Mika Salo – a former Ferrari, Sauber and Toyota race driver – has admitted his surprise at how F1 technology has moved on since he retired in 2002.
The now 45-year-old Finn got back at the wheel of a modern grand prix machine last weekend at Suzuka, during the Ferrari Racing Days event.

“The power came as no surprise,” he told the broadcaster MTV3, “but the grip was quite unbelievable.

“It was almost contrary to the laws of nature, how hard you could be pushing on sixth or seventh gear in a corner.

“I would have needed many more days to really get back on terms with it,” said Salo. “I have to admit there is no way I could do a race right now.

“Secondly, my fitness really is not enough — I have such a sore neck and hands now that I could barely carry my bag at the airport,” he added.

Jenson Button is an outright favourite for the 2012 title, according to former F1 driver Mika Salo.
The Finn, Salo, will be a regular in the paddock this season with the MTV3 broadcaster, except for this weekend’s season opener for which he is detained to test last year’s Ferrari at Suzuka.

Asked however in a pre-season interview to name some likely challengers to Sebastian Vettel’s crown, the 45-year-old answered: “Jenson Button is not necessarily the quickest driver, but he is able to collect points consistently.

“I would not previously have put him as a favourite, but when Hamilton had his personal problems, Button was immediately on the case.”

Behind Vettel and Button, Salo predicts Hamilton and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg to be on the favourites’ heels.

“It will depend on Hamilton, and whether or not he splits with his girlfriend every other weekend.

“Nico will be strong, if he has a good car. Webber, I think, is a bit past it, especially if Red Bull is no longer as dominant as they have been,” he added.

Mika Salo has now played down his two-day test for Ferrari this weekend.
It emerged last week that the 45-year-old Finn, who in 1999 replaced Ferrari’s injured Michael Schumacher, would test the famous Maranello team’s single seater at the Suzuka circuit.

A spokesman insisted Salo is simply appearing as a guest during the Ferrari Racing Days event, but media speculation hinted he is playing a more crucial role amid the famous team’s struggle to improve its new F2012.

“The news media got a bit out of hand,” Salo told Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

“It’s only a two day test for me in last year’s car. If you think about it rationally, there is no benefit for the F1 team.

“I am 45 years old and haven’t driven a single metre (in a F1 car) for ten years — I could not give any useable feedback,” he insisted.

Mercedes has reinvented an F-duct style innovation and intends to debut it in 2012, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports.
The magazine on Tuesday published diagrams of the innovation, which was apparently tested for the first time during free practice at Suzuka recently.

The new F-duct is confined to the front wing, not the rear wing as per the systems that were banned at the end of last season.

Air enters through the oval-shaped vent at the very tip of the 2012 Mercedes nose, is redirected via and inside the front wing supports and exits at the rear of the wing.

Unlike the 2010-style F-ducts, the system is not manually triggered by the drivers, making it legal.

Mercedes’ new idea is to redirect more undisturbed air through the floor of the car.

Auto Motor und Sport said McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh is aware of the innovation and the head-start now enjoyed by Mercedes.

“If you make a start now, it’s already too late,” he said, predicting that other teams will nonetheless also experiment with the idea.

 Jenson Button has clarified any fears he might be prepared to drive into Sebastian Vettel this weekend in Korea.
Despite Vettel having only just clinched the 2011 title, McLaren’s Button did not hesitate to bring up their Suzuka near-miss immediately after the Japanese race.

German Vettel denied seeing Button on the approach to the first corner, when the McLaren had to put two wheels onto the grass and lift the throttle.

And Briton Button warned with his famous smile: “I might not lift off next time you pull across at the start”.

Asked by reporters in Korea if he was serious, the 31-year-old insisted: “No, but it sounded good on TV.

“You’re still going to be intelligent about the way you go racing and if you know that he’s not going to back out and you’re going to push him on the grass, you’re not going to do it,” Button is quoted by Reuters.

