Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey and McLaren’s Sam Michael both claimed they did not see any particular value in holding the recent Mugello test. The three days’ running at the Tuscan track replaced one of the winter tests, after the teams decided it would be a better use of their resources to split their limited amount of testing days in this way. But Michael and Newey today argued that the test was not an effective use of their teams’ time. “Personally, I think you could […]

Mark Webber appears headed for a new contract with Red Bull, after receiving a clear vote of confidence from the energy drink company's chief. Following speculation the 35-year-old Australian could be headed to Ferrari in 2013, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insisted Webber "is happy to be here, and we are happy to have him with us". And the Swiss newspaper Blick has revealed that team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, the billionaire mogul, is also happy with Webber. "I hope that he keeps driving with […]

Red Bull's team boss has moved to ease speculation Mark Webber could be set to change teams at the end of 2012. The 35-year-old Australian is now on only a one-year contract, triggering reports he has been lined up by Ferrari as a potential successor to the struggling Felipe Massa. But subsequent speculation said Red Bull is in fact close to offering to extend Webber's deal. Team boss Christian Horner ridiculed the Ferrari rumours. "I think it's inevitable," he is quoted by France's L'Equipe. "Almost […]

Red Bull's two teams look set to test alone in Abu Dhabi later this season. Until recently, the now-traditional young drivers' test - giving inexperienced drivers the chance to drive current F1 cars amid the sport's strict testing limits - was scheduled to take place as per usual at the Yas Marina circuit in November. But those plans were reconsidered due to this year's congested calendar. India takes place just one week before Abu Dhabi, the young driver test is scheduled for the week after […]

Carlos Sainz jr is on course for a future in Formula One. The 17-year-old Spaniard is the son of Carlos Sainz, the former two-time world rally champion. Sainz jr, however, has pursued a career in open wheelers, and - now that Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne have stepped up - he is the new cream of energy drink Red Bull's junior driver programme. And another direct link to the world of Formula One for Sainz jr is his new sponsorship deal with Cepsa, the Spanish […]

After Sebastian Vettel's first win of the season in Bahrain recently, Red Bull could now maintain its grip on 2012. That is the claim of the legendary triple world champion Niki Lauda. Red Bull has been the dominant force since late 2009 and 2010, and Vettel was untouchable last year as he successfully defended his drivers' championship breakthrough. But four different teams have won so far in 2012, and only the last of them were Red Bull and Vettel, as the energy drink-owned team's superiority […]

Jean-Eric Vergne has admitted his F1 debut would be easier if he was sharing the Toro Rosso garage with an experienced driver. Instead, the French rookie made his grand prix debut in Australia alongside Daniel Ricciardo, the young Australian with only a handful of races for struggling HRT under his belt. The Toro Rosso duel this year is one of F1's most interesting, given owner Red Bull's clean sweep of its 2011 lineup, and the expectation that either Vergne, 22, or Ricciardo could succeed Mark […]

Mark Webber has denied signing with the Ferrari team for 2013. Spanish media reports, indicating that a letter of intent may already have been written, said Fernando Alonso favours Australian Webber to replace the struggling Felipe Massa. The reports also said Webber, 35 and with an expiring Red Bull contract, could be signed for a single season ahead of Sergio Perez joining in 2014. "Sergio was flavour of the month last week for the Ferrari drive; now it's me," Webber said at the Mugello test […]

Mark Webber might have signed a pre-contractual agreement with Ferrari, one of Spain's leading F1 correspondents has revealed. Raymond Blancafort, writing for El Mundo Deportivo, referred to widespread speculation in the paddock about Sergio Perez's likely future alongside Fernando Alonso. "There may be a pre-contract," he said, "but between Ferrari and Webber." Australian Webber was also linked with Ferrari last year, before Red Bull decided to sign him up for another single season. The 35-year-old was overshadowed by his teammate Sebastian Vettel last year, but […]

Red Bull has poured cold water on expectations the reigning back to back world champions could be set to resume their reign over Formula 1. After a victory drought spanning the opening three races of the 2012 season, Red Bull broke through with Sebastian Vettel's familiar win-from-pole triumph in Bahrain last weekend. It means he has leapt to the top of the drivers' standings, while the Milton Keynes based team is now 9 points clear of its nearest rival, McLaren. "King Sebastian is back!" exclaimed […]

Australian F1 fans are this week rejoicing in local hero Mark Webber even more than usual. Pressure applied by the Red Bull driver was reportedly instrumental in returning the sport to the live television airways in Australian capital cities. Fans were outraged with Australian broadcaster Ten's decision to take formula one from its high definition channel One, which in turn meant viewers in Perth and Adelaide had no live coverage at all. Angry fans bombarded Ten's Facebook and Twitter pages with criticism abuse, and urged […]

With Red Bull the latest to hold a trophy aloft this year, yet another potential 2012 champion has emerged. In theory, back to back world champion Sebastian Vettel, the Bahrain grand prix winner, was always a contender for a third drivers' crown this year. But his RB8 was not a race winner until Sunday, after McLaren, Mercedes and even Ferrari had tasted the first victory spoils so far this season. It was said that - amid the extraordinary field of 2012 - Adrian Newey's latest […]