Latest F1 news in brief
- Berger rubbishes Vettel rumors
- Italy, Lauda, say Massa now no.1
- Kubica wants BMW focus back on him
- Berger impressed with Bourdais at Spa
- Mallya eyes engine partner switch
Berger rubbishes Vettel rumors
(GMM) Gerhard Berger has taken the wind out of rumors that Sebastian Vettel may depart Toro Rosso before the end of the 2008 season.
It was whispered recently that David Coulthard could relinquish his seat at the senior Red Bull team a few races early, so that Vettel can get a head-start for next year and Toro Rosso can assess potential replacements for the young German.
"No, that is really not going to happen!" STR co-owner Berger insisted to Kicker.
Italy, Lauda, say Massa now no.1
(GMM) Ferrari is moving towards appointing Felipe Massa the number one driver for the balance of the 2008 season.
Niki Lauda, a former title winner with the Maranello based team, believes any other policy would not make sense.
"Starting from Monza, Raikkonen must start driving for Massa," the Austrian told the Swiss newspaper Blick.
"Any other team strategy would not make sense."
Lauda said Kimi Raikkonen, the reigning world champion, has had his chance to try to defend that title in 2008.
"Kimi has not done a good job this season," he said. "He has been quick in races, but not in practice. At Spa he did a perfect job, until the end when he threw it away."
Most elements of the Italian media believe Lauda is right in calling for Raikkonen to now be demoted to a supporting role.
"Kimi as number two? Now is the time for Ferrari to decide," said the sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Referring to the Belgian grand prix, La Repubblica surmised: "The real outcome: Massa is now number one."
Kubica wants BMW focus back on him
(GMM) After an unhappy Belgian grand prix, Robert Kubica has continued to voice his discontent as F1 makes the dash this week to Monza.
The Pole struggled to capture the same attention as his resurgent BMW-Sauber teammate Nick Heidfeld at Spa-Francorchamps, and on Friday we reported that he used "harsh words" upon discovering incorrect settings on his car.
"The team has helped Nick a lot," France's sport24.com quotes Kubica as saying.
Kubica has won just 12 points from the last 5 grands prix, and while he finished sixth at Spa-Francorchamps, Heidfeld was on the podium.
"I hope that they will start to work a little for me, because these last four races, I think we have been asleep," the 23-year-old added.
Berger impressed with Bourdais at Spa
(GMM) Sebastien Bourdais will have done his chances of a new Toro Rosso contract no harm at Spa-Francorchamps.
Amid a difficult rookie season, the multiple Champ Car title winner outshone his teammate Sebastian Vettel at the Belgian venue, albeit dropping behind in the chaos of the final laps.
"We will consider his overall performance of the weekend," team co-owner Gerhard Berger is quoted as saying by the French source RMC.
"Sebastien impressed us with a very solid performance, although we have not made a decision about the future yet," Berger added.
Berger said Bourdais, 29, has remained focused on his task amid all the speculation about the future of Toro Rosso's driver lineup.
"Let's give him the time to express himself," the former grand prix winner continued. "We will see what happens at Monza and after that as well."
Mallya eyes engine partner switch
(GMM) Force India supremo Vijay Mallya has left the door open to possibly switching engine partners for the 2009 season.
We reported earlier this year that the Silverstone based team, currently powered by customer Ferrari engines, was considering perhaps moving to Honda, because the Japanese marque is willing to bundle a KERS system.
Mallya confirmed to reporters at Spa-Francorchamps that he is searching for a bundled drivetrain and KERS package for 2009.
"There's no way we can develop KERS. It would be stupid even to attempt it," the Indian billionaire said.
"I have asked Ferrari because they are my partner. Hopefully they will give it to me at a sensible price. If they don't, then I have a problem and may have to look elsewhere.
"But there's no dearth of potential suppliers."