Davide Rigon has confirmed reports he will not serve as Ferrari’s official reserve driver in 2012.
With Ferrari’s Jules Bianchi moving to Force India this year, it was initially assumed that Italian GP2 driver Rigon, 25, would be promoted to replace him on the race team.

Indeed, Ferrari confirmed last month that Rigon “has recently extended his relationship” with the scuderia.

But it was subsequently rumoured that Maranello based Ferrari does not consider Rigon ready to step in should Fernando Alonso or Felipe Massa need replacing during a grand prix weekend.

Reports in January said Adrian Sutil might be a contender for the third role.

Rigon told the Italian website F1Web that he will work on the simulator in 2012.

As for whether his responsibilities will include actual track testing, he answered: “I don’t know, although I cannot deny that I would like to do some during the season.

“I am available to the Scuderia and I have to keep myself ready for any eventuality, but right now I am not the third driver,” admitted Rigon.

Ferrari has rubbished suggestions Jenson Button could be set to switch from McLaren.

A source at the famous Italian team reportedly told the News of the World this week that Button, 31, was being sounded out as a replacement for Felipe Massa.

“The Brazilian is now well used to this ritual, as it began almost before he set foot in the Scuderia,” said Ferrari’s anonymous website columnist The Horse Whisperer, referring to near-constant speculation about Massa’s future.

The latest names linked to his race cockpit have been Nico Rosberg and now Briton Button.

“It goes without saying that, yet again, this is just a load of twaddle, to use a polite word for what I really mean to say,” added the Ferrari columnist.

Indeed, widespread media reports are now saying Button is in fact set to extend his deal with McLaren for 2012 and beyond.

The Daily Mirror is the latest publication to reveal that the 2009 world champion is set to agree a new two-year contract with a $3 million per season pay rise.

“The deal has to be finalised before the end of July, but may be announced at the British grand prix,” said writer Byron Young.

The Mirror report added that German Rosberg, 25, “approached McLaren” about Button’s seat but is now expected to stay at Mercedes.

Ferrari’s new Marlboro deal is worth almost half a billion dollars to the famous Italian team.
The Maranello based team, officially known as Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, said in a brief statement this week that Philip Morris International had extended its existing contract to the end of 2015.

The original deal was set to run until the end of next year.

The anti tobacco-advertising rules in F1, Europe and most of the rest of the world means that Marlboro’s actual red and white branding cannot be displayed on the Ferrari single seaters.

But Sportspro reports that Philip Morris is still pledging $160 million to Ferrari for the F1 sponsorship each year.

The new deal follows Ferrari’s inauguration of a new F1 logo for this year, with its angular red and white colours and black wording closely resembling Marlboro cigarette packets.

Ferrari’s 2011 formula one car will be called F150, the famous Italian team has announced.

The car, to be launched and given its track debut on Friday at Ferrari’s headquarters, is named in tribute of the 150th anniversary of Italian unification.

“All the men and women who put so much effort and passion into their work at Maranello share the pride and responsibility of representing our country around the world and it is in this spirit that we chose to dedicate this car to an event that is so important for the whole of Italy,” said Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.

A statement issued by the Maranello based team also said Giorgio Napolitano, the president of the Italian Republic, “took the opportunity to wish the Scuderia the best of luck for the forthcoming season” after being told of the 2011 car’s name.

Last year’s Ferrari was called the F11. Until now, the codename for the 2011 project was 288.

F150 is also known as a model of Ford’s famous series of full-size pickup trucks.

F1 should think about changing the race start time for grands prix, according to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.
Most races on the annual calendar traditionally kick off in the early hours of the afternoon.

“I don’t think it’s good that in July or August the races begin at 2 o’clock when most people are laying on the beach,” the Italian told Germany’s Sport Bild.

“Football games don’t get started until 5 o’clock or later,” added Montezemolo.

He also maintained his push for leading F1 teams to be allowed to field three cars.

“We don’t want to build it for the Scuderia, but for another team,” said Montezemolo. “A Spanish (team), an American, whatever.”

Santander looks likely to end its sponsorship of the McLaren team after the Spanish bank’s “transition” to Ferrari in 2010.

Despite Ferrari’s high profile new deal with Santander last season, the sponsor also stayed with McLaren in 2010 in the form of driver overalls branding.

But the Santander branding was removed from the rear wing of the British team’s 2010 car.

“We have had a transition with McLaren and who knows if in the future we will keep on having a relationship with them and their drivers,” spokesman Juan Manuel Cendoya is quoted in the Spanish press.

When asked about Santander’s future in F1, Cendoya added: “It is bright. We are delighted to work with Ferrari; the Scuderia will keep on fighting to win.”

Today’s FIA press conference at the Interlagos circuit was an all-Brazilian affair, with the two “new boys,” Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna, joined by their senior colleagues, Rubens Barrichello and Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s Felipe Massa. Indeed, it was an all Paulista affair as the four are from the city of Sao Paolo.

Asked to look back at this season, Felipe singled out his qualifying performance as the worst feature of 2010. “This year’s results have not matched my expectations, especially in qualifying where I struggled to put together a good first lap on fresh tyres,” he said. “It’s true there have also been some races where I failed to finish in the points and then there was Singapore, where a qualifying problem meant I had to start from the back.”

