France’s return to the 2013 formula one calendar is not quite at the finish-line.

Many expected prime minister Francois Fillon’s visit to the Paul Ricard circuit last Friday to coincide with an announcement about the revival of the French grand prix next year.

Some think that was indeed the intention, but ultimately a couple of details were missing at the last hurdle.

The first was the identity of the host circuit that will annually alternate the race date, amid reports Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps is not yet ready or able to agree.

“The formula one management has approved the plan without indicating who would be the other country,” Fillon is quoted as saying in local reports.

Another problem is on the financial side, with Fillon admitting that – politically – there can be no direct government subsidy other than a mere “bond”.

The difference between a deal and no deal between Bernie Ecclestone and the Le Castellet organisers, then, is “about two million euros”, Fillon revealed.

“The formula one organisers’ proposal is reasonable enough,” he said, “but we have to make them remove the ‘enough’,” he added.

“Symbolically it would not be acceptable (for the government) to subsidise a grand prix,” he insisted, “as was the case in the past with Magny Cours.”

Magny Cours, the former French GP venue, reacted with shock and anger, accusing the prime minister of “bias in favour of Le Castellet”, where temporary grandstands will have to be erected to host spectators.

On the other hand, Magny Cours has “all the facilities, infrastructure and expertise needed to organise such an event”, insisted Patrice Joly, president of the conseil general of the Nievre department.

“Contrary to what you would expect from the head of government, the prime minister strives to implement a solution based on partisan considerations and personal issues away from the general interest,” he added.

Contrary to recent reports, vertical construction at the 2012 US grand prix venue in Texas is still yet to commence.
It was reported earlier this month that, just over a year before the Circuit of the Americas is due to host its inaugural race, work at the Austin site had finally recommenced after lengthy a delay.

But the local Austin American Statesman newspaper reports this week that permits to construct buildings and grandstands on top of foundations have not even been granted.

The news was confirmed by a Travis County official, who reportedly said the authorities have “been working with circuit organisers to issue the next round of permits”, which should be happen “soon”.

Circuit officials were unavailable for comment.

Construction has finally resumed after weeks of delays at the 2012 United States grand prix venue Circuit of the Americas.
There have been grave concerns about the health of the project recently, particularly as vertical construction of the actual circuit buildings and grandstands had still not begun just over a year before the inaugural race date.

But Max Chapman, the project’s construction manager, revealed on Tuesday that after weeks of almost no work at the site, “We just started back today”.

The Austin American Statesman newspaper said the work resumed after more than $100 million in construction contracts were authorised.

“That’s mechanical, electrical, concrete frame, all phases of the project,” confirmed Chapman. “It’s the last big piece.

“It (construction) was going great guns for a while. For the last couple of weeks, until we got our bookwork done, it was a trickle, and it slowed almost to a stop the last three or four days.”

He said the foundation of the main grandstand is due to be laid at the end of next week.

The first job will be trucking in new soil, with the laying of the crucial track asphalt not scheduled until after Christmas.

Not everyone is impressed with Silverstone’s new pit and paddock complex.

For 2011, the famous Copse corner is no longer at the start of the lap, with the new ‘Wing’ buildings and pitlane making their grand prix debut this weekend.

“Silverstone has lost a bit of his character,” Michael Schumacher told Auto Motor und Sport.

Agreed Nick Heidfeld: “I liked it before and don’t understand why it had to change.”

The German report said the new media centre is “a windowless bunker”, and Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio agreed: “As at Spa, we can’t see the circuit. It makes no sense.”

There is also a ten-metre stretch of grass between the garages and pitlane and the pitwall. “We could play golf on it,” laughed Rubens Barrichello.

David Coulthard also pointed out a “major oversight” in the design of the pitlane.

“The architects in their wisdom designed it lower than the pitwall so the fans in the grandstands may not be able to watch what is happening in the pits,” he wrote in his Telegraph column.

As for the new turn one, however, the drivers are mainly happy.

“Before, we had a flat out corner after the start and by Beckett’s the field was already pretty well sorted for the first braking,” said Lewis Hamilton.

“Now we start with two quick corners but enough space for two cars side by side, and the first braking is much closer to the start. So I expect some position-changing when we’re braking for turn 3.”

Today’s FIA press conference at the Interlagos circuit was an all-Brazilian affair, with the two “new boys,” Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna, joined by their senior colleagues, Rubens Barrichello and Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s Felipe Massa. Indeed, it was an all Paulista affair as the four are from the city of Sao Paolo.

Asked to look back at this season, Felipe singled out his qualifying performance as the worst feature of 2010. “This year’s results have not matched my expectations, especially in qualifying where I struggled to put together a good first lap on fresh tyres,” he said. “It’s true there have also been some races where I failed to finish in the points and then there was Singapore, where a qualifying problem meant I had to start from the back.”

As to this weekend’s home race, Felipe shared his fellow panelists’ enthusiasm for the Interlagos circuit. “I have great memories from here with two wins and poles in 2006, ’07 and ’08, which was the last time I raced here. Then going even further back, at the start of my career, I won here twice in Formula Chevrolet. This track has many interesting challenges and you can be creative with the set-up, while many sections of the track require a very technical approach. It might be a short lap, not like most of the new tracks, but this circuit is very well thought out and there is always overtaking here and some nice fights. But it is really the Brazilian people who make Interlagos special – they are so hot with emotion and they sing all day long in the grandstands, which is great for us Brazilian drivers, giving us some extra power.”

Mathematically, Fernando Alonso has a chance of winning the Drivers’ title on Sunday and Felipe was asked if he felt it might happen. “Well, Fernando is leading right now, so for sure I think he can do it here, but as we have seen this season, everything is possible. My personal aim is to try and win the race and of course I can help Fernando by taking points away from his rivals.”

This week sees the premiere of a film made about the life of Ayrton Senna and all four drivers were asked for their memories of the great Brazilian champion, who died during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. “Ayrton was really amazing and I remember so many of his races,” said Felipe. “But what really stands out in my mind was his ability in qualifying, not only taking pole in so many races, but often doing so with a big gap over the rest. For me, that was his strongest point.”

Help from Germany ensured that Korea’s new F1 circuit is able to host its inaugural grand prix this weekend.

That is the claim of Hermann Tilke, the architect of the circuit but retained only as an ‘advisor’ to the actual construction of the venue in Yeongam.

When it became clear that the Koreans were struggling to complete the facility, Tilke stepped in, reportedly providing workers and machinery, primarily to get the track surface in racing condition.

“In the end we sent workers over from Germany, otherwise it probably wouldn’t have worked,” he is quoted by Auto Bild Motorsport.

Tilke insists that fears the track surface will break up this weekend are unfounded.

“We have used a special formula — one that dries quickly and is ready immediately,” said the German, who said the only problem encountered by the drivers will be low levels of initial grip due to the bitumen sitting above the asphalt.

But Tilke admitted that, earlier, he did have “some doubts” that the circuit would be ready, according to France’s L’Equipe.

“It was necessary to analyse the problems and find solutions,” he said.  “We (Tilke GmbH) helped, but the construction companies in Korea worked hard.

“Overall, everything should be fine, but there might be some shortcomings here and there.”

Indeed, on Thursday as the F1 paddock filled up, many of the sport’s travellers moaned about plumbing and late media shuttles to the circuit, whilst highlighting the circuit’s imperfections.

“F1 has raced in a parking lot in Las Vegas, a desert in Bahrain and a swamp in Shanghai.

“But never on a building site in the middle of nowhere,” said Bild newspaper, as 1500 Korean soldiers hurriedly screwed in seats in the grandstands whilst workers painted dirt track verges green.

“We can hardly expect to be perfect from the outset,” said an event spokesman.

The good news is that organisers are expecting a healthy crowd – perhaps 90,000 on Sunday – for the track action, although it is understood this number of tickets has not yet been sold.

“We don’t expect too much on our first attempt at this event,” acknowledged the spokesman.  “We hope interest in F1 (in Korea) will increase after this.”

F1′s travelling circus is arriving in South Korea, and the first reports are mixed.

BBC television anchor Jake Humphrey summed up the Yeongam venue as satisfactory but “far from finished”.

“Things look pretty ready to go,” said Virgin driver Lucas di Grassi, “with some beauty work still to be finished but the main structure is ready.”

Others talked about their long journeys from the huge Seoul airport to Mokpo, the closest city to Yeongam, in the impressive high-speed KTX train with free wi-fi.

Photographer Darren Heath was less impressed with the journey, tackled by many in buses.  “F1 in Seoul?  Nah, let’s have it in the middle of nowhere 100s of miles from anywhere,” he wrote on Twitter.

Veteran Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit, writing in Blick newspaper, said the F1 track itself is an “enormous construction site”, and his hotel room one of the ones usually rented by the hour.

“No joke,” he said.

