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December 2, 2001
Source: Speedvision

London, England, Dec. 2 Bernie Ecclestone today issued a stern warning against the major car makers who last week announced plans to establish their own series in 2008 if they did not get a bigger slice of the Formula 1 commercial rights income.

Speaking in the Sunday Times newspaper, Ecclestone warned that sponsorship could be jeopardized in the future as a result of what could be perceived as a split between the major factions in F1

"The manufacturers came into [F1] because it was a shop window for them, so why do they want to destroy it?" asked Ecclestone, who last year sold the Kirch media group 75pct of his SLEC empire.

"The sponsors are not happy, they want to reconsider. I have told them to wait and see what happens. They became involved because they liked the stability of F1 and knew these things were done properly. Once these companies leave, it is hard to get them back."

Ecclestone also suggested that Fiat boss Paolo Cantarella might not have communicated details of a similar offer from Kirch to the other manufacturers.

"I don't think Cantarella passed on the details," said Bernie. "What they don't realize is that the 50pct the teams get from us would be more than the 100pct they would get if they did their own thing.

"It has taken them two years to agree to make a company that has nothing in it, and they have made a lot of incorrect assumptions. People don't want to win an athletics meeting, they want to win the Olympics."

Small teams an endangered species in F1

November 23, 2001
Source: Yahoo Sports

CARDIFF (Reuters) - Prost's financial problems demonstrate that small teams are an endangered species in Formula One and leave the sport's future very much in the hands of the major carmakers.

Thursday's news that Prost Grand Prix had gone into receivership, with debts estimated at about $30 million (21 million pounds), pushes the cash-burning sport into familiar end-of-year territory.

This time last year, the uncertainty surrounded Minardi as they were without sponsors, engines or drivers.

The Italian team, skilled survivors on a shoestring budget for more than a decade, were reprieved at the 11th hour when Australian businessman Paul Stoddart stepped in.

Minardi would have gone to the wall, just as Simtek did in 1995, without Stoddart's infusion of cash in January.

But there are not many independent players like Stoddart, who is a motor racing nut with his own airline business to fund his passion.

Most of the world's major manufacturers are already committed and even some of them are fighting for every dollar.

FIAT-owned Ferrari, according to Eurobusiness magazine, had a budget of 200 million pounds in 2001 to help them win the world title.

Prost used Ferrari engines in 2001 and with Arrows doing a deal to use Jaguar's Cosworth engines next year, Minardi were the only team on the grid without a manufacturer in attendance.

Ferrari, McLaren, Williams, BAR, Renault, Jaguar and Toyota are all either owned by or work in close partnership with manufacturers. Sauber, Jordan and Arrows have engine deals, the first two with Ferrari and Honda.

Minardi have managed to reposition themselves successfully for the Asian market, signing Malaysian driver Alex Yoong and attracting a Malaysian sponsor in gaming concern Magnum. They have also secured free engines from the Asiatech concern.

Toyota's long-awaited entry in 2002 should ensure, if Prost cannot find a buyer before the season starts in March, that the Formula One grid is not depleted from the 11 teams in 2001.

Various possible purchasers were mentioned as the scale of Prost's problems became apparent. Brazilian former driver Pedro Diniz, whose family bought 40 percent of Prost, has expressed an interest in buying the team for a nominal sum.

Belgian newspapers have also reported that drinks group Interbrew might be interested in becoming a sponsor. An Interbrew spokesman said on Thursday it had no plans to sponsor a Formula One team.

Prost met the deadline to confirm their place in the 2002 championship and that slot alone would be worth millions of dollars to any other concern seeking an entry to Formula One.

Apart from losing a team run by a renowned four times world champion, Prost's exit would be a blow to the prestige of a sport looked forward to a complete 24-car grid for the first time since 1997.

The changed climate since the September 11 attacks on the United States and global economic worries is already worrying the major teams.

Several Formula One bosses warned at the season-ending race in Japan last month that the economic downturn was going to rip through the cossetted and high-spending paddock.

"Share prices have gone through the floor, companies look immediately to their advertising budgets and that, ultimately, trickles into motor sport," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

"We tend to be last in and out of any recession, and that's going to happen this time round.

"Whether all the teams will survive you will have to wait and see. The big teams are just as exposed to this as the smaller teams."

Prost Files for Bankruptcy

November 23, 2001
Source: Speedvision

Guyancourt, France, Nov. 23 — The struggling Formula 1 team of four-time World Champion Alain Prost took another step closer to the end of the line with today's announcement that the team has been placed in receivership, which is the French equivalent of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in America. The action comes on the heels of a disastrous Grand Prix season in which the team netted just four World Championship points out of 17 races.

The action took place this morning, with the Tribunal de Commerce de Versailles initiating a "Procédure Judiciaire," which means that the team will undergo a six-month "period of observation" during which it will be overseen by a court-appointed administrator – Versailles-based Maitre Franck Michel – who will determine if the team can both deal with its $30m debt burden and continue to operate.

All major team decisions must be overseen by Michel, and he has the right to sell the team if he feels that is the proper course of action to ensure repayment of the team's creditors.

Prost held a press conference today to explain the situation, confirming that he has about 50pct of the budget needed to run 2002 already and that talks are ongoing with potential sponsors.

"We are still trying to find sponsors, which I hope will come soon to save the future of the team," he said. "I still want to try and achieve the objective of making a competitive French F1 team.

"With the help of the administrators, we have to put into place a budget for 2002. We hope to continue with our existing sponsors and are in discussions with lots of other [potential] sponsors which I hope will enable us to compete next year."

The team, which employs 250 staff at its state-of-the-art headquarters in Guyancourt, near Paris, has been the subject of rumors this week indicating that talks with the Belgian-based brewing company Interbrew could result in a new ownership structure. Prost did not address those issues, but said that he is less interested in running the show himself than ensuring that the team has a future.

"The ideal situation for me is to stay at the top, but the most important thing for Prost Grand Prix is to keep going," he said.

The team hopes to retain its Ferrari engine deal as well as driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen, while the team's second seat remains open.

"Heinz-Harald has been very patient," Prost said. "He has waited and waited. He has confidence in the team, and we hope he will be able to continue with us."

Prost's dilemma has worrying parallels with that faced by the famous British Lotus team which was put into administrative receivership late during the 1994 Formula 1 season in a bid to save its future. Eventually Lotus could not be saved and went under at the end of the year.

Yet Prost pledged that he would fight his way back to solvency and save the team.

"There is only one way to start on a new basis, and it is to pay our debts back," he said. "We must be able to come up with a plan that will allow us to maintain the presence of the team in the paddock for the whole of 2002.

"Everything will depend on the offer we receive. Our debts are FF200m. What we need is a big sponsor. That's what we've been missing from the start."

"Anybody interested buying Prost would just have to take on the debts, because the team itself is worth nothing," said one F1 insider today.

One of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history, Prost's management capability was clearly not up to his prowess behind the wheel. He could be indecisive and unclear about how to develop a commercial strategy for his company, but the biggest blows fell at the end of the 2000 season when he lost not only his free supply of Peugeot V10 engines but also a raft of sponsors.

The Gauloises brand of the French Seita tobacco group finally quit, followed by PlayStation, Yahoo!, Total oil and Agfa, leaving the team with a $30m shortfall. The Peugeot engines had been supplied free but now Prost found himself digging deep to have to fund the $18m lease fees to use Ferrari customer V10 engines.

