With the F1 world now returned from Bahrain, the sport is assessing the fallout of one of the most controversial grands prix in history.

The drivers were conspicuously quiet over the saga in the island Kingdom, but – with no contract tying him down – former Force India driver Adrian Sutil admitted he was glad he was not there.

“In a situation like that, it is probably better not to go,” the German said on Sky Deutschland.

“On the one hand, the decision was made (to go to Bahrain), on the other hand, it’s very difficult when there are so many problems in a country.”

Red Bull reserve driver Sebastien Buemi, who has family living in Bahrain, does not agree at all.

“I arrived on Monday and I had no problem — maybe there were a few more police than two years ago, but nothing happened to me,” the Swiss insisted on Austrian Servus TV.

Force India and Sauber, however, witnessed Molotov cocktail attacks on their treks to and from the circuit.

And Caterham team spokesman Tom Webb told the Sun that there was “one minor incident when one of our (hire) vans slowed down in traffic and its occupants saw a local youth on the side of the main road brandishing a bottle with a rag stuffed in its neck”.

World champion and race winner Sebastian Vettel also admitted the feeling was tense in the paddock throughout the weekend.

“It was not easy for anyone,” the Red Bull driver admitted, according to SID news agency, “but I’m glad that nothing happened to any of us (in F1).”

And the Telegraph quotes Vettel adding: “Hopefully, we come back in the future when everything’s a little bit safer.”

Reuters reports that Vodafone, the main sponsor of the half Bahrain-owned McLaren team, sent no staff to the country and expressed concerns to the British outfit.

But Jim Wright, an F1 sponsorship expert, told the Guardian that he thinks while the sport’s image took a beating last weekend, sponsors will be happy.

“Most teams handled a difficult decision very well,” he said. “On that basis I think a lot of people would be pleased with that and happy to get involved with them.”

The television audience was also unaffected – even boosted – with the BBC reporting more viewers for Bahrain than Australia and Malaysia, and Germany revealing similarly strong figures.

Still, there remains criticism.

“Now is an opportunity to reflect,” former F1 driver Alex Zanardi told Tuttosport, “and make sure that major sporting events are assigned only to governments that deserve the honour of hosting them.

“Ecclestone is brilliant and has made formula one what it is, but he can’t administer races at any cost and above all else,” insisted the Italian.

Due to security fears, Force India sat out a practice session on Friday so that staff could return to their hotels in daylight.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was reportedly enraged, and according to rumours got his revenge by instructing Formula One Management’s television cameras to ignore the Silverstone based team’s cars in qualifying.

“There was a bit of fuss about what we did,” deputy team principal Bob Fernley is quoted by Spain’s AS newspaper, “and it was not easy, but I think it turned out to be the right response.

“We had a lot of pressure, our attitude was not well received,” he confirmed, “but I think that we had a duty of care to our employees, and to do the right thing by the team.”

Fernando Alonso has backed his beleaguered teammate Felipe Massa.

Massa is fighting to save his Ferrari seat, but his team boss Stefano Domenicali insists the Brazilian also “needs to improve” for the sake of his very “future in formula one”.

On the other hand, the Maranello based team is more than enthralled with the occupant of the sister F2012, Fernando Alonso.

In fact, Domenicali told El Mundo newspaper last weekend that Ferrari has a “moral obligation” to the Spaniard, that might also extend to his involvement “in the important issues”.

One important issue is the identity of his 2013 teammate.

On Massa, Alonso is quoted by El Pais newspaper after Massa finished ninth in Bahrain: “He had a great start, pulled away from the traffic and ran a super race.

“But we didn’t discover this just now: Felipe has won in Bahrain twice. He doesn’t need to prove anything,” said Alonso.

Dietrich Mateschitz has all but confirmed that Mark Webber is staying with the Red Bull team in 2012.

There has been intense speculation about next year’s occupant of the seat alongside Sebastian Vettel, but team owner Mateschitz hinted strongly that the nominated driver will be a 34-year-old Australian.

“In theory it’s still open, but it (Webber being re-signed) is probable. It’s just not confirmed yet,” the Austrian billionaire told Kronen Zeitung.

Mateschitz said the speculation began because Webber was not sure if he wanted to stay.

“But in the early summer, he (Webber) said ‘Definitely, I feel good, fast and strong. I will hang around for another year.’”

Webber is believed to have confirmed the news on Australian television after winning pole position for Sunday’s British grand prix.

