Narain Karthikeyan Pondering IndyCar Switch

Former HRT Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan has confirmed he is pondering a switch to America’s IZOD IndyCar Series, should the Indian driver fail to secure a drive in Formula 1. With HRT withdrawing from F1 after last season, Karthikeyan has been left without a drive in the sport.

Like many drivers before him, Narain Karthikeyan is considering focusing on a switch to America, which would see the 36-year-old Indian driver return to oval racing. During the 2010 season, Narain Karthikeyan competed in the NASCAR Camping World Series, which enabled the Indian driver to gain valuable experience on some of America’s top ovals including Texas, Las Vegas and Talladega. Karthikeyan strongly believes his experience on ovals would assist him should he complete the switch to the IZOD IndyCar Series, despite the differences between NASCAR and IndyCar.

“There are obviously some very big differences between NASCAR and IndyCar, but the oval racing experience I have can only help.” Explained Narain Karthikeyan to Autosport, “There will be a lot to learn, but at least I have a small advantage over a total rookie. If you look at what Rubens [Barrichello] achieved in IndyCars last year, you can see that it is possible to get some good results even if you are not driving for a top team straight away. So hopefully with the experience I have, I should be able to do a good job and prove myself.”

After 19 years competing in Formula 1 with some of the tops teams, Brazilian ace Rubens Barrichello switched to the IZOD IndyCar Series last season to partner good friend Tony Kanaan at KV Racing Technology. The 40-year-old finished a personal best of 4th at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, however decided to switch once again to the Brazilian Stock Car Series for 2013. Many other drivers such as Takuma Sato, Giorgio Pantano, Justin Wilson and Toranosuke Takagi have switched to IndyCar racing in America, with Narain Karthikeyan looking likely to become the latest driver to do so.

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Timo Glock Reported To Have Left Marussia

Timo Glock has allegedly left Marussia, according to a report issued by German newspaper Bild on Sunday which reads that the 30-year-old German has left the Anglo-Russian outfit by a mutual agreement to find a new challenge in his motor sport career. If true, this will leave Marussia with only one driver only weeks before pre-season testing.

With pre-season testing quickly approaching ahead of the new season, Timo Glock’s rumored departure could leave the Banbury-based outfit in turmoil. This would effectively leave the team with a relatively inexperienced driver, and in desperate search of a replacement to fill the void left by Timo Glock. The German driver has been a member of the Marussia F1 team since their debut season in the sport back in 2010, when they were then known as Virgin Racing.

After signing a three-year deal with the outfit back in 2011, Timo Glock’s future with Marussia looked settled. However, after a relatively tough 2012 season alongside Charles Pic, who shone during his debut season both out-qualifying and out-racing Glock on numerous occasions, it seems the experienced German’s future is now uncertain in the sport. At the time of Bild’s initial report, Marussia were unavailable for comment on the matter, however it is believed an official statement will occur on Monday.

Such a move by Timo Glock will unquestionably fuel speculation as to who will replace the German driver at Marussia, with only Caterham and Force India currently sporting vacancies on the 2013 grid. Timo Glock was originally set to team-mate rookie Max Chilton in 2013, and his departure will understandably prompt the outfit to hunt for an experienced replacement, due largely to Chilton’s inexperience during a race weekend.

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The Red Bull Racing Story: 2005-2012

Video Copyright © Red Bull Racing

Ecclestone Believes Schumacher Was Wrong To Return

Formula 1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone has explained how he believes Michael Schumacher was wrong to return to the sport with Mercedes, a return which he believes tarnished the German’s legendary status within the sport. Mr. Ecclestone believes this would have seen Schumacher remain a legendary and “heroic” figure in the sport.

Despite storming to an unbelievable seven World Championship titles throughout his career with Benetton and Ferrari, Michael Schumacher returned to Formula 1 in 2010 with Mercedes to once again work alongside Ross Brawn. Although Schumacher stated he was returning to win once again and even secure an eighth World Championship, such successes never materialized for the German.

Throughout his three season’s with Mercedes, Schumacher could only manage one podium finish at the 2012 European Grand Prix, whereas team-mate Nico Rosberg finished on the podium five times including a victory in China. In Bernie Ecclestone’s eyes, Schumacher has tarnished what was a legendary status held by the German driver.

