Toyota commits to F1 despite loss

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Toyota has vowed to continue running its Formula One team despite forecasting an annual loss of £1.1bn.

Following Honda's shock departure from the sport in December because of the global economic crisis, it had been feared Toyota could follow suit.

But Toyota Motor Corporation president Katsuaki Watanabe insisted: "We will continue F1 and other motorsport activities while cutting costs.

"To keep [spending] up at the current level is extremely difficult."

Japan's biggest carmaker announced on Monday that it was bracing itself for its first annual loss in 71 years because of plummeting sales and a surge in the value of the yen.

Watanabe added: "The change in the world economy is of a magnitude that comes once every hundred years.

"We are facing an unprecedented emergency."

But Toyota, who made their F1 debut in 2002, insist they do not plan to follow fellow Japanese teams Honda, Subaru and Suzuki out of motorsport.

Honda, which spent more than £300m a year on F1, withdrew from the sport on 5 December blaming the contraction of the global economy.

Last week Subaru, whose cars are made by Fuji Heavy Industries, and Suzuki pulled out of the World Rally Championships for the same reason.

Toyota plans to continue operating in F1 though warned the team would have to scale back costs.

This month F1's teams and the governing body, the FIA, agreed key cost-cutting measures for the next two seasons to help guarantee the future of the sport.

Those measures include doubling engine life, reducing engine revs and cutting the cost of engines to independent teams.

Toyota field youngster Caldarelli at Bahrain test

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Toyota have brought the curtain down on their 2008 testing programme by introducing a new face behind the wheel of the TF108. Italian youngster Andrea Caldarelli, a member of Toyota’s young driver programme since 2007, enjoyed his first official Formula One outing during the team’s three-day test at Bahrain this week.

Caldarelli, who hails from Pescara, the same Italian city as Toyota race driver Jarno Trulli, completed 128 laps over Monday and Tuesday, and ended with a best lap of 1m 33.170s. Last season he raced in both the Formula Renault West European Championship and Eurocup.

“This has been a great experience for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said “To get the chance to test a Formula One car when I am still only 18 is such a good opportunity and I was determined to make the most of it. Obviously the TF108 is a big step up compared to my usual car; the power is amazing but so are the brakes, and the grip you have going round corners takes a few laps to adjust to.

"I think I did a good job considering the circuit is new to me and this is my first full Formula One test. I would like to say thank you to Toyota for giving me the chance to test the TF108. This experience gives me extra motivation to fight as hard as possible to one day race a Formula One car.”

Timo Glock was also in action in Bahrain, continuing the team's 2009 preparations. Glock not only analysed Bridgestone's new slick tyres in conjunction with a low-downforce aerodynamic configuration, but tested a new gearbox and evaluated some mechanical devices to advance the team's KERS development. Toyota expect to run their complete KERS system for the first time in January.

Glock covered 258 laps during his three days in the car and clocked a best time of 1m 32.090s. Third driver Kamui Kobayashi, who took over Caldarelli’s TF108 on Wednesday, completed 33 laps to use up the final kilometres of the team's 2008 testing allowance.

New Williams to debut on January 19

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Williams’ 2009 race car, the Toyota-powered FW31, will make its track debut at the Algarve Motor Park circuit near Portimao in Portugal on Monday, January 19, the team have announced.

The FW31 will be running in its winter test livery and its full racing colours will not be unveiled until prior to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. The driver line-up for the car’s maiden test has yet to be confirmed.

Renault will also be rolling out their 2009 machine, the R29, at Portimao on that day.

F1 stars may have to take pay cut

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Formula One's top drivers may be forced to take a cut in wages as the global financial crisis hits the sport.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, whose driver Kimi Raikkonen's salary is the highest in F1 at £35m, said teams had to make savings in all areas.

"When teams must significantly reduce costs, one could say you need an ace to make the difference," Domenicali said.

"But I feel in the current climate the big teams won't be able any more to offer the amounts some drivers get."

Domenicali, who was talking in an interview with the Italian magazine Autosprint, said he expected salaries within F1 to undergo "a major revolution" in the next few months.

Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, has by far the biggest salary in the sport, but there are a number of other leading F1 drivers earning salaries of more than £10m - such as Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso and this year's title winner Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

A select few leading engineers in the sport - such as Red Bull's chief technical officer Adrian Newey - also earn salaries of several million a year.

Raikkonen's Ferrari contract was extended in September until the end of 2010, despite the Finn's largely lacklustre season, but Domenicali said changing it was not impossible.

"Anything can be modified in life," he said. "The important thing is wanting to do it. We know the terms of the contract.

"However, I'm convinced this issue will soon be discussed among all the teams and with every driver."

His comments follow those made by fellow team boss Frank Williams, who said last week that he was in favour of a driver salary cap.

"We've raised this issue several times and will take the opportunity to do so again," Williams told British newspapers.

"We'd also strongly support a budget cap, introduced gradually, if it could be properly policed."

Williams dominated F1 in the 1980s and 1990s, but has seen his team's competitiveness slip in the last decade.

And he admitted that enforcing limits on the salaries of top drivers would be very difficult.

"If McLaren don't want to pay Hamilton £15m, someone else will. How do we stop that?" he said.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo insisted he would not swap the English 2008 world champion for Felipe Massa, who lost the title to Hamilton by a single point.

"Hamilton is a great driver," Di Montezemolo said at Ferrari's HQ in Maranello. "But, with all respect, I wouldn't swap him for Felipe Massa.

"Felipe is extremely popular, for the man he is, for the great driver he's demonstrated to be, and for the beautiful way he lost the championship.

"If Massa did not win it this year it was because we (the team) were to blame.

"It would have been normal for him to win. He didn't manage to because of our mistakes."

Meanwhile, on a visit to the American headquarters of team sponsor Mobil, Hamilton concedes the new raft of regulations for 2009 could affect his title defence.

"With the new regulations it's going to make it very tough to win the championship again," the 23-year-old said.

"But I think as a team we are in a position to pull together and make a difference in some other way."

F1 boss faces battle with teams

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Formula One teams appear to be on a collision course with Bernie Ecclestone over the way he runs the sport.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo - who chairs the teams' association Fota - said he was unhappy with many of the ways in which Ecclestone operated.

Di Montezemolo believes the sport does not need a "dictator", adding the time was approaching when Ecclestone, 78, would have to step down.

"I think sooner or later he has to stop," Di Montezemolo told the Times.

Last week the Fota and the sport's governing body, the FIA, agreed a raft of compromises to cut costs over the next two seasons.

Di Montezemolo now wants the teams to use their unified stance to alter the balance of power in F1, which he believes is not being run in a "normal" fashion.

"Do you think it is normal that we don't have one race in North America?" he continued.

"Do you think it is normal we understand from newspapers that the Canadian Grand Prix is over?

Do you think it is normal that we cannot discuss the timing of races?"

Di Montezemolo has already insisted on another meeting between Fota and the FIA to discuss the teams' earnings.

Under the current agreement, the sport's income is split 50-50 between the commercial rights holders - private equity group CVC Capital Partners - and all the teams.

"We want to know more about the revenues," said Di Montezemolo.

"There is no professional sport in the world where the players get less than 50% of the total cake.

"We have to open an important page with Ecclestone and [CVC boss Donald] MacKenzie, not only in terms of quantity of money but in terms of how to do things - circuits, spectators, hospitality, television, types of track and timing of races."

Di Montezemolo also said there would have been an exodus of the teams backed by major motor manufacturers if the FIA's plans to introduce a standard engine had been approved last week.

Instead, Fota and the FIA agreed a different package of changes, including plans to double engine life in 2009, to limit the revs and to cut the cost of engines supplied to independent teams by approximately 50% of 2008 prices.

Prodrive signals renewed F1 hopes

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The owner of British motorsport firm Prodrive says efforts to cut Formula One's high costs could tempt smaller, private teams back to the grid.

The global economic downturn has made a big impact on motorsport recently, with some major car makers pulling out.

Honda quit F1 two weeks ago, Suzuki left rallying on Monday and Prodrive partner Subaru followed on Tuesday.

"The sport will go back to how it was in the 1970s and '80s when smaller teams came to the fore," Richards said.

"And who knows? Maybe that is another opportunity for Prodrive. We're very interested if Formula One going to address the costs issue.

"I have always said there are two criteria for Prodrive's return to Formula One: one, we want to be competitive, and two, it must be financially viable. If we tick those two boxes there is a strong likelihood we will be back there."

The 56-year-old, who has had stints in F1 as boss at BAR and Benetton, wanted Prodrive to join motorsport's top tier in 2008 but had to back down because of opposition from the grid's biggest teams.

They were against his plan of buying an engine/chassis off the shelf - a so-called "customer car". Their opposition centred on the belief that F1 is more than just a contest between drivers and that teams should develop their own cars.

But the economic climate has changed since then and the sport has been forced to reassess its dizzying costs and prohibitively high barriers to entry.

Last week, the sport's governing body, the FIA, brokered a cost-cutting pact with the remaining F1 team owners. Among the measures approved were commitments to use less powerful but longer-lasting engines and do away with in-season testing.

FIA boss Max Mosley's plan for all teams to use a single engine/gear-box package was resisted by the major manufacturers but a "common" engine built to agreed specifications by an independent supplier will be made available to smaller teams at a cost of no more than £4.5m per season.

This will reduce costs for those teams by 50% and the other belt-tightening measures should cut overall budgets for the larger teams by 30%. Mosley described the agreement as the "first step towards Formula One saving itself".

It's about time - the costs associated with Formula One cannot be sustainable," said Richards, who has been linked with the up-for-sale Honda team.

"We've seen the sad withdrawal of Honda in recent weeks and unless those costs can be brought under control I fear another manufacturer may follow.

"But the new regulations and cost-cutting programmes certainly make (F1) more appealing and far more suitable for a company such as ours. It's still a challenge, not to be underestimated, but it certainly becomes far more feasible and realistic."

Speculation about the Banbury-based firm's next move will go up several notches now its lengthy World Rally Championship venture with Subaru has come to a surprisingly abrupt end, but Prodrive is not the only British motorsport company with F1 ambitions.

Founded in 2004, iSport International has enjoyed considerable success in GP2, F1's feeder series, and has nurtured the driving talents of Scott Speed, Timo Glock and Bruno Senna.


Formula One is never going to be easy but it's achievable - it's the sort of thing you'd look into more seriously now

iSport's Paul Jackson
Like Richards, iSport boss Paul Jackson has been watching F1's efforts to rein in its spending with interest.

"We're still a long way off but Formula One is moving in the right direction," said Jackson.

"The return of pure privateer teams with the ability to buy engines, gearboxes and all the other bits of technology for a sensible price and compete on a reasonably level playing-field, would be really good for the sport.

"If that was available, and the cost was realistic, it's definitely something we would be interested in looking at.

"Until now, there has been such a gulf between us and Formula One - because you have to set up a design, R&D and manufacturing facility as well as a racing team - it would have been impossible to think about competing without the backing of a major manufacturer or billionaire.

De la Rosa sets pace on day two at Algarve Motor Park

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McLaren’s Pedro de Rosa led the way at this week’s second day of testing at the Algarve Motor Park in Portugal. De la Rosa was the quickest of three drivers present on Tuesday, heading Ferrari’s Luca Badoer and Marc Gene.

Taking over from fellow tester Gary Paffett, De la Rosa spent the whole day in McLaren’s MP4-23K KERS car, completing 68 laps. Despite initial issues with grip caused by the low-speed circuit configuration, green track surface and cold December weather, the Spaniard quickly adapted to the new Portimao track. Alongside the KERS programme, he was also able to complete some 2009 aero testing, using an ‘09-spec front wing and moveable flick-ups.

At Ferrari, both Badoer and Gene continued optimising set-up with Bridgestone’s 2009-spec slick tyres and evaluating new solutions for next season. Badoer also carried on with an endurance engine test which began last week. He ran 71 laps, Gene 51. Both teams will complete their Portimao programmes on Wednesday.

Unofficial Tuesday times from Portimao:
1. Pedr de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:30.080
2. Luca Badoer, Ferrari, 1:31.320
3. Marc Gene, Ferrari, 1:33.076

Medals would help F1 - Ecclestone

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Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone remains committed to awarding medals rather than points in Grands Prix.

His proposal would see gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to the top three finishers, rather than the current system of points for the top eight.

The drivers' championship would go to the driver with the most gold medals.

"It will make Formula One a much more exciting spectacle because it will incentivise drivers to race to win," Ecclestone told formula1.com.

"We should see much more overtaking, drivers will take more chances and they will race each other all the way to the chequered flag.

"At the moment, quite often we see drivers settling for second, third or fourth position, and the race can be dull in the final stint after the last round of pit stops.

"The drivers aren't to blame, they're racers, but the scoring system forces them to be too conservative.

"As things are, if they want to take the title, it is better to settle for a few, safe points rather than chase down the guy in front and risk going home with no points.

"But this is Formula One, the pinnacle of world motorsport, and only the best driver should win the title.

"Being a Formula One world champion is not about being a consistent and reliable runner-up. It's about racing hard, taking chances and not settling for second best."

Force India retain Fisichella and Sutil for 2009

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Force India have confirmed an unchanged driver line-up for the 2009 season. Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil will continue as race drivers, with Vitantonio Liuzzi also retained as the team’s official test and reserve driver.

The announcement means Force India have complete continuity for their second season of Formula One competition and ends speculation that their recent tie-up with McLaren would prompt driver changes.

“I firmly believe that next year will be a huge opportunity for this team,” team boss Vijay Mallya told Force India's official website. “We have a new technical partnership with McLaren and Mercedes, a dynamic new management structure and now one of the most solid driver line-ups on the grid.

“We certainly welcomed the insight and advice of our new partners in this matter, however the choice was entirely ours based on the current talent available in the market today. In Giancarlo, Adrian and Tonio we have a wonderful balance between experience and ambition and now complete consistency.”

Fisichella, 35, returned to the Silverstone-based team for the 2008 season, having previously driven for them in their Jordan days, while Sutil, 25, made his F1 race debut with the team, then Spyker, in 2007.

Force India yet to choose drivers

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Force India boss Vijay Mallya says he has yet to finalise his driver line-up for the 2009 Formula One season.

He stated in October that Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and German Adrian Sutil would "continue through 2009".

But he told BBC Sport that his team's newly signed technical link-up with McLaren had changed things.

"We haven't finalised anything on the race seat," he said. "I will discuss this issue with McLaren and take this decision at an appropriate time."

Mallya has rubberstamped a deal to use the same engines, gearbox and hydraulics as McLaren-Mercedes.

