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Volkswagen agreed to raise wages for German workers by 5.7 percent over 20 months as the country's biggest manufacturing union helped employees tap into the company's growing profit.

Volkswagen agreed to raise wages for German workers by 5.7 percent over 20 months as the country's biggest manufacturing union helped employees tap into the company's growing profit.

Jaguar's tie-up with singer Lana Del Rey is paying dividends. The automaker's "Desire" video, which features Del Rey, tops our list of top viral videos this week.

Volkswagen's Nazi past kept it from celebrating the 75th anniversary of a big event in the automaker's history. On May 26, 1938, Adolf Hitler laid the foundation stone for what would become VW's Wolfsburg plant.

Automotive News Europe salutes the winners of the 2013 Rising Stars awards. Every day until June 12 one of the 18 winners will be featured. Today's Rising Star is Xavier Dupont, vice president of transmissions at supplier Valeo.

From GMM

Renault will look to reduce the price of its new turbo V6 engines over time, the French carmaker's president Carlos Ghosn said.

Reports have indicated that Renault's new engine for 2014 is millions more expensive than any of its rival F1 suppliers, causing Williams to jump ship to Mercedes.

It is also rumoured that, while Caterham looks set to stay with Renault, Lotus is in talks with Ferrari.

Already signed up with Renault for 2014 are Red Bull's two teams, including Toro Rosso.

Christian Horner, Carlos Ghosn, Franz Tost and Helmut Marko in Monaco. (Photo: Renault Sport)

"We will not be surprised if the third one will come soon. We may have more but we don't need more," said Ghosn.

"There is some concern about the cost of the engine, I understand it, but our commitment is to work to reduce these costs," Ghosn said in Monaco at the weekend.

He insisted, however, that the initial cost of the engines to customers - believed to be over EUR 20 million per season - will not be reduced.

"We are not going to drop the price for anybody for 2014," said Ghosn. "But our commitment is every year we will be working hard to make this engine more efficient, to reduce the costs and then try to pass part of the cost reduction to the users."

From GMM

The furore over Mercedes' secret Pirelli test looks set to deepen, as rival teams claim they were not informed by F1's tire supplier.

As it refused to rule out "penalties", the FIA said Pirelli and Mercedes would have got the green light for the test "provided every team" was also offered the same opportunity.

It has emerged Ferrari did a secret test for Pirelli before Barcelona with a 2011 car, with Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel.

And Red Bull confirmed it was asked about conducting a test for Pirelli, "but we very clearly said no," Dr Helmut Marko told Austrian television Servus TV.

"In our opinion, such a test is not covered by the regulations. It is a clear violation."

Photo: WRi2

There are reports that Pirelli distributed an email about the possibility of tire testing, but many teams reportedly deny ever receiving it.

"We feel cheated," Sauber founder Peter Sauber is quoted by 20min.ch.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, Williams also denies knowing about the possibility of Pirelli tire testing.

And asked if his team was consulted, Lotus boss Eric Boullier is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace: "No."

Force India's Bob Fernley said the issue came up in a FOTA meeting, but it was not a formal invitation to test.

"I don't remember getting a letter from Pirelli on the subject," he insisted.

In fact, the Telegraph newspaper refers to an email to teams from the teams association FOTA, explicitly warning that in-season testing is not allowed unless there is "unanimous" consent by all teams.

The matter is now in the FIA's hands.

"I don't expect there to be a judgement before Montreal," Marko said. "I would say by Silverstone at the earliest."

Red Bull and Ferrari are reportedly proposing that, if Mercedes was allowed to test, they should as well.

"We want to have the same test in order to get to the same level," said Marko. But it is clear that not all teams, particularly those who are happiest with Pirelli's difficult 2013 tires, will agree to that remedy.

"There will certainly be a penalty, because Mercedes' tire advantage in Monaco was obvious," Marko is quoted by Bild newspaper. "There is also a question of cost, because such a test costs nearly a million euros."

Another factor, said Marko, is the long-life engine rule, with Mercedes' three race distances at the secret test supposedly now excluded from its allocation of eight engines per driver.