While Sauber hopes Sergio Perez will return to his C30 this weekend, the Swiss team has revealed it is more than happy with the occupant of the sister cockpit.
Sauber plucked Japanese Kamui Kobayashi from the ashes of Toyota’s F1 withdrawal at the end of 2009, following some exciting early performances for the then rookie.

He has carried over his daring style to Sauber and now has a secure place at the team, managing director Monisha Kaltenborn told Brazil’s O Estado de S.Paulo.

“We are very happy,” she said.

“Kamui, in his second year of formula one, is already a leader. His exciting style of driving is great for the team and for the fans as well,” added Kaltenborn.

Giedo van der Garde might still be in the running for the Virgin seat alongside Timo Glock in 2011.

Last week, it emerged that Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio’s hopes had advanced so far that he only needed the approval of team partner Marussia to secure the race seat.

But Dutchman van der Garde, whose manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen is also commercial director of the fashion brand McGregor, has also been strongly linked with Virgin for 2011.

“Giedo is ready,” said ten Hoopen. “We hope that a decision is taken for Christmas.”

The magazine formule1.nl reports that Lucas di Grassi, the seat’s 2010 occupant, also stands a chance of staying at Virgin.

Ten Hoopen denies that money alone will determine the victor.

“Teams look at three things: speed, potential and budget,” he insisted.

“It’s not like the one with the most money automatically gets the spot. Giedo has developed enormously in recent years and is thus an attractive partner for a team,” he added.

“The plan we set out has largely been realised: champion in the Renault World Series, a good debut in GP2 with a top classification and some wins, and in the second year champion.

“The latter didn’t quite work out for various reasons not only under Giedo’s control.

“He is right when he said going into formula one will be difficult, but we do believe that he has a chance,” added van der Garde’s manager.

Pedro de la Rosa has vowed to catch up with his former team boss Peter Sauber at the end of the season.

The Spaniard raced with the Swiss team in 2010 until last month’s Italian grand prix, whereafter he was replaced for the last five races by Nick Heidfeld.

Sauber said he made the decision in order to gauge the true pace of the Ferrari-powered C29 car.

De la Rosa has told Spanish radio Cadena Ser this week that he will catch up with the 67-year-old after the Abu Dhabi finale “to see if it was the right decision”.

He admits that Sauber’s explanation that it was de la Rosa’s consistency that motivated the decision “hurt me”.

But he said German Heidfeld is a “good driver, but the quality all the way through the field is very close”.

39-year-old de la Rosa also admitted that the occupant of the sister car, Kamui Kobayashi, is “much better than you think”.

He also said that if he had strong sponsors, “I would still be there”.

On the three-race championship fight, de la Rosa tipped countryman Fernando Alonso “but I don’t know if that’s my brain or my heart speaking”.

He also said the layout of the Korean circuit looks “mixed”, with the tighter sections favouring the Red Bull, and the Ferrari to be better on the long straights.



Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil had hoped to secure the second race seat at Sauber for 2011, according to a Swiss newspaper.

The Blick daily said the German duo, who currently drive for Virgin and Force India respectively, were in the running to be Kamui Kobayashi’s teammate until the Hinwil based team signed well-backed Mexican rookie Sergio Perez.

“Several times,” wrote veteran correspondent Roger Benoit from Suzuka, “they or their managers have appeared in Hinwil — in vain.”

Also hoping for the Sauber seat was its current occupant Nick Heidfeld, who according to Blick must now consider a 2011 switch to Force India, Lotus, Virgin or HRT.

If another driver had lurked beneath Michael Schumacher’s red helmet in 2010, boss Ross Brawn has admitted Mercedes GP might have ousted him.

British television pundit Eddie Jordan, Schumacher’s first ever F1 boss, said in Singapore after the German’s incident strewn run to 13th place that he “would sack him”.

“He’s clearly not good enough on this performance we’ve seen,” the Irishman charged.

Asked a similar question by F1′s official website, Mercedes GP chief Brawn admitted on Wednesday that – if Schumacher was not the famous seven time world champion and record-setting legend – the struggling occupant of this year’s car number 3 might have been shown the door.

“To be honest, probably not,” said the Briton when asked if he would have persevered with a different driver showing Schumacher’s current level of performance.

“But because we know Michael, we know that there is still a lot to come because Michael is in many fields more talented than others — in driving and in the cooperation with the team,” insisted Brawn.

