Former Jordan and Jaguar designer Gary Anderson has singled out Lotus and Force India to impress in 2012.
The Irishman stood trackside at the Barcelona test on Thursday and later told the German-language Speed Week magazine that Mark Webber in the Red Bull suffered from “a bit too much understeer” in the new title-defending RB8.

He admitted, however, that the team may have been experimenting with setup, as the new Red Bull and McLaren have so far been “model students” in terms of handling.

Force India’s Paul di Resta, meanwhile, did not look impressive on the end-of-day timesheet, but Anderson said he was pleasantly surprised with the long-run consistency of the VJM05.

He said both di Resta and Nico Rosberg were both circulating at the same time with medium times, and the Force India was faster than the Mercedes, which was suffering from heavily-degrading tyres.

And Anderson added: “Lotus had to miss last week in Barcelona, but today they could confirm their good impression of Jerez.

“The car is fully sorted and the laptimes are consistent.”

Ferrari, however, is another matter.

“They are still using the coloured (aerodynamic) paint, which for me is a sign that the engineers don’t understand what is happening with the airflow.

“And just before the start of the season, that’s pretty alarming.”

Also trackside on Thursday was Sky commentator Martin Brundle, who confirmed Anderson’s view that the new McLaren looks “very good”.

Similarly, he added: “The Ferrari looks a bit of a handful, especially when it’s coming out of a corner trying to put the power down.

“It doesn’t look as bad as the McLaren did last year, but they’ve got some issues — there’s no doubt about it.”

Brundle also agreed with Anderson that, unlike the cakewalk of 2011, Red Bull could be set for a close fight this season.

“You can see Mark Webber working quite hard at the wheel,” said the former McLaren driver, “so I can understand why some of my mates in the paddock are saying it’s looking really close.”

 Rubens Barrichello is set to decide next week whether he will switch from formula one to the Indycar series for 2012.
F1′s longest-serving veteran has been left without a race seat this season, but he recently enjoyed an Indy test with the KV team, in which his close friend Tony Kanaan is involved.

“There is a lot going on, we have spoken with many people and there are things to be resolved, including the family aspect,” the 39-year-old told radio Bandeirantes on Tuesday.

“There is great anticipation and if everything goes well I think we can make the announcement of the decision early next week,” added Barrichello.

“I’m sure anyone who knows me can see in my eyes what I want. The first race is March 25 and there is no time to waste.

“If we want to be in a competitive way, everything has to be right and that means sponsorship, team, family — everything.”

Barrichello’s first F1 team boss, however – Eddie Jordan – has urged the likeable Brazilian to forego the Indycar opportunity.

“I love Rubens — our story began when he was only 19,” the Irishman is quoted by Globo.

“I love his family, his parents, and I think he should retire with dignity.”

Barrichello’s contemporary David Coulthard, however, said: “I wish him luck in the United States. We had a great relationship throughout my career and I know how passionate he is about racing.”

But fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi warned of the dangers of American oval racing.

“Today, Indy is different to when I drove — the risk is higher but it is a risk that he knows he will need to take.

“Still, I think he can have fun doing what he likes,” said the former series, F1 and Indy 500 winner.

Nick Heidfeld will not be racing this weekend in Belgium and is unlikely to return to the Renault cockpit.
That was the claim on Monday of the German’s 2004 team boss Eddie Jordan, who is now an expert pundit for British television the BBC’s television coverage.

Earlier this week, the Irishman said he considered the recent criticism of 34-year-old Heidfeld’s performances this year by Renault bosses as “bullying”.

He wrote in a BBC column on Monday that Heidfeld “has been dropped by the Renault team in favour of Brazilian Bruno Senna for this weekend’s Belgian grand prix”.

Jordan said the move will save Renault money because reserve driver Senna, who is also “expected to race for Renault in the eight remaining races this season, has “several million pounds of sponsorship”.

27-year-old Senna raced most recently in the Abu Dhabi finale last year, at the end of his rookie season with the struggling Hispania team.

