Mark Webber doubts rescheduled Bahrain GP will happen

The Australian, 34, said: "Even though a decision has been made, I'll be highly astounded if the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead this year."

Bahrain was due to be the season-opener on 13 March but was called off due to unrest and pro-democracy protests.

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, agreed generally on Friday to restore the race to the calendar on 30 October.

Webber, writing on his official website, added: "In my personal opinion, the sport should have taken a much firmer stance earlier this year rather than constantly delaying its choice in the hope of being able to rearrange it in 2011.

"It would have sent a very clear message about F1's place on something as fundamental as human rights and how it deals with moral issues."

The government has cracked down hard on resistance activists during 11 weeks of martial law and military trials of mostly Shi'ite dissidents are continuing.

The FIA's choice to reschedule the race - with India moving to a December date - was a move strongly criticised by human rights campaigners and also opposed by teams.

"It's obvious that the parties involved have struggled to reach a choice but sadly I feel that they still haven't made the right one," said Webber.

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Sebastian Vettel triumphs after Monaco Grand Prix drama

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel won his first Monaco Grand Prix and pulled additional ahead in the championship.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren's Jenson Button, who briefly led the race, had congested in on Vettel but a late safety car helped the German.

Alonso finished second for the first time in 2011, with Button third and Red Bull's Mark Webber fourth.

Lewis Hamilton became involved in a row over critical comments about stewards after finishing sixth.

The Englishman was called before officials for two separate incidents and, asked why he had been to see stewards five times in six races this year, he said, in fact in jest: "Maybe it's because I'm black. That's what Ali G says."

The race was poised for a exciting finish as Vettel, Alonso and Button were enclosed by less than a second and chasing each other hard. 

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Hamilton: Don’t anticipate much from DRS in Monaco

Lewis Hamilton believes that the choice to allow DRS in the Monaco Grand Prix won't lead to a huge increase in overtaking.

On the whole, the system has led to a obvious increase in passing manoeuvres during the season so far, although the location of the DRS zone in Spain at the weekend meant drivers found it more hard to use their blown rear wing to make a move for position.

There had been talk that DRS could be barred for the Monaco weekend given the nature of the circuit, but the FIA has established that the rear wing can be utilised in a zone on the start-finish straight during the race.

However, Hamilton said he didn't think there would be many DRS-assisted moves for place in the principality given the position and length of the DRS zone.

“I think the DRS zone at Monaco is only around 300 metres, so it's pretty short, and not really long enough to allow us to really get enough of a launch on the car ahead,” he said. “I think the aerodynamics will only really start functioning properly once we've reached the braking zone for Ste Devote, so I don't think we'll see too many DRS-assisted overtaking moves next weekend.”

Hamilton did add however that the new Pirelli tyres were probable to spice up the action on the streets of the principality.

“I think the tyres will probably give us the greatest scope for thrill and the best chance of passing,” the McLaren man said. “While I don't think the Super-Soft and Soft compounds will be as critical around Monaco as they were at a place like Turkey, I still think the drop-off we encounter as the tyres go off should create opportunities for overtaking.

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Race - Vettel holds off Hamilton for nervous Spanish win

There may not have been as much overtaking as we saw in Turkey, but Lewis Hamilton made it a riveting Barcelona race on Sunday as he hounded Sebastian Vettel from the 20th to the 66th and final lap. The reigning world champion had to work every inch of the way as he took his fourth triumph of the season for Red Bull, and the two drivers were estranged by a mere 0.6s after more than 300 kilometres of flat-out racing.

There was drama that the crowd loved at the start when Ferrari's Fernando Alonso rupture through from fourth place to slam down the inside of poleman Mark Webber going into the first corner. It was the lead up to a disappointing afternoon for the Australian, who had been focusing on keeping Vettel at bay and didn't spot the Ferrari in time.

Alonso kept it in the lead until his first of four pit stops on the 10th lap, and his second on the 19th, but thereafter the race was between Vettel and Hamilton, who stopped at first on Laps Nine and 11 and then 18 and 23 respectively, and also congested four times in total.

As they raced ahead, Alonso kept a aggravated Webber at bay, and McLaren's Jenson Button worked his way back from a awful start that dropped him originally from fifth on the grid to 10th at the end of the opening lap.

Alonso was third when he rutted for the third time on the 29th lap, and again he held off Webber, but the Spaniard soon scorched a set of hard tyres and gradually dropped away as he had to make his final set of hard Pirellis last from the 39th lap to the end.

