| Thursday, January 31st 2013, 10:10 GMT |
A deal has been agreed for the Nurburgring to host the 2013 German Grand Prix, according to Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
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| By Pablo Elizalde | Thursday, January 31st 2013, 11:16 GMT |
The McLaren team became the second Formula 1 squad to unveil its 2013 challenger with the public launch of the Mercedes-powered MP4-28 on Thursday morning.
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| By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer | Thursday, January 31st 2013, 11:47 GMT |
McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe will remain at the squad for 2013, but his longer-term future is in doubt, says team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
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| By Edd Straw | Tuesday, January 29th 2013, 14:36 GMT |
Lotus technical director James Allison will remain with the team in 2013 despite being linked with a move to McLaren, according to team principal Eric Boullier
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| By Sam Tremayne | Wednesday, January 30th 2013, 10:13 GMT |
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has played down the chances of HRT suitors Scorpion Racing winning an entry for the 2013 championship.
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| By Pablo Elizalde | Wednesday, January 30th 2013, 10:35 GMT |
The new Ferrari Formula 1 car will be called the F138, the Italian squad announced on Wednesday
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| By Matt Beer | Monday, January 28th 2013, 21:14 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen sees no reason why he will not continue his Formula 1 return into the 2014 season
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| By Matt Beer | Tuesday, January 29th 2013, 11:35 GMT |
Mark Webber has shrugged off Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko's criticism of his driving and mental strength, saying he is well aware of the Austrian's opinion of him
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| By Craig Scarborough and Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, January 29th 2013, 11:45 GMT |
The Lotus E21 is by no means a radical overhaul of its predecessor, but the small changes that have been made are those that should deliver the greatest return
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| By Ben Anderson and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 25th 2013, 11:26 GMT |
Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to be patient with Mercedes if the team does not manage to deliver a competitive car right away.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 25th 2013, 17:09 GMT |
Marussia sporting director Graeme Lowdon says his outfit can still look forward to the new season with some confidence, despite having had to take the tough decision to end its contract with Timo Glock.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, January 28th 2013, 10:43 GMT |
Lotus will officially kick off the build-up to the 2013 Formula 1 season on Monday night when it unveils its new E21 during an online launch
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 25th 2013, 11:13 GMT |
The attention of Formula 1 fans and media may have been focused pretty much entirely on developments at Mercedes this week, but behind the scenes the ramifications of its shake-up are only just starting to reverberate around the grid.
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| By Ben Anderson and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 25th 2013, 11:26 GMT |
Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to be patient with Mercedes if the team does not manage to deliver a competitive car right away.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 25th 2013, 17:09 GMT |
Marussia sporting director Graeme Lowdon says his outfit can still look forward to the new season with some confidence, despite having had to take the tough decision to end its contract with Timo Glock.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 25th 2013, 11:13 GMT |
The attention of Formula 1 fans and media may have been focused pretty much entirely on developments at Mercedes this week, but behind the scenes the ramifications of its shake-up are only just starting to reverberate around the grid.
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| By Ben Anderson and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 25th 2013, 11:26 GMT |
Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to be patient with Mercedes if the team does not manage to deliver a competitive car right away.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 25th 2013, 17:09 GMT |
Marussia sporting director Graeme Lowdon says his outfit can still look forward to the new season with some confidence, despite having had to take the tough decision to end its contract with Timo Glock.
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| By Gerhard Kuntschik and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 25th 2013, 10:19 GMT |
Mercedes will have no excuses not to be competitive during the 2013 season, according to Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 25th 2013, 11:13 GMT |
The attention of Formula 1 fans and media may have been focused pretty much entirely on developments at Mercedes this week, but behind the scenes the ramifications of its shake-up are only just starting to reverberate around the grid.
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| By Ben Anderson and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 25th 2013, 11:26 GMT |
Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to be patient with Mercedes if the team does not manage to deliver a competitive car right away.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, January 23rd 2013, 13:31 GMT |
Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi are set to remain as Pirelli's main Formula 1 test drivers for 2013
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, January 23rd 2013, 13:48 GMT |
Pirelli says it is 'ready' to extend its contract with Formula 1 beyond this year, even though there remains the chance that the matter could go out to tender.
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| By Matt Beer | Wednesday, January 23rd 2013, 17:36 GMT |
Lotus has chosen to launch its 2013 Formula 1 car, the E21, online
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| By Matt Beer | Tuesday, January 22nd 2013, 11:44 GMT |
Red Bull has retained Sebastien Buemi as its Formula 1 reserve driver for the 2013 season
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| By Matt Beer | Tuesday, January 22nd 2013, 13:18 GMT |
Mercedes' new motorsport chief Toto Wolff has given Ross Brawn his backing despite reports that the Briton is set to be ousted from his role as its Formula 1 team principal
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| By Matt Beer | Tuesday, January 22nd 2013, 13:41 GMT |
Robert Kubica is not yet physically ready to test a Formula 1 car, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, whose company is giving Kubica a DTM run this week
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, January 21st 2013, 11:02 GMT |
Toto Wolff is to become a shareholder and executive director of the Mercedes Formula 1 team, it was announced on Monday.
