If he stays with McLaren for 2013, Lewis Hamilton could see a decrease in pay. (Photo: Getty Images)

McLaren Wants To Halve Hamilton's Salary - Report: Money could be at the heart of the delay in Lewis Hamilton's re-signing with the McLaren team. Until now, the British team has indicated it wants the 2008 World Champion to stay on board, while 27-year-old Hamilton insists he has no plans to leave and will turn his attention to the 2013 contract soon. But according to Blick newspaper, McLaren is pushing to cut Hamilton's existing contract retainer "in half" to "about EUR 10 million." The Swiss report said the driver is unimpressed with the negotiations so far, but at least Hamilton's mood has improved tenfold compared with his calamitous 2011. It is a full year since Hamilton raged about his "frickin ridiculous" track rivals in the 2011 Monaco GP, when he also half-seriously suggested that the stewards were targeting him "because I'm black." He is back on top form this season, but still yet to win a race, arguably mainly due to McLaren's numerous team mistakes. Reports have suggested boss Martin Whitmarsh, who insists Hamilton "deserves" to win this weekend in Monaco, is worried the mistakes might drive the highly rated racer away. On Wednesday, however, Hamilton denied he is frustrated. "I'm not, no. This is the way racing goes sometimes," he insisted. "I could easily get frustrated because I could have a healthy lead in the championship, but that's not the case. I don't want to speak too early but something has definitely changed. Whatever I'm doing is working," he told British reporters. "In life, things just seem a lot better and that's enabling me to get on with my job without having any baggage."

Senna 'Must Respond' To Maldonado's Form - Williams: Sir Frank Williams has urged Bruno Senna to step up. Even before teammate Pastor Maldonado's breakthrough Barcelona win two weeks ago, speculation had begun to circulate that Senna needed to up his game in order to keep his race seat. Williams is pushing the credentials of its young reserve driver Valtteri Bottas, a Finn who is managed by team shareholder Toto Wolff and already attracting sponsors. "Well, of course, as a racing driver I want to get into the car as soon as possible," Bottas told The National newspaper in Monaco, "and next year I hope it is possible. It (the speculation) doesn't change anything for me." Brazilian Senna is the man under pressure, as he already gives up his FW34 to Bottas on most GP Fridays. So in the wake of Maldonado's win from pole in Barcelona, Williams said on Wednesday: "Now Bruno must respond. Maldo's win will give him a kick up the backside. Which he needs. We'll see." Before hearing about his boss's remarks, Senna told reporters on Wednesday that the speculation about his seat was "typical F1 gossip. You hear that I am in danger, but people quickly forget that before the last race I was ahead of Pastor in the championship," he is quoted by Brazil's Globo. "I've had good races but just because I have a bad weekend and Pastor wins, people say 'Oh, he's out.' The only way to stop it is to shut their mouths by getting good results. My time will come," he is quoted by Britain's Sun newspaper. "I have taken my time to learn and I can't expect to nail everything every race."

Schumacher's Future A Hot Topic In Monaco: Michael Schumacher's future is a hot topic in the Monte Carlo paddock. A multiple winner in the Principality, the seven-time World Champion's comeback career has been far less glitzy, with some, even his boss Nick Fry, predicting he might return to retirement at the end of his 2012 contract. Key ally, friend and former Ferrari colleague — and Mercedes team boss — Ross Brawn, however, backed Schumacher in the wake of Fry's remarks, insisting it is the Brackley-based team that has "let him down." And not everyone thinks Schumacher's time is up. Michael is in top shape physically and mentally, there's no reason for him to stop," former teammate and now British television pundit Johnny Herbert told Sport Bild. "He's better now than in the first two years of his comeback." German Schumacher, meanwhile, batted away the speculation about 2013 on Wednesday. "So far we're not focusing on (that). It's more about what happens right now, so there's no news for you yet," said the 43-year-old in Monaco. "Let's leave it at that."

Williams To Thank Rivals After Garage Fire: Sir Frank Williams has vowed to visit every rival team this weekend in Monaco to thank them personally for their response to the garage fire two weeks ago in Spain. The Oxfordshire-based team's founder and boss revealed not only that every fire extinguisher in the Barcelona paddock was willingly discharged, but that the other team principals had stepped forward with offers to help Williams recover from the loss of nearly everything in the pits. "The reaction was extraordinary," he told the Telegraph. "Overwhelming. My main job when I get to Monaco is to go around all the team principals and thank them, and try to pay them back for whatever they gave us." Chief engineer Mark Gillan is quoted by Spain's El Pais newspaper as putting a figure on how much of the team's traveling equipment was destroyed in Spain — 90 percent. "That includes every metal component on Bruno (Senna)'s car through corrosion," he said. Senna confirmed to El Mundo newspaper: "I think that from the car I raced in Barcelona the only thing that is the same now is the tub." Williams is still missing some things, but Gillan insisted that the fire will not affect the team's Monaco GP. "In fact, you can run an F1 car with one laptop if you have to. You don't want to, but we are fully operational," he insisted.

Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus cars have been remarkably reliable this year. (Photo: AFP)

Raikkonen Asks Lotus For Rally Finland Permission: Kimi Raikkonen has revealed he would like to contest August's rally of Finland. F1's 2007 World Champion returned from world rallying to GP racing this year. "Of course I wanted to do better. But I'm not finished. I want to go back, whether for my career or after I don't know," the 32-year-old told Motorsport News, according to the official WRC website. Earlier, Raikkonen admitted he had sidelined his rallying career for now in order to concentrate on F1. Before the 2011 season, Lotus' (then Renault) regular driver Robert Kubica was seriously injured in a rally crash, and is still yet to return to the sport. "I'd like to do rally Finland this season as it fits with the calendar, but you'll have to ask the team if it fits in my contract," Raikkonen said.

