SCHUMACHER SET FOR NEW DEAL
Michael Schumacher is set to extend his Ferrari contract for a further year, at least that's according to a 'high ranking' member of the team.
According to Germany's Welt am Sonntag, the source claimed that Schumacher, who's current deal expires at the end of this year, "will continue" racing for the Italian outfit in 2007 as both the German and Ferrari are keen to extend his contract for one more season.
The unnamed source added: "It appears that no one has realised that (Michael) can't imagine a life without racing.
"He wants to race and he will race."
And although the Ferrari team member went on to say that Schumacher is tired of all the speculation surrounding his future, he revealed that no official announcement will be made until mid-season.
Meanwhile, the man who dethroned Schumacher last year, Fernando Alonso, is betting on Schumacher continuing with Ferrari next season.
"I don't see him ready to retire," Alonso told Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
"(Michael) is highly consistent and I think equally motivated - it (his motivation) is no less (than it used to be)."
"I think he'll carry on."
KOVALAINEN SET FOR F1?
Heikki Kovalainen could enter the ranks of F1 driver next season, as he looks to be Flavio Briatore's favourite to fill Renault's soon-to-be vacant seat.
With Fernando Alonso heading to McLaren next year, Renault are on the lookout for someone to replace their reigning World Champion.
However, they may not even have to look outside the team thanks to test driver Heikki Kovalainen.
The Finn, who joined Renault at the start of the season, is greatly admired by Briatore, which could be seen as a sign of things to come.
"He is not just good," the Italian told Sport Bild, "he is very special."
DELAY FOR AGURI CHASSIS
Super Aguri drivers Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide - if he's still with the team - may have to wait another two months before the old 2002 Arrows they are racing will be replaced with a brand-new 2006 Super Aguri chassis.
Although the team had hoped to race their own designed F1 chassis at next weekend's San Marino GP, those plans suffered a setback as the offer of help from Honda was temporarily rescinded due to their own current problems.
However, Super Aguri Managing Director, Daniel Audetto, is confident the team's new car will make it's first appearance at the British Grand Prix, which takes place on June 11.
"The car is delayed now. We have to make a completely new SA06 without much help from Honda, because they have to focus on their own situation," he told Autosport.
"We think it will not be before Silverstone probably, so we have decided to go in parallel in developing the SA05 with developments that carry over to the SA06."
"We will have a new gearbox, we will get the centre of gravity lower and we will also work on the weight distribution.
"We hope to reduce the weight and also have some ballast to improve the situation. Also there will be some aerodynamics which will come from the SA06 development."
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