FORMULA 1 - 2012

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Mika

Any idea as to why the game comes out near the end of the F1 season? Most sport video games come out just prior to the season. I recently picked up the 2011 version of the game and love it but I was already in my local game shop asking if they have 2012 in yet.

It does'nt make sense to me

I'm not quite sure in all honesty but my guess would be so that they can replicate the livery of each team accurately?

In saying that, whilst most teams don't change all that much, quite often we have seen sponsorship dropped mid way through a season as well as some teams making changes to their vehicles such as what Ferrari have already done this season (A slight change to their rear exhaust to replicate Red Bull racing).

I guess from a fans perspective, Codemasters who make these games want to make the game as authentic as possible.

By the way, have you seen yet the new online F1 game from Codemasters?

https://www.f1onlinethegame.com/

Thanks for posting and reading!

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VIDEO: A LAP OF THE IMAGINARY LONDON GP TRACK:

Here is the on board lap of the imaginary F1 track around London which was such a talking point yesterday.

The launch event last night was an interesting affair; Bernie Ecclestone, predictably, did not show up. It was his intervention with the Times newspaper that turned this from a light hearted PR stunt by Santander UK with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button ahead of the British Grand Prix, which the bank also sponsors, into something of a monster; with TV networks, radio stations and other media clamouring to cover it.

Last night’s event went from being a champagne and canapés evening to release a tongue in cheek CGI film, to a “launch of ambitious plans, by Bernie Ecclestone”.

As he has done before, putting an eye catching number on it, like the £35 million he said he would personally invest to see it happen, gave the thing its legs. This echoes the £1 million cash prize fund he promised in 1993 for a head to head between F1 and IndyCar when he was concerned about the impact Nigel Mansell was making in IndyCar.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, had to tread cautiously yesterday. He wasn’t at the launch but said that he was “broadly positive” about the idea, but that London would need to assess whether the economic impact would match up with the disruption to the city.

“The question of air quality and noise impact will have to be looked at,” said the Mayor. “I am broadly positive providing we can satisfy the air quality and noise issues.”

Much of the talk last night was of how this story had happened and there are clearly a number of dimensions to it.

It was lost on no-one that the Times front page splash on the London GP story diverted attention away from the sentencing of Gerhard Gribkowsky in Munich on corruption charges relating to $44 million payments from Ecclestone. That story was covered on Wednesday night but by Thursday the London GP story had ensured the Gribkowsky headlines were brief.

Ecclestone now waits to see if the prosecutors in Munich will try to mount a case against him and much of the talk last night was about that and what would happen if a prosecution were to be launched.

Ecclestone also took the opportunity to give one of F1′s leading sponsors a boost at a time when Spanish banks are under serious pressure due to the Euro crisis. With Santander having its credit rating lowered earlier this month and Santander having a very large investment in the sport via McLaren, Ferrari and several GP sponsorships, Ecclestone gave the bank a media splash worth tens of millions.

It’s easy to be cynical and dismiss it out of hand, but as always with Ecclestone there is a kernel of truth to it; there is no doubt that Ecclestone has always liked the idea of a street race around his home city, which is why this keeps coming up in one form or another, but the truth is that it’s probably as far off today as it has ever been.

The word is that Silverstone has been rather underwhelmed by the story, coming a week ahead of the British Grand Prix. But the noise will have well and truly died down by next weekend and Silverstone with its large, passionate crowd will put on a great show and underline why it has a 17 year contract to host the event and why a London Grand Prix makes a nice film, but not a reality.

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MERCEDES PULLOUT RUMOURS UNFOUNDED:

The fall out from Wednesday’s Gribkwosky verdict has many aspects and the stories from Germany about Mercedes threatening to pull out of the sport because it cannot be seen to be involved in corruption are worth dealing with briefly.

A story appeared yesterday in Handelsblatt, the German business paper, which claimed that Mercedes would have to withdraw from F1 if Bernie Ecclestone were to be indicted in relation to the conviction of Gerhard Gribkowksy, for tax evasion, bribery and breach of fiduciary trust.

Shareholders and Daimler officials were quoted as saying that it would be a breach of the company’s anti-corruption statutes to be involved in business with someone in that position and therefore the company would have to withdraw.

Mercedes has not come out with any robust statement on this, but behind the scenes the reality is that these voices of dissent about the company’s racing programme are always present and surface from time to time whenever there is an opportunity. We’ve seen it many times in the past and will do again in the future.

The company’s policy for many years has been that Mercedes is committed to motorsport, that it is part of its DNA as a motor manufacturer and that it is a central pillar of its marketing. That could change with future management teams, but for now, that’s how they see it and they invest in motorsport on that basis.

There are some internal figures and shareholders who disagree with this strategy, who believe that too much money is being wasted on F1 and motor sport, but who don’t have the power to change it, for the moment. So when they get the chance to say something negative about Mercedes in F1, they say it.

A couple of things are important to remember: Mercedes is no different from many other companies in F1 in its anti-corruption rules.

There is a series of hypotheticals here, facing many companies in the sport, about what might happen if Ecclestone were to be charged or convicted and then what would might happen if he continued to be the F1 chief executive in those circumstances.

Clearly it is possible in those circumstances that many companies, including Mercedes, could be required to review their position and it’s clearly possible that we may get to that point.

But it is also likely that, if that scenario were to unfold, the sport would take steps along the way to deal with events as they transpired.