“The team are very happy with the way Michael is contributing. If he were a rookie we surely would have asked ourselves if he has the capacity to advance. With Michael we know that he has,” he added.

Brawn rubbished suggestions Schumacher is on the verge of returning to retirement, and also that he might instead switch to a management role for 2011.

“I have never talked to him about such an option,” he answered.

“He is a very intelligent man with a balanced family life. I don’t know if he really wants to do that to himself.

“As team principal you don’t get the same adrenalin rush as when you are driving a car. What you get is a 10 to 12-hour working day and I am not sure if that would satisfy or motivate him,” said Brawn.

There have also been rumblings of discontent within Mercedes and particularly between Brawn and Norbert Haug, but Brawn insisted he is not about to give up.

“Of course I will retire one day, but I want to step down when I’m successful and not in a situation like I’m facing now,” he said.

“It’s sad that such rumours always get around. But let’s be clear — none of us are happy with the performance this year, and of course Mercedes want to know how and when we will improve.

“But nobody needs to tell me that it is important to win. And probably we can still improve the relationship between Brackley and the Mercedes engine factory, but Mercedes is very open to all suggestions,” continued Brawn.

“So at the moment there are no problems whatsoever. They will come if we are not able to improve in the future.”

He was asked if 2011 is the deadline for Brawn and Schumacher.

“Next year would probably be too early (to give up),” said Brawn. “I like this team. We have gone through many things together. I would never leave the team in an unclear situation.”

Karun Chandhok on Saturday refused to buy into a conspiracy theory surrounding the occupant of his old HRT race cockpit this weekend.

Many paddock figures were bemused on Friday when, as it emerged that Sakon Yamamoto was holed up in his Singapore hotel with food poisoning, it was Christian Klien who was called up to replace the Japanese.

Indian Chandhok started the season in the Cosworth-powered car, and has been attending every race since he was sidelined in the hope of returning to the wheel.

“He had his chance,” team boss Colin Kolles said. “I think Christian also deserved a chance.”

And as for whether Yamamoto really has food poisoning, amid suggestions his sponsor funding might simply have dried up, Chandhok would not be drawn.

“I haven’t spoken to Sakon. I have no idea if he is sitting on the toilet or not,” he smiled.

Yamamoto, 28, in fact watched qualifying from within the HRT garage, as his stand-in Klien outqualified Bruno Senna’s sister car by more than a full second.

With just three months and seven races remaining in 2010, Christian Klien is not ruling out making an appearance or two on this year’s formula one grid.

After starting its difficult debut season with Karun Chandhok alongside Bruno Senna, both of the Spanish team HRT’s original drivers have been rested in order to make way for the well-funded Sakon Yamamoto.

Japanese Yamamoto now appears to be the permanent occupant of Chandhok’s old seat, while Senna insists his contract guarantees him the remainder of the season.

But Klien, another of HRT’s contracted drivers, remains hopeful.

“It’s hard to say,” the 27-year-old told the Austrian daily Kurier.

“All four drivers in HRT are equally placed. It depends entirely on the team,” said Klien, who has already made appearances in the F110 car this season during Friday practice in Barcelona and Valencia.

“I will try to be in the car as much as possible to accumulate experience,” he continued.

Klien, with 48 grands prix under his belt with Jaguar and Red Bull, and also test roles with Honda and BMW, is hoping to be a contender for a full HRT race seat in 2011.

“I get along very well with the team’s people and also the boss (Colin Kolles),” said the Austrian, who will no longer be involved in Peugeot’s Le Mans programme because the French marque wants its drivers to be focused on sports cars rather than F1.

“I am also speaking with other (F1) teams,” insisted Klien.

Fernando Alonso was cautious after topping the drier second practice session at Hockenheim on Friday.

The Spaniard was marginally quicker than Sebastian Vettel, while teammate Felipe Massa split the occupant of the sister Red Bull by going third quickest.

“Ferrari looks extremely competitive,” said Vettel.

McLaren had a more difficult day at the office, but the team is likely to keep its new blown diffuser on the car for the rest of the weekend, despite Lewis Hamilton saying it wasn’t “perfect”.

“I think we can risk going with the new floor,” Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by the German media.

Jenson Button was just fifteenth in the afternoon, while Hamilton was seventh after sitting out most of the session while the damage sustained in his morning crash was repaired.