Not so Vettel and Hamilton, who went at it hammer and tongs. The gap fluctuated between two seconds and half a second, but in a race in which DRS failed to produce as much overtaking action as had been predictable, a 0.6s to 0.7s stalemate set in over the final 15 laps and Vettel worked the traffic well to maintain this small but critical advantage after a super-cool drive.

Hamilton was a fearless second, and McLaren picked up the third podium place after three-stopping Button made the most of his final set of soft tyres to jump the slowing Alonso and Webber. Webber fought back at first after his final stop, but was 12.2s behind the 2009 champion by the flag, and Button in turn was 35s adrift of his team mate.

Alonso clung on to a lapped fifth place, ahead of the duelling Mercedes. Michael Schumacher kept team mate Nico Rosberg at bay to take his best result of the season with sixth, but by the end Nick Heidfeld's heady race from the back of the grid in his Renault saw him only four-tenths away from Rosberg.

It was a good day for Sauber, with Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi driving hard races for ninth and 10th, the Japanese driver clawing back after being delayed by a pierce picked up on the opening lap.

Renault's Vitaly Petrov dull from the points in the closing laps, but was too far ahead for Paul di Resta to challenge after another race in which the Scottish rookie contentedly beat Force India team mate Adrian Sutil as they both stopped only three times.

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Red Bull take Formula One back to Austria

The last Austrian Grand Prix took place in 2003 at the A1-Ring. On Sunday, Formula One cars returned to the famous Spielberg venue as, revamped and upgraded, it began a new life as the Red Bull Ring, as long as a new home for national and international motorsport.

Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were amongst those present at the special opening event, showcasing their F1 machinery, along with Toro Rosso stable mates Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.

“I was 14-years-old the first time I was at Spielberg for a Formula Konig race and I watched the drivers there with great enthusiasm, counting the Austrian, Bernhard Auinger,” Vettel told Red Bull Racing’s official website. “At that time I was very new to the Red Bull family. A lot of time has passed since then and it has tainted a lot.”

Vettel took time out to add his hand and foot prints to a special plaque for the Red Bull Ring’s ‘winners’ road’, as well as completing the obligatory demonstration laps for a soaked, but highly grateful crowd.

“I like the new track very much, as the core of the circuit remains the same,” added the world champion. “The downhill sections with the curves, which are still lynching to the outside, are very tricky, especially because today the track was wet. It would be very nice to drive a race here and I would be very happy if Formula One should return to the Red Bull Ring - if possible during my career!”

The original circuit, then known as the Osterreichring, opened in 1969 and staged its first Grand Prix the following year, with local hero Jochen Rindt drawing enormous crowds. Austria’s other world champion, Niki Lauda, won his home event there in 1984 and he returned on Sunday to win again in a special ‘legends’ race from compatriot and fellow F1 veteran Dieter Quester.

“It's really impressive what's happened here,” said Lauda. “I am very happy that the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg has been revitalized - it's a huge asset to the racing scene in Austria. The basic route is the same, but the whole course is in perfect condition and has similar current facilities to those in Bahrain.”

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Smoke to swap rides with F1's Hamilton

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and 2008 Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton are exchange race cars at Watkins Glen International.

The Mobil 1 Car Swap will take place June 14 at the well-known road course in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Hamilton will take laps in Stewart's No. 14 Chevrolet and Stewart will climb into the cockpit of team Vodafone's McLaren Mercedes MP4-23.

"Tony and I will have some fun with the swap and make sure we put on a good show," Hamilton said of what will be his first foray in a stock car. "It's a racer's circuit and will give us both the chance to appreciate the differences between the two styles of racing at this legendary track."

Each will drive the long course at The Glen, which is 3.4 miles through 11 turns. NASCAR uses the 2.4-mile short course, which doesn't comprise the famed Boot section, but Stewart, who has a record five Cup victories at Watkins Glen, has determined it in a Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race.

"When you've been around spirited racing for as long as I have, you really look forward to new experiences, and this car swap with Lewis is absolutely one of those opportunities," said Stewart, who also won an IndyCar Series title. "I already have quite a bit of respect for what Lewis and the F1 drivers and teams do, so to experience laps in the cockpit of an F1 car and see what Lewis can do in the Cup car is amazing I am really excited about."

The Glen became world-renowned by hosting the United States Grand Prix from 1961-1980 and has been home to NASCAR Sprint Cup races since 1986. This season marks the 50th anniversary of The Glen's opening F1 race.

