Mercedes have “some way to go”

Mercedes push this season towards breaking into the top three yielded little success for the German team. They’ve established themselves as a team clear of the midfield but with a 210 point gap in the constructor’s championship to third place Ferrari – they still have a lot of work to do. On the track: Nico [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/5HpsAvUDCeM/mercedes-have-some-way-to-go

Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella M·rio de Ara˙jo Cabral Frank Armi

Barrichello speaks out on his future: “I am fighting”

Rubens Barrichello has been speaking about his future in Formula 1. Williams are yet to confirm who will partner Pastor Maldonado for the 2012 season, although Barrichello says he is positive about his chances of being retained. Speaking about the current uncertainty, Barrichello said: “It’s taking longer than I wished for, to be honest.” “I [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/XGddiVAjp_I/barrichello-speaks-out-on-his-future-i-am-fighting

Red Amick Chris Amon Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti

Kubica comeback far from certain

Much will be made this season of the incredible strength in depth of the Formula 1 field in 2012, with six world champions all taking part, each one of them with a justifiable claim to being an all-time great.

But when the season kicks off in Melbourne on 18 March, there will be a man sitting at home in Europe who could make that line-up even stronger.

Robert Kubica might well have been starting this year's Australian Grand Prix grid in a Ferrari had he not suffered the horrendous rallying accident that prevented him racing for Renault in 2011.

As it is, he is in a no-man's land, not knowing whether he will ever be able to drive an F1 car in anger again.

This week, reports in Italy have emerged that he is planning to get back behind the wheel of an F1 car - almost certainly a Ferrari - in June. The problem is, that is more a hope than a plan, as no one knows whether the Pole will be fit to drive by then.

Kubica is doing four or five hours' worth of physical training a day, despite still recovering from a broken leg sustained earlier this month in an incident that re-opened one of the fractures he sustained in his rally crash.

But the leg is not a major problem - the 27-year-old is not in plaster, there is only a light support around the limb, and he can drive a road car despite it. Before the re-break, he had already started doing some jogging, and the expectation is that the injury will no longer trouble him within a week or so.


Kubica has been linked with a return to F1 with Ferrari. Photo: Getty

The issue remains the movement in his right hand, which was partially severed in the rally crash on 6 February last year.

His injuries that day were truly horrific - he suffered partial amputation of his right forearm and numerous fractures to his right elbow, shoulder and leg, as well as losing a lot of blood. Had doctors not worked so quickly, he could have died.

Once his condition was stabilised, it became clear that the biggest problem was going to be the hand.

Both main nerves to the hand were severed, and had to be repaired by surgeons, and movement remains restricted. Specifically, he is lacking strength in the hand, and his ability to rotate his wrist is limited - in other words, he does not yet have the two physical attributes he needs to steer an F1 car.

According to his doctors, it is a matter of when, not if, the nerves rebuild themselves and he recovers full use of the hand, but no one knows when that will be.

Kubica is out of contract and all his links with his former team have evaporated. So when/if he is fit to drive an F1 car, it is likely to be a Ferrari.

The Italian team had an option on him for the 2011 season, which they did not take up, but sources say they remain interested and have discussed the issue internally.

It is a complicated matter, though. If Kubica tells them he feels ready to drive an F1 car, Ferrari have to consider how a test for him would look to Felipe Massa, whose contract runs out at the end of the year and who already knows he is under pressure to raise his game compared to team-mate Fernando Alonso in 2012 if he is stay on.

Equally, it is not as if they do not have other options.

Red Bull's Mark Webber, in whom they were interested for 2012 before deciding to stick with Massa, remains on Ferrari's radar.

And Lewis Hamilton is out of contract with McLaren at the end of this season, even if the prospects must be considered distant of the Englishman renewing what was a combustible combination with Alonso at McLaren in 2007.

As far as Kubica is concerned, all this remains moot until he can prove a) that he is physically recovered; and b) that he has not lost any driving ability.

He has told those close to him that unless he can recover 100% of his skill, he will quit motorsport. He will not know that until he drives an F1 simulator and then a car for the first time.

He hopes that will be in June - but a hope is all it is. It could just as easily be August, or any other month you pluck out of the sky. He is not in a hurry, although the longer it goes on, the less the likelihood will be of that Ferrari seat in 2013 remaining open.

Right now, then, there is no reason to say he will be back, but at the same time there is no reason to say he won't.

In many ways, it would feel like a miracle if Kubica did make it back to F1. But what a story it would be if he does.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/01/kubica_comeback_far_from_certa.html

Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham Jim ClarkÜ Kevin Cogan

Mercedes have “some way to go”

Mercedes push this season towards breaking into the top three yielded little success for the German team. They’ve established themselves as a team clear of the midfield but with a 210 point gap in the constructor’s championship to third place Ferrari – they still have a lot of work to do. On the track: Nico [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/5HpsAvUDCeM/mercedes-have-some-way-to-go

Ettore Chimeri Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood Bob Christie Johnny Claes

Red Bull under the spotlight


Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel celebrate with Red Bull boss Christian Horner on the podium © Getty Images
Sections of the international media have questioned Red Bull's strategic approach to the world championship. After Sebastian Vettel won the Brazilian Grand Prix from the team's points leader Mark Webber at Interlagos, Der Spiegel noted: "Red Bull gives (Fernando) Alonso wings". Not switching the places means that Spaniard Alonso can take his Ferrari to just second place this weekend in Abu Dhabi and be champion, whereas the alternative strategy would have set up Webber for a straight fight. "It is not easy for Webber to drive in a team that considers him a burden to be up against Vettel," said La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tuttosport noted that it seems "the Austrian team would be happier to lose than to see Webber beat Vettel". "No team orders at Red Bull. Another own goal," headlined La Repubblica. Joan Villadelprat wrote in his El Pais column: "Had Red Bull opted for Webber a few races ago, the Australian would probably now be champion." Red Bull, however, is unrepentant. Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that "second under proper conditions can often be more valuable than a first". But there is a feeling that the team is not simply giving up the fight for the drivers' title. One columnist in Brazil's Globo wondered if Vettel's radio message in Abu Dhabi might sound something like 'So ... Mark is faster than you'. "I'm always in favour of leaving the fight on the track with equal chances for both sides," said Rubens Barrichello. "But I wonder if they would do that if the situation was in reverse. “Mark has done a great job this year and he has been told by his team what position he is in," said Lewis Hamilton. "Against adversity he has kept at it. I want to see Mark win." Webber believes that, if a strategy is deployed, it will only be on the "last lap" of the season this weekend. "Sebastian is part of a team," said Niki Lauda, who believes Webber should be backed fully by Red Bull. "If he does anything it should be helping Webber and not just on the last lap." Webber is quoted by Bild newspaper: "It makes sense. Otherwise it would mean that Ferrari's team orders would have paid off for Fernando." Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hints that sense will ultimately prevail. "We have already given too many presents to Fernando this year," he is quoted by Autosprint.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/red_bull_under_the_spotlight.php

Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa Ettore Chimeri Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood