FORMULA 1 - 2010

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Turkey could be priced out of hosting Formula 1

Turkey could be priced out of hosting a Formula One race in the near future, according to reports in the local media which state Bernie Ecclestone is demanding a doubling of the hosting fee.

Istanbul Park has a contract to host F1 until 2011, reportedly costing the local government around £9.5 million (€11.5m, $14m) per year. A fairly low price when compared to other races.

Ecclestone is looking to almost double this to £18m (€22m, $26m). A figure which could see the government wave goodbye to the sport.

A meeting between Ecclestone, State Minister for Sports Faruk Nafiz Özak and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek took place during the weekend of the Turkish GP. The meeting reportedly ended without an agreement.

"Turkey is definitely fond of hosting these races, and all this haggling is taking place for this," said Yunus Akgül, Youth and Sports Director. "After these talks, both sides understand the positions of all involved, and the process will be concluded within two months.

"However, paying $26m for this organisation every year is a big burden. The figure is very high," he said.

"We've approached the deal from a different angle. Our last offer was that he relinquish the operating rights to İstanbul Park, and we guaranteed that the track would be reserved for the organisation for three weeks before and during the races. In return, we wanted him to come up with a new offer."

MIKA: This is just typical Bernie being a prick and demanding more money to line his pockets. Turkey GP is a brilliant venue one which could fade away because of another greed.

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Teams want testing without financial impact

Team bosses have warned against changing the rules for 2011 in a bid to continue cutting costs.

With a new tyre supplier entering the sport next season, teams are worried that the inadequate testing allowance won't give them the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge on how the tyres operate.

Ferrari have also raised concerns that without having a third car, the fans are robbed of seeing all cars competing in qualifying, as seen in Monaco when Fernando Alonso damaged his chassis beyond repair.

However, changing the rules to accommodate test sessions and spare cars will only reverse the cost cuts of recent.

Williams CEO, Adam Parr, reckons Formula One has reached a 'delicate balance' which has enabled teams to save money, whilst ensuring F1 remains the pinnacle of motorsport.

"I think we have reached a very delicate balance over the last couple of years," ITV quote him as saying.

"We have got the costs down to a very much lower level than they were and we have a programme over the next two years to reduce them further under the Resource Restriction Agreement, which is a voluntary agreement within FOTA.

"I am very concerned that we don't chuck that all out because very few things that one could do are actually going to improve the show very much, or at all, and they are certainly going to increase costs.

"I think this is not the moment to start changing things that are going to increase costs."

Ferrari boss, Stefano Domenicali agrees in principle. However the Italian reckons F1 needs to look at changing the testing regulations to ensure they are properly prepared.

"With a change of tyres it will be crucial not to arrive at the last minute without any proper testing, otherwise maybe we will have big problems during the race weekend which is what we don't want," he said.

Another point he highlighted, was the possibility of changing the race weekend to accommodate a test session.

This has previously been suggested, where by teams get a test on the Monday after a GP. This will mean test drivers can gain experience whilst the team can evaluate new updates, without the worry that they need to set the car up for a GP, as is the case on Friday. This would also reduce the costs of travelling to test circuits between races.

"Maybe, and this is another point that we are thinking, to see without changing and going back to test team recruitment as this is not correct and is totally wrong, but to see if we can select a different weekend format or extended day for testing in order to make sure we can do a little bit more."

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Tickets for F1 season finale selling fast

Tickets for the season finale in Abu Dhabi are selling fast, according to Richard Cregan, chief executive officer at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Tickets went on sale in mid-May, however within an hour over 40% of the total tickets for the event had sold-out.

Now two weeks since tickets were released for sale, well over 50% have been sold with a total sell-out expected some time before the event kicks off in November.

"We’re very pleased with the strong demand for tickets," Cregan said in a statement.

"I believe we captivated the racing world with our inaugural event last year and clearly we are building a loyal and committed following."

The inaugural event in 2009 also saw every grandstand seat taken.

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Alonso: Ferrari can out-develop rivals

Fernando Alonso insists he sees no reason why Ferrari can’t repeat development surges from past years and get itself back on the pace of its two main rivals.

The Maranello squad endured a miserable 800th grand prix in Turkey last week and, while its pace was a long way behind Red Bull and McLaren, worryingly for its championship aspirations it also proved slower than Mercedes and Renault.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali acknowledged after its drivers finished seventh and eighth in the race that the recent development parts brought onto the F10 hadn't been good enough and that it needed to adopt the more aggressive approach to upgrades taken by other teams.

And while Alonso remains in touch with the championship leaders in the points standings, the Spaniard admits Ferrari has failed to match the development pace at the front since the start of the European season and must turn the situation around quickly.

“In Istanbul we were not quick enough and we have to react immediately,” he said on his blog on Ferrari’s website.

“The championship is still wide open with everything to play for. I am fourth in the classification, 14 points off the leader and if the old points system still applied, the difference would be just four.

“However, it’s clear we need to make a jump forward in terms of developing the car.

“Over the first four races, we matched the pace of our main rivals, but since we have been back in Europe, that is no longer the case.”

However, the double world champion is upbeat about Ferrari’s chances of getting back on terms with the front two as he says it has shown in the past that it can out-develop the field.

