Latest F1 news in brief
- Coulthard says Monza not his last race
- Raikkonen back on song at Monza
- BMW denies Monday driver announcement
- Renault disowns Symonds penalty comments
Coulthard says Monza not his last race
(GMM) David Coulthard has rubbished rumors that Sunday's Italian grand prix at Monza could be his last ever formula one race.
It has been suggested that, as the 37-year-old is due to retire anyway, Red Bull might ask him to step aside early so that Sebastian Vettel can switch camps in preparation for 2009.
Vettel's subsequent vacancy of his Toro Rosso race seat would also give the junior team a chance to evaluate at actual grands prix his replacement for next year.
The speculation then stepped up a gear at Monza on Thursday, when Red Bull opened a photographic tribute to Coulthard's long F1 career in the team motor home.
"This is not my last grand prix," the Scot is quoted as saying on Friday by Formule 1 Race Report. "I am finishing the season, no matter what some of you want," Coulthard joked.
"Only after Brazil is it really going to be all over for me."
Raikkonen back on song at Monza
(GMM) Kimi Raikkonen on Friday marked the renewal of his Ferrari contract for two more years by returning to top form in practice for the Italian grand prix at Monza.
The Finn, who led his favorite Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps a week ago until the controversial closing laps, set the fastest time of the drier afternoon practice session at Monza.
"Today it looks like we're fast," the 28-year-old Ferrari driver told reporters at the circuit.
"It's good, it's totally the best that the car has been this year. Little by little, we found what we want from the car."
BMW denies Monday driver announcement
(GMM) BMW-Sauber boss Mario Theissen has denied rumors at Monza that the German team is set to announce its 2009 driver lineup the day after Sunday's Italian grand prix.
"There is no announcement on Monday — and not on Tuesday," he is quoted as saying by German broadcaster RTL, amid speculation that former double world champion Fernando Alonso has signed a three-year contract.
Theissen added: "A decision has not yet been made."
Renault disowns Symonds penalty comments
(GMM) French formula one team Renault has distanced itself from comments made by one of its prominent chiefs in the wake of Lewis Hamilton's controversial Belgian grand prix penalty.
Pat Symonds, the Enstone based team's veteran engineering boss, said the fact the McLaren driver lost his Spa-Francorchamps victory could be a further deterrent to overtaking.
"I think it does call into question (F1's) philosophy," Symonds said, "because everyone is saying we need more overtaking, we need more excitement, and we need more personalities," he said.
"And yet it seems to me that everything that actually happens seems to be against that."
Renault, whose team boss Flavio Briatore was at Monza nominated a director of the new F1 teams' FOTA alliance, distanced itself from Symonds' comments.
"The team states that Pat Symonds was expressing his personal opinion on the matter and that his comments were not representing in any way the team's position," a statement read.