Brawn defiant amid talk of change at Mercedes

(CNN) -- He's working under a new boss and rumors are gathering pace that he could find himself looking for a new job in a year, but Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn is focused on delivering success ahead of the 2013 Formula One season.

Brawn is one of motorsport's most celebrated engineers, best known for the nine years he spent with Ferrari between 1997 and 2006 which saw the Italian team win six constructors' championships and five drivers' titles.

He went on to oversee drivers' and manufacturers' success at the eponymous Brawn GP team in 2009, but the Englishman's position at Mercedes is rumored to be under threat following the announcement McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe will join the German team in 2014.

However Brawn, who is now working beneath Mercedes' newly-appointed head of motorsport Toto Wolff, is focused and confident ahead of the new season getting under way in Australia on March 17.

Read: F1 revolution ahead after "indetikit" 2013

"I am responsible for the sporting side; running the team on an operational level," Brawn told the sport's official website. "If we can maintain that then there will not be a problem."

Despite the recruitment of Wolff, the most high-profile new arrival at the German team ahead of the new campaign is 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton -- who ended a career-long association with McLaren to sign a three-year contract with Mercedes in September.

Brawn has been impressed with Hamilton during preseason testing, despite a hydraulic problem causing the British driver to crash out of his first drive for the team at Jerez.

Read: Hamilton brushes off talk of title

"Lewis is a fantastic driver from a speed, competitiveness and racing perspective, and now we have to learn to work together on an engineering and development side," continued Brawn.

"I must say that the short period he has been with us has been very positive, and there is no doubt that he is now a part of our team."

Fresh challenge

Events at Hamilton's old team could have a huge bearing on the future of Brawn and Mercedes.

Former director of engineering Tim Goss has been promoted to the role of technical director at McLaren, with team principal Martin Whitmarsh confirming previous incumbent Lowe is to leave the marque in 2014.

Read: Champ Vettel - Red Bull better

"Paddy will be performing a different role within McLaren until the end of the year," Whitmarsh told the F1 website.

"He's been a good and successful F1 technical director, and we wish him well when he embarks on a fresh challenge in 2014."

Reports have suggested that fresh challenge could be filling Brawn's boots at Mercedes, though Mercedes GP non-executive chairman Niki Lauda was coy when quizzed about Lowe's possible arrival.

Read: Alonso demands Ferrari improvement

"I cannot officially say anything because nothing has happened yet," three-time world champion Lauda told BBC Sport.

"If Paddy Lowe is coming or not, I cannot tell you now. Make up your own [mind], whatever you want to do.

"The situation is as it is. McLaren have put him [Lowe] on gardening leave, so let's wait and see. To be clear, Ross has not even been discussed, which is an important thing.

"But there's peace. Ross is in his position, he will stay in his position, so everything is under control, there is nothing to make out of this."

Having not won a title in the sport since 2009, Brawn insists he remains determined to bring glory to Mercedes over the coming season.

"I think it makes you more ambitious -- hungrier to get back to that feeling that you had when you were successful," added Brawn.

"Formula One is an incredibly challenging business and one has to be right on several levels to achieve success. We convinced Lewis (Hamilton) to join us, and we put in place a very good technical line-up during 2012 -- and the car we've got now is reflecting that.

"Yes, it has been frustrating, but I genuinely feel that we are going in the right direction."

Glove auction

Meanwhile a pair of racing gloves worn by F1 great Ayrton Senna have been sold for 22,000 ($33,000) at an auction in London.

The Brazilian wore the gloves during the 1991 season, when he clinched the last of his three world championships while racing for McLaren.

Senna lost his life following a crash at Imola in 1994. The proceeds from the sale of the gloves and the 10 other lots in the auction will be donated to the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust.

Via: Brawn defiant amid talk of change at Mercedes

Jimmie Johnson wins Daytona 500

(CNN) -- Racing at the Daytona International Speedway can be like playing the lottery against 42 other drivers who all have a ticket, all seem to have an equal shot at winning.

While luck can certainly help, so does experience, something Jimmie Johnson put to use as the laps wound down in NASCAR's season-opening and most prestigious race of the season.

Johnson won the Daytona 500 on Sunday, edging out Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished second for the third time in four years.

Johnson, who won the race for the second time, led 17 laps on the track where speeds are limited by a restrictor plate. The result is close racing, with cars separated by hundredths of a second.

It's a race that often involves a big wreck near the end, so Sunday drivers were content to line up one by- ne and go around and a round and around for the first 180 laps. Then Johnson took over.

"I had a lot of confidence leading the train," Johnson said of being the first car in line as drivers raced around the 2 1/2-mile track. "I knew I had a fast car."

Bleacher Report: Johnson finds way to win

His crew chief, Chad Knaus said that despite the uncertainty of racing this season with the latest generation of NASCAR cars -- which are lighter and sleeker -- they knew for weeks what they wanted to do.

"Jimmie did a great job of following that plan," said Knaus, who sat out the team's 2006 Daytona 500 win because of a suspension.

Bleacher Report's snap reaction

Danica Patrick, the first woman to win the pole position at the Daytona 500, led three times, including five laps under green -- also becoming the first woman to lead a lap at the race not under a yellow flag caution. She finished eighth, the highest finish ever for a female driver at the race.

"At the end of the day, it was a solid day," she said. "We stayed basically in the top 10 all day, so it was nice."

Crew chief Tony Gibson beamed after the race.

"She did great under pressure," he said.

