LG Electronics becomes an F1 partner

LG Electronics has been announced as a new technology partner of Formula One, in a multi-year deal to commence in January 2009.

The electronics firm will become 'the official Consumer Electronics, Mobile Phone and Data Processor' of the world championship, and its logo will feature on F1's live timing system and timing graphics.

"LG is a leader in its field, it pioneers cutting edge technology, delivering innovation and excellence in a stylish package, which is what Formula One is about too," said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. "We have so much in common, I am very excited to begin our association and look forward to the technology solutions they can bring to us also."

Dermot Boden, LG's chief marketing officer, said the deal was a major coup for his company, and believes F1 is a good investment even during the global economic downturn.

"Formula One represents the absolute peak of technological innovation and style, which is also our vision for the LG Electronics brand," he said.

"We feel the excitement and electricity of F1 is unmatched by any sport, and we feel the same passion and energy here at LG.

"In today's economic climate, all organisations need to be strategic with their expenditures. Here at LG we can think of no more important investment than our brand.

"After having carefully researched marketing and sponsorship opportunities, I am confident that this exciting partnership will best highlight and enhance the profiles of both global organisations over the long term."

McLaren to work with Freescale on KERS

RSL, Morales agree to extension

Toyota scale down 2009 car launch

Toyota have decided to scale down the launch of their 2009 car in order to cut costs, the Japanese squad said.

The team will unveil their TF109 on 15 January, but by only revealing studio images over the internet, instead of the traditional launch with the press.

"To emphasise its commitment to overall cost reduction in Formula One, the team will not proceed with its traditional pre-season event programme," the team said in a statement.

Toyota said their car would start testing on 10 January at the Algarve Motor Park in Portugal.

Toyota deny plans to leave F1

All-around effort puts Fire woes to bed

Middle East tracks to work together

The Middle East's two Formula One circuits, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, have reached an agreement to work together to promote their races.

The deal will see the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM) work on how to attract more spectators and sponsors.

"With Bahrain at the beginning of the year and Abu Dhabi staging the season finale, there are many projects on which we can work to attract more spectators, corporate clients and sponsors to the region's two races," said Bahrain circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani.

Abu Dhabi will join the Formula One calendar in 2009, when it will be the last race of the season.

Bahrain has been part of the schedule since 2004.

Chinese GP moves to April date

Button delighted British GP is safe

Momentum huge for East playoff teams

Jordan says medal system is 'nonsense'

Former team boss Eddie Jordan believes Bernie Ecclestone's plan to replace the Formula One points system with medals for the top three finishers is misguided - and a distraction from the bigger issues facing the sport.

Jordan also feels that removing the incentive for drivers in smaller teams to fight for points finishes will harm teams who do not have the resources to challenge the front-runners.

"I think it's a nonsense," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "The focus of everyone in Formula One at the moment must be on the current situation with costs and cost cutting, and nothing else. The rest is just dressing it up.

"The points are necessary. I was one of the team principals in the team principals' meetings who advocated that the points should go down to eighth place, because one point to a team down there is as important as a win is to the likes of McLaren and Ferrari, and we must never forget that.

"I can promise you, having been in that position, two points against no points is a huge difference."

He said that battling to get into the top eight for a midfield team was an important part of a driver's development.

"Drivers like (Felipe) Massa, who started at the very bottom and worked his way up, know how important those points are at the back of the field," said Jordan.

"Everybody that's involved in the financial side knows how important it is, and the extraordinary excitement that there is for getting a point at the back.

"McLaren and Ferrari are working on a budget of perhaps 250 million, and then you have other teams like Force India and Toro Rosso, who to everyone's surprise won a race this year, who would have maybe ten or eight times less budget to play with, and inferior drivers because they're learning their trade and they will come and be world champions in years to come.

"But they have to find their feet somewhere, and that place has to be in the smaller teams because they're the people who take the risks."

Ecclestone said this morning that he expects the medal system to be ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in December so it can be introduced for the 2009 season, but Jordan said there should be more consultation about the scheme.

"He's tinkering with something that in my opinion he has lost the understanding of," said Jordan.

"He thinks people are only interested in winning the races. I'm sorry, but there's just not enough thought put into this. It should be put to one side and discussed by him and Max Mosley, and for Bernie Ecclestone to say it's coming with the full approval of all the teams, I simply don't believe it."

Jordan: Hamilton must be ruthless

Rapids surge into third place

McLaren confirm maiden Algarve test

Galaxy outlast Rapids, stay alive

No glitz, just guts for Galaxy in win

Q and A with Bridgestone's Kobayashi

Conducted and provided by Bridgestone's press office.

Q. Which tyres did Bridgestone bring to this test?

Tetsuro Kobayashi - Technical Manager: "We have brought two compounds of 2009 specification slick tyres, of a hard and soft compound. We also have several compounds of 2008 grooved tyre here as well as our current wet and extreme wet tyres, and the developmental single wet tyre."

Q. What was learnt with the slick tyres?

TK: "We already have a lot of data from previous running with slick tyres, so the test helped build on this and allowed the teams to evaluate and develop their approach to using these tyres.

"The weather here in Barcelona has been quite cold so teams have found it difficult to warm up and maintain the heat in their tyres with the harder compound slick. We have gained a lot of data over the three days and we are still analysing it.

"This is not a completely straight-forward process as there were so many variations of car specification used here over the three days, with current cars, simulated 2009 downforce cars, and cars with early versions of the 2009 aerodynamic packages. Also, there were cars with KERS systems, which are still under development.

"It has been a very interesting three days, particularly as we have had feedback from a five-time World Rally Champion, as well as seeing new drivers, including the very well known motor sport name of Senna out on track."

Q. How different are the slicks from the grooved tyres we have seen for the last eleven seasons?

TK: "Grooved tyres are a different concept of tyre from slicks and their introduction brought many challenges such as graining and a change of tyre construction. The return to slick tyres in some ways makes things simpler, and the drivers in particular have welcomed their return.

"Our current slicks are very different from those we last used in Formula One in the 1997 season, and we have applied the lessons learnt from eleven seasons of working with grooved tyres and from our long experience of other categories of slick tyre."

Q. Will there be two specifications of tyre at each race next season, and how will you distinguish between them?

TK: "We will take two specifications of tyre to each race and we have worked to engineer two specifications which have a greater difference in characteristics between the two than we saw in the 2008 season. The harder tyre of any given allocation should offer very good consistency, but not enable as good an initial laptime.

"The softer compound should offer a very good initial laptime, but will experience performance drop-off the more it is used. It is hoped that this should provide competitors with many challenges and strategy options to encourage exciting racing. As regards tyre markings, we are still evaluating exactly what we will use."

Q. Have you decided which compound allocations to take to each race yet?

TK: "We are still accumulating data and it will be some time before we determine the particular tyre allocations for each Grand Prix."

Q. What effect do the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) have from a tyre perspective?

TK: "There should be no difference to overall tyre performance from the additional burst of power that the KERS systems are designed to provide. This is shown by the data we have seen from the systems that have been used so far. In terms of the overall performance of a Formula One car it is quite a complex area. To be effective, a good KERS system needs to be compact and light so it does not compromise the weight distribution opportunities of the chassis.

"Weight distribution, of course, affects tyre performance so the designers have this in mind when they design their KERS set-ups. This is all part of the challenge of Formula One, and illustrates why Formula One is an excellent test bed for new and emerging technology."

De la Rosa downplays F1 revolution

Bridgestone evaluates new wet weather tyres

Bridgestone yet to decide on ‘09 tyres

Fisichella: No doubts about 2009 seat

Giancarlo Fisichella insists there are no doubts about his continued presence at the Force India team in 2009, despite the deal with McLaren-Mercedes.

"The line-up has been announced in China in October by Vijay, and I trust people who trust me," Fisichella told the official F1 website.