The former Renault driver had to survive an onslaught from the Maranello squad en-route to his second title in 2006 when, despite having enjoyed a big points lead at mid-season, his fight with Michael Schumacher went down to the final round as Ferrari ended the season with the grid’s quickest car.

“When I was racing against Ferrari, I admired its ability to react, producing probably the best development during the season,” Alonso said.

“The people are the same now, so there is no reason why the same thing cannot happen this year: I trust our team and, above all, I trust in the will to win that every last one of us shares.”

Ferrari has targeted the European Grand Prix at Valencia later this month as the place where it expects to make a big step forward when a significant package of upgrades is introduced onto the F10.

Alonso too has high hopes for Valencia – but is also confident the team will already prove more competitive in Canada next week.

“For Valencia, we will have a major update package which should see us make a good step forward, but I believe that already in Canada, we will have a different situation," he said.

“The Montreal circuit will be better suited to the characteristics of the F10 and I think we will definitely be more competitive.”

MIKA: Perhaps this is all wishful thinking for Alonso.

Need I remind him that Ferrari may just say, 'Sure, we will develop the car, BUT for the next season, not this one." This is heading the same way as it did in 2009 for Kimi when Ferrari pulled the plug on development for last season (Mid way) and opted to develop for 2010. Alot of good that did anyway.

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Toro Rosso preview the Canadian GP

Sebastien Buemi: "I came here during the winter time, as part of a promotion that involved driving the Formula 1 car on ice. I didn't see much of the track because it was under one metre of snow! However, the last time there was a Grand Prix here, I was the Red Bull reserve driver, so I got a feeling for how the weekend pans out and how the track changes over the practice days. I remember they had problems with the asphalt breaking up and I understand that much of it has now been resurfaced. It will be the first race of the year where we run the cars in low downforce trim and that's something I'm looking forward to, as those conditions can make for a few surprises. It's the sort of track where the driver can make a difference and therefore I really hope I can pick up some points. I enjoyed visiting the city back in January, when I attended an NHL Hockey game and generally I really like Montreal and the fact they speak French here is neat. Oh, and the food is really good too!"

Jaime Alguersuari: "I only have a "virtual" memory of Canada, from seeing the races on television and, more recently, driving the circuit on our simulator. It looks like a very interesting circuit with the barriers very close to the track. I actually like this feeling of being on a street circuit, or a fast track with the walls very close. I know it is a very tricky circuit to get the best from because of the combination of low downforce and the fact the surface has very little grip, given that in winter it's covered in snow and ice and then hardly used during the year. I think my first race weekend here will be really interesting, getting used to the low downforce and its effect on braking, which in any case is an important factor here. It should all be about finding the right compromise in terms of your set-up to deal with these unusual characteristics that we do not encounter on any other track on the calendar. I will have a lot to learn, but I am really looking forward to another new experience as part of my F1 learning curve."

Franz Tost: "At Scuderia Toro Rosso, we are looking forward to coming back to Montreal, as the city is a great venue that always gives Formula 1 a good welcome. It is also an important market for Red Bull and, until we return to the USA, this is our only North American venue and therefore it is commercially important for all teams and partners. In Montreal, you get the feeling that the people are very keen on F1, with a party atmosphere that lasts all weekend and is only rivalled by the Monaco event. The track itself puts the emphasis on engine power and brakes. Both our drivers will be racing here for the first time and the plan will be for them to do as many laps as possible on Friday to learn the track, because getting the most out of it is harder than it looks on paper."

Laurent Mekies (chief engineer): "I remember Kubica's spectacular accident in 2007, partly because it opened the door for Sebastian Vettel to race in F1, at the following week's United States GP; an important moment in our future history and that of the whole Red Bull family. I also have mixed feelings about the last time we were there in 2008. Both our drivers - Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais – had accidents on Saturday morning. We could not repair Vettel's car which needed a new chassis and with Bourdais, we had to change the gearbox: not an ideal way to go into the rest of the weekend. Bourdais had to take a penalty therefore and started from 19th on the grid, while Vettel started from pit lane. But he managed to work his way up the order and eventually brought home one point for eighth place, which is Toro Rosso's best Canadian result to date. It would be nice to better it this time. I also "me souviens" the track breaking up. Since then, much of it has been renewed and it has so far survived a NASCAR race, therefore let's wait and see what damage the F1 cars do this year!"

Gerard Lecoq (chief mechanic): "On the racing side, I remember Kubica's 2007 accident, as a reminder that this is still a dangerous sport. Fortunately, I have many more pleasant memories, including the Raft Race for teams which was held on the Thursday for many years: you had to build a raft to cross the rowing basin and it was a bit of light hearted fun for everyone, with some teams even converting their spare race chassis into a raft. This event was replaced by inter-team races for rowing skiffs. It was very tough as you had to go up and down the entire length of the rowing basin, with one member of the local rowing club and five F1 personnel. As one side of the boat was inevitably stronger than the other, the hardest part was keeping the skiff in a straight line! I have always tried to spend some extra time in Canada around the GP, to go fishing or whale watching in the St. Lawrence which is a superb experience. The people are fantastic and after the long Canadian winter they all seem to make the most of their short summer and are very welcoming to the F1 community."