Bleacher Report: Danica Patrick proves her chops

Earnhardt did his best to earn his second win in the "Great American Race," but his last-lap charge came up short. With just over a mile to go, Earhardt, followed by veteran driver Mark Martin, went low on the track. With Martin's car pushing Earnhardt's the two pushed into contention, but Johnson maneuvered in front of his teammate Earnhardt.

The 54-year-old Martin crossed the finish line third.

"We just kinda ran out of steam out of (turn) four," Earnhardt said. "We made a good move, but there just was not enough race track."

Some of the fans who were injured by flying debris Saturday during a crash late in the Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 were to attend the Daytona 500, speedway president Joie Chitwood said Sunday morning.

At least 28 fans were injured when more than a dozen cars piled up in the final curve of Saturday's race. Some of the debris went over a 22-foot-high fence that was built in 2010, and some of it went through holes as the fence was mangled when a car slammed into it and bounced back onto the track.

Saturday's wreck occurred when several closely packed cars were jostling for position at top speeds of about 175 mph. They got tangled up, setting off a dangerous chain reaction that ensnared several vehicles.

Driver Kyle Larson's vehicle ended up flying into a fence that separates the track from spectators. The car broke into pieces, including tires and a fiery engine.

Larson walked away from the crash, even after the front part of his No. 32 car was gone. He and the other nine drivers involved told reporters that they were checked at a medical tent on the Daytona infield and released.

Via: Jimmie Johnson wins Daytona 500

Champ Vettel: Red Bull better than last year

(CNN) -- Triple Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has warned his 2013 title rivals that Red Bull are in better shape than this time 12 months ago.

Red Bull driver Vettel edged out Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at the final race of the 2012 season to clinch a third successive drivers' title by just three points, while his team celebrated a third constructors' crown in a row.

Vettel, the sport's youngest ever three-time champion, insists the whole team is focused on matching last year's achievements.

Read: Alonso demands Ferrari improvement

"What we have is more or less the same car that we had in Brazil (the final race of the 2012 season) -- with some steps forward," the 25-year-old told F1's official website after taking to the track at a preseason testing event in Barcelona.

"But from a personal level I can say that I am much happier now than I was one year ago."

The German also dismissed suggestions he might struggle for motivation ahead of the 2013 season.

"Thank God I don't have to think about something like 'finding motivation!'" added Vettel.

"Sure it was nice what we've achieved in the last three years and it makes us all proud, but I would say that I am still in a phase of my life where I look forward, and that's the right direction to go."

Read: Nurburgring keeps 2013 German Grand Prix

Last season began in unpredictable fashion, with an unprecedented seven different drivers winning the season's opening seven races.

It was an uncharacteristically slow start to year from Red Bull, with Vettel winning the year's fourth grand prix in Bahrain but then not picking up a second success until September's race in Singapore.

"I don't think it will be much different from what was important last year -- again it will be very close, so it will not be a case of two or three drivers fighting it out," continued Vettel.

"In the first half of the season I expect a very similar situation to 2012 where we saw many different winners. Then, in the second half, some favourites will become visible.

"To be one of them you have to score points at every race and be consistent -- that was what got us the title in 2012."

Alonso, a two-time drivers' champions, made first appearance of preseason in Catalunya on Tuesday, but Vettel remains focus on ensuring Red Bull arrive at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 17 in the best possible shape.

"When you drive and you see another car on the track it is almost impossible to notice details, from whatever car," said Vettel.

"This is much easier when you look at photos. To be honest right now we are still in the phase where we are fully concentrating on ourselves, not looking left and right."

Via: Champ Vettel: Red Bull better than last year

Daytona fans injured after NASCAR crash

Were you at the speedway during the crash? If you were recording video of the crash or took photos, upload them to CNN iReport.

(CNN) -- Debris flew into the stands, injuring a number of spectators -- at least two of them critically -- during a jaw-dropping crash Saturday in the final turn of a NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway.

The multicar crash occurred near the end of the Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 race at the same Florida track where Sunday's Daytona 500 will be held.

The race had recently restarted after another wreck, after which driver Michael Annett was hospitalized for bruising to his chest, according to Richard Petty Motorsports.

Several closely-packed cars were jostling for position at top speed when they got tangled up, setting off a dangerous chain reaction that ensnared a number of vehicles.

Reigning Sprint Cup champ Brad Keselowski -- who later told CNN he and others were simply "going for the win" -- was among those involved, while Tony Stewart somehow emerged unscathed and finished by winning the race.

Driver Kyle Larson's vehicle ended up flying into a fence that separates the track from spectators. It broke into pieces -- including tires and a fiery engine.

Larson walked away from the crash, even after the front part of his No. 32 car was completely gone. He and the other nine drivers involved told reporters that they were checked at a medical tent on the Daytona infield and released.

Some of the shredded debris flew into the barrier, while others got into the stands -- some of it reaching the second level about 20 feet up.

A video posted on YouTube shows a cloud of debris flying into stands and one man gasping, "Oh, my God." A tire rests on one seat, as a man frantically waves and yells to get the attention of paramedics.

Afterward, several spectators could be seen lying down after apparently suffering injuries. A line of about 10 ambulances lined up on the track, with some first responders carrying stretchers.

Fourteen fans were treated at an on-site medical facility, while 14 others were transported to area hospitals, speedway president Joie Chitwood told reporters.

"I'm just hoping everyone is OK," said Keselowski. "As drivers, we assume the risk. But fans do not."

NASCAR president Mike Helton earlier told ESPN, which was broadcasting the race, some people were taken to Halifax Health Medical Center. He said the protective fence did its job in preventing potentially more injuries and possibly deaths.