"There is a long list of things," said the outspoken Austrian. "We also want to have this test. Logistically, it can only happen at Silverstone, which means that we have lost two races until we have the same knowledge."

Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda, meanwhile, is accusing Red Bull of sour grapes.

"Red Bull was also asked (about the test) but we were simply faster to accept. So they are just sore losers. I have made a bet with Helmut Marko - 50 euros - that there will be no consequences for Mercedes," the Austrian legend added.

Finally, Marko said Red Bull is not questioning the validity of Nico Rosberg's Monaco win.

"We deliberately put in the protest before the race, because our protest is about the test, not Nico Rosberg's victory. It was a great performance and we can live with second and third places," he insisted.

Pros and Cons*
Pros
The 2013 Ford Fiesta stands apart thanks to its attractive 5-door design, quality dashboard materials, comfortable front seats and fuel efficiency.

Cons
However, the Fiesta has a few flaws. Namely, the car's too-firm rear seats do not lie flat, visibility is reduced in the hatchback model and the engine lacks power at low revs.


Price
The hatchback and the sedan are the same price. The Fiesta S (sedan and hatchback) both start at $13,649, including tinted windows, 15-inch wheels and an auxiliary audio input jack.

The SE model is available for $14,149 and features climate control, a CD player and a multifunctional display with a LCD screen.

The Fiesta Titanium has an asking price of $17,149, which includes a sunroof and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

An automatic transmission is available for an additional $1,250.

Fuel Economy
The Fiesta is rated at 6.9 L/100 km in the city while on the highway, ratings drop to of 5 L/100 km.

Exterior Styling
Designed on the same platform as the Mazda 2, both the sedan and the 5-door hatchback have a smooth, modern and dynamic look.

Drivetrain
The 2013 Fiesta is propelled by a 4-cylinder, 1.6-litre engine that delivers 120 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque. This engine is coupled with either a 5-speed manual transmission or an automatic, 6-speed, PowerShift double clutch transmission.

Cargo Capacity
The sedan has 362 litres of storage space while the hatchback has a capacity of 435 litres.

Safety
You'll find seven airbags on this model.

Comparable Models
Chevrolet Sonic, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris

Photo: Ford

*References
Aubé Vincent, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.248
Morin Alain, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.276
ford.ca

Poor Saab; as if their demise in the auto world weren't enough, their name was once again dragged through the press gutters when Saab Automobile AB's then-chariman, Mr. Victor Muller was accused of tax evasion in 2010-2011.

Rumours of him pocketing money from the company via Latin America Tug Holding NV, a tugboat company registered in his name, circulated and the Swedish authorities began investigating the matter. Also, Muller's $773,000 salary at Saab raised some eyebrows.

By association, Spyker has been dragged through the media gutters as Victor Muller is their current CEO, however, they released a statement today stating that Spyker is and was in no way involved in this tax evasion matter.

Source: Email following story from Spyker and Autoblog

Vehicle Type: Mid-size Diesel-powered Luxury SUV

Pros and Cons*
The 2013 Touareg TDI has excellent fuel-economy ratings for both city and highway driving conditions. It has a comfortable, quiet cabin and exhibits superb road handling characteristics. Its luxurious, understated interior can compete with any other mid-size luxury SUV on the market.
Unfortunately, the sport suspension and 20-inch wheels tend to spoil its exemplary ride, and its steep starting price is out of the reach of the average buyer.

Price
The Touareg TDI is available in three models:

• The Comfortline, which starts at $53,975;
• The Highline, which starts at $59,970;
• The Execline, the most luxurious version, which starts at $63,800.

(Photo: Volkswagen)

Fuel Economy
Fuel economy ratings are an estimated 10.8/6.7 L/100 km (city/highway), and the fuel tank has a 100-litre capacity.

Exterior Styling
In spite of its imposing stature, the Touareg TDI, with its sober lines and familiar front grille, still manages to resemble the Passat. It comes equipped with standard foglights, rain-sensing wipers, integrated side-mirror turn-signal lights, LED lighting and remote hatch release. An optional electric sliding panoramic sunroof is also available.