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Lotus preview the Canadian GP

Heikki Kovalainen:

"I'm really looking forward to Canada. Montreal is an amazing city and everyone there really loves the fact they have a race on their doorsteps. It's pretty impressive how the whole place almost becomes like a festival - some streets are closed for parties, events and all sorts of things, and everyone really gets behind the whole race. With the circuit being practically in the city it's hard to escape the noise and goings on, but I love it.

"The circuit itself is a real challenge, for the cars and the drivers. Braking is very important because there are long straights and it's the second hardest circuit on the brakes in the whole season – cooling them is a priority and getting your braking points right is the key to a good lap. There's always a lot of action in the braking zones, so we'll see how we get on in the race. Riding the kerbs well is also critical, so it's important to set up the car for them, and we'll focus on that on Friday."

Jarno Trulli:

"Canada's a funny one for me - even though I love Canada - the track, the people and the city - the race itself has never loved me! It's a great challenge, and I've always performed pretty well there, but I've never had much luck there, so maybe that will change this year.

"As it's a temporary circuit it's a major challenge the whole way round. There's the constant threat of the walls and it's critical not to make any mistakes. You have to have confidence in the car and a good setup gives you the chance to push, but you've got to be perfect the whole time, otherwise it will bite you. It's also very quick, and hard on brakes, so the cooling and the stability under braking are both important, and I think we're pretty good in both areas, so we should be ok. Our car has been performing better and better over the last few races, so we'll see what happens when we get out there, but I think we'll continue to move away from the other new guys, and towards those ahead."

Mike Gascoyne:

"Canada's a race we all look forward to. It's a great city and a great race and we're all glad to be going back to Montreal. It's a temporary circuit where you often see quite a few people hit the wall, bringing out the safety car more than it's usually seen. It's one of those races where it's possible to pick up points, and we've got to put ourselves in a position to do that. We've got two very experienced drivers in the car which will help us be there at the finish and that's the primary goal. It's going to be hard on brakes, but we've had no problems in that area. We're also bringing a few more new parts, including a low downforce package specifically for Canada, so overall we want to build on the performances we've been putting in, aim for bullet-proof reliability, and have two cars see the flag."

Tony Fernandes:

"It's been a busy couple of weeks since Turkey for the team and they've been working very hard in the factory, particularly focusing on our reliability. We have to aim to get two cars home whenever we can and consistent reliability is the key to doing that. We have developed well in a number of important areas, but so far reliability is one where we need to work harder – I hope Canada's where we can turn that around.

"It's one of the great races on the calendar, and we're all looking forward to getting out there. North America's an important area for us, particularly bearing in mind CNN is one of our partners and the heritage Lotus has on the continent, so I hope we put on a good show in Montreal. The steps we've taken so far this season should help us do that, and we've also just announced how we've strengthened the senior technical team, so the building blocks for the future are in place for us to keep moving forward."

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McLaren preview the Canadian GP

Jenson Button:

"It's fantastic to be going back to Montreal after a year away. I think everyone in Formula 1 loves the city, the people and the track, so it's very fitting that we're heading back - particularly during one of the best seasons we've had for years.

"Looking back at the pace of the Turkish Grand Prix, which was run pretty much flat-out from start to finish, it's going to be interesting to see how Canada plays out. It's an extremely fast circuit, but it isn't a place that tolerates even the slightest mistake – because of the proximity of the concrete walls.

"The track configuration should suit the MP4-25, it's got a couple of slowish corners that lead onto long straights, so we should be able to use the combination of the Mercedes-Benz engine and our aero package to be competitive in both qualifying and the race.

"Canada is always an unpredictable weekend – it's a bit of a one-off, which is great for Formula 1 – and I think this year's race has all the ingredients for a classic."

Lewis Hamilton:

"I won my first grand prix in Montreal – 2007 seems like such a long time ago, but I still have some absolutely fantastic memories of that weekend: the pole position, the crazy number of Safety Cars, the uncertainty in the final laps, and then, at last, crossing the line, which just a massive feeling of relief and amazement at the same time. It was fantastic.

"Returning for 2010 is great, because it's such a fast, demanding and unforgiving circuit – I love racing here. It's an incredibly tough track – even if you can avoid the walls, which are really close and exciting at some places, the surface is very treacherous offline because of all the marbles. It's a place where you don't want to make even a tiny mistake.

"And the city is a fantastic place too. It's great to be heading back to North America after two years away. The people in Montreal really embrace their race and there's a lot of support for the drivers and the teams. I can't wait to get back there."

Martin Whitmarsh - Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes:

"The return of Formula 1 to North America is a very positive move for the sport. After a two-year absence, I think everybody is tremendously looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that has long been a staple of the calendar.

"The residents of Montreal really take this race to their hearts, and there's always a fantastic atmosphere throughout the race weekend. The circuit itself is fast and unforgiving – practically the perfect recipe for exciting, unpredictable and close racing. Additionally, I believe we return to North America with a product that is strong and healthy, with a depth of driver talent that is probably as great as any other time in the sport's history.

"Off the back of a very strong result in Turkey, we feel that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will be well suited to the characteristics of MP4-25. It's a low-downforce track where straight-line speed is fundamental to a good laptime. Once again, we'll be looking for another strong result before the circus returns to Europe for the rest of the summer."