Byron Cogdell, a spokesman for the hospital, told CNN that his facility was treating 12 patients. Two of those -- one of them a child -- are in critical but stable condition.

"Everybody appears to be in stable condition," Cogdell said.

Staff at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center were treating one person and expecting three more, spokeswoman Lindsay Rew said Saturday evening.

The injured include Eddie Huckaby, a 53-year-old Krum, Texas, resident who suffered a leg gash when a large piece of metal hit him as he was watching the race, his brother Terry Huckaby told CNN affiliate WKMG. He described the motor landing in the stands, as well as a wheel "and everything flying over your head and debris everywhere."

"He's doing fine," Terry Huckaby said of his brother, who underwent surgery at Halifax Health Medical Center. "The first thing he said, 'I don't want to miss that (Daytona 500) race, but I have to watch on TV.'"

Accidents are nothing new to NASCAR, where cars often cruise at speeds topping 190 mph, nor to the Daytona track. One of the sport's most horrific, and well-known, wrecks happened in the 2001 Daytona 500, when famed driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed -- also, on that race's final lap.

Still, injuries and fatalities to spectators are much rarer.

With the stands having been quickly evacuated, crews worked to repair the damaged fence. Chitwood expressed confidence the 55th edition of the Daytona 500 would go on as planned, with spectators even sitting in the same seats struck by debris Saturday.

"With the fence being prepared tonight to our safety protocols, we expect to go racing tomorrow with no changes," Chitwood said.

CNN's John Newsome and Joe Carter reported from Daytona Beach, while Greg Botelho wrote this story from Atlanta. CNN's Phil Gast, Dan Moriarty, Scott Thompson and Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report.

Via: Daytona fans injured after NASCAR crash

Nurburgring keeps German GP

(CNN) -- Nurburgring was confirmed Thursday as the venue for the 2013 German Grand Prix after reaching a deal with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

The famous circuit, nicknamed the "Green Hell", alternates hosting its home grand prix with Hockenheim, but financial problems left this year's staging in doubt.

A statement on the official Nurburgring website said: "the long period of uncertainty regarding the venue for the pinnacle of motor sport in Germany is over."

Thomas Schmidt, the managing director of the circuit, thanked Ecclestone for his support.

"With his commitment to the legendary circuit, he makes a significant and valuable contribution to the Nurburgring," he said.

Ecclestone granted the hosting rights for this season rather than passing them over to Hockenheim to run the German Grand Prix for the second straight year.

"I appreciate the Nurburgring and its history very much," Ecclestone was quoted.

"Even today, this circuit makes the highest demands on drivers and teams."

Tickets for the event from July 5-7 will officially go on sale next Monday.

Lewis Hamilton won the 2011 race for McLaren, but will return in 2013 driving for the German car maker Mercedes.

Meanwhile, Red Bull principal Christian Horner has extended his deal with the team after leading them to double world title successes for the past three seasons.

The 39-year-old Englishman has been at the helm since the team was launched by Austrian billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz in 2005.

Read: Webber shrugs off tensions at Red Bull

Horner enjoyed success as a young driver in junior levels of motor sport before forging his career in team ownership and management.

The new "multi-year" contract for Horner was confirmed on the official F1 website Thursday.

Red Bull has dominated F1 since 2010, with Germany's Sebastian Vettel claiming a hat-trick of world titles with the team taking the constructors' titles to back him up.

Vettel and Mark Webber will again be the driver line-up for 2013, with their new RB9 car set to be unveiled at their headquarters in Milton Keynes in England Sunday.

Vettel narrowly held off Fernando Alonso to win the 2012 title and the Spanish Ferrari star will be hoping his new machinery for the coming season gives him the opportunity to go one better.

Ferrari will launch the F138 at their test track in Maranello, Italy Friday.

It derives its name from a combination of the current years and the number of cylinders in its engine, the team said in advance.

It will be the 59th car raced by Ferrari in F1 and Alonso will first test it at Barcelona on February 19.

Before that, Felipe Massa and test driver Pedro de la Rosa will put it through its paces at Jerez.

McLaren unveiled its new car, the Mercedes-powered MP4-2 Thursday, hoping they will start 2013 as they finished 2012 with victories in the United States and Brazil.

"It is exactly the same color scheme and I think it looks similar to last year, but it is completely different to last year under the skin," Jenson Button told AFP.

"And that's good for all of us," added the Briton who will be partnered by Mexico's Sergio Perez for the new season after the departure of Hamilton.

Via: Nurburgring keeps German GP

Hamilton brushes off title talk

(CNN) -- Lewis Hamilton defied the conditions to record the fastest lap on the final day of Formula One testing at Barcelona Friday -- but the Briton refused to entertain any title talk.

Hamilton, who quit McLaren to join Mercedes at the end of last season, beat former teammate Jenson Button into second place with Torro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne in third.

Hamilton clocked a time of 1 minute 23.282 seconds, despite the constant rain and adverse weather at the Spanish circuit.

Vettel: Red Bull better than last year

But the 2008 world champion insists his team is not ready to compete with the likes of Red Bull's triple world champion Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso when the new season starts in Melbourne on March 17.

"I think people are talking us up at the moment," Hamilton told reporters.

"Vettel, and maybe Fernando, were saying I'm maybe going to be competing for the world championship, but I really don't see that happening at the moment.

"Of course that's our goal, but you have to remember the car was over a second off, sometimes two seconds off, last year and we've not caught up a second.

"Other teams will also have put a second on over the winter, so we've not gained three seconds, that's a fact.

"Hopefully by the end of the year, that's our goal, but definitely not at the beginning."

Alonso demands Ferrari improvement

Elsewhere, McLaren's Button recorded the day's second fastest time, coming home in 1 minute 23.633 seconds with Vergne recording a time of 1 minute 24.071 seconds.

The best time of the week belonged to Hamilton's replacement at McLaren, Mexico's Sergio Perez, who completed his fastest lap in 1 minute 21.848 seconds.

Via: Hamilton brushes off title talk

Triple F1 champion Vettel: Red Bull better than last year

(CNN) -- Triple Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has warned his 2013 title rivals that Red Bull are in better shape than this time 12 months ago.

Red Bull driver Vettel edged out Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at the final race of the 2012 season to clinch a third successive drivers' title by just three points, while his team celebrated a third constructors' crown in a row.

Vettel, the sport's youngest ever three-time champion, insists the whole team is focused on matching last year's achievements.

Read: Alonso demands Ferrari improvement

"What we have is more or less the same car that we had in Brazil (the final race of the 2012 season) -- with some steps forward," the 25-year-old told F1's official website after taking to the track at a preseason testing event in Barcelona.

"But from a personal level I can say that I am much happier now than I was one year ago."

The German also dismissed suggestions he might struggle for motivation ahead of the 2013 season.

"Thank God I don't have to think about something like 'finding motivation!'" added Vettel.

"Sure it was nice what we've achieved in the last three years and it makes us all proud, but I would say that I am still in a phase of my life where I look forward, and that's the right direction to go."

Read: Nurburgring keeps 2013 German Grand Prix

Last season began in unpredictable fashion, with an unprecedented seven different drivers winning the season's opening seven races.

It was an uncharacteristically slow start to year from Red Bull, with Vettel winning the year's fourth grand prix in Bahrain but then not picking up a second success until September's race in Singapore.

"I don't think it will be much different from what was important last year -- again it will be very close, so it will not be a case of two or three drivers fighting it out," continued Vettel.

"In the first half of the season I expect a very similar situation to 2012 where we saw many different winners. Then, in the second half, some favourites will become visible.

"To be one of them you have to score points at every race and be consistent -- that was what got us the title in 2012."

Alonso, a two-time drivers' champions, made first appearance of preseason in Catalunya on Tuesday, but Vettel remains focus on ensuring Red Bull arrive at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 17 in the best possible shape.

"When you drive and you see another car on the track it is almost impossible to notice details, from whatever car," said Vettel.

"This is much easier when you look at photos. To be honest right now we are still in the phase where we are fully concentrating on ourselves, not looking left and right."

Via: Triple F1 champion Vettel: Red Bull better than last year

Alonso demands Ferrari improvement

(CNN) -- Fernando Alonso has urged Ferrari to improve ahead of the 2013 Formula One season, labeling the Italian team's performance in last year's championship unbefitting of the sport's most successful constructor.

Last season two-time world champion Alonso finished just three points behind eventual title winner Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, but the Spaniard insists Ferrari must do more if the team is to challenge for the drivers' title.

"At the end of the year we were quite far from Red Bull and McLaren," the 31-year-old Spaniard told Formula One's official website after his first run out in the team's new F138 car at a preseason testing event in Barcelona.

"We've been in a group with Force India, behind Lotus and Sauber. We cannot belong to this group -- we know that. We need to be in the group of the leaders and for this we need to do a good job this winter."

Read: Ferrari ready for Red Bull fight

Last season Alonso earned many plaudits for taking a Ferrari car -- widely considered to be uncompetitive -- to the brink of a first drivers' title for the team since Kimi Raikkonen's in 2007.

Red Bull dominance

The Spanish driver draws encouragement from last year's exploits and he is confident of once again rivaling triple world champion Vettel -- if Ferrari can improve on their slow start to 2012.

"At the first four races we had finishes of ninth in China and seventh in Bahrain, so even with all those problems with the car we were fighting for the world championship," continued Alonso.

"If we overcome our bad start of 2012 -- and think positive -- there is no reason for us not to fight for the championship again this year if we only improve the car a bit."

Read: Nurburgring keeps 2013 German Grand Prix

The 2013 season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix on March 17 and Alonso has urged Ferrari to arrive at the Melbourne race ready to challenge the dominance of Red Bull, who have now won the drivers' and constructors' titles for three consecutive years.

"We need to improve from where we were last year because obviously it was not enough -- we finished second and we want to finish first," added the former McLaren driver.

"So our immediate goal to improve in the first half of the year shouldn't be that difficult. We are relatively confident."

Via: Alonso demands Ferrari improvement

Williams gears up for F1 season

(CNN) -- Williams unveiled its new car for the 2013 season on the first day of testing at Barcelona Tuesday with renewed ambition following a complete transformation of last season's vehicle.

The Renault-powered FW35 "is an evolution of the FW34 of 2012, it's better and more refined, with more than 80 percent new parts," Williams' technical director Mike Coughlan told reporters.

Venezuela's Pastor Maldonado gave the team its first win in seven-and-a-half years when he triumphed at last season's Spanish Grand Prix.

Maldonado, who is entering his third season with Williams, will be joined in the paddock by 23-year-old Finn Valtteri Bottas, who replaced Bruno Senna.

Read: Raikkonen on a roll at Jerez

Team owner Frank Williams is confident that his team will be ready to compete at the front of the grid when the season starts in Australia on March 17.

Williams told reporters: "A talented group of people with lots of imagination worked hard to produce the FW35.

"We believe it represents a step forward to last year's car which was already very competitive."

Read: 'Identikit' 2013 season

Meanwhile, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg clocked the fastest time of the day at 1 minute 22.616 seconds.