The team had to scrape by with the resources they could muster. The South American PSN cable TV sports network pitched in with minuscule finance together with Argentine driver Gaston Mazzacane, a journeyman who lasted four races before being replaced by Luciano Burti.

Pedro Diniz and his father Abilio, the Brazilian supermarket tycoon, then threw a lifeline by taking 40pct of the shareholdings in return for footing the Ferrari engine bill. Diniz also brought the Parmalat dairy products company in as an additional sponsor, but Prost rejected the Brazilian former driver's bid to secure a controlling interest in the team.

During the press conference Prost confirmed that he holds 51.3pct of the team ownership, with the Diniz family retaining 40pct, LVMH Capital 5.8pct and Yahoo! 2.9pct.

Prost is not the only F1 team to be short of cash. Minardi and Arrows are understood to be seeking additional backing for 2002 while the chilly economic winds could even blow as far up the starting grid as the Jaguar team.

Niki Lauda, Jaguar's team principal, has been told that he must organize a progressively larger proportion of the team's $40m backing from Jaguar's UK resources over the next five years while the contribution from its U.S. parent company Ford is scaled back.

FIA Reiterates Anti-Tobacco Stance

November 21, 2001
Source: Speedvision

Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 21 The FIA issued a statement today, in advance of president Max Mosley's attendance at the launch of the Tobacco Free Sports campaign in Geneva on Thursday, that reiterates its intention to ban tobacco advertising from international motorsports before the 2007 season.

The World Motor Sport Council voted last October that tobacco advertising and sponsorship would no longer be allowed after the 2006 season, which will cause a sea change in the manner in which teams seek their funding. Currently five teams in Formula 1 – Ferrari, McLaren, Jordan, Benetton and BAR – have tobacco firms as a major sponsor, as do Mitsubishi and Subaru in the World Rally Championship. Tobacco companies provide estimated funding in excess of $350m per year, and those funds will have to be found elsewhere if the sport is to continue to prosper as it has.

In its statement today, the FIA called for a worldwide agreement on the standards for tobacco advertising, and said that it would sign the World Health Organization’s proposed Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The FIA statement read as follows:

"The FIA is the non-profit federation of motoring and motor sport associations. It is the governing body of international motor sport responsible for the sporting regulations of the major international motor sport championships. This statement outlines the FIA’s policy towards tobacco sponsorship in international motor sport.

"Neither the FIA, nor its championships, receive sponsorship from the tobacco industry. However, sponsorship by the tobacco industry of motor sport teams and events has occurred for over thirty years. Today tobacco sponsorship remains an important source of revenue for a number of Formula One and World Rally Championship teams. The precise value of such sponsorship is hard to estimate but probably exceeds $350 million per annum. There is, however, also a significant trend of diversification into alternative sources of sponsorship.

"The FIA has followed closely the widespread concern about the risks associated with smoking and the debate about banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship. The FIA recognise the clearly established public health risks associated with smoking and fully respects the responsibility of governments to establish laws curbing tobacco promotion. Our interest is limited to encouraging the creation of a regime for the control of tobacco sponsorship that is stable, predictable, and as widely internationally enforceable as possible.

"Only a worldwide agreement to control tobacco advertising and sponsorship will be fully effective. International motor sport championships such as the FIA’s Formula One World Championship or the World Rally Championship consist of a series of events held in countries all around the world. By far the largest audience for these events are television viewers rather than the spectators attending the race or rally.

"In any individual country, therefore, television viewers during the year are watching events from all around the world. These events are subject to very different rules regarding tobacco advertising and sponsorship. The current ban on tobacco advertising in France, for example, limits the exposure of French television viewers to tobacco sponsorship by just a single event whereas the same French audience watches sixteen other races during the course of the year. Of these races only two run without tobacco logos.

"The problem remains, therefore, that legislation by a single country or region will not result in an effective ban on tobacco sponsorship in any international sport that is widely televised. That is why it is necessary to establish an international agreement to control the impact of tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

"The FIA, therefore, welcomes the current negotiations underway at the WHO in Geneva for a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). On entry into force the FCTC will for the first time provide an internationally applicable legal instrument promoting a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

"It is clear from the unanimous decision of 191 governments at the 1999 World Health Assembly of the WHO to commence negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that there is widespread political agreement that tobacco advertising and sponsorship should be banned.

"In recognition of this clear political commitment on 4 October 2000 the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council adopted the following resolution:

"'On entry into force of the World Health Organisation’s proposed Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the FIA will introduce a world-wide ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship in international motor sport from the end of the 2006 season as originally envisaged by the Directive (98/43/EC) of the European Union Member States.'

"The time-scale of the end of the 2006 season is consistent with the original terms of the 1998 European Union Directive, which was subsequently annulled. We believe that the end of 2006 is a realistic timetable for a world-wide ban on tobacco sponsorship and we advise all motor sport competitors that receive tobacco sponsorship to ensure that their sponsorship contracts reflect this date in any agreements they make.

"In conclusion the FIA acknowledges the concerns of public health authorities about the risks of tobacco smoking. We remain willing to support early agreement for an internationally applicable Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Consistent with this Convention it is our intention to ban tobacco sponsorship from international motor sport by the end of the 2006 season. We will seek support for this initiative from all countries that host FIA World Championship events. We will encourage motor sport competitors to diversify way from tobacco sponsorship."

The Tobacco Free Sports campaign will kick off at Geneva's International Conference Center. There will also be representation from such sporting bodies as the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, the world body governing soccer.

Badoer Welcomes Burti to Ferrari

November 20, 2001
Source: Speedvision

Rome, Italy, Nov. 20 Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer has welcomed Luciano Burti to the famed Italian marque's test team.

The 26-year-old Brazilian, who drove for Jaguar and Prost this past season prior to a season-ending accident at Spa, will be a big help in spreading out the team's testing duties, which are numerous. As the only team (other than the new Toyota outfit) that builds its own chassis and engines, there are always new things to test, and the miles pile up quickly.

During the 2001 season, despite having testing help from both Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, Badoer racked up 10,400 miles in testing, and was highly praised by team boss Jean Todt for his role in helping the team to win both the drivers and constructors World Championships this year. He told Italy's Gazzetta della Sport that next year will bring more of the same.

"His appointment was necessary," Badoer said of Burti's hiring.

"This year, for various reasons, the amount of private testing will increase. Already last year I nearly killed myself to get through the program. The bosses understood that somebody else was needed alongside me."

For Burti, whose F1 future appeared to be in some doubt following his crash at Spa, in which he suffered head injuries, landing on his feet at Ferrari is a good career move.

"From a personal point of view, all I can say is that I am very happy," he said. "It is fantastic to be able to work with a team like Ferrari. I am really very pleased. From a professional point of view, I am aware of the importance of the role of test driver in a team like Ferrari, which is fighting for the championship title."

Both Badoer and Burti will be behind the wheel when the F1 testing ban concludes at the beginning of January.

All Eyes on Frentzen

November 20, 2001
Source: Speedvision

Concord, N.C., Nov. 20 Heinz-Harald Frentzen is the man of the moment in Formula 1 right now, the 34-year-old German being the most experienced F1 driver without a ride for 2002.

As you probably recall, Frentzen started the 2001 season with Jordan. His third-place finish in the 1999 championship propelled the team to third in the constructors championship that year, leaving both looking like stars of the future. However, a downward slump in 2000 continued into 2001, and Frentzen was controversially dismissed from the team prior to his home race, the German Grand Prix. A lawsuit over his dismissal is still ongoing.