As to this weekend’s home race, Felipe shared his fellow panelists’ enthusiasm for the Interlagos circuit. “I have great memories from here with two wins and poles in 2006, ’07 and ’08, which was the last time I raced here. Then going even further back, at the start of my career, I won here twice in Formula Chevrolet. This track has many interesting challenges and you can be creative with the set-up, while many sections of the track require a very technical approach. It might be a short lap, not like most of the new tracks, but this circuit is very well thought out and there is always overtaking here and some nice fights. But it is really the Brazilian people who make Interlagos special – they are so hot with emotion and they sing all day long in the grandstands, which is great for us Brazilian drivers, giving us some extra power.”

Mathematically, Fernando Alonso has a chance of winning the Drivers’ title on Sunday and Felipe was asked if he felt it might happen. “Well, Fernando is leading right now, so for sure I think he can do it here, but as we have seen this season, everything is possible. My personal aim is to try and win the race and of course I can help Fernando by taking points away from his rivals.”

This week sees the premiere of a film made about the life of Ayrton Senna and all four drivers were asked for their memories of the great Brazilian champion, who died during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. “Ayrton was really amazing and I remember so many of his races,” said Felipe. “But what really stands out in my mind was his ability in qualifying, not only taking pole in so many races, but often doing so with a big gap over the rest. For me, that was his strongest point.”

Because of the current summer break all Formula 1 teams are sentenced to to suspend altogether two weeks to work completely. But Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is convinced that “we are on vacation, but that does not mean that our brains cease to function.” Perhaps one could even inspire new if you are even staying outside the normal working environment, so Domenicali on the official website of the Scuderia.

Ferrari is also to use the summer break to get to the meeting of the FIA World Council on 8 September to prepare. Then it will be decided whether the Italian racing team is penalized go on for its stable government at the Grand Prix of Germany. Domenicali has the whole debate, but enough already. “I was speechless whether the whole hypocrisy in our world.”

Instead, the team manager would like to concentrate on continuing the upward trend in sports. “The second half of July went very well and I hope this has given us the momentum for the last part of the season. We know that there is still much to do, because we still do not have the best car. But that should only be a further incentive. ”

Domenicali was with the reaction of his team very happy when they threatened to lose at some point of the season following the World Cup top. Ferrari, Fernando Alonso is now back in the middle of a world title fight. “We have discussed with Fernando a few days: should we manage to always be on the front seats, can we get satisfaction.”

Lotus boss Mike Gascoyne technique could not believe his eyes when Felipe Massa at Hockenheim after the hairpin curve on the gas, went to his Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso to leave the leadership. Gascoyne also felt Spielberg in 2002 and recalls Jean Todt’s famous radio message, “Rubens, let Michael pass for the championship.” But Gascoyne was less shocked by the new stable government, but more than the obvious way.

“What happened in 2002 was more than obvious, but that was no less clear, except that it has not happened before the finish. One would think that Ferrari has learned from it, but they have not done so obvious,” Gascoyne said to ‘BBC Sport’. Ferrari won the 2002 a fine of $ 500,000 aufgebrummt and provided with the then maneuvers that the stable direction is simply prohibited.

“We had already grinning. I think it has made on the pit wall for amusement. Because we knew what the waves will strike,” admits Gascoyne. “I think we all do that. But perhaps not so obvious and not at this stage of the season.”

Gascoyne points out that other teams have their drivers go against each other and gives the example of the duel of the two McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in Turkey. “Teams like McLaren and Williams have always admitted, and therefore also lost track,” he explains.

“Ferrari has always regarded the matter as a team and makes the more cynical, too. But they should make it easy to skilful much,” marvels Gascoyne. “We have all the code words and we all make decisions on the pit wall – but we imagine it just not so stupid.”

“There are stable government and we must accept that they exist on. It has only been handled extremely poorly,” he says of the Ferrari Action at Hockenheim. It shows quite understand that the Scuderia will focus on one driver, even if it raises the question of whether this should be so early in the season of the case.

“Of course, comes during the season, the point at which you prefer a driver must be because he has the best chance of winning the title. We must do what is best for the team,” said Gascoyne. “In this case they would have fetched this way or that a double victory. But is now the right time to have been?”

For the Lotus chief technology the situation is clear: F1 is a team sport and the interests of the team are in the foreground. But if you apply to already banned team orders, then you should do “much smarter than they have done it. It is clear that the fans feel cheated when you make it so – that was just ridiculous.”

TMS

Ferrari on Thursday unveiled a new logo for its formula one team.

The current logo features the infamous ‘barcode’ that was recently removed from the F10 car, following suggestions it subliminally advertised Marlboro cigarettes.

But the new logo, to be used from 2011, remains red and white and is more angular than before, moving some observers to surmise that it reminds them even more of main sponsor Philip Morris’ product.

And team boss Stefano Domenicali told reporters at Silverstone: “I can confirm that next year the team name will be the same — Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.”

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.

Ferrari’s 2010 car no longer features a controversial ‘barcode’ livery on its engine cover.

