Heikki Kovalainen is looking for Caterham to move into the midfield, according to his new management company.

Having handled his own career in the wake of Flavio Briatore’s demise, Finn Kovalainen recently signed up with IMG, the sports and entertainment management giant.

The 30-year-old has rebuilt his reputation since 2010 in the wake of mixed tenures for top teams Renault and McLaren.

According to IMG Motorsport’s head of clients Martin Anayi, Kovalainen is now regarded by formula one team bosses up and down pitlane as among the top best drivers.

“He is a great guy,” Anayi is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper.

“Heikki’s potential is obvious and he definitely wants to succeed.”

There have been rumblings in the paddock that Kovalainen is disappointed that, despite being consistently the best of F1′s new teams since 2010, Caterham is yet to break into the midfield.

“This is only the team’s third season, so there are still some growing paints,” IMG’s Anayi acknowledged.

“Heikki has a strong desire to compete, and not just with his teammate Vitaly Petrov. The team’s boss Tony Fernandes wants to get in with the middle group.

“This means that the team needs to regularly get into the Q2 stage of qualifying and in the race be aiming for the points,” he insisted.

The calamitous Bahrain grand prix saga has not jeopardised the island Kingdom’s future on the F1 calendar.

That is the strident claim of Bernie Ecclestone, after the F1 chief executive and FIA president Jean Todt displayed rare unity as they insisted the country’s civil and political problems would not affect the grand prix.

But amid the bubbling Bahrain saga, Ecclestone had suggested that Bahrain might face trouble when it comes to negotiating a new contract, with the existing agreement only set to extend for three more years.

However, when asked by Reuters if F1 is going to keep returning to Bahrain despite this year’s troubles, Ecclestone insisted on Sunday before leaving the Persian Gulf: “Absolutely. Forever. No problem.”

Like Todt, he even played down the damage done to F1′s reputation this weekend.

“I think it’s good because people talk about things, you know. You know what they say — there is no such thing as bad publicity,” said Ecclestone.

In truth, reputation damage has undoubtedly been done. But Roger Benoit, the veteran correspondent for the Swiss newspaper Blick, admitted he is dismayed with how politics interfered with sport so strikingly this weekend.

“On all continents, somewhere, all hell is breaking loose. And as a formula one reporter, you’re flying around this globe two or three times a year,” he wrote.

“We go to countries that are politically explosive. Where human rights are violated, where poverty reigns.

“But we hardly talk about it — not in China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore or Brazil. In 2014, we’re going to Russia.

“Years ago, our circus happily danced around in apartheid South Africa, and the military dictatorship of Argentina.

“Formula one is pure entertainment. Detached from the problems of the world. But here, in Bahrain, every reporter entered the political field, whether he liked to or not,” wrote Benoit.

So that is why Ecclestone is unapologetic, after championing the Bahrain grand prix.

“Because, basically, the problems they have in Bahrain have nothing to do with F1,” the 81-year-old told El Pais newspaper.

“The relevant agencies gave the nod as far as security was concerned, and I think it is clear that they were not wrong.”

He also sees no problem with F1 being used as a political tool.

“Governments want to have an F1 race for the same reason as they want the Olympics. We come to agreements with the promoters and, if that’s good for the country, fine,” said Ecclestone.

Now less than three weeks before the island kingdom is scheduled to host its return to formula one, bitter protests and violence have once again erupted in Bahrain.

Witnesses claim a 22-year-old man who was filming the firing of tear gas on protesters was shot and killed by state-supporting militia on Friday.

The death – reportedly the first since last year’s troubles forced the cancellation of the 2011 race and test – intensified the clashes and calls for the forthcoming grand prix to be axed.

The government has denied it is responsible for the death.

“The ministry of interior will do all it can to find the criminal and bring him to justice,” a spokesman is quoted as saying by the Times of London.

The ministry also confirmed that Nabeel Rajab, the president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, has been arrested.

He had said last week: “We are going to use the opportunities that a lot of journalists are there (for the grand prix) and we are going to protest everywhere.”

The protests, however, continued.

“We (object to) holding a sports race that belittles the sacrifices of our children and ignores our suffering and wounds,” said a video statement posted on the internet by a protester.