Reportedly so unimpressed was Williams with the local accommodation on offer that the British team has committed to a 3 hour round trip every day in order to stay in a nicer hotel.

“Dominating the venue are the excavators, debris and waste,” wrote Benoit, who said a bridge over the front straight is still littered with scaffolding and hard-hatted workers.

Sauber’s team manager Beat Zehnder complained about the cost of the team buildings, with the rent costing $40,000.

“Whoever wants to use the upper floor must pay another 20,000,” he said, “but everyone has decided to just use the ground floor!”

Said Benoit: “I’m already looking forward to the final races in Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi!”

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said rolling machines are still working on the recently-laid top surface of asphalt, with the paint for the starting grid yet to be sprayed.

“Only on Friday will we know whether the surface will withstand the stresses of formula one cars,” read the report.

“Everything on the sandy site is under construction.  Next to the pitlane is a large pile of sand.  Whoever didn’t know that F1 is running here in a few days would think it’s not happening until next year,” it added.

German Sky television pundit Marc Surer reports in Speed Week that the seating in some grandstands is not complete.

“Much remains to be done, but as for the track itself, I am surprised that it is ready,” he said.

“Whether it can withstand hours of practice and racing, however, is another question.”

After an 80 minute delay, race control has finally confirmed that qualifying will not take place at Suzuka on Saturday.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting confirmed that the session will now take place on Sunday morning at 10am, with the stewards to confirm that decision shortly.

It is believed the decision was taken at 1520 – instead of 1630 as earlier expected – because the natural light has already begun to fade.

Upon learning of the decision, Sebastian Vettel came out of the Red Bull garage to applaud the massed grandstands, with the passionate Japanese fans having patiently waited for cars that ultimately did not run.

“I hope they all turn up tomorrow for a busy day,” said Heikki Kovalainen.

Hockenheim is expecting a race-day crowd of 65,000 for Sunday’s German grand prix.

In 2010, with F1 featuring six German drivers including the returning Michael Schumacher, the capacity of the track is 75,000.

Organiser Georg Seiler said in May that, if demand were to surge, temporary grandstands could be built to accommodate a further 45,000 spectators.

But he has admitted to SID news agency: “It looks like we will have 65,000 spectators, achieving a balanced result.”

62,000 spectators attended Hockenheim’s last F1 race in 2008.

Seiler’s ‘balanced result’ comment is a reference to the new contract with Bernie Ecclestone, in which Hockenheim no longer has to shoulder multi-million race losses.

There were a reported 120,000 spectators for a F1 street demonstration in Vettel’s hometown Heppenheim last weekend.

“For us, Sebastian Vettel is a blessing,” Seiler told Bild newspaper.

Italy’s motor racing sanctioning body has backed Ferrari’s raging complaint about the outcome of the European grand prix.

Maranello based Ferrari has argued loudly that the credibility of the sport is at risk after Lewis Hamilton overtook the safety car in Valencia but still managed to finish the race on the podium.

The Italian team is also critical that penalties against 9 drivers for speeding during the safety car period did not promote Fernando Alonso higher than just eighth place.

“The success of a sport is measured by its ability to be credible and above all understandable to the general public,” said CSAI (Commissione Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana) president Angelo Sticchi Damiani in an Italian-language statement.

“What happened on Sunday … damages the credibility of the category; I don’t think anyone, whether in the grandstands or in front of televisions around the world understand what has happened,” he added.

“Drivers who pass the safety car came to the podium.  Others, taking advantage of the same situation, also had an advantage over their rivals.

“But others – those who respected the rules – were the victims.

“Perhaps some of the regulations about behaviour in formula one must be investigated and evolved so that they do not create more uncertainty and confusion.”

Italian reports also quoted Sticchi Damiani as saying CSAI’s support of Ferrari is not “to be controversial, but (to be) constructive”.

“We would like clarification about the penalties … and on what criteria they were given,” he added, suspecting that a “degree of subjectivity” was applied.

(GMM)

Formula one could soon return to Austria.

After dropping off the grand prix calendar in 2003, the A1-Ring in Zeltweg – located in central Austria – was demolished.

Supported by Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz, EUR 70 million reconstruction works began late in 2008, including new pit buildings and grandstands.

But although Mateschitz said at the time that “speaking about a return of formula one” to Austria “would be absurd”, a report in the Kleine Zeitung newspaper has now raised that possibility.

The Styria-based newspaper said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone sees the former Osterreichring as a potential replacement for a current Asian race.

