Two well-known German drivers on Tuesday said they have not given up on Formula One. 2011 was Nick Heidfeld's twelfth consecutive season on the grid, but the 34-year-old former Williams, BMW and Renault driver has been left without a seat for 2012. He will race at the fabled 24 hour Le Mans race this year but on Tuesday said he still hopes to be involved in F1. "Of course I've been trying to get a seat," he said on Austrian television Servus TV, "but we […]

Losing his race seat could be the "shock" that causes Vitaly Petrov to up his game. That is the claim of Gerard Lopez, owner of the Lotus team that has ousted the Russian driver after two seasons. He told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport that Petrov, who is now seeking an alternative race seat but may have to be content with the Pirelli test role, felt too comfortable in 2011. "We had the feeling that he thought 'If I keep delivering my sponsors' money to […]

Nick Heidfeld is set to continue his motor racing career in 2012. But after twelve seasons and 183 grands prix, having replaced the injured Robert Kubica at Renault in the first half of 2011, the 34-year-old's F1 career appears to be over. The Swiss magazine Speed Week said Heidfeld will contest rounds of the FIA's new world endurance championship this year for the Anglo-Swiss Rebellion team. His programme in the Lola prototype car will reportedly include the fabled 24 hour Le Mans race, as well […]

Yes, F1 2012 has a great line-up. But what of those left out and those trying to join in...

Bruno Senna's chances of staying on the Formula One grid in 2012 remain more than alive. That is the claim of one of the Brazilian's powerful sponsors, who mid last season helped Senna to take over Nick Heidfeld's race seat at Renault/Lotus. Just after the 28-year-old joined the team and the sponsor deal with oil company OGX was announced, a spokesman for Senna confirmed the driver's links with the holding company EBX. At the helm is multi billionaire Eike Batista, who according to Forbes is […]

Bruno Senna has played down rumours he is set to secure a race seat at Williams for 2012. It is rumoured the 28-year-old Brazilian, whose late uncle Ayrton was killed at the wheel of a Williams in 1994, will take his sponsor Embratel to the beleaguered British team. "Despite some rumours, my situation remains the same as before," he insisted on his Facebook page. "In other words, I am still not confirmed with any team so I'm still battling for a place in F1," added […]

Jarno Trulli has hit out at the growing influence of so-called 'pay drivers' in Formula 1. It is rumoured that, despite his 2012 contract, the Italian veteran could be ousted by Caterham in favour of the well-backed Renault refugee Vitaly Petrov. Trulli, 37, suggested Renault - becoming Lotus for 2012 - suffered last year as the team collected sponsorship dollars brought by Russian Petrov and Bruno Senna. "Kubica is a great driver who can get the very best from the car," he is quoted by […]

Bruno Senna appears headed for a return to the reserve driver role at Lotus for 2012. With the Enstone based team known as Renault this year, the Brazilian began 2011 in the third driver role before graduating to the race cockpit mid-season when Nick Heidfeld was ousted. Lotus, however, has named Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean for the race cockpits in 2012. Senna, 28, has been quoted this week as admitting a return to a reserve role is possible for 2012, especially if he is […]

Christmas gift ideas from the world of F1.

Kamui Kobayashi has admitted he had a difficult season as 'lead driver' with Sauber in 2011. As a rookie, the Japanese spent his first full season in F1 in 2010 alongside highly experienced teammates Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld. But this year, the 25-year-old shared the Swiss team's garage with rookie Sergio Perez, ultimately finishing the season with double the Mexican's haul of points. Kobayashi, however, admits that the role as the key Sauber driver "certainly wasn't easy for me". "I needed to […]

Part Two of our driver review takes a look at those who missed out on the Top 8 places

Rubens Barrichello has revealed he is unlikely to race out of formula one over an argument about money. It is believed Kimi Raikkonen's talks with Williams ended suddenly because the parties could not agree on the size of the Finn's retainer. "I don't need a big contract," 39-year-old Barrichello is quoted by Brazil's Globo, with the report claiming the veteran had ruled out settling for a seat at HRT, Virgin or Caterham. "All I need is to drive something next year that is competitive." It […]