“Do not tarnish the reputation of the respected auto sport with the blood of Bahrain victims.”

And on Twitter, the hashtags #BloodyF1 and #noF1 are being used to protest against the race and link to graphic photos and videos purporting to depict government violence.

 Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez has hit back at suggestions Kimi Raikkonen’s public image is an accurate reflection of the true 2007 world champion.
While the winner of 18 grands prix with Ferrari and McLaren is undoubtedly among F1′s most naturally gifted drivers ever, he also has a reputation for being lazy, unmotivated and uncooperative with the media and sponsors.

But after signing the 32-year-old Finn – who is nicknamed the ‘iceman’ – for his return to F1 in 2012 after two years in world rallying, Lotus insists it is more happy with Raikkonen so far.

“We feel very good with him and he clearly feels at home,” team owner Lopez is quoted by the Sun.

“He smiles a lot when he’s with us. But most importantly he says he feels like part of the family.

“I think Kimi has a public image that honestly from what we’ve seen does not translate into how he really is.

“He’s a very hard worker, very good at providing feedback and has a good team spirit.”

Lopez hinted, however, that he and team boss Eric Boullier did have some doubts about Raikkonen when they were considering their 2012 lineup.

But “Once we talked to him, once we understood why he was coming back to F1, we really felt comfortable,” he insisted.

“If you look at what happened at the (Jerez) test nobody can say he’s not on the pace.”

Thailand has become the latest country bidding to join the ever-expanding formula one calendar.
The Bangkok Post said media reports have been confirmed by Thailand’s official promotion arm the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

The agency’s president Akapol Sorasuchart said businesses have called on Thailand to organise major events in order to enhance its reputation.

He said experts will be called in to study the proposal.

“Building an F1 circuit is very costly but it would be useful after the races end,” said Mr Akapol.

“(And) I think that street racing is interesting for Thailand because it involves lower investment.”

He said a street layout would likely include the capital city Bangkok’s Ratchadamnoen road, built in 1899 to link the royal palaces during King Rama’s reign.

Mike Gascoyne has vowed to end his career with Team Lotus.

The 48-year-old was once the highest paid engineer in formula one, earning reportedly $8 million at Toyota in 2005.

The Briton has also worked with top teams McLaren and Renault, his aggressive management style earning him the nickname ‘the rottweiler’.

But he has curiously never been part of a world championship campaign, instead earning the reputation of a figure who can turn around a struggling team’s flagging fortunes.

“My career has been built on the ‘go-to guy’ when you’re eighth, ninth, tenth and you want to become third,” he told the New York Times.

Gascoyne speculated that he has never won a title “because I have always been head-hunted”.

“I always used to describe it as the border town that gets the sheriff to come in and clean out the outlaws. And once they have got rid of all the outlaws you don’t need him anymore and he moves on to the next sort of lawless town, and that has sort of been my career,” he admitted.

But he insists that Team Lotus, the best of the new 2010 teams owned and headed by Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, is different.

“I think now there is much more of a sense of belonging and it being my team. I certainly will retire at this team.

“Now it is a sense of belonging and wanting to take the team all the way,” said Gascoyne. “I think for me it will be a tremendous sense of satisfaction to have taken the team from one bloke sitting on his own in an office to the winner’s podium.”

Jaime Alguersuari insists he has no problem with new Friday driver Daniel Ricciardo breathing down the necks of Toro Rosso’s regular racers in 2011.
Australian Ricciardo is the new cream of Red Bull’s young driver programme and next in line to take a Toro Rosso to the grid.

In 2011, the 21-year-old will switch between Alguersuari and teammate Sebastien Buemi’s race cars in the Friday morning practice sessions, but Spaniard Alguersuari insists he fully accepts the situation.

“His appointment is a very good confirmation of the operation of the Red Bull junior team,” said 20-year-old Alguersuari.

“Without this programme and the determination of Dr Helmut Marko, I would not be in formula one,” he is quoted by France’s autohebdo.fr.

Marko’s driver development scheme has gained a reputation over the years for being particularly cut-throat, but Alguersuari has only praise.

“Sure, but that’s what the Red Bull programme has taught us. For us there is nothing more normal than to see Ricciardo, Buemi, Vettel or myself do our best without worrying about the others,” he insisted.

