More countries have followed Britain’s lead in seeing their exclusive free-to-air television coverage of formula one end.

The first bombshell was last year, when the split arrangement between pay-channel Sky and the BBC began for the British audience. Sky’s German arm has shared coverage with free-to-air RTL for years.  Read more... (231 words, estimated 55 secs reading time)

Boss and co-owner Vijay Mallya’s financial problems do not affect Force India, deputy team principal Bob Fernley insists.

This week, it emerged that lenders to Mallya’s failing airline Kingfisher are set to sell the billionaire’s collateral assets as they recall the loans.  Read more... (158 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)

Adrian Sutil has re-emerged as a front runner for the last spot on the 2013 grid, with news he had a custom seat fitted at Force India’s Silverstone factory this week.  Read more... (133 words, estimated 32 secs reading time)

Force India boss Vijay Mallya’s grounded airline Kingfisher appears close to folding.

Respected business newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, said plans by Kingfisher’s lenders to recall loans is “likely to cause severe financial strain” across Mallya’s entire portfolio.  Read more... (148 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

One of F1′s most respected and experienced insiders thinks Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes switch was about money and management.

“If you compare the two (teams), you must come to the conclusion that there were no sporting reasons for him to leave McLaren,” Tony Dodgins, a veteran British journalist, is quoted by the Swiss magazine Speed Week. “No, I think it’s because Lewis is strongly driven by his management,” he added.  Read more... (173 words, estimated 42 secs reading time)

Pirelli has surprised the F1 world by revealing an aggressive selection of tyre compounds for the start of the 2013 season. The big surprise is the choice for the Melbourne opener, as Pirelli opts to supply to teams the ‘supersoft’ and ‘medium’ compounds.  Read more... (213 words, estimated 51 secs reading time)

Assets of the newly-defunct F1 team HRT have been bought.

Spain’s AS newspaper reports that Teo Martin, a well-known automotive component recycler, has bought most of the valuable parts left over in the wake of the Spanish team’s demise.

The report said HRT’s rented headquarters in Madrid are “already dismantled, deserted and silent”.  Read more... (133 words, estimated 32 secs reading time)

Pedro de la Rosa looks set to continue his role at the head of the F1 drivers’ union, despite dropping off the actual racing grid for 2013.

The veteran Spaniard, however, will still be at the grands prix in his new role as Ferrari’s development test driver, and so according to El Mundo Deportivo newspaper he will likely remain president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA).  Read more... (107 words, estimated 26 secs reading time)

Ferrari appeared to find its way with the new F138 car following a difficult start at Jerez. That is the summary of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, who told Germany’s Sport Bild he noticed Felipe Massa struggling with the new red car at the beginning of the first winter test.  Read more... (244 words, estimated 59 secs reading time)

Peter Sauber has declared himself happy with 2013 team racer Esteban Gutierrez, following the Mexican rookie’s first test of the pre-season at Jerez.

“Last year we were not entirely satisfied with his performance in GP2,” the Swiss team’s founder, co-owner and former boss told Motorsport Aktuell.  Read more... (115 words, estimated 28 secs reading time)