FORMULA 1 - 2012

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Marussia to maintain progress

Strugglers look to take steps forward in China

Marussia are looking to 'continue to take positive steps forward' as they head into the UBS Chinese Grand Prix.

The Russian-backed outfit have failed to pick up a point in the opening two races but team boss John Booth is hoping they can gather momentum going to Shanghai.

The team have been working hard at their Banbury base since Sepang and Booth said: "It has been good to have some time to take stock and gather ourselves, ready for the challenge of the next important phase.

"Our objective now is to maintain the momentum, so it has been full steam ahead in terms of our development programme.

"The starting point for that was the significant amount of data we had been able to gather in Melbourne and Sepang and, while the race team have had the chance for some rest during the break, it has been quite the opposite for the technical team back in Banbury.

"We have some aerodynamic and systems refinements for the MR01 in China, ahead of a more substantial upgrade for the start of the European season next month."

Timo Glock has enjoyed the break after a difficult start to 2012 and heads for Shanghai excited about the improvements the team have made in the last couple of weeks.

"It's nice to have had a break as it gave us some time to go through the vast amount of data we got in quite a short space of time with the new car," he said.

"This gives us the opportunity to try some new things for China and, hopefully, continue to take positive steps forward."

Team-mate Charles Pic has been hard at work with Marussia since Sepang and hopes that will pay dividends in Shanghai.

"I've prepared in the simulator as much as I can during the break. I've also spent some time in the factory working with the team and my relationship with the engineers is developing very well," he said.

"The Shanghai circuit is quite challenging and I'm really looking forward to driving it properly for the first time.

"Everyone in the team is pushing really hard to keep moving in a positive direction, so I hope we can show more of the car's potential next weekend."

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Perez looks to quick corners

Mexican expects Sauber to enjoy success in Shanghai

Sergio Perez expects the high speed corners in Shanghai will play into the hands of his Sauber team.

The Mexican goes into the UBS Chinese Grand Prix looking to build on his podium finish in Malaysia.

And he is confident he has the car to do well in the third grand prix of the season.

"Our car can be competitive and we have to make the most of it," Perez said.

"The high speed corners of the track should suit our car. I especially like turn one - it is a long and pretty difficult bend.

"The long straight will not be the easiest part for us, but, again, we have to maximise our potential."

Teammate Kamui Kobayashi is also hoping for success in Shanghai and said: "I always have a good feeling for this grand prix. I really like the circuit near Shanghai because I enjoy its high speed corners very much, and as well as that they should suit our car.

"The track temperatures might be lower than recently in Malaysia, as I expect them to be more like they were in Melbourne, and this also should be better for us and the tyres, but we have to see how it is once we are there."

Sauber head of track engineering Giampaolo Dall'Ara knows the team will be eager to build on their second place in Malaysia when they take to the track in China.

"I'm confident we can be very competitive in the race," he said.

"The Shanghai International Circuit is a very demanding track. Its peculiarities are several sections with a combination of braking and lateral forces as well as traction and lateral forces. This puts some demands on the car with regards to braking stability and overall balance.

"The straights are also quite relevant for lap times, especially the very long one where you need speed in qualifying as well as for overtaking in the race.

"We had some difficulties with tyre degradation in hot conditions in Malaysia, however, this should be less of an issue in Shanghai, because the tarmac is smooth and overall there are fewer high speed corners with high lateral forces."

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Sebastian Vettel still confident about Red Bull's title defence despite tough start to 2012 Formula 1 season

Sebastian Vettel is convinced that Red Bull Racing can still win the world championship this year, despite its difficult start to the campaign.

After Red Bull's dominant 2011 season, Vettel has not been able to challenge for victory in the opening two races - and failed to score any points in Malaysia following a collision with backmarker Narain Karthikeyan.

But although admitting that the start to the year has not been what the team wanted, Vettel is optimistic that the situation will improve for both himself and his team.

"I admit, the first two races weren't exactly perfect but they weren't that bad either," he wrote on his blog on the Red Bull Racing website. "We proved we can able to compete with the strongest teams and that's very important.

"When you get a mishap like the one I had in Malaysia, however, well then even we are helpless - but that's just how F1 works."

Looking ahead to the remainder of the campaign, Vettel added: "We now have 18 more races ahead of us and we will do all we can to defend our titles. I have total faith in the team, the car and myself. There's still much for us to do, but together as a team we can accomplish anything."

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Brawn 'confident' W-duct is legal

Ross Brawn says he's not concerned about the FIA's latest examination of his W-duct wing, confident it will be declared legal - again.

This year's Championship has seen one major innovation on the F1 grid and that is Mercedes W-duct wing.

The DRS-activated F-duct stalls the car's wings for better straight-line speed and has been largely credited with Mercedes much-improved qualifying pace.

However, several rivals insist that the wing - which was given the all-clear by FIA technical director Charlie Whiting in Australia and again in Malaysia - is illegal. As such, Whiting is reportedly again looking into the design.

Brawn, though, says he's not worried.

"We are confident the system is legal. As far back as 2010, in working group meetings, the FIA was stating that it considered such a system to be legal, because they were questioned on it as a matter of record," said the Mercedes team boss.

"We will obviously be extremely disappointed once someone took a different view, but I think the FIA has been fairly consistent in their position, so we have faith that they will maintain that consistency."

Brawn also rubbished claims by rivals that they face a hefty development bill to copy the design if it receives Whiting's stamp of approval.

"The system is actually very cheap," the Englishman told Autosport.

"It is a very simple cheap system, but not so easy to implement if you haven't integrated it into your car. This is perhaps where some of the frustration of some of our opponents (is coming from).

"People talk about the huge cost, but there isn't really a huge cost. You all know that there are a couple of carbon pipes running down the car, and the man on the street will tell you that they cost a few thousands pounds - they are not millions of pounds.

"The benefit we have gained is because we have thought about it and designed it into our car, and that is not so easy for people who have not go it - and that is why some of the opposition is so fierce.

"It is the recognition that it is quite a difficult thing to do if you haven't designed it from the beginning. That is the nature of F1."

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Sakhir circuit chief says Bahrain Grand Prix would help nation recover

Bahrain's circuit boss thinks it vital that the Gulf state's Formula 1 race goes ahead, because he believes the nation as a whole will benefit.

Despite an increasingly tense political situation in the country, Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed R Alzayani is adamant that holding the grand prix would actually be a help to the population in its move for reform.

"It is very sad what has happened; but we cannot go back and change history, we have to learn from it and move on," he told BBC Radio 4. "I think the grand prix is required for Bahrain because we need to get started back on track. The country has suffered, the economy has suffered."

Alzayani has also hit back at claims that the Bahrain GP is being used as a political tool by the government to show that the state has returned to normality.

"I don't think so, I disagree," he said. "The race is not taking place for the authorities, the race is taking place because Bahrain has been the home of motorsport in the Middle East. We have hosted seven previous grands prix and a majority of the attendance is not the authorities or the royal family, it is fans of F1 and motorsport in general.

"We have a regional event, so quite a few spectators come from neighbouring countries, and it would not be right to deprive them of this event."

