F1 news in brief – Saturday
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| Massa re-signed? |
10/13/12
- Brazil TV says Massa signs 2013 deal
- Bianchi set to stay at Force India in 2013
- Steward warns Grosjean to avoid multiple race bans
- Alonso 'deserves' title more than Vettel – de la Rosa
- Mallya faces arrest in India
- Mercedes made 'right choice' with Hamilton – Schumacher
- Mercedes fined €10,000 for unsafe pit release
- Maria de Villota speaks Wow I'm Alive
- Webber could play title-spoiling role – Button New
- Less 'respect' for small teams – Glock New
- Red Bull happy with 2011 Renault alternator New
Brazil TV says Massa signs 2013 deal
(GMM) Ferrari has denied claims in Brazil Felipe Massa has signed a new contract for the 2013 season.
The news was reported from Korea by the Brazilian broadcaster Globo, but the famous Italian team hit back by insisting it is in "no hurry" to make its decision.
But Globo's information was precise, insisting the news will be announced officially on Tuesday.
"To those who think they know it all," Ferrari said via its official Twitter feed, "we can only say is there's nothing new under the sun."
Bianchi set to stay at Force India in 2013
(GMM) Jules Bianchi has revealed he expects to stay with the Force India team in 2013.
Managed by Nicolas Todt, the Frenchman is a member of Ferrari's driver development 'academy' and this season has been the reserve and Friday driver for Mercedes-powered Force India.
Asked in Korea about his future, the 23-year-old told RMC Sport: "I am already in a good team with Force India, so the goal is to stay with them.
"I want to grow with the team and who knows (what will happen) if one of the two incumbents moves place," he said in the Yeongam paddock.
"There are several options but the most practical is Force India," added Bianchi.
Force India racer Nico Hulkenberg is hotly tipped to switch to Sauber for 2013.
Steward warns Grosjean to avoid multiple race bans
(GMM) A formula one steward serving at this weekend's Korean grand prix has warned Romain Grosjean not to crash at the first corner on Sunday.
Frenchman Grosjean was banned at Monza for causing the first-lap carnage at Spa, and incurred a ten-second stop and go penalty – and the wrath of the F1 paddock – for yet another incident at Suzuka a week ago.
Swiss steward Paul Gutjahr, a F1 steward since 1995, told Blick newspaper in Korea: "The Frenchman is warned.
"Another crash, and he will be a spectator on more than another occasion."
Grosjean has admitted that Lotus is "not happy" with him after his latest crash.
"The team told me they are not happy," he told RMC Sport in Korea. "I am not happy with the situation either.
"We have 550 employees working (with Lotus) so I am aware of the situation and now it's up to me to find a solution."
He confirmed that Mark Webber, who called him a "nutcase" at Suzuka, came to see him after the Japanese grand prix.
"I did not read his statements, but he came to see me after the race in my room," said Grosjean. "He was annoyed but that's normal.
"I apologized and it's all I can do. I have not read any press or anything, but I know that when I get out of this situation, I will be stronger."
Alonso 'deserves' title more than Vettel – de la Rosa
(GMM) Fernando Alonso would be the worthiest winner of this year's world championship.
That is the view of the Spaniard's countryman Pedro de la Rosa, who drives for the backmarker team HRT.
Ferrari's Alonso appeared the outright favorite to secure his third drivers' crown this year until very recently, when first-lap crashes at Spa and Suzuka allowed reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel to close the gap to just 4 points.
"I still think and believe Fernando will win the title," de la Rosa told AS newspaper in Korea. "Why not?
"I believe he deserves it, and usually you get what you deserve in sport. Things have happened to him recently but they can happen to others too."
Asked if he really thinks Alonso 'deserves' the title more than back-to-back champion and German Vettel, de la Rosa answered: "Yes, he deserves it more.
"Fernando has not had the best car but he has always given the maximum of what he is able. And the two retirements were not his fault and not even his team's."
Mallya faces arrest in India
(GMM) Two weeks before he is due to sit on the pitwall in his native India, Force India chief Vijay Mallya is facing arrest.