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| Monday, January 21st 2013, 22:41 GMT |
Lewis Hamilton says the 'incredible determination' of his new Mercedes team spurred him through the winter after his first meeting with his 2013 crew before Christmas
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| By Matt Beer | Tuesday, January 22nd 2013, 11:44 GMT |
Red Bull has retained Sebastien Buemi as its Formula 1 reserve driver for the 2013 season
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, January 21st 2013, 09:49 GMT |
Caterham will unveil its 2013 car at the Jerez circuit in Spain shortly before the start of pre-season Formula 1 testing
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, January 21st 2013, 10:39 GMT |
Williams has announced that Toto Wolff is to leave his role as an executive director of the team with immediate effect to take up a new position with Mercedes-Benz.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, January 21st 2013, 11:02 GMT |
Toto Wolff is to become a shareholder and executive director of the Mercedes Formula 1 team, it was announced on Monday.
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| By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 18th 2013, 15:28 GMT |
Fernando Alonso says he would have no qualms about playing a supporting role to Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa if the Brazilian needed it
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| By Dieter Rencken and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 18th 2013, 15:32 GMT |
Force India says it is not planning to announce its second driver in time for the launch of its 2013 car
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 18th 2013, 15:36 GMT |
It is all too easy in the days before the new cars hit the race track for the first time to talk up hopes of the forthcoming Formula 1 season
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| By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 18th 2013, 15:28 GMT |
Fernando Alonso says he would have no qualms about playing a supporting role to Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa if the Brazilian needed it
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| By Dieter Rencken and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, January 18th 2013, 15:32 GMT |
Force India says it is not planning to announce its second driver in time for the launch of its 2013 car
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 18th 2013, 15:36 GMT |
It is all too easy in the days before the new cars hit the race track for the first time to talk up hopes of the forthcoming Formula 1 season
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| Thursday, January 17th 2013, 20:04 GMT |
The FIA has appointed Dr Ian Roberts as Formula 1 medical rescue coordinator, after deciding not to renew Gary Hartstein's contract at the end of 2012
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 17th 2013, 11:37 GMT |
McLaren says it has been encouraged by its early impressions of Sergio Perez, after the Mexican got down to work with the team last week.
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| By Matt Beer | Friday, January 18th 2013, 09:21 GMT |
Williams's 2013 Formula 1 car will not be ready for the first winter test of the season and will make its debut at the second test on 19 February.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 17th 2013, 10:49 GMT |
Fernando Alonso is sticking to his view that Lewis Hamilton remains his strongest rival in Formula 1, despite Sebastian Vettel having captured his third world title.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 17th 2013, 11:03 GMT |
Fernando Alonso says he does not understand why Red Bull's Helmut Marko thinks that he is too involved in Formula 1's politics.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 17th 2013, 11:37 GMT |
McLaren says it has been encouraged by its early impressions of Sergio Perez, after the Mexican got down to work with the team last week.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, January 16th 2013, 11:41 GMT |
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is not counting on the forthcoming title battle turning into a straight fight with Red Bull, despite both McLaren and Mercedes starting the season with new challenges.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, January 16th 2013, 11:09 GMT |
Ferrari has ruled out the prospect of a 'dream team' line-up of Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, January 16th 2013, 11:52 GMT |
Ferrari is still pushing to help secure its young driver Jules Bianchi a race seat in Formula 1 this year, as Force India continues to stall on its decision.
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| By Matt Beer | Sunday, January 13th 2013, 14:34 GMT |
Jackie Stewart believes Lewis Hamilton is taking a risk for his long-term future by joining a manufacturer team in Mercedes
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| By Dieter Rencken and Pablo Elizalde | Monday, January 14th 2013, 11:46 GMT |
Pirelli's motorsport boss Paul Hembery believes this year's Formula 1 tyres will not give teams the same headaches that the 2012 rubber caused at the start of last season
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| By Dieter Rencken and Pablo Elizalde | Monday, January 14th 2013, 12:50 GMT |
Pirelli wants to stay in Formula 1 for several years, but only as long as it makes sense financially, according to its motorsport boss Paul Hembery.
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| By Matt Beer | Sunday, January 13th 2013, 10:58 GMT |
Paul di Resta expects another big shake-up in the Formula 1 driver market for 2014 and is determined to capitalise on it
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| By Matt Beer | Sunday, January 13th 2013, 14:34 GMT |
Jackie Stewart believes Lewis Hamilton is taking a risk for his long-term future by joining a manufacturer team in Mercedes
You have viewed over 30 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Dieter Rencken and Pablo Elizalde | Monday, January 14th 2013, 11:46 GMT |
Pirelli's motorsport boss Paul Hembery believes this year's Formula 1 tyres will not give teams the same headaches that the 2012 rubber caused at the start of last season
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, January 12th 2013, 12:36 GMT |
Paul di Resta thinks that a more aggressive pre-season development programme is key to helping Force India achieve its podium ambitions this year
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, January 12th 2013, 16:26 GMT |
Formula 1 should do much more to bring fans closer to the sport, reckons former Williams chairman Adam Parr
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| By Matt Beer | Sunday, January 13th 2013, 10:58 GMT |
Paul di Resta expects another big shake-up in the Formula 1 driver market for 2014 and is determined to capitalise on it
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| By Adam Cooper and Matt Beer | Friday, January 11th 2013, 15:34 GMT |
Heikki Kovalainen feels his underdog heroics with Caterham were overlooked by Formula 1's top teams, and is surprised to be facing 2013 on the sidelines.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, January 12th 2013, 09:42 GMT |
Guido Forti, the former team boss of mid-1990s Formula 1 outfit Forti Corse, has died. He was 72
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, January 12th 2013, 10:47 GMT |
Lotus is doing the right thing in allowing Kimi Raikkonen to be his own man in Formula 1, believes triple world champion Jackie Stewart
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 10th 2013, 14:23 GMT |
Red Bull will unveil its new RB9 at its Milton Keynes factory on February 3 - shortly before the first test of 2013 in Jerez.