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Sauber preview the Canadian GP

Pedro de la Rosa:

"It is great to have the Canadian Grand Prix back on the calendar, as everybody always enjoyed it so much because of the atmosphere and the great racing there. I think the layout of the Montreal circuit is good for exciting races , and it is definitely one of the tracks where overtaking is easiest. It is a track where you run less downforce compared to previous races, and it is also one of the few tracks that has a distinctive personality. Last time I drove there was in 2005 in a Friday practice. One of the most enjoyable races for me was the 2001 Canadian Grand Prix. I was in the top five cars and fighting with Mika Hakkinen and some other guys - we had great fun. It is one of the hardest races for brakes and also a tough one for the engines. Physically for the drivers it is a rather easy one."

Kamui Kobayashi:

"I have only been in Montreal once, and this was for the 2008 Grand Prix, which I attended as a reserve driver for Toyota. Obviously back then I had time to enjoy the atmosphere. I have to say in a way it reminds me of Melbourne, with people partying and having fun over the Grand Prix weekend. I'm very much looking forward to racing in front of that crowd, and, after we had a reasonable race in Turkey, I really hope this is the beginning of a much stronger period in the championship for us. We have to keep working hard to make this happen."

Technical Director James Key:

"It is great to go back to Montreal because it is such a popular place. The Montreal circuit is unique in many respects. It is the first time this year we will be running with a medium downforce level, therefore we will be taking drag off the car to optimize the lap times. Secondly you have very heavy braking in Montreal. We will be watching the brake wear levels and temperatures very closely and also paying close attention to the car's braking stability, while traction out of the corners is also important. It is a bit of a stop and go circuit and the kerbs in the chicanes are another major aspect you have to consider when setting up the car. On top of that, tyre wear and grip levels can be strange and difficult to manage there. It can be very low grip and in the past we have sometimes seen grip levels have not improved over the sessions. At the same time you can have heavy tyre wear and loads of marbles off line, and perhaps this is track surface related. Finally there are some clear overtaking opportunities on the Montreal circuit, so we expect an exciting race and hope to continue the good form we had in Istanbul."

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Mercedes preview the Canadian GP

Nico Rosberg:

"Montreal is a great race venue and I always like to get there a few days early to get used to the time difference and have the chance to relax. The city really comes alive for the Grand Prix weekend and the atmosphere is fantastic so I'm pleased that we're heading back there again this season. The circuit is technically challenging and fun to drive with the very long straight combined with short and slow corners. Our Mercedes-Benz engine will certainly be a big help on the main straight. We will have some further upgrades for the race weekend and the fact that the circuit characteristics are quite different from Istanbul Park makes me go there with high hopes. I think we might just put in a great result."

Michael Schumacher:

"Canada is definitely one of the places on the Formula One calendar which everyone is keen to visit, myself included of course. I have always had nice weekends in Montreal and enjoyed flying over to North America. I will combine this trip with some days off and I am sure that once I enter the paddock, I will very much be looking forward to starting the race weekend. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is all about top speed so we have worked very hard on this, especially as we know that we are not right at the top in that area. However I am convinced that we will be able to get the best out of our package."

Ross Brawn:

"Looking back at our last race in Turkey, the team and drivers performed well throughout the weekend to achieve our highest points score of the season however we are simply not yet quick enough. We know the solution, the continuation of our hard work and application, and we will keep pushing until we are back to competing right at the front of the field. Looking ahead, we are delighted to be returning to Canada next week and the race is always one of the most popular weekends on the calendar with the city of Montreal putting on a great show. This year will be no exception and we hope that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve produces its usual standard of exciting racing and the weekend is a success for our sport in the important North American market. The circuit is an interesting one from an engineering perspective and should be a track where our slow to medium speed performance, good braking stability and strong engine performance will be an asset."

Norbert Haug:

"First of all, it is great news that the Canadian Grand Prix is back on the Formula One calendar in 2010. This is a very unique event on the Ile Notre-Dame in Montreal where the Olympic Games took place in 1976. The track is very different to the purpose-built circuits and requires high-speed, very good braking and of course strong engine power. Our team has achieved 100 points in the seven races so far this season which is roughly one-third of the points available if you do an absolutely perfect job. We are certainly not where we want to be yet, namely in a position to challenge for victories on a regular basis, however we are dedicated and have a very good spirit to achieve our targets. It is difficult to predict where we could end up in Canada but we will certainly try as hard as we can."

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Webber signs new Red Bull deal

Red Bull have announced that Mark Webber has signed a one-year contract extension to race for them next season.

With Sebastian Vettel already committed to the Milton Keynes-based team for 2011, the decision to retain the Australian means Red Bull will field an unchanged line-up.

Webber currently leads the World Championship having won back-to-back races last month in Spain and Monaco.

However, his attempt to win a third grand prix in a row ended when he and Vettel collided whilst disputing the lead in Turkey the weekend before last.

"It was an easy decision to remain with Red Bull Racing. We began talking very early this year and were in a position to sign by the Barcelona Grand Prix," said Webber, who joined the team from Williams in 2007.

"The decision to extend for a further year was a mutual one; it's widely know that I'm not interested in hanging around in Formula One just for the sake of it and at this stage of my career, I'm happy to take one year at a time."

The 33-year-old added: "I hope we experience more success together in the future and achieve our ultimate goal of winning the World Championship."

The announcement will also put an end to speculation that 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, who left F1 at the end of last season to join the Red Bull-backed Citroen junior rally team, will partner Vettel next year.

