However, while doubts continue to rumble about the readiness of the race, the five championship contenders cannot afford to be distracted.

Focus and concentration will be of paramount importance and there is none stronger in this regard than Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard sits tied for second place with Sebastian Vettel, 14 points behind the German’s Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, who will arrive at the track in South Korea’s coastal Yeongam province with a dominant machine.

Alonso is quietly confident he has what it takes to beat both Red Bulls over the next three races.

Describing his third place in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix as “damage control”, he warned Webber and Vettel they would not have it all their own way from now on.

“We knew before coming here that third was probably our maximum position,” Alonso said. “But we are convinced that this was the worst track of the remaining races for us.

"We only lost three points in the championship, so overall we have to be extremely happy. When we arrive at circuits with more difficulties for Red Bull we need to take our opportunities.”

No one knows quite what to expect of the Korean International Circuit. Charlie Whiting, the FIA’s race director and safety delegate, begins a two-day 'final inspection’ on Monday.

But with Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One’s commercial rights holder, having stated categorically over the weekend that the race would take place, Whiting is not expected to fail it at this late stage.

This despite the fact that the FIA may be breaking its own rules in allowing the race to take place. The final inspection “should” have taken place in late July according to the governing body’s statutes.

As it is, the final layer of tarmac went down only last week. Rumours of chaos and confusion abound.

Alonso is licking his lips. “Always something happens, and if something happens we can take the opportunity,” he said.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is backing Alonso’s team-mate, Felipe Massa, to make a difference.

The Brazilian, who is not in the title race and is therefore expected to support Alonso, crashed out on the opening corner on Sunday. “I’m sure that Felipe will be the surprise of the last three races of the season,” Di Montezemolo said.

“After this bad day he will be desperately keen to react and we will do everything to give him the possibility to win.”

Meanwhile, Mercedes have rejected reports that Michael Schumacher could lose his drive at the end of this season and take up a management role at the team.

Mercedes Motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug said: “There is more credibility in Norbert Haug becoming an F1 driver than in Michael Schumacher becoming sporting director of Mercedes.”

After taking a strong haul of points away from last weekend's Australian grand prix with a third and fourth place finish, Ferrari have vowed to retain the same approach in Malaysia.

After Fernando Alonso led a one-two victory for the Maranello-based outfit at the opening grand prix of the season in Bahrain, it was Felipe Massa who had the edge in Melbourne, brining his F10 home in third place, just ahead of his Spanish team-mate.

Two strong results means double-world champion Alonso leads the drivers' standings, with Massa trailing him by four points, and Ferrari leads the constructors'.

"We are happy with the Melbourne result, even if, on Sunday morning, we might have expected a slightly better one," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.

"Considering what happened in the race, we can be pleased with finishing third and fourth, partly because our closest rivals either failed to score, or at least did not pick up many points.

"We have to be very happy with our situation, because we are still first in the constructors' championship and still first and second in the drivers' one too.

"And considering what happened at the start of the race, with Fernando [Alonso] having a difficult start and falling down to the last position, he managed to keep both Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton behind him at the end.

"Felipe [Massa] had a difficult weekend as we couldn't find the right setup on his car, so we should be really happy that he has been on the podium twice in succession."

With back-to-back races, formula one teams have arrived at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia for the third round of the 2010 world championship season.

Domenicali said Ferrari will keep the same approach for the time being, with their focus on reliability and on improving the F10's performance with small upgrades.

"We have to keep the same approach going to Malaysia as there is a lot of strong competition around," said Domenicali.

"We will continue to work hard and to keep our focus on reliability and on new parts in order to keep improving the performance."

Source: inthenews.co.uk

Ferrari launched the new F10 and with the new fuel rules of the FIA and the tightly controlled and highly regulated component of life in the Formula One paddock. Although regularly considered in its role in pit stop strategy, this year Shell faces perhaps the biggest challenge in its Formula One fuel formulation in 15 years.



The Fédération Internationale de l’ Automobile’s (FIA) change in fuel regulations for the 2010 season has been two-fold. Refuelling during the race will no longer be allowed, so Shell V-Power race fuel will power Ferrari around the entire length of all 19 Grand Prix races with no refuelling during pit-stops. In addition, the FIA has widened the specifications for fuel formulation development, giving Shell two exciting opportunities for the season ahead.