Force India will also share their kinetic energy recovery system (Kers) - a system that converts energy generated under braking into power that can be used for acceleration and which is new to F1 for 2009.

Following the link-up, there has been speculation that one of McLaren's test drivers would be given a race seat at Force India.

Long-time McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who has raced for Arrows, Jaguar and McLaren in F1, tested the car in November and Englishmen Gary Paffett and Paul di Resta have also been linked with a drive.

Mallya would not be drawn on the subject but added: "One McLaren test driver has already tested our car. They bring the McLaren experience with them."

Mallya, a billionaire businessman who runs an airline and also has a franchise in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament, said he expected his F1 team to progress from their back of the grid slot in 2009.

"I certainly hope to be in the upper midfield in 2009, given all that we are doing, and I'd be disappointed if we are not - so that is a major step forward to begin with," he said.

Mallya has also launched a driver search programme to try to find an Indian F1 driver.

He revealed: "I was joking with my friends and I said with a population of 1.2bn there must be a Lewis Hamilton somewhere.

"Clearly it is at least a five-year programme but we are launching it from 2009 and hopefully we will find the driver we are looking for."

F1 unveils cost-cutting blueprint

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A raft of measures have been agreed that should cut the budgets of Formula One teams by at least 30%.

Big savings will be made on engine costs, in-season testing and staff numbers, following a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco.

FIA boss Max Mosley had wanted all teams to use a "one size fits all" standardised Cosworth engine.

The teams rejected that proposal but have agreed to use lower-cost, longer-lasting engines from 2009.

From 2010 there will be a ban on refuelling and, subject to market research, Grand Prix distances could be shortened.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's idea to decide the drivers' title with Olympic-style medals rather than points also needs further research, the sport's governing body said.

"I think this is probably the first step towards Formula One saving itself," said Mosley.

The independent teams will use engines costing less than £4.5m per season from 2009, supplied by an independent supplier or a manufacturer backed by guarantees of continuity.

The FIA estimates that this will provide a 50% saving for the independent teams. All the teams have committed to significant cuts in spending on engines.

Each team will be allowed to use a maximum of 20 engines per season and the power of the engines will be capped.

There will be no in-season testing from next season except during a race weekend and during scheduled practice.

The teams have also agreed that manpower will be reduced by a range of measures, including the sharing of information on tyres and fuel.

The FIA estimates the list of changes for 2009 will save the manufacturer teams approximately 30% of their budgets compared to 2008, with the savings for independent teams even greater.

"The teams have now really got behind the idea, and instead of being reluctant, they are being positive," Mosley added.

"But what's significant about these changes is when you walk down the pit lane, or you sit in the grandstand or watch television, you will notice no difference at all.

"But inevitably, in any industry, if you reduce the costs then you reduce the number of people.

"The teams currently employ between 700 and 1000 people just to put two cars on the grid. In any event, that is not sustainable.

PROPOSALS IN FULL:

Engines:

- From 2009, engine life to be doubled. Each driver to use maximum of eight engines per season; each team can use an additional four for testing

- Limited to 18,000 revs per minute.

- Cost to independent teams will be approximately 50% of 2008 prices.

- 2010 engine will continue to be used in 2011 and 2012.

Race weekend:

- From 2010, standardised radio and telemetry systems, a ban on tyre warmers, mechanical purging of tyres and refuelling on race weekends.

- Possible reduction in race distance or duration (proposal to follow after market research).

Research:

- No wind tunnel exceeding 60% scale and 50 metres per second to be used after 1 January 2009.

- Restrictions on aerodynamic research, combined with a full analysis of factory facilities.

- Factory closures for six weeks per year, to accord with local laws.

Other:

- From 2010, subject to confirmation of practicability, the same transmission will be used by all teams.

- FIA to compose a standard parts list for the chassis.

- FIA and Formula One Teams' Association to study possibility of an entirely new power train (engine and transmission) for 2013, based on energy efficiency.

Hamilton gets hands on F1 trophy

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Lewis Hamilton finally got his hands on the Formula One world title trophy at a glitzy ceremony in Monte Carlo and then proclaimed himself as "number one".

The 23-year-old has had to wait since 2 November when he won the world title in thrilling fashion on the final day of the season in Brazil.

An hour long ceremony preceded his introduction before being unveiled next to his McLaren at the FIA Gala dinner.

"This year has been very special, the fulfilment of a dream," he said.

"It is the conclusion of an ambition that has taken me and my family on an amazing journey.

"The fact that I have the drivers' world championship trophy in my hand makes me so proud, and it's testament to the great determination and spirit that has helped me get here.

"Tonight has been an incredible evening, so very special.

"To be here with the Prince (Albert of Monaco) and my family, is again another very overwhelming experience.

"As you can imagine, it was a very emotional moment for me to be standing there holding the trophy - I am number one."

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Mosley delighted after FIA reaches costs agreement with teams

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The FIA and the Formula One teams have reached agreement on cost cutting measures following a Monte Carlo meeting on Wednesday, which both parties described as the most successful any of the participants can remember.

Exact details will be released following Friday’s FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, but the measures are said to meet all objectives put forward by the FIA for 2010. The teams have also put forward proposals for significant savings in 2009.

“I am delighted with the outcome of this meeting,” said FIA President Max Mosley after the meeting, with Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) counterpart Luca di Montezemolo adding, “The unity of the teams was fundamental to meeting the goals for a new Formula One, but with the same DNA, as requested by the FIA.”

The measures are expected to include a major cut in the current 30,000 km testing allowance and further limits on aerodynamic development and wind tunnel usage. An increased use of standard parts is another possibility.

It remains to be seen whether the teams have come up with an acceptable alternative to the FIA’s standard engine proposals, which interested parties must sign up for by Thursday afternoon.

Full statement from the FIA and FOTA:
FIA and FOTA have had the most successful meeting on Formula One matters which any of the participants can remember.

Agreement was reached on measures to meet all the objectives originally put forward by the FIA for 2010 and thereafter in addition to which FOTA have now made proposals for very significant cost saving in 2009 while maintaining Formula One at the pinnacle of motor sport and reinforcing its appeal.

These proposals will be put to the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Friday following which full details will be released.

FIA President Max Mosley said,

“I am delighted with the outcome of this meeting.”

FOTA President Luca di Montezemolo said,

“The unity of the teams was fundamental to meeting the goals for a new Formula One, but with the same DNA, as requested by the FIA.”

Jerez day two - Buemi stays on top in Spain

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Toro Rosso hopeful Sebastien Buemi reinforced his claim to a 2009 race seat with the team on Wednesday, as the Swiss GP2 driver headed the testing times for a second day in succession at Jerez.

Buemi led a Toro Rosso 1-2-3 at the Spanish circuit, with fellow ’09 aspirant Takuma Sato second fastest and the team’s 2008 racer Sebastien Bourdais third, all covered by little over half a second. Buemi was on track all day, while Sato and Bourdais shared the teams second car.

Damp conditions at the start of the day allowed Buemi to complete an assessment of Bridgestone’s 2010 rain tyres. Once the circuit dried he switched to the 2009 slicks, comparing the soft and medium compounds available. After 128 laps his day ended slightly early following a trip across a kerb, but the slight damage is expected to be repaired in time for Thursday’s final day of running.

