Michael Schumacher could be the next silver-clad driver who takes a Mercedes to the top step of the podium.

His teammate Nico Rosberg dominated the Shanghai weekend and, at his 111th attempt, finally broke through with a maiden pole and win.

The much-younger German also dominated Schumacher, the 43-year-old, at Mercedes in the last two years — ever since the seven time world champion returned to formula one in 2010.

But former Benetton and Ferrari title winner Schumacher appears much more on Rosberg’s pace this season, and in fact even solidly outqualified his 26-year-old teammate in Australia and Malaysia.

“It’s simple,” Schumacher told Brazil’s O Estado de S.Paulo.

“The way I can drive this car is much more how I have driven a car throughout my whole life.

“If you look at my driving today and compare with ten years ago, not much has changed,” said the famous German. “But if you look at 2010 and 2011, my arms never stopped working.

“It wasn’t my way to drive,” insisted Schumacher.

Having followed Rosberg early in the Chinese grand prix – before his retirement – Schumacher admitted that he could not quite match the leading pace.

But, despite not standing on a podium even once since his F1 comeback, he has now smelled that a victory is close.

“It will be the same feeling as when I went to the podium for the first time with Benetton, and Ferrari,” Schumacher predicted.

“When I started with those teams, we were far away from being able to think about it. But after a lot of work, I would say years – just as now with Mercedes – we had reached the stage of being able to fight.

“Most people have no idea how many things need to be changed, how much effort and investment is required. At 43 I’m going through all of this again, but it’s because I really love what I do.”

Schumacher’s Mercedes contract expires at the end of this year.

“You might not believe it,” he responded, “but I’m so focused on developing this car that I don’t think about it.

“Later on in the season, of course, it’s inevitable.

“Of course it gives me great pleasure that we are starting to see the results of this great work. I am still perfectly capable of winning in formula one,” Schumacher insisted.

Red Bull is ready to start bouncing back from a difficult start to 2012.

That is the claim of the energy drink owned team’s racing consultant Dr Helmut Marko, who acknowledged that Australia and Malaysia was not a good start to the campaign for a third-consecutive championship-winning season.

Comparing the reigning world champions with McLaren, Ferrari’s technical director Pat Fry agreed on Tuesday: “I’ve been slightly surprised by Red Bull’s lack of pace.”

Marko acknowledged: “Over the race distance (in Malaysia) we saw that (Sauber’s Sergio) Perez was the fastest,” the Austrian said on Servus TV.

“In wet but also in dry conditions, the Sauber was absolutely the fastest one.

“On the other hand, the whole package did not come together for us,” Marko insisted, referring specifically to bad pitstops, and broken radios.

“There are so many things that have to come together. But we have a plan for how to deal with it for China, to solve our problems.

“I’m confident that we will get it back together sooner or later.

“It makes things of course more exciting, although not quite as easy for us,” he smiled.

Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sunday, 25th of March 2012

Weather: Rainy – Air 26ºC, Track 28ºC
Race: 56 laps
Track distance: 5.543 km

Pedro de la RosaF112-02 #2221st
Narain KarthikeyanF112-01 #2322nd

Mission accomplished for HRT Formula 1 Team today as Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan crossed the finish line in the 56-lap race that took place at the Sepang International Circuit. It was an eventful race from the beginning with De la Rosa’s car having to start from the pit lane, but a correct tyre strategy gave its rewards when it started raining heavily and the HRT’s were two of a few cars who were running on extreme wet tyres. The event came to a halt only 9 laps in with Karthikeyan and De la Rosa in 10th and 17th place respectively .The cars were on the grid for almost an hour before the restart and Pedro was penalized with a drive-through penalty but, despite all of this, both drivers put in a fantastic shift at the wheel of the F112 that needs as much running time as possible to be at the level it should be. The team also did a good job with the strategy and the mechanics completed their first pit stops.

Overall it was a satisfying result for the team who now has two weeks ahead to prepare for the Chinese Grand Prix in better conditions.

Pedro de la Rosa: “I must say I really enjoyed myself in that race. It really was the best race to make my debut with HRT. I don’t think anyone could imagine we would finish after starting from the pit lane due to an issue with the fuel pressure that we were dragging over from yesterday, I was penalized with a drive-through penalty, we completed our first real pitstop… to sum up, a lot of things happened but, in the end, the car held out really well given where we were at the beginning. We have to improve many things but this was a perfect test. My teammate also finished so that’s doubly satisfying. I’m very happy for the team, we accomplished our objective. Now we have to go a little bit further”.

