Vitaly Petrov thinks it is possible Felipe Massa will lose his Ferrari seat long before the 2012 season is over.

But Caterham’s Russian driver, who moved from Renault (now Lotus) at the end of last season, does not believe reports that Ferrari could sack the struggling Brazilian imminently, such as after next weekend’s Monaco grand prix.

“I don’t think they’ll fire Massa just now. At least not until August,” Petrov is quoted by the state owned Moscow news agency Ria Novosti.

There are six races until August’s month-long calendar ‘summer’ break.

So while Petrov thinks Massa’s career is genuinely in danger, he does not agree that Ferrari is ramping up the pressure on the 30-year-old.

“I wouldn’t say that Ferrari are criticising him that strongly,” he said. “They’re not saying he has one more chance or anything like that.”

Mark Webber is yet to secure his place at Red Bull for the 2013 season.
Team boss Christian Horner said the Australian has a “spring in his step” after a strong winter following Sebastian Vettel’s dominance last year.

But as for the future, he said that will only be discussed “in the summer”.

“We’ve extended his contract on a year by year basis, I think that’s something that Mark and the team agreed was the right way forward,” Horner told Sky Sports.

“His motivation is high at the moment, he’s still delivering and undoubtedly will sit down later in the summer to discuss the future.”

The biggest threats to 35-year-old Webber’s place are rookie team Toro Rosso’s new signings, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Horner admitted the young duo is “being groomed for the future”.

But the real tension for Webber will be in the Red Bull garage, as another trouncing by Vettel could signal the end of his tenure.

“(Vettel is) probably one of the best, if not the best driver on the grid at the moment and that’s what Mark Webber’s got to come up against, unfortunately,” 1980 world champion Alan Jones told News Limited newspapers.

“This is why I think Mark’s really got to come out of the blocks flying, he’s got to come out firing.”

 Lotus could become the next team to withdraw from the formula one teams association FOTA.
Already departed are HRT, Sauber and Toro Rosso and also the top teams Red Bull and Ferrari, leaving fellow grandees McLaren, Mercedes and the others on the wrong side of their competitors’ former unity.

Now, this week, team owner Gerard Lopez has been quoted as admitting that Lotus is contemplating pulling out.

The reasons for the withdrawals appear different, with Red Bull having been accused of breaching the gentleman’s Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA) and Ferrari rumoured to want to use its individual power to shape the future of the sport’s rules and structure.

The formerly BMW-owned Sauber, however, insisted that recent cost-cutting in formula one has not made it easier for smaller teams to survive.

“The RRA was a step in the right direction, but now other steps must urgently follow,” he told F1′s official website.

“It definitely has not become easier for the smaller teams.”

But beneath the surface, unity has not broken down completely, argues McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh, who doubles as the FOTA chairman.

It is true, for example, that the new non-FOTA members will continue to respect aspects of the body’s agreements, such as the summer factory closure.

“I’m not too hung up on the brand ‘FOTA’,” Whitmarsh said recently.

“I think what’s important is that the teams realise there are critical issues within this sport where it will be better if we cooperate and take sensible decisions, and I hope and believe that we’ll continue to do that.”

He added last month: “Relations between McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari remain very good indeed.”

A group of Russians have scammed former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore to the tune of EUR 86,000.
According to the Unione Sarda newspaper, they got off a superyacht and entered Briatore’s ultra-expensive Billionaire club in Sardinia, charging 90 bottles of EUR 900 Cristal champagne to a Russian oligarch’s account.

Police are now searching for the group.

“We trust our clients and there are some who choose not to settle their bills until the end of the summer,” Briatore’s spokeswoman Patrizia Spinelli told the Daily Telegraph.

“This was a very unfortunate exception.”

Police investigator Giulio Brandanu told The Guardian: “We have seen people here skip out on drinks bills before, but never this much.”

It is believed Karun Chandhok will not return to the Hispania cockpit until at least the end of October.

In Belgium this weekend, the Indian rookie is missing his third consecutive grand prix, with successor Sakon Yamamoto reportedly wielding more lucrative sponsors.

