Latest F1 news in brief

Karun Chandhok

Chandhok may switch team for 2012 'Friday' role
Pay-drivers 'not good enough' for F1 – Trulli
Toro Rosso 'right' to axe both drivers – Berger
Alonso's new girlfriend is 'Tschumi' – reports
F1 must not abandon Europe – Montezemolo
Axed Alguersuari expects 'good news soon'
Agencies say Vettel not top European athlete
Berger would not have signed Raikkonen for comeback
Lauda tips Red Bull to pull ahead in 2012

Chandhok may switch team for 2012 'Friday' role
(GMM) Karun Chandhok will not necessarily reprise his role as Team Lotus' reserve and occasional 'Friday' practice driver in 2012.

The Indian has acknowledged that, after a full season in the role this year, it is unlikely he will step into a race seat ahead of 2012.

"It's very difficult to secure a seat in F1 unless you have substantial financial backing," he told the Times of India.

It has been expected that Chandhok, 27, will therefore stay in his current role as Team Lotus becomes Caterham.

"Another year as the reserve driver is not something that I want to do although I am still in talks with a couple of F1 teams for that role," he said.

Chandhok also revealed that he is willing to step away from F1 in order to return to racing in 2012.

"The best option for me will be to combine some Friday test sessions in F1 with the world endurance championship, which is making a return on the FIA calendar next year," he said.

"I am in talks with 3-4 teams and I hope to finalize it by the middle of next month."

Pay-drivers 'not good enough' for F1 – Trulli
(GMM) Jarno Trulli has hit out at the growing influence of so-called 'pay drivers' in formula one.

It is rumored that, despite his 2012 contract, the Italian veteran could be ousted by Caterham in favor 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 La Repubblica, "and because of that they were a dark horse.

"When Robert was out, that was the end. Petrov was not in a position to lead the team, and Senna showed that he was not good enough."

Brazilian Senna replaced the experienced Nick Heidfeld mid-season.

Trulli commented: "With his experience, Nick scored almost as many points as Petrov even though he (Heidfeld) did only half the season.

"There is no rule, but it is true that those who pay are less accustomed to suffering. They are less committed," he claimed.

"Hiring them is a business decision but in my opinion it's not worth it," said Trulli.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, however, said the growing debate about 'pay drivers' recently has been overstated.

"For a team it has always been about finding the right balance between financial considerations and talent," he said.

"It's something that is as old as formula one," Horner insisted.

Gerhard Berger

Toro Rosso 'right' to axe both drivers – Berger
(GMM) Toro Rosso was "absolutely right" to axe its entire driver lineup ahead of the 2012 season.

That is the claim of the team's former co-owner and boss Gerhard Berger.

Faenza based Toro Rosso's current owner Red Bull has ousted Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi in favor of the fresher Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

"I think it's correct, although it is very hard," ten-time grand prix winner Berger told Austrian television ORF.

"For Red Bull and Toro Rosso, it's about preparing drivers – ideally from the Red Bull pool – to find someone who can eventually succeed Mark Webber, or Sebastian Vettel when he moves on," said the Austrian.

Berger said Alguersuari and Buemi did not fit the bill.

"The demand to be at Red Bull is the highest of all, of course, and these two are average at the most," he said.

"So these two were good for Toro Rosso but not for Red Bull Racing. It was right (for Red Bull) to look elsewhere for what they want," said Berger.

Berger admitted he will be keeping a particular eye on French rookie Vergne in 2012.

"I've heard a lot of good about him — maybe he's a new Sebastian Vettel. The only way to find out is to try him," he said.

And his teammate, Australian Daniel Ricciardo, admitted he will be looking to emulate Vergne's aggression.

"Maybe I can learn from him, at least in the junior categories that's been his style," Ricciardo is quoted by AAP news agency.

Alonso's new girlfriend is 'Tschumi' – reports
(GMM) Fernando Alonso has a new girlfriend, according to reports and photographs in the Italian, Spanish, German and Swiss media.

Just before Christmas, the Ferrari driver announced his split with wife and Spanish rock singer Raquel del Rosario.

Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that he has now linked up with Russian born Swiss model Xenia Tchoumitcheva, 24.

Sonntagsblick newspaper quoted Tchoumitcheva, already nicknamed 'Tschumi' by the German tabloid Bild, as confirming she is "great friends" with the former double world champion.

