Bahrain protesters have stepped up their anti-grand prix campaign, with formula one vowing to push ahead with a race in the troubled island Kingdom next week.

After the FIA declared that the race is definitely going ahead, Bernie Ecclestone on Friday met with team bosses in the Shanghai paddock.

“There’s nothing (bad) happening. I know people who live there and it’s all very quiet and peaceful,” the F1 chief executive insisted.

Media reports, however, suggest otherwise.

Photos have emerged of protesters burning flags depicting Ecclestone’s face, whilst others marched in F1 overalls and helmets, carrying machine guns.

Anti-F1 graffiti, meanwhile, is sprayed on walls throughout the capital Manama.

Ecclestone, however, told the BBC late on Friday that the Bahrain protesters are “not protesting about formula one”.

So with the race still scheduled, are the teams feeling comfortable?

“All the teams are happy to be there,” insisted Ecclestone.

Commented Red Bull’s Christian Horner after the meeting with the F1 chief executive: “The FIA have obviously done their research and come out with a clear statement that as a team entered into the championship we respect.

“We’ll do our best to ensure that all our guys and girls are in a secure environment, but I don’t doubt that for a moment.”

 Kimi Raikkonen is still up to the task of performing at his best in formula one.
That is the claim of Pedro de la Rosa, who in 2006 was the famous Finn’s race teammate at McLaren just before Raikkonen – now 32 – switched to Ferrari and won the world championship.

The so-called ‘iceman’ has been out of F1 for two years and on his comeback in Australia last week dropped the ball with a miserable qualifying performance.

It has emerged Raikkonen came into the pits to change the tint of his helmet visor, and could not get back out for a crucial final qualifying run.

According to Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, Raikkonen described the incident as “a little f*ck up”, and a day later had to be reminded on the radio about the meaning of blue flags.

De la Rosa, however – who was a mere spectator in Melbourne after failing to qualify with HRT – said Sunday in Australia was “a fantastic race performance by Kimi”.

“Kimi is a phenomenal talent and definitely one of the best drivers I have ever seen,” the Spaniard is quoted by another Finnish newspaper, Turun Sanomat.

“Kimi and his team (Lotus) look really competitive. My guess is that they will be the biggest surprise of the season,” added de la Rosa.

Heikki Kovalainen had heads turning in the F1 paddock on Thursday as he revealed his all-red helmet for 2012.
The Caterham driver and Finn’s new helmet is in the style of the bright red bird from the popular webgame app ‘Angry Birds’, which is developed by the Finnish company Rovio.

“The helmet looks amazing,” said the company’s Harri Koponen.

 Sebastian Vettel has defended his habit of regularly changing his F1 helmet livery.
The back to back world champion uses several designs in a single season, which according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport is a “bit disappointing” in the eyes of some spectators.

“Is it (your livery) not your business card, something special?” the magazine asked Vettel in an exclusive interview.

Vettel answered: “Some things on my helmet always stay the same.

“But somehow it just happened that my helmet designer and I experiment and have fun with it. Together, we usually have pretty good ideas.

“I do find some helmets incredibly beautiful,” the 24-year-old German conceded. “Like Senna’s. Or the bars on Damon Hill’s black helmet.

“Or the Scottish cross on David Coulthard’s. Very simple but unmistakable,” he added.

He may be setting a new trend in one way, but on the other hand he has so far resisted joining the new age of Facebook and Twitter.

“For me, this is not real communication. It’s not my thing,” Vettel insisted.

“I find it a very indirect and impersonal way to communicate with other people.”

 Sebastian Vettel has a crucial task to complete before next weekend’s Abu Dhabi grand prix.
After every race victory, the Red Bull driver retires his helmet design, adding it to a growing personal collection.

But ahead of Abu Dhabi, where he could win his eleventh grand prix of the season, the back to world champion must come up with a brand new design.

“I have no others now,” the 24-year-old smiled to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport after winning in New Delhi. “I need a new one urgently because I don’t wear them again after a win.”

