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Formula 1
F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)
There remains a chance Lewis Hamilton will not have to move back five places on Sunday's Chinese GP grid...
Lewis Hamilton paced opening practice in China. (Photo: Getty Images)
'Small' Chance Hamilton To Swerve Grid Penalty: There remains a chance Lewis Hamilton will not have to move back five places on Sunday's Chinese GP grid. It emerged on Thursday that McLaren had discovered a problem with his Malaysia gearbox, requiring an out-of-sequence change and penalty in Shanghai. "Of course it's not the nicest thing to hear that we've got a problem, but you just have to take it on the chin," the 2008 World Champion told reporters. "We're still here, we've still got a great chance to win. It just means I have a steeper hill to climb this weekend," Hamilton is quoted by the Times. Indeed, Hamilton set the pace in the initial practice session. And it then emerged that he had comfortably outpaced his rivals with the very gearbox that is bearing a worrying crack. Team boss Martin Whitmarsh confirmed to the British broadcaster Sky there is a "very, very small chance" Hamilton can keep the damaged gearbox throughout the weekend, thereby avoiding the penalty. However, he also confessed that the chance it will be replaced by a fresh gearbox on Saturday morning is "99 percent." Either way, defending Chinese GP winner Hamilton — who has started the first two races in 2012 from pole — insists he is not overly fussed. "When I was a kid I always used to like coming from the back of the grid," he said.
Karthikeyan Sick Of 'Cucumber-Gate': Narain Karthikeyan has revealed he is sick and tired of what could be described as "cucumber-gate." After the Indian collided with Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia three weeks ago, he was twice shown the middle finger, and called a "gherkin" and "idiot" by the reigning World Champion. But that's when the real fuss began, as the world's media became involved — a mischievous German reporter even presented Karthikeyan with a cucumber in China. "It's done and I would have preferred for it to stay private," he is quoted by the SID news agency. But the affair is threatening to drag on even longer, with Vettel telling reporters in Shanghai that Karthikeyan had apologized to him. He did not say if he has apologized himself. "Sebastian can say what he likes," HRT driver Karthikeyan responded. He said the incident had become an affair of "unbelievable proportions. ... It's crazy; I was questioned about it day and night," he said. "It's become too much — I don't want to talk about it anymore and I'd prefer if I never even thought about it again."
Austrians Gaining Power At Williams: There are changes afoot at the top of the Williams team. Chairman Adam Parr, recently seen by founder and principal Sir Frank Williams as his natural successor, stepped down late last month. The shocking move followed Bernie Ecclestone having said in February: "I think people like Toto Wolff should get more control (at Williams)." Wolff, a young Austrian businessman and former racer who has a 15 percent team shareholding, appears indeed to be having a greater influence at the famous British team in 2012. He manages Valtteri Bottas who is now Williams' reserve and Friday driver, and his wife Susie Wolff (nee Stoddart) is a development driver. "With the departure of Adam Parr, the overall structure is rearranged," Wolff, 40, is quoted by APA news agency. "In this context it may be that my role is growing." But he denied that he is eyeing the top job. Instead, he is championing the credentials of his countryman and former team driver Alex Wurz, who has been taken on for 2012 as a driver mentor. "He is a fantastic man; a good driver, well-connected and sees the big picture. He (Wurz) still has a long F1 career," said Wolff.
Kovalainen To Stay At Caterham For Rest Of 2012: Heikki Kovalainen has dismissed advice he should quit Caterham as soon as possible. Fellow Finn Mika Salo, a former Ferrari and Toyota driver, told the broadcaster MTV3 he thinks Kovalainen should jump ship now because Caterham has failed for the third year running to move into the midfield. But Kovalainen hit back by insisting he will at least see out his contract. "It is a fact that I have a contract until the end of this year. It's written on paper," he said in Shanghai.
Sauber Runs 'Teaser' For Big Sponsor: After Sergio Perez's surprise push for victory in Malaysia three weeks ago, things are looking bright on the Sauber balance-sheet. The small Swiss team announced in Shanghai that it is continuing its deal to promote the North American country with colorful "Visit Mexico" signage. "We can assume that our good results in the first two Grands Prix have contributed to the renewing of the agreement," said team boss Peter Sauber. Not only that, another big deal is on the way, according to the well-connected Swiss publication Blick. During Friday practice in China, the C31 was bearing mysterious "Out of the blue" signage on the engine cover. It is a "teaser," the newspaper revealed. "A big sponsor will be announced in a few weeks," wrote the veteran correspondent Roger Benoit. That is good financial news for Sauber, but Perez — who finished second three weeks ago at Sepang — is not getting carried away. The Mexican was fourth in first practice in China. "I think we are really realistic as a team," Perez is quoted by AFP news agency. "I think in normal conditions this (second place) is not where we belong. We have to be very realistic and our target is still to score as many points as possible."
