Button impressed after first test

Jenson Button was not purring over "a monster" on Tuesday, but there was a Cheshire Cat-style grin that suggested McLaren are on the right track this year.

It was in 2009 Button stepped out of his Brawn for the first time at the end of its maiden test and declared it to be a beast of a car, and he went on to win the Formula One title that year.

A year ago, at the start of his second season with McLaren, there was the awful realisation the team had made development mistakes.

Primarily they centred around an exhaust they then spent the rest of pre-season trying to correct, allowing rivals Red Bull to steal a march they never relinquished en route to a dominant campaign.

On Tuesday, at the end of the first of 12 days of testing ahead of the season-opening race in Australia on March 18, Button was clearly a far happier man, and no drastic design deviations are required on this occasion either.

The 32-year-old was eighth on the timesheet, 1.860 seconds behind the returning Kimi Raikkonen, but forget times right now because it is all about feel within the car and what can be improved upon before Melbourne.

Asked whether the team had achieved the balance on the car they promised him, Button replied: "Definitely. It's a good starting point.

"What we wheeled out this morning was a great base. I don't know where it's going to end up by the time we get to the first race, but the important thing is the balance feels all right.

"There's obviously work we need to do to improve it, but it feels right, which is good.

"The front wheels are on the front, the rear wheels on the back, it feels like it's going in the right direction, and when you turn right, it goes right. Sometimes that hasn't been the case!

"But there are no niggly areas with the car, which is nice. Quite different to last year.

"So, as I say, it's a good starting point. I'm looking forward to working with it, and I'm happy.

"I'm also in a good position (in the car). I'm really low, which I always like, trying to get as low as possible, the way the car is.

"I'm much lower than last year. I can just about see out. I love that position. I feel well inside the car. I feel I'm part of it.

"So promising times. But we don't know where we stand and we won't do until the first race."

You sensed Button was being diplomatic, not wanting to give away too much for fear of jinxing matters.

However, he further conceded surprise at how much grip the car possessed, a prior weakness, and how stable it was under braking, notably without last season's must-have device, the blown diffuser that for this season has been banned.

McLaren's design with regard to a smoother nose, compared to their rivals who have all so far wheeled out a stepped, platypus-looking style, also appeared to have no effect.

"If you look at what is under our car you would say that is normal for us, a normal direction," said Button.

"Other people have gone for something more unusual in terms of the stepped nose, which wasn't a surprise because we had people at the factory telling me they thought this would happen with a few cars.

"It's just different. Maybe it is better, maybe worse. We don't know yet, and we won't find out until we get into the season. We may never find out."

For Raikkonen, after two years away from the sport in which he was champion in 2007, even Button admitted to being impressed by just how quick he was, regardless of who was doing what.

As for the Finn, his response to being fastest for was typically deadpan as the Lotus driver said: "It could have been a much worse day.

"We had some small issues, but it's a new car, nothing major.

"I didn't have any expectations. We did our own stuff and we ended up in first place. It doesn't really give you anything."

Force India's Paul di Resta completed an impressive 101 laps and was second overall, just 0.102secs behind Raikkonen.

Nico Rosberg was third, albeit in last year's Mercedes that spent the day evaluating the new Pirelli rubber as the team are not rolling out their new car until the second test in Barcelona.

Mark Webber was fourth for Red Bull, that after sitting out the first three hours as a flight into Jerez, that contained the rear-wing assembly, had to be diverted to Seville due to fog.

Webber clinches pole in Germany ahead of Hamilton

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton drove a superb lap to take second place behind Red Bull's Mark Webber after a thrilling battle for German Grand Prix pole.

Red Bull's world champion Sebastian Vettel qualified outside the top two for the first time in 2011 to go third ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard's team-mate Felipe Massa was fifth from Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.

McLaren's Jenson Button aborted his final run and lines up in seventh place, 1.2secs behind Hamilton.

Both McLaren drivers were downbeat about their team's chances of challenging for pole after Friday's practice at the Nurburgring but Hamilton hooked up an aggressive lap to lose out on a first pole position of the season by only 0.055 seconds.

His delight was plain over the car-to-pit radio as he made his way back to the pits. "That was a good lap," Hamilton told the team. "That was a wicked lap. That was as good as it gets."

After climbing out of the car, he added: "I definitely underestimated how good the car was with light fuel. It was one of the happiest laps I've had. It felt incredible."

BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard made Hamilton his driver of the day saying: "From where Lewis has come from this season he has been able to raise his game and deliver. 

"He was so quick in the first sector of the lap and that was the key to his lap."

McLaren appear to have gained ground on their rivals after the teams decided to revert to pre-Silverstone engine regulations following a row over the aerodynamic use of exhaust gases.

They also had some new parts on the car, including a redesigned front wing and fins beside the driver.

Unfortunately, the improvement did not extend to Button, who was more than a second behind Webber's benchmark, and complained afterwards of a lack of rear grip.

In contrast, Webber had looked in supreme form for the past two days around the Nurburgring, where he won his first grand prix two years ago, and took pole in one minute 30.079 seconds.

"I was thinking on my in-lap, 'If someone gets me, they deserve it', as I couldn't have got much more out of it. It was my complete limit," Webber said. 

The Australian was also on pole in Barcelona and Silverstone but has yet to lead a lap of a race this season, a statistic he will be desperate to erase on Sunday.

Vettel was 0.137secs behind Webber's time and begins his quest for his first victory on home soil from third.

Ferrari had been expecting to carry forward the momentum of winning the last grand prix in Silverstone but Alonso was 0.362secs off the pace and will have to rely on superior race pace and Red Bull's errors as he did in Britain.

"I don't know why you are disappointed with our performance and maybe yesterday McLaren were testing some new parts and today they are quick," said Alonso.

"We are in the position we thought yesterday. We are still improving the car.

"Rain is forecast so if that is true the race is very open. Tyre temperature will be an issue. It will be a race to survive if it's wet but we need to make sure we get on the podium."

Behind Massa and Rosberg, Force India's Adrian Sutil, Vitaly Petrov's Renault and Michael Schumacher - a five-time winner on this track - rounded out the top 10.

It's about a 1.2-second gap to Nico and all weekend we've been within a 10th. So we need to understand what's going on," said Schumacher.