A Mercedes spokesman told us, “Compliance is of central importance for Daimler. We immediately follow up indications of irregularities and should a conviction of corruption be reached, we would then evaluate that case.

“Our Formula 1 commitment is for the long term and an integral component of our company philosophy.”

So to say Mercedes is on the verge of a pull out, is to jump several stages down a hypothetical chain.

But as always, in F1 and in life, that is not to say that it can’t happen.

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F1 CHAMPION VETTEL TAKES ON GAMERS IN RACING CHALLENGE:

World champion Sebastian Vettel is taking on some leading online driving gamers this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

On Saturday Vettel is taking on Hakki Jr, world Trackmania champion on Gran Turismo 5, as a showcase for the Red Bull Gridsters competition. It’s quite a leap for the organisers at Goodwood, one of England’s great stately homes and the home of the Festival, a well established part of the British summer of motorsport. But this year’s theme of the Festival is “Young Guns”, so a gaming challenge certainly fits the bill.

Red Bull Gridsters aims to find “who is the fastest, most versatile racing gamer in the UK, across three different racing titles on two different platforms: Forza Motorsport 4 (XBOX 360), Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) and F1 2011 (PS3)”

Having won the qualifying rounds, the 16 finalists will go head to head over this weekend, the winner will attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Vettel clinched the tire in 2010 and then retired on the opening lap last season.

You can see interviews with Vettel on Saturday and Mark Webber on Sunday as well as the top 16 shootout live streamed at www.redbull.co.uk/gridsters

Meanwhile anyone interested in F1 gaming should head to F1 Online: The Game

F1 Online: The Game, from official F1 gaming partner Codemasters, combines racing gameplay with a management game.

“Players will compete in online multiplayer races across a range of game modes, including Grand Prix events, championships and a range of quick-fire challenges and time trials. Wheel-to-wheel racing comes alive across a range of custom and licensed circuits, as players use simple controls on track and become the boss of a team off it, creating a factory, build and update their own car, getting down to details likes brakes, aero and KERS.

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Schumi: A result to be proud of

Michael Schumacher is hoping to carry his Valencia momentum through to Silverstone as he bids for his second podium finish of the season.

The three-time British Grand Prix winner claimed the first top-three result of his comeback last time out at the European GP, bringing to an end his 99-race run off the podium.

And with one under his belt, Schumacher is intent on making it two when F1 heads to Britain but concedes no one knows who will be on top next weekend.

"Racing in Silverstone is a special moment every year," Schumacher said.

"It's quite simply the home of motorsport and I'm always amazed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the British fans - as a racing driver, it's great to experience this passion for our sport

"On a personal level, I have many contrasting memories of this circuit; good, not so good and some that are even a little strange... as for how things will go this year, I'd prefer to wait and see.

"We have already seen plenty of races this year that turned out differently to the expectations before the weekend.

"Of course, we want to take the momentum from our result in Valencia and put on a good show in Silverstone, especially because this is one of our home races.

"It goes without saying that we want to give everybody in Brackley and Brixworth a result to be proud of this weekend."

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Sauber may delay retirement

With his days in F1 believed to numbered, Peter Sauber now says he may not retire at the end of this season.

Earlier this year, Sauber transferred a third of the equity in his F1 team to chief executive officer Monisha Kaltenborn.

At the time it was made clear that she would be the next team boss as Sauber wanted to step down.

But it now looks as if the 68-year-old is quite ready to do just that this year.

"The timing of the handover is not yet clear," Motorsport Total quotes Sauber as having toldServusTV.

Pressed as to whether there would be a goodbye at the end of the season with a 'never to return' he said: "To watch a race on television is the worst thing there is."

However, when he does step down there is no doubt that Sauber will be passing the reigns to Kaltenborn.

"It is important that you know what you want and in what direction we want to go," he said.

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Heikki 'can't wait' for Silverstone

Heikki Kovalainen is relishing a return to racing next weekend, eager to continue Caterham's climb towards Formula One's midfield.

The Finn had a solid showing last time out at the European Grand Prix where he made it into Q2 based on merit.

Although he fell short of his previous best race result of P13, finishing one place back, Kovalainen had been running well before being hit by Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne.

And with more upgrades expected at Silverstone, including a revised exhaust layout, Kovalainen is hoping to see Caterham further close the gap on the midfield teams.

"Honestly, I can't wait to get back in the car and see what we can do at this year's British Grand Prix," he said.

"At the last race in Valencia we clearly made improvements, enough to help me put the car into Q2 on merit and we have more upgrades coming for Silverstone.

"For this race it's important that we carry our qualifying speed and good reliability through into Sunday as issues like the KERS problem I had in Valencia impact all the hard work the team is doing at the factory and in the windtunnel to get us where we want to be.

"If we can do that I think we can have another very good weekend and I'm really looking forward to giving our home fans something to cheer for."

The Finn was also full of praise for the Silverstone circuit, which he rates as one of the best on the Formula One calendar.

"Silverstone is a great track to race at, both because it's one of our two home races and because it's a proper driver's track.

"Even with the changes that have been made over the years it is still what F1 is all about - high speed corners that really push the performance of the car.

"The new section is probably the least exciting bit of the track from inside the cockpit but the classic corners from Copse and Maggots to Beckets is right up there with some of the best corners on the calendar."

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Hamilton: Valencia retirement a hiccup

Lewis Hamilton is refusing to let his Valencia retirement get to him, insisting it's all in the past.

The McLaren driver failed to see the chequered flag at the European GP when he was thumped into the wall on the penultimate lap by Williams' Pastor Maldonado. The two had been tussling over third place.