"I originally signed a two-year contract which was reviewed in September to incorporate the McLaren deal. In a few words, the team offered me a better car and a different package.

"I accepted their proposal and both sides signed the new document between Singapore and China. This is why Dr Mallya made the announcement in Shanghai," added the Italian.

Although team boss Vijay Mallya said both Fisichella and Adrian Sutil would stay on next season, speculation about their future was rife after McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa tested for the team for two days earlier this month.

Force India signed a technical deal with McLaren and Mercedes and the Silverstone-based squad will use the German engines in 2009.

Fisichella said he was not surprised by de la Rosa's test.

"The only thing I know is that in September we were told that Pedro could test and we could not say before it was made official so I was not at all surprised," he added.

"As for the rest - I am not really interested in F1 gossip!"

The Roman admitted he is looking forward to next season, as he has been promised he will have a strong car.

"A competitive package, that's all I want and what I have been promised. And that is a very good reason to drive for the team in 2009."

Fisichella adamant his future is safe

Ottawa to announce MLS expansion bid

De la Rosa to test for Force India

Webber targeting February return

Mark Webber says he is aiming to return to Formula One action in time for the first test of Red Bull's new car in February.

"I'm aiming to drive the car at the first test," Webber told the BBC. "Whether that's possible, I don't know, but if I have to wait another week or 10 days for the sake of the whole season, then I will."

The Australian fractured his leg while riding a mountain bike, when he collided with a car while competing in his own charity event in Tasmania last weekend.

Webber underwent surgery on Sunday and got rods inserted on his leg.

The 32-year-old admits his main priority is to be in perfect shape for the season opener in Australia in March.

"I will make sure I'm in the best shape I can be for the first race," he said. "Both [lower leg] bones are broken but the compound fracture was of the tibia and the bone was exposed.

"That complicates things a bit more but I am just learning to get up and about on crutches now.

"In terms of me driving the car, it is impossible for me to say how I will feel when the car comes out for the first time.

"We'll look at how much driving I'll do early on. If I have three decent tests going into Melbourne then I am totally focused on not letting the team down in final qualifying and on Sunday in Melbourne.

"That's a long way away - it's the last week in March. That's when it counts for me."

Webber admitted he is being inspired by former racers who suffered worse injuries than him.

"I think a lot about (Alex) Zanardi and these sort of guys - Mick Doohan as well," Webber added. "It's such an inspiration. I could be worse off.

"In a funny sort of way I'm looking forward to seeing the progress. I've never been in this position before in my life. I've got good people around me. The team have been amazing. I'll make sure we work very hard together to make sure it's seamless."

Webber injured in road accident

Rosberg ready to re-think future after '09

Nico Rosberg has warned that he will consider his options for the future if the Williams team fail to deliver in the 2009 season.

The German was hoping for big things in 2008 following a strong winter testing and a podium in the first race of the season in Australia.

But the year turned out to be a disappointment as Williams failed to match the development rate of their rivals.

In the end, Rosberg scored 17 points and finished down in 13th position in the championship.

And although the 23-year-old admits he doesn't regret staying with Williams, he says he will re-think his position should Williams fail to deliver next year.

"No, not yet," Rosberg told the official Formula One website when asked if he regretted staying at Williams. "Anyway, I was to stay with Williams, whatever happened this year - that was done.

"And next year the cars are going to be completely spread out again because everybody starts from zero - so I will tell you halfway through next year if I regret it or not.

"It would be fantastic if the team could change their course. All these years you just build on the car that you had the year before, copy other people, and try to improve more than others - but now it's a different game because everybody starts from zero, with a completely new concept.

"And I hope that the people at Williams can take advantage of this situation. That would be great. I am not asking for a world championship-winning car, just a car that gives me the opportunity to finish in the points consistently - and a couple of podiums would be the icing on the cake.

"The chances are there, for sure. Should '09 not turn out as I hope it will, then naturally I have to re-think my position for 2010."

Rosberg insisted, however, that he has not lost faith in Williams.

"Definitely not. And I also haven't given up on the team, not at all. I am still very motivated and it would be the greatest for me if I could help this team to some good success," he added.

"Going back to the 'glory days' will be a bit difficult in the situation nowadays, but still to have some good success would be a very nice thing for me."

The former GP2 champion is also adamant that, despite the lack of results, he is in the best shape of his career.

"I am a better driver now than I have ever been. I believe in myself and I am convinced that I have what it takes to get to the very top. It just seems I have to be a bit patient."

Williams helps push RSL to promised land

Hamilton not thinking of Schumacher record

World champion Lewis Hamilton says he is not focused on matching Michael Schumacher's record of seven titles in Formula One.

The British McLaren driver became the sport's youngest ever world champion last season, in only his second year in Formula One.

Hamilton lost the title by just one point in his debut season, and his meteoric career suggests he is set for more records.

The McLaren driver says there is more he wants to achieve in Formula One, but he admits he is not interested in matching Schumacher, the most successful driver in history.

"There's always more to achieve," Hamilton told the Woking News & Mail newspaper in an interview. "I do want to win more races and championships in Formula One. But I'm not sure I want to do what Michael Schumacher did and win all those tiles.

"I would be happy to win more - but I've not really focused on that yet," he added.

Schumacher won seven title and 91 races before retiring at the age of 37.

Hamilton, who will turn 24 in January, also confessed he was overwhelmed by the way he was welcomed at the Woking factory after winning the title.

"Coming back to Woking in the days after winning the world championship - it was just amazing," he said. "I mean, I thought I was just turning up for the day and I didn't really expect to be getting into a car and finding the whole team waiting for me.

"As a racing driver, you're are really driven by, not just that support that comes from your team, but from the feeling that you don't want to let those people down. That they've worked so hard to help you and you have to live up to all their effort."

Priaulx: Hamilton to face new pressures

Big goal for Chivas? Second round

Schumacher: Team boss role not for me

Buemi expects quick Toro Rosso decision

Sebastien Buemi says he is expecting to hear whether he has got a Toro Rosso drive soon after this week's testing shoot-out, as he believes the team want to use their 2009 race drivers for the remaining winter tests.

The GP2 race-winner and Red Bull test driver is being evaluated alongside current Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais and former Honda and Super Aguri man Takuma Sato at Catalunya this week.

"We expect a decision soon," Buemi said. "For the team it's really important to make a decision and to try to have a test before Christmas with the proper drivers for next year.

"But up to now I don't know anything. I just try to do my best, it's the only thing I can do."

The Swiss driver said he was trying to put the possibility of a 2009 seat out of his head and stay focused on performing well at the test.

"At the moment, I just try to concentrate on the job because this is the most important thing," he said. "If I do a good job, it could be good (for 2009)."

Regardless of the outcome of the shoot-out, Buemi felt he had made a strong contribution to Toro Rosso's preparations for the 2009 rules.

"Really happy with how the day went," he said. "We tested a lot of things with the slicks and low downforce.

"It was the only thing we could test, because we still don't have any parts for next year, but it was really positive and we're quite happy with the results."

Buemi is the only one of the three rivals for the drive testing for the full three days this week, with Sato and Bourdais each running for just one and a half days.

Q and A with Sebastien Buemi

Buemi set for Toro Rosso race seat

Montoya says he turned down F1 offers

Juan Pablo Montoya says he has turned down offers to return to Formula One since his move to NASCAR, and the Colombian claims he is not interested at all in going back to grand prix racing.

"They are still looking for me but I have rejected those offers and when they say they want my phone number to talk to me I always say that if it's to return to Formula One don't bother because I'm not interested," Montoya told the EFE news agency in an interview.

"I'm very happy in NASCAR. My family and I are happy in the Unites States and, to be honest, it doesn't even cross my mind to return to Formula One.