"I made a mistake in my last chicane at the final lap which at least cost me eighth but if the car doesn't perform to your needs you know there's a problem."

The cool track conditions meant a host of midfield teams sacrificed a set of soft tyres to negotiate the first phase of qualifying.

While Williams and Force India fought their way through, Kamui Kobayashi stayed in the Sauber garage and the Japanese driver will have to use some of his famed swashbuckling moves as he starts in 18th.

"That's a huge blow for Sauber as they've gathered points on a consecutive basis," BBC F1 analyst Eddie Jordan said.

An exciting battle to get into the top 10 followed but Nick Heidfeld, who had spent Friday testing a new exhaust system for Renault, missed out. Force India's Paul di Resta will line up alongside him in 12th.

Karun Chandhok was given a chance to show what he could do in his first race weekend in more than a year as Team Lotus handed him Jarno Trulli's race seat in Germany.

But the Indian driver toiled during practice and Chandhok was separated from his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen by Virgin driver Timo Glock.

"I've never used DRS [moveable rear wing] or driven the car on the slick tyres so it's a lot to learn," Chandhok told BBC Sport. 

"I'm sure Jarno feels terrible. It's an awful feeling watching your car driven by someone else but he'll be back for Budapest."

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone admits paying Gerhard Gribkowsky £27 million

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted for the first time to The Daily Telegraph that he paid $44 million (£27 million) to former bank executive Gerhard Gribkowsky following the sale of the sport five years ago, claiming it was because the German “threatened” to cause trouble for him with the Inland Revenue.

However, Formula One’s 80-year-old chief executive stopped short of accusing Gribkowsky of blackmail. 

 Gribkowsky, formerly the chief risk officer at German bank BayernLB, which sold a 47 per cent stake in Formula One’s parent company SLEC to private equity firm CVC in 2005, was this week charged with breach of trust, tax evasion and having been in receipt of corrupt payments from Ecclestone, who remains under investigation by the German authorities. 

 Ecclestone claims that Gribkowsky made false allegations about his relationship with his offshore family trust, Bambino Holdings, adding that although he has “never had anything to do with the trust in any shape or form, he [Gribkowsky] threatened that he was going to say that I was running it”. 

 Ecclestone had transferred his shares in Formula One to Bambino as part of an estate-planning exercise. Having suffered from heart problems, he says he was worried that if he died, his ex-wife Slavica would have had to pay tax on her inheritance because she had not yet lived in the UK long enough to be domiciled. 

 “The [Inland] Revenue obviously had to check everything,” Ecclestone said. “It took five years going through that. I didn’t deal with it. The trust had to show it was correct. The taxation people in England at the time were in the middle of settling everything with the trust and the last thing you need is for them to start thinking something different. He [Gribkowsky] was shaking me down and I didn’t want to take a risk. Nothing was wrong with the trust. Nothing at all.

“He never said to me if you don’t give me this I will say that,” added Ecclestone, who claimed instead that Gribkowsky asked to borrow the money from him, implying that otherwise he would link him to Bambino. “He left me with the fact that could he do it or not.” 

 Ecclestone claims that he asked his lawyers at the time what would happen to him if Gribkowsky carried through his “threat”. “They said ‘I tell you what would happen, the Revenue would assess you and you would have to defend it, because you could defend it, and you would be three years in court and it would cost you a fortune. Better pay’.” 

 Ecclestone claims he made the payment through companies based in Mauritius and the British Virgin Islands because “he [Gribkowsky] wanted to be paid so it didn’t look like it came from me and didn’t look like it had come from England”. 

 On Tuesday, German prosecutors alleged that this was “bribery money, whose payment was disguised through two fake consulting contracts with [companies] in Mauritius and the British Virgin Islands.” 

 The prosecutors further allege that to compensate, Gribkowsky agreed to pay $41.4 million (£25.4 million) to Ecclestone on behalf of BayernLB, as well as $25 million (£15.3 million) to Bambino adding that the state-owned German bank “incurred damages of almost $66.5 million (£40.8 million) through the conduct of the accused”. 

 Ecclestone disputes this. “I never bribed anybody or paid any money to anybody in connection with the company,” he claimed. “I got five per cent for the sale of the company. Bayerische Landesbank approved the sale and approved the commission, which was cheap. I should have got more because for that sort of deal a bank would have charged a lot more. There were no secrets.” 

 Ecclestone added that not only did he facilitate the sale to CVC but he also gave BayernLB “an indemnity for an awful lot of money that all the accounts were in good order because the bank would not give them”. 

 Ecclestone says he has given all these details to the prosecutors in person and expects to be cleared of wrongdoing. Until now he had denied making the $44 million (£27 million) payment because “the prosecutor had asked me not to say anything.” 

 A spokesman for BayernLB and Gribkowsky’s legal representative declined to comment.

Malaysian Grand Prix 2011: Lewis Hamilton bemoans disastrous race and questions McLaren's tactics

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has described his race at the Malaysian Grand Prix as a disaster and has questioned his team's strategy.

The 2008 champion made a good start from the front row of the grid, but was passed in turns one and two of the opening lap by Renault's German driver Nick Heidfeld.

Hamilton fought back but his charge was smothered by a slow pit-stop and a poor set of tyres, followed by a fourth pit-stop.

His race worsened following a collision with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso as the former team-mates fought over a podium spot with just over 10 laps to go. The Spaniard clipped Hamilton's rear wheel, snapping off the left end plate on the Ferrari's front wing, and damaging the floor of the McLaren.

Alonso was forced to pit immediately and finished sixth, while Hamilton's race unravelled as he struggled both with the damaged floor and worn tires in the final few laps, dropping from third to seventh.

Stewards gave both drivers a 20-second penalty; Alonso for causing the collision and Hamilton for changing direction more than once to defend his position. It was not enough to cost Alonso sixth place, but it did drop Hamilton below Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi into eighth.

Despite their similar punishments, the two drivers left Malaysia with conflicting emotions: Hamilton described the race as a "disaster" and questioned his team's strategy, while Alonso was buoyed by Ferrari's competitiveness in race conditions.

"That's racing (the collision), but that wasn't the biggest problem to me," Hamilton said. "Our strategy wasn't good. So (the collision) doesn't really matter ... I'm sure it wasn't great (for the car and its downforce). But really the strategy was the main impact."

