McLaren preparing the ground for Raikkonen

McLaren are refusing to directly confirm that Kimi Raikkonen is set to return next year, but team members are dropping lots of hints...  

Toyota chasing Kubica and Raikkonen for 2010

Robert Kubica has emerged as a leading candidate to switch to Toyota next year, and team president John Howett also admitted at Suzuka that he would happily sign Kimi Raikkonen...  

Fernando Alonso set for Ferrari deal

• Spaniard will replace Kimi Raikkonen from next year• 'He's pulled off the deal of his life,' says close friendThe two-times world champion Fernando Alonso has signed a deal with Ferrari starting in 2010. It could be officially announced in the run-up to this Sunday's Japanese grand prix at Suzuka.The Spanish driver, who finished third in Sunday's Singapore grand prix to score the Renault team's first podium finish of the season, will partner Felipe Massa after agreeing a three-year contract worth in excess of $30m (£19m).Although Kimi Raikkonen has a contract with Ferrari for 2010, it is believed that the Finn will return to the McLaren-Mercedes squad next year to partner Lewis Hamilton, replacing his fellow Scandinavian Heikki Kovalainen who has been disappointing this season.Neither Ferrari nor McLaren would officially comment on the matter, but a close friend of Alonso said he had little doubt that the Ferrari deal was already done. "Fernando isn't always the most demonstrative of guys, but when he was walking down the paddock he almost looked as though he wanted to leap into the air and click his heels together," he said. "He looked like a guy who'd pulled off the deal of his life."Ferrari currently have three other potential drivers they could call on in the event of Massa not being fully race fit by the start of next season, although the present signs are that the Brazilian driver is well down the road to recovery from head injuries sustained in practice for August's Hungarian grand prix.The other drivers on their books include Giancarlo Fisichella, Luca Badoer, Marc Gené and potentially the seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher, although sources close to the Italian team have ruled out the prospect of the 40-year old making a full-time return to the Formula One field.Meanwhile, Jenson Button will be going to Suzuka knowing that a race win on this challenging high-speed track near Nagoya could set him up to clinch the world championship in Brazil a fortnight later. Button finished fifth at Singapore, crossing the line just ahead of his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, his only serious remaining rival for the title with three races of the season left to run.Next year Button will probably not have to worry about Barrichello driving a similar car as the veteran Brazilian is likely to be replaced by Nico Rosberg, a move which will further strengthen the ties between the Brawn team and their engine suppliers Mercedes-Benz who are anxious to have a German driver in the team.FerrariFormula OneRenaultMotor sportAlan Henryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Toyota wants Kubica or Raikkonen

Oct.2 (GMM) Robert Kubica has emerged as a leading candidate to switch to Toyota next year, and team president John Howett also admitted at Suzuka that he would happily sign Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen frustrated by lack of Ferrari development

Kimi Raikkonen in Singapore expressed frustration about the reasons for his low qualifying position for Sunday's floodlit race...  

Vettel closes gap on Button in Japan

• Vettel wins from pole with Lewis Hamilton third• Button finishes eighth but stays 14 points clearJenson Button's slow march towards the world title took another step closer to completion in Japan, despite Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel winning from pole. Button, finishing down in eighth, saw his lead cut by a point, but remains 14 clear with just two races to go.Vettel kept alive his outside chance of winning the drivers' championship, moving to within 16 points of Button. The German crossed the line ahead of Jarno Trulli's Toyota with Lewis Hamilton in third for McLaren.Vettel's third win of the season helped to close the gap at the top, but Button's Brawn team-mate, Rubens Barrichello, remains the Briton's closest challenger having crossed the line a place ahead in seventh.Brawn could have wrapped up the constructors' title, but were denied after the safety car was brought on to the track with five laps to go. Button, however, was unhappy with Williams' Nico Rosberg, for allegedly setting his fastest sector time while drivers were under restrictions – an issue the race stewards were looking in to.As things stand, Brawn will need just half a point more to claim the crown when the teams move on to Brazil in two weeks' time, while Button could secure his first world title merely by keeping pace with Barrichello and Vettel.Race standings1 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 01:28:20.443; 2 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 01:28:25.243; 3 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 01:28:26.843; 4 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 01:28:28.343; 5 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 01:28:29.143; 6 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 01:28:29.943; 7 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Brawn GP 01:28:31.043; 8 Jenson Button (Gbr) Brawn GP 01:28:31.843; 9 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 01:28:32.143; 10 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 01:28:33.443; 11 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 01:28:34.143; 12 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Ferrari 01:28:34.943; 13 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 01:28:35.343; 14 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Force India 01:28:36.143; 15 Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams 01:28:38.343Not Classified: 16 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Renault +1 lap; 17 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull +2 laps; 18 Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso +10 laps; 19 Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Scuderia Toro Rosso +42 lapsDNS: 20 Timo Glock (Ger) ToyotaWorld championship standings1 Jenson Button (Gbr) Brawn GP 85.0pts; 2 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Brawn GP 71.0; 3 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 69.0; 4 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 51.5; 5 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 45.0; 6 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 43.0; 7 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 34.5; 8 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 30.5; 9 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 26.0; 10 Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 24.0; 11 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 22.0; 12 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 22.0; 13 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 15.0; 14 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 9.0; 15 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Ferrari 8.0; 16 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 5.0; 17 Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Scuderia Toro Rosso 3.0; 18 Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 2.0; six drivers on zero pointsFormula OneSebastian VettelJenson ButtonRed BullBrawnMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds