Norbert Haug has admitted Mercedes is eyeing possible "contingencies", in the event Michael Schumacher does not race the German team's 2013 car. "Of course we have to plan for all contingencies," said Mercedes' competition vice-president, amid raging speculation Lewis Hamilton might sensationally switch from McLaren to drive in Schumacher's place next year. Haug is quoted by SID news agency as revealing the team is conducting "open and faithful" talks with Schumacher. And when asked about Hamilton, he added: "Lewis grew up with us (Mercedes) and […]

Nico Hulkenberg has described as "speculation" reports he could be headed to Ferrari to replace Felipe Massa in 2013. After taking some time to settle back into racing this year following a season on the bench, the former Williams driver has impressed at Force India in recent grands prix. "That (early struggle) has changed and now I am fully comfortable," he said ahead of this weekend's Belgian grand prix. Reports have even mentioned Hulkenberg, 25, as a possible contender for struggling Massa's cockpit alongside Fernando […]

Norbert Haug has played down expectations Michael Schumacher's plans beyond the 2012 season will be discussed and decided during the month-long August break. With the seven time world champion's three-year 'comeback' contract set to expire this year, it might be said the big gap between Sunday's Hungarian grand prix and F1's next outing at fabled Spa-Francorchamps in early September is an ideal opportunity for his crucial talks with Mercedes. News of a new deal would also be timely, given Schumacher's special connection with the Belgian […]

A feud is brewing at the back of the grid. Germany's SID news agency said Marussia's driver duo Timo Glock and Charles Pic are not getting along. The report said rookie Frenchman Pic, who outqualified and outraced his team leader in Hungary, held up German Glock in qualifying. "Maybe he doesn't understand the English on the radio," an angry Glock was quoted as telling reporters after alleging he was blocked by Pic. Glock, 30, said he has no intention of sitting down to discuss the […]

Nigel Mansell, who was still a grand prix winner at 41, thinks Michael Schumacher could keep racing beyond his 44th birthday. Whether the seven time world champion signs a new contract with Mercedes is regarded as probably the key to the 2013 driver market. 1992 world champion Mansell said of the great German: "He seems to still be having fun driving, he's been on pole, he was third in Valencia -- he still has the speed. "If he continues to want it then he could […]

More than half of Michael Schumacher's German compatriots think the seven time world champion will return to retirement at the end of this year. After three years of retirement, the 43-year-old returned to F1 in 2010 on a three-year Mercedes contract, which runs out in 2012. SID news agency commissioned the German market research company Promit to carry out a survey as to whether respondents think Schumacher will quit at the end of this year. 55.4 per cent answered yes, while only 26.2 per cent […]

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 […]

Luca di Montezemolo has offered Felipe Massa some cautious backing. The struggling driver was summoned to Ferrari's Maranello headquarters this week rather than travel home to Brazil to see his young family. But team boss Stefano Domenicali said the 30-year-old retains Ferrari's full backing, despite two sub-standard performances in Australia and Malaysia and widespread calls within the media for his dismissal. Germany's SID news agency quotes Ferrari president Montezemolo as saying: "We have great confidence in Massa. "And at the moment I don't see many […]

Marussia needs to get the basics right before worrying about KERS, Timo Glock explained on the eve of the 2012 season. The experienced German, and his rookie teammate Charles Pic, enter the new season with essentially no testing, after the former Virgin team struggled to push its new car - the MR01 - through the FIA's mandatory crash tests. Last year, the Cosworth-powered team was soundly beaten by its closest rival Team Lotus, who as well as changing its name to Caterham for 2012 has […]

If Sebastian Vettel hangs on to the drivers' world championship trophy at the end of 2012, he will be only the third driver in the sport's history with a title hat-trick. Eight drivers have won three or more championships in total, but only Michael Schumacher (2000-2004) and Juan Manuel Fangio (1954-1957) won more than two on the trot. Names including Prost, Lauda, Senna and Alonso all failed. "My guess is that he (Vettel) really can do it again," Bernie Ecclestone told F1's official website. "What […]

Adrian Sutil has decided to appeal his conviction of grievous bodily harm. Last week, the former Force India driver was handed an 18-month suspended sentence and fined EUR 200,000 for injuring Lotus team executive Eric Lux with a broken glass in a Shanghai nightclub last April. German news agencies DPA and SID on Wednesday quoted his manager Manfred Zimmermann as confirming the filing of an appeal. A court spokeswoman confirmed the news to the major daily newspaper Bild Zeitung. Sutil decided to appeal "because we […]

Adrian Sutil offered to drive for Lotus this year with a discounted retainer, it emerged on Monday. In Munich, the ousted Force India driver's two-day assault trial, surrounding injuries sustained by Lotus team executive Eric Lux last April, began. T-Online reports that the German driver and his management proposed "various solutions" for an out-of-court settlement, including payments to Lux's African charity. Another proposal was a race seat at Lotus featuring a "reduced salary", according to the report. Lux recently dismissed as "a joke" earlier speculation […]