Lucas di Grassi has admitted that even his continuing role at Pirelli is not a ticket back onto the F1 grid.

“I’m in the best possible position technically, as the driver with knowledge of the tyres – almost choosing them for next season – it puts me in a very comfortable position.

“Of course I want to race again with a team and I’m working on it,” said the 2010 Virgin driver, who was replaced by the now Marussia team with Jerome d’Ambrosio at the end of his only season in F1.

“The only problem is the lack of sponsorship,” di Grassi is quoted by Globo. “Let’s hope some Brazilian companies want to come in to support.”

Martin Brundle, a former F1 veteran whose son Alex now competes in the lower-tier GP3 series, admitted sponsorship is a problem for aspiring racers.

“Drivers are paying as much as $10 million to be a reserve at some teams,” the British commentator told the Daily Mail.

“Nine men who raced in F1 last year don’t have a drive any more. As soon as the money runs out, they’re replaced by someone who does have money.”

James Key could be the next formula one engineer to join F1′s struggling giant Ferrari.

Multiple media sources, including the authoritative Italian specialist newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, say the Maranello based team is interested in Key, a 40-year-old Briton.

Key’s career dates back to the Jordan days, continuing through the transition to Force India, and he eventually joined Sauber in 2010.

He was the highly respected technical director at the Swiss team until earlier this year, and was therefore in charge of the impressive 2012 Sauber C31, amid speculation he had headed to Lotus’ sports car project.

But the media reports, including in the major German daily Bild, say Ferrari is now interested, particularly because Key is already familiar with the Italian marque through Sauber’s use of the Ferrari drivetrain.

However, when asked what truth there is to the Key rumours, Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni snapped: “Nothing, nada, niente!”

Sauber’s departing technical boss James Key appears headed for Lotus.
On the eve of its 2012 car launch, the Swiss team announced that it will not replace the departing Briton Key, who has accepted an offer to work in the UK.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said it is rumoured Key is headed for Lotus.

Not the Enstone based F1 team, however, but sponsor Group Lotus’ motor racing programme, including Le Mans.

Sauber managing director Monisha Kaltenborn denied the Hinwil based team cannot afford to replace Key.

“If we look back 20 years, the team have always lacked funds,” she insisted.

Kaltenborn defended the bare look of the 2012 car’s livery.

“We are in negotiation with new partners so I am quite confident our livery will look different by the time we hit the first race,” she said.

As for Key, “For some time both sides had the feeling that things were not working any more, and what has happened is the outcome,” La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes Kaltenborn as saying.

Sauber’s technical director James Key has left the Swiss team.
In a media statement, the Ferrari-powered outfit said Key, a Briton who switched from Force India in 2010, has accepted an unspecified “new role” in his native UK.

Sauber’s design and development will now be handled by “the department heads for aerodynamics, design, performance and operations”, the team added.

“We would like to thank him (Key) for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future,” said boss Peter Sauber.

Sauber said operating without a technical director “has proved to work well at other racing outfits”.

Teams are not getting enough time to respond to the FIA’s decisions about DRS, according to Sauber’s James Key.
For the first time in 2011, there will be two independent DRS overtaking zones at Monza this weekend, each with a separate activation point.

“It’s going to be a pretty major asset for a following car,” predicted McLaren’s Jenson Button.

But with top teams bringing special rear wings to Monza for the Italian venue’s uniquely high speed layout, Key is not so sure the full potential of the DRS will be seen this weekend.

“They FIA always let us know about the DRS areas a week before the race,” said the Swiss team Sauber’s technical boss.

“It is very important in the development of the wing to know how often we will be able to use it. But the design (for Monza) was already set in July.”

Auto Motor und Sport also quoted Key as revealing that Sauber expected there to be only one DRS zone at Monza.

“We don’t know yet how effective the DRS will be,” the Briton continued, referring to the fact that rear wings for Monza are already designed to severely reduce drag and produce less downforce.

“We think the effect (of DRS at Monza) will be half the normal amount,” added Key.

If Sergio Perez has to sit out a third consecutive race, Pedro de la Rosa will occupy his Sauber seat.
Mexican Perez, 21, withdrew ill from his seat after initial Friday practice in Canada, two weeks after suffering concussion in a Monaco qualifying crash.

Sauber’s managing director Monisha Kaltenborn on Thursday said the rookie is currently training in his native country.

