Monisha Kaltenborn will become F1′s first ever female team boss.

That is the revelation of Peter Sauber, who at the age of 68 has hinted he might call it a day before his 70th birthday.

Indian Kaltenborn, 41, is already Hinwil based Sauber’s chief executive, while Peter Sauber remains the team principal.

“I have always said that I will not be sitting on the pitwall as a 70 year old,” Sauber told Der Sonntag newspaper.

“With certainty, my successor is Monisha Kaltenborn. That is for sure. When it (the handover) happens is still open.

“She will be the first female team boss in formula one history,” Sauber continued. “She’s been with us for 13 years, always with leading roles. I’m sure she will do the job very well.”

Sauber, in fact, has already departed the pitwall once before, when he sold his team to BMW and handed over to Mario Theissen.

Somewhat reluctantly, he returned in 2010, having rescued the Hinwil based employees in the wake of German carmaker’s sudden withdrawal.

“I could not jump into the breach a second time,” smiled Sauber, hinting that his retirement this time around would be final.

For only the second time in 2011, there will be two separate DRS zones in use this weekend.
The debut of two independent DRS detection and activation points was at the Monza race in September.

Now, Pastor Maldonado’s race engineer Xevi Pujolar has revealed that there will be two separate DRS zones in India, even though the news is “not official yet”.

The detection zone for the first zone will be at the exit of turn 15, with chasing drivers then able to pass down the pit straight.

The second zone’s detection point will be on entry to turn 3, with activation between turns 3 and 4, according to the Spanish website caranddriverthef1.com.

Peter Sauber has admitted he is “angry” after both his cars retired with gearbox failures at Monza.
The units, like the Swiss team’s engines, are supplied by Ferrari.

“It was like going back to formula one’s stone age,” Sauber growled to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, referring to the fact that technical problems are today increasingly rare.

The magazine said Ferrari “has yet to analyse” the cause of the double failure, which caused both Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi to retire from the Italian grand prix.

Sauber said the defects cost the Hinwil based team points amid its close championship battle with Force India and Toro Rosso.

“For the second time this year like Australia we have given our opponents points in a big way,” he added. “But we have to take it in a sporting way and go to full attack for the last six races.”

Beyond 2011, Sauber is hoping to have a bigger budget to make better use of its facilities at Hinwil, once the headquarters of BMW’s works team.

“I think the infrastructure is excellent,” said the team’s 67-year-old owner and boss, “and, of course, with more money we can be faster. In our case it is very easy.”

Sauber also admitted he wants to expand the team’s staff count beyond its current 280.

Kimi Raikkonen has tipped his friend Sebastian Vettel to pip F1′s class of 2011 to become world champion for the second time.
In 2007, former Ferrari driver Raikkonen came from a long way behind to beat the feuding McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to the championship at the final race of the season.

Now as a F1 spectator and world rally driver, the Finn was asked by Turun Sanomat newspaper about German Vettel’s 85 point lead with just 8 races to go.

“Quite often the situation levels off by the end if someone has pulled out early in the season,” Raikkonen said.

“(But) Vettel probably doesn’t even have to win any more races in order to stay in front until the end.”

Raikkonen, meanwhile, will turn 32 in October but he is not yet making any plans for 2012 — nor ruling out a shock return to formula one.

“I don’t know,” he answered after a series of probing questions.

“Even if you ask the same thing a hundred different ways, the answer stays the same. If I don’t know then nobody else does either.”

Raikkonen, like his contemporary Jacques Villeneuve, admitted to being not so keen on the 2011 formula, including the DRS overtaking rear wing system.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with real overtaking,” he insisted. “All you do is move close and push a button and the guy in front can’t do anything about it.

“I guess they are trying to push it in the right direction, maybe it’s good for the TV, but for the drivers it’s not so good.”

Meetings have been arranged to address the issues that arose after Sunday’s European grand prix.

Fernando Alonso and Ferrari were furious when a mere and late drive-through penalty for Lewis Hamilton’s safety car overtaking in Valencia still allowed the McLaren driver to finish second.

But also unhappy were several of the nine drivers given 5 second time penalties for driving too quickly during the same safety car period.

“Vitaly (Petrov) came in too quickly and we accept the penalty for him, but it’s hard to understand Robert (Kubica)’s penalty,” said Renault’s chief engineer Alan Permane.

Also seeking clarification is Mercedes, after Michael Schumacher found a red light at the end of the pitlane despite the fact a line of traffic was not yet formed up behind the safety car.

“There was a green light for a moment and then suddenly it went red again.  We believe that this was not correct,” said Michael Schumacher.

Alonso wrote on his Ferrari blog: “I was pleased to hear that the FIA has reacted promptly, calling an extraordinary meeting of the Sporting Working Group and I am confident, certain even, that all the points up for discussion will be cleared up in a comprehensive fashion.”

