Pirelli’s heavily degrading tyres were not the only ‘control’ components causing problems for F1 teams in Barcelona this week.

The standard electronics used by every team, and supplied by McLaren subsidiary MES according to a FIA tender contract that was recently extended, was also toying with the patience of engineers up and down pitlane as the ‘middle’ pre-season test in sunny Spain got into gear.  Read more... (299 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

Sergio Perez was quickest in Barcelona on Wednesday, but he also admitted that Jenson Button still rules the McLaren roost.  Read more... (253 words, estimated 1:01 mins reading time)

F1 powerbrokers Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt are set to meet on Thursday, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. The topic? The unsigned 2013 Concorde Agreement.

Although F1 chief executive Ecclestone has inked bilateral financial agreements with all the teams, the signatures are still missing on the crucial pact between the teams, the commercial rights holder, and the FIA.  Read more... (182 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)

Adrian Sutil insists he is “not nervous” ahead of his test with Force India on Thursday.

Billed by the media as a ‘shootout’ for the last race seat in 2013, German Sutil will drive the VJM06 at Barcelona a day before the other hot contender, Jules Bianchi, tests on Friday.  Read more... (261 words, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

Bruno Senna has revealed he was a contender to fill the second race cockpit at Force India this year.

“It’s hard to understand what happened,” said the former Williams driver, who has instead switched to Le Mans sports cars, where this week he tested his Aston Martin for the first time in Portugal. “They (Force India) apparently have other priorities at the moment,” he told Brazilian Jovem Pan radio. “It seems the second driver has a second level of importance.”  Read more... (237 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)

‘Pirelli’ is the buzzword in the Barcelona paddock, as the F1 world gets to grips with the extreme degradation of the Italian supplier’s 2013 tyres.

McLaren’s Sergio Perez was quickest in his McLaren on Wednesday, but he admitted to being surprised by how quickly the Pirellis were wearing out.  Read more... (368 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Robert Kubica has been left out of Mercedes’ lineup for the German touring car series DTM in 2013.

Last month, the Pole tested one of the German marque’s cars, with Toto Wolff saying it was a “proper test in a proper race car”.

“Let’s see how it goes,” said Mercedes’ new motor racing director.  Read more... (171 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)

Williams is not planning to replace Mark Gillan, the chief operations engineer who was credited with helping the team recover its lost form in 2012. Gillan left Williams late last year, but at the time the Grove based team did not say if it intended to recruit from elsewhere to fill the vacancy.  Read more... (159 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)

Danica Patrick has leapt back into the motor racing headlines by becoming the first woman to secure pole for the 2013 Nascar opener at Daytona.

Previously, the highly popular 30-year-old American, who is stealing the show at the pinnacle of US motor sport, has insisted she has little interest in exploring her options in Formula One. But could more doors open now?  Read more... (283 words, estimated 1:08 mins reading time)

Barcelona will this week host a head-to-head ‘shootout’ for the final race seat on the 2013 grid.

Just like Williams weighed up Jenson Button versus Bruno Junqueira in 2000, and Nick Heidfeld versus Antonio Pizzonia in 2005, this time it will be Adrian Sutil and Jules Bianchi fighting for a single place at Force India.  Read more... (278 words, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)