"Even if McLaren or Ferrari called me right now, I wouldn't go back," added the Colombian, who left Formula One in a shock move during the middle of the 2006 season.

The 33-year-old has enjoyed limited success in the United States, having finished in 25th position in this year's Sprint Cup series.

Montoya, who was fighting for race wins when he left F1, is confident, however, that success will come and will prove critics wrong.

"The real pundits and those who know about NASCAR have said very good things about what I have done there," he added.

"I know it's a complicated sport for the fans, but I'm sure that when I start winning races, those who criticise me now for having left Formula One will learn about NASCAR and will follow the series."

Eskandarian ready to return for Chivas

Chinese GP likely to stay beyond 2010

The Chinese Grand Prix is likely to stay in Shanghai beyond 2010, according to race organisers.

A circuit official had said recently that organisers were weighing up whether or not to extend their contract beyond 2010, amid poor ticket sales.

"We're doing the assessment. By next year we should be able to give you an answer," Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, said.

"We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie (Ecclestone) and the F1 organisers as well. If this is something we can do, and our cooperation is very happy and smooth, we will consider it.

"Of course we would like at least to break even. But there are two factors, one is the assessment the other part is the win-win situation that we can create."

However, Leon Sun of organisers Juss Events, played down the comments, saying they had been probably misunderstood.

Sun believes the Formula One race is good for China.

"I've spoken to Mr Qiu and he never said the Grand Prix was going to leave China," he told Reuters.

"I think it's probably some misunderstanding in translation. I would say it's likely it will stay after 2010. Formula One has only been here for five years. To build a spectator base is not easy, it's a long term operation.

"We think Formula One is a very good product, a very good event for Shanghai city so at least from our company's point of view we want to continue promoting and building the event.

"Research shows there are more and more race fans in China, so I don't think we will say no to the Formula One Grand Prix."

Chinese GP bosses consider race future

Ekpo, Nigeria win silver in Beijing

Chinese GP moves to April date

Bridgestone yet to decide on '09 tyres

Bridgestone's technical manager Tetsuro Kobayashi says the Japanese manufacturer is still some time away from choosing the tyres allocations for the 2009 season.

All Formula One teams ran with slick tyres at the Barcelona circuit this week, in preparation for the return of the groove-less rubber next year.

Kobayashi admitted there is still work to do before having a clear picture of what specifications the company will use in racing in 2009.

"We are still accumulating data and it will be some time before we determine the particular tyre allocations for each Grand Prix," said Kobayashi.

"We will take two specifications of tyre to each race and we have worked to engineer two specifications which have a greater difference in characteristics between the two than we saw in the 2008 season.

"The harder tyre of any given allocation should offer very good consistency, but not enable as good an initial laptime.

"The softer compound should offer a very good initial laptime, but will experience performance drop-off the more it is used. It is hoped that this should provide competitors with many challenges and strategy options to encourage exciting racing. As regards tyre markings, we are still evaluating exactly what we will use."

Kobayashi also acknowledged teams struggled to bring their tyres up to proper temperature during the test.

"We already have a lot of data from previous running with slick tyres, so the test helped build on this and allowed the teams to evaluate and develop their approach to using these tyres," he said.

"The weather here in Barcelona has been quite cold so teams have found it difficult to warm up and maintain the heat in their tyres with the harder compound slick. We have gained a lot of data over the three days and we are still analysing it.

"This is not a completely straight-forward process as there were so many variations of car specification used here over the three days, with current cars, simulated 2009 downforce cars, and cars with early versions of the 2009 aerodynamic packages. Also, there were cars with KERS systems, which are still under development.

"It has been a very interesting three days, particularly as we have had feedback from a five-time World Rally Champion, as well as seeing new drivers, including the very well known motor sport name of Senna out on track."

Barcelona tops Guadalajara in friendly

Bridgestone evaluates new wet weather tyres

Buemi set for Toro Rosso race seat

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz says Sebastien Buemi is very likely to be one of Toro Rosso's racing drivers next year.

The Faenza-based squad have both seats vacant for 2009 and have tested Buemi as well as Takuma Sato alongside Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais, who raced for the team in 2008.

Mateschitz said 20-year-old Swiss Buemi is the main candidate to land one of the seats.

The Austrian also claimed the final line-up would be announced before the end of the year.

"One will very likely be Buemi," Mateschitz told autosport.com. "The line-up will be confirmed before the last test in December."

The final test of the year at Jerez takes place on 15-17 December.

Toro Rosso to test trio at Barcelona

Mateschitz reconsiders selling Toro Rosso

Sato: STR drive would be 'a dream'

Takuma Sato says that getting a 2009 Toro Rosso seat would be a dream come true, after out-pacing the other candidates for the drive in this week's Barcelona testing shoot-out.

The former Honda and Super Aguri driver was fastest of all on Monday, then second behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel yesterday.

Sato, 2008 STR driver Sebastien Bourdais, and Red Bull protege Sebastien Buemi are all in contention for Toro Rosso seats next year.

Having spent recent seasons attempting to achieve giant-killing performances for the now defunct Super Aguri team, Sato said he would relish the opportunity to join the race-winning Scuderia Toro Rosso.

"In the last two and a half years with Super Aguri there were special memories, but purely from the driver's point of view, I always wanted to have a competitive package," he said.

"Now we have some chances. With this environment, with such a great atmosphere in this team, it would be such a dream to race with them in 2009.

"No doubt about it, this is one of the fastest Formula One cars I've ever driven, but I have to respect all the manufacturers so I cannot do a direct comparison."

Sato said that both the car's competitiveness and the atmosphere within Toro Rosso made the team a very tempting destination.

"Obviously I really enjoyed driving the car, and I really enjoyed working with this team," he said.

"It was already a great pleasure and very interesting to work with all the engineers and the team back in September's test in Jerez. But of course that was cut quite short by rain, and I've got another opportunity for one and a half days working with this team, and it was really absolutely enjoyable."

Amid suggestions that Toro Rosso would require their drivers to bring budgets next season, Sato admitted that he was keen to find personal sponsors.

"I really don't have cash," he said. "But of course I'd be very happy to bring a personal sponsor because if you add to the team's budget it will make the team stronger. But not so much to buy yourself the seat, that's obviously the second story.

"Of course we're negotiating all the possibilities to have personal sponsors, but I really don't know. I'm here to drive, and from a driver's point of view just to do the best in the cockpit."

Despite lapping faster than the other Toro Rosso contenders at the test, Sato was unwilling to speculate about his chances of securing a 2009 deal.

"I really don't know," he said. "To answer the question is impossible for me. I've done everything I could in the cockpit and in the discussions with the engineers, but unfortunately this is not something that I can just decide, so I have to wait and see how the team decide."

FCD’s ‘Bird Man’ starts to take flight

Wizards’ Souter relishing opportunity

J.League delegation visits MLS clubs

Red Bull: Webber will be fit for Melbourne

Red Bull Racing are confident that Mark Webber will recover from his broken leg in time for the start of the 2009 season.

The Australian suffered the injury during his Pure Tasmania Challenge charity event earlier today. He was involved in a head-on collision with a road vehicle during one of the cycling section of the 250-kilometre event.

The break has already been operated on successfully, and although Webber's Red Bull team believe he will now miss much of winter testing, they expect him to be fit for Melbourne next March.

"Mark will remain in Tasmania for a few days before continuing his recovery in the UK," said a Red Bull Racing statement.

"While it looks like he's out of the winter testing programme, we fully expect Mark to make the starting grid in Melbourne next March.

"Mark has said he's relieved to know the driver of the motor vehicle was uninjured and expressed his thanks to the many well wishes from family, friends and supporters.

"Everyone at Red Bull Racing would like to add their best wishes to Mark and hope for his speedy recovery."

