Statistically, the Chinese grand prix raced straight into the history books as one of the most exciting formula one events of all time.

“For me, we are having some of the best races in formula one history,” agreed Jenson Button after finishing Sunday’s Shanghai race behind Nico Rosberg.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that only three grands prix in the history of the sport played host to more individual overtaking moves.

The report said there were 72 passes in total on Sunday, not including the first corner of the race. Seven of the moves were on Kimi Raikkonen on one lap, after the Lotus driver’s Pirelli tyres gave up the ghost.

Last year in Shanghai, there were 63 passes. So far in 2012, there were more overtaking moves in China, Malaysia and Australia compared to the same races last season.

Canada 2011 still stands as the site of the most passes during a single grand prix, at 89.

In second place are the 1983 US grand prix and the 2011 Turkish grand prix (79 passes), followed by China last weekend.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is celebrating the spectacle of the 2012 season so far.

“Who’s going to predict who will win?” he said, referring to this weekend’s grand prix in Bahrain. “I won’t.

“We’ve had three very different races and I think we are going to have potentially 20 very different races this year.”

 Fernando Alonso has kicked off the new 2012 season with a ‘Samurai’ tattoo on his neck and back, Marca sports newspaper reports.
Publishing a photo of the artwork on the Ferrari driver’s neck, the Spanish publication said the tattoo features Japanese characters.

Marca said the Spaniard and two-time title winner was inspired by the Hagakure, the spiritual guide written by 18th century samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo.

The report said most of Alonso’s tattoo is on his back.

Peter Sauber is sporting some bumps and bruises this weekend following a fall in Melbourne.
Switzerland’s Blick newspaper reports that the 68-year-old team owner and boss fell at the paddock entrance at Albert Park last Sunday, taking the brunt of the impact with his elbow and wrist.

“It still hurts,” he admitted. “All I could think of at the time was to protect my face.”

Sauber was treated by McLaren doctor Aki Hintsa, who said Sauber was lucky not to have injured himself more badly.

 Hot on the heels of the new F-duct controversy, Mercedes has turned the heat back onto Red Bull.
Amid complaints from rival teams including Red Bull about its innovative aerodynamic concept aboard the W03, Mercedes’ Ross Brawn admitted he sensed a diversionary tactic.

“The discussion about our system has diverted the focus from the exhaust issue,” he said in Australia.

The FIA has clamped down hard on the exhaust-blown diffusers seen throughout the grid last year, but much pre-season chatter focused on some teams’ post-ban 2012 solutions that reportedly fly close to the boundaries of the new rules.

But now Germany’s Bild newspaper reports that Mercedes suspects Red Bull is also bending the rules in another area.

The report said Mercedes’ sound analysis indicated Renault-powered Red Bull is deploying an “illegal engine trick”, apparently involving the turning on and off of individual cylinders.

Mercedes’ competition vice-president Norbert Haug commented: “There is no official protest by us. But there are some questions that we are asking the FIA.”

Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko hit back: “No one will find anything. We comply with the rules.”

German specialist magazine Auto Motor und Sport, meanwhile, reports that Melbourne winner McLaren currently has the most sophisticated exhaust solution on the 2012 grid.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s illegal,” said Peter Sauber, “but it’s borderline.”

Teams including Mercedes, Lotus, Toro Rosso and Williams reportedly used much more conservative solutions in Australia.

“First we wanted to see what is allowed and what is not,” said Williams engineer Mark Gillan.

 Many team bosses reportedly left the Melbourne paddock angry late on Sunday, amid claims Ferrari and Red Bull have agreed special deals for F1′s future beyond the current Concorde Agreement.
Rumours of the top teams’ deal – part of a reportedly planned $10 billion stock market floatation of the sport – began to swirl following the publication and then retraction of a Sky News internet report.

The report was reportedly based on a leaked copy of the draft 2013 Concorde Agreement, which according to London’s Telegraph newspaper “could hand Ferrari a direct stake in the sport”.

Red Bull, the reigning champions, “also stand to make a huge sum”, the report claimed, adding that the energy drink-owned team as well as Ferrari will be asked to nominate directors for F1′s holding company board.

Team boss Christian Horner revealed Red Bull is “in discussions with FOM” about a new Concorde Agreement, adding that talks are “progressing reasonably well”.

How the other major teams – like FOTA members McLaren and Mercedes – fit into the picture is unclear at present, but the Times newspaper reports that there are “no seats” at the boardroom table allocated for them.

An unnamed senior team executive described the rumoured special deals for Ferrari and Red Bull as “outrageous” and “against every facet of European competition law”.

Ferrari declined to comment.

Horner added: “We want one (a Concorde Agreement) which reaches into the future … a floatation is really down to the shareholders.

“It is not really the teams’ business,” he added. “It is more of a question for Bernie (Ecclestone) or CVC.”