With the rule changes come challenges to balance the need for constant high performance from Shell V-Power race fuel with tackling increased fuel temperatures and the vital need for each driver to conserve enough fuel to simply finish the race. Shell has worked alongside Scuderia Ferrari to develop the best possible Shell V-Power formulation in preparation for the new regulations and will continue development throughout the season to maintain optimum performance.

Mike Evans, Shell Formula One Fuels Development Project Leader explains, “For 2010, we've got the new fuel regulations; the formulation space for the fuel has been enlarged and we've got the change in refuelling rules. We really need to get the performance out of the car to make sure Scuderia Ferrari make the end of the race, and to make sure there's no problem with the fuel temperature since we can no longer have the benefit of adding slightly cooler fuel during a pit-stop. We've got some exciting challenges ahead for the sport, and we've been working hard for that.”

Evans continues, “Engines, performance-wise, are tuned to run a rich, heavy type of fuel but you can then run them on a slightly leaner formulation, which will give you a small drop in performance but it will also give you better fuel efficiency. It's getting that balance right. We can alter the mix of components in the fuel to enable the engines to run leaner but still give optimum performance, and that's an area we've been working hard on for the last nine months leading up to the 2010 season, given the latest FIA rule changes.”

Source: Ferrari

Felipe Massa is confident the Ferrari F10 is getting stronger and stronger ahead of the first grand prix in Bahrain.

The car is widely regarded as the frontrunner after four weeks of pre-season testing and Massa said he had noticed continual improvements in its handling throughout February.

"I have a very positive impression," he said after Saturday's test. "You can feel more grip and more downforce. It's encouraging, because it means that we made another step ahead compared to Jerez."

In spite of the wet weather on the third day, Massa completed an entire race simulation and said he had learned a lot about the new car.

"We managed to drive many miles, which is always positive," he said. "We finished another race simulation without any problems, which helped us to better understand the tyre behaviour with different fuel loads and under different track conditions. I'm satisfied with today. We're working in the right direction for the start of the championship."

Massa will stay in the car for the final day of testing on Sunday, when he is hoping to collect enough information to be able to make one last development push ahead of Bahrain.

"Let's hope the weather improves," he said. "It would be important to finish the tests on a dry track to collect some more important data regarding the car under various conditions, also with less fuel on board."

Source: en.espnf1.com

Double F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has warned Ferrari's rivals that whilst they might have been demonstrating their raw pace during testing, the Scuderia has conversely been keeping its powder dry - as he ominously rated the F10 the best car he has ever driven

In an early warning shot to his F1 2010 rivals, Fernando Alonso has labelled the Ferrari F10 'the best car I've ever had' – as he contended that whilst rival teams have been quick to demonstrate their potential during testing, the Prancing Horse has been keeping its powder dry and will only reveal its true form once the real action gets underway in Bahrain.

In the hands of both Alonso and team-mate Felipe Massa, Ferrari's new baby has proven to be fast and consistent throughout pre-season testing to-date, be it at Valencia – where the Spaniard led an ominous and commanding Maranello one-two on the final combined timesheets – or Jerez de la Frontera.

Other drivers have confessed that they believe the scarlet machine is the one to beat at this stage of proceedings [see separate story – click here] – and despite winding up 1.5 seconds shy of the ultimate marker set by reigning F1 World Champion Jenson Button for McLaren-Mercedes last week, the Oviedo native confirmed that his adversaries have good reason to be worried.

“It is already the best car I've ever had,” the 21-time grand prix-winner told Spanish sports newspaper AS, as he eyes a third drivers' crown in the top flight to add to his back-to-back title glories with Renault in 2005 and 2006. “There is no reason to be pessimistic.

“Red Bull, McLaren and Renault have gone quick and shown their cards; we are still hiding ours. If I was with another team I would be looking at Ferrari, because everything so far is working very well.”

Whilst insistent that he is underestimating nobody, Alonso did add that one reason Ferrari's competitors have been so rapid over the past week could be down to lapping on low fuel to simulate qualifying runs – and as the Scuderia bids to recover in 2010 from its worst campaign at the highest level since 1993, it is clear that the 28-year-old's hopes are high of springing a surprise when the starting lights go out in Sakhir in just under three weeks' time.

“This is where Red Bull and McLaren are showing very fast,” he opined of the low-fuel outings, “and it is certainly the basis for trying to improve the performance of the F10 at the next test in Barcelona.”