According to the rumour mill at Spa-Francorchamps, Chandhok’s sojourn will definitely be prolonged throughout the forthcoming Monza, Singapore, Suzuka and Korean rounds.

That leaves just Brazil and the Abu Dhabi finale.

The 26-year-old, in Belgium on Friday on radio commentary duties for the BBC, is signed up to demonstrate a Red Bull in Korea’s new Yeongam circuit next Saturday.

“It was a while since I drove an F1 car so I decided why not,” Chandhok said.

And the rumours suggest that, at Suzuka two weeks prior to the inaugural Korean grand prix, Chandhok will once again be on PR duties for the energy drink-owned team.

HRT is refusing to divulge its driver plans for the rest of the season, but Chandhok is confident he might return before the end.

“The reasons (for missing races) seem fairly obvious but at the end of the day, the team has its reasons, financial or circumstantial,” he said.

He thinks he might return to the grid for “two or three races”.

“I think I will do two or three races before the end of the year but honestly, our focus has now shifted to 2011,” said Chandhok.

“Over the summer break, we spent time discussing future options and I’m quite optimistic.  We’re looking in good shape for 2011,” he revealed.

He ruled out a switch to Force India.

“I’m not a part of their future plans and a racing seat is not available there anyway,” said Chandhok.

For Jaime Alguersuari Formula 1′s summer break, now in the harder phase: Fitness Camp in Austria, Italy in Karting
While many other Formula 1 driver still occupies a bed in a dream beach, Jaime Alguersuari goes back to work. The young Toro Rosso driver will enter on Monday back to the intensive fitness training to prepare for the rest of the season. “I will be with Sebastien Buemi in the Red Bull Performance Center in Fuschl and there for three days at the gym work,” the 20-year-old said on his homepage.

“We will be working on our physical condition, to be prepared for the rest of the season. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I’ll be in the gym, there are medical checks,” said Alguersuari. “We will also probably take hundreds of miles by bicycle uncoil and other outdoor activities.”
After three days in the Austrian Fuschl an unofficial competition of some Formula 1 drivers on the program. “On Thursday and Friday I meet with Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and several other Formula 1 drivers at the kart circuit in Lonato. Where we test some new KZ1-karts for the World Cup,” said the Toro Rosso Youngster who has a contract with Intrepid kart.

The young Spaniard then remains the same in Italy, to the team in preparing for the next Grand Prix in Belgium to help. For Alguersuari obviously many appointments with the Toro Rosso engineers at the factory in Faenza on the program. “I want the team to be as close as possible.” The goal for the rest of the season is to get on the basis of our technical possibilities always the maximum in the Grand Prix. ”
“I feel better, stronger and more balanced than ever before,” is pleased Alguersuari before returning to his Formula 1 work. The passionate DJ used the summer break and to hang up in some top clubs in Europe. “Now the music has only one break to the end of the season,” said the 20-year-old. “I’m going home to perhaps work on my private studio. But always only when I have finished my five-hour fitness program per day.”

“In my life all happened so fast,” says the pilot from Barcelona, who could well earn his money as a DJ. “Formula 1 fans might wonder if I can really be a good DJ. The music fans ask the same if I actually a good racer am. But the fact is that I am at two things for many, many years of work. I I sat with eight years in karting since I was 13, I’m going international races. ”
“Even though I enjoy the status as the youngest Formula 1 driver, it must be said, however, that I have eleven years working very hard towards this goal. And the music was similar. If one has put in thousands of clubs plates, then it is already not a hobby, “says Alguersuari. “I’ve been practicing 13 years ago in real high-tech devices. But still: Formula 1 is my passion, music is more of a side job.”

Among other things, showed Alguersuari his skills as a DJ in the club last icon in Budapest in Formula 1 after show. This was followed by short performances in Barcelona, London and Ibiza. “Nevertheless, I am recovering well. I had had with my parents a little sailing, visiting with them and my aunts a mountain village in the Spanish Pyrenees. Also, I’ve been to Formentera and Ibiza, and am a bit jet-ski driven. This holiday were among the most beautiful I have ever experienced. “