He added: "I don't know why we are being dragged into the politics of the event. We are a social event, we are a sports event and we would like it to stay that way."

Motor racing's governing body, the FIA, said on Friday that it was monitoring events closely, but had been assured by the Bahrain authorities that there were no safety concerns.

"The FIA is constantly monitoring and evaluating the situation in the Kingdom of Bahrain," an FIA spokesman was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"We are in daily touch with the highest authorities, the main European embassies and of course the local promoters at BIC (Bahrain International Circuit) as well as the international promoter.

"The FIA is the guarantor of the safety at the race event and relies, as it does in every other country, on the local authorities to guarantee security. In this respect we have been repeatedly assured by the highest authorities in Bahrain that all security matters are under control."

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Liuzzi eyes F1 return

Italian admits he misses racing at the pinnacle of motorsport

Vitantonio Liuzzi has admitted he misses Formula One and would love to return the championship once again.

The Italian, who is still HRT's third driver, is embarking on a new chapter in his career driving a Mercedes for CAAL Racing in the Superstars Series.

The 30-year-old made his debut in the touring car championship at Monza last weekend and took a podium in race one before winning race two.

"Of course I miss Formula One because it is the pinnacle of the sport and the ultimate goal in a racing driver's career," the Italian told Touring Car Times.

"For sure I would like to try to get back there in the future. On the other hand I'm really happy to be here, this is another chapter in my career and I'm glad I had the opportunity to prove myself in a high level championship as the Superstars Series.

"If I had the chance to go back to F1 midway through the season I would need to evaluate the situation very carefully.

"Of course I'm still linked to the Grand Prix world as a third driver for HRT and it has a priority for me, so if the opportunity comes I would have to think about it and you never know what's going to happen in the future.

"In the meantime we enjoy this good weekend we had at Monza and this new adventure I'm living and then we'll see."

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Herbert shifts focus to new lane

In years gone by, the sight of Johnny Herbert walking past in the paddock would have caused such a media frenzy that photographers and journalists would have stumbled over one another; jockeying to get closest.

Nowadays though, such extreme actions are reserved only for the likes of

Lewis Hamilton

and Jenson Button; leaving the stars of yesteryear to pass by relatively peacefully, avoiding the unnecessary clamour in the lead up to race days.

But although it has been almost 12 years since the Essex-born driver retired from F1, it still seems strange to see the 1995 British Grand Prix winner wearing clothes other than overalls at a race weekend.

Herbert, though, recognises that times have changed and while he has no plans to race again in F1, he is enjoying his now customary position on the sidelines.

"I would like to have a go in one of the cars but I'm not in a position to say I could make a comeback now like Michael [schumacher] has done," admits Herbert.

"I have got no desire to race or want to race in F1, I'm too old for that for a start. I'm 47 now so that's never going to happen. I've had my window in the sport.

"You are seeing all these young guys coming through like Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo and I'm finding it very interesting. Watching them and seeing how they actually conduct themselves and how they perform, I really enjoy it."

While Herbert's racing career in F1 appears to be all but over, he still remains heavily involved in the sport; albeit in a slightly different capacity as an

FIA ace steward.

Since 2010, Herbert has been part of the FIA's driver stewarding panel, a recent initiative designed to add extra credibility to decisions being made during race weekends.

The role, which is rotated between a select group of experienced ex-driver's each race, has been fulfilled by the former Benetton and Sauber driver seven-times over the past two years, most recently in Australia and Malaysia last month.

"It is a really good thing to be involved with,"

explains the three-time race winner.

"I enjoy doing it, as do most of the other driver stewards. It's just interesting to see another side of how the organisation works.

"We have an understanding of what the driver's are experiencing and obviously for the other stewards, it's quite difficult for them to understand things from a driver's point of view. They can see incidents from a TV camera and it can show them in a very different light.

"We are just there as a guide really and to hopefully try and explain, in certain situations, what the incident was and what the circumstances were from a driver's perspective."

In spite of his recent involvement with the FIA, as well as a brief spell as technical director at Jordan back in 2005, Herbert has continued to race competitively since his retirement from F1 in 2000.

Only last year, the 47-year-old featured in the Superstar Series, an Italian based touring car championship, where he finished sixth after securing three podiums.

However, it has been in Le Mans 24 hour race where Herbert has raced most frequently, narrowly failing to repeat his 1991 triumph by finishing second in three successive years from 2002 to 2004.

While he harbours hopes of racing in Le Mans 24 hour race again this year, upcoming commitments with Sky Sports F1 and the

FIA could curtail any involvement.

Turning his attention back towards F1, Herbert believes the season has been a 'surprise' so far; largely due to Fernando Alonso's unexpected victory in Malaysia.

Yet despite having watched two tightly contested races, Herbert only sees two teams as realistic title contenders.

"I think it will be a

McLaren year.

Red Bull

don't seem to be quite there at the moment and I think we are seeing a slightly different driver for

Red Bull in Sebastian Vettel because he is not having it all his own way.

"You can see his frustration; especially after the race in Malaysia. I think we are just seeing a little bit of a crack appearing within Red Bull.

"I don't think you can write them off yet because I know Adrian Newey is one of the best at still getting everything out of the car and developing a better car for the rest of the season.

"But I think it is really going to come down to the two McLaren's. Probably the only one who could join them is Sebastian. Although Mark [Webber] is being consistent at the moment, he is always going to be about fourth or fifth by the look of it."

With

McLaren looking the quickest car in the field, questions have already been raised as to which one of their drivers has the edge in the championship fight.

Adding his own opinion into the hotly-contested debate, Herbert believes the ability to preserve the life of the Pirelli tyres could prove key, something which could hand Button the advantage over his teammate.

"With the situation we have with the tyres, Jenson has proved himself over Lewis by being easier on his tyres, so I think I would have to give Jenson the edge. He is probably driving the best I've seen him drive."

Whether Button can actually go on and add a second world championship to his trophy collection, only time will tell but with Mercedes and Lotus F1 also competitive, this season could be one of the most exciting yet.

Something Herbert will no doubt enjoy watching, while he juggles his work for Sky and the FIA.

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HOW THE F1 TEAMS WILL APPROACH THE CHINESE GP:

This weekend is the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai. Strategy decisions for this race are always on a knife edge; there are several ways to do the race, especially with the cars being close together on performance this year and with the two Pirelli tyre compounds also being close on performance.

And after what happened in Malaysia, teams will be working hard in Friday practice to understand how the tyres are likely to perform on long runs and in qualifying. This year getting the right car set up to deal with both is proving very tricky, largely thanks to the banning of the blown diffuser. Teams have lost more downforce and rear end stability as a result of that, than they imagined.

The first sector of the Shanghai lap features a series of slow corners, Turn one being a long, 270 degree tightening corner. Sector two features Shanghai's only medium and high speed corners, Turns 7 & 8 as well as a pair of slow left handers. Then Sector three is a long sector with three tight corners and one of the longest straights on the F1 calendar.

In comparison to the first two venues of the season, the lower temperatures will be comparable to Melbourne, while the track is between Melbourne and Sepang in terms of the tyre wear and degradation.

