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Feb 12
Forget the ‘big three’ — Christian Horner has admitted teams other than Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari made the “strongest impression” on him last week at Jerez.
“Lotus and Sauber left the strongest impression,” the Red Bull chief said, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. “All the others are still difficult to assess,” added Horner. The German magazine’s correspondent Michael Schmidt said the new grey Sauber had Nico Hulkenberg “smiling” all week as the opening test at Jerez unfolded.
Dec 17
Marussia team owner Nikolai Fomenko has confirmed speculation British rookie Max Chilton will make his formula one debut in 2013.
Fomenko, the head of Russian supercar Marussia who bought into the then Virgin team at the end of 2010, was asked by Russian journalists the identity of the driver replacing Caterham-bound Frenchman Charles Pic.
Oct 23
Sebastian Vettel may be on form and at the wheel of the fastest car, but the 2012 championship is not settled yet.
That is the warning of F1 legend Niki Lauda, despite German Vettel recently managing to track down Fernando Alonso’s big championship lead to now top the championship with just four races to go in the currently dominant Red Bull.
Oct 09
Eric Boullier was vague when asked if Romain Grosjean’s constant first-lap crashes have endangered his future in formula one.
“Not for now,” said the Lotus team boss, who doubles as the head of the Gravity company that manages the beleaguered Frenchman’s career. After his Monza race ban, Grosjean was back in trouble at Suzuka when he incurred the furious Mark Webber’s wrath for yet another first-corner crash.
May 21
France’s new sports minister has confirmed there is some doubt the country will return to the formula one calendar next year.
Bernie Ecclestone announced recently that, with a French race having been absent from F1 since 2008, Paul Ricard could – starting from 2013 – share an annually rotating date with Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps.
May 01
Romain Grosjean has admitted he didn’t try to keep his teammate Kimi Raikkonen behind him at the recent Bahrain grand prix.
In the wake of Lotus’ podium breakthrough, it was suggested Frenchman Grosjean was the victim of team orders. Team figures, including boss Eric Boullier and 2007 world champion Raikkonen who finished the race second ahead of rookie Grosjean, denied the charge, even though team orders are fully legal.
Mar 27
Those who watched Sunday’s Malaysian grand prix witnessed “the blossoming of a future champion”.
That is the view of Patrick Tambay, a French F1 driver of the 80s who raced with Ferrari. Sergio Perez currently drives for Sauber, but he is the cream of Ferrari’s development programme and Tambay told RMC he thinks the Mexican is now definitely set for a future with the famous Italian team.
Mar 07
“He threw the car away four times unnecessarily.” – Dr Helmut Marko
They are the reigning back-to-back world champions and the favourites heading into 2012, but Sebastian Vettel has admitted Red Bull is not perfect. “Yes, last year was nearly faultless”, the German is quoted by the Guardian newspaper.
Feb 14
Jean-Eric Vergne has revealed he will try to keep the “tension” down to a minimum inside the Toro Rosso garage in 2012.
Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz this week has admitted that, beyond Mark Webber’s 2012 contract, “Our primary goal is to put one of our juniors” alongside Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull.
F1′s governing body has moved to end the uncertainty about next week’s Bahrain grand prix by insisting the race will definitely go ahead. High-profile sponsors are nervous, as formula one ploughs ahead with next week’s Bahrain grand prix 