After missing one race, Frentzen signed up with Prost Grand Prix, and finished out the season with them, winding up 13th in the drivers championship.

Right now, there are three teams that have yet to finalize their driver line-ups for 2002: Arrows, Prost and Minardi. A drive with Arrows would seem to be the most attractive option, since they will have a Cosworth engine deal that provides them with the same engines used by Jaguar. Prost is known to be facing money troubles that may prove to be insurmountable, and Minardi – whose fortunes look to improve with Asiatech engines – will probably continue to fight for spots at the back of the grid.

Frentzen has been reported, by various outlets, either to have signed with Arrows, or not. One particular website says its sources indicate a deal has been done, but another has Frentzen's manager saying that information is "not true."

Arrows team owner Tom Walkinshaw already has Jos Verstappen signed up to a long-term contract, while his 2001 teammate Enrique Bernoldi, although not signed for 2002, has strong connections to major team sponsor Red Bull.

A team spokesperson tried to deflect attention from the situation today, telling autosport.com, "Heinz-Harald Frentzen has been here to see Tom, but that is as far as it has gone. Jos Verstappen was confirmed a long time ago and while Enrique Bernoldi was on a year-long contract, Tom always said that he would review that. There's not really anything more to say."

In either case, it is a pretty good bet that the three-time Grand Prix winner will be putting pen to paper in the near future. With whom, however, is a slightly riskier gamble.

Interim Cars for McLaren, Williams

November 16, 2001
Source: Speedvision

London, England, Nov. 16 — According to autosport.com, neither the McLaren/Mercedes nor Williams/BMW team will have their new cars ready to open the 2002 testing season at Barcelona on Jan. 8 and will revert to interim cars.

McLaren is reportedly modifying its MP4/16 to accommodate Michelin tires, and will run the MP4/16B when testing resumes until the new MP4/17 is completed.

"The MP4/16B gives us a useful benchmark to start our test program with," said managing director Martin Whitmarsh, "bearing in mind the database we have built up about the performance of the [Bridgestone] tires we have used in the past.

"The B-spec car will have a slightly different rear-end treatment, and the test team will have two of these cars from the start of the year. The [new] MP4/17s will be fed through to the test team in due course."

At Williams, an interim iteration of the FW23 is being prepared for the start of testing.

"This will have the 2002 BMW engine and gearbox installed," said technical director Patrick Head. "The FW24 will be unveiled towards the end of January. BMW is flat-out on the new engine and we're flat out on the new chassis."

Button must perform in 2002

November 16, 2001
Source: Yahoo Sports

MILAN - Jenson Button must perform next season or take a step back, Renault Formula One team boss Flavio Briatore has warned.

"Either he shows he is super-good or he leaves the big picture," the Italian told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

"After an excellent 2000 he spent a winter as a superstar and was then distracted by new toys. He has absolutely to pull himself together."

Button stood out in his debut season at Williams but struggled for Benetton, renamed Renault next year, in a difficult car, scoring just two points in 17 races.

His team mate Giancarlo Fisichella, who has now left for Jordan, outqualified the 21-year-old Briton at most races and collected eight points.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso, the 20-year-old who made a big impression at struggling Minardi in 2001, was this month appointed as Renault's official test driver in a move likely to put additional pressure on Button.

Briatore, who has already spoken of grooming Alonso for the future, told the Gazzetta that four teams had been interested in the driver.

Button's two-year loan deal from Williams to Benetton expires at the end of 2002.

Briatore said he intended to stay at Renault for the next three years even if some people at the French team were not happy with having an Italian in charge.

"The president of Renault Sport, Patrick Faure, clarified some time ago that there are no problems," he said.

"The French will have to put up with me for another three years and I have no intention of letting go. I am an integral part of Renault," he added.

"Having an Italian boss doesn't please everybody, I know. But even Ferrari at the end of the day has a French boss. I am their choice and today things are going very well."

Renault to launch F1 car on January 27

November 16, 2001
Source: Yahoo Sports

LONDON - Renault plan to launch their 2002 Formula One car in Paris on January 27, the team said on Friday.

Renault raced in 2001 under the Benetton name after purchasing the team from the Italian industrial family in March 2000.

They finished seventh overall last season.

Team principal Flavio Briatore said on Thursday that Renault would be disappointed not to finish in the top four next year and wanted to be challenging for the title in 2003.

Toyota formally enter 2002 F1 championship

November 15, 2001
Source: Yahoo Sports

COLOGNE, Germany Toyota have formally submitted their entry to next year's Formula One world championship, the team said.

The move came on the day of the deadline for admission to the 17-race championship and means Toyota are now subject to a ban on testing until the New Year like the remaining 11 Formula One teams.

"In accordance with the rules, Toyota's formal application coincides with the end of the team's final test session of 2001," the team, who will launch their 2002 car on December 17, said in a statement.

Both Finland's Mika Salo and Scottish debutant Allan McNish drove during the final tests over the last two weeks at Le Castellet in southern France.

Germany-based Toyota have tested at 11 of the 17 Grand Prix circuits since March and have used Le Castellet as their home test track.

The team said a total of more than 3,000 laps had been completed over the eight months. McNish had covered some 9,000 km and Salo more than 6,000.

Mosley expects Formula One deal

Source: Yahoo Sports
Thursday November 8, 2001

LONDON - Max Mosley, president of motor racing's ruling body FIA, believes there will be compromise deal within the next two years between Formula One carmakers, who are threatening to form a rival series, and rights holders Kirch.

Mosley told Thursday's Autosport magazine that splitting Formula One into two rival tours would not make financial sense.

"In the end everybody understands that one championship is vastly more valuable and interesting than two championships," he said.

"That said, the major manufacturers want a bigger slice of the cake, and I think that in the end there will be a simple calculation that they on the one side, and the Kirch Group on the other, will weigh up what both sides would have if there were two championships," Mosley said.

Last week the carmakers said they were on the point of founding a company to run their own series, which they would start unless they secured agreement with Germany's Kirch group.

Kirch recently secured 75 percent of the shares in Formula One holding company SLEC. SLEC has paid FIA $313.6 million (215 million pounds) for the commercial rights to Formula One for the next 100 years.

"A big championship is so much more valuable than a small championship that it's a relatively straightforward negotiation. I would be surprised if that's not all settled in the next year or two," Mosley said.

"Purely in money terms, there is so much more available from a single championship that only a very poor negotiator would fail to get more than the total value of the two championships.

"And as both sets of negotiators are quite competent, there's bound to be a compromise."

The magazine also quoted Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw, one of three team principals representing the teams, as saying:

"There is a lot of work going on to get a deal thrashed out, but I think the timing will be in the next two to three months. We've been working on this for months and the meetings with Kirch have been very constructive."

Haffa Brothers Face Legal Action

Source: Speedvision

Munich, Germany, Nov. 7 2001

The saga of EM.TV, the German media company that helped kick off the furore that now exists over the future of Formula 1 and the allocation of its assets, took yet another twist today.

Brothers Thomas and Florian Haffa are facing criminal proceedings by the Munich office of the state prosecutor regarding share price fraud and dissemination of false information about EM.TV's financial status. Thomas, the company's founder, oversaw the purchase of 50pct of SLEC, the holding company founded by Bernie Ecclestone to control the commercial rights to Formula 1, for $1.6b in March 20000. Florian served as EM.TV's director of finance.

