Ferrari is hard at work on the turbo V6 engine set to formally debut in 2014. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Ferrari To Fire First V6 Engine Next Year - Report: Ferrari's turbo V6 engine for 2014 will be up and running "by the summer," according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. F1's current 'frozen' engine formula, the regulations for normally-aspirated 2.4 liter V8 power plants, will remain in place next year and also in 2013. But the engine manufacturers are already working on the new 1.6 liter rules, amid reports Mercedes and Renault are also planning to fire up prototype versions mid next year. Ferrari, meanwhile, continues to push hard to shift the emphasis of the F1 regulations from aerodynamics. "We do not build airplanes or missiles," argued Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo recently. "A manufacturer like Ferrari needs to race with references to the technology of its production cars. The sport must be a laboratory for the technology rather than just a marketing tool for sponsors who have a team," he is quoted by Die Welt newspaper, in a clear reference to World Champion Red Bull.

F1 Must Not Abandon Europe - Montezemolo: 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.

Chandhok May Switch Team For 2012 'Friday' Role: 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."

Teams May Already Have New Concorde Deals - Report: Ferrari and Red Bull may already have inked separate new Concorde Agreements with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone. The rumor follows the top teams' recent split from the association, FOTA. The current tripartite Concorde agreement, binding the teams with the commercial rights holder and governing FIA, runs out at the end of 2012. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quotes Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo as denying that a new deal has already been struck. "We will start with the negotiations in January," he said. By trying to deal with the big teams individually, Ecclestone could — for example — promise Ferrari and Red Bull more money while weakening the ability of the FOTA group to negotiate a proportionately higher share of the income. Montezemolo added: "Whether as a group or individually, we will come to an agreement."

Lauda Tips Red Bull To Pull Ahead In 2012: 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."

Sebastian Vettel wasn't named Europe's top athlete of 2011. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Agencies Say Vettel Not Top European Athlete: 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.

Photos Show Sauber With UBS Sponsor Logos: Sauber came tantalizingly close to a major sponsorship deal with UBS, the Zurich-based global financial services company. It emerged recently that, before deciding to sponsor the entire sport last year, UBS chief executive Oswald Grubel wanted instead to link the brand with an individual team. Blick claims that team was Hinwil-based Sauber, and the newspaper has now published three 'secret' photographs to prove it. The newspaper said Grubel is friends with the similarly-aged team owner Peter Sauber, and that the sponsor tie-up came tantalizingly close to fruition. The secret photos depict the white Ferrari-powered car adorned prominently with UBS's corporate logo, with Blick claiming that the board of directors ultimately shot down the deal. Grubel was UBS's chief executive until he resigned in late September.

Alonso's New Girlfriend Is 'Tschumi' - Reports: 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.