A support-race team and a respected journalist have become the next to pull out of this weekend’s highly controversial Bahrain grand prix.

The Porsche Supercup team MRS said its decision to skip the support race in the divided island Kingdom is the “first time in our history that we have had to cancel”.

“In the end we have the responsibility for our employees,” said team boss Karsten Molitor, citing security concerns.

Another withdrawal – joining the sacked Williams catering staff member, and the TV broadcasters Sky Deutschland, Fuji TV and MTV3 Finland – is the respected correspondent for O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Livio Oricchio.

“I have decided in agreement with Estado to not go,” he said. “We had the tickets for the entire season, except for Bahrain and the United States, because there was a doubt they would be run.

“Like many journalists, I will not be at Sakhir,” Oricchio admitted.

“I always believed that the race would not take place, and I’m still not 100 per cent sure that something will not happen that will lead the FIA or FOM to cancel.”

Indeed, following the sport’s decision to push ahead, the pressure on formula one to cancel at the eleventh hour has only intensified.

Nabeel Rajab, the leader of the government opposition group Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, admitted that the next protests – ‘three days of rage’, to coincide with the race’s three-day calendar – are aimed specifically at F1.

“We’re protesting to show anger at formula one for conducting the race here,” he is quoted by the BBC.

And the wife of a well-known jailed Bahraini activist who is on a long hunger strike, added: “I am not angry with the government… what makes me angry is people like Ecclestone who decide to come to Bahrain because he thinks everyone is happy.”

Italy’s La Stampa reports that F1 personnel have been advised to stay away from restaurants and shops, while “girlfriends and wives stay at home”.

That’s not entirely true, as Felipe Massa touched down at the airport on Thursday with his wife and baby son.

And Giedo van der Garde, the reserve driver for Caterham, said he has found Bahrain peaceful since his arrival on Wednesday.

“I’ve not been here long,” he is quoted by Auto Hebdo, “but everything seems quiet. Obviously, there’s a heavy police presence,” the Dutchman continued.

“But I haven’t seen any trouble or anything. Let’s hope it stays like that.”

Marco Canseco, the correspondent for the Spanish sports daily Marca, said he witnessed a “minor altercation” in the capital Manama on Wednesday.

“Then all the teams and everybody were able to get to the track for work without a hitch, the same on return,” he revealed.

Many are protesting the race going ahead on moral grounds, others due to security fears, whilst others fear for F1′s image.

“The ongoing debate about Bahrain is the only damage to the high gloss of the exciting 2012 season so far,” agreed Austria’s Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

A respected F1 correspondent is expecting F1′s 2012 calendar to shrink to eighteen races this year.

Livio Oricchio, who writes for Brazil’s O Estado de S.Paulo, thinks the sport is now on the verge of cancelling next weekend’s visit to Bahrain.

And he also thinks November’s US grand prix, scheduled to take place at the brand new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, is in doubt.

“The construction has fallen way behind,” said Oricchio, “and there are serious problems between the promoter and the Texas government.

“Each side is looking to the other on the obligation to pay the fee, estimated at $18 million, to FOM (Formula One Management).

“So the championship that should have 20 races will most likely have only 18,” he concluded.

At least publicly, however, the Circuit of the Americas is continuing to take shape.

This Thursday, a private ceremony is scheduled to take place as circuit contractor Austin Commercial celebrates the milestone of completing the full height of the main three-storey pit building.

The Austin Business Journal reports that “several business and civic leaders are scheduled to attend”.

As ever in the high-intrigue world of formula one politics, what is not said always has more value that what is freedly revealed.
That is doubly true if the shrewd Bernie Ecclestone is at the steering wheel.

Firstly, while some interpreted Saturday’s news as a 2013 Concorde Agreement being done and dusted, the F1 chief executive’s short statement in fact merely said “the terms” of the next contract have been agreed.

And the major keyword was that “the majority” of the teams – including Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull – are on board.

“Bernie’s used the word majority,” McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by the Mirror. “If there are 12 teams, that’s seven or more.

“I don’t know any more.”

The big missing domino is Mercedes, who according to multiple media sources are holding out for now.

Another is the famous British outfit Williams.

“All agreements between FOM and the teams are normally subject to confidentiality clauses,” Red Bull’s Christian Horner is quoted in German reports.

