Fernando Alonso thrilled his countrymen on Sunday as he took a big bite out of Sebastian Vettel's championship lead at home in Spain. The victorious Spaniard finished three places ahead of Red Bull's title leader Vettel, who suffered with tyre wear and saw his lead to Alonso reduce by a factor of 13 points, to 17 points after five races. "We have only had five races and there have been some ups and downs but we know we have the car to fight with the […]

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has admitted new team driver Sergio Perez has struggled since replacing Lewis Hamilton. After a poor weekend for the young Mexican in China, including a rebuke from Kimi Raikkonen following an on-track run-in, British commentator Martin Brundle said he would have signed Nico Hulkenberg for 2013 "ten times before (signing) Perez." Immediately after Shanghai, Whitmarsh backed Perez's defensive driving in China, having told the 23-year-old to put his "elbows" out and "be robust without being dirty". But he does admit that […]

Even amid McLaren's competitive slump, the spotlight is shining ever more brightly on Sergio Perez. The young Mexican was signed by the British team to replace Lewis Hamilton this year and beyond, but some linked the deal with his commercial ties to billionaire Carlos Slim. He struggled notably in China, admitting it "wasn't my best weekend in terms of pace". Perez also got caught up in on-track incidents, most notably with Kimi Raikkonen, who screamed 'What the hell he's doing?' after being run wide and […]

Toto Wolff, the new Mercedes co-owner and director, has played down reports of a growing rift between the team's German and British factions. After German Nico Rosberg was ordered by Ross Brawn to stay behind Briton Lewis Hamilton in Malaysia, Austrians Wolff and Niki Lauda admitted their disapproval. But RTL now quotes Wolff as saying: "The decision was unpopular, but right." The incident is being compared to the situation at Red Bull, where team bosses tried - but ultimately failed - to impose a 'hold […]

Mark Webber's father insists the 36-year-old Australian driver is not quitting Red Bull or Formula One. After teammate Sebastian Vettel passed him for victory in Malaysia in defiance of a team order, comments made post-race by Webber indicated he was now considering his future. Webber went straight from Sepang to a surfing holiday, insisting his phone will be "off the hook". At the same time, videos were emerging on Youtube showing Webber angrily swerving at Vettel at high speed after the pair had crossed the […]

Pastor Maldonado's position in Formula One appears to be secure, despite the death of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez on Tuesday. Maldonado is heavily funded by state owned company PDVSA and Chavez's death means that elections will be held in Venezuela within the month. Maldonado made his F1 debut in 2011 having won the GP2 title the previous year. "They've [Venezuela] been very, very supportive and those who are next in line follow F1 and Pastor very closely," Sir Frank Williams told ESPNF1 shortly before Chavez's […]

As Formula One begins to focus on the start of pre-season testing in February, there’s still the chance to relive the glorious 2012 season in Haynes’ Official Formula One Season Review 2012. The annual publication, now in its ninth year, features a foreword from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone as well as brilliant pictures from LAT. Every driver that took part in a race – and that includes Lotus’s Jerome d’Ambrosio – relays the story of their season, giving them the chance to reflect on their […]

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle expects Lewis Hamilton to win a race for Mercedes this year. But the 53-year-old, who like Hamilton is a former McLaren driver, admitted he would have advised the 2008 world champion to make a different decision as he picked a team for 2013. "Had I been his manager then I think I would have said 'let's do a short-term deal at McLaren, for one or two years, and let's see what is out there and see who is moving'," Brundle, […]

There are paddock rumours that F1 team Lotus' owner Genii may soon be sold. The German language Speed Week said it has heard that the likely buyer is from Malaysia. In 2010 and 2011, Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes' Caterham team was called Lotus, until a resolution was found to the F1 naming dispute with Group Lotus. And Group Lotus, no longer a sponsor of the Genii-owned Lotus team but still lending its name to the F1 squad, is owned by Malaysia's Proton and DRB-Hicom. Also […]

Eric Boullier was vague when asked if Romain Grosjean's constant first-lap crashes have endangered his future in Formula One. "Not for now," said the Lotus team boss, who doubles as the head of the Gravity company that manages the beleaguered Frenchman's career. After his Monza race ban, Grosjean was back in trouble at Suzuka when he incurred the furious Mark Webber's wrath for yet another first-corner crash. "Maybe we need two separate starts -- one for him, one for us," the Australian, having earlier slammed […]

According to the latest buzz in the Singapore paddock, the 'Lewis Hamilton saga' could be almost at the finish line. Previously, it was rumoured the McLaren driver was so close to agreeing a switch to Mercedes next year that Michael Schumacher had started looking around for a new team. Writing in Kleine Zeitung newspaper, correspondent Karin Sturm even revealed she had spotted Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm talking in the paddock with Peter Sauber and Monisha Kaltenborn. But the German Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag reports […]

Former F1 driver Karl Wendlinger has admitted he has been impressed with Kimi Raikkonen in 2012. After sitting out two full grand prix seasons while he forayed in world rallying and Nascar, F1's 2007 title winner returned with Lotus this year and after the first half of the calendar is within reach of the top of the standings. "He is at a very high level," Austrian Karl Wendlinger, who raced with Sauber in the mid-90s, said on Red Bull-owned Servus TV. "After a two year […]