Narain Karthikeyan: “It was a very interesting race in really wet conditions. We were running in 10th at one point, which I think is the best position we’ve ever been in but unfortunately the rain stopped and the track dried out and it was impossible to keep ahead of the rest. I made a mistake, locking up the front, and went off on turn 9 but apart from that it all went pretty well. We finished the race, did some mileage and made up two positions from 23rd so that’s something to smile about. Everyone did a great job and we’re all really happy with the result, now we have to go on from here and try to progress in China”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “Yesterday after qualifying we were satisfied and today, thankfully, we are again. We met another target which was to finish the race with both cars. There are aspects that need improving, without a doubt, such as reliability and the speed of the car, but by completing the race we have accumulated a lot of data which will be of great use to continue progressing. We also need to improve pit stops and team coordination but it was the first time they did it and from the first stop to the second you could already tell the difference. Today I want to highlight the work everyone did and thank them for their effort these past weeks and today’s result is a small reward for that enormous amount of work that is taking place”.

Narain Karthikeyan was unequivocal as he walked through the paddock gates on Saturday.
“I have to qualify. There are no two ways about it,” said the Indian.

It had been a difficult winter and an even more difficult season opener so far for the struggling Spanish team.

Saturday would be even worse, with Karthikeyan and his teammate Pedro de la Rosa indeed failing to get within 107 per cent of the fastest time in ‘Q1′.

Often, the FIA allows drivers who fail to qualify to start the race anyway, but the new F112 has simply not merited a free-kick in Melbourne.

“We did everything we could,” de la Rosa is quoted by EFE news agency.

“In the end, we have so much room for improvement and it is true to say that we have to change many things, we know what they are, so all I can say is that we all have to be patient.

“I said when I arrived in Australia that this is a test for us; this is our preseason. The downside is we are doing it in front of all the cameras.

“It should be done already but it was not possible for us, so what we do now is work for Malaysia and the following races and focus on the areas that are important to make the car better.”

A report in AS newspaper said the biggest problem with the F112 car is the hydraulic system, which cannot be repaired in time for next weekend’s Malaysian grand prix.

“I am proud of this team — you cannot ask for more than 24 hours a day of work from people,” said de la Rosa.

On the brighter side, fellow straggler Marussia did manage to qualify on merit in Australia.

“We’ve all had a great lift but we have a long way to go and plenty of hard work to do to make the car quicker,” said Timo Glock.

He told Auto Motor und Sport that it will some time.

“Over the next few weeks we will do the little things first,” said the German. “Unfortunately we don’t have the capacity of someone like Red Bull so we would rather work a little longer on a big update.”

Sergio Perez has admitted the possibility he could be paired with Fernando Alonso next year at Ferrari.
The famous Italian team has put Felipe Massa on notice, with Mexican Perez – currently driving for Ferrari-powered Sauber – at the head of Ferrari’s driver development programme.

At the same time, however, Red Bull’s reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel regularly declares his desire to one day race a Ferrari.

“Ah, yes,” Perez told the Spanish sports daily Marca.

So who is the real front-runner for Massa’s seat?

“We will see,” he insisted, “as ultimately it depends on this year, which for me is very important.”

Perez, 22, admitted at least that he is a leading candidate.

“Yes, but this season is yet to even start and everything changes very fast in a year. There are many things that are yet to have been seen,” he said.

“For me, Ferrari is the greatest team for which all the drivers dream of one day winning the championship but … let’s see. I would love to be there some day.”

Perez acknowledged that Spaniard Alonso, Ferrari’s much-loved number one, would be a difficult teammate.

“Very difficult, I would say Alonso is the most difficult on all of the grid to have as your teammate, I respect him a lot,” he insisted.

Reportedly on the cusp of a top seat, Perez is nonetheless still fending off suggestions he is a ‘pay driver’, due to his strong backing by the Mexican sponsor Telmex.

“In these days you do depend more on your support,” admitted Perez, “but I believe the talent remains the priority.

“Even with the drivers having support, I don’t think there are any bad drivers on the grid.

