A tension has crept into F1 drivers’ relationships, as they look ahead to a fiery meeting at the Barcelona circuit on Friday.

Fernando Alonso had given the first hints about the tension when he hit out at Nico Rosberg’s aggressive tactics in Bahrain three weeks ago.

And earlier this week, the Spaniard insisted there is not enough “respect” between the drivers when they are jostling for position at grands prix.

“Fernando made it pretty clear,” world champion Sebastian Vettel told reporters on Thursday. “He said ‘you have to leave the space — all the time you have to leave the space!’”

Rosberg said he is happy if discussions about his driving take place this weekend, but also in the firing line is Lewis Hamilton, who passed the Mercedes driver on the asphalt run-off in Bahrain.

“I was surprised Lewis was allowed to keep his position,” said Mark Webber.

“I’m sure we’ll talk about it in the drivers’ briefing.”

McLaren’s Hamilton insisted he did nothing wrong, but he added: “I’m not really bothered. It’s good to have clarity.

“Mark is probably one of the most – if not the most – outspoken individuals here (in F1), so that is the least I expect from him.”

Also among the most aggressive – and regularly criticised – drivers is Michael Schumacher, and he insisted that the FIA is fully able to make judgements about incidents.

“If it’s not within the rules the FIA would have taken action,” said the seven time world champion, referring to the incidents in Bahrain. “They didn’t and I didn’t see anything wrong either.”

 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.”

Jaime Alguersuari has admitted he was “hurt” by Red Bull’s late decision to oust him from Toro Rosso.
The 21-year-old announced this week that, amid speculation he might rescue his career with the reserve role at Mercedes, he will in fact be missing entirely from the F1 paddock in 2012.

In a Spanish-language statement, he admitted the career interruption was “unnecessary”.

“At the Brazilian grand prix, my continuity (at Toro Rosso) was confirmed verbally.

“After this confirmation by Red Bull and STR, we turned down a very good deal.

“A few days later, Toro Rosso sent me to the headquarters of (sponsor) Cepsa, and at a dinner I talked about my relationship with Toro Rosso and Cepsa with a script written at Faenza.

“No one has ever explained to me why, having fulfilled the expectations asked of me by the team, improving from 2010 and beating my teammate, I am stopped in December with no time to get a good position in 2012,” said Alguersuari.

He insisted, however, that he is not giving up on F1.

“I am thinking only of F1,” he said. “I am 21, have played 46 grands prix, I’m not a rookie driver anymore.

“Yes to formula one, but not at any price.

“I contacted (HRT team boss) Luis Perez-Sala, my friend and former mentor, in December, but we both agreed — HRT does not have a car for me and I cannot spend everything at my age struggling to improve a car that far behind.

“Williams? That option never even occurred to me as nowadays they only want drivers who pay.

“In January I had discussions with one of the best teams that could be decisive in my future. I was received with great affection and respect and we have opened a path.

“For obvious reasons I cannot reveal the nature of our intention, but 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.”

Flavio Briatore’s was a familiar face in the Monaco paddock on Thursday.
Currently banned from returning to F1, a reporter for Spain’s AS newspaper took the opportunity to ask the flamboyant Italian when he might be seen again at the sport’s circuits.

“I’m here now, do you not see me?” he laughed.

“Seriously I miss the relationships with the people, that sort of thing, but I am in constant contact and that’s fine,” added Briatore.

“What I don’t miss is travelling to China.

“Formula one is a great sport, and I’d love to be a part of it because I’ve good friends here,” he is quoted by Britain’s Daily Mail.

“But at this moment I don’t have any plans to come back at all.”

Briatore has, however, been linked with Bernie Ecclestone as well as Ferrari, and the latter team is in a restructuring phase after parting company with Aldo Costa.

Fernando Alonso immediately had a surge of form in Monaco but Briatore insists there is no connection with Costa’s departure.

