Sebastian Vettel has admitted it is "difficult to judge" whether his friend Kimi Raikkonen will be at full speed when he returns to formula one next season. The pair often meet near their Swiss homes to play badminton, but reigning world champion Vettel does not want to predict a smooth comeback for the 2007 world champion after two years in world rally. "We have all seen Michael's comeback," the 24-year-old is quoted by France's 20minutes.fr on a visit to Red Bull's engine supplier Renault. "He […]

Charles Pic will make his debut for Marussia next season. But who is he?

can expect to learn about his future in formula one before Christmas. That is the claim of Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner. In 2011, Australian rookie Ricciardo began the season as junior team Toro Rosso's Friday driver before - still with Red Bull's backing - moving into the HRT race seat. For next season, he is tipped to race at Toro Rosso, or alternatively the Red Bull driver deal might switch from HRT to the Caterham team. "Daniel has done a good job […]

Q. Sebastian, you equalled Nigel Mansell's record of 14 poles in a season today, congratulations, but you had to dig pretty deep to get this one? Sebastian VETTEL: Oh yes, especially after yesterday where to be honest I wasn't very happy with the car and we weren't happy in general as we thought there is more in the car, the performance is there, but we couldn't really get to it. Today, this afternoon, it was already quite a bit better but this place is tricky […]

Renault is open to supplying one more team in formula one. That is the claim of Carlos Tavares, who became the French carmaker's new chief operating officer earlier this year. For 2012, Renault is adding Williams to its customer roster, in addition to the existing engine deals with Red Bull, Lotus-Renault GP, and Team Lotus. "Four teams, that's fine," Tavares told France's Auto Hebdo in an exclusive interview. "Five? Why not? But no more than that."

Richard Branson's Virgin brand is staying with the team even after a name change in 2012. It has emerged that, just as Team Lotus and Renault have applied to be called Caterham and Lotus respectively next season, Virgin wants to become 'Marussia'. But even though it suggests a further move away from Virgin to the team's new Russian supercar partner, reports insist Branson's famous brand is staying put. Virgin "will remain involved in future projects and Virgin logos will still be seen on the cars", […]

F1's class of 2012 will take some more shape at the F1 Commission meeting this week in Geneva. It was already known that Team Lotus, set to be Caterham next season, and Enstone based Renault - to be renamed Lotus - will likely have their applications rubber-stamped on Thursday. The Sunday Times also reports that Virgin could be set for an official name change. The team is currently known as Marussia Virgin Racing, in deference to its Russian supercar partner, but the chassis continues to […]

Vijay Mallya insists Force India's technical partnership with McLaren is above board. At the F1 Commission in Geneva on Thursday, the thorny topic of the potential redefinition of a 'constructor' will be debated. The 'customer car' proponents, reportedly headed by Ferrari and Bernie Ecclestone, are set to argue that teams are already breaching the existing definition, such as McLaren's commercial tie-up with Force India. "Our relationship with McLaren has been built over a period of three years," boss Mallya, who buys the transmission and hydraulics […]

Jean Todt says he supports formula one's push out of Europe into new markets. The FIA president was speaking at India's new Buddh circuit, amid some observers' fears that the sport is steadily walking away from its traditional hosts and venues. "Slowly (F1) is moving from Europe to other developing countries in Asia and the Middle East. "India is a strong emerging country and I admire the investments made for building the infrastructure and the resilience shown by the people," said Todt. It has also […]

The BBC's television punditry team looks set to break up at the end of the season. Former McLaren driver and lead BBC commentator Martin Brundle earlier this week denied a report in London's Telegraph that said he is poised to accept a $1.6 million offer to switch full-time to Sky in 2012. The BBC and pay-channel Sky will share the British hosting rights next year, with the public broadcaster to televise only a handful of grands prix. French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet revealed in his Auto […]

Red Bull has set its sights on powering Mark Webber to second place in the drivers' standings, but the Australian has revealed he is not overly interested. The achievement will complete a perfect clean sweep for the energy drink-owned team in 2011, comprising the constructors' championship and first and second places in the separate drivers' standings. But Webber, currently fourth, admitted to Die Welt newspaper: "I'm more interested in victories than the overall standings. "If I have not won a race and at the end […]

As France moves ever closer to a return to the Formula One calendar, we take a look back at the nation’s involvement in motor racing and how a dwindling interest could about to be resurrected. The weekend of June 26th/27th of 1906 was a significant one in the history of motor racing. Around the area of Le Mans, a race between cars took place. Races had taken place previously, but this was the first one to be given the title of a ‘Grand Prix’. After […]