Michael Schumacher may be retired from Formula 1 racing, but that’s not stopping the new Mercedes-Benz ambassador from climbing back into the cockpit of an F1 car.

“I have a lot of fond memories of the Nürburgring and am really looking forward to giving fans and friends from my home town of Kerpen, which is quite close to the Nürburgring, something to remember as they see me drive by,” Schumacher said.

To kick off the 24 Hours of Nürburgring this year, Schumacher will do a demo lap behind the wheel of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W02 race car as a “thank you” to all his fans’ loyal support over the years. It will be the first time since 1954 that a modern Formula 1 Silver Arrow will be driven on the Nordschleife. The last time was Juan Miguel Fangio’s victory on August 1st, 1954.

SEE ALSO: Michael Schumacher Named Mercedes-Benz Ambassador

Schumacher also covered part of the Nordschleife in July 2011 behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow Stromlinie W196. The W196 was the first Formula 1 Silver Arrow that Fangio drove to two world titles in 1954 and 1955 for Mercedes-Benz.

“Posting a lap in a modern Silver Arrow on the most beautiful and most testing circuit in the world,” Schumacher said. “What a brilliant mix – it’s every motor racing driver’s dream.”

GALLERY: Michael Schumacher / Mercedes Formula 1

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Despite having a dumb name, the LaFerrari is nothing short of awe inspiring.

Or at least you would imagine it to be. First-hand knowledge about driving the car remains reserved for a special few. The 950-hp Italian supercar uses a hybrid KERS system – a first for Ferrari production cars – and will only be built 499 times.

SEE ALSO: LaFerrari Supercar ‘Defines Excellence’ Says di Montezemolo

Even if you’re not going to drive one, it’s probably hard not to wonder what it’s like. The truth is, most owners probably won’t ever actually appreciate what their LaFerrari can do. Just like drinking expensive booze, it takes a special person to appreciate the nuances.

Enter two-time world champion F1 driver Fernando Alonso and driver for Scuderia Ferrari. He recently got the chance to drive one. The smile says it all.

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Lego has teamed up with Ferrari to produce a truly awesome toy; the world’s first full-scale model of a Ferrari Formula 1 race car.

At the first Grand Prix of the year in Melbourne, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were on hand to unveil the Lego creation. The event was part of a promotion ran by Shell in Australia along with the Italian automaker and the Lego Group.

Shell stations in Australia are offering limited edition models of Ferrari vehicles including the classic 250 GT Berlinetta, the F40, the FXX, and the recent 458 Italia. To celebrate the special promotion, the Lego Group helped build the 1:1 scale model of the Ferrari 150 Italia, the race car Maranello Scuderia competed with in the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship. It took several months to build the entire project, which also includes actual Pirelli race tires, a seat that fits a driver, and a replica of the steering wheel.

GALLERY: Lego Ferrari Formula 1 Car

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The all-electric racing series, Formula E, is finalizing it’s inaugural 2014 season with 8 cities chosen to host races, including L.A. and Miami.

The full list of cities foreshadow a world tour of emissions free racing with races happening in London, Rome, Los Angeles, Miami, Beijing, Putrajaya, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

“We are thankful to all the cities that have expressed their willingness to host our races,” said CEO of Formula E Holdings, Alejandro Agag. “The fact that cities from all over the world are interested in the FIA Formula E Championship is extremely heartening and shows a global commitment to clean mobility and sustainability.”

SEE ALSO: FIA Formula E Championship to Compete on Streets of Rome

The series will also have two teams of ten to compete against one another, one team from Britain, the other from China.

The race cars are designed by Italian company Dallara, with first sketches already released. McLaren is designing and building the powertrain for the cars in a consortium with Spark Racing Technology.

Infiniti Red Bull Racing has revealed its race car that will be used to defend its Formula One Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in the 2013 Formula One season.

Sporting a striking new livery, the RB9 reflects a strengthened relationship between Infiniti and Red Bull Racing by integrating the Japanese automaker’s purple-hued branding with the team’s existing colors. On hand at the race car’s debut was three-time World Formula One Champion Sebastian Vettel and nine-time grand-prix winner Mark Webber.

SEE ALSO: Infiniti, Red Bull Racing Extend Partnership

“Our new, increased partnership as Infiniti Red Bull Racing is a key milestone for Infiniti and a clear indication of our commitment to building the brand globally,” said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company. “While the first 24 months delivered outstanding results for both parties, our deeper involvement, which now sees us truly integrated as one team, will bring significant benefits to our people, processes and technology. We go into the 2013 season and beyond with a shared objective to deliver world-leading performance on the track and the road.”

GALLERY: 2013 Infiniti Red Bull Racing RB9

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Lotus has become the first Formula One team to unveil its race car for the 2013 season, the E21.

The new E21 may look similar to last year’s successful E20, but changes were made in the off-season in order to comply with the new Formula One rules for the 2013 race season. One of those major rule changes for 2013 was that teams are now able to use a “vanity panel” to cover up the ugly steps on the top of the noses of the race cars. But Lotus hasn’t made the change with the cosmetic panel yet, though it has refined the nose area of the race car.

“We have not done it yet because the cosmetic panel would weigh a few grams and with a Formula 1 car putting a few grams on that you don’t need to is anathema,” said technical director James Allison. “But if we find a cosmetic panel that looks nice but much more importantly and crucially gains us a bit of downforce we’ll pop it on quick as you like.”

