In brief, January 2010

* Force India has been awarded around $4.8m in compensation following a legal action involving former sponsors Etihad and Aldar Properties, both of which are ultimately owned by the Abu Dhabi government. The companies backed Spyker in 2007 but switched to Ferrari instead of fulfilling an ongoing contract when the team became Force India.

* The new Lotus team is working with Jean-Claude Migeot’s Aerolab and Fondtech aerodynamic R&D operations in Italy. Lotus technical boss Mike Gascoyne (pictured) has previously worked with Migeot while at Toyota and Force India. Force India has said that a wind tunnel model picture issued by Lotus owed a lot to its own work, a claim Gascoyne has denied.

* F1 teams will take advantage of rules that allow them to run only young driver tests before the New Year to try out fresh talent at Jerez in the first week of December. Among the series champions scheduled to run are Andy Soucek (F2, with Williams), Bertrand Baguette (Renault 3.5, Renault), Daniel Ricciardo (British F3, Red Bull), Daniel Zampieri (Italian F3, Ferrari), Alexander Rossi (2008 BMW World Finals, Sauber) and Esteban Gutierrez (2008 BMW Europe, Sauber).

* Jenson Button has confirmed that he will be attending the Autosport International Show at the NEC on January 14-17.

* Five-times Le Mans winner Derek Bell will be the race director for David Brabham’s annual Racing4Charity Celebrity Karting Challenge, held at the Autosport International Show. Brabham is raising awareness and funds for the Malaria No More charity.

* In celebration of Sir Jackie Stewart’s 70th birthday, his sons Paul and Mark have written and recorded a song ‘Fly Free’ with Eric Clapton. A video has also been made by Mark. Both are available on download with all proceeds going to The Grand Prix Mechanics’ Charitable Trust. For more information see www.sirjackiestewart.com.