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Formula 1
F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)
Michael Schumacher has revealed he would not have returned to Formula One if not for the sport's strict testing ban...
Michael Schumacher returned to Formula One in 2010, joining Mercedes. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Schumacher Admits Test Ban Led To F1 Comeback: Michael Schumacher has revealed he would not have returned to Formula One if not for the sport's strict testing ban. Two years after his record seventh title, the famous German retired in 2006, but then came back with the new Mercedes GP venture in 2010 and is now deciding whether or not to extend his contract for 2013. But as a multi-millionaire and 43-year-old father of two, he was asked by the German newspaper Bild-Zeitung why he was not content to simply "enjoy your family" in the wake of his unprecedented success. "Because racing is my passion," he insisted, "and anyway it doesn't mean I have to stop enjoying my life with my family. When I came back again, one of the reasons (for the decision) was that Formula One is much less time-consuming as it was in my 'first career.' Then, we had testing after each race, now — during the season — there is not. I have plenty of time for my family," said Schumacher. "Otherwise, clearly, there would have been no comeback." So, Schumacher is now deciding whether or not to stay in 2013 and beyond. Would he consider returning to Ferrari, to once again take on the challenge of pulling the famous Italian squad out of a crisis? "Let's just say this," the German answered. "The probability that I will end my career with a team other than Mercedes is so exceedingly low that I don't need to even think about it."
Vettel Names New Red Bull 'Abbey': Sebastian Vettel has named his new 2012 Red Bull chassis, 'Abbey.' With the Adrian Newey-penned RB8, the 24-year-old German will push to become F1's third-ever triple consecutive World Champion, after Juan Manuel Fangio and mentor Michael Schumacher. Recently, the highly-superstitious German has given his F1 cars a female name — the 2010 winner was Luscious Liz, and last year's dominant RB7 'Kinky Kylie.' So superstitious is Vettel that — as in 2011 — he has waited until the Wednesday before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to decide the new name. Germany's Bild newspaper said Vettel's 2012 mount is 'Abbey' — perhaps after his favorite band The Beatles' album Abbey Road, or the Silverstone corner? "Neither is true," he insisted. "It's just a cool name."
Cheating 'Peace' May Be Short-Lived, Says Lauda: The current peace in Formula One may be short-lived. That is the view of Niki Lauda, referring to the relative quiet at present in terms of teams accusing their rivals of cheating. There have been rumblings about some teams' interpretations of the new exhaust rules, while others led by Mercedes are reportedly experimenting with promising new F-duct solutions. "You can never trust peace in Formula One," triple World Champion Lauda said in a preseason interview with the broadcaster RTL. "Each team tries to take the regulations right to the limit, which is perfectly legitimate. We'll have to see if the FIA needs to intervene at some point."
After Rally Test, Kubica Drives Kart: Robert Kubica is back on track yet again, according to the latest reports from Italy. It emerged a few days ago that the Pole had moved his recovery from serious injury forwards by returning to the wheel of a Skoda Fabia rally car in Liguria, Italy. La Gazzetta dello Sport now reports that the former BMW and Renault driver has tested a kart at a circuit in Montecatini-Terme, Tuscany. Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore advises Kubica not to rush his return to F1. "I have seen him a few times and have told him not to hurry back. You cannot lose your talent, but first you should focus on your health. One hundred percent," he told Italy's Sky Sport 24. Briatore recalled former Benetton driver Alessandro Nannini, who badly injured his arm in a helicopter crash in 1990. "He hurried back and we all know how that ended," said Briatore. "I think Kubica will succeed, but he needs to plan to come back in two years. You can't be in F1 if you're not 100 percent."
Button A Favorite For Vettel's Crown - Salo: Jenson Button is an outright favorite for the 2012 title, according to former F1 driver Mika Salo. The Finn, Salo, will be a regular in the paddock this season with the MTV3 broadcaster, except for this weekend's season opener for which he is detained to test last year's Ferrari at Suzuka. Asked, however, in a preseason interview to name some likely challengers to Sebastian Vettel's crown, the 45-year-old answered: "Jenson Button is not necessarily the quickest driver, but he is able to collect points consistently. I would not previously have put him as a favorite, but when (Lewis) Hamilton had his personal problems, Button was immediately on the case." Behind Vettel and Button, Salo predicts Hamilton and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg to be on the favorites' heels. "It will depend on Hamilton, and whether or not he splits with his girlfriend every other weekend. Nico will be strong, if he has a good car. (Mark) Webber, I think, is a bit past it, especially if Red Bull is no longer as dominant as they have been."
