Romain Grosjean has admitted he is not sure if Lotus' money problems have been solved. The Enstone based team had been delaying signing its preferred option to replace the disgruntled Kimi Raikkonen - Nico Hulkenberg - until the money from the much-vaunted 'Quantum' investment came through. Ultimately, while re-signing the impressive Frenchman Grosjean, Lotus announced on Friday that his new teammate will be Pastor Maldonado. The press release made no mention of the Venezuelan's backing, but it is well known that he brings around EUR […]

Davide Valsecchi says he is angry at Lotus's decision to overlook him for the vacant seat for the final two round of 2013. Kimi Raikkonen withdrew from the races in America and Brazil to undergo back surgery, but Lotus opted to hire Heikki Kovalainen rather than reserve driver Valsecchi. Valsecchi, the 2012 GP2 champion, believes it's a 'tragedy' that he was not selected. "It’s a huge blow to me. From the sporting point of view it’s a tragedy," he said. "It makes me angry to […]

Esteban Gutierrez says he is expecting next weekend's United States Grand Prix to be 'special' as he counts it as his home race. Mexican Gutierrez has never raced in Austin but is hoping to put on a show for the local fans. "Austin will be a very special weekend for me, because we can expect to have a lot of Mexican supporters again," he said. "I’m from Monterrey, which is quite close to Austin, being about one and a half to two hours away, so […]

Four times world champion Alain Prost has advised Lewis Hamilton to change his driving style if he is to find success under Formula 1's new regulations. Prost, who has been working with Renault this season, believes that reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel has an advantage and it is up to Hamilton to modify his approach. "The way Sebastian works with people in the team, we know that he is doing little things different to the rest," Prost said. "That gives him an advantage and makes […]

When race direction deems that an event needs to be neutralised, the safety car is deployed onto the circuit. But being a Safety car driver involves more than leading the Formula 1 cars when incidents or weather conditions requires their presence. It’s a relentless coordination job in which catching up the leader, keeping the field together and allowing lapped cars to overtake are more than just commands. All must be done with accuracy at a speed which allows the racing tyres to remain at an […]

Giedo van der Garde says that he does not feel that he should have been penalised during the Korean Grand Prix. Van der Garde was handed a drive through penalty for forcing Jules Bianchi wide on the opening lap of the race. "My start was great, really strong and when everyone was moving to avoid [Felipe] Massa in turn three I had to push out wide to avoid contact with a few cars around me," he said. "I really don’t think I’d pushed any other […]

Replacing Michael Schumacher with Lewis Hamilton was the right thing for Mercedes. That is the claim not only of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, but also the German team's own Niki Lauda. A year ago, Lauda was instrumental in convincing Lewis Hamilton to leave McLaren and replace the seven time world champion, Schumacher. "It was the right decision to sign Lewis," Ecclestone told Germany's Auto Bild. "He woke the team up. And he can push the other driver (Nico Rosberg) in a way Michael couldn't […]

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he will miss his teammate Mark Webber. The pair, teamed together at Red Bull since 2009, have had an often fraught relationship that arguably broke down completely after this year's 'multi-21' affair. "You can say what you want about our relationship," triple world champion Vettel told the Austrian magazine Sportwoche, "but in the end we pushed each other very hard. "I will miss that," said the German, referring to Australian Webber's impending departure for Le Mans-style prototype racing with Porsche. Webber […]

At least for now, team owner Gerard Lopez insists he is committed to Formula One. In the past weeks, he has consistently played down the importance of the confirmed news that Lotus, the Enstone based team formerly known as Renault and Benetton, has debts of EUR 120 million. Lopez said that the actual number is not significant to Genii, the investment firm he leads. So, asked if he is sticking with F1 and with the name Lotus, Lopez answered: "I think so. "I have already […]

Stoffel Vandoorne says being supported by McLaren has been a huge boost to his chances of racing in Formula 1 in the future. Vandoorne, currently second in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, recently joined McLaren's young driver programme. Vandoorne, making his first paddock appearance with McLaren, spoke to the media on Friday evening in Belgium. "I’m here as a guest of McLaren, just following the Formula 1 world and trying to make contacts in this world as everyone knows it’s difficult," he said. The Belgian […]

Fernando Alonso has dismissed rumours suggesting he will leave Ferrari and insists he is highly motivated ahead of the second half of 2013. Alonso is currently 39 points behind championship leader Sebastian Vettel. "After many years in Formula 1 I have never had a great Sunday here [at Spa] and I would like to finally get a good result," he said. "I think our expectations can be good ones as this circuit requires different levels of aero downforce and a very specific set-up and our […]

A win at the Nurburgring will be the perfect tonic for Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn admits. This weekend's German grand prix is actually the team's and Nico Rosberg's home race, but Briton Brawn thinks countryman Hamilton "deserves" his breakthrough. Rosberg won Mercedes' first race of 2013 at Monaco, and he followed it up with the win at Silverstone last Sunday -- but only after local hero Hamilton suffered an exploded Pirelli. "He (Hamilton) deserves a win," said Brawn. Hamilton, 28, has had […]