Formula One News — September 1999

THERE have been a spate of stories in recent days suggesting that Bernie Ecclestone has decided to sell 50% of Formula One Holdings to a single - but unnamed - buyer for around $2.4bn.

TOM WALKINSHAW was planning to make an announcement about the future of Arrows on Sunday at Monza but the press briefing was called off at the last minute with the suggestion being that a bigger announcement will now be made at the European Grand Prix meeting at the Nurburgring in two weeks.

THERE is considerable speculation in the automotive world that DaimlerChrysler - the parent company of Mercedes-Benz - may be on the verge of a bid for the French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen after stories that Peugeot will produce a new Smart car for Mercedes.

FERRARI has confirmed that Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has signed a two-year contract with the team and will replace Eddie Irvine at Maranello next year.

THE Formula 1 Commission met in London last week and agreed that Stewart Grand Prix can change its name to Jaguar Racing next year.

AS we suggested last week, it has emerged that Michael Schumacher is not fit enough to race at the Italian Grand Prix and he may also miss the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on September 26.

CHINA was not included on the provisional Formula 1 calendar for the 2000 season and in an effort to win a date in 2001 the Zhuhai International Circuit is about to undergo extensive modifications, including significant work on the pit buildings.

THE Formula 1 Commission considered several applications for the vacant 12th team slot, which has been left open by Honda's decision to ally itself with British American Racing rather than push ahead with its own team.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP challenger Eddie Irvine ended last week's Monza test with the fastest lap of the three days in his Ferrari F399.