And although the DNF meant Hamilton dropped to third in the Drivers' Championship, the Brit says there is still a long way to go before the title is decided.

"I just move forward. It's in the past, it doesn't really matter now," he told Reuters Television.

"I'm still in the battle for the title, there's still a long, long way to go and I've been massively consistent all the way up until here and in terms of my preparation and my approach I will continue to keep the same.

"It's not as if I drove into the wall on my own. I didn't make the mistake on my own so I think I will just continue to do what I'm doing and try and stay out of trouble more."

Looking ahead to the British Grand Prix, Hamilton reckons Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will be his main rival for the victory.

Vettel was flying in last Sunday's European Grand Prix and easily ahead of the field by 20 seconds before the Safety Car came out. Moments after the race restarted, though, the Red Bull driver's RB8 broke down due to an overheated alternator.

Despite not claiming the victory, Vettel was undoubtedly the driver to beat in Valencia and Hamilton reckons he will be running up front again at Silverstone.

This time, though, the McLaren driver is out to ensure the German stays behind him.

"I don't think we can be too surprised just because we've seen the rate of their development over the last couple of years," Hamilton told Sky Sports News.

"Of course to see him pull away so far - he was pulling over a second a lap - that was astonishing for me, but then again I wasn't really that fast so it wasn't like I was in the previous race.

"So hopefully in the next race we'll have a much better chance of keeping with him, if not being ahead of him.

"We've got hopefully some upgrades coming, the car felt pretty good in the simulator so I hope that we have a fighting chance to make the nation proud."

The Brit, though, downplayed the impact of racing at home, insisting he will be racing as hard for the victory next Sunday as he would at any other track.

"It doesn't really alter the way I go racing because I race to win, and that's what I'll be doing, especially at my home grand prix," he said in his team's preview.

"The Santander British Grand Prix is special because I get a massive boost from all the fans. To me, winning at Silverstone is right up there with winning at Monaco. Standing on the top step of the podium in 2008 was among the sweetest moments of my career.

"I know we can count on the fans to bring a totally unique atmosphere. We're going to give it everything we've got, put on a great show. I will be doing everything possible to get a win for my country on home soil."

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Red Bull preview the British GP

After the disappointment of Valencia, Seb Vettel is eager to get back on track while Mark Webber wants more points for his campaign...

Mark Webber: "I'm really looking forward to the British Grand Prix and racing in front of a sell-out crowd that's passionate about F1. Many of them will be there to cheer on the Brits, so there's some irony in the fact that Silverstone is actually the local track for both the Aussie F1 drivers on the grid; Daniel Ricciardo and I are based in Buckinghamshire! It's a great time of the year for British sport, with Wimbledon on at present and the Olympic Games just around the corner. I'm sure the British Grand Prix won't disappoint; we're going to Silverstone with one goal in mind and that's to win!"

Sebastian Vettel: "Even after the track was amended for the 2011 race, it didn't lose its magic. For me as a driver it is one of the best and interesting tracks of all. The atmosphere is great, British fans enthusiastically support their countrymen, but at the same time they're very objective and fair in judging the performance of the non-British drivers. On top of that they are experts about F1. The track is demanding for a driver and provides everything a driver likes, including the unpredictable weather which is possible in July in Silverstone."

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McLaren preview the British GP

A home race for the team and the drivers, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton want nothing short of a victory at Silverstone...

Jenson Button: "I'm really looking forward to the Santander British Grand Prix. We've been making progress in a lot of areas and while I wasn't able to show that in terms of the result at Valencia - mainly because I got boxed in at the start, then wasn't very lucky with the Safety Car - our strategy was fine and the car improved throughout the race. This has been an incredibly unpredictable season, but at least it's a little easier to predict that Silverstone will once again be packed and that all the British drivers are going to get a lift from the energy the fans bring. I always enjoy racing at home because the atmosphere is unbeatable, and while the race itself hasn't always been too kind to me, I come here every year knowing I can count on the support of the many thousands of fans. We all had to adjust last year to starting in a different place on the circuit, which is a very odd thing when you've spent your entire racing career treating Copse as Turn One! Formula 1 is all about evolution, about looking to the future, and Silverstone has demonstrated its adaptability all through the years. It's part of the fabric of F1, and still one of the world's greatest motor racing circuits."

Lewis Hamilton: "Sometimes you have to accept when things don't go your way in racing. Obviously it was frustrating to lose out so close to the finish, but that's motor racing: you put it behind you and move on to the next race - which, happily for me, is at my home circuit of Silverstone. It doesn't really alter the way I go racing because I race to win, and that's what I'll be doing, especially at my home grand prix. The Santander British Grand Prix is special because I get a massive boost from all the fans. To me, winning at Silverstone is right up there with winning at Monaco. Standing on the top step of the podium in 2008 was among the sweetest moments of my career. I know we can count on the fans to bring a totally unique atmosphere. We're going to give it everything we've got, put on a great show. This is an incredible summer of sport for Britain and I want to play my small part in bringing some joy to fans. I will be doing everything possible to get a win for my country on home soil."

Martin Whitmarsh: "The races so far this season have been very difficult to read, and while that may be frustrating for some, it also creates opportunities. It has also made for some incredibly exciting races and challenged many preconceptions - as we saw last time out at Valencia, a circuit at which established wisdom tells you there are very few opportunities to overtake.