But he did cast doubt on Vettel’s excuse that he didn’t see him in Japan, referring to BBC footage showing the German looking into his mirrors.

Vettel said in Japan: “By the time I saw him, I realised that maybe I was a little bit too far to the right and then he was backing off.

“Obviously no intention to put him in any danger but I think we can run with two wheels on the grass, can’t we Fernando?” he added, referring to his own pass on Fernando Alonso at Monza last month.

Sebastian Vettel celebrated his world championship triumph with a couple of ‘donuts’ on his victory lap at Suzuka, it has emerged.
The two smoky burn-outs were witnessed by the grandstand spectators at turns 1 and 2 but not the millions of television viewers, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“The FIA does not appreciate drivers senselessly burning fuel and tyres,” the magazine said.

The amateur footage, captured by a Japanese fan, can be seen at the video sharing website Youtube. Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxca4mBCuE8.

Sebastian Vettel on Wednesday said he intends to enjoy the rest of the 2011 season in winning style.
The 24-year-old German is about to experience the rare joy of having concluded a successful campaign as the unassailable defending champion with plenty of races to spare.

“It’s different to Abu Dhabi 2010,” he told Germany’s Sport Bild, referring to last year’s season finale when he emerged as the surprise champion.

“This year there are four grands prix to go; basically, four long laps of honour ahead of me. I can enjoy my second title much, much more,” said Vettel.

And he intends to celebrate by winning; a feat he could not manage at the scene of his 2011 championship victory, Suzuka, on Sunday.

“We did not manage it in Japan so we will try to take advantage in the next race,” said Vettel, referring to F1′s imminent round in Korea.

In the wake of his title triumph last weekend, the F1 world has been busily hailing Vettel, including Stefano Domenicali who said he can imagine the 24-year-old driving alongside Ferrari’s number 1 Fernando Alonso.

The Italian recently said he does not consider Vettel a true team leader, “But I never said I didn’t think he was good,” Domenicali told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Vettel has also flirted with a potential future switch to Maranello, revealing his desire to race for a “myth” team like Ferrari or Mercedes.

But he said on Wednesday: “If we win a few races and championships, maybe Red Bull will become a legend as well. I will work hard next year.”

A race seat with Virgin could be the next step for Canadian Robert Wickens.

Driving in Virgin and title sponsor Marussia’s colours this season, the 22-year-old wrapped up the Renault World Series championship in Spain last weekend while F1 raced at Suzuka.

“We look forward to celebrating with him this weekend in Korea,” announced Virgin’s F1 team boss John Booth.

A few months ago, Wickens was announced as the F1 team’s new reserve driver.

And while the formula one world was in Japan last weekend, the Belgian newspaper De Morgen reported that Wickens is in the running for a 2012 seat because he has “more (sponsorship) money” to offer than Jerome d’Ambrosio.

Wickens told the Toronto newspaper Globe and Mail: “F1 has always been the goal in my whole career and now I am the closest I have ever been.

“Definitely, I will switch now to trying to secure a seat for next year.

“At the end of the day, if I could get corporate Canada’s support it would be a dream come true.”

The unity of the formula one teams association FOTA might be racing into trouble.

AS newspaper reports that neither Red Bull nor Mercedes are fans of the so-called resource restriction agreement, with Ferrari and McLaren on the opposing side of the developing debate.

The report said Red Bull as well as Mercedes, the topic of conversation at Suzuka following the high-profile appointments of Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis, feel “under suspicion for alleged overspending”.

Both teams “seem willing to fight for the elimination of this regulation”, with some sources saying an impasse could lead to Mercedes and Red Bull leaving FOTA altogether.

AS correspondent Manuel Franco said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has called upon FOTA, led by his McLaren counterpart Martin Whitmarsh, to resolve the issue this weekend in Korea.

Bernie Ecclestone admitted recently that he does not support FOTA.

“I try not to think of them,” said the F1 chief executive in a joint interview recently with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who agreed: “I also don’t spend too much time thinking in that direction.”