Team principal Christian Horner added: "The decision to retain Mark was very straightforward. He is an important member of our team and is currently in the best form of his career, as the current leader of the Drivers' Championship.

"The team is extremely happy that the driver pairing of Mark and Sebastian will remain unchanged for a third season in 2011."

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'Heidfeld to return to Sauber'

Nick Heidfeld could return to Formula One racing with reports linking him to a Sauber race-seat.

With BMW withdrawing from F1 at the end of last season, Heidfeld was linked to a possible race-seat with the rebadged Mercedes GP team.

However, instead of going with Heidfeld, Ross Brawn's squad opted to bring Michael Schumacher out of retirement, forcing Heidfeld to settle for a test driver role.

But he may not be sidelined for too long as reports in the German media claim he could be on his way to his former team, Sauber.

"There could be room for Mercedes test driver Nick Heidfeld at Sauber," claims the Bild.

The newspaper, though, did not say whether it would be this year as a possible replacement for the under-performing Pedro de la Rosa or next year...

MIKA: This will be interesting for NH to choose.....

Does he stay at Mercedes, a German team in the hope of getting a drive sometime or should he move to a poorly performing team and tarnish his reputation should the car not be up to scratch? Heidfeld is one of my favourite drivers due to his consistency and maturity.

I guess if he wishes to race, its a simple choice, move to Sauber...?

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Sauber not giving up hope

Peter Sauber is confident that his team can turnaround their fortunes after a poor start to the season.

The team have been plagued by reliability issues, with Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa each reaching the finishing line on only two occasions, with all but one retirement the result of some form of car malfunction.

So bleak were the team's prospects in the build-up to the Turkey GP that de la Rosa admitted all he was aiming to achieve was to make it to the chequered flag. The veteran managed to do so in a race that brought Sauber their first point of the season, with Kobayashi finishing tenth. The result has given the team owner renewed optimism.

"It is the normal situation to be reliable," Sauber told Autosport.

"I hope that we can be reliable also in the future. For me it was very important the qualifying in Turkey from Kamui in Q2. The time was excellent and that showed me that the car is able for a good time, and also Kamui is able to do that.

"We have some small developments coming for Canada, but I think the bigger step will be in the middle of the season."

Without a major sponsor, Sauber is hopeful that the team's improved showing will make them a more attractive proposition.

"The results are important for sponsors, to show them the team has made progress, but when I speak with sponsors, with potential sponsors, they know the history of the team," explained the team principal.

"It makes no sense to show the situation now - it is necessary to go back. The team is the old one, the infrastructure is one of the best, and it is only a question of time to be back," he added.

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Russian GP nears reality

According to reports in Russia, the country's bid to host a Grand Prix in 2014 is gaining momentum.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone mentioned earlier in the year that he was hopeful of adding Russia to the Formula One calendar, with the city of Sochi -which is near to the Black Sea and Georgian border - a favourite to secure the event.

Deputy regional development minister Yuri Reilyan has now been quoted by business newspaper Vedomosti as saying that construction in Sochi will begin as soon as Ecclestone can "guarantee that the race will definitely take place, and the circuit will not be abandoned in the future".

"He [Ecclestone] suggests holding the first grand prix in autumn 2014," Reilyan added.

The newspaper went on to say that a draft design for the circuit has already been discussed with Hermann Tilke.

Sochi will play host to the 2014 Winter Olympics.

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Change of chassis for Liuzzi in Canada

Vitantonio Liuzzi will revert back to the chassis he used in the first four races of the season for this weekend's Canadian GP.

The Italian has been at odds with the set-up of his VJM03 of late, finding it difficult to attain the necessary grip. The team have discovered some damage to his chassis and as a result Liuzzi will use his original chassis in Montreal.

"The last few races have been pretty tough as we've been struggling with a general lack of grip that makes it hard for me to give the maximum," explained Liuzzi.

"Monaco was OK and I thought we had solved the issues so it was quite frustrating in Turkey that I couldn't make the most of our new development items.

"We've put in some long hours at the factory and found some minor damage on the chassis that we picked up in Monaco. We thought we had fixed it but as a precaution we are switching back to the chassis I used in the first four races. We'll look at the chassis again back in the factory and see if we can find any other areas we need to address," he added.

Liuzzi will have an extra opportunity to familiarize himself with the new chassis as reserve driver Paul di Resta will not be taking part in Friday's practice as he has in the past, allowing Liuzzi and team-mate Adrian Sutill maximum time to familiarise themselves with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

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'Teams won't decide on tyre supplier'

FIA president Jean Todt has revealed that it will be the sport's governing body and commercial arm who will decide on the F1's tyre supplier.

With Bridgestone pulling out of the sport there has been much speculation as to who will replace the Japanese company, with a number of pretenders coming and going it now appears that Pirelli and Michelin are the two realistic options.

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) are reported to be closing in on a deal with Pirelli, but Todt has now made it clear that the teams don't have the authority to make the decision.

Asked by French newspaper Le Parisien whether the FIA had a say in the process, Todt responded: "Of course it does. And it [the FIA] will soon launch a tender, with the commercial promoter of the championship, Bernie Ecclestone.

"FOTA may suggest that it decides, but the strong man is not he who speaks the loudest."

MIKA: I wonder if Michellin will get in seeing they're French and Todt also is French?

