Angry students could threaten next month’s Canadian grand prix.

Protests in Montreal, regarding planned university tuition fee increases, have been turning increasingly ugly and even violent, involving the throwing of glass bottles and hundreds of arrests.

According to the French language La Presse newspaper, at least one student association has specifically threatened to disrupt the F1 race, scheduled for 10 June on the nearby Il Notre Dame.

“I cannot deny that we are following this out of the corner of our eye and will continue to follow it in the coming days,” admitted race promoter Francois Dumontier.

The report said students’ chants at recent demonstrations included references to the grand prix.

At a recent meeting, one association of students approved a resolution to adopt “a weekend of disruption” aimed at “the cancellation” of the race, which represents “sexist, non-environmental and elitist” values.

“It is not clear that we will be targeted,” Dumontier insisted, “but we are an international event and are ready with a safety plan ranging from dealing with simple mischief to a wider disruption.

“The grand prix is often targeted because we are a major event. We are not worried but we have our eyes open and will work with the public authorities,” he added.

Sergio Perez admitted to mixed feelings on Wednesday as he returned to Monaco.

The last time he was in the Principality to race – for his debut grand prix in the fabled Principality – he was hauled away in an ambulance, having been knocked unconscious in a huge qualifying crash.

“To me it’s unbelievable to be back here after such an accident,” the 22-year-old said on Wednesday, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Mexican Perez said Monaco is still his favourite track.

“It is definitely not a good feeling that the walls are so close, but we know the risks. It’s a special place.

“I can remember everything right up to the crash. The next thing I know was that I was on the way to hospital — I was unconscious for several minutes.

“After such an accident it is not easy to come back — I cannot say for sure how I will feel when I come out of the tunnel for the first time. But I think it will be completely out of my head.”

Perez said he really needed “four or five” races to recover from the heavy concussion, but that there was pressure from sponsors to come back as soon as possible.

“I wanted to get back into the car in Montreal, but it was impossible,” he recalled.

“In Valencia it was very difficult for me.”

Now, he is hoping for a very different Monaco weekend, after looking strong last year until his crash.

“Our goal must be the podium. I hope to find a good setup although we have recently had a little problem with the traction.

“We are so close to the top that every tenth can make a difference.

“After our second place in Malaysia, maybe the next step will be victory — I don’t know if we will succeed. But the opportunities are there,” said Perez.

Valencia will not be on next year’s F1 calendar, Bernie Ecclestone said on Saturday.

He confirmed that, starting in 2013, an annually alternating deal between the Spanish port city and Barcelona will begin.

Barcelona, the scene of this weekend’s Spanish grand prix, will host the race in 2013, before Valencia returns to the schedule in 2014, the F1 chief executive told Reuters.

Less secure, meanwhile, is France’s touted spot on the 2013 calendar, particularly with the country’s new anti-F1 president Francois Hollande now taking power.

Until recently, the F1 chief executive was saying Paul Ricard was set to join the 2013 calendar, annually alternating a race date with Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps.

As for the state of the deal now, the 81-year-old admitted: “I have no idea. No idea what they (France) are doing.

“It’s a funny arrangement they were making anyway. So I just don’t know.”

Ecclestone is also working on a new deal for the popular Canadian grand prix, having told promoter Francois Dumontier that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve needs to be upgraded.

“There are two ways of looking at it,” Dumontier, in the paddock of the Circuit de Catalunya, is quoted by La Presse newspaper.

“Either Bernie requires an annual fee windfall, or he will charge a reasonable fee and ask in return for investment in the infrastructure.”

He said the contract on the table is for 10 more years, taking Montreal’s existing deal through 2024.

Ecclestone said on Saturday that he is sure an agreement will be reached, because Canada is one of F1′s most loved destinations.

“I remember saying to Bernie, ‘New York, Austin, I don’t know why you want to go there. Your sure bet is Montreal’. He knows that.

“He’s been in Montreal for 34 years. And in the 22 years of the grands prix in the United States, they’ve had eight different cities.

“He said ‘You’re right’,” added Dumontier.

Another rumour, repeated by The Times’ Kevin Eason on Saturday, is that the planned 2014 Russian grand prix in Sochi “is doomed”.

Montreal has been warned to spend around $15 million on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve or risk losing the Canadian grand prix.

La Presse reports that Bernie Ecclestone has said only a major redevelopment of the circuit will lead to talks about a new contract beyond 2014.

The report said that, in light of the F1 chief executive’s warning, Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay has appealed to higher levels of government for the necessary money.

“Negotiations are underway between the three levels of government and the bodies of formula one”, the report said.