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| By Glenn Freeman | Thursday, January 10th 2013, 14:30 GMT |
Martin Brundle says it will be a surprise if Lewis Hamilton does not win a grand prix with Mercedes in 2013.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 10th 2013, 15:21 GMT |
Formula 1 fans will no longer have access to the popular FanVision sets during 2013 after the company in charge of the devices could not agree terms with Formula One Management.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, January 9th 2013, 16:58 GMT |
Sergio Perez says he will need to change his approach to Formula 1 this season if he is to make the most of his switch to McLaren.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, January 9th 2013, 17:21 GMT |
Sergio Perez is adamant the messy end to his Sauber career is now behind him and will not impact on his debut with McLaren.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 10th 2013, 11:05 GMT |
Sergio Perez may have talked of title challenges, beating Jenson Button and joining the 'greatest' team in Formula 1 on his first official day for McLaren, but it was the non-sound bite topics that offered a better insight into how life at his new surroundings may pan out.
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| By Dieter Rencken and Matt Beer | Tuesday, January 8th 2013, 12:31 GMT |
Marussia believes Formula 1's major regulation changes for 2014 need not price smaller teams out of the market if decisions are made wisely
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| Tuesday, January 8th 2013, 12:36 GMT |
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko doubts Mark Webber has what it takes to cope with the intense pressures of a Formula 1 title fight
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, January 8th 2013, 16:03 GMT |
Ferrari will launch its new Formula 1 car at its Maranello base in early February, prior to the first pre-season test at Jerez in Spain
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| Monday, January 7th 2013, 14:35 GMT |
Lotus owner Gerard Lopez believes Kimi Raikkonen managed to deliver so much for the team last year because it gave him the atmosphere he needed to thrive.
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| Monday, January 7th 2013, 17:16 GMT |
Lotus owner Gerard Lopez insists he is not looking at selling the outfit, despite having held talks with potential investors last year.
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| Tuesday, January 8th 2013, 11:22 GMT |
Sebastian Vettel beat Fernando Alonso to the 2012 Formula 1 title because his Ferrari rival meddled too much in politics and psychological warfare, reckons Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmet Marko
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| By Pablo Elizalde | Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 15:05 GMT |
Sauber will unveil its 2013 challenger on 2 February, the Swiss squad announced on Thursday
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 4th 2013, 11:24 GMT |
The fight for Formula 1's leading seats may have been over months ago, but the battle for cockpits further down the field remains intense as judgements loom on the final two vacancies
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| By Sam Tremayne and Matt Beer | Friday, January 4th 2013, 16:16 GMT |
Red Bull boss Christian Horner reckons that discomfort with the team's crucial late-2012 upgrade was the main reason Mark Webber fell away from Sebastian Vettel in last season's run-in.
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| By Pablo Elizalde | Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 15:05 GMT |
Sauber will unveil its 2013 challenger on 2 February, the Swiss squad announced on Thursday
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 4th 2013, 11:24 GMT |
The fight for Formula 1's leading seats may have been over months ago, but the battle for cockpits further down the field remains intense as judgements loom on the final two vacancies
You have viewed over 30 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Sam Tremayne and Matt Beer | Friday, January 4th 2013, 16:16 GMT |
Red Bull boss Christian Horner reckons that discomfort with the team's crucial late-2012 upgrade was the main reason Mark Webber fell away from Sebastian Vettel in last season's run-in.
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| By Pablo Elizalde | Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 15:05 GMT |
Sauber will unveil its 2013 challenger on 2 February, the Swiss squad announced on Thursday.
The team said the Ferrari-powered C32 will be presented to the public in Hinwil, Switzerland, where its factory is located.
Pre-season testing commences at Jerez three days later.
Sauber finished the 2012 season in sixth position after four podium finishes.
The Swiss outfit's drive line-up for 2013 will be Nico Hulkenberg and Mexican rookie Esteban Gutierrez.
2013 pre-season dates
Car launches Team Date McLaren January 31 Force India February 1 Sauber February 2 Testing
Venue Date Jerez 5-8 February Barcelona 19-22 February Barcelona 28 February-3 March
| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 4th 2013, 11:24 GMT |
The fight for Formula 1's leading seats may have been over months ago, but the battle for cockpits further down the field remains intense as judgements loom on the final two vacancies.