The mixed track conditions meant Bourdais stayed behind the wheel longer than planned, completing 81 laps, while Sato only got to drive for the closing 90 minutes of the session. Nevertheless, the Japanese driver was soon on the pace, carrying out performance and long run testing, assessing various set-up options on slicks.

At McLaren, Heikki Kovalainen got his first taste of slick tyres, low downforce and KERS when he began his 2009 testing programme in the MP4-23K car. The Finn was sixth fastest after 64 laps, while Pedro de la Rosa was fourth after 78 in the non-KERS MP4-23A. The Spaniard focused on aerodynamic work, with the team’s first attempt at running a 2009-configuration nose going well. The two men will switch chassis on Thursday.

Kimi Raikkonen continued investigating various set-ups on the Ferrari F2008, fitted with slick tyres and reduced downforce levels, as well as experimenting with new components aimed at next season, all this while continuing an engine endurance programme. Raikkonen completed 89 laps, his best putting him fifth in the times. Team mate Felipe Massa arrived mid afternoon and ran 27 laps to go 10th. Both drivers continue on Thursday.

Like Kovalainen, Fernando Alonso was back in the car for the first time since the Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite a brief off, the Renault star completed his programme, finishing seventh fastest after 106 laps.

"It was a good day and I'm happy to be back in the car,” said the former champion. “Unfortunately I damaged the car a little bit in the morning and so we lost some running, but the team did a good job to repair the car quickly and I was able to run almost all of the afternoon without any problems. It was nice to run on the slick tyres as they are more grippy, but when you lose the downforce from the car they don't feel massively different to grooved tyres."

Nico Rosberg was eighth fastest after 122 trouble-free laps in the interim Williams FW30B, the German continuing the team’s programme of set-up work and slick tyre development for 2009.

The final team present was BMW Sauber, who saw Nick Heidfeld go ninth after 87 laps. However, team mate Robert Kubica managed just 38 laps in his KERS-equipped machine before a mechanical problem ruled him out for the rest of the day, leaving the Pole last on the timesheets.

Unofficial Wednesday times from Jerez:
1. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 1:18.073
2. Takuma Sato, Toro Rosso, 1:18.601
3. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1:18.673
4. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:19.032
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:19.334
6. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:19.631
7. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:19.907
8. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:20.309
9. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:20.365
10. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:20.490
11. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:20.954

2009 testing to resume at Jerez on Tuesday

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Formula One cars return to the track this week as pre-season testing recommences in Spain and Bahrain. With the first race of 2009 little more than three months away, development work will continue in earnest at the Jerez and Sakhir circuits.

Most teams begin a three-day test at Jerez from Tuesday, though Williams started a day early to give another outing to Formula 3 Euro Series racer Dani Clos following the Spaniard’s F1 debut with the team back in September. Toyota, meanwhile, will be running solo in Bahrain from Wednesday.

Most teams relied on test drivers at last month’s Barcelona session, but Jerez can expect to see some well-rested race drivers returning to action. Among those due back in the cockpit for the first time since last month’s Brazilian Grand Prix are McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

As for the cars, the hybrid machines seen recently at the Circuit de Catalunya should be looking slightly closer to their final 2009 spec, as the teams continue to get to grips with slick tyres, KERS and the drastic changes to the aerodynamic regulations before - in most cases - rolling out their new machines in mid to late January.

There are a handful of race seats still unconfirmed for 2009, so some teams will doubtless use the session to evaluate potential candidates. Look out for Japanese star Takuma Sato behind the Toro Rosso wheel, after being invited back for a third test with the Italian team.

As always, Formula1.com will bring you breaking news, daily reports and the latest images from testing, so check back throughout the week for the latest on the teams’ progress. Note - all schedules are provisional and subject to change.

Big teams pledge to remain in F1

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Five of Formula One's top teams have pledged to remain in the sport.

BMW Sauber, Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault and Toyota are all determined not to follow Honda by quitting F1.

Honda bowed out for financial reasons, prompting motorsport boss Max Mosley to warn that cost-cutting was vital to avoid losing any of the other teams.

Toyota, believed to be under pressure in the current economic crisis, said they were "committed to succeeding in Formula One and to reducing costs".

That is despite the team, who considerably outperformed Honda in 2008, scoring four times as many points and finishing fifth in the constructors' championship, axeing the media launch for their 2009 car as a money-saving measure.

French team Renault, who finished in fourth with 80 points to Toyota's 56, also revealed they remained committed to the sport.

But former F1 giants Williams, who limped to eighth place in 2008, have yet to make a statement.

One of the few remaining independent teams, Williams have seen sponsors RBS, AT&T and Philips suffer heavy losses in recent months.

Honda withdrew from the sport on Friday, leaving their Northamptonshire-based team just weeks to find new backers or face closure.

The Formula One Teams Association (Fota) met on Thursday to discuss proposals to secure the future of the sport, and said agreement had been reached on "substantial cost-cutting for 2009 and 2010" as well as "additional initiatives to improve the show".

With top teams spending about £300m a year, Mosley, president of governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said the sport had to cut soaring costs.

Despite Mosley describing the team's cost-cutting proposals as "fiddling about", Toyota, who have one of the biggest budgets in F1, are sure they are on the right path.

"We are contributing to the Fota activities which will achieve significant cost reductions, whilst maintaining the spirit of the sport," a statement from the manufacturer read.

"We hope Fota's proposals and activities will be given the widespread support they deserve as they provide the sound, stable base Formula One requires at this time."

BMW board member Klaus Draeger, whose team won in Canada this year and finished third overall, said in a statement that Honda's decision would have no bearing on his company's involvement in F1.

"F1 involvement is an integral part of the company strategy," he added. "There is no better platform than Formula One for demonstrating our brand values.

"BMW, moreover, makes targeted use of the Formula One project as a technology accelerator for series production.

"With the BMW Sauber F1 Team, we have from the start focused on high efficiency and have achieved our successes with a compact and powerful team. The cost-benefit ratio is commensurately positive."

Norbert Haug, the head of Mercedes Motorsport which powered Briton Lewis Hamilton to his recent title victory, also revealed his team were working hard on measures to reduce costs.

"Our Formula One involvement is built on financially solid foundations and is in large part financed by our sponsoring partners," he said.

"Mercedes-Benz's contribution is cost-efficient, the resonance in the media and in the public which last season and Lewis Hamilton's win generated was worth many times our financial investment."

He added: "This pullout is very sad. It only shows how important the cost-cutting measures are that we've been advocating for more than five years, and which have only been realised to a small degree.

"Within the Formula One Teams Association, we're working very hard on measures to cut costs, and over the next two years we must achieve cuts of at least 50%."

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, chairman of Ferrari, one of the sport's strongest and most secure teams, remained positive about the sport's future.

"We unanimously agreed to important short and long term measures, for 2009 and 2010," he said.

"We gave a new push toward a reduction in costs especially to help the smaller teams already from the next season."

Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India operate under a separate financial model, relying on funding from billionaire owners to finance their campaigns, and are not believed to be in difficulty.

Button shocked by Honda decision

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Honda driver Jenson Button said he was "as shocked as everyone else" at news of the team's demise.

The Northamptonshire-based Formula One team are looking for new owners after the Japanese manufacturers decided to quit the sport for financial reasons.

"The first couple of hours were the most painful but then I thought what's the point of being down?" he said.

"We need to stay positive in ourselves and as one team because if we're not, who'll be interested in taking over?"

Team chief executive Nick Fry told the BBC he has had three approaches already from potential new owners.

