Martin Whitmarsh is team boss at McLaren. (Photo: Getty Images)

McLaren To Launch MP4-28 On Jan. 31: McLaren will launch its 2013 car on the last day of January, the famous British team has announced. A media statement issued by the Woking-based outfit offered no further details except to say the MP4-28 unveiling "will take place in the UK." It is likely most other teams will also reveal their new contenders around the same period, immediately before the three-test winter preseason period begins in Spain in early February. We reported Peter Sauber's news recently that the Swiss team's new car, the C32, will be launched on the first day of the first test at Jerez, on Feb. 5. Force India's car will be publicly shown at Silverstone, the day after McLaren's. And Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport said the new Ferrari will probably be launched on either Feb. 1 or 2.

Ecclestone Should Quit Over Corruption Charges - Montezemolo: Bernie Ecclestone should quit if German prosecutors charge him with corruption. That is the view of Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who recently attacked F1's chief executive for being too old to remain in charge of the sport. "Could the post be filled by Montezemolo?" wondered Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt. Whether or not the 65-year-old Italian wants the 82-year-old Briton's job, he admits to thinking the Ecclestone era should be over. "I hope for Bernie and F1 that nothing will happen," Montezemolo, referring to the possibility Ecclestone will be formerly charged over the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribery scandal, told the Independent. "If Bernie is accused under process, I think he will be the first to give a step back in the interests of Formula One. This could be bad for F1." As for Ecclestone's long reign over the sport, he continued: "The era of the one man show cannot continue: we are slowly approaching the end of a period characterized by the style of one man who has done significant things."

Thailand Set To Join 2015 Calendar?: Thailand looks set to join the F1 calendar in 2015. It was believed the capital Bangkok was targeting its inaugural Grand Prix in 2014. But F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying the first Thai street race, staged under floodlights, will be in 2015. "An F1 race is likely to take place here in early 2015 instead of in 2014 in our initial plan," Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, told the Bangkok Post. It is believed Red Bull, whose co-owner Chalerm Yoovidkya is from Thailand, is involved in the preparations. "I can say that it is almost 100 percent certain that Thailand will host an F1 race," said the energy drink's representative Michael De Santiesteban, who reportedly met with Ecclestone last month. "With Thailand on the calendar," he added, "a current race is likely to be removed."

Ecclestone Says Hamilton Chasing Mercedes Cash: Bernie Ecclestone has this week delighted his Christmas card recipients with his latest humorous handiwork. Every year, the F1 chief executive commissions an original cartoon for his annual card, depicting a contemporary F1 issue with a mischievous tilt. For the 2012 holiday season, the 82-year-old's card shows Lewis Hamilton abandoning his broken-down McLaren and leaping into a Mercedes saloon. The silver road car is being driven by the red-capped Niki Lauda, and in the passenger seat is a big golden bag of cash for Briton Hamilton. They are bound for Stuttgart, which according to the roadside sign is "Not far." Mercedes' Nico Rosberg also amused his fans this week with his own Christmas message. The German posted a Youtube video depicting him riding a rodeo bull. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4vvmA4_ER8

Luiz Razia finished runner-up in this year’s GP2 series championship. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Razia 'Surprised' By Marussia's Chilton Deal: Luiz Razia, the 2012 GP2 runner-up, admitted he was surprised when on Tuesday Marussia announced Max Chilton as Timo Glock's 2013 teammate. The 23-year-old Brazilian told Globo he was a hot contender for the seat until the very last minute. "We didn't have much chance at Lotus," Razia, referring to this week's news of Romain Grosjean's new contract, admitted. "But we were caught by surprise by Marussia. We were talking to them until yesterday. They said, 'We're still deciding.' There are still two vacancies, Force India and Caterham, and we've been talking. Yes, we still have a chance," said Razia. Yet another possibility is that Marussia does not honour its existing contract with Timo Glock. Indeed, Tuesday's press release about Chilton made not a single reference to the German, and the recent official 2013 entry list said both of Marussia's 2013 seats were 'TBA' (to be announced). "Timo has a contract until 2014 and so the team would have to pay a penalty of termination. I don't know if that's interesting for the team," said Razia, who admitted he has "sponsors" but not a "bottomless pit" of funding.

Bianchi Has 'Real Chance' Of Force India Seat: Jules Bianchi has a "real chance" of securing one of the two remaining race seats on the 2013 grid. The 23-year-old Frenchman's manager Nicolas Todt told RMC Sport that Bianchi is in the running for the vacant Force India drive alongside Paul di Resta. Bianchi, also supported by Ferrari's driver development 'academy', was the Silverstone-based team's full time reserve driver this year. "The decision is in the hands of two or three people at the Force India team," Todt, the son of FIA president Jean Todt and also the manager of Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado, said. "I think Jules has a real chance but nothing is done." It has been reported the favorite for the drive is German Adrian Sutil, but Todt insisted: "There are many drivers knocking on the door at Force India." He said he doubts Sutil is a shoe-in for the seat. "I would be surprised, but as of today I do not think anyone has signed," said Todt. Force India has announced it will launch its 2013 car at Silverstone on Feb. 1, ahead of the winter test season in Spain.