Track characteristics:

Shanghai International Circuit; 5.45 kilometres. Race distance: 56 laps = 305 kilometres, 16 corners in total, a mixture of slow, medium and fast

Aerodynamic setup Medium/high downforce. Top speed 322km/h (with Drag Reduction System on rear wing) 310km/h without.

Full throttle 55% of the lap. Total fuel needed for race distance: 148 kilos.

Time spent braking: 14% of the lap. 8 braking zones. Brake wear: Medium.

Loss time for a Pit stop = 17.5 seconds

Total time needed for pit stop: 21 seconds.

Fuel effect (cost in lap time per 10kg of fuel carried): 0.34 seconds (average). Fuel consumption: 2.55 kg/lap

Form Guide:

The UBS Chinese Grand Prix is the third round of the 2012 FIA F1 World Championship.

The first two races of the season saw McLaren dominate in Australia, with Malaysia hard to draw many conclusions from due to changeable weather conditions, although Ferrari's Fernando Alonso won the race from Sauber's Sergio Perez.

The McLaren continues to be the fastest car in the field, with the Red Bull faster in race conditions than in qualifying and the Mercedes being the opposite. The W Duct drag reduction system on the Mercedes is likely to work to optimum effect on Shanghai's long straight and Mercedes must be considered a contender for pole position. But the high tyre wear will knock them back a little in the race.

As far as drivers' form is concerned at Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton is the only driver to have won the race twice, there are five other previous winners in the field; Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel.

Weather Forecast:

It can often been overcast and cold in Shanghai and rain is quite common. The 2010 event was held in wet conditions, as was the 2009 edition. The race starts at 1500hrs local time. The ambient temperatures are forecast to be around 18-20 degrees, quite low by F1 standards.

Likely tyre performance and other considerations:

Pirelli tyre choice for Shanghai: Soft and Medium.

Last year's Chinese Grand Prix was one of the most exciting from a strategy point of view and all the signs are that this year will be the same. The difference in performance between the soft and medium tyre is projected to be just 0.3secs/lap, much less than last year.

Last year in China we saw different strategies being used by the podium finishers. Lewis Hamilton won the race by stopping three times and crucial to this was saving a new set of soft tyres by not doing a second run in Qualifying 3. Sebastian Vettel paid the price of stopping just twice, while Mark Webber came through from 18th to 3rd with a counter strategy of running three stops using the harder tyre first.

There are more high energy corners in Shanghai than in Melbourne, but not as many as in Sepang and the temperatures will be much lower so this should mean that the tyre degradation is more normal. There is a huge stop into turn 1, with a 6g deceleration; one of the toughest of the year on the tyres.

However with the performance of the cars so close together, getting the right compromise on set up between qualifying and the race will be vital. With the banning of Exhaust Blown Diffusers, the teams have lost more downforce at the rear of the car than they expected and this is leading to problems trading off qualifying pace and race pace. The tyres seem to have a sweet spot and at the moment it is teams like Sauber and Williams who seem to be finding it more than the big teams. This will change with more running. Teams will be using Friday's practice sessions in China to understand the best way to work the tyres for single lap pace and race pace.




Number and likely timing of pit stops:

Last season three stops was the way to go and the pre-race expectations are the same for this year. The winning strategy last year was to stop on lap 15 for soft tyres; Lap 25 for soft tyres and Lap 38 for harder tyres. However with the gaps between the tyres being much less this year, teams will use Friday practice to assess tyre performance and the exact difference between strategies.

Chance of a safety car:

The chance of a safety car at Shanghai is reasonably high, at 43% and there is an average of 0.7 safety cars per race. In the 2005 and 2010 races there were 2 safety car periods

Recent start performance of drivers:

As far as 2012 start performance is concerned drivers have gained (+) or lost (-) places off the start line this season as follows:

Gained:

+11 Kobayashi 


+10 Kovalainen

+8 Massa, Perez


+7 Alonso, Glock


+6 Raikkonen,

+5 Maldonado

+4 Pic


+3 Rosberg, Hulkenberg


+2 Vettel, Di Resta

+1 Button, Schumacher*, Petrov, Karthikeyan

Lost:

-1 Hamilton, Vergne, De la Rosa

-2 Ricciardo


-3 Grosjean**, Webber

* Senna, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg were all involved in accidents on 1st lap in Australia

** Schumacher and Grosjean collided on Lap 1 in Malaysia, Senna and Perez pitted for wet tyres on opening lap

Pit Stop League Table




Of course good strategy planning also requires good pit stop execution by the mechanics and we have seen tyre stops carried out in less than two and a half seconds by F1 teams.

The league table below shows the order of the pit crews based on their fastest time in the most recent dry race, Australia, from the car entering the pit lane to leaving it. The 2011 league table positions are in brackets.

1. Ferrari 21.910s (5)


2. McLaren 22.837s (3)


3. Red Bull 22.915s (1=)


4. Mercedes 23.017 (1=)


5. Williams 23.166 (7)


6. Toro Rosso 23.257 (8=)


7. Lotus 23.310 (6)


8. Sauber 23.832 (8=)


9. Caterham 24.397 (8=)


10. Force India 24.579 (4)


11. Marussia 25.046 (11)

* HRT did not qualify for the Australian Grand Prix

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Full steam ahead for Marussia

Marussia are looking to "continue to take positive steps forward" as they head to Shanghai with minor updates for their MR01.

Having failed to put their 2012 out on track during pre-season testing, Marussia have started this year's Championship on the back foot.

The team, though, is determined to make up ground, confident their Chinese "refinements" will be another step towards their first F1 point.

"Our objective now is to maintain the momentum, so it has been full steam ahead in terms of our development programme," said Booth.

"The starting point for that was the significant amount of data we had been able to gather in Melbourne and Sepang and while the race team have had the chance for some rest during the break, it has been quite the opposite for the technical team back in Banbury, who have been evaluating our findings and feeding them back into the cycle, including the continuation of our wind tunnel programme.

"We have some aerodynamic and systems refinements for the MR01 in China, ahead of a more substantial upgrade for the start of the European season next month."

Timo Glock, who is still seeking his first World Championship point as a Marussia driver, added: "It's nice to have had a break as it gave us some time to go through the vast amount of data we got in quite a short space of time with the new car.

"This gives us the opportunity to try some new things for China and, hopefully, continue to take positive steps forward. I like this race so I'm looking forward to it and to seeing where we stand this weekend."

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Perez: Heads down, work hard

Sergio Perez has urged all at Sauber to "work hard" as they head to China on the back of the Mexican's first F1 podium.

Perez pulled off a massive surprise at the previous grand prix in Malaysia when he raced to a runner-up result in the tricky wet conditions.

And although his P2 was a massive high for the 22-year-old and his team, it is back to work as they tackle the Shanghai International circuit for round three of the Championship.

"I am very much looking forward to the Chinese Grand Prix," said Perez.

"I'm very much focused on thinking about further improvements and continued with my training programme.

"We all have to keep our heads down and work hard. Our car can be competitive and we have to make the most of it."

Perez believes the team could do very well at the Chinese race as the characteristics of the circuit should suit Sauber's C31.

"The high speed corners of the track should suit our car.