Hamilton said his pit stops were earlier than he had wanted. He was in second place — only 3.9 seconds behind race leader Sebastian Vettel — at the midway point of the race, but was leapfrogged by team-mate Jenson Button after the third set of stops and then subsequently had the collision with Alonso.

While Button managed to do the last 19 laps on one set of tires, Hamilton could not make them last that long, running wide off the track at one point as he was passed by Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Renault's Nick Heidfeld and Red Bull's Mark Webber.

"It was a disaster ... It was a really terrible race," he said. "I had a shocking race to be honest, it was absolutely shocking. But that's racing."

As for the fact Alonso did not lose a position, Hamilton added: "Then he's not had a penalty [but] I'm not going to argue or disagree with the penalty.

"From my side I'm not allowed to move more than once. Do I class it as dangerous? No, but that's the rule. Twenty seconds is not such a bad penalty for it. As for Fernando, he hit me, he got a 20-second penalty, but it didn't really do anything for him. It doesn't exactly work out as a penalty, but again, that's racing."

His old rival Alonso was more positive despite the sixth-place finish.

"(The collision) cost me maybe the podium today," Alonso said. But the Spaniard added the car felt "much better today. We were fighting with the McLarens, with Webber as well so that was a surprise for us ... It was a good surprise today, fighting with them."

Alonso and Hamilton were team-mates at McLaren in 2007, but the relationship between the Spaniard and the then-rookie Briton quickly deteriorated and Alonso returned to Renault in 2008 before joining Ferrari in 2010.

Button dreams of treble - Latest Sports News F1

British star hoping for third straight Melbourne win despite pre-season problems

Jenson Button accepts that victory in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix appears unlikely but he is targeting a third straight win in Melbourne all the same.

The Englishman has emerged triumphant at Albert Park in both the last two years - albeit in different circumstances.

In 2009, Button and Brawn GP were the class of the field as they embarked on the first of six wins in seven races that laid the foundation for world championship success.

Twelve months later, Button also took the chequered flag but this time on the back of an inspired call on tyres, with race leader Sebastian Vettel also spinning out.

That win was Button's first for McLaren, although they have struggled during pre-season testing this year.

"I've come to love Australia," said Button, who also took a McLaren for a spin on the famous Mount Panorama track in Bathurst, New South Wales, on Tuesday.

"These last two years it has been good to me, really good to me, and I can't wait to get back on track.

"It's a fun circuit to drive, and with mixed conditions it's very tricky, but I enjoy driving there, and hopefully I can get a hat-trick this year.

"If I did I'd be very, very happy. Knowing you've won three on the trot at the same circuit, that you've done a great job, would be an amazing feeling.

"Hopefully that will be the case, but we'll have to wait and see just how quick we are."

Unpredictable

Button's win last year came after an unpredictable race which brought rain and safety car interventions - something the street circuit has a habit of producing.

The 31-year-old is naturally hoping that will work in his favour again, adding: "It's a great circuit for racing.

"Perhaps because it's habitually at the start of the season when a precise pecking order has yet to be established, we often see fast cars running out of sequence, and the excitement that that brings.

"With the added issue of multiple tyre stops, it could be a very exciting and unpredictable race weekend.

"On paper three wins in a row might not look likely, but seriously, who knows? I most definitely wouldn't rule it out."

McLaren have lacked both pace and reliability pre-season, although they hope a revamped floor and exhaust system on the MP4-26 can claw back over a second per lap on rivals Red Bull and Ferrari.

Embarking on his second season with the team, Button says he feels settled at McLaren now and is well aware that they have the capability to improve the car.

"Last year I arrived at McLaren and my goal was to win the world championship, obviously, after winning it the previous year," he added.

Work

"But it was still a learning year with the team and I was pretty happy with the result, although qualifying was an area I had to work on, to develop the car where it would really fit me when I pushed it to the limit.

"Coming into the season I feel if we have a car that is competitive initially, great.

"If we haven't then we're going to work on it. We've a lot of very experienced people, doctors, professors, engineers in the team are going to pull together and we're going to move forwards.

"We have to see what happens at the first race, but I feel very confident in my ability, as I'm sure Lewis (Hamilton) does, the same with Fernando (Alonso) and Sebastian (Vettel).

"But it's a team effort and if we don't quite have the pace, then we don't, and if we do, fantastic."

Teams to miss Bahrain test - hot sports news

Formula One pre-season test set to be cancelled

Formula One teams have agreed not to attend the scheduled pre-season test in Bahrain from March 3-6.

The test, as well as the season-opening race at the Bahrain International Circuit, has been thrown into doubt after violent unrest in the country.

The teams were scheduled to meet on Monday in Barcelona - where pre-season testing is currently taking place - to discuss the viability of travelling to Bahrain.

The decision to stay away will throw further doubt on the grand prix proper, which is scheduled for March 11-13.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hinted last week that a decision on the race itself will be made on Tuesday.

Teams debate Bahrain testing - hot sports news

F1 to decide whether to head for gulf state

The F1 teams are expected to meet on Monday to decide whether or not they will head to Bahrain for the final pre-season test.

The teams are scheduled to test at Bahrain's Sakhir circuit from March 3-6, one week before the circuit hosts the season-opening grand prix.

But political unrest has cast doubt over both the test and the grand prix.

Already Barcelona's circuit director Salvador Servia has stated that the Circuit de Catalunya, the venue where the teams are currently running for the third of the four pre-season tests, will be available should the teams opt not to head to Bahrain.

The teams are expected to meet at the Spanish track following the conclusion of Monday's action to make a decision on the final pre-season test.

However, they will have to wait until Tuesday before learning the fate of the Bahrain GP with Bernie Ecclestone saying he will leave it in the hands of Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa to decide "whether or not it's safe for us to be there."

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber concedes Formula One must be prepared to abandon plans to stage the opening race of the 2011 season in Bahrain.

"When you hear of people losing their lives, this is a tragedy," Webber said.

"It's probably not the best time to go there for a sporting event. They have bigger things, bigger priorities."

Rosberg fastest on day three - hot sports news

Mercedes GP driver sets the pace ahead of Petrov and Hamilton

Mercedes GP's Nico Rosberg set the fastest time on day three of Formula One testing in Barcelona on Sunday.

