Rubens Barrichello has advised his friend and countryman Felipe Massa to remember to enjoy his job, amid rumours the Brazilian is speeding towards the exit at Ferrari.

Speculation is rife that amid his apparently worsening performance slump, Massa will be replaced by the famous Italian team — perhaps as soon as within the 2012 season.

F1 veteran Barrichello, who has switched to Indycar this year after losing his Williams seat, told Brazil’s Globo Esporte that he thinks Massa’s problem is psychological.

“It’s not a speed problem,” he said, “it’s something that he needs to solve within himself.

“He has to close his eyes and enjoy, remembering that he does this because he likes it.

“Every time that I lost a little bit, it was because I had forgotten that I did it because I liked to. So we (drivers) have to relax and improve that way.

“(For Massa) it is just a moment, and every moment and race in formula one is a cycle of life.”

Barrichello’s advice for Massa may be particularly relevant, as he was at Ferrari during Michael Schumacher’s ultra-successful reign last decade.

Now, it is Fernando Alonso who is the Maranello team’s favoured son.

“Of course Ferrari loves Alonso, because he is one of the best, if not the best who is there (in F1) now,” said Barrichello, 39.

“So, it’s tough for Felipe.”

Barrichello also laughed at the results of a recent fans’ poll in the Italian media that showed he would be a highly popular choice as Massa’s replacement.

“It was very unexpected,” he said. “Maybe it was a way (for journalists) to see if Italians would pick an Italian driver, and suddenly I win.

“It is a very public business and shows that I must have left something behind,” added the winner of 11 grands prix.

Fernando Alonso was spared the Italian media’s wrath after Ferrari opened its 2012 campaign with the troubled F2012 car.
“Alonso once again saved Ferrari from disaster,” said the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport, after the Spanish driver drove the car to fifth place in Australia.

The under-pressure Felipe Massa’s opening race, however, “was a nightmare”, the daily newspaper added.

Jaime Alguersuari, the former Toro Rosso driver who is now a media analyst, also praised fellow Spaniard Alonso.

“For Ferrari, it is an unique advantage to have a driver like Fernando Alonso,” he told El Mundo newspaper.

“He did a sensational Sunday, with intelligence and ambition, which will push and raise the team, I’m sure.”

Alonso remains confident.

“There may be cars quicker than us now,” he is quoted by Britain’s Daily Mail, “but it’s like Manchester United or Chelsea who play badly for a game but still win 1-0.

“Before this race we were working 24 hours (a day),” Alonso is quoted by Marca, “now it must be 25.”

The Spanish press, however, is livid.

“The fifth place is really a miracle,” said the sports daily Marca. “The car is ridiculous, rendering the team a midfielder.”

Jenson Button, meanwhile, received universal praise from the international press corps, as did the fact that Red Bull’s dominance appears to have been knocked by McLaren.

“That’s good news for everybody except (Sebastian) Vettel,” insisted Corriere dello Sport.

The fight, however, has just begun.

“Vettel turned the middling new Red Bull into a good race car,” said Gazzetta, referring to the German’s performance on Sunday, “which is a warning to the opposition.

“He is still the world champion, and he will be hunting his first triumph of the year in Sepang.”

Tuttosport, meanwhile, said Mercedes – which until Sunday’s race was the talk of the Melbourne paddock – was the “big disappointment” of the 2012 opener.

Nico Rosberg is not yet ringing the alarm bells about Mercedes’ new formula one car.
Recently, when discussing the German marque’s 2010 season, Michael Schumacher admitted he had known by the second winter test that “it was going to be a tough year”.

12 months on, Jerez this week is the scene of the second test of the 2011 pre-season, and Nico Rosberg was a worrying 3 seconds off the pace in the new silver W02 on Thursday.

“This is an interim car,” the German insisted, according to Bild newspaper.

“So you can’t just look at the pace as we have so many new parts to come.”

Also poor on Thursday was the car’s reliability, but Rosberg said technical problems are something “you always expect” from a new single seater.

At the other end of the timesheets, Thursday’s fastest runner was also not overstating the results of the Jerez order.

“The fastest time? It means nothing,” Ferrari’s Felipe Massa is quoted in the Italian media.

Giancarlo Fisichella has this week been involved in a minor traffic crash.

The 3-time grand prix winner and now a Ferrari test driver rear-ended a small car driven by a 52-year-old woman in Campagnano, north of Rome, according to Italian media reports.

Fisichella, 38, was driving a Ferrari.

The driver of the car he hit was taken to hospital and discharged shortly afterwards.

Fisichella reportedly told the traffic police – the Polstrada – that he came across a long queue of traffic caused by road works and was not able to stop in time.

In 2005, when Fisichella was caught doing 148kph in a 60kph in Rome, he explained to police that he was rushing to his child who had a high fever.