F1 chief executive Ecclestone told formula1.com: “It (FOTA) is an unnecessary association of people who should put their sole emphasis on getting competitive cars on the grid.”

As Sebastian Vettel drinks in his unprecedented success, two of his German countrymen are hoping simply for a place on the 2012 grid.

Adrian Sutil has been with Force India since the Silverstone based team’s Spyker days, but speculation is mounting that Vijay Mallya is planning to pair Paul di Resta with Nico Hulkenberg next year.

“I still have no contract (for 2012),” the German newsmagazine Focus quotes the 28-year-old as saying this week.

“For sure we’ll have a meeting soon,” Sutil, referring to his boss Mallya, told the BBC last weekend at Suzuka. “I’ll ask his opinion about next year and hopefully he’ll give me a sign.”

Mallya said he will not make a decision until December, but Sutil said the end of the year “is a little late because normally all the other seats are taken”.

Already absent from the grid in 2011 is Nick Heidfeld, who recently lost his Renault race seat to Bruno Senna.

Reports have linked the veteran of 183 grands prix with a BMW reunion in the German touring car series for 2012.

“I am in contact with the DTM teams,” the 34-year-old confirmed, “but my focus at the moment stays in formula one.”

Stefano Domenicali on Tuesday said he can imagine Fernando Alonso working alongside F1′s new double world champion Sebastian Vettel.
“Would Alonso accept it? I think so, I think it could work. Fernando’s strength is that he is not afraid of anyone, a force that comes from his maturity,” the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

But it’s not a minor detail that Vettel is contracted to Red Bull until 2014, and tipped to extend his stay for a further two years.

For Ferrari team boss Domenicali, the seat to fill is currently occupied by Felipe Massa, whose deal ends next season.

“He will do everything to prove what he has to Ferrari, and the other drivers with contracts expiring will want to prove that they are ready to come,” he said. “Among those, probably, is Hamilton.

“But it’s early,” said Domenicali, referring to McLaren’s 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose deal expires in unison with Massa’s next season.

“Felipe had a good weekend (at Suzuka), until the contact with Hamilton. It was a shame it happened in a very positive weekend for him,” he added.

Ferrari’s first priority is to have a better car for 2012, and Domenicali revealed that only minor “details” of the current Italia 150 car will be saved.

“We will change everything; even the steering wheel,” he said.

Interest in the 2011 season will decline now that Sebastian Vettel has wrapped up the world championship.
The world’s media are busy hailing the 24-year-old German’s latest achievement rather than building up as per normal for the next race, to take place in just a few days in South Korea.

McLaren and FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh admits that, from the public’s point of view, the early championship conclusion has taken the shine off the forthcoming races also in India, Abu Dhabi and Brazil.

“Inevitably, there will be a drop of interest — the tension and excitement that we’ve been fortunate to encounter in recent years is never a given,” he told the Times of India, referring to recent season finales.

On the other hand, Whitmarsh said that any consequences of a championship contest, such as team orders or racing with an eye on the points mathematics, will now dissipate.

“I actually think you’ll really see the gloves come off and we’ll get to see some truly incredible racing by the greatest drivers in the world,” he insisted.

There is also the issue of driver motivation, with Fernando Alonso for example buoyed that his car was at least competitive at Suzuka even though Ferrari has ceased its development.

“That gives us some extra motivation for the remaining races knowing that it is going to be tough as the updates on the car will be minimal,” said the Spaniard.

“But in some races, some circuits, we are still competitive, so why not fight for victory in one of the remaining races.”

Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull could reign over a new era of dominance in formula one, the international press and paddock pundits said after Sunday’s Japanese grand prix.

At Suzuka, despite needing only a single point to rule his last opponent out of contention for the 2011 title, Vettel ensured Jenson Button will not come within 14 points of his second consecutive world championship.

The young German did it by finishing third but Spain’s El Mundo hailed a campaign that has been “too perfect” for the Red Bull driver.

Sir Jackie Stewart told the Daily Mail in Britain that he can’t see why Vettel won’t dominate for years to come.

