Luca di Montezemolo insists heads will not roll, as Ferrari looks set to race into the 2012 season without the chance of a podium.
The famous team wrote off last year’s championship early to focus on 2012 with an aggressive project, with new British technical chief Pat Fry in the spotlight.

But also feeling the pressure is team boss Stefano Domenicali, who said at the weekend that he has “the support of president Montezemolo”.

“I am not the one who designs the car: my task is to give my people everything they need in terms of organisation and structure,” said the Italian.

But Montezemolo denied that Ferrari will react in arguably typical fashion by making sweeping changes.

“I’ve always given my staff time and trust,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We have not even begun and already you’re putting the people in doubt?

“Let’s not have that talk,” insisted the Ferrari president.

He admitted the F2012 has untapped potential.

“There are too few tests and unfortunately they are in public. But I would still wait before drawing conclusions about the title fight.

“According to the drivers, the F2012 has some negative elements, but also some positive. The problems have been identified and I hope they can be fixed quickly,” he added.

Sebastian Vettel admitted to not concentrating hard enough on Friday when he crashed in Suzuka practice.

If Friday’s fastest driver Jenson Button wins on Sunday, and runaway championship leader Vettel crashes again, the title fight will move on to Korea.

On the other hand, Red Bull’s Vettel – the back-to-back Japanese grand prix winner – needs only to finish tenth to guarantee his second crown.

“I had a good reminder in practice not to start thinking about something else,” he admitted on Friday.

“It was not really a big mistake, but maybe at that moment I was not 100 per cent awake, and mistakes around here can be quite costly.”

Robert Kubica has confirmed his desire to return to formula one next year with Renault.
Asked by a fan on the team’s website if he will be ready for the 2012 season and a title fight, the injured Pole answered: “Yes to the first question.

“For your second question, we will have to wait until the first test in 2012!”

There have been rumours recently of disagreements between Renault team chiefs and Kubica’s management, particularly over the timing of the return from his horror rally crash.

“I’m a Lotus Renault GP driver,” insisted the 26-year-old. “Of course, I’m missing not being able to drive this season but I feel that my job in Enstone isn’t finished yet.”

Kubica insisted he is mentally strong but in a physical sense “still a bit weak”.

“But my general condition is quite good,” he said. “My weight has now returned to its normal level and for a few weeks I’ve been able to walk without help. All in all I feel pretty well.

“I am satisfied with how things are proceeding,” Kubica told another online fan.

“The improvement is in line with the expectations, and luckily there are no complications that could affect the recovery time.

“It is still too early to have a clear picture for the timing of my return but the important thing is the final outcome not the hurry.”

Despite Lewis Hamilton no longer thinking the 2011 title fight is effectively over, not everyone in the F1 paddock agrees with him.

Renault’s departing team manager Steve Nielsen told Brazilian O Estado de S.Paulo correspondent Livio Oricchio that he thinks Sebastian Vettel will wrap up his second championship long before the 2011 season has ended.

“I believe the points gap will grow and that will Vettel will do it by Suzuka,” he said, referring to the Japanese grand prix in October.

After Suzuka, there are still four grands prix left to run, and Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary admits he is also worried.

“We are entering dangerous territory here; slow death by asphyxiation,” he wrote after Valencia. “Not since Michael Schumacher bored everyone into submission in 2004 have fans been forced to contemplate hegemony on this scale.”

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said before leaving Valencia last Sunday that Vettel is “sure to be champion” in 2011.

Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore told Radio Monte Carlo that he reckons Vettel will have won by Monza, two races before Suzuka, but Rubens Barrichello thinks that is unlikely.

“To win at Suzuka he needs to increase his gap to 100 points, which at this rate is very possible,” said the Brazilian.

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali is reserving his judgement until after Silverstone, where the off-throttle blown exhaust clampdown takes effect.

“There may be a change in what we have seen so far, even if I recognise that Sebastian has a considerable advantage.”

Red Bull has pledged driver equality for the 2010 title fight, whilst openly admitting that Sebastian Vettel is regarded as the man of the future.

“The main thing now is that we become world champions,” said Helmut Marko, who was accused earlier this year of wanting Vettel to beat Australian Webber to the top spot.

But with Webber 14 points clear, and Vettel level-pegging with Ferrari’s chasing Fernando Alonso, the Austrian-owned team must give the 34-year-old an unimpeded run to the chequered flag.

For the future, however, Red Bull’s ambitions are well known.

“I repeat: we are building the team around Sebastian,” team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Auto Bild.

“Sebastian has a long career ahead of him and hopefully he will spend it with us,” said the Briton. “Mark is in the autumn of his career.

“He wants to retire while he’s at the top, not when he’s past his peak like some other drivers,” added Horner.

