Ferrari is testing a new front wing in Korea practice this weekend in line with the aggressive philosophy of its 2012 car.
Italian and Spanish media reports have revealed that Maranello’s next single seater is known internally as ’663′.

Italiaracing reports that the wing tested in Korea on Friday is “inspired by Red Bull’s design”.

Designer Nikolas Tombazis confirmed recently that the front wing “represents a different approach in terms of how it works”.

“We can therefore try and learn as much as possible right away,” he said.

The 2012 car is reportedly very low with a higher driving position and longer wheelbase than the current 150 Italia.

Other Italian sources say that, so focused is the team on 2012, boss Stefano Domenicali and technical head Pat Fry travelled back and forth to Italy between the long-haul Asian races in Japan and Korea.

The 663 reportedly also features Red Bull-style rear suspension, allowing more efficient airflow.

“The Red Bull is not just a diffuser but a very complete car, and I am sure that if the first race (of 2012) would take place now they would still have an advantage.

“Our challenge between now and March is to avoid that,” said Fernando Alonso.

As in 2010, Abu Dhabi is set to host a young drivers’ test later this year.
But unlike last year, the event – seeing inexperienced youngsters entrusted with F1 teams’ grand prix cars – will not take place immediately after the season finale, according to a report by Italiaracing.

Indeed, in 2011, Brazil is scheduled to host the last round of the championship in late November.

It means the young drivers’ test at Abu Dhabi will take place two weeks before the season concludes, after the Yas Marina event in the middle of 2011′s penultimate month.

Sponsor issues reportedly led to Narain Karthikeyan losing his seat at HRT.
The Indian driver’s main backers, Tata and Base batteries, are still showing at the Spanish team’s website. Hispania has been contacted for comment.

At Silverstone, HRT regular Vitantonio Liuzzi will for the first time share the garage with Australian rookie Daniel Ricciardo, as part of a new driver deal with Red Bull Racing.

Karthikeyan is officially still on the books as an official driver, amid rumours he might return for the inaugural Indian grand prix in October.

His sponsors Speed, Tata and Base are still showing on his official website, although the Italian magazine Italiaracing claims “economic difficulties” meant Karthikeyan lost his seat.

“When he learned of the economic difficulties of Narain Karthikeyan, Helmut Marko did not think for a second and reached the agreement with Hispania for the debut of his young protege (Ricciardo),” read the report.

Karthikeyan was not available a few days ago, and his management has once again been contacted for comment.

Adrian Sutil is facing a EUR 10 million damages claim by Genii chief executive Eric Lux, according to a media report.
It emerged last week that, following news the Force India driver assaulted Lux with a broken champagne glass in a Shanghai nightclub recently, Sutil could be headed for court.

Italiaracing said Lux needed 24 stitches in his neck and is seeking the multi-million euro compensation.

The French website sport24.com also said Lux will file a complaint about the German with the governing FIA, with his lawyers to announce the action perhaps as soon as Monday.

The report said Sutil’s F1 super license could be at risk in the event of a civil conviction, although German newspaper Bild said neither the FIA nor Bernie Ecclestone are investigating the matter.

Jarno Trulli believes wealth is becoming too important as the remaining spaces on the F1 grid fill up for 2011.
For the coming season, the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and Nick Heidfeld are facing the prospect of sitting on the sidelines, as respected teams including Williams and Sauber opt instead for race drivers with significant financial backing.

Trulli, one of the oldest and most experienced drivers on the grid, thinks the situation could have knock-on effects for the next generation.

“Today it is so difficult for young drivers,” the Italian told Auto Motor und Sport during an interview.

“Money is playing too big a role and the lower series like Formula 3 are too expensive. I couldn’t repeat my own career these days,” added Trulli, who made his F1 debut in 1997 with Minardi.

The 36-year-old has also raced for major teams including Renault and Toyota, but in 2010 he returned to the back of the grid with Lotus.

“It was not a good season,” said Trulli.

In an interview published in Italian by italiaracing, he was more strident.

“I think I deserved a medal for being the unluckiest driver of the year,” said Trulli, whose car regularly broke down last season. “There’s no need to say it was the worse season in all my life.”

To the German publication, he continued: “It was a bit frustrating but it’s part of the business. I have accepted it as a transitional season.”

Worse still, Trulli insists that the green T127 was not a car to his liking.

“I didn’t have what I needed for my driving style,” he explained, “so it made the task doubly difficult.

