Formula one lacks the "will" to make sweeping changes to address the problem of the sport's flagging spectacle, according to two prominent figures of the governing body FIA.

When expectations about the 2010 season were sky high, the Bahrain season opener last weekend was highly criticised after a mainly processional race.

The Renault engine with which Sebastian Vettel limped his Red Bull to fourth place in Bahrain last weekend will be fitted to the German's car at the beginning of the forthcoming Australian grand prix.

A faulty spark plug in the unit caused the 22-year-old, who had started from pole position, to relinquish his lead to all three eventual podium sitters at Sakhir on Sunday.

Nico Rosberg does not expect both Mercedes drivers to be podium contenders at next week's Australian grand prix.

The 24-year-old German was faster than his famous teammate Michael Schumacher all weekend in Bahrain, and in the race they duly finished in fifth and sixth places.

After a winter of warnings about Ferrari's new "Latin" driver combination, even an overtaking move at the first race did not threaten the apparent harmony between Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso.

Alonso, the Italian team's new Spanish driver with two titles already under his belt, passed Massa from third on the grid at the first corner in Bahrain and went on to win the race.

Sauber has indicated it will apply to drop the 'BMW' from its official team title at some point during the 2010 season.

Although keeping the same name despite the withdrawal of its former owner, Sauber revealed a new red logo and name - Sauber Motorsport - in the days before last weekend's 2010 season opener.

Heikki Kovalainen's proposal to help spice up the racing in formula one is to scrap blue flags, according to Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes.

In an interview with Bloomberg, the Malaysian entrepreneur said Kovalainen, the new team's Finnish driver, proposes that "lapped cars should not be blue flagged, which may allow time for trailing cars to catch up to the leaders".

A lighter chassis is awaiting Mark Webber for when F1 track action resumes late next week in Melbourne.

The Australian, already in the southern city ahead of his ninth home race, told local media: "I was talking to my mechanics last night and they have got a brand new car for me.