“So I can’t comment.”

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reported that, in addition to the aforementioned top teams, also set to sign up for 2013 are Red Bull sister team Toro Rosso and Ferrari-powered Sauber.

Lotus and Force India are reportedly also part of that group.

That leaves just the three slowest teams Caterham, Marussia and HRT as the other teams remaining in the cold.

 Many team bosses reportedly left the Melbourne paddock angry late on Sunday, amid claims Ferrari and Red Bull have agreed special deals for F1′s future beyond the current Concorde Agreement.
Rumours of the top teams’ deal – part of a reportedly planned $10 billion stock market floatation of the sport – began to swirl following the publication and then retraction of a Sky News internet report.

The report was reportedly based on a leaked copy of the draft 2013 Concorde Agreement, which according to London’s Telegraph newspaper “could hand Ferrari a direct stake in the sport”.

Red Bull, the reigning champions, “also stand to make a huge sum”, the report claimed, adding that the energy drink-owned team as well as Ferrari will be asked to nominate directors for F1′s holding company board.

Team boss Christian Horner revealed Red Bull is “in discussions with FOM” about a new Concorde Agreement, adding that talks are “progressing reasonably well”.

How the other major teams – like FOTA members McLaren and Mercedes – fit into the picture is unclear at present, but the Times newspaper reports that there are “no seats” at the boardroom table allocated for them.

An unnamed senior team executive described the rumoured special deals for Ferrari and Red Bull as “outrageous” and “against every facet of European competition law”.

Ferrari declined to comment.

Horner added: “We want one (a Concorde Agreement) which reaches into the future … a floatation is really down to the shareholders.

“It is not really the teams’ business,” he added. “It is more of a question for Bernie (Ecclestone) or CVC.”

Many paddock insiders, however, believe the deals are already done in principle, leading one angry rival team boss to blast: “Formula one stopped being about racing a long time ago”.

“There will be an end game to this,” he added. “We just have to figure out what it is and what it means for the people in the teams who want to go racing and not be involved in this kind of thing.”

 F1 “must be prepared for problems” as Europe and the world suffer economically.
That is the admission of the sport’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, when asked if Peugeot’s withdrawal from Le Mans sports car racing could also indicate tough times ahead for F1.

Amid the world’s last financial crisis, F1 lost multiple carmakers including BMW, Toyota and Honda.

“They had good reasons to go and save their money because they just weren’t successful enough and didn’t get the media coverage they wanted.

“Simple as that,” Ecclestone told Austria’s Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

So, with Peugeot pulling out of Le Mans and grand prix promoters considering the future of their races due to the costs, Ecclestone was asked if he is worried F1 could now lose more of its marques and sponsors.

“Due to the length of our contracts, we are almost immune,” he insisted.

“But if the situation does not change globally, we must be prepared for problems,” admitted Ecclestone.

A report in the UK newspaper Express said every one of F1′s twelve competing teams unusually failed to pay their bills on time last season.

“The findings … show that the recession has hit the motorsport”, wrote journalist Christian Sylt.

“The five slowest paying teams all have backing from carmakers, which could indicate that in the current economic climate F1 may not be sustainable for them,” he added.

Valencia’s regional president has confirmed he wants F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to lower the fee for the European grand prix street race.

We reported this week that Alberto Fabra, president of the Valencia Generalitat, had a “private” meeting on Tuesday with Ecclestone in London.

EFE news agency said Fabra wants to “negotiate down” its contracted race fee amid Spain’s economic crisis.

“We want to continue with the grand prix of Europe,” Fabra is quoted as saying by Spanish reports including the sports daily Marca, “but with different conditions.”

He confirmed during a press conference in Madrid on Thursday that the negotiations with Ecclestone are for staging the race with “lower costs” to “find the right balance”.

 Bernie Ecclestone could be planning to pull $100 million out of the coffers to give the negotiations over F1′s next Concorde Agreement a kick-start.
In 2005, amid the teams’ threats that they would give up on the income offered by formula one and set up their own series, Ecclestone pulled off a masterstroke by paying Ferrari $100 million to sign up.

Ferrari was selected by the F1 chief executive due to its arguably indispensible value to the sport, and indeed the breakaway threat duly folded.