"I especially like Turn One - it is a long and pretty difficult bend. The long straight will not be the easiest part for us, but, again, we have to maximise our potential."

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Hembery: 2011 a tough act to follow

With the top three in 2011 all on different strategies, Paul Hembery concedes Pirelli face a tough task trying to mimic last year's success.

Last year's Chinese GP at the Shanghai International circuit proved to be one of Pirelli's more exciting Sundays as far as strategy was concerned with the race not decided until the final lap.

The grand prix was won by Lewis Hamilton with McLaren putting the 2008 World Champion on a three-stop strategy.

This season Pirelli head to China with their medium and the soft compounds which their motorsport director is hoping will again play a role in an intriguing grand prix.

"China proved to be one of the most fascinating races in our first year, with tyre strategy at the heart of it, so we have a tough act to follow," Hembery said.

"However, the philosophy we have adopted this year actually extends the window of peak performance on the slick tyres, which means that the drivers should be able to race harder and closer.

"Although ambient temperatures can be quite low in China, tyre degradation is traditionally high due to the unique track layout.

"So although we have the same nomination as we saw in Australia - medium and soft - our P Zeros will face a quite different challenge next week in Shanghai."

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Hill backing Button for the title

Damon Hill reckons Jenson Button will the one to take the fight to Sebastian Vettel as the McLaren driver has become the complete package.

After two grands prix, Button, who won the season-opening Australian GP, is third in the Drivers' Championship on 25 points, ten less than Fernando Alonso and five behind Lewis Hamilton.

But of the trio, it is Button who Hill believes could dethrone Vettel as the McLaren driver has the right "tools" to do so.

"It is something that comes to you after a number of years in F1," the 1996 World Champion told The Sun.

"All the things you have learned finally come together and that is what we are seeing with Jenson.

"In his life, he is really where he wants to be right now.

"I believe in paying your dues and once you get your hands on the tools that can do the job, you don't want to let go."

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McLaren preview the Chinese GP

Jenson Button is determined to bounce back from his Malaysian disappointment while Lewis Hamilton wants his first win of the season in China...

Jenson Button

Q: You called the Malaysian Grand Prix a "bad day in the office" - does that change your preparations for this weekend's race in Shanghai?

JB: "Not really, it makes you a little keener to get back in the cockpit as you're always a bit more determined to be looking ahead rather than looking back. But, like I say, it doesn't really make any difference. In fact, the three-week break has been extremely relaxing - I was able to get away, relax and keep training. It's still the start of a very long season, so it's good to keep fit and refreshed. I've usually gone well in Shanghai, it's a circuit I really enjoy and I'm looking forward to the race weekend."

Q: You memorably won here in 2010 - what is it about the circuit that makes it special?

JB: "Well, the facilities are amazing, but it's a very good, modern circuit - the first two sectors are pretty technical, there are some interesting combinations of corners and you need a good, responsive car to go well. Then the track opens up, the straight is one of the longest in Formula 1 - it just keeps going - then you're into the hairpin and the final turn, both of which offer good opportunities for overtaking. There's no one particular corner that stands out, but that's good, because it means they've done a good job with the whole track. And if it rains, then it's going to be another extremely unpredictable race as we're all still learning about the cars and tyres in damp conditions. Whatever happens, it should be interesting."

Q: What will be the key to a good race performance in 2012?

JB: "There will be the usual set-up compromises: setting the car up to offer good downforce through some of the faster corners, but without sacrificing too much speed along the straights. We saw different teams address that balance in different ways over the first two races, so it will be interesting to see if things start to converge this weekend after a few weeks back in Europe. Tyre wear will also be very important - last year we saw a real disparity between the compounds - so getting the preparation right will be crucial."

Lewis Hamilton

Q: You opened your winning account in China last year, are you hoping for the same this season?

LH: "I'm looking at the championship as a whole - although, of course, I'd love to win every race, it's more important to be in a good points-scoring position at every race. I think the first two races have shown that, as a team, we're definitely in positions to win. I think Malaysia was a good example of how to pick up points when you're looking at the championship - and that was something I really took away as a positive from that race. But yeah, I'll be heading to China looking to win - but it's just as important to pick up some good points if, for whatever reason, a win isn't on the cards."

Q: What do you like about the Shanghai International Circuit?

LH: "I have some vivid memories of racing in China - some good, some not so good! I've won there twice - both were victories I'm really proud of: in 2008, it was a very important race, and I really needed a good result for the championship - we had a pretty much perfect weekend with pole position, fastest lap and the race win. Then in 2011, coming off the back of a difficult weekend in Malaysia, I had a great race, kept pushing every lap and managed to take the lead right at the end. It was a very important win because it showed that we could be a force in the championship that year."

Q: Your two third positions have consolidated your position in the championship - is that the key to a good season?

LH: "I won't deny that I'm disappointed to have had two pole positions and not to have been able to convert either of them into victories, but I prefer to think of it that luck just hasn't been on my side, and that it will swing my way sooner or later. I also think last year taught me the value of consistency: it's no use chasing a great result if you can't back it up with another strong finish the following week. So maybe I'm just playing myself in gently: after all, in 2007, I didn't win a race until the sixth round, and I was in the hunt for the title all through the year. I still don't think the pecking order has settled down yet, so it's important to get some good results in the bag while we can. It will be very interesting to see how the order has shaken itself out over the last three weeks - it's going to be an interesting weekend."

Martin Whitmarsh, team boss: "The Chinese Grand Prix is a race in which we've traditionally gone very well - we've won three of the past four races here, all of which have come through faultless performances from Jenson and Lewis - and we head to Shanghai this year keen to add to that tally. While there are mixed feelings to have only been able to convert two all-front-row starting positions into one race win, everybody here at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes feels extremely encouraged by our pace in the first two grands prix of the season. Make no mistake, however: we're acutely aware that our rivals won't have stood still during the past three weeks. We've certainly been extremely busy, too, and we don't take anything for granted: if the overall competitive order was a little hard to read in the first two races, I have no doubt that it will start to become clearer next weekend, and I strongly believe that, once again, it will be closely fought at the front."

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Mercedes preview the Chinese GP

With just one point in the bag, Mercedes need to turn their qualifying pace into a solid race result in China...

Michael Schumacher: "When I think about the Chinese Grand Prix, the fans are the first thing that comes to mind. For many years now, I've had a big and loyal fan base there, and it's still very touching to see the lengths they go to in supporting me. A big thank you to all of them! As for the race itself, I've never had much luck in Shanghai, apart from my win in 2006; however that could change this year. In the first two races of 2012, we didn't manage to maintain our qualifying pace in race conditions. We've been working intensively on this, so that we can offer our fans a strong performance in China."

Nico Rosberg: "I have good memories of the Chinese Grand Prix as I was on the podium there in 2010 and led the race last year. I like the Shanghai International Circuit very much with its many unique, long corners. For me, China is really the start of the season as the first two races have not gone to plan. The track is quite different to the first two, as it demands more from the front tyres than the rears - in other words, what is termed a front-limited circuit. We know that we have a quick car, but we are looking to improve our long run pace in China next weekend and to have a better race performance."

