Mark Webber (Left) talks with Red Bull Racing team owner Dietrich Mateschitz (Right) during Formula One winter testing in Jerez. (Photo: Getty Images)

Webber To Have Equal Status In 2012 - Mateschitz: He may share a garage with the reigning double World Champion, but Mark Webber will still have an equal chance to win in 2012. That is the news of Red Bull's low-profile mogul Dietrich Mateschitz, who made a rare visit to a Formula One paddock this week at Jerez. Asked if Sebastian Vettel's Australian teammate will have equal status this season, the Austrian billionaire insisted: "Absolutely. Both get the same equipment," he told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper. "The only change is that Mark has a new chief mechanic." Mateschitz, 67, said the obvious target for Red Bull in 2012 is to win again. "We really have no choice except to defend our two World Titles," he insisted. "Also Toro Rosso will have to improve; the team should be in the midfield and fighting for fifth place with Force India, Sauber and Lotus."

Mercedes Fast With Radical 2012 'F-Duct' Front Wing: Alongside step noses, clever exhausts and Lotus' surprise pace, another point of interest in the Jerez paddock this week is Mercedes' radical front wing. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said the German team, albeit still running its 2011 car, tested a new front wing featuring a passive F-duct style system. In Nico Rosberg's hands, the W02 was quickest of all on Thursday, just as it had been when Michael Schumacher was driving earlier. The German report said air enters Mercedes' revolutionary nose at the tip, where it is rechanneled onto the front wing. Auto Motor und Sport said McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh estimates the top speed benefit of the system, which first appeared on the Mercedes in prototype form late last season, to be around 5 and 8 kilometers per hour. "For the front wing, there are no (F-duct) rules," said the Auto Motor und Sport report. "It is legal." Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz was in the Jerez paddock on Thursday, checking out his team's progress and also the new cars fielded by rivals Ferrari and McLaren. "Now we are all waiting for Mercedes," he said.

Dark Cloud Still Hangs Over 2012 Bahrain GP: A dark cloud continues to hang over Bahrain's scheduled return to the F1 calendar in 2012. In the UK — where eight of the 12 Formula One teams are based — the violent attack of a British man by Bahraini youths is making waves. News that the man had his fingers severed by a sword came on the same day as a letter in the Times newspaper signed by several influential Lords called on Bernie Ecclestone and the governing FIA to cancel the race. "Given the current dire situation, with daily street protests and the deaths of more civilians, we do not believe that the time is right for Formula One to return to Bahrain," the letter read.

Toyota Confirms Buemi For Le Mans: Sebastien Buemi has added Le Mans to his 2012 calendar, it was confirmed officially on Friday. It was expected the former Toro Rosso driver, who has been signed as Red Bull's full time reserve for this season, would also join Toyota's new Le Mans sports car project. Also to drive the Japanese giant's new hybrid will be former F1 driver Anthony Davidson, Toyota said. "This is an exciting driver lineup for our additional car," said team president Yoshiaki Kinoshita.

Kovalainen Relieved After Briatore 'Battle': Heikki Kovalainen has admitted to relief after signing on with well-known management stable IMG. The Finn has been handling his own career on and off the tracks since splitting in 2009 with Flavio Briatore in the wake of the 'crashgate' affair. According to the broadcaster MTV3, Briatore did not give up Kovalainen without a fight. "We have had a battle with Flavio for a couple of years," revealed the 30-year-old Caterham driver. "In the meantime, we had to take care of things ourselves." Kovalainen admitted that with his current contract up at the end of this year, his future for 2013 and beyond is open. "Either we continue with Caterham or pursue at some other place, so in either case this (signing with IMG) is the right solution," he said.