The German driver lapped the 4.65-km Circuit de Catalunya in a time of one minute 23.168 seconds to go 0.295s clear of Renault's Vitaly Petrov.

Rosberg spent the morning gaining experience of Pirelli's intermediate tyre after overnight rain brought a damp track.

When conditions improved in the afternoon, he ran a number of longer runs to further develop the team's understanding of car and tyre behaviour and also continued his familiarisation with the KERS system.

Rosberg's day concluded with qualifying simulations, including operation of KERS and the adjustable rear wing.

"It was interesting running with the intermediates this morning and, although the warm-up is tricky, we definitely improved our understanding of the tyres," said Rosberg, who completed 92 laps in all.

"Our long runs this afternoon included some aero work in preparation for our next upgrade package before going into lower-fuel, new-tyre running at the end of the day."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was third fastest ahead of Williams rookie Pastor Maldonado and Red Bull's Mark Webber, who concentrated on a race simulation in the afternoon after the morning's wet conditions forced the cancellation of a planned qualifying programme.

Meanwhile, Felipe Massa was 10th quickest as Ferrari also spent the afternoon running a race simulation.

The test concludes on Monday.
Times

1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 1m23.168 92 laps
2 Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m23.463 93
3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren Mercedes 1m23.858 93
4 Pastor Maldonado Williams 1m24.815 60
5 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing 1m24.995 139
6 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1m25.454 48
7 Sergio Perez Sauber 1m25.557 115
8 Adrian Sutil Force India F1 1m25.720 102
9 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m26.155 31
10 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m26.508 123
11 Timo Glock Virgin Racing 1m26.598 97
12 Giorgio Mondini HRT F1 1m28.178 39
13 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m28.329 42
14 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1 1m30.722 32
All times unofficial

Protest threat in Bahrain

Warning that first F1 race of the season could become target for anti-government protestors

A human rights group in Bahrain has warned that next month's grand prix in the country could become a target for anti-government protestors.

Bahrain has become the latest Arab nation to experience substantial public unrest in the wake of the events seen in Tunisia and Egypt during recent weeks.

Although the protests were initially peaceful, two people have so far been killed, thus inflaming an already volatile situation.

With the season-opening race, due to be held at Sakhir on March 13, sure to place an international spotlight on the country, Nabeel Rajab, vice president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, says that protestors might seek to exploit the situation.

"For sure F1 is not going to be peaceful this time," he told Arabian Business. "There'll be lots of journalists, a lot of people looking and (the government) will react in a stupid manner as they have done, and that will be bloody, but will be more publicised.

"This will not stop, especially now when people have died. I don't think it's going to stop easily."

Schumacher sets the pace

Seven-times world champion tops day two of Jerez test

Michael Schumacher set the fastest time for Mercedes GP on day two of the latest pre-season Formula One test at Jerez.

The seven-times world champion completed 112 laps of the 4.428-km Spanish circuit in all, setting a best lap of one minute 20.352 seconds.

Schumacher ended the day less than a tenth of a second quicker than Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who was fastest on day one of the four-day test.

"It clearly was a productive day, and obviously I am happy about that," Schumacher said. "We were focusing on long runs and being able to produce such a lot of mileage is positive in terms of reliability. It also gives us good data for the test days to come and for the developments we are working on.

"We are moving forward as we should during the testing period but at the same time, we are aware we have to keep pushing."

Jenson Button was third quickest for McLaren after taking over driving duties from Lewis Hamilton.

Completing a series short runs in the team's new MP4-26 chassis, Button set a best time of of 1min 21.009secs.

Toro Rosso again looked in decent shape, with Jaime Alguersuari ending the day fourth. Even so, the Spaniard span at turn nine to trigger a red flag.

World champions Red Bull once more concentrated on long runs with the RB7 rather than ultimate lap time as Mark Webber finished fifth overall with a 1:21.613.
Late crash

Force India's new VJM04 was sixth in the hands of Adrian Sutil, while Sauber rookie Sergio Perez, second on Thursday, had to be content with seventh place after a late crash which caused some front-end damage to the C30.

Renault's Vitaly Petrov had a spin on his way to ninth place on his final outing at Jerez before handing over to Nick Heidfeld and Bruno Senna for the remainder of the weekend. The pair are both in the running to replace the injured Robert Kubica at the team.

Virgin Racing's Timo Glock finished ahead of Petrov in eighth, while Pastor Maldonado was another to bring out the red flags, on this occasion for over an hour, when he caused substantial damage to his Williams after spinning off.

The Venezuelan rookie finished the day in 10th place having completed 38 laps, the fewest of any driver on Friday.

Lotus driver Jarno Trulli also suffered from restricted running, a mechanical problem limiting him to 40 laps as he brought up the rear.

Times:

1. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 1:20.352 112 laps
2. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:20.413 116
3. Jenson Button McLaren 1:21.009 69
4. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:21.214 72
5. Mark Webber Red Bull 1:21.613 113
6. Adrian Sutil Force India 1:21.780 73
7. Sergio Perez Sauber 1:21.857 56
8. Timo Glock Virgin 1:22.208 57
9. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1:22.493 65
10. Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:22.591 37
11. Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:23.216 40
All times unofficial

Renault defend Kubica rallying decision

Robert Kubica rally crash: Renault defend decision to let Pole go rallying before Formula One seasonRobert Kubica rally crash: Renault defend decision to let Pole go rallying before Formula One season

With doctors predicting it will be six days before we know for certain whether Robert Kubica will regain the use of his right hand, following his horrific crash in a rally on Sunday, debate within Formula One on Monday focused on whether the Pole should have been allowed in the car in the first place.

A number of commentators have been highly critical of Renault’s decision to permit their star driver to race in the Ronde di Andora just five weeks before the start of the season. Former driver Mark Blundell described it as “crazy”.

On Monday Renault defended their decision. “Rallying is a very important thing for Robert,” said a team spokeswoman. “Driving a F1 car, a go kart or a rally car is a way of finding his personal balance.

“He knew the risks and he always insisted that his contract should let him drive other cars than F1.”

Team principal Eric Boullier added that Kubica’s extra-curricular activities make him the character that he is.

“We didn’t want a robot or a corporate man for a driver,” Boullier said. “It [the clause in his contract] was agreed together.”

Kubica’s accident appears to have polarised opinion within the paddock between those who consider allowing such activities irresponsible and those who consider them essential.

