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.

It is already being described as a ‘crisis’, but former Ferrari driver Niki lauda is sure Ferrari’s situation in early 2012 is not that bad.
“The Italians always exaggerate,” the triple world champion, who won two titles with the famous Maranello based team in the 70s, is quoted by German RTL television.

“Everything is either great or everything is negative. I don’t think the Ferrari is as bad as it’s being made out.

“I do know that the McLaren and Red Bull are very similar and Mercedes follows closely behind. Then comes Ferrari — but things can change very quickly,” added Lauda.

As ever in Ferrari’s high-pressure Italy, however, the stakes are high and every episode is amplified — such as when comments made by Felipe Massa apparently contradicted Pat Fry’s prediction that an early podium is unlikely.

“In my head is the thought that we can fight for the podium,” Brazilian Massa insisted after landing in Australia this week, “but that doesn’t mean that I don’t agree with what Pat Fry said in Barcelona.”

Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, admitted Ferrari has no choice but to initially “grit our teeth” until the F2012 improves.

“First of all, we have to see exactly where we are in terms of being competitive and then give our all to bring home as many points as possible in this early stage of the championship,” said the Spaniard.

 Vitaly Petrov has hit out again at his ‘pay-driver’ label, insisting even the highest paid driver on the grid has a similar arrangement with his team.
“I see no difference between myself and Alonso,” said the Russian, who has moved his lucrative backing from Renault (now Lotus) to the Caterham team for 2012.

His new appointment is controversial, given he has ousted the experienced veteran and former Monaco winner Jarno Trulli, who was the last Italian in F1.

Comparing himself with Alonso, Petrov told La Stampa newspaper: “Everyone knows that he is funded by the money from (Ferrari sponsor) Banco Santander.

“Anyway, you only get to F1 because of talent.”

And Petrov, 27, insists he does not feel sorry for Trulli.

“Life is hard,” the Italian newspaper quotes him as saying.

He admitted that having friends in F1 is impossible, whilst making some comments that will also not endear him to the sport’s Italian followers.

Asked to explain the rare absence of Italians on the grid, Petrov criticised the country’s junior categories and added: “Your drivers lack the passion.”

And as for Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo’s complaints about the dramatic role being played by aerodynamics in F1 at present, he answered: “When you’re not winning, it’s easy to complain.”

Petrov, however, lived in Italy in his past, revealing that his favourite elements of Italian life are “the food and the girls”.

But on the latter, he does not expect to be wheel-to-wheel with the opposite sex any time soon.

“They do not have the physical ability and also are not prepared for the high speeds. But everything in life is possible,” said Petrov.

Daniel Ricciardo joked to a Spanish reporter that he did more interviews on Thursday than in his entire life until that point.

The Red Bull-backed rookie is making his grand prix debut this weekend, causing some commentators to hurriedly wonder why Australian media generally pronounce his surname ‘Rickardo’.

“I guess that growing up in Australia, to try and get people to say it as the Italians would, to roll the r and give it the expression, it doesn’t really come out the same way,” said HRT’s new race driver.

“In Italy, as my father is Sicilian, they will say Ricciardo or however an Italian would say it, probably. I guess the Italians are more than welcome to say it how it probably is meant to be said.”

Arguably a bigger concern for Ricciardo is – having never driven the 2011 Hispania previously – satisfying the 107 per cent rule on Saturday with a car that failed to qualify in Melbourne.

“I don’t expect it to be the Red Bull that I drove in Abu Dhabi for the junior tests, but Tonio (Liuzzi) has done a good job this year so if he’s able to qualify then I hope I can too,” he answered.

“It (not qualifying) hasn’t even crossed my mind.”

Jarno Trulli’s place on the 2011 grid is secure, but the same is reportedly not true for Italian countryman Vitantonio Liuzzi.

Reporting on Italy’s dwindling presence in formula one, Autosprint magazine recalled 1989, when no fewer than 12 Italians lined up on the grid.

Now, there are just two, and the veteran Trulli is expected to re-sign with Lotus Racing for 2011.

But F1′s other Italian driver, Vitantonio Liuzzi – while possessing a contract for 2011 – must reportedly tremble as Force India considers its next lineup.

His 2010 teammate Adrian Sutil says he has agreed to stay next year, while two drivers – Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg – are strongly linked with the other seat.

Hulkenberg’s manager Willi Weber has revealed talks with the Vijay Mallya-headed team, and reserve driver di Resta upped his credentials at the weekend by wrapping up his first title in the German touring car series DTM.

“I’m certainly hoping I can get a seat there next year because I’d love to continue a long relationship with them,” di Resta is quoted as saying on Monday.

“My dream is to become formula one world champion, and that’s the next box in my book I’ve got to tick off. I’ll keep praying it happens,” he added.

Di Resta’s Scottish countryman and former Toyota racer Allan McNish also hopes the 24-year-old makes his F1 debut next March.

“If you look at the mistakes Sutil and Liuzzi have made in the past few races, you would have to say Paul has a good case to be out there,” he said recently.

“Unfortunately, there is a lot of politics in motor sport and F1 is at the very height of that so it is not just about a driver’s performance,” added McNish.

