Michael Schumacher has denied his widely-reported comments about Pirelli’s 2012 tyres were simply about venting “frustration”.

“What frustration?” the seven time world champion was quoted as having told German media in Barcelona.

Not once but at least twice since the Bahrain grand prix three weeks ago, the Mercedes driver has suggested F1 and Pirelli have not got the balance right with the heavily-degrading tyres seen so far this season.

Schumacher insists his intention was to start a conversation.

“I am quite happy that we have initiated a discussion about how much influence one or another part should have in formula one,” he told reporters.

Fernando Alonso agreed, pointing the finger at the media for “exaggerating” Schumacher’s view.

“I read what he said and I don’t see any big problem with that,” said the Ferrari driver.

Schumacher also sounded happy that his position triggered a meeting with Pirelli officials at the Mugello test last week.

“We had a good meeting,” revealed the German, “to talk about this subject, so I just hope we continue to go in the right direction.”

Carlos Sainz jr is on course for a future in formula one.

The 17-year-old Spaniard is the son of Carlos Sainz, the former two-time world rally champion.

Sainz jr, however, has pursued a career in open wheelers, and – now that Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne have stepped up – he is the new cream of energy drink Red Bull’s junior driver programme.

And another direct link to the world of formula one for Sainz jr is his new sponsorship deal with Cepsa, the Spanish oil company that is also Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso’s main backer.

Sainz jr’s new Cepsa deal is for his participation this year in the British and Euroseries F3 categories, but “Our intention is to continue (beyond 2012),” Cepsa co-chairman Santiago Bergareche is quoted by Marca newspaper.

“Hopefully everything goes well and Carlos will be in that world (F1) one day,” added Cepsa chairman Alfonso Escamez.

He said the deal does not guarantee Sainz jr a future in f1.

“The sponsors have no say on the teams of the drivers. We can try to influence, to give our opinion, but we are not (able to decide) on that side.

“We hope that it does happen, but it will not necessarily.”

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.

 Romain Grosjean is hoping for a long stay with the Lotus team.
Then known as Renault, the Frenchman made his troubled F1 debut with the Enstone based team in 2009 but has returned on much better form this year as the reigning GP2 champion.

The E20 car was a standout of the winter season but Grosjean, 25, told Auto Motor und Sport that Lotus’ target for 2012 is “fourth place” in the constructors’ championship.

“We want to go for the world title in 2015,” he added. “I hope I’m still on board.”

Grosjean’s promising return to F1 last weekend in Australia was left in the gravel when he clashed with Pastor Maldonado.

He says he has not met to discuss the incident with the Williams driver.

“Talking doesn’t make the result come back,” said Grosjean.

Venezuelan Maldonado insists it wasn’t his fault.

“The suspension on the Lotus doesn’t seem to be very strong,” he said. “The contact was not intentional. I’m sorry for Romain, but that’s racing.”

Jaime Alguersuari has admitted he was “hurt” by Red Bull’s late decision to oust him from Toro Rosso.
The 21-year-old announced this week that, amid speculation he might rescue his career with the reserve role at Mercedes, he will in fact be missing entirely from the F1 paddock in 2012.

In a Spanish-language statement, he admitted the career interruption was “unnecessary”.

“At the Brazilian grand prix, my continuity (at Toro Rosso) was confirmed verbally.

“After this confirmation by Red Bull and STR, we turned down a very good deal.

“A few days later, Toro Rosso sent me to the headquarters of (sponsor) Cepsa, and at a dinner I talked about my relationship with Toro Rosso and Cepsa with a script written at Faenza.

“No one has ever explained to me why, having fulfilled the expectations asked of me by the team, improving from 2010 and beating my teammate, I am stopped in December with no time to get a good position in 2012,” said Alguersuari.

He insisted, however, that he is not giving up on F1.

“I am thinking only of F1,” he said. “I am 21, have played 46 grands prix, I’m not a rookie driver anymore.

“Yes to formula one, but not at any price.

“I contacted (HRT team boss) Luis Perez-Sala, my friend and former mentor, in December, but we both agreed — HRT does not have a car for me and I cannot spend everything at my age struggling to improve a car that far behind.

“Williams? That option never even occurred to me as nowadays they only want drivers who pay.

“In January I had discussions with one of the best teams that could be decisive in my future. I was received with great affection and respect and we have opened a path.

“For obvious reasons I cannot reveal the nature of our intention, but what I can say is that I will devote myself body and soul to F1 in 2012.

“I will prepare myself, with no contractual relationships with anyone, to be ready and available for any opportunity that arises.”