Force India and Caterham are the only remaining outfits that have yet to finalise their line-ups, but with just one month to go before the start of 2013 testing, decisions are now expected within days.
The increasingly tough economic climate worldwide means that teams at both ends of the grid have had to be more mindful of commercial considerations when it comes to drivers, which is why neither outfit is having an easy time making its choice.
Force India: Bianchi vs Sutil
The Force India vacancy is a plum seat, with Nico Hulkenberg having shown at the Brazilian Grand Prix that the team has the capability to fight right at the front.
Although Paul di Resta has not yet been confirmed, his performances last year left the team in no doubt that he justified another opportunity for 2013, so his place is secure.
Towards the end of last season, the list of candidates for the seat alongside di Resta stretched to double figures though, as youngsters like Luiz Razia, out of work men like Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, and current racers like Bruno Senna and Kamui Kobayashi vied to fill Hulkenberg's place.
Although each driver had varying amounts of sponsorship behind him, Force India CEO Otmar Szafnauer told AUTOSPORT at the end of last season that the decision would ultimately rest on ability rather than backing.
He made it clear his preference was for speed to ultimately win out, because that would be the only way of ensuring both its men performed.
"I am a believer that you need someone like that," he said. "Not everyone does, and it is a subconscious thing.
"You think you are driving the best you can, but there is nothing like competition for us humans to really sharpen our focus, attention and skills in all sort of stuff. If you have competition you end up driving yourself more."
That process has culminated in the selection whittling down now to what appears to be a straightforward decision between veteran Adrian Sutil and rising star Jules Bianchi.
Sutil: No legal issues preventing return Bianchi 'ready for F1'
Sutil has the experience and speed to keep things moving forward after Hulkenberg, and would bring some funding from his long-term backers.
Bianchi would be more of a gamble on the driving front - because he has yet to race in F1 – but he has the added attraction of closes ties to Ferrari.
The Frenchman has been retained as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy for 2013, and a long-term deal could tie in to a potential engine partnership for 2014 and beyond.
Ferrari is currently working on sorting out its future customer engine plans, and may need to secure another partner with Scuderia Toro Rosso likely to make the move to Renault after this season.
The final call on Force India's drivers rests with team principal Vijay Mallya, who will need to weigh up both the short-term and long-term benefits of either candidate.
Caterham: Petrov, Senna or van der Garde?
At Caterham, there is an equally tough decision to be made as to who will partner youngster Charles Pic.
The Leafield-based outfit may have secured its 10th place in the constructors' championship at the 11th hour with Vitaly Petrov's result in Brazil, but it remains eager to bolster its commercial situation even more.
Heikki Kovalainen is unlikely to be kept on for another year, with the leading candidates for the role now being Petrov, Bruno Senna and Giedo van der Garde.
Kovalainen accepts 2013 chances slimVan der Garde 'making huge strides'Senna: I would be stronger in 2013
Petrov added nearly $10 million to Caterham's coffers with his 11th-place finish at Interlagos that got the team back in the top 10 of the constructors' championship, so there is an obvious reason to retain him.
Furthermore, Petrov has the potential to unlock more sponsorship from Russia with the Sochi Grand Prix looming on the horizon for 2014.
However, Senna has valuable backing behind him right now, and has the kind of profile and attitude that the team would benefit from.
Like the decision facing Mallya, Caterham has candidates who each easily justify their place, but in the end there is only space for one man.
2013 Formula 1 line-up so far: Red Bull Sebastian Vettel Mark Webber Ferrari Fernando Alonso Felipe Massa McLaren Jenson Button Sergio Perez Lotus Kimi Raikkonen Romain Grosjean Mercedes Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sauber Nico Hulkenberg Esteban Gutierrez Force India Paul di Resta seat still available Williams Pastor Maldonado Valtteri Bottas Toro Rosso Daniel Ricciardo Jean-Eric Vergne Caterham Charles Pic seat still available Marussia Timo Glock Max Chilton
| By Sam Tremayne and Matt Beer | Friday, January 4th 2013, 16:16 GMT |
Red Bull boss Christian Horner reckons that discomfort with the team's crucial late-2012 upgrade was the main reason Mark Webber fell away from Sebastian Vettel in last season's run-in.
Halfway through the 2012 Formula 1 campaign Webber was Red Bull's main title threat, holding second in the standings, 10 points clear of Vettel.
But in the second part of the year Vettel surged to a third championship while Webber tumbled to sixth.
After Red Bull introduced a major upgrade for Singapore, Vettel claimed four straight wins and 141 points, whereas Webber's tally from the remaining rounds was just 47 points.
Horner acknowledged that the change in car spec could have played to Vettel's favour.
"Certainly Seb was able to get more out of the upgrade than Mark was," said the team chief.
"It did seem to suit his requirements whereas Mark never seemed quite as comfortable. But he still had Korea pole, a front row in Abu Dhabi, and outqualified Seb in Brazil.
"It was mainly in the races where Seb was able to exploit the most out of the car."
He felt the opposite had applied at the start of the season, when Webber was often Red Bull's lead runner.
"Certainly at the beginning of the year with the pre-Melbourne upgrade Sebastian was not at all comfortable, but he was still scoring strongly so when we did get the performance in the car he was able to capitalise on that," Horner said.