He has been Renault’s reserve driver in 2011, and in Hungary last month replaced Heidfeld in Friday morning practice.

Michael Schumacher should stay in formula one for as long as he wants to.
That is the claim of Franz Tost, the Austrian team boss of Red Bull’s second F1 team Toro Rosso.

According to Der Spiegel, Tost knows the 42-year-old German well, and so he was asked about widespread speculation that Schumacher should return to retirement rather than race on in 2012 and beyond.

“First of all,” replied Tost, “Michael Schumacher, the seven time world champion with nothing to prove, should not care whether his teammate Nico Rosberg is faster than him or not.

“What is crucial for him is whether it is still fun or whether the passion is still there. These are questions only he can answer.”

But figures like Eddie Jordan – Schumacher’s first ever F1 team boss 20 years ago – have said they would now dismiss the famous German due to a lack of performance.

Tost responded: “Michael brings so many other advantages that outweigh that. Do you think Mercedes would still be so much in the spotlight if Michael Schumacher left?

“This is a crucial factor. He continues to attract huge amounts of attention and so I see his comeback as anything but negative.”

Eddie Jordan however told Dutch website f1today.nl that Schumacher has “had his day”.

“This sport has had many champions and Michael Schumacher has had his day,” said the Irishman.

“He has had huge success and is a very good driver, but someone should talk to him and try to convince him to let his place be taken by another talented driver.”

Eddie Jordan suspects Renault team management are guilty of “bullying”.
The former F1 team owner and boss, now a pundit for British television, is referring to Eric Boullier and Gerard Lopez’s outspoken criticism of Nick Heidfeld’s results and leadership qualities.

German veteran Heidfeld replaced injured regular Robert Kubica this season, but now Renault test drivers Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean are being linked with the seat.

Irishman Jordan told Sport Bild he has a theory about the pressure being put on Heidfeld.

“It could even be described as bullying,” he said.

“They probably want to wear him down so he throws in the towel voluntarily.”

Jordan, however, has a high opinion of 34-year-old Heidfeld.

“For me, he is Mr Consistency. I know this because Nick drove for me for a year. 2004 was a very difficult year for Jordan financially, and we could not give him the car that he deserved.

“The same is true also at the moment of the Lotus-Renault,” he added.

If another driver had lurked beneath Michael Schumacher’s red helmet in 2010, boss Ross Brawn has admitted Mercedes GP might have ousted him.

British television pundit Eddie Jordan, Schumacher’s first ever F1 boss, said in Singapore after the German’s incident strewn run to 13th place that he “would sack him”.

“He’s clearly not good enough on this performance we’ve seen,” the Irishman charged.

Asked a similar question by F1′s official website, Mercedes GP chief Brawn admitted on Wednesday that – if Schumacher was not the famous seven time world champion and record-setting legend – the struggling occupant of this year’s car number 3 might have been shown the door.

“To be honest, probably not,” said the Briton when asked if he would have persevered with a different driver showing Schumacher’s current level of performance.

“But because we know Michael, we know that there is still a lot to come because Michael is in many fields more talented than others — in driving and in the cooperation with the team,” insisted Brawn.

“The team are very happy with the way Michael is contributing. If he were a rookie we surely would have asked ourselves if he has the capacity to advance. With Michael we know that he has,” he added.

Brawn rubbished suggestions Schumacher is on the verge of returning to retirement, and also that he might instead switch to a management role for 2011.

“I have never talked to him about such an option,” he answered.

“He is a very intelligent man with a balanced family life. I don’t know if he really wants to do that to himself.

“As team principal you don’t get the same adrenalin rush as when you are driving a car. What you get is a 10 to 12-hour working day and I am not sure if that would satisfy or motivate him,” said Brawn.

There have also been rumblings of discontent within Mercedes and particularly between Brawn and Norbert Haug, but Brawn insisted he is not about to give up.

“Of course I will retire one day, but I want to step down when I’m successful and not in a situation like I’m facing now,” he said.