Ross Brawn, Team Principal: "The Chinese Grand Prix takes place at the very impressive Shanghai International Circuit and has really established itself on the Formula One calendar in recent years. China is an important and growing market for our sport, and indeed for Mercedes-Benz, and we look forward to our annual visit next week. On track, we hope that the weekend will prove more successful than the first two races of the season where our race results did not match expectations after a positive start to both weekends. A lot of hard work and analysis has taken place back at the factory since our return, and I hope to see these efforts pay dividends next Sunday in Shanghai with a performance which reflects the capabilities of the F1 W03."

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "The first two races of the 2012 Formula One season have been ones of unfulfilled promise for our team. Michael's second row qualifying positions were less than half a second from pole in Australia and Malaysia, however at both events we did not convert our qualifying speed into a consistent race performance on Sunday when it counts. Since the last race in Malaysia, the team has conducted analysis of our tyre usage during the first two rounds, and how we can improve. The Chinese Grand Prix will provide an answer on our progress, although weather conditions and circuit characteristics will be different to either Melbourne or Malaysia. The 1170 metre back straight accounts for over 20% of the lap distance, the cars exceed 285 kph on four different occasions, and nine of the circuit's corners are considered to be low or medium speed, with five taken at less than 100 kph. Our team has been hard at work since Malaysia, and we hope to be able to translate our learning process into consistent and competitive lap times on race day in China."

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Lotus preview the Chinese GP

With issues befalling both drivers in the opening two races, Lotus duo Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean want an uncomplicated Chinese Grand Prix...

Kimi Raikkonen

Q: Two races in - how does it feel to be back?

KR: Two races done, eighteen to go. So far it has been more or less alright for me and the racing isn't any different than before. The E20 certainly feels good. We're working to get the steering exactly right for me - and we're almost there. The speed in the car is good - and this applies to qualifying and race pace. It's been two frustrating races in terms of where we started. We shouldn't have started so far back in Australia, and the penalty for changing the gearbox before the Malaysian Grand Prix cost us finishing positions too, but that's motor racing.

Q: The E20 certainly seems to have good pace...

KR: We can say it looks good so far. The car was very good in qualifying at both races. Romain was third in Australia then I was fifth fastest in Malaysia. At Sepang it could have been better. I made a couple of mistakes in the final run in Q3. I lost some time there, so it could have been better than fifth, fourth or even third. I felt the speed was there in the car. Obviously, it was a good car to qualify.

Q: Race pace doesn't seem bad either; you're back to setting race fastest laps...

KR: The race was difficult with the conditions and honestly the best approach was to fight to keep the P5 position. When I first went out on the slicks it was so dark that it was difficult to see the dry line on the circuit. Once I could make out the line I drove fast enough to keep the position. I felt that there was more pace possible from the car but I didn't want to take any risks. To set the race's fastest lap is nice, but not as good as winning.

Q: How was the feeling with the Pirelli wet tyres?

KR: It was my debut with the latest wet weather tyres. When the lights went out, I had to take it easy, because I simply didn't know how they would behave. Obviously we had done only one installation lap with them beforehand, so we didn't even know how to adjust the front wing for the wet race. But the start went okay, we actually managed to gain a few places, but then there was an incident with a couple of cars in front of me, so I had to go on the grass again like in Australia to avoid them. I lost some places, but I made it through the first lap, anyway.

Q: What are your thoughts of the Shanghai International Circuit?

KR: It's just another race track - I don't have particular favourites or anything like that. It's quite similar to Albert Park and Sepang in what it requires from the car so that should be good for us. We have some new parts for the E20 so that should also be good. I'm sure all the other teams have new parts for their cars too, so we won't know where we are until we get there.

Q: You've gone pretty well in China before, you must have a good feeling going there?

KR: I won there in 2007 and that was a good feeling as that was the year I won the World Championship. It's a proper race track and there are good opportunities for overtaking. Our car looks good so let's see what happens when we get out on track.

Q: Are you happy with the development progress of the E20 and the evolving relationship with the team?

KR: The team is working very hard to keep us going to the right direction. Obviously, we have a good and solid car to work with. It has been quick everywhere so far. The weather and other situations at the two races we've had mean we haven't seen the best of it. I feel comfortable with my relationship with the team. It's clear they are racers like me and that is the best way to get the maximum from the season.

Romain Grosjean:

Q: After some time to pause and reflect, how do you feel things are going now we're two races in to the season?

RG: We can certainly say that we have good performance from the car. We've got through to Q3 at both races so the car is performing very well. We were able to fight for the front row in qualifying and the pace in the race is very good. In China I hope we can have a more standard race with everything in order with regards to the start, the race - and not a crazy amount of water on track as we did at Sepang - and we can finally achieve the good result which we are capable of.

Q: Two short races - is this now an issue for you?

RG: When you make mistakes you have to admit it and not repeat that mistake. When it's not your fault - well it's not your fault. The first two races were tough and we didn't get a result. On the other hand I know that we can do some great things in the future races. My season starts properly in China.

Q: What do you think of the Shanghai circuit?

RG: It will be my first time driving the circuit. I've been watching some on-board videos and it looks pretty nice. I hope it will suit the E20. We have a new package which will hopefully be beneficial. I'm looking forward to discovering another new circuit. There are plenty of good, interesting corners by the looks of it. If we get a good result I'm sure it will become a track that I love.

Q: How excited are you about a new aerodynamic package coming for the E20?

RG: It's great to see how much the factory is behind us and working very hard to give us updates. We've had a promising start to the season and we all want to get the best in every area, so a new aerodynamic package is quite exciting; I can't wait to see how it looks and then experience how it feels on track. Then, most importantly, I want to see the lap time gain.

Q: Now you've had some decent track time at two Grands Prix, how comfortable are you feeling with the car and how close are you to delivering 100% from the interaction between you and the E20?

RG: The E20 gives me a great feeling. We have seen some interesting things in Malaysia and we are always learning more about how it reacts. We gained a very good impression at Australia and Malaysia. We have a few areas where we know what to do and a few areas where we know what not to do in terms of set-up. I'm sure for Shanghai we will be able to find the best set-up quicker than at the first two races. I think there is still scope for me to feel more comfortable and confident with the E20, but it's a very nice car to drive and with the new aero package it should be even better; then with all subsequent packages better and better...

Q: How intense did you find the first two races with your return as a Formula 1 race driver and the back-to-back nature of the two Grands Prix?

RG: A race weekend takes a lot of time and a lot of energy. But when you are in the car, the adrenalin takes over and you never feel tired. When you get back home, you normally need a bit of a rest. You relax and it's then that you feel tired. Over the race weekend there's so much happening that you don't have time to feel tired.

Q: Compared to last year, where do you think we are in the relative order?

RG: We're definitely a step forwards, we just need to be able to show this in a normal race. We've seen that we are looking good in qualifying where we've been either the second or third fastest team which is very good. There are a few areas we need to improve in the race but we are definitely on course this season.

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Sauber preview the Chinese GP

Having secured a podium finish at the previous race in Malaysia, Sauber are determined to keep their heads down and continue improving...