According to a rumour in the Italian media, Nico Hulkenberg is a candidate to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari in 2011.

La Stampa newspaper said the rumour came from “a voice” within the famous Maranello based team, where Brazilian Massa – who already has an ongoing contract with Ferrari – struggled alongside Fernando Alonso this season.

German Hulkenberg, 23, has not been retained by Williams for 2011, and his manager Willi Weber has strong links within Ferrari due to his former charge Michael Schumacher’s decade-long tenure there.

But another voice at Ferrari insisted: “Felipe is untouchable.”

La Stampa acknowledged that the rumour might have been generated by Weber to keep Hulkenberg’s name circulating while he is on the market.

Italy’s Autosprint reported the same rumour linking Hulkenberg with Ferrari.

Robert Kubica could be about to find himself free of his Renault contract, according to an Italian media report.

Group Lotus is reportedly looking to get involved with the Enstone based team in a EUR 60 million deal that could involve the outfit being renamed Lotus-Renault in 2011 and beyond.

With the French carmaker Renault SA’s involvement also reportedly changing, the situation could have knock-on effects for a range of existing team contracts, a report in Autosprint claims.

One of those contracts could be that of highly-rated Polish driver Kubica, who reportedly “would be free to choose another team”.

It has emerged that Rome’s agreement about a city-based formula one race in 2012 or 2013 could lapse at the end of the year.

It was reported last month that organisers of the proposed event to take place in the Italian capital’s EUR district had signed a five-year contract with Bernie Ecclestone.

It was said that the only hurdle was the support of the residents of EUR, a major suburban area and business centre.

But Italian media reports late this week, including by the authoritative broadcaster Rai and the major news agency ANSA, have revealed that the document signed at Monza last month was just a “lettera di intenti” (letter of intent).

And Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno is quoted as saying that the original project as devised by the race promoter has lapsed because it would have been too disruptive.

He said a new project will be presented to the Rome authority assemblea capitolina before the letter of intent runs out later this year.

“I will soon meet with Ecclestone to confirm the letter of intent that has been signed and never revoked,” added mayor Alemanno.

He said the original EUR plan was too disruptive. “If someone thinks I want to make a mess of the EUR, they are making a big mistake.

“Rather, we want to enrich the city’s image,” Alemanno is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Research shows that the majority of Rome residents, although not an overwhelming one, are in favour.

“But the assemblea capitolina will have the last word” after “very careful scrutiny”, he added.

Felipe Massa insists he is happy with the Ferrari team’s “100 per cent” support during his current trough.

The Brazilian has been in the headlines of late; struggling with the F10 car, relegated to a subordinate role for Fernando Alonso’s title charge, and urged to get up to speed by his bosses.

Some Italian media interpreted recent comments by Luca di Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali – including the Ferrari’s president’s claim that he has “waited with great perseverance” for an improvement – as an ‘Italian ultimatum’ for Massa.

But reporting on the team’s official website from Brazil, the 29-year-old insists Montezemolo and Ferrari are actually fully supportive.

“Even though I am going through a particularly difficult time right now with a lack of results in the last couple of races, I know I can count on the support of the team, who have always been behind me one hundred per cent, especially in the difficult times,” said Massa.

“Knowing he (Montezemolo) has faith in me is something I truly appreciate: he has an excellent understanding of the sport and he knows that you can sometimes go through tough times.

“The fact his support is always there is very important,” he added.

Massa’s latest comments also tackle speculation that he is no longer pushing as hard as possible, given that the biggest prize on offer is a third drivers’ title for his teammate Alonso.

“My desire to do as well as possible for me and for the team is the same as ever and that has been my approach to the sport ever since I started in formula one,” he insisted.

Valentino Rossi has admitted it is unlikely he will switch to formula one in the future.

Now 31, the multiple champion of MotoGP has in the past flirted with a move to F1 after several test drives.

After badly breaking his leg earlier this season, Rossi has been beaten to the 2010 title and it had been said his move from Yamaha to the Italian marque Ducati could be a precursor to a future move to Ferrari.

But while in Malaysia last weekend for the latest MotoGP race, he told Italian media: “Now, I really don’t think it (moving to F1) will happen.”

Rossi was also scathing whilst criticising the motorcycle racing series’ governing body for deciding to delay the Sepang race to avoid a television clash with F1 in Japan.

He said the move compromised riders’ safety because the threat of rain in Malaysia is greater later in the day.

“We always bend over backwards to the formula one superpower,” said the Italian.

Formula one teams have agreed a budget cap for operational spending in 2011 and beyond, according to an Italian media report.

Earlier this week, we reported that team bosses discussed the so-called Resource Restriction Agreement in Singapore last weekend.