“I would rather he had stopped as a seven-time World Champion than stopping now.” Explained Bernie Ecclestone, “People new to the sport – people who have joined the F1 fan fraternity just recently – will remember Michael now, not as he was. They don’t see the hero that he was but the human that can fail. I think the important thing is – and this is probably difficult – to know when you can’t do what you used to do anymore and then hand it over to somebody else. I hope that’s what I can do: when I feel I can’t deliver, I will certainly say goodbye.”

Some believe Michael Schumacher did not want to retire from the sport back in 2006, and that this contributed to his urge to return to the sport with Mercedes. The German’s return was unquestionably a disappointment for many fans of the sport who expected him to instantly return to his winning ways. However, there was certainly moments during his return when he shone once again, such as qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher has now once again begun testing on two wheels, and has certainly stated that his motor sport career is not over. He will be competing during the Race of Champions later this year, and has shown interest in returning once again in later years.

Picture Copyright © Mercedes AMG Petronas

The Red Bull Racing Story…

Video Copyright © Red Bull Racing

Valtteri Bottas Aiming To Make The Most Of His Opportunity With Williams

Valtteri Bottas is aiming to make the most of his opportunity with Williams next season, after the Finn was confirmed alongside Pastor Maldonado as the replacement for Bruno Senna. After partaking in fifteen practice sessions throughout the 2012 season, Bottas is confident he can excel in 2013.

The 23-year-old Finn joined Williams as the team’s reserve driver in 2010, a season before he clinched the GP3 Championship. Instead of progressing up the conventional motor sport ladder to the likes of GP2 or World Series by Renault for 2012, Valtteri Bottas spent the season out of of regular racing to focus solely on his role as the Williams reserve driver. This benefitted the Finn greatly, who replaced Bruno Senna fifteen times throughout the season during the opening practice session of the weekend.

Valtteri Bottas is understandably thrilled after receiving “promotion” within the Williams outfit, which is a dream come true for the Finn. Bottas started karting at the age of six, and has progressed from there to become Finland’s ninth Formula 1 driver, and only the second to race for Williams since Keke Rosberg.

“It feels incredible to be driving in Formula One next season and to be with a team like Williams, with all its pedigree, is even more special.” Explained Valtteri Bottas, “I’ve worked hard to get here ever since I started karting at six years old, but the real work starts now as I prepare myself for the biggest challenge of my career. The fact that I’ve been with Williams since 2010 will help a lot though because I know the engineers really well and have a good working relationship with them.”

With Valtteri Bottas set to return to a full-time drive next season, after a year as the Williams reserve driver, the Finn is simply aiming to make the most out of his debut season with the outfit. With Pastor Maldonado aiming for regular point finishes and podium appearances, Valtteri Bottas simply wants to look back upon his debut season and feel that he has improved as a driver.

“It’s difficult to set objectives before the season starts, so I’m just trying to make the most of this opportunity to prove the team has been right to promote me to a race seat.” Continued Valtteri Bottas, “I want to look back on 2013 and feel that I’ve improved as a driver and helped the team improve its performance on the track.”

Throughout the 2012 season, Valtteri Bottas replaced Bruno Senna during fifteen Friday practice sessions, gaining valuable track knowledge at venues such as Sepang, Shanghai, Suzuka and Abu Dhabi, circuits which GP3 do not visit during their seasons. This means Bottas will only have several venues to learn during his debut season, with the Finn visiting all but one of the European circuits with GP3 in 2011.

“This [his participation in fifteen practice sessions] will be a big help as it means there are only a handful of circuits on the 2013 calendar that I have never driven, in Australia, Monaco, Valencia, Austin and Singapore.” Said Valtteri Bottas, “There will still be a lot of work to do but it means that I do have some knowledge to work from heading to most races next season.”

Along with Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez, Valtteri Bottas will be the first former GP3 driver to start an official Formula 1 race next March when the lights go out at the start of the Australian Grand Prix. The Finn is already well established within the Williams outfit, and will be looking to build upon this throughout his debut season. If Williams start 2013 in a similar fashion to 2012, then both Maldonado and Bottas could be in for a very competitive 2013 season.

Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team

Sergio Perez Reveals Esteban Gutierrez As Sauber Replacement

Sergio Perez has revealed that fellow countryman Esteban Gutierrez will replace him at Sauber, amid strong speculation as to who will partner Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber next season. This slightly unorthodox confirmation will likely leave Kamui Kobayashi without a drive next season, and will see a second Mexican driver enter the sport.

