Following the problems encountered by teams in the development of KERS systems for 2009, it is now suggested the voluntary debut of the technology might need to be delayed.

The highest profile problems experienced by teams include the recent smoke and fume incident at Red Bull's UK factory, and the electric shock sustained by a BMW-Sauber mechanic at the Jerez test this week.

Toro Rosso may be speeding past Red Bull's senior team, according to a Spanish newspaper.

Diario AS claims the Italian team, currently backed by the energy drink baron Dietrich Mateschitz as a junior incarnation for Red Bull Racing, may be ready to consistently set the pace of the four Adrian Newey-penned chassis at grands prix.

A former McLaren employee has brought legal action against team boss Ron Dennis.

The employee claims unfounded rumours that he was gay led to him being unfairly sacked last September.

Sebastien Buemi has admitted he is hoping to be selected to make his formula one debut with Toro Rosso in 2009.

The 19-year-old Swiss, a GP2 racer and F1 test driver for Red Bull, said after testing at Jerez on Tuesday that he sees Sebastian Vettel's graduation to the senior team next year as his chance to move out of the summit of the energy drink's junior development programme.

The BMW-Sauber mechanic who received an electric shock during Jerez testing on Tuesday spent the night in a local hospital, it has emerged.

As the Spanish group test kicked off, the mechanic went to push back Christian Klien's KERS-equipped 2007 car when he was thrown to the ground.

Without giving too much away, Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger has suggested Sebastien Bourdais' race seat is safe for 2009.

Bourdais, the 29-year-old multiple Champ Car champion, has struggled during his rookie formula one season this year, particularly since the new STR3 car arrived.

The Nurburgring is apparently happy with the current arrangement whereby it annually shares the privilege with Hockenheim of hosting a single grand prix in Germany.

We reported recently that the arrangement is guaranteed to continue only until 2011.

A group of paddock regulars' penchant for poker stepped into a higher profile at the Hockenheim circuit last weekend.

Apparently, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone accidentally walked in on drivers including Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello, Adrian Sutil and the retired Michael Schumacher playing the card game in the Force India motor home.

McLaren-Mercedes has not won a title since Mika Hakkinen's final triumph in 1999, but Norbert Haug denies there is a sinister reason for the decade drought.

It has been suggested this year, and before, that the silver collaboration is always on the wrong end of prosperity in formula one; whether it be marginal penalty decisions, or controversies like the espionage saga.

Ralf Schumacher is refusing to rule out a return to formula one, but he admits his chances are very remote.

The former winner of six grands prix dropped off the grid last season, at the end of a disappointing three-season tenure with Toyota.

Issues arising from the development of KERS systems for 2009 will be discussed at the next meeting of F1's Technical Working Group (TWG).

Before the German grand prix, Red Bull had to evacuate its Milton Keynes factory amid a smoke and fume scare, and at the Jerez test on Tuesday, a BMW-Sauber mechanic received an electric shock when he touched a car fitted with a developmental KERS system.

Kimi Raikkonen insists he has not lost the desire to win, but the defending world champion is still refusing to commit to formula one beyond the end of his Ferrari contract next year.

The 28-year-old Finn had a notably lacklustre German grand prix last weekend, amid rumours his heart is no longer in it and he may be contemplating an early retirement.