"As we look forward to the Santander British Grand Prix, therefore, we have to keep an open mind from the minute we arrive to the moment the chequered flag is unfurled. The team that best manages the performance delta of the tyres is the one best placed to win, and to do that you have to take every opportunity to gather data and learn from it quickly and effectively. Today, Grands Prix are no longer sprint races that are won or lost on the first lap.

"While that means hard work for us and for our rivals, it is excellent news for the fans in the grandstands and for those watching at home. It means excitement from beginning to end, and that is what Formula 1 must continue to offer. This is our home race and we approach it, as ever, determined to win. I genuinely expect the Santander British Grand Prix to be an unmissable spectacle."

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Mercedes preview the British GP

Michael Schumacher wants a 'result to be proud of' at Silverstone while Nico Rosberg is hoping to top his previous British best of P3...

Michael Schumacher: "Racing in Silverstone is a special moment every year. It's quite simply the home of motorsport and I'm always amazed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the British fans - as a racing driver, it's great to experience this passion for our sport. On a personal level, I have many contrasting memories of this circuit; good, not so good and some that are even a little strange... as for how things will go this year, I'd prefer to wait and see. We have already seen plenty of races this year that turned out differently to the expectations before the weekend. Of course, we want to take the momentum from our result in Valencia and put on a good show in Silverstone, especially because this is one of our home races. It goes without saying that we want to give everybody in Brackley and Brixworth a result to be proud of this weekend."

Nico Rosberg: "Silverstone is a great race for us as most of our team members will be there to watch with their families. I always love the atmosphere there over the weekend and the great British motorsport fans. My best result on this exciting track was third place so, of course, I will be hoping to top that but it's so hard to make any predictions of performance this season. It's a demanding track with a lot of high-speed corners dominating the layout, especially from Copse through Becketts to Stowe. It's difficult to know how good we will be but I'm hopeful that we can achieve a good result."

Ross Brawn, Mercedes team principal: "As with any of our home races, the British Grand Prix is really a very special weekend for the team, particularly because its proximity to our two Northamptonshire-based factories enables so many of our employees to see our cars in action. Silverstone has a very special atmosphere, with the British fans being so passionate about motorsport, and the new developments which we saw last year have really contributed to creating a fantastic venue for the Grand Prix weekend. Our successful weekend in Valencia has provided a further boost to the team, with a lot of hard work continuing at the factories to further improve our performance, and we look forward to having another strong weekend at Silverstone."

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "Silverstone is one of the most challenging circuits of the year, with average qualifying lap speeds of over 220 km/h and seven of the 18 corners taken at over 250 km/h. It is a complete test of both car and driver. This is also a special race for our Silver Arrows works team, with our factories in Brackley and Brixworth both located nearby the circuit, and our colleagues will be watching our British home race with particular attention. Since his first win in China on 15th April, Nico has scored 75 points in six races, just one fewer than championship leader Fernando Alonso in the same period. Michael finished on the podium in third place in Valencia, after technical problems in the previous rounds had prevented him from scoring a similar number of points to his team-mate. Our full focus is now on improving our speed and achieving total reliability. It is also worth noting that the three British drivers on the grid this weekend will be racing with Mercedes-Benz power and, indeed, Mercedes-Benz was part of the last 30 victories for British drivers in Formula One. Silverstone can lay claim to being one of the homes of motorsport and the fans there are among the most knowledgeable. Everybody in the team is looking forward to this classic race with the aim of delivering a good performance."

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Caterham preview the British GP

Having taken on and beaten established teams at the European GP, Caterham are looking to continue their upward trend at Silverstone...

Heikki Kovalainen: "Silverstone is a great track to race at, both because it's one of our two home races and because it's a proper driver's track. Even with the changes that have been made over the years it is still what F1 is all about - high speed corners that really push the performance of the car. The new section is probably the least exciting bit of the track from inside the cockpit but the classic corners from Copse and Maggots to Beckets is right up there with some of the best corners on the calendar. Honestly, I can't wait to get back in the car and see what we can do at this year's British Grand Prix. At the last race in Valencia we clearly made improvements, enough to help me put the car into Q2 on merit and we have more upgrades coming for Silverstone. For this race it's important that we carry our qualifying speed and good reliability through into Sunday as issues like the KERS problem I had in Valencia impact all the hard work the team is doing at the factory and in the wind tunnel to get us where we want to be. If we can do that I think we can have another very good weekend and I'm really looking forward to giving our home fans something to cheer for."

Vitaly Petrov: "The British Grand Prix is one of the best races of the calendar for several reasons. It's a fantastic place to race at because of the exciting atmosphere and the special love the British fans have for motorsport. As the UK is home to a lot of the teams, including Caterham F1 Team, the whole place is always full of fans, whether it's raining or the sun is burning everybody! They are some of the most knowledgeable, passionate fans in the world and they give the whole place a special atmosphere all weekend. As we'll be bringing more new parts to the British Grand Prix I think it's another race where we'll be able to take a step forwards. I'm sure everyone else will be bringing upgrades so we need to make sure that we don't just make gains, but we improve more than our nearest rivals. That's a big challenge but after seeing the gap to Toro Rosso shrink in Valencia we have a clear target just ahead and that gave the whole team a real boost. Hopefully we'll be able to make similar levels of progress at Silverstone - if we do I think the British Grand Prix could be very interesting. The team made great progress in Valencia and I really hope that we will continue in the same manner at the next race."

