Mark Webber has yet to win in 2013. (Photo: Getty Images)

Webber 'On Target' After Leg Surgery: Mark Webber insists surgery over the winter period will not affect the start of his 2013 championship campaign. A few years ago, the Red Bull driver badly broke his leg in a mountain cycling crash, and since then he has raced with a 38-centimeter titanium rod on board. The rod was removed over the winter period. "The leg's no problem at all," Webber, 36, told reporters last week at Jerez. "I'm probably a little bit behind on condition but not much. I'll be ready to go for Melbourne. I'm clearly on target, so that's all fine. At one point it was a little bit stiff but it's normal. It will be fine. When the adrenalin's going, it's zero problems."

Hamilton - Rosberg 'Underestimated': Lewis Hamilton has spoken up for his new Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg. German Rosberg is seen to have outshone seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher during their three years together at Mercedes between 2010 and 2012. But how much had success and subsequent retirement — and age — slowed the great 44-year-old? "Nico is a damn strong competitor," Briton Hamilton told the French sports daily L'Equipe, "I can assure you. He is underestimated," added Rosberg's new teammate, the 2008 World Champion. Hamilton said Rosberg is good enough to push him right to the limits of his talents. "If you want to be the best," he said, "you have to be pushed to your limits. And Nico is one of the drivers who can do that."

2013 Begins With Eyes Already On 2014: With the 19-race 2013 season not yet here, plenty of plans are already being made for the following championship. Asked what the biggest challenge was in designing this year's Lotus E21, James Allison told Speed Week: "The fact that so many good people are working on the 2014 car." After a few years of regulation stability, Allison said the changes coming for 2014 — notably the 'ERS' energy recovery systems and V6 turbo engines — represent a "tsunami" for F1. So important is the change, that some suspect Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes switch for 2014, for example, was motivated primarily by the German marque's promise regarding the new rules. "I am convinced that was the decisive factor," veteran reporter Tony Dodgins is quoted as saying. "Lewis knows that a team must have close ties to a manufacturer for the new turbo era. And he also knows Mercedes will cease development for 2013 early in order to put everything on 2014." Indeed, Briton Hamilton sounds prepared for whatever 2013 will bring. "I'm not worried," he is quoted by France's L'Equipe sports daily. "I am quite prepared to finish the first Grand Prix in 15th-place."

Marussia To Stay In F1 With New Concorde - Ecclestone: No more teams are set to follow HRT through F1's paddock exit, Bernie Ecclestone insists. There has been speculation the economic situation in the sport and the wider world could claim more scalps, with Marussia at the top of the list, having reportedly failed to negotiate a new Concorde Agreement with F1's 'supremo.' But after a meeting with team bosses last Thursday, chief executive Ecclestone now tells F1 business journalist Christian Sylt: "They are all safe. We have got a deal with them all, including Marussia," he is quoted by Autoweek. "We are continuing with Marussia. I thought they were going to go but they are not." Marussia's sporting director Graeme Lowdon confirmed that "discussions" about a final agreement with Ecclestone are taking place now. Ecclestone said F1's teams should be happy with the terms.

Sutil Not Giving Up On Force India Chance: Adrian Sutil is still not giving up on the Force India race seat for 2013. The vacancy is the only one left in F1 with less than five weeks until the Melbourne season opener. But, currently, Frenchman Jules Bianchi and Narain Karthikeyan appear better placed, even though Force India reportedly refused to comment on reports the latter Indian driver is now in the frame. German Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann, meanwhile, told motorsport-magazin.com: "We are convinced that it will work out. But unfortunately we have to keep our fingers crossed and be patient," he added.