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The Mercedes GP team has confirmed that it has released Nick Heidfeld from his contract in order for the German to become Pirelli's official test driver. Heidfeld was the team's reserve driver for this season, but will start driving for Pirelli at the start of today's test at the Mugello circuit, where the German will be at the wheel of a 2009 Toyota F1 car. "We can confirm that the team is pleased to allow Nick Heidfeld the opportunity to join Pirelli and contribute to their development work for the company's imminent return to Formula 1," said Mercedes GP boss Ross Brawn. "Nick is an extremely experienced driver and we are confident that his racing knowledge and technical feedback will prove extremely useful to Pirelli and therefore of benefit to the sport as a whole. "Nick has been a real asset to Mercedes GP Petronas since joining our team this year and we are pleased to see his career progressing." Heidfeld was left without a racing seat fo

Mercedes reserve driver Nick Heidfeld has been singled out as the preferred choice of development driver by new Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli. The Italian manufacturer will replace Bridgestone as F1's sole supplier from 2011 onwards, and plan to develop their new rubber over the coming months. Heidfeld, who contested 169 grand prix between 2000 and 2009, has spent the 2010 season as the Mercedes team's third driver, but could be set to leave the role to work for Pirelli if the marque have their way. "Before the last race in Abu Dhabi we'll do six tests with an F1 car from 2009," Pirelli's chief of competition Paul Hembery said this week. "We need an extremely experienced but also very fit driver, who can do 500 miles a day and not collapse afterwards. Heidfeld fits this profile very well and would be an ideal candidate." However it remains unclear as to whether Heidfeld will be allowed to take the role on, with the German having been ruled out ea

Gerhard Berger says that nobody would have complained about Michael Schumacher's move on Rubens Barrichello if it happened in his day. Berger, who raced against uncompromisingly hard drivers such as Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and Schumacher himself, says the racing was much tougher back in the 80s and 90s. "We drove harder and more brutally," Berger told Austrian newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung. "Three times a lap we drove each other into the walls without complaining. This was just part of it. We would have thought nothing of an action like Michael's against Barrichello." Although Berger initially backed Schumacher to add to his tally of seven drivers' titles, he now doubts the German will add to his record haul. "Before the season I would have answered this question with a resounding yes. Today I have to say no. His teammate Nico Rosberg clearly has his nose in front. Michael is trying to counter Nico's youth

Russian F1 Driver Petrov Backed to Retain Place at Renault Russia’s first and only Formula One driver Vitaly Petrov has been given the nod of approval to retain his place at Renault in 2011 from team bosses despite numerous higher profile candidates being linked with his seat. International, the 10th of August 2010: Following his superb fifth placed finish in the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, Russian F1 driver Vitaly Petrov is said to be “doing the right things” in order to assure his place at Renault with a view to the 2011 championships. Despite the increased attention on Renaults 2nd driver position, with likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Nick Heidfeld being mentioned, Petrov’s outstanding displays this season and his 12th place standing on the drivers championship, the best of all the rookies, has pleased team bosses. Following his best finish (5th) in Hungary, Renault team principal Eric Boullier explained, “You don’t take a decision on one race result, but if he starts to shine like thi

Adrian Sutil has played down Force India's chances of repeating the team's surprising Belgian Grand Prix result of 2009. Giancarlo Fisichella secured pole position at the demanding Spa circuit last year and narrowly missed out on victory, finishing second behind Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari. And although Sutil himself qualified on the front row before finishing fourth and setting the fastest lap at Monza two weeks later, the German does not fancy his team's chances this time around. "Last year we had an incredible car there, it was a big advantage. We don't have that advantage anymore," Sutil told the Indian media. "Still, we should be able to score a lot of points in the coming races. We have a very good chance in Spa and Monza." Team-mate Tonio Liuzzi was slightly more optimistic about the team's chances and thinks a podium is again a possibility. "I think we will be again pretty competitive," Liuzzi told AUTOSPORT. "To match las

Although no-one is able to lift a finger to help develop the MP4-25 for the next two weeks, Lewis Hamilton has said that he will be chivvying the McLaren team to unlock the car’s latest secrets ahead of the resumption of the F1 world championship in Belgium. The Briton recorded only his second DNF of the season in Hungary at the weekend, but it was enough to cost him the lead of the drivers’ championship, while McLaren also lost its grip on the constructors’ standings as Red Bull Racing recorded a 1-3 result. With the Woking team seemingly unable to tame the ‘blown diffuser’ system it debut at Silverstone three weeks ago, Hamilton is concerned that Red Bull duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel will be able to pull away in the points race, with Ferrari also causing McLaren headaches as it returns to form with its own version of the RBR diffuser concept. “If they continue with the pace they have, then we really don’t have a huge hope,” the 2008 world champion admitted to Reuters, “We’re

Michael Schumacher has admitted that his move on Rubens Barrichello was 'too hard' and has apologised to his former team-mate for his actions. Schumacher issued the apology on his own website after reflecting on his defensive manoeuvre that nearly drove Rubens Barrichello into the pit wall at 180mph during the Hungarian Grand Prix. "Immediately after the race yesterday I was still in the heat of the moment but after seeing the incident with Rubens again, I have to say the stewards were right in their decision. My move against him was too hard," Schumacher said on his official website. "Naturally, I wanted to make it difficult for him to overtake me. I clearly showed him that I didn't want to let him pass but, looking at it rationally, I wasn't seeking to endanger him with my manoeuvre. If he feels I was then all I can say is sorry, this wasn't my intention." Schumacher's latest stance is in stark contrast to Sunday, when he appeared unrepenta

Australian Mark Webber took over as leader of the Formula One world championship yesterday with a mature and measured victory in an incident-filled and controversial Hungarian Grand Prix. The 33-year-old Red Bull driver took full advantage of other people's problems, including those of his German teammate Sebastian Vettel, to produce an assured drive that brought him his fourth win of the season and the sixth of his career. "It was a bit of a gift for me but you know I haven't had many of them," said Webber, who was taking part in his 150th Grand Prix. "It was an incredible day for the team. One-two was our goal but we were unfortunate not to get that." Webber finished the 70-lap race 17.821sec ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari with Vettel, hampered by a drive-through penalty for infringing the safety car rules, finishing a frustrated and angry third in the second Red Bull at the Hungaroring. "I didn't understand what was going o