Three-times world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, a man who regularly raced in sports cars during his F1 career, said he was more inclined these days to consider such activities irresponsible having been a team owner himself.

His argument is that teams and sponsors pour millions of pounds into racing every year and hundreds of people depend on that for jobs.

“You’ve got to look after that investment,” Stewart said. “It’s quite a challenge to stop drivers doing the things I believe are unwise leading up to a F1 season. Skiing is the one you would immediately think of.”

Yet Ferrari annually raise eyebrows by allowing their highly-paid drivers to ski every year at their pre-season trip to the Italian Dolomites.

And speaking on Monday at the launch of the MVR-02, Virgin team principal John Booth admitted he had recently taken his two drivers skiing as well.

“We took Jerome [d’Ambrosio] and Timo [Glock] skiing a couple of weeks ago,” Booth said. “We said ’OK guys, stick to the piste blah blah blah.’ So we got to the top of the lift, the gates opened and they were just flat out.

“They were everywhere. And that’s how they are. That’s what makes them so good. It’d be difficult to stifle that, wouldn’t it? You can’t wrap them in cotton wool.” Some teams try.

It is understood that McLaren’s two British drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, must seek permission if they wish to pursue any sort of dangerous extra-curricular activity. A request to go rallying would not likely be granted.

Over at Red Bull, Christian Horner said last December he would consider banning Mark Webber from mountain biking after the Australian broke a second bone in as many years falling off his bike.

Ultimately, each team is different although whether attitudes will harden in light of Kubica’s accident remains to be seen.

The Pole remained in an induced coma on Monday, woken only briefly to speak to family and friends, as doctors at the Santa Corona Hospital near Genoa rested him ahead of possible further operations to fractures of the shoulder and elbow.

Professor Mario Igor Rossello, part of the team who carried out the seven-hour operation to save Kubica’s right hand on Sunday night, cautioned that it would be a while yet before it could be deemed successful.

“The hand is warm and this means the operation went well,” Rossello said.

“We need at least six days to check if the circulation of the blood in the limb responds as it should.”

That leaves Renault in an awkward position. Boullier said on Monday that he would not make a decision on Kubica’s replacement until he knew how long he would be out for. However, with the second of four winter tests starting in Jerez on Thursday, time is of the essence.

Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean are Renault’s two reserves waiting in the wings, but Boullier is believed to favour signing a driver with greater experience.

Nick Heidfeld, with 172 grands prix behind him, has that in abundance while there has been a groundswell of support for 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen to return.

The Finn’s manager, Steve Robertson, was unavailable for comment on Monday night.

Co-driver hits out

Kubica’s co-driver, Jakub Gerber, has hit out at the safety standards in the Ronde di Andora rally as well as the sport’s governing body.

Gerber, who escaped unhurt from the high-speed crash on the opening stage which has left Kubica's career in the balance, described on Monday how their Skoda Fabia was penetrated by a section of barrier.

"After skidding, the car leaned against the guard rail and pushed it outwards,” he said. “Then it crashed against the following guard rail. The guard rail pierced through the car and went all the way through it.

“That opening [between the two sections of barrier] makes no sense. But, most of all, we shouldn't have cars with so little protection at the front.

"It's not the first time a crash like this happens - the Federation should think of something to protect the cockpit."

What others do...

Fernando Alonso/Felipe Massa
Both men skied at Wrooom, Ferrari’s annual media week in the Italian Dolomites in January, and emerged unscathed. They even descended the slopes at night in a torch-lit run.

Mark Webber
Broke his leg in a mountain bike accident in Tasmania in the 2008 off season and fell off again last year, fracturing his shoulder, while leading the championship.

Lewis Hamilton
Spent the winter hiking up snow-covered mountains in Aspen, Colorado, and kept his Twitter followers up to date throughout. Sample tweet: “2 put things in perspective, I’m livin n trainin at 2,600m-3,700m. Its as tough as it can get. Trained almost evry day includin xmas n NYE.”

Jenson Button
Spent two weeks in Hawaii with his lingerie model girlfriend Jessica Michibata over New Year. Not as romantic as it sounds. A triathlon junkie, Button was out clocking up 120km bike rides with multiple Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

Michael Schumacher
Took up motorbikes immediately after retiring from Ferrari in 2006. An accident in February 2009 caused a neck injury which prevented him stepping in for the injured Massa that summer. Still enjoys a spot of skydiving.

Kimi Raikkonen
Like Kubica, Raikkonen enjoyed rallying. The Iceman also indulged in snowmobile and powerboat racing. Has now graduated to WRC full-time.

Juan Pablo Montoya
Missed two races in 2005 at McLaren after a shoulder fracture blamed on the tennis court but widely suspected to have more to do with falling off a motocross bike.

Kubica injured in rally crash

Renault F1 driver suffers multiple fractures in accident in Italy

Renault Formula One driver Robert Kubica suffered multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand in an accident while competing in a rally in Italy on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Pole was heading to the start of the Ronde di Andora rally near Genoa when his Skoda Fabia car went off the road at high speed and hit a church wall.

Co-driver Jacub Gerber escaped unhurt but Kubica had to be removed from the wreckage and taken by helicopter to the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure, where he later underwent surgery.

Kubica's manager Daniele Morelli admitted the condition of the driver's right hand was giving particular cause for concern but sounded optimistic that he would eventually recover.

"The surgeons are trying to restore the functions of his right hand," Morelli said. "They have already revascularized the limb and repaired the bone structure.

"Now they have to think about the muscular functions but Robert has strong character and he will make it."

Morelli added that the "clinical situation isn't easy" but denied there was a risk of amputation.

"At this stage there is no such risk," he said. "We're talking about the functionality."

Earlier, Renault confirmed in a statement: "After undergoing extensive medical checks this morning, Robert Kubica has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. He is currently undergoing surgery at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure.

"Robert suffered a high-speed accident this morning while competing in the Ronde di Andora Rally."
Support

Assuming the likelihood that he is unable to race in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 13, then Renault may decide to field either of their reserve drivers, Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean, alongside team-mate Vitaly Petrov.

Kubica, who set the quickest time during a three-day F1 test held in Valencia earlier this week, finished eighth in last year's drivers' championship and has one victory to his name at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

Twelve months prior to that, the then BMW Sauber driver escaped from a massive crash in the same race with little more than concussion.