The state prosecutor alleges that the Haffa brothers knowingly released false financial results in August 2000 and misrepresented the state of the company's financial health in interview through October 2000.

EM.TV, which made headlines by buying the rights to Jim Henson's Muppets, saw its share value plummet from $88 to $3 under Haffa, and the Kirch Gruppe was brought into save the day. Kirch helped EM.TV take up an option to purchase another 25pct of SLEC, and eventually took over most of EM.TV's shares in SLEC. Kirch currently owns 58.3pct, EM.TV (now under new management) holds 16.7pct and Ecclestone retains 25pct and control of the company. Kirch and is trying to increase its holding to 75pct, which has the F1 team owners concerned about how Kirch will distribute the teams' share of the income from F1 in the upcoming Concorde Agreement for 2008 and beyond.

The state prosecutor will now have to wait to see if regional court decides to bring the Haffas to trial. In the meantime, EM.TV shareholders see this as new hope in their battle to seek damages against the company.

If the Haffas are found guilty of the charges, they could face a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment

Alonso Signs Testing Contract With Renault

Source: Speedvision

Chipping Norton, Oxon, England, Nov. 2
Fernando Alonso, the 20-year-old Spaniard who impressed with the Minardi team this season, is taking one step back in order to make two steps forward in the future by signing a testing contract with the works Renault F1 team for 2002.

Alonso is managed by Flavio Briatore, the managing director for the Renault (nee Benetton) team, and his signing with Renault comes as something less than a surprise.

At Minardi this season, Alonso has arguably done more with less than almost any other driver in the series, regularly outrunning his teammates Tarso Marques and Alex Yoong and mixing it up with the Arrows and Prosts a little further up the order than one normally expects to see a Minardi.

"We have followed Fernando's performance very closely this season," said Briatore. "He did an excellent job, and we therefore decided that it was important to integrate him quickly into the Renault F1 program."

Renault has already signed Jenson Button (a Benetton holdover) and Jarno Trulli (who swapped from Jordan with Button's 2001 teammate Giancarlo Fisichella) to race in 2002. Briatore hinted that Alonso is eventually destined to take one of those two seats, leaving Button (on loan from Williams) as the potential odd man out.

"As our test driver next year," Briatore said, "Fernando will have the opportunity to fully develop his talent and, in seasons to come, I'm sure that he will be a strong asset in the team's challenge for the championship."

The appointment of Alonso leaves current Benetton/Renault test driver Mark Webber apparently out of work. He does have a contract with Renault, but the prospects for a full-time F1 seat look to be somewhere between slim and none.

Mercedes Fires a Warning Shot

Source: Speedvision

Stuttgart, Germany, Nov. 2
DaimlerChrysler board member Jurgen Hubbert has fired a warning shot across the bow of the Kirch Gruppe, the German media firm that now owns the majority of the company controlling the TV and commercial rights to the Formula 1 World Championship, saying that it needs to address the distribution of funds among the teams or face the prospect of competing with a new, manufacturer-driven rival series.

Hubbert, one of the key players in the McLaren/Mercedes partnership, spoke at an informal gathering at Mercedes headquarters in Stuttgart on the night before the annual Mercedes-Benz "Stars and Cars" celebration. He said the new series threatened by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (Association des Constructeurs Européens d' Automobiles, or ACEA) – a Brussels-based consortium consisting of Fiat, Renault, BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Ford – was prepared to move forward with its plans to create a rival Grand Prix series if a more equitable distribution of F1 commercial income was not reached.

The Kirch Gruppe now owns 58pct of SLEC, the family trust established by Bernie Ecclestone to oversee the F1 commercial rights, and is trying to increase its share to 75pct. Even though Ecclestone retains 25pct of SLEC and the power to run the series' commercial affairs, the manufacturers are concerned about the prospect of Kirch taking F1 to pay-per-view and the teams are dissatisfied with the share of the series profits they currently receive. There is widespread concern about what will happen to the series – and the money – once Ecclestone retires.

"It is only right that we have a fair share of the income stream split between the car manufacturers and the teams," Hubbert said. "The problem is that people [Kirch] have paid a lot for SLEC, but what is its real value? The problem is to make sure that the target we set ourselves is manageable. We want Bernie [Ecclestone] to stay as long as he wants to, running the sport, but we need to have in place a management team to take over after him.

"The manufacturers have started the discussions about the future of F1 because we want a stable platform. We want to know what is possible because it's important for our business."

McLaren/Mercedes team principal Ron Dennis seconded Hubbert's opinion.

"No team in F1 us currently satisfied with the commercial arrangement," he said. "The share most teams receive from SLEC normally sits between 12 and 15pct of their overall budget. This is significant money, but the teams' prime concern is stability. If we can't have (commercial) stability, then we won't have the sponsors we need to attract in order to find the growth.

"Bernie has done tremendous work in building up F1. Nobody begrudges what he has earned from it. But putting my own hand up, I have concerns about a third party [Kirch] having such an influence when they have contributed nothing to the success of Grand Prix racing. The teams feel completely justified having a greater revenue stream. What value is a circuit with no actors?"

The current Concorde Agreement under which the series is governed expires in 2007. The ACEA has stated that it will have a new series ready to roll in 2008, and that could make Kirch's investment in SLEC worth virtually nothing.

Hubbert and Dennis both agreed that the best solution was to work out an equitable solution with Kirch, but that the negotiations would be tough.

"It is difficult to say because it's not easy for all sides," he said. "It needs due diligence, and that's what we have to do. My personal feeling is that it would be crazy not to come to an agreement."

Dennis indicated that talks with Kirch were ongoing about a revised Concorde Agreement, and that a committee comprised of himself, Jaguar's Niki Lauda and Arrows' Tom Walkinshaw were representing the teams.

Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug summed it up, saying, "The main issue is to safeguard the future development of Formula 1. That's all we're trying to do."

Source: Speedvision

London, England, Nov. 1
With the teams of the Formula 1 World Championship banned from testing between the end of the season and Jan. 1, work has been focused on getting their 2002 challengers ready early in order to maximize their testing opportunities once the new year arrives.

Toyota, who will enter the fray next year, has announced that they will be the first to take the wraps off their new car. Their new Gustav Brunner-penned bolide will be unveiled on Dec. 17. The team, which has the ability to test until Nov. 15 (the day they officially file their entry with the FIA), had hoped to get a few testing miles on the new car before then, but admits it will not be possible.

The 2002 BAR/Honda will be introduced to the public one day after Toyota's launch, on Dec. 18. This will be an eagerly anticipated event, as BAR is under great pressure to improve its performance next year with the specter of Honda choosing between BAR and Jordan for 2003.

Another team hoping to make a big gain in improvement is Jaguar, and they announced today that their new R3 will be introduced to the public on Jan. 4. With Niki Lauda now firmly at the controls after Bobby Rahal's ouster, and with Ford president Jac Nasser having been sacked in favor of William Clay Ford, all eyes will be on the green team as they try to gain credibility as one of the series' front-runners.

McLaren switch to Michelin tyres

Source: Yahoo Sports
Oct. 30, 2001

LONDON - McLaren will switch to Michelin tyres in 2002 after four years with Japanese rivals Bridgestone, the Formula One team has said.

The long-expected announcement puts Mercedes-powered McLaren on the same tyres as resurgent rivals Williams, who use BMW engines.

Jaguar, Renault, Prost, Minardi and Toyota are also Michelin teams.

World champions Ferrari remain on Bridgestone, as do Jordan, BAR, Sauber and Arrows.

