Jenson Button expected to stay at McLaren in 2012

Jenson Button is poised to stay with McLaren next year, despite interest from rivals including Ferrari.

The 31-year-old Englishman is in the second year of a contract that includes an option on McLaren's side to extend it into a third season in 2012.

BBC Sport understands that McLaren want to keep Button and that the 2009 world champion's preference is to stay, so an extension is effectively inevitable.

But the two parties may renegotiate his deal to improve some of its terms.

Button is understood to have had initial, exploratory talks with Ferrari, where Felipe Massa's place alongside Fernando Alonso is in some doubt, despite the Brazilian being under contract for next season.

However, the reality of Button's contractual situation is that even if another team made him a big offer, McLaren could take up his option and force him to stay.

In that situation, his only way of leaving would be to negotiate an early end to his contract that would require a big pay-off to the team.

But as both Button and McLaren want to continue their relationship, that will not be necessary and they will almost certainly come to a mutually satisfactory agreement that would result in him continuing with the team in 2012.

McLaren could simply exercise their option and have Button stay on his current terms.

However, they were more than happy with Button's performance, even before his brilliant victory in the Canadian Grand Prix last Sunday, so are likely to discuss areas of his contract he would like to improve and make some concessions.

Button's manager Richard Goddard was unavailable and McLaren refused to comment.

BUTTON'S McLAREN RECORD

• Races: 26
• Wins: 3 (career wins: 10)
• Podiums: 8
• Points: 315

McLaren do have other options - BBC Sport understands Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg is letting it be known that he would be open to an approach.

But McLaren would prefer to keep their current line-up of Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton's future remains unclear - following the revelation that he spent 15 minutes talking in private with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton went to see Horner after he was left frustrated by qualifying in fifth, while Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel took his sixth pole position in seven races at a track on which the Englishman had been expected to challenge him.

Hamilton's visit was unplanned and is believed to have taken Horner by surprise.

The 26-year-old is under contract with McLaren until the end of 2012 so if he wanted to leave the team he would have to buy his way out of his deal.

Hamilton has been frustrated by Vettel's success in building a massive championship lead following five wins and two second places in seven races.

But it remains to be seen whether Hamilton feels strongly enough about it to force his departure from McLaren this season or move teams for 2013.

In the wake of the Canadian race, he said he wanted to stay at McLaren as long as the car was competitive.

And if he looks at the current situation dispassionately, he will see that although Vettel is dominating qualifying, McLaren have had the fastest car in the last three races.

Hamilton narrowly failed to beat Vettel in Spain and Button missed out on a win at Monaco because of a badly timed safety car before his stunning drive through the field from last to pass Vettel for victory on the final lap in Canada.

Hamilton lost his hopes of victory in Canada when he collided with Button early in the race.

Equally, a major rule change is coming into force at the British Grand Prix next month that will ban so-called off-throttle blowing of diffusers.

This is expected to reshuffle the competitive order a little, with some teams believed to be exploiting the technology more effectively than others.

from bbc sport

Drifting Record

.

It's not a Sunrise thing this post, but it's not often you get to witness a world record in the making, well not an automotive one anyway, so I thought it worth a note.The last world record I saw was 'Anthony from the seniors' in our swimming club going for the treading water world record. This was when I was about ten. We left at the end of the day and returned the next morning to see Anthony, still 'treading', but quite a bit more wrinkled. He'd been there all night, I saw him eat lunch whilst treading, I wondered if he'd been for a poo. He got the record, but I'm not sure for which.

Today I saw Mauro Calo 'driving instructor and racing driver' complete 1.9 miles in a circular power slide in a big saloon AMG Mercedes at 'benz World, just up the road at Brooklands. It was father's day, so we went to look at cars....and there was Mauro making a lot of smoke! He did it though, and the official record invigilators gave the Guiness entry he sought for himself and Mercedes. No doubt the column inches we'll all see next month in the mags will meet with head office approval. Looked like fun, especially with someone else's car and tyre set...which were the limiting factor, the offside rear let go after nearly two miles of roasting.

World record holder : melting a Pirelli

--0--

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Adventures of raindance maggie

TheFastCastor

Jenson Button wins stunning Canadian Grand Prix As Safety Car Is Deployed 5 Times!

Jenson Button took a stunning victory in a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix by passing Sebastian Vettel on the last lap.

