Formula One News — August 1996

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of all the major F1 teams, Benetton has just concluded a deal to run Goodyear tires next year. Benetton joins Williams, Ferrari, McLaren, Jordan and Sauber as Goodyear's chosen teams.

THE Hungarian Grand Prix paddock in Budapest was alive with rumors suggesting that the 23-year-old relationship between Marlboro and McLaren is coming to an end because the cigarette brand - owned by the Philip Morris company - will not pay the sponsorship being demanded by McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

HUNGARY does not want to lose its Grand Prix next year and is prepared to undertake major upgrading work to ensure that the race continues.

THIS could be the last Hungarian Grand Prix - although F1 people have been saying that for a long time.

THE Red Bull Sauber Ford team is to stop off on its way home from the Hungaroring next week to test at the revised Osterreichring at Zeltweg.

GIANCARLO MINARDI is tipped to be planning a test for Russian driver Alan Berkov, and this has led to speculation that at least some of the Minardi budget next year is to come from the old Eastern bloc.

THE death of Jeff Krosnoff and a track worker in the Indycar race at Toronto may have far-reaching results for the American racing fraternity, not because American racing is dangerous, but rather because safety can help the FIA achieve its long-term aims.

RACING legend Emerson Fittipaldi - Formula 1 World Champion of 1972 and 1974, F1 team owner from 1975-81, Indianapolis 500 winner in 1989 and 1993 and Indycar champion of 1989 - looks set to retire from the sport, following his nasty crash at Michigan International Speedway eight days ago.

THE list of teams planning to enter F1 in 1997 is beginning to thin out as the financial realities of Grand Prix racing begin to sink in.

AFTER the German Grand Prix the F1 teams headed off in different directions in preparation for the Hungarian GP this weekend.

IT has not been Gerhard Berger's year.

TOM WALKINSHAW's Arrows team will soon have to make a decision about its plans for an engine next season.

WILLIAMS GRAND PRIX ENGINEERING is expected to win its 13th FIA Formula 1 World Championship this weekend at the Hungaroring, just outside Budapest in Hungary.