Some news tidbits from the world of Formula 1:

Buemi Not Afraid To Return To Toro Rosso Cockpit: Sebastien Buemi insists he will have no qualms about returning to the wheel of his Toro Rosso on Saturday. In initial practice for the Chinese Grand Prix, the 21-year-old Swiss had a scary incident when both wheels sheared off at high speed. He appeared shaken once he had returned to the garage, and was “quiet” as he went off to the circuit medical centre for a routine check, his team boss Franz Tost revealed. Buemi could not return to the track in the afternoon because his STR5 was still being repaired, but he insists he will not give a second thought to stepping back into the cockpit on qualifying day in Shanghai. “For me, in the car, it was no problem,” Buemi told reporters, revealing that his biggest disappointment was the thought of how much practice time he would lose. “The run-off area is huge and no matter how it looked, for me it was no big deal.” Asked how the incident dents a driver’s confidence, he answered: “Hardly at all. Something can always break. We will replace the parts and think nothing more about it.” As for whether he is worried the same thing might happen on Saturday, Buemi said: “No.”

De La Rosa Not Worried About Rumors Of Losing Seat: Pedro de la Rosa has played down rumors he could soon lose his Sauber race seat. After several years as McLaren’s test driver, the Spanish 39-year-old was drafted in for his experience by Peter Sauber. But Sauber, 66, recently expressed doubts about the Swiss team’s 2010 lineup, and particularly the time it is taking de la Rosa to reacclimatize to racing. “It is best to ask Peter Sauber but it (Sauber’s comments) is something that does not worry me,” de la Rosa is quoted as saying by Spain’s AS newspaper. “I am very calm, I want to be here for as long as possible and I want to improve — that is my concern. Making the car faster (is important), not getting into rumors that just waste time,” he added. De la Rosa denies that he is struggling at the wheel of the C29. “I think I took three days to get back into it, when I said that I was a little rusty. From then I feel very good and that I have been driving well. “What has happened is we have had very poor reliability, but that is down to isolated cases, so I’m concentrating on my work and on getting points when we can.” It has been suggested that Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, with some big sponsors in tow, would be first in line for de la Rosa’s seat, but the Spaniard dismissed it as “just a rumor”.

Kolles Plays Down Criticisms Of HRT’s Dallara Car: Colin Kolles has played down reported criticisms of HRT’s car designer Dallara, but confirms that the contract with the Italian company has been terminated. The team’s new technical boss Geoff Willis was the first to criticize the quality of the F110 car, and earlier this week business affairs boss Manfredi Ravetto slammed Dallara’s contribution as a “total mess”. It is now suggested that the Spanish team will embark on its own development program for the car, rather than rely any longer on Parma-based Dallara. “These plans (of HRT) have nothing to do with criticisms of Dallara,” team principal Kolles said in an interview with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. “These are two different things. The criticisms, after I spoke with the people (involved), were perhaps misinterpreted and misquoted,” he added. “That is point number one. Point number two is how the team will work in the future. It was clear from the outset that the contract with Dallara is completed. It ended on the date on which we ran our cars. That we might consider continuing with Dallara is only one out of three or four options.”

Massa Says No In-Race Team Orders At Ferrari: Felipe Massa has denied that standing team orders are in place at Ferrari. It is rumored that when Red Bull’s drivers are running first and second this season, they are not to attack one another, while the leading driver is given first call on the timing of his pit stop. But when asked if the same arrangement exists between himself and Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, Massa said in China: “No. Neither of us will do something stupid, that’s obvious, but we are fighting against each other, just like everyone else on the track,” he is quoted as saying in the Spanish media. “But we respect each other, for sure.” Massa also indicated that Ferrari is deciding on a “race by race” basis about the drivers’ pit strategies.

Grosjean Eyes Return To F1 In 2011: Romain Grosjean insists he does not want to close the chapter on his brief Formula One career. The Swiss-Frenchman took over from the sacked Nelson Piquet last year, driving the R29 at the final seven rounds as the ‘crashgate’ scandal struck and Renault lost chiefs, sponsors and the support of its carmaker parent. Over the winter, the Enstone based team changed hands and the new regime signed the well-financed Russian pay-driver Vitaly Petrov, leaving Grosjean to contemplate a season in the new GT1 world championship. That category kicks off in Abu Dhabi this weekend. “I’m looking forward to it, taking this experience and maybe trying to go back to formula one in 2011,” he told the local Gulf News’ Xpress on Thursday. He said he is proud of his achievements in F1, even though failing to score a single point. “I was very close to Fernando, and Fernando is winning races today with a very good car,” said Grosjean. “I was at the wrong place at the wrong moment, sometimes that happens. That’s why I think I clearly have my place in formula one.” And he told the Abu Dhabi newspaper The National: “(Renault) was in a very complicated situation and I don’t like to go back too much to that story, but in the end I am very happy with the job I did.”

No Friday Driving Plans For Virgin’s Soucek: Andy Soucek Thursday admitted he is not likely to drive a Virgin during Friday practice sessions at Grands Prix any time soon. The 24-year-old Austrian-Spaniard and reigning F2 champion is the new British team’s reserve driver in 2010. He has been at all the Grands Prix so far this year, but admitted to the Kleine Zeitung newspaper that it is “hard to be motivated” when he is not actually driving. Soucek is however contracted to do some testing in the Cosworth powered car this year, even if there are currently no plans for him to join fellow testers Fairuz Fauzy (Lotus) and Paul di Resta (Force India) in getting Friday mileage. He said: “Virgin currently have other problems than to be thinking about the third driver.”