Mark Smith, Technical Director: "We left Valencia after a very positive weekend for the whole team. One of the most pleasing aspects for me was seeing that the numbers we had predicted for the upgrades we brought there matched what we did on track, and that gives us a lot of confidence that future upgrade packages should continue the trend we are seeing of the gap to the teams ahead shrinking. For Silverstone we will be bringing a number of new parts, including new rear bodywork, a revised exhaust layout and a number of smaller updates in other bodywork areas around the car. I do not want to make any predictions at this point on what they could be worth, but if we repeat the step forward we made in Valencia we should have another positive weekend."

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "The European Grand Prix was a very significant race for our team as it was the first time we took on and beat an established midfield team in a straight fight on merit in qualifying. Yes, Heikki's benefited from the issues Mark Webber had on Saturday, but we are now quick enough to take advantage of that sort of opportunity and knock one of the established teams back into the positions we have been filling since we started in the sport just over two and a half years ago.

"Our performance on Sunday was also extremely positive, with all areas of the team performing at 100% to help us record our best positions of the season, despite both cars being forced to change nosecones after contact with the Toro Rossos. We said at the start of the season that our goals for this year are to score our first point and to join the midfield and I think it is fair to say that we are achingly close to being able to achieve those targets.

"Silverstone will give us another chance to show that we can make good on those objectives and the upgrades we are bringing will give both Heikki and Vitaly the chance to repeat our qualifying performance in Valencia, and, more importantly, to be able to fight for their track positions from the moment the lights go out on Sunday, right to the end of the race. To see our cars racing a team who were 1.6 seconds ahead of us in qualifying for the first race this year is obviously a very good feeling, for me and my fellow shareholders, our partners and sponsors, our fans and the whole team."

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Marussia preview the British GP

Timo Glock is eager to get back behind the wheel at Silverstone while Charles Pic has good memories of the circuit...

Timo Glock: "Silverstone is a very important weekend for the whole team, so I'm looking forward to it and happy that the problems of Valencia are behind me. We have some substantial upgrade developments which I hope will give us a little step forward and ensure we can have a good showing. Silverstone is a track I really enjoy; one of my favourites. It still has a lot of high speed corners and it is a completely different challenge to the last two tracks we have raced at. Normally it can be very interesting with the weather; not just the sunshine or rain, but it can often be quite windy, which can upset the car quite a lot from day to day and from session to session. Overall, I can't wait to get back in the car and work with the team towards a smooth home race for the fantastic British fans, the partners and all our guests on what will be a very busy weekend."

Charles Pic: "I have always found Silverstone to be an amazing race track, and I won there in Formula Renault 3.5 back in 2009, so I'm really happy that it is the venue for my team's home race next weekend. I love the fantastic fast corners, particularly from Copse through Becketts and on to Stowe. I am now eager to see the new aero package results on the track. It is quite a comprehensive step for the team and the result of a really collaborative effort. Having turned the corner a little bit in the race in Valencia, I hope we can continue this way and that the package will have a positive contribution. I am optimistic for a good weekend because this is the only time the guys who always work back at our team base in Banbury will get to the see the cars in action; it will be nice to give them a happy reward for their relentless hard work as this is 'their race'! It is also good news that Timo will be back with us next weekend. Off-track it is going to be very busy with plenty of PR activity with the partners and our fans, but I know we can expect a massive reception from them, which will give the team an extra boost."

John Booth, Team Principal: "There's no place like home when it comes to racing. We visit some fantastic venues all over the world, but the opportunity to race on home asphalt is a special one and we'll be grabbing it with both hands next weekend when we compete at Silverstone. Although this will be our third home race, it is the first since we moved our day to day operations to Banbury from South Yorkshire. We are now based just a little over 17 miles from Silverstone, which means we really are racing in our own backyard.

"We have a fairly significant upgrade for this race, comprising a new rear wing, exhausts, floor and side pods. I would have to describe this as our 'first proper wind-tunnel generated upgrade of the season'; we've had some smaller parts in Malaysia and China, and a few small iterations recently, but this is the first fully developed package that is not just a modification of existing elements. That is a big result in itself, aside from the performance step we hope it will bring us, as it means we have caught up with ourselves in terms of the diligent way in which we have approached and developed our Technical Partnership. We look forward to seeing what this brings, both at Silverstone and at Duxford Airfield beforehand, when we will be integrating the developments into our correlation programme. Duxford is also the first of our Test Driver Maria De Villota's scheduled track days. She has been waiting patiently all year for this date to come around, so we look forward to seeing her in the car for the first time.

"There's so much to say about the whole Silverstone experience; the fans are incredibly knowledgable and enthusiastic and it is a real delight to have their support. We will also be putting on a big show for our Partners, who also turn out in force for this event. In turn, we hope to reward them, and our whole team, with a great weekend on the race track. With Timo back to strength and Charles looking to build on a great performance in Valencia, we have good reason to be excited about what our home race can bring."

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HRT preview the British GP

Showing 'clear signs of improvement', HRT are wanting to their upward swing as they tackle the British Grand Prix...

Pedro de la Rosa: "Silverstone is a beautiful and classic circuit; it's a place I really like. I've raced in many categories there: Formula Ford, Formula Renault, Formula 3 and Formula 1. It's a quick, high downforce track with a lot of quick corners linked together. It's very demanding on the tyres, so the logical thing is to go for three stops. Strategies will play a big part. It's not the most favourable circuit for us so we're going to have to grind our teeth because, apart from that, it's also one of the toughest tracks for a driver. We're going to try and continue the good work from the last grands prix, finish this race and improve on our result in Valencia. That is our objective."

