Although McLaren have insisted that they will only recommend their preferred drivers for new partners Force India next year, Vijay Mallya says he will be hard pressed not to act on the Woking squad’s advice.

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has joked that he wants Kimi Raikkonen’s slower and less motivated ’stunt double’ to step aside in 2009 for the real Raikkonen.

The Finn, who only a year ago was wallowing in championship glory having beaten Lewis Hamilton to the title in Brazil, endured a trying season this year, his apparent lack of speed and motivation mid-season triggering speculation about his future at the Italian squad.

Force India have entered into a technical partnership with McLaren-Mercedes for 2009, the two teams confirmed today.

Having used Ferrari engines in 2008, Force India’s switch to McLaren sees the team enjoy Mercedes-Benz power next year, as well as the use of McLaren’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), and access to the Woking squad’s part suppliers.

David Coulthard has advised newly-crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton to think twice about his pledge to spend the rest of his career with McLaren.

After winning the championship in Brazil and returning home to the UK, Hamilton told journalists: “I want to see my career through with this team (McLaren), so that’s my plan.”

Lewis Hamilton says he has always respected his former McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso and has denied that there was ever a personal dispute between himself and the Spaniard as they battled for the title at McLaren last year.

Aussie ace slams “inconsistent” stewarding and calls for shake-up in 2009

Red Bull driver and Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) director Mark Webber has called for a radical overhaul in the way grand prix are stewarded in 2009 following a spate of seemingly inconsistent interventions from race officials this year.

Mark Webber and David Coulthard have lent their support to Bernie Ecclestone who faced calls for his resignation this week after brushing off claims that Formula One has a race problem.

Ecclestone triggered outrage amongst anti-racism campaigners when he dismissed the abuse that Lewis Hamilton received in Spain and Brazil as “nonsense,” saying that the events stemmed from sporting opposition to Hamilton rather than real racism.

Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at anti-racism campaigners who reacted angrily to his denial that Formula One has a race problem.

Nonsense

The Formula One Chief Executive dismissed the abuse that Lewis Hamilton received in Spain and Brazil this year, as well as on the internet, as “nonsense”, saying that the events stemmed from sporting dislike of Hamilton rather than real racism.

Colin Kolles and Mike Gascoyne have left Force India in a major management reshuffle admidst speculation that the team will enter a technical partnership with McLaren-Mercedes in 2009.

Force India team owner has assumed full responsibility for running the outfit, aided by Robert Fernley, director of Force India, while design director Mark Smith and technical director James Key will share responsibility on the technical front.

Force India have ended their engine deal with Ferrari paving the way for a technical partnership with McLaren-Mercedes in 2009.

Force India boss Vijay Mallya is believed to be in negotiations with McLaren to secure a deal for a drive train package, and the announcement today that his team have ended their collaboration with Ferrari would seem to confirm the reports.