Shortly after the announcement that Jules Bianchi will serve as Force India’s reserve driver in 2012, Ferrari has confirmed Davide Rigon’s fresh commitment to the team. The Italian will now be first choice for activities such as street demonstrations.

Ferrari protege Jules Bianchi is named as Force India's reserve driver for the 2012 season.

Force India have signed 2011 Ferrari tester Jules Bianchi as their 2012 reserve driver. The 22-year-old Frenchman, a former F3 Euro champion, will participate in at least nine Friday practice sessions for the team this year

Jules Bianchi has become the reserve driver of Force India for the 2012 Formula 1 season. The Frenchman is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) and last year held the reserve role for the Italian team, although his new position will allow for several Friday free practice sessions on race weekends this year.

In a surprise move, former Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi has joined Force India for 2012 in a similar role.

An F1 race on the streets of New Jersey, with a New York City backdrop, will become a reality next year. Having studied the project, 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti is highly confident that the event could become one of the sport’s most popular ever.

In a special series of articles running up to the new season, GPUpdate.net has assembled an exclusive panel of guests. We hear the good, the bad, the expectations and predictions ahead of the sport’s most eagerly-anticipated year. Let us begin with Mario Andretti: Indy 500 winner, Daytona 500 winner and F1 World Champion of 1978.

Running a team with a record of success like McLaren's is no picnic. After a difficult season there is no place to hide, so it helps to be someone who considers the glass half full rather than half empty. Luckily for McLaren, team principal Martin Whitmarsh is a born optimist. Six victories in 2011 was good, but he wants more in 2012. Ahead of next week's launch of the new MP4-27, Whitmarsh speaks exclusively to Formula1.com

Kimi Räikkönen has quickly settled into his role of lead driver at Lotus as he makes his Formula 1 comeback. The Finn, World Champion of 2007, made an unofficial driving return by running in a 2010 Renault in Valencia for two days earlier this week.

Valencian authorities are hoping that Bernie Ecclestone will be open to renegotiating their contract and thus securing the future of the European Grand Prix. The regional government has already spoken with the head of Formula One Management (FOM) about the financial difficulties it faces, having hosted the race since 2008.

F1 outcast Nick Heidfeld is set to race a Lola-Toyota in the legendary endurance races of Sebring, Spa and Le Mans, according to Speed. In 2011, the German was replaced at LRGP by Bruno Senna and consequently left on the sidelines.