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Kimi Räikkönen is, at least according to rumours in the Indian GP paddock, on his way to Williams next season, having signed a deal
Ever since he walked away from F1 at the end of the 2009 season, parting ways with Ferrari and failing to secure a return to McLaren, rumours have persisted saying the Finn will return.
The latest, which emerged in the week before the Singapore GP, claimed that he is in talks with Williams regarding next season and even visited their factory in Grove.
However, at the time, his manager Steve Robertson downplayed the visit.
"At the end of the day people know Kimi visited Williams, but there's nothing more to say apart from that," he told GPUpdate.net. "There is nothing more to report."
But, according to PlanetF1's man on the ground in India, Chetan Narula, rumours in the paddock say not only is Räikkönen in talks with Williams but the Finn has in fact already signed a contract to race for them next season.
Source: Planet-F1
Stefano Domenicali claims Lewis Hamilton's at times erratic performances this season have not put him off the McLaren driver
Domenicali has in the past made it known that he would welcome Hamilton at Ferrari, partnering the Brit with his former team-mate Fernando Alonso.
However, some could argue that Hamilton has not exactly made himself a welcome prospect to rivals teams with his topsy-turvy campaign.
While the 2008 World Champ has put in some fantastic drives this season, he has also caused a great deal of controversy by crashing into others, visiting the stewards and making one rather ill-advised comment.
But despite his woes, Domenicali says he would still be interested in signing Hamilton.
"Not at all," he told the Daily Telegraph when asked if he 'had been at all put off by Hamilton's erratic behaviour this year.'
"I always state that in my view the top three drivers in the Championship are Fernando, Lewis and Sebastian. And from that point of view my attitude has not changed one bit. But I'm concentrating on my drivers at the moment.
"I can understand the criticism he has received because I know how this sport works, not only with Lewis but also with our drivers. It is part of the game.
"And when a driver has such great potential you hope to see him behave a different way in certain situations but that is the nature of different drivers."
The team bosses added that he in fact admires Hamilton's do-or-die attitude.
"As far as I can see from the outside Lewis is always in attack mode. It's funny sometimes behind a Safety Car you hear all the drivers saying 'No way, I cannot see anything'.
"And then you get Lewis and he is saying 'No, no. Let's go for it'. And for a driver to have this attitude is a great thing."
However, in a separate interview on Ferrari's website, he conceded the unlikelihood of Hamilton ever racing for the Italian stable.
"I am pleased he said never say never on the subject of Ferrari, in fact it is logical that everyone aspires to come to Maranello sooner or later, given what we represent in the history of this sport.
"Having said that, I don't think the question will arise, neither in the short nor in the long term.
"For the Ferrari of the future, I believe the right combination is to have one well established driver with great experience, alongside a talented youngster on the way up. I do not think that, with the pressure we are under, we can consider having two youngsters in the team at the same time."
The team boss also revealed that Ferrari will soon switch their entire focus to next year's car in order to ensure they avoid another "difficult" start to a campaign.
"Our target at the moment is really to stop in September and move to the new project. And okay, if you have to do some fine-tuning you can do it, but otherwise you will lose a lot of time on development of the new car.
The more time we can spend on the wind tunnel the better. Because for sure what I really want to avoid is another difficult winter like the last two years.
"Last year for instance we had a fantastic second half of the season - incredible - and could have won the World Championship. But this year we did not start so well. So this year our priority is to have a much better winter." Source: Planet-F1
Norbert Haug has denied Helmut Marko’s claim that Mercedes is making a move to sign Sebastian Vettel for 2012.
After Marko this week admitted that Ferrari is pushing hard to poach Red Bull staff, the Austrian has now told Kleine Zeitung that Mercedes is moving on the energy drink-owned team’s reigning world champion Vettel.
Asked by the newspaper who other than Ferrari is interested in the 23-year-old, motor racing consultant Vettel answered: "Mercedes for sure.”
"Knowing that Sebastian has a contract with us, Mercedes expresses quite an interest in him."
Marko confirmed that Vettel’s contract expires at the end of the year but includes an option for 2012.
"For the time after (2011), we are already talking," he revealed.
But when asked about Marko’s comments, Mercedes’ motor sport vice president Haug said the German marque has "not made Sebastian Vettel an offer".
"We have exactly the drivers we wanted in Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg," he told the German press agency DPA.
Haug however admitted it is "no secret" he has a good personal relationship with German Vettel but said it is "absolutely wrong" to make any assumptions because of that.
Multiple MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi thinks Mercedes would be right to be on the market for another driver.
At the Madonna di Campiglio ’Wrooom’ event for Ferrari and Ducati, the rider said he thinks it will be "almost impossible" for Schumacher to win again following a three-year retirement.
"Michael is still going (with his comeback) and hopes to get the results he wants," the Italian is quoted by SID news agency. "But as I said, it will be very difficult."
Source: Nextgen
Ever since he walked away from F1 at the end of the 2009 season, parting ways with Ferrari and failing to secure a return to McLaren, rumours have persisted saying the Finn will return.
