F1 News

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Fernando Alonso is optimistic that Ferrari can become competitive again despite disappointing results at the Turkish Grand Prix.

Alonso, who started 12th on the grid, finished the race eighth while team-mate Felipe Massa

Read more: Ferrari will bounce back, says Fernando Alonso

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The Williams team has confirmed that it will use the next evolution of its front wing in the Canadian Grand Prix.

Both Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg were forced to revert to an older spec for Turkey after their crashes in the Monaco race.

Technical director Sam Michael has confirmed the updated wing, which he reckons is worth a tenth of a second,

Read more: Williams confirms new wings for Canada

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Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel have been told by their team that they will not be allowed to take any bad feelings from their Turkish Grand Prix clash into the next race of the season - as Red Bull Racing chiefs vow to move quickly to try and prevent the situation spiralling out of control.

With neither driver accepting responsibility for the accident,

Read more: Red Bull vows to avoid driver fallout

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McLaren has praised the 'exceptional' behaviour of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in being able to fight wheel-to-wheel without colliding.

After a Turkish Grand Prix where Red Bull Racing threw away a 1-2 finish when Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel collided, McLaren duo Hamilton and Button raced

Read more: McLaren praises 'sensible' drivers

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Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber blamed each other for the crash that ended both their hopes of winning the Turkish Grand Prix.

Webber was leading from Vettel on lap 40 when the German, while attempting an overtaking manoeuvre, collided with his team-mate and

Read more: Mark Webber & Sebastian Vettel play crash blame game

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Reigning world champion Jenson Button has split with his girlfriend Jessica Michibata.

British daily tabloid The Sun said the 30-year-old decided to call time on their 18-month relationship shortly after the recent Monaco GrandPrix.

Read more: Button splits with Japanese model girlfriend

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Adrian Sutil had a big crash at the end of Friday's opening practice session in Turkey.

The German driver went off the track at high speed on the exit of the Istanbul Park layout's famous four-apex Turn 8 corner, incurring heavy damage to the Force India car.

"He said he had

Read more: Big crash for Sutil in quiet Turkish practice

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Formula 1 will return to the United States in 2012, after a five-year absence, at a new track in Texas.

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has agreed a deal with race promoters Full Throttle Productions for the Texas state capital of Austin to host the race until 2021.

"For the first time in the history of F1 in the US, a world-class facility will host the event," said Ecclestone.

"This will be the first time a facility is constructed from the ground up specifically for F1 in the US."

The last US Grand Prix took place at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana in 2007, a race won by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Its eight-year run was ended after Ecclestone failed to come to an agreement with the circuit's chiefs over new terms.

The BBC had learned that Ecclestone began talks in 2009 with representatives of Monticello Motor Club (MMC) in New York about bringing the sport back to the States.
   
However, MMC admitted that terms had not been finalised and Austin-based race promoters Full Throttle Productions have now emerged victorious in the battle to host the race at a purpose-built track.

"We are extremely honoured and proud to reach an agreement with the F1 commercial rights holder," said Tavo Hellmund, managing partner of Full Throttle Productions.

"We have been diligently working together for several years to bring this great event to Austin, the state of Texas and back to the United States."

Meanwhile, the Williams team's chief executive Adam Parr welcomed the return of F1 to the US.

"Well done, Bernie," said Parr. "He promised he'd find a great race for us in the States and this is excellent news. We are a global sport and not having a race in America has been a big hole in the calendar.

"Our partners and prospective partners will be thrilled. It's a giant step forwards."

The relationship between the US and F1 has had its ups and downs.

In 1961, Watkins Glen in upstate New York, became the venue for the US GP and it hosted the event for 20 years.

Between 1976 to 1980 the race became known as the United States Grand Prix East in order to differentiate itself from the United States Grand Prix West which was held in Long Beach, California.

Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix all hosted F1 races in the intervening years, before Indianapolis, renowned for the Indy 500, became regular US hosts from 2000.

But in 2005, controversy blighted the race as a result of the Michelin tyre safety row which meant that only six cars were on the starting grid - those of Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi.

Seven teams withdrew from the race after the formation lap.

Two years later, Indianapolis lost its right to host F1 and Ecclestone was quoted as saying: "It's all the wrong crowd and the wrong people."

The F1 calendar will expand from 19 to 20 races in 2011, while three races - the Chinese, Japanese and Turkish - are not contracted for 2012.

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Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton has been charged over a stunt he performed on a public road in Australia.

The British driver was stopped by police after performing a "burnout", spinning his car to leave tyre marks on the road, in front of fans before the Melbourne Grand Prix in March.

His silver Mercedes road car was impounded after he was pulled over close to the Albert Park circuit.

He was charged with intentionally losing control of a vehicle.

At the time, police said Mr Hamilton's rear wheels were skidding as he accelerated out of Albert Park on what was a public road.

McLaren's 2008 Formula 1 world champion admitted after the incident: "I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police.

"What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it."
Court appearance

A court hearing has been set for 24 August at Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

There is a Grand Prix race scheduled in Belgium on 29 August.

It is not clear whether Mr Hamilton will have to appear in court in Australia for the hearing.

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Williams' hopes of having the latest version of their cars ready for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix have been dashed by a lack of manufacturing time.

New parts had to be constructed for the cars after Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg both crashed

Read more: Manufacturing delay hits Williams Formula 1 team