“He is doing very well. We see no reason why he shouldn’t drive in Valencia,” she told Germany’s motorsport-total.com, referring to next weekend’s European grand prix.

Sauber’s technical boss James Key, meanwhile, confirmed that if Perez is not fit enough for the streets of the Spanish port city, then Spaniard de la Rosa will occupy the seat.

“He did a great job for us,” confirmed the Briton, referring to the 40-year-old McLaren reserve driver’s race at short notice in Montreal.

Speaking to the Spanish press on Thursday, the country’s motor racing president Carlos Gracia hoped de la Rosa will be in the Sauber cockpit next weekend, “without wishing ill on anyone”.

Sauber on Friday was uncertain Sergio Perez will be back in the C30 for next weekend’s Canadian grand prix.
The Mexican rookie spent two days in hospital but has now returned home after his big crash during qualifying in Monaco.

On Friday, his Swiss team Sauber explained that – because the 21-year-old was concussed – he will have to “pass the usual medical test with the FIA doctors” before being cleared to race in Montreal.

“I feel very good and fit. Of course I want to race in Montreal, but I also know the final decision is up to the FIA doctors,” he said.

Perez revealed he had to call off his scheduled session in the Ferrari simulator this week due to his crash.

“Anyway, it is not the first unknown circuit for me and I have never had difficulties adapting,” he said. “I found it very hard to be just a TV spectator for the race in Monaco, and can’t wait to get into the car again.”

Team technical director James Key sounded confident the FIA doctors will give Perez the green light.

“When I spoke to him he sounded very well and was looking forward to getting back to work. We are looking forward to having him back in the car,” he said on Friday.

McLaren or Force India have been earmarked as possible new employers for Bob Bell.

The 52-year-old Ulsterman has left Renault after a long post as technical boss, and having acted as team principal amid the crashgate scandal.

According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, some insiders think he might soon reappear in Force India colours.

The Silverstone based team has been struggling recently, with some experts pointing as an explanation to the departures of James Key to Sauber and Mark Smith to Lotus.

The report also said a return to McLaren is possible, where Bell worked for 15 years as an aerodynamicist before moving to Enstone based Benetton/Renault.

“He’s certainly a very capable guy,” said Williams chairman Adam Parr at Suzuka.  “I hope he will get a job very soon.”

A major topic of conversation during a team bosses meeting in Singapore was the so-called Resource Restriction Agreement.

At the resolution of last year’s political crisis, and the signing of a new Concorde Agreement, the teams promised the FIA to reduce their spending to the levels seen in formula one in the early 90s.

The intention, championed by departed FIA president Max Mosley, was to make the sport much more affordable for private teams, like the 2010 newcomers Virgin, HRT and Lotus.

But despite receiving applications to fill the 13th team spot for 2011, the FIA ruled that none had the necessary financial resources, and there are signs that some of the sport’s existing teams are also struggling.

“Many of the technical changes that were brought in to reduce costs haven’t done so, and in many cases they have actually increased costs,” Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes told F1′s official website.

And according to Michael Schumacher, another cost-cutting measure – completely banning in-season testing – was also not well thought out.

“Efficient testing might be cheaper than now, when we build parts and then throw them away because we can’t test them and they didn’t work,” the Mercedes driver is quoted by Die Welt newspaper.

The seven time world champion also said the testing ban has led to the “very expensive” development of simulators.

Nick Wirth, the technical boss at struggling new team Virgin, said it was “really sad” that Mosley’s plan for team budget caps was scuppered.

“It was a huge mistake,” he is also quoted by the German publication.

Another consideration is the new engine formula, with 4-cylinder turbo units allied with sophisticated energy recovery systems touted for 2013.

But considerations about F1 becoming ‘green’ are arguably secondary to the independent teams, like Sauber, who can no longer count on the vast support of departed owner BMW.

“I think what’s important to us is obviously the costs being kept under control, because obviously changes cost money,” said the Hinwil based team’s technical boss James Key.

Force India is already missing the input of its departed technical director James Key.

The team is locked in a close battle with Williams for sixth and seventh places in the constructors’ championships, which some analysts believe is worth $5 million.

Force India has had some difficult races recently, including in Singapore, where Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi qualified on the 8th and 9th rows of the grid.