Narain Karthikeyan: "I've got very good memories of Silverstone as I've raced a lot there in the past in junior categories, it's one of my favourite tracks on the calendar and a place I expect to do well. Copse and the Becketts complex are special corners and are up there with the most exciting ones in the championship but I don't know the new part of the circuit as I didn't race at Silverstone last year so it will take me a few laps to adapt. After a positive weekend in Valencia, with a good performance in qualifying, I'm hoping to continue from there and build on it in Great Britain."

Dani Clos: "I'm very happy to step into the F112 once again in Silverstone, a place where I've got good memories since I've made the podium every time I've been in GP2. After Barcelona I've really been looking forward to this new opportunity. The work we're carrying out with the team is positive and I think that I can make a good contribution. I will be able to run in better conditions than in Barcelona because the car was new back then and I had to carry out various aero tests. Now I've got a new opportunity, not to prove anything but to work with the team and evolve as much as we can."

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: "In Valencia we had a positive weekend and were able to confirm the good sensations we'd felt in the last few races. Silverstone is one of the most emblematic and historic circuits in the Championship and racing there is always something special. We want to see how our car performs at the British track with the latest upgrades because it's a track that contains various quick turns and that's where we suffer most. On another note, I'm happy that Dani will have a new opportunity to sit behind the wheel of the car for the first free practice session. This time he'll be able to get more out of the session because in Barcelona there were many things to test and he had to focus on them, but now he'll be able to get the most out of the experience. Besides, it will be the second time he drives the F112 this season so he won't be stepping into the unknown and won't need a period to adapt."

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MICHAEL SCHUMACHER TALKS ABOUT HIS STEERING WHEEL:

The steering wheel is the driver's primary interface with his car. Apart from the obvious use of steering the car around the circuit, the wheel is a complex and highly technical piece of equipment which gives the driver the information that he needs to drive the car, and the facility to tune the car for various situations as they arise out on track. Michael Schumacher explains the different functions which can be found around the wheel...

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Raikkonen hoping for win at 'favourite' circuit

Kimi Raikkonen admits he's been left disappointed so far in 2012 after failing to win a race, despite coming so close on a number of occasions.

The Finn, who returned to the sport this year after a two year absence, says the recent good form coming from the Lotus camp has left him wanting more after his Valencia podium last weekend.

"If you asked me before the start of the season whether I would be happy with podiums I would have said yes, but now I've had some good results, I want more," admitted the 32-year-old.

"In the last few races the results haven't been as strong as I've wanted. We've finished well but I'm disappointed not to have a win yet. We just have to get everything together and I'm sure it can come."

Raikkonen is hoping to do exactly that at Silverstone next weekend, a circuit he described as his favourite on the calendar.

"When I first raced there it was my real favourite. It's so fast and demanding which makes it very challenging. The corners really flow and it's all about long, sweeping high-speed corners and high downforce levels. Somehow it has been a good circuit for me since the very beginning. It will be interesting to see how the new section changes a lap, but I'm sure I'll learn it very quickly.

"When you win in Silverstone, it gives such a good feeling. You have to get everything exactly right. I won there in Formula Renault and then with Ferrari in 2007. It would be fantastic to win again there, especially with the factory just down the road. I'm sure we would have some fantastic celebrations," he concluded.

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Teams given extra time to agree cost cuts as FIA deadline passes without agreement

Formula 1 teams have been allowed more time to finalise cost cutting proposals which the governing body hopes to write in to the 2013 technical regulations.

The FIA confirmed in a statement mid-June that they were actively seeking to add to the regulations ways in which teams must reduce spending, in order to create a level playing field for smaller teams to compete on.

However, the June 30th deadline provided to the teams to agree such measures is set to pass today without agreement.

The FIA has therefore delayed the WMSC fax vote on the matter until late-July when it's hoped the teams will have reached a unanimous agreement on ways in which to cut expenditure.

The June 30th deadline also marked the last date in which the following years technical and sporting regulations can be amended without agreement from all 12 teams, and given Red Bull and Toro Rosso's opposition to such measures, any changes for 2013 now seem unlikely.

It is however understood that the FIA is willing to accept a majority vote on the matter, bypassing the unanimity rule, when the extended deadline approaches, but only if a suitable proposal has been put forward.

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De Villota to test significant Marussia upgrade

Marussia's female test driver Maria De Villota will get behind the wheel of the team's MR01 to test a 'significant' upgrade prior to the British Grand Prix.

The outfit is hoping to make major gains in order to catch up with its closest rivals, HRT and Caterham, in what team principal John Booth described as their "first proper wind-tunnel generated upgrade of the season."

"We have a fairly significant upgrade for this race, comprising a new rear wing, exhausts, floor and side pods," said Booth. "I would have to describe this as our 'first proper wind-tunnel generated upgrade of the season'; we've had some smaller parts in Malaysia and China, and a few small iterations recently, but this is the first fully developed package that is not just a modification of existing elements."

The team had approached their first two seasons in the sport by using just CFD (computational fluid dynamics) to develop upgrades, but since splitting with Wirth Research and beginning a technical partnership with McLaren Racing, they have adopted wind tunnel testing as well.

Booth is excited to see what performance can be gained from the upgrade, with a straight-line test planned at Duxford Airfield this weekend to correlate the results.

"Aside from the performance step we hope it will bring us, as it means we have caught up with ourselves in terms of the diligent way in which we have approached and developed our Technical Partnership," he added.