Details of how many laps Stewart and Hamilton will make are still being worked out. They'll follow the lead of Jeff Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya, who swapped rides at Indianapolis in 2003 when Montoya was heavy in F1. 

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Webber ponders F1 future before Turkey

Mark Webber has not lined out finding a new Formula One team if Red Bull don't offer him a new agreement at the end of 2011.

The 34-year-old was widely predictable to retire if no new deal was forthcoming from Red Bull but told Italian newspaper La Stampa on the eve of this weekend's race in Turkey he still has amazing to offer.

"I have my flaws, but I'm strong-minded," Webber said.

"Last year I fought for the title, and I want to go for it yet again When this season ends my agreement with Red Bull will expire.

"If the team doesn't want me anymore, I will have to react to a good question: to hang up the helmet, or to change teams? Let's see what happens."

The Australian will be hoping for a alike drive in Istanbul to his last outing in the Red Bull car when he came from 18th on the grid to finish third in China.

The Turkish grand prix was the scene for Webber's much publicised collision with coworker Sebastian Vettel last year.

Webber was foremost the race when the pair came together as Vettel tried to pass, allowing McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton to grasp a win while teammate Jenson Button came second.

Webber was able to direct his stricken car to a third-place finish but the incident forced Vettel to leave and began the rumour mill about a split in the Red Bull garage between the two drivers' camps which rumbled all year.

Despite that incident, Webber said he was looking onward to returning to Istanbul Park.

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Whitmarsh: Lewis will remain at McLaren

With McLaren stressed at the start of this year's Championship, rumours emerged claiming that Hamilton is allowing for looking elsewhere for a race-seat.

The 26-year-old didn't help the rumours with his contradictory statements.

While in one breath he affirmed that "loyalty has its limits" in the next he insisted that he is "committed to them. I want to try and help them as well as becoming one of the most winning drivers myself."

Whitmarsh, though, believes it's only a matter of time before Hamilton commits his long-term prospect to the Woking team.

But, having said that, he's in no rush to start contract talks.

"Lewis has a long career ahead of him and I think he's intelligent sufficient to realise that the environment he has here is good for him and plays to his strengths," said the McLaren team boss told the Daily Mail.

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Vettel Rolls In Shanghai P1

Carrying the energy of wins in both of the season's first two races, Sebastian Vettel looked every bit as strong in gap practice Friday at Shanghai International Circuit.

Vettel, chasing the rare feat of initial a season with three straight wins, posted a quick lap of 1:38:739 to easily beat out coworker Mark Webber in the sister Red Bull RB7.

Webber, at 1:39:394, was the only other driver to eclipse the one minute, 39 second fence as third-place Lewis Hamilton (1:40:845) was more than two full seconds back of Vettel.

Jenson Button, who reported throughout the practice that his KERS system wasn't working, and Nick Heidfeld finished the top five.

The 90-minute session didn't turn out to Heidfeld's liking, however, as the German stopped his Lotus Renault GP entry on a wet track below overcast, hazy skies.

Heidfeld went over the curbs at Turn 10 and lost power, damaging his car.

Rookies Pastor Maldonado and Paul di Resta also spun, in that order, at different times.

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Practice One - Webber sets strong Sepang standard

Mark Webber sent shivers down the spines of rivals here in Sepang this morning as he lapped his Red Bull RB7 1.665s faster than anyone else. Lewis Hamilton got neighboring in his McLaren, but his 1m 39.316s best was light years behind Webber’s 1m 37.651s.

A late improvement put Michael Schumacher third for Mercedes on 1m 39.791s, then came a group of runners in the 1m 40s. This comprised Nico Hulkenberg, once again taking Paul di Resta’s Force India seat for the opening session, with 1m 40.377s, then Pastor Maldonado who was up there all morning for Williams on 1m 40.443s, late-improving Felipe Massa on 1m 40.453s for Ferrari, Nick Heidfeld on 1m 40.525s for Renault, Rubens Barrichello in the second Williams in 1m 40.581s, Fernando Alonso who had one off-track instant in the second Ferrari on 1m 40.601s, Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes on 1m 40.646s, Adrian Sutil in 1m 40.734s in the other Force India, the well-matched Toro Rossos of Daniel Ricciardo and Jaime Alguersuari on 1m 40.748s and 1m 40.770s apiece, Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber on 1m 40.872s and Jenson Button’s McLaren in 1m 40.927s. That’s P4 down to P15 - 12 cars - estranged by just six-tenths of a second.

