F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)

Formula 1

F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)

Former GP winner Gerhard Berger is the new president of the FIA's single-seater commission...

SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted November 09, 2011 GMM Newswire

Former GP winner Gerhard Berger has a new gig. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

FIA Makes Berger New Single-Seater Boss: The specifics of the recent speculation were wide of the mark, but Gerhard Berger has returned to an active role in premier motor sport. The 52-year-old Austrian denied recent reports he was set to replace Eric Boullier as Lotus team boss, or head the GP2 team Super Nova. But F1's governing body has appointed the former 10-time Grand Prix winner, BMW motor sport director and Toro Rosso co-owner as the new president of the federation's single-seater commission. The FIA said Austrian Berger's predecessor, Barry Bland, stepped down for "personal reasons." The Paris body lists Gilles Simon, Ferrari's former engine boss, as the commission's existing secretary. Meanwhile, the BBC reports that former long-time F1 doctor Professor Sid Watkins, 83 and a close friend of the late Ayrton Senna, has retired as president of the FIA Institute, but will continue in an honorary role.

'New' Kovalainen Plans For Return To Top Team: Heikki Kovalainen has admitted a return to a "winning" team could be on the agenda for the not-too-distant future. However, he credits Caterham, formerly known as Team Lotus, for helping him to resurrect his form and reputation after a difficult early career with bigger teams. Kovalainen, 30, insists is has not been too hard in 2010 and 2011 — after struggling alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren — to race without the prospect of even a single point. "I have reset my goals," the 2008 Hungary winner explained to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "Each race was an opportunity for me to show my potential as a driver. At the same time, I want to show the paddock that the new Kovalainen is different from the one at Renault and McLaren. So that I'm ready for 'day X' on which a place becomes available at a top team. In some ways it would already interest me to see how I would have done (recently) in a winning car. I think some people would be surprised," added Kovalainen.

Page 1 of 6

12 3 4 5 6

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SPEED Staff / GMM

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 1)
It will be at least June before anything more is known about Bernie…
F1: Ricciardo Has ‘Upper Hand’ For Red Bull Move
Daniel Ricciardo could be Mark Webber's successor...
F1: Grosjean Supports Penalty Points System
French driver served a race ban after a series of on-track incidents...…