Formula 1 gossip and rumours from international media #2

WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has told Italy's Gazzetta Dell Sport that his team has started the new era of hybrid turbo technology "in the right way" and added that in new signing Kimi Raikonnen he has a driver who knows that for Ferrari "finishing second is a tragedy".

Full story: James Allen on F1
Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost does not expect the F1 field to be turned upside down because of new rules.

Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost does not expect the F1 field to be turned upside down because of new rules.

The solid performance by the Williams team in early testing has left Felipe Massa upbeat about the new Formula 1 season.

Full story: Associated Press

The 2014 Formula 1 rule changes will not turn the field inside out in the same way that the last regulations revamp did in '09, reckons Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost.

Full story: Autosport

New Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo admitted that forming a partnership with Sebastian Vettel at the reigning Constructors' Champions has already improved his skills behind the wheel.

Full story: Planet F1
TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY

Mark Webber is expecting his replacement at Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo, to give Sebastian Vettel a hard time in qualifying this year.
Daniel Ricciardo will give Sebastian Vettel a hard time in qualifying this year, says former Red Bull driver Mark Webber.

Daniel Ricciardo will give Sebastian Vettel a hard time in qualifying this year, says former Red Bull driver Mark Webber.

Full story: ESPN

Ferrari technical director James Allison is expecting a rapid increase in the performance of the current Formula 1 cars before the start of the season.

Full story: Autosport

Renault has confirmed that its 2014 power unit ran in an updated configuration "without any reliability problems" during the Lotus filming days.

Full story: Crash.net

Marcus Ericsson says he'll do his best to stay away from Pastor Maldonado who has a reputation for being "a bit crazy".

Full story: Planet-F1
MONDAY, 10 FEBRUARY

Formula 1 kingpin Bernie Ecclestone is to offer a one million euro (£830,393) reward to anyone who provides evidence that teams are breaking the sport's $200m (£123m) a year spending cap.

Full story: Daily Express

Olivier Quesnel, the former Citroen World Rally boss, is weighing up an offer to take on a senior management role at the Lotus Formula 1 team.

Full story: Autosport

Team boss Christian Horner has defended Adrian Newey's design for Red Bull's RB10 and insisted the car's flaws are "nothing major".

Full story: Sky Sports F1

Heikki Kovalainen's disappointing form with Lotus last year played a part in Caterham's decision not to give him a 2014 Formula 1 race seat.

Full story: Autosport
FRIDAY, 7 FEBRUARY

Rival racers Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and McLaren's Jenson Button are working together to dethrone champion Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull.

Full story: Daily Mirror
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton plan to work together in an effort to prevent Sebastian Vettel from winning another F1 title.

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton plan to work together in an effort to prevent Sebastian Vettel from winning another F1 title

Qualifying at Formula 1 grands prix is set for an overhaul ahead of the new season in a bid to spice up the show.

Full story: Independent

Button believes this year's Formula 1 cars won't be much faster than the ones used in the GP2 series.

Full story: Planet-F1

Force India has announced Hilmer Motorsport will be its official GP2 team this year and will run in the Formula 1 team's colours.

Full story: ESPN

Adrian Sutil is expecting a 'huge' step forward from Sauber before the start of the Formula 1 season, after a low-key testing debut in Jerez last week.

Full story: Autosport

Lotus will become the final team to run its 2014 Formula 1 car when the new E22 hits the track at Jerez in Spain on Friday.

Full story: Yahoo.com
TUESDAY, 4 FEBRUARY

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery believes the two pre-season tests in Bahrain will allow the 11 Formula 1 teams a better chance to test this season's range of tyres - after spending most of their time in Jerez working on reliability and other issues.

Source: Press Association

Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn says it is "impossible" to make fair comparisons between cars after just one lot of testing in Jerez. She also thinks some teams are still "playing their cards close to their chests".

Source: Press Association
MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY

Formula 1's global television audience fell by 50m to 450m viewers in 2013 due to a non-competitive end to the drivers' championship and a switch from the national broadcasters in China and France, according to its annual global media report.

Full story: Wall Street Journal
Ross Brawn

Ross Brawn's future plans are unclear after his departure from Mercedes

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has conceded the team has felt the loss of Ross Brawn since his recent departure from the team following four years as team principal.

Full story: Sporting Life

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has expressed concern over the implications of Formula 1's planned budget cap which is due to be introduced next season.

Full story: Autosport

Reserve driver Dani Juncadella says Force India's progress across the first test at Jerez shows what a steep learning curve the new regulations provide.

Full story: Crash.net

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/gossip/