Source: crash.net

Two rainy days of exclusive team "filming" at Jerez was actually Giancarlo Fisichella's first chance to drive the new Ferrari F10 single seater.

It had been reported that the Italian team's use of Jerez on Monday and Tuesday featured Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa at the wheel of the red car.

But it was actually team reserve driver Fisichella, 37, who was in charge of the F10, proving that Ferrari is the F1 team arguably most adept at driving through the loopholes in the sport's tight testing restrictions.

Fisichella's running, although done in torrential rain, gave the Roman a chance to get comfortable in the F10, whilst freeing up the four days of official testing this week for Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

After the same F10 prototype did all the seven days of testing at Valencia and Jerez this month, a second model - chassis 282 - will make its debut in Massa's hands on Wednesday.

Source: motorsport.com

Fernando Alonso will kick off Ferrari's testing on his home ground at Jerez in Spain this week, driving for the first two days before handing the car over to Felipe Massa.

The Spaniard was fastest of all in last week's first pre-season test at Valencia, with the early indications suggesting that Ferrari has an early edge in its preparations for the 2010 season.

The F10 will feature a few mechanical updates for this week's run, with the team not intending to bring any aerodynamic improvements until the next Jerez test - when the team is expected to use its second chassis for the first time.

The Jerez test is set to feature 10 teams – with Force India, Virgin Racing and Red Bull Racing joining the seven current outfits who tested at Valencia.

Source: autosport.com

Fernando Alonso took the wheel of a Ferrari for the first time Wednesday on the final day of Formula One's first pre-season testing session.

The two-time world champion, who left Renault at the end of last year to join the Italian team, came out to busy grandstands at the Cheste circuit, which is expecting up to 30,000 spectators for the Spaniard's first session in the iconic red car.

Alonso took over from teammate Felipe Massa in the F10 car, which has been fastest in the seven-team field through the first two days.

Alonso is one of three F1 champions testing on Wednesday, with seven-time champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes GP and defending winner Jenson Button of McLaren also driving.

Source: usatoday.com

Giancarlo Fisichella has signed up to contest the Le Mans Series in 2010.

The 37-year-old is a veteran of 231 Grands Prix since 1996, but he will be Ferrari's reserve driver this season.

However, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Le Mans Series said on Monday that Fisichella would contest "the whole season" of the endurance sports car calendar in 2010.

A full entry list will be published within days, but it emerges that he will drive a Ferrari F430 with AF
Corse in the LMGT2 category.Two Le Mans Series races clash with F1 rounds in 2010: May 9's 1000km of Spa (Spanish GP), and the 1000km of Silverstone (Italian GP) in September.

Source: formula-one.speedtv.com

As the 2010 F1 season approaches Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando looked at what they expect the new season to bring from the new rules, and from each other.



“All my dreams in my career came true: now the one to become a Ferrari driver,” said Alonso. “I can almost feel the car in Valencia, it’s very exciting. I hope to stay here for many years, because if you
don’t win the Championship one year, you don’t have to consider to change the team.”

“Regarding its comfort it seems to be more or less on the same level as last year’s car,” he added when asked about his first impressions of the new F10. “There’s always something to improve in the cockpit – seat, elbows, pedals, which have a different inclination compared to the standard set up.”

“We started very early thinking about 2010,” Felipe Massa told the assembled crowd, turning to the changes for 2010. “We were asking for many modifications not just regarding aerodynamics, but also the engine and the tank. Everything was really important considering the 2010 rules. What’s very important is that every single detail can bring tenths of a second.”

“We’ll start with less petrol into the weekend, while we will start into the race with enough petrol for the whole distance. Then there are other details, such as the points assigned to the first and second in the races. Having all these changes in mind we have to pay a lot of attention and learn rapidly in terms of strategy and, as far as I am concerned, regarding driving the car to be immediately competitive.”

“We’ll have a more precise idea after the first test,” added Alonso. “With the petrol load we can put into the tank we’ll all have a different load on board. We’ll concentrate on our work during the tests, without considering the lap times; we’ll see if we’ll be satisfied with the car or not.”

Massa also had to answer the inevitable questions about his Hungaroring accident, describing it as “really unbelievable”, before talking about how safety is one of the primary concerns of drivers and tracks and assuring that “nothing has changed” in his outlook on F1.