Petrov 'As Good As Trulli,' Says Caterham Boss: Caterham's team boss insists Vitaly Petrov is just as good as the experienced Grand Prix winner he replaced. Just ahead of the 2012 season, Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes decided to oust former Monaco GP winner Jarno Trulli with Russian Petrov, the well-sponsored Russian and former Renault driver. "I think he (Petrov) is as good a driver as Trulli, but he obviously brings a Russian commercial element," Fernandes told the US cable news channel CNN. "It gives us the ability to exploit commercial opportunities in Russia. We've watched Petrov very closely. He brings in sponsorship. He's competent enough to be a second driver." Fernandes, who also heads the Malaysian airline AirAsia and the English premier league club Queens Park Rangers, said Caterham is once again targeting 10th place in the constructors' championship for 2012. "We want to get into the midfield," he confirmed. "We said it's going to take us two years, we want to be 10th then we want to be racing. And looking at the times right now, we're there or thereabouts. Maybe half a second, a second away from the midfield pack."
Ferrari Crisis Exaggerated - Lauda: It is already being described as a 'crisis,' but former Ferrari driver Niki lauda is sure Ferrari's situation in early 2012 is not that bad. "The Italians always exaggerate," the triple World Champion, who won two titles with the famous Maranello-based team in the '70s, is quoted by German RTL television. "Everything is either great or everything is negative. I don't think the Ferrari is as bad as it's being made out. I do know that the McLaren and Red Bull are very similar and Mercedes follows closely behind. Then comes Ferrari — but things can change very quickly." As ever in Ferrari's high-pressure Italy, however, the stakes are high and every episode is amplified — such as when comments made by Felipe Massa apparently contradicted Pat Fry's prediction that an early podium is unlikely. "In my head is the thought that we can fight for the podium," Brazilian Massa insisted after landing in Australia this week, "but that doesn't mean that I don't agree with what Pat Fry said in Barcelona." Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, admitted Ferrari has no choice but to initially "grit our teeth" until the F2012 improves. "First of all, we have to see exactly where we are in terms of being competitive and then give our all to bring home as many points as possible in this early stage of the championship," said the Spaniard.
Rosberg Not Allowed To Speak Mind, Says Salo: Nico Rosberg is an example of a driver who is not allowed to speak his mind. That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, who between 1994 and 2002 drove for teams including the original Lotus, Ferrari, Sauber and finally Toyota. He told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 that one of the big changes in the sport over the years is the way drivers are often prevented from being open with the media, due to pressure on them by their teams and sponsors. There are some exceptions, said Salo, like Mark Webber, who is "always available to give his own opinion" that is "not filtered by the team. Then there are opposite examples," the 45-year-old explained. "Mercedes, for example, have apparently given Nico (Rosberg) strict instructions about what you can say, what you cannot. He is quite a different guy when you see him in the evening at the bar."
Vettel Names New Red Bull 'Abbey': Sebastian Vettel has named his new 2012 Red Bull chassis, 'Abbey.' With the Adrian Newey-penned RB8, the 24-year-old German will push to become F1's third-ever triple consecutive World Champion, after Juan Manuel Fangio and mentor Michael Schumacher. Recently, the highly-superstitious German has given his F1 cars a female name — the 2010 winner was Luscious Liz, and last year's dominant RB7 'Kinky Kylie.' So superstitious is Vettel that — as in 2011 — he has waited until the Wednesday before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to decide the new name. Germany's Bild newspaper said Vettel's 2012 mount is 'Abbey' — perhaps after his favorite band The Beatles' album Abbey Road, or the Silverstone corner? "Neither is true," he insisted. "It's just a cool name."
Cheating 'Peace' May Be Short-Lived, Says Lauda: The current peace in Formula One may be short-lived. That is the view of Niki Lauda, referring to the relative quiet at present in terms of teams accusing their rivals of cheating. There have been rumblings about some teams' interpretations of the new exhaust rules, while others led by Mercedes are reportedly experimenting with promising new F-duct solutions. "You can never trust peace in Formula One," triple World Champion Lauda said in a preseason interview with the broadcaster RTL. "Each team tries to take the regulations right to the limit, which is perfectly legitimate. We'll have to see if the FIA needs to intervene at some point."