Now, seven years into the future, talks about the period beyond 2012 are getting set to move into high gear.

The difference this time is that the teams are united under their FOTA umbrella, even though Ecclestone would love to see the current disagreements over a cost-cutting agreement result in the union’s split.

However, with breakaway threats believed to now be strictly prohibited, the teams’ new tactic could be the suggestion of an involvement as co-owners of the lucrative commercial rights.

“On my side, we have certain obligations not to speak about sensitive subjects. Any kind of declaration we may make can be used and – let me put it this way – manipulated for the wrong reasons, so I would say that I cannot comment on that,” said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali in Abu Dhabi.

But after the shock cancellation of a key FOTA meeting this weekend, rumours are rife.

“What is being said among members of the teams is that, as he did in the past, Ecclestone could make an unique offer to renew (the Concorde Agreement) between Ferrari and FOM,” O Estado de S.Paulo correspondent Livio Oricchio wrote.

“If FOTA ceases to exist – and the chances of this seem high – and Ferrari accepts an offer from Ecclestone, the others will feel obliged to negotiate as well. History will repeat,” he added.

This week’s events have raised the possibility Turkey could return to the F1 calendar next year.
The race has been dropped from the 2012 calendar because the Istanbul organisers and Bernie Ecclestone could not agree to a revised sanctioning fee.

But we reported in September that, given renewed uncertainty about Bahrain’s return to the calendar next year, Turkey “is on standby” for 2012.

This week, it has emerged that the inaugural US grand prix in Texas, and the Korean event, are also in doubt for 2012.

Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio wrote in O Estado de S.Paulo: “Turkey said it could not afford to pay $26 million to FOM and therefore lost the race.

“But now, so that F1 does not have to lose so many (2012) races, it (FOM) could accept the $13 million they (Turkey) paid before.”

‘Proton 1Malaysia’ has been touted as a possible new name for Tony Fernandes’ formula one team in 2011.

Currently, the team currently known as Lotus Racing is locked in a dispute with Group Lotus, who intend to separately enter F1 next year in collaboration with Enstone based Renault.

That raises the messy possibility of two teams being called ‘Lotus’; a situation that now involves the courts and also the Malaysian government, part-owner of the Group Lotus parent and carmaker Proton.

The proposed new name for Lotus Racing was published by The Advertiser, a regional UK newspaper close to the Norwich headquarters of both Fernandes’ team as well as Group Lotus.

It would be a tidy solution to the current dilemma, probably involving sponsorship for Fernandes’ small team to compensate for the lost FOM revenue due to a name change, and clearing the way for Renault F1 to be renamed Lotus-Renault in 2011.

And Fernandes’ team “will become a flagship Malaysian constructor hoping to build on tenth place in its first season”, said the report.

After Sunday’s condensed action in Japan, the idea of reducing a grand prix weekend to just two days is back on the agenda.

It is believed the proposal is once again being discussed by team bosses, after Sebastian Vettel earned pole position just hours before winning the Suzuka race.

Qualifying in Japan had to be rescheduled due to Saturday’s torrential rain, highlighting the sport’s ability to cope with all its practice and qualifying sessions without needing a full three-day schedule as at present.

“From the team’s perspective it is quite intense, a lot of adrenaline, a lot of pressure,” said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali when asked whether a two-day schedule makes more sense for today’s F1.

“And then if you have a problem with the car or a crash, then it is very difficult to make sure that you are able to start the race.

“(But) it would be interesting how you (the media) and the public will think about it,” he added.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner also commented on the concept of a two-day weekend.

“I think the format worked well in two days (in Japan) because of the bad weather,” he is quoted by France’s L’Equipe.  “What we could possibly do is condense what happens on a Friday.

“Personally, I would prefer to keep qualifying on a Saturday and the racing on Sunday, but there are certainly things we could do with Friday.

“One example would be with the young drivers.  (And) everybody arriving at the circuit on a Wednesday makes no sense.

“We need to discuss it with the FIA and FOM,” added Horner.

A deal to host at least seven Russian grand prix in Sochi beginning in 2014 has been reached, the country’s president Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday.

“An agreement with the (sport’s) organising company has been reached,” he told investors in the Black Sea resort city, according to the state news agency Ria Novosti.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was reportedly also in Sochi to sign the contract.