Interior
The elegant interior offers comfortable seating and smooth, soft surfaces for its five occupants. Dual-zone electronic climate control, navigation system with 8-inch high-res touchscreen, multifunction trip computer, Bluetooth connectivity and keyless access are some of the features available in the Touareg TDI.

(Photo: VW)

Cargo Capacity
The Touareg offers a generous 909 litres of storage space, which can be expanded to 1,812 litres when rear seats are lowered.*

Drivetrain
All three Touareg models come equipped with the standard 240 hp 3.0 litre V6, along with standard 8-speed Tiptronic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

Safety
The Touareg features the following standard safety systems:

• Rearview camera
• Front airbags and supplemental restraint systems
• Driver and front passenger side airbag supplemental restraint system
• Side Curtain Protection head airbags, front and rear
• Rear-impact-optimized head restraints - driver and front passenger
• 3-point safety belts, all seating positions, height-adjustable for driver and front passenger
• Emergency locking retractors for all seating positions
• Front seat safety belt pre-tensioners with load limiters
• Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS)

Comparable Models
The Volkswagen Touarag is part of an elite crowd that includes the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and, with the Execline version, the Porsche Cayenne.

*Sources and testimonials;
www.vw.ca

Shoppers needn't spend big bucks on a sports car that delivers top-notch driving thrills, fuel efficiency and feature content—and automakers like Kia, Honda, Mini, Toyota, Mazda and Hyundai are out to prove it.

Here's a look at some selected, currently-available sports car models that deliver great bang-for-your-buck, with an eye for value and fuel efficiency. Remember: this is only a small cross-section of the market—so be sure to use our shopping tools to research other alternatives.

Model: Honda Civic Si

Starting Price: $26,190

Overview: Available as a coupe or sedan, the Civic Si packs 17-inch wheels, new styling, and 201 VTEC-powered ponies that love to rev. All models come with a six-speed manual transmission, VTEC monitor and limited-slip differential for an engaging driving experience. Other touches include seats embroidered with the ‘Si' badge, and a unique instrument cluster with red accenting that picks up on the red contrast stitching throughout the cabin.

Photo: Honda

Pros: Civic Si has a hard-earned reputation for reliable, no-nonsense performance, capability and residual value. This is a highly usable sports car that's fun, thrifty, affordable and happiest when driven hard. The choice between Coupe and Sedan variants adds selection to the shopping process.

Cons: Civic Si comes just one way—as a four-cylinder, front-drive model with a manual gearbox. If you're after a bigger engine, automatic transmission or AWD, you won't find it here.

Noteworthy: A recent refresh of the Civic's cabin and body have left it looking more premium, upscale and alert than ever. Bluetooth phone and audio interfaces, a rearview camera, heated front seats, and a color driver computer display are all on board. Don't miss the high-revving snarl from the VTEC engine when the hot-cam kicks in to ramp up output.

This is one of my favorite rides in terms of a 365-day a year sports coupe that's exciting to drive every day. One of the best shifters you'll find on the road, anywhere, too.

Continue reading Sports Car Comparison: The Cheap and Cheerful

Fox Sports has issued a follow-up statement to its' initial reaction following an incident during the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday evening.

Ten spectators were injured and the Coca Cola 600 was red flagged after a camera cable, operated on behave of the Fox television network, broke.

The cars of Kyle Busch and Marcos Ambrose also suffered damage from the failure.

Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Here's the latest from Fox:

Everyone at FOX Sports is relieved and thankful to know that the injuries to fans caused when CAMCAT malfunctioned Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway were minor, and those who received hospital treatment were released last night.  As stated previously, we regret that the race was affected, and we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, to everyone at CMS, NASCAR, and NASCAR fans, especially those who were hurt.  At this time, we still do not have a cause for what happened, but a full investigation is underway, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely.

The rope is made of Dyneema, an ultra-strong synthetic that has the same approximate strength of a steel wire with the same diameter, and is less than a year old.  According to the company, it had been factory-tested by the manufacturer and its breaking strength is certified before shipment. It was also inspected by CAMCAT upon receipt last June.  The rope was certified to have a breaking strength of over 9,300 pounds. The force exerted during last night's race was less than 900 pounds.

FOX Sports is reviewing with CAMCAT equipment maintenance records, history and installation information and will share those findings with NASCAR and CMS.

Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Just because it's a high-performance supercar doesn't mean it has to drink a lot of fuel, at least not according to Porsche.

Over the course of 1,200 km, 42 journalists recently drove the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid to the tune of an average fuel consumption rate of just 4.4L/100km. If that weren't impressive enough, the lowest reading hit 2.8L/100km.

As the first plug-in hybrid luxury vehicle in its class, the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid stands to change the luxury hybrid game with an available 36 km of all-electric drive at an average speed of 54km/hr. The combined power of the Panamera S E-Hybrid is 416 horsepower; and it will reach 100km/hr from a standstill in just 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 270 km/hr.

The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid will be available as of July 2013.

Photo: Porsche

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Impressive cargo room, comfortable rear-passenger area, a selection of great engines and efficient transmission as well as the agility provided by the xDrive system give the BMW 5 GT a head start on the competition.

Cons
Sore points include asceptized handling, cumbersome size, harsh, noisy ride, heavy liftgate and lengthy options list.


Price
The 535i xDrive starts at $70,400.

The 550i xDrive has a MSRP of $81,200.

Options include the BMW App at $300, technology package at $2,000, seating package at $2,900, rear seat comfort group at $2,900 or $3,900, Executive package at $4,000 and M package at $4,700.

Fuel Consumption
The 6-cylinder engine consumes an estimated 11.1 L/100 km city and 7.6 L/100 km highway.

Equipping the BMW 5 Series GT with the V8 engine will bring these figures to approximately 13.6 L/100 km city and 8.9 L/100 km highway, for an 11.5 L/100 km average.

Exterior Styling
Its 5 Series origins are evident in both front and side views. However, its bulbous rear end is both BMW and SUV-like in appearance. The hatch opens in two distinct and practical ways.

Drivetrain
The 535i xDrive is powered by a turbocharged inline 3.0 litre 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 hp and 300 lb-ft torque.

As for the 550i xDrive, it's equipped with a 4.4 litre V6 that churns out 400 hp and 450 lb-ft torque.

Both engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic all-wheel drive setup.

Cargo Capacity
The 5 Series GT offers between 440 and 1,700 litres of cargo room.

Safety
A combination of six airbags and various passive and active safety features protect the occupants.

Comparable Models
Audi A7, Mercedes-Benz CLS Class

Photo: BMW

*References
Rufiange Daniel, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.132
Lachapelle Marc, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.166
Descarries Éric, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.144
www.bmw.ca

If you require autonomy that battery-powered electric vehicles can't provide, you should look towards other green-vehicle solutions before throwing in the towel.

Hybrid vehicle savings
Hybrid vehicles provide definite fuel economy savings when compared to their combustion-engined counterparts. Consider the gas-powered Toyota Camry vs. the hybrid version. While the traditional powertrain drinks 7L/100km, the hybrid drinks just 4.7L/100 km (combined driving for both, according to Toyota). Pricing for the gas-powered Camry starts at $23,700, while the hybrid chimes in at $27,710. That's a $4,010 price difference, but fear not; you will recover the cash after driving 130,000 km.

Choosing a hybrid will provide long-term savings. The more you drive, the more you save, so they say!

Toyota Camry Hybrid (Photo: Toyota)

Plug-ins, the best of both worlds... Except for the price
You need to carefully analyze your driving needs before jumping to any conclusions. Will a plug-in hybrid make a difference in your specific case?
I was in for quite a surprise when I decided to nose around the Ford website and compare standard hybrid model prices to their plug-in counterparts. The Ford C-Max plug-in hybrid retails for nearly $10,000 more than the base model! Is it really worth it?

For starters, plug-in hybrids have a 25-35 km battery-only autonomy. In an ideal world, you would travel 25 kilometres to get to your job, plug it in then come home with a full charge. This would be the equivalent of having an electric vehicle, but with the added convenience of extended-range driving for your weekend wanderings.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid (Photo: Ford)

In reality, average daily commutes are in the 65 km range. Subtract 25 km (for a vehicle that consumes 5L/100km) and you end up saving 1.25 litres of gas per day; at $1.35 per litre you have just pocketed $1.69. If you drive every single day of the year, you will wind up saving $617 annually. You will therefore recoup your initial $10,000 investment after 16 years.

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has hit back at Sebastian Vettel's description of the Mercedes cars in the Monaco grand prix as "buses".

Red Bull's world champion Vettel, who finished second on Sunday behind Nico Rosberg, said of the opening laps in Monaco: "You expect two silver arrows and there were two buses going for a cruise".

Lewis Hamilton in Monaco. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Hamilton, who switched to Mercedes over the winter, told Press Association news agency he didn't appreciate the analogy.

"He has had the fastest car for the last four years, so it's easy for him to say that. He's got it easy," said the Briton.

"We are making our way up, we are learning, growing, improving with a car that has great potential, so I don't agree with him."

Hamilton was more reluctant to talk about the furore caused by Mercedes' 'secret' tire test, insisting he has to focus instead on getting up to speed with the on-form Rosberg.

"I just have to focus on myself and try and get my act together," he said.

From GMM

Lotus boss Eric Boullier is refusing to rule out Davide Valsecchi for a future in Romain Grosjean's seat.

Having only narrowly hung onto his drive for 2013, Frenchman Grosjean is back in the wars this week in the wake of his four crashes in Monaco.

He will start ten places down the Montreal grid for the Daniel Ricciardo incident, reinvigorating talk that boss and manager Boullier could finally lose patience and replace Grosjean with the reigning GP2 champion Valsecchi, a 26-year-old Italian.

Valsecchi was signed by Boullier for 2013 to be Lotus' new reserve driver.

"I don't wish anything bad against Grosjean," the Italian driver had said last December, "but if he's not there then I see myself as the favourite."

Davide Valsecchi, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

Now, in the wake of Grosjean's latest troubles, Boullier was asked if Valsecchi is once again in pole position for his F1 debut.

According to Sporting Life, he answered: "Not yet."

Instead, Boullier backed Grosjean but said he will sit down for talks with the 27-year-old.

"We want him to keep the pace and make sure he is back in control, like he was at the beginning of the season," said Boullier.

Taking it all on
Drumheller, AB - The 2013 Ford F-150 not only takes on competitors, but takes on the countryside as well, with or without roads. Driving on the road is like being in a Lincoln, while off-roading is like having your own tank. In a word: Awesome!

What is the Ford F-150?
Simply put, the Ford F-150 is Canada's best-selling pickup truck, and has been for the past 47 years.

Technicalities
Ford wisely chose to leave the powertrains in the F-150 alone. The 302 hp 3.7L normally aspirated V6 is still the base engine, followed by the 365 hp 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. First up on the V8 list is the 360 hp 5.0L V8, followed by the 411 hp 6.2L V8. The 6.2L option is limited to use in select models, such as the Platinum and Raptor.

All 2013 Ford F-150 engines are backed by a 6-speed automatic transmission, and an available 4X4 drivetrain.

A basic, regular cab F-150 in two-wheel drive can be ordered for $19,999; while the Platinum edition starts at $61,099.


Driving the F 150
Trailer towing gets a bit easier with the 2013 Ford F-150 thanks to available towing packages. With the Max. trailer tow package when combined with the Lariat trim or higher, the trailer-towing mirrors become electronically adjustable and can telescope in and out, as well as fold, and the mirrors themself are still fully power-adjustable. This is something that GM has yet to do with the Silverado and Sierra; Ram and Toyota Tundra mirrors are only power-adjustable, as well.

The 2013 F-150 is offered in regular, Super Cab or Crew Cab versions with three different box lengths also available. All of the trucks can tow conventional trailers, but it is not recommended to use a fifth-wheel hitch with the short box. Towing capacities vary slightly amongst the 2013 Ford F-150 models, but properly equipped the F-150 is rated at 11,300 lbs.

I drove a normal 2013 Ford F-150 (equipped with EcoBoost) hooked to a trailer with 11,000 lbs. My partner and I took to the highway and proceeded to get up to the 100 km/hr speed limit. Aside from a little trailer sway dampened by the trailer-sway control program, it stayed stable and was hardly noticeable.