“I was criticised a lot for coming with the Telmex money, but if you look back, a driver who wins five races in GP2 and loses the title by 10 points will normally go in F1 the next year.

“It (Telmex) is an influence, but to say it’s why I’m here is not fair,” he insisted.

Renault is still in “big” financial trouble and David Richards has expressed interest in buying into the Enstone based team.

That is the claim of the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, adding that one of the richest Dutch entrepreneurs Marcel Boekhoorn has been asked to support Prodrive chief Richards’ interest.

“I’ve heard about it but I do not know what to think of it,” said Jan Paul ten Hoopen, who is Dutch GP2 driver Giedo van der Garde’s manager.

The link with van der Garde is that the 26-year-old driver is married to Boekhoorn’s daughter.

Ten Hoopen continued: “I think it is pretty much a mess within that team (Renault). Put it this way, it is clear in terms of Lotus-Renault that many things remain unclear.

“Certainly if there is any more to it, we should see if there are any opportunities for Giedo,” ten Hoopen is quoted by NUsport.

Richards, also the former BAR boss, was the team principal at Enstone based Renault when the team was known as Benetton in the late 90s.

Adrian Newey is a “genius” but his contribution to a team’s success is overrated, according to Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso.
As technical boss, Briton Newey has also won titles with Williams and McLaren and is credited as a core reason for Red Bull’s current success.

But Alonso told Spain’s Marca sports newspaper at the Ferrari summer media event in the Italian Dolomites: “In F1, there is no magic, no genius who can do everything but still everyone talks about Newey.

“He really is very good and he has made a great car, but he was the same genius for the first five years and their cars were no so good.

“To have success you need many things, including a group of intelligent people, budget — without just the right mix it is not possible.

“Newey would not go to Virgin and win the world championship without the right structure,” added Alonso.

Bernie Ecclestone appeared at the Nurburgring on Friday, despite suggestions he might skip the journey to Germany for fear of being arrested.
The F1 chief executive is finally admitting he paid $44 million to jailed German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, but he denies it was a bribe.

Even so, some suspected the fact the charges laid against Gribkowsky coincided with Germany’s F1 event would convince Ecclestone to remain in Britain to avoid potential trouble.

But he told the reporter for Bild newspaper at the Nurburgring: “I said I would come, so here I am.”

And Ecclestone told the Financial Times when asked if he fears being arrested: “No, not at all.

“I’m concerned it’s going to be bloody wet and cold. Otherwise, should be a good race.”

But many paddock insiders on Friday cast serious doubt on billionaire Ecclestone’s explanation that he was blackmailed by Gribkowsky to avoid trouble with inland revenue.

“Bernie does not get blackmailed,” one was quoted by the Telegraph.

At the very least, Ecclestone admitted that he regrets paying the money.

“So many things in life are hindsight,” said the 80-year-old.

“It’s not my style to have anyone threaten me. Believe me, in my life I have been threatened properly. But in this case they (the lawyers) advised me to pay up.

“But don’t worry, I have nothing to worry about,” added Ecclestone.

One rumour is that the diminutive Briton, perhaps under pressure from F1 owner CVC’s investors, might step aside to allow the scandal to play out away from the sport.

“There is no sign of him backing off,” Ecclestone’s former power ally Max Mosley told the Financial Times. “On the other hand, maybe he will.”

Paul di Resta has admitted he isn’t sure he will still be with the Force India team in 2012.

Team boss Vijay Mallya said recently he has “clear options” to retain the impressive Scottish rookie – who maintains strong links with Mercedes-Benz – beyond this season.

But di Resta told Press Association Sport at the Nurburgring: “There are many things you hear, but you don’t know. I really don’t know where I am next year.

“Of course, I’d like to stay here if this is an opportunity. I came in here with a long term view.”

But there have also been suggestions that Mercedes would like to run reigning DTM champion di Resta at its works team, despite indications Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are both staying on board for 2012.

“Naturally, I’d love to be with a bigger team battling up at the front, that’s my ambition, but Force India is an up-and-coming team,” he said.

“This year has been more difficult than we thought. We’ve not picked up from where we left off last year.

“But sometimes things go down before they go up, and you take one step back to go two steps forward.

“So I certainly hope we can build a future in F1. That’s always been the intention,” added di Resta.

Ross Brawn has revealed that Mercedes will consider its driver lineup for 2012 “later in the season”.