Gian Carlo Minardi criticized after the double failure in Korea Red Bull and Ferrari in Brazil see clearly again.
Gian Carlo Minardi is the firm conviction that the events in Korea, Red Bull should consider the move. “With a reasonable strategy Webber team would lead the championship is still at least not such a big gap to the top who” is aware of the Italians. He believes that Ferrari will assume the role as favorite in Brazil and Red Bull in Abu Dhabi. Minardi says: “. Mistakes and mishaps can happen anytime the beginning, it took Ferrari, Hamilton, and then last Sunday just meets Red Bull is all.”

This is not least because the engine, transmission and Co. are brought to their absolute limit. The last two races will show who was badly shattered better. Minardi review in his column on 422race.com: “That’s why I found the strategy of Red Bull crazy because they are forced to repair the damage of both drivers again.”
Escuchar
Leer fonéticamente

The motors could play in the fight for the Formula 1 crown in 2010 still a crucial role. Especially those pilots who are pushed by a Ferrari engine in front, standing before the last five rounds of the season as not particularly good. This applies just Sauber Nick Heidfeld most returnees, as his predecessor Pedro de la Rosa had been in Belgium can be mounted engine, and receive the ninth for the punishment.

But even with the red from Maranello, there are worries. Fernando Alonso, who after his latest, Monza win again good cards in the title fight, had to leave Italy in his last fit of the allowed per season eight fresh engine. Although the Spaniard still used engines in the rear, for example, the race in Singapore should survive well, but an engine blowouts could end the dream of a world title soon.
Ferrari may get the receipt for the engine damage to the season. How ‘auto motor und sport’ reports, the Italians had to start to apparently serious problems with the seals on the valve train. A too aggressive lubricant developed to have caused the problems. Ferrari could repair despite frozen development, since the like is more niche occurred. The training on Friday engines currently have to persevere with the Reds longer distances than planned.
“Unfortunately we started the year with problems,” Ferrari president Luca Marmorini Motor says in an interview with ‘Motorsport-Total.com “. “If we had this year had 20 races, then it would be difficult for us. We can afford no problems at all during the season more,” said the Italian, the order makes it clear how close the Reds for the final sprint of the season to be charitable. In comparison, Renault have both drivers still two fresh engines in the rear.

“It’s funny. In the past two or three years, we always say that the engine development is frozen and will remain the same engines,” says LM. “But it’s only the hardware is frozen, change the environment on the other hand constantly. The engines have to endure nearly double the mileage. This year it is a very different use of the engines, because refueling was banned.”

The Italian expert engine already provides for the coming year bring up new dark clouds. “There are more races,” said Marmorini. “This is really funny: The engines are to remain the same, but the conditions are changing. This makes it difficult for us.” At Ferrari’s we are not sure if it was eight engines per season is the right number. And for the years from 2013 it gets even thicker.
When equipped in three years, the formula with a little turbo machines, then the term should be again raised considerably – for cost reasons, as they say. “Originally, there should be four engines per year, but in the first five years of the new regulations,” said LM, which urgently needs an adoption of the new engine regulations. “This is an enormous step. To develop reliability is extremely difficult and expensive.”

“One should not underestimate the real”, said the Italian, who – as is probably many at Ferrari – not a big fan of small four-cylinder turbos. “Even if we had hinbekommen the new term with us for years known motors, then the effort would be substantial. This issue is particularly important and should be addressed quickly.” As a solution might look like, leaves Marmorini. The number of four or five engines per year, but seems far from set in stone to be.

In addition to Mark Webber’s spectacular crash, it was for many observers, the issue of the race weekend in Valencia: Lewis Hamilton obsolete in a safety car period, the medical car and it occupies just 13 laps later with a drive-through penalty.

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso then assumed the race, they have manipulated the Grand Prix of Europe, because Hamilton had in his view, by the late penalty to no disadvantage.

According to former racing driver Martin Brundle, however, these accusations without any basis. “Alonso’s emotions have common sense superimposed,” former McLaren driver writes in his’ BBC’ column. Hamilton was by his maneuvers Ferrari ultimately not harmed. Instead, the Italians might as well be upset with race winner Sebastian Vettel.
“Etc. It was just fate and chance, would come out when the safety car,” said Brund. It was just very difficult, the timing of driving out the safety car always right. Brundle already suspected other reasons for Alonso’s excitement: “It was certainly not conducive to his whim, as was the Ferrari-powered Kamui Kobayashi on fresh tires passed him on the penultimate lap.”

The new Ferrari superstar Fernando Alonso has spent nearly two eventful days in Maranello. Like team-mate Felipe Massa, the Spaniards began on Thursday in the simulator of the Italians to be able to zero in on the next Grand Prix in the streets of Valencia. Same time, we simulated the latest updates on the Ferrari F10.

In view of the extensive remodeling of the Formula 1 car the Italians arrived just in that shooting was planned in Fiorano. After Alonso Ferrari for some customers as well-known “driving instructor” on the test track on the way, he was allowed to rise in the better cars. It was the first time that the two-time world champion moved a Formula 1 car at the Ferrari home track.
According to the team Alonso completed only a few laps with the F10, because you can not because of the planned shooting could get too many free rounds. For a shakedown of the B-version of the Formula 1 racing car but it was enough. Ferrari had timed the film shoot for sponsors and new video content from your own website perfectly.

Rides with current Formula 1 cars are also in times of current test limits for the purpose of filming permits. Interesting still, published by the Alonso-Ferrari at Fiorano more precisely a single photo. It shows the F10 from the front. The most extensive changes to the B version will be found, however, at the rear …