However a January deadline has been set to find an investor and staff at the team's Brackley headquarters have been told to expect redundancy letters before Christmas.

"I found out the same as everyone did on the team, so it's just as much a shock for me as for everyone else," Button added.

"It's not going to change so we've just got to try and be positive. I spoke to (team boss) Ross Brawn and a few other people, and there are positives.

"It's either going to make us stronger or break us - if it doesn't kill us it'll make us stronger."

Others may follow Honda - Mosley

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Motorsport boss Max Mosley has warned that there is a "serious danger" another car manufacturer could follow Honda out of Formula One.

Mosley, president of governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said Honda's exit was "very sad but it's not entirely a surprise".

Mosley said it was imperative the sport cut its soaring costs - with top teams spending about £300m a year.

Mosley derided the team's cost-cutting proposals as "fiddling about".

The Formula One Teams Association (Fota) met on Thursday to discuss its own proposals and said they had agreed to "substantial cost-cutting for 2009 and 2010, and additional initiatives to improve the show".

Fota also agreed a "new, low-cost engine will be introduced in 2011".

The organisation said it would submit these proposals to the FIA, but Mosley said on Friday that they did not go anywhere near far enough

He described Honda's decision to quit F1 and try to sell its team as a "very significant warning".

"If the teams don't notice now what's happened, you have to abandon all hope for them," he added.

"The teams who met are all subsidiaries of these big companies and they could get a fax in the morning saying: 'We're stopping this, which is effectively what happened with Honda.

"So if they don't wake up to it now, they'll probably get a nasty shock in the future.

"But our job is to take action to make sure that won't happen. That's why we've sent out a letter to the teams this morning setting out or plans to get the costs right down."

F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone played down Mosley's claims that the sport's future was at stake.

"F1 is in no bigger crisis than any other company in the world at the moment but the world won't stop, that's for sure," he said.

Mosley said no changes could be made to the rules for 2009, but that he would make dramatic changes for 2010.

He says the FIA can supply a standard engine and gearbox to teams through a central supplier for 5m Euro (£4.3m) a year, as well as a standardisation of some chassis parts.

Teams would be able to design their own version of that engine, or continue with their current designs restricted to ensure they had no advantage.

"The danger with these big companies is they may follow Honda, so if we make it possible for them to compete very inexpensively, by their standards, then the situation is much safer," he stated.

"The objective has to be to enable a team to say to manufacturer: 'We can actually get by without a subsidy.'

"If we can achieve that, then I think we will keep the manufacturers in.

"If we can't, then when they're looking to cut costs - which all of them are now because car sales have collapsed - then they will start to look at F1 and say do we really need this, and come to the same conclusion as Honda."

Honda boss upbeat over team sale

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Honda Racing boss Nick Fry says three potential buyers for the Formula One team have emerged since the Japanese company said they were pulling out.

Honda revealed on Friday that they were quitting for financial reasons.

"In the last 12 hours we've had three serious people come and suggest they'd like to buy the team," he told the BBC.

"We're one of the best-funded teams and have the best assets and resources in the pit lane - we'll be quite a desirable asset for somebody."

Despite a sizeable budget, Honda have struggled in recent years, their sole victory of the modern era coming at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2006.

But Honda's investment in the project means the team - based in Brackley, Northamptonshire - is a rare opportunity for anyone looking to enter F1 to buy a state-of-the-art facility at a knock-down price.

BBC sports news correspondent Adam Parsons says the team is for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to operate it in 2009.

They have spent much of 2008 working on their 2009 model car, designed under the leadership of Ross Brawn, the man who masterminded seven world titles for Michael Schumacher.

Brawn said: "Honda are keen to preserve the team. It's a fantastic opportunity for someone to step into what will be one of the most competitive teams in F1 next year.

"Fortunately it gives us time to react. If it had happened closer to the season it would have been much more difficult."

Brawn said he was sure the team would have lots of approaches from prospective buyers but that the difficulty would come in working out which ones were serious.

Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan, who will be a pundit on the BBC's F1 coverage next year, said: "Every couple of decades some real jewel in the crown comes along that you could say, 'wow if I had the money this is absolutely the deal for me'.

"This is one of those occasions. You have the best facilities. You have two outstanding drivers who both know how to win, you have Ross Brawn who has won seven world titles with Michael Schumacher.

"Having listened to what Ross Brawn said earlier, I feel he has a good indication that there are some private buyers there."

Although Fry admitted better race results would have helped their situation, he insisted they were victims of the wider world financial crisis.

"All motor companies have been struck very hard by falling sales," he said.

"Clearly, more success on the track would have been nice but it's a bigger picture issue and this year we've been developing a car for next year.

"We're very hopeful, as are most commentators, that we'll take a big step up. It's a big opportunity for somebody.

"We have 700 people working for the team. It's business as usual - we have to go through the usual three month consultation period with staff to decide the future of the company and during that period we're hoping we'll find a buyer."

Fry insisted that Englishman Jenson Button, rated as one of the finest drivers in F1, was still under contract.

"Jenson Button has a contract with team for next year," Fry said.

"If we can find new owners we hope he can continue with the rest of them.

"He's been very much an integral part for years, he's a big asset which hopefully will make the team even more attractive, the second driver position is undecided."

Global crisis ends Honda F1 era

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Honda is pulling out of Formula One, blaming the world economic crisis for plans to sell its team.

Sources told BBC Sport the team were "optimistic" they would continue, but an investor had not yet been found.

The decision leaves Englishman Jenson Button and 2009 team-mate Rubens Barrichello without drives, with only a few mid-ranking seats still available.

Honda, which spent more than £300m a year on F1, said it would also no longer supply the sport with engines.

A deadline of January has been set to find a buyer but workers at Honda's Brackley base have been told to expect redundancy letters before Christmas.

"Honda Motor Co. has come to the conclusion that we will withdraw from all Formula One activities, making 2008 the last season for participation," said Honda president Takeo Fukui at an emotional press conference.

"This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry... and the sudden contraction of the world economies," he added.

"Honda must protect its core business activities and secure the long term as widespread uncertainties in the economics around the globe continue to mount."

According to the Reuters news agency, team bosses Ross Brawn and Nick Fry told a meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association: "They have a month to find a buyer, otherwise they are closing the team."

If no buyer is found, Honda's decision will leave F1 with just 18 cars on the grid next season.

Honda said next year's Japanese Grand Prix at its Suzuka circuit would go ahead as planned.

Honda appointed Brawn, the man who masterminded seven world titles for Michael Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari, as their team principal prior to the start of the 2008 season.

His arrival was seen as the signal for the start of a concerted push for success by the company after several seasons as also-rans.

The company returned to F1 as a team owner and car builder in 2005, having spent five years as an engine supplier to the British American Racing team.

But they have struggled to make an impact at the top levels of the sport.

Their sole victory of the modern era came with Button's win at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2006.

But they have been uncompetitive in the last two seasons.

Honda's decision could also spell the end of Barrichello's 16-year F1 career.

The 36-year-old winner of nine Grands Prix was competing with his novice compatriot Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton Senna, for a seat at Honda in 2009.

Honda recently cut road vehicle production as a response to the global economic crisis - the company's sales in its key US market were down 30% last month.

F1 is a notoriously expensive sport in which to compete, and teams have spent recent months in intensive discussions over cost-cutting measures.