The Silverstone based team and Williams then had a bitter post-race argument in the stewards’ office, with Sutil initially penalised for cutting a corner and then Force India lodging a protest about Nico Hulkenberg doing the same.

Sutil confided to Auto Motor und Sport that the loss of Briton Key to Sauber has not been without consequence.

“I actually thought there would be no problem,” said the German, who is thought to be close to deciding whether or not to stay at Force India beyond 2010.

“I have confidence in the people who have taken over,” Sutil continued.  “His successor Mark Smith is doing a good job, but I’m sorry to say that we have lost ground.

“It’s no longer easy for us to get into the top ten in qualifying.

“You only see how good a person really is when he is no longer there,” said the 27-year-old driver.

Sauber is yet another team considering removing the F-duct system from its car for the forthcoming Italian grand prix.

McLaren intends to have a non-F-duct rear wing and engine cover at Monza next weekend, with simulations showing that weight saving and aerodynamic efficiency could mean a conventional setup is the more competitive option for the high speed circuit.

Robert Kubica has also hinted that his Renault will not have an F-duct at the Autodromo Nazionale, even though Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali indicated that the F10 will still be running the device at Monza.

It has now emerged that Sauber could be yet another team contemplating its F-duct options for Italy.

“We will have the option to take off the F-duct,” said the Swiss team’s new technical director James Key.

“We will only make the final decision at the track,” he added in an interview with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Key also said Sauber is already working on the 2011 car at its Hinwil base.

“There are some areas of the regulations that are not yet 100 per cent clear, such as the functionality of the (adjustable) rear wing.

“But there is already enough for the teams to move forward with the development for next year,” he revealed.

Key also said he is confident about Sauber’s financial situation for 2011 and beyond.

“That is not my area, but I have no great concerns,” he said.

“I know we are actively working on it and that at Spa we were able to show a new logo on the rear wing.

“The direction is positive. With the improvement of the car, we have shown what we are capable of. If we can maintain that, I expect a further step forward next year.

“I am planning for the long term with Sauber,” added Key.

His good result from the Hungaroring and the innovations of James Key let Pedro de la Rosa’s growing self-confidence
Just like Michael Schumacher was also returning to Pedro de la Rosa race break after three years at first some difficulty with the formula first But during the seven-time world champion more still further behind, shows the shape of the curve Sauber veteran apparently sharply upward.

De la Rosa at Silverstone for the first time secured a one-digit start position (9) repeated this feat in Budapest and went there even for the first time in seventh in the points. This is of course the one hand, because the C29, directed by technical director James Key (“Our progress is also his merit”) was developed, but the Spaniard is indicated that even after getting better.
“I do not know,” he answers to the question of ‘Autosport’, why it works better for him than for Schumacher, “but I feel better with every race. The failure at Silverstone to accept struck me hard, because we were very competitive, but in Hungary we moved back in Q3 and collected points for the team. I think I’m getting better with every race. To other drivers, I’m not thinking, but still can slow a very good level. ”

Fast curves were for the C29 anyway “never a problem,” said de la Rosa. That, however, he was just as competitive on the narrow Hungaroring, was a surprise, “because our biggest problem was always low speeds – and Hungary is just as slow as Monaco”. But the new features introduced since Valencia appear to be exactly as desired auszuwirken.

“The targeted all aimed at slow corners,” said de la Rosa. “So I had to Hungary so excited, because Hungary would indicate to us whether it is in the right direction or not. Without testing, it is now difficult, but we have definitely made the right changes in the way. Now we can say, that We compete not only in ultra-fast circuits like Silverstone. “

James Key at Sauber in April this year, the successor to the longtime technical director Willy Rampf started. The 38-year-old Briton came from Force India, where he helped decisively while to shape the Indians from the backbench to the midfield team. Key is the youngest head of technology in Formula 1, also one of the most respected. The engineer is thus arrived at its destination, that he had already put into early childhood.

“Even with ten years ago I wanted to Formula 1 cars I have always loved,” said Key, who was brought up by his father at the race track. “He made me the first time brought to a motorsport event. This was a rally and I was four or five years old. When I was nine, we have visited a formula race and from then on everything was clear,” said the Sauber man with a smile .
Formula 1 is the early target

“For me the goal was clearly defined,” says Key his professional planning dar. It is the Year 1982nd In Chelmsford native, some motorized vehicles are styled for now. “I’ve been working on things that might be relevant to a possible career in motorsport,” laughs the father of three. “There was no concrete plan, but it is a clear direction.”

