Formula 1 2013

[sh@un]

yerp

but don't get a Ferrari branded one- you'd look a bit silly

[tweety bird]

Jules Bianchi or Adrian Sutil will partner Paul di Resta at Force India next season after Sebastien Buemi and Jaimie Alguersuari were both ruled out.

The quartet were all linked with the seat that was left vacant following Nico Hulkenberg's departure to Sauber, but former Toro Rosso duo Buemi and Alguersuari are no longer in the running.

According to Swiss newspaper Blick, Buemi has been informed by Force India that he won't be offered the seat while Spaniard Alguersuari is set to move to BMW's DTM team.

That leaves reserve and test driver Bianchi and Sutil, who was a member of the Silverstone-based squad from 2006 until 2011, as the two remaining candidates to partner Scot Di Resta.

Reports suggest Ferrari academy driver Bianchi, who had several Friday practice outings for Force India last season, is the favourite to replace Hulkenberg.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8376745/It-s-between-Bianchi-and-Sutil

interesting news that.

[wolverine]

If I was Force India I would have Kamikaze on that list as well.

[ctjet]

Sutil, fo sho

[tweety bird]

Sauber will take the covers off their 2013 challenger, the C32, on February 2, the team have confirmed.

http://www.planetf1....eal-launch-date

Australia's Mark Webber will remain behind Sebastian Vettel in the pecking order at Red Bull Racing, according to the team's advisor Dr Helmut Marko.

The 36-year-old Webber made a strong start to the 2012 season, winning twice, but struggled to maintain his pace throughout the year and ended in sixth place on the Driver's Championship.

Vettel on the other hand clinched a third consecutive driver's title, and Dr Marko believes Webber is aware of his position within the hierarchy at Red Bull.

"Mark knows what we expect of him," Marko told Sport Bild.

"For four years, Vettel and Webber have driven together in our team. Sebastian was runner-up once and champion three times.

"The statistic speaks for itself. There is no reason to think the balance of power will change."

The Aussie signed a one-year extension to his contract after winning at Silverstone in July, but recently said that finding the right time to retire would be a difficult decision, although he has no plans to quit as of yet.

"I haven't been there yet but it is going to be a very difficult moment, no question about it," Webber told GP International magazine.

"I suppose it's just about getting the timing right - not pulling the plug too early, knowing you have more to give of yourself, or going too long and not being quick enough or struggling to do the things you used to be able to do.

"That can become an issue as well."

http://www.planetf1....main-number-two

[tweety bird]

A decision about whether to add a 20th race to the 2013 schedule will be made next week, with Istanbul the favourite to take the place of the postponed race in New Jersey, if a replacement is chosen at all.

"At the moment, I'm thinking more about the sphincter of the universe and a return to Istanbul," Ecclestone earlier.

The proposed The land of goat sphincter rings Grand Prix is not without its problems, however.

During December The land of goat sphincter rings minister of sport followed the direction of his French counterpart and confirmed that no public funding would be made available to help revive the race that normally took place just outside the country's biggest city.

"Just now, I am thinking we might have only 19 Grands Prix this year," Ecclestone added.

"That would not be a big problem for Formula One. Probably we will be able to reach a decision next week."

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8381027/the sphincter of the universe-or-nothing-Bernie-confirms

[tweety bird]

After being granted a one-year extension to his contract with the team, it seems Mark Webber will struggle to keep his seat at the reigning Constructor's Champion beyond 2013.

The 36-year-old Australian will be with the team for the seventh consecutive year this season, but he has already been put on notice by Red Bull's special advisor Dr. Helmut Marko.

Marko has made it clear that Red Bull was unhappy with Webber's performance at Interlagos, where team-mate Sebastian Vettel was competing with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso for the driver's title.

Flavio Briatore, who is involved with the management of Webber's career, noted after Brazil that "the only one who helped Ferrari was Webber."

"Mark was not optimally co-operative in Brazil," the tough Marko confirmed.

According to German publication Sports Bild, several drivers are being considered for a potential drive at Red Bull, with Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne mentioned, but Marko is particularly keen on Nico Hulkenberg.

Another German, the 25-year-old Hulkenberg recently signed a one-year deal with Sauber and has also been linked with a move to Ferrari in 2014.