Kamui Kobayashi: "I always have a good feeling for this Grand Prix. I really like the circuit near Shanghai because I enjoy its high speed corners very much, and as well as that they should suit our car. Last year the race was great fun and I scored a point after having started 13th. The track temperatures might be lower than recently in Malaysia, as I expect them to be more like they were in Melbourne, and this also should be better for us and the tyres, but we have to see how it is once we are there. In any case I will go there with a positive approach and after the small break it will be interesting to see who brings what updates for the cars. Personally I have been using the days off for some extra training sessions with our physiotherapist, Joseph Leberer, in Japan."

Sergio Pérez: "I am very much looking forward to the Chinese Grand Prix. I enjoyed the short break after the race in Malaysia, although, especially in the beginning, it was a busy time back in Mexico. The reception in Guadalajara was absolutely great and I really loved seeing my family and friends at home. However, I'm very much focused on thinking about further improvements and continued with my training programme. We all have to keep our heads down and work hard. Our car can be competitive and we have to make the most of it. Last year initially I had a good race in Shanghai, but then I had contact with some other cars towards the end of the Grand Prix and was penalised. The high speed corners of the track should suit our car. I especially like turn one - it is a long and pretty difficult bend. The long straight will not be the easiest part for us, but, again, we have to maximise our potential."

Giampaolo Dall'Ara; Head of Track Engineering: "The Shanghai International Circuit is a very demanding track. Its peculiarities are several sections with a combination of braking and lateral forces as well as traction and lateral forces. This puts some demands on the car with regards to braking stability and overall balance. The straights are also quite relevant for lap times, especially the very long one where you need speed in qualifying as well as for overtaking in the race. We are being allocated the soft and the medium tyre compounds. Normally the durability is not an issue but, as the track is not often used, there can be graining and high wear levels at the beginning of the weekend. We had some difficulties with tyre degradation in hot conditions in Malaysia, however, this should be less of an issue in Shanghai, because the tarmac is smooth and overall there are fewer high speed corners with high lateral forces. What can be a challenge is the weather. In April there is always quite a high possibility of rain, which is not as dramatic as in Malaysia, but still is something we have to bear in mind when planning the weekend. The car will have some minor modifications compared to the one we ran in Malaysia. I'm confident we can be very competitive in the race."

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Caterham preview the Chinese GP

Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov are eager for a "chance to fight" in Shanghai as they bid to become the first to score for Caterham...

Heikki Kovalainen: "Next up it's another couple of back to back races, this time China and Bahrain. We'll look at Bahrain next week so for now the focus is on China. I've been in Abu Dhabi since leaving Malaysia, staying with my girlfriend Catherine's parents so I can keep up the training regime and avoid the full jetlag that can kick in when you return to Europe. I'm feeling really good, back to 100% after the bug I had in Malaysia and I just want to get back out on track. When we do get back out it will be in Shanghai at one of the pretty standard modern tracks. It's a mix of low and medium speed corners, a very long straight with a tight corner at the end that provides a natural point to overtake, and a couple of tight fiddly bits you never quite feel like you get completely right. It's not too hard on the brakes but you need to get the car stable under braking so you can really attack into each braking zone, and you need good traction out of the slower corners to be able to pressure the cars ahead around the whole lap. The key bit is probably into T11, 12 and 13 - making sure you get the braking into T11 right so you can carrry as much speed as possible through 12 and 13 and out onto the straight. Get that right and you give yourself a chance to fight at the end of the straight."

Vitaly Petrov: "As soon as the Malaysian race was over I headed back to Russia for a few days at home before we get going again in China. I've been doing a bit of training, catching up with friends and family and I hooked up with Andrei Arshavin to help launch the new Nike Mercurial Vapour VIII football boots. I'm a big football fan and it's always good seeing Andrei. He's obviously having a pretty interesting season with Arsenal and I know he and the whole Russian team are looking forward to Euro 2012 in June. I'll have to make sure I can fit in watching a few games while we're at races - I'm in Canada for Russia's opening game so I'll have a word with the IT guys to see if they can help me watch it! Next up though it's China. I've been in the points for the last two years in Shanghai and while it would obviously be great to repeat that in 2012 with Caterham I suspect it might be a bit too early in the season for us to get a point in China. It's not a particularly hard circuit to drive, it's not too technical but you have to make sure you get it right through the tight section from turns 1 to 4, and the same from 11 to 13 as you head onto the straight. You can make up or lose quite a bit of time in both those sequences and that means setting up the cars to have the right balance between the high speed run down to T14, meaning less drag, and the slower turns in sectors one and three, both of which need much more downforce."

Mark Smith, Technical Director: "As we head to Shanghai for the third race of 2012 we know that we still have some margin to work on to extract the best from the car and the tyres in both qualifying and the race itself. We have been looking at this in detail since returning from Malaysia and have a number of plans in place to help us move forwards as soon as we get on track in Shanghai. The ambient temperatures in China are always much lower than the last race in Malaysia, although it would not be a surprise to see rain at some stage over the course of the weekend. The layout of the circuit itself makes overtaking quite tricky so it will be interesting to see how much KERS helps us, now we have it here for the frist time, along with DRS this year. The track surface is relatively smooth and the kerbs are generally not an issue in China, so we will take these factors into account when we plan the optimum setups for the weekend. We still have yet to run a dry race in 2012 on a full grand prix circuit which means that we have a limited amount of tyre information for the Chinese GP weekend. That puts a premium on the importance of running tyre programmes in FP1 and FP2 and gives the engineers a lot of work to do on Friday night. Externally, we will be running the cars in high downforce configurations and we have bodywork updates targeted at increased load and more efficient cooling, given the lower ambient temperatures we will to see in Shanghai. China is not especially tough on brakes but we also have a couple of updates in this area."

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "While the race team has had a very well deserved couple of weeks off since the end of the Malaysian race, the work rate in the factory has intensified as we keep up the development fight off track. This time last year we wanted to bring updates to each race, but we were not in a financial or logistical position to do so. This year we can do just that, and that is another sign that we are going in the right direction. Before the Australian and Malaysian races we had a pretty clear idea of where we would be relative to the other teams around us, and the performances we saw confirmed what we need to do to keep bridging the gap to the cars ahead. Over the race weekends we need to look at improving our qualifying pace, and it looks like we can work more efficiently on maximising tyre performance levels over the whole weekend. Back at the factory the main focus for us is on improving the aero performance of the cars. This is what will give us the chance to fight for the point we want to win, and the fact we can now head into the next two flyaway races with the sort of upgrades we could only dream of last year is a very encouraging sign, and one that shows how hard the whole team is working to help us achieve our goals."

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Marussia preview the Chinese GP

Marussia are looking to 'continue to take positive steps forward' as they head to Shanghai seeking to win the battle of the newcomers...

Timo Glock: "Shanghai is a really special circuit. It has a very long straight and a very difficult turn one which is very quick on entry and tight through the whole corner. It's very long and demanding for the front left tyre, so a real challenge for Pirelli in determining the tyre choice. It's difficult to make predictions for this race because I've known it to be pretty cold and sometimes very wet, so you never quite know what is going to happen and so much depends on the weather here. It's nice to have had a break as it gave us some time to go through the vast amount of data we got in quite a short space of time with the new car. This gives us the opportunity to try some new things for China and, hopefully, continue to take positive steps forward. I like this race so I'm looking forward to it and to seeing where we stand next weekend."

