Some news tidbits from the world of Formula 1:

Audi Boss Ullrich Says No To F1: Audi has clearly rejected speculation its name might soon appear above a Formula One garage door. It has been reported for some time that the German carmaker’s parent Volkswagen could be interested in entering the sport as an engine supplier. VW’s motor racing boss Kris Nissen said a month ago: “Within the group, for sure, (the branding) could be Audi, it could be Porsche and might also be Volkswagen.” But Audi’s sporting boss Wolfgang Ullrich is not interested, according to the German news agency SID. “We believe Formula One and Audi do not fit, so long as the technology has no relevance to the development of our production cars,” he said. Audi prototype sports cars finished first, second and third at the recent Le Mans 24 hour race, and the marque also competes in the premier German touring car series DTM. “The technologies are closely related to those used by our clients, so they directly benefit from our motor racing. In F1 that is not currently the case,” Ullrich insisted. And despite recent and current efforts to reduce the costs in F1, top teams still require more than EUR 150 million to be competitive. But in DTM, the budgets are under about 30m, and “the new regulations for 2012 aim to reduce the budgets by about 50 per cent,” he said. “So, the DTM continues to be the benchmark in cost-versus-benefit.”

Villadelprat Urges Alonso To Cool Anger: Joan Villadelprat has warned Fernando Alonso to put a lid on his overt criticisms of F1′s governing body. Spaniard Villadelprat, bidding to bring his Le Mans team Epsilon Euskadi onto the F1 grid next year, was referring to Alonso’s accusation that a mild penalty for Lewis Hamilton in Valencia last week amounted to FIA manipulation. In his column for El Pais newspaper, he said countryman Alonso might be excused for mouthing off in the immediate aftermath of the race, but should now quieten his attack or risk official sanctions. “I think Alonso was heated and just out of the car,” he said. “I can understand their anger because Ferrari thought this race was a turning point in their championship. I also believe the stewards failed to react as they should. But I cannot say that Lewis Hamilton deserved a more severe penalty because it happened exactly as is in the regulations. But the reaction should have been much faster – (the stewards’ decision) took about 14 laps! I suppose they waited so long because they were analyzing it before giving a verdict. In any case, Fernando needs to be very careful about what he says, because these types of attacks are of no benefit and could even cost a penalty. But even more, it’s because I don’t think he really believes the stewards acted intentionally for Hamilton and against his own interest. I know that in times like these, it is difficult to keep your head and your tongue cool, but Alonso needs to concentrate on his work, on getting his car on pole position and on stemming the difference that still separates Ferrari from Red Bull and McLaren.”

Pirelli To Create Tires For Good F1 ‘Show’: Pirelli has acknowledged it has a role to play in boosting Formula One’s “Show.” The Italian brand is F1′s new exclusive supplier beginning next year, and some figures see it as an opportunity to create tires that lead to entertaining races. In Canada two weeks ago, Bridgestone’s crumbling tires were credited for producing a spectacular race, and The Observer writer Oliver Owen said on Sunday he hoped “Pirelli were paying attention.” “We want to create a show – as a fan, I’d say it (Canada) was great fun, watching the strategy,” Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s competition director, told Reuters in the Valencia paddock on Sunday. “Others would say that wasn’t very good for the tire company,” he acknowledged. “We can happily make a tire that would last a whole race and not degrade, but we need to try and balance that with a good show. I think we want to do the show route,” added Hembery.

Hamilton Needed Black Flag For Valencia Foul – Briatore: Lewis Hamilton should have been disqualified from Sunday’s European Grand Prix. That is the claim of disgraced former Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who after re-appearing in the Monaco paddock last month, was seen on the grid prior to the Valencia street race. Although conspiring to fix the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix by asking Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately, Briatore agrees with Ferrari and Fernando Alonso that Hamilton’s drive-through penalty for overtaking the safety car was too mild. “The rules aren’t precise,” he is quoted as telling Italy’s Sky Sport 24. “You can’t have a penalty for Hamilton after 20 laps; it should be (after) two or three,” said the 60-year-old. Briatore added: “Passing the safety car is more like a black flag penalty. Hamilton is lucky; everything he does turns out well.” And as for the travails of his protege Alonso’s current team Ferrari, the Italian said: “What is Ferrari missing? Speed. They are not on the level of Red Bull and McLaren.”

Ferrari Outbursts After Valencia Downplayed: Stefano Domenicali has moved to temper Ferrari’s Latin outbursts in the wake of the European Grand Prix. After the Valencia race, Fernando Alonso accused FIA stewards of “manipulating” the outcome, while Ferrari’s official website called Lewis Hamilton’s mild penalty for overtaking the safety car “a scandal”. Regarding the “scandal” report, team boss Domenicali said the writer was only expressing the views of the fans. “The attitude of the public is understandable. They were disgusted by the injustices that were happening,” said Alonso. But Domenicali also excused Alonso’s outspoken attitude as the result of being “in a hot moment”. “For sure Fernando was the man that was ruined by the situation,” the Italian is quoted by AFP news agency.

Lotus Not Set for Renault: Cosworth has played down rumors that Lotus is set to switch to Renault power for the 2011 season. Recently, the British independent engine maker also played down speculation Williams could change suppliers, insisting the team last year signed a three-year contract. But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that, like Williams, Lotus has also been disappointed with Cosworth’s 2010 engine, including driveability issues and performance degradation.

Ferrari Attacks McLaren Over European Grand Prix: Ferrari’s rage against the outcome of the European Grand Prix went from bad to worse on Monday. With Fernando Alonso having accused the stewards of manipulating the Valencia race, the Italian team echoed the apparent view of some fans that Lewis Hamilton’s drive-through penalty for overtaking the safety car was a “scandal”. But in another website report on Monday, Ferrari stepped up its attack, repeating the view of one fan that had hit out at “McLaren thieves” who were “up to their usual dirty tricks”. Another fan said: “The FIA at Valencia showed it’s not entirely in charge of the events that it’s organizing”, and yet another added: “Is this the latest version of Jean Todt? Those who order and manipulate are always the same.”

Williams 2011 Engine Switch Could Happen – Parr: Adam Parr is not ruling out a change of engine supplier for Williams. Amid rumors both Williams and Lotus could each be eying a supply of Renault V8s in 2011, Cosworth’s Mark Gallagher has insisted both teams are under contract for three years. Parr, Williams’ chief executive, likened a F1 team’s relationship with its key suppliers to a marriage. “You do have rows with your wife, but you know you have got the common interest and I still think that is the case,” said Parr. “But we have no plans to change engine partner, and we have no desire to change engine partner,” he continued. “I just don’t want to rule out the possibility of something happening because that would be a stupid thing to do,” he added.