F1 news briefs: Saturday

(GMM) On Saturday at Valencia, local driver Fernando Alonso was seen running around the paddock handing out from an envelope stickers depicting the Spanish flag for his fellow F1 drivers to wear both in qualifying and in Sunday's European grand prix.

The stickers, already worn by some drivers in qualifying including Alonso and the McLaren pair, are to honor the 153 people killed in the Madrid air crash.

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Despite the fact that the painted grid hatchings show pole on the left side of the grid, the FIA's Charlie Whiting said in a statement on Saturday that the top spot, to be occupied by Felipe Massa, will move to the right ahead of the European grand prix.

He said he deems the change necessary after observing "the line taken by cars across the grid" in the sessions so far this weekend.