Lotus have confirmed that leading aerodynamicist John Iley is to become the team’s performance director. Iley joins from McLaren where he was head of aerodynamics and will start work with Tony Fernandes’ squad - to be known as Caterham next season - in June 2012.

Formula One tyre suppliers Pirelli have revealed the compound nominations for the Grands Prix in Japan and Korea next month. The P Zero White medium tyre and P Zero Yellow soft tyres will be used in Japan. For Korea, just one week later, the P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red Supersoft have been nominated.

Official tyre suppliers Pirelli have revealed which of their PZero compounds will be taken to the next three rounds of the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship in Belgium, Italy and Singapore.

A mere 1,200 gram carbon-fibre shell that can withstand the crushing force of a 55-tonne tank without deforming, and an 800 degree Celsius fire for 30 seconds without its interior rising above 70 degrees Celsius. This FIA-prescribed 8860 racing helmet reached such a peak after years of research and development led by the FIA Institute and leading helmet manufacturers.

Italian tyre manufacturers Pirelli, embarking on the first season of a three-year agreement to supply Formula One, have revealed the colours that will distinguish the six different types of rubber that will be used throughout 2011.