Max Mosley, president of world motorsport governing body the FIA, recently urged teams to find ways to reduce costs.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mosley described Honda's withdrawal as a significant warning to the rest of the teams to start cutting costs dramatically.

Mosley wants to make drastic changes for the 2010 season - including making a standard engine and gearbox available to all teams at a projected cost of 5m Euro (£4.4m) per team.

The idea is opposed by the road-car constructors still in F1, who are proposing a new engine formula of their own.

Considered a major player within F1, Honda bankrolled more than 800 staff at the team's Northamptonshire base and had one of the largest budgets in the sport.

"I am told that for £1 you can now buy the Honda F1 team," said BBC sports news correspondent Adam Parsons

Sato to test for Toro Rosso again

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Japan's Takuma Sato will take part in a third test for Toro Rosso as he targets a return to Formula One in 2009.

The 31-year-old has been without a drive since the collapse of Super Aguri in May but will get back behind the wheel at Jerez on 10 December.

Sebastian Buemi and 2008 driver Sebastien Bourdais will also take part in the three-day test.

Toro Rosso have yet to confirm their 2009 drivers but a spokesperson said there was no deadline for a decision.

Buemi, Red Bull Racing's reserve driver, has been strongly linked with a seat at Toro Rosso, who are now 100% owned by Red Bull.

Dietrich Mateschitz, who owns both teams, revealed Buemi was "very likely" to be chosen, which would leave Sato and Bourdais to fight it out for the other seat.

Sato's commercial manager Matthew Winter said: "We obviously see this as a positive step, but still nothing is decided for the 2009 racing season."

The Japanese racer bettered Buemi and Bourdais to set the fastest times of the three during November's test at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya.

He also tested for Toro Rosso at Jerez in September and will return to the circuit as the teams undertake the penultimate test of the year.

Sato is Japan's most successful F1 driver, scoring 44 points from 90 races and taking third at the 2004 US Grand Prix.

However, he has not competed since this year's Spanish Grand Prix in April, when Honda-backed Super Aguri went out of business.

Bourdais hopes to retain his seat after the departure of team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who claimed the team's first victory at the Italian GP, to Red Bull.

The Frenchman scored four points in his debut season but is yet to convince the team he has done enough to earn another drive.

Alonso in quit threat over rules

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Fernando Alonso has warned he could walk away from Formula One if plans to introduce a standard engine for all teams go ahead from 2010.

F1's governing body the FIA has made the engine proposal as one of three options to cut what it views as the sport's excessive costs.

But Renault's double world champion said: "If they approve a single engine that would be the last straw.

"It would be time to start thinking about retirement."

FIA president Max Mosley insists F1 must reduce costs by 2010 to stay credible amid a global financial crisis.

But his proposal to introduce a standard engine has met with disapproval from the road-car manufacturers.

Ferrari threatened to review their participation in the sport arguing; "the use of same engines would deprive F1 of its competition and technological development".

The teams have already agreed to cut the cost of customer engines by more than £12m from 2011 - and are working with the FIA on changes for 2010.

The FIA has given the teams three options to reduce engine costs.

The first is a standard engine produced by a supplier, with current engine makers free to build their own to the same design. The road-car manufacturers in F1 have made it clear they are opposed to this idea.

A second option is for a teams' consortium to obtain a low-cost engine.

And a third, which was initially the idea of the teams, would result in independent teams receiving a complete power-train (engine, gearbox and transmission) for less than 5 million euros (£3.9m) a season.

Alonso's Renault team have made it clear they are opposed to standard engines, but the Spaniard spoke positively about next season's rules changes.

New regulations for 2009 will see the return of slick tyres, the introduction of the new kinetic energy recovery system (Kers) and aerodynamic alterations.

The changes are, in part, designed to make overtaking easier and to increase competitiveness - and Alonso says that will help him in his quest for a third world title.

"The advantage is that practically everybody is starting from zero," said Alonso, who won the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix last season.

"Next year I will try to be champion. You can't allow yourself to start the championship without thinking you're going to win.

"My objective is to win the title. It's a very clear objective, although it may have to be altered as the year goes on."

Barrichello wins Brazilian karting contest

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Honda’s Rubens Barrichello proved he still has what it takes to win, after clinching victory at the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champions on Sunday. The annual contest, which sees top international drivers compete against each other, was held at the Ingeles kart track in Florianopolis, Brazil.

Barrichello, who is yet to secure a drive for the 2009 season, won the first race ahead of compatriot Lucas di Grassi, while Ferrari’s Felipe Massa took victory in the second race. Barrichello’s aggregate total of 36 points, however, proved enough to take home the winner’s trophy.

Di Grassi finished second in the standings, ahead of Massa, whilst seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher, who won the event last year, finished in eighth. Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer, Force India’s third driver Vitantonio Luizzi and former Jaguar and Prost driver Luciano Burti were also in action.

McLaren to launch MP4-24 on January 16

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McLaren will reveal their 2009 car at their UK factory midway through next month. The MP4-24 - the machine in which Lewis Hamilton will defend his Formula One drivers’ title - will be unveiled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking on January 16.

The team have already tested several elements of the new machine, which will embody 2009's radical rule changes, including slick tyres, reduced aerodynamics and a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).

At forthcoming test sessions later this month - at Jerez in Spain and the new Algarve Motor Park in Portugal - McLaren plan to run a 2009-style front wing and other developmental parts, before the wraps come off the MP4-24 just over two weeks into the New Year.

McLaren are the third team to confirm a launch date for their 2009 car. Toyota will reveal the TF109 on January 15 with no traditional ceremony, while BMW Sauber’s F1.09 will step out in Valencia testing in Spain on January 20.

Hamilton welcomes new regulations

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Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton believes new regulations will leave the 2009 title race wide open.

The 23-year-old Briton said he was "looking forward to tackling" the changes to next year's cars, which include major aerodynamic alterations.

Cars will use slick tyres and convert heat from brakes into bursts of power.

"I've had a close look at the new car and the engineers have explained the philosophy behind it. I am watching testing with interest," he said.

The new developments include a switch to slick tyres from the grooved ones of recent years, and the introduction of the kinetic energy recovery system (Kers), which stores energy recovered from the axle during braking and converts it to supply a brief power boost.

Teams are currently in winter testing, working out how best to deploy the new technology.

McLaren's Pat Fry, chief engineer on the Woking-based team's MP4-24 car for 2009, recently said the alterations for the new season would create "the potential for upset and the normal pecking order to be different".

Hamilton will not return to testing until January, once he has taken part in a team training camp in Finland.

He will limber up at the Kuortane Sports Institute, in western Finland, before performing a demonstration run in his McLaren at London's Wembley Stadium as part of the Race of Champions event on 14 December.

Hamilton is hot favourite to lift the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award later that day.

"Finland is when it (the training) all starts again in earnest," said Hamilton, whose Finnish team-mate Heikki Kovalainen will be testing again in Spain and Portugal this month after the camp in his home country.

"Brazil already seems a long time ago and I'm now focusing 100% on 2009," added Hamilton.

"Before Christmas, I plan to take a holiday and return fresh and positive to kick-start our winter test programme with the MP4-24."

Hamilton became the youngest F1 world champion in history in November, beating Ferrari's Felipe Massa to the title by a single point.

F1 is once again set for upheaval between seasons, with boss Bernie Ecclestone recently outlining more proposals to change the sport.

