Jerome d'Ambrosio, Virgin Racing, Interlagos, 2011 - Photo © Virgin Racing

Lotus have confirmed former Virgin Racing driver Jerome d’Ambrosio as their third driver for 2012. He will step in for race drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean if they aren’t able to take part in a Grand Prix.

“It’s a great feeling to be joining Lotus F1 Team. It’s an exciting next step in my career,” d’Ambrosio, who drove in the team’s driver development programme under their previous guise as Renault.

“I contested a complete season in F1 as a race driver for a smaller team where I learnt a lot about Formula 1. Now, I have the opportunity to work with one of the top teams with great potential for my future development.

“With my recent race experience, I know I can make a valuable contribution. Of course, I would love to be racing, but racing with a top team.

“Being associated with Lotus F1 Team should be more beneficial and this is the choice I have made. This opportunity is one I couldn’t afford to miss. My desire to get back in a race seat in the future is motivating me to do the best job possible in my new position.”

Team principal Eric Boullier added: “In Jerome we have someone we know well who integrates beneficially with the squad. He impressed as reserve driver for us in 2010 and at the end of that year he made a strong showing in the young driver test.”

Bruno Senna will drive for Williams in 2012, it has today been announced. He will partner Pastor Maldonado having replaced compatriot Rubens Barrichello.

The Brazilian spent the latter half of last season at Renault, having made his F1 debut in 2010 with HRT. For this season, he’s driving for the same team his uncle Ayrton did 18 years earlier. Senna said: “I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers. The team has a great heritage and I hope I can help write a good chapter in their history.

“The evaluation process has been intense and methodical but the time I have spent in the factory has demonstrated that the team has great people and all the resources needed to achieve better things this season.

“It will be very interesting to drive for a team that my uncle has driven for, particularly as quite a few of the people here actually worked with Ayrton. Hopefully we can bring back some memories and create some great new ones too.

“I also want to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today. I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to demonstrate what I can do. Ever since I first sat in a go-kart I never wanted to do anything else.”

Team owner Frank Williams added: “Bruno only started racing when he was 20 years old but quickly proved his talent in F3 and GP2.

“In a tightly fought 2008 GP2 season, Bruno finished second in the championship with notable victories in Monaco and Silverstone, the latter in the wet. The circumstances of Bruno’s two seasons in Formula One have not given him an ideal opportunity to deliver consistently so it was essential that we spent as much time with him as possible to understand and evaluate him as a driver.

“We have done this both on track and in our simulator and he has proven quick, technically insightful and above all capable of learning and applying his learning quickly and consistently. Now we are looking forward to seeing that talent in our race car.”

Former Toro Rosso drivers Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari have reacted with surprise and disappointment after hearing that they were to be dropped by the team for 2012, in favour of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

“Completely [surprised], I fell from the sky!” Buemi was quoted as saying in Swiss newspaper 24 heures. “A few days earlier, I had been discussing things for the next season. I was in the simulator yesterday morning at Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes, where Franz [Tost] and Helmut [Marko] called me…

“Obviously I’m disappointed, but it is their decision and I respect it. I have not forgotten that without them I would never have come this far, they helped me tremendously for a long time, almost since my debut in Formula BMW, then F3, GP2 and F1.”

Asked whether he would be able to find a seat on the grid in 2012, Buemi said: ”I cannot say right now. Apart from the fact that I am no longer with Toro Rosso for 2012, the doors are not completely closed for me at Red Bull. We did a good job together until now and there is a good foundation. For my future, there are plenty of things possible. I will stay positive and thoroughly motivated.”

Alguersuari gave his rather philosophical thoughts to Spanish newspaper Marca:

“I am very surprised by the decision, just a week ago I talked with Helmut Marko and Franz Tost and they told me they had plans for me in 2012. They did it with enthusiasm and showed a lot of confidence in me.

“I am not a victim because for seven years I have enjoyed the privilege of being with the best team in the world and the best means, they brought me here, they won me the British F3 International Series at 18 years old and they have achieved the best results from a driver of 21 years old in Formula 1 in 2011.