But there was much more interest in what the pair saw of each other, the Ferrari line-up being one the three (along with McLaren and Mercedes) sure to generate headlines this year.

“The expectations as far as my teammate is concerned I’ve been living for many years now,” Massa explained. “When there’s a new driver at Ferrari there are great expectations and the goal is to work well as a team, to be complete. I’ll have a very strong teammate. I’ve always done good work, learned a lot, shown many times that I’m able to win and fight, whoever my teammate was.”

Alonso on the other hand was quick to emphasise the team work element of the pairing. “Felipe and I both race for Ferrari. It is important that a red car wins. We’ll both give it our all to improve our performance, we’ll both give 100%. I’ve always had strong teammates and I never had any problems with then. I have a great relation to all of them and it won’t be different with Felipe.”

“Every season is exciting and interesting at the start,” he added. “It’s the same this year, although there are the expectations regarding Schumacher’s comeback, which is very good for F1, which might be well received by TV viewers. I think that there will be two teams fighting for the Drivers’ Title and two for the Constructors’ Title. Let’s hope we’ll be there. Winning the title. I’m not making a bet here, right now everything is too open.”

Source: thecheckeredflag.co.uk

Ferrari’s 2010 Formula One racing car was finally uncovered in a lavish ceremony at Maranello, by none other than the Ferrari boss Luca Di Montezemolo. The event could not have been complete without the team principal Stefan Domenicali and the drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso and the third driver Giancarlo Fisichella who took the stage along with the CEO.



The 620 kg racing monster is powered by a 2.4 liter V8, and has a limited slip E- differential and a 7 speed sequential gearbox. With some aerodynamic upgrades to the car, we may expect more exhilarating performance this season. Resembling last year’s Red Bull RB5 at the front, the F10 just could not heat the racing circuits because of the bad icy weather. But as part of their initial test runs, it will set out to Valencia, Spain for the official testing on Monday. Check out the videos of the event after the jump.

In news from Ferrari, following the release of F10, CEO Luca de Montezemolo has confirmed that a production-ready hybrid version of the Ferrari 599 will be officially unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March.
The two-seat 599, designed by Pininfarina, will keep its V-12 engine and carry Ferrari’s kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). A start/stop system is also likely to appear on the hybrid. Reducing the fuel consumption by nearly 30%, the Ferrari 599 will provide a combined economy ratings of 14 mpg. At the event, Ferrari also stated its plans to continue looking out for ways to improve the efficiency of its cars and will persist adapting the F1 technology for its street vehicles.





Source: nitrobahn.com

Fernando Alonso hopes to bring a world title for Ferrari F1 in 2010 and says that Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull will be the main rival of the Scuderia.

Fernando Alonso visited the Scuderia Ferrari headquarters on Monday in order to take the measures for the new F1 car.

“It’s almost ready. I’m here in Maranello today to prepare the seat and other things connected to the debut on the track. I think that the Ferrari will be competitive and I really hope to bring the Drivers’ Title here to Maranello,” he said, in spite of the reserved declarations made only one day ago.

However, the double world champion anticipates a fierce fight for the title this year, considering that four teams can claim to bring the ultimate trophy in their showcase. “The ideal would be if my fiercest competitor was Felipe: that would mean that we’re the best team. Although I think that McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes will be very competitive and hard to beat,” he added.

In the context in which Kimi Raikkonen, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel showed their intention to compete in the rally, the Italian fans were eager to know if Alonso shares this passion. “For me Formula 1 is the top. I can’t see myself anywhere else. I always wanted to race in F1 since I was a child. Nascar? I like to play it on my Playstation,” Fernando Alonso also said.

Alonso’s next official appearance for Ferrari will be on January 28, when Scuderia will present at Maranello the new F1 car for the 2010 season.

Source: mibz.com

2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen drops his strongest hint yet that the 'sabbatical' he initially planned on taking in order to join the World Rally Championship (WRC) with Citroën in 2010 might turn into a permanent switch

Kimi Raikkonen has expressed his conviction that he could breeze back into F1 should he so desire, but as he prepares for his maiden full campaign in the World Rally Championship in 2010, the Finn has dropped his strongest hint yet that he will never be back – and admits that a WRC title would mean 'more' to him than his 2007 drivers' crown in the top flight.

