Michael Schumacher has revealed he would not have returned to formula one if not for the sport’s strict testing ban.
Two years after his record seventh title, the famous German retired in 2006, but then came back with the new Mercedes GP venture in 2010 and is now deciding whether or not to extend his contract for 2013.

But as a multi-millionaire and 43-year-old father of two, he was asked by the German newspaper Bild-Zeitung why he was not content to simply “enjoy your family” in the wake of his unprecedented success.

“Because racing is my passion,” he insisted, “and anyway it doesn’t mean I have to stop enjoying my life with my family.

“When I came back again, one of the reasons (for the decision) was that formula one is much less time-consuming as it was in my ‘first career’.

“Then, we had testing after each race, now – during the season – there is not. I have plenty of time for my family,” said Schumacher.

“Otherwise, clearly, there would have been no comeback,” he admitted.

So, Schumacher is now deciding whether or not to stay in 2013 and beyond.

Would he consider returning to Ferrari, to once again take on the challenge of pulling the famous Italian squad out of a crisis?

“Let’s just say this,” the German answered. “The probability that I will end my career with a team other than Mercedes is so exceedingly low that I don’t need to even think about it.”

Mike Gascoyne has handed over day-to-day control of the Caterham team’s technical operations.
The former Lotus outfit announced that Briton Gascoyne – a founding member of the Tony Fernandes-led team and a long-term prominent figure in the paddock – has become chief technical officer of the whole Caterham Group.

That group now involves a GP2 team as well as the niche Caterham road car company, which was acquired by Malaysian millionaire Fernandes last year to solve the Lotus naming dispute.

The news means Mark Smith will “lead the F1 team’s technical division day to day and will increase his presence at races”, a media statement read.

Caterham said Gascoyne, formerly with Renault and Toyota, “will continue to attend races”, “adding his wealth of experience and knowledge to the team when it is required.”

Gascoyne clarified on Twitter that he will be at “most” grands prix.

“Mark Smith is exactly the right person to step up to the broader role he will now be taking on in the F1 team,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Flavio Briatore has rubbished speculation he is eyeing a return to formula one management.

Recent rumours have linked the flamboyant former Renault boss, banned from F1 because of the 2009 ‘crashgate’ scandal, with a leading role at Ferrari.

But the Italian told Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport: “I do not intend to return to formula one as a team manager.

“Italy is the land of rumours,” said the 61-year-old millionaire. “That’s why I am always brought back in connection with Ferrari, but it’s nonsense.”

In the same interview, Briatore rubbished suggestions Sebastian Vettel might be an ideal next teammate at the Maranello based team for Fernando Alonso.

“I would never want them together,” insisted Briatore, who is still involved in the management of Spaniard Alonso’s career. “It would weaken the team by splitting it into two parts.”

Briatore admitted that he has been impressed with German Vettel, 24, in 2011.

“He is super strong with the right attitude and reminds me of Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso in that once they had their first title in the bag they then got stronger and more confident.”

On the topic of Schumacher, Briatore continued: “I’d rather reminisce about the Michael of Benetton and Ferrari. Now, he has been out for too long and is fighting to be among the top ten.

“That’s something I find quite sad,” he added.

Heikki Kovalainen appears likely to stay with Team Lotus in 2012.

When asked at Silverstone if he has thought about the green liveried team’s 2012 driver lineup, owner and boss Tony Fernandes answered: “No we haven’t, it’s still very early days.”

But the Malaysian millionaire opened up some more to the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

Asked how likely a new deal for Finn Kovalainen is, Fernandes answered: “It is very likely.

“Heikki is a consistent performer and always gets 100 per cent from the car. He gives a lot of energy to the team.

“Heikki has become a good friend, so if he is satisfied with us, I see no reason to change.”

Turun Sanomat also asked Fernandes if Kovalainen is as popular within Team Lotus as Fernando Alonso is at Ferrari.

“Yes, definitely — although I don’t know exactly how popular Fernando is at Ferrari,” he laughed.