Photos of the new couple were published by the Basque newspaper Diario Vasco.

F1 must not abandon Europe – Montezemolo
(GMM) Luca di Montezemolo is worried about F1's trend away from Europe.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said recently that he predicts only a handful of races in Europe will still be present on the calendar in a few years.

"I give him credit that in all these years he has always had great respect for the role and importance of Ferrari in F1," the Italian marque's president di Montezemolo is quoted by Autosprint.

"But I cannot accept this trend of F1 going away from Europe. We cannot abandon our continent, because it represents the history of formula one.

"It's fine that formula one goes all over the world, but we must not exaggerate by going to race in deserts or where there is no culture for racing.

"For years now the calendar has missed a historic race like France, and now a legendary circuit like Spa is at risk — to be replaced with what?

"I don't know if Ecclestone really said there will only be five European races left, but I don't believe it," added Montezemolo.

Axed Alguersuari expects 'good news soon'
(GMM) Jaime Alguersuari is holding onto hope that, at the tender age of 21, his formula one career has not ended.

From an event in London in which he appeared as an electronic music DJ, Marca sports newspaper quoted the Spaniard as saying: "We will have good news soon."

Less than 50 races into his F1 career, Red Bull has removed Alguersuari – and his 2011 teammate Sebastien Buemi – from the Toro Rosso driver lineup.

"I still have much to do, learn and demonstrate," said Alguersuari. "Along with music, formula one is the other thing that motivates me."

Another driver waiting patiently for news is Dutch rookie Giedo van der Garde, whose sponsors are linked with the vacant race seats at HRT and Williams.

"The only thing I can say regarding F1 is that we are pushing hard. I feel positive," De Telegraaf newspaper quotes him as saying.

Agencies say Vettel not top European athlete
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel has finished second as news agencies voted for the top European athlete of 2011.

The poll, organized by the Polish agency PAP and comprising 17 other European news outlets, declared Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic the winner.

The world number one amassed 163 points, ahead of Red Bull's Vettel who scored 121.

Vettel's German countryman Dirk Nowitzki, an NBA basketball player, finished third with 62 points.

Michael Schumacher is a former multiple winner.

Berger would not have signed Raikkonen for comeback
(GMM) If he was in charge at Lotus, Gerhard Berger would not have signed Kimi Raikkonen for 2012.

Former ten-time winner Berger, the former BMW motor sport director and Toro Rosso co-owner, admitted that the 2007 world champion's comeback is "good for formula one".

But "If he is able to reach the top again I would say is 50-50," he told the Austrian broadcaster ORF.

"I do not think the best," said the former Ferrari and McLaren driver, "if he decides to stop, does a bit of rallying and then says 'Ok, now I'm coming back'.

"I would be surprised if he has the strength, discipline and ambition to return to the front," added Berger.

"Of course he should not be underestimated and I do not — there is no question he is quick and it would be good for F1, so let's hope for it and wish him all the best."

But if he was in Lotus chief Eric Boullier's shoes, "Clearly, no, I would not have taken him", admitted Berger.

"Formula one is so unique. If you don't really live it day and night, constantly perfecting yourself and working on it, it is difficult," he added.

"It's hard, hard work, and whether he has the willingness to do this hard, hard work, we'll see."

Berger's fellow Austrian, triple world champion Niki Lauda, told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper: "It's cool that he is back.

"He (Raikkonen) is a colorful personality and will arouse great interest among the fans and the media."

Lauda tips Red Bull to pull ahead in 2012
(GMM) Niki Lauda has tipped Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel to pull even further clear of their rivals in 2012.

German Vettel won his second consecutive drivers' title in dominant style this year, and triple world champion Lauda tipped the 24-year-old to equal his own career tally next season.

"Logic tells me that Red Bull will be even further ahead," the 62-year-old told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

The blown exhaust rules aside, F1's technical regulations are staying relatively stable between 2011 and 2012.

"He who can build on an already very good car has an advantage," insisted Lauda. "Making something good even better is easier than starting something new."

He gives the example of Ferrari and Mercedes, whose new projects differ vastly from 2011. "There is the risk of going in the wrong direction," said Lauda.

He said McLaren's Jenson Button, runner-up in 2011, could again be a main rival.

"In 2011 he was consistent and relaxed and flawlessly fast everywhere," said Lauda. "His self-confidence benefitted him immensely."