“A single person can not be expected to improve everything, but there was some kind of restructuring needed,” he said.

Briatore was also asked about the criticism Michael Schumacher has been receiving lately as his comeback continues to disappoint.

“For him it (returning) was a lifestyle choice and we can’t criticise that,” he said.

“This is what he chose and I hope he has fun — sometimes more, sometimes less, but we have to respect it.”

Vitaly Petrov’s hopes of retaining his Renault race seat beyond 2010 got a boost at Suzuka.

Just as Kimi Raikkonen pulled out of the running for the rookie’s drive, it emerged that another Russian sponsor has joined the team.

Recently, the logos of Vyborg Shipyard – reportedly with Petrov’s father sitting on the board – were added to the livery of the R30.

And now in Japan, Renault has announced another deal for the rest of the season with Flagman, a Russian vodka brand.

Flagman said Petrov “presents a unique opportunity to enhance the brand within its domestic market”.

Commented team owner Gerard Lopez: “We have worked hard this year to develop new relationships in Russia, and we are pleased to see this effort bearing fruit.”

Lotus could be contemplating a change of engine supplier for its second season in formula one.

That is the claim of Heikki Kulta, the F1 correspondent for the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

Veteran Kulta, who has been attending grands prix since 1983, is known for his close relationships with Finnish drivers, including Lotus’ Kovalainen.

He reported from Monaco that Lotus, the most impressive of F1′s three new teams this year, will unveil one more big aerodynamic update for the British grand prix and then turn its attention to the 2011 car.

Kulta said Lotus is eyeing a change of engine supplier, having entered F1 with FIA-preferred Cosworth in 2010.

“I am very confident that next year we will have a good car, which we will be able to build over a longer period,” Kovalained is quoted as saying.

“This car was a rush but next year our team will be seen in the real way,” he added.

It has been reported that Renault is willing to supply another team, and the very best advertisement for its product was Saturday’s 1-2-3 in Monaco qualifying.

Mercedes’ V8 is known to be the most powerful in F1, but Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel said the driveability of the Renault V8 is paying off on the streets of Monaco.

“If you have the first three cars in qualifying with the Renault engine I think that’s a positive note,” said the German.

(GMM)

Renault could supply its V8 engines to another team in 2011.

Currently, the French marque powers not only the team that bears its name, but also the sport’s dominant Red Bull Racing.

Confirming its bid to debut in F1 next year, GP2 team ART’s co-founder Frederic Vasseur admitted he has “good relationships with Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault”.

And Renault’s head of engine operations Remi Taffin told Auto Hebdo: “Today, nothing has been done but it is quite possible that Renault will power another team next season.”

It is possible that the new deal will replace Red Bull, whose owner Dietrich Mateschitz said in an interview mere days ago that he thinks the Renault is “30 to 40 horse power” less powerful than Mercedes’ engine.

But Taffin suggested that the new deal could be in addition to Red Bull and Enstone-based Renault.

“It would not be a problem: we have the capacity both in terms of technology and production.”

(GMM)

The French GP2 outfit ART Grand Prix is bidding to become the thirteenth team on the 2011 formula one grid.

“Yes, we have applied to join the world championship in 2011,” Frederic Vasseur, co-founder, confirmed to France’s Auto Hebdo.

The team is also headed by Nicolas Todt, son of FIA president Jean Todt and manager of the Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

ART also races in F3 Euroseries and GP3.

Expressions of interest for the 13th place closed on April 15, and the FIA is said to be moving towards a final decision by July.

“We did not want to confirm our willingness to engage in formula one until now, to best prepare for this very complex issue and not compromise our current activities,” Vasseur added.

Vasseur also said the existing F1 teams have been informed “of our intentions”, adding that he has “good relationships with Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault”.

“The choice of engine is not yet defined,” he insisted.

Auto Hebdo said Epsilon Euskadi, Durango and Stefan GP are also bidding for the last place in the 2011 pitlane.

(GMM)

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