The only time a heavy load was obvious with the Ford F-150 was under braking or while traversing an 8% grade. Braking took a bit of extra time and distance, but not a lot of extra pedal pressure. Going up the hill took about 50% more throttle pressure to keep slightly above the posted 70 km/hr speed limit.

Next on my list of real world tests came a 50 km fuel economy run. Ford says the EcoBoost motor should get 9.6 l/100 km on the highway and 14.1 l/100 km in town. My average for both town and highway, including headwinds and the 8% grade was 11.8 l/100 km. That is certainly much better than I thought it would be!

With the Max. trailer tow package when combined with the Lariat trim or higher, the trailer-towing mirrors become electronically adjustable and can telescope in and out, as well as fold, and the mirrors themself are still fully power-adjustable. (Photo: Ford)

Ins and Outs of the Ford F-150
As far as new looks go on the 2013 Ford F-150: The front grilles have changed, HID headlamps are widely available, and the front fascia has changed a bit to accommodate these new lights. New 18” and 20” wheel packages round out the differences.

Exterior definition for the average F 150 depends on the trim level chosen. Side badges are distinctive and depend on the trim level chosen. And while the front fascia has been updated, designers managed to keep the “Built Ford Tough” image.

The most distinctive exterior belongs to that of the 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor. With an instantly recognizable grille, a slightly different front end treatment, and a more aggressive stance, the Raptor means business. Even the Raptor's tires have a more bad-ass tread design, and the wheels are equally angry-looking. Paint and badging stand out as well, adding to the predator look of the F-150 Raptor.

Interiors are as distinctive (and important) as exteriors. Basic seating is a 40/20/40 split bench that can be upgraded to bucket seats with a centre console that can be used as an office. Add space through ordering a Super Cab or Super Crew Cab F-150 and buyers gain both seating capacity and storage space. Rear seats may be comfortable to sit on, but they also fold up to open up interior storage space.

SYNC™ with MyFordTouch® is now available in all 2013 Ford F-150s, and has been redesigned specifically for the truck buyers. That means, owners can now work SYNC™ with gloves on, just like all the other controls.

As far as new looks go on the 2013 Ford F-150: The front grilles have changed, HID headlamps are widely available, and the front fascia has changed a bit to accommodate these new lights. (Photo: Ford)

Comparing the F 150
Main competitors, such as Ram and GM's Silverado and Sierra are closing in where sales are involved, but haven't managed to outdo the F-150 just yet. The other players in Canada are Nissan with the Titan and Toyota with the Tundra, but neither of these companies offers the depth of model lineup that Ford has with the F-150. None of the companies goes to the effort that Ford does to ensure there is an F-150 suited to every customer.

As fabled pony cars go, one has to give it to the Mustang for having ushered in the era of affordable sporty cars.

The Ford Mustang is credited for having launched the pony car, defined as a coupe with a long hood and short rear deck. In fact, we can thank Ford and its Mustang for the likes of the Challenger and Camaro.

Over the last near-half century, the Ford Mustang has been completely revamped five times but has been offered in special versions countless times.

This top 10 contains some of our favourite Mustangs from the last 50 years.

1964 ½ Mustang

Photo: Ford

The original, the first Mustang, cannot be ignored. The firstborn always deserves more attention as it gets the credit for having started it all. The known-as 64.5, but VIN-plated as a 65, Mustang is a beautiful moment in automotive history.

Continue reading Top 10 Mustangs

From GMM

Test driver Sebastien Buemi was the key to Red Bull's turnaround on the streets of Monaco, it has emerged.

On Thursday in the Principality, the RB9 did not look like a competitive car.

"We were one second too slow," Dr Helmut Marko told Servus TV.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

But by Saturday, Sebastian Vettel was disappointed to have just missed pole position.

Marko said Buemi, Red Bull's Swiss test driver, had turned no fewer than 400 laps in the simulator at Milton-Keynes, seeking a solution.

Buemi then headed to Monaco, and according to Auto Motor und Sport, he was spotted at Heathrow airport with two huge boxes of baggage -- reportedly new front wings.

"On Saturday we were on the pace," said Marko.

"After the initial problems, we are more than happy with the result -- we have been able to extend our lead in both championships," he added.