This is a start of what will be a continuing series of Formula One rumours. Bookmark this page!
24 September 2010
Briatore tipped for Ferrari top job: Flavio Briatore is on the verge of a dramatic return to F1 as the new team chief at Ferrari.
The flamboyant Italian, who had previously been banned for life following his part in the ‘Crashgate’ controversy at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, is hopeful of a return to the sport in 2013.
He has twice held talks with Ferrari bosses, who hope they can agree terms with Briatore to replace Stefano Domenicali in three seasons time.
There are all manner of legal loopholes to go through before such a deal can be ratified by F1 governing body the FIA and their president Jean Todt.
14 September 2010
Red Bull risk FIA wrath: Red Bull are on the cusp of having their cars banned under the latest FIA tests on their flexi-wings.
It is thought the cars of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber had been threatened with expulsion from the Italian Grand Prix, but last-minute tweaks enable them to race.
However, the FIA have warned Christian Horner and his team that they could be thrown out of a subsequent race should they fail another flexi-wing test.
2 September 2010
Sauber denies selling team to Gerhard Berger: Peter Sauber and Gerhard Berger have denied reports the pair are set to share ownership of the Hinwil based Formula One team.
With former Sauber owner BMW pulling out at the end of last year, and Berger no longer co-owning the Toro Rosso team, it had been suggested the Austrian former ten time Grand Prix winner could use the opportunity to return to F1.
But Berger told Auto Motor und Sport: "If Peter Sauber has trouble getting sponsors, then so would I."
Peter Sauber confirmed: "Gerhard and I have had no contact on this subject."
More strongly rumoured has been a connection between Sauber and Nicolas Todt, who is Felipe Massa's manager and the boss of the French GP2 team ART.
"It is true that Todt has some interest, but I told him a few months ago that we are not selling. This is still the current situation," said Sauber.
25 August 2010
Hispania Driver lineup for 2011: Hispania team principal Colin Kolles is close to finalising his driver line-up for 2011.
Kolles is keen to sign Pedro de la Rosa from Sauber and use his invaluable testing experience from his McLaren days to help build up the team.
The German former dentist wants an all-new line-up next year and is keen to offload both Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna and bring in GP2 up-and-coming star Dani Clos alongside de la Rosa.
14 August 2010
Mercedes GP Overdrawn Account: Mercedes GP are reportedly set to switch their focus to next year's Championship due to financial constraints.
Despite winning last year's World titles under the Brawn GP banner, Mercedes GP have struggled in this campaign, falling to fourth in the standings with just three podium finishes.
As such, the team has already confirmed that following the summer break they will be switching their focus to next year's Championship.
However, according to Germany's Bild the decision has also been made based on finances.
The newspaper claims that Mercedes GP have already depleted their budget for this year's Championship, forcing them to stop developing this year's W01.
'Mercedes has an estimated 180 million Euros - the smallest budget of the top racing teams,' reports Bild, adding that it is already 'overdrawn.'
'From the race at Spa, Schumi and Nico Rosberg therefore have only a saving program from Mercedes. The aim is to save fourth in the standings from rivals, Renault.'
Sauber cash boost and driver change: Sauber are on the verge of getting the financial backing of the richest man on the planet.
Mexican Carlos Slim, said to be worth about $55 billion, is hoping to invest in Peter Sauber's eponymous team.
However, as part of the deal he wants to push a Mexican driver into Formula 1.
Sauber already tick that box to some degree with GP3 racer Esteban Gutierrez on their books, and he is expected to make the step up to a race seat next season at the expense of Pedro de la Rosa.
Buemi targets Red Bull: Sebastien Buemi is targeting Mark Webber's race seat at Red Bull.
The Toro Rosso driver's ambitions appear lofty, with Webber signed for another season at Red Bull.
But Buemi's outlook is not so fanciful. Red Bull bosses are keen to nurture talent from their own driver development programme and believe the Swiss driver, after another year in F1 with the Red Bull 'B' team, will be ready to step into a frontline seat alongside Sebastian Vettel.
One stumbling block is those in the Red Bull hierarchy who believe Buemi's Toro Rosso team-mate Jamie Alguersuari is a better long-term bet to replace Webber.
13 August 2010
Todt to play hardball with Ferrari: FIA president Jean Todt is pondering how best to deal with Ferrari's flouting of team orders at Hockenheim.
Todt has a long association with Ferrari from his time with the team, and should he not take a harsh line as chairman of the FIA's World Motorsport Council there will be accusations of favouritism.
As a result the Frenchman will be firm with his former team at next month's meeting, hoping a hardline stance will lay down the gauntlet for his tenure as president.
8 August 2010
No Raikkonen return: Kimi Raikkonen will not be making a return to F1 next season, and the rumours are growing that he is finished with the sport for good.
Since moving to the World Rally Championship, the Finn has relished the lesser media glare and his cold image has been replaced by a much warmer one because of his enjoyment of life in the WRC.
Raikkonen is finally showing genuine pace and will remain with Citroen next year, saying he has no desire to return to the "boring" world of F1.