Alguersuari therefore wishes Ricciardo all the best for 2011.

“His participation in the Friday practices will be a great experience for him, because he will be sharing information with me and Buemi and it will make him a better driver and a serious candidate for a place at Toro Rosso in the future,” he said.

Using a football analogy, Alguersuari contrasted Red Bull’s approach to drivers with Ferrari’s.

“Red Bull is like Barcelona, building its drivers from when they are 15 and turning them into champions,” he is quoted by Diario AS in Spain.

“Ferrari is more like Real Madrid, buying the most expensive players in the market.”

It is not right to say Michael Schumacher’s return to formula one this year was a failure, his former championship rival Jacques Villeneuve insists.

The seven time world champion struggled with the Mercedes car alongside Nico Rosberg in 2010, but Villeneuve thinks Schumacher ultimately had the edge on his younger teammate.

“It was difficult for him until mid-season but by the end he was ahead of his teammate,” the French Canadian told French language autohebdo.fr.

Villeneuve, who beat Schumacher to the 1997 title, also thinks F1 fans have a rosy recollection of the great Schumacher.

“At Ferrari, he was one or two tenths ahead of his teammate but rarely more,” said the 39-year-old.

“Everyone thought he was going to be a second ahead of Rosberg, but it was never even like that in the past.”

Villeneuve also wanted to come back to F1 this year and he said he acknowledges the enormity of the challenge.

“It’s difficult,” he said. “I was away for six months (in 2004) and physically it was tough, and then you’re getting your bearings. The last tenth is hard to get back.”

Villeneuve also backs Schumacher’s claim that the 2010 Mercedes car was a main reason for his results this year.

“If the car didn’t suit him then that’s hard to resolve,” he said, “but at the end of the season he was there.”

In a new interview with CNN, Schumacher was asked whether he is risking his reputation by pushing ahead with an unsuccessful return to F1.

“I enjoy it. I feel I have the right to do what I enjoy. Whether I put in dispute my reputation … I just feel good about my decision and I have so much support from people,” said the German.

Pirelli racing boss Paul Hembery has played down suggestions the tyre marque has a bad reputation when it comes to formula one.

Even though a Pirelli-shod car won a grand prix during the company’s last F1 foray in 1991, some figures have suggested that the tyres supplied during that period were inconsistent.

“Some people like to live in the past,” Hembery is quoted by Germany’s Auto Bild.

“Of course we had this problem, but what we had developed was a very aggressive qualifying tyre.  In the last 20 years, the rules and technologies have changed significantly,” he added.

Another suggestion is that F1′s selection of Pirelli as Bridgestone’s official supplier successor is a risk.

Instead, the sport could have opted for Michelin, who were last in F1 less than four years ago.

Hembery said: “We know the characteristics of many of the European tracks from GP3.  The overseas tracks are largely unknown to us.

“We will therefore take an accordingly conservative approach to the selection of rubber compounds,” he revealed.

And he denied that the selection of Pirelli gives Ferrari an advantage.

“The only advantage for Ferrari is that we both speak Italian and like pasta,” Hembery joked.

He said every team, to each pay Pirelli between EUR 1 and 1.5 million next year, will receive ten sets of prototype tyres to test after November’s season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Ferrari is not appealing its $100,000 penalty for imposing illegal team orders in the German grand prix.

The stewards, also directing the matter to the World Motor Sport Council, found the Italian team guilty of both team orders and disrepute.

The team denies the charge, arguing that Felipe Massa made the decision to let Fernando Alonso pass him at Hockenheim after struggling on the hard tyres and receiving advice from his race engineer that Alonso was faster.

“In the interests of the sport, we have decided not to go through a procedure of appealing against it (the decision), confident that the World Council will know how to evaluate the overall facts correctly,” said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

With just three days now until the F1 circus re-congregates in Hungary, the other story to emerge is that Massa might now be considered Alonso’s number two.

When asked specifically about playing a longer-term subordinate role to the Spaniard, Brazilian Massa said on Sunday: “Well, I cannot say that I’m there fighting for first position in the championship.”

He also denied that his decision to give way to Alonso will damage his reputation.

“For sure not, for sure not,” said Massa, the 2008 championship runner-up.