Kleine Zeitung said the A1-Ring rumour was heard “several times” in the Valencia paddock last weekend.

The rebuilt circuit, with a DTM race already likely, is set to re-open in April or May of next year.

(GMM)

Adrian Sutil had a big crash at the end of Friday’s opening practice session in Turkey.

The German driver went off the track at high speed on the exit of the Istanbul Park layout’s famous four-apex Turn 8 corner, incurring heavy damage to the Force India car.

“He said he had understeer and went off into the marbles, which then put him into the barriers,” the team said on its Twitter page once Sutil had returned to the garage.

It was otherwise a fairly quiet session under warm and blue skies and near-empty grandstands, amid rumours there is a chance of light rain for Sunday.

Bruno Senna had to sit out the initial 90 minutes of practice in deference to Friday test driver Sakon Yamamoto, who ended the session slowest of all.

Also making its 2010 debut was Red Bull’s first F-duct solution, fitted only to Sebastian Vettel’s car in order to provide a back-to-back comparison with Mark Webber’s RB6.

Vettel ended the session fifth, two tenths faster than Barcelona/Monaco winner Webber.

Lewis Hamilton topped the times in his McLaren, but he might now be reprimanded by the stewards for wearing newly-pierced earrings under his helmet.

The wearing of jewellery is prohibited according to article 2.2.1 appendix L of the sporting regulations.

Practice 1.1 -  Istanbul Park

.1º  	2  	 	Lewis Hamilton  	McLaren  	00:01'28''653
.2º 	1 		Jenson Button 		McLaren 	00:01'29''615 	00:00'00''962
.3º 	3 		Michael Schumacher 	MercedesGP 	00:01'29''750 	00:00'01''097
.4º 	4 		Nico Rosberg 		MercedesGP 	00:01'29''855 	00:00'01''202
.5º 	5 		Sebastian Vettel 	Red Bull 	00:01'29''867 	00:00'01''214
.6º 	11 		Robert Kubica 		Renault 	00:01'30''061 	00:00'01''408
.7º 	12 		Vitaly Petrov 		Renault 	00:01'30''065 	00:00'01''412
.8º 	6 		Mark Webber 		Red Bull 	00:01'30''097 	00:00'01''444
.9º 	8 		Fernando Alonso 	Ferrari 	00:01'30''294 	00:00'01''641
.10º 	14 		Adrian Sutil 		Force India 	00:01'30''501 	00:00'01''848
.11º 	23 		Kamui Kobayashi 	Sauber 	        00:01'30''615 	00:00'01''962
.12º 	15 		Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Force India 	00:01'30''853 	00:00'02''200
.13º 	7 		Felipe Massa 		Ferrari 	00:01'30''867 	00:00'02''214
.14º 	16 		Sebastian Buemi 	Toro Rosso 	00:01'31''011 	00:00'02''358
.15º 	22 		Pedro de la Rosa 	Sauber 	        00:01'31''238 	00:00'02''585
.16º 	10 		Nico Hulkenberg 	Williams 	00:01'31''355 	00:00'02''702
.17º 	9 		Rubens Barrichello 	Williams 	00:01'31''464 	00:00'02''811
.18º 	17 		Jaime Alguersuari 	Toro Rosso 	00:01'31''735 	00:00'03''082
.19º 	19 		Heikki Kovalainen 	Lotus Racing 	00:01'32''161 	00:00'03''508
.20º 	18 		Jarno Trulli 		Lotus Racing 	00:01'32''990 	00:00'04''337
.21º 	20 		Karun Chandhok 		HRT 	        00:01'34''876 	00:00'06''223
.22º 	25 		Lucas di Grassi 	Virgin Racing 	00:01'35''137 	00:00'06''484
.23º 	24 		Timo Glock 		Virgin Racing 	00:01'35''583 	00:00'06''930
.24º 	21 		Sakon Yamamoto 		HRT 	        00:01'36''137

(GMM)

May 7 (GMM)  July’s German grand prix is not yet sold out, despite the Hockenheim race being held for the first time in two years.

Moreover, Michael Schumacher has made his return from three years of retirement, while there are five other German drivers on the 2010 grid.

In the Barcelona paddock, it was announced by track boss Georg Seiler that 55,000 tickets for race-day Sunday have been sold to date.

But he is quoted by the German news agency SID as confirming that ticket sales did increase in the wake of Schumacher’s decision to return, meaning that the event should break even in 2010.

In 2008, 62,000 spectators attended the Hockenheim race.