Kubica To Contest European Rally Series In 2013 - Reports: Robert Kubica looks set to return to full-time competitive action in 2013. Multiple media reports, including Germany's Sport Bild and also SID news agency, claim the former BMW and Renault driver will contest the European Rally Championship (ERC) at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta. SID said the Pole, who has still has limited use of his right arm in the wake of his February 2011 rally crash, has received clearance to enter the Fiesta with modified controls. "It would be incredible if Robert came to the ERC," said series chief Francois Ribeiro.

FIA Feared F1 To Be Too Slow In 2014: F1's governing body backtracked on aerodynamic changes for the 2014 season because of fears the next generation of cars would be too slow. After the recent World Motor Sport Council meeting in Turkey, the FIA announced that scheduled bodywork rule changes for 2014 to reduce downforce have been replaced by "2012 specification." "There was concern that Formula One cars would become too slow," read a report by the authoritative German magazine Auto Motor und Sport. One problem is that the all-new turbo V6 and energy recovery systems will add considerable weight — and more than initially expected — to the 2014 single seaters. With the 2014 rules, the FIA is reportedly aiming to slow down the F1 cars by no more than five seconds per lap. Any more than that, the German report claimed, runs the risk that Formula One could be genuinely outpaced by Le Mans prototype cars, or the US-based Indycars.

Alesi Retires From Motor Racing: Jean Alesi has decided to retire from motor racing. At the wheel of Lotus' highly uncompetitive car, the F1 veteran made his Indy 500 debut this year and vowed to return in 2013 with a better performance. But the 48-year-old Frenchman, who won just one Grand Prix for Ferrari during his 202-Grand Prix career between 1989 and 2001, announced this week he is in fact quitting. "I do not feel like hunting for sponsors," Alesi told the French sports daily L'Equipe.

A Bahraini Shiite Muslim youth takes part in a demonstration calling for the cancellation of the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

FIA 'Nervous' About F1's Return To Bahrain: The FIA is "nervous" ahead of Formula One's still-controversial return to Bahrain in 2013. After the 2011 race was cancelled due to civil unrest in the island Kingdom, the sport's return to Sakhir this year was hugely controversial. And "top-level figures" at the sport's Paris-based governing body "are already nervous" that the 2013 edition — scheduled for next late April — will be "another horrifying embarrassment," according to Times correspondent Kevin Eason. "It was a public relations disaster on every level," Eason quoted an unnamed source as saying. "The race will go on but you have to wonder what will happen this time. The demonstrators were not very organized in April and they probably feel they missed the chance to use the race as a platform. This time, they have plenty of warning that the race is on and plenty of time to make plans. It is fingers-crossed time," the source added.

Berger Could Be Candidate To Replace Haug: Gerhard Berger could be a candidate to replace Mercedes-Benz's departing head of motor sport Norbert Haug. That is the claim of the Swiss magazine Speed Week, specifically naming the former Ferrari and McLaren driver as potentially in the running for Haug's job. Austrian Berger, 54, was BMW's joint motor sport director last decade, and until 2008 the co-owner of the second Red Bull team, Toro Rosso. "We will inform you about everything in due course," a Mercedes spokesman is quoted by the German news agency DPA.

Report - 'Top' Man Gillan Leaves Williams: Mark Gillan, chief operations engineer, has left Williams. Citing the confirmation of a team spokeswoman, Reuters news agency reports that Gillan — who only joined the famous British team just over a year ago — wants to "spend more time with his family." Gillan worked for Jaguar from 2002, moving from Red Bull to Toyota in 2006 to head the Cologne based team's aerodynamics department. Reuters claimed that, alongside Mike Coughlan and Jason Sommerville, Gillan was "one of a top technical trio credited with turning around" Williams' fortunes after its abysmal 2011 season.

Sacked F1 Doctor Admits Fury At FIA: Gary Hartstein has admitted his fury at F1's governing body. Last month, the 57-year-old American revealed on Twitter that the Jean Todt-led FIA had decided not to renew his contract as F1's chief doctor beyond 2012. He said at the time: "Not sure about the 'why's' of the decision, but not down to me to know." But Hartstein's tone changed radically this week, when he admitted to his almost 8,000 Twitter followers that he is "righteously pissed off" to have lost his job. "I might launch a crusade to get some answers, or get my ... job back, or let the world know what's really going on on the medical side of the FIA. Understand this: I am not bitter or sad," Hartstein insisted. "I am seriously angry. And that's bad. Not sure how or when, but there's dark clouds a-gatherin'. This is gonna be a ... blast!"

Schumacher Flags Possibility Of 'Small Belly': Michael Schumacher has admitted his fitness could slip now that he is returning to retirement. But the great seven-time World Champion, who after almost two decades on the F1 grid is now retiring for a second time, told his fans not to worry about him. "Why would anyone worry what Michael Schumacher is going to do when he stops?" the 43-year-old is quoted by RTL. "He has a family and is just happy to spend time with them and not have too many plans. And, anyway, my calendar will be full next year." Schumacher would not say what those plans are, but sources insist he has totally ruled out a management role, such as to replace Mercedes' departing Norbert Haug. The German joked that, the next time some fans see him, he might have grown a "small belly."