They are after all, teammates.

German driver Nico Rosberg has defended under-fire teammate Michael Schumacher as a remarkable reversal of fortune has unfolded within Mercedes this 2010 F1 season.

Despite Michael Schumacher spending three years in retirement prior to his return to Formula One at the start of this season, many expected the seven-time World Champion to dominate Nico Rosberg.

With Nico Rosberg also new to Mercedes following his switch from Williams, and with Schumacher close friends with team boss Ross Brawn, it seemed inevitable the 41-year-old would hold sway.

Schumacher, though, has struggled throughout his comeback and so far has been out-qualified and out-raced by Rosberg by a count of six to two.

In the grand prix in Canada, Schumacher looked at times like a rookie rather than a legendary racer with a host of records to his name. Schumacher’s performance prompted a further wave of criticism that arguably he is now too old and no longer cut out for Formula One. But Rosberg, who celebrated his 25th birthday and so is 16 years Schumacher’s junior, said: “He’s had some very strong races this year.”

“Sometimes I’ve had the upper hand, but in general…”

The Italians are not happy these days.

Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali has admitted that his team are going to have to dig deep to recover from their recent trials and troubles in the 2010 F1 season.

Though he is optimistic that they can turn things around. The Maranello squad have scored just 19 points from the last three races and are currently third in the constructors’ standings, trailing championship leaders McLaren by 113 points.

Despite the F10’s improving pace, Ferrari left Silverstone empty handed, after a problematic start and drive-through penalty for Fernando Alonso and tyre issues for Felipe Massa saw the duo finish in 14th and 15th respectively. Speaking during a conference at the factory, Domenicali urged the team to stay positive and work even harder.

“We are angry that we did not get the results which we were capable of delivering, but this anger must be turned into a positive force,” he said. “We must remain rational. We must not let ourselves be discouraged nor frustrated. We just have to knuckle down and continue with the development of the car, working calmly, with great concentration and determination. Then, the results will come.”

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, who was also in attendance, is equally keen for the squad to put recent problems behind them and focus on forthcoming races.

“There is no point in crying about it and I want the team to tackle the…”

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) made a bold decision by changing its tire supplier from Bridgestone to Pirelli.

Pirelli will become the next sole tire supplier of the Formula One championship. The Italian company will take over from Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone after the 2010 F1 season and will remain committed to the series from 2011 until 2013 included (three years).

In a meeting set at last week, the agreement for Pirelli to return to Formula One after a lengthy absence was green-lighted by both F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone and FIA President Jean Todt.

“Pirelli has been selected as the single tyre supplier for the FIA F1 world championship for a period of three years, commencing in 2011,” said the FIA in a statement.

The return of Pirelli in Formula One ends months of uncertainty on which manufacturer would supply tires to the pre-eminent racing series in the world. A host of manufacturers, including Hanook, Michelin, and Pirelli all made bids to take the reigns from Bridgestone beginning in 2011. In the end, the Italian tire maker was chosen from the field and will begin its newest stint in Formula One starting next year.

Also, the committee made some changes about the safety of…

Apart from the door opener in Bahrain, we’ve had a few great races, thanks to wet tracks, close racing, tire influence, and a few brilliant and explosive racing incidents.

The 2010 F1 season drivers championship remains wide open, with a maximum of 25 points for first, leaving us with a maximum of 250 points on offer. Despite this, there is really only five who you would consider likely to win from here.

Lewis Hamilton sits atop the Driver’s Championship standing with 127 points followed by Jensen Button with 121 points. RBR-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel takes the third spot with 115 points while teammate Mark Webber and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso round up the top five with 103 and 98 points, respectively.

Robert Kubica and Nico Rosberg are definitely not out of it. However, Rosberg’s Mercedes team will need to storm to an unlikely number of wins to challenge from here.

The main reason Red Bull Racing aren’t way out in front after their early season pace is due to reliability and poor strategy. (And probably because of the dissension between teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber too…)

Although McLaren and Ferrari rarely fail to capitalize on an opportunity, Red Bull are one team that can shoot themselves in the foot.