But a capacity crowd would be 75,000, and Seiler revealed that 120,000 tickets could be sold if temporary grandstands are erected.

“We hope Schumacher starts to win races.  Then with six German drivers we would be looking at a full house — anything else would be incomprehensible,” he admitted.

(GMM)  Even with Fernando Alonso-mania in full swing, the grandstands at Circuit de Catalunya this weekend will remain a sea of blue.

At the height of the Spaniard’s title-winning run last decade, his supporters wore the light blue of his home region Asturias — which was a perfect match for the Mild Seven-blue of the Renault car.

But now that he has switched to Ferrari, the grandstands are set to remain blue in 2010, due to the newly-launched Ferrari T-shirt that is not scarlet red.

“I’m sure they will come with their blue flags and blue colours, plus the new Ferrari T-shirt that is blue,” 28-year-old Alonso said in Barcelona.

On one sleeve of the new blue T-shirt is the yellow cross of Asturias, combined with the Prancing Horse and Alonso signature on the front.

There are people who are putting a lot of pressure on only one man, namely, Dale Earnhardt Jr., suggesting that if he won several races during 2010, NASCAR’s difficult situation would improve significantly.

Regarding this, Felix Sebates -minority owner of the Earnhardt Ganassi cars of Montoya and Jamie McMurray-, said “I think Dale Earnhardt’s lack of winning the last two years have really hurt the sport overall, because everyone expected him to be the leader.”  “He has not been the leader. I hope he wins a bunch of races [in 2010] because if he wins a bunch of races, he’ll bring fans back to the race track. He’s good for everybody. I hope we win our fare share, but I want Junior to win a bunch of races. I really do.”

On his part, Kyle Petty, former driver and current television analyst said, “You’re putting too much pressure on one guy.” “If our sport depends on Dale Jr., then this sport is hurting, period.

Humpy Wheeler seems to agree. The consultant and longtime race track promoter doesn’t believe Earnhardt winning again would be enough to foster a NASCAR revival by itself. “It’s going to take more than that,” he said. “If Earnhardt Jr. could win a couple of races and battle maybe [Juan] Montoya, and trade some paint doing it, and let Tony Stewart get in the mix too, that’s what’s going to pep things up and move the needle and get the phones to ring. Junior by himself winning a race passively — by passively, I mean fuel mileage or something like that — that’s not going to click the meter.”

So maybe multiple trips to Victory Lane by the No. 88 car wouldn’t be enough to raise NASCAR back to its early-2000s height. But clearly, they wouldn’t hurt. Anyone who has ever been to a race track when Earnhardt takes the lead has heard the roar, powerful enough to be noticed over the sound of 43 engines. So a complete turnaround? No, maybe that’s too much to ask of Earnhardt. But a spark? That’s something else altogether.

Jeff Behnke, executive producer and senior vice president at Turner Sports — the parent company of NASCAR broadcast partner TNT, and, in the interest of full disclosure, NASCAR.COM — believes an Earnhardt comeback would also be reflected in television ratings.  “I think the ratings would go up. Our job is to talk about all 43 drivers, which we do. But the answer is, yeah, he’s been the most popular driver for however many years running now, and there are reasons for that. You just see it when he takes the lead in a race. You see the grandstands, and they go berserk.”

Look, nobody wants to get back to where he was as a very, very high-performing driver more than Dale Jr. I met with him [in January], and he wants to return and so does Rick Hendrick, and if it does, it will help NASCAR, no question about that. But that’s sports. We’ll have to let it play out,” explained NASCAR chariman.  “Even someone of his status has a relatively limited reach. It’s likely a gross overstatement to say that a revival of Dale Earnhardt Jr. would translate into a revival for NASCAR itself.”

“I get a really good feeling from Dale Jr. this year. I really do, no joke,” said Petty, who spoke with Earnhardt. “I think he’s excited about this year. He’s excited like he was when he was 16 and going to run Caraway and going to run Concord. He has a little of that spark when you talk to him. If he turns it around, it’s going to be huge for the sport. It’s going to be big for his fans, it’s going to be big for the sport, it’s going to be big for everybody, because the tide will rise and the ships will float with him.”

We’ll see what happens.  For the time being, Dale will be starting second –behind teammate Mark Martin-, in the Feb. 14 Daytona 500, at the Daytona International Speedway, his best qualifying position since starting second last year at Kansas. It’s the first time he’s been on the front row for a restrictor-plate race, where seven of his 18 career wins have come, since 2003.