Some news tidbits from the world of Formula 1:

Glock Chose Virgin Over Renault, Sauber For 2010: Timo Glock says he decided to join Virgin over moving to Sauber and Renault because the new British team was a safer employment option for the 2010 season. With Toyota leaving the sport, insiders had expected the 27-year-old German to move to Renault this year to be Robert Kubica’s teammate. The Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper reveals that Sauber was also an option for Glock. “In purely sporting terms, they would have been very good options,” he admitted. “But with Sauber they were facing a very long wait to be clear they were going to be there (in F1). “Renault was high on my list, but then came their (takeover) situation. I said to myself that if it doesn’t work out for either of them, I will be left at the end with nothing. “And I’m just a man who likes something new and exciting,” added Glock.

French GP Return Unlikely In 2011: France is not on this year’s F1 calendar and the situation is unlikely to change in 2011. That’s the admission of Nicolas Deschaux, president of the country’s motor racing sanctioning body FFSA (Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile). Following the demise of the Magny Cours event and then proposed alternative hosts, he blames French politics. “There is a time for sponsorships of the government,” he is quoted as saying by the L’Equipe sports daily. “When I see (Russian prime minister Vladimir) Putin announcing the support of (Vitaly) Petrov with Lada, I see the gap is huge compared to what happens in France. “The (French) government has a view on this subject that is distorted by electoral considerations under the heading of the environment,” Deschaux added. He said Magny Cours, Paul Ricard, and the Sarcelles project are the three possible venues for a reinstated French Grand Prix. “I am awaiting clarification of the financial feasibility of Sarcelles,” said Deschaux, who also said he is in “very regular contact” with FIA president Jean Todt.
“But I cannot predict the year of the next Grand Prix of France. It would be unrealistic to think it will be 2011,” he added.

Senna Happy With Weather After Arriving In Bahrain: Early Wednesday morning, Bahrain was already boasting a plethora of formula one drivers who have arrived early ahead of the 2010 season opener. 24 hours ago Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, Sebastien Buemi and Nico Hulkenberg had either already touched down or were en route to the sunny and warm island Kingdom. HRT rookie Bruno Senna is also already in Bahrain. “It has not been so hot, at least for now,” the Brazilian is quoted as saying by Globo, having reported that Senna visited the Sakhir circuit on Tuesday. “It’s 25-26 in the days and about 18 at night.” Senna revealed that he is to undergo the mandatory F1 rookies neurological test on Wednesday, which serves as a basis in the event of head injuries. More arrivals on Tuesday were Timo Glock and the FIA’s Charlie Whiting, and on Wednesday morning it is expected that the McLaren drivers will touch down. Bahrain’s General Directorate of Nationality, Passport and Residence reported that about 100,000 visitors are expected in the country this weekend, up 10,000 on 2009.

No Friday Role For Di Resta In Bahrain: Paul di Resta will have to wait until free practice in Melbourne to kick off his season as Force India’s Friday driver. The Scottish rookie will take over one of the race driver’s cockpits for the 90 minute Friday sessions at most Grands Prix this year. But for Bahrain, the Silverstone based team has elected to keep Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi at the wheel of the two VJM03s, due to the change of layout for the 2010 season opener. Force India confirmed that the pair “will need to learn the new track configuration” later this week. “I think they have just made it much longer and slower and I’m not a big fan of this type of track as I love high speed corners and circuits,” said Liuzzi. Di Resta, 23, will still be trackside in Bahrain in his role as reserve driver. “Although I’m not going to be driving during free practice, Bahrain is a great track, I’ve raced there before in F3, and I can’t wait to get on the plane and head off for the first weekend,” said the DTM driver.