After being evicted by Ferrari to make way for the incoming Fernando Alonso a year before his contract was due to expire, and subsequently failing to reach agreement with former team McLaren-Mercedes on financial matters, Raikkonen turned his attentions to his other main love of rallying, and swiftly concluded a deal with the Citroën Junior Team to join Sébastien Ogier in a Red Bull-backed C4 WRC identical to that of multiple world champion Sébastien Loeb.

Though he has been linked with a return to the grand prix grid in 2011 – possibly with Red Bull Racing, in-place of either Sebastian Vettel or Mark Webber – the Finn has revealed that with off-track politics continuing to prevail over on-track action, he has little real interest in coming back.

“Perhaps for fun I'll go to the Monaco Grand Prix,” he told the Red Bulletin's German website. “As it looks now, I would get another F1 cockpit – but do I want it? A lot of unpleasant things are happening in Formula 1, with one manufacturer leaving after the other or selling their teams.

“In F1, too many things overshadow the racing. There are too many politics, and no-one is willing to say what they think in public, because they are afraid it will be taken out of context. In a year, we'll talk again, but I'm glad I don't have to worry about it at the moment.”

Confessing that F1 had 'become a routine' over the nine years during which he featured as one of its leading lights – with 18 grand prix victories and 62 podium finishes to his name from 156 starts for Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari – Raikkonen is now palpably rejuvenated, with the fire inside him having been re-lit by his new challenge.

Admitting to feeling like he did back when he made his debut at the highest level as a fresh-faced 20-year-old newcomer in early 2001, he added that winning the World Rally Championship would mean 'more than my F1 World Championship title'. He begins his assault on the WRC on the Rally of Sweden on 12 February.

“I'm just starting out and I can sense what a long journey it would be to get to that point,” recognised the Espoo native. “It's definitely the biggest challenge yet – I've got to learn everything from scratch – but I want the challenge. I have to get to know the car, the rallies, how to work with my co-driver, everything.

“I'm looking forward to it, and you've got to set yourself some competition if you really want to know how good you are. The first few rallies are bound to be tough, until I know how fast the other drivers are, and I'm holding back on any personal expectations – I'm sure I won't manage to keep up with the top four (Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen, Dani Sordo and Jari-Matti Latvala).

“The atmosphere in rallying is much nicer – it's more about the performance of the drivers. In F1, each lap is more-or-less the same. When it rains it becomes more difficult, but otherwise it soon becomes a routine. In rallying, every corner or hill might be different from what you expected – that makes it interesting. There is a little bit of the young Kimi in me again; I'm curious and excited.”

Source: crash.net

Piero Ferrari has dismissed suggestions that Michael Schumacher is betraying Ferrari by making a Formula 1 comeback with Mercedes.

The son of company founder Enzo Ferrari believes the Mercedes move was a pragmatic one as Ferrari had no spare seats, rather than a snub to the team Schumacher had been with since 1996.

"It's true that we were a bit disappointed, because Michael had become our symbol," Ferrari told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I wouldn't use that expression [betrayal], even though obviously we would have preferred him to stay with us. But he wanted to race and the conditions weren't there for him to do it once again with Ferrari."

Ferrari is sure that Schumacher is still quick enough to make a successful comeback even though he is now in his forties.

"His competitiveness will depend on the car," said Ferrari. "Another great driver, Mario Andretti, had carried on racing until he was over 50. Schumi was and remains a phenomenon. Drivers like him come only once every ten years."

He insisted that Ferrari had no reason to consider moving either of its 2010 signings Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa aside to accommodate Schumacher.

"No, because I never believe in comebacks in sport, and I mean coaches and footballers who go back to a team where they had coached or played before. Time goes on," he said.

"And besides, we have hired Alonso who didn't become world champion by chance, and in fact he has already challenged and beaten Michael before. And then we have Massa, who has matured next to Michael himself.

"I'm convinced that, if we are able to build a good car - the 2009 one wasn't very good - we'll get some satisfaction. In other words, we won't lose races and the title because of the drivers."

Ferrari believes his legendary father would also have accepted Schumacher's decision.

"I'll take a step back in time: I was very close to Lorenzo Bandini and I suffered greatly when he died in Monte Carlo in 1967," said Ferrari.

"Right then, my father gave me some advice that was in line with his policy: 'You must never get too affectionate with racing drivers, because it either ends this way or they go race somewhere else. They are employees, even if very important ones.'"

