Rival teams tried to "unsettle" Jenson Button this season by offering him alternative cockpits for 2010, according to his boss Ross Brawn. (Photo: LAT Photographic) » More Photos

Too Late For Epsilon Euskadi To Race In 2010: Even if yet another team pulls out of Formula One, it is now too late for Epsilon Euskadi to be ready to race on the 2010 Formula One grid. "The project has been stopped for two months so it is not possible. The car would not be ready in time," boss Joan Villadelprat told Spain's Radio Marca. "What we could do is take up the work already carried out by one of the other new teams if they are not ready," he added. However, Villadelprat ruled out buying Toyota's Cologne operation. "It has many, many jobs and a very big structure; a bag too heavy to carry," he added.

Petronas To Stay With Sauber In 2010: The Malaysian sponsor Petronas is likely to stay with its long-term F1 partner Sauber now that Toyota has withdrawn from Formula One. With Sauber's plans uncertain following BMW's decision to quit, it had been rumored that Petronas intended to stay in F1 next year by switching to another team. Lotus, with Malaysian ownership, was touted as a favorite to receive Petronas, and team boss Tony Fernandes confirmed to the New Straits Times newspaper that an approach was made. "As it is, it looks like an announcement will be made by Petronas in the coming days once it becomes clearer whether that vacancy left by Toyota becomes Sauber's," said a source. "If Sauber are back in F1 for sure, and it looks a virtual certainty, then Petronas aren't going anywhere."

Rivals Made 'Offers' To 'Unsettle' Button – Brawn: Rival teams tried to "unsettle" Jenson Button this season by offering him alternative cockpits for 2010, according to his boss Ross Brawn. Brawn and 2009 champion-elect Button, 29, are yet to agree terms on a bigger retainer for the British driver for 2010. McLaren has emerged as one alternative for next season, and in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Five, Brawn hit out at some "people" who made approaches to Button in the midst of his championship campaign. "There were people, when they became aware of Jenson's contractual situation, who tried to unsettle him during the championship," said Brawn, who confirmed that Button "has some offers" to move elsewhere in 2010. "He knew some of those tactics were for that reason." Brawn indicated that a replacement for the Williams-bound Nico Rosberg, believed to be the Mercedes-backed Nico Rosberg, would only be announced once the Button situation is resolved.

Ecclestone Gives Silverstone Two Days To Sign Contract: Bernie Ecclestone has announced a deadline for Silverstone to either sign a contract or lose the British Grand Prix. The F1 chief executive, whose desired deal with Donington collapsed last week, indicated to the Daily Express newspaper that negotiations with the Northamptonshire circuit are now over. "Maybe they have lost their pen but if they don't find it in the next day or two then that is it," he said. "I will pull the race off the calendar and there will be no British grand prix to argue about," the 79-year-old billionaire added.