 Jenson Button has clarified any fears he might be prepared to drive into Sebastian Vettel this weekend in Korea.
Despite Vettel having only just clinched the 2011 title, McLaren’s Button did not hesitate to bring up their Suzuka near-miss immediately after the Japanese race.

German Vettel denied seeing Button on the approach to the first corner, when the McLaren had to put two wheels onto the grass and lift the throttle.

And Briton Button warned with his famous smile: “I might not lift off next time you pull across at the start”.

Asked by reporters in Korea if he was serious, the 31-year-old insisted: “No, but it sounded good on TV.

“You’re still going to be intelligent about the way you go racing and if you know that he’s not going to back out and you’re going to push him on the grass, you’re not going to do it,” Button is quoted by Reuters.

But he did cast doubt on Vettel’s excuse that he didn’t see him in Japan, referring to BBC footage showing the German looking into his mirrors.

Vettel said in Japan: “By the time I saw him, I realised that maybe I was a little bit too far to the right and then he was backing off.

“Obviously no intention to put him in any danger but I think we can run with two wheels on the grass, can’t we Fernando?” he added, referring to his own pass on Fernando Alonso at Monza last month.

Franz Tost has named three drivers he considers “suitable” for Toro Rosso to target.

The Austrian admitted that his premier choices – Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso and Rosberg – are “unlikely” to want to drive for Red Bull’s secondary team.

“So when thinking of suitable guys I would pick three, if I may,” the Toro Rosso team principal told F1′s official website.

Tost mentioned Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg, and also Romain Grosjean, the former Renault driver who is on the cusp of winning the GP2 title and reportedly in talks with up to three teams for the 2012 season.

“Renault burned Grosjean when they teamed him up with Alonso (in 2009), but I still believe he’s got huge potential,” he said.

Tost acknowledged however that it is Toro Rosso’s owner that selects the drivers for his team.

“Well, Red Bull are choosing the drivers from their pool. But that was always the intention and the reason for this team to exist,” he said.

The time for Sebastien Buemi’s evaluation as a future Red Bull driver will be up at the end of the season.

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost told F1′s official website that drivers should get a “maximum (of) three years” to show they have the potential to follow Sebastian Vettel in readiness for a top seat.

“Or let’s put it this way: if you are not sure after three years whether he’s going to make it, I would bluntly say forget him, period,” said Tost.

Swiss Buemi, 22, made his F1 debut at the start of 2009 and is now considered the most likely Toro Rosso driver to make way for Red Bull’s latest protege Daniel Ricciardo.

“I expect him (Ricciardo) to best (HRT teammate) Liuzzi after not more than three or four races,” said Tost.

He admitted that both Buemi and his current teammate Jaime Alguersuari are “still deep in” the self-discovery phase.

“They are moving forward … so let’s wait and see how the second half of the season works out. Then at the end of the year we will sit together with Red Bull to discuss who will sit in our cars in 2012.”

Tost said he is looking forward to working with Red Bull’s next youngsters including Ricciardo and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.

“Red Bull bought this team with the intention to give youngsters a chance to prove themselves and eventually rise to a seat with Red Bull Racing,” he said.

It is Red Bull’s “intention” to promote Daniel Ricciardo through the energy drink company’s F1 ranks.

That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, the outfit’s driver manager who in Hungary revealed that Mark Webber will “probably” retire and be replaced by “one of our juniors” beyond 2012.

The other candidates are Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari, amid reports Ricciardo travelled recently to Faenza for a seat fitting.

Asked by Australian broadcaster One if HRT newcomer Ricciardo is a candidate for one of the seats next year, Marko admitted: “If he is doing well, the intention is there, yes.”

Budapest was 22-year-old Ricciardo’s third grand prix, and he was closer to the pace of his teammate, the formerly Red Bull-backed Vitantonio Liuzzi.

“I hope there is a bit more to come because I’m close to Tonio on raw pace in qualifying but still not close enough, and definitely not a bit ahead, which of course is where I’d like to be,” he said.

Paul di Resta has admitted he isn’t sure he will still be with the Force India team in 2012.

Team boss Vijay Mallya said recently he has “clear options” to retain the impressive Scottish rookie – who maintains strong links with Mercedes-Benz – beyond this season.

But di Resta told Press Association Sport at the Nurburgring: “There are many things you hear, but you don’t know. I really don’t know where I am next year.

“Of course, I’d like to stay here if this is an opportunity. I came in here with a long term view.”

But there have also been suggestions that Mercedes would like to run reigning DTM champion di Resta at its works team, despite indications Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are both staying on board for 2012.

“Naturally, I’d love to be with a bigger team battling up at the front, that’s my ambition, but Force India is an up-and-coming team,” he said.