“He is unquestionably the most mature 24-year-old racing driver I have seen,” said the triple world champion.

Agreed Britain’s Telegraph: “Vettel may rule for 10 years”, with the Independent adding he “has hallmarks of a new Prost or Senna”.

“Last season he was a sometimes callow 23-year-old,” observed the Guardian. “This year he has appeared a 24-year-old veteran”.

1996 Monaco grand prix winner Olivier Panis is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat: “He is one of few drivers who may have the opportunity to break Michael Schumacher’s almost unbreakable records”.

Agreed Virgin’s Timo Glock: “If he keeps getting machines like this year, he could beat Michael”, the German is quoted by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Vettel’s achievement sees him join Schumacher and seven other fellow greats – including Fangio, Hakkinen and Alonso – who have managed back-to-back championships.

“Now we will see who is the youngest three time world champion,” smiled Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

German chancellor Angela Merkel has already delivered her official congratulations, while the Kolner Express quoted a Suzuka spectator called Norbert as saying: “I am not a double world champion, only his father”.

Canada’s French language La Presse had high praise for Vettel, insisting he is “largely responsible for Red Bull’s dominance this season”, with Reuters saying he has gone from “Crash Kid to Mr Consistent”.

And the team’s Dr Helmut Marko warned: “As the whole team is staying together, I see no reason why we cannot be as successful next year.”

According to father Norbert, young Vettel has not let his success and fame change him. “You need to be hard for formula one, but he’s not a bastard”.

Niki Lauda wrote in Bild newspaper: “His friendly facade is genuine, but behind the babyface is a killer.”

And among his future achievements could be his mentor’s ultimate record.

Smiling Vettel told reporters at Suzuka: “Did you notice that Michael is the youngest seven time world champion — ever?!”

Red Bull avoided a repeat of last year’s ‘wing-gate’ by letting Mark Webber keep his latest specification front wing at Suzuka.
At Silverstone 2010, Australian Webber kicked off the controversy by angrily declaring ‘Not bad for a number 2 driver’ after winning the British grand prix.

The win came after the team took the front wing off his car because the only other version collapsed on Sebastian Vettel’s RB6 in practice.

At Suzuka, a similar situation arose when Vettel crashed at Degner on Friday morning.

But the German then tackled the rest of the weekend until qualifying with an older spare front wing replacement, and was duly outpaced in all the practice sessions by McLaren’s Jenson Button.

Suddenly, Vettel returned to the front in qualifying — with a brand new front wing.

“The team did everything to bring it back and just in time it arrived (from Milton Keynes) for qualifying,” the 24-year-old said.

Team boss Christian Horner told Reuters he never considered simply taking Webber’s front wing away again.

“Last time (at Silverstone), it failed and we had one left and it wasn’t anything to do with the driver,” he said.

“Yesterday it was purely down to him (Vettel), that’s why he looked pretty pissed off when he got out of the car because he knew he’d damaged a front wing that he knew there were only two of in Japan at that time.”

Nico Rosberg is reluctant to commit to Mercedes beyond his current contract, according to a Spanish sports newspaper.
The 26-year-old has consistently outperformed seven time world champion Michael Schumacher in the last two seasons, but is yet to record a single grand prix win.

The Marca daily said Mercedes is desperate to re-sign him for 2013 and beyond, but claims the young German is stalling for now as he watches the driver market.

With Jenson Button now committed to McLaren beyond next season, Rosberg could emerge as a leading candidate to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari.

“Marca has learned that Rosberg wants to wait on renewing his contract with Mercedes in order to try his luck in negotiating with Ferrari next year,” said the report.

Mercedes’ motor sport president Norbert Haug admitted at Suzuka that the German marque wants to tie up Rosberg.

“I have Nico until 2012 and, if I had my way, for much longer,” he said.

A few weeks ago, there were reports Rosberg was set to commit to Mercedes until 2016, but Marca says he is now pushing for a year-on-year deal.