He also suffered serious injuries as a passenger in a road accident in 2003 that left him with titanium bolts in an arm.

Kubica is a keen rally fan who has entered several events in the past and even mentioned the possibility of making it his career post-Formula One.

F1 drivers used Twitter to express support for their colleague, with double world champion Fernando Alonso saying: "Let's all support Robert Kubica, who suffered an accident today. Besides a great driver, he is a great person."

"I'm thinking of Robert, wish him all the best and hope to see him soon on the track and especially off-track as a friend," said Virgin Racing's Timo Glock.

Williams driver Rubens Barrichello added: "I would like to ask you for your best wishes to Kubica. He is being operated right now. We all like him and he deserves all the best."

Kubica ends test on top

Renault driver sets quickest time of the week as Button gets to grip with new tyres

Renault's Robert Kubica emerged quickest on the third and final day of Formula One's first pre-season test in Valencia. 

The Pole lapped the 4.005-km Ricardo Tormo circuit in one minute 13.144 seconds, setting the quickest time seen at the track all week in the team's R31, which features an innovative forward exhaust system.

Force India's Adrian Sutil was second fastest just 0.057 seconds slower in last year's car, with McLaren's Jenson Button third on his first outing of 2011.

The 2009 world champion completed 105 laps, also in an interim car - McLaren's new chassis, the MP4-26, is officially launched on Friday - and said his first impressions of F1's new Pirelli tyres were that they might help his qualifying performance this year.

"I like the feeling of the tyre," said Button.

"It has a stable rear when you enter high-speed corners, a stable rear when you brake for low-speed corners, and that is something I really do need with the car. I am happy with that step.

"In quite a few races last year I wasn't happy with my qualifying performance, but in the races we were very competitive.

"It is an area I need to work on, but all we can do off the circuit is try and improve areas that I think will help me.

"One area I think is that with Pirelli we have a tyre that maybe suits me more than the previous tyre we had.

"We have to wait and see, but I think that may be the case. I also think the work we are doing at the factory is positive."
Productive

Behind the leading trio Mark Webber had a more productive day in the new Red Bull, the RB7, following Wednesday's showing when he was hampered in his afternoon run by a master cylinder failure.

The Australian completed 105 laps, with his best a 1:13.936, and was followed by Felipe Massa as he sampled the new Ferrari F150 for the first time, with the Brazilian's best a 1:14.017.

However, Massa's morning run was disrupted by a fire caused when oil leaked on to his car's exhaust.

Although Michael Schumacher was 1.393secs off the pace on Thursday in ninth place, Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn said he was happy with the test.

"We're starting to get an insight into the car's behaviour and its responses to various set-up changes are proving to be very consistent," Brawn said.

"After a few difficulties at the start of the test, we have finished with a strong day providing plenty of data and options to take forward to the next test."

The second test, when McLaren's new car will have it first serious outing, takes place in Jerez for four days from next Thursday.

Times:

1. Robert Kubica Renault 1:13.144 96 laps
2. Adrian Sutil Force India Mercedes 1:13.201 +0.057 117 laps
3. Jenson Button McLaren Mercedes 1:13.553 0.409 105 laps
4. Mark Webber Red Bull Renault 1:13.936 +0.792 105 laps
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:14.017 +0.873 80 laps
6. Timo Glock Virgin Cosworth 1:14.207 +1.063 114 laps
7. Pastor Maldonado Williams Cosworth 1:14.299 + 1.155 101 laps
8. Sergio Perez Sauber Ferrari 1:14.458 +1.314 104 laps
9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:14.537 +1.393 110 laps
10. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:14.801 + 1.657 73 laps
11. Narain Karthikeyan HRT Cosworth 1:16.535 +3.391 63 laps
12. Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:17.648 +4.504 38 laps


All times unofficial

Hamilton ready for big year

Everything falling into place for ex-champion

Lewis Hamilton insists he won't be distracted by off-track issues as the new Formula One season revs into gear.

It is approaching a year now since the former world champion split from father Anthony as manager, a move that impacted significantly on him on and off the track.

He was forced to personally handle his own affairs and he admitted there were times when his performances were affected.

The 26-year-old, though, is now close to a resolution, with high-profile sports management agents IMG, who house an array of stars on their books, still rumoured to be the frontrunners.

"I'm working on getting it sorted. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be able to let you know what's going on," said Hamilton.

"But it's positive. It won't distract me from my job, and certain things will be taken care of a lot better than when I was looking after myself.

"I've a couple of candidates and I'm just trying to decide which one. I'll let you know when I've decided."
Motivated

The suspicion is once that particular matter is resolved, it will allow Hamilton to focus fully on the most important aspect of his life - driving.

The 26-year-old certainly backed up his father's recent assertion he is particularly extra motivated this year to reclaim the title.

"I just feel things in my life are much better now, and I feel in a much better place, that I'm able to focus even more energy on to winning than I've done in the past," added Hamilton.

"It feels great to be here, I'm happy in my life, as I was at some points of last year.

"But every year I've always approached it the same. Sometimes your training doesn't go as well, sometimes you're more drained by appearances or certain things that you do.

"Whereas this year things have been a lot clearer and the training has been a lot more productive, and I'm feeling a lot better about the car.

"Of course, I always want it more. I can never want it enough."

Altitude

Hamilton feels he is fitter than ever going into his fifth season in Formula One after mid-winter training that included snow hiking and cross-country skiing.

"It's perfect with the high altitude. It's a lot more hard work," he added. "When you come back down to sea level you really start seeing the benefit, so I like to go up high and do the training.

"I just enjoy it, waking up in the morning and going hiking up a mountain with clear blue skies. There's no substitute for that. There's nothing better.

"It's also good for your soul, good for your spirit, to be in nice beautiful places."

Schumi plans podium return

Brawn confident new Mercedes will perform in 2011

Seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is convinced he will be back on the podium this season.

Schumacher failed to finish in the top three in his comeback season following his retirement at the end of 2006, but the new Mercedes W02 has been built more to his liking and specification.

It means much is now expected of the 42-year-old Schumacher, who said: "Finally the waiting is over and things get started.

"For us drivers the break every year is hard to take because the gap between the last race and the first time out on track seems to be never-ending.

