Mark Webber: 'Hamilton? Only the English are interested'

No people on earth pursue sporting victory as single-mindedly as the Australians; no nation has less truck with the Corinthian notion that winning is less important than taking part. So when the 2008 Formula One season whines into action in Melbourne on Sunday, one wonders how the locals will take to the idea that they have only one compatriot on the Albert Park track, and that he has a negligible chance of winning the race.

Coulthard to quit at end of season

British driver David Coulthard today confirmed he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

David Coulthard makes sure of a rude awakening

The first language advisory of the 2008 Formula One season was earned by David Coulthard, with a storming display in the pitlane shortly after Felipe Massa had cut him up at a corner and reduced his car to a pile of quivering fibre glass. “I know I screwed up in the same way last season, but I took full responsibility for it and I would expect Felipe to do the same,” Coulthard said, reasonably. “And if he doesn't then I'm going to kick ten colours of s*** out of the little b******.”

Vettel to replace Coulthard at Red Bull

One of the first pieces in the 2009 Formula One jigsaw fell into place yesterday with the announcement in Hockenheim that Sebastian Vettel will transfer from energy drink magnate Dietrich Mateschitz's Toro Rosso team to his senior Red Bull Racing outfit. The 21 year-old German will replace David Coulthard, who announced at Silverstone that he will retire at the end of this season.

F1 news briefs: Friday (Coulthard expects child, Silverstone regrets, USGP no return)

Jul.4 (GMM) David Coulthard's fiancee Karen Minier is pregnant, according to the Swiss newspaper Blick. Soon-to-be-retired Coulthard and Minier, a former F1 TV journalist for France's TF1, have been engaged for two years. He has a beautiful fiancee to look after, friend and rival Jenson Button said at Silverstone on Friday in contemplation of Coulthard's final British grand prix.

Lewis Hamilton unscathed after practice crash

Lewis Hamilton was unharmed after crashing out during free practice ahead of this Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, which was dominated by the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.