McLaren said in a statement they had entered into a long-term agreement with Michelin, the French manufacturer who returned to the sport this season and who already work with Mercedes on road cars.

The Woking-based team have used Michelin previously, winning the 1994 constructors' and drivers' world championships with them and a total of 17 race wins.

McLaren were runners-up this season after winning the drivers' world championship on Bridgestone in 1998 and 1999 and the constructors' title in 1998.

They won 27 races with the Japanese firm.

"I have the greatest respect for the Michelin company and its sporting achievements and believe that we can win world championships together in the future," said McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh.

"We are confident that the technical programme envisaged by our respective engineering teams will enable us to achieve a highly competitive partnership."

Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug thanked Bridgestone and said Michelin's achievements in their comeback season -- they won four races with Williams -- "promises a lot of potential for the future."

"It is great that McLaren and DaimlerChrysler have rejoined the Michelin family," said Michelin motorsport boss Pierre Dupasquier.

"Whilst we are very pleased with what we have achieved this year in Formula One, and are very optimistic for next year, the involvement of a team with the record and skills of McLaren can only increase our optimism."

EU closes probe into Formula One

Source: Yahoo Sports
Oct. 30, 2001

BRUSSELS - A long-running investigation into Formula One motor racing has been dropped after the sport's regulator agreed to concessions, the European Commission has said.

The EU's competition watchdog had objected to close links between motor sport's governing body, the Federation Internationale Automobile (FIA), and Bernie Ecclestone's company which markets broadcasting rights to Formula One races.

An EU statement on Tuesday said the case had been closed after "the parties agreed to make changes which limit the FIA to a regulatory role, so as to prevent any conflict of interests, and remove certain commercial restrictions put on circuit owners and TV broadcasters".

However, it said Brussels would keep a watchful eye on the sector to make sure the changes work in practice.

To prevent conflicts of interest, FIA has sold all its rights in the FIA Formula One world championship and will allow the creation of potential competitors to Formula One, the statement said.

Williams Makes 7UP Theirs

Source: Speedvision

London, England, Oct. 30 — The BMW WilliamsF1 team announced today that it has signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the 7UP soft-drink brand, a subsidiary of PepsiCo Beverages International (PBI).

The deal marks the return of the 7UP brand to Formula 1, where it was formerly a major sponsor for the Jordan Grand Prix in 1991, the team's inaugural season.

The American-based company sees its return to F1 as a natural fit as it markets the 7UP brand in 125 countries worldwide, primarily in Latin America, western Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

"Formula 1 is one of the hottest, fastest-growing sports in the world today, and the BMW WilliamsF1 Team leads the pack based on its racing heritage and dynamic brand personality," said Antonio Lucio, PBI chief marketing officer. "The BMW WilliamsF1 Team partnership is the perfect fit for PBI because it provides world-class stature for the refreshing appeal of 7UP. Formula 1 racing’s excitement made 7UP the clear choice to lead our return to this global property."

Team owner Sir Frank Williams was very pleased with the deal, and downplayed recent media reports that the sport is facing a financial crisis in the light of the current economic recession.

"Pepsi is an immensely well-regarded international brand," he said. "It's a good-news story, definitely. I've seen the comments from some of the teams that times are very hard, but it is very hard for everybody from top to bottom... but business is meant to be hard, business is never easy."

Trulli Appeal Upheld

Source: Speedvision
Sunday, October 28 2001

Paris, France, Oct. 27 — The FIA Court of Appeal has confirmed that Jarno Trulli will be reinstated to his fourth place achieved in the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, a decision that consolidates the Silverstone-based team's fifth place in the Constructors World Championship, two points ahead of British American Racing.

The court never got as far as debating the issue of the non-comformity of Trulli's Jordan EJ-11, which had initially been excluded because of excessive wear to its skid block, something which may have been caused by broken fasteners resulting from an early collision with Kimi Raikkonen's Sauber.

The official FIA communique read, "Having listened to the explanations of the parties and examined the various documents and other evidence, the International Court of Appeal has allowed the appeal of Jordan Grand Prix on the grounds that a steward was absent during the hearing of the team at the United States Grand Prix.

"The Court found that this was a breach of Article 134 of the International Sporting Code (which provides that all decisions by the College of Stewards should be taken collectively) and this a breach of the right of defense. The International Court of Appeal has therefore pronounced the above mentioned stewards' decision null and void; the original classification of the event is, as a consequent, confirmed."

Team owner Eddie Jordan was pleased to have the issue settled in the team's favor.

"We are very satisfied with the outcome of the appeal," he said, "and delighted to have our fifth place in the 2001 World Championship for Constructors confirmed."

The team was represented at Friday's hearing by joint managing director Trevor Foster and Trulli.

Following the announcement of the court's decision, Trulli said, "I am very happy that my fourth place finish in Indianapolis stands, not least because this was my best result of my season but also because the team and I have had a lot of bad luck this year and I believe we deserved some good results."

As a result of the decision, Trulli moves from 10th in the Drivers World Championship to a three-way tie for seventh with Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and BAR's Jacques Villeneuve.

Final standings.

World Constructors Championship:

1) Ferrari, 179
2) McLaren, 102
3) Williams, 80
4) Sauber, 21
5) Jordan, 19
6) BAR, 17

World Drivers Championship:

1) Michael Schumacher, 123
2) David Coulthard, 65
3) Rubens Barrichello, 56
4) Ralf Schumacher, 49
5) Mika Hakkinen, 37
6) Juan Pablo Montoya, 31
7) Jacques Villeneuve, 12
8) Nick Heidfeld, 12
9) Jarno Trulli, 12
10) Kimi Raikkonen

Source: Speedvision

Hinwil, Switzerland, Oct. 25 — As was suspected in light of the recent announcement that Red Bull energy drinks will continue its sponsorship of the Arrows F1 team and add a sponsorship program with Eddie Cheever's Indy Racing League team in 2002, today it was confirmed by Sauber Grand Prix that their seven-year association with Red Bull will end after this season.

A brief statement released by the team today said in part, "The seven years together with Red Bull had an essential impact on the team's image. Peter Sauber and his crew thank Dietrich Mateschitz and Red Bull for the confidence in the partnership and wish Red Bull all the best for their future."

Mateschitz, head of the Austrian-based Red Bull outfit, holds a 64pct ownership position in the Sauber team, and was said to be seeking a buyer for his share in the amount of $33m. It is speculated that team founder Peter Sauber will buy out Mateschitz. The team, which had its best-ever season in 2001 with a fourth-place finish in the World Constructors Championship, should not suffer too badly financially in the future. Credit Suisse signed on with a lucrative sponsorship package this past season, and Sauber is keen to sign other Swiss-based companies.

In addition, the team will receive a reported $21.5m from McLaren/Mercedes in exchange for the services of rookie Kimi Raikkonen, who had to get out of his Sauber contract in order to replace two-time World Champion Mika Hakkinen at McLaren.

Brazilian rookie Felipe Massa has been signed as Raikkonen's replacement, and will partner Nick Heidfeld next year.

Toyota Wraps Up Suzuka Test

Source: Speedvision

Mika Salo drove for two of Toyota's three days of testing at Suzuka. (Photo: Toyota F1)

Suzuka, Japan, Oct. 24 — As it inches ever closer to its Formula 1 debut in Melbourne next March, the new Toyota F1 team wrapped up a three-day test at Japan's Suzuka circuit, its final fly-away test prior to the start of the new season.

Drivers Mika Salo and Allan McNish – confirmed this week as Salo's teammate for the upcoming campaign – put the new Toyota chassis and engine through their paces over the course of the three days, with Salo driving Monday and Tuesday and McNish on Wednesday. Salo put in 105 laps during his two days, encountering rain on Monday, while McNish's program was limited to 52 laps after he ran into mechanical problems.

Salo's best lap was timed at 1:38.020 and McNish's at 1:38.890. If there had been a 24-car grid at the recent Japanese Grand Prix, those times would have put Salo 22nd and McNish 24th, sandwiching Minardi's Alex Yoong. The 21st car on such a grid would have been Arrows' Jos Verstappen at 1:36.973. Pole was taken by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher at 1:32.484.

The team indicated that the two drivers worked on collecting circuit data as well developing launch-control software, engine mapping and chassis set-up.

Salo was very satisfied with his two days' work.

"For me it was a very good test," he said. "We did not test any technical update, but we learned a lot about the circuit. It was exciting being back in Japan with such a big interest in Toyota F1."

For McNish, it was the first visit in a long time to the Suzuka circuit, and he was glad to be back despite the disappointment of having his day's work cut short.

"It was good day to reacquaint myself with the Suzuka circuit," he said. "We tried to find the various settings, but unfortunately we stopped a bit before the end of the session with a mechanical problem. Nevertheless, I found it a worthwhile day’s testing."

The team now returns to Europe, and will resume testing until it officially files its 2002 entry with the FIA on Nov. 15, at which time it will be subject to the F1 winter testing ban that extends until Jan. 1.

Further tests will most likely take place at France's Paul Ricard circuit, the German-based team's "home away from home." One of the things on the team's to-do list is to provide a test for 20-year-old rising Australian star Ryan Briscoe, this year's Italian Formula Renault champion, whom Toyota has taken under its wing.

Court will rule on Jordan placing next week

Source: Yahoo Sports
October 17, 2001

GENEVA - An appeal court will decide next week whether BAR or Jordan have finished fifth in this year's Formula One world championship.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said its Court of Appeal would meet on Friday, October 26, to rule on Jordan's appeal against the disqualification of Jarno Trulli at Indianapolis last month.

A decision will be announced on October 27.

Italian Trulli finished fourth at the U.S. Grand Prix but was excluded after his Jordan's skid block failed a post-race technical inspection.

If the Silverstone-based team win the appeal, they will overtake British American Racing (BAR) to take fifth place on 19 points in the championship which ended in Japan on Sunday.

It they lose Trulli's points, then they will end the season behind BAR in sixth place and level on 17 points.

2001 Japanese Grand Prix

POST RACE PRESS CONFERENCE - 14-10-2001

2001 Japanese Grand Prix

BULLETIN N°4

Dominant Schumacher wins in Japan

Source: Yahoo Sports
Sunday, October 14, 2001

SUZUKA, Japan - Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has ended a dominant Formula One season in record-breaking style with a commanding victory in the Japanese Grand Prix, his ninth in 17 races.

The four times world champion powered from pole position to a 53rd career win with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya second in a Williams ahead of McLaren's David Coulthard.

Schumacher is now Formula One's all-time record points scorer with 801, seizing another statistic from France's Alain Prost. Schumacher ended the season with an unprecedented tally of 123 points - he failed to score points in only two races.

Coulthard secured the runners-up slot in the championship with 65 points after Schumacher's team mate Rubens Barrichello finished fifth.

Two times champion Mika Hakkinen, Coulthard's team mate, was fourth in his last race before taking a sabbatical for 2002.

Ralf Schumacher's Williams was sixth after an incident-packed race - the German received a 10-second penalty for missing the chicane to gain an advantage and appeared lucky not to receive further sanctions for his erratic driving.

Michael Schumacher edged ahead of Montoya at the first corner and built a sizeable lead before going into the pits on the 10th lap.

The lead swapped among several drivers, including Hakkinen, before Schumacher took it back on the 38th lap of the 53-lap race when Montoya and Hakkinen both pitted.

The Colombian nibbled at the world champion's advantage in the final laps but, as for most of the season, there was little doubt who was going to win - the best driver in the best car.

Jean Alesi's final race ended in spectacular fashion when the fiery Frenchman crashed six laps into his 201st Formula One appearance.

The Jordan driver was following Kimi Raikkonen when the young Finn's Sauber spun and Alesi was unable to avoid him.

Two wheels from the Finn's disintegrating car bounced away across the track, narrowly missing speeding cars.

Alesi had hoped to close his career in the points and become the first driver since American Richie Ginther in 1964 to finish every race in a season.

"It's a bit sad to finish my career like that. But that's life, that's motor racing, we just have to accept the situation," said Alesi.

Grand Prix of Japan Final Results

 P. No  Driver        Team - Engine    Tyres    Gaps/Laps      
 1.  1  M.SCHUMACHER  Ferrari             B      1h27'33"298         
 2.  6  MONTOYA       Williams BMW        M      +  0'03"154  212.719 Km/h   
 3.  4  COULTHARD     McLaren Mercedes    B      +  0'23"262  211.908 Km/h  
 4.  3  HAKKINEN      McLaren Mercedes    B      +  0'35"539  211.416 Km/h  
 5.  2  BARRICHELLO   Ferrari             B      +  0'36"544  211.376 Km/h   
 6.  5  R.SCHUMACHER  Williams BMW        M      +  0'37"122  211.353 Km/h   
 7.  8  BUTTON        Benetton Renault    M      +  1'37"102  208.984 Km/h   
 8. 11  TRULLI        Jordan Honda        B      1 lap(s)                
 9. 16  HEIDFELD      Sauber Petronas     B      1 lap(s)                
10. 10  VILLENEUVE    BAR Honda           B      1 lap(s)                 
11. 21  ALONSO        Minardi European    M      1 lap(s)                
12. 22  FRENTZEN      Prost Acer          M      1 lap(s)                
13.  9  PANIS         BAR Honda           B      2 lap(s)              
14. 15  BERNOLDI      Arrows Asiatech     B      2 lap(s)                 
15. 14  VERSTAPPEN    Arrows Asiatech     B      2 lap(s)                
16. 20  YOONG         Minardi European    M      3 lap(s)               
17.  7  FISICHELLA    Benetton Renault    M      6 lap(s)               
18. 19  DE LA ROSA    Jaguar              M      8 lap(s)                
19. 23  ENGE          Prost Acer          M     11 lap(s)               
20. 18  IRVINE        Jaguar              M     29 lap(s)                 
21. 17  RAIKKONEN     Sauber Petronas     B     48 lap(s)                
22. 12  ALESI         Jordan Honda        B     48 lap(s)                

