McLaren tested a higher front nose at the Mugello test last week.

Backmarker Marussia aside, the famous British team is the only team in 2012 to have resisted the temptation of running a high ‘step’ nose, in the wake of new safety regulations.

McLaren was the early frontrunner this season with its MP4-27 car, but Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton struggled notably last time out in Bahrain.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the team quietly tested the significant nose development on the final day of Mugello testing last Thursday, with test driver Oliver Turvey at the wheel.

The report also speculated that McLaren experimented with an adjustable brake duct system at Mugello, which might be used to regulate tyre temperature for the finicky 2012 Pirellis.

The system would have to be adjusted by the mechanics during a pitstop.

Another television broadcaster has pulled out of this weekend’s Bahrain grand prix.

It had already emerged that Sky Deutschland, MTV3 Finland and Japan’s Fuji TV would not be reporting from the scene of the race in the troubled island Kingdom.

Now, it emerges that the travelling regulars for France’s TF1 are not in Bahrain either.

The French-language RMC Sport reported that, like the other broadcasters, the decision was taken “because of the unstable situation” in Bahrain.

It has also emerged that Stefano Mancini, the regular F1 correspondent for Italy’s La Stampa newspaper, had trouble entering Bahrain this week.

He reported that he encountered the trouble, which ended when the FIA intervened directly, due to an interview he conducted last week with a Bahraini activist.

“You work for a newspaper?” Mancini said, recalling what he was asked by the polite uniformed official. “Write the name,” the official said.

“My name?” enquired Mancini. “No, the newspaper,” the official clarified.

Niki Lauda has tipped Mercedes to flirt with the top positions in 2012.
After February’s winter group tests, rivals and pundits are now assessing the likely pecking-order less than two weeks before the season opener in Australia.

“My feeling is that McLaren and Red Bull are almost equal,” triple world champion Lauda told Austrian television ORF’s Sport am Sonntag programme.

“The big positive surprise is Mercedes. They have chosen a different way,” said the 63-year-old.

“The nose is relatively small, making the car look quite different to the others, because they have the (front wing innovation) F-duct.

“For me, it’s the most innovative car, and it also looks to me as through the (F-duct) mechanism works very well.”

Lauda said a strong Mercedes will be the first real test for Michael Schumacher since the great German returned to F1 in 2010.

“It’s a very important year for him,” he said, “because for the first time he and us will really know the answer to how he stands against Rosberg.

“Michael needs to prove to us all how good he really is — which of course is difficult, since logically you do not get faster with age.”

Meanwhile, Lauda agrees with speculation sweeping the F1 world about Ferrari’s current pre-season crisis.

“They’re behind, no doubt about it,” said the Austrian. “The car is pretty unstable, slipping at the front as well — I think they could be two or three tenths behind the top three.

“At the beginning of this year, that’s quite a lot,” explained Lauda.

“In Alonso they really have a top man, but if the car is too far behind then he can’t do anything about it, especially as he has a not-so-strong teammate in Massa who is not going to push him.”

The precise pecking-order is clouded, but one thing is clear: 2012 looks set to be a highly competitive season in formula one.
“There are a lot of cars out there that look competitive,” said McLaren’s Jenson Button, on the day Williams’ Pastor Maldonado set the quickest time in the midst of the second group test in Barcelona.

Earlier this week, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg was the pacesetter, causing Mercedes’ Norbert Haug to tell Bild newspaper: “That’s great.”

“I didn’t expect that,” agreed world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Hulkenberg smiled: “‘Test champion’ gives me nothing. But I am in good shape.”

Vettel continued to Kleine Zeitung newspaper: “This year everything is closer together”, he said, after his teammate Mark Webber admitted there is “no question” Red Bull needs to keep working on the pace of its new RB8.

According to Die Welt newspaper, Vettel continued: “Most of the competitors are difficult to assess. It’s the same old game.”

He is referring to unknown fuel levels, tyre age and differing approaches and programmes — and teams’ deliberate sandbagging or ‘show-run’ efforts.

“I never paid too much attention to direct comparisons on headline laptimes,” insisted David Coulthard, “but on the longer runs you can start to build a picture.”

Williams engineer Mark Gillan told Auto Motor und Sport: “It seems as though the entire field has moved much closer together. It will be a tough fight.”

An early assessment of the pecking order might have Red Bull and McLaren at the front, and Mercedes and Lotus possibly ready to join the fight.

“It looks like Red Bull are fairly stable,” Coulthard agreed to Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency, “(and) McLaren and Mercedes maybe closer than they were.

“Ferrari is a bit of an unknown but I wouldn’t write them off. Let’s be patient, another three weeks of tweaking and then we’ll find out,” said the former McLaren and Red Bull driver.