 A stray dog delayed the first ever practice session at India’s new Buddh circuit early on Friday.
The black dog caused a five minute delay until it was chased down by officials at the smog-affected venue.

In 2008 in Turkey, Bruno Senna struck and killed a dog at speed with his GP2 car, damaging his suspension.

Another point of note on Friday was fastest driver Lewis Hamilton’s helmet, which unusually featured a picture of Bob Marley on the top.

A day after the 2008 world champion confirmed his split with girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, many wondered if the Briton was referring to the Marley song ‘No woman no cry’.

In fact, the reference was to the song ‘One love’, featuring the lyrics ‘Let’s get together and feel all right’.

Hamilton told reporters on Thursday: “These times are sent to try you. And it’s about how you pull through them.”

Sepang will look into the safety of the Malaysian grand prix venue following Sunday’s death of MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli.
The Italian, whose helmet came off during the incident, died in Malaysia after he partially fell from his Honda and was struck from behind by rivals Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards.

Sepang, built ahead of its 1999 debut, also hosts F1′s annual Malaysian round.

Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir told AFP it is a “safe track”.

“It is a sad and unfortunate racing accident but the circuit is designed to the highest safety levels,” he said.

“(The) accident was beyond anybody’s control or expectation.”

He added however that officials will look into whether safety can be improved at Sepang.

“We will see from it (the investigation) if there is anything we could have done differently,” said Mokhzani.

Also referring to Dan Wheldon’s recent death, Force India driver Adrian Sutil told reporters in India on Monday that “everybody knows” MotoGP and Indycar are more dangerous than F1.

“I can say that formula one is pretty safe and secure,” said the German.

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 . “

Despite attending his first race as the 2011 champion-elect, it was Sebastian Vettel who doled out a present in Korea.
The Red Bull driver had learned that Rubens Barrichello, the Brazilian veteran, is collecting F1 drivers’ helmets.

“Great surprise when I received a helmet that was missing in my collection. Thanks Vettel,” the Williams driver wrote on Twitter.

German Vettel, 24, signed the helmet with “your friend”.

Barrichello revealed that he has the helmets of “many” current drivers in his collection, including Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Jarno Trulli.

“Almost everyone on the grid really,” added the 39-year-old.

SID news agency said the helmet gifted by Vettel was the one the German wore to second place behind Lewis Hamilton in China this year.

Two formula one veterans have played down suggestions they are racing towards retirement.
31-year-old Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, has just signed a new multi-year McLaren contract but he admitted at Suzuka that he could go on to ink another one.

The Briton is enjoying a solid run of form at present and looks set to outscore his highly rated teammate Lewis Hamilton in the 2011 points standings.

“I’ve been asked if this is my last contract and, probably, two years ago, I would have said definitely,” Button said.

“Even last year I probably would have said definitely. But time flies and I think it (retirement) will end up going back and back.

“I’m really enjoying where I am at the moment and, hopefully, this feeling will continue. If it does, I might be racing for a lot more years,” he added.

Another F1 veteran commonly believed to be closer to retirement than the beginning of his career is Mark Webber, who only has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2012.

But he told F1′s official website that he could be on the grid for “many more years”.

“Yes, if I can keep up the racing I’m doing now,” said the 35-year-old Australian. “I think retirement is overrated. I think the first few weeks it’s nice, but then…

“I enjoy my driving and I like the challenge on this level — and if you have the possibility to do this then why walk away?” added Webber.

He also made clear that when he does hang up his helmet, he will also permanently check out of the F1 paddock.

“I haven’t thought so much of what I would do after F1, but it’s definitely not here,” Webber told Yahoo Singapore.

“Why? Because of the politics — I really don’t like it.”

Jenson Button has travelled to Japan as the only driver apart from Sebastian Vettel still mathematically able to clinch the 2011 title.
But the Briton, who wears Japanese characters on his helmet and whose girlfriend is the model Jessica Michibata, told Die Welt newspaper that he knows German Vettel is the sure winner.