The German edged out Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finishing third fastest.

Alonso, who is chasing a third world title, recorded a fastest time of 1 minute 22.952 seconds.

Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel finished three tenths of a second slower than Rosberg after leading the time charts following the morning session.

Read: Vettel revs up for glory

Rosberg told the Mercedes website: "We had a mixed day today with some laps lost this morning. However we were able to work through a good program this afternoon and, of course, it's always nice to be quickest at the end of the day.

"In general, I feel happy and comfortable in the car and it feels better than the last time we were here at this track. There is still some work to be done on tire degradation and our program this afternoon was helpful in understanding that."

Via: Williams gears up for F1 season

New F1 tires, new thrills?

(CNN) -- Changes to tires will make Formula 1 racing faster with more overtaking in 2013, according to the sport's official tire supplier Pirelli.

Unveiled at the Italian company's headquarters in Milan on Thursday, the new look tires include softer compounds and new constructions which could lower lap times by up to 0.5 seconds, the company says.

Pirelli say the objective of the changes to the "P-Zero" dry weather tires and the wet "Cinturato" range is "to improve performance and increase thermal degradation, to ensure at least two pit stops per race and open up more strategic options for all the teams."

Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director said in a statement: "The goal is to continuously set new challenges for the drivers and to ensure that all the teams start the new season on a level playing field when it comes to the tires."

"Through accumulating more information with each grand prix last year, the teams eventually fully understood the tires, after a spectacular start with seven winners from the first seven races. The result at the end of the year was races with less competition and sometimes only one pit stop. This phenomenon was also observed in 2011, disappointing many fans ... " he added.

"Our 2013 range of tires mixes up the cards once more to help overtaking and ensure two to three pit stops per race."

Color changes to the tire sidewalls have also been made with orange replacing silver to denote hard compound tires.

Pirelli say the teams were given the chance to sample the new compounds during free practice in Brazil last November but the tires will make their official debut at Formula 1 testing in Jerez at the start of February.

The first race of the new season gets underway in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday March 17.

Via: New F1 tires, new thrills?

Palestinian 'Speed Sisters'

(CNN) -- On the starting line of the Emirates Motorplex on Thursday (Jan 24) will be professional drift racing, one of the most dangerous disciplines in motorsport.

And amid the petrol fumes and testosterone will be a 23-year-old Palestinian woman, Noor Daoud.

Daoud, who had previously been invited to compete in a Formula 3 - a different discipline of motor racing - race in Israel, is the first Arab woman to compete on the international motorsport circuit.

She has spent two months in the United Arab Emirates training for the Drift UAE race on January 24, and will then go on to other international races in Japan and Poland.

Drifting is a driving technique, born in Japan, in which the driver intentionally oversteers, causing the rear wheels to skid, while maintaining control of the car.

"It's a big race and all the international people will be there. I'm the first Arab girl to race in it, so it's huge for me," said Daoud.

"I really want to make this my career. I'm really serious about it.

"I just want to show the world what I can do. I'm not only doing this for myself, I'm doing it for my country. I want to show that Palestinian people can make it."

Daoud has previously competed at a world-class level in swimming, tennis and soccer and also loves boxing and motorcross. She says motor racing has become her favorite sport since joining an all-female Palestinian motor racing team, Speed Sisters.

Speed Sisters became a team in 2009 with the support of the British consulate in Jerusalem.

Now a Canadian filmmaker, Amber Fares, is making a feature-length documentary about the Speed Sisters and their incredible journey from the streets of the West Bank.

Daoud has been able to take her career to an international level because she was born in Texas and holds an U.S. passport.

Her fellow Speed Sisters have traveled no further than Jordan for street car races, but compete regularly on the popular Palestinian street car circuit.

Also on Inside the Middle East: Inside a dictator's palace: Fake diplomas, sports cars, stuffed leopard

Maysoon Jayyusi, formerly a Speed Sister herself, now manages the team and is the Palestinian representative on the FIA's Women in Motorsport Commission.

Jayyusi, 36, first got into motor racing because a colleague at the United Nations, who was also head of the Palestinian Motorsport Federation, suggested she try racing after seeing her driving home from work.

"It's exciting for us, especially as women; we want to improve ourselves and show that we can achieve what we like," said Jayyusi.

"We want to challenge the ideas that women can only work in the kitchen and that Palestinian people can't live normal lives."

When Jayyusi took up the sport, she was so worried about telling her parents about her new hobby that they only found out when she started to appear in newspaper articles.

"They are a traditional Arab family and don't encourage women to participate in sport," she said. "They accept it now because they know we are strong."

The Speed Sisters core team also includes Betty Saadeh, 31, from Bethlehem, Marah Zahalka, 21, from Jenin, and Muna Ennab, from Ramallah.

In 2011, the team was invited to Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, for training.

But the quest for success is still a struggle for the Speed Sisters.

Jayyusi said they don't have a regular training ground, must scramble to find enough money to compete and cannot take their cars abroad because of travel restrictions.

"This year I have a new agenda that we want to make connections with motorsports in other countries and arrange exchanges," said Jayyusi.

Fares, who is of Lebanese heritage, decided to make a film about the Speed Sisters while living in the West Bank because she wanted to show Arab women in a way not often seen in Western media.

"Women racing cars is pretty much the last thing you would expect to happen in Palestine.

"They are amazing girls and their stories resonate with people. When people hear about their story, they find them inspirational."

Also on Inside the Middle East: Paris Hilton whips up a storm in holy Mecca

Daoud finds her inspiration from within.

