Formula One News — January 2001

JEAN ALESI has urged Prost Grand Prix boss Alain Prost to appoint another French driver to partner him for the 2001 Formula One World Championship.

CHIEF DESIGNER Mark Smith has quit Jordan to join Benetton just two months before the start of the new Formula One season, it was revealed on Thursday.

HONDA chief Takeo Fukui has set his sights on a Grand Prix win in the 2001 season as his company provides engines for the Jordan and British American Racing teams.

THE well-known British lawyer "Gorgeous" George Carman has died at the age of 71.

AS the investigation into share trading at EM.TV continues, the German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that the company boss Thomas Haffa sold around $20m worth of the company's stock in December, possibly in contravention an agreement that the stock would not be sold for a specified period.

RENAULT have announced plans to nurture talent of the future by creating a "nursery system" within the company.

RICK GORNE, a founder of British American Racing, has left the team it was announced on Wednesday.

THE recent attempt on the life of Iosif Ordzhonikidze, Moscow's deputy mayor, was immediately traced back by the authorities investigating the attack to December 19 when he signed a deal with TWR approving its construction of a Grand Prix-standard circuit.

GIANCARLO MINARDI, team founder of Minardi, has promised his team will be on the grid for the start of the 2001 Formula One season in March.

HONDA have vowed to invest in and renovate their Suzuka circuit in a bid to secure the hosting rights of the Japanese Grand Prix after their current contract expires.

SAUBER driver Nick Heidfeld will lend support to a new development program that will help young German drivers break into and progress through motor racing.

DOUBLE world champion Mika Hakkinen, along with German tennis legend Boris Becker, recently aged 50 years in order to film a German television commercial for Mercedes-Benz.

AMERICAN LE MANS Series Champion Allan McNish has said he is not too old to dream of a Formula One future.

EVERYONE at Inside F1 in New York and in Europe wishes our readers a very Happy New Year and we hope that you will continue to support our service as the Formula 1 community prepares for the new season ahead.

JAGUAR's plans to build a new factory at Silverstone have run into difficulties, despite having planning permissions approved.

JENSON BUTTON has insisted he intends to put Williams new-boy Juan Pablo Montoya firmly in his place next season, as the Briton looks to better his eight place in the drivers' championship.

SPAIN's Catalunya circuit is set to hold an extra 20,000 spectators for the 2001 season.

BENETTON are planning to launch their 2001 challenger at St. Mark's Square in Venice in February.