Jarno Trulli gave Lotus a major fillip with 16th fastest 1m 41.620s, which put him ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who was clearly not looking for lap times in his Red Bull on 1m 41.627s. Sergio Perez was 18th in the second Sauber on 1m 41.642s, then Timo Glock took his Virgin round in 1m 42.154s for 19th with team mate Jerome D’Ambrosio close on 1m 42.540s. Davide Valsecchi made his official F1 debut in Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus, which he lapped in 1m 44.054s for 21st.

Renault were in the wars. After Heidfeld had set the early pace with that 1m 40.525s, his R31’s right front wheel detained due to a suspected brake problem and he limped the entire lap back to the pits from which he did not emerge again. Later, Vitaly Petrov’s attempt to better 1m 47.932s was aggravated when his car was pitched off the road in Turn Nine by what at first appeared to be the breakdown of its front left Pirelli; the Russian, however, suggested that there had perhaps been a brake disc problem which devastated the wheel and precipitated the tyre bang. Heidfeld ended the session seventh, with Petrov 24th.

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Massa says Ferrari have a lot of work to do

Felipe Massa has admitted that Ferrari have 'a lot to do' after their unsatisfactory weekend in Melbourne - suggesting there was a major difference between how the car had performed in difficult and how it had fared during the grand prix.

Ferrari looked like Red Bull's closest challenger through the winter, but in Australia they were leapfrogged by McLaren

.

Fernando Alonso and Massa were only fifth and eighth on the grid, and fourth in seventh in the race.

"The Australian Grand Prix did not go the way for my part and the team had predictable, as we were not as competitive as we had thought we would be, based on the winter performance," Massa admitted in a blog on the Ferrari website.

"If there is one lesson we take away with us after the gap round is that we have a lot of work to do.

"We immediately need to find out exactly what happened in Australia, understanding what we did and what the other teams did.

"We did not come away with as many points as we thought we could score in the first race, so we have to get back to where we want to be by the next race."

He was puzzled by why Ferrari had under performed in Australia and keen that the team rediscover their testing form by Sepang next weekend.

"Our car is better than it looked in Melbourne and it is hard to clarify exactly why we failed to deliver, which is why we have to arrive in Malaysia with the car we really built, not the car we raced last weekend," said Massa.

The Brazilian also admitted that Red Bull's pace had come as a shock to him, as Sebastian Vettel took pole by 0.8s and then forbidden the race from the outset.

"I was asked many times over last weekend what astonished me most, the pace of the Red Bulls or of the McLarens," Massa said.

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Webber fine with being the 'underdog'

Having clinched the crown last year, many are predicting Vettel will be the man to beat in 2011 while there are some nay-sayers who reckon last year's title brawl was Webber's one shot at achieving F1's ultimate prize.

The 34-year-old, though, is determined his detractors' comments won't get him down - rather, he says, they'll inspire him.

"I do like to be the underdog to a degree. On the ropes a little bit. And of course there are plans you can use to fire yourself up. But you can only take that so far," said the Aussie.

"Don't worry; I'll be opposing this year again. Very, very hard. And sometimes that will be against Sebastian."

Webber urged Red Bull to bring out their 'A' game as several moments last season, such as their early dependability issues and the intra-team tension between himself and Vettel, played into their rivals' hands.

"There is every reason to suggest we can do well again," Webber told The Telegraph, "but we have learned to deal with convinced situations a little bit better so that we don't help our rivals."

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Schumacher: 2011 Mercedes could be a winning package

Michael Schumacher is now hopeful that the Mercedes W02 can be the car that takes him back to the top of the Formula 1 podium after the team's late surge at the end of winter testing.

Mercedes had been enduring a tough pre-season until its full 2011 package was introduced for the final two days and domed it to the front.

That has left Schumacher feeling confident that he can at least get back on the podium in 2011 - and maybe add to his record tally of 91 victories.

"My feeling is a good one," he said.

"The team has been functioning very hard over the winter to shape our car in all of the areas which had been recognized by us as needing improvement.

"The data I have seen over the winter had been quite hopeful, but then we all know that the realities of data and the race track can be quite different.

"As a driver, you clearly hope for a good step forward and I think this is what we have achieved.

"I am confident that we can fight for podium finishes, and I am hopeful we can fight for victories at some of the races.