“It is a drama, because I have many plans for present and future, at all levels. The surprise lasted me a couple of hours, I needed to speak with my family. I was watching the street where I was in Madrid, and realized that life is full of opportunities and challenges.

“When I came to Barcelona on the AVE [train] and read the newspapers, they pointed out that there are five million unemployed in Spain. We can only return to this country with confidence and optimism, thinking of fighting and improving every day. And that’s what I will do from tomorrow, I promise to all the fans and I appreciate their support.”

Force India have announced that Nico Hulkenberg has been promoted from reserve driver to race driver for 2012, and will participate next season alongside Paul di Resta after replacing Adrian Sutil.

Hulkenberg, who participated in a number of Friday Practice sessions for the team last season, said: “I’m obviously delighted to be staying with Sahara Force India and to be given the chance to race next year. It wasn’t easy to watch from the sidelines this season, but I did my best to help the team and show what I was capable of.

“I’m extremely motivated for 2012 and would like to thank everyone for believing in me and giving me this chance. I’m keen to get down to work over the winter to develop our new car and help the team build on this year’s achievements. The first test in Jerez can’t come soon enough.”

Team Principal Vijay Mallya said: “In Paul and Nico we have two extremely talented drivers with tremendous potential.

“I think Paul caught the eye of everybody in the pit lane during his rookie season. His speed, maturity and racecraft confirmed that we were right to believe in him and we look forward to working with him again next year.

“As for Nico, we identified him as a rising star at the end of 2010 and chose to evaluate him during the course of this season. Despite having only limited time in the car, he convinced us that he deserved a race seat for 2012.

“Our new line-up means we say ‘goodbye’ to Adrian Sutil, who has been with the team since we entered the sport. He has been an integral part of our success over the past four seasons and we wish him well for the future.”

Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Abu Dhabi, 2010 - Photo © Red Bull/Getty Images

Toro Rosso have today revealed that their driver line up for next season is completely different, with Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne at the Faenza-based outfit.

Ricciardo drove the latter half of last season at HRT, while Jean-Eric Vergne had the chance of driving the last few Friday Practice sessions for Toro Rosso. He also drove in the Young Driver’s Test in Abu Dhabi last month, finishing fastest on every single day of the test.

Team Principal Franz Tost said: “I am pleased that we have been able to reach an early decision on our drivers for next year, because it means we can all give our full attention to 2012, without any distractions.

“Over the past year, both Daniel and Jean-Eric have proved their worth and I expect them to make a significant contribution to the team’s performance next year. Daniel has the benefit of having actually raced in Grands Prix for much of this year, while Jean-Eric proved he could adapt quickly to the demands of driving a Formula 1 car.

“As they have both worked with the team and its engineers very recently, this should allow us to get up to speed right from the start of winter testing in a couple of months time. I must also thank Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari for all their hard work over the past three seasons. They have delivered some excellent performances which have helped the team move forward and develop. We wish them well for the future.

“However, one has to remember that when Scuderia Toro Rosso was established in 2005, it was done so with the intention of providing a first step into Formula 1 for the youngsters in the Red Bull Junior Driver programme. It is therefore part of the team’s culture to change its driver line-up from time to time in order to achieve this goal.”

Ricciardo added: ”This is a really big deal for me and something I have wanted ever since I was driving for Toro Rosso on Friday mornings at the races in the first part of last season. To be honest, I am still jumping up and down with excitement at the news.

“In the second half of 2011 I learned a lot from the people I worked with, racing in eleven Grands Prix and I want to thank them for the opportunity they gave me. I have to say that joining Scuderia Toro Rosso was always my real goal, so a big thank you to Red Bull for giving me this fantastic opportunity and now I can’t wait to get to work once testing begins.”

Vergne commented: “First of all, I must thank Red Bull for all their support so far and for believing I am ready to take on the ultimate challenge of racing in Formula 1. Christmas has come early for me this year!