Webber had also been scheduled to contest the Race of Champions at Wembley in December, but will now have to sit out the event.

Red Bull suspect tram put Webber out

Vettel fastest again on final day in Spain

Sebastian Vettel continued his strong form by topping the final day of this week's Barcelona test, as the two Red Bull teams again monopolised the leading positions in Spain.

On a bright and sunny day at the Catalunya track, Vettel set a best time of 1:19.295 for Red Bull Racing, putting him 0.6 seconds clear of Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais.

The Frenchman beat Sebastien Buemi, one of his two rivals for an STR seat next year, by 0.3 seconds as the Swiss GP2 front-runner completed the top three.

McLaren test driver Gary Paffett was fourth in his KERS-equipped car, ahead of Honda's Jenson Button and BMW Sauber duo Christian Klien and Nick Heidfeld.

Klien was also using a KERS device, while Heidfeld's priority was evaluating the 2009-style aerodynamics and slick tyres. A minor accident caused by a drivetrain problem briefly delayed Klien during the morning.

Bruno Senna made his case for a 2009 Honda race drive by taking eighth place on his first full day in a Formula One car. The Brazilian was only 0.3 seconds slower than teammate Button, and 0.6 seconds quicker than his rival Lucas di Grassi had managed yesterday.

Renault's Nelson Piquet and Williams test driver Nico Hulkenberg completed the top ten, with Luca Badoer 11th as Ferrari focused mainly on engine and gearbox reliability, and Giancarlo Fisichella and Pedro de la Rosa bringing up the rear for Force India.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:19.295 75 2. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:19.839 122 3. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.154 115 4. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:21.140 81 5. Button Honda (B) 1:21.387 94 6. Klien BMW Sauber (B) 1:21.534 88 7. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:21.592 106 8. Senna Honda (B) 1:21.676 107 9. Piquet Renault (B) 1:22.148 94 10. Hulkenberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:22.410 52 11. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:22.866 120 12. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:23.086 93 13. de la Rosa Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:23.103 88 All timing unofficial

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FOTA to discuss new qualifying format

The Formula One Teams' Association, FOTA, will discuss a new qualifying format for the sport when the body meets next month.

FOTA is looking to spice up qualifying, currently divided in three sessions, two of them including a knockout system.

The new idea to be looked at consists of all cars jumping onto the track at the same time and with the same amount of fuel, with the slowest driver being eliminated after each lap.

After 14 laps, the six fastest drivers would then fight for pole position, fitting new tyres but still using the same amount of fuel.

The proposal might even include a championship point for pole position and prize money.

The current format, where the ten quickest drivers fight for the top spot in the final session with an amount of fuel decided by the teams, often sees pole position going to a car that's lighter than the rest.

FOTA will meet on December 4 and if the proposed format is agreed upon by all teams, it is expected to be submitted to the FIA for approval.

Sealy trade gives K.C. options

Ferrari boss positive after FOTA meeting

FIA and FOTA reach landmark agreement

Teams considering GP weekend shake-up

Di Grassi hopeful on Honda race seat

Lucas di Grassi is hopeful he can do enough to convince the Honda Racing team that he deserves a racing seat for next season.

The Brazilian tested for the team yesterday alongside Bruno Senna, whom Honda are also evaluating as a possible replacement for veteran Rubens Barrichello.

Di Grassi, who finished in third place in the GP2 championship this year, will also test on Wednesday and hopes his performance lands him the seat.

"I'm proud there are so many Brazilians fighting for the seat," the Renault test driver said. "It means we are really good. I don't think it's about nationalities.

"Just because me and Bruno have done a very good job in GP2 Honda chose us to do the test. I hope I get the drive and do a good season next year."

The Brazilian admitted it was still too early to talk about how good his chances of landing the seat are.

"It's very difficult to quantify. It depends on how well it goes tomorrow and how it goes on Wednesday. So we'll see."

Di Grassi finished at the bottom of the times after 48 laps, but was still happy with his day's work.

"The track was quite green and the car was also very green. It was completely new," said di Grassi. "So far so good. I had a very good experience in the morning and I'm looking forward to tomorrow when we will run a proper performance day."

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Webber has surgery on broken leg

Mark Webber has undergone surgery on a broken right leg after being involved in a road accident during his charity event in Tasmania earlier today.

The Red Bull driver was taking part in one of the cycling elements of the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge when he collided head-on with a car near Port Arthur just after midday local time.

He was airlifted to hospital, with initial reports suggesting he had sustained multiple fractures, but it now appears that the broken right leg is his only serious injury.

Event director Geoff Donohue said that the operation was a success and hoped that Webber's recovery would be swift.

"The surgery is complete, a pin inserted and the recovery begins," Donohue was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"Mark's in good spirits. The broken leg is the injury, and beyond that, he's in really good shape.

"He has a little bit of a graze on his left forearm, but he has had full scans and everything else is clear.

"He'll be in hospital for at least three days, for sure under a week. I was speaking to him before the operation, and he was already thinking about his rehabilitation.

"I suspect that as soon as Mark is able to fly, they will be keen to get him back to Europe.

"They will have people working out his rehab programme now with a view to getting him up and going as soon as possible."

Webber's annual charity event covers 250 kilometres on mountain bikes, kayaks and via trekking over five days in Tasmania.

Webber injured in road accident

Webber injured in road accident

Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber is in a Tasmanian hospital after sustaining injuries in a road accident during the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge today.

The Australian was involved in a head-on collision with a 4WD while riding his mountain bike during today's stage near the historic Port Arthur township.

He was airlifted by helicopter to Royal Hobart hospital where he is in a stable condition. It is believed he has suffered a broken leg, with possible breaks in his arms as well.

"Mark's been involved in a minor accident, he's fine," said Webber Challenge media manager Nancy Cook. "He's being treated, he's really disappointed that he's not going to be able to continue but he's well and being looked after."

Webber was competing in his own charity event when the collision occurred, which covers 250 km over five days, involving mountain biking, kayaking and trekking, this year's event the fourth time it has been held.

Webber's injuries are likely to see him out of action for the rest of the year.

Road improvement key for RSL

Webber: KERS will penalise heavier drivers

Webber has surgery on broken leg

Senna: Debut was a 'big moment'

Bruno Senna has revealed that he was aware of the 'significance of the moment' when he made his Formula One testing debut with Honda on Monday.

The Brazilian, nephew of the late three-time champion Ayrton, is being evaluated alongside countryman Lucas di Grassi at Barcelona for a possible race-seat with the team in 2009.

"The first day of my first Formula One test has been just as big a moment as I expected it to be," said Senna, the 2008 GP2 Series runner-up, after setting the 15th time of the day. "I have also had a lot of fun and really enjoyed myself.

"This morning I focused on doing as much as I could to prepare for my turn. I listened to the team radio and watched and learned how the team works. I was feeling quite calm but on my first lap out of the garage I realised the significance of the moment.

"This is a very special opportunity and one which has been a dream my whole life."

Senna added that he did not feel under any pressure during his afternoon's running - di Grassi had driven the RA108 they shared during the morning session - and was happy with what he achieved on his first day in the car.

"The team were great and left it to me to find my level, but by the end of my second run I was feeling very much at home in the car," said the 25-year-old. "There were lots of new sensations as the gearshifts, engine power and aerodynamics compared to a GP2 car were all very different.

"I need a few adjustments to be fully comfortable in the car for Wednesday but generally I am feeling good. Obviously my full day is when everything will count but I am very pleased with what I achieved today and the more laps I do, the quicker I'll be hopefully.

"A great, great day for me and I am incredibly grateful to the Honda team for making it possible."

Senna aims to prove he deserves F1 seat

Senna not distracted by F1 rumours

Senna says not feeling extra pressure

Fisichella adamant his future is safe

Giancarlo Fisichella says he is not worried about his future at the Force India team, despite Pedro de la Rosa testing for the Silverstone-based squad.

