FIA announce 21-race 2012 calendar

While most of the focus was on Bahrain, the World Motor Sport Council gave the go-ahead to a 21-race calendar for the 2012 season

Next year's Championship will kick off in Bahrain despite the island kingdom's 2011 race only taking place on October 30th.

Added to that, Korea has been moved up the order to April while the United States GP will slot in after Canada and Turkey is subjec to a new contract being signed.

The season will end with the Brazilian GP on November 25th.

There are also seven times during the Championship when F1 will host back-to-back race weekends.

2012 Calendar
11 Mar Bahrain
18 Mar Australia
01 Apr Malaysia
08 Apr China
22 Apr Korea
06 May Turkey *
20 May Spain
27 May Monaco
10 Jun Canada
17 Jun USA United States
01 Jul Valencia, Spain
15 Jul Great Britain
29 Jul Germany
05 Aug Hungary
02 Sept Belgium
09 Sept Italy
30 Sept Singapore
14 Oct Japan
28 Oct India
11 Nov Abu Dhabi
25 Nov Brazil

* Subject to confirmation

Source: Planet-F1

Ferrari boss confirms Massa for 2012

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said taht there is “no question” Felipe Massa will keep his seat at Ferrari in 2012.

The Brazilian already has a contract for next year, but after his disappointing 2010 season there had been rumblings in the media suggesting Mark Webber or Nico Rosberg could be drafted in to replace him.

Massa has however had a better start to 2011 and Montezemolo told CNN that the Brazilian will still be alongside Fernando Alonso next season.

“Yes. He has a contract with us for this year and for next year. So absolutely yes, no question about it,” answered the Italian.

As for Alonso, Montezemolo said he hopes to keep the Spaniard for “a long time”.

“He is one of the best drivers I have seen in my career, very strong in the mind, pushing with the team in a constructive way, very close to the team. So I want to have Alonso for a long time,” he insisted.

Source: YallaF1

Suzuka inks new GP deal for 2012

Suzuka will continue to host the Japanese grand prix beyond this Ocrober’s race.

Last October, the boss of the Honda-owned Mobilityland company admitted that its formula one race at Suzuka is "only marginally profitable".

Honda pulled its team out of F1 at the end of 2008, while Toyota and Bridgestone have also left the sport, as has the other Japanese venue Fuji.

But the Japan Times and the Kyodo news agency both reported on Tuesday that the grand prix will take place in 2012 after a new agreement was reached between Mobilityland and F1 authorities.

Source: Nextgen

Vettel 'locked in' to Red Bull

A results clause in Sebastian Vettel’s contract means the reigning world champion is unlikely to leave Red Bull at the end of this year.

Having become F1’s youngest ever title winner in 2010, the 23-year-old German has been linked with a high profile move to Ferrari.

Vettel remains under contract for 2011, but it was believed that the ’option’ relating to 2012 was exercisable by either the driver or the Austrian team.

But in an article published by the Red Bull-owned Speed Week magazine, it is revealed that if Vettel wins a prescribed number of races this year, and finishes the championship in the top three, he will be locked in for 2012.

The editorial said that all the speculation about Vettel’s future beyond 2011 was "written without knowledge of his contractual situation" regarding the 2012 option.

"There is an option based on the results," Red Bull’s Helmut Marko confirmed. "We will not just let a top driver go."

Source: ESPNF1

Pirelli targets 2012 WRC return

Italian tyre firm Pirelli is targeting a return to the World Rally Championship in 2012.

Pirelli has a contract to compete for at least three years in Formula One, as well as in GP2 and GP3.

But the company’s motorsport director Paul Hembery has spoken of his desire to return to take on Michelin in the 2012 WRC.

“I want us to be back in the WRC in 2012,” said Hembery. “Once those regulations are out, we will study them carefully and begin - if the conditions are right - to prepare ourselves. We have a programme of continued development to maintain our knowledge in rallying through the season.”

Pirelli will remain in the WRC this season, continuing to supply rubber to the WRC Academy – which will incorporate the Pirelli Star Driver scheme.

“We have supported the WRC since its inception in 1973 and we still have a huge passion for the sport of rallying,” added Hembery. “Yes, we are back in Formula 1, but we’re certainly not about to forget about the WRC.”

As well as supplying the WRC Academy, Pirelli recently secured a deal to equip the Citroen Racing Trophy – a one-make series present in 10 countries this year – with tyres for the next three years.

Source: MaxRally
Courtesy: luieluv

Mercedes denies moving to sign Vettel for 2012

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

Kimi Räikkönen signs two year deal with Citroën Junior Team

2007 Formula one world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, has just signed a new two year deal with Citroen Junior Team which will keep him in the WRC until at least the end of 2012.

Rumours had started to appear once again after the fiasco and the Turkish GP, however with Webber and Vettel making up, it looks as if Red Bull have offered the Aussie a new one year deal with the Austrian team.

Kimi Raikkonen was a possibility to replace Mark, however that has now ended and Kimi will stay in the WRC for another two years.

Kimi is happy in the WRC and he believes next years cars would "suit (his) driving style". A fifth place in only his fifth rally was an excellent result and Kimi could become a future WRC world champion.

The announcement is likely to be made in July. Webber's contract with Red Bull could be announced sometime in the next three weeks.

Source: F1crazy