“I’m very professional and I’ve shown in my career how professional I am. You (reporters) are professional as well, you work for a company.

“I believe you are doing what you have to do, so I’m professional and today I showed how professional I am. That’s it,” he insisted.

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he intends to leave formula one with a better legacy than Michael Schumacher’s.

Despite showing a reluctance to wade into the rekindled ‘Rascasse scandal’ of 2006, the McLaren driver admitted in Monaco that Schumacher’s reputation as a cheat is not one he wants to emulate.

“When I think about history, it is not just about me, it is about how my family raised me, where we came from,” British newspapers quote the 25-year-old as saying in Monaco.

“For that to be tainted by something like that would devastate me.”

When asked if he wants to be thought of in a better light than seven time world champion Schumacher, the 2008 world champion admitted: “Absolutely.

“I want to be remembered as a fair driver, a clean driver, one who always drove with his heart, who battled through thick and thin to score the points and the championships I will hopefully earn.”

He also denied he is now desperate to get back on terms with his teammate Jenson Button, who despite not always looking as quick as Hamilton has won two races and is leading the world championship.

“I don’t feel I’m at the point where I need to ‘turn it around’ because what needs turning around is just my fortunes,” insisted Hamilton.

(GMM)

Apr.29 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says he is happy for his former teammate Jenson Button, as the reigning world champion continues to lead the world of formula one.

The pair had an initially acrimonious relationship as BAR teammates in 2003, but Villeneuve has since declared his admiration for the Briton’s talents.

French Canadian Villeneuve, 39, said he has been particularly impressed this year with Button’s driving in the wet, including wins in Australia and China that have given him the world championship lead.

“Jenson was always quick in the rain but now he’s becoming increasingly recognised as the best in the field,” he told Canada’s Rue Frontenac.

“Michael always had that reputation in the past but I think Jenson has passed him now in the minds of observers,” added Villeneuve.

“But I also don’t forget about Alonso, who did an exceptional race on the wet track of Shanghai,” he said.

Villeneuve said Button’s “really great start” to 2010 with McLaren proves his world championship was well deserved.

“To change teams and stay among the best shows that it was no fluke,” said the winner of 11 grands prix. “I am really happy for him.”

As for his former nemesis Schumacher, Villeneuve thinks the seven time world champion’s comeback so far has been “disappointing”.

“This is his first big disappointment. He did well at first for a guy who has not raced for three years, but then the results were disappointing.”

But he still thinks Mercedes was right to entice the 41-year-old German out of retirement.

“Michael is useful even if he’s not winning, and nobody can take away his seven titles or that he is one of the best in history.

“And when Rosberg beats him with the same equipment, it cements Nico’s reputation much more than if he were beating someone else,” added Villeneuve.

Apr.21 (GMM)  Flavio Briatore has revealed he has no intention of attempting to reconcile his broken relationship with former F1 colleague Max Mosley.

In his last year of FIA presidency in 2009, Mosley oversaw the imposition of ousted Renault team boss Briatore’s lifetime ban over the crashgate scandal.

But Mosley has since turned 70 and is now effectively retired, replaced by Jean Todt who has halted crashgate by agreeing to end Briatore’s ban in 2013.

Italian Briatore, now 60, also celebrated a birthday this month, and is currently at home with his model wife Elisabetta and their newly born son Falco.

But he told the Italian magazine Chi that he is not interested in making up with Mosley.

“He sent me a text message to congratulate us on the birth of Falco, but Mosley is part of my former life.  In my future there will be no place for him,” said Briatore.

“I’m happy for Jean (Todt),” the Italian added, “my friend of 20 years.  Thanks to him, the FIA can now quietly and serenely breathe new air.”

Briatore, who has always maintained his innocence despite conspirators Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet admitting to plotting the deliberate crash of Singapore 2008, said he is not about to forgive the stain on his reputation.

“It was very bad for my story.  I suffered an injustice.  But the truth, the power of the truth, wins every time,” he insisted.

After the initial news we published a few hours ago on Ferrari ‘F281′ that Fernando Alonso will drive this season 2010, Banco Santander has given a press conference with the first high quality image of the Italian car.

