F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)

Formula 1

F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)

Bernie Ecclestone feels inaugural Russian Grand Prix is on track...

SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted February 04, 2013 GMM Newswire

Bernie Ecclestone hopes to eventually bring a female driver to Formula One. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Ecclestone 'Super Impressed' On Sochi Visit: Bernie Ecclestone on Monday was on the spot at Sochi, the scene of next year's inaugural Russian Grand Prix. There had been some doubt about whether the resort city would host its first ever Formula One race on schedule, following reports construction had stopped. "It's a fantastic track," Ecclestone, F1's chief executive, was quoted on Monday by the local R-Sport news agency. "I was here before the building work started on the track and I was already impressed then," he added. "Now I'm super-impressed with what's going on here." Ecclestone, 82, met on Monday with Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak. Kozak acknowledged that Sochi's concurrent preparations for the 2014 winter Olympics had presented challenges to the scheduling of the Grand Prix. "But we've solved all those problems and entered, in my view, the final straight," he said.

Ascanelli Re-Emerges At F1 Brake Supplier Brembo: Giorgio Ascanelli, the well-known engineer who last year left his post as Toro Rosso's technical director, has re-emerged at F1 brake supplier Brembo. Following recent speculation, we reported last month that rumors the 53-year-old Italian is returning to the sport with Ferrari were wide of the mark. "Ascanelli is about to return to F1; the team's name is not yet known," Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini said on January 15. In fact, Ascanelli has signed on with Brembo as the brake supplier's chief technical officer. "With the arrival of Giorgio Ascanelli, Brembo is looking to give fresh impetus into the company and bring new skills to an area of activity that has always been its main engine," the Italian company said in a statement. He began his career at Ferrari in the mid 80s, and was Gerhard Berger's engineer. He moved to Benetton and McLaren, at the latter team working alongside the great Ayrton Senna. Ascanelli returned to Ferrari in 1995, staying until 2001. Autosprint said he left Toro Rosso, who replaced him with James Key, "after an argument" with team boss Franz Tost.

Ousted Kovalainen 'Can Come Back' - Salo: Former F1 driver Mika Salo has tipped Heikki Kovalainen to return to the grid in the future. Finn Kovalainen is the latest victim of the ever-increasing influence of the 'pay driver' in F1, with Caterham replacing its entire 2012 lineup in favor of the heavily sponsored Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde. When the news about Dutchman van der Garde broke, the Finnish press tried and failed to extract a comment from Kovalainen, who was paid by Caterham for the past three seasons. Some interpreted that as a clear sign that the 31-year-old former McLaren and Renault driver knows his F1 career is over, but Salo insisted: "I don't think so.
"I think he can still come back," the 46-year-old, now a commentator for Finnish television, told the broadcaster MTV3. "It often happens that there are new, young drivers, but their song can be short if they make a lot of mistakes. "That's when people start looking around again for an experienced professional," added the former Ferrari and Sauber driver. "Heikki had long negotiations with Caterham," Salo revealed, "but in the end they chose money over skill."

F1 'Not A Sport' As Petrov Bows Out - Manager: Vitaly Petrov's manager admits Caterham was the Russian's "only possibility" to stay in Formula One this season. "We knew this a few days ago, about the decision of the team, which we have to respect," Oksana Kosachenko, referring to Dutchman Giedo van der Garde's deal for 2013, is quoted by R-Sport. "I wouldn't say we didn't expect it." Kosachenko said she will now look at what other options there are, such as a test driver seat for 28-year-old Petrov. "We have a few offers for Vitaly to stay in F1 and around the paddock, so we have to decide what is the best for him," she said, adding that a race seat outside F1 is "likely not" an option. She expressed disappointment in Russian companies and also the organizers of the new Russian Grand Prix, which will take place in Sochi in 2014. "We have to do something to promote the Sochi Grand Prix, and this is a bad mistake they are doing," said Kosachenko, indicating the race organizers turned down her request for sponsorship. Lamenting the sport's current situation, she added: "Formula one is really expensive at the moment. "Actually it isn't a sport at the moment, it's tending to be a show, and I believe that we have more and more and more rental drivers." Ironically, Petrov was initially branded a 'pay driver' when he debuted in 2010, but Kosachenko argues: "I believe that a driver who has shown his possibilities in Formula One within three years deserves to be supported."

Horner 'Happy' With Webber After Marko Spat: Boss Christian Horner has played down the significance of an apparent spat between Mark Webber and the team's outspoken Dr Helmut Marko. Recently, Austrian Marko suggested Red Bull's main allegiance is to triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, because of Australian Webber's inconsistent form. Webber, who on Sunday attended his seventh consecutive Red Bull launch, had hit back that it has been clear "for a long time" that he is not part of Marko's "agenda". Asked about the apparent inequality implied by Marko's comments and Webber's reaction, the 36-year-old driver said on Sunday: "They know I need 100 per cent support. "You cannot win a world title with only 90, you need 100, and we're going into 2013 with this in place, and I'm comfortable with that," Webber added.

Report - A Sauber 'Spy' At Red Bull?: Tongue in cheek, a German specialist publication has wondered if there is a Sauber spy in the house at world champions Red Bull. After Swiss team Sauber surprised the world with its ultra-slim sidepods and a half-'stepped' nose for its newly launched C32, Michael Schmidt noticed that Red Bull's new RB9 - which broke cover on Sunday - "has the same characteristics". Actually, Red Bull insisted the RB9 is a simple "evolution" of its title-winning predecessor, while Adrian Newey argued the whole concept of a 'new' car is now outdated. "It's a car in transition, as are all the cars -- development is key," he said.
The team insisted one of the biggest changes is the new purple hue to the livery, marking the official beginning of the Infiniti title sponsorship. In essence, it was difficult for observers at the Milton Keynes launch to make a real assessment -- photography was banned, and those in the audience squinted to make out the RB9's details in the clever lighting before the car was covered up once again.

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