F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)

Formula 1

F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)

Lotus looks set to complete its 2013 driver lineup with Romain Grosjean...

SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted October 10, 2012 GMM Newswire

Romain Grosjean is likely headed for another year at Lotus. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Grosjean 'Deserves' Lotus Seat - Boullier: Lotus looks set to complete its 2013 driver lineup with Romain Grosjean. The team this week confirmed officially that Kimi Raikkonen is staying next year, but the announcement made no mention of Lotus' plans for Frenchman Grosjean. While often impressive, Grosjean has had a tumultuous 2012 season which culminated in his Monza race ban, at the end of a spate of early-race crashes. But team boss Eric Boullier hinted earlier this week that, after a better couple of races in Korea and India recently, the 26-year-old "has his place" in F1. And now, speaking after the Raikkonen re-signing, Boullier said he thinks Grosjean is recovering from his mid-season slump and a period of caution in Korea. Referring to last Sunday's Indian grand prix, he said: "Compared with Korea when he had to be slightly more cautious, he is now back in the mood of racing and fighting. It's good and I think he is on the way to recovery and has really shown exactly why he deserves to be where he is."

Ecclestone To Meet Prost Over 2013 French GP: Paul Ricard has recruited Alain Prost to lead the talks with Bernie Ecclestone about reviving the French GP in 2013. Media sources RMC Sport and L'Equipe said the four-time World Champion and former F1 team owner has travelled to Abu Dhabi this weekend, to step up the talks with the F1 chief executive. RMC said Prost's meeting with Ecclestone is scheduled for Saturday. "Alain Prost is a major asset," said former F1 driver and Frenchman Patrick Tambay. "He knows Bernie Ecclestone very well. Frankly, he is the ideal man to represent France in this matter."

Perez Denies Losing Focus After McLaren News: Sergio Perez on Thursday rejected suggestions his form has taken a nosedive because he has already turned his attention to 2013. From the cockpit of his Sauber last year and in 2012, the 22-year-old Mexican convinced F1 grandee McLaren that he is good enough to replace Lewis Hamilton next season. But since the news was announced, Perez's form has apparently collapsed: despite his earlier podiums, in Suzuka he crashed, in Korea he finished out of the points and last weekend in India he retired after a run-in with a Toro Rosso -- a move said to have particularly displeased his boss Monisha Kaltenborn. McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh, however, has defended his new signing, albeit admitting Perez is "raw" and adding: "If he hasn't something to learn at 22 then there's something wrong." In Abu Dhabi on Thursday, meanwhile, Perez scotched claims he has let his focus on this season slip as he gears up for his top 2013 drive. "I am fully focused," he insisted. "What has happened is just a coincidence. I just want to give my best, but it's normal people start to make up stories I'm not doing very well following the McLaren deal."

Alonso Says Ferrari Row Reports 'Creative': Fernando Alonso on Thursday rubbished claims he fell out with Ferrari's technical director Pat Fry in India last weekend as an "invention." La Stampa newspaper had reported the row, also involving team boss Stefano Domenicali, lasted until 1 a.m. after qualifying, in which the Spanish driver was persuaded not to post on Twitter a complaint about a lack of development progress. "A nice invention from someone in the Italian media," Alonso said in Abu Dhabi, when asked about the report. "It was quite creative to be honest! Now or later, I will speak to him to see how he invented this." Alonso said it is no secret Ferrari is struggling to close the gap on his championship rival Sebastian Vettel, but insisted the team is "very united. We know and it's a fact that we are slower than Red Bull -- we all agree, me, the team, our fans, everyone knows. We are very united in our efforts to fix this situation," he added.

F1 Float On Hold Until 2014: F1's plans to float on the stock exchange look set to sit idle on the grid for some time. Writing in the Telegraph, business journalist Christian Sylt said the sport's owner CVC has now delayed the listing at least until 2014. Sylt said the reasons for the delay are market turmoil but also F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone's legal troubles surrounding the Gerhard Gribkowsky corruption affair. "It is hard to tell depending on what happens with the markets but I think 12 to 18 months is probably a realistic time-frame," he quoted a CVC source as saying. The source added that he hopes the Ecclestone issue "would have resolved itself" by then.

Marussia In 'Talks' After Recording Big Loss: Marussia is in "talks with potential investors" after recording a $79 million loss last year, the business journalist Christian Sylt reports. Writing in the Guardian, Sylt quoted the backmarker F1 team's chief executive Andy Webb as saying bosses are "in active discussions with potential new investors," and also seeking new sponsorship deals. Webb added that some of the talks are "well-advanced although not yet completed, so the outcome of each remains uncertain." He said the team's costs had risen because of "significant investment in the team's personnel, infrastructure and factory." Sylt estimated Marussia's value at about $72 million, and said the team owes $125 million in loans. The team is however expected to reap millions in Concorde Agreement income, if it can maintain its lucrative 10th-place in the 2012 constructors' points standings.

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