Although Vettel has become established as Red Bull's number one with his run of championships, Horner believes the battle between his drivers is as close as it was between erstwhile McLaren duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
"I think it varies from track to track, condition to condition," said Horner. "In Brazil, between Lewis and Jenson it was swings and roundabouts between different points of the race.
"Some of that is style, some of that is lines used, but the same thing applies as the car develops - one driver will sometimes get more out of it than the other."
He added: "It's obviously tough for Mark - he is a world class driver but he is up against the best in the world. It is hard for any driver to accept that."
| Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 11:22 GMT |
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says his relationship with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has been unaffected by their recent war of words.
Ecclestone was unimpressed with Ferrari's request for the FIA to investigate the yellow flag situation surrounding Sebastian Vettel at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
A few days later, di Montezemolo suggested that F1 would benefit from having younger management in charge who can help lead the sport to a brighter future.
Despite the comments, Ecclestone said an in interview with Corriere della Sera that the matter was not taken too seriously.
"Montezemolo is still a friend and I'm convinced that he didn't really intend to say the things he said about me, about my age and my ability to continue to work. I'm happy - it's just 'role playing'" he said.
Ecclestone made it clear that rather than accept the need for younger management, he was even more determined to stay at the helm.
He said he wanted to make F1 "think and act like the world's leading sport". He added: "I'll continue to help with my ideas - I still have plenty left."
He also reiterated that he was not concerned at the prospect of any further action being taken against him by German courts over the Gerhard Gribkowsky affair.
"I would be (worried) if I was guilty," he said. "But I'm not! Are they trying to entrap me? I don't know and I don't care. All I know is that people try anything when money is involved."
| By Pablo Elizalde | Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 15:05 GMT |
Sauber will unveil its 2013 challenger on 2 February, the Swiss squad announced on Thursday.
The team said the Ferrari-powered C32 will be presented to the public in Hinwil, Switzerland, where its factory is located.
Pre-season testing commences at Jerez three days later.
Sauber finished the 2012 season in sixth position after four podium finishes.
The Swiss outfit's drive line-up for 2013 will be Nico Hulkenberg and Mexican rookie Esteban Gutierrez.
2013 pre-season dates
Car launches Team Date McLaren January 31 Force India February 1 Sauber February 2 Testing
Venue Date Jerez 5-8 February Barcelona 19-22 February Barcelona 28 February-3 March
| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, January 4th 2013, 11:24 GMT |
The fight for Formula 1's leading seats may have been over months ago, but the battle for cockpits further down the field remains intense as judgements loom on the final two vacancies.
Force India and Caterham are the only remaining outfits that have yet to finalise their line-ups, but with just one month to go before the start of 2013 testing, decisions are now expected within days.
The increasingly tough economic climate worldwide means that teams at both ends of the grid have had to be more mindful of commercial considerations when it comes to drivers, which is why neither outfit is having an easy time making its choice.
Force India: Bianchi vs Sutil
The Force India vacancy is a plum seat, with Nico Hulkenberg having shown at the Brazilian Grand Prix that the team has the capability to fight right at the front.
Although Paul di Resta has not yet been confirmed, his performances last year left the team in no doubt that he justified another opportunity for 2013, so his place is secure.
Towards the end of last season, the list of candidates for the seat alongside di Resta stretched to double figures though, as youngsters like Luiz Razia, out of work men like Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, and current racers like Bruno Senna and Kamui Kobayashi vied to fill Hulkenberg's place.
Although each driver had varying amounts of sponsorship behind him, Force India CEO Otmar Szafnauer told AUTOSPORT at the end of last season that the decision would ultimately rest on ability rather than backing.
He made it clear his preference was for speed to ultimately win out, because that would be the only way of ensuring both its men performed.
"I am a believer that you need someone like that," he said. "Not everyone does, and it is a subconscious thing.
"You think you are driving the best you can, but there is nothing like competition for us humans to really sharpen our focus, attention and skills in all sort of stuff. If you have competition you end up driving yourself more."
That process has culminated in the selection whittling down now to what appears to be a straightforward decision between veteran Adrian Sutil and rising star Jules Bianchi.
Sutil: No legal issues preventing return Bianchi 'ready for F1'
Sutil has the experience and speed to keep things moving forward after Hulkenberg, and would bring some funding from his long-term backers.
Bianchi would be more of a gamble on the driving front - because he has yet to race in F1 – but he has the added attraction of closes ties to Ferrari.
The Frenchman has been retained as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy for 2013, and a long-term deal could tie in to a potential engine partnership for 2014 and beyond.
Ferrari is currently working on sorting out its future customer engine plans, and may need to secure another partner with Scuderia Toro Rosso likely to make the move to Renault after this season.
The final call on Force India's drivers rests with team principal Vijay Mallya, who will need to weigh up both the short-term and long-term benefits of either candidate.
Caterham: Petrov, Senna or van der Garde?
At Caterham, there is an equally tough decision to be made as to who will partner youngster Charles Pic.
The Leafield-based outfit may have secured its 10th place in the constructors' championship at the 11th hour with Vitaly Petrov's result in Brazil, but it remains eager to bolster its commercial situation even more.