“The Red Bulls and Ferrari look fast, faster than we expected,” said Button.  “I don’t know if we’ll be as quick.”

Said German Vettel: “I am sure they (McLaren) will come back tomorrow and be up there.”

Alonso, however, was reserving his judgement.  “Difficult to know today, I think we have to wait for tomorrow,” he said.

It rained again after the afternoon session, and more rain is possible on Saturday.

Vitaly Petrov’s future with the Renault team “is in his hands”, according to team boss Eric Boullier.

The comments, made during a team podcast, indicate that recent reports linking Kimi Raikkonen and Adrian Sutil to the 2011 race seat alongside Robert Kubica were not wide of the mark.

Russian rookie Petrov brought substantial funding to the team in the wake of the Genii Capital takeover and the lost ‘crash-gate’ sponsors, but he has also performed solidly.

But as Renault eyes a return to championship contention, Boullier admitted he must find the best possible occupant for the second car.

“His future is in his hands,” he is quoted as saying on Wednesday.

“He did some very amazing jobs sometimes (but) he clearly is lacking some consistency to get the points he deserves. We definitely need to have both cars scoring points, so that’s obviously creating some rumours surrounding his race seat,” added Boullier.

Boullier also confirmed reports that Renault’s own version of the F-duct will debut at a forthcoming race.

There have been suggestions the R30 could be fitted with the downforce-stalling innovation as soon as the Germany-Hungary double header, but Boullier said the F-duct’s introduction is “depending on the production”.

“Maybe we will get it before (Hungary) but very likely right after,” he said.

Two weeks after a boat crash in his native Finland, former F1 driver JJ Lehto has told police he has no memory of the incident.

The 44-year-old, who drove for teams including Sauber and Benetton until 1994 and is now a commentator, was one of the two occupants of a speed boat that struck a bridge pillar at 4am in the morning.

His friend did not survive, but Lehto managed to swim ashore with head injuries and broken ribs.

Finnish reports said Lehto failed an alcohol breath test, and police suspect he might be guilty of other offences, including speeding in the narrow channel.

But a police superintendent said two weeks ago that Lehto could not be interviewed because he was “strongly medicated” while recovering from his injuries in hospital.

And according to Turun Sanomat newspaper, Lehto has now told police that he cannot remember the crash, or the events leading up to it.

(GMM)

Police are looking into a boat crash involving former formula one driver JJ Lehto.

It emerged at the weekend that the 44-year-old Finn, who drove for teams including Sauber and Benetton until 1994 and is now a commentator, swam ashore after the six-metre boat struck a bridge pillar at 4am last Friday morning.

Lehto sustained head injuries and broken ribs, but the other occupant of the boat did not survive.

According to a report in Finland’s Turun Sanomat, Lehto failed an alcohol breath test, and police suspect he might be guilty of other offences, including speeding in the narrow channel.

Locals said the boat belonged to Lehto, and an eyewitness who initially treated the veteran of 70 grands prix said he thought the Finn was drunk.

A police superintendent is quoted as saying Lehto might be charged with safety offences, including culpability for the death of his friend.

“Some kind of offense is suspected, but I am not taking a position until it becomes clearer who did what,” officer Juha-Pekka Vuorinen, who said Lehto had undergone surgery, is quoted by Ilta-Sanomat.

And Vuorinen is quoted by HBL: “We cannot interview someone who is still strongly medicated.  The doctors say he could be discharged (from hospital) in a week and then we will hear from him as soon as possible.”

(GMM)

The Finnish former Formula 1 driver J.J. Lehto is in the early morning was seriously injured taken to hospital. As the Finnish Agency ‘YLE News reports, “the former Benetton team-mate Michael Schumacher on Saturday against four clock had struck with a motor boat to a bridge. On board was apparently a friend of the 44-year-old who could be salvaged, but only dead.

According to initial findings, the boat had collided with a speed of 40 knots (the equivalent of almost 75 km / h) against a concrete pillar. Both occupants were thrown in the southern Finnish city Tammisare into the water. Lehto had to swim ashore and in a nearby house to get help.
The police have the identity of the former Formula 1 stars and traveling with his friend, not yet officially confirmed, but witnesses and local residents have the 44-year-olds clearly identified. Details on the accident happened and the cause is not known. Lehto was denied in its active Formula 1 career 1989-1994 a total of 62 Grands Prix for Onyx, Scuderia Italia, Sauber and Benetton.