Narain Karthikeyan has revealed he is sick and tired of what could be described as 'cucumber-gate'. After the Indian collided with Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia three weeks ago, he was given shown the one-fingered salute, as well as called a "gherkin" and an "idiot" by the reigning world champion. But that's when the real fuss began, as the world's media became involved -- a mischievous German reporter even presented Karthikeyan with a cucumber in China. "It's done and I would have preferred for it to […]

Whilst admitting the RB8 has "very nervous" handling, Sebastian Vettel insists there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the 2012 Red Bull. The German looks likely to struggle to add a third consecutive drivers' title to his tally this season, after slumping to just sixth in the points standings after the first two races. In China, he has reverted to a launch specification of the Adrian Newey-penned car's exhaust layout, whilst Mark Webber is plugging ahead with a further development of the Australia-Malaysia solution. "There is […]

Jenson Button suffered a rare lapse in concentration in Malaysia, after colliding with the slower HRT of Narain Karthikeyan. This in turn forced the 2009 World Champion to pit for a new nose cone, and subsequently Button failed to score any points, therefore loosing his lead in the World Championship. However, Jenson Button is eager to jump back in his McLaren next weekend for the Chinese Grand Prix and will be hoping to repeat the success he found in 2010 when he won for McLaren […]

World champion Sebastian Vettel was unapologetic this week, having shown his Indian rival Narain Karthikeyan the one-fingered salute recently in Malaysia. The German also called the HRT-driving backmarker a "gherkin" and "idiot" in the aftermath of their Sepang clash that cost Vettel fourth place. "I lost a solid fourth place so that's obviously disappointing," the 24-year-old is quoted by German media, including Sport Bild, after being asked this week about his loss of temper at Karthikeyan. It was suggested Vettel might have breached the FIA's […]

Dr Helmut Marko has admitted Red Bull has work to do in order to return to the front in Formula 1. Having dominated F1's recent history, the energy drink owned team is now behind McLaren in the constructors' standings after two races in 2012, while its highest placed driver is Mark Webber in fourth. Austrian Marko, the motor racing advisor to Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz, insisted that Adrian Newey and his technical team have built a good car for 2012. "But it doesn't help," […]

F1's governing body has played down claims Sebastian Vettel faces a penalty for his behaviour during the Malaysian Grand Prix. After the race, the reigning world champion dismissed HRT's Narain Karthikeyan as an "idiot" following their on-track collision. On-board footage subsequently proved that Red Bull driver Vettel, 24, twice showed his Indian driver a 'middle finger' salute. Reports in Germany suggested the behaviour was a breach of the stricter code of conduct under FIA president Jean Todt, with the German theoretically facing anything from a […]

Red Bull has hit back at claims the team lied about a technical problem in Malaysia in order to gain a tactical advantage for the forthcoming races. Near the end of the Sepang race, Sebastian Vettel's engineer repeatedly instructed the back-to-back world champion to retire his RB8 car. Team boss Christian Horner said the brake temperatures had risen to a dangerous level, but Vettel nonetheless raced to the chequered flag and finished eleventh, one position out of the points. Horner explained Vettel did not hear […]

When Felipe Massa arrived in Sepang this morning, he was probably in an optimistic mood. After all, he had qualified just a few places behind his team mate and was showing a bit more pace than previously. Fast forward a few hours and he’s had a terrible race, made worse by the fact that Fernando Alonso won and Sergio Perez – his probable future replacement – finished second. Fernando Alonso’s drive was a master class in how to win a Formula One race. Ferrari pitted […]

World champion Sebastian Vettel didn't just criticise Narain Karthikeyan after their clash in Malaysia -- he called the Indian driver a vegetable. The back-to-back title winner's points hopes went up in flailing Pirelli rubber towards the end of the rain-affected Sepang race following contact with Karthikeyan's back-of-the-field HRT. "He was off the track. In my view, it was over," Red Bull driver Vettel, now 17 points behind the championship lead after just two races, said on German RTL television. "As in real life, there are […]

With the threat of rain looming over the Sepang International Circuit for the majority of the weekend, the rain has finally materialized and has struck the track forcing the Malaysian Grand Prix which is only 9 laps old to be delayed. The race initially started under green flag conditions, contrary to many who believed the race would be started under Safety Car conditions. However as the race progressed, the rain intensified forcing the majority of the field to pit for the Cinturato full wet tyres. […]

HRT has become the final team to unveil their car ahead of the 2012 season, which begins in under two weeks time in Australia. The car features a step-nose and is typically devoid of sponsors. HRT will be hoping to beat Marussia for a third season; the Yorkshire-based team unveiled their MR-01 earlier today. The F112 will be raced by Pedro de La Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan.

The Italian press has pointed the finger at Vitaly Petrov's "rubles" as Jarno Trulli races out of Formula One. With Vitantonio Liuzzi replaced at HRT by Narain Karthikeyan, and veteran Trulli ousted at Caterham by Petrov, F1 history enters a new phase as Italy no longer has a single driver on the grid. "If you look," said former grand prix winner Riccardo Patrese to La Stampa, "the drivers coming in now are from central America and the East." The unsponsored Trulli, 37, said he still […]