“I need a stiff car that gives me good feedback, but from the first test it was clear that I wouldn’t have that.”

He knows Lotus is pushing hard to catch up, but can understand some of the criticism of the new teams from established names including Ferrari.

“In the end we are all in the same race and the incumbents should respect those who are just beginning. On the other hand it is true that four seconds behind is too much.

“Now we are a year further ahead and we need a big aero step and a lighter and stiffer car. There is an awful lot to do and if we can do it, then we can fight with the back of the midfield.”

But even that is not his goal.

“I must still have the skills that make some people keep believing in me, but just being here is not what I want, which is winning races and the title.”

Trulli said he knows first-hand how difficult is Team Lotus’ task.

“I raced for Toyota, with great resources and unlimited possibilities, but they never achieved what they wanted to,” he noted.

Jun.18 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo has continued his sustained attack on formula one’s new teams.

The Ferrari president thinks the grid should be filled by the bigger teams fielding three cars, rather than by opening the doors to newcomers including Lotus, Virgin and HRT.

Next year, another small team is likely to make its debut.

Spain’s El Mundo newspaper this week claims that the budget of the new Spanish outfit HRT is ten times smaller than Ferrari’s.

“In modern F1 races cars with GP2 levels of performance shouldn’t be allowed to participate — they are supposed to race on Sunday mornings,” Montezemolo is quoted by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Montezemolo argues that Fernando Alonso’s push for Montreal victory was ruined by the lapping of backmarkers, an apparent reference to his delays behind Jarno Trulli’s Lotus and the HRT of Karun Chandhok.

But while it is true that, earlier this year, the small teams were vastly off the pace, all of the six cars were faster by multiple seconds than the entire GP2 field in Turkey recently.

And in Canada last weekend, Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus qualified just two tenths behind the Ferrari-powered Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi, while Virgin and HRT runners were also easily within 107 per cent of the pole time.

The new teams’ laptime deficit in Canada was between 3 and 4 seconds, compared with Giancarlo Fisichella’s 2.2 second qualifying deficit in a Ferrari-powered Force India at the same circuit two years ago.

A report at Italiaracing said: “It should be noted that the only complaints this season about the smaller teams have come from Ferrari.”

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)

HRT is interested in moving into Toyota’s F1 headquarters in Cologne, and is also eyeing the departed Japanese teams’ 2010 car, according to reports.

Spain’s sports newspaper Marca said the Spanish team’s owner Jose Ramon Carabante has already visited the German site on two occasions.

Italiaracing, meanwhile, reports that the Hispania team is also interested in taking over Toyota’s unraced 2010 chassis, the TF110.

The news follows HRT’s confirmation that it has split with its existing chassis maker Dallara.

But the move to buy the Cologne facility would be at odds with HRT’s earlier plans to set up a long-term base in the Spanish region of Murcia, a team sponsor.

The reports could therefore trigger speculation that Carabante is looking to sell the team, even though on Thursday HRT revealed the identity of its new board.

“This shows how (the team) is strongly trying to keep on growing day by day in order to develop to a more strong, lasting and competitive team in formula one,” read a statement.

(GMM)

F1′s now-traditional end of season test for young drivers could be held in Abu Dhabi.

Last December, Jerez hosted the three days of winter testing set aside in the regulations for ‘young driver training’.

But Italy’s Italiaracing reports that for 2010, the test could take place in the days after Abu Dhabi hosts the season finale on Yas Island in mid November.

With all the cars and equipment already in place, the move would be a significant cost-saving.
(GMM)

Italian media sources are reporting that Pirelli will be F1′s sole tyre supplier in 2011 and beyond.

Autosprint and Italiaracing say the Milan-based marque has been selected by the teams and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to replace the departing control supplier Bridgestone.

Reportedly also in the running had been Michelin as well as minor contenders Avon, Kumho and Hankook.

When asked to nominate his preference, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said this week: “As an Italian I prefer Pirelli, but experience tells me Michelin.

“In the end it will be the same for everyone,” he said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Autosprint said Pirelli will be paid 1 million euros per team per season in 2011, 2012 and 2013, 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.

The decision is set to be confirmed shortly by the World Motor Sport Council.

Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo reports that Pirelli, already the supplier of the new GP3 series as well as world rally, is also likely to supply GP2 next year.

Pirelli was last in F1 in 1991.
(GMM)