Race promoter Francois Dumontier told RDS: “It’s premature to talk about this.

“There are still two years to go on the current contract. We have started talking, but that it’s out now I find excessive. Honestly, I don’t know where it’s come from.”

He added: “Given that the permanent installations of the circuit, including the control tower and the garages, are nearly 25 years old, it is likely that their repair is an important element in the negotiations for an extension to the current agreement.

“But it seems to me to be premature to talk specific sums.”

Ross Brawn on Friday said he can imagine extending Michael Schumacher’s contract beyond 2012.
Two weeks ago, the Mercedes boss triggered a wave of speculation by revealing that seven time world champion could if he wanted trigger a break clause in his three-year deal at the end of 2011.

But Schumacher, 42, said at Silverstone that he is definitely staying for his third contracted season next year, and Brawn on Friday suggested a contract extension is even possible.

“For us there is no time limit of how long Michael will continue driving,” he is quoted by the German news agency SID.

“If we can give him the right car and he continues to enjoy driving and is successful, there is no reason to stop,” added the Briton.

“Let’s see what happens.”

Amid talk Schumacher has chosen to spend his leisurely retirement years on the F1 grid, Brawn insisted the great German is still up to speed.

Asked if the record winner of 91 grands prix is still able to win races and titles, he answered: “Yes, I think he is.

“Nothing motivates drivers more than success, and in Montreal he had a bit of a sniff and his performance was fantastic.”

Confirmation of a new deal for Kamui Kobayashi is likely “soon”, according to Swiss newspaper Blick.
The report said the Japanese, whose exciting racing style has earned him many fans since he debuted for Toyota at the end of 2009, is an attractive prospect for “a lot of teams” but will almost certainly stay at Sauber.

“As long as I drive for Sauber, I give everything for this team, because without Peter Sauber I would not be in formula one now,” the 24-year-old said.

Kobayashi was also quoted as admitting to looking forward to Silverstone this weekend, after three consecutive races on street circuits.

“Monaco, Montreal and Valencia, that was a bit too much,” he said. “Finally we are back to proper tracks with super-fast corners.”

Jacques Villeneuve on Monday admitted he has given up on formula one.
Last year, the 1997 world champion was pushing hard to make a comeback, but at Williams’ headquarters in Oxfordshire he admitted he no longer even watches the races.

“I just can’t be bothered. Halfway through the race I’m yawning and it’s really tough … and I just get upset,” the 40-year-old told Reuters at the launch of his former team’s new engine supply deal with Renault.

Villeneuve explained that his major qualm is with the DRS overtaking system, which he has previously denounced as “too artificial”.

“When I see these guys not even being able to defend, like Michael (Schumacher) — he should have been on the podium in Montreal,” he said.

“All the … overtaking with the DRS, I’m just falling asleep … useless, boring, it’s not even racing.”

He is also critical of the amount of penalties handed out to drivers like Lewis Hamilton for banging wheels with his rivals.

“It’s fun, it’s a good show, the fans are up in the grandstands and they can scream and shout about it … that’s good, that’s what you want,” said Villeneuve.

Sebastien Buemi has hit back at claims he has become the driver under pressure at Toro Rosso.

Rumours in Valencia had indicated the Swiss’ teammate Jaime Alguersuari was most in danger of losing his race seat to Daniel Ricciardo after struggling to match Buemi’s pace so far in 2011.

But Spaniard Alguersuari, 21, drove strongly to two consecutive eighth places in Montreal and Valencia, triggering new speculation that it is Buemi whose future is now most in doubt.

Veteran Blick correspondent Roger Benoit revealed that Buemi has been spending time this week in Red Bull’s Milton Keynes simulator.

“I am working harder and at some point it will pay out,” Buemi told the Swiss newspaper.

He insists that although Alguersuari’s race results were better in Canada and Valencia, the truth is more complex.

“I was clearly faster than Alguersuari in both qualifyings,” said Buemi. “And in Valencia he had another set of tyres because he missed the first hurdle in qualifying!” he exclaimed.

“Of course I have to live with it, and what counts in the end is the speed, and I have that,” added Buemi.

Sauber has confirmed reports Pedro de la Rosa will step in once again this weekend if Sergio Perez is not well enough to race.
Spanish veteran de la Rosa, despite being McLaren’s official reserve driver, took Perez’s place in Canada after the Mexican rookie felt ill before the second Friday practice session.

The 21-year-old flew from Montreal to his native country to recover with well-known physio Josef Leberer.

“I feel perfectly well and I’m very much looking forward to racing in Valencia,” said Perez.

Team boss Peter Sauber last week defended his decision to call up de la Rosa in Canada rather than the Swiss team’s own official reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez, who is 19.