 Heikki Kovalainen has admitted to relief after signing on with well-known management stable IMG.
The Finn has been handling his own career on and off the tracks since splitting in 2009 with Flavio Briatore in the wake of the ‘crashgate’ affair.

According to the broadcaster MTV3, Briatore did not give up Kovalainen without a fight.

“We have had a battle with Flavio for a couple of years,” revealed the 30-year-old Caterham driver. “In the meantime, we had to take care of things ourselves.”

Kovalainen admitted that with his current contract up at the end of this year, his future for 2013 and beyond is open.

“Either we continue with Caterham or pursue at some other place, so in either case this (signing with IMG) is the right solution,” he said.

Sauber’s Monisha Kaltenborn has admitted the Swiss team will return to Bahrain this year if F1 officials say so.
She is referring to the fact that, despite the island Kingdom’s scheduled return to the calendar in April, there are reports the situation inside Bahrain is not yet stable.

“We are not in a position to judge it too well,” Sauber’s managing director is quoted by Europa Press, “so we have to trust the FIA and the commercial rights owners.

“If they believe it is right to go there, we definitely will.”

Agreed Lotus team boss Eric Boullier: “It is not an easy topic. We are currently awaiting comments from the FIA about whether or not to go there.”

Team owner Gerard Lopez added: “What I have heard is that there are a number of guarantees in terms of what will happen, so if things look good there is no reason why we shouldn’t go.”

Red Bull should not take the title, many expect a release Horner as team boss.

After the double failure of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner in Korea is coming under fire. British media speculation already has the replacement of the British should not Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel still get the title. Many find that Horner, not on sympathy, but a lack of assertiveness. The fact is that Red Bull but the strongest and fastest car in the field has, however, this advantage could not always convert into the necessary results.

“Red Bull has shown time and again in 2010, that they can not consistently enter the results that they are with the car actually able to get,” said Andrew Benson criticized in his blog. Mark Webber is currently eleven points behind new championship leader Fernando Alonso. Sebastian Vettel is in the Drivers’ Championship in fourth with 25 points behind. Said the renowned F1 journalist Mark Hughes told the BBC in terms of a stable direction, “Red Bull has to meet two races remaining difficult decisions.”

Only a “disaster” will prevent Fernando Alonso from winning his third drivers’ title in 2010.

That is the claim of his manager Flavio Briatore, who said the championship challenge is now a straight fight between two drivers in his stable: Spaniard Alonso and Red Bull’s Mark Webber.

“Alonso will lose the world championship only with a disaster,” the Italian told Sky Sport 24.

“For Vettel it’s impossible, Hamilton the same. The only two who can win are Alonso and Webber,” said Briatore.

“And for Alonso I see the chances at 80 per cent, except if Red Bull changes their strategy.

“For Alonso he has always driven the same way, only the Ferrari has become better and more reliable,” he said.

Briatore is highly critical of Red Bull’s refusal to get Sebastian Vettel to fall in line behind Webber, surmising that the Austrian team “have the best car but it seems like they’re trying to lose the championship.

“And they’re getting there,” he added.

Timo Glock has joined a group of F1 drivers who think the ‘proximity’ wing idea is a bad one.

FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh has admitted that the proposal, with chasing drivers able to press a button and boost straightline speed next season, might not see the light of day.

“I think it’s highly dangerous,” Glock is quoted as saying by the website of the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell.

“From the viewpoint of safety, I think it’s a wrong decision.”

The speed difference between the Lotus and Red Bull cars was arguably the cause of last Sunday’s huge crash at Valencia involving Mark Webber.

“We’ve seen what can happen if the guy behind has significantly more speed,” Virgin driver Glock said.

“Mark was just lucky that there was enough run-off and he could just run into the tyre barrier,” added the German, suggesting that the return of KERS in 2011 could boost the speed differences even more.

“The drivers all have the same opinion; it is clearly too dangerous,” said Glock of the adjustable rear wing idea.

“Perhaps the (GPDA) drivers’ union can do something.  It should definitely be talked about.”

Plans for adjustable ‘proximity’ rear wings next year are not set in stone, according to FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh.

The idea, giving chasing drivers the ability to reduce drag and therefore better mount overtaking moves, was championed by the teams association and recently rubber-stamped by the FIA.

But there has been some opposition since the announcement; primarily by those who think it is an unnecessary and artificial ploy, and also those who are concerned about safety.

“We will see whether people are convinced by it or not,” said Whitmarsh, also the McLaren team boss.

The Briton admitted the proximity wing was developed due to “fan-based pressure” to improve the spectacle of overtaking, but said it is not certain the innovation will actually debut.

“I think we have got to do a little bit more work on deployment and the sporting regulations that accompany it, and if we get that right we’ll give it a go,” said Whitmarsh.