"Even if I have been involved and updated all winter on the developments, and even if I know the improvements are significant, it is still different to see the new car literally for the first time in front of you.

"You automatically build up this nice pre-start tension, so I very much look forward to the new season.

"We have said it several times already, but again we are really looking to build up something big together.

"I am very confident this season we will be standing on the podium much more regularly - ideally in the middle."

Team principal Ross Brawn believes a closer working relationship between the chassis and engine groups will yield greater dividends.
Targets

"The concept development for the car started early and we have set challenging targets for the design, combined with a robust plan to ensure the pace of development can continue throughout the long season," said Brawn.

"We have two excellent drivers in Michael and Nico, both of whom are capable of winning races in a good car, and we look forward to seeing them push each other and the development of the new Silver Arrow during the season.

"We want to be setting the standard right from the start, but if we are not, we will respond very strongly to get ourselves into the game."

Nico Rosberg - who scored 70 points more than his teammate in 2010 - commented: "I am looking forward to having a much stronger season than last year and, as always, our targets are aggressive. We want to be competing at the front and challenging for race wins.

"Everyone at our factories in Brackley and Brixworth has worked extremely hard on the new car and we are all looking forward to seeing how it performs."

Testing underway in Valencia

Alonso first driver to display his team's new car

Just a mere 78 days after F1 bid farewell to the 2010 season, testing for the 2011 campaign got underway at Valencia.

With blue skies overhead, heralding a perfect day for testing, new Force India test driver Nico Hulkenberg was the first out on track followed by McLaren's Gary Paffett.

Both drivers were using last year's cars as their team's new challengers won't be launched until later in the morning.

Fernando Alonso therefore had the honour of being the first to display his team's new car as he took the track in Ferrari's F150.

His run was short-lived as the Spaniard suffered an apparent technical problem within the first hour. Alonso, though, was able to get his car, which had the rear covered in flow-paint, back to the garage.

Soon back on track, the double World Champion climbed to the top of the timesheets with a 1:15.371.

Defending World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi both hit the track in their 2011 challengers while Vitaly Petrov debuted Renault's new R31 before Rubens Barrichello ventured out in his FW33.

Jaime Alguersuari put Toro Rosso's STR6 through its first test while Narain Karthikeyan made his Formula One return with Hispania Racing - but in last year's machine.

The morning saw most of the teams focusing on short runs, barely more than installation laps as the drivers got a feel for their new cars.

One man, though, who wasn't left with a good feeling was Nico Rosberg.

The Mercedes GP driver was behind the wheel of Merc's new W02 for its maiden voyage when he became the first to bring out the red flags as he stopped out on track.

With the action back underway, Vettel improved from a 1:18 to a 1:15.559, slotting in behind Alonso as last year's antagonists went at it again.

Alonso responded by dropping his time to a 1:14.718 and extending his advantage over the reigning World Champ to 0.841s. He also completed the most number of laps during the morning, amassing 44.

Hulkenberg was third fastest on his Force India debut while Kobayashi had a promising start in his Sauber C30, finishing with the fourth best time ahead of Paffett and Jerome D'Ambrosio, who was using a modified version of last year's Virgin Racing car.

Unofficial Times (1pm)
01. Alonso FerrariF1501:14.718 44 laps
02. VettelRed Bull RacingRB71:14.962+ 0.24415 laps
03. HulkenbergForce IndiaVJM-031:15.615+ 0.89729 laps
04. KobayashiSauberC301:15.831+ 1.11338 laps
05. PaffettMcLarenMP4-251:16.256+ 1.53845 laps
06. D'AmbrosioVirgin RacingMVR-021:16.398+ 1.68032 laps
07. AlguersuariToro RossoSTR61:18.260+ 3.5428 laps
08. KarthikeyanHRT F1 TeamF1111:18.650+ 3.93222 laps
09. BarrichelloWilliamsFW331:18.714+ 3.99611 laps
10. RosbergMercedes GPW021:19.930+ 5.2129 laps
11. PetrovLotus Renault GPR311:20.633+ 5.9156 laps

Schumacher: all F1 drivers suffer fom motion sickness

Michael Schumacher insists all Formula One drivers suffer fom motion sickness when using simulators

Michael Schumacher has said “almost all drivers” suffer from motion sickness when using simulators and has played down their importance to his comeback and to Formula One in general.

It was revealed last week that Mercedes’ seven-time world champion had suffered from motion sickness throughout his career; an affliction which it was suggested may have contributed to his disappointing performances in 2010 after three years in retirement.

With the ban on in-season testing, drivers increasingly rely on hi-tech simulators — cockpits raise on hydraulic arms with screens all around — to familiarise themselves with tracks and to test different car set-ups.

Schumacher, though, believes the speculation has been blown out of proportion.

“I think almost all the drivers that I know have had it [motion sickness],” the German told Telegraph Sport. “When we had our first simulator at Ferrari I had exactly this feeling already so it’s nothing to do with age. People get used to it by going through certain processes.”

The 42 year-old added that his problems were exacerbated by the fact that the Brackley-based Mercedes team, who almost folded in 2009 after Honda left the sport, do not yet have the latest simulator.

“We are developing it now but it will probably be another year before we can actually use it,” said Schumacher, who claimed that his team-mate, Nico Rosberg, had similar issues last year.

Schumacher believes the effectiveness of simulators has been exaggerated by commentators and says you must have the latest specification, such as the one owned by McLaren, for them to be of any use at all.

“As far as I understand there are some other top teams that have a simulator but make very little use of it,” he said. “They don’t use it to the extent that maybe McLaren or some other teams do.

“I think it’s very limited what you can do with it and, anyway, you have to have the right one. There are not too many teams that have the right simulator.

“For us drivers the main benefit of them would be to get used to a track. But for me personally that has never been an issue. I don’t see the big advantage of them.”

After Ferrari’s unveiling of their F150 last Friday, three more teams — Team Lotus, Renault and Sauber — will lift the covers off their 2011 challengers on Monday.

Two of the bigger guns, Mercedes and Red Bull, will parade their new machines in the Valencia pit-lane on Tuesday just hours before the first of four winter tests kicks off.

McLaren launch their 2011 car in Berlin on Friday. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will be running an interim model in Spain this week.