 P. No  Driver        Team - Engine    Tyres     Times     
 1.  1  M.SCHUMACHER  Ferrari             B   1'36"231  219.372 Km/h  
 2.  4  COULTHARD     McLaren Mercedes    B   1'36"685    + 0'00"454  
 3. 16  HEIDFELD      Sauber Petronas     B   1'36"966    + 0'00"735  
 4. 11  TRULLI        Jordan Honda        B   1'37"140    + 0'00"909  
 5. 12  ALESI         Jordan Honda        B   1'37"361    + 0'01"130  
 6.  3  HAKKINEN      McLaren Mercedes    B   1'37"584    + 0'01"353
 7.  2  BARRICHELLO   Ferrari             B   1'37"813    + 0'01"582  
 8. 22  FRENTZEN      Prost Acer          M   1'37"891    + 0'01"660 
 9. 17  RAIKKONEN     Sauber Petronas     B   1'37"942    + 0'01"711  
10. 19  DE LA ROSA    Jaguar              M   1'37"970    + 0'01"739 
11.  5  R.SCHUMACHER  Williams BMW        M   1'38"183    + 0'01"952  
12. 18  IRVINE        Jaguar              M   1'38"263    + 0'02"032   
13. 10  VILLENEUVE    BAR Honda           B   1'38"604    + 0'02"373  
14.  7  FISICHELLA    Benetton Renault    M   1'38"641    + 0'02"410  
15.  8  BUTTON        Benetton Renault    M   1'38"740    + 0'02"509  
16.  9  PANIS         BAR Honda           B   1'39"091    + 0'02"860   
17.  6  MONTOYA       Williams BMW        M   1'39"182    + 0'02"951 
18. 15  BERNOLDI      Arrows Asiatech     B   1'39"295    + 0'03"064  
19. 23  ENGE          Prost Acer          M   1'40"324    + 0'04"093  
20. 14  VERSTAPPEN    Arrows Asiatech     B   1'40"482    + 0'04"251  
21. 20  YOONG         Minardi European    M   1'41"104    + 0'04"873  
22. 21  ALONSO        Minardi European    M   1'42"142    + 0'05"911    

 P. No  Driver        Team - Engine    Tyres     Times      
 1.  1  M.SCHUMACHER  Ferrari             B   1'32"484  228.260 Km/h  
 2.  6  MONTOYA       Williams BMW        M   1'33"184    + 0'00"700  
 3.  5  R.SCHUMACHER  Williams BMW        M   1'33"297    + 0'00"813 
 4.  2  BARRICHELLO   Ferrari             B   1'33"323    + 0'00"839  
 5.  3  HAKKINEN      McLaren Mercedes    B   1'33"662    + 0'01"178 
 6.  7  FISICHELLA    Benetton Renault    M   1'33"830    + 0'01"346 
 7.  4  COULTHARD     McLaren Mercedes    B   1'33"916    + 0'01"432 
 8. 11  TRULLI        Jordan Honda        B   1'34"002    + 0'01"518 
 9.  8  BUTTON        Benetton Renault    M   1'34"375    + 0'01"891  
10. 16  HEIDFELD      Sauber Petronas     B   1'34"386    + 0'01"902  
11. 12  ALESI         Jordan Honda        B   1'34"420    + 0'01"936  
12. 17  RAIKKONEN     Sauber Petronas     B   1'34"581    + 0'02"097  
13. 18  IRVINE        Jaguar              M   1'34"851    + 0'02"367  
14. 10  VILLENEUVE    BAR Honda           B   1'35"109    + 0'02"625  
15. 22  FRENTZEN      Prost Acer          M   1'35"132    + 0'02"648  
16. 19  DE LA ROSA    Jaguar              M   1'35"639    + 0'03"155 
17.  9  PANIS         BAR Honda           B   1'35"766    + 0'03"282 
18. 21  ALONSO        Minardi European    M   1'36"410    + 0'03"926  
19. 23  ENGE          Prost Acer          M   1'36"446    + 0'03"962  
20. 15  BERNOLDI      Arrows Asiatech     B   1'36"885    + 0'04"401  
21. 14  VERSTAPPEN    Arrows Asiatech     B   1'36"973    + 0'04"489  
22. 20  YOONG         Minardi European    M   1'38"246    + 0'05"762  


107% time : 1'38"957

Frday 05-10-2001

COMING EVENT : Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka, 14 October 2001

The 3.644-mile Suzuka circuit was originally built in 1962 to a design laid out by respected Dutch track designer John Hugenholtz who was also responsible for configuring the Zandvoort circuit near Amsterdam. Originally used as a Honda test track for motorcycles and cars, Suzuka has an unusual figure-of-eight configuration and the fact that the laps are longer than most tracks on the Championship trail puts a premium on those drivers able to conserve their tyres as well as possible. It is a high speed circuit with many long, fast corners for which a well balanced chassis is required while good brakes are essential for the tight chicane immediately before the pits. Suzuka always has something of a carnival atmosphere with loyal race fans prepared to camp out overnight in disciplined queues to gain early access on race morning.

No date has been yet decided for the hearing of the appeal from the Jordan team's against Jarno Trulli's exclusion from fourth place in the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George has confirmed that there will be no changes to the US Grand Prix track layout for at least another two years, despite suggestions from various drivers that the configuration could be improved.

Toyota last week completed a successful three day test at Malaysia's Sepang circuit where Mika Salo's best lap was a couple of seconds away from Mika Hakkinen's fastest race lap in this year's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Rubens Barrichello must win the Japanese Grand Prix with David Coulthard finishing no higher than fifth if the Brazilian is to beat the McLaren-Mercedes driver to second place in the Drivers' World Championship.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen is currently in negotiations to stay with the Prost Acer team for the 2002 season.

Mercedes will be designing an all-new F1 engine next season although there is not yet any official word as to its vee angle.

Honda is staging a promotional parade through downtown Tokyo next Monday with a variety of its F1 cars past and present.

After a four week break from testing, Michael Schumacher was back to work at Fiorano this week. The German driver took over the work from Luca Badoer who had been trying new components for 2002 including power steering to the new rules and a new gearbox. Badoer covered 120 laps on Tuesday and 15 on Wednesday with a best time of 59.840s.

Schumacher began on Wednesday with 85 laps and a time of 58.792s which was the fastest ever for the Fiorano circuit. On Thursday a few problems occurred which cut down his number of laps to 33 until it started to rain. Prior to that his best time was 59.144s.

"We tried a few new components which are still in a prototype stage", said Schumacher. "Everything is running very well as you can see from the lap times which also reflect the technical progress." The cars that took part in the United States Grand Prix have been shipped directly to Japan where they will be joined by a brand new chassis 214 which will be the second spare car.

With David Coulthard having a short holiday prior to the Japanese Grand Prix and Mika Hakkinen preparing for his sabbatical, this week's test programme for the McLaren-Mercedes squad involved Alexander Wurz and DTM Mercedes racer Darren Turner at Barcelona. Wurz set third fastest time of the day on Tuesday, just 0.4sec away from Eddie Irvine's best in the Jaguar R2. Turner managed a 1m21.874s. Chassis component development in preparation for next year's car and tyre test work were the priorities. On Wednesday DTM driver Marcel Fassler was given another test after his first planned outing was cut short by heavy rain last month. He managed a 1m22.619s best, 2.3sec slower than Wurz who was quickest on the day.

The BMW Williams team began a four day test at the Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday with three FW23s on hand in a bid to squeeze in as much test and development work before the testing ban starts later this month. Marc Gene and Antonio Pizzonia tested on Wednesday with the Brazilian set to rejoin the programme on Friday and Saturday after Ralf Schumacher drove alongside Gene on Thursday. The team has been carrying out important component assessment work in preparation for the FW24 next season as well as tyre testing in preparation for Suzuka. Specifically, Gene tried the new BMW P82 engine/gearbox package which will be used on next year's car. On Thursday Ralf Schumacher managed a 1m 20.893s and Gene did a 1m21.173s best.

The Sauber-Petronas team is concentrating on evaluating Brazilian Felipe Massa as a possible replacement for Kimi Raikkonen next year. Technical Director Willy Rampf explained: "In his first Mugello test prior to Indianapolis, Massa showed us that he has got the speed. Now we want to find out whether he is able to drive consistently and how he works with the car."

