This week’s test at Yas Marina may have been designed to allow the teams to audition young drivers, but tyre supplier Pirelli will also use the three-day session in Abu Dhabi to trial a selection of prototype compounds that they hope to introduce in 2012.

Red Bull have revealed on Tuesday that Jean-Eric Vergne is to take charge of their championship-winning RB7 at the forthcoming Abu Dhabi young driver test. Vergne recently sampled Jaime Alguersuari’s Toro Rosso STR06 during the opening Friday practice session in Korea.

Team Lotus and Renault Sport F1 have confirmed that their existing engine deal is to be extended for a further year to the end of 2013 and the end of the V8 engine formula, with the aim to continue working together when Formula One’s new V6 engine regulations come into force in 2014.

The 20-year old from Monterrey, who is currently competing in the GP2 Series, will be carrying out a straight line test on Saturday, 3rd September 2011, in Vairano. The test programme on the track near Milan will be focusing on aerodynamic measurements of the Sauber C30-Ferrari.

Lotus Renault GP and Nick Heidfeld have reached an amicable settlement today and have chosen to part company with immediate effect. This announcement enables both parties to bring the matter to a close and concentrate on their respective sporting challenges in the future.

Fernando Alonso admitted fourth place was the best result Ferrari could have achieved at the Belgian Grand Prix and laid the blame for the team’s struggles on the medium-tyre performance of his 150 Italia car.

Red Bull have revealed that Hollywood legend Tom Cruise recently tried out one of their Formula One cars in a specially organised test in the United States. Cruise took a break from his current film project, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, to get behind the wheel at the Willow Springs circuit in California.

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo will make his Formula One race debut with the HRT team at next weekend’s 2011 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix. Red Bull protege Ricciardo is expected to take the place of Narain Karthikeyan.

Qualifying in Monaco was suspended with a little over two minutes of Q3 remaining after a heavy shunt for Sauber's Sergio Perez. Perez lost control at high speed exiting the tunnel and impacted side-on with the barrier at the Turn 10.

Force India reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg and manager Willi Weber are to part ways. The reasons for the split have not been revealed, but Hulkenberg has announced he will manage his own affairs from now on with additional PR help.