Lotus is grappling with a major problem less than one month before the start of the 2012 season.
The former Renault team has sensationally abandoned this week’s Barcelona test and returned to its Enstone headquarters, after an unspecified chassis fault was detected on the new E20 car on Tuesday.

“We’ll put the right measures in place and we will be able to fix the problem before next week,” said technical director James Allison.

But Gary Anderson, formerly the designer of Jordan and Jaguar cars, believes Lotus is playing down the problem.

“You would have thought they could have fixed it overnight — chassis are made of carbon fibre composite so you’d be looking to bond new strengthening parts on,” he told the BBC.

“In my experience, if you can’t do it in 24 hours, I don’t think you can do it at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if this meant they needed a new chassis, which would make it touch and go for the first race.”

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport thinks Lotus did not experience the fundamental problem at Jerez last week because the Circuit de Catalunya is a much more demanding circuit.

Meanwhile, Red Bull’s world champion Sebastian Vettel was Tuesday’s fastest as the second of three group tests began, but he admitted Lewis Hamilton – in the new McLaren – was also impressive.

“Ferrari is a bit of a secret at this stage and nobody knows whether they are really good or really bad,” admitted the German.

 HRT’s tumultuous history could be set to continue, if a report in an authoritative German newspaper is right.
Die Welt claims Thesan Capital, the Madrid-based investment company that bought the Spanish team from Jose Ramon Carabante last year, is already on the lookout for a new buyer.

Originally known as Hispania, HRT was actually founded as Campos by former Spanish F1 driver Adrian Campos when the FIA opened up the grid ahead of the 2010 season.

Die Welt claims that the latest owner Thesan’s desire to sell follows the departure of team boss Colin Kolles, who left with almost every one of the team’s 120 employees back to his Greding based company.

Kolles also took all of HRT’s technical equipment back to Greding, Germany, leaving the team on a desperate struggle to be ready for the forthcoming season.

Nonetheless, HRT announced on Wednesday it is establishing a permanent base at the Spanish tennis open headquarters Caja Magica in Madrid.

But Die Welt claims the team may soon be sold to Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world who already backs Sauber through Sergio Perez and his Mexican companies.

Sauber’s departing technical boss James Key appears headed for Lotus.
On the eve of its 2012 car launch, the Swiss team announced that it will not replace the departing Briton Key, who has accepted an offer to work in the UK.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said it is rumoured Key is headed for Lotus.

Not the Enstone based F1 team, however, but sponsor Group Lotus’ motor racing programme, including Le Mans.

Sauber managing director Monisha Kaltenborn denied the Hinwil based team cannot afford to replace Key.

“If we look back 20 years, the team have always lacked funds,” she insisted.

Kaltenborn defended the bare look of the 2012 car’s livery.

“We are in negotiation with new partners so I am quite confident our livery will look different by the time we hit the first race,” she said.

As for Key, “For some time both sides had the feeling that things were not working any more, and what has happened is the outcome,” La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes Kaltenborn as saying.

Robert Kubica’s comeback could be at the wheel of a turbocharged 2010 Ferrari, according to reports in the Italian media.
It emerged this week that, despite the recent setback of a re-broken leg after an icy fall, the Pole could be only months away from attempting some laps in a F1 simulator.

As for his track return, it is rumoured Ferrari sees Kubica as a potential test driver, with a view to ultimately becoming Fernando Alonso’s teammate.

The new Italian reports say a private test at Fiorano in June or July at the wheel of a two-year old Ferrari equipped with the marque’s 2014-specification turbo V6 prototype has been set as a tentative target.

The same reports suggest some sort of agreement may have been signed.

The unknown factor is the final phase of Kubica’s recovery, with the 27-year-old believed to be still unable to fully rotate his right arm that was almost severed in his rally crash last February.

Robert Kubica has returned to the wheel of a powered vehicle, according to reports in Italy.
The Omnicorse website reports that the Pole, horrifically injured in a rally crash a year ago, is now recovered enough to drive a Renault Megane with an automatic gearbox.

The former BMW and Renault driver re-broke his leg in an icy slip recently but is now managing some steps without crutches, the report added.

Kubica is reportedly spending five hours a day on physiotherapy, with movement in his previously badly-injured right arm now almost “back to normal”.