Vettel spun his Red Bull under pressure to gift the win to Button, who recovered after a collision with McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull's Mark Webber was third to deprive Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher of a podium place.

Vettel now leads the championship by 60 points from Button.

An incident-packed race saw the safety car used five times and included a two-hour stoppage for heavy rain. Button himself made five pit stops on his way to victory as well as an enforced visit to the pits for a drive-through penalty for speeding under the safety car.

An emotional Button described the win as possibly the best of his career.

"I don't know what to say - if I hadn't won I would still have enjoyed the race immensely, but it was a fantastic win," he said.

"If you have it in your hands and give it away it is not the sweetest feeling," said Vettel.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said Button deserved the victory.

"Coming through six times from 21st is incredible," said Whitmarsh.

"He just attacked and attacked and delivered a fantastic race."

BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle said: "At one point we were wondering if Button would catch the Hispanias before the race restarted under the safety car and now he's won the race! That is one of the races of his life and the best grand prix of a spectacular career."

Co-commentator David Coulthard said: "What a fantastic drive from Jenson Button - it looked like it was all lost and he's well aware you count the winners at the chequered flag."

While Button celebrated, Hamilton left the track after an ignominious race that saw him drop from second to fourth in the championship.

Persistent rain through the morning left the track drenched and the race was started under the safety car.

The drama in one of the most sensational races for years began almost as soon as the drivers were released on lap five, and Hamilton was at the centre of it.

First he collided with Webber, who gave him room at the first corner only for the McLaren to slip off the kerb and into the Australian.

Webber spun, and Hamilton had to go around the outside of the Red Bull, rejoining behind Button.

Determined to make up ground, Hamilton pressed his team-mate hard. Button made a mistake at the final chicane at the end of lap eight and Hamilton saw his chance.

He dodged out from behind Button to his team-mate's left, but Button continued on the racing line, edging towards the pit wall, apparently looking in his mirror.

Hamilton kept coming and became pincered between Button and the pit wall. The two cars collided, spraying debris over the track.

"What is he doing?" screamed Button on his radio. After the race he said he had not seen Hamilton, but that they had spoken in the two-hour stoppage and agreed it was "just one of those things".

Hamilton said: "While I fell back behind Jenson he made a mistake into the last corner, so I got the run on him.

"I was on the outside, it felt like I was half way up alongside him - although I haven't seen the video - and whether he saw me or not he kept moving across, and I was in the wall. It was only the tyre that was busted. I put the 'diff lock' on and the team told me to retire."

Hamilton initially believed the car was undamaged, but it turned out the driveshaft had been damaged and the team had been correct to tell him to stop.

The decision to start the race under the safety car was made as the drivers had virtually no experience of the Pirelli wet tyres.

When they were released on lap six, Vettel fended off a brief challenge from Alonso and then streaked away into the distance.

Button was the first leading driver to change to intermediate tyres, after he came into the pits following his collision with Hamilton on lap eight, which brought out the safety car while the debris from the McLarens was cleared from the track.

The race was restarted on lap 13, and the Englishman was soon lapping quicker than anyone else, prompting other drivers to follow his lead in changing tyres.

About half the field came in, including Alonso on lap 17. But within two laps the rain returned, heavier than ever. The safety car came out again on lap 20 before the race was suspended on lap 25.

After a stoppage of two hours and five minutes, they resumed, again under the safety car, before being set loose on lap 34.

Almost immediately the drivers started to stream into the pits for intermediate tyres, so much had the track dried while they were following the safety car.

But four laps after the re-start, the safety car was deployed yet again when Button and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso collided on lap 37, leading to the Spaniard's retirement.

Button was last when the race was restarted on lap 40 but he fought his way through the field thanks to choosing the right time to change to intermediate tyres and then dry-weather slick tyres.

By the time a collision between Nick Heidfeld's Renault and Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber brought out the safety car again with 12 laps to go, Button had climbed to fourth place behind Vettel, Schumacher and Webber.

The race restarted two laps later and Vettel immediately built a lead while the three men behind him battled for position.

Webber, who had brought himself back into contention by becoming the first leading driver to stop for slick tyres, slipped back to fourth when he misjudged the final chicane on lap 64.

Button passed Schumacher on the next lap and set about closing the three-second lead to Vettel with five laps remaining.