Kubica And Massa Play Down 2011 Ferrari Seat Rumors: Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa on Thursday played down the rumors about their respective futures. With Brazilian Massa’s Ferrari contract set to expire, it is suggested that Kubica, 25, could be drafted in from Renault to be his friend Fernando Alonso’s teammate in 2011 and beyond. The speculation has gained even more pace given the Pole’s impressive start to this season, but he said in China: “I don’t think for any seconds or any minutes about next year. “There were rumors about Ferrari last year, and now there are rumors again this year. So far, the rumors have only been rumors,” added Kubica. Some sections of the media have touted the possibility of a new three-year contract for 28-year-old Massa, who has been with Ferrari since 2006. But Italian sources have suggested the Kubica rumors might be true, and when asked about his talks with Ferrari Massa said on Thursday: “I think there’s really no rush for the moment. “Even before my accident last year, some talks started to renew the contract, and those talks have started again. “I’m really not in a rush to do that. Improving race by race and fighting for the championship is more on my mind,” he added.

F1 To Enjoy Extended Break After China: Fernando Alonso Thursday told the F1 world to enjoy its rare extended break in the wake of Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix. The first four rounds of this year’s world championship have all taken place outside of Europe and within an intensive six-week period. But after Shanghai, the F1 circus will enjoy two free weekends before re-congregating for the start of the European season in Spain. “The drivers and the teams can charge their batteries before the European races start,” said Ferrari’s Alonso. “We’ll all benefit from that, that’s for sure.”

Tilke Denies Doubting Korea Construction – Ecclestone: Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday said there is “no doubt” Korea will be ready to host its inaugural Grand Prix in late October. Local promoters Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) have already insisted that construction of the 5.62km track in Yeongam County is on time, after designer Hermann Tilke expressed doubt. Tilke was quoted as saying by the German news magazine Focus: “For the first time I am concerned that a (Tilke) circuit is not going to be finished on time.” It was reported that concerned F1 chief executive Ecclestone travelled straight from Malaysia to South Korea earlier this month, but actually he is at the site this week. The Briton said on Thursday: “I’ve spoken to Tilke and he denies saying it.” Ecclestone told reporters that he is “absolutely sure” the circuit will be ready on time. “No doubt at all,” added the 79-year-old.

Willi Weber Back In Court: Legal trouble has struck again for Willi Weber, Michael Schumacher’s long time manager. The 68-year-old, who now handles Nico Hulkenberg’s young career, was sentenced to probation and a hefty fine by a German court two years ago, for moving money and assets from a merchandise company and then declaring it insolvent. The German publications Express and Speedweek now report that Weber must return to court, and because of his prior conviction could be jailed. For related matters regarding the fraudulent bankruptcy of the ‘Pole Position Marketing’ company, Weber will reportedly now defend his case in a Stuttgart court. He is quoted as commenting: “The court will objectively examine the accusations, and I am convinced of a positive conclusion in my favor.”

Warwick, Mansell, Fittipaldi, Hill To Be Next F1 Stewards: Derek Warwick, Nigel Mansell and Emerson Fittipaldi are being lined up to act as the fourth F1 stewards at upcoming Grands Prix. FIA president Jean Todt’s new initiative is to have a well-known and experienced former driver advising the three conventional stewards as they make their decisions at races this year. Alain Prost kicked off his duties in Bahrain, and it now emerges that the quadruple world champion is lined up to return in Turkey late next month. Former Williams driver Alex Wurz is on duty this weekend in China, before the British veteran of 162 Grands Prix, Derek Warwick, takes over for the start of the European season in Spain. Damon Hill, whose father Graham Hill won the prestigious event no fewer than five times in the 60s, will join the stewards in Monaco. The 1996 world champion insists his past troubles with Michael Schumacher will not affect his ability to judge impartially. “There are more important things than individual relationships. The important thing is the sport, and that the sport has got credibility,” said the Briton. It is believed that Brazilian legend Emerson Fittipaldi, the double world champion and now 63-year-old, will preside at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and that Nigel Mansell could be the steward at his beloved Silverstone.

Montezemolo Not Willing To Discuss Massa’s Contract: Luca di Montezemolo would not be drawn when asked about speculation that 2010 could be Felipe Massa’s last season at Ferrari. Brazilian and German reports recently said the 28-year-old, whose contract expires this year, was set to extend the deal for a further three years until 2013. But Italian media sources said rumors linking Renault’s Robert Kubica with the race seat, which has been occupied by Brazilian Massa since 2006, should not yet be dismissed. “Let’s not start with talking about contracts,” Ferrari president Montezemolo said at a presentation of the Italian marquee’s new 599 GTO, according to Italian media. “This world championship has just started,” he said. “I am very happy with Felipe, from his total recovery from the incident of last year to now leading the championship. And I am very happy with Alonso, on the track, off the track, with his determination, optimism and high concentration. I am very, very happy with both of them, and I hope to see on Sunday a Ferrari that is highly competitive, although there will be a close fight.”