It is understood the meeting will be held next week.

Moreover, Mercedes’ Ross Brawn told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport that the issues will be discussed by the team bosses at Silverstone next Wednesday.

“There are too many unanswered questions that can be interpreted either way,” he said.

(GMM)

The results of Sunday’s European grand prix are largely unchanged after a post-race stewards enquiry.

Nine drivers were summoned to the FIA officials in Valencia, accused of driving too quickly under safety car conditions.

Less than three hours after the chequered flag, all of them were found guilty and handed 5 second time penalties.

Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Robert Kubica and Adrian Sutil finished in third through sixth, but their penalties did not affect those placings.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, however, moves past the penalised Sebastien Buemi for eighth place, while Nico Rosberg – 12th at the flag – moves ahead of both Pedro de la Rosa and Vitaly Petrov.

The German therefore takes the final point from Sauber’s de la Rosa, while Vitantonio Liuzzi drops from the non-scoring 13th to 16th.

(GMM)

Jules Bianchi, Mirko Bortolotti and Daniel Zampieri were earlier this week to try out the Formula 1 Ferrari in 2008. As members of the Ferrari Driver Academy they tested on our own race track in Fiorano, the F2008, the F1 Clienti department of the mark is used. Thus what is not violated in the current Formula 1 Test ban.

“At Ferrari they believe in me,” said Bianchi, who was allowed to slip first into the cockpit. The Frenchman will start otherwise, in the GP2. The next round is on 27 June in Valencia on the program. “Of course I want to win, just because opportunities like this offer a second time.”
On the same weekend Bortolotti will be back in action, but in the GP3. “I’ll tackle the next event with maximum use. Of course, my goal is to win,” said the Italian. Zampieri starts against again this weekend as part of the Renault World Series.

The Ferrari Driver Academy, the young drivers become familiar not only with the technical processes at work in a Formula 1 race car, but they are also trained in other areas. Thus, besides fitness training and English lessons were on the agenda of the three drivers.

Jun.10 (GMM)  Emerson Fittipaldi will be the race steward presiding alongside the three FIA officials at this weekend’s Canadian grand prix.

63-year-old Brazilian Fittipaldi won his two F1 world championships in 1972 and 1974, before winning the Indy 500 twice and becoming the Indycar title holder in 1989.

In formula one, he won his first race during his rookie season for Lotus in 1970, and two years later become F1′s youngest champion at 25.

In 1974 he moved to McLaren and won the title again, but then moved to his brother Wilson Fittipaldi’s team and struggled.

He stopped driving in F1 at the end of 1980 at the age of 33, joining his brother in managing the team before it fell apart in late 1982.

Fittipaldi switched to American CART racing in 1984, winning the title in 1989 at the age of 43.  At 47 he won the Indy 500 for the second time, but an injury ended his Champ Car career in 1996 when he was 50.

He was a Champ Car team owner in 2003 and recently the boss of the Brazilian A1 GP team.

Fittipaldi’s nephew Christian drove in F1 for Minardi and Footwork between 1992-1994.

Mercedes has decided not to appeal the Monaco stewards’ decision to penalise Michael Schumacher.

As per FIA rules, the German team lodged notification of its intention to appeal within an hour of the publication of the decision.

The actual appeal application then had to be filed within 48 hours.

In a media statement issued on Tuesday, the Brackley based team said it “cannot be happy with the outcome” but has decided not to appeal “in the best interests of the sport”.

Mercedes explained that the governing body recognises “the reasons” for informing Schumacher and Nico Rosberg to race in the final corner of the race, adding that many teams have the same opinion.

The team said its interpretation of the rule will be discussed at the next meeting of the Sporting Working Group, with the FIA also agreeing to listen to Mercedes’ view that the 20-second time penalty was “disproportionate”.

Mercedes also seemed to comment on reports that Damon Hill, Schumacher’s former title nemesis, now feels “uncomfortable” with the concept of former drivers having full voting powers as stewards.

1996 world champion Hill revealed earlier on Tuesday that he had received “hate mail” from those who believe he acted with prejudice.

“Mercedes would like to emphasise that we fully support the inclusion of past drivers on the stewards panel and are completely satisfied that the Monaco grand prix stewards acted professionally, impartially and properly in this matter,” read the statement.

(GMM)

Damon Hill is no longer sure former drivers should be acting as full FIA stewards at grands prix.

The 1996 world champion said he has been receiving “hate mail” ever since he and the three regular stewards signed off on a 20-second time penalty in the wake of Michael Schumacher’s late pass on Fernando Alonso at Monaco.

In 2010, a new initiative by new FIA president Jean Todt has seen former drivers including Alain Prost, Alex Wurz, Derek Warwick and Johnny Herbert act as stewards.