This announcement by Sergio Perez comes after the Swiss outfit announced they would confirm the second driver alongside Hulkenberg by the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, however it seems Sergio Perez has let slip about Sauber’s future plans. After it was confirmed that Perez would replace Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next season, speculation instantly gathered strong momentum that the Mexican would be replaced by fellow countryman Esteban Gutierrez. After Nico Hulkenberg was confirmed at the team, current driver Kamui Kobayashi’s future in the sport began to look bleak.

However, it now seems that Kamui Kobayashi’s time in Formula 1 is up after Esteban Gutierrez was as good as confirmed as his successor. The 21-year-old Mexican was the inaugural GP3 Champion in 2010, and has since enjoyed a successful career in GP2 with Lotus GP, which has seen the rising star take four victories over the course of the last two seasons. Gutierrez has long been associated with Sauber, after becoming the teams test and reserve driver in 2009.

Sergio Perez’s mistake of prematurely announcing his successor came as the Mexican driver prepared for his final race with the outfit at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, when he was plagued with questions about the vacancy at the team by Spanish media at the Interlagos circuit. After announcing Esteban Gutierrez as Hulkenberg’s 2013 team-mate, he then laughed and added “we are waiting for the announcement.”

“The car will be strong because the rules don’t change much, and the team have a good experienced driver in Nico [Hulkenberg] and he will have a strong team-mate in Esteban [Gutierrez],” explained Sergio Perez, amid preparations for this weekend’s season-finale at Sao Paulo.

Prior to Sergio Perez’s statement on Sauber’s 2013 plans, Kamui Kobayashi confirmed his continuation in the sport looks uncertain, as he continues to search for a sponsor for next season. The Japanese driver jokingly stated that a victory this weekend would greatly assist his plight in retaining his drive with Sauber, but admitted a position with a top team in 2014 might well become his main priority.

“My future? Well, if I could win it would be fantastic,” quipped Kamui Kobayashi. “This is Formula 1. I need to work it out. Overall I think there is a bigger chance of a top team in 2014. We’ll see. I’m working very hard to get a sponsor. At the moment I think it’s very difficult to say anything about the future,” he added. “If I say too much there is no point for them to announce anything. I don’t know what they want to announce.”

Despite Kamui Kobayashi remaining coy on his future in Formula 1, team-mate Sergio Perez seems to have spilt the beans on the current affairs at Sauber. Both drivers will be hoping to remain focused for the final race of the season, as they continue to reel in Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

Michael Schumacher Announces Second Retirement From F1

Unarguably F1’s most successful driver, Michael Schumacher, has announced his second retirement from the sport, ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. The German veteran returned from his initial retirement in 2010 to race for Mercedes, however he will make way for Lewis Hamilton within the team for next season.

Although Michael Schumacher’s return to the sport has been less-than-successful in comparison to his dominant Ferrari days, many within the paddock regard the German as the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time. His career started way back in 1991 with Jordan, before he immediately switched to Benetton for the next race. From their, the German stormed to his first two World Championships in 1994 and 1995, before making his move to Ferrari, and building what would become an almost impenetrable fortress around himself at the Scuderia.

Throughout his career with Ferrari, Michael Schumacher took a mesmerizing five World Championship titles, 72 race victories and 116 podiums. In 2002 and 2004 in particular, the German looked unstoppable with Ferrari’s masterful management team consisting of Jean Todt and Ross Brawn amongst others. However, after Fernando Alonso’s triumph over the German in 2005 and 2006, he retired from the sport. Some say his decision was forced by Ferrari, and that Schumacher retired before he wanted to.

In 2010, Schumacher returned to Formula 1 with Mercedes with clear intentions of adding to his tally of race victories. However, in the first two seasons these victories failed to materialize as Schumacher even struggled to step onto the podium. As the 2012 season dawned, and Nico Rosberg took victory at China, expectations rose of a potential victory for Schumacher. However, such a victory has yet to arrive, as the F1 veteran begins his final six races as a Formula 1 driver.

“I have decided to retire from Formula One at the end of the season, although I am still able to compete with the best drivers of the world.” Explained Michael Schumacher, as preparations began for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. “This is something that makes me proud, and this is part of why I never regretted my comeback. I can be happy with my performance and the fact that I was continuously raising my game during the last three years. But then, at some point it is time to say goodbye.

“Already during the past weeks and months I was not sure if I would still have the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on; and it is not my style to do anything which I am not 100% convinced about. With today’s decision I feel released from those doubts. In the end, it is not my ambition to just drive around but to fight for victories; and the pleasure of driving is nourished by competitiveness.