Heikki Kovalainen is unlikely to be kept on for another year, with the leading candidates for the role now being Petrov, Bruno Senna and Giedo van der Garde.
Kovalainen accepts 2013 chances slimVan der Garde 'making huge strides'Senna: I would be stronger in 2013
Petrov added nearly $10 million to Caterham's coffers with his 11th-place finish at Interlagos that got the team back in the top 10 of the constructors' championship, so there is an obvious reason to retain him.
Furthermore, Petrov has the potential to unlock more sponsorship from Russia with the Sochi Grand Prix looming on the horizon for 2014.
However, Senna has valuable backing behind him right now, and has the kind of profile and attitude that the team would benefit from.
Like the decision facing Mallya, Caterham has candidates who each easily justify their place, but in the end there is only space for one man.
2013 Formula 1 line-up so far: Red Bull Sebastian Vettel Mark Webber Ferrari Fernando Alonso Felipe Massa McLaren Jenson Button Sergio Perez Lotus Kimi Raikkonen Romain Grosjean Mercedes Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sauber Nico Hulkenberg Esteban Gutierrez Force India Paul di Resta seat still available Williams Pastor Maldonado Valtteri Bottas Toro Rosso Daniel Ricciardo Jean-Eric Vergne Caterham Charles Pic seat still available Marussia Timo Glock Max Chilton
| By Ben Anderson | Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 10:12 GMT |
Damon Hill believes Lewis Hamilton can naturally discover the leadership skills he will need at Mercedes this season.
Hamilton will switch teams for 2013 having spent his entire Formula 1 career so far at McLaren, which had nurtured him since his karting days.
Hill won the 1996 world title for Williams, where he had begun as a test driver, and was then recruited to lead the Arrows team's attempts to climb the grid.
He sees parallels between his situation in 1997 and Hamilton's McLaren to Mercedes move.
"When I was at Williams I had not been leading, I had been very much a test driver," said Hill, who is the guest editor of this week's special issue of AUTOSPORT about his father Graham.
"But when I went to another team I was seen as a leader, so maybe it's easier to take on that role once they're looking to you to give them some direction.
"Lewis might learn that, he might find that in himself. We don't know, but put in that situation he might find it.
"Look at [Fernando] Alonso. He doesn't have a design office in his head.
"He knows how to motivate a team and gets the best out of the bunch of guys he's got."
Hill says the dynamic of teams has shifted to being more one-driver focused in the modern era, compared to when he was racing in the 1990s.
"In the old days there was only ever one team worth driving for, so you had the two best guys in the same team fighting over attention," added Hill.
"Now you have more than one team and four guys with their own teams.
"You could look at 2013 like this: Jenson Button's got McLaren, Lewis has got Mercedes, Fernando's got Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel's got Red Bull, and Kimi Raikkonen's got Lotus.
"The reality of the situation is that any of them could win."
This week's AUTOSPORT magazine is a special Graham Hill edition, guest-edited by his son Damon, featuring full analysis of his career and amazing Monaco record, plus a personal recollections and a look at his Le Mans and Indianapolis success
| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 10:47 GMT |
Niki Lauda has shown his determination to give all he can to his new role with Mercedes by electing to step down from a management position at Air Berlin.
The three-time world champion was appointed as non-executive chairman of Mercedes last year as the German car manufacturer made a fresh push to overhaul its Formula 1 efforts in a bid for more success.
Although some questioned Lauda's motivation for getting involved in F1 management after the difficulties he previously faced at Jaguar, the Austrian has subsequently embraced the role.
His input will be called on even more now, following the decision of Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug to step down at the end of last year.
In a bid to spend more time on his Mercedes efforts, Lauda has now elected to step down from the board of Air Berlin, having taken up that role at the end of 2011. He will be replaced by Austin Reid, a former CEO of bmi.
Air Berlin's chairman of the board of director Dr Hans-Joachim Koerber said: "The Board thanks Niki Lauda for his committed, stimulating work for the benefit of the company."
| Thursday, January 3rd 2013, 11:22 GMT |
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says his relationship with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has been unaffected by their recent war of words.
Ecclestone was unimpressed with Ferrari's request for the FIA to investigate the yellow flag situation surrounding Sebastian Vettel at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
A few days later, di Montezemolo suggested that F1 would benefit from having younger management in charge who can help lead the sport to a brighter future.
Despite the comments, Ecclestone said an in interview with Corriere della Sera that the matter was not taken too seriously.
"Montezemolo is still a friend and I'm convinced that he didn't really intend to say the things he said about me, about my age and my ability to continue to work. I'm happy - it's just 'role playing'" he said.
Ecclestone made it clear that rather than accept the need for younger management, he was even more determined to stay at the helm.
He said he wanted to make F1 "think and act like the world's leading sport". He added: "I'll continue to help with my ideas - I still have plenty left."
He also reiterated that he was not concerned at the prospect of any further action being taken against him by German courts over the Gerhard Gribkowsky affair.
