Niki Lauda says Mercedes is on track for the start of official 2014 testing, despite the huge challenge of the all-new turbo rules. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports rumours that world champion team Red Bull's boss Christian Horner had floated the idea of delaying for a week the start of winter testing late this month. "Nothing is being moved," Mercedes team chairman Lauda insisted. "The plans are going ahead for late January. "The task of big for everybody." The report said the German squad […]

Ferrari is edging close to having its 2014 car ready for the start of winter testing. Reports in the Marca sports newspaper (Spain) and the authoritative Autosprint (Italy) say the Maranello-built single seater is set to be launched on either the 23rd, 24th or 25th of January, a few days ahead of the opening test at Jerez. Marca correspondent Marco Canseco said the car, whose official name will be decided by fans via an internet poll, will "almost certainly" undergo its mandatory FIA crash tests […]

Doctors treating Michael Schumacher say that there has been a 'slight improvement' in his condition but warned that 'there is a long path ahead.' Schumacher was injured while skiing in the French Alps on Sunday and has been in a critical condition in Grenoble hospital. Doctors undertook a new scan on Schumacher late on Monday, which revealed a window of opportunity for a second operation, after doctors were surprised at his unexpected improvement. Schumacher was subsequently operated on for two hours to remove another haematoma, […]

The Formula 1 community has emerged to send its support to Michael Schumacher, who is in a critical condition in hospital. Schumacher fell while skiing in the French Alps on Sunday and is in an induced coma in Grenoble. Personalities from the sport sent messages of support to the German, who claimed 91 wins and seven championships in a career spanning 19 seasons. 'Following the serious injuries sustained by Michael Schumacher in a skiing accident yesterday in France, the thoughts and sympathies of all at […]

Millions of fans worldwide will have a say in choosing a name for Ferrari's 2014 Formula One car via the internet in January, the Italian team said on Friday. Ferrari's car this season was the F138, a combination of the year and a tribute to the V8 engine in its final campaign before being replaced by a new turbocharged V6 unit with energy recovery systems. The team, who have Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen as their drivers in a line-up of world champions, […]

Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time during second practice for the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Vettel's time of 1:37.305 was just over a tenth of a second faster than Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber as the reigning champions finished over three tenths of a second clear than their nearest rivals. Mercedes finished the 90 minute session in third and fourth, with Nico Rosberg eclipsing Lewis Hamilton. Heikki Kovalainen - replacing the injured Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus - was fifth, ahead of Esteban Gutierrez, […]

Kimi Raikkonen is recovering after undergoing successful back surgery in Strasbourg. Raikkonen suffered from back pain following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and opted to miss the final two races of the season. 'As planned, Kimi Räikkönen underwent back surgery yesterday at The University Hospital of Strasbourg' read a Lotus statement. 'Lotus F1 Team is happy to report that the operation was totally successful, according to Professor Afshin Gangi.' 'Kimi will now rest for a few days and he will start his recovery process as […]

Four time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti has been forced to retire due to the injuries he sustained in Houston last month. Franchitti was launched into the fence on the final lap and sustained spinal injuries, concussion and ankle fractures. The Scot won the IndyCar title in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He also claimed three wins at the Indianapolis 500. Franchitti briefly flirted with Formula 1 when he tested for Jaguar in 2000, but has spent the majority of his career in the USA, racing […]

Gerard Lopez, the head of Lotus' team owner Genii, might be among the cynics after news broke that Kimi Raikkonen will sit out the rest of the season. The Finnish driver and his management say Raikkonen must undergo back surgery to end a run of worsening pain and ensure he is ready to return fighting fit for the start of his Ferrari return in 2014. The cynics, however, might wonder if the timing of the surgery is related to Raikkonen's pay dispute with the financially-struggling […]

Red Bull technical director Adrian Newey has conceded that Red Bull could be reliant on Renault producing a strong power unit if they are to win a fifth successive championship in 2014. The current 2.4 litre V8 engines, of which Renault has powered Red Bull since the start of 2007, will be replaced by 1.6 litre V6 turbos, which includes the new energy recovery system. Newey admits that Red Bull may be reliant on their French partners, rather than the pure aerodynamic advantage that Red […]

Maria de Villota has been found dead in a hotel room in Spain. Reports in the Spanish media state that emergency services were called to a hotel room in Seville, but efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. She was 33. 'Dear friends: Maria has left us', her family posted on Facebook. 'She had to go to heaven like all the angels. We thank God for the extra year and a half he left her with us.' Formula 1 pays tribute to Maria de Villota De […]

Kimi Raikkonen's age played against him as Red Bull made its decision about who should replace Mark Webber in 2014. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, who as team owner Dietrich Mateschitz's right-hand man had arguably the most powerful voice before the reigning world champions ultimately signed the in-house talent Daniel Ricciardo. "We decided what was best for us in the long term, not just what was best immediately," Austrian Marko told Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper. "How old is Kimi, 34? […]