McLaren driver de la Rosa joined Force India for a two-day test at Barcelona this week, prompting speculation that he might be in line for a racing seat next year.

Force India have signed a deal with McLaren and Mercedes for next season, and the British team said they would make suggestions about drivers.

Force India boss Vijay Mallya had said before the agreement was announced that both Fisichella and teammate Adrian Sutil would be retained.

The Italian said he has a contract signed for 2009 and admitted he was not concerned about his future.

"I'm not worried, I don't think there will be any problem for me," Fisichella told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I have a signed contract for another year and Vijay Mallya has announced that the 2009 drivers will still be myself and Sutil."

De la Rosa hinted, however, that a deal was still possible for him.

"Whatever comes, it will come. My job is to test with McLaren and I'm very grateful for having tested a Force India," the Spanish told the EFE news agency.

"It has been two very intense days and I tested a million things. My experience tells me I can't rush things or build my hopes up."

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Briatore: Renault back at their best

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore is adamant the French squad are back to their best following their strong end of the 2008 season.

The team, world champions in 2005 and 2006, had a torrid season in 2007, followed by a poor start to 2008 despite the return of Fernando Alonso.

However, the Spaniard won two races near the end of the year and scored more points than any of his rivals from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards.

Renault's form convinced Alonso to stay at the team for 2009, when Briatore reckons they will be a force to be reckoned with again.

"I really think so," Briatore told Autosprint magazine. "We have everything we need, we make developments, and each improvement we find ends up in the car immediately.

"We've gone back to the situation we were in before 2006. Ferrari, too, didn't win almost at all in 2005. It happens, in F1 the line between doing very well and very bad is very thin.

"But to do that we had to change a lot, hire new people, younger and hungrier of success. The secret is, you first need to understand what's wrong, and only then you start working.

"Otherwise you end up building a car without solid bases. Last year, this way, we lost five months before understanding where the problem was. Re-doing the wind tunnel by updating it completely required time. But we're ready now."

Briatore said he and Alonso were talking about a new deal all year, despite the announcement coming after the season was over.

"Fernando and I were talking every weekend, but we agreed not to say anything before the end of the year," he added. "With him in the team, we can experiment with the other driver, but Grosjean is too young and has made lots of mistakes in GP2 this year.

"In any case, if you want to beat someone really strong you need to grow your driver in-house. Like we did with Fernando and like McLaren has done with Hamilton."

Briatore also defended the FIA's decision to unfreeze engine development for next year, as he reckons it will make things more equal.

"I think it's fair that it is: you can't freeze performances for five years while leaving someone so far behind," he said. "When we learnt of the FIA's intentions, we removed 80-90 people from the engine factory at Viry. I don't think the others did the same thing.

"It was a mistake, and another one was made by the FIA by allowing a certain margin for intervention on the injectors. This goes completely against the spirit of the rule, which should have frozen performances for five years at the moment when performances were about the same for everyone."

Briatore urges Renault to keep pushing

Sealy trade gives K.C. options

Di Grassi lined up for Renault seat

Singapore Sunday quotes: Renault

Vettel leads Barcelona test on day two

Sebastian Vettel began life as a Red Bull Racing driver in the perfect manner after topping the times on the second day of testing at Barcelona.

The German driver led a quartet of Red Bull cars, as Takuma Sato was the fastest of the three Toro Rossos that finished behind Vettel.

The Red Bull Racing driver was the only man capable of lapping the Spanish track in less than 80 seconds, posting a best time of 1:19.751 to outpace Sato, quickest yesterday, by nearly four tenths.

Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastien Buemi proved the battle for the 2009 Toro Rosso seats is a tight one, finishing right behind Sato.

"I have really enjoyed the test and it was great to be back in the car," said Sato. "The last test in September was a little disappointing, because I could do only 3 hours, as it rained in the afternoon.

"But this test has been great - I have now done my first full day's driving in 7 months and completed a total of 200 laps. The car has worked really well and felt great to drive.

"I enjoyed working with the team and it was very interesting for me to see how the engineers work. It was a great experience and chance for me and so I would like to say a big thanks to Red Bull and Mr. Mateschitz, as well as to the Scuderia Toro Rosso team."

McLaren's test driver Gary Paffett completed the top five as he worked with both the MP-23 and the MP4-23K, the KERS test car. The Briton was only the driver working for McLaren as Pedro de la Rosa was testing for the Force India team.

Paffett moved to the MP4-23 after his KERS car suffered a minor oil leak that prompted the team to take a precautionary switch.

BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica was sixth fastest as his team continue to focus on work with their interim cars fitted with 2009 aero packages.

"Of course we lose a lot of downforce compared to the 2008 car," Kubica said. "But because we are back from grooved to slick tyres, we have substantially more grip in slow corners.

"So with some more development I don't think there will be too big a difference between the 2009 and 2008 cars."

Nico Rosberg was the only man in charge of testing duties for Williams, the German finishing in seventh, ahead of Jenson Button in the first of the Hondas.

The second was again driven by Lucas di Grassi, who finished as tenth quickest after 110 laps. Tomorrow di Grassi will handle his car over to Bruno Senna.

The Renault team worked again with Nelson Piquet and Giedo van der Garde, both men focusing mainly on collection of data from the slick Bridgestone tyres.

"It was a similar day to yesterday as we continued learning about the slick tyres and working on the car set-up by trying to simulate next year's settings," said Piquet.

"It was a bit cooler than yesterday, but the track conditions were not too bad and we didn't have any problems with the car, which allowed us to get a good number of laps in. So a positive second day, which we can build on tomorrow."

Ferrari's Luca Badoer and Marc Gene were 12th and 13th respectively, the Italian focusing mainly on engine and gearbox reliability while the Spaniard did set-up work.

"We got rid of as many things as possible, to try to create the downforce we'll have the next season," said the Spaniard.

"But the main thing is the slicks. I couldn't directly compare them, but the first feeling is that the grip delivered by the new tyres compensates the lower downforce.

"Personally I'm working with the car's set-up, trying to understand the handling with the new tyres. Luca is working on the reliability, especially of the engine, because in the next season it has to live 50% longer."

Compatriot de la Rosa, testing a Ferrari-powered Force India for the first time, finished at the bottom of the times after 86 laps.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:19.751 70 2. Sato Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.017 79 3. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.034 48 4. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.223 99 5. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:21.340 31 6. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:21.521 76 7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:21.525 113 8. Button Honda (B) 1:21.770 110 9. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:22.073 58 10. di Grassi Honda (B) 1:22.283 110 11. Piquet Renault (B) 1:22.348 85 12. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:22.425 127 13. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:22.772 31 14. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:22.945 81 15. van der Garde Renault (B) 1:23.250 37 16. de la Rosa Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:23.499 86 All Timing Unofficial

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Toro Rosso to test trio at Barcelona

Senna says not feeling extra pressure

Bruno Senna says he not feeling any extra pressure for carrying the surname made so popular in Formula One by his late uncle Ayrton.

The GP2 championship runner-up made his debut at the wheel of a Formula One car on Monday when he tested for the Honda Racing team at Barcelona.

Senna, nephew of the three-time world champion, is one of the candidates for a race seat at the Japanese squad for 2009.

Despite the hype surrounding him, the 25-year-old said his last name was not adding pressure on him to emulate Ayrton.

"It doesn't. It's my own career," Senna told autosport.com after testing at Barcelona. "I'm doing my own job and no one expects me to be Ayrton. I'm Bruno and that's my career and that's how I treat it."

While Senna admitted his goal for next year is to secure the Honda drive, he acknowledged that it was was still too early to draw any conclusions.

"Obviously, yeah," he said when asked if his target for 2009 was to be in F1. "But you cannot expect a driver who is fully new to a Formula One car to go out and does magic. So today the team wanted me to get comfortable with the car.