"I would be (worried) if I was guilty," he said. "But I'm not! Are they trying to entrap me? I don't know and I don't care. All I know is that people try anything when money is involved."
| By Sam Tremayne and Jamie O'Leary | Tuesday, January 1st 2013, 10:52 GMT |
Mark Webber does not believe Red Bull's rapid rise to the top of Formula 1 would have been possible without the arrival of Adrian Newey.
Newey joined Red Bull as chief technical officer in 2006, having previously designed world championship-winning grand prix cars for Williams and McLaren in the 1990s.
Sebastian Vettel's three straight drivers' world championship crowns since 2010 have all come in Newey machines while Red Bull has also won the constructors' title in each of those seasons.
Webber, who has taken each of his nine grand prix wins in Newey-influenced machinery, said that his ability to remain focused on performance while most of the sport becomes embroiled in politics has been key in the team's surge forwards.
Webber said: "We need, behind all the smoke and mirrors of a Formula 1 team, to make a racing car as quick as possible to do the business in qualifying and the races.
"Adrian never loses sight of that and he's a huge influence.
"You have him beating the drum and generally being a big beacon for the team here in terms of design and philosophy of where the car needs to be. You need that to be successful here.
"And when you start getting some success as well things change so quickly. Things becomes much easier."
Webber and Vettel remain team-mates for 2013 after spending the past four years together at Red Bull.
The team has yet to announce a launch date for its 2013 challenger.
| By Jonathan Noble and Jamie O'Leary | Tuesday, January 1st 2013, 14:34 GMT |
Ross Brawn believes that mid-season changes in Mercedes' Formula 1 aerodynamic department were the root cause of the team's slump in form during the second half of 2012.
Mercedes, which took over the world champion Brawn squad in late 2009, scored its first F1 race win as a constructor since 1955 when Nico Rosberg dominated the Chinese Grand Prix from pole position.
By the halfway point of 2012, Rosberg lay sixth in the championshp, only 34 points behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.
But the squad's form suffered during the second half of the year, Rosberg eventually trailing world champion Vettel by 189 points and Michael Schumacher's sixth place in Brazil its only points finish from the final six grands prix.
Team principal Brawn said that the departure of head of aerodynamics Loic Bigois, coupled with a change in windtunnel philosophy while the team experimented with Coanda exhausts and double DRS, also played a major influence.
Brawn said: "We made a decision to change the structure of the aero group. We had to wait for [new aero chief] Mike Elliot to join us because we had a notice period he had to fulfil at Lotus.
"We concluded the situation with Loic and there was a gap that we didn't fill very well."
"On top of that we were doing the transition from 50 per cent to 60 per cent models in the windtunnel, and there were a lot of other things in the aero group as well. It did have an impact."
Brawn said that the shift to 60 per cent models was necessary to increase the amount of technical data it could extract from Pirelli's tyres.
"Our conclusion was that we would get a much more representative tyre at 60 per cent than at 50 per cent," he added.
"Pirelli have to make 50 per cent and 60 per cent windtunnel tyres. There are only two teams that are still doing 50 per cent.
"Even with Pirelli's best efforts, they're going to be getting better feedback about 60 per cent tyres than 50 per cent. So we wanted to make the move.
"The other thing that has happened over the years is that you're putting more and more equipment inside the windtunnel model to measure, monitor and check. We just ran out of space in the 50 per cent model.
"There were things that we wanted to do that we couldn't do, and we needed the 60 per cent model to accommodate those features. Sixty per cent is the legal limit you can go to, there is no further step we can make."
| By Michele Lostia and Jamie O'Leary | Wednesday, January 2nd 2013, 09:51 GMT |
Luca di Montezemolo looks set to continue as Ferrari president long-term after announcing that he will not campaign for a seat in the Italian Parliament.
Di Montezemolo, 65, created the Italia Futura political association in 2009 with a view to gaining power in this year's general elections.
He now says he will support prime minister Mario Monti's bid for a second term in the role, rather than pushing forward with his own political ambitions.
"I will not run for a seat," he told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
"I will leave room to the many quality people who have supported and worked for the association these years. It's only fair that they should be the main players."
There had been fears that a possible ministerial position for di Montezemolo would create several conflicts of interest with his role at Ferrari and possibly lead to him having to give up the presidency.
A role in the government looks now unlikely, and he allayed these fears by reaffirming that while he will retain an involvement in Italia Futura, he will not be its figurehead as it seeks to become a political party.
"Italia Futura is about to turn into something a lot wider and diverse, and I won't be the leader of that," he added.
"Obviously it will be the political home for myself, for tens of thousands of Italia Futura associates, and for millions of voters who will choose it.
"I will support it with determination before and after the elections, but in a position that won't lead to any suspicions of conflicts of interests."
Di Montezemolo has been Ferrari president since 1991.
| Monday, December 31st 2012, 17:08 GMT |
Lotus was nothing if not bold in its 2012 driver selection, eschewing any hint of a 'safe pair of hands' approach and signing two men who hadn't raced in Formula 1 since 2009.
On paper, the combination of a former world champion with 157 grand prix starts to his name and a man with five feeder series titles on his CV plus a smattering of F1 experience shouldn't have prompted any frowns.
But this was Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.