They entered the last lap less than a second apart and Vettel made his first serious mistake in a race this season, putting a wheel off line on to the wet part of the track at Turn Six and half-spinning, handing the lead to Button.

Vettel said: "Of course I'm disappointed. It was a very difficult race from start to finish. We led every single lap apart from the last one.

"I was probably a bit conservative and when I saw Jenson coming through I was pushing.

"I think it would have been enough but I made a mistake. I ended up in the wet and it was quite easy for him to pass."

from bbc sport

Sergio Perez to miss rest of Canadian GP

Sauber's Sergio Perez is to miss the rest of the Canadian Grand Prix after feeling unwell in first practice.

The 21-year-old Mexican will be replaced by McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who ironically was sacked by Sauber near the end of last season.

Perez spent two days in hospital after being concussed in a crash during qualifying in Monaco two weeks ago.

He was passed fit on Thursdaybut felt ill at ease during Friday's first practice.

"Of course I wanted to drive and I had no doubt I was alright but apparently this is unfortunately not the case," Perez said.

"I am deeply disappointed. I spoke to the team after the session and told them that I'm not a 100% fit. I only want to drive when I'm 100% well. I need some more time to recover."

BBC 5 live pit-lane reporter Jennie Gow said she had been told by team boss Peter Sauber that Perez "lacked confidence and wasn't as comfortable in the car as he felt he should be".

SMOOTH OPERATOR

Perez only made one stop in his debut F1 race in Australia - the fewest of anyone who finished

And commenting on Perez's withdrawal, Sauber added: "Maybe we are being overly cautious, but when it's about the health of our drivers we take zero risks."

Sauber, whose official reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez is in Mexico, moved quickly to do a deal with McLaren for De la Rosa, 40, to stand in.

The Spaniard is a veteran of 85 grands prix. After seven years away from racing as McLaren test driver, he returned for Sauber last year.

He scored six points before being dropped and replaced by current Renault driver Nick Heidfeld for the final five races of the season.

"We want to thank Pedro de la Rosa and McLaren for helping us out in this situation," added Sauber.

from bbc sport

Bernie Ecclestone to remove Bahrain Grand Prix from 2011 calendar

Bernie Ecclestone has written to Formula 1's governing body to ask them to take the reinstated Bahrain Grand Prix off the 2011 calendar.

The organisers of the race, which was called offbecause of civil unrest, had earlier accepted it would not go ahead.

"We'll be back to normal," said Ecclestone. "We have to put it to the World Council. I sent something this morning, so it will be quick."

The decision was made after the teams objected to rescheduling the race.

Any change in the calendar required unanimous agreement from the teams.

"The truth of the matter is we put the calendar together and the teams race on the calendar," added Ecclestone.

"We were trying to help Bahrain, who have been very helpful to Formula 1 and hoping they could get themselves sorted out.

"I don't know whether there is peace or not, I've no idea. The FIA sent somebody out to check and they said it was all OK.

"I think the teams had different information, and they have the right to say they don't want to change the calendar."

Bahrain circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani said in a statement: "Whilst Bahrain would have been delighted to see the grand prix progress on October 30th... it has been made clear that this fixture cannot progress and we fully respect that decision.

"We want our role in Formula 1 to continue to be as positive and constructive as it has always been, therefore, in the best interest of the sport, we will not pursue the rescheduling of a race this season."

The race in the Gulf kingdom was initially called off in February because of pro-democracy protests in which more than 20 people died.

We look forward to welcoming teams, their drivers and supporters back to Bahrain next year

Bahrain circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani

After giving Bahrain months to decide whether it was in a position to hold the race, the sport's governing body the FIA announced last Friday that it would be rescheduled for 30 October.

The FIA said that a report compiled by one of its vice-presidents, Carlos Gracia, showed that civil unrest in the country hadstabilised.

But the decision outraged human rights campaigners, and nearly half a million people signed an online petition demanding a boycott of the Bahrain race.

Cancellation was seen as inevitable since any change to the calendar required the unanimous written agreement of the teams.

They had written to the FIA and F1's commercial rights holder Ecclestone to express their opposition to the move.

FIA president Jean Todt responded on the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix in a letter to the teams where he explained he had asked Ecclestone to revise the calendar.

"I have listened to your [the teams'] last-minute objections and have asked the commercial rights holder to re-examine his calendar proposal, and if necessary, to submit a revised proposal to the World Council," the letter said.