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, however, thinks Red Bull are making a mistake by giving 23-year-old Vettel so much cover.

“Just look at the differing seasons Mark and Sebastian have had,” the French Canadian is quoted by the Telegraph.

“Vettel has shown he has an impetuous streak but if he makes a mistake and the team don’t tell him it was his fault, he won’t learn.

“It’s Red Bull’s fault for spoiling him,” insisted Villeneuve.

With McLaren’s charge fading and Fernando Alonso going it alone for Ferrari, the rivalry between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel will be in the spotlight during the now three-race run to the 2010 world championship.

Red Bull’s racing duo, although separated by 14 points, are right in the fight for the drivers’ championship; an individual’s prize that often sees teams back one driver over the other.

This year has seen Vettel and Webber swing between being the obviously favoured son to the downtrodden number 2 driver, but team boss Christian Horner has once again reinforced their status of equality.

With Alonso charging alone with the – albeit reluctant – support of Felipe Massa, the competitive rivalry between Webber and Vettel, and the fact the pair are obviously not friends, is a problem for Red Bull.

But boss Horner insists: “We are fortunate to have two level-headed and strong-willed drivers.

“And while that inevitably poses challenges at times, it is a luxury problem to have,” he insisted.

It might be a luxury to have two competitive drivers in the running for the title, but with Ferrari’s solitary Alonso chasing their heels, Red Bull runs the risk of losing by not focusing on a single driver.

“The dream scenario would be to be able to pull out a big enough gap to all those behind that it was just down to them on track,” Horner admitted in Japan.

“But as a team we are trying our best to support both drivers equally and both drivers are very much still in this championship,” he added.

John Watson, a former race winner with McLaren, thinks it is the potential trouble in the Red Bull camp and resultant Turkey-like situations that might keep McLaren in the title fight.

At Suzuka for example, Webber pulled out a further 3 points in his championship lead simply by finishing behind Vettel.

But he couldn’t resist spoiling Vettel’s perfect day by bettering the young German’s coveted fastest race lap on the final tour.

“I couldn’t let him have a full house,” the Australian remarked.

Noted BBC commentator Martin Brundle: “The team must have great angst with the risks of this unnecessary mind-game late in the race.”

And Watson told the BBC’s radio Five Live: “I’m concerned by the internal machinations between the Red Bull drivers.

“That’s going to be the biggest ray of light for Hamilton and Button.”

Formula 2 champion Dean Stoneman gets a prize for his title win a Formula 1 test in a Williams and a FIA Super Licence
Dean Stoneman has stood down yesterday as the new Formula 2 champion and therefore can now make the next career step thoughts. This is definitely a formula – even if only for a day. Expected at the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi will be sitting in the Brit Williams.

For the FIA as a prize for the championship not only an F1 super license, but also a day of testing in the Williams does not. Last year Andy Soucek was able to enjoy this pleasure, the Spaniard was able to use his chance despite day’s best time but not in Jerez de la Frontera and missed the jump in a Grand Prix cockpit. Even his Virgin contract as test driver has now been resolved.
“To come into Formula 1,” said Stoneman, “was always my big dream. To this I am now one step closer.’s Hard to say what to expect there, but it is a fantastic opportunity, a Williams Formula to test-a-car. Hopefully I can prove myself, I’ll just fly and do what I do best: get in the car and drive as fast as I can. ”

Series Promoter Jonathan Palmer is also pleased with Stoneman, although that has beaten in the title fight just his son Jolyon: “Dean has made this season a great job and is certainly a worthy Formula 2 champion,” said the former Grand Prix driver ( 83 Rennteilnahmen 1983-1989). “He is an exceptional talent, extremely fast, a tough competitor and, moreover, very consistent.”

“I am very confident that Dean will provide the high standard of competition in Formula 2 demonstrated by the Williams test delivers an impressive performance,” shows the Formula 2 boss confidence in his new hope. “The fact that the affordable and balanced starter box, Dean has given the opportunity to demonstrate his talent, without a big budget, have certainly others will be inspired.”

The motors could play in the fight for the Formula 1 crown in 2010 still a crucial role. Especially those pilots who are pushed by a Ferrari engine in front, standing before the last five rounds of the season as not particularly good. This applies just Sauber Nick Heidfeld most returnees, as his predecessor Pedro de la Rosa had been in Belgium can be mounted engine, and receive the ninth for the punishment.