Hulkenberg Happy Without Manager Weber: Nico Hulkenberg insists he is happy in Formula One without his famous manager Willi Weber. After a year on the reserve bench, the German returned to the grid in 2012 with Force India, but no longer represented by Weber, the famous former manager of the Schumacher brothers. "There were a few reasons why I separated with Willi Weber," Hulkenberg told spox.com. "Now I'm doing it without some new management. I have assistants, because of course I can't do everything by myself. It's going quite well at the moment." Hulkenberg, 24, is not the only F1 driver without a manager, as Kimi Raikkonen now handles his own career. "I have (also) taken Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg as role models," admitted Hulkenberg.
Karthikeyan Sick Of 'Cucumber-Gate': Narain Karthikeyan has revealed he is sick and tired of what could be described as "cucumber-gate." After the Indian collided with Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia three weeks ago, he was twice shown the middle finger, and called a "gherkin" and "idiot" by the reigning World Champion. But that's when the real fuss began, as the world's media became involved — a mischievous German reporter even presented Karthikeyan with a cucumber in China. "It's done and I would have preferred for it to stay private," he is quoted by the SID news agency. But the affair is threatening to drag on even longer, with Vettel telling reporters in Shanghai that Karthikeyan had apologized to him. He did not say if he has apologized himself. "Sebastian can say what he likes," HRT driver Karthikeyan responded. He said the incident had become an affair of "unbelievable proportions. ... It's crazy; I was questioned about it day and night," he said. "It's become too much — I don't want to talk about it anymore and I'd prefer if I never even thought about it again."
Austrians Gaining Power At Williams: There are changes afoot at the top of the Williams team. Chairman Adam Parr, recently seen by founder and principal Sir Frank Williams as his natural successor, stepped down late last month. The shocking move followed Bernie Ecclestone having said in February: "I think people like Toto Wolff should get more control (at Williams)." Wolff, a young Austrian businessman and former racer who has a 15 percent team shareholding, appears indeed to be having a greater influence at the famous British team in 2012. He manages Valtteri Bottas who is now Williams' reserve and Friday driver, and his wife Susie Wolff (nee Stoddart) is a development driver. "With the departure of Adam Parr, the overall structure is rearranged," Wolff, 40, is quoted by APA news agency. "In this context it may be that my role is growing." But he denied that he is eyeing the top job. Instead, he is championing the credentials of his countryman and former team driver Alex Wurz, who has been taken on for 2012 as a driver mentor. "He is a fantastic man; a good driver, well-connected and sees the big picture. He (Wurz) still has a long F1 career," said Wolff.
Kovalainen To Stay At Caterham For Rest Of 2012: Heikki Kovalainen has dismissed advice he should quit Caterham as soon as possible. Fellow Finn Mika Salo, a former Ferrari and Toyota driver, told the broadcaster MTV3 he thinks Kovalainen should jump ship now because Caterham has failed for the third year running to move into the midfield. But Kovalainen hit back by insisting he will at least see out his contract. "It is a fact that I have a contract until the end of this year. It's written on paper," he said in Shanghai.
Sauber Runs 'Teaser' For Big Sponsor: After Sergio Perez's surprise push for victory in Malaysia three weeks ago, things are looking bright on the Sauber balance-sheet. The small Swiss team announced in Shanghai that it is continuing its deal to promote the North American country with colorful "Visit Mexico" signage. "We can assume that our good results in the first two Grands Prix have contributed to the renewing of the agreement," said team boss Peter Sauber. Not only that, another big deal is on the way, according to the well-connected Swiss publication Blick. During Friday practice in China, the C31 was bearing mysterious "Out of the blue" signage on the engine cover. It is a "teaser," the newspaper revealed. "A big sponsor will be announced in a few weeks," wrote the veteran correspondent Roger Benoit. That is good financial news for Sauber, but Perez — who finished second three weeks ago at Sepang — is not getting carried away. The Mexican was fourth in first practice in China. "I think we are really realistic as a team," Perez is quoted by AFP news agency. "I think in normal conditions this (second place) is not where we belong. We have to be very realistic and our target is still to score as many points as possible."
Hulkenberg Happy Without Manager Weber: Nico Hulkenberg insists he is happy in Formula One without his famous manager Willi Weber. After a year on the reserve bench, the German returned to the grid in 2012 with Force India, but no longer represented by Weber, the famous former manager of the Schumacher brothers. "There were a few reasons why I separated with Willi Weber," Hulkenberg told spox.com. "Now I'm doing it without some new management. I have assistants, because of course I can't do everything by myself. It's going quite well at the moment." Hulkenberg, 24, is not the only F1 driver without a manager, as Kimi Raikkonen now handles his own career. "I have (also) taken Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg as role models," admitted Hulkenberg.
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