“Having driven for them a few times this year and also testing for Red Bull Racing in Abu Dhabi, I definitely feel ready to make the move, even if I know there is a big difference between testing and actually racing. I enjoyed working with the guys at Toro Rosso this year and I can’t wait to be part of the team for real. Sitting on the grid in Melbourne next March cannot come soon enough.”

Romain Grosjean, Renault, 2011 - Photo © Renault/LAT

Romain Grosjean will drive alongside Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus Renault in 2012, as we suggested earlier this week. The Frenchman will mark his return to F1 at the Australian Grand Prix next year, after last driving in the sport with the same team in 2009.

Grosjean, who won this year’s GP2 championship, said: “I am thrilled to be one of the team’s race drivers in 2012. There’s a big grin on my face at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of next year’s car, and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity.

“To be racing alongside a former world champion and someone who is hungry and returning to Formula 1 will be a great experience, and I’m sure will help raise my level of performance too. I feel that my successful season in GP2 Series has helped me mature a lot, and I am a much more complete driver than I was last time I was competing in this sport.

“Returning to Enstone as a race driver feels like coming home. I will not disappoint and I wish to thank all the people without whom this return to F1 would not have been possible. Total, which supports me since 2006, and Gravity Sport Management, are first on this list.”

Grosjean spent 2011 as a reserve driver for Lotus Renault, and drove in Friday Practice at the last couple of races of the year.

Team Principal Eric Boullier added: “I’m delighted that Romain Grosjean will side Kimi next year. Romain has shown a lot of maturity in the past twelve months both through his GP2 Series victory and his development as third driver with us.

“We were impressed when he drove for us in the first practice sessions in Abu Dhabi and Brazil. We are confident that drafting him in to one of our driver’s seats will help us in our rebuilding process.

“I would like to thank Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna for their contribution to the team’s performance this year and I wish them all the best for the future.”

Interview

FIA motorhome, Barcelona, 2009 - Photo © Flickr/Salva Mendez

The FIA have today announced a few changes to the F1 Sporting and Technical Regulations ahead of the 2012 season.

The key changes include a return of one in-season test, likely to take place at the Mugello circuit and lasting three days.

Also, there is now a maximum race time of four hours including suspension time. Interestingly, had this rule been in place last season, we wouldn’t have seen the remarkable pass by Jenson Button on Sebastian Vettel in the last lap of the Canadian Grand Prix, as after rain delays, this race lasted over the four hour cut-off.

Another rule of note is the change in the safety car regulations. Before it returns to the pits after its deployment, all lapped cars will pass the safety car and unlap themselves, to prevent confusion and slower cars impeding faster ones on the restart.

The FIA have also moved to clarify the ‘change of direction’ rule, saying that a driver may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a track position.

Changes to the 2012 Technical Regulations

• All engine standard ECU set up and control parameters, which were formerly contained only within a Technical Directive, are now contained within the relevant parts of the Technical Regulations.
• The exhaust tailpipes are now strictly regulated in order to ensure that the aerodynamic effect exhaust gases have on the car is kept to an absolute minimum.
• Better marking of in-car emergency switches operated by marshals are now stipulated.
• The side impact structures will now have to be subjected to a further (upward) push-off test.

Changes to the 2012 Sporting Regulations

• Cars may no longer take part in pre-season testing without having passed all crash tests.
• There will now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure that a lengthy suspension of a race does not result in a race that could run up to eight hours if left unregulated.
• Before the safety car returns to the pits all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join the back of the pack, ensuring a clean re-start without slower cars impeding those racing for the leading positions.
• Cars which were in the pit lane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in the position they were in when the race was suspended.
• Drivers may no longer leave the track without a justifiable reason, i.e. cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or ‘in’ laps to save time and fuel.
• Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.
• One three-day test will be carried out during the season, formerly there were none.
• All stewards’ decisions which are not subject to appeal are now in one place instead of being in various places within the regulations.
• All tyres allocated to a driver may now be used on the first day of practice; formerly only three sets were permitted.

