Latest F1 news in brief

McLaren undecided over racing new shark fin
Pantano sees GP2 as road back to F1 grid
No F1 for VW in next three years – Stuck
Kubica statistically best driver of 2008

McLaren undecided over racing new shark fin
(GMM) McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen on Friday said the British team may not race at next Sunday's German grand prix the 'shark fin' engine cover it debuted at this week's Hockenheim test.

His teammate, joint championship leader Lewis Hamilton, told reporters earlier this week that he didn't notice a difference when he turned laps with the new bodywork.

"We will test it again I think," said the Briton.

Finn Kovalainen, however, said in a team interview that he thinks the piece was an "advantage" over the standard configuration.

"But it's still too early to say; maybe Hockenheim is not the best place to try this new wing and we need to see if it is affected by crosswinds — it was quite windy at the Hockenheim test, but we didn't seem to be too affected by the wind," the 26-year-old added.

"It's definitely encouraging for the future."

Pantano sees GP2 as road back to F1 grid
(GMM) Giorgio Pantano has confirmed that, despite a four year absence, his ambition is to return to the formula one grid in the near future.

The 29-year-old Italian raced nearly a full season for Jordan in 2004, thereafter reverting to the support category GP2 where he holds the record for the most races completed and most wins.

He is currently atop the 2008 standings, ahead of the likes of Bruno Senna, Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi, having won the most recent Magny-Cours and Silverstone feature races.

Like Senna, he is openly saying his target is to win the title and then switch to F1.

"I know that it will not be simple," Pantano is quoted as saying by Motorsport Aktuell. "I am Italian, which nowadays is not an advantage, because the interesting markets are elsewhere."

He also declared that he doubts he could show his worth with a less competitive team like Force India or Toro Rosso.

"In order to really show what I can offer, I would have to be accommodated by a midfield team, say Red Bull Racing."

In 2004, Pantano was replaced at Jordan by Timo Glock, and this season once again watched the German steal his thunder by progressing as GP2 champion to a race seat at Toyota.

Is he jealous? "No, I am annoyed only about formula one, in which real second chances are rare."

No F1 for VW in next three years – Stuck
(GMM) Formula one is not in Volkswagen's sights within the next three years, the German carmaker's motor racing representative Hans-Joachim Stuck insists.

BMW-Sauber team boss Mario Theissen suggested last weekend that other European manufacturers, including VW, Audi and Porsche, are interested in the sport's current direction, including measures to rationalize budgets and road-relevant technologies like KERS.

"For a global automobile company such as Volkswagen, formula one is always a topic," Stuck, who contested grands prix as a driver in the 70s, told the German language newspaper Vorarlberger Nachrichten.

Adding that part of his role is to communicate with "powerful" figures including Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone, Stuck explained: "An entry within the next three years is however not realistic. There are still uncertainties in the regulations — (like) the engine freeze."

Kubica statistically best driver of 2008
(GMM) Robert Kubica is statistically the best driver of the 2008 season so far, the Canadian sports television network CBS Sport said.

Although the Pole is two points behind the three-way tussle for drivers' title honors, CBS said it has based its findings on an analysis of various other factors.

Kubica, 23, has made fewer driving errors than any other championship challenger, and has been more consistent, CBS Sport reported.

The television network said Kubica's average finishing result (4.89), compared even with world champion Kimi Raikkonen (5.33) and Silverstone winner Lewis Hamilton (6.11), is the highest of any competitor.