Charles Pic: "I'm quite happy with the way I got up to speed with the first two circuits, despite never having raced there before. The weather makes the acclimatisation a little more difficult, but in the dry it doesn't take very long to find a good rhythm. It has been good to look back at my data from Australia and Malaysia and see where we can continue to improve. I've prepared in the simulator as much as I can during the break. I've also spent some time in the factory working with the team and my relationship with the engineers is developing very well. The Shanghai circuit is quite challenging and I'm really looking forward to driving it properly for the first time. Everyone in the team is pushing really hard to keep moving in a positive direction, so I hope we can show more of the car's potential next weekend."

John Booth, team boss: "After such a busy but positive start to the season with the opening two races, it has been good to have some time to take stock and gather ourselves, ready for the challenge of the next important phase. Our objective now is to maintain the momentum, so it has been full steam ahead in terms of our development programme. The starting point for that was the significant amount of data we had been able to gather in Melbourne and Sepang and while the race team have had the chance for some rest during the break, it has been quite the opposite for the technical team back in Banbury, who have been evaluating our findings and feeding them back into the cycle, including the continuation of our wind tunnel programme. We have some aerodynamic and systems refinements for the MR01 in China, ahead of a more substantial upgrade for the start of the European season next month."

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HRT preview the Chinese GP

HRT are confident they are heading to China "much better prepared" than they were for the opening two races...

Pedro de la Rosa: "After these first two Grands Prix we arrive in China much better prepared, with more mileage and having learned a lot, especially after the Malaysian GP. All the data gathered in the last race is very important for us, as we mustn't forget that we didn't have a preseason. Now we have a better insight on the areas where we must improve, but the most important thing in this initial stage is to finish races. That is the prime objective in order to learn and improve race by race. The hardest part comes now but we are better prepared. China is a circuit where I have always done well and a place I know well, both in dry and wet conditions. It's not a particularly hard track for the car or the driver, but aerodynamics are fundamental."

Narain Karthikeyan: "We took a step forward in Malaysia and our aim is definitely to carry the momentum into China and rest of the season. Although we managed to finish the race, cooling was still an issue at Sepang and once we have it sorted out completely we'll be able to unlock some more performance from the car. The back straight at the Shanghai circuit is of course one of the longest on the calendar and the tightening first corner is uniquely challenging since the corner entry is in top gear and by the time you exit you're in second. Plus there are a fair amount of technical slow-speed corners as well, and the high-speed direction change of turns 7/8. Given these mixed characteristics, it is a demanding circuit for traction, aero and braking stability in equal measures."

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: "The start to the season was very complicated because we were behind schedule with regards to the other teams. We had to put in a colossal effort to be able to get on track in Australia and improve our performance just one week later in Malaysia. There's still plenty to do and many areas to improve on to be where we should be but at least in these two weeks we've had a bit more time to analyse data, prepare and recharge batteries, therefore I'm confident that we're arriving in China in a much better situation. We mustn't forget that the F112 is only taking its first steps and, as of today, what we must do is progress without stopping. In Shanghai we'll have some small updates to optimize cooling and aerodynamics, and the target for this weekend is to check that these adjustments work. To sum up, we have to get more out of the car but must als o improve on teamwork and coordination."

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Ferrari and Villeneuve to mark father's death

Jacques Villeneuve will get behind the wheel of his fathers Ferrari 312 T4, the car Gilles Villeneuve and Jody Scheckter successfully secured the 1979 Constructors' title with, in tribute to his father.

1997 world champion Jacques will lap the Fiorano circuit on May 8th, 30 years since his father passed away following a crash during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian GP at Zolder.

"It will be a fitting occasion to evoke the memory of a man who has and always will have a place of honour in the history of Ferrari," read a statement on Ferrari's website.

"His memory is still vivid and alive in the minds of many at Maranello; his talent, his speed, his bravery which bordered on recklessness, all go to make his name still hugely popular with our fans, even among younger ones who have only been able to see him on replays of his races or read about him in stories written by journalists."

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F1 team principals want Bahrain cancelled

In a very revealing interview, a leading team principal has admitted that he and the remaining 11 other team principals share the same view - that the Bahrain Grand Prix should be cancelled.

As reported yesterday by The F1 Times, teams have made contingency plans in the event that the race is called off. Such a decision isn't expected until the last minute when FIA president Jean Todt meets with all 12 team principals in China next weekend to discuss the matter.

However, this team principal, who shall remain nameless, admits he is hoping the race is cancelled or at least postponed until later in the year.

"I feel very uncomfortable about going to Bahrain," he told the Guardian. "If I'm brutally frank, the only way they can pull this race off without incident is to have a complete military lock-down there. And I think that would be unacceptable, both for Formula One and for Bahrain. But I don't see any other way they can do it.

"We're all hoping the FIA calls it off," he admitted. "From a purely legal point of view, in terms of insurance and government advice, we are clear to go. But what we find worrying is that there are issues happening every day."

According to the source, his view is echoed by the majority of the grid as they look to ensure their staff are protected in the event that anything untoward happens.

"Other team principals are going through the same worries. I spent all last week making sure the insurances are right so I can reassure the team. I've sent out an email to our legal department to make sure all our employees are covered for acts of terrorism and civil disorder while travelling to, during and coming back from the Bahrain GP.

"We have a lot of people. Our first and foremost priority has to be our employees. And their families. That's what concerns us most, even though we've not said anything about it. It seems to me that while there has been some political progress in Bahrain they're not quite ready. The best thing would be for the race to be postponed until later in the year, or even cancelled," he continued.

"But that is a decision that must be made by the FIA, FOM [Formula One Management] and the commercial rights holder. I never anticipated a decision being made until the week before China. I believe Jean Todt is in China, which is interesting."

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F1: Sauber names Kaltenborn as future successor

Monisha Kaltenborn will become F1's first ever female team boss.

That is the revelation of Peter Sauber, who at the age of 68 has hinted he might call it a day before his 70th birthday.

Indian Kaltenborn, 41, is already Hinwil based Sauber's chief executive, while Peter Sauber remains the team principal.

"I have always said that I will not be sitting on the pitwall as a 70 year old," Sauber told Der Sonntag newspaper.

"With certainty, my successor is Monisha Kaltenborn. That is for sure. When it (the handover) happens is still open.

"She will be the first female team boss in formula one history," Sauber continued. "She's been with us for 13 years, always with leading roles. I'm sure she will do the job very well."

Sauber, in fact, has already departed the pitwall once before, when he sold his team to BMW and handed over to Mario Theissen.

Somewhat reluctantly, he returned in 2010, having rescued the Hinwil based employees in the wake of German carmaker's sudden withdrawal.

"I could not jump into the breach a second time," smiled Sauber, hinting that his retirement this time around would be final.

Peter Sauber, Sauber F1 Team, Team Principal with Monisha Kaltenborn, Managing director, Sauber F1 Team, Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber F1 Team, Sergio Perez, Sauber F1 Team and Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber F1 Team - Sauber C31 Ferrari Launch

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F1: Argentina to replace Korea on 2013 calendar - report

Argentina looks set to replace Korea on the 2013 formula one calendar.

