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Summer break: While drivers are soaking up rays, team bosses speak out

Motorsport.com staff

Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari with his new girlfriend Dasha Kapustina

Photo by: XPB Images

Martin Whitmarsh is giving up his chairman seat in the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA), and the McLaren boss did not waste any time speaking about the future engine plans. He claimed that allowing the current V8 engines should not be on the same track as the new generation V6 turbo engines in 2014. The concern is mainly the costs to the smaller teams will be too high of a price tag. Whitmarsh also stated that the V6s will be in short supply.

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Chief Executive Officer
Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Chief Executive Officer

Photo by: xpb.cc

Whitmarsh told Autosport: "It's feasible," he said. "I don't think it's an attractive thing to do, personally. Equivalence formulas, we have had it before, we had it in '88, we had turbos and normally aspirateds when we were coming the other way. It wasn't such a bad memory for McLaren, but it wasn't an attractive formula."

Pat Fry, Scuderia Ferrari technical boss realizes that the weather has aided the team this year. Fernando Alonso holds the points lead after a wild start to the season. Rain has indeed played a factor, as has drivers perhaps pushing beyond the limits and making errors.

Ferrari’s new F2012 got off to a rough start this season but they recovered nicely with three wins by the Spaniard. Alonso is off on a private beach to spend time with his new girlfriend, Russian model Dasha Kapustina.

The rainy weather in Malaysia and in Germany was a blessing for the Prancing Horse team as their top driver took both grand prix wins. The surprise was his earning the victory in the European Grand Prix on the streets of Valencia without the aid of a wet circuit.

Fry admitted to Autosport: "Do I think we're the quickest in a dry qualifying? I don't think we are now, but in the last two wet sessions it has been more impressive." Alonso landed the poles at both the German and British grands prix.

Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari leads Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1
Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari leads Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1

Photo by: xpb.cc

In other Formula One news, Lotus F1 boss Eric Boullier dismisses rumors that Kimi Raikkonen would even consider moving from the No. 1 spot on his team to take a secondary seat to Alonso at Ferrari. While it appears the Red team squad will not renew Felipe Massa’s contract, the idea of Raikkonen accepting being the second-fiddle to Alonso appears to be ludicrous at best. Yet the Iceman took his one and only title with Ferrari in 2007.

"I can't see why Kimi would want to be the second driver at Ferrari when he has the chance to be the number one here,” Boullier told Finland's MTV3. Yet the Finn recently commented "you never know what happens in the future".

Raikkonen’s contract is for three years, and the first season is not yet over. "Being with (teammate Romain) Grosjean is certainly easier than Alonso,” added Boullier.

While others soak up the sun rays and relax, David Coulthard had a great time in Copenhagen at the Red Bull Show.

David Coulthard in the Red Bull F1
David Coulthard in the Red Bull F1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

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