Lots of news tidbits from the world of Formula 1:

Vitaly Petrov A Candidate For Renault Seat – Report: Yet another driver is being linked with the vacant race seat at Renault. A multitude of names have been mentioned as candidates for the role alongside Robert Kubica, and the latest belongs to a 25-year-old from Russia. Vitaly Petrov carries significant sponsorship backing, and has already been linked with the vacant cockpits at Campos and Sauber. He has driven in the GP2 series since 2006, and last season finished second behind champion Nico Hulkenberg. Finland’s Turun Sanomat claims Renault will select the driver with “the most sponsorship money” to be Kubica’s teammate, adding that Petrov is “by no means the only strong candidate”.

Ferrari Works On Fuel Efficiency Weakness: As teams prepare for 2010, Ferrari is working in the area of fuel consumption, team boss Stefano Domenicali has said. The Italian team’s V8 reportedly uses more fuel per lap than its key rivals Mercedes and (particularly) Renault, and the fact will take on a greater importance this year with cars no longer allowed to make refueling pit stops. “Before Bahrain we will be ready,” Domenicali is quoted as saying by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca on the topic of fuel efficiency. “I believe this year (fuel) consumption will be fundamental. We are working very hard with (fuel supplier) Shell on this. We have relative expectations but we are going in the right direction,” he added.

No Arctic Rally Outing For Kovalainen: Heikki Kovalainen will not contest the Finnish Arctic Lapland Rally next week. After emerging from his restrictive McLaren contract at the end of 2009, the 28-year-old hinted he would take advantage by contesting a rally this winter. The Finn fuelled the rumors recently by sitting in a Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car while in Malaysia for the announcement of his 2010 Lotus deal. But according to the French publication Auto Hebdo, Kovalainen “does not have time to prepare seriously for the Arctic Rally”.

Alonso Not Concerned By Schumacher’s GP2 Test: Fernando Alonso doesn’t agree with those who believe Michael Schumacher’s recent GP2 test gave the returning champion an unfair advantage for 2010. Despite the current winter testing ban, Schumacher turned laps for three days at Jerez at the wheel of a GP2 car, in a session billed as a development test for the feeder series. But at Ferrari’s winter media event last week, Spaniard Alonso denied that the German’s GP2 mileage has put Schumacher ahead of the game for 2010 despite his three-year F1 absence. “The GP2 car is very different from F1; not at all a good point of reference,” the 28-year-old is quoted as saying in an interview with La Stampa. “But for him it would have been good in order to regain his confidence on the track. If it’s allowed, I think it’s fine,” Alonso added.

Rosberg Will Debut 2010 Mercedes Car: Nico Rosberg will give the 2010 Mercedes GP car its maiden outing at Valencia on 1 February, team boss Ross Brawn has confirmed. “Nico will drive the new car first,” Brawn told the German newspaper Bild. “That is the way we planned it from the outset, even before Michael (Schumacher) came to the team,” the Briton added. Schumacher, however, will also drive at the first test of the pre-season.

Buemi’s Icy Montreal Drive Cancelled: Sebastien Buemi’s icy drive in a Formula One car Sunday was called off. At the wheel of a Red Bull car, the Swiss driver was scheduled to negotiate a special 4km layout on the frozen waters of the Olympic Basin, located at Parc Jean-Drapeau behind the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The event was to celebrate the return of Formula One to the Canadian city of Montreal. But Red Bull said Sunday that the event was cancelled “due to unstable ice conditions created by warm weather patterns”. “A new date has not been set, but we are looking into the possibility of rescheduling,” the energy drinks company said in a media statement.

Renault To Test At Valencia Next Month: Renault will return to the track at the upcoming Valencia test, despite rumors the R30 has failed its initial FIA frontal crash test. After a seat-fitting visit to Enstone last week, the team’s new driver Robert Kubica revealed he will return to the factory later in January “to try out the proper (2010) chassis and to have my seat made so that we are ready for the first test in Valencia”. The Pole insisted he already has a good feeling about his new tenure in formula one, despite the recent ‘crashgate’ scandal and the team’s subsequent takeover by Genii Capital. “The only difficulty I have is being patient enough to wait for the first test as it has been a long winter out of the car. Valencia cannot come soon enough!” said Kubica. The R30 will be launched at Valencia on the day before the winter test ban lifts on February 1.