Coulthard Admits F1 Comeback Not Possible: David Coulthard has acknowledged that his Formula One career is over. The Scot, who vacated his Red Bull race seat for Sebastian Vettel for the start of last season, is now linked with a return to the cockpit in the German touring car series DTM. He still attends Grands Prix as an expert pundit for British television. Coulthard, now 38, told Switzerland’s Motorsport Aktuell that he is not thinking about joining Jacques Villeneuve in pushing to return to the F1 grid. “I think deep in my mind the desire is still there to race a formula one car at the front,” said the veteran of nearly 250 Grands Prix dating back to 1994. “But in exactly the same way I can see the reality that I had a good and a long career. I had great opportunities but I don’t have them anymore. “And so I don’t use up my energy thinking about non-existent options,” said Coulthard.

Bahrain To Be HRT ‘Shakedown’ – Chandhok: Bahrain will be the equivalent of a ‘shakedown’ for HRT’s new and unnamed Formula One car, according to its Indian driver Karun Chandhok. When the 26-year-old and his fellow rookie teammate Bruno Senna begin free practice at Sakhir on Friday, it will be the first time the grey Dallara-built cars have ever turned a wheel. “There will be problems,” two time GP2 race winner Chandhok is quoted as predicting by the Indian tabloid Mail Today. “Even the established top teams have problems in the shakedowns and our shakedown will be FP1 on Friday. “But we have to stay optimistic and battle through the first few races before we start to see some fruitful results,” he said.

F1 Better Off With Todt In Charge – Gracia: Carlos Gracia, the president of Spain’s motor racing federation, has backed former FIA president Max Mosley’s successor Jean Todt. Gracia is one of the sporting vice-presidents under former Ferrari boss and Frenchman Todt’s new rule. “The relationship with Mosley was good and cordial,” he said during an interview with Spain’s Marca sports newspaper. “Now with Todt it’s even better because I believe in him as a manager, a businessman, who sees the FIA like a company.” Asked what the FIA has gained with Todt in charge instead of Briton Mosley, Gracia answered: “Professionalism. He is a great manager. “Those of us on the inside see that he has started in the right direction, although he has not rushed to the media or entered like an elephant in the kitchen. “With Todt, F1 will no longer be whipped,” he added.

Massa Denies Needing Glasses For Racing: Poorer eyesight is not a legacy of Felipe Massa’s serious accident of 2009, the Brazilian driver insists. After the 28-year-old suffered head injuries when his helmet was struck by a flying spring in Hungary last July, there were serious doubts about his vision. Subsequent reports said the Ferrari driver’s eyesight returned to 20-20, but in recent weeks Massa has been spotted wearing glasses. Asked during a video chat on Ferrari’s official website, Massa denied that he now also needs the glasses at the wheel of his F1 car. “No, I just have a little bit of myopia (short-sightedness), so I just wear them when I’m driving in the evening and when I’m watching a movie. I prefer to read better what’s written on the screen,” he said. “Usually for racing, also at night, it’s ok.”

Carlos Sainz To Be F1 Commentator In 2010: Carlos Sainz will be a Formula One commentator in 2010. The two-time rally world champion and reigning Dakar winner, 47, has been signed by the Spanish broadcaster La Sexta, as has the Ferrari test driver and fellow expert pundit Marc Gene. In late 2006, Sainz – a renowned F1 fan – tested Renault’s title-winning car. His teenage son Carlos Sainz Jr is embarking on a professional single seater career, the El Mundo newspaper report also said.

Alguersuari Wishes For Red Bull Racing Switch: Jaime Alguersuari has admitted he would happily accept an offer to switch to Red Bull Racing. The Spanish teenager, who made his debut last year and in 2010 begins his first full formula one season, drives for Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz’s second team, the Faenza-based Toro Rosso. When asked by El Mundo Deportivo newspaper about his goals for this year, 19-year-old Alguersuari answered: “To do things well and to be an asset for Toro Rosso for next year. What I really wish is to make the jump to Red Bull, which is a very competitive team that wins races. That is the goal, as of course it also is for my teammate Sebastien Buemi.”