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Wirth: Now we can focus on performance

Having seen both of his team's cars cross the finish line in Turkey, Virgin Racing technical director Nick Wirth believes that the team can now focus on more than just finishing the race.

The early stages of the season have provided all the new teams with an immense challenge, with all outfits initially struggling to even get one car to go the distance.

However, in Turkey Virgin saw both their drivers race past the chequered flag for the second time this season, sparking Wirth to believe that the team have reached the stage where they can look for more form a race weekend than just the avoidance of a DNF.

Canada marks the first time at which the team will look to broaden their horizons in such a manner.

"Getting a two car finish in Istanbul was very important for us, as it is finally allowing us to focus on performance," explained Wirth.

"Whilst the big performance steps for us this year are yet to be brought to the track, we have a nice Montreal aero package which consists of new aero parts all over the car, specifically for this track.

"The circuit itself is another interesting challenge, mainly in that it changes throughout the weekend and that makes getting the best race set-up quite tricky. Brake wear and temperature is something that will challenge the teams this race, and if a number of people get that wrong, things can get very interesting close to the finish.

"We're looking forward to another step in progress and performance this weekend, and more good reliability," he added.

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Mansell issues Ferrari warning

Ferrari risk dropping further behind rivals Red Bull and McLaren if they fail to resolve the technical problems that have blighted their season so far, former world champion Nigel Mansell has warned.

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso have both struggled to keep up with the pace of their British-based rivals this year, with only Alonso able to win a race.

Alonso only lies 14 points behind championship leader Mark Webber but Massa's worrying dip in form has left him 26 points behind the Australian.

Despite a Ferrari one-two in the first race in Bahrain, Stefano Domenicali's team have lost points due to engine problems.

Mansell, who won the drivers' championship in 1992, has been surprised by the team's lack of progress this year, and has warned that they risk slipping out of the title race if they can not field a car as reliable as their opponents.

"The biggest surprise for me this season is how Ferrari have gone backwards," said Mansell.

"There is a great saying in Formula One that if you stand still, you go backwards and I don't think they've done that much wrong, it's just that their development going forward hasn't been as good as other people's. They have stood still and in standing still they have gone backwards. The development of McLaren and Red Bull has been phenomenal.

"It's a disappointment for all the fans and for F1. They need to pay attention otherwise they will be left in the wake of everybody else and that's a very unusual thing to happen to them."

Conversely, Mansell has been impressed with the performance of Jenson Button and his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Many thought Button would struggle to work alongside 2008 champion Hamilton when he moved from Brawn GP but the pair have developed a good working relationship which has seen them stay within touching distance of championship leader Webber.

Mansell now believes a new era of McLaren dominance could be secured if the team manage to hold on to the British duo.

"The two of them make a formidable team," said Mansell, who was speaking at the launch of the Nigel Mansell UK Youth Cycle Challenge.

"McLaren are revived, the combination of Jenson and Lewis is working fabulously. I said to everyone before the start of the season that Jenson would wake everyone up there and he has.

"He's a great ambassador as a world champion and I think he has brought out the best in Lewis as well and between them I think that they are working very well together. It just keeps on getting better and better.

"People say what an incredible job Ferrari did with Michael Schumacher when he won five championships there but the biggest thing you need in Formula One is to have continuity.

"If you have continuity you can build year on year with reliability.

"He won championships year on year with that reliability which set unprecedented standards in Formula One.

"McLaren now, with the two drivers that they have, have an ability to do something equally as special again."

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Ferrari tested Canada aero package in Vairano

Ferrari are hoping that testing their downforce settings for Canada will help them find some much needed pace. Test driver Giancarlo Fisichella gave the package a run-down in Vairano last week to evaluate it.

Ferrari haven't had the best of luck in Montreal. 2007 saw Felipe Massa penalised after failing to spot a red light at the end of the pit lane exit, whilst 2008 saw a similar accident, however it was Lewis Hamilton who missed the red light and slammed into the back of a patiently waiting Kimi Raikkonen.

"The F10 is basically to the same specification that it had in Turkey, with the exception that the two cars will be fitted with an aero configuration suited to the medium to low downforce characteristics of the track," said a team statement.

"To evaluate this set-up, Giancarlo Fisichella was at the wheel for an aero test at Vairano last Thursday."

Ferrari will also be running their version of McLaren's F-duct system which should provide a significant speed advantage over teams not running the system, Red Bull being one.

"Both Felipe and Fernando are of the opinion the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve should be better suited to the characteristics of the car than was the case in Turkey, partly based on the fact that the track layout is the most similar to those where the F10 has been most competitive so far this year, namely Bahrain and Melbourne.

"In addition, the Bridgestone tyre choices for Canada of Supersoft and Medium have been less problematic than their harder compounds. However, one cannot assume that Ferrari will be a front runner until after the first practice sessions on Friday."

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McLaren hoping updates improve qualifying pace

McLaren will have a raft of new updates for the Canadian GP this weekend says team principal, Martin Whitmarsh.

Whilst all the teams are making steps forward, it seems McLaren are making the biggest jumps, having caught up with Red Bull in Turkey, whilst Ferrari and Mercedes have fallen back.

Whitmarsh is hoping a new front wing, rear wing elements and modified diffuser will enable the team to catch the Bull's in qualifying, whilst he is confident the Woking based teams race pace is on par with the Red Bull.

