The Renault F1 team will debut its R29 replacement, the R30, at Valencia on the day before the winter test ban lifts on February 1. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Vitaly Petrov A Candidate For Renault Seat – Report: Yet another driver is being linked with the vacant race seat at Renault. A multitude of names have been mentioned as candidates for the role alongside Robert Kubica, and the latest belongs to a 25-year-old from Russia. Vitaly Petrov carries significant sponsorship backing, and has already been linked with the vacant cockpits at Campos and Sauber. He has driven in the GP2 series since 2006, and last season finished second behind champion Nico Hulkenberg. Finland's Turun Sanomat claims Renault will select the driver with "the most sponsorship money" to be Kubica's teammate, adding that Petrov is "by no means the only strong candidate".
Ferrari Works On Fuel Efficiency Weakness: As teams prepare for 2010, Ferrari is working in the area of fuel consumption, team boss Stefano Domenicali has said. The Italian team's V8 reportedly uses more fuel per lap than its key rivals Mercedes and (particularly) Renault, and the fact will take on a greater importance this year with cars no longer allowed to make refueling pit stops. "Before Bahrain we will be ready," Domenicali is quoted as saying by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca on the topic of fuel efficiency. "I believe this year (fuel) consumption will be fundamental. We are working very hard with (fuel supplier) Shell on this. We have relative expectations but we are going in the right direction," he added.
No Arctic Rally Outing For Kovalainen: Heikki Kovalainen will not contest the Finnish Arctic Lapland Rally next week. After emerging from his restrictive McLaren contract at the end of 2009, the 28-year-old hinted he would take advantage by contesting a rally this winter. The Finn fuelled the rumors recently by sitting in a Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car while in Malaysia for the announcement of his 2010 Lotus deal. But according to the French publication Auto Hebdo, Kovalainen "does not have time to prepare seriously for the Arctic Rally".