He confirmed that if “it detracts, isn’t right, it’s easy to take it off”.

“But let’s have a look at it; it’s a bit of an experiment.”

Former grand prix driver Anthony Davidson is not confident the wings will ever be seen in action.

“I think teams just like to see what people like us think about it before it actually gets put forward,” said the BBC radio commentator.

(GMM)

The press round of Stefano Domenicali after the race began in Valencia because of the late decision of the stewards was later than usual, but very rewarding. For Ferrari had just made the website a controversial review online, in which the Grand Prix of Europe as a “scandal” was called.

Earlier, Fernando Alonso has indicated that he thought the race had been manipulated. But Ferrari back row: On the website you have not published the opinion of Ferrari, but the Ferrari fans around the world, Alonso had made his statement “in the heat of battle.” Team boss Domenicali attempted to clarify this point in discussion with media representatives from around the world.
Question: “Stefano, on the Ferrari website, the race today called scandal, Fernando said that it has been manipulated …”
Luca Colajanni (Ferrari spokesman): “The speech by the voice of the fans – you should have read the message carefully!”
Stefano Domenicali: “I am the official voice of Ferrari. Ask me, I then answer that.”
Technical progress made

Q: Can you explain why you are so angry today? ”
Domenicali: “Naturally we are very angry because we did not get the points we have in this race because of our performance really need to do. If I analyze this weekend even from the technical side, we have but one step forward, even if he is still not large enough to catch Red Bull. In the first round we saw that things were in the right direction. ”

“The frustration is so great because we made the right move, but still less points than in the most difficult race of the year. This is very frustrating. Do I have to say from the sporting angle that we had bad luck today. The only four cars on the home straight were when the safety car was on, were Vettel, Hamilton, Fernando and Felipe. Vettel stopped before the safety car, Hamilton had ignored the yellow flags and the yellow light, but we had a full lap behind the Safety- Car driving. In the meantime, took the field that was in the pits, back on us, so we fell behind when we came into the pits. The plan you can not. ”

“Before some decisions are made, you should be sure they are right and wrong. If we now know, however, that the date of a decision affects the race, then they must be taken quickly, otherwise the consequences of unfair have. Today, the Ferrari has affected quite badly, so we must make sure that something like this happen again. More I would say not really. also ran against a lot of cars still an investigation. That I think is not good. ”

Question is: “When the FIA driver got into the race management – today it was Heinz-Harald Frentzen – first of all were happy, but in the last race there were many contentious decisions. How do you comment that?”
Domenicali: “had the present situation to do with the driver Commissioner nothing, I think. They had indeed nothing to do with the fact that a driver knows that there is slowed down or this and that is in the cockpit. I think that was the day a normal thing for the Commissioners.
“But I want to say something else. First of all, I am very pleased that Mark Webber doing well, because that is the most important thing. In life, have possible priorities. Today he had a very tragic accident, so I am happy that He’s healthy. But the accident has clearly shown that the large performance difference between the cars can be very dangerous. We’re talking about for some months, but today we were fortunate that we have not seen play. As braked different and there are different lines driven. Furthermore, we need to think about. ”

Q: If the safety car not normally catch the leaders and all others to pass through? ”
Domenicali: “I know that the race management, the safety car rausschickt regardless of what happens on the track, if it is necessary. I think correctly. The cars should also be waved through to the leader as quickly as possible behind the safety car is. This as I understand it, they wanted to now the medical car to protect the safety car to prevent the cars rushing around the track. ”

Q: You just said something about the big speed difference and that is dangerous. If the by the adjustable rear wing does not get worse? ”
SD: I think we need to examine carefully. When the leader must not press the button and Hintermann already created a difference in speed. Today we have seen, this can lead to.

Q: Just to clarify again: On your website is a scandal of the speech. If you say that this is not the Ferrari’s opinion? ”
SD: You were here all the time. Did I say scandalous? ”
Only the opinion of the fans

Q: No. But it is on the Ferrari website. ”
Domenicali: “The text there is the opinion of all Tifosi against the world. But I am the official voice of Ferrari and I have never said that.”

Q: Fernando, says the race was manipulated. ”
Domenicali: “We need him to admit that he has said in the heat of the moment, but I can understand him, because the race was broke by factors that were beyond our control. That is why he said that.”

Q: Will you bring this matter to the FIA or discuss with the teams? ”
Domenicali: “We have submitted the topic already in the FIA. That is completely incorrect.”