Ecclestone is keen to introduce a new scoring system alongside developments in aerodynamics and technology.

He wants the old points system scrapped in favour of gold, silver and bronze medals for the first three drivers to finish each race.

Ecclestone's plans would reward the driver who wins the most races with the world title - but would have seen Hamilton miss out to Felipe Massa this year.

Toyota to launch TF109 in mid januvary

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Toyota will launch the new TF109 and its race livery on 15 January 2009. However, as part of the team’s commitment to cutting costs in Formula One racing, there will be no traditional launch ceremony.

Instead, all press material will be distributed to the media via the internet, before the TF109 begins pre-season testing on 20 January, the start of a three-day test at the new Algarve Motor Park in Portugal.

This will be the first opportunity for the media to discuss the TF109 and the 2009 season with drivers Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli, as well as selected team personnel.

LG Electronics becomes a Global Partner of Formula 1

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LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to become a Global Partner of Formula 1™ and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™.

As part of this top level association LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official Consumer Electronics, Mobile Phone and Data Processor of Formula 1™. The multi-year agreement runs from January 2009.

“Formula One represents the absolute peak of technological innovation and style, which is also our vision for the LG Electronics brand,” said Dermot Boden, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of LG Electronics. “We feel the excitement and electricity of F1 is unmatched by any sport, and we feel the same passion and energy here at LG.”

“LG is a leader in its field, it pioneers cutting edge technology, delivering innovation and excellence in a stylish package, which is what Formula 1 is about too,” said Bernie Ecclestone, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Formula One Group. “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.”

As the Official Data Processor of Formula 1™ LG will be identified and credited on the official live timing service at Formula One events and in the associated timing and data TV graphics. They will also enjoy a comprehensive package of premium marketing rights worldwide in association with the Formula 1™ brand.

Boden added: “In today’s economic climate, all organizations 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 organizations over the long term.”

Established in 1958, LG Electronics, Inc. (LG) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 82,000 people working in over 110 operations, including 81 subsidiaries around the world.

Young Italian drivers test for Ferrari at Fiorano

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The top three finishers in this year’s Italian Formula Three Series got the chance to drive a Formula One car at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit on Wednesday, as a reward for their success in the championship.

Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli all enjoyed time behind the wheel of the F2008 during the special day of testing, which was devised by Ferrari and Italian motorsport's governing body, the ACI-CSAI. The trio of young drivers also worked with engineers from the outfit’s race team and met tester Andrea Bertolini.

Bortolotti ended the day fastest, clocking a quickest time of 59.111s, after covering 40 laps. Piscopo’s best time was a 1m 00.336s after he completed 29 laps, while Cicatelli finished with a fastest time of 1m 01.243s over 33 laps.

Webber targets return in February

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Mark Webber is aiming to recover from his broken leg in time for the test debut of his Red Bull team's new Formula One car in February.

The Australian suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg in a mountain bike accident on Saturday.

"I'm aiming to drive the car at the first test," Webber told BBC Sport.

"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."

Red Bull's new car is set to make its first on-track appearance on 10 February - nearly seven weeks before the start of the 2009 season in Melbourne, Australia, at the end of March.

"I will make sure I'm in the best shape I can be for the first race," said Webber.

"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.

"At the moment there is pressure and swelling whenever I stand up. There is talk it will be like that for the next two or three weeks and come the first week of February we should be on target for me to be able to walk unaided.

"And then the acceleration between the first week of Feb and the first week of March will be quite extreme in terms of me getting about.

"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.

"I think it will be a bit slow to start with. I'm just going to have to get used to a few things the first time I drive the car but that won't last long at all.

"In a perfect world, I would do every single day and test we had in mind for pre-season but it's not just the leg that will be suffering.

"Early on, I will need to work on my general fitness, which will take some work but which again will be spot on for Melbourne."

Webber's accident happened while he was riding in his own charity event in Tasmania.
Mark Webber on his Pure Tasmania Challenge
Webber's Tasmania Challenge is a gruelling seven-day fitness marathon

The Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge is a 250km endurance event consisting of mountain bike riding, kayaking and trekking on the Australian island.

The 32-year-old was riding along a forest road near historic Port Arthur when he collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

He revealed the initial time after the accident was "pretty tough".

"It's a pretty remote area and it's quite hard to get a helicopter up there as well - the forest canopy was quite tight - but there were good people there and it was all right."

Webber added: "It takes an unbelievable impact to break our bodies. It's unbelievable how strong we are."

He said that he was initially down after the accident but that the experience of other racers who had come back to compete after more serious injuries was an inspiration.

He cited the example of ex-F1 and IndyCar driver Alex Zanardi, who has returned to race in touring cars after losing both his legs in a crash in 2001.

"I think a lot about Zanardi and these sort of guys - [five-time world motorbike champion] Mick Doohan as well," he stated. "It's such an inspiration. I could be worse off."

Webber's accident leaves Red Bull relying on his team-mate, the inexperienced German Sebastian Vettel, for their testing in the meantime.

That could be a hindrance to the team because there are major changes to the technical regulations, with refinements to the aerodynamics and the introduction of energy-storage systems.

But Webber said he was not concerned that the team's preparations would be affected by his lay-off - adding that he would try to attend as many tests as his rehabilitation allowed even before his injury has healed.

"I still could be there, physically," he added. "We've got a youngster who has got his head totally screwed on.

"There is a big regulation change and a lot of excitement for a lot of teams with the clean sheet of paper. I could go down to tests but I want to make sure it doesn't affect my rehab. The best thing is to concentrate on myself and work closely with the team and I'm ready when I'm ready.

"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."

Kiwi Hartley to test for Red Bull

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New Zealand's Brendon Hartley will test for the Red Bull Formula One team in the wake of regular driver Mark Webber breaking his leg last week.

The Formula Three driver will join Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Buemi for testing at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain on 15 December.

Hartley, a Red Bull junior driver, recently finished third in the Macau F3 Grand Prix after starting in 20th.

The 19-year-old Hartley also set a lap record in the process.

"Brendon is one of several promising talents in the Red Bull Junior Team and an opportunity has arisen to allow him to get some time in a Formula One car," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

Webber broke his right leg last weekend after a collision with a car while cycling in a charity event in Tasmania.

The 32-year-old hopes to be back behind the wheel for the first test of the team's 2009 car in February. The 2009 season starts in Australia on 29 March.

No French GP until 2011 - F1 boss

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The French Grand Prix will not be on the calendar until at least 2011, says Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone said he wanted to be sure he finds the right venue for the event after plans to hold the race near Paris in 2010 were rejected last week.

EuroDisney and Lagardere Sports this week said the Ecclestone-backed project was not economically viable.

Next year's race at Magny-Cours has been dropped after organisers cancelled it for financial reasons.

Ecclestone said: "We want the right spot - the French GP has to be long-lasting."

France has an important historic status within motorsport as the first country to hold a Grand Prix, in 1906.

But the event's future has been plagued with uncertainty in recent years.

France has a contract for a race at Magny-Cours - near Nevers in rural central France - for two more years, but organisers have cancelled the 2010 race for financial reasons.

"I think it is quite sure (that there will be no race in 2010)," Ecclestone told French newspaper L'Equipe.

"We went to Magny-Cours for the wrong reasons, for political reasons," he added.

"Let's try and avoid a repeat. What we want is to find for sure the right spot because the French GP has to be long-lasting."

