Japan's Sakon Yamamoto has been lined up to race for the Spyker Formula One team for the last seven races of the season after the departure of Dutch driver Christijan Albers.
Formula One's governing body could puncture McLaren's championship bid on Thursday and slam the brakes on Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton's own title aspirations.
Tour de France overall leader Michael Rasmussen was dramatically sacked by his team Rabobank on Wednesday.
The team of Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen questioned on Tuesday the legality of drugs tests conducted on the rider by the Danish Anti-Doping Agency (ADD).
Cycling and its premier event, the Tour de France, were reeling Tuesday from yet another blow that threatened what was left of the event's credibility: a failed doping test by one of its biggest stars.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has agreed to keep the French Grand Prix on the calendar next year at Magny-Cours, a spokesman for French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Tuesday.
The Australian Grand Prix has lost its place as the first race on the Formula One calendar to Bahrain, organisers of the Albert Park event said on Monday.
McLaren's Fernando Alonso declared the Formula One title race too close to call after slashing team mate Lewis Hamilton's lead to just two points on Sunday.
Californian Scott Speed, the only U.S. Formula One driver on the starting grid, says his Toro Rosso team want to get rid of him and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi for next season.
Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton said he had learned 10 times more in Sunday's nightmare European Grand Prix than in nine previous podiums.
Mark Webber celebrated third place for Red Bull with typical Aussie bluntness at the European Grand Prix on Sunday.
McLaren's Fernando Alonso apologised to Ferrari's Felipe Massa for an angry exchange after a wheel-banging finish to Sunday's European Grand Prix.