America’s premier open wheeler Indycar series has emerged as a possible option for Rubens Barrichello in 2012.
After 19 consecutive seasons in formula one, the 39-year-old veteran has been left without a race seat after Williams signed his Brazilian countryman Bruno Senna.

Former Ferrari driver Barrichello, a winner of 11 grands prix, has previously said he will not look to Indycar racing once his F1 career ends.

“I think at first I won’t look for anything. Perhaps I’ll just enjoy my family for a year.

“After that I believe my passion for speed will not allow me to stand still,” he said recently as he waited for Williams’ decision.

“For sure I will not race on the American ovals — I have promised that to my wife,” said Barrichello, whose close friend is Tony Kanaan, the Indycar driver, “and I will honour that.”

But the Associated Press reports that an Indycar test has been lined up for Barrichello by KV Racing, the team fielding Kanaan and former F1 driver Takuma Sato.

Citing “a person familiar with the test”, the American news agency said Barrichello will enjoy a two-day “exploratory” test at the Sebring road course in Florida early next week.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said Barrichello is currently holidaying with his family in Florida.

Williams is set to complete its 2012 race driver lineup after Bruno Senna signed a contract.
Italy’s Autosprint cited “Brazilian sources” in reporting that the former HRT and Renault driver, whose famous uncle Ayrton Senna died at the wheel of a Williams in 1994, will replace Rubens Barrichello and become Pastor Maldonado’s new teammate.

“The commitment should be official within the coming days,” said the report.

Autosprint said Senna has amassed an impressive EUR 14 million in major Brazilian sponsorship, including OGX, an oil giant headed by billionaire Eike Batista.

The deal reportedly also includes team sponsorship by 28-year-old Senna’s sponsors Embratel and Gilette.

Autosprint said Force India refugee Adrian Sutil had been in contention for the seat, but the reduction in value of his Medion sponsor backing “was crucial”.

The unofficial news was also reported by the Brazilian Grande Premio website, who said Senna signed the contract in the UK on Monday.

Ferrari has emerged as the first team ready to copy Lotus’ reportedly innovative braking ride height system.
The BBC claims Italian giant Ferrari “are working on a similar system”, which apparently has already been declared legal by F1′s governing body.

The BBC report said it believes the Lotus system, designed to improve handling stability, is operated by an hydraulic cylinder that adjusts the front suspension under braking to affect the car’s ride height.

“BBC Sport understands Ferrari are the only other team to have contacted the FIA on this issue and that they have plans for a similar system,” wrote journalist Andrew Benson.

Speaking at Ferrari’s pre-season winter media event on Thursday, Fernando Alonso played down the possibility that the system could make or break a team’s 2012 season.

“I don’t think there will be a big difference compared to the other cars, because the regulations are very clear, but there will definitely be some innovations and good technical ideas,” he said.

Sebastien Buemi received a phone call from the Williams team shortly after Toro Rosso announced its all new driver lineup for 2012.
23-year-old Swiss Buemi, and his 2011 teammate Jaime Alguersuari, both admitted to surprise when the Red Bull rookie team announced on December 14 they were being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Veteran Blick correspondent Roger Benoit revealed that Buemi, who subsequently accepted the role as reserve driver for the senior team Red Bull Racing, “got a call from Williams a few hours after” Toro Rosso’s news hit the airwaves.

Benoit suggested that Williams might sign both Adrian Sutil and Rubens Barrichello to partner Pastor Maldonado in 2012.

“(Buemi) will be well paid to be the Red Bull reserve — and the job is for every race,” he wrote.

Oxfordshire based Williams, winner of 16 drivers’ and constructors’ championships, finished an abysmal ninth in the 2011 points standings.

“What a humiliation,” Germany’s T-Online quotes Sir Frank Williams as saying. “But we deserve it. We simply did a bad job.”

 Sebastien Buemi will reportedly become Red Bull’s official reserve driver at grands prix this year.
After three full seasons with the energy drink company’s Italian rookie team Toro Rosso, the 23-year-old Swiss – like his teammate Jaime Alguersuari – lost his race seat ahead of the 2012 season.

But veteran journalist Roger Benoit, writing in the Swiss newspaper Blick, reports that Buemi will at least remain in the paddock this year, as Red Bull’s new reserve driver.

He will be ready to substitute not only for Toro Rosso’s newcomers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, but also if need be for world champion Sebastian Vettel or his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber, Benoit said.