Romain Grosjean, Renault, Interlagos, 2011 - Photo © Renault/LAT

According to sources connected to the Italiaracing website, GP2 champion Romain Grosjean has signed for Lotus Renault for 2012, replacing Vitaly Petrov.

It is believed that the Frenchman impressed the team in the Friday practice sessions in which he recently participated in Abu Dhabi and Brazil, and has matured since his F1 debut over the latter half of the 2009 season.

This year Grosjean has won the F1 feeder series GP2, and was recently hopeful about his chances of getting the seat at Renault: “I think I’m still on the list. I’m hoping for sure to get the seat.

“I dream about F1 and I really would like to come back, and I think especially with Kimi it could be something quite special for my career and for my experience.”

Such a move would please French sponsors Renault and Total, and Grosjean would become the second French driver on the grid next year, alongside rookie Charles Pic at Marussia.

Interestingly, it is thought that Vitaly Petrov – the man who Grosjean would replace in such a deal – is in with a chance of getting the drive at Marussia, alongside Pic.

Such a move seems logical, given that Virgin Racing are being renamed Marussia after the Russian sportscar company for next season, and Petrov is a Russian driver. He started this season well, with an impressive 3rd place at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but, along with that of the Renault car, his form has gone downhill since.

Petrov’s relationship with the Renault team, also has appeared strained recently, after an ill-advised outburst criticising the team. ”Read my interviews, I don’t criticise a team that lost many times. How much have we lost on pitstops? How much have we lost on tactics? Due to that kind of thing we lost [places in], I can say, about ten races, if not more. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say in an interview that we lost due to poor pitstops once again, or something. I still can’t speak about it, but on the same side I also can’t remain silent, I’ve had enough of it, I can’t keep everything inside,” he said on Rossiya 2.

However, there is a sticking point to a possible move to Marussia, as they have already announced that Timo Glock will be driving his third season with the team in 2012, as confirmed on the FIA’s 2012 F1 entry list.

After the final round of our Predictions League, FredericoLopes has won the 2011 championship, with JoaoQuadros jumping ADennehey87 into 2nd place. Well done all! The prize winners will be emailed ASAP. The final standings are below:

To see who won their points and where for the Brazilian round, look at the table below:

Our Predictions Championship is sponsored by Henri Lloyd, and are providing the Mercedes GP merchandise prizes for the top three finishers in our competition. Check out Henri Lloyd on Facebook and Twitter, and their Mercedes GP merchandise.

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP, Spa-Francorchamps, 2011 - Photo © Mercedes GP

Mercedes GP have announced that their name will be changing ahead of next season, with their new title being ‘Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’. They also revealed that their 2012 challenger – the W03 – will get its first run at the second pre-season test in Barcelona next year.

Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, said: “Our new team name fuses the proud traditions of AMG and the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows at the pinnacle of motorsport. These three letters are synonymous with high technology, sporting performance and excitement and this step is a further strong sign of the strategic commitment Mercedes-Benz has made to Formula One.

“16 of the 24 drivers on the grid at the season’s final Grand Prix in Brazil have, or have had, a connection to Mercedes-Benz. In addition to the role of a works team, our commitment to Formula One comprises the customer engine programme and supply of the official Safety and Medical Cars.”

The Mercedes-Benz Formula One powertrain facility at Brixworth, UK has worked closely with AMG for a number of years. This wholly owned Daimler subsidiary will now be renamed ‘Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains’.

Team Principal Ross Brawn concluded: “We are very proud to reveal our new team name today. It adds another strong performance element to our team’s identity and, by virtue of being shared between Brackley and Brixworth, will forge even stronger links within our team.

“At the factory, we have been focused for some time on the challenge of 2012, and our very clear ambition to move forward up the grid next year. As always, the winter development and manufacturing processes are a trade-off between time for finding performance in the factory, and time for delivering that performance during pre-season testing. We believe that the decision to run the car at the second winter test is the optimum compromise for our design and development programme with F1 W03.”