Student Protests Threaten 2012 Canadian GP: Angry students could threaten next month's Canadian GP. Protests in Montreal, regarding planned university tuition fee increases, have been turning increasingly ugly and even violent, involving the throwing of glass bottles and hundreds of arrests. According to the French language La Presse newspaper, at least one student association has specifically threatened to disrupt the F1 race, scheduled for 10 June on the nearby Il Notre Dame. "I cannot deny that we are following this out of the corner of our eye and will continue to follow it in the coming days," admitted race promoter Francois Dumontier. The report said students' chants at recent demonstrations included references to the GP. At a recent meeting, one association of students approved a resolution to adopt "a weekend of disruption" aimed at "the cancellation" of the race, which represents "sexist, non-environmental and elitist" values. "It is not clear that we will be targeted," Dumontier insisted, "but we are an international event and are ready with a safety plan ranging from dealing with simple mischief to a wider disruption. The Grand Prix is often targeted because we are a major event. We are not worried, but we have our eyes open and will work with the public authorities," he added.

F1 Greats Blaming Problems On Tires - Berger: The 2012 'tire lottery' is a buzzword in the F1 paddock at present, but Gerhard Berger on Thursday slammed those who are complaining the loudest. "It's nonsense that the tires are deciding everything," said the former GP winner and Toro Rosso co-owner. Some are moaning that the heavily degrading and unpredictable product supplied this year by Pirelli is devaluing the achievement of winning at the pinnacle of motor racing. "I think Michael Schumacher and Red Bull are finding an easy excuse for their problems," Austrian Berger told Auto Motor und Sport. He thinks a better explanation for the balance of power at present is the new exhaust rules, with aerodynamics no longer as important as in the past. Berger also said the tighter restrictions on flexing front wings has similarly allowed the less financially-powerful teams to have a chance. "So when there's just a few tenths between first and 15th, the tires come into play," he explained. "I think this is just fine for Formula One." Berger has no problem that the once-derided 'pay driver' Pastor Maldonado is now counted among F1's exclusive club of race winners. "He did a fantastic race from start to finish in Barcelona, withstanding pressure all the way through from (Fernando) Alonso. I think it's right that an outsider can be rewarded for a great job," he said. Nonetheless, the head-scratching on the pitwall continues. "There are many things from the last two races that we cannot explain," said McLaren's Jenson Button. Peter Sauber added: "Only the top teams are complaining because they don't win everything anymore. The tires are the same for everyone."

Kovalainen Admits Disappointment With Caterham Progress: Heikki Kovalainen has admitted he is disappointed with Caterham's 2012 season so far. It is rumored that the Finn may now have raised his profile sufficiently, after disappointing early seasons with top teams Renault and McLaren, to be a candidate to leave backmarker Caterham and move up the grid in 2013. The Finnish broadcaster MTV3 suggested Kovalainen, who has appointed the management giant IMG to do his negotiations, might even be in the running for Felipe Massa's Ferrari seat. He admitted to Turun Sanomat newspaper that he had expected a step forward in 2012, after Caterham's early startup struggles as Lotus in 2010 and 2011. "Definitely, I have been a little disappointed," said the 30-year-old. "The pace has not been what we had hoped for, and the latest updates did not bring the momentum we had expected. The biggest disappointment is that we have not reached the group (of teams) that is in front of us in the races. The situation is more or less the same as last season," Kovalainen noted. But he is also quoted by MTV3: "Yes, I believe that the situation can turn around. We have made progress, not necessarily with the car, but as a team."

Force India No Winner In 2012 Roulette: As the roulette wheel spins in 2012, Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he finds himself without a chip on the board. McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and Williams have already won so far this season, whilst Lotus and Sauber have shown genuinely winning pace. The three backmarkers aside, that leaves just Force India and Toro Rosso as perhaps the only teams without genuine chances of victory so far this year. "According to our measurements, Williams and Sauber were the fastest cars in Barcelona. They must now be counted among the top teams," said Force India driver Hulkenberg. It's a disappointing situation for the Silverstone-based team, a distant eighth in the championship. "We have definitely improved, especially in traction, but in the fast corners Sauber and Williams are better than us," Hulkenberg acknowledged to Auto Motor und Sport. The German admitted Force India has a few tenths to find. "We have no choice but to develop, because we are behind," said Hulkenberg. "It's important to find a good balance between improving the car and understanding it." Force India's 2012 goal, fifth in the constructors', seems a long way away. That place is currently occupied by Shanghai winner Mercedes, which is flanked by Malaysia and Spain winners respectively, Ferrari and Williams. "It is still possible," Hulkenberg insisted, "although difficult, because the others are still going to be getting points."

Vergne Wearing Indy 500 Rookie Alesi's Helmet: Jean-Eric Vergne will race F1 veteran Jean Alesi's helmet design this weekend in Monaco. It is Vergne's tribute to his French countryman as former Ferrari and Sauber driver Alesi, 47, this weekend becomes the youngest ever rookie in the Indy 500. Vergne, 22, had planned to watch Alesi from Indianapolis' fabled stands, "but then came the news I was driving for Toro Rosso and, of course, that meant a clash with Monaco." Alesi starts the Indy 500 from 33rd and last, with the vastly-underpowered Lotus engine.