"The FIA always has at heart the smooth running of the championship and the interest of the teams and is always prepared to address any issues, however difficult, in a constructive manner."

Todt also outlined the teams' main objections for postponing the Indian race until December as disruptive to "transport and accommodation" and travelling to Bahrain as raising "insurance problems".

Although the teams have now got their wish, two principals on Thursday criticised the way the situation had been handled to date.

"Obviously with the way things have been handled, with the uncertainty, maybe it could have been handled better, but we are where we are," Red Bull's Christian Horner said.

And Renault's Eric Boullier was harder hitting with his critique, adding: "I am pushing hard to do my best to help to build F1 and obviously it is never good when you get such reactions.

"F1 is a non-political sport. We cannot do whatever we want, because there are issues like this. We need to be a little bit more cautious."

The inaugural Indian Grand Prix, which had been provisionally moved to December to accommodate Bahrain, will now revert to the original 30 October slot.

Bahrain's Sakhir circuit is scheduled to host F1's season opener in 2012, but at this early stage there are no guarantees.

However, Alzayani added: "We look forward to welcoming teams, their drivers and supporters back to Bahrain next year."

from bbc sport

FIA approves return of Bahrain Grand Prix to Formula 1 calendar

The Bahrain Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar on 30 October.

The race, originally due to be held on 13 March, was called off in February because of pro-democracy protests in which more than 20 people have died.

The Indian Grand Prix, which originally was due to be held on 30 October, will now be held in December.

"This is welcome news for all of Bahrain," said Zayed Rashid Alzayani, chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, which will host the race.

"As a country we have faced a difficult time, but stability has returned, with businesses operating close to normal and countries removing travel restrictions.

"By the time the grand prix arrives we will be able to remind the world about Bahrain at its best.

"The Bahrain Grand Prix has always been a source of national pride and it is an event than transcends politics."

The sport's governing body, the FIA, said that the unanimous decision, made at a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council, "reflects the spirit of reconciliation in Bahrain".

A state of emergency in the Gulf kingdom was lifted on Wednesday, but there have been reports of further violence in the capital Manama on Friday.

Human rights group Amnesty International claim that serious human rights violations continue to be committed in the country with security measures still in place to stop large gatherings.

Alazanyi admitted that his nation was "learning the lessons from our recent past" and emphasised the economic benefits that the race would bring for the whole country.

When people in a country are being hurt, the issues are bigger than sport

Mark Webber on Twitter

Speaking before the FIA's meeting in Barcelona on Friday, F1 supermo Bernie Ecclestone had insisted that the FIA's decision would have "nothing to do with money at all", stressing that safety was paramount in his considerations.

The teams, who have been called upon to boycott the race by more than 300,000 people in an online petition,are believed to be against a return to Bahrain.

Before the announcement of Friday's decision, Red Bull driver Mark Webber had gone public with his opposition.

"When people in a country are being hurt, the issues are bigger than sport," the Australian wrote on Twitter.

Former world champion Damon Hill had expressed his personal view that F1 "will forever have the blight of association with repressive methods to achieve order" if it returns to Bahrain this season.

ANALYSIS

The teams won't be happy but Bernie Ecclestone is the man who pays their bills and so they will go along with it. You risk running into another storm of civil unrest. Martial law has only been lifted there a couple of days ago and you wonder what Formula 1 is gaining by this return.

BBC Sport's Jonathan Legard

And Max Mosley, FIA president from 1993 to 2009, had warned that sponsors may not want to be associated with a rearranged race.

The inaugural Indian Grand Prix, which is being staged at the newly built Buddh International Circuit in Uttar Pradesh, is expected to be moved to 11 December.

If so, the 2011 F1 calendar will stretch further into the year than it has since the 1963 season was completed in South Africa on 28 December.

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn had previously described any extension of the season beyond the original 27 November finale in Brazil as "totally unacceptable".

The new date for the Indian Grand Prix may yet be disputed, with the Formula 1 Teams Association (Fota) due to discuss the FIA's decision.

The FIA also released a 21-race schedule for the 2012 season.

Bahrain will open the season, as it was due to this year, with the United States Grand Prix returning after a five-year absence on 17 June.

The Turkish Grand Prix, which has had its future called into doubt after struggling to win over local fans, is provisionally included on 6 May.

from bbc sport