A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by a Hyderabad court on Friday, relating to checks issued by his struggling airline Kingfisher that bounced.
The warrant was issued because billionaire Mallya failed to appear for a court hearing.
"The warrant doesn't mean Mallya is going to be arrested immediately," a supreme court lawyer is quoted by Bloomberg.
"Check bounce is a criminal offense, but it isn't something that's out of the ordinary."
Mercedes made 'right choice' with Hamilton – Schumacher
(GMM) Michael Schumacher has backed Mercedes' decision to replace him for 2013 and beyond with Lewis Hamilton.
The seven time world champion told SID news agency the perception that he was 'ousted' by the German marque is wrong.
"The people in charge repeatedly emphasized that they wanted me to continue working even after the season," the 43-year-old said in Korea.
"And not for one year, but for two more years.
"I thought about it, but it would have been difficult — even for one year," said the German great, who explained that his motivation is waning after a three-year comeback.
Schumacher therefore backed Mercedes' decision to poach Briton Hamilton from McLaren.
"If you can get Lewis Hamilton, you should," he smiled. "I would have done the same; he is the right choice."
Mercedes fined €10,000 for unsafe pit release
Mercedes has been slapped with a fine of 10,000 euros (£8,000) for an unsafe pit lane release in Korea on Saturday, involving Lewis Hamilton in the pit lane.
Just before the end of Q3, Hamilton was making his way down the pit lane when Michael Schumacher suddenly exited his garage directly in front of the McLaren.
"The positive aspect about today's performance was that we made a step forward relative to last weekend and got into Q3," Schumacher said. "But overall it was an average kind of day. We were expecting to end up somewhere between positions eight and ten, but things didn't go quite right in the final sector of my quick lap."
The stewards, including ex driver Martin Donnelly, handed out the fine as Hamilton was forced to swerve around the man he will replace next year.
Maria de Villota speaks Wow I'm Alive
Webber could play title-spoiling role – Button
(GMM) Jenson Button is expecting Red Bull to play championship games on Sunday.
Mark Webber has qualified on pole in Korea, having declared that he is not ready to start playing a supporting role for his title-vying Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel.
But with Vettel now just 4 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso, and two places ahead of the Spaniard on the grid, McLaren's Button senses Webber has an important spoiling role to play.
"I don't think he (Webber) will, do you?" McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh told reporters in the McLaren hospitality area in Korea.
"I do," nodded Button.
Whitmarsh replied: "Well, I don't think he will willingly."
Less 'respect' for small teams – Glock
(GMM) Timo Glock has lamented an apparent lack of respect for F1's smallest teams.
According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, engine supplier Renault has said it is 'not interested' in supplying its new turbo V6 to backmarkers Marussia and HRT in 2014.
Currently, those teams are powered by Cosworth, but the British independent outfit is not expected to have the resources for a V6 project.
"It is a pity that the smaller teams are not always thought about in the same way.
"We are apparently not as respected as the others," said Glock, who moved to 2010 startup Marussia – formerly Virgin – when the Japanese giant Toyota pulled out of F1 in 2009.
Marussia had a troubled preparation for the 2012 season, but chief engineer David Greenwood insists next year will be a different story.
"We worked a little longer than planned on the current car, but we are now switching to the 2013 model," he said in Korea.
"The first chassis is already being worked on and the guys in the factory are now beginning the first part of the crash tests.
"So we are in a much better position than last year."
Marussia has a technical collaboration with McLaren, and in 2013 will use Williams' KERS system.
Red Bull happy with 2011 Renault alternator
(GMM) Red Bull is confident it has got to the bottom of its recent alternator problems.
The team has had several problems with the Magneti Marelli units supplied by engine partner Renault in 2012.
But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport says Renault recently reverted to a 2011-specification alternator that helped Sebastian Vettel to reliably win the last Suzuka and Singapore grands prix.
"We are using a model now that has proved itself over two months," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is quoted by the German broadcaster RTL.