"We look forward to seeing what this brings, both at Silverstone and at Duxford Airfield beforehand, when we will be integrating the developments into our correlation programme.

"Duxford is also the first of our Test Driver Maria De Villota's scheduled track days. She has been waiting patiently all year for this date to come around, so we look forward to seeing her in the car for the first time."

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TEAMS IN LIMBO AS DEADLINE PASSES FOR 2013 RULE AGREEMENT:

Despite much talk and a lot of effort behind the scenes, the deadline for agreeing a new package of cost control rules for next season came and went on June 30. This date was important because it was the date by which things could be passed by a majority. After that unanimity would be needed.

There is talk of extending the deadline to a new one of July 24th. But if the original deadline has passed, many are asking what force a new deadline will have. And now the teams and the FIA are in something of a limbo. Most of the teams turned to the FIA to regulate the Resource Restriction Agreement from next year onwards because, as the F1 Teams Association, they had failed to do so itself.

The problem is now a legal one. The teams are looking to FIA president Jean Todt for leadership, while he is trying to avoid getting into a legal battle or putting the FIA in a position where it could be undermined. Red Bull are the ones sitting outside of this process. Todt is trying to draw Red Bull into the process, but other team sources say that Red Bull has taken to sending a lawyer, rather than a senior engineer, to meetings.

A lot of work has been done behind the scenes by people at all levels to try to move the agreement on costs forward. For some teams this matter is really urgent as they are close to the edge financially.

But despite the imperative, it’s stalled. It’s leading to a lot of frustration, while on Red Bull’s side it’s leading them to feel isolated, as shown by recent comments from Helmut Marko about the team being singled out for a rough time, with the safety car in Valencia and such like matters.

There are two sides to the RRA process: the chassis side and the engine side.

On the chassis side there is quite some progress: some things have been agreed by most of the teams (with the exception of the two Red Bull owned outfits); measures on in season testing, reducing the number of days of wind tunnel and CFD as well as further cutting the number of team personnel at races. These were agreed by the seven FOTA teams plus Ferrari, Sauber and HRT. In fact they are mostly there on chassis and appeared to have the majority they needed to get it through, but no fax vote took place.

On the engine side things are more difficult, with manufacturers flat out developing the 2014 small capacity hybrid engines at great expense, but teams bridling at the costs they are likely to face for a supply of these engines. Teams currently pay around €5 million per season for 8 engines per driver plus some pre-season test units. The 2014 engines will be significantly more expensive at the outset.

As the governing body of the sport the FIA could be considered to be in a position, with no Concorde Agreement in place from December 31 onwards, to impose whatever rules it thinks are appropriate for next season. But it’s concerned about legal threats.

Meanwhile the FIA is negotiating with Bernie Ecclestone for improved financial terms. It’s bound by the 100 Year agreement (which was made in the early 2000s, but only came into force in 2011) whereby the FIA sold the commercial rights to F1 to Ecclestone’s company for 100 years for $313.6 million. This contract is the cornerstone of the F1 business and the planned flotation.

Todt is trying to get a payment for the FIA to reflect the fact that things have moved on a bit since that deal was agreed, especially with a flotation under consideration, valuing the business at over $9 billion.

As for where it goes from here, some say the FIA has a lot of power and holds important levers which are needed for the new Concorde Agreement to be reached, the flotation to take place and the sport to be regulated.

Others feel that having done the 100 year deal it’s in a weak position, as a governing body that has no ownership over the sport and with others agitating to take on a rule making role.

These things will be tested over the coming months.

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Perez chasing Silverstone podium

Sergio Perez believes he can achieve his third podium result of the season in Britain but will need a boost in qualifying.

Sauber are heading to the Silverstone circuit with an updated package for their C31 which includes modifications of the engine cover and the rear of the car.

Perez, who is ninth in the Drivers' Championship on 39 points, is hoping to put those upgrades to good use as he seeks his third top-three result of the campaign.

"I think our car will be good in Silverstone and I want to fight for another podium there," Perez said.

"In my view in Silverstone it is even more difficult to overtake than it was in Valencia, therefore qualifying is high priority on the job list. I need a better grid position than recently.

"I like the fast and fluid corners a lot, so this is a very enjoyable part of the track.

"The race in Silverstone is a special grand prix - because of the fans and the atmosphere and also for me personally. I lived in Oxford for three years and I have quite a few friends in England."

The Sauber driver also knows what it is like to win at Silverstone, having taken victories there in both Formula 3 and the GP2 series.

"I really like the Silverstone circuit. I have won there in Formula 3 and in GP2 and also last year my first Formula One race was good," he said.

"I came seventh and this was actually my best race result in 2011. Back then it was a crazy race in difficult weather conditions with the track drying."

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Button: A lot of ****-kissing going on

Although Jenson Button concedes Fernando Alonso did a "great job" in Valencia, he's amazed at "how complimentary" drivers have become.

Alonso became the first repeat winner of the season at the European Grand Prix when he took the lead from Sebastian Vettel, who had been leading by more 20seconds before the Safety Car, when the Red Bull racer retired.

And although Button says Alonso did a "great" job, he reckons Vettel was the one to be wary of in Valencia.

"Been a lot of ****-kissing going on," the 32-year-old told The Express when Alonso was mentioned. "I don't know what's happening, it's quite strange.

"Most of the drivers in Formula One are immensely talented and many will challenge for Championships in the future. But Fernando is one of the stand-out drivers.