After Rally Test, Kubica Drives Kart: Robert Kubica is back on track yet again, according to the latest reports from Italy. It emerged a few days ago that the Pole had moved his recovery from serious injury forwards by returning to the wheel of a Skoda Fabia rally car in Liguria, Italy. La Gazzetta dello Sport now reports that the former BMW and Renault driver has tested a kart at a circuit in Montecatini-Terme, Tuscany. Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore advises Kubica not to rush his return to F1. "I have seen him a few times and have told him not to hurry back. You cannot lose your talent, but first you should focus on your health. One hundred percent," he told Italy's Sky Sport 24. Briatore recalled former Benetton driver Alessandro Nannini, who badly injured his arm in a helicopter crash in 1990. "He hurried back and we all know how that ended," said Briatore. "I think Kubica will succeed, but he needs to plan to come back in two years. You can't be in F1 if you're not 100 percent."
Button A Favorite For Vettel's Crown - Salo: Jenson Button is an outright favorite for the 2012 title, according to former F1 driver Mika Salo. The Finn, Salo, will be a regular in the paddock this season with the MTV3 broadcaster, except for this weekend's season opener for which he is detained to test last year's Ferrari at Suzuka. Asked, however, in a preseason interview to name some likely challengers to Sebastian Vettel's crown, the 45-year-old answered: "Jenson Button is not necessarily the quickest driver, but he is able to collect points consistently. I would not previously have put him as a favorite, but when (Lewis) Hamilton had his personal problems, Button was immediately on the case." Behind Vettel and Button, Salo predicts Hamilton and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg to be on the favorites' heels. "It will depend on Hamilton, and whether or not he splits with his girlfriend every other weekend. Nico will be strong, if he has a good car. (Mark) Webber, I think, is a bit past it, especially if Red Bull is no longer as dominant as they have been."
Petrov 'As Good As Trulli,' Says Caterham Boss: Caterham's team boss insists Vitaly Petrov is just as good as the experienced Grand Prix winner he replaced. Just ahead of the 2012 season, Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes decided to oust former Monaco GP winner Jarno Trulli with Russian Petrov, the well-sponsored Russian and former Renault driver. "I think he (Petrov) is as good a driver as Trulli, but he obviously brings a Russian commercial element," Fernandes told the US cable news channel CNN. "It gives us the ability to exploit commercial opportunities in Russia. We've watched Petrov very closely. He brings in sponsorship. He's competent enough to be a second driver." Fernandes, who also heads the Malaysian airline AirAsia and the English premier league club Queens Park Rangers, said Caterham is once again targeting 10th place in the constructors' championship for 2012. "We want to get into the midfield," he confirmed. "We said it's going to take us two years, we want to be 10th then we want to be racing. And looking at the times right now, we're there or thereabouts. Maybe half a second, a second away from the midfield pack."
Ferrari Crisis Exaggerated - Lauda: It is already being described as a 'crisis,' but former Ferrari driver Niki lauda is sure Ferrari's situation in early 2012 is not that bad. "The Italians always exaggerate," the triple World Champion, who won two titles with the famous Maranello-based team in the '70s, is quoted by German RTL television. "Everything is either great or everything is negative. I don't think the Ferrari is as bad as it's being made out. I do know that the McLaren and Red Bull are very similar and Mercedes follows closely behind. Then comes Ferrari — but things can change very quickly." As ever in Ferrari's high-pressure Italy, however, the stakes are high and every episode is amplified — such as when comments made by Felipe Massa apparently contradicted Pat Fry's prediction that an early podium is unlikely. "In my head is the thought that we can fight for the podium," Brazilian Massa insisted after landing in Australia this week, "but that doesn't mean that I don't agree with what Pat Fry said in Barcelona." Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, admitted Ferrari has no choice but to initially "grit our teeth" until the F2012 improves. "First of all, we have to see exactly where we are in terms of being competitive and then give our all to bring home as many points as possible in this early stage of the championship," said the Spaniard.
Rosberg Not Allowed To Speak Mind, Says Salo: Nico Rosberg is an example of a driver who is not allowed to speak his mind. That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, who between 1994 and 2002 drove for teams including the original Lotus, Ferrari, Sauber and finally Toyota. He told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 that one of the big changes in the sport over the years is the way drivers are often prevented from being open with the media, due to pressure on them by their teams and sponsors. There are some exceptions, said Salo, like Mark Webber, who is "always available to give his own opinion" that is "not filtered by the team. Then there are opposite examples," the 45-year-old explained. "Mercedes, for example, have apparently given Nico (Rosberg) strict instructions about what you can say, what you cannot. He is quite a different guy when you see him in the evening at the bar."
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