Many paddock insiders, however, believe the deals are already done in principle, leading one angry rival team boss to blast: “Formula one stopped being about racing a long time ago”.

“There will be an end game to this,” he added. “We just have to figure out what it is and what it means for the people in the teams who want to go racing and not be involved in this kind of thing.”

Official track action in 2012 has now begun, but the pecking order is still totally unclear.
“The tea-leaf reading will go on until after the third practice session (on Saturday),” Peter Sauber told Switzerland’s Blick.

Only after that one-hour session will Melbourne qualifying be looming, but many paddock insiders believe Malaysia – a more ‘normal’ circuit – will be a better barometer.

The confusion is greater in 2012 because the field is apparently so tightly packed.

“I’ve never known it as open as this,” said McLaren’s Jenson Button, who set Friday’s fastest laptime. “Never.”

Lewis Hamilton agreed: “I’m convinced that Red Bull, Mercedes and us are equal.”

Red Bull, however, is widely believed to be the frontrunner, but Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber said they were unhappy with the balance of the RB8 on Friday.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Webber.

Also unclear is just how good the new Mercedes is, after Michael Schumacher in second practice returned to the ‘P1′ position he had become so familiar with in his first career pre-2010.

“When I saw the (W03) car on track I immediately sent a text to Norbert (Haug),” Alex Wurz revealed to Sport1, “(saying) ‘looks very good’.

“I honestly have to say they are not yet on Red Bull’s level, but they are not too far away,” the former F1 driver, who is in Melbourne as Williams’ new driver mentor, added.

It seems clear that Ferrari ranks somewhere beneath the top trio, and Spain’s Marca newspaper reports that a substantially-redesigned chassis will not get up and running until the European season begins in mid-May.

“We definitely haven’t seen the real picture yet,” Fernando Alonso is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, after going fourth quickest in both of Friday’s sessions.

“Vettel is not as bad as tenth,” he insisted, “and Kovalainen is not as good as eighth.”

Red Bull’s Christian Horner admitted: “Qualifying will be the first time we have driven with empty tanks.”

Team advisor Dr Helmut Marko added: “We are satisfied, it looks quite good. But McLaren is very strong, and the Mercedes (cars) will be in the top five.”

Triple world champion Niki Lauda told Germany’s Speed Week: “I am sure the championship this year will be decided later that it was in 2011.

“The top cars and the whole field appears to be closer together — it could be a great season.”

Sebastian Vettel enters the 2012 season with a clean sheet when it comes to personal sponsorship.
The German recently filmed a television commercial for the dandruff shampoo ‘Head and Shoulders’, but Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper reports that he has not extended that deal.

“It is important to me that a brand is perfect for me. It is not my goal simply to make as much money as I can,” said the Red Bull driver.

Jenson Button filmed a similar shampoo commercial recently, and was widely ridiculed for his performance.

“Of course, I’ve had a little bit of mickey-taking from doing the advert,” Vettel admitted to the Sun.

“At least I never took my shirt off – I think Jenson did – but you have to be able to poke fun at yourself.”

 He may not have a race or even a reserve seat, but Jaime Alguersuari will at least be a regular face in the formula one paddock in 2012.
The axed Toro Rosso driver will be experienced broadcaster James Allen’s co-commentator for British radio BBC 5 Live, the Telegraph newspaper reports.

Journalist Tom Cary said the news will be confirmed officially on Tuesday.

Still just 21, Spaniard Alguersuari revealed last month that he will remain fully focused on formula one this year.

“I am thinking only of F1,” he said. “What I can say is that I will devote myself body and soul to F1 in 2012.

“I will prepare myself, with no contractual relationships with anyone, to be ready and available for any opportunity that arises.”

The unity of the formula one teams association FOTA might be racing into trouble.

AS newspaper reports that neither Red Bull nor Mercedes are fans of the so-called resource restriction agreement, with Ferrari and McLaren on the opposing side of the developing debate.

The report said Red Bull as well as Mercedes, the topic of conversation at Suzuka following the high-profile appointments of Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis, feel “under suspicion for alleged overspending”.

Both teams “seem willing to fight for the elimination of this regulation”, with some sources saying an impasse could lead to Mercedes and Red Bull leaving FOTA altogether.

AS correspondent Manuel Franco said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has called upon FOTA, led by his McLaren counterpart Martin Whitmarsh, to resolve the issue this weekend in Korea.

Bernie Ecclestone admitted recently that he does not support FOTA.

“I try not to think of them,” said the F1 chief executive in a joint interview recently with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who agreed: “I also don’t spend too much time thinking in that direction.”

F1 chief executive Ecclestone told formula1.com: “It (FOTA) is an unnecessary association of people who should put their sole emphasis on getting competitive cars on the grid.”

The latest spat between Bernie Ecclestone and the F1 teams’ association is set to break out.
Spain’s Diario Sport newspaper reports that FOTA, headed by McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, believes the F1 chief executive has breached the Concorde Agreement in devising the arduous 20-race calendar for 2012.

