'I Have Not Fully Understood What Went On'

Felipe Massa has played down the racism scandal involving Lewis Hamilton as an overblown war between the British and Spanish press.The Brazilian driver, who did not attend the Barcelona test because Ferrari was preparing to run for six days in Bahrain, told La Gazzetta dello Sport that the reported instances of racial abuse against Hamilton by spectators was "ugly".

'Issues With The Front Wing Mounting Have Been Resolved'

Williams' 2008 contenders on Monday did not encounter a repeat of the front wing mounting problems that marred the British team's running in Barcelona a week ago.Before most other formula one teams commence running at the southern Spanish circuit at Jerez on Tuesday, Oxfordshire based Williams - with two FW30s in action - and Red Bull began the test on Monday.

'Basically We Have To Make The Car Faster'

Pedro de la Rosa has praised McLaren's new car for 2008, but admits that engineers are busily trying to make the MP4-23 go quicker.It is widely reported that Ferrari currently possesses the fastest of the newly revealed 2008 grid, and de la Rosa - McLaren's veteran Spanish tester - agrees that the only missing element to his team's new racer is a mite more performance.

'There Are Teams That Have Not Shown All Of Their Cards'

Pedro de la Rosa believes some formula one teams are yet to display their true level of competitiveness in pre-season testing -- and Renault could be one of them.The McLaren test driver agrees that the Mercedes-powered team and Ferrari are a step ahead of the rest with their 2008 machines, but thinks winter testing so far has not told the full story about the likely pecking order in 2008.

Bahrain to host big F1 names for Forum

Bahrain's formula one circuit will host the first Motor Sport Business Forum Middle East on April 1 and 2 -- the week of the grand prix in Sakhir. Team principals for McLaren, Honda, Red Bull, Williams, Force India and possibly Ferrari, and 500 delegates, will be there, organisers said.It will be the first time the annual event takes place outside of Monaco.

Melbourne Australia's Only Grand Prix Option

Bernie Ecclestone has poured cold water on claims that the interest of rival city Sydney could rescue the beleaguered Australian grand prix.Melbourne chiefs have made it clear that they will not bow to the F1 chief executive's demands for a night race, which could mean that, in 2011, Australia could be without a championship round for the first time since 1984.

FIA Boss Sez Spanish Grand Prix Could Be Pulled

The racial abuse of McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton was not a one-off, his father and manager has told the president of F1's governing body.Following the controversial events of the recent Barcelona test, Max Mosley, FIA president, revealed that Anthony Hamilton told him that his 23-year-old son was also taunted by Spanish supporters at the Chinese grand prix last year.