“I said at the end of 2009 that I want to be measured by my success, and this is why I had a lot of criticism in the past three years which partly was justified.” Continued the seven-time World Champion. “It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goal to develop a World Championship fighting car within those years. It is also without doubt that I cannot provide a long-term perspective to anyone. But then it is also clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in Formula One.”

Michael Schumacher had been linked with a potential move back to Sauber, a team the German started his career with during Sportscar racing back in 1990. However, the German legend decided to call time on his illustrious 21-year Formula 1 career, which has included some of the sport’s most iconic and controversial moments.

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Lewis Hamilton Agrees Three-Year Deal With Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has shocked the sporting world by agreeing a three-year deal with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, after weeks of speculation regarding the Briton’s future within the sport. This move will see Lewis Hamilton replace Michael Schumacher within the team, with Sergio Perez confirmed at McLaren.

The 2008 World Champion has been supported by McLaren since the early stages of the his career, and has raced for the team since his debut season in Formula 1 in 2007. Over recent years, speculation has gathered momentum of Lewis Hamilton potentially moving away from the Woking-based outfit, with rumors of the Briton joining either Ferrari or Red Bull. However, after BBC F1 pundit Eddie Jordan hinted at a possible move to Mercedes, the allegations have dominated the sports headlines.

“It is now time for me to take on a fresh challenge and I am very excited to begin a new chapter racing for the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team.” Explained Lewis Hamilton, after remaining coy on a possible move to Brackley over recent weeks. “Mercedes-Benz has such an incredible heritage in motorsport, along with a passion for winning which I share. Together, we can grow and rise to this new challenge. I believe that I can help steer the Silver Arrows to the top and achieve our joint ambitions of winning the World Championships.”

Lewis Hamilton will be replacing F1 veteran Michael Schumacher within the team for 2013.

This move will possibly see the end of Michael Schumacher’s career in Formula 1, with Lewis Hamilton set to replace the veteran alongside Nico Rosberg next season. Unless the German can find another drive for 2013, it looks set that his three-year return to the sport will end without any major successes, the likes of which were predicted back in 2010 when he announced his return to the sport.

“I have had three nice years with the team which unfortunately did not go as well as we all would have wanted on the sporting side.” Said Michael Schumacher, whose personal best finish with Mercedes has so far been 3rd at this year’s European Grand Prix. “I wish Lewis well and for the team to achieve the success we worked so hard for in the build-up. I would like to thank the team for their trust and all the guys for their unconditional commitment. I will now concentrate on the next races.”

With Mercedes only recording one victory in the sport since their return in 2010, Lewis Hamilton is unquestionably playing a big gamble in joining the German marque. Winning the 2013 Drivers’ Championship is highly unlikely for the Briton, however with the major changes in the regulations for 2014, the 2008 World Champion could well find success with the Brackley-based outfit.

Regardless of whether Lewis Hamilton will finally find success with Mercedes, it’s undeniable that his move from McLaren will go down as one of the biggest driver changes the sport has, and will, ever see.

Picture(s) Copyright © McLaren & Mercedes AMG Petronas

Jaime Alguersuari Poised To Announce F1 Return For 2013

Spanish driver Jaime Alguersuari has confirmed he will be returning to the Formula 1 grid next season, and that he will soon be announcing which team he will race for. This comes after both he and team-mate Sebastien Buemi were dropped after the 2011 season and replaced by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

As Sebastien Buemi remained the Red Bull reserve driver, Jaime Alguersuari became a Pirelli test driver and an expert analysis for BBC Radio 5 Live coverage alongside James Allen. Throughout 2012, Alguersuari has been linked to a possible move with Caterham or Sauber, most likely as a replacement for either Heikki Kovalainen or Sergio Perez who could potentially move to either McLaren or Ferrari.

“Soon you’ll all know where I will be driving next year,” said Jaime Alguersuari on the social networking site Twitter. “Thank you all again.”

Jaime Alguersuari’s F1 career began in 2009 with Toro Rosso, when the Spaniard replaced former ChampCar Champion Sebastien Bourdais within the team. Alguersuari continued to race for the Faenza-based outfit throughout 2010 and 2011 alongside Buemi, and was even promised a drive for 2012 within the team. However, once the season had come to a conclusion, Toro Rosso decided against retaining Alguersuari and Buemi for 2012 and replaced them.

More to come as Alguersuari’s future plans are announced. 

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