But even with the red from Maranello, there are worries. Fernando Alonso, who after his latest, Monza win again good cards in the title fight, had to leave Italy in his last fit of the allowed per season eight fresh engine. Although the Spaniard still used engines in the rear, for example, the race in Singapore should survive well, but an engine blowouts could end the dream of a world title soon.
Ferrari may get the receipt for the engine damage to the season. How ‘auto motor und sport’ reports, the Italians had to start to apparently serious problems with the seals on the valve train. A too aggressive lubricant developed to have caused the problems. Ferrari could repair despite frozen development, since the like is more niche occurred. The training on Friday engines currently have to persevere with the Reds longer distances than planned.
“Unfortunately we started the year with problems,” Ferrari president Luca Marmorini Motor says in an interview with ‘Motorsport-Total.com “. “If we had this year had 20 races, then it would be difficult for us. We can afford no problems at all during the season more,” said the Italian, the order makes it clear how close the Reds for the final sprint of the season to be charitable. In comparison, Renault have both drivers still two fresh engines in the rear.

“It’s funny. In the past two or three years, we always say that the engine development is frozen and will remain the same engines,” says LM. “But it’s only the hardware is frozen, change the environment on the other hand constantly. The engines have to endure nearly double the mileage. This year it is a very different use of the engines, because refueling was banned.”

The Italian expert engine already provides for the coming year bring up new dark clouds. “There are more races,” said Marmorini. “This is really funny: The engines are to remain the same, but the conditions are changing. This makes it difficult for us.” At Ferrari’s we are not sure if it was eight engines per season is the right number. And for the years from 2013 it gets even thicker.
When equipped in three years, the formula with a little turbo machines, then the term should be again raised considerably – for cost reasons, as they say. “Originally, there should be four engines per year, but in the first five years of the new regulations,” said LM, which urgently needs an adoption of the new engine regulations. “This is an enormous step. To develop reliability is extremely difficult and expensive.”

“One should not underestimate the real”, said the Italian, who – as is probably many at Ferrari – not a big fan of small four-cylinder turbos. “Even if we had hinbekommen the new term with us for years known motors, then the effort would be substantial. This issue is particularly important and should be addressed quickly.” As a solution might look like, leaves Marmorini. The number of four or five engines per year, but seems far from set in stone to be.

Formula 1 is in its summer break down each team must be between the last race in Budapest and the next Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps for a total of two weeks to work in his factory. Ferrari has in common with his engineers and Fernando Alonso last week still used to prepare in Maranello on the remaining races of the 2010 season and the coming year.

Alonso at the weekend after a visit to Madonna di Campiglio for the presentation of Ercole Colombo’s book on the 20th had made birthday of the “Wrooom” events, the Spaniards now also occurs to a two-week vacation. can release mention the F1 events of the double world champion, however. “It will not be possible to switch off my thoughts in those two weeks complete,” Alonso is quoted on the official website of the team.
“Next I’ll try to relax a bit, do some sports at least once a day, perhaps for ten minutes, inevitably think about the next race in Belgium,” said Alonso. “I think this will all be the same and the timing of the break makes no difference.”

The Fifth World Cup is expected that Ferrari will catch up after the recent uptrend in the coming races even further to the top. “In Spain we will have some new parts and we hope that they bring us even further forward. The others will do the same, which means that we are better than they work and have to be faster in terms of development.”

Alonso builds on the strength of Ferraris. “We needed only two normal race to again be full in the title fight. It is true that we in the championship remains the rear, and it is always better to be ahead, but I am convinced that we, in the end, I mean the last two or three races, to be closer to their peak, as we are now. ”
It was important to stay calm and focused, so Alonso on. The Red Bull pilots he has in the fight for the world title but not on the bill. “It’s hard to say who my rival is worst – we are almost on par, perhaps Hamilton, Button and myself. We all have already won a title and will tackle the final sprint quiet, as we have already experienced something similar.” He gave himself while a fifty percent chance.

While fighting with McLaren and Red Bull have in each case both pilots at the World Cup crown, Alonso can support his team-mate Felipe Massa to be certain. “Here’s a great atmosphere. One that is better than any other team,” Alonso is secure. The pending decision of the FIA World Council regarding Ferraris stable government in Hockenheim dazzled by the Spaniards from as far as possible. “We have drivers and engineers the task of concentrating on the car and to continue our work.”

Jun.17 (GMM) Recent championship leaders Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton disagree about the likely direction of the 2010 season.

After winning the Turkish and Canadian grands prix in the wake of Red Bull’s earlier dominance, McLaren driver Hamilton said the fight for the title is “tight”.

The statistics so far appear to support his argument, given the five different race winners and the fact they are all separated by just 19 points.

“So it’s the ultimate challenge I’ve experienced in formula one, perhaps in formula one history,” the Briton added.

Australian Webber, however, predicts that the current five-driver championship fight will ultimately become a more regular head-to-head as the season winds down.

“Last year,” the Red Bull driver told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, “Jenson won many races at the beginning. But that’s not usually what happens.