"A few years ago he was on the list of candidates for our junior team, but Nico already had a main sponsor (Dekra) with which he didn't want to separate," Marko confirmed.

http://planetf1.com/driver/18227/8381041/Hulkenberg-linked-with-Red-Bull-move'

[Missileman]

Would love to Webber finish his career at Ferrari, they might even have a good car by 2014.

[wolverine]

Marko has made it clear that Red Bull was unhappy with Webber's performance at Interlagos, where team-mate Sebastian Vettel was competing with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso for the driver's title.

"Mark was not optimally co-operative in Brazil," the tough Marko confirmed.

I bet he is quaking in his boots with fear and anxiety....not.

[tweety bird]

Bruno Senna, Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov will have to wait to learn their fates as Caterham will not make an announcement in the 'foreseeable future'.

With only Charles Pic confirmed for this season's Championship, Caterham is one of just two teams with a seat still available.

And although 2012 drivers Kovalainen and Petrov are keen to remain with the team, Senna is believed to be leading the chase.

However, for now all three still stand a chance as Caterham failed to deliver the announcement that rumours claimed would come this past week.

"Caterham have said nothing is being announced in the foreseeable future as all options are still being considered," Finnish MTV3 commentator Oskari Saari said.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8382876/Caterham-still-considering-options

[MattR]

http://www.planetf1.com/features/8355550/Sky-And-BBC-Quotes-Of-2012

some funny comment there.

[tweety bird]

Vitaly Petrov is reportedly set to retain his Caterham seat although the deal won't be confirmed until all the sponsorship money has been paid to the team.

Although Caterham were rumoured to be making an announcement on Charles Pic's 2013 team-mate late last week, the team remained silent.

According to reports in Finland it was because the backmarker outfit was still considering "all options."

However, other sources now claim the team has finally come to a decision.

Turun Sanomat reports that Caterham's second seat will go to Petrov but that the deal will not be concluded until the "required sponsorship money has been paid into the team's account."

The article added that although Bruno Senna and Luiz Razia both came to the negotiating table with hefty sponsorship behind them, they were ruled out.

The reason for this was that Caterham felt neither driver had the experience needed to lead the team, which already has one inexperienced driver in Pic.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8384188/-Petrov-backing-to-secure-Caterham-seat-

[tweety bird]

Jerome d'Ambrosio is keen to race in Formula One this season but concedes that securing one of the last two race seats is "difficult."

although d'Ambrosio could retain his Lotus role, the 27-year-old, who contested one race in 2012 when he filled in for the banned Romain Grosjean in Italy, says he is keen to land a race-seat for this season.

"I continue to strive for Formula 1 because that's my thing," he told Le Vif.

"My management company is working hard but it is difficult since many experienced drivers have not yet got a seat. We shall see."

There are just two seats still unconfirmed for this season, one with Force India and the other with Caterham.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8384496/D-Ambrosio-chasing-2013-drive

[tweety bird]

http://www.planetf1.com/off-on-f1/8384396/Sekret-Tageblog-Schumi-s-Plans

good read.

[tweety bird]

Lotus owner Gerard Lopez insists he is not looking at selling the outfit, despite having held talks with potential investors last year.

"But we have always said that, if there are investors who want to enter with some shares, we are ready.

Lotus has boosted its sponsorship portfolio in recent years, and has added for 2013 a high-profile deal with the Coca-Cola company to promote its 'Burn' energy drink brand.

The team has also been in negotiations with American industrial company Honeywell about a sponsorship tie-up.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105010

[sh@un]

Vitaly Petrov is reportedly set to retain his Caterham seat although the deal won't be confirmed until all the sponsorship money has been paid to the team.

if someone can stump up with another wad of Russian petro[v]dollars, Vitaly gets to pretend he's an F1 hero for another year

[ctjet]

much like most of the grid

[Roy]

See Marko has been bust the past 10 days talking Sh1T about Webber. He is such a hard ass...hopefully Webber gets 5th time lucky against Seb

[sh@un]

we really need a return to the good 'ol days of Marky Mark sticking it to Sebby V as often as possible

none of this 'silence No.2, do as you're told!' hogwash

[PN-Mad]

"not bad for a number 2 driver"