"It's a dangerous sport and I really enjoy the adrenaline," she said. "When you are driving something really powerful, you and the car must be one. I feel the power and I feel no fear.

"Sometimes after a race I get out of the car and take off my helmet and people say 'Oh my God, it's a girl.'

"Some people don't like it and say I should get a husband and have children or that I should be cleaning the house, but I just ignore them."

Via: Palestinian 'Speed Sisters'

2012 Formula One standings

(CNN) -- Sebastian Vettel claimed a third successive Formula One crown after defeating Fernando Alonso by three points.

The Red Bull star claimed a sixth place finish in Brazil to become the youngest ever triple world champion in the history of the sport.

Alonso, who finished second at Interlagos behind McLaren's Jenson Button, missed out on a third title of his own following his triumphs back in 2005 and 2006.

Kimi Raikkonen ended his first season back in Formula One by claiming third spot, while Lewis Hamilton will head off to Mercedes having finished fourth.

Meanwhile, Red Bull won the Constructors' championship by 60 points from Ferrari.

2012 drivers' final standings:

1. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull 281

2. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari 278

3. Kimi Raikkonen - Lotus 207

4. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren 190

5. Jenson Button - McLaren 188

6. Mark Webber - Red Bull 179

7. Felipe Massa - Ferrari 122

8. Romain Grosjean - Lotus 96

9. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes 93

10 Sergio Perez - Sauber 66

Constructors' standings:

1. RedBull - Renault 460

2. Ferrari 400

3. McLaren - Mercedes 378

4. Lotus - Renault 303

5. Mercedes 142

6. Sauber - Ferrari 126

Via: 2012 Formula One standings

'Identikit' F1 for 2013 season?

London (CNN) -- The first race in Melbourne is just around the corner and Formula 1 teams are gearing up for a season which promises to be as technical as it is tactical.

Cars converge in 2013

With the sport's governing body, the FIA announcing minor changes to technical regulations, teams have mostly tweaked their cars in 2013, says F1 journalist Craig Scarborough.

"There are big rule changes coming up next year so the teams are trying to balance their resources. They don't need to completely go out and redesign their chassis, it's just a few little features that they want to incorporate. No one has produced a massively different or a massively exciting car this year," he said.

Red Bull and Ferrari both spoke of "evolution" at their respective car launches with Red Bull's chief technical officer Adrian Newey saying the focus had been on the details of the new RB9.

"We've tidied up some bits we thought could be improved upon -- but as is usual these days, this is a car in transition," said Newey at the RB9's launch.

Vettel revs up for glory

"There will be one or two new parts appearing by the first race, which I'm sure is the same for everybody. After that it's going to be about development through the year," Newey added.

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn says the new F1 W04 is a "clear step forward in design and detail sophistication over its predecessor," while Lotus have continued their design themes with the E21, according to technical chief James Allison.

Hamilton crashes out in Jerez

"Everyone seems to be converging on the same solutions," Scarborough says. "You could almost get an identikit of a nose, a front suspension, a sidepod and a rear suspension and you could shuffle those parts around and pretty much come up with every car on the grid."

Swiss-based Sauber are perhaps an exception to the rule this year, unveiling a car with a new silver livery and noticeably slimmer sidepods.

"Rather than air being sucked into the radiators, the air is going straight over to the exhaust -- this benefits in terms of lower drag," explains Scarborough.

"Their car this year, as it was last year, is a bit of a tour de force in terms of good ideas and it's not surprising that Red Bull have copied two or three of their ideas on this year's car.

"Sauber might be seen as one of the teams that win the design race, but don't necessarily get the race-to-race results that that deserves."

'Tsunami of regulatory change'

As Scarborough says, imminent rule changes are looming in team's rear view mirrors.

"There is an absolute tsunami of regulatory change in 2014," says Lotus' Allison. "The cars need to be reinvented from scratch."

The biggest change is the engine, says Scarborough, with a 1.6-liter V6 engine replacing the 2.4-liter V8.

"The engine is producing a lot less power, but what you will have is a far more powerful hybrid/KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) set-up."

"You will have the conventional KERS -- which obviously charges under breaking -- and you can also have a KERS device which attaches to the turbo charger, so when your off the power, you'll be generating energy through the turbo charger. It's called thermal energy recovery.

"This will give you more than double the power output -- (this year,) it's about 80 hp for 6.7 seconds, next year you will probably get 150 hp for about 30 seconds.

"There's lots of other stuff going on. All the stuff that bolts to the back of the car and all the cooling that requires will be completely different next year," Scarborough says.

Raikkonen: 'Lotus can win F1 title'

To ignore all these changes would mean being uncompetitive in 2014, says Allison.

"So, (the E21) needed to be developed while being squeezed on both sides from 2012 and 2014 -- that's a significant logistical challenge," Allison said.

Will tire changes make for a gripping season?

Pirelli's new tires are the most significant change this season, says Red Bull's Newey.

According to the Italian-based company, the introduction of new softer compound tires will improve laps times and increase overtaking.

"After a spectacular start with seven winners from the first seven races, the result at the end of the year was races with less competition and sometimes only one pit stop. This phenomenon was also observed in 2011, disappointing many fans," Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director said when the tires were launched in January.

"Our 2013 range of tires mixes up the cards once more to help overtaking and ensure two to three pit stops per race," he added.

Pirelli say that this year's hard compound tire (with new orange coloring on the tire sidewall) is "roughly equivalent to last year's medium compound" with the "performance gap between the different compounds now in excess of 0.5 seconds per lap."

Softer compounds mean quicker tire wear, says Scarborough.

