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.”

With only four races to run after Sunday’s Singapore grand prix, Red Bull appears no closer to making championship leader Mark Webber its number 1 bet for the world championship.

The Australian, 24 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel, has struggled relative to his front row-sitting teammate in Singapore, qualifying three paces behind the sister RB6.

“We have two drivers competing for the world championship and we will continue supporting them until for one of them it is not mathematically and practically possible for them to win the championship,” team boss Christian Horner said in Singapore.

But Webber, 34, answered “yes” after a long pause when asked by British television BBC if he would accept preferred status for the balance of the season.

“For me it’s an unique opportunity that I might never get again,” he also said in an interview with Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

“But I can’t yet say ‘Hey Seb, let me have this opportunity because you might have the chance for another ten years or more’,” added Webber.

At the same time, he concedes that – despite some earlier ructions within the Austrian camp – Red Bull would be happy if he wins the title.

“It was rumoured that Helmut (Marko) would prefer Vettel, because they might have a closer relationship.  But he would be very happy if I won the world championship today,” the Australian insisted.

“If we did it, everyone would have a headache from the party, no matter which of us is champion.  The team situation is completely neutral,” added Webber.

He also played down rumours he is disaffected at Red Bull, revealing that when he decides to stop driving, he will probably continue to work with the energy drinks company.

“What Red Bull did when I broke my leg was impressive and I’ll never forget it,” he said.

“They backed me when I was totally in the shit.  Yes, maybe we can continue to do something together,” added Webber, who is under contract only until the end of 2011.

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)