Hill’s duties were at Monaco, where he admitted his former title nemesis Schumacher had a “wry smile” when he walked into the stewards room in the wake of the Monaco incident.

The 49-year-old told British newspapers he has been receiving “stinging emails” accusing him of prejudice ever since.

“I was uncomfortable being put in that position of being a full FIA representative.  My expertise is as a driver rather than a lawmaker or interpreter of regulations,” said Hill.

“Partly my discomfort was because I was called on to make a ruling on an incident involving Michael.

“I know most people will believe me when I say I acted entirely properly and correctly, but perhaps it might be more appropriate for drivers to act as consultants to the stewards rather than as stewards,” he added.

Schumacher said he believes Hill would have acted appropriately.

“I know Damon.  He is a good guy,” said the German.

(GM)

F1′s media and pundits are divided over Michael Schumacher’s late overtaking move on Fernando Alonso in Monaco.

The stewards, including Schumacher’s former title nemesis Damon Hill, penalised the seven time world champion for illegally passing the Spaniard during a safety car period.

But the safety car had actually pulled into the pits, prompting the message ‘track clear’ on the official monitors, and video evidence showed green flags and green lights.

Former driver Marc Surer told the German news agency SID: “I think the stewards have made a mistake, because they had shown green (flags).”

He insists there was at the very least no “clear” breach of the rules, given that the stewards took more than three hours to decide to impose the 20-second time penalty.

The Italian press was less sympathetic.

“Is he not 41 years old?” read an editorial in the Tuttosport newspaper.  “He should know the rules by now.”

Epsilon Euskadi boss Joan Villadelprat wrote in his El Pais column that Schumacher’s was a “monumental error”, but former German F1 driver Christian Danner said the mistake was the FIA’s for ordering that green flags be waved.

Bild newspaper published a photo proving that Schumacher drove past a green light in the Rascasse corner prior to passing the Ferrari, even though Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali argues that the race ended “under yellow conditions”.

But Alonso insists he was “immediately certain” that the Mercedes driver would be penalised.

“That’s why I let him go,” the Spaniard told spox.com.

“My team had told me that you can’t overtake.  I had wanted to try to pass Lewis Hamilton but they told me I could not.”

And Sebastien Buemi told the Swiss newspaper Blick that Toro Rosso ordered him to hold position.

“I was surprised when the team told me not to attack Liuzzi, because there were green lights flashing everywhere!” he said.

(GMM)

Mercedes has not decided whether to proceed with its appeal against the Monaco stewards’ decision to penalise Michael Schumacher.

With the German team believing Schumacher was free to pass Fernando Alonso on Sunday, it immediately lodged notification of its intention to appeal the decision to demote him out of the points at the FIA’s Court of Appeal.

The penalty itself, a 20-second time penalty in lieu of a drive-through, is not appealable, but the decision is.

Following the notification, Mercedes has 48 hours to formalise the application to appeal.

“No decision has been taken as yet,” a spokeswoman for the Brackley based team said on Monday.

(GMM)

The penalty itself is set in stone, but Mercedes has nonetheless decided to appeal the Monaco stewards’ decision late on Sunday to drop Michael Schumacher out of the points.

The seven time world champion’s 20-second time penalty was actually in lieu of a drive-through penalty, which is not subject to appeal.

But the decision itself, with Mercedes believing Schumacher’s last-lap pass on Fernando Alonso was legal, can be challenged at the FIA’s Court of Appeal.

A hearing date has not been set.

(GMM)

Schumacher, Mercedes GP driver part of the FIA drivers Thursday press conference, here are highlights of Schumacher’s answers to questions posed to him during the media session.

Do you still feel Mercedes is a little bit behind? Where do you feel it is?
Michael Schumcher: I guess you have Red Bull and Ferrari being a little bit up front and then probably it is right to say that McLaren is a little bit up front on us although the last race could not really show it. We are probably still in fourth position at the moment.

How is the development coming along from your point of view?
Michael: As you expect in Formula One every kind of race you being new things and it goes step by step. I am quite happy with the general development trend. Naturally as probably most of the teams we will have a little bit bigger upgrade in Barcelona due to time availability and so on, so we are all look forward to that.

You’ve now been back for three races. Have you found things very different since you left F1 three years ago?
Michael: Well, the number of questions and style of questions and all this sort of thing is pretty much the same. Driving the car, in a way, as well. It’s natural that there are some characteristic changes but at the end of the day, every year, you get a new car, and you just adapt and work the car around your needs. Yes, it has taken a little bit of time after being out for three years, it does need a little bit more time, especially with less winter testing available. But I’m feeling pretty good, I have to say. It’s worked out almost quicker than I expected it to do and I feel very comfortable in the car now and I look forward to when things get to the end to show a little bit better.