"There will be no one-stop races because the tires just won't last that long. Drivers will have to manage the tires. Strategy is going to be really critical this year in terms of teams thinking 'do we go for extra tire stops or eek out (the maximum from) a set of tires?" he said.

"As we saw last year, if you try and run too long on a set of tires they drop off a cliff and lose all performance. That could happen quite quickly with some of the tires this year, particularly if we get a hot season."

The teams and drivers have been getting to grips with the new tires at pre-season testing in Jerez, Spain.

"With these tires, you're always on your toes," said Mark Webber and Jenson Button -- who topped the timesheets on the first day of testing -- and they talked of a "different feeling" compared to last year.

"I think it is a better tire. It will be tricky again in terms of laps and degradation, but Pirelli has done a great job getting a wider range for the tires.

"One thing that I have noticed -- you are able to go fast immediately, even on lap one. That is something that we couldn't do last year," Button told Formula1.com.

Who will set the pace in 2013?

So who will reign in 2013? Will Red Bull lead the way again? Can Ferrari claim a first constuctors' title in five years? Or will McLaren end a 15-year drought in their 50th anniversary year?

"I think you will have Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren setting the pace. I don't see that any of them are going to have any degree of dominance. I think it will be a lot tighter," says Scarborough.

"But like last year I think you're going to get spurious results in the first third/half of the year as teams get to grips with the tires. You're going to have a situation like last year where Maldanardo can win in a Williams because they got the tires working right."

"The people who have built a good car and have the tires sussed out -- Sauber, Williams, Lotus -- could be quite threatening as well."

As for the technical aspects, Scarborough says look out for the development of the exhausts and sidepods and DRS.

Perhaps the most intriguing technical unknowns lie with how teams develop their exhausts, sidepods and their Drag Reduction System (known as DRS), says Scarborough.

"(DRS) is a bit of a killer app-type solution. No one's got it working yet. There will be a number of teams who will try and run it at different races. But really the key thing will be how the teams manage the tires."

Via: 'Identikit' F1 for 2013 season?

Raikkonen on a roll at Jerez

(CNN) -- Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen clocked the fastest time on the final day of Formula One Testing at Jerez Friday.

The 2007 world champion came home in a time of one minute 18.148sec off 83 laps with Force India's test driver Jules Bianchi in second spot on 1:18.175.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa's time of one minute 17.879 seconds, which was set on Thursday, remained the fastest time of the whole week.

But Raikkonen, who finished third in the title race last season, is encouraged by the progress made over the past four days.

Webber vows to battle Vettel for F1 title

"We continued our work from Thursday and made some good progress," he told reporters ahead of the next test session in Barcelona on February 19.

"We're at the top of the timing monitors, but that means nothing in testing. Our focus has been testing parts on the car, but I've been able to get the set-up more to my liking.

"For sure there's more work to be done in this area, but that's what we're here for. The car feels strong and we seem to have a good idea of where we're going with improvements. Let's see what happens in Barcelona."

Vettel revs up for glory

Meanwhile, triple world champion Sebastian Vettel was satisfied with his day's work, despite being delayed by a pot-hole in the track.

"Everyone is on the limit here, running wide, using the maximum amount of track and the kerbs and unfortunately it started to break up," he told reporters.

"But the circuit did a very good job over lunch to get everything sorted and gave us an extra half hour at the end, so no real problem."

Vettel completed 96 laps following the 30 minute wait and the German driver was left impressed with the car's reliability.

"I think for the whole team it's been quite a good test," said the German.

"No problems in terms of reliability and we did a lot of laps, so I'm quite pleased with the results.

"I feel a bit better than last year. I think we had some issues with reliability then, so it seems we have done our homework well."

Via: Raikkonen on a roll at Jerez

Vettel revs up for shot at glory

(CNN) -- Sebastian Vettel revved up his engine for the first time this winter as he started preparations to claim a fourth successive world title.

The German, who became the youngest triple world champion last season, completed over 100 laps at Jerez as Red Bull continued its testing period in Spain Thursday.

Vettel, 25, clocked the third fastest time of the day behind Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg after coming home in one minute 19.052 seconds.

Webber vows to battle Vettel for F1 title

"So far, I think we can be pretty happy," Vettel told reporters ahead of the season-opener in Melbourne on March 7.

"(Teammate) Mark (Webber) had a good couple of days to start with and I took over today. It was great to get back in the car, to get rid of the rust and to get back in the groove again.

"At this stage it's very difficult to judge anything else. It could be that there is a favourite after these three tests, but it could turn out to be completely different in Australia because it's a different track with different characteristics.

"I expect the championship to be at least as tight as last year, as the regulations haven't changed so much."

Hamilton crashes out at Jerez

Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth fastest and the Finn revealed he was delighted to get to grips with the team's new car.

"It was good to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car again," he told the team's official website.

"The E21 feels quite good so far, even if the balance isn't quite to my liking yet. That didn't stop us going through the program we wanted to do which had a lot of aero runs in it.

"We know the car can go faster, we were just running through what we needed to achieve.

"It's a shame that we had a clutch issue at the end of the day, but that's why we come testing so we can find these problems and fix them."

The most noteworthy incident of the day occurred when British driver James Rossiter was involved in an accidental collision with one of his Force India mechanics, who thankfully escaped any serious injuries.

Via: Vettel revs up for shot at glory

Hamilton crashes out at Jerez on opening day

(CNN) -- Lewis Hamilton endured a nightmare start to testing his new Mercedes after driving straight off the track at Jerez on his first day following a hydraulic problem Wednesday.