Ecclestone added that the withdrawal of the Euro Disney project had condemned France to being without a race for at least a year after 2009.

"I've always thought it was the right spot for us, that it was the new location that suited the French Grand Prix," he added.

"We went to Magny-Cours for the wrong reasons, for political reasons, so let's try and avoid a repeat."

Two other possible venues are now being discussed for the race to return to the calendar.

They are Sarcelles, 17.5km from Paris and backed by former French Formula One driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise, and Flins, 43km from Paris.

"The first thing now is that I want to go there myself and see by myself how it looks like," said Ecclestone.

Buemi poised for Toro Rosso seat

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Swiss Sebastian Buemi is poised to make his Formula One debut with the Toro Rosso team next season.

Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, who has two teams in F1, told autosport.com Buemi was "very likely" to be one of the drivers for junior team Toro Rosso.

German Sebastian Vettel has been promoted to the senior Red Bull team, while his 2008 Toro Rosso team-mate Sebastien Bourdais may not be retained.

Toro Rosso tested Buemi, Bourdais and former F1 racer Takuma Sato last week.

Japan's Sato, who has raced for Jordan, Honda and Super Aguri in F1, set the fastest times of the three at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya.

Mateschitz said the Toro Rosso line-up would be confirmed "before the last test in December", which is at Jerez in southern Spain from 15-17 December.

Buemi, 20, told the official formula1.com website after his test: "I am young and I learn quickly.

"I think that all teams now try to have an experienced driver and a young driver, as you see for example, at Renault (who partnered double world champion Fernando Alonso with rookie Nelson Piquet Jr in 2008).

"The immediate past has shown that the young guys don't need too long to deliver results... Young drivers have shown that they can deliver almost straight away."

Vettel became F1's youngest ever winner with victory in the Italian Grand Prix in September, while Lewis Hamilton is now the sport's youngest world champion following his success this year in only his second season.

Berger quits as Toro Rosso boss

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Formula One team Red Bull are set to regain 100% control of sister outfit Toro Rosso after buying out the 50% share owned by Gerhard Berger.

The deal is pending approval by regulatory authorities.

If it goes through, Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz will wholly own two teams on the F1 grid.

Fellow Austrian Berger, who won 11 Grands Prix in a 14-year career, had been Toro Rosso's boss but will cease all involvement with the team.

The team said they were not planning any further changes to their management structure.

Toro Rosso, the former Minardi team, are Red Bull's junior team and use the same car but fitted with Ferrari engines rather than Renaults.

They outperformed Red Bull in the 2008 season - German rising star Sebastien Vettel won the Italian Grand Prix in September, the team's and Red Bull's first F1 win, and has moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull for 2009.

The German became the youngest winner in Formula One history at the age of 21.

"I am very happy that I can support Didi (Mateschitz) - who has committed himself to Formula One with so much dedication - with the reorganisation of the team and in this process to make use of my knowledge so effectively," said Berger.

"A 100% financing of a joint project by one partner can only make sense, to my mind, at an initial stage. This stage is over now. That's why Red Bull will take over the shares again."

Mateschitz added: "I'm very grateful to Gerhard for his enormous input.

"Together we have made Toro Rosso a team which, from 2008 onwards, will regularly qualify for the top 10 and collect championship points.

"Red Bull will now run Toro Rosso alone on this basis."

Red Bull suffered a blow last week when Australian driver Mark Webber broke his leg in a bike crash but the team expect him to be fit to start the 2009 season.

F1 boss plans scoring revolution

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Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says he is determined to introduce a new scoring system that would see the driver with most wins crowned champion.

Lewis Hamilton would have failed to win this year's title under such a system, which Ecclestone wants for 2009.

"It's going to happen. All the teams are happy. The whole reason for this is I am fed up with people talking about there being no overtaking," he said.

Gold, silver and bronze medals would be given to the top three finishers.

Regardless of the distribution of those medals, the driver who won most races would be crowned world champion.

The system still requires approval from F1's governing body, the FIA.

Its world council - the body that would decide whether to introduce the system - meets next month.

BBC Sport's Adam Parsons, who was attending the news conference where Ecclestone made the remarks, said: "Ecclestone said he was determined to bring in a radical new scoring procedure.

Instead of scoring points for the top eight positions, as is the case now, it would see gold, silver and bronze medals being awarded for the top three positions, and at the end of the season the driver with the most race victories would take the championship.

"Ecclestone says it is a way of introducing more overtaking and says all the teams back it. In reality, it is difficult to see F1's minnows backing a system that would see them end the season empty-handed."

Ecclestone said: "The reason there is no overtaking is nothing to do with the circuits or the cars - it's because the drivers don't need to overtake.

"If you're in the lead and I'm second, I'm not going to take the risk of falling off the circuit or doing something stupid to get two points.

"If I need a gold medal to win the championship, I will overtake. It's just not on that someone can win the championship without winning a race."

The teams, through their umbrella organisation Fota, have made it clear they are keen to come up with new ways of improving F1 - and that includes considering a new points system.

But BBC Sport understands that several of the teams have misgivings about the system and that these surround a number of issues.

Prime among them is that the new system could lead to the world title being settled earlier than has become the custom under the new system.

The current 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points distribution was introduced in 2003, partly to try to ensure the world championship stayed open for longer at a time when Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were dominating the sport.

In 2003, the world title went down to the last race between Schumacher and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen even though the German had won six races to the Finn's one.

Under Ecclestone's new proposal, the title would have been decided after the Italian Grand Prix in September when there were still two races remaining.

Conversely, the 2005 title - which Renault's Fernando Alonso won with two races to go - would have been decided in the Spaniard's favour only after the last race on a countback of second places after he and Raikkonen tied on seven wins each.

This season, McLaren's Hamilton won one less race than Ferrari's Felipe Massa - but only because the Brazilian was controversially handed victory in Belgium after the Englishman, who had won on the road, was given a penalty.

Ecclestone claimed on Wednesday that there were quite a few races Hamilton did not try to win in 2008.

Former team boss Eddie Jordan, who will be a BBC Sport pundit in 2009, said: "I think they (Ecclestone's proposals) are a nonsense.

"I can't possibly believe he's thinking straight, especially on this one. His focus must be on cost-cutting and nothing else. The rest is just dressing it up.

"The points are necessary. I was one of the team principals who advocated the points should go down to eighth place because one point is as important to those teams as a win is to McLaren and Ferrari.

"He is tinkering with something on which he has lost the understanding. He thinks only wins matter.

"When Hamilton lost the race in Spa and it was given to Massa, can you believe the controversy that would have created?

"There has not been enough thought put into this and for him to say that it comes with the full approval of all the teams - I'm sorry, I just don't believe it."

F1 is introducing a major change of technical regulations for 2009 in an attempt to spice up the racing.

These include changes to the aerodynamics and engines to make it easier for cars to follow one another through corners.

The front wing will be wider and lower, the rear wing narrower and higher and the number of aerodynamic appendages elsewhere on the car has been slashed - in an attempt to reduce the cars' sensitivity to aerodynamic turbulence.

On top of that, the introduction of kinetic energy recovery systems (Kers) - where energy expended under braking is stored and reapplied during acceleration - will give drivers "push-to-pass" buttons that they can use for a limited amount of time each lap.

Ecclestone made his remarks at a news conference to announce that South Korean electronics giant LG would become a sponsor of F1 and have its branding on on the international broadcast feed, timekeeping systems and graphics.