“There is no need to build sandcastles in the sky and kid ourselves,” said Button. “It’s really been clear for quite some time that Sebastian has earned the title. He’s been so strong all season.”

Even if Vettel cannot secure the tenth place he needs for the championship at Suzuka, McLaren’s Button would have to win in order to stay in the fight for Korea.

“On paper, I think it (Suzuka) will suit the Red Bulls, particularly in the high speed sweeps,” 31-year-old Button admitted, “but we showed at Spa that we also have a car that’s very effective in high speed corners.”

He doesn’t do it often, but Niki Lauda insists he is happy to doff his iconic red cap to Michael Schumacher after the past two grands prix.
Despite recently calling on the 42-year-old German to hang up his helmet, triple world champion Lauda said: “I take my cap off to his performances of the last two races.

“His Mercedes has been good on the high speed tracks and so Michael has been able to show that he is still on it,” the famous Austrian told Germany’s Auto Bild.

Lauda, 62, has been one of the seven time world champion’s staunchest critics as Schumacher struggled for results in the second year of his return to formula one.

“Nevertheless,” Lauda said after praising the winner of 91 grands prix after better showings at Spa and Monza, “I stand by it — if he goes badly, I must criticise him.”

He had accused Schumacher mere weeks ago of driving “for fun, not formula one”.

Renault has imposed a deadline for the finalisation of its driver lineup for 2012.

The Genii-owned team has left open a vacancy for Robert Kubica next year alongside the confirmed Russian driver Vitaly Petrov.

But media reports in recent days have revealed that Kubica, recovering from his horror February rally crash, actually does not have a contract for 2012.

The Pole’s manager Daniele Morelli said at Monza that Renault “have given us assurances” about Kubica’s place for 2012.

But he also said the 26-year-old will “put on a helmet” next month “to give a message on what he can do” in either a simulator or a fast road car.

It now emerges that the “message” needs to be received by Renault team boss Eric Boullier.

The Frenchman is quoted by Brazil’s Globo Esporte: “I will be flexible because I really like Robert and it will be good for him to return.

“But in the middle or end of October I need a clear confirmation. My problem is that I cannot miss the opportunity to have Robert back, but at the same time I need to defend the interests of my team.

“I need to have the best driver lineup I can have, or the best I can afford,” said Boullier.

As for Kubica, reports say he is now working six hours a day on rehabilitation following his final operation to free movement in his elbow.

“I am not expecting him to be as fast as last year, because I know that when you are off the track for a year it is hard to come back,” said Boullier.

“Besides, when you suffer a serious accident as he did, it is not easy. But I need to understand if he can do it,” he added.

Sebastian Vettel has refused to rule out hanging up his formula one helmet long before his thirtieth birthday.
As a 21-year-old rookie three years ago, the German became F1′s youngest ever grand prix winner at Monza at the wheel of a Toro Rosso.

Now, he is cruising to his second consecutive title, having signed up with Red Bull’s premier team for the next three years.

But beyond 2014, he is refusing to commit.

“My contract is until then and I am not really looking much further right now,” Vettel told the German edition of Playboy.

“Maybe in four or five years I will have no more desire for formula one and will want to do something different.

“At the moment I can’t imagine it but you should never say never,” he added.

“The feeling I get when I’m racing is that it’s so much fun and gives me more satisfaction than anything else in life.

“You have the tremendous forces on your body when you step on the brakes and turn the wheel, your brain screams ‘Stop, that’s impossible! But then the car shows you that it can be done.”

The magazine said Vettel, despite his considerable earnings, has inexpensive tastes — like his DVD collection and the fact his favourite vehicle is a VW bus.

Why the VW?: “Because you can do everything with it. You can even plug a freezer into the cigarette lighter,” Vettel laughed. “There is really nothing on which I need to spend very much money.”