That is the claim of Italy's Autosprint magazine, reporting that the Argentinean national government will sign a three-year contract next month.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said last month that the 2013 Argentine grand prix, last held at the ageing Autodromo Oscar Alfredo Galvez in Buenos Aires in 1998, will take place on the streets of the coastal city of Mar del Plata.

Autosprint now quotes Argentine tourism minister Carlos Enrique Mayer as saying: "The national government accepts the challenge of organising the grand prix of Argentina to promote our country to the world.

"In May, the three year contract between all the parties involved will be signed," he added.

The report said Hermann Tilke will be responsible for the 5 kilometre city layout.

Autosprint also reported that next year's calendar will remain at 20 races, so with the addition of Argentina as well as New Jersey, two current grands prix will need to give way.

One place will likely open up due to a new alternating scheme in Spain, with Valencia to wait until 2014 for its next race.

And Autosprint added: "The grand prix of Korea no longer seems able to honour the financial obligations agreed with (Bernie) Ecclestone."

MIKA: Great news about Argentina BUT not too happy to hear Herman Tilke will design the race course. Hermans' designs visually look fantastic, but the race themselves on HT's tracks are often quite processional.

What I don't understand is why don't the FIA and the like, look for newer talent(s) to put pen to paper and design tracks? There would be loads of people eagre to design for F1. I could get my 3 year old son Ethan to probably do a better job!

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BAHRAINI OPPOSITION LEADER PREDICTS "VIOLENCE" FOR GP WEEKEND:

There is a Grand Prix this weekend in China, but it’s the one the following Sunday in Bahrain which is dominating the headlines and looks set to dominate the agenda in Shanghai this weekend as well.

One of the leading opponents of the Bahraini ruling regime yesterday predicted “violence” on the streets of the country if the Formula 1 Grand Prix goes ahead next week.

Speaking in a discussion on BBC Radio 4′s PM programme, Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, said, “I’m afraid that it will turn to violence.. You see growing anger against the F1 here, it’s become a symbol of the ruling regime here in Bahrain.

“Some people say ‘Let’s separate politics and sport’, yes you can do that in the UK but not in a repressive regime where everything is in the hands of the rulers.”

This threat is precisely what the teams are afraid of. In the last 24 hours one unnamed team principal told the Guardian that most of the teams want the race cancelled, or at least postponed, as they are profoundly uncomfortable about going there.

Damon Hill broke the ice last week on this subject when he said, “It would be a bad state of affairs, and bad for Formula One, to be seen to be enforcing martial law in order to hold the race. That is not what this sport should be about. Looking at it today you’d have to say that [the race] could be creating more problems than it’s solving.”

And now the unnamed team boss has said, “I feel very uncomfortable about going to Bahrain.

“If I’m brutally frank, the only way they can pull this race off without incident is to have a complete military lockdown there. And I think that would be unacceptable, both for F1 and for Bahrain. But I don’t see any other way they can do it.

“We’re all hoping the FIA calls it off. From a purely legal point of view, in terms of insurance and government advice, we are clear to go. But what we find worrying is that there are issues happening every day.”

According to Gazzetta dello Sport today 10 of the 12 team principals are in favour of the race being called off. One team sent its team manager over there to recce the situation last week and he reported back to other teams that things don’t look particularly unusual, but the situation is evolving quite quickly and what is clear is that there will be intense meetings between Bernie Ecclestone (who will be attending his first race of the season), FIA president Jean Todt and the teams during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.

Ecclestone has always maintained that the protests are small in scale and that there is nothing for the teams or other F1 personnel to worry about. In the first sign that he’s softening his position on this matter, Ecclestone has told the Times today, ‘If the teams don’t want to go, then we cannot make them.”

The teams have hitherto said that they are leaving it to the FIA to make the decision on this matter as it is their role to ensure the safety of the event and its participants. But the Guardian article is a sign that some teams are now trying to force the issue. The Bahrainis have quite a bit of influence within the FIA, including a seat on the World Council. They also have a major share holding in McLaren, which makes team principal Martin Whitmarsh’s position awkward, in light of his role as FOTA president, which requires him to reflect the views of the seven teams still involved in that organisation.

I think the point is that F1 teams are keen to race in Bahrain, but only when the country has stabilised again after the 2011 uprisings and when the teams can be sure that their personnel are not at risk and the race will be played out against a backdrop of calm.

Although the authorities in Bahrain want to use F1 as a symbol that the country is well advanced down that path, the continuing protests and threats indicate that it’s not as far down that road as it might have hoped to be.

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LOTUS UNHAPPY AFTER "CONFIDENTIAL' QUOTES USED BY BAHRIAN CHIEFS:

The Lotus F1 Team has tonight issued a statement clarifying the intention of a report from which quotes attributed to representatives of the team appeared in an official Bahrain Grand Prix press release earlier today, the Enstone team saying it had been meant for confidential use only.

On a further day of frenetic reporting over the situation in the Gulf kingdom ahead of F1's scheduled return next week, Sakhir organisers took the opportunity to go on the offensive in wake of the increasing stream of negative reports with race chairman Zayed Al Zayani claiming "scaremongering tactics" had created "huge misconceptions" over the situation on the ground in the country.

Supporting evidence to that stance came in part from the use of excerpts from a Lotus-commissioned briefing report, two team representatives having recently visited the country to assess the current situation there. According to the Sakhir track's press release, the pair returned to report, among other things, that "we came away from Bahrain feeling a lot more confident that everything is in hand".

Lotus has however taken exception to the reproduction of parts of the document and tonight sought to distance itself from the press release, saying while the findings had been relayed to its fellow teams, the quotes had not been meant for public consumption. The team also said it would never attempt to undermine the FIA's power to determine whether or not a grand prix takes place.

"Earlier today, the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) issued a press release attributing quotes to our team showing support for the Bahrain GP," the statement read. "These quotes were part of a full internal and confidential working document, that was also sent on a confidential basis to all F1 team managers last week.

"Lotus F1 Team is one of 12 contestants of the Formula 1 World Championship and we would never try to substitute ourselves for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which is the only party entitled to determine if a Grand Prix should go ahead or not, and we endorse the FOTA statement that was issued earlier to this effect."

That earlier FOTA statement from the seven-team strong organisation's secretary general Olivier Weingarten had underlined that any moves to cancel the Bahrain race had to come from the FIA, rather than the teams themselves. Bernie Ecclestone had this morning told The Times "if the teams don't want to go, then we cannot make them."

The FOTA statement read: "There's been some media speculation recently to the effect that the teams may seek to cancel this year's Bahrain Grand Prix. That wouldn't be possible. Teams are unable to cancel grands prix. We race in an international series called the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, and it is therefore for the FIA to offer the Teams guidance on these issues."

In a later round of interviews on Tuesday, Ecclestone told the BBC that "none of the teams have expressed any concern to me quite the opposite" and reiterated it was up to officials in Bahrain to inform him if there was a problem with holding the race, something they had not yet done.