“This year has been more difficult than we thought. We’ve not picked up from where we left off last year.

“But sometimes things go down before they go up, and you take one step back to go two steps forward.

“So I certainly hope we can build a future in F1. That’s always been the intention,” added di Resta.

Amid a controversy over the future of the Australian grand prix, it seems Bernie Ecclestone will attend the 2011 edition.

The F1 chief executive declared recently that F1 doesn’t “need Australia”, after Melbourne’s Lord Mayor and premier questioned the value of the Albert Park event for taxpayers.

The state Victorian government has since committed to the F1 race, but Ecclestone’s lack of enthusiam is symbolised by the fact that he hasn’t made the long haul to Australia for several years.

The local Herald Sun newspaper therefore interprets it as “a mercy dash” the 80-year-old’s plans to attend this March.

“I am sure that it is Mr Ecclestone’s intention to be in Melbourne,” a spokesperson for the Briton confirmed.

Robert Kubica will be forced to sit out the famous Monte Carlo rally for the second year in succession.
Last year, the Pole’s Renault Clio suffered an engine failure after just 4km.

Rally enthusiast Kubica, 26, wanted to return in 2011, and had even signalled his intention with organisers to contest the January 18-22 event.

But according to German language speedweek.de, he has had to withdraw due to wanting to take part in the S2000 category with a car other than a Renault.

Kubica’s F1 employer Lotus Renault GP reportedly did not give him permission to drive a rival carmaker’s car.

Christian Horner on Wednesday said it is “ridiculous” to suggest Mark Webber tried deliberately to take out his rivals after crashing in Sunday’s Korean grand prix.

Former grand prix winner Gerhard Berger said on Tuesday that the Australian “could have hit the brakes” after crashing out of second place during the rain-hit race in Yeongam.

“Yes, I think that’s very clear,” said the Austrian. “It’s very obvious, you can see his wheels are not locked up.”

Webber actually collected the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg, but – according to Berger – he “would have preferred” to wipe title contenders Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton out of the race.

Red Bull team boss Horner responded: “As with every incident in formula one, opinions will always be made without all the facts.

“Just to be absolutely clear — Mark’s intention was not to take out another driver after his crash and it’s ridiculous to suggest otherwise,” he told the Telegraph.

Horner admitted that Webber’s RB6 was “badly damaged” after his initial contact with the wall, but his attempt to keep the car going was a “natural and immediate instinct” to get back into the race.

“It’s absurd to suggest that Mark would ever deliberately take out another driver,” added Horner.

Lotus will use Red Bull gearboxes and hydraulic systems from the 2011 season, the new Malaysian-backed team announced on Tuesday morning.

It is expected the team, to be called Team Lotus next season, will also shortly announce an agreement to use Renault’s customer engine in 2011.

The news will mean Lotus and Red Bull will use the same engine/gearbox/hydraulics package in formula one, which according to team boss Tony Fernandes is a “real statement of our intention”.

A media statement said the deal is for 2011 “and beyond”.

Lotus has expressed misgivings with its Xtrac gearbox and hydraulics during its debut season this year, and has already terminated its engine contract with Cosworth.

“This deal gives our design and aero teams a very exciting platform to work with,” said technical boss Mike Gascoyne.

It is the first time Red Bull has supplied a gearbox to a customer team.

“The fact that Red Bull Technology has been chosen to be a supplier to another team despite its short history demonstrates how much we have achieved since our first season,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

With just 3 or 4 races to go in 2010, there are no more signs that Red Bull is set to throw its full weight behind championship leader Mark Webber’s title tilt.

The Australian would openly accept number 1 status over Sebastian Vettel, and recently consultant Helmut Marko indicated the team would soon consider the possibility.

But Vettel, who remains 21 points behind Webber, put his campaign back on track with a strong weekend in Singapore, and afterwards announced his intention to push on.

“The drivers championship is still open,” said the 23-year-old German in Singapore.

According to the German newspaper Die Welt, he announced that he and Webber have agreed to a “professional approach” to the next decisive races.

And “We will find out who is better,” Vettel is quoted as saying.

It means that of the three top teams in with a chance of the 2010 title, only Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso can currently count on the backing of his teammate.

“It is almost inevitable with the way the season has swung backwards and forwards that this will go right down to the wire,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

Alan Jones, the last Australian to become world champion in 1980, backed his countryman to beat Vettel in a dog-fight.

“I think if it gets down to a bit of a head-game, I’ll back Mark every time,” said the former Williams driver.

“It’s a fascinating championship,” added 63-year-old Jones.  “We haven’t had one like this for years, where five people could become world champion with four races to go.”