Formula One News — January 2012

German Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil has been handed an 18-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of bodily harm.

Rubens Barrichello had his first day in an IndyCar on Sebring's road course yesterday and is now contemplating an involvement in the Izod series.

The German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche has quoted Bentley chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer saying that that he intends to propose a future F1 programme to the Volkswagen Group.

Jules Bianchi has joined Force India as reserve driver for 2012.

It has been reported by AP that Rubens Barrichello will test an IndyCar at Sebring next Monday/Tuesday with KV Racing.

Jerome D'Ambrosio has joined the Lotus F1 Team as third driver for 2012. After racing for Virgin Racing alongside Timo Glock in 2011, Belgian D'Ambrosio lost his seat to Frenchman Charles Pic.

Motor racing's governing body, the FIA, believes that reactive ride height systems being pursued by F1 teams ahead of the new season will be deemed to be outside the regulations.

2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen returned to the wheel of a Formula 1 car today, for the first time since his retirement in 2009.

Lewis Hamilton is expected to appear as a witness for Adrian Sutil in the German's aggravated assault trial on January 30.

Caterham F1 Team, formerly Lotus Racing, has delayed its planned factory move until August.

The Williams F1 team has confirmed that Bruno Senna will drive for the team in 2012.

A question and answer session with new Williams driver Bruno Senna.

The FIA's controversial DRS 'overtaking' zones will be modified in 2012 using data from the first season of the device's availability.

Legal proceedings against Adrian Sutil over an alleged assault on Lotus co-owner Eric Lux have begun in the driver™s native Germany.

The BBC has confirmed that Ben Edwards will be its F1 commentator in 2012, working alongside co-commentator David Coulthard and chief analyst Eddie Jordan.

Karun Chandhok will contest the new FIA World Endurance Championship with JRM Racing in 2012. The newly launched WEC includes the Le Mans 24hrs and Sebring 12hrs, which starts the season.

Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica today suffered a broken tibia while slipping on an icy road near his home, and is back in hospital.

Williams has teamed up with Michael Johnson Performance Inc, a company founded by Olympic gold medalist and world record holder, Michael Johnson.

Ferrari has recruited hugely experienced former Bridgestone director of tyre development Hirohide Hamashima.

After Valencia, not for the first time, said last week that it was keen to renegotiate its F1 contract with commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, noises are now coming from Barcelona about the cost of hosting the Spanish GP.

Bahrain International Circuit has said that it will "work tirelessly" to make the 2012 race a success in the face of weekend calls for F1 teams and drivers to boycott the event from human rights activists.

Formula 1 is reeling from the news that Toro Rosso trainer Raniero Gianotti has succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 46.

Dutch former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, who drove his last grand prix in Brazil in 2003, has been arrested in Holland after an incident involving his ex-girlfriend.

After losing his F1 race seat with Toro Rosso, Sebastien Buemi is to be Red Bull Racing's test and reserve driver in 2012.

Motor racing's governing body, the FIA, has now published the 2012 sporting regulations, including the final wording on the updated 'one-move rule' appertaining to defensive driving.