Formula One News — February 2011

Michael Schumacher topped the testing times in Jerez today as he took over Mercedes duties from Nico Rosberg.

Nick Heidfeld has been given a boost by Renault team principal Eric Boullier - even before he makes his first appearance in the Renault R31 in testing at Jerez this week.

Felipe Massa once again underlined the unlikelihood of this season's new Ferrari F1 challenger being "truck-like", despite the recent branding issues with Ford, when the Brazilian topped the first day of Jerez F1 testing by almost three-quarters of a second.

ExxonMobil has announced today that it has extended it's sponsorship deal with the McLaren-Mercedes team for another five years, promoting it's Mobil 1 products.

Ferrari has announced that it has renamed it's new 2011 F1 chassis the "F150th Italia" to avoid confusion with the Ford F-150 truck.

Patrick Head, co-founder of Williams Grand Prix Engineering with Sir Frank Williams, will reduce his 27% stake in the team to just over 5% as Williams prepares to float on the Frankfurt stock exchange next month in a move that should enrich head by almost $65m.

Renault has announced that it will test both third driver Bruno Senna and Nick Heidfeld in the R31 at Jerez over the coming weekend.

Although Robert Kubica continues to show promising signs of recovery 48hrs after his rallying accident, it is obvious that he is going to be incapacitated for a considerable time.

At an event today, Force India unveiled it's 2011 Formula 1 challenger, the VJM04.

The 2011 Force India chassis is the first for the team created by new Technical Director Andrew Green, who comments on the process.

Q&A with Force India's drivers, Adrian Sutil, Paul di Resta and reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg.

Robert Kubica continues to make progress following his rallying crash on Sunday, with Lotus Renault GP issuing the following statement today.

While not actually holding a launch presentation, the HRT team has released virtual images of it's 2011 Formula 1 challenger, the F111.

After suffering a major crash in the Ronde di Andora rally on Sunday, and enduring a seven-hour operation to repair broken bones and a damaged hand, Robert Kubica was put into an induced coma last night.

The Renault team has issued another update on the condition of Robert Kubica following his crash yesterday.

The Virgin Racing team has unveiled it's 2011 Formula 1 car, the MVR-02, at an event in the BBC Television Centre in London today.

Robert Kubica is still undergoing surgery in the Santa Corona hospital in Pietra Ligure, being overseen by Dr. Riccardo Ceccarelli, the Renault GP doctor, and renowned hand surgeon Professor Igor Rossello who is based locally.

The Renault team has issued the following release regarding the condition of Robert Kubica.

Robert Kubica has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries to his arm, leg and hand after a crash during a stage of the Ronde di Andora rally in Italy.

Team Lotus principal and entrepreneur Tony Fernandes has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by the Queen.

McLaren may have launched its new MP4-26 in Berlin but the car unveiled had a 2010 specification nose and no sign of any trick exhaust treatment which is expected to be seen before the season starts in Bahrain on March 13.

McLaren has revealed it's new MP4-26 chassis in an event in Berlin's Potsdamer Platz this morning.

Robert Kubica topped the final day of Valencia testing with the new Lotus Renault GP R31.

An interview with Mercedes GP Team Principal Ross Brawn.

Fernando Alonso put another 100 plus laps on Ferrari's new F150 in Valencia, his 1:13.307s best lap proving 0.31s quicker than reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in the new Red Bull RB7 on the second day of testing at the Spanish track.