"There are quite a few things that you can actually adjust for yourself when you get into a new car. The seat, for example, is not perfect and we still need to work on that.

"Now we know what we need and I'm going to work on that so on Wednesday I have the opportunity to push a bit harder and find the limits."

Senna finished as 15th quickest out of 17 drivers, and over a second ahead of Lucas di Grassi, the Renault test driver who also drove for Honda yesterday.

The Brazilian admitted he was initially overwhelmed by the whole situation when he came out of the pits for the first time.

"It has been two months since I've driven a single-seater or any race car, so the first time out it was a bit overwhelming with all the functions and the power and everything," he said.

"And I hadn't driven a car with tyre warmers so I didn't know what type of grip to expect. It was all new information so I tried to take it in as quickly as I could.

"It was very good to go out. It was a very strange feeling to drive around with F1 cars around me and also to see F1 cars with so many types of different wings and slicks tyres. When I saw the Ferrari I thought it was a GP2 car painted red so that was very different.

"It's the first test so there is a long way to go still. But if I can be successful in Formula One is going to be very special for me, for sure."

Senna will return to the track on Wednesday, when he will be allowed to test with new tyres.

Senna says he did what Honda expected

Q and A with Bruno Senna

Heidfeld pleased with BMW's early start

Nick Heidfeld says he is pleased that BMW Sauber appear to be more advanced with their preparations for the 2009 rules than many rival teams - but admitted that they still have a great deal to do.

While most teams are still simulating 2009 downforce levels within 2008 aerodynamic packages, BMW have run the 2009-specification wide front wing and narrow rear wing in testing this week.

They have also been running a Kinetic Energy Recovery System, another new-for-2009 device that many teams are not yet using in testing.

Heidfeld said he was not yet comfortable with the feeling of the revised car, and that the KERS device was far from race-ready, but was just glad that BMW are already running the new package on track.

"The first day was with let's call it the 'B car', with the next year's rules-style aerodynamics on the front and rear wing, with a lot less downforce in total, with the KERS on the car I was driving, and with the slicks," he said.

"Obviously the set-up is far from ideal, especially on my car as I was focusing mainly on the KERS systems. We're still having quite a few problems there, but at least we have it in the car. But therefore we were not focusing on set-up work, and that's why we still have quite a lot to learn.

"But I think it's good. Looking around in the paddock, comparing us to the other cars, we already have a nice B-car developed to hopefully get some good information."

Most of the teams running at Barcelona this week have focused their efforts on the slick tyres, but Williams have joined BMW in running new-style wings, while McLaren have been using a KERS in their car.

De la Rosa downplays F1 revolution

De la Rosa to test for Force India

McLaren tester Pedro de la Rosa is to drive for the Force India Formula One team today and tomorrow at the Barcelona circuit.

The Spaniard, who on Monday worked for his own team, confirmed on his website that he will switch to Force India for the remaining two days of the test.

Force India announced last week a technical partnership with McLaren and Mercedes for 2009, although the British squad said they would not impose drivers on the Silverstone-based outfit.

Force India boss Vijay Mallya said before the McLaren deal was announced that both Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil would stay on at the team in 2009.

Spanish media said on Tuesday that de la Rosa has already signed a deal to race for Force India in 2009, but a McLaren spokesman told autosport.com that the deal was just for the two-day test.

Chivas expect aggressive RSL side

Sutil not threatened by de la Rosa test

Loeb impressed by F1 car's power

Sebastien Loeb admitted he was impressed with the power of the Red Bull Racing Formula One car after testing at Barcelona on Monday.

The five-time world rally champion joined grand prix drivers at the Spanish track, in what was his second outing in Formula One machinery after having tested for Renault.

Loeb was an impressive eighth quickest, just 1.5 seconds off the pace.

The Frenchman admitted he was tired by the end of the day, but was thrilled with the experience.

"I don't think I'd like to take this much horsepower into the forests," joked the Frenchman. "It was a great experience and I had fun, although I have to say that driving one of these cars is tougher physically than driving my rally car.

"Towards the end of the day, I began to get a good feel for the car and enjoyed the sensation of it moving around on the track.

"I have to say that the level of grip in the high speed corners is very impressive."

Loeb to join F1 test with Red Bull

Loeb under no illusions over F1 test

Q and A with Sebastien Loeb

Senna says he did what Honda expected

Bruno Senna believes he did all the Honda Racing team expected from him during his first test at the wheel of a Formula One car.

The Brazilian tested for the team at Barcelona on Monday and Wednesday, as Honda evaluate drivers to partner Jenson Button next season.

Senna covered 107 laps yesterday and posted the ninth quickest time of the day, just three tenths slower than Button himself.

The GP2 runner-up admitted he was pleased with his job.

"Last time I had driven a single-seater or any race car was two months ago in the last GP2 race, so for sure it has been a long time," Senna told reporters after the test.

"So every time you spend such a long time outside the side the muscles get used to other things, so I have been preparing and training as hard as I could. I tried to learn as much as I could. And I think considering my preparation I did a pretty good job.

"Driving a Formula One car is really, really nice. And I was enjoying myself more and more each lap. Pushing harder and harder makes you find the edge and when the laptime comes from your effort that's pretty good."

He added: "I'm happy. As I said, there was not a lot of pressure on me being matching Jenson or being super close to Jenson. They wanted to see what kind of information I could provide and if I was consistent and if I was quick on my own.

"I think I ticked all those boxes. I have to see how highly I have ticked those boxes but that's all I could do in my first day."

The Brazilian said he did not know yet if he would be called to test again next month.

"I would love to go to the Jerez test, but that depends on the team," he said.

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Senna aims to prove he deserves F1 seat

Honda yet to decide on ‘09 line-up

Q and A with Bruno Senna

Q. Was the day as you expected it to be?

Bruno Senna: Yes, it was actually great fun. I was really enjoying myself out there. It's such a different experience to everything I've done before. I think it's quite a special opportunity that Honda gave me. I was really, really enjoying myself. The car is such a step up from GP2. It has much better gear shift, much better engine, much better aerodynamics.

It's very hard to explain why it takes some time for a driver to adapt, but all the references you had from the others things you've done you have to step them up in a big way. And also what you expect from the car is also very different. So today was quite a good day because I had not much pressure to perform.

The team asked me to get involved with the car and go through a nice programme, so that's what I did. I got comfortable with the car. For sure it was quite a good experience and by the end I was feeling much more comfortable. It's hard work but it's very special.

Q. What was the programme you had for the day?

BS: The programme was first to get used to the electronics of the car. There are many switches on the car and I need to understand how to work them. I found it to be quite easy, quite straightforward.

Also to understand the new aero package of the car for next year. So we are working on downforce levels and on the balance of the car. And obviously to understand how slick tyres work.

Q. So the car is a mix of 2008 and 2009?

BS: It doesn't have the wings of the 2009 car and obviously the chassis and all these things. But they are trying to simulate the downforce levels and balance, so they can get some numbers for the new developments. And then try to coordinate the numbers with the wind tunnel and everything.

Q. In the end you put on some good laptimes..

BS: Yeah, towards the end I was feeling a lot more comfortable. Before that I only had a set of tyres that were not so good. I had badly worn front tyres so I was struggling to find the right grip and the right balance. But with that last set I could actually work the tyres properly as they were in a decent condition when I started with them.

And I was pushing harder and harder every lap and finding the time. Eventually I made one or two mistakes because I was trying to find the limits. But really, for the first time I drove the car I think it was pretty decent.

Q. How do you feel physically?

BS: It was pretty easy. I think the downforce levels that we are running made the car not such a step up in terms of high speed to the GP2 car. But for sure as the car develops it's going to much, much harder so for sure training will be even more important.