This week Massa was the only Sauber driver in the three day test at Mugello, managing a 1m 26.114s best on the first day. He also started to do set-up work for Suzuka and on the second day concentrated on brake system and cooling work. He managed a 1m 25.690s which was quickest of the day. Massa said: "I ache all over, but the team physio Jo Leberer took care of my muscles and got me back in good shape." Rampf added: "His lap times were consistent and he is very fit for his age. He also improved in the information he gave to the engineers, although he is still learning the car."

Jean Alesi started a three day test for the Jordan-Honda team at Mugello on Wednesday, foggy conditions giving way to a warm and dry breeze which allowed him to complete 91 laps for a best time of 1m 25.87s. The Frenchman was concentrating on aerodynamic package assessment, start practice and chassis set-up work. On Thursday F3000 champion Justin Wilson joined Alesi and completed 76 laps for a best of 1m27.61s. Alesi managed 1m25.64s while working on general chassis set-up and aero comparisons.

When the track became damp in the afternoon they concentrated on traction control systems. Narain Karthikeyan will take over from Alesi today (Friday) and run alongside Wilson for what will be the Jordan team's final day of testing this season.

For its last test of the season, the BAR-Honda team went to Mugello for three days with Darren Manning and Anthony Davidson. The testing programme continues for a third and final day today (Friday).

Mark Webber began a four day test at Barcelona for the Benetton-Renault squad on Tuesday, the team testing the new exhaust system first seen at the Silverstone test two weeks ago, in addition to carrying out electronics and brake work for 2002. The Australian managed a 1m21.834s best on the first day. Webber managed a 1m21.358s on Thursday.

Eddie Irvine set the pace at Barcelona on Wednesday with a 1m20.731s during the course of Michelin tyre testing and set-up work in preparation for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka including aerodynamic testing and gearbox components. On Thursday he managed a 1m20.942s before Pedro de la Rosa took over the R2 to conclude the test today (Friday).

Prost Grand Prix did not test this week. Only ten members of the crew flew direct to Japan from Indianapolis together with the equipment, while the rest of the personnel returned to the factory. Some were busy analysing the data recorded at Indianapolis while others worked flat out on the new AP05. Frentzen took another trip to Paris to check out the driving position of the new chassis.

The Arrows squad was not testing this week, but concentrating on finalising the design of next year's car for which process a mock-up Cosworth CR3 V10 engine has already been delivered to the Leafield factory. Sergio Rinland has now joined as Chief Designer and started his duties.

Minardi did not run this week either, but the crew is working hard on the new car. The Sixth wind tunnel session was completed at the Fondmetal facility which already incorporates the Asiatech engine.

October 3, 2001

Date Event/Name 
03/03 GP OF AUSTRALIA (Melbourne) (1)  
17/03 GP OF MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur)  
31/03 GP OF BRAZIL (São Paulo)  
14/04 GP OF SAN MARINO (Imola) (2)  
28/04 GP OF SPAIN (Barcelona)  
12/05 GP OF AUSTRIA (Spielberg)  
26/05 GP OF MONACO (Monaco)  
09/06 GP OF CANADA (Montreal)  
23/06 GP OF EUROPE (Nürburgring)  
07/07 GP OF GREAT BRITAIN (Silverstone) (3)  
21/07 GP OF FRANCE (Magny-Cours)  
28/07 GP OF GERMANY (Hockenheim)  
18/08 GP OF HUNGARY (Budapest)  
01/09 GP OF BELGIUM (Spa-Francorchamps)  
15/09 GP OF ITALY (Monza) (2)  
29/09 GP OF USA (Indianapolis)  
13/10 GP OF JAPAN (Suzaka) 


(1)Subject to the Coroner's inquiry into the fatal accident during the 2001 Australian Grand Prix.

(2)Subject to the conclusion of a new commercial agreement.

(3)Subject to the outcome of the MSA inquiry into traffics arrangements during the 2001 British Grand Prix

Source: Yahoo Sports
Wednesday October 3, 2001

PARIS - Jean Alesi wants Formula One boss Eddie Jordan to make a decision on his future before next week's Japanese Grand Prix.

"I asked Eddie to tell me about his decision before Suzuka," the 37-year-old French driver told the French sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday.

"I have not had a serious discussion with anybody else. But if I must go, I hope to know early enough to find another solution," said Alesi.

He made clear that he had no intention of retiring and L'Equipe said Arrows were interested in him.

It quoted that team's commercial manager Daniele Audetto as saying: "We want (Heinz-Harald) Frentzen and Alesi in 2002".

Arrows have already confirmed Dutchman Jos Verstappen for 2002 but Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi's position at the team looks uncertain.

Alesi, who joined Jordan from Prost in August after the team sacked Germany's Frentzen, did not comment on the Arrows speculation but said he had looked at the possibility of joining the American CART series.

"It's an option. Right now everybody is shocked by (Italian Alex) Zanardi's crash but I don't absolutely refuse to race in this discipline," he said.

"An agent has taken contacts for me with it (CART)."

Jordan have an option on Alesi for 2002 but are trying out young drivers before deciding on who will partner Italian Giancarlo Fisichella at the team.

Alesi took a provisional point in his 200th Grand Prix in Indianapolis on Sunday after his current Italian team mate Jarno Trulli was disqualified from fourth place.

The Frenchman, coming to terms with an unfamiliar car and a switch of tyre manufacturer, also came sixth in Belgium last month and is an old friend of Jordan.

2001 United States Grand Prix

POST RACE PRESS CONFERENCE - 30-09-2001

2001 United States Grand Prix

BULLETIN N°4

 P. No  Driver        Team - Engine    Tyres    Gaps/Laps      
 1.  3  HAKKINEN      McLaren Mercedes    B   1h32'42"840  198.039 Km/h  
 2.  1  M.SCHUMACHER  Ferrari             B   +  0'11"046  197.646 Km/h   
 3.  4  COULTHARD     McLaren Mercedes    B   +  0'12"043  197.611 Km/h 
 4. 18  IRVINE        Jaguar              M   +  1'12"434  195.493 Km/h
 5. 16  HEIDFELD      Sauber Petronas     B   +  1'12"996  195.474 Km/h  
 6. 12  ALESI         Jordan Honda        B      1 lap                
 7.  7  FISICHELLA    Benetton Renault    M      1 lap                
 8.  8  BUTTON        Benetton Renault    M      1 lap               
 9. 22  FRENTZEN      Prost Acer          M      1 lap              
10.  9  PANIS         BAR Honda           B      1 lap             
11. 19  DE LA ROSA    Jaguar              M      1 lap              
12. 15  BERNOLDI      Arrows Asiatech     B      1 lap             
13. 23  ENGE          Prost Acer          M      1 lap                 
14.  2  BARRICHELLO   Ferrari             B      2 laps                
15. 10  VILLENEUVE    BAR Honda           B     28 laps                
16. 14  VERSTAPPEN    Arrows Asiatech     B     29 laps               
17.  6  MONTOYA       Williams BMW        M     35 laps               
18. 20  YOONG         Minardi European    M     35 laps               
19.  5  R.SCHUMACHER  Williams BMW        M     37 laps              
20. 21  ALONSO        Minardi European    M     37 laps              
21. 17  RAIKKONEN     Sauber Petronas     B     71 laps              

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