Here are the main F1 news briefs of this day, Wednesday October 4, 2009


Team Germany, featuring Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, captured its third consecutive Nations Cup at the Race of Champions event in Beijing on Tuesday night, defeating Team Britain pairing Jenson Button and Andy Priaulx.

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A British media source says Ross Brawn has indicated his 2010 F1 car will feature a Red Bull-style high nose, while reports in the Italian press say the new Ferrari - internally code-named the 661 - will have a Brawn-like low nose.

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Pirelli has rejected suggestions it might enter the race to become F1's new supplier of control tyres. "Pirelli's previous position on F1 hasn't changed," a spokeswoman is quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. "Pirelli prefers to develop tyres for racing that will also be used on the road," she added.

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Before the event at the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium, 40-year-old Schumacher said his abortive return to F1 this year had been an "emotional" rather than a "rational decision", and when asked if another attempt to return is likely, answered: "Right now, no."

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F1 insiders believed he had already parted the team, but Force India on Tuesday confirmed that former boss Colin Kolles' contract has now ended.

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Referring to McLaren - which has in the past featured great multiple world champions including Niki Lauda, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna - Lewis Hamilton told reporters in Abu Dhabi last weekend: "I'm pushing my team harder than they've ever been pushed."

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Sir Richard Branson is still refusing to confirm the open secret about his plans to leave Brawn and rename the new Manor formula one team 'Virgin F1' in 2010. "In a month we'll let you know," the British billionaire said in a news conference in Italy earlier this week.

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F1's official logistics partner DHL has awarded its annual Fastest Lap Trophy to Sebastian Vettel, who captured the most fastest laps throughout the 2010 season ahead of his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. "It means a lot to me to have my achievements recognised in this way," said the German.

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Despite the stream of Silverstone officials through the Abu Dhabi paddock turnstiles last weekend and the concessions of Bernie Ecclestone, the deal for a 2010 British grand prix is not yet concluded. Bernie Ecclestone says: "Maybe I've backed off on a few little things that perhaps I shouldn't have done to give them a helping hand, but that's it. The contract is there. If they want to sign it, that's fine. If not, then it's up to them."

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At the time of writing, nearly 30,000 people had signed an online petition vowing to defend the popular Belgian GP venue Spa-Francorchamps. The petition, which can be found at www.defendonsfrancorchamps.be, is run by "people who live near the track. We want to confirm that we are not disturbed by the permanent work of the circuit."

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F1 on Wednesday was left reeling from the loss of Toyota, but it was the best possible news for those at Sauber's Hinwil headquarters. The collapse of a confirmed team for 2010 opens the door for the newly Qadbak-owned outfit in the wake of BMW's departure. "We will be discussing the effect (of Toyota's departure) for the BMW-Sauber team with the FIA," team boss Mario Theissen is quoted as saying by the news agency SID.

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Williams not releasing Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima until January. "Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima remain our drivers until the end of 2009," reads an excerpt of the media statement in which Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg were confirmed as Williams' drivers for next season.

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Rubens Barrichello revealed that he also had talks with McLaren a few weeks ago in Brazil "but my contract with Williams was already signed". "I am going to realise a dream, because ever since I saw F1 on TV for the first time, I have dreamed of driving for them," said the holder of the record for the most career grands prix. Rubens Barrichello also revealed that his Brawn contract this year was initially for only the first four races with "the rest depending on my results and my work".