“Pedro did a very good job,” confirmed managing director Monisha Kaltenborn, according to Tuttosport.

“In Montreal he got into our car, driving it without knowing it well. He did a great job for us.”

As for the forthcoming Valencia street race in a week, Kaltenborn continued: “We see no reason why Sergio should not drive.

“By the time of the European grand prix he will have recovered, but if he has not then we will make use again of Pedro, because of his vast experience,” she added.

Sauber wants to ease Esteban Gutierrez into formula one rather than throw him in the deep end with a last-minute race seat.
That was the explanation of team boss Peter Sauber on Thursday following the Mexican teen’s disappointment about not being called up in Montreal to replace the ill Sergio Perez.

To official reserve driver Gutierrez’s chagrin, he was not even summoned to Canada before his McLaren counterpart Pedro de la Rosa, 40, sat in for Perez.

“I understand the question, but we have a responsibility to Gutierrez,” Sauber is quoted by Germany’s Speed Week.

“It is important to bring him slowly towards formula one,” added Sauber, whose Hinwil based team is backed considerably by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim’s companies.

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”.

The 2011 Bahrain grand prix saga came to a conclusion on Wednesday when the FIA confirmed Sakhir will not host a race later this season.

Without actually mentioning the troubled island Kingdom, the governing body said a fax vote of the World Motor Sport Council had ratified the calendar that was “originally proposed” for the 2011 world championship.

The FIA said the vote was “unanimous”, even though the same word was used for the recent reinstatement of the Bahrain race for 30 October.

However, India will now host its inaugural grand prix on its original 30 October weekend, with the season ending a month later rather than in mid December.

Bernie Ecclestone revealed to the Independent newspaper that Bahraini officials travelled to Montreal last weekend to urge the F1 chief executive to consider rescheduling the race for 30 October, or 4 or 11 December.

“I told them that I thought withdrawing was the easiest way to handle the situation,” he said.

Bahrain will however be involved with the 30 October race this year, with the Sakhir circuit’s medical team tasked with training and assisting its Indian counterparts, according to the Gulf Daily News.

Ross Brawn has played down reports Michael Schumacher is set to extend his return to formula one beyond next season.
Based on the seven time world champion’s claim in Canada that driving a team to success typically takes about “five years”, German media claimed it was a strong hint the 42-year-old was set to renew his contract through 2014.

But when asked on German television RTL if this is the right interpretation to make of Schumacher’s comments, Mercedes team boss Brawn answered: “No.

“There was absolutely no reason to drive that speculation. The situation has not changed.”

The Briton also told German Sky television that the issue of Schumacher’s renewal has “not been discussed”.

“I am very happy with our two drivers — they are not the reason we are not winning races,” Brawn insisted.

“Both our drivers have contracts at the moment and our priority is to make the car better. We definitely have another year with Michael and if with next year’s car we can get the results we want, then I see no reason why we shouldn’t go on.

“But at the moment there are no talks,” he added.

Also asked about the rumours of a contract extension, Schumacher said in Montreal: “At the right time we will talk about it, but right now would make no sense.”

The famous German has had a difficult time since returning to F1 from retirement last season, but in Canada came close to securing the first podium of his comeback.

One foreign newspaper said the Montreal performance showed Schumacher “has some talent left” in the wake of his record-setting previous career tallying 91 wins.

World rally driver Ken Block, famous for his online gymkhana stunt videos, will test the Pirelli F1 test car later this year.
American Block, 43, will drive the updated 2009 Toyota at Monza in August, the sport’s official tyre supplier announced in a media statement.

He will take over the car for a “one off” drive after Pirelli’s test driver Lucas di Grassi tests at the Italian grand prix circuit on the first two days.

“Everybody talks about formula one being the pinnacle of world motor sport so I can’t wait to discover it for myself,” said Block at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday.

An incident in Canada was evidence F1 took a wrong turn in its approach to the bottom half of the grid, according to Luca di Montezemolo.
The Ferrari president was staunchly opposed to the entrance in 2010 of the low-budget new teams Virgin, Team Lotus and Hispania.

He argued that a better approach would have been for the big teams to enter third cars that can be driven by promising and talented newcomers or veterans.

A furious Felipe Massa said after Montreal that he was fighting for the win when collided with HRT’s Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan.

“He was going very slowly on the dry line but then, as I was passing him on the wet, he accelerated,” said the Brazilian.

According to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Massa’s description of Karthikeyan immediately after the race was “unprintable”.

Montezemolo told Italian Sky Sports 24: “This is the problem of slow cars and inexperienced drivers.”