Mercedes' 2011 car, which made laps last week in Jerez, will soon be replaced. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Mercedes Keeps Working With Eye On 2012: The signs are growing stronger that Mercedes is turning its winning ambitions toward the 2012 season. Although the German squad has not given up on the current W02 car, team boss Ross Brawn said recently Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will need to wait until next season to have truly "excellent" machinery in their hands. Rosberg confirmed to Auto Motor und Sport that the car's problems are fundamental. "It will be difficult to be on top this year," the German is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "Our aim must therefore be to get closer." Schumacher added: "We're working on it, and everything that we put in now could be very important for next year. We are losing time with the problems we have while the others make progress. So we have to solve it this year or we will drag them (the problems) into next season." It is not an abundant quality in the F1 world, but the seven time World Champion is calling on those critical to be patient. "We are in the process of building something new. I am sure that Ross and I know how things are built internally and the approach of this team is in the right direction," said 42-year-old Schumacher. "It takes time. Red Bull needed four or five years. With Ferrari that period lasted for five years. We cannot play with some magic and do it in half a year."

Two DRS Zones, Only One Detection Point In Canada: There are two DRS overtaking zones on Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Canadian GP, but only one detection point. It will be the first time in 2011 that the adjustable rear wing system will be available to chasing drivers twice per lap in the race. But the only detection point will be at the exit of the tight hairpin, just before the first DRS zone begins on the long run down to the Wall of Champions chicane. It means that if a driver was within one second of his prey at the hairpin, he will get another chance to pass him in the second DRS zone after the Wall of Champions. Also, if he has already made the pass before the Wall, he will be able to trigger his wing in the second zone to pull away. "You could actually lose two places," said McLaren driver Jenson Button. "If you're the lead car and there are two cars behind you, one of them can overtake on the first straight and the next can overtake you down the pit straight. But maybe that will help us in the race. It could be fun." Lewis Hamilton speculated about the reason for the FIA's decision to have just one detection point. "I would assume (if there was two detection points) everyone would probably wait, just stay behind them and not even bother overtaking on the first DRS zone and wait for the last one," he said on Thursday.

Report - Turkey GP Not Dead Yet: A glimmer of hope has emerged about the future of the Turkish GP. FIA president Jean Todt insists that there will be 20 races next year rather than the 21 listed on the provisional calendar. That calendar features only one event marked by an asterisk and it is Istanbul Park, whose officials have refused to meet Bernie Ecclestone's demands for a much higher annual sanctioning fee for 2012 and beyond. But Turkish journalist Erbatur Ergenekon insists all is not lost, telling O Estado de S.Paulo in Canada that Ecclestone is waiting for the general election this weekend in order to "probably" negotiate with Turkey's new leaders. And the F1 chief executive, whose companies are linked with the management of the venue, has already been negotiating with the current Istanbul bureaucracy, Ergenekon reports. "They (Turkey) have offered to let Ecclestone keep the money collected from the ticket offices," he said, referring to the fact that race promoters usually are allowed to keep the proceeds of spectator ticket sales.