Lotus is the “biggest surprise” of the 2012 season so far, Red Bull’s team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has admitted.

In an interview with Austria’s Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper, the billionaire mogul was mildly critical of the “lottery” that is this year’s championship, with Pirelli’s unpredictable tyres setting the scene.

“That is going to continue,” Mateschitz said.

“Then it will gradually turn into a duel between McLaren and Red Bull Racing,” he predicted.

“Mercedes are still not able to keep doing in the race what they are doing in qualifying. So we are not convinced of their F-duct (double DRS) system and we won’t try to copy it.

“Ferrari needs to try the hardest to catch up. And Lotus are the big surprise for me,” he insisted.

He may share a garage with the reigning double world champion, but Mark Webber will still have an equal chance to win in 2012.
That is the news of Red Bull’s low-profile mogul Dietrich Mateschitz, who made a rare visit to a formula one paddock this week at Jerez.

Asked if Sebastian Vettel’s Australian teammate will have equal status this season, the Austrian billionaire insisted: “Absolutely.

“Both get the same equipment,” he told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

“The only change is that Mark has a new chief mechanic.”

Mateschitz, 67, said the obvious target for Red Bull in 2012 is to win again.

“We really have no choice except to defend our two world titles,” he insisted.

“Also Toro Rosso will have to improve; the team should be in the midfield and fighting for fifth place with Force India, Sauber and Lotus.”

Daniel Ricciardo has this week staked a claim on a full-time role in formula one with an impressive test at the wheel of the title-winning Red Bull.

The energy drinks company’s most promising development talent and Australian was well clear of the field over the two days of the young driver test session in Abu Dhabi, smashing Sebastian Vettel’s pole position time for good measure.

In the Ferrari, Jules Bianchi explained that the Yas Marina layout has simply become faster since the grand prix.

“The grip of the asphalt is more now, giving many tenths of a second benefit, and we are also more aggressive over the curbs due to the fixed cones being removed,” the Frenchman explained in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Even so, 21-year-old Ricciardo’s performance stood out, amid reports Dr Helmut Marko has not decided where to place the Perth native in 2011.

“I’m not sure what this means for next year, but I know even more now that this is where I want to be,” he is quoted by the Australian news agency AAP.

“Whether I might be in F1 next year or the following, I will do everything to make sure it happens — and I think this test has probably helped me,” added Ricciardo, who in 2010 was Red Bull’s F1 reserve driver.

Even in the team’s post-test press release, Ricciardo was quoted as saying “it would be fantastic to get the chance to drive in formula one full-time”.

However, Red Bull’s two F1 teams have already completed their 2011 lineups.

Austrian newspapers Kleine Zeitung and Salzburger Nachrichten are reporting that Lotus, set to use Red Bull gearboxes next year, could be an option for Ricciardo.

And La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Australian Ricciardo as “an Italian” after the impressive Abu Dhabi outing, due his family’s ancestry.

Niki Lauda has equated Red Bull’s apparent approach to the Abu Dhabi finale this weekend as akin to handing the title to Ferrari.

The energy drink company’s chief Dietrich Mateschitz has been quoted as insisting it is “never a possibility” that Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will be asked to swap positions.

“It is a sporting choice, but in the end it is (Fernando) Alonso who will laugh,” Niki Lauda, pointing out another 1-2 result with Vettel in the lead this Sunday will result in the Spaniard winning the title, told ORF.

Even Jaime Alguersuari, the Spaniard driving for Red Bull’s second team Toro Rosso, said the use of a team strategy this weekend is “logical”.

“I’d be very surprised if they didn’t (use team orders),” he said on Spanish radio Cadena SER.

Pedro de la Rosa also thinks Red Bull would be mad to give up the opportunity of its first drivers’ crown.

“Everyone can think what they like, it is my opinion that they will (use team orders),” he said.

Ralf Schumacher does not agree.

“I doubt it,” answered the German when asked if he can imagine Vettel pulling over on Sunday.

“It would mean Webber becoming world champion at Red Bull before him, and defeats within your own team never feel good,” he told Bild newspaper.

So while Mateschitz has ruled out team orders, less clear is what the team feels about Vettel making his own personal decision to help Red Bull Racing.

“The drivers race for the team,” boss Christian Horner told Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten .

“Our drivers are team players and know that at stake is the biggest title in motor sport,” added the Briton.

“I don’t think it is a decision I will have to make. Ultimately, if he was in that position, it would be down to Sebastian,” said Horner.

Of course, all the speculation about team orders in Abu Dhabi could prove meaningless given that Fernando Alonso can guarantee a third drivers’ title if he just finishes second.

“The Ferrari should suit the track with its many fast straights,” said former Swiss driver Marc Surer.

De la Rosa agreed: “That is a weak point for Red Bull. It is also why McLaren will be very strong in Abu Dhabi.

“It is a far less suitable circuit for Red Bull than many people seem to believe,” added the Spaniard.

Dietrich Mateschitz is confident about Red Bull’s ability to win the 2010 world championship.

But the Austrian billionaire, who owns the famous energy drink as well as the Milton Keynes based team, admitted he is disappointed with the score card so far this season.

With 9 of this year’s 19 grands prix now run, the RB6 has usually proved the quickest in the field.

But Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are only third and fourth in the drivers’ standings, while McLaren is also leading the constructors’ table.

“I am satisfied with the drivers and the car,” Mateschitz told the Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

“What I am not satisfied about is the score, because on paper we should have a lead rather than a deficit.

“Now we have to make up lost ground,” he added.

Asked if he thought Red Bull was capable of winning the titles, he answered: “Of course, because expecting anything else would be absurd.

“If someone with our potential cannot expect to win the world championship, then who?”

(GMM)

Jun.16 (GMM)  Jacques Villeneuve has admitted he is not yet in talks with any teams about making a return to formula one.

The French Canadian, who came close to driving for the hopeful Serbian outfit Stefan GP this season, said last weekend he will make a final effort to find a seat for 2011.

“I am working on it more than ever, and for that reason I have postponed a participation in the NASCAR circuit,” 1997 world champion Villeneuve, who turns 40 early next year, said in an interview with Austria’s Salzburger Nachrichten.

Stefan GP, however, seems unlikely to be on the grid any time soon, and Renault team boss Eric Boullier said recently that he is not interested in signing Villeneuve.

Asked if there are already “concrete negotiations” with any teams, he answered: “No, nothing concrete, because it’s too early in the season.

“There are some positive contacts.  If the Stefan project had worked out, I would be driving in F1 already this year.”

Villeneuve acknowledged that a place with a top team is not initially likely.

“I have a longer term plan,” he said.  “The most important thing is to get inside, and then you can look around and find the right place.”

The Austrian has inked a contract with the new Spanish team HRT to add experience to the rookie race lineup of Bruno Senna alongside Karun Chandhok.

Having driven on Friday morning in Spain, mere minutes after Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone cleared the path for the renewal of his super license, Klien would not confirm if he is being paid for the role or is backed by paying sponsors.

He told Austria’s Salzburger Nachrichten: “The deal is for this season, I will be used on several Fridays but it is not decided how many or at which races.”

And after Senna made clear his view that the race drivers should be given all the practice laps by HRT, the Brazilian insists he has not fallen out with Klien.

“We know each other from the Le Mans series last year and have no problems.  If he can contribute with his experience, that’s good for the team because we need all the help we can get at this stage,” said Senna.

(GMM)