“It’s sad that such rumours always get around. But let’s be clear — none of us are happy with the performance this year, and of course Mercedes want to know how and when we will improve.

“But nobody needs to tell me that it is important to win. And probably we can still improve the relationship between Brackley and the Mercedes engine factory, but Mercedes is very open to all suggestions,” continued Brawn.

“So at the moment there are no problems whatsoever. They will come if we are not able to improve in the future.”

He was asked if 2011 is the deadline for Brawn and Schumacher.

“Next year would probably be too early (to give up),” said Brawn. “I like this team. We have gone through many things together. I would never leave the team in an unclear situation.”

Michael Schumacher’s first formula one team boss remains unimpressed with his 2010 return.

Eddie Jordan, who gave the then young pay-driver Schumacher his first cockpit in 1991, has been among the 41-year-old German’s staunchest critics so far this season.

But in Singapore the former team owner ramped up his attack.

After Schumacher’s incident-strewn race to finish 13th and a lap down, Jordan – now a pundit for British television – told the BBC: “Let’s ask this question.

“If Michael Schumacher was not Michael Schumacher, driving as he is currently, would he be in the seat next year?

“My guess is no,” the Irishman said.

“I’m sorry, I’m going to be controversial this time,” Jordan continued.  “I would sack him, he’s clearly not good enough on this performance we’ve seen today (Sunday).”

He said Schumacher is risking his “legacy and his reputation” by struggling this year at the wheel of a Mercedes.

Schumacher is under contract for the next two seasons, but there are rumours he might move into a management role for 2011, to be replaced by countryman Adrian Sutil.

“I was very surprised when I heard about Michael’s return,” Fernando Alonso, who beat Schumacher to the title before the German originally retired in 2006, told German language spox.com.

“He could be relaxing at home.  But our life in racing is so intense that it’s difficult to lead a normal life,” added the Ferrari driver.

“So if you get the chance to try it again, then it’s hard to say no,” Alonso said.

Asked where he will be in his 40s, the double world champion insisted: “I will be sitting comfortably on my sofa!”

Michael Schumacher’s spokeswoman has played down rumours the seven time world champion is reconsidering his decision to return to formula one.

The rumours were triggered at Monza by the German’s former team boss Eddie Jordan, who now stalks the paddock as a pundit for British television BBC.

Jordan said on Saturday that he thinks Schumacher, 41, is in danger of vacating the Mercedes seat after spotting multiple team bosses, drivers and managers entering and exiting the German team’s motor home at Monza.

“I’ve a hunch something fundamental has changed. I believe he is disillusioned and thinking of quitting,” said the Irishman.

But Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm hit back: “Michael has no plans to quit at the end of the year.

“When he entered into the whole comeback scenario, he was fully informed about the situation with the car. That’s why he chose it to be a three year contract — you cannot expect to come back and win straight away in that situation.

“Obviously he would have wished that the developments to the car improved its performance more than they did,” admitted Kehm.

“But it is a three year project to build a winning team and he is in the middle of the process.”

Jordan also said he has “hear rumours” that Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn might not be staying.

But Mercedes-Benz’s motor sport director Norbert Haug denied he is at loggerheads with Brawn.

“We are absolutely together working on next year’s car,” he said.

Norbert Haug has played down the latest criticisms of Michael Schumacher’s performance in 2010.

Eddie Jordan, the seven time world champion’s first F1 employer back in 1991, this week described the German’s decision to return to the sport as a “huge personal error”.

“To pitch yourself against young men 20 years younger than you is simply against the laws of physics and medicine,” the Irishman told Germany’s Sport Bild.

Mercedes’ competition director Haug hit back: “He (Schumacher) deserves our support, he fits with our team, he still has the speed.

“We believe in him, and so do his fans,” he added.

Schumacher, 41, has written off his chances of winning the current championship, but he thinks his performance hasn’t been too bad in 2010.

“I’m pretty happy with myself,” said the German.

“We have made a few mistakes and there are some things we can improve, but all in all … I don’t think there are many who can return after a three year break at the age of 41,” added Schumacher.