"We’ve got a few more development items on the car for this weekend. This ought to be where we are quickest," Whitmarsh said in a McLaren phone-in.

"It’s undoubtedly the case at the moment that the Red Bull is very strong in long, high-speed corners. Fortunately the next two Grands Prix don’t feature a lot of those. We hope that we’ll be strong there.

"We’ve got a new front wing again. We had a new front wing as part of the package in Istanbul, that didn’t work, we think we’ve understood that so we’ve modified it and hopefully it will now work," he explained.

"We also have a new rear wing lower element and modifications to the diffuser. So we’ve got a reasonable aerodynamic package to take us forward.

"Red Bull still had an advantage on us in qualifying [in Turkey]. But I think it was clear in the race that we had a faster race pace which was very encouraging."

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Virgin: 'Montreal is a bit of a car breaker'

The Virgin team are hoping they can match their reliability from the Turkish GP, in which both cars managed to finish - the only newcomers to do so.

The 4.4km Montreal track is notoriously hard on the cars engines, gearboxes, brakes and tyres. With four long straights punctuated by chicanes and tight bends makes brake temperatures a real issue for the teams, something Virgin are looking to avoid.

"We're very excited to be racing in Montreal at what is a fantastic and technically challenging race track, although it does of course have a record as a bit of a car breaker," said team principal, John Booth.

"The main areas of concern are brake wear as the cars slow from seventh to second gear six times during the lap, high rear tyre wear due to the traction demands of the circuit and an unusually high number of gear changes."

Virgin's technical director, Nick Wirth, says the team will bring an entirely new aero package for the race, to suit the low downforce characteristics.

"We have a nice Montreal aero package which consists of new aero parts all over the car, specifically for this track," explained Wirth.

"The circuit itself is another interesting challenge, mainly in that it changes throughout the weekend and that makes getting the best race set-up quite tricky.

"Brake wear and temperature is something that will challenge the teams this race, and if a number of people get that wrong, things can get very interesting close to the finish. We're looking forward to another step in progress and performance this weekend, and more good reliability."

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Canadian Grand Prix preview

Some Formula 1 venues come and go almost unnoticed, but there were real pangs of disappointment when Montreal dropped out of the 2009 schedule – and universal delight among the grand prix fraternity when it returned to the fray for 2010.

It’s partly because Montreal is one of F1’s favourite host cities, and it gives the championship a foothold in the teams’ and sponsors’ treasured North American market at a time when the new United States Grand Prix is still two years away.

But there is a further reason why Canada’s return to F1 is eagerly awaited: Montreal means drama.

It has always been that way, from home hero Gilles Villeneuve’s victory in the inaugural race in 1978, through the tense 1980 title decider and the 1981 monsoon, to Nigel Mansell losing victory when he stopped on the last lap in 1991, Jean Alesi’s sole F1 triumph in 1995, Michael Schumacher charging back from a penalty to win amid chaos in 1998, and brother Ralf defeating him in F1’s first family one-two three years later.

Then there were the explosive recent races that saw Lewis Hamilton take his first F1 victory in Canada in 2007, and Robert Kubica shrug off his horrifying crash in that race to lead a shock BMW one-two in Montreal a year later.

Few other circuits can boast such a record of surprises and spectacular races.

On paper Montreal doesn’t look too special – a series of blasts down longish straights towards tight corners, albeit with the odd fast kink thrown in.

But add to that layout the dusty surface created by the track rarely being used, the bumps inevitable from Montreal’s punishing winters, and the concrete walls and unyielding barriers that line the track – making the first sector in particular a demanding canyon through which drivers must thread – and you have a real challenge.

Go too far off-line or slam a kerb too hard, and there’s a wall just waiting to grab even the biggest names – indeed the barrier at the final chicane has been nicknamed the ‘champions’ wall’ ever since title winners Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill all found it in quick succession in the 1999 GP.

The proximity of those barriers makes safety car interludes all but inevitable too – which adds new strategic challenges and brings the pack back together on a regular basis.

It can be a mess and maybe it’s not one for purists, but as a magnet for incident and excitement, and a breeding ground for underdog upsets, Montreal is hard to beat.

Often Canada is eagerly anticipated because fans hope that its reputation for shocks will provide some welcome relief in a monotonous or predictable season.

But this year we’re heading to one of F1’s most reliably exciting events already in the midst of a thriller.

We’ve had five different winners in seven races, four different championship leaders, and even though recent races have seen Red Bull and McLaren edge away from what had been a four- or even five-team pack, there are still five men within 15 points (the score for a single third place) at the top of the standings.

Now throw in the fact that the Turkish GP saw the Red Bull team-mates collide while fighting for the lead, and hints of intra-team rivalry bemusement at the victorious McLaren squad too, and things get even more tantalising.

Red Bull insists all is now well between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel – and it may be that having collided once the pair now race each other a little more respectfully and never ever have a problem again.

But the events of Istanbul will still linger into Montreal, and it’s hard to imagine the Red Bull drivers being asked about much else during the build-up days.

It’s the same story at McLaren, where Hamilton and Jenson Button provided a masterclass in close racing in Turkey, yet it seemed there had been different interpretations of what the team was asking them to do as it tried to ensure both would make the finish without running out of fuel.

