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F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)
Toto Wolff, Mercedes' new shareholder and director, has played down claims the team is a definite title contender for 2013...
SPEED Staff / GMM  |  Posted March 05, 2013   GMM Newswire
Toto Wolff, Mercedes' new shareholder and director, says winter testing is not a good indicator of what's to come. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
'Red Bull Showed Nothing' In Testing - Wolff: Toto Wolff, Mercedes' new shareholder and director, has played down claims the Silver Arrows is a definite title contender for 2013. The Brackley-based team had played down its chances until the last two days of preseason testing, when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg stunned the paddock with the pace of the new W04. "Mercedes looks very strong," Ferrari technical director Pat Fry is quoted by Speed Week. But Austrian Wolff said of the raised expectations: "I have to dampen them because they are quite simply not realistic." He said winter testing is not a good form guide, particularly if some teams are deliberately hiding their performance. "Red Bull, for example, showed nothing," said Wolff. "We won't know until Melbourne what's really going on," he told the German news agency DPA. Team newcomer Hamilton, meanwhile, also seemed initially excited by the late-Barcelona test pace, admitting he now expects to win a race. But Spain's El Confidential quotes him as saying: "There's no reason to be impressed. People should not get excited. It's important for everyone to have their feet on the ground." Teammate Rosberg, in contrast, has sounded upbeat throughout the winter, openly admitting the W04 is much better than its 2012 predecessor. But the real question is how it will stack up against the competition. "Amongst others, the big unknown is Red Bull," the German is quoted as saying.

F1 Drivers Drug Tested On Tuesday: Several F1 drivers were drug tested on Tuesday. McLaren's Sergio Perez confirmed he had endured a very "early morning" as the result of a surprise urine test. Fernando Alonso said the testers, ensuring FIA-sanctioned drivers comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s international standard, arrived at his house at 6.42 a.m. "Got drug tested early hours this morning," added Australian Daniel Ricciardo. "All of a sudden p*ssing in your own home becomes difficult with someone staring over your shoulder," he said on Twitter. The WADA standard includes drug testing at Grands Prix, but also 'out of competition.'

Ecclestone Wants Third-Generation Hill In F1: A third-generation Formula One driver would be "fantastic," the sport's chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has admitted. Actually, the possibility is now quite real, with 1996 World Champion Damon Hill's 22-year-old son Josh to contest the European F3 championship this year. The winner of this year's series will get a test with the fabled F1 team Ferrari. Damon Hill has been raising the profile of his son recently, after Josh in 2012 won five races in the Formula Renault 2.0 championship. Josh's grandfather was the 1962 and 1968 World Champion Graham Hill, and Josh recently accompanied his father Damon to collect Graham's entry into Motor Sport magazine's Hall of Fame. All three Hills raced the now iconic blue and white livery of the London rowing club on their helmets. Ecclestone told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt: "I wish Damon's son would get into F1. It would be super. It would be fantastic," he told City A.M.

Kubica To Contest Second-Tier WRC In 2013: Robert Kubica will contest the second-tier WRC2 world rally championship at the wheel of a Citroen in 2013. The former Renault and BMW driver has been out of Formula One and full-time motorsports since a near-fatal rallying crash just before the 2011 season. The news follows the 28-year-old's recent test in a Mercedes DTM car, raising speculation he might contest the premier German touring car series this year. "I weighed up the different options before deciding on this program," said Kubica after Citroen announced the news on Monday. "I'm really pleased now to be able to return to top level racing." The media statement said Citroen has received special dispensation from the governing FIA to install a paddle shift on the steering wheel, to make it easier for Kubica to change gear given the injuries to his once almost-severed arm. "Robert's determination is an example to us all, and we are proud to associate Citroen's image with such a resolutely positive individual," said team boss Yves Matton.


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