7 August 2010
Mercedes looking to 2011: Mercedes have given up on pushing for race wins this season as team boss Ross Brawn turns his attentions to next year's grid.
Mercedes clearly have the engine to return to the top - they currently power the McLarens of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
The main problem is the effect the current car has on tyres - leaving both Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher at a major disadvantage.
However, Brawn believes he has uncovered the solution to that particular problem and is confident of a championship challenge.
2 August 2010
Sutil in Renault talks: Adrian Sutil's management have opened talks with Renault about a possible move - reportedly the fifth driver being coveted by the manufacturer.
Vitaly Petrov looks certain to get the axe despite recent improvements. His huge investment is no longer required after Renault attracted major new sponsors.
Sutil has reportedly grown frustrated at the manner in which Force India have moved backwards of late following a bright early part of the season.
31 July 2010
Heidfeld set for race seat: Mercedes reserve and test driver Nick Heidfeld is the latest driver talked about as a possible replacement for Vitaly Petrov at Renault.
Further fuel was added to these rumours as Heidfeld and his manager held talks over a possible deal for 2010 as recently as the German Grand Prix last weekend.
The German driver is also in talks with some of the F1 backmarkers, who see his experience as invaluable as they bid to climb their way up the grid.
27 July 2010
Glock to Renault: Virgin racer Timo Glock has been tipped for a switch to Renault for next season.
Ironically, Glock was on the verge of putting pen to paper on a deal to join the French manufacturer for this season before having a change of heart and instead moving to Virgin.
However, the German's spell at the F1 backmarkers has been beset my problems, most notably with the car's fuel tanks that were initially not big enough to see him through to the end of the race.
Should the deal come off, Glock will replace Vitaly Petrov, whose original financial backing is wavering which means Renault no longer want to keep him.
Meanwhile, Petrov who has belied his inexperience to produce a series of impressive drives, is in talks with both Lotus and Virgin about a possible race deal.
Virgin looks the best bet for Petrov, who has pledged to inject fresh funds into the team with the smallest budget on the grid.
20 July 2010
Raikkonen delays F1 return: Kimi Raikkonen will not make a return to Formula 1 for the 2011 season as previously expected.
Renault have tabled a lucrative bid to lure the Finn back to the sport where he was crowned world champion in 2007.
However, Raikkonen is set to rebuff that deal and will stay in the World Rally Championship for another year.
Doing that would pave the way for him to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull, who are predominantly financing his WRC foray.
19 July 2010
According to Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One could survive "without Monaco".
With India making its debut next year and the US returning to the 2012 calendar, the F1 chief executive is also desperate to tap into the Russian market.
But he is believed to be confined to a new agreement with team bosses to cap the annual calendar at 20 races.
With eight of the 19 current races, F1's traditional heartland of Europe is the most represented on the schedule, but those venues pay the lowest promotional fees.
The Independent newspaper claims the average race fee is now $31.2m, but it is believed that historic Monaco pays nothing.
"The Europeans are going to have to pay more money or we will have to go somewhere else," said Briton Ecclestone, 79.
"We can do without Monaco," he added, admitting that axing the famous street venue is not likely but "they don't pay enough".
In 2007, Ecclestone admitted that Monaco is the best Grand Prix of the year. "Monaco always comes close to the top, doesn't it, because it is Monaco," he said then.
16 July 2010
Williams in VW tie-in: The Williams F1 team are in talks with Volkswagen about a possible partnership for next season.
The independent team has had links to major manufacturers in the past - for a time they were heavily backed by BMW.
Team boss Frank Williams would love to remain completely independent, but the difficult financial market means the VW name could be above the Williams garage soon.
The terms of the possible buy-in are unknown, but it would be the perfect situation for VW, who are keen to sound out F1 before buying their own team or alternatively launching their own entry.
Cypher the front-runners for 2011: American team Cypher are thought to be the front-runners to join the F1 grid for 2011.
The outfit is made up of many of the engineers that were part of the failed bid by USF1 to join F1 this season.
Cypher have already held talks with a driver over a deal for next season, such is their confidence in getting the spot.
The driver in question is 22-year-old American racer Jonathan Summerton, who had previously been linked with US F1.
Senna looking elsewhere: Bruno Senna and his management have opened talks with rival teams for next season following the row with Hispania at the British GP.
Senna was replaced for the weekend by test driver Sakon Yamamoto because the Brazilian's sponsors had failed to bring in the expected cash boost to the team.
The move has left a sour taste and Senna could yet become part of a new-look driver partnership at Mercedes. He already has close ties with team principal Ross Brawn, who was on the cusp of signing him for 2009.
Raikkonen to Mercedes: Kimi Raikkonen could make a shock return to Formula 1 with Mercedes next season.
Mercedes boss Norbert Haug flew to Switzerland last week to meet with Raikkonen, who is currently driving in the World Rally Championship.
Haug tried to downplay the visit as a trip to see a friend, but it is clear the German manufacturer are keen to bring Raikkonen back to the sport in 2011.
Such a move adds to speculation that Michael Schumacher will no longer be at the team in 2011.