Q. What do you expect to achieve from this test? A seat for next year?

BS: Obviously, yeah. But you cannot expect a driver who is fully new to a Formula One car to go out and do magic. So today the team wanted me to get comfortable with the car. There are quite a few things that you can actually adjust for yourself when you get into a new car.

The seat, for example, is not perfect and we still need to work on that. Now we know what we need and I'm going to work on that so on Wednesday I have the opportunity to push a bit harder and find the limits.

Q. What was your feeling when you came out of the pits for the first time?

BS: It has been two months since I've driven a single-seater or any race car, so the first time out it was a bit overwhelming with all the functions and the power and everything. And I hadn't driven a car with tyre warmers so I didn't know what type of grip to expect. It was all new information so I tried to take it in as quickly as I could.

It was very good to go out. It was a very strange feeling to drive around with F1 cars around me and also to see F1 cars with so many types of different wings and slicks tyres. When I saw the Ferrari I thought it was a GP2 car painted red so that was very different.

It's the first test so there is a long way to go still. But if I can be successful in Formula One is going to be very special for me, for sure.

Q. Does it add pressure that fact that you have the Senna name and that Ayrton had such a great career?

BS: It doesn't. It's my own career. I'm doing my own job and no one expects me to be Ayrton. I'm Bruno and that's my career and that's how I treat it.

Senna not distracted by F1 rumours

Chivas expect aggressive RSL side

Sato goes quickest in Barcelona test

Takuma Sato made a sensational return to Formula One action when he topped the times in testing at the Barcelona circuit in Spain.

All grand prix teams, except Toyota, returned to work just two weeks after the end of the 2008 season to begin preparing for the challenges of next year's campaign, when several new regulations will be introduced.

A total of 17 drivers took to the track today, in a field full of test drivers and F1 hopefuls, including Sato himself, who tested for Toro Rosso for the second time this year.

The Japanese, aiming to secure a race seat at the Italian squad, posted a best time of 1:20.763 in the 2008-spec car, fitted with Bridgestone's slick tyres.

Toro Rosso dominated the opening day of testing thanks to Red Bull's test driver Sebastien Buemi finished in second behind Sato in a similar car.

Honda's Alex Wurz was third quickest in a revised RA108, as the team evaluated new aero components for next season as well as the new slicks.

McLaren's testers Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett completed the top five as the British squad began testing with their KERS system onboard. Only de la Rosa carried the system onboard.

The BMW Sauber team caught the most eyes today thanks to the introduction of a 2009-spec aerodynamic package, which made their car very distinguishable. Both Robert Kubica and Christian Klien were at the wheel of the hybrid car, with the Austrian the other driver on track who tested with KERS.

Ferrari also had two cars on track, both modified to simulate 2009 downforce levels. Luca Badoer's car also simulated carrying the KERS system.

Five-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb completed his second outing in Formula One machinery, testing for the Red Bull team. The Frenchman, who had previously driven a Renault F1 car, was an impressive eighth quickest, less than 1.5 seconds off the pace.

GP2 championship runner-up Bruno Senna finally made his Formula One debut, joining the Honda Racing team for their first day of work. The Brazilian shared the car with compatriot Lucas di Grassi and posted the 15th quickest time of the session, more than a second ahead of the Renault test driver.

The Brazilian duo were split by Giedo van der Garde, who tested for Renault as a reward for winning the World Series title. The Dutchman managed just 27 laps after crashing out at around 3:30pm.

The other two red flags of the day were caused by Kubica stopping on track in the morning and by Williams's Nico Hulkenberg.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Sato Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.763 121 2. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:21.071 117 3. Wurz Honda (B) 1:21.198 77 4. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:21.417 65 5. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:22.038 93 6. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:22.235 47 7. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:22.341 56 8. Loeb Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:22.503 82 9. Piquet Renault (B) 1:22.560 80 10. Klien BMW-Sauber (B) 1:22.883 53 11. Hulkenberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:23.467 116 12. Liuzzi Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:23.794 86 13. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:23.832 88 14. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:24.117 32 15. Senna Honda (B) 1:24.343 39 16. van der Garde Renault (B) 1:24.908 27 17. di Grassi Honda (B) 1:25.512 48 All Timing Unofficial

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Toro Rosso to test trio at Barcelona

Sutil not threatened by de la Rosa test

Adrian Sutil insists he did not feel threatened by Pedro de la Rosa's test for Force India at Catalunya this week, and remains confident he will be with the team next year.

Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya had previously indicated that both Sutil and 2008 teammate Giancarlo Fisichella would keep their drives.

However, at the announcement of Force India's new technical collaboration with McLaren and Mercedes, both parties acknowledged that McLaren were likely to recommend drivers to the team - leading to suggestions that current McLaren test drivers de la Rosa and Gary Paffett, and Mercedes DTM star Paul di Resta, could be in contention for Force India seats.

This speculation intensified when de la Rosa switched from McLaren to Force India for two of this week's three test days.

But Sutil believes the Spaniard's presence at Force India is just part of a fact-finding mission for McLaren as the teams begin their partnership.

"It doesn't worry me at all," said Sutil. "He's a nice guy. He came from McLaren just to have an idea about the car, and everything else we will see in the next weeks, months or in the future.

"I feel safe for myself. The team is happy with my performance and I have my contract here. So I don't have anything to worry about."

He said the experienced de la Rosa's feedback had proved beneficial for Force India.

"Pedro helped quite a lot with his statements and his comments about the car," said the German. "It just gave us a little bit of information about where we have to improve."

Sutil had his first taste of the 2009 rules at this week's test as Force India simulated next year's reduced level of aerodynamic grip, although the team stopped short of running the '09-style wings seen on some other cars.

He admitted that the reduction in grip had initially been hard to cope with, but felt the team made good progress.

"The first day in Barcelona was quite tricky with the new rules for 2009," said Sutil.

"So we had less downforce on the car, the new slick tyres on the car, and it makes it quite difficult to drive. The first impression was a quite oversteering balance and lots of car movements. Also, the track was very green.

"It went better through the day. The grip picked up and the stability of the car got better and better. But we had to get experience, especially with the tyres. We did some set-up work, especially with weight distribution, that ended up very positive."

Ecclestone wants medals instead of points

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone wants the championship to be won by the driver who gets the most gold medals during the season.

"The FIA and all the teams are behind it and it will be done," Ecclestone told The Times newspaper.

"Everybody understands gold medals and silver and bronze. Nearly all sports are done that way.

"The whole point will be, when they get to Melbourne for the first race, the guys will want to leave there with a gold medal.

"They don't want to leave with ten, eight or six points."

Ecclestone has been pushing for a change to the current points system for some time, although his idea is yet to be officially presented to the FIA.

The Briton believes his medals idea would even improve the racing.

"Everybody is happy with the idea, they are all very supportive," he told Reuters. "I'm absolutely 100 percent sure it's the right way to go, it'll get them (the drivers) overtaking."

This year's championship was won by Lewis Hamilton, despite Ferrari rival Felipe Massa scoring one more victory.

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Montreal officials have confirmed they are still working hard to get the Canadian Grand Prix back on the calendar next season, with the final version of the 2009 schedule due to be rubber-stamped in the next few weeks.

Although the Canadian GP remained absent from the latest draft of the 2009 calendar issued by the FIA last week, autosport.com understands that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone remains in discussions with authorities about trying to put a financial package together to rescue the race.

Ecclestone has been chasing payments owed from last year's race, as well as trying to sort out terms to pay for team's travel costs and expenses.

One idea now being proposed by Montreal is for hotel taxes over the grand prix weekend to be increased, which could help raise several millions pounds.

Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay told the Montreal Gazzette that the hotel tax idea was being considered, but he was aware that time was running out to get the situation sorted.