The information disclosed by the Director General of the Communication Division of Banco Santander, Juan Manuel Cendoya, said: “We want to be the trademark of Formula 1″, making clear that the entity is present in the Grand Prix of Germany, Italy and United Kingdom’s first sponsor and Brazil and the two tests in Spain, Valencia and Montmelo, as the second.

The global launch of the 2010 design will not leave Ferrari fans unmoved Ferraro, white addiction can not be taken very well by tifossi although not the first time the Ferrari car parts is blank. In fact, in 1975 the ‘cockpit’ It was white and was the year that the Austrian Niki Lauda won his first world championship. However, the aerial view is far from what we’re used to seeing red bullets.

Cendoya said he “supported the decision” to sign Ferrari Fernando Alonso, who signed a five-year contract with Ferrari, but this was unique to the ‘Scuderia’. “We have supported much the firm, we were three years behind it, although Ferrari had the last word,” said head of communications.

While acknowledging that sports sponsorship is “a major risk factor than conventional advertising,” considers that the bank’s presence in the ‘great circle’ will be a “major emotional link” with some sectors of its customer base, especially young , and “a global reputation.”

Imminently, Banco Santander will launch the campaign ‘Red Passion’ in Spain. “We are delighted to swing much of the advertising of 2010 in Fernando (Alonso),” said

Last summer, Formula One standout Juan Pablo Montoya announced that he will be competing on the NASCAR races. During his announcement he said that he was excited to bring his aggressive style of driving to the motorsport.

In Formula One, Montoya cemented his reputation as one of the most aggressive professional race car drivers today. While his skills combined with his unique style made him one of the most talented drivers today, he seems to be having trouble making friends in NASCAR as his aggressive style of driving seems to be rubbing his fellow NASCAR drivers the wrong way.

While NASCAR racing is more aggressive than Formula One, there is a limit to one’s aggressiveness on the tracks. And that is what Montoya is still trying to find out. Currently, the Colombian driver has already wreaked havoc on his fellow drivers with the season just starting. In Mexico, Montoya accidentally forced his teammate, Scott Pruett, off the road at the road race in the Busch Series. The road race saw Montoya securing his first win in the new field that he has entered. He has also reportedly “annoyed” Jeff Gordon in Atlanta. Montoya also ran into Ryan Newman and Tony Raines at Martinsville. Aside from those incidents, Juan Pablo Montoya also managed to annoy two-time Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart as he tangles with him at the recently concluded Samsung 500 which happened in Texas.

In response to the criticism that he receives over his aggressive driving, Montoya has this to say: “I don’t think Chip (Ganassi) hired me to run 20th every weekend, and I didn’t come here to run 20th every weekend. Is (contact) going to happen? Yeah, it’s going to happen a lot of weekends, but our aim is to run up front.” He added that: “I think anybody that’s seen me race knows that I’m not going to back down.”

In the recent incident involving Montoya and a fellow driver, it seems that the “rookie” will be having a hard time adjusting to the sport. Stewart, the latest victim of Montoya’s aggressive driving style, has this to say: “If you race people with respect, you get respect. You might want to be just a little bit more patient just long enough to learn how everything’s done over here.” NASCAR aficionados have even compared Montoya’s aggressive driving to the skills of NASCAR legends like the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.

The common thinking is that aggressive drivers can have good success in the sport but they have to make sure that their aggressiveness is channeled so that it comes as not to be counter-productive.

Montoya’s start tote season is quite respectable. Being from Formula One, it is expected of him to eventually win in the NASACR races. Currently, the aggressive driving Colombian posted a win at the Busch Series and has already managed to get a couple of top ten finishes in the Nextel Cup. In Texas, the former CART champion managed an eighth place finish. He is driving a Dodge which is yet to win a race at the Nextel Cup. Currently, Dodge, Ford, and Toyota, are being dominated by Chevy at the Nextel Cup series. Equipped with for-race engineered engines which leaves far behind the performance of on-road Chevy vehicles equipped with the Chevy cold air intake system.

While Montoya is yet to show his true worth in NASCAR, drivers in the sport agrees that Montoya has got the talent to be come successful in the motorsport. Even Stewart said that Montoya is the most talented driver in his team. Although admitting Montoya’s flair for the game, Stewart added that: “He didn’t make friends with me [at Texas], so he won’t get any help from me in the future.”