BBC Sport brings you a regular round-up of the gossip in newspapers and on specialist websites around the world.

Flavio Briatore has said he will never return to Formula 1 despite having a life ban overturned: "I exclude it 100 percent," said the Italian.
Full story: The Times
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh thinks any appeals against his team's controversial front wing are doomed to failure: "From what I understand, there are no grounds for a protest," he said.
Full story: The Telegraph

But Renault technical director Bob Bell has called the FIA's decision to allow McLaren's rear wing: "a complete joke." Full story: ESPN.com

Meanwhile Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn thinks the other teams will have no choice but to copy the McLaren design.Full story: Autosport.com

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, have left the door open to sanctions against USF1 for not competing in this year's championship.
Full story: The Guardian

Double world champion Fernando Alonso lavished Michael Schumacher with praise, calling him the best driver of all time. Alonso also said the German's presence would make winning the championship sweeter, neatly adding some extra kudos to the 2005 and 2006 titles he picked up against Schumacher.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Jenson Button, 30, couldn't resist a cheeky dig at the 41-year-old German: "It's great to have him back," joked the current world champion as they sat together at Thursday's press conference. "He makes me feel young again."
Full story: The Guardian

Schumacher was the only one of the four former world champions on this year's grid to walk the Sakhir track, Button, Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were content with their simulators.Full story: The Guardian

Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes says the team's Malaysian test driver Fairuz Fauzy will get some wheel time in the Bahrain practice sessions this weekend.
Full story: SpeedTV.com

This story will be updated through the day.

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