“In order to organise the work properly, we should create a management company here, in our country.  It should consist of private national companies,” Putin added.

The report said some of Russia’s biggest companies, including the state enterprise Rostekhnologii, mobile phone operator Megafon, oil company Lukoil and aluminum giant Rusal will invest in the circuit that could cost $200 million.

Nikolai Fomenko, boss of Marussia, said last month that he planned to bring the Russian sports car maker into F1 in 2012.  The company already sponsors the Virgin team.

“The signing of the agreement to stage a grand prix in Sochi will help put a Russian team in F1,” said Igor Yermilin, an official of the Russian Motor Racing Federation.

Work began on Thursday to lay the final top layer of asphalt at Korea’s new Yeongam circuit.

The race organisers only have three days to complete the job before the FIA’s Charlie Whiting begins a two-day inspection on Monday.

“Work on the final surface layer will probably be done by Friday,” confirmed spokesman Kim Jae-ho.

But the looming inspection deadline means the fate of the event, scheduled for October 24, could rest on as little as the local weather forecast.

According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, F1′s governing FIA and commercial body FOM have covered their tracks by requiring the organisers to sign a letter.

The letter guarantees that the asphalt will be properly cured and ready to accommodate F1 cars later this month.

Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chairman Rubens Barrichello said on Thursday: “We are not worried, because we know that the FIA only approves a circuit if all the safety requirements are met.

“I am looking forward to the inspection next week and hearing if it’s a green or red light,” added the Brazilian.

Team boss Christian Horner confirmed the news to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“The reason is simple,” he said. “The wing without the F-duct is more efficient (in Hungary).”

The report also said Ferrari is not convinced the F-duct is the best solution for the tight and twisty layout, experimenting with one car not running the downforce-stalling device in morning practice.

Williams’ Rubens Barrichello was surprised when he learned that some teams are not convinced about the F-duct at the Hungaroring.

“For sure we are starting with the F-duct. After that, we’ll see,” he said.

Another talking point in Hungary is the flexible front wings photographed on the Red Bull and Ferrari cars last weekend at Hockenheim.

“I am not saying they are doing something illegal,” McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted as saying.

“But the fact is that the endplates are touching the ground,” he said, apparently after seeing the slow-motion video captured by FOM of the Red Bull cars in morning practice.

“On the Red Bull, these end plates are even protected with a shield. We can’t imagine how it’s getting that low,” added Whitmarsh.

7 million euros will be missing from the budget of F1′s governing FIA in 2011.

A report in the British Express newspaper claims the shortfall is due to the expiry of a fourteen-year run of annual fees paid by Formula One Management, headed by chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

The deal, in which the sport’s commercial rights were handed over to Ecclestone, was signed in 1997.

The report said the 7 million loss represents 15 per cent of the FIA’s 48m annual budget, while the commercial rights generate almost a billion euros every year for FOM.

Experts said the FIA might have to revert to raising fees such as those paid by F1 drivers for their super licenses.

But a spokesman for the Paris-based Federation said: “I can’t give you the detail but it is not the case (that there is a hole in the budget).”

The FIA raised nearly 12,000 euros during the British grand prix weekend, mainly by imposing fines on F1 drivers for speeding.

Pedro de la Rosa’s 4,200 fine was the biggest for speeding, while Toro Rosso was fined $5000 for unsafely releasing Jaime Alguersuari into the pitlane.

Although moves are afoot to fill the 13th team space in pitlane, Bernie Ecclestone thinks formula one could actually lose a team in 2011.

And the F1 chief executive said a drop from 24 to 22 teams would be no bad thing.

“I would be glad,” the Briton is quoted by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“There is a long list of teams that want to be in formula one,” said Ecclestone. “Whether they have the ability and the resources is another story.”

As well as F1′s struggling and underfinanced teams, Ecclestone is also no supporter of FOTA, the teams alliance that last year waged with great influence a bitter political battle with the sport’s authorities.

A new battle with FOTA is now hotting up, with teams reportedly ordered to remove sponsor-branded trucks from the Silverstone paddock.

“The teams wanted to divide F1, but now they understand that it is good to give importance to the money that they get (from FOM),” said Ecclestone.

“There is no space for FOTA…”