Bernie Ecclestone's 2009 Christmas card. Merry Christmas !

Nov.18 (GMM) Another youngster has been tipped for a forthcoming F1 test with the famous Ferrari team.

It emerged recently that the Italian squad has allocated the three days of next month's young driver test at Jerez to Italians Daniel Zampieri and Marco Zipoli, and the Mexican teenager Pablo Sanchez Lopez: the top three finishers in Italian F3 this year.

Nov.18 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen will be absent from the formula one grid next season, his manager Steve Robertson announced to the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat late on Tuesday.

The Finn, having agreed to make way for Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, had been in serious talks with McLaren, but the parties reportedly disagreed about his salary, sponsor duties and his freedom to race in rallies.

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Nov.17 (GMM) Lucas di Grassi rates his chances of securing a deal to make his formula one debut with Manor in 2010.

The new British team on Tuesday named Timo Glock as the "lead" driver.

Nov.17 (GMM) Timo Glock has signed to race with the new British formula one team Manor.

In the Abu Dhabi paddock earlier this month, it seemed the 2009 Toyota driver would almost certainly be switching to Renault to become Robert Kubica's teammate.

But the 27-year-old German was on Tuesday revealed as Manor's "lead" driver, having reportedly inked a two-year deal with an option to include 2012.

Nov.17 (GMM) Nelson Piquet has named Force India as a possible employer for the future.

The 23-year-old Brazilian was sacked by Renault's Flavio Briatore earlier this year and then embroiled in the crash-gate scandal, but emerged without a ban due to his whistleblower deal with the FIA.

Nov.17 (GMM) 2009 world champion Jenson Button appears poised to leave Brawn GP, which has been bought and renamed by Mercedes, and join McLaren for the 2010 season.

The Guardian newspaper said a three-year, 18m pounds sterling (in total) contract is set to be signed by the 29-year-old Briton, at the end of a protracted salary-increase standoff with Brawn management.

Nov.16 (GMM) Mercedes' step away from McLaren was a "friendly" transaction, but they will be "rivals" in 2010 and beyond.

It was announced on Monday that the McLaren Group will have bought back Daimler's 40 per cent stake by 2011, with Mercedes to control the majority of Brawn and rename it Mercedes GP.

Nov.16 (GMM) Mercedes-Benz announced on Monday that it is taking a controlling stake in Brawn GP, which will race in formula one next year as 'Mercedes Grand Prix'.

In a press conference, the German carmaker's chairman Dieter Zetsche said Mercedes' 40 per cent stake in McLaren will be wound back by the end of a contract in 2011.

Nov.16 (GMM) Michael Schumacher will reportedly no longer be an advisor to Ferrari's formula one team.

The seven time world champion recently renewed his contract with the Italian marque through 2012, referring specifically to his input into the road cars department.