Ferrari deny Vettel interest

Nothing behind rumours of Vettel signing says Scuderia boss

Ferrari have no interest in signing Sebastian Vettel, according to their president Luca di Montezemolo.

Di Montezemolo suggested last month that the team might be pursuing Vettel when he said that the 2010 World Champion was "fast, smart and young" and that "sooner or later he will be driving a red car."

Further speculation was sparked when Vettel then said that "Ferrari is a myth, just like Mercedes, and every driver wants to race for a myth once in his career."

The duo's comments raised eyebrows, with reports suggesting that the reigning World Champion could head to Ferrari as early as next season to replace Felipe Massa.

But the German has since insisted he is happy to stay at Red Bull Racing "because Red Bull give me the fastest car."
Wonderful season

And Di Montezemolo downplayed the rumours, insisting there was "absolutely nothing" behind them and stating he was keen for the next driver to come from the Ferrari Driver Academy.

"There is absolutely nothing going on with Vettel," he said. "Apart from the congratulations for a wonderful season and the fact that he knew how to benefit from the last race in Abu Dhabi

"I hope that (the the next driver) will come from the Ferrari Driver Academy, because that would mean that he's a 'top star.'

"Naturally Ferrari puts a driver in the car able to win. One of the ideas of the Academy is to have the next Scuderia driver in-house."

Paul di Resta, F1's newest driver

Paul di Resta, F1's newest driver, relishes renewing rivalry with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel

Paul di Resta is going to have to speed up. Britain’s newest Formula One driver was almost late for his own unveiling in Glasgow on Wednesday.

To be fair to the Scot, his flight from Nice was cancelled by British Airways at the last minute and he had to re-route via London. Better late than never.

That dictum applies rather neatly to Di Resta, a likeable character of Scottish-Italian ancestry who has had to be patient to get his chance in motor racing’s blue riband Formula One series.

The 24 year-old had a stellar karting career alongside a young Lewis Hamilton, and famously beat Formula One’s current golden boy Sebastian Vettel to the Formula Three Euroseries title when they were team-mates in 2006.

Racing is in his blood. Di Resta’s father, Louis, raced in Formula Ford while his cousin, Dario Franchitti — who he describes as “more like a big brother” — is a three-time IndyCar champion. “I was in a go-kart before I was three,” he shrugs. “Almost before I could speak.”

It was the usual complaint — a lack of sponsorship — that delayed Di Resta’s progression through the ranks. Too big for GP2 — the F1 feeder series — he switched to the German Touring Car championship in 2007, a series he won last year at the fourth attempt.

“They have had it easier than me,” he says of Hamilton and Vettel’s progress, though without a hint of malice. “They had different backing and that got them there a bit quicker.”

Now, though, Di Resta has his big chance with Force India, for whom he impressed as a test driver in 2010, and is keen to make up for lost time.

“I don’t want to sound big-headed,” he says, “but I wasn’t racing them [Hamilton and Vettel] when they won their championships. I’m definitely confident I can be competitive given the right car. I’m sure they’d say it as well. We’ve had some great battles in the past.

"Hopefully I’ll get a repeat of that in the future.”

Di Resta’s manager, Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony, is certain of it. It won’t happen in 2011 though. Force India have produced a reasonable package in recent years but are nowhere near the Ferraris, McLarens or Red Bulls of this world.

Di Resta knows that and his priority will be to get to grips with more experienced team-mate Adrian Sutil. The German cut a rather forlorn figure as Force India’s new line-up was announced yesterday at the headquarters of sponsors Whyte & Mackay.

Sutil sat quietly to one side with new reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg as Di Resta took centre stage.

“I would hope to be on the same pace as him or quicker than him from the start,” Di Resta says firmly.

Di Resta is clearly not lacking in self-belief, but he does not seem the type to get big-headed. He lives in Monaco these days, yes, but he has not forgotten his upbringing in West Lothian.

From relatively humble stock — his grandfather emigrated to Scotland from Naples in the 1950s to run an ice cream van — Di Resta has never lacked direction. If his career stalls now, it won’t be because he has been living it up in Monte Carlo or even at The Twig, his Dad’s Bathgate nightclub.

“My brother hogs the dance floor there these days,” he laughs. “I went when I was a bit younger, but it was getting to the point where it was taking too long to recover. You have to be focused if you want to succeed in this sport.” Now is his chance.

Lotus v Lotus: High Court judge takes both teams by surprise with 'speedy' trial date over naming-rights issue

The Formula One season looks almost certain start with two Lotus teams on the grid after lawyers for Group Lotus and Team Lotus agreed on Monday on a trial date of March 21 to settle their naming-rights dispute.

The trial had been scheduled for early 2012 but Mr Justice Peter Smith told both parties that he could see “no good reason to wait”.

Mr Justice Smith also made it clear that he would prefer to see the two sides settle out of court before March 21, which is eight days after the start of the season in Bahrain. That looks unlikely, although it would certainly be appreciated by bewildered fans.

Even by Formula One standards, this dispute is mind-boggling. Both Group Lotus, the British sports car maker now owned by Malaysian manufacturer Proton, and 1Malaysia Racing, who have acquired the iconic Team Lotus name from David Hunt, brother of former F1 champion James, dispute the other’s right to race under the Lotus banner.

Group Lotus had granted 1Malaysia Racing a licence to use the Lotus name in 2010 but terminated the agreement when it decided instead to sponsor Renault F1. That prompted 1Malaysia chief Tony Fernandes to purchase the Team Lotus name to protect his investment.

Hunt, who bought Team Lotus from the administrator when they were wound up in 1994, has fended off numerous legal challenges to his intellectual property and is adamant it carries the rights to use the Team Lotus name and everything associated with the brand in relation to F1.

The two sides were in court on Monday to attend a summary judgment hearing brought by Group Lotus. This is where a judge decides a case on the spot and stops it going to a full trial.

However, proceedings had been going for only three minutes before the judge intervened, made it clear that he was not dismissing 1Malaysia’s claim to the Team Lotus name, and told both legal teams “a speedy trial would focus the minds”.

The trial is likely to last at least 10 days.

Both Group Lotus and 1Malaysia expressed surprise, arguing that it will be difficult to prepare their cases in eight weeks. They may yet seek to have the trial date put back.

Meanwhile, Scottish driver Paul di Resta will be confirmed as a Force India driver at a press conference in Glasgow on Tuesday.