The fuel issue could be very relevant in Canada, where consumption is notoriously high due to the circuit’s stop-start nature.

It’s clear that teams are sailing increasingly close to the wind, trying to run the race with as little petrol in the tank as possible to minimise car weight now that mid-race refuelling is not an option.

If ever anyone is going to slip up and run dry, or have to frantically back off to make it home, Montreal will be the place.

The other lesson from Turkey was that the 2010 rules might create great racing after all, despite early fears that a lack of overtaking/refuelling/opposition to Red Bull might kill the season as a spectacle.

Now the pit stops tend to be done and dusted by lap 20, teams and drivers are realising that if they want to make any progress in the second half of the race, they have to throw caution to the wind and race wheel-to-wheel for what they want – which not everyone managed successfully at Istanbul Park.

So: a fraught title scrap between perhaps as many as half a dozen drivers, new battle lines between team-mates in the leading two squads, Ferrari and Mercedes desperate to get back on the lead pace, 2008 Montreal winner Kubica leading a rapidly-improving Renault forward, a track where overtaking and incident are almost guaranteed... It has the makings of a classic weekend.

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Eleven-year-old joins Ferrari academy

Eleven-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll has become the youngster driver to join Ferrari's Driver Academy programme.

The Montreal-born driver has impressed during the North American junior karting scene, winning two Canadian National Championship in the Rotax Mini Max category and claiming a sixth-place finish in the 2009 karting world finals as well as two Championship victories at the Florida Winter Tour.

"We are pleased to welcome Lance to our group," Luca Baldisserri, who runs the Ferrari Driving Academy. "He is very young, but he has already shown in karting that he is exceptionally talented.

"We will follow him step by step in his forthcoming events in North America and he will soon also take part in our courses at Maranello."

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Massa signs new Ferrari deal

Felipe Massa has signed a new deal with Ferrari that will tie him down to the Italian outfit until the end of the 2012 season.

The Brazilian's future at the Scuderia had been in doubt following a sluggish start to the 2010 season with some reports suggestion Ferrari were set to replace him with either Renault's Robert Kubica.

However, those rumours have now been put to bed with the 29-year-old signing a new deal.

"I am happy to be given the opportunity to drive for Ferrari for a further two seasons," said Massa.

"Throughout my entire Formula 1 career, I have always raced with an engine made in Maranello and it is a matter of pride for me to be able to continue working with a team that I regard as a second family."

Team principal Stefano Domenicali is pleased that the Brazilian has signed a new deal.

"Felipe has been part of Ferrari for almost a decade and together with us, he has grown as a driver and as a man, going through some very difficult times as well as giving us moments of great happiness," Domenicali said.

"We wanted to show proof of stability for the future, believing in the worth of a driver pairing that is without equal in terms of talent, speed and its ability to work together for the good of the team."

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Brawn: Merc on the limit as supplier

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn believes the German car manufacturer should be wary about supplying more teams with engines.

Besides powering their Brackley-based team, Mercedes also provide McLaren and Force India with engines. Red Bull have also been linked with Merc in recent years.

Brawn, though, believes the company is on the limit as far as supplying is concerned.

"In my opinion, as constructors, we at Mercedes would need to think long and hard before adding another customer to our list," Brawn told Autosprint.

"I think we are on the limit as far as supplies are concerned. We must make sure there is always a Cosworth able to sell its engines, it's not the duty of a car manufacturer.

"As for the power, I don't know. The truth is that there is no procedure that determines precisely the parameters. We would be fine with placing all the engines on the bench under the FIA's supervision.

"But measuring the power is only a part of the problem. There's the cooling, the driveability, the fuel consumption. And just recently the boss of Renault's engine guys has said that their V8 may not be the most powerful, but it's the best from many other aspects..."

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New wings for McLaren in Canada

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button's MP4-25s will sport new front wings and new rear wing lower elements among other things at the Canadian Grand Prix.

McLaren are coming off a 1-2 finish at the Turkish GP, but they are not sitting back and team principal Martin Whitmarsh hopes the latest updates will push them a bit further.

"We have got a new front wing again," he said. "In truth we had one as part of the package in Istanbul, it didn't work, and we think we've understood that. So we've modified it and hopefully that will work. We have new rear wing lower element and some other modifications to diffusers etc. We have a reasonable aerodynamic package which we hope will just a take us a few steps further forward."

Whitmarsh admits Red Bull are still the team to beat when it comes to qualifying. The Milton Keynes team have claimed the pole position in all seven races so far this year.

"Well I think undoubtedly Red Bull still had an advantage on us in qualifying, but I think it was clear that in the race we had a faster race pace and I think that was very encouraging," the McLaren boss said.

"It was really just down to good hard solid work from us here developing the car. We try to bring small incremental improvements to the car on a continuous basis. When you look at the pace of Red Bull back in Barcelona, then it is very easy to go and look for the 'Eureka!' development that is going to catch you up.

"But in my experience you have got to work away at finding down force, reducing drag, finding balance, and that's what we've done and will continue to do. Even so Red Bull haven't conveniently stood still for us, they are a good team and they are developing. I think we pride ourselves at trying to develop quicker than our competitors and I think we proved that last year. We are going to try and do it again this year and keep the pressure on them. We have got two great racing drivers of course and that always helps and I think the team is working well."