2012 GP2 Series champion Davide Valsecchi. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

GP2 Champ Hopes 2013 Role Leads To F1 Race Seat: Davide Valsecchi is the first champion in GP2 history who risks never sitting on a Formula One grid. Since the sport's feeder series began in 2005, every champion - Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Timo Glock, Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean - has recorded his place in F1 history. Even Giorgio Pantano, the 2008 champion who didn't carry the crown into F1, had already tasted Formula One racing, by spending most of the 2004 season with Jordan. Fellow Italian Valsecchi, 26, is the new reigning GP2 champion, but he will have to be content with the role of 'third driver' at Lotus this year.
Some media reports suggest, however, that Valsecchi will be given the chance to race in 2012 if regular drivers Kimi Raikkonen or Grosjean are unable. "I hope that this is a really good start to a career in Formula One," Valsecchi said in an interview published by Lotus' official website.

Emirates Could Sponsor F1 Team Again: New F1 backer Emirates, the Dubai-owned airline, could also return to the sport as a team sponsor. Earlier this month, Bernie Ecclestone announced a five-year branding deal has been agreed between Formula One and the airline. But in 2006, as McLaren plugged the one-season gap between its title sponsors West and Vodafone, Emirates had a prominent place on the silver livery. Now as a major F1 sponsor, could Emirates consider backing a team again? "If they feel that they want to expand into that area ... if they decide to get back into that again then yes, I think it is quite a natural thing to do," F1 chief executive Ecclestone told Arabian Business. Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum is also not ruling it out. "I think we always like to be associated with the top sports and F1 is one of the top sports around the world," he is quoted as saying. "What we did seven years ago (with McLaren) was because there was a window and there was an opportunity for Emirates. It was good actually," he added.

F1 To Proceed With Float In October - Source: Owner CVC looks set to proceed with the floatation of Formula One later this year, according to F1 business journalist Christian Sylt. Late last year, Sylt said CVC had decided to continue to delay the planned Singapore floatation until at least 2014. But in a new report for the Telegraph, he quotes a 'senior source' as saying CVC is now eyeing October, when it hopes the European financial crisis and the Gribkowsky corruption affair in Germany will be resolved. "In October this year, we ought to be able to look at the following year and say that most of next year's earnings are under contract, the market is in a very good place and Germany is now clear," said the source.

'Risk Taker' Hamilton Beats Vettel On Top Gear: Lewis Hamilton could not contain his smile as he smashed Sebastian Vettel's lap record on the British motoring television show Top Gear. The 2008 world champion's existing lap of the show's test track in a Suzuki Liana, set on a wet and slippery track some years ago, was bettered by seven tenths by current world champion Sebastian Vettel. Asked if that has irritated him, Hamilton admitted to presenter Jeremy Clarkson: "Uh huh. "He's had the best car (in F1) for god knows how many years, and he's also (been) the quickest on top gear," said the Briton. Hamilton's new time around the Top Gear test track - actually the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey - was 1.42.9, more than a full second quicker than German Vettel. Clarkson called the feat "unbelievable". Clarkson was, however, less impressed with Hamilton's move from McLaren to Mercedes, comparing it with leaving Manchester United in order to play for West Ham. Hamilton answered: "Everyone is criticizing it, but for me, I've been at McLaren since I was 13 and I want a change -- I'm a risk taker."

'Works' Teams Look To Seize 2014 Opportunity: Still amid the Red Bull era, the so-called 'works' teams are looking ahead with great eagerness to 2014. Red Bull has mastered the current era of aerodynamics-dominated regulations, where the normally-aspirated V8 engines have been 'frozen' for many years. That is all about to change. From next year, the cars will be powered by all-new turbo V6s integrated with sophisticated energy recovery or 'ERS' systems. "It is a great opportunity for teams like Ferrari and Mercedes to integrate the work of the engine and chassis sides," Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn is quoted by Spain's El Confidencial. Indeed, the German marque is already hard at work on 2014, with some saying that could explain Lewis Hamilton's willingness to jump ship from McLaren, the former Mercedes 'works' team. Also without obvious 'works' status is Red Bull, even though the energy drink-owned outfit has strengthened its ties with engine supplier Renault and now has title sponsorship courtesy of the Renault-aligned Nissan brand, Infiniti.