“It is more often the case that until mid-season there are three to five drivers all together.

“70 per cent in there will probably be only three or so in it, and with a few races to go it becomes a duel,” Webber predicted.

“Perhaps the champion will even be known before the last race.”

The 33-year-old also played down suggestions that, given the outcome of the Montreal race, McLaren is now the pacesetter.

Red Bull had predicted after Turkey that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve would not suit the RB6.

“Valencia is another track on which we might not be so good,” said Webber. “But we surprised ourselves in Canada when we were more competitive than we thought we would be.”

Michael Schumacher knows the situation in which he finds himself currently at Mercedes, well. He has done construction work at Benetton, he has been fighting with Ferrari in the championship point. With Mercedes, he wants to do it now as well. In Montreal Schumacher sat with reporters and talked about the development process at Mercedes, the current situation, his chances in the title fight, the goal of being able to go on their own at the head and his life as a Formula 1-returnees.

Q: Michael, what expectations you had for yourself when you start in the season?
Michael Schumacher: “The championship is my goal and my focus. But there comes a point where you realize that his package is the way it is. And you have to go through from there a certain program and a certain process. And we make. ”

“The year is still long. I personally do not think that I am really in a position to much to talk about the title. It is more about building and therefore to organize things for what happened, from next year. But you never know. It’s still a long year and there are still have many points. ”

Q: You had two fourth places so far. A podium the next step is for you? ”
Schumacher: “I wonder if I’ll get another podium or not changes to my stats at all. The fact is: I want to see that we can go on their own to this position. And now we are not able to do so. I have found in the get Turkey by Sebastian Vettel’s failure given a place. from team perspective, we are currently third parties must and we work really. We do this so that we drive on their own to the podium and race win. That’s what we want and what we create can. But it takes time. ”

Question: “You are now ahead of Ferrari. Is that the F-shaft?”
Schumacher: “It certainly contributes a part in this. But we were in Turkey in any case an aerodynamic upgrade. So it is a natural process that we go through. In Turkey it has taken us ahead of Ferrari. But that does not mean that that’s the case here. We have seen how a team was in front and then back – it’s sometimes a bit difficult to understand, and strangely, why is the case. We hope that we stay at the front end and so far could we always get the most from the package. Nico Rosberg did a fantastic job, as he has brought the podium. ”

Q: You have spoken of the construction process. You have participated in at Ferrari, Benetton’s there. Are you still very satisfying to get into a team to work with him and build it up? ”
Schumacher: “That is one reason why I’m here. Driving is one thing. But a close cooperation, a good understanding and a good atmosphere in the team are very satisfying.”

Q: You work with a German team. Does it even matter that it is a team of your own home? ”
MS: Sure. If you look at how I started: Mercedes has supported me on the way to F1. Yes, it all fits together very well. ”

Q: You said that it is for you here on personal performance went well except in China. Would you say that Turkey was your best race this year? ”
MS: No, I have in Turkey, I drove the car to go home. I could make to the front at all, because they were too fast for us. I have only kept the place and am so driven, that nothing happened to the rear .

Q: What was your best race then? ”
RS: There was no ‘best race’ for me. Sometimes you have these very special race and moments in which everything fits together perfectly. And so far we have not yet. ”

Question: “Are you missing this?”
Schumacher: “I know I’ll get there. This is one reason why I do this – to get to this point. But for that it needs certain ingredients, and we are looking together yet.”

Q: What is in your life the biggest difference between now and then, when you left the sport? ”
Schumacher: “Maybe I enjoy it much more now because I take only the important things seriously.”

Q: Is it so lucky – there have less stress? ”
Schumacher: “I am extremely pleased with my life with my family, with the excitement that I have. I have absolutely no reason to complain. I feel really relaxed.”

Question: “Stress is one of the ingredients that make you faster, hungrier?”
MS: No. I do not stress! ”

Q: Are you faster because you are relaxed? ”
Schumacher: “I do not think I’m faster. I enjoy it more simply.”

Q: You’re already driving in Le Mans, as you would like to start again? ”
Schumacher: “It was beautiful, as I drove, it was great fun. But security aspect worries me. After so many years, in Formula 1 is not much that would challenge one. But the security question me like this kept away. ”

Q: Is there anything away from the Formula 1, which you would like to do, what would be a real challenge? ”
Schumacher: “I want much, but I am very satisfied with my life.”

Question: “Would you not like to fly once in orbit or something?”
MS: No, that does not attract me. ”

Question: “What a challenge you would you then search for Formula 1?”
MS: I do a lot of things that are fun. But nothing, what should I speak now, because I’m still busy with this and focus on the what I want now are doing. There is no place to think about what I want to do it. “