in the Red Bull Performance Center in Fuschl and there for three days at the gym work,” the 20-year-old said on his homepage.

“We will be working on our physical condition, to be prepared for the rest of the season. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I’ll be in the gym, there are medical checks,” said Alguersuari. “We will also probably take hundreds of miles by bicycle uncoil and other outdoor activities.”
After three days in the Austrian Fuschl an unofficial competition of some Formula 1 drivers on the program. “On Thursday and Friday I meet with Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and several other Formula 1 drivers at the kart circuit in Lonato. Where we test some new KZ1-karts for the World Cup,” said the Toro Rosso Youngster who has a contract with Intrepid kart.

The young Spaniard then remains the same in Italy, to the team in preparing for the next Grand Prix in Belgium to help. For Alguersuari obviously many appointments with the Toro Rosso engineers at the factory in Faenza on the program. “I want the team to be as close as possible.” The goal for the rest of the season is to get on the basis of our technical possibilities always the maximum in the Grand Prix. ”
“I feel better, stronger and more balanced than ever before,” is pleased Alguersuari before returning to his Formula 1 work. The passionate DJ used the summer break and to hang up in some top clubs in Europe. “Now the music has only one break to the end of the season,” said the 20-year-old. “I’m going home to perhaps work on my private studio. But always only when I have finished my five-hour fitness program per day.”

“In my life all happened so fast,” says the pilot from Barcelona, who could well earn his money as a DJ. “Formula 1 fans might wonder if I can really be a good DJ. The music fans ask the same if I actually a good racer am. But the fact is that I am at two things for many, many years of work. I I sat with eight years in karting since I was 13, I’m going international races. ”
“Even though I enjoy the status as the youngest Formula 1 driver, it must be said, however, that I have eleven years working very hard towards this goal. And the music was similar. If one has put in thousands of clubs plates, then it is already not a hobby, “says Alguersuari. “I’ve been practicing 13 years ago in real high-tech devices. But still: Formula 1 is my passion, music is more of a side job.”

Among other things, showed Alguersuari his skills as a DJ in the club last icon in Budapest in Formula 1 after show. This was followed by short performances in Barcelona, London and Ibiza. “Nevertheless, I am recovering well. I had had with my parents a little sailing, visiting with them and my aunts a mountain village in the Spanish Pyrenees. Also, I’ve been to Formentera and Ibiza, and am a bit jet-ski driven. This holiday were among the most beautiful I have ever experienced. “

At the weekend where it will be officially unveiled its future, Valentino Rossi started in the best way. In Brno in the opening round of tests appeared immediately in command of the standings, finishing with the 3rd time without being able to replicate, because of the rain, the reference of Jorge Lorenzo. The six-tenths of a disadvantage not worried, partly because his physical condition has improved considerably since the last race.

“Overall I’m happy, it was a good session and I found myself immediately at ease with the bike,” says Rossi. “I must say that after a few laps I felt some pain in the shoulder and right leg, but overall I’m happy because compared to Laguna Seca my physical condition has improved, so that I can do more forcefully on the shoulder cornering and braking .

Fitness (almost) OK, how his Yamaha YZR M1? To answer must wait until tomorrow hoping for good weather and two rounds of tests on asphalt completely dry.

“I was leading for most of the session working on the development of the bike. I am only sorry for the rain, we could do that final step to further improve, but hopefully it will be possible tomorrow, “concluded the nine-time World Champion.

Fourth at the Sachsenring, third at Laguna Seca, guess the next “step” of Valentino Rossi ‘s return to the track post-injury Mugello. This weekend in Brno, where he won his first GP in 1996 and later in six other occasions (most recently last year), Smith will seek the best possible result with a physical fitness almost fully recovered.

“It ‘was a lovely holiday that has helped me work on my fitness, “says Rossi. “The leg is better and so is the shoulder, so I hope that this week I’m better and I can go faster than the last few races.

For me, Brno is a great track and special, here I won my first race and last year I managed to win. Certainly not be easy because they are not yet at full fitness, but the good news is that I can not wait to get back in motion!

The end of 2010 is still missing half a season: our goal is very simple, try to do well in next 9 races.

Known as the announcement will likely Monday divorce between Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha with consequent passage Ducati as tradition, Brno is a special place to the 9 times champion.

Ferrari has cooled speculation that Valentino Rossi might be ready to push for a switch to formula one.

When the Italian recently broke his leg in a MotoGP practice crash, the rumour mill suggested the timing might be right for Rossi to turn his attention to four wheels.

But with the 31-year-old now back to racing fitness and tipped to sign a deal with Ducati, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has indicated that Rossi is still focused on bikes.

“It (Rossi switching to F1) would be great, but he has many more years on two wheels,” the Italian said in an interview with La Stampa.