In addition, particularly bad tyre choices at Melbourne, Shanghai and even Montreal didn’t help their cause, as well as the famous coming together of Vettel and Webber in Turkey. It’s very likely that the winning driver will come from the winning constructor, as the teams each have closely matched drivers, which gives teams an equal footing.

McLaren and Ferrari know a lot more about winning, and…

Silverstone is looking forward to welcome the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, Jenson Button and his teammate Lewis Hamilton.

This race of the 2010 F1 season has become one of the sporting highlights of the British Summer. Few sporting occasions match the intensity, glamor and drama of the Santander British Grand Prix and whether it’s a wide eyed first timer or seasoned veteran, the experience is breathtaking.

Nothing beats the atmosphere at Silverstone when a British driver takes to the circuit. This year, both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will be aiming to impress the loyal British fans at their home race, hoping to mount the steps of the Silverstone podium.

And trust me, Lewis Hamilton won’t let his teammate upstage him this Sunday.

Running alongside the thrilling on-track action, spectators are treated to a host of additional entertainment including the ever popular post race party, air displays, entertainment zones and the F1 trade mall.

The 5.42km Valencia street course, located in the port area of the city, is a relatively high speed street course and incorporates a bridge in its layout. Twenty five corners and several sections where speeds are around 300 km/h mean a track where finding a good set-up compromise can be a challenge. The non-permanent nature of the facility means that track surface evolution is likely to be a factor over the weekend.

Hamilton, the 25-year-old Formula 1 star from Herts, has been…

Do we have dissension within Red Bull?

Martin Brundle, a British former racing driver from England and an F1 commentator believes that Milton Keynes squad is favoring Sebastian Vettel over Mark Webber this 2010 F1 season.

Just to refresh your mind on exactly what happened in Istanbul, Mark Webber started off from pole position and led the entire race from beginning to Lap 41 until Vettel felt like it was his chance to take 1st place from his teammate and proceeded to pull an overtaking maneuver when they were approaching Turn 12.

Unfortunately the two cars made contact and the German’s car had its rear end completely damaged resulting in Sebastian Vettel falling out of the race.

The Australian, who was leading the race until that point, pitted to have his front wing changed, managed to recover and took third place on the podium behind Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton respectively.

A lot of words must have passed between the two Red Bull drivers since the first time they saw each other after the race. The two drivers blamed each other for the crash, Webber being the better team player whilst Vettel struggled to mince his words.

Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has come out and insisted that both its Formula 1 team’s drivers are treated exactly the same despite the fact that he publicly blamed Mark Webber for trying to defend his position during the crash.

Mark Webber was put in a compromising position when he…

Drama has always been expected every single time F1 goes back to Canada.

And the Canadian Grand Prix this 2010 F1 season wasn’t any different. In fact, it has always been that way, from home hero Gilles Villeneuve’s victory in the inaugural race in 1978, through the tense 1980 title decider and the 1981 monsoon, to Nigel Mansell losing victory when he stopped on the last lap in 1991, Jean Alesi’s sole F1 triumph in 1995, Michael Schumacher charging back from a penalty to win amid chaos in 1998, and brother Ralf defeating him in F1’s first family one-two three years later.

Montreal is one of F1’s favorite host cities, and it gives the championship a foothold in the teams’ and sponsors’ treasured North American market at a time when the new United States Grand Prix is still two years away.

There were the explosive recent races that saw Lewis Hamilton take his first F1 victory in Canada in 2007, and Robert Kubica shrug off his horrifying crash in that race to lead a shock BMW one-two in Montreal a year later.

The top five drivers in the standings were expected to dominate this event especially league leader Mark Webber of RBR Renault, who tries to bounce back from an accident that involved his teammate Sebastian Vettel.

McLaren’s Jenson Button will make a push to overtake Webber at the top spot. Button admits mistakes will not be tolerated in Canada, the venue for Lewis Hamilton’s first-ever grand prix win.

”It’s fantastic to be going back to Montreal after a year away. I think everyone in Formula 1 loves the city, the people and the track, so it’s very fitting that we’re heading back – particularly during one of the best seasons we’ve had for years,” he said.