The Italian team last week angrily rejected reports the signage was subliminal advertising for its tobacco sponsor Philip Morris.

Even Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo slammed the suggestion, insisting the claims were “ridiculous”.

But in the team’s Barcelona pit garage on Thursday, the barcode was gone, replaced by a white rectangle with a red background.

However, the clothing worn by team members including drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in Spain still features the barcode.

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro said the decision to remove the signage from the livery of the F10 was made “together with Philip Morris International”.

“This decision was taken in order to remove all speculation concerning the so-called ‘barcode’ which was never intended to be a reference to a tobacco brand,” added the team.

May 3 (GMM)  Robert Kubica has played down the latest reports linking him with the Ferrari team.

The Renault driver, a close friend of Fernando Alonso, was aboard the Italian team’s initial VIP flight out of Shanghai amid the volcanic ash air chaos.

The 24-year-old Pole was therefore in Italy in plenty of time to contest the 1000 Miglia rally in a Clio.

When asked if it is a sign he will be Alonso’s teammate in 2011, he tersely answered last week: “Sure, sure, sure.”

“I don’t see anything in the fact that my (travel) solution was because of the Scuderia,” Kubica wrote in his latest column for France’s Auto Hebdo.

In fact, also enjoying the exact same chartered Shanghai-Dubai-Nice route were the likes of Vitantonio Liuzzi and Jarno Trulli, as well as Ferrari’s Alonso, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella, and others.

“It is rare that so many drivers are on the same plane, so it was pretty cool,” said Kubica.

May 2 (GMM) Giancarlo Fisichella on Saturday tested a refined version of Ferrari’s own F-duct solution.

The Italian team’s test and reserve driver was at Vairano, where what Ferrari described as the “management system for the blown rear wing” was run along with the entire Barcelona-spec package.

Ferrari said that “depending on how things go in the two free practice sessions next Friday, a decision will be taken as to whether or not to use all the updates for qualifying and the race”.

The updated F10 also features inboard rear mirrors, in accordance with the ban that kicks off in Spain next weekend.

Fernando Alonso told Corriere della Sera newspaper that he thinks Ferrari can catch F1’s pacesetter.

“Red Bull is stronger in qualifying and they are very fast, but we can catch up in the race. (And) McLaren knows how to develop its cars very fast, but we’re not joking either,” he said.

Ferrari confirmed the test in a press release:

Today, Italy and many other countries around the world have been celebrating May Day, but for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro there has been no respite in its efforts to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth round of the 2010 World Championship. After a very busy week of testing on the bench and in the wind tunnel, this morning saw the on-track baptism of the management system for the blown rear wing. It was tested at Vairano by Giancarlo Fisichella as part of the four days of aerodynamic testing allowed in the testing agreement, as defined by the twelve teams.

This was not the only new element evaluated by the Scuderia’s third driver. The F10 was also fitted with the aero configuration that it is planned will be used at the Catalunya Circuit during next Friday’s free practice for the Barcelona race, including a new position for the rear view mirrors which must now be located on the chassis. The chassis itself is also new, going by the code number 284: as from the Spanish Grand Prix, it will be used by Felipe Massa. Track data acquired today will be analysed by the team over the next few days and then, also depending on how things go in the two free practice sessions next Friday, a decision will be taken as to whether or not to use all the updates for qualifying and the race.

Wrapped up in a winter jacket that usually only gets used at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for the Belgian GP, Felipe Massa made a quick dash through the cold paddock to meet the media in the Ferrari hospitality area as usual on a Thursday.

The Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro man might be leading the championship, but he is certainly not complacent about the job in hand. “We need to work as hard as possible, which in fact we have been doing since planning started for the F10 last year, because there are many strong teams with good drivers around us, the two main rivals at the moment being Red Bull and McLaren,” he said. “We have to push hard every day, not just to improve, but to improve more than the others, if we are to fight for the championship race by race. Leading after three races is better than not leading, but it does not mean much at the moment.”

The Brazilian was then asked if the title was already a three-way race or if the former Brawn team, could join the fight. “Everybody says that Mercedes might have almost half the car that is new for the next round in Barcelona and we must take this team seriously, because although it had a different name then, it won the championships last year,” commented the Brazilian. “So they could still be in the fight for the title and they have to be considered along with the other two teams I mentioned.”

Drivers are often expected to see the future, but Felipe was unwilling to pick a China race winner so early in the weekend. “It’s impossible to say on Thursday,” he insisted. “We will have a better idea after tomorrow’s practice, but the clearest picture only comes after qualifying. We saw a strong McLaren and Red Bull in Malaysia, but if you analyse the details of that race, you can see we had a great car. Let’s see how it goes on this track, but there is no reason why we cannot do a good job this weekend.”

Incredibly, after only three races, there is already talk of driver line-ups for 2011. “There is no rush for the moment on this front, from my point of view,” said Felipe. “I’m very happy with the way we are working together as a team. Even before my accident last year, we had preliminary talks about renewing my contract and I can say that those talks are starting again. But at the moment, my main priority is concentrating on this championship and doing the best I can. The contract is not at the front of my mind right now.”