“The sport was generally interesting for me. Above all, the cars. It was the heyday of Senna and Prost in F1, but at the same time were also in the technical field great inventions shown. Monocoque and other things found their way. The technology- aspect then moved more and more into the foreground. In the area of the engines was still happening a lot. I found it very interesting what different approaches, it was there. ”

“As was said in other countries about the duel against Senna, Prost or Mansell Piquet stood against, in Britain, often in the technology focus,” the Sauber technical director explains the advantages of living in Britain. Even then reported in specialized magazines on the latest developments in semi-automatic gearboxes or aerodynamics. These reports raise the interest of the student’s time in particular.

Following the example of his father (a technician in the petrochemical industry) also proposes the Filius an after school an engineering career. Even during the engineering studies at the University of Nottingham contacts are to Lotus. “We need to collect first experiences at an early stage. Many people work part or as a racing mechanic data engineer for small teams. Since you can not earn much money, but even more important to gain experience.”
Important experience with Lotus

“I was lucky that I found shelter while studying at Lotus. So I was very close to it once in motor sport,” says Key, in the British tradition of the brand must now participate in the GT2 project. He meets the wind tunnel, the simulation tools, and many other key elements. “I was an engineer in the GT project in Le Mans work. Of course that was an important experience.”

“I have had in which no important role, but you get to know the exact scene and has insight into all processes. Besides, my name by this sudden in the environment known. This is of course always important,” the 38-year-old says of his first steps on the big stage racing. “Then there was a nice coincidence. Just when I was finished with the study, has been in design a good site free – I was available. I could enter as a junior engineer at once.”

Sauber has not decided whether or not to run KERS in 2011.

With the car weight limit increasing next year and the weight distribution to be fixed, Force India’s chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer said this week that there is “no other option” than to use the energy recovery technology.

But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport had said that while the bigger teams are all planning to go with KERS, the new teams are almost certainly not.

And the publication said it is not clear if middle of the grid teams like Sauber and Toro Rosso will use KERS next year.

Hinwil based Sauber is still developing the C29, but work has also begun on the team’s 2011 car.

But technical director James Key said the KERS decision has not yet been taken. “It is certainly a possibility,” he said, “but we are still weighing it up and will decide later on.”

Team boss Peter Sauber said recently that Sauber will definitely not be using the system developed and raced in 2009 by former owner BMW because it is “air-cooled with far too many disadvantages”.

If Sauber was to opt for KERS in 2011, it is believed the team would buy a Magneti Marelli system for 1 million euros through customer engine supplier Ferrari.

In the sunny Valencia enjoyed Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa a smooth first day of practice for the Grand Prix of Europe. It was necessary to find the right balance for the car to optimize brake stability and to gain experience with the two compounds of Bridgestone tires on the street circuit. However, the residue on the top 10 but was again quite large.

“We now have a huge program processed and everything went very well,” said Kobayashi, the 14th with 1.623 seconds gap was. “The new aerodynamics package we need to work on the car balance. It is quite reasonable, but we have to analyze lots of data from today and I am sure there is in it even more. This morning I took the route less polluted than expected . faster tire wear was an issue in the first practice, but in the afternoon, no more. ”
Pedro de la Rosa was 15, was just fractions of a second slower than his teammate. “We have during the day made many changes to the car, to prepare us for tomorrow’s qualifying,” said the Spaniard. “Mainly we have focused on the braking stability. Both tire compounds have on the warm asphalt works pretty well and I did not expect to difficulties, as we have had in Canada. I am today for the first time went on this course. It took a few laps in order to familiarize myself with to catch properly especially the many break points, but I liked the track quickly. ”
“Today, we are no technical problems with the cars,” said technical director James Key had, “and that was good, because in both sessions we had much to do. Adapt We had the car set to the new aero package. This is the first step, to make the car lighter mobile. Basically, we have already found a direction that we can track for tomorrow, but today we must look at all the information evening and see what measures we can implement. ”

He continued: “We still have to work on consistency. If you look at the sector times look, they do not reflect truly reflect the lap times. We need to ensure that drivers can get out of a complete round of the best from the car. We have some areas have made progress and in others still to be done. ”

(TMS)