Karun Chandhok will test at two forthcoming formula one tests, Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes confirmed on Sunday.
Indian Chandhok, the former HRT driver, was seen wearing a Team Lotus jacket at the opening pre-season test at Valencia last week, amid reports he is a frontrunner to occupy a reserve driver role in 2011.

“We would like him to be reserve driver but we’ve got to see whether it all works out, that’s the plan,” team owner Fernandes said from Malaysia after it was announced he has been appointed a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

“He (Chandhok) is going to get a couple of slots in the testing now in Jerez and Barcelona,” the millionaire told Reuters. “And then we’ll decide after that.

“(Technical boss) Mike (Gascoyne) and (CEO) Riad (Asmat) and everyone else feel he’s the right guy to add value to the team,” added Fernandes.

Malaysian carmaker Proton on Monday vowed to challenge Tony Fernandes’ intention to brand his formula one team ‘Team Lotus’ in 2011 and beyond.

In 2010, airline millionaire Fernandes’ new team has been called ‘Lotus Racing’, with the name officially licensed by the separate British carmaker Group Lotus.

But Group Lotus is now ramping up its motor racing efforts, including by allying with GP2 team ART next year. It is believed the carmaker therefore decided to retract the naming license for Fernandes’ team.

Air Asia chief Fernandes has therefore bought the separate Team Lotus name from David Hunt. But Group Lotus said in a statement on Monday that it will resist Fernandes’ intention to call his F1 team Lotus in 2011.

“We are the owners of this brand, and will take all necessary steps to protect it,” said Proton Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh.

“Tony Fernandes has no rights to use the Lotus brand in the 2011 formula one season, and we will strongly resist any attempts by him to use our brand without our permission and will withdraw our sponsorship of the Lotus Racing team,” he added.

Nadzmi confirmed that Proton and Group Lotus have terminated the licensing of the Lotus Racing name for Fernandes’ team because of “flagrant and persistent breaches of the licence by (the team), which were damaging to the Lotus brand”.

He also said Group Lotus will not allow Fernandes’ team to be called ‘Team Lotus’ in 2011, even though the name was owned separately by 1976 world champion James Hunt’s brother David since 1994.

“Mr Hunt’s attempt to acquire the name Team Lotus (in the 90s) was ineffective,” said the Proton statement.

“Group Lotus is the owner of all rights in the ‘Lotus’ automotive brand including those relating to formula one,” it added.

Tony Fernandes on Friday admitted he would like Group Lotus, the Proton-owned maker of British sports cars, to be involved with his formula one team.

But in reality, Lotus Racing – Fernandes’ entirely separate Malaysian-owned outfit – and Norfolk based Group Lotus, seem to be moving even further apart.

Group Lotus is reportedly retracting the license for the Lotus Racing moniker, meaning Fernandes has had to buy the separate and historic Team Lotus name in order to continue to be called Lotus in formula one.

At the same time, the Malaysian airline millionaire admitted he was surprised when he learned that Group Lotus is getting involved in GP2 next year with the top team ART.

Asked pointedly in Singapore if there is a link between Lotus Racing and Group Lotus’ new motor racing plans, he answered: “No.”

Fernandes admitted that, when originally founded by Colin Chapman in the 50s, Group Lotus and Team Lotus were entirely cooperative.

“Of course they cooperated and of course we would like to cooperate but if Group Lotus doesn’t want to then there’s not much we can do about it,” he said.

“The door is always open,” continued Fernandes. “It makes sense if they did.

“If I was sitting there and there was a formula one team going around the world with 20 races, promoting a brand, if I was the CEO, I would definitely want to get involved, especially if I’m not putting any money in it,” he added.

Lotus team owner Tony Fernandes’ application to launch a GP2 team for 2011 has been successful, the series announced on Tuesday.

The Malaysian millionaire’s team is called Team Air Asia, named after his Kuala Lumpur based low-fare airline, and is “strongly linked to formula one”, GP2 organisers said in a statement.

“The seriousness of their presentation, their ambition and their worldwide project were really appealing and in line with what we expect from all our teams,” said organiser Bruno Michel.