Nico Rosberg has signed a new contract with the Williams F1 team for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, ending speculation that he was in line to replace Fernando Alonso at McLaren.

Martin Brundle, under fire from the FIA over an earlier column in The Sunday Times, has launched a robust counterblast in today’s column.

As a former Formula One driver, I have earnt the right to have an opinion about the sport, and probably know as much about it as anybody else. I have attended approaching 400 grands prix, 158 as a driver. I have spilt blood, broken bones, shed tears, generated tanker loads of sweat, tasted the champagne glories and plumbed the depths of misery. I have never been more passionate about F1 and will always share my opinions in an honest and open way, knowing readers will make up their own minds.

Let’s hope that common sense prevails and the FIA realise that legal action is not exactly in their best interest.