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McLaren on Friday admitted it is now “worried” about the pace of the new MP4-28 car.

Jenson Button was just ninth in opening practice in Melbourne, before lagging more than two seconds off the pace in the second ninety minute session. Team newcomer Sergio Perez was consistently even slower.  Read more... (206 words, estimated 49 secs reading time)

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he decided to leave McLaren at the end of last year because “something didn’t feel right”.  Read more... (162 words, estimated 39 secs reading time)

Specialist publications are reporting a secret of the apparent speed of Mercedes’ new W04 car — a system known in the German squad’s garage as ‘Fric’.

German television RTL is saying it probably stands for ‘front and rear interactive control’, or in other words a type of legal active suspension.  Read more... (109 words, estimated 26 secs reading time)

Romain Grosjean has admitted the 2012 season took its toll.

Banned in Monza and written off as F1′s ‘first lap nutcase’ by Mark Webber, Grosjean admits he was relieved at the end of December, when Lotus decided he should be given another chance for 2013. With a 2013 seat secured, Frenchman Grosjean went on holiday.  Read more... (112 words, estimated 27 secs reading time)

F1 teams will make do with a normal test programme early next year, despite the introduction of radical new engine regulations.

Some of the engine suppliers reportedly want either an earlier or an extended winter test period ahead of the 2014 season, as F1 switches from V8 to turbo V6 engines.  Read more... (133 words, estimated 32 secs reading time)

Robert Kubica is not willing to give up on a future return to Formula One, despite acknowledging he will not be ready for a comeback for some time.

The Pole, whose right arm was almost severed in an early 2011 rallying crash, is returning to full-time action this year with a programme in the second-tier world rally championship.  Read more... (114 words, estimated 27 secs reading time)

Pastor Maldonado has admitted he cannot be certain his F1 career will continue long after the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Sponsoring Williams via the state-controlled PDVSA oil company, Chavez died of cancer last week and Maldonado rushed back to his native country before Australia for his funeral.  Read more... (192 words, estimated 46 secs reading time)

Kimi Raikkonen has hit back at claims only money motivates him to keep racing in F1.

After a two-year hiatus in world rallying in the wake of his Ferrari career, the phlegmatic Finn returned to the grid with Lotus last year, winning in Abu Dhabi and finishing a surprise third in the world championship.  Read more... (132 words, estimated 32 secs reading time)

Lewis Hamilton has revved up his rivalry with former teammate Jenson Button by saying the idea of beating his countryman “doesn’t excite me”.

The Britons were paired together at McLaren between 2010 and last season, but Hamilton has switched camps over the winter to Mercedes.  Read more... (196 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)

Michael Schumacher has ruled out returning to the formula one paddock as a television pundit.

It is an occupation now enjoyed by a number of the seven time world champion’s rivals, like former teammates Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert, and even his title nemesis Damon Hill.  Read more... (150 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)