"Saying that, we will only see the truth once the season gets underway, so I can barely wait to go to Melbourne to lastly see what the real picture is."

The German myth added that he felt far more at home back in F1 with a year of his comeback under his belt.

"This year feels very different certainly," he said.

"Last year everything was new again; the difficult situation, the car, the team, the structures.

"It was very thrilling but it was still something you had to find your way through.

"Now, one year later, I know much better which areas to work in.

"I am much more recognizable with the team and we have a great group of very skilled and devoted people.

"I enjoy what I do, I enjoy working with Mercedes, and I have never regretted my choice to return."

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Barcelona day one - Webber sets the normal for Red Bull

Red Bull’s Mark Webber topped the timesheets as the last pre-season test began at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday. Webber’s best time, a 1m 22.544s, was approximately four tenths of a second earlier than the quickest lap from McLaren's Jenson Button in second.

The weather made life difficult for the eight teams in action, with lower-than-expected temperatures and a windy wind hampering their programmes at the Spanish circuit. Most, though, enjoyed productive days, with Webber managing to whole almost 100 laps in the RB7.

Renault’s Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld broken the day in third and fifth respectively, with Sauber’s Sergio Perez separating the duo in fourth. Force India were in sixth place with Paul di Resta at the helm of the VJM04. The team’s tester Nico Hulkenberg was in act before lunch and ruined the day in ninth.

Seventh slit went to GP2 driver Davide Valsecchi in the Lotus. Valsecchi’s AirAsia team friend Luiz Razia also enjoyed a drive in the T128 and finished in 10th. Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi was eighth, even as Virgin’s Jerome D’Ambrosio was the day’s final runner in 11th.

Testing continues at Barcelona on Wednesday, when Mercedes, Williams, Ferrari and HRT are predictable to join proceedings.

Unofficial Tuesday test times from Barcelona:

1. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:22.544, 97 laps

2. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:22.910, 74

3. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, 1:22.937, 27

4. Sergio Perez, Sauber, 1:24.117, 90

5. Nick Heidfeld, Renault, 1:24.735, 20

6. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:25.039, 38

7. Davide Valsecchi, Lotus, 1:25.406, 50

8. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 1:26.004, 48

9. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:26.030, 31

10. Luiz Razia, Lotus, 1:26.723, 29

11. Jerome D’Ambrosio, Virgin, 1:32.060, 57

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Doctor happy with Kubica's progress

Robert Kubica is opening to get sensitivity back in his hurt hand, and is in good spirits considering the ordeal he has been through, according to one of the surgeons treating the Pole.

Hand specialist Dr Igor Rossello said he was happy with how Kubica, who has left rigorous care and started to begin the rehabilitation process, is progressing.

"He's no longer in pain and his psychological condition is pretty good," said Dr Rossello.

"He's clearly keen to start the rehabilitation work as soon as possible."

"He is doing pretty well and his situation is positive considering what he has been through."

Dr Rossello explained that the rehabilitation procedure was still at a very early stage.

"He can move his fingers somewhat and has a little bit of compassion already in his hand," he said.

"What is very significant is that there is no sign of infectivity, which is the main concern.

"He is now in his own large room so that he is as contented as possible.

"He has already started some mild hand exercises with the slight flexing of his fingers."

Kubica suffered a incomplete amputation of his right hand plus fractures to his right leg and arm in a awful rally crash in Italy earlier this month.

He may have to miss the entire 2011 season, and has been replaced at Renault by Nick Heidfeld for the period of recovery.

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Renault to assess Heidfeld at Jerez test

Nick Heidfeld is to check for Renault at Jerez this week, as the team starts to assess potential replacements for their driver Robert Kubica, who was gravely injured in a rally crash on Sunday. Heidfeld, who boasts over a decade of Formula One experience and competed in five Grands Prix last season for BMW Sauber, will be in act over the weekend.

As originally listed, Kubica's team mate Vitaly Petrov will drive the R31 at the Spanish circuit on Thursday and Friday, before Heidfeld - and Renault reserve driver Bruno Senna - are given the chance to test over Saturday and Sunday. Renault will verify the exact running order on Friday evening.

Heidfeld began his Formula One profession with Prost in 2000 and since then has participated in 172 Grands Prix driving for Sauber (2001-2003), Jordan (2004), Williams (2005) and BMW Sauber (2006-2010). He enjoyed his most excellent season in 2007 when he ended fifth in the world championship, and he has achieved 12 podium finishes so far in his career.

