Latest F1 news in brief

  • Alonso bristles when asked about latest 'mistake'
  • Red Bull confirms broken 'stabilization' for Vettel
  • Michelin boss arrives in Turkey for F1 meeting
  • Ferrari car 'has not developed' – Alonso
  • Ferrari wants to keep Massa – manager Todt
  • Barrichello, di Grassi, unhappy with Cosworth engines
  • No rain in Istanbul on sunny race day
  • Track chiefs slam two-day GP weekend proposal

Alonso bristles when asked about latest 'mistake'
(GMM) Fernando Alonso bristled on Saturday when it was suggested his brake lock-up was the latest in a string of "mistakes" so far in 2010.

The Italian media had already hit out at Ferrari's Spanish driver after Monaco, when he crashed into the barriers and could not qualify his broken chassis.

Also under scrutiny have been Alonso's spin in Melbourne, the qualifying strategy disaster of Malaysia and the jump-start in China.

Corriere dello Sport's headline had rued "Alonso, the disaster", and there was more ammunition in Turkey when the 28-year-old locked his brakes during Q2 and failed to make the final segment of qualifying.

"Mistakes? I braked late to try to recover and the rear brake locked. If this is a mistake …" he is quoted as irritably telling La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Red Bull confirms broken 'stabilization' for Vettel
(GMM) Red Bull have identified a broken roll-bar as the reason for Sebastian Vettel's lack of pace during Q3 in Turkey.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said it was "der Stabilization" (the roll-bar) that meant the RB6's front wheels locked, preventing him from replicating his fastest pace of Q1 and Q2.

Unlike general setup changes, or changes to the engine or gearbox, the Austrian team is able to replace the roll-bar before the race without incurring a penalty.

The 22-year-old will start the Istanbul Park race from third on the grid, but he was visibly disappointed at missing out on pole.

"We are on the clean side (of the grid), so let's see, it's a long race. But with this year's regulations and no more fuel pit stops it is a bit difficult to make up places," said Vettel.

Michelin boss arrives in Turkey for F1 meeting
(GMM) Michelin's competition boss Nick Shorrock arrived in Istanbul on Saturday night.

France's Auto Hebdo said he will meet with formula one team bosses at the Istanbul Park circuit on Sunday.

It had been expected that Pirelli would be announced this weekend as F1's new tire supplier for 2011, but it now emerges that sole rival Michelin is ready to make one last improvement to its final offer.

The Shorrock meeting will take place at 11am.

Ferrari car 'has not developed' – Alonso
(GMM) Ferrari's F10 car is suffering from a lack of recent development, according to Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard failed to progress into the final Q3 segment of qualifying in Turkey, while his teammate Felipe Massa is just eighth on the grid.

Sections of the Italian media have hit out at Alonso for a sequence of driving mistakes.

But the team newcomer is quoted by Italy's La Stampa: "In China, Spain, Monaco and here (Turkey) we have not developed, while Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes have all gone forwards."

Ferrari wants to keep Massa – manager Todt
(GMM) Felipe Massa's manager has backed up reports that Ferrari is moving towards extending the Brazilian driver's contract for 2011.

It had been reported that Nicolas Todt was in talks about a switch of teams for the 29-year-old Massa, who has often struggled for pace alongside Fernando Alonso this season.

But on the same day that Istanbul specialist Massa outqualified Alonso, Frenchman Todt played down the reports about his talks with rival teams.

"We know that F1 is filled with rumors that are often factually false," he is quoted by Europe 1 radio from Turkey.

Earlier this weekend, boss Stefano Domenicali had answered "yes" when asked if he thinks the Maranello team will sport an unchanged lineup next year.

Said Nicolas Todt: "Felipe has been under contract to Ferrari since 2001, he has been an official driver since 2006 and he really wants to continue.

"After my latest talks with Ferrari, I think it's a mutual desire," he added.

32-year-old Todt also dismissed claims that Massa's season so far has been so bad he deserves to be replaced.

"Even if it has not been fantastic, he is 17 points behind the championship leader and one of the only drivers to have finished all the races and scored points each time.

"So the situation should not be dramatized," he insisted.

Barrichello, di Grassi, unhappy with Cosworth engines
(GMM) Cosworth is not in Rubens Barrichello or Lucas di Grassi's good books at the scene of the Turkish grand prix.

Williams' Rubens Barrichello, just fifteenth on the grid at Istanbul Park, said the British team is "suffering" from a lack of power.

"The engine that we brought did not work," he is quoted by Brazil's Globo. "The straight-line speed is not good."

Lucas di Grassi is also unhappy, having been outqualified by Bruno Senna of the struggling HRT team.

"My lap was good," said the rookie, who is finally at the wheel of Virgin's updated VR-01 car this weekend.

"The car was good in the corners, but the engine was not working on the straights or in acceleration."

Di Grassi will have a fresh engine fitted for Sunday's race.

No rain in Istanbul on sunny race day
(GMM) Rain is not forecast on a warm and sunny day at Istanbul Park.

There had been some spots of rain at the scene of the Turkish grand prix on Saturday, amid reports light rain could affect Sunday's race at 3pm.

But the skies have dawned clear outside the Turkish city, with rain not expected to affect either the day's track action or the evening return to hotels.

Track chiefs slam two-day GP weekend proposal
(GMM) Bosses of the British grand prix have said they do not support moves to cut Fridays out of formula one race weekends.

With the annual calendar looking likely to expand beyond 20 races in the next few years, Williams' Adam Parr said this weekend he is proposing the official event schedules be reduced to just two days.

"Friday is big at Silverstone. (Losing) it would reduce the people coming to stay," Richard Phillips, the Northamptonshire circuit's managing director, is quoted by the Mirror in the Istanbul Park paddock.

Added Neil England, Silverstone's chairman: "To take a day off seems to be madness. We had 80,000 last year on the Friday, why would anyone destroy that?"

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