Some news tidbits from the world of Formula 1:

Renault Eyes July To Retain Kubica: With regard to Robert Kubica’s future, July 15 could be a significant date for the Pole. An Italian report said earlier this week that the 25-year-old, who currently drives for Renault, has signed some sort of “option” with Ferrari. The report said the option gives Ferrari the ability to definitively sign Kubica for 2011 by July 15. It is now reported by Finland’s Turun Sanomat that July 15 is also a significant date within the pages of Kubica’s current Renault contract. The report said Kubica will be free to sign for another team for 2011 if Renault is not at least fourth in the constructors’ championship. Renault is currently fifth, 14 points behind Mercedes. Theoretically, Kubica would become Fernando Alonso’s new teammate in the place of Felipe Massa, whose contract is set to expire. Asked why he has not yet renewed his Ferrari deal, Massa told Spain’s Marca newspaper: “There is no problem. It’s just that we are talking about it at the moment.”

Schu Says Manager Wrong: The relationship between Michael Schumacher and his long-time manager Willi Weber appears to have cooled. Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm has this year taken over the day-to-day management of the seven time world champion, although Weber is still involved in merchandising and sponsorship. Weber, who guided the German throughout his ultra-successful initial career, said this week that he senses a “Schumi-tiredness” within the public that could explain low merchandise sales in 2010. The 68-year-old also said, “(Sebastian) Vettel is the new Schumi” commercially, while it is “easier to find a 50-year-old virgin” than sponsors. Schumacher said in Barcelona: “Some of the things he said I cannot understand. Sabine has actually been very successful in finding sponsors, and nearly at every race the team has a new sponsor. It is his view,” the 41-year-old told Bild-Zeitung.

Bridgestone Could Stay In F1 Beyond 2010: Rumors have resurfaced once again that suggest Bridgestone is contemplating staying in Formula One beyond 2010. Michelin, Pirelli and Avon are all vying to replace the sport’s apparently departing official sole supplier. But in Barcelona on Saturday, FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh met with Bridgestone officials. The FOTA group then met on Sunday morning. Admitting that a new name entering F1 is a “risk,” Whitmarsh is quoted as saying by Motorsport-Magazin.com: “Bridgestone has done a great job in F1. We would be happy if we could persuade them to stay.” Whitmarsh also admitted that FOTA is reluctant to re-open the door to a tire war, as per Michelin’s wishes, due to the need to control costs for the sake of the smaller teams. It is believed next weekend’s Monaco event has been set as a target for the finalization of the issue of 2011 tire supply.

Lotus Vetoes Split Q1, F-ducts To Be Banned In 2011: Lotus was one of the slower teams to veto moves to split ‘Q1′ qualifying into two at the forthcoming Monaco Grand Prix. We reported earlier that a team bosses meeting in Barcelona was likely to knock the proposal on the head, after Charlie Whiting said the FIA would only act if all the teams agreed. FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh had predicted that “teams from the middle of the grid downwards” were likely to vote against the split, presumably because it would lock them into the lowest positions. Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes is quoted as confirming that he voted against the move because “we want the race to be exciting.” It is also reported that F1 teams have agreed to ban F-ducts at the end of the season.

Barrichello Worried About Williams Developments: Rubens Barrichello in Spain admitted he is worried about the latest trend at Williams. “In recent weeks the wind tunnel data is no longer going over to the track,” said the Brazilian, who failed to make it through the Q1session on Saturday. Barrichello is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport as admitting that the British team’s Barcelona upgrade did not work. “Since the last test in February we have made little progress compared to the others,” he said. A few tenths behind teammate Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying, he is also concerned about the early performance of Williams’ new engine supplier Cosworth. “I had an older engine in the car than Hulkenberg,” he said. “Nico was 7kph quicker than me on the straight. The difference is too great.”

New Commercial Manager For Rosberg: Nico Rosberg has begun working with a new manager. Werner Heinz worked alongside Nick Heidfeld for much of the German’s Grand Prix career. According to Germany’s Express, Heinz will now concentrate on commercial aspects for Mercedes race driver Rosberg. The 24-year-old already has a personal cap sponsor – the jewellery brand Thomas Sabo. Rosberg, meanwhile, played down claims Mercedes got an unfair pre-race advantage by testing its updated W01 car at Rockingham last week. “Oh, what?” said the German. “Those few laps on rock-hard tires …”

Alonso – Home Pole Would Be Unlikely ‘Miracle’: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso has likened the prospect of being on pole position in Barcelona to a “miracle.” The Red Bulls appear clearly the fastest in Spain so far, but Sebastian Vettel has denied claims the RB6s will dominate the entire weekend. But although the Ferrari is sporting technical updates this weekend, Spaniard Alonso does not think they are enough to track down Red Bull’s superior one-lap pace. “You don’t have miracles from one race to the next,” he is quoted by Spanish reports. “Whoever thought we were going to just close the gap and beat Red Bull were wrong.”

Ralf Schumacher Eyes F1 Team Boss Role: Ralf Schumacher has not ruled out launching a bid to become involved in the management of a Formula One team. The former Grand Prix winner is in the Barcelona paddock this week as the team principal of the new GP3 team RSC Mucke, which has performed strongly in Spain. Asked by Germany’s Bild-Zeitung, the 34-year-old refused to rule out one day turning his management skills to F1, where he won six of his 182 career Grands Prix. “I am very interested in the view from outside of the cockpit,” DTM driver Schumacher admitted.

Chandhok Recovered From Stomach Bug: Karun Chandhok says he is “finally recovered” from a stomach bug that has been causing him problems so far in Spain. After being reported earlier that the Indian rookie had to spend most of Thursday in his Barcelona hotel, he has been feeling better ever since. He drove his HRT car on Friday afternoon, and told Reuters on Saturday morning: “I feel better now, fully recovered. I went to Munich on Monday and I ate something there. I have been really ill since. All of Tuesday I was in bed – I just couldn’t move.”

Source: SPEED