Kubica remains in hospital in Italy subsequent his high-speed accident during the Ronde di Andora Rally. He has previously undergone seven hours of surgery to reconstruct his offended right forearm, but is expected back in surgery over the coming days to stabilise fractures to his right bear and right foot.

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Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull rage back into the F1 limelight

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber stood next to each other and smiled at the same moment today, which was not forever the case for grand prix racing's new world champion and his team-mate last season, when both drivers went into the final race with a possibility of the title at the end of an internecine battle that had sometimes turned sour and was intended to finish in the young German's favour.

A new season began with the ceremonial presentation of the successor to the Red Bull-Renault that gave the team a clean sweep of the drivers' and constructors' championships. Both men, at opposite ends of their careers, could feel a surge of optimism by what was revealed when they pulled the dust sheet off the descendant to the all-conquering RB6, and again when Vettel ended the day with the fastest time of the field, having hammered the car around 93 laps of the taut little circuit in the semi-industrialised scrubland west of Valencia.

Formula One's new champion dismissed the close-season rumours connecting him with a move to Ferrari. "It's not smart to put too much weight on those things," he said. "In the off-season there are no wheels rotating, unfortunately, but obviously there are still pages to be packed with ink. I said many times I am happy where I am. I feel very relaxed in the team."

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Alonso samples the F150 at Fiorano

Fernando Alonso (ESP) puts the fresh Ferrari F150 through its paces for the first time. Ferrari F150 First Run, Fiorano, Italy, 28 January 2011. Fernando Alonso (ESP) puts the new Ferrari F150 through its paces for the first time. Ferrari F150 First Run, Fiorano, Italy, 28 January 2011. Fernando Alonso (ESP) puts the new Ferrari F150 through its paces for the first time. Ferrari F150 First Run, Fiorano, Italy, 28 January 2011.

Fresh from its start on, Ferrari’s 2011 car hit the track for the very first time in Italy on Friday afternoon, for promotional filming purposes. The honour of putting the F150 through its debut paces at the Italian team’s Fiorano test circuit was bestowed on Fernando Alonso.

The car was obtainable to the world’s media during a glitzy launch at Ferrari's Maranello factory on Friday morning. Alonso was in attendance, alongside team mate Felipe Massa, team principal Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo and numerous other Maranello dignitaries.

Alonso will hand over the F150 to Massa on Saturday, who will take a turn in front of members of the team’s fan club. Debut runs over, the real test work will then start in Spain next week, with both the Brazilian and the Spaniard expected in action during the first authorized pre-season session of the year at Valencia from February 1-3. 

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Schumacher targets eighth world F1 designation

Michael Schumacher believes he can sign off the bitter dissatisfaction of his comeback season and take a shock eighth world title this year at the wheel of his Mercedes.

The 42-year-old failed to arrive at the podium in 19 races in 2010 and was totally outshone by Nico Rosberg who finished the campaign 70 points in front of the German veteran.

But there were signs of development towards the end of 2010 and Schumacher's confidence has been boosted by team principal Ross Brawn overseeing an improved technical package.

Asked if he expected to be world champion at the end of the best campaign in F1 history with 20 races, Schumacher told F1 Racing magazine: "Absolutely.

"We have a three-year project. Very clearly right now, we are not where we want to be. We've put a lot of attempt into coming back and are hopeful we have a chance.

"But in the history of Formula One, when does it ever happen that you come back straightaway from this level to win in just one year? Very rarely.

"So I'm sure we can fight for wins this year and we might be able to fight for the title fight. I hope so.

"I'm here on a assignment and I want to succeed. I want to carry out and I'm going to put 100 percent into it. And if that's not the case in 2011, then we will contain to do it in the final year."

Schumacher will be back on track in Valencia for the first of the four pre-season tests from February 1 in front of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 13.

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Williams to start first test with new FW33

Williams has become the latest team to verify that its new car, the FW33, will make its track debut on the opening day of the Valencia test on February 1.

However, while the team will be receiving straight down to work with its 2011 challenger from the off in pre-season, the car will sport an interim livery with the squad to proclaim an official launch at a late date.

Rubens Barrichello will be given the honour of conducting the first day and a half of testing in the car, with new team-mate and Formula 1 rookie Pastor Maldonado to take over for the second half of the three-day test.

Williams joins Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Mercedes in rolling its new cars out on the morning on the first test, while Ferrari, Renault, Sauber and Lotus will all also definitely be in action with their 2011 cars.

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