One obvious change to the race car however is the new design which implements the exhausts on the vehicle for aerodynamics. Helping create additional downforce, the bodywork of the race car actually help guide the gases down to where the rear floor meets the rear wheels. It’s a design that is similar to what was found on the championship-winning 2012 Red Bull race car.

Kimi Raikkonen will once again be behind the wheel alongside teammate Romain Grosjean while Jerome D’Ambrosio will continue as the reserve driver on the team. Davide Valsecchi, reigning GP2 series champion, will be joining as the third driver and Nicolas Prost will handle development driver duties.

GALLERY: Lotus E21 Formula One Race Car

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Scuderia Ferrari, the brand’s racing division, is teasing its 2013 F1 race car today with a countdown.

Planned as a live presentation, the new single-seat Ferrari race car will be unveiled on February 1. You’ll be able to watch the unveiling through a live online broadcast on the day of the event.

SEE ALSO: F1 Needs to Reduce Costs: Ferrari Boss Says

It will be interesting to see what Ferrari has up its sleeves in light of the discussed belt-tightening. Last year, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo acknowledged the need for cost cutting in line with the FIA’s stated need for drastic changes to remain viable in the long term.

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Back in June, Bernie Ecclestone seemed confident that the Grand Prix of America would not happen in 2013. Despite that, June 16, 2013 was announced as the date for the inaugural Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial. Turns out Ecclestone was right.

“I remain totally committed to the Port Imperial race and its unique location and attributes, and we will continue to work closely together to realize our dream in 2014,” Ecclestone said. “As Leo says, we are still going to be racing at Port Imperial, now however in 2014.”

Formula One and the Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial announced that the inaugural race has been moved to 2014 due to ongoing construction issues on the riverfront street course. Both parties are confident that the race will occur in 2014 and remain committed to the project.

Among the construction issues cited, the additional time needed to develop complex Hudson Riverfront facilities and finishing the second pits and paddock garage on the site caused problems.

Grand Prix of America and Formula One were quick to point out that significant progress has already been made as they originally aimed for a 2013 race. Substantial construction of the first garage has been completed while other permanent facilities and hiring of senior staff along with partnering with key vendors are already all in place.

In a surprising move, Formula One and Speed will be going their separate ways after this season, ending a 17-year relationship.

Fox Sports Media Group, which owns Speed, confirmed that the partnership will end after this season and that the network was outbid for the US broadcast rights for F1. Though there’s no official announcement yet on F1′s new partnership with NBC, sources familiar with the negotiations have confirmed that NBC Sports will be the new home for Formula One starting in 2013.

Speed has been a partner with F1 since 1996, the first full season that was ever on air in the US. The television network moved to live coverage a year later and continued to expand its coverage for the world’s most popular form of motorsports. NBC Sports currently broadcasts the majority of the IndyCar Series.

“Speed has been the U.S. voice of F1 since the mid ’90s, and it is a passion for many people at the network,” a Fox Sports statement said. “Fox Sports Media Group made what we believed to be a fiscally responsible bid based on the sport’s current viewership levels, but F1 has elected to go in another direction. We wish them well.”

Exiting the sport in 2008, Honda has reportedly resumed interest in the pinnacle of motorsports: Formula One.

In an interview with the UK’s Autocar, Honda R&D boss Yoshiharu Yamamoto said he hopes the brand can return to F1 in the future, while acknowledging the massive commitment that such a move would be. “On a personal level I love racing, but there is a lot involved when you are in F1 … and that requires a large commitment,” he said. “But it is true that we do look up at those races and hope that one day we can take part again.”

According to Yamamoto the rules of the sport would have to change before Honda could consider a return. Conveniently enough, the rules are set to change in 2014, with a new 1.6-liter turbocharged engine set to be used by each team.

“I follow the rules, certainly, and if they present an opportunity then it would be nice to go back,” said Yamamoto, who did clarify that these are his opinions and not those of Honda.

According to Yamamoto, Honda is first committed to the World Touring Car Championship, (WTCC) where it will campaign a Honda Civic race car powered by an all-new turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylidner engine starting this year.

[Source: Autocar]

After spending his entire career driving for McLaren, Lewis Hamilton will now be behind the wheel for Mercedes Formula One starting next season. Hamilton will replace seven-time Formula One champ Michael Schumacher.

The move has been expected, given Hamilton’s recent gripes with the McLaren team, despite a 14 year-long relationship. Hamilton will drive for Mercedes for the next three years, and hopes to find himself as the world champion yet again. 2008 was the last year he achieved the mark and believes he can help guide Mercedes to winning world championships in Formula One.

“It is now time for me to take on a fresh challenge and I am very excited to begin a new chapter,” Hamilton said. “Mercedes-Benz has such an incredible heritage in motorsport, along with a passion for winning which I share.”

After months of speculation on whether or not a deal could be done to make the Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial a reality, the date has been set for June 16th, 2013, and this time there’s no asterisk next to it.

The inaugural Grand Prix of America will join the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship and will be part of the 20-race schedule that spans across 19 countries on five continents. It will be the first Formula One race held in the New York / New Jersey area in the 63-year history of Formula One. Three days of actions will kick off the event, from June 14th to June 16th, as teams from all around the world will put the all-new 3.2-mile street circuit to the test.

“The support we have had from elected officials like New Jersey Governor Christie and the mayors of Weehawken and West New York, a committed property developer and a great management team has been incredible,” said Leo Hindery Jr., race promoter and executive director. “They have stuck by us through this process and we owe them our thanks. The Grand Prix of America will be a special and historic race for New Jersey and New York, for the drivers and, most importantly, for the dedicated fans of Formula One racing.”