Source: autosport.com

Despite being under contract to Renault for 2009, Spain’s Fernando Alonso, the 2005 and 2006 world champion F1 driver, was spotted in Maranello making successive visits to team Ferrari HQ over a fortnight in November, spending two days checking out the factory and meeting engineers as well as Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo.

The 28 year-old will get his first crack at Ferrari’s new 2010 F1 race car in February, however, Brazilian Filipe Massa is still recovering from the head injury he sustained in a crash at the last Hungarian GP.

Ferrari’s preparations, claims di Montezemolo, are on track to put them back in the F1 reckoning in 2010.

Source: theromanforum.com

Ferrari has signed Formula 3 Euro Series champion Jules Bianchi to a long-term deal.

The 20-year-old Frenchman has been given an undefined role within the team, but could become test and reserve driver following his maiden Formula 1 outing at Jerez this week.

"We are very happy to do this long-term deal, which was completed a short time ago," Bianchi's manager Nicolas Todt told AUTOSPORT.

"His role is undefined for the moment, but from now on, he will be at Ferrari's disposal. His first Ferrari drive is obviously at this young driver test."

Ferrari is yet to announce its test and reserve driver for 2010, although it has Giancarlo Fisichella, Luca Badoer and Marc Gene under contract in addition to its race drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso.

"I am more than happy," said Bianchi, whose race programme next year will be in the GP2 Series with multiple champion team ART. "It is very difficult to explain how I feel, but it is something very special.

"I know this is the first step on a journey that could turn out very nicely, but I'm equally aware that there is still a long way to go to Formula 1."

Source: autosport.com

Michael Schumacher has refused to deny speculation linking him to a racing return with Mercedes GP next year.

Competing at a Brazilian kart event last weekend, the 40-year-old responded to questions about Formula One by saying: "Right now I am concentrating only on these kart races.

"Who knows? Anything can happen."

Schumacher also confirmed that the nect injury that prevented his return to F1 with Ferrari this year is now healed.

"I don't have any problems with my neck. It's 100 per cent," he said.

Source: autocar.co.uk

SAO PAULO (AP) — Michael Schumacher says he has fully healed from his neck injury and indicated that he has not ruled out a return to Formula One next season.

Schumacher made the comments in Brazil, where he competed in a charity karting race hosted by former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa.

When asked by local reporters whether he would be back in F1 in 2010, the German told the Terra Web site and other media: "Who knows?"

Schumacher said Sunday he has recovered from the neck injury that kept him from attempting a temporary comeback with Ferrari earlier this year.

Source: usatoday.com

Despite all the denials that have been made this past week, Eddie Jordan is adamant Michael Schumacher will be with Mercedes GP next season.

Last week, rumours of Schumacher's pending came to the fore with Jordan stating that it's just a matter of time after he saw the German talking to Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn as well as members of Daimler.

The rumours were subsequently down played by both Mercedes and Schumacher's spokesperson, although neither said it was a definite 'no.'

Jordan, though, is adamant it will happen, even going as far as to say that Schumacher was due to meet with Ferrari to discuss being released from his consultancy contract.

"I believe it is going to happen. It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi GP," the former F1 team boss told The Sun.

"At the moment, Michael cannot drive for Mercedes because he has a consultancy contract with Ferrari.

"But I understand he was due to meet Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo with a view to being released. Michael likes the idea of driving a Mercedes run by Ross. It's a mouth-watering idea."

Source: planet-f1.com

HELSINKI - Outgoing Ferrari star Kimi Raikkonen will take next season off from Formula One as he could not get a deal with McLaren, his manager Steve Robertson was quoted as saying in the Finnish media.

"The choices in Formula One for the next season were McLaren or nothing. Kimi and McLaren could not reach an agreement so he will not drive on Formula One level for at least next season," Robertson said in an interview with the Turun Sanomat newspaper.

He said they were not negotiating with other Formula One teams and added that the 29-year-old Finn will now concentrate on other areas and could be compete in some rally next season.

Robertson did not rule out Raikkonen returning to Formula One after a year off if a suitable team was found.

"Kimi is still full of the will to drive. A gap year will not mean anything in that respect. It means more that we can find a place for Kimi where he can compete to win and (compete) for the world championship," he said.

Ferrari decided to part company with Raikkonen in September and Fernando Alonso will take his position.

But Robertson insisted that Raikkonen, who won the world championship for Ferrari in 2007, remained one of the best drivers in the world.

Source: inquirer.net