Daniel Ricciardo plans to compete aggressively this season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Ricciardo Told To Push, Not Fear Crashes: Toro Rosso has told its new drivers to push hard rather than fear a crash, Daniel Ricciardo revealed ahead of his first home Grand Prix in Australia. The Red Bull rookie team has replaced Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi with Australian Ricciardo and newcomer Jean-Eric Vergne. They are lined up as potential replacements for senior team Red Bull's Mark Webber in 2013, but at the same time must fear succumbing to the same fate as their instantly-axed predecessors. "We're going to be on the edge," Ricciardo insisted in Melbourne. "They (his bosses) have said, 'if you make a mistake, it happens. At least we know you're pushing it.' Obviously we're not going out there trying to crash the car, but sometimes a team needs to see you go off — whether it's a crash or you run across the grass — to know that you're trying to find that limit. "I'm not going to hold back," he promised. When ruling out Lewis Hamilton for Webber's seat earlier this week, Christian Horner said Red Bull was more likely to look "inwardly than outwardly" should the team need to find a new teammate for Sebastian Vettel. At the same time, Ricciardo feels the pressure to keep his place at Toro Rosso. "It could be my one and only (year) if it's not good enough, so I've definitely got to step up and do as good as I can," he said.

Argentina Close To Deal For 2013 F1 Return: Argentina is close to returning to the Formula One calendar, the president of South America's second-largest country has revealed. EFE news agency quotes Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as saying it is likely an Argentine Grand Prix, last held at the ageing Autodromo Oscar Alfredo Galvez in Buenos Aires in 1998, will take place in November or December 2013. She said next year's race would take place on the streets of the coastal city of Mar del Plata. "For us this is very important," she said, "because after football, motor racing is the second favorite sport of Argentina." Fernandez said the deal would be initially "for three years, in 2013, 2014 and 2015."

Paffett Called Up As Force India Reserve: Gary Paffett is next in line for a Force India race seat this weekend in Australia. The Silverstone-based team's new regular Friday and reserve driver, Jules Bianchi, is unavailable this week as he tests ahead of the Renault World Series. Force India has therefore asked McLaren, its technical partner, for help. With Pedro de la Rosa now at HRT, Briton Paffett is the famous British team's new official reserve driver. He has already been in action this weekend, demonstrating McLaren's 2011 car to the crowds at Albert Park on Thursday. And Paffett, 30, will step into Force India's car during the race weekend, should bad fortune befall the team's regular drivers Nico Hulkenberg or Paul di Resta. "I'm happy to be available for Force India for this weekend," said the DTM driver. He will not participate in Friday morning practice. "Of course, it's unlikely that I will be called up and hopefully it won't happen, but it's nice to know that the team thought of me," said Paffett.

Glock Thinks New Marussia To Beat 107 Percent Rule: Timo Glock is hoping McLaren's driver simulator is accurate. That's because he is relying on that data in hoping his 2012 car — the new Cosworth-powered Marussia MR01 — is fast enough to beat F1's 107 percent qualifying cut-off. If not, he and rookie teammate Charles Pic could be left out of Sunday's season opening Australian GP. Some promotional running on demo Pirelli tires aside, the MR01 sat out the entire preseason period because it twice failed to pass one of the FIA's mandatory crash tests. "As it (the testing) was on the demo tires, I can't say much. The feeling was very good, but it's just a feeling," said Glock. In addition to the Silverstone shakedown, he has done three days at the wheel of the car in the virtual world, thanks to the former Virgin team's technology deal with McLaren. In the McLaren simulator, German Glock said the car was fast enough to qualify for races. "But I'm cautious," he said, "because we do not have much experience with the simulator." Meanwhile, HRT is pushing to get a final shipment of components to Melbourne in order to put together a second 2012 chassis. "If there's a flight delay, it could be we miss P1," Pedro de la Rosa told the BBC.

No Official Reserve For Ferrari In 2012: Ferrari will not appoint an official reserve driver in 2012, the famous Italian team has confirmed. The Maranello-based team's former reserve, Jules Bianchi, has stepped up to the Friday role at Force India. Also on Ferrari's books are Davide Rigon, Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gene. But in the event Felipe Massa or Fernando Alonso are unable to race at any point this season, Ferrari will "take one of the drivers who are running around the paddock," a spokesman told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "Last year we saw that Pedro de la Rosa was there and ready to go when Sergio Perez needed to be replaced at Sauber," the source added. For example, it is believed ousted Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari accepted the full-time radio co-commentary role with the BBC in the hope he will be needed by a team at some point this year. Mercedes, too, will not have its official reserve — Sam Bird — on site throughout the long 2012 season. "It makes little sense with the test limits to pay for an experienced test driver full-time," explained Norbert Haug.

Pirelli Wanted 2011-Spec Test Car: Pirelli would have preferred to test with a 2011-specification car this year, Paul Hembery has admitted. After writing off the 2009 Toyota as too outdated, F1's tire supplier struggled to find a solution with the teams as it pushed for a newer car for private tire testing. Ultimately, Pirelli acquired a 2010 Renault. "We would have liked to have had a 2011 car," Pirelli motor sport director Hembery told Auto Motor und Sport. "So we are one step away from being happy." He said it is no mistake that the chosen 2010 car is a Renault, not a title-winning Red Bull. "We wanted a midfield car — there probably would have been too many complaints about the World Championship-winning one. Also, the costs played a role," added Hembery. Missing now is a driver for Pirelli's R30 Renault. "There are a lot of names on the list," revealed Hembery. "Even some that you wouldn't have thought of. Ideally, we want someone with experience from the 2011 season — so that reduces the number of candidates a bit."

Kovalainen Turns Heads With Angry Birds Helmet: Heikki Kovalainen had heads turning in the F1 paddock on Thursday as he revealed his all-red helmet for 2012. The Caterham driver and Finn's new helmet is in the style of the bright red bird from the popular webgame app 'Angry Birds,' which is developed by the Finnish company, Rovio. "The helmet looks amazing," said the company's Harri Koponen.