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Fernando Alonso certain he will succeed at Ferrari

Fernando Alonso has no doubts that he and Ferrari will win the title "sooner rather than later", despite having seen Red Bull Racing walk away with both championships since he has joined the Maranello outfit.

The Spaniard came close to capturing the crown in 2010, with only a costly strategic error in the final round in Abu Dhabi leaving the door open for Sebastian Vettel to triumph.

Last year, Ferrari failed to fully get on top of its blown diffuser development and, suffering from windtunnel calibration issues early on, the outfit only took one victory when Alonso triumphed in the British Grand Prix.

But despite the disappointments, which fall short of the ambitious targets that Alonso set when he joined Ferrari, the 30-year-old has insisted that he remains convinced title success is just around the corner.

In an exclusive interview with this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, Alonso said he had no worries over not winning a title since 2006, or Ferrari being without a crown since Kimi Raikkonen's triumph in 2007.

"I don't think about it too much," explained Alonso. "I know that I could have more championships, but you can't move forward by looking back - you need to look at the future and the present.

"I'm totally confident that this championship will come sooner rather than later, because I'm in the perfect team to do that.

"I have more motivation than ever, so it only needs time. Hopefully not many more years because, as you said, I'm 30 - and I don't know how many years I will be here. But at the moment I'm at the peak of my career, and I'm in the best team. I don't have any doubts that championships will arrive."

As well as having faith that Ferrari will be able to deliver him a car that is capable of fighting for the championship, Alonso believes that he is a much better prepared as a driver to make the most of opportunities that come his way.

"Now I am a much more complete driver," he said. "Maybe in a single lap or in a race situation it hasn't changed too much. But in overtaking manoeuvres, at the start, pitstop approach, or in mental preparation to the race, I think in 2005 and '06 I was much weaker than now."

Autosport

Austin confirms new deal to save US Grand Prix

The Circuit of the Americas has agreed a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone to ensure the 2012 US Grand Prix goes ahead, according to race organisers.

The circuit was given until December 7 to find the money to pay this year's sanctioning fee and agree to Ecclestone's terms. On deadline day the FIA announced that the race would remain on the calendar and soon after the circuit issued a press release confirming the news.

"Mr. Ecclestone received his check today for the USGP," Red McCombs, a founding partner of the circuit said in a statement. "We want to thank the fans supporting us, the local officials and businesses that have encouraged us, the state of Texas, Circuit of The Americas' staff and Bernie himself."

Fellow founding partner Bobby Epstein added: "Our investors have believed all along that this project has tremendous benefit for our region, and provides a strong economic engine for the future. "e remain committed to reaching our goal of being valuable community partners as we establish a platform for sports and entertainment. We're glad that Tavo [Hellmund]'s vision of bringing F1 to the people of Texas will become a reality."

The statement added that construction at the circuit will resume immediately, with president of the Circuit of the Americas Steve Sexton saying interest in tickets is high.

"We have a substantial number of fans who have expressed interest in buying tickets and hospitality, so today is a win for all of them as much as it is for Circuit of The Americas," he added.

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US Grand Prix remains on FIA's 2012 calendar

The 2012 US Grand Prix appears to be back on after the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) released an unchanged calendar for next year, including the race in Austin.

Serious doubts were cast over the event when it emerged last month that the Circuit of the Americas no longer had a valid contract with Formula One's commercial rights holders. Last week F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone gave the organisers until December 7 to sign a new contract so that the WMSC could finalise its calendar during a meeting in Delhi. The news was later confirmed in a statement from the circuit.

The Bahrain and Korean Grands Prix also appeared on the WMSC's calendar, despite continuing doubts over those races. The 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled after political unrest in the country and there have been doubts over the 2012 race too, with a bomb exploding outside the British embassy as recently as last Sunday. A recent report condemned the way authorities cracked down on pro-democracy protestors earlier this year, but in November Ecclestone said: "I've no doubt in my mind we'll be there."

Concerns over Korea's future were based on funding after the promoters said the future of the race would hinge on negotiating better terms with Ecclestone. There has been no news suggesting a new deal has been struck, yet the race remains on the WMSC's calendar.

View the full 2012 calendar here.

ESPNF1

FIA lists 2012 regulation tweaks

The FIA has made a number of tweaks to Formula One's technical and sporting regulations in order to tidy up some grey areas.

For the most part the regulation changes have been expected, such as moving cars' exhaust position to limit the aerodynamic effect of the exhaust gases, but others are new.

In 2012, races - including stoppages for red flags - will only be allowed to run for four hours after the rain-affected Canadian Grand Prix ran to four hours and five minutes earlier this year. Another tweak will see lapped cars allowed to unlap themselves at the end of a safety car period to ensure the race resumes in racing order. Regulations about cutting corners during in-laps in qualifying and weaving during races have also been tightened up in reaction to various incidents this season.

The FIA regulation changes in full

Changes to the 2012 Technical Regulations

• All engine standard ECU set up and control parameters, which were formerly contained only within a Technical Directive, are now contained within the relevant parts of the Technical Regulations.
• The exhaust tailpipes are now strictly regulated in order to ensure that the aerodynamic effect exhaust gases have on the car is kept to an absolute minimum.
• Better marking of in-car emergency switches operated by marshals are now stipulated.
• The side impact structures will now have to be subjected to a further (upward) push-off test.

Changes to the 2012 Sporting Regulations

• Cars may no longer take part in pre-season testing without having passed all crash tests.
• There will now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure that a lengthy suspension of a race does not result in a race that could run up to eight hours if left unregulated.
• Before the safety car returns to the pits all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join the back of the pack, ensuring a clean re-start without slower cars impeding those racing for the leading positions.
• Cars which were in the pit lane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in the position they were in when the race was suspended.
• Drivers may no longer leave the track without a justifiable reason, i.e. cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or 'in' laps to save time and fuel.
• Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.
• One three-day test will be carried out during the season, formerly there were none.
• All stewards' decisions which are not subject to appeal are now in one place instead of being in various places within the regulations.
• All tyres allocated to a driver may now be used on the first day of practice; formerly only three sets were permitted.
  
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Sky confirms 2012 commentary line-up

David Croft and Ted Kravitz will join Sky Sports from the BBC © Sutton Images

Sky Sports has confirmed its commentary and presenting team for its Formula One channel in the UK.

Martin Brundle, who announced his switch from the BBC last week, will be joined by ex-5Live commentator David Croft during qualifying and races, while ex-F1 driver Anthony Davidson will also leave 5Live and will sub in for Brundle during practice sessions.

Ted Kravitz and Natalie Pinkham are also joining Sky Sports from the BBC and will work in their familiar roles as pit lane reporters. Kravitz is lined up to present a magazine show with Sky Sports News' Georgie Thompson, while Simon Lazenby will be the lead presenter at races.

"In Martin Brundle we have the outstanding F1 broadcaster - on the track and in broadcasting, he's proved it time and again," Sky Sports executive producer Martin Turner said. "Working alongside him, David Croft is a passionate, experienced commentator and Anthony Davidson can bring great technical knowledge to live practice sessions.

"Ted Kravitz has huge knowledge of the pitlane and paddock and he and Natalie Pinkham will get the information and access our viewers need. And guiding us through the coverage we have the experience of Simon Lazenby and Georgie Thompson. Each has hosted major sports events, from the British Lions to the Ryder Cup - they have trust and respect."

Steve Rider will also host a series of interviews with the F1's big names on the channel.

Sky Sports will show all 20 races live on its channel while the BBC will show half the races live and the other 10 as highlights.

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