"I think we need an answer very soon," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

"We need to know if we're going to have a Grand Prix in 2009. We're trying to find a proposal that will meet with the approval of Bernie Ecclestone and his board of directors.

"He's not interested in where the money's going to come from, he just wants to get the money to which he thinks he's entitled."

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Klien: '09 BMW worst looking car ever

Christian Klien says the BMW Sauber he tested yesterday at Barcelona is the ugliest Formula One car he has ever seen.

"I never saw such a sexy car," joked Klien after testing. "It looks very, very new to everybody.

"To me, for the moment, it's the worst (looking) Formula One car I have ever seen. It just doesn't fit together.

"But we will get used to it. There will be a lot of modifications until the first race in March."

All eyes were on the German squad yesterday, when the team ran with an hybrid 2008 car fitted with a 2009 aerodynamic configuration, designed to provide a lot less downforce.

The very wide front and the narrow rear wing did not make for an attractive car, although Klien admitted driving it was a different matter.

"It drives quite well, actually. As you saw, the laptimes are quite good already," the Austrian added. "There is still a few improvements coming over the winter. Basically it's quite a lot less downforce but with the slick tyres it compensates quite a lot.

"Especially in the slow-speed corners you get much more grip with the slick tyres. High-speed corners are a bit more tricky. But the main problem today was the cold temperatures."

The BMW Sauber tester said it was still very hard to bring the new slick tyres up to working temperature.

"These are the first slick tyres basically. Now I'm not sure if they have some improvement for these tyres but the warm-up doesn't seem to be very good, even in summer time," he said.

"Slicks is for sure the right direction. The race car looks better on slicks. It's also important to change regulations after a few years to give some other teams an opportunity and to keep the speeds down. Now we will lose maybe two seconds."

The Austrian also said he is not expecting the regulation changes to allow drivers to run too closely to each other.

"Even with these aerodynamics it's still not possible to drive right behind another car. We will see in the first few races. It's more of a problem to not knock off the front wing at the first corner.

"This morning we were not sure we could drive in the last chicane, where the kerbs are quite high. But it's not a problem actually."

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Loeb under no illusions over F1 test

World rally champion Sebastien Loeb says he is looking forward to testing an F1 car alongside other drivers, although the Frenchman is aware that it will not be easy for him.

Loeb, who just clinched a record-breaking fifth WRC title, will test for Red Bull Racing next week at Barcelona, where most teams will return to action following the end of the season.

It will be the first time that Loeb, who had already driven a Renault F1 car, tests with other F1 drivers on track.

The Frenchman spent a day at Silverstone familiarising with the Red Bull machine before he moves to Barcelona.

The Citroen driver admitted the Silverstone test was useful for him, despite the very poor conditions he found at the British track.

"In terms of preparing for Barcelona, I don't think we'll see the same sort of conditions there," Loeb told autosport.com. "I hope not anyway! So in that way it wasn't so relevant but of course it was very useful for me to have some extra experience of the car, to find out how everything worked and check my seating position.

"It was also a really good opportunity to meet the team and get used to working with them.

"It's definitely better as all the time in the car is useful. I know a little bit more about the car now and I'm not coming into Barcelona completely new to it.

"But I don't expect Barcelona to be easy at all: it's the first time that I will be testing against the regular drivers in Formula One, so that's obviously going to be interesting!"

He added: "It was really good, but at Silverstone I only did about 100km with very low grip conditions so I could not really exploit the car. But just accelerating up the straight I could really feel the power so it was a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to Barcelona now: I don't think it should be five degrees and raining there!"

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Attempts to reinstate Canada fail

Attempts to reinstate the Canadian Grand Prix on next year's calendar have all but failed, after Montreal officials cited 'unreasonable' demands being placed on them.

In a media statement issued on Sunday night in Canada, senior political representatives said there was no way the city could find the vast sums of money that Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was demanding for the race to take place.

Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay said: "We were constantly guided in our negotiations by principles of responsible management. However, despite our endeavours and those of the business community, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer's ability to pay.

"I would like to thank my colleagues from the federal and provincial governments and members of the business community who joined forces in an attempt to save the grand prix.

"Their concerted efforts attest to Montreal's vitality and could prove an opportunity for creating a development fund for new events of all kinds that would stimulate the economy, tourism and employment."

Raymond Bachand, the minister of tourism, added: "Whenever the Grand Prix of Canada needed help from the Government of Quebec, we were there.

"We worked very hard over the past few weeks to ensure there would be a grand prix in Montreal, while staying fiscally responsible. We cannot meet Mr. Ecclestone's unworkable demands.

"Unless he eases his requirements and adopts a different approach, there will be no grand prix in Montreal in 2009."

Montreal officials revealed that they were only told for the first time that the race had been dropped from the 2009 schedule on October 7.

This prompted actions from all levels of government, which included a visit to see Ecclestone in London on October 23.

Five days later, the representatives received a final contract offer from Ecclestone demanding a government or bank guarantee of $143 million (USD) over five years - a fee too high for any promoter to take on.

The government considered setting up a non-profit organisation to try and move discussions forward, with a new contract proposal being sent to Ecclestone, but he has refused to revise his original proposal.

Figures revealed that the race fees demanded for Ecclestone were almost $26 million for 2009, raising by five per cent each year after that.

Details of correspondence between Montreal officials and Ecclestone has been published here.

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De la Rosa downplays F1 revolution

Pedro de la Rosa is adamant Formula One will not be transformed by the introduction of radical new regulations at the start of the 2009 season.

The McLaren test driver reckons the raft of changes will help make overtaking easier, but he has warned those expecting a revolution to forget about that idea.

"Yes, definitely," said de la Rosa when asked if overtaking will be easier next year.

"Considering this is Formula One - if people think the introduction of KERS and the reduction in downforce and slicks is going to transform Formula One, then forget it.

"It will still be a wide car, there will still be aerodynamic effect and offline will stay dirty. It will be easier, but it won't be MotoGP. And people need to understand that.

"The changes are headed in the right direction. The difficulty comes from having so many changes and a massive reduction in testing for next year.

"It will make fine-tuning your car between the races very difficult. It's going to be very interesting – and there won't be enough time to test everything."

Formula One cars will run a lots less downforce next year, which in theory should allow drivers to run closer to each other and overtake.

The sport will also return to racing with slick tyres, which were abandoned in 1997.

De la Rosa said the new tyres will help make up for the loss of downforce.

"It's very different," the Spaniard, testing today at Barcelona, said of the 2009-spec car.

"Obviously, the slick tyres give you a lot more grip – so although we will be running with reduced downforce, the overall grip of the car won't be that different to what we had.

"But it's the balance front to rear that will change – the slick tyres have a very strong front-end going into the corners and they have very good traction coming out.

"Overall, to simplify things, I think the slick tyres will give us laptime in the low-speed corners and because of the reduced downforce we'll be slower at high speeds."

The McLaren driver also admitted there is still a lot of work to do before the KERS system is ready to go racing.

"We are still learning about it," he said. "It requires a lot of fine-tuning to the car – especially in the braking. KERS has to recharge itself – so when you press the brakes, it generates an extra resistance that you have to somehow compensate for to balance it out. That means interacting with the engine braking and the brake balance.

"You just have to find the best compromise; it's not just fitting KERS and going quicker, you have to balance it into the whole system. If you don't have it properly tuned, it will be very sudden. The difficulty will be to smoothen all the transitions."

He added: We have three tests – in Barcelona, Jerez and Portimao. There's lot of new things to be tried on the car, starting with slick tyres. And we will run with tyre warmers so it will be easier to warm the tyres and control the tyre pressures.

"We will also be starting our KERS programme for the first proper test at a race track. And we will be testing with reduced downforce, running with all the body furniture taken off the (MP)23. It's all about trying to learn as much as possible within a very limited testing mileage."

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