The report said FOTA vice-chairman Eric Boullier confirmed the potential disagreement in the Singapore paddock.

Diario Sport said the teams believe they have the right to renegotiate the commercial terms if Ecclestone moves beyond the maximum 17 grands prix per season.

The confidential agreement reportedly also refers to the number of races that can take place outside of Europe, with the teams concerned about the additional costs of the ‘flyaway’ events.

“We would suggest a couple of ideas and, above all, we intend to request a reconsideration of the logistics,” said Boullier.

Ecclestone reacted: “The teams don’t do the calendar, I do. They can’t come now with their proposals. It’s my decision so if someone is going to do something, it’s me.

“If someone isn’t happy they can go to the police. Wouldn’t the real problem be if there were no races to go to?” he added defiantly.

Jaime Alguersuari hopes his best ever qualifying performance will stop the speculation about his future in formula one.
With Red Bull’s next up-and-comers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne knocking loudly on the door at Toro Rosso, driver manager Helmut Marko has said he will only consider the 2012 lineup after the end of this season.

Spaniard Alguersuari, still just 21, qualified on the back of the third row at Spa-Francorchamps, five places ahead of his Swiss teammate Sebastien Buemi.

“I hope now that all the people (reporters) stop asking me about this nonsense,” he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, referring to the constant speculation about his future.

Another boost to Alguersuari’s future could be the reported title sponsorship deal between Toro Rosso and Abu Dhabi’s petroleum investment company (IPIC), with links to Spanish oil brand Cepsa.

AS sports newspaper reports that Alguersuari has even been in direct contact recently with Khadem Abdulla Al-Qubaisi, the managing director of IPIC.

Said Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost: “Both our drivers performed very well throughout the (Spa) weekend.”

A defeat for Sebastian Vettel in 2011 would involve the biggest formula one comeback since James Hunt won the championship 35 years ago.
Finland Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that the task for Vettel’s pursuers – including his teammate Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso and the McLaren drivers – is greater even than Briton Hunt’s in 1976.

Then, flamboyant Hunt won the title by one point after Niki Lauda sat out races to recover from his near-fatal Nurburgring crash, before the great Austrian voluntarily pulled out of the treacherous Japanese finale.

Asked if he is enjoying his near-unprecedented dominance this season, Red Bull’s Vettel told DPA news agency this week: “No, I only enjoy success when I have it.

“Ask me again after the last race in Brazil.”

Team Lotus has struck a deal with its technology partner Red Bull to use a KERS system in formula one.
Malaysian Tony Fernandes’ small team is this year using the hydraulics system and gearbox run by the reigning championship-winning outfit in 2010.

And Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that, next year, the green liveried team will take yet another step forward because its Red Bull parts will be the ones currently used on Adrian Newey’s dominant RB7.

And the KERS to be used by Team Lotus, Turun Sanomat continued, will be the Magneti Marelli system that is developed in cooperation with Renault and Red Bull.

Fernandes confirmed: “Yes, we have agreed with Red Bull on KERS.”

Red Bull might be an odd choice as KERS supplier for Team Lotus, given the team’s struggles with the technology so far in 2011.

Newey said last month that energy recovery is “Not really our forte. We are an aerodynamics and, sort of, chassis composite engineering group rather than a KERS group”.

A spokesman has denied the wind is falling from the sails of the 2012 US grand prix.
The Texas official who approved the state funding for the Circuit of the Americas project is being sued, and the Austin City Council on Thursday delayed a vote on the receipt of the money.

Now, the local Austin American Statesman newspaper reports that construction efforts at the site of the formula one circuit have “slowed noticeably”.

And investor Bobby Epstein warned: “If things get delayed any more, job layoffs are a certainty and construction spending will stop.”

But project spokesman Jeff Hahn moved to play down those kinds of fears, explaining that the Circuit of the Americas is quieter at present simply because the excavation phase of the construction has wound down.

Bernie Ecclestone had meetings with two key people on the sidelines of the weekend’s Spanish grand prix.
Bild newspaper reports that the F1 chief executive met first with Adrian Sutil.

Force India’s Sutil is engulfed in a scandal that endangers his entire formula one career, with Renault team co-owner Eric Lux threatening to press criminal charges.

Bild said Ecclestone summoned Sutil in Barcelona because he “wanted to hear from Adrian the truth about the nightclub incident”.

Sutil was then photographed shaking 80-year-old Ecclestone’s hand.

Also in Barcelona at the weekend was Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, according to British newspapers the Telegraph and Guardian.

He was a guest of McLaren, which is part-owned by a Bahraini state-controlled company, even though the Telegraph’s Tom Cary said the British team “kept their royal visitor under wraps”.

It emerges that as Ecclestone admitted in Spain that the 2011 calendar could be extended into December to make room for a rescheduled Bahrain race, the 80-year-old Briton had a “brief chat” with the Crown Prince.