Bernie Ecclestone and Nurburgring officials have worked out a 2013 date for the German GP. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Mercedes Could Push For Ecclestone Axe: Mercedes could push to have Bernie Ecclestone removed as F1's chief executive, the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reports on Saturday. The report said that even though the German carmaker has signed up for the 2013 Concorde Agreement, it is still concerned about the investigation into Ecclestone's alleged involvement in the bribery of jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky. If the 81-year-old Briton is prosecuted, Mercedes would apparently push fellow teams and sponsors to band together and demand that Ecclestone step down. "We would not wait for a months-long process, but would act," a Mercedes source is quoted as saying. But an official Mercedes spokesman replied: "Please understand that we do not comment on speculation." Another rumor is that in the event Ecclestone is formally charged, he would travel to the 2012 finale in Sao Paulo with his new Brazilian wife, and then not return to Europe where he could be arrested. A friend of Ecclestone's is quoted as responding: "Nonsense."

Webber Could Play Title-Spoiling Role - Button: Jenson Button is expecting Red Bull to play championship games on Sunday. Mark Webber has qualified on pole in Korea, having declared that he is not ready to start playing a supporting role for his title-vying Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel. But with Vettel now just four points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso, and two places ahead of the Spaniard on the grid, McLaren's Button senses Webber has an important spoiling role to play. "I don't think he (Webber) will, do you?" McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh told reporters in the McLaren hospitality area in Korea. "I do," nodded Button. Whitmarsh replied: "Well, I don't think he will, willingly."

Red Bull Happy With 2011 Renault Alternator: Red Bull is confident it has got to the bottom of its recent alternator problems. The team has had several problems with the Magneti Marelli units supplied by engine partner Renault in 2012. But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport says Renault recently reverted to a 2011-specification alternator that helped Sebastian Vettel to reliably win the last Suzuka and Singapore Grands Prix. "We are using a model now that has proved itself over two months," Red Bull's Helmut Marko is quoted by the German broadcaster RTL.

Less 'Respect' For Small Teams - Glock: Timo Glock has lamented an apparent lack of respect for F1's smallest teams. According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, engine supplier Renault has said it is 'not interested' in supplying its new turbo V6 to backmarkers Marussia and HRT in 2014. Currently, those teams are powered by Cosworth, but the British independent outfit is not expected to have the resources for a V6 project. "It is a pity that the smaller teams are not always thought about in the same way. We are apparently not as respected as the others," said Glock, who moved to 2010 startup Marussia — formerly Virgin — when the Japanese giant Toyota pulled out of F1 in 2009. Marussia had a troubled preparation for the 2012 season, but chief engineer David Greenwood insists next year will be a different story. "We worked a little longer than planned on the current car, but we are now switching to the 2013 model," he said in Korea. "The first chassis is already being worked on and the guys in the factory are now beginning the first part of the crash tests. So we are in a much better position than last year." Marussia has a technical collaboration with McLaren, and in 2013 will use Williams' KERS system.