"He won his home grand prix, when everything fell into place. Sometimes when you make those moves, they don't work out. And you end up in the wall. Was his performance scary? No, he just did a great job, and so did his team with strategy.

"The scary one is Red Bull. The pace that Sebastian had was amazing. He was on fire, and had a massive difference in pace to the rest of the field. We haven't seen that before for a while."

But, having said that, Button believes Alonso is one of the best drivers on the grid as not only is he "dangerous" and "very quick" but he's also a "clever" driver who has worked his way into a position where he holds the lead driver spot at Ferrari.

"He has worked for that. He has really got his team behind him. I don't begrudge him that.

"He is in a great position but I don't think he gets different equipment to Felipe (Massa). He is just doing a better job with what he has been given and maybe he has had more influence.

"When you race against him and beat him, it feels special.

"I respect him a lot because he is not just very quick, his talents are more in the race than qualifying and surrounding himself with the right people in the team.

"He is a clever driver, so that is why he is dangerous, but I hope his winning is over, he has his home grand prix and hopefully we can take over now."

Button's home race, which is also McLaren's home event, takes place this weekend at the Silverstone circuit. However, the Brit has never been on the podium never mind the top step.

"If I win at Silverstone, I will get really emotional," he said. "It will mean so much more.

"That was what it felt like after winning the World Championship after so many years trying to get the right car and the right team. It meant so much.

"Not sure I will be blubbing like a girl but I will be emotional."

Button subsequently clarified his 'arse-kissing' comment, Tweeting that he what he "said was its always amazing how complimentary drivers become."

MIKA: This is funny because last night when I read this article, I tweeted Jensen Button and Planet F1 (Who posted the article). About 30 seconds later, JB Tweeted back to PF1 and made them change his quote. I'll try posting the tweet a little later on.

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Bernie: I'm going to Hockenheim

Bernie Ecclestone has denied suggestions that he may not head to Germany next month for fear of being arrested by the authorities.

Last month former German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky was found guilty of taking nearly $44 million in bribes and failing to pay tax on the money.

The bribes, Gribkowsky said, came from Ecclestone with regards to the sale of Formula One from BayernLB to CVC.

Ecclestone, though, has always insisted he is innocent and any money paid to Gribkowsky was to prevent the latter from causing trouble for him with the British tax authorities.

However, now that the German banker has been sentenced there are rumours that Ecclestone could yet face prosecution.

The 81-year-old, though, says he's not afraid of a backlash.

"Of course I'm going to Hockenheim," he told German magazine Focus.

The F1 supremo is also confident that Gribkowsky's guilty verdict will not have a negative impact on his role in the sport.

"For over 40 years manufacturers and marketers worldwide have trusted by handshake. That speaks to me," he said.

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Hamilton to carry Olympic torch

Lewis Hamilton will carry the London Olympic torch next Monday in what he has described as an "incredibly proud moment ".

The McLaren driver had initially been asked to carry the torch through Stevenage, however, was not able to as that leg of the journey takes place as the British GP is set to start.

Hamilton, though, will not have to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity as he will now run with the torch on the Monday.

"I am so honoured to have been asked to do it," he told Reuters describing it as an "an incredibly proud moment.

"I never in a million years would have thought I'd get to do something so cool.

"I have no idea where I'll be running but it's great to be the one."

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Vodafone to 'review' sponsorship

McLaren's deal with Vodafone is in jeopardy with reports that the latter is "reviewing its global sports and events sponsorships."

According to the Financial Times, Vodafone is 'one of the most high profile brands at the races since the forced departure of tobacco but the review will probably raise questions about its continued involvement' especially in light of the current economic climate.

Vodafone are believed to spend "tens of millions of dollars a year" on their McLaren sponsorship, which is set to expire at the end of the 2013 F1 season.

There is, however, an upside to advertising through F1.

FT added that the 'race is still one of a few major events to be popular with a global audience, which means that a sponsorship can work on a number of levels in different regions and is therefore attractive for brands such as Vodafone wanting to extend their global reach.

'However, the general sponsorship market has been affected by the global economic downturn, with some banking groups more reluctant to be seen spending money on events.'

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Vettel: Alonso and Hamilton stand-out drivers most likely to achieve 'greatness status'

Sebastian Vettel has praised fellow Fomula 1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, as two who are likely to achieve 'all-time great' status.

The German was speaking at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Saturday when the question was put to him. He replied: "If you look at this season we've had a lot of different winners and those drivers are very competitive and very fast, but the ones that stand out are Fernando - he's one of the most complete drivers - and Lewis is very, very quick.

"Then there are plenty of others. Michael [schumacher] is still in the game, I don't think he has lost it. It's always depending on how well you do in combination with the package and the car and the team etcetera."

Vettel added that status shouldn't necessarily depend upon success nor the amount of titles a driver has won.

"Obviously [championship] success is a big part of it. If you look at great names from the past - I'm talking about drivers like Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Jackie Stewart and others - they all won a lot of titles. But sometimes there are other names that stay in your head and they stay around because they had something extra and were special," he added.

"I think everyone in Formula One is a very quick race driver and knows what he's doing, but some guys have something extra. Maybe it's something the people loved, maybe it was very entertaining, very special to watch him driving the car - so there are plenty of other drivers who didn't win a world championship but are some people's heroes, and rightly so.

"Like Jochen Rindt, he won one championship but he was one guy in the German-speaking area who really attracted people for the first time really."