While Lewis Hamilton also tries to get back on the winning track…

Formula one race cars are heading towards the Canadian Grand Prix.

After the thrills and spills at the Monte Carlo Grand Prix followed by the frustration of the Turkish Grand Prix, circuit Gilles Villeneuve will host the upcoming race, for which the stands have been stretched out in Montreal to embrace the cars and drivers on the 16th of June, 2010. Yep, we’ll have the Canadian Grand Prix this 2010 F1 season.

No race was scheduled for the year 2009; however, a contract was signed for the races to be held from 2010-2014. As the countdown begins with the memories from the Turkish Grand Prix fresh in the minds of many, the Canadian Grand Prix is the one to watch out for.

Back in 2008, BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld finished second in a BMW Sauber car, with David Coulthard third in a Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton, who started from pole position, failed to finish the race, retiring on lap 19 after crashing into the back of Kimi Räikkönen’s Ferrari car in the pit lane. It turned out to be BMW Sauber’s only win and 1-2 finish, as they pulled out of F1 at the end of the 2009 season.

The current driver’s world championship standings leader is Mark Webber of Red Bull with 93 points as he has kept his place at the head of the Formula One standings after finishing in third place in the Turkish Grand Prix behind the McLaren pair of Jenson Button 88 points and Lewis Hamilton with 84 points.

Webber looked to be headed for this third straight win at Istanbul Park until a collision with Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel which caused him to pit for a new nose cone. Vettel went off and did not finish, meaning he has slipped to fourth in a close title race which is dominated by Red Bull and McLaren after seven rounds.

Hamilton’s victory, his first of the season and first since…

Why? Because he says he would’ve done the exact same thing.

In case you didn’t know, there was some sort of controversy concerning how Michael Schumacher finished in Monaco, the sixth leg of the 2010 F1 season.

For those of you who missed it, Michael Schumacher overtook Fernando Alonso just moments after the Safety Car returned to the pits at the final corner of the final lap of the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher was running seventh then and needed to overtake Fernando Alonso for that final championship point. Unfortunately for Schumi, the stewards ruled the move illegal and instead of a 6^th place finish, Schumacher was slapped with a 20-second penalty.

Alonso though, insists the rules are clear and says he wanted to overtake Lewis Hamilton but his team told him not to do it.

”The team told me over radio that we could not overtake,” Alonso said. ”I wanted to attack Lewis Hamilton, but I was forbidden by the team to do it. The fact that Michael went ahead to pass me did not surprise me.”

Alonso said there was no doubt in his mind that the seven-time world champion would be penalized. ”I was calm and that was later confirmed by the stewards, who put things right,” he wrote in his Ferrari blog.

Alonso’s weekend in Monaco wasn’t as good as he had hoped…

In case you didn’t know, the most grandiose event in Formula One was held last weekend.

Yes, the 2010 F1 season finally visited Monaco and as always, it was a spectacle. Red Bull’s Mark Webber became the first Australian for quite a while to win the Monaco Grand Prix and the race for the championship became even more interesting when it was all over with teammates Webber and Sebastian Vettel tied on top while points leader Jenson Button falling at the fourth spot.

But perhaps what’s more intriguing in Monaco is how Michael Schumacher ALMOST pulled off a fast one in the final lap of the race. You see, the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix ended with the Safety Car on track after Jarno Trulli collided with Karun Chandhok in the final three laps of the race.

The Safety Car returned to the pits on the final lap, prompting Michael Schumacher into thinking that he can dive by Fernando Alonso who was then riding sixth and merely moments from scoring the final championship point of the race.

Schumi dove by Fernando Alonso moments after they had crossed the Safety Car line, taking the sixth spot from the Spaniard. The stewards however, ruled the move illegal, and confirmed that an investigation would be launched.

”I think I’m sixth, I got the message ‘Track Clear’,” Michael Schumacher said in an interview. ”That means the Safety Car is gone, the accident zone was clear, so I thought I could go.”

Mercedes GP boss Ross Brawn, of course, agrees with his driver…