Felipe Massa's first pole in more than five years was no surprise to Fernando Alonso. It was the thrilling finale in Brazil, 2008 - where for an instant the Ferrari camp thought its Brazilian driver had pipped Lewis Hamilton for the title - that Massa last started a grand prix from the very front. "It's the first time since 2008," he confirmed on Saturday, after surprising the world of F1 by leading a Williams one-two at the Red Bull Ring. "Being the quickest on the […]

Rubens Barrichello has advised his friend and countryman Felipe Massa to remember to enjoy his job, amid rumours the Brazilian is speeding towards the exit at Ferrari. Speculation is rife that amid his apparently worsening performance slump, Massa will be replaced by the famous Italian team -- perhaps as soon as within the 2012 season. F1 veteran Barrichello, who has switched to Indycar this year after losing his Williams seat, told Brazil's Globo Esporte that he thinks Massa's problem is psychological. "It's not a speed […]

A brief look ahead to this year's IndyCar series

Kimi Raikkonen made an appearance today on the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car segment of the BBC TV series Top Gear, driving a Suzuki Liana around the Top Gear test track. All laptimes from Formula 1 drivers are put on a special leaderboard. Top Gear F1 leader board 1. Sebastian Vettel 1:44.0 2. Rubens Barrichello 1:44.3 3. The Stig II (Ben Collins) 1:44.4 4. Nigel Mansell 1:44.6 5. Lewis Hamilton (wet & oily) 1:44.7 6. Jenson Button (hot) 1:44.7 7. Kimi Raikkonen (very wet) […]

Rubens Barrichello will announce on Thursday he has agreed a deal to switch to Indycar racing in 2012. That is the claim of the well-connected O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, reporting that the Formula One veteran has secured $3 million in sponsorship backing to secure the seat. The report said that after 19 consecutive seasons in F1, Barrichello will drive for his close friend and countryman Tony Kanaan's Indycar employer KV, owned by Jimmy Vasser. Estado said 39-year-old Barrichello's sponsor, BMC Brasil Maquinas, offered $3.5 […]

Jarno Trulli has revealed he was offered a seat at Ferrari some years ago. After fifteen consecutive seasons in Formula One, the 37-year-old Italian has lost his Caterham race seat to the well-backed Russian Vitaly Petrov. 2004 Monaco grand prix winner Trulli, 37, drove since 1997 for Minardi, Prost, Jordan, Renault and Caterham's former guise Lotus. Writing in his New York Times blog, correspondent Brad Spurgeon said Trulli was made the Ferrari offer while he was racing for Toyota between 2005 and 2009. Trulli reportedly […]

Pirelli supplied 1176 tyres for the first Formula 1 test of the 2012 season, held at the Jerez circuit in the south of Spain over four days. A total of 3380 laps were covered by 23 drivers – equating to 14,949 kilometres. The new P Zero White medium tyre completed the most running in Spain with 1776 laps run (91 sets used), followed by the new P Zero Yellow soft with 1010 laps run (57 sets used) and the P Zero Silver hard with 594 […]

Rubens Barrichello is set to decide next week whether he will switch from Formula 1 to the Indycar series for 2012. F1's longest-serving veteran has been left without a race seat this season, but he recently enjoyed an Indy test with the KV team, in which his close friend Tony Kanaan is involved. "There is a lot going on, we have spoken with many people and there are things to be resolved, including the family aspect," the 39-year-old told radio Bandeirantes on Tuesday. "There is […]

Rubens Barrichello has told the official IndyCar website that he hasn't ruled out taking part in the Indy 500 this year “I never thought I could come over to this side because I thought I would race 25 years in Formula One and I should be over and couldn’t come this way,” said Barrichello.“I did say that. It came out of my mouth. It is a not a big issue. It is not a problem. There are so many different situations that I could run. I […]

Indycar's boss has admitted he would "love" longest-serving F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello to switch codes for 2012. Having lost his race seat after a record-setting 19 consecutive seasons, the 39-year-old Brazilian is this week testing the 2012 Indycar in Florida, with his close friend and KV team driver Tony Kanaan also in action. Barrichello has previously ruled out racing on dangerous American ovals, citing a promise to his wife Silvana, but now he is not ruling out the switch. "By the time he gets out […]

Rubens Barrichello is not yet writing off his Formula 1 career. But the veteran Brazilian, who has lost his Williams race seat on the eve of his 20th consecutive season, has admitted he might emerge on the 2012 Indycar grid. Regarding F1, he told Brazil's Jornal Nacional: "If it happens, it will be a great thing. "If not, I had the feeling for nineteen years. If you're asking 'Do I want it to happen" then I do! Because it was always my life. "So Formula […]

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