The 2008 world champion, who left McLaren at the end of last season, was on his 15th lap of timed testing when his car went off the track and hit a barrier of tires.

Hamilton's accident, which prevented him from returning to action, follows teammate Nico Rosberg's disastrous run which was ended by a minor fire Tuesday.

Webber vows to battle Vettel for F1 title

The German's car was found to have been suffering with electrical problems, while Mercedes took to Twitter to give an update on Hamilton's setback.

"Lewis suffered a loss of rear brake pressure, the front brakes enabled him to slow the car but he couldn't avoid the barrier," said Mercedes on Twitter.

"Obvious damage to the front wing and nose; we're checking the car over now. Lewis himself is fine.

"Update from Jerez, we have traced the problem to the hydraulic brake line connecting to the right-rear caliper."

Hamilton is expected to return to the track on Friday following the collision, which saw the car career on straight for some 70 meters at 280 kilometers per hour.

Ferrari ready for Red Bull fight

Meanwhile, Russian team Marussia has replaced Timo Glock with Brazil's Luis Razia as its second driver for the 2013 season.

The 23-year-old, who finished as runner-up in last season's GP2 series, will partner fellow rookie Max Chilton when the campaign starts in Australia on March 17.

"It's fantastic to be back with the Marussia F1 Team and with pretty much the same group of people I worked with back in 2010 when I was reserve driver," Razia told the Marussia website.

Glock's F1 future in doubt after leaving Marussia

"I am very proud to take the step up to a Formula 1 race seat, particularly with the team I began this journey with, since they helped show me what it takes to progress to the highest level.

"The past two seasons in GP2 have been all about proving that I have what it takes and that I'm ready.

"I am also looking forward to the first race in Melbourne and I'm excited to be racing alongside Max, who I competed against last season.

Via: Hamilton crashes out at Jerez on opening day

F1 champions unveil new car for 2013

(CNN) -- Mark Webber vowed to push Sebastian Vettel for the 2013 world title when their champion Red Bull team launched its new Formula One car on Sunday.

The veteran Australian has had to play second fiddle to the all-conquering Vettel in the past three seasons, despite at stages being in contention for his maiden championship.

He has had to contend with recent criticism from Red Bull's motor sport advisor Helmut Marko, who claimed the 36-year-old can't cope with the title pressure.

"I do believe I can have a crack at the championship again this year, as I have done in previous seasons," Webber told reporters at the RB9's launch at the team's English headquarters in Milton Keynes.

"That is my goal and what I think about each day when I get up, and I'm working hard with the team on doing that.

"They know I need 100% support. You cannot win a world title with only 90, you need 100, and we're going into 2013 with this in place, and I'm comfortable with that."

Read: Webber shrugs off Red Bull tensions

Team boss Christian Horner, who signed a new multi-year contract last week, backed Webber to be a contender despite him finishing sixth overall last season -- 102 points behind his teammate.

"If we weren't happy with Mark then we would never have signed him to be with the team for this year," he said.

"We're very happy with Mark and we give both drivers equal opportunity. It's ultimately down to what they do on the circuit.

"For us, it doesn't matter which driver wins, as long as it is a driver in one of our cars. Both of these guys believe they are the best, and the team will do the very best it can to support them."

Read: Webber - F1's outsider

Vettel became the youngest driver to win three world titles as he overhauled Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in the final third of the season.

"It all starts again from zero. We've all got the same chances in what will be a tough year again with a lot of races," the 25-year-old German said.

"So I'm just looking ahead. I'm not looking back on past races because I am convinced it doesn't give you a head start or an advantage.

"Obviously, the expectations are still there, but more than that we expect ourselves to do well again, so there is a lot of pressure.

"Right now there is excitement to get back into the car, start testing, then go racing and find out where we are. It's one thing to do all the talking now, but as soon as you have the helmet on, you simply want to perform and do your best."

Via: F1 champions unveil new car for 2013

Ferrari ready for Red Bull fight

(CNN) -- Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are desperate to exorcise the heartache of last season -- and now Ferrari thinks it has the car to do just that.

The Scuderia unveiled the new F138 at Maranello Friday with team boss Stefano Domenicali in bullish mood ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 17.

Ferarri's Alonso lost out in painstaking fashion last year after Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel became the youngest ever triple world champion, winning the title by just three points.

Formula One 2012: Ferrari

But Domenicali insists Ferrari can catch Red Bull this year -- as long as it makes a fast start when the lights go green at Albert Park.

"The key objective is to immediately deliver a competitive car to the drivers," Ferrari team boss Domenicali told reporters.

"Unfortunately in recent seasons we have not been able to get to the start of the season right on top of what we are doing like our competitors.

"We need to be competitive from the start of the season."

New F1 tires aim to increase overtaking

The new car will make its first appearance at a preseason test in Jerez, Spain, next week with Felipe Massa guiding it around the track before Fernando Alonso gets his chance in Barcelona on February 19.

There are a few changes to last year's car with Ferrari retaining the front and rear pull-rod suspension, while the rear of this year's model is narrower and more tapered.

It is expected that there will be changes to the car's aerodynamic package in the weeks leading up the Australian Grand Prix.

Ferrari 'right' to retain Massa

And Domenicali is hoping the change of car will help his team overcome the disappointment of missing out on the drivers' title on the final day of last season.

"We have come from a season which was very difficult from an emotional point of view. To come second at the last race is always difficult," he said.

"But we have already forgotten those things which left us with regret last year and we have started improving on the positive aspects of 2012 such as reliability and strategy during the races.

"There are plenty of things that allow us to look forward to the new season."

Via: Ferrari ready for Red Bull fight