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Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes has said finishing the race will be the marque'smain target for its return grand prix this weekend.The team only joined the group testing fray from the penultimate test at Jerez following a whirlwind five months in which it had to design and build its 2010 car, hire staff and get prepared for the season.Fernandes admits on the evidence so far, the car is likely to be at the back of the field with the other newcomers."To have Lotus Racing on the grid will be a momentous occasion for all involved and, indeed, for our fans, whose support has been absolutely fantastic since we launched just under six months ago," he said. "Yes, we're a little slower than the major leading teams.However, we'll get there, with passion, hard work and a clear vision. Our aim for this first grand prix will be to finish and steadily but surely improve, race by race."Lotus' technical chief Mike Gascoyne believes that the car's form has been affected by the fact that the outfit has had its focus on reliability from the outset. "Our test season was extremely productive," he said. "In general, we've had very good reliability, and the team is in very good shape going to the first race."Normally you are chipping away and finding tenths, but now we are looking at updates that will bring us a second. You have to bear in mind that when we were finalising the design of this car, doing the crash structure and radiator inlets, it was still a month away from going in a wind tunnel. The basic radiator configuration had to be designed with no cooling figures, and no data."People have said the bodywork at the rear is a bit chunky, and it is … because when we were deciding on cooling figures we didn't have any engine data. And when we took the route that we want to finish the first few races, we had to make sure that it cools, and does all the right things, so we had to do it like that."Just bringing a modern Formula One team to the grid is a significant achievement. The adage of'to finish first, first you have to finish' is a legendary quote. The reality though, is that you have to be there in the first place. Ask USGP or the Stefan organisation."

Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed suggestions Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One action with a win in Bahrain this weekend, casting doubts on the aspirations of both Mercedes and the former champion."There are a lot of drivers in with a chance this season," Ecclestone told the Times. "Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and I think Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull looks very good. He would be one of my strongest tips for the title. But, at the moment, we don't know what sort of car Michael has got and it seems he might not be at the front."Ecclestone then went on to warn that were Schumacher to become trapped in traffic, all hell could break loose. "We all know what he is like when things don't go his way and he might run out of patience if he finds himself stuck in the middle. At least if Michael gets heated up, it will be good for the viewers and the sport … anything but politics."Schumacher himself was more upbeat on his own website. "This is what I am here for, and I am confident we can play a role," he said. "If we win it at the end will be a different question, as always in sports. But our team is extremely motivated."We all want to win. The season will be long and hard but I love this fight. It is because of this fight that I came back to Formula One. I said it quite clear from the beginning that we do not have to - and probably will not - be in the position to win."Former double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi sided with Ecclestone, at least as far as the early stages of the season are concerned."It will take [Schumacher] two or three races to get used to the traffic," Fittipaldi said. "You have to get back to not just driving fast but competing. If he has the motivation, he can compete. Michael will have great equipment."

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9 March 2010
In a look at the lighter-hearted side of F1 – what can to the outside world at times appear an overly serious and self-important sphere – two stories have emerged of late guaranteed to put a smile on the face.

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9 March 2010
In a look at the lighter-hearted side of F1 – what can to the outside world at times appear an overly serious and self-important sphere – two stories have emerged of late guaranteed to put a smile on the face.

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Former World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi says age will not be a barrier to success for Michael Schumacher as he embarks on his Formula One comeback.

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McLaren has got a 'plan B' on the off chance its rear aerodynamic package is deemed illegal by the FIA ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting will inspect the MP4-25's wing and engine cover on Thursday, after Red Bull's Christian Horner called its legality into question last week. McLaren is confident the car will pass the test but managing director Jonathan Neale admitted the team had a contingency plan just in case."We're not taking a radically different package, but you just never know what the stewards are going to do on the day," he said. "We get the best advice we can from the FIA in the interests of transparency. If the stewards decide on a different course of action though, it's still our duty to go racing. So we have a contingency, but I wouldn't put much effort into it and I'm not expecting it to be used."After Horner admitted Red Bull is looking into its own design along similar lines, Neale is confident his rivals won't be able to copy the idea in its entirety."They have a pretty good idea of what's going on with our car," he said. "They won't have figured it all out, but they'll be close."

McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale is confident the rear wing on their new MP4-25 car will be declared legal ahead of the new Formula One season.

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