Raikkonen whose penchant for off-track high-jinks and periods of disinterest in his day job threatened to overshadow his blistering speed, and whose sabbatical from F1 had featured a lot of dabbling in other categories with little to show for it bar some bent rally cars and memorable NASCAR Truck Series radio transmissions.
And Grosjean, who had to return to the junior categories with his tail between his legs after mixing on-track inconsistency with off-track unpopularity when he last tried F1.
It seemed a recipe for excitement and intrigue - and so it proved, as Lotus's returnee duo generated more headlines than almost any other driver pairing in 2012...
Grosjean: Just a 'nutcase'?
It took no time at all for Grosjean to erase memories of his disastrous 2009 part-season and prove that he really did belong in F1. Often the Lotus pacesetter in the first half of the season, he showed the speed of a potential champion as he appeared to complete a successful career rehabilitation.
But along the way, there were still a lot of mistakes - especially on opening laps. At first these went almost unnoticed, but gradually their frequency started causing concern, and when Grosjean triggered the huge Spa start crash, condemnation poured down on him, along with a race ban.
He finished the season a chastened man, overshadowed by Raikkonen, and kept waiting until December for confirmation that he would keep his seat. Yet still his supporters remain convinced that he has all the attributes of a superstar, if he can cut the mistakes.
Jonathan Noble: Grosjean is F1's real comeback kingDerek Warwick: Grosjean's ban is a warning to allEdd Straw: How Grosjean gets his season back on trackWebber slams "nutcase" Grosjean
Raikkonen: As if he'd never been away
When a qualifying mistake left Raikkonen outside the cut in Q1 for his grand prix comeback in Australia, there might have been some doubts about the wisdom of his return.
That was the only time all year those doubts were heard.
Tony Dodgins: Missing Kubica? Get Raikkonen. Why Lotus chose rightRaikkonen quickest in first test of 2012Edd Straw: Raikkonen galvanising Lotus already
Admittedly he was still slightly rusty early on, but it was rarely evident as Raikkonen became a relentless podium finisher, shock outside title contender, and eventually a grand prix winner again.
His character was as big a hit as his speed. His insistence that if he couldn't be champion, he'd prefer to be fourth in the standings so he didn't have to bother with the FIA prizegiving ceremony... The unforgettable "leave me alone, I know what I'm doing" radio rant on the way to his Abu Dhabi win... getting lost off-track in Brazil... All Kimi moments that the fans lapped up.
And he'll probably be even faster, and even more insouciant, in 2013...
| Monday, December 31st 2012, 13:35 GMT |
Sebastian Vettel became one of only three men ever to have won three consecutive drivers' championships in 2012.
But after a relatively straightforward campaign in 2011, this year was far tougher for the German.
It wasn't until the final seven races of the season that he hit consistent form, beating Fernando Alonso to the title by just three points.
Sebastian Vettel: 2012 in quotes
"There's not a fundamental problem with the car. The car is very nervous and it is moving a lot. The problem that we have at this stage is that the balance of the car doesn't seem to be as good as it was last year."
Revealing the source of his early-season up-and-down form
"I've been wearing a Red Bull helmet for almost my entire career. It is difficult to imagine another kid of life if you are so used to it. It would be like when you turn 18, 19 and move out of your family's home. I am very happy where I am right now and I don't want to move to anywhere else."
Pouring cold water on the persistent Vettel-to-Ferrari rumours
"It was then a question of when, rather than where, and I tried to outbrake him. He opened the brake again and then was up the inside; I wasn't sure where he was, I couldn't see him in that moment, so decided to give enough space and went off line on the slippery paint and I was able to stay ahead and get past him. The only intention was not to crash and to give him enough room. I have respect for him and I didn't want to squeeze him."
Explaining the pass on Jenson Button at Hockenheim that led to a post-race penalty
"I think there was more of a fuss in writing and talking than in the mapping in the car."
Downplaying the effect on Red Bull of post-Hockenheim engine map regulation changes
"I'd be keen to try the 1993 [Williams] because it was a car that was quite dominant and allowed him to win his fourth world championship. That was a car that was ahead of its time."
Revealing which of Alain Prost's F1 cars he'd like to try after the French legend sampled a 2010 Red Bull
"I told you guys... don't stop believing."
Celebrating over the radio after coming from the pits to third in Abu Dhabi
"Unbelievable. I have seen it all in Formula 1 with these stupid overtakes... it was Karthikeyan's fault."
Venting his frustration at the DRS and Narain Karthikeyan over the radio after being passed by Lewis Hamilton in America
"How that exhaust survived, how Adrian [Newey] managed to cover it is unbelievable."
Expressing his amazement that his car held together after the clash with Bruno Senna in Brazil
"It's difficult to find the right words. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think there are only two guys who have done that before. Obviously you need to be in the right place at the right time but I also believe that you can create your own luck and work for what is coming up. I think that one of the great things about Formula 1 is that you can not necessarily compare only yourself but you can compare your time, your era if you like to ten, 20, 30, 40 years ago."
Coming to terms with being a triple world champion
"To be honest, I never wasted one single thought that an irregularity was involved from my side. Even if it was an eventful race I definitely saw all the flags - and their colours!"
Ignoring the post-Brazil furore about spurious yellow flag infringements
