Some news tidbits from the world of Formula 1:

Pirelli Eyes Raikkonen For F1 Tire Testing: Kimi Raikkonen could be asked to test Formula One tires for the sport’s new exclusive supplier Pirelli. It has emerged that the Italian company will supply two sets of tires to each team at a special Abu Dhabi test immediately after November’s season finale. But Pirelli is also keen to do some testing before then, and – after initially running with a GP2 car – is considering using either an old BMW or Toyota car. As for the driver, Nick Heidfeld had been touted, but this might have handed an unfair advantage to Mercedes. According to Finland’s Turun Sanomat, Pirelli’s racing boss Paul Hembery proposed in Valencia that Finn Raikkonen could be an option. The 2007 World Champion left Ferrari at the end of last year and currently drives full-time in the Pirelli-shod World Rally Championship. “I don’t know whether Kimi Raikkonen would be interested,” Hembery is quoted as saying. The 18 Grand Prix winner’s manager Steve Robertson said: “Currently, Kimi is totally focused on what he is doing. But if Pirelli approaches us, of course we will discuss it. Then, it would depend on whether Kimi is interested in this sort of challenge, and how it would fit into his schedule.”

Spanish Press Toys With English Hamilton Quote: A mischievous Spanish press is ramping up the acrimony between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Earlier this week, after Alonso had accused the FIA of manipulating the outcome of the European Grand Prix, his former McLaren teammate Hamilton responded by surmising that the Spaniard was suffering from “sour grapes.” But, in fact, the Briton did not actually utter the words, instead merely answering “yeah” to a reporter’s interpretation of Alonso’s outbursts. However, rather than simply repeat the “sour grapes” expression, which originates from one of Aesop’s Fables, Spanish wire agencies said Hamilton accused Alonso of “envidia” (envy). And when trying to explain Alonso’s bad mood, Hamilton had said it was “very unlike him to be overtaken by a Sauber so he must have been completely in another world.” But the Spanish headline writers said simply that Hamilton had accused Alonso of “vive en otro mundo” (living in another world).

El Mundo newspaper combined the two, stating the Hamilton quote as, “Alonso tiene envidia y debe vivir en otro mundo” (Alonso is envious and must live in another world). Unsurprisingly, the AS newspaper responded with, “Hamilton: por que no te callas?” (Hamilton: why don’t you shut up?).

Renault Courts MasterCard And Raikkonen – Report: Renault could be set to push for Kimi Raikkonen to become Robert Kubica’s future teammate. It is now widely expected that the Finn, who left his Ferrari contract one year early to race in the World Rally Championship this year, is not keen to return to Formula One as early as 2011. But according to Finland’s Turun Sanomat, Renault might be courting as a possible sponsor the American credit card multinational MasterCard. Citing paddock rumors, the report said MasterCard would be interested in the deal “if Raikkonen would drive as Robert Kubica’s teammate.” But 30-year-old Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson reportedly denied that even exploratory talks with Renault have been held. MasterCard sponsored Lotus’ stillborn F1 effort in 1997, and the Jordan team in 1998-2001.

Peeved Domenicali Happy With Test Ban Tweaks: Stefano Domenicali insists he has “no problem” with moves to clarify F1′s ban on in-season testing. But the Ferrari team boss expressed anger that concerns about the Italian team’s pre-Valencia running at Fiorano had been aired by his rivals in the media. Christian Horner said in Valencia that using a filming and promotional day to test the updated F10 had been “naughty” and breached the “spirit” of the agreement. And when also asked about Ferrari’s testing, FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh said McLaren would do the “correct and honorable thing” by using one of the team’s aerodynamic days to try updates on the MP4-25 prior to Silverstone. “I think that a lot of people like to speak,” Domenicali told reporters in Valencia. “If I have any problem I take my mobile phone and I call personally. This is my style, I don’t use (the press) to say something. If people want to be more comfortable then I know there are discussions in order to tidy up the wording, and I have no problem with that.”