Q: What does this mean? Could it even be a different race result?
SD: No. The outcome is certain, but we are concerned about the future. We want to talk about it, so something in the future can not happen. ”
Q: You had prior to this Grand Prix a PR day of shooting, on some team bosses have complained. Must be made clear what a day of shooting and what is a test? ”
Domenicali: “It is not my style, something the public unsubscribe, but if there is something to discuss, then I pick up the phone. That’s my style. The shooting day was clear. If people want to change the wording of the rule We have no problem with that. ”

Q: one hand, you walk the day of shooting on a very fine line when it comes to the limits of the rules to explore the other hand, the rules today against you … ”
Domenicali: “One can not even compare it. To day of shooting, we have the allowed 100 kilometers used to supply our customers, our network and our dealers with material. Under such conditions it is difficult to learn about the car . But as I said: If someone has a problem, he can talk to us, then we explain it. ”

Q: Let’s auspicious on a topic. Pat Fry moves from McLaren to you. Can you describe his area of responsibility?
Domenicali: “When we found out that he has been on the market, we immediately realized that he was a great technician with much experience. I know that he also had offers from other teams, but we saw this as a good opportunity to join our team. He works as vice-head of technology. This is a very important task, not only for this year, but especially for the future. ”

Q: Do you find it okay that the drivers who have violated the safety car rule were punished only with five seconds? ”
Domenicali: “The danger of today’s decision is, I think that one might be tempted in future to violate the rules against better knowledge, to have an advantage. This is dangerous.”

Drivers next year will be allowed to press a button on the steering wheel that spoils downforce in the rear wing and thus boosts the possibility for overtaking.

But driver veteran Jarno Trulli this weekend expressed fears that tinkering with the rear wings is a dangerous move.

Mercedes team boss Brawn, however, insists that the adjustable wing design includes a failsafe.

“The teams have worked on this a lot,” he said in Valencia.

“Should the system fail and is no longer adjustable, the wing will be in its normal position, so there will be no downforce lost,” added Brawn.

(GMM)

Christian Horner on Friday accused a “naughty” Ferrari of breaching the “spirit” of the in-season testing ban.

The Italian team tested its new Red Bull-like low exhaust layout at its own Fiorano test circuit last week, under the guise of a “filming and promotional” day.

Indeed, Ferrari did distribute media photos of the event and even a video of Fernando Alonso driving the car with a camera mounted on his helmet.

“It was arguably within the letter of the laws but not within the spirit,” Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, told the Telegraph.

“You don’t just run these cars – there has to be a lot of planning – and it wasn’t by mistake that they happened to run on that day with the new exhaust system,” he added.

Horner suggested that if Ferrari was really just running the F10 for filming purposes, the car did not need to be fitted with its important Valencia update.

“They managed to have a look at it, and they’ve probably learned a bit.  I’m sure there will be a lively debate at the next team principals’ meeting,” he predicted.

“I think it’s something that needs to be tidied up, because it’s effectively a gentlemen’s agreement, and it’s important that that should be respected.”

But it is true that the Ferrari was running with Bridgestone’s ultra-hard promotional tyres, and Alonso said the runs had been of little competitive value.

“I was running behind a car with cameras at 60kph so it was very stable,” the Spaniard joked.

“We did some laps also with no car in front, and ten cameras on the car and on the helmet, so it was not very comfortable to drive, and it was also the first time driving a Ferrari F1 car at Fiorano,” insisted Alonso.

(GMM)

Jun.25 (GMM)  The first practice session of the 2010 European grand prix took place under sunny skies on Friday morning.

In Valencia, expected to remain fine for the whole weekend, Nico Rosberg ended the 90 minute session with the fastest time as Mercedes experimented with its new Red Bull-like exhaust layout and driver-adjustable F-duct.

He was faster than the McLarens, but Renault, Ferrari and Red Bull were all also within a second or so of the leading pace.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel clocked the sixth fastest time, amid breaking news his Montreal-spec gearbox has been repaired, meaning he will not move back five places on Sunday’s grid.

The two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso is hoping with its much improved Ferrari for a good result in a home match in Valencia: “The feeling is very good. In Tempo 60 is the car very stable,” said the Spaniard, with a grin at the press conference front of the Grand Prix of Europe. Outside the test ban, he had been allowed to rotate at the beginning of the week in the B version of the F10 already in promotional shots for a few laps around the Ferrari test track in Fiorano.

“I’m driving behind a car with cameras and had the helmet and the car ten cameras. I was not really comfortable,” said Alonso. “In addition, it was my first laps in a Formula 1 car at Fiorano.” Conclusions about the effectiveness of the revised cars for the race in Valencia he will not pull so: “I hope we will be a bit faster. But the other teams have in recent weeks certainly looked not just television.”
His anger at the slow backbenchers, who had him last resided in Montreal when lapping and possibly cost the victory, has now subsided, “We have 19 races, there is like from that. It is the same for everyone,” he says. Next year the residue of the three new teams would not be so big: “You are entered in this year at very short notice and are rankommen closer,” said Alonso.