There are signs that, despite the cost-cutting pact negotiated at the end of the 2009 political war, some teams – notably the new and independent ones – are still struggling financially.

Italy’s Autosprint reports that a new operational budget limit was therefore agreed within the FOTA group, with engine and transmission costs not included.

The report said teams may no longer spend any more than EUR 20 million each on operational elements, while team staff numbers have been capped at 415.

Mercedes has played down an apparent incident between its F1 drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

During Friday practice at Silverstone, Italian media colleagues spotted Schumacher waving his fist from his cockpit at his younger countryman Rosberg.

Blick newspaper said the 41-year-old had been held up on a fast lap, but quoted a Mercedes official as describing the incident as a “misunderstanding”.

And a British media colleague said Mercedes insists the relationship between the pair is still in good shape.

Also in the Silverstone paddock, Rosberg played down his recently misreported comments about the development pace of the W01 car.

“It is true that Valencia was a disaster for us,” he is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat. “Who wants to be in positions 12 or 15?

“But I never criticised Ross, who I respect as a great personality and a skilful team leader.”

McLaren’s recently-departed chief engineer Pat Fry is heading to Ferrari.

It emerged last month that the 46-year-old Briton, who joined from Benetton in 1993, has left the Woking based team for an unknown destination.

Fry shared McLaren’s chief engineer role with Tim Goss, and was in charge of the 2011 car project.

Italian media sources on Sunday said Fry is headed to Ferrari, and will have an impact on the famous Maranello based team’s next car.

(GMM)

With formula one between grands prix, many familiar faces spent their weekends in a slightly different racing environment.

Sports lover Mark Webber was F1′s most recognisable face in the paddock of premier motorcycle racing MotoGP’s Silverstone round.

But also at the British circuit was Mercedes’ Nick Fry, HRT driver Karun Chandhok, commentator Martin Brundle and occasional steward Johnny Herbert.

“I like to watch bike racing on TV,” Australian Webber told sport1.  “I don’t live far away, I have seen many friends here, and there are also many Australians working in MotoGP.”

Elsewhere, despite the ban on in-season testing, more serious business was taking place.

At the UK’s Snetterton circuit, the Classic Team Lotus Festival was taking place, but among the cars in action was the brand new T127 ‘Chassis 4′, to be debuted by Jarno Trulli at Valencia next weekend.

And at Ferrari’s own Fiorano test circuit, Fernando Alonso was driving the F10 for the “promotional and filming” reasons as permitted by the test ban.

But, as confirmed by Italian media sources, the 2010 car was in its full Valencia specification, including Red Bull-style low exhausts, designed to channel more air to the double-diffuser.

“You have to make the most of any opportunity in this era of the testing ban,” the Italian team said.

(GMM)

Jun.7 (GMM)  Pirelli has won the race to become F1′s new sole tyre supplier beginning in 2011.

The same news was reported by multiple sources prior to the Turkish grand prix, but Michelin then made a last-ditch attempt to woo the teams by calling a meeting in the paddock of the Istanbul Park circuit.

Once again, after yet another non-grand prix week of negotiations, it is believed that Milan-based Pirelli has secured the deal.

As was also the case prior to Turkey, it is more than one source within the Italian media that is hinting at the latest development.

The authoritative daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, for one, claims that the finishing touches are being made to a contract that will be signed by the end of the week.

Prior to Turkey, it was reported that the Pirelli deal for 2011-2013 was to cost teams 1 million euros apiece per season, in exchange for identical attention and service and a range of just three compounds: soft, medium and hard.

At least initially, the tyres will be in a similar 13-inch specification to the current Bridgestone product, with a longer-term ambition being a move to a low profile.

It had also been reported that Pirelli, already the supplier of the new GP3 series as well as world rally, is likely to also supply GP2 next year.

Pirelli was last in F1 in 1991.

Bruno Senna is in danger of losing his formula one seat, according to a report in the Italian media.

Autosprint reports that the 26-year-old Brazilian could be replaced by HRT’s recently-signed Friday and reserve driver Sakon Yamamoto.

Senna said recently he is grappling with the perception that, at the wheel of the uncompetitive Dallara-built car, he is struggling to live up to the image of his famous late uncle.

“There is a fine line between explaining and moaning,” he said.

“It is very difficult but, in the right place, at the right team and with the right car, I can be world champion,” insisted Senna.

The timing of the Yamamoto speculation is odd, given that Senna’s performance on Saturday afternoon in Turkey marked the first time an HRT driver has outqualified a rival car on a dry track.

Meanwhile, another Italian report claims that Italian GP2 driver Luca Filippi came close to taking over the Sauber seat occupied by Pedro de la Rosa in Turkey.

Italiaracing said an agreement with the 24-year-old was “delayed”, but reports that Filippi could instead make his debut at Valencia later this month.

(GMM)