Michael Schumacher is under contract to stay alongside Nico Rosberg next year, but there has been speculation that the seven time world champion might call time on his mixed return to formula one at the end of 2011.

“He has a three year contract with Mercedes, and we are very happy with him,” team boss Brawn told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“But if he feels that he doesn’t want to do it any more, then we need to talk about it. You can’t force somebody to do something.

“But we believe in him; he’s an important part of our team,” added the Briton.

Asked directly if Mercedes still wanted to work with Schumacher in 2012, Brawn insisted: “Yes, of course. We will get together later in the season.”

He said Rosberg is “definitely” the best teammate Schumacher has ever had.

“Sometimes it’s like the young Michael Schumacher is standing before me,” said Brawn. “He goes about his job with an incredible intensity, he has no emotional weaknesses and is incredibly talented.

“Perhaps the situation would be a little easier for Michael if he had a teammate who was not so incredibly strong. But both can learn many things from each other, and everyone is up to the challenge.”

Jerome d’Ambrosio has admitted he is still working to get up to speed gainst his Virgin teammate.
2011 is the Belgian 25-year-old’s first season in formula one, and in the telling battle for grid position so far, the experienced German Timo Glock has been comfortably in charge.

“Clearly I still need to improve my Saturdays,” d’Ambrosio told La Libre newspaper.

Glock made his F1 debut with Jordan in 2004, but he also raced with the top-budget Toyota team in 2008 and 2009 before moving to the start-up Virgin last season.

“His experience is the most prominent on stop and go tracks like Valencia, or Canada where there is little grip and braking is therefore difficult.

“I still have more to understand to get the last tenths in those conditions. But I’m not ashamed to say he was simply stronger,” added d’Ambrosio.

He added: “What I’m thrilled about is that on race pace, I was consistently with his times.”

There have been reports that Virgin is preparing to abandon the 2011 project in order to be much stronger next year, but d’Ambrosio insists there are “many things” the team is doing to be stronger this season.

“We do not want to end up with the red lantern,” he said, referring to Virgin’s battle to avoid finishing the world championship in last place.

Pirelli has many ideas about how to maximise its involvement in F1 as the sport’s official tyre supplier.
That is the claim of the Italian marque’s British motor sport director Paul Hembery, who spoke to Auto Motor und Sport at Valencia, the eighth race since Pirelli took over from the now departed Bridgestone.

He said the first idea is about the supply of wet-weather tyres.

“If the first two practice sessions are wet, then we need an additional set of intermediates for the rest of the weekend. We have agreed that this should come in to the regulations for next year,” said Hembery.

As for the basic construction and compounds, he said Pirelli is fairly happy even though the target is “two to three pitstops per car” rather than four as has been seen on occasion this season.

“We wanted to wait for the mid season. After Silverstone we will get together and show the teams a few things,” he said.

Hembery said the plan is then to make significantly faster tyres in 2013.

“The aerodynamics will be reduced so we want to give the teams a little boost on the laptime,” he revealed.

“There are many things. Maybe we will increase the number of different tyres; maybe we’ll bring three compounds to a race, maybe with a total of six to choose from.

“I don’t know yet. There are lots of ideas,” said Hembery.

Another idea is for a “super sticky” qualifying tyre that lasts for only one lap.

“In the end for something like that the decision is with the teams. They might say no,” he explained.

Jean Todt has scrapped his earlier plans to appoint a commissioner in charge of formula one.
Upon being elected as new FIA president, the former Ferrari boss has as promised appointed commissioners for many of the federation’s series including world rallying, touring cars and GT.

“Firstly, I still respect the principle of what I said I would do,” he is quoted as saying by the French-language autohebdo.fr.

“The election was a new experience for me. My advisors suggested I create a commission for all the disciplines of the FIA.

“Except in F1, where the president of the commission owns the commercial rights – Bernie Ecclestone – we have committees in all disciplines.

“I think in the case of F1, you would end up with two separate commissions. That’s why I abandoned the idea,” explained Todt, who has been at loggerheads with Ecclestone over several political matters of late.

The 65-year-old also said it is too early to commit to standing for another term as FIA president.

“I’ve been here for 18 months. It has gone quickly but I still have 30 months as president to go. I can still accomplish many things before I take a decision,” insisted Todt.