Do you think a younger Michael Schumacher might have been more frustrated with the time it’s taken to get back right to the very top? You seem more relaxed…
Michael: It depends what age you’re talking about, because when I came into Formula One I would have obviously been very happy with the results we’ve had, because you haven’t had a ranking or a position. If you talk about after winning certain championships, then naturally you would have been a little bit less happy, but with having all this kind of experience, coming back after this break, I feel more than happy with what’s going on. One of the big and interesting things is working with the team to develop the car and being involved in this kind of process. That is so much of the fun. The driving is fun as well but you get used to that pretty quickly, but working on the details, that’s what makes it up for me.

Are you not a little disappointed because of this wave of criticism which has been rising up over the last few days, because a lot of people are impatient that you don’t win?
Michael: You see, I’ve been around long enough to know what I call the wave of emotion. During the winter everybody was every emotional and very supportive and positive and once you’re up on this edge of the wave, there’s a natural happening that you start to fall over the edge and whether you are the reason for it, or whether it’s just a natural happening, it’s not always important and because the results have not been as great as some people have expected and even myself, yes, I would have loved to have better results but then the competition is very high and in this respect it’s a natural happening to not have the same positive feedback in the media. But you know, I know exactly what I’ve been doing, I know what’s been going on and I’ve no reason from my side to be disappointed, quite honestly. I still feel very happy. Whether people like it or not is their own choice.

Considering the situation that you explained very well, yesterday Fernando said that in his opinion you are still in the fight for the championship this year. Do you agree with him?
Michael: Indeed, yes, I do, because if you take the points system, and you have seen that Fernando had a retirement in Malaysia for whatever reason, it can happen to all of us. I had my retirement in Malaysia, so at one point in the season, most likely, that will hit the guys who are fighting for the championship. If we have a quick enough development pace, there’s no reason why we can’t fight for the championship, it’s far too early and there’s such a long season ahead. Development is so important, and we all know how fast the rate of development is. I’m pretty sure we have good potential to develop this car, so it’s far from feeling and thinking that this season is over, for Nico (Rosberg) and even for myself.

This is the second time you have been in Shanghai over the last four years; do you have any special feelings about this city and also for your professions here?
Michael: Well, it’s been a while that I have not been here, but it’s quite impressive to see the development. I stayed in town for a couple of nights and I’ve been around a little bit. It’s impressive to see this. It’s always been one of the Grands Prix you enjoy coming to because  the enthusiasm of the fans is pretty extreme, so the reception I got when I’ve arrived at the airport or when I arrived at the hotel has been interesting, so naturally we look forward to hopefully performing well for the fans that we have here.

This was the scene of your last Formula One victory before you retired in 2006. Could you talk about the last time you experienced that winning feeling, feeling what that race was like for you, memories of that race and perhaps how you could carry that forward into a lovely result on Sunday?
Michael: I’m not a person who looks too much into the past, quite honestly, so forgive me if that’s not in myself. I would rather look forward and have slightly better races than I have in the past two races, which were a bit out of my control. But the track and car and situation should be good enough to have a good race. The track is a little bit particular, because there are quite a few corners that, depending on whether you have a good balance in the car, are good fun. If your car struggles in terms of balance, you get really angry because in turn one or 13, it’s going to be a mess if you don’t have a good balance and it’s going to be great fun if things work out. It changes your emotion quite a lot.

The USF1 official pilot, the Argentinean, José María “pechito” López yesterday flew from the Córdoba Airport to Charlotte, Carolina del Norte, to visit for second time the USF1 headquarters.

As has been reported from Argentina, José María López will stay a few hours with the team and later will fly to Austria.  This is the pilot’s second visit to the United States of America, even though it will be the first as member of the US ‘scuderia,’ and will allow a dialogue with his team-mates, as well as to learn the details regarding the construction and assembly of the Type1.

“Pechito” will hang out with the new team for several hours this Saturday and later, in the evening, travel again, this time to Austria to continue his physical training in Erwin Gollner High Performance Center.

The work plan will begin February 7^th to the 14^th, returning to the USA on Monday 15^th and then, wait until the works on his single-seater end, so to tackle the first test, yet to be confirmed.

“Days are passing by and the possibility to be behind the steering wheel of the F-1 car is getting closer.  I’m flying to Charlotte to visit the people from the team, talk with them, and see how advanced is the construction of the car.  Later, I’ll fly to Austria, to continue my physical training beside;” the pilot from Cordoba, Argentina stated.

“These days in Cordoba with my family and friends were great for me.  To be a bit more relaxed and knowing the everything was closed.”  “2009 was very intense.  I almost didn’t have any time to rest, but now I’m 100 percent available for the team to start with the work,” he expressed.