Stefano Domenicali (Pictured) expects Lewis Hamilton to do well at Mercedes. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Mercedes Not Bad Choice For Hamilton - Domenicali: Stefano Domenicali has dismissed claims Lewis Hamilton has made a bad choice by electing to move from McLaren to Mercedes. Told by an interviewer it might not be the wisest choice for the 2008 World Champion, Ferrari team boss Domenicali said: "Mercedes has enormous potential. It has invested heavily in the past three years and has not achieved the results it expected. But it is doing everything in its power to win," he told El Pais newspaper. "Hamilton has seen this potential that has not yet materialized. What is clear," added the Italian, "is that McLaren has lost a tremendous asset. After Fernando (Alonso), (Sebastian) Vettel and him are the fastest ones." Meanwhile, Domenicali defended Alonso's No. 2 teammate Felipe Massa, amid intense speculation in Korea that the 31-year-old will be retained in 2013. "There is no evidence," he said, "that he is still suffering either medically or mentally from the accident he had three years ago. I think what happened is that he suffered more than his teammate with the cars we have designed lately. Another element to consider is that it is not easy for anyone to have someone like Fernando as your teammate. You have to be very mature to accept how good he is. That's something we experienced with (Michael) Schumacher as well — when we had someone next to him who is able to recognize that Schumacher was faster, everything was perfect. When he (the No. 2) tries to prove that he is better and he does not, problems appeared."

Kovalainen Wants To Quit Caterham - Jordan: Heikki Kovalainen is unhappy and wants to quit Caterham. That is the claim of Eddie Jordan, the former F1 team owner and boss who recently corrected predicted that Lewis Hamilton would move to Mercedes next year, pushing Michael Schumacher back into retirement. Now, he thinks Finn Kovalainen is ready to leave Caterham after three years with the 2010 startup. Kovalainen, 30, said in Korea on Saturday: "At some point ... I'm getting old, and if I want to be successful and win races, I have to look at the options. We should be doing better than what we're doing. At the moment, we don't have any deals (for 2013) with everyone. We're talking." Jordan commented on BBC television: "For me, that's the first time I've seen Heikki's body language tell us emphatically that he wants out of there. He wants to move on and get in a better team before his career finishes."

McLaren Chose Button Over Hamilton's Farewell Party: McLaren mechanics chose a run with Jenson Button over Lewis Hamilton's farewell party in Japan recently, according to British newspapers. The reports have revealed that Hamilton booked out a 16-lane bowling alley at Suzuka recently, where he planned to pay tribute to his mechanics before he leaves for Mercedes in 2013. Asked in Korea when he would get together with his team, Hamilton said: "I don't know. I am sure at one stage I will, back at the factory." The newspapers also said Hamilton is yet to speak with his former mentor Ron Dennis after deciding to leave McLaren. "There will be people who are happy I am going, some who are unhappy I am going," said the Briton. He admitted that a farewell bash he planned at Japan recently was cancelled because many McLaren mechanics wanted to do a charity fun-run with Jenson Button on the same night. "I booked 16 lanes at the bowling alley for Saturday night, but something else came up, so the guys weren't able to do it," said Hamilton. "They were already committed before. They went for a run with JB or something like that."

Alonso's Title Chance Just 30 Percent Now - Briatore: Fernando Alonso's title prospects for 2012 have dwindled to just 30 percent. That is the claim of former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, who is still involved in the management of the championship leader's career. Recently, Briatore said the Spaniard has all but wrapped up the drivers' title for Ferrari. But the flamboyant Italian said at the Genoa boat show: "I think (Sebastian) Vettel has a 70 percent chance of winning the title, while Alonso's chance is 30," Briatore is quoted by the Ansa news agency.

Jordan Tips Force India Lineup To Change: Eddie Jordan has predicted Force India will make one driver change ahead of the 2013 season. The former F1 team owner and boss' words are carefully listened to these days, after he recently correctly predicted that that Lewis Hamilton would move to Mercedes next year, pushing Michael Schumacher back into retirement. Now, when musing Force India's next lineup, he said of the current duo Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta: "One of them is going to leave that team." With Hulkenberg tipped to move to Sauber, it is being reported in the German press that Silverstone-based Force India could go back to the future in 2013 by re-hiring Adrian Sutil. The 29-year-old lost his seat after the Eric Lux assault affair, but his manager Manfred Zimmermann told Auto Bild: "Force India knows that Adrian is on the market. We know each other well." Blick newspaper said Sutil still carries the significant sponsorship of his sponsors Medion and Capri-Sun. The Swiss publication's correspondent said that could be bad news for Sebastien Buemi, who was hoping to return to the grid next year with Force India. Force India, meanwhile, is hoping it can hold on to both Hulkenberg and di Resta. "We've served our options on them and now have a period of time before coming back to us," deputy team boss Bob Fernley is quoted by the Sun. "If there are changes, then we'll deal with it."

Jordan Pays Tribute To 'Honest Boss' Sauber: Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has revealed he remains good friends with Peter Sauber. Sauber, who turned 69 on Saturday, has announced that after 20 years at the helm of his Swiss team, he has handed over to F1's first female boss, Monisha Kaltenborn. He sat down with his old friend Jordan, now a pundit on British television, in the Korea paddock on Saturday. The Swiss newspaper Blick said Sauber drank a glass or Prosecco and smoked a Havana cigar, while Jordan drank tequila. "I respect Peter as I did 20 years ago," Jordan is quoted as saying. "He was always the nice, dear, good-natured, honest boss — and I was the complete opposite: a real bastard! That's probably why we always got on so well."