Today we’re exactly five weeks away from the first race of 2010. Here’s the Sunday round-up: Links Adrian Campos ‘working hard’ to secure F1 team’s future (BBC) Adrian Campos: “Sometimes we pay the €7m [installments] to Dallara and sometimes we don’t have the money.

We’re finally going to see some proper launch action later today, even if it is only Mercedes pulling back the back the covers on a BGP 001 painted silver and turquoise. Also expected today is an announcement from US F1 confirming Jose Maria Lopez as their first driver and possibly a bit more too. Here’s today’s round-up: Links Thoughts on Rossi, Massa, Trulli, Alguersuari and Lopez (James Allen) Thanks to the various people who pointed out this addition to the debate on how impressive Vanetino Rossi’s lap time at Barcelona was : “Rossi lapped Barcelona in 1m 21.9 seconds, in a 2008 car with 2009 tyres.

A quiet day yesterday though for no obvious reason the discussion sprang back to life on a four year-old article on F1 vs NASCAR . We’ve also had a new idea for a future F1 Fanatic article suggested on Skribit. If you’ve got an idea for a post, or would like to vote on the ideas other people have suggested, head over to the Community page for more.

Felipe Massa will be testing a Ferrari F2008 at the Circuit de Catalunya today. Ferrari say the official purpose of the test is: “to gain confidence with the Formula 1 car after a long break, due to his accident during the qualifying at the Hungarian GP.” Still you have to wonder if other teams would benefit from having similar tests. British F1 fans might like to look out for “A Question of Sport” on BBC1 tonight as Mark Webber will be a guest contestant

Tomorrow I’m heading up to Birmingham for the start of the Autosport International show. If there’s anything you’re particularly interested in going on at the show let me know and I’ll try to report back. In the meantime, here’s today’s round-up: Links We will be on the grid – Campos (BBC) Adrian Campos tells the BBC “we are very near a budget”

Nelson Piquet Jnr is off to race in America like his dad did Nelson Piquet Jnr claims he will race in one of the NASCAR championships this year. They’re welcome to him. A statement on Piquet’s website says: NASCAR is hugely challenging and nobody has ever come in as an outsider before and gone on to win it – it will be the ultimate challenge.

The 2010 F1 season opener will not be in high definition Hoping to watch the 2010 F1 season in high definition? Afraid you’re set for another disappointment. BBC’s Lee McKenzie has said on Twitter that FOM will not be offering Formula 1 in HD to broadcasters until 2011.

The pit-to-car radio broadcasts are great – let’s hear some more Last year the FIA announced : A mandate has been given to the F1 Sporting Working Group to develop detailed proposals to improve the show. The Working Group will meet in January and make recommendations for the World Motor Sport Council to consider in advance of the 2010 F1 season . We’ve seen a lot of positive changes made to F1 in recent years – the banning of traction control and the return of slick tyres, for example.

Like it or not, this is why a lot of people watch F1 There’s a lot of discussion about how to ‘improve the show’ and make it more accessible to the ‘average fan’. But what do typical sports fans actually think of F1? I’ve had it in my mind for some time to find out and the festive season has offered lots of opportunities to meet new people.

The £120K Cruden Hexatech F1 simulator Still not sure what to buy for the F1 fan in your life?