“No one wants to say if the contract has been signed yet or not,” he added. “But for the driver from Vaud, it is the best solution to at least stay in the paddock.”

Adrian Sutil’s manager has denied reports the German driver could be headed to Ferrari.
With the the 28-year-old dropped by Force India, it has been rumoured he might stop over at Williams next year before moving to Ferrari to replace Felipe Massa in 2013.

Other reports have indicated Sutil might be Ferrari’s test driver next year.

“We are definitely not in talks with Ferrari — they are definitely not an option,” manager Manfred Zimmermann is quoted in German reports as having told Sky.

“Surely, of course, it is the dream of every driver and manager,” he conceded.

Officially, the only available seats remaining for 2012 are at Williams as well as HRT, the struggling Spanish team.

“There are still options to stay in formula one and we are negotiating currently,” Zimmermann explained. “At the moment we can’t say anything more.”

F1′s rumour mill is refusing to idle, even in the last days before Christmas.
One rumour has been triggered by former McLaren driver and lead British television commentator Martin Brundle, writing on his Twitter page.

“(I) suspect Vitaly Petrov may re-emerge at Caterham in 2012,” he wrote, amid earlier rumours Jarno Trulli could lose his seat. “Music has stopped, there’ll be a mad scramble for seats.”

In the pages of Spanish newspaper AS, meanwhile, Toro Rosso refugee Jaime Alguersuari is being linked to the reserve driver role at Mercedes for 2012.

And multiple international reports in recent days have galvanised rumours that Ferrari junior driver Jules Bianchi is to replace Nico Hulkenberg as Force India’s Friday practice driver.

As Adrian Sutil departs Force India, he is being linked with famous formula one teams Williams and Ferrari.
Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claimed that, while his exit from the Silverstone based team after a five-year tenure only became official last Friday, the 28-year-old has been making new plans for 2012 since Abu Dhabi.

“Williams is interested,” said the magazine, “and not only because of his Medion sponsor money. In the second half of the season Sutil did a lot of good to his reputation.”

Auto Motor und Sport claims Ferrari is also interested, even though the Maranello based team’s president Luca di Montezemolo has yet again insisted that Felipe Massa’s contract for next year will be observed.

“Felipe knows next year is very important for him,” said the Italian.

The German report said: “Sutil would be an interesting option for Ferrari in 2013. That’s why he only wants to sign for one year with Williams.”

Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann is quoted by Sport Bild: “Adrian’s future is not fixed yet and we will not be making any short-term panic decisions.”

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, meanwhile, neglected to mention Sutil when he hailed the German presence on next year’s grid.

“For Germany, we need Sebastian, Michael and the two Nicos,” he is quoted by Kolner Express tabloid.

Speculation about a return to Mexico for formula one is revving up.
Earlier this year, Sauber sponsor Telmex’s Carlos Slim Domit confirmed that officials are working on a project to end the country’s 20 year absence from the calendar.

On a trip to Mexico in August, FIA president Jean Todt said it is “possible” Mexico will host a race soon.

Slim Domit wrote in a column for FIA in Motion magazine: “Linking races in Canada and the US with a Mexican round would perfectly consolidate formula one’s footprint in North and Central America and provide a viable bridge to the race in Brazil.”

Bernie Ecclestone told the Independent newspaper in September: “After Russia I would like to go to South Africa and Mexico.

“Both countries are trying to do something.”

Germany’s Speed Week now says “leading representatives” of Mexico’s motor racing federation are “very confident” a F1 race is viable, with the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on pole position as the venue.

That track, in Mexico City, last hosted the grand prix in 1992, won by Nigel Mansell.

Plans are being made for Robert Kubica’s return to formula one — with Ferrari.
That is the claim of the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport correspondent Andrea Cremonesi, who raised the prospect of a test for the Pole in the Spring in the famous Italian team’s 2010 single seater.

Cremonesi’s report confirmed rumours that Kubica’s relationship with the Lotus team will end completely once his contract runs out in less than three weeks.

Well-known for being close to Ferrari sources, he wrote that Kubica is much more likely to return to the grid alongside Fernando Alonso in 2013.

He said Kubica, still recovering from his horror rallying crash, will test the 2010-specification F10 car at Mugello next Spring.

Spain’s AS newspaper said that, pending the last phase of his rehabilitation, Kubica may already have reached some sort of agreement with Ferrari regarding the 2013 season.