FORMULA ONE fans are facing another bore-fest season of parading cars and no overtaking, according to top racer Sebastian Vettel.

The Red Bull Racing driver reckons this year's competition will be no better than last year's, despite all the rule changes.

The new regulations - including changes to the cars' aerodynamics, the return of slick tyres and the introduction of a new power-boost button - were introduced by F1 chiefs to encourage closer racing.

But Vettel said: "It's only my second full season in F1 but I remember the beginning of last year everyone was going crazy about traction control and predicting the cars would spin off and there would much more overtaking.

"I think it was more interesting than years before where we saw the cars sliding a bit more here and there, but overtaking was difficult. Driving is very similar this season. Not a lot has changed, when you turn left, the car still turns left."

Williams Robert Kubica added: "I'm not expecting more overtaking."

Rule changes, banned car parts, illegal point systems and claims of favouritism are just a handful of irks causing problems before the cars have even reached the track ahead of today's race.

Just as the drivers are talking down the sport, so ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone wants to introduce a new two-tier budget cap for F1 teams.

Ecclestone and the FIA are championing a new system which will allow larger teams to carry on spending freely, while smaller teams have a budget cap but greater freedom on technical development.

The idea has already proved controversial, with BMW Boss Mario Theissen saying: "We could imagine a budget cap, although the cap size has to be agreed between the teams and the FIA. But what we absolutely do not like is the thought of a 'League A' and a 'League B' in Formula One.

"I would prefer to discuss it within FOTA (Formula One Teams' Association) because apparently the teams are all in a different position. So far we have achieved unity between all the teams on all issues, but this would be a tricky one.

"It is definitely possible - but such a team would look very different from what we have today and the question is would that still be F1?"

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DANI PEDROSA - unlucky

DANI DOWN AND OUT

INJURY-PLAGUED MOTOGP rider Dani Pedrosa is keeping his fingers crossed he will be fit enough to race this season after being forced to sit out another important test session.

Former Suzuki tester Kosuke Akiyoshi will replace Pedrosa in this weekend's test at Jerez after doctors ordered the Spaniard to stay at home following skin-graft surgery earlier this month.

Team boss Kazuhiko Yamano said: "Dani won't be riding because it's important he recovers fully after his operation, and so Kosuke Akiyoshi will ride Dani's machine.

"Although in a perfect world Dani would be testing here, we're confident that Kosuke can ably assist Andrea with our development programme for the RC212V."

"This is an important test for the Repsol Honda Team and we're looking to use these two days to maximum effect as we approach the start of the season."

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YOU CAN BE A KART KING

CAN you drive a go-kart like Lewis Hamilton? Well, now you can put your money where your mouth is.

Celebrities and journalists will join a group of karting enthusiasts to battle it out at the Internatial Circuit at Daytona Milton Keynes for the prestigious 'One Race in May' trophy and raise cash for charity.

The four-hour endurance race, on Sunday, May 31, will see up to 24 teams race Honda-powered Pro Karts capable of over 70mph against some of the best known personalities from the world of sport, TV and music.

Team entries, which can include up to seven drivers, are available at £950 per team. For details contact Marcin Piechowski (marcin_piechowski@yahoo.co.uk) on 07771 638 598.

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