Formula One News — February 2001

PROST GRAND PRIX confirmed their plans to find and develop drivers for the future when they announced allegiances with a British Formula Three and Formula Renault teams.

THE European Minardi Formula One team took another step in building its new team for the coming season by signing Italian Andrea Piccini as official test driver on Thursday.

FERRARI's Michael Schumacher has hinted that Wednesday's confirmation that Jean Todt and the Ferrari design team will remain at Maranello until 2004 has strengthened the chances of him remaining with the Italian marque.

MAX MOSLEY, president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, has spoken out against the voting system that saw inexperienced driver Kimi Raikkonen granted a superlicence.

THERE is speculation that Gianni Morbidelli may be on the verge of a Formula 1 comeback with the European Minardi team.

THE last few days have seen any number of reports in the financial newspapers about the future exploitation of the promotional rights of Formula 1 racing with the FIA seeming to have fallen out with Bernie Ecclestone.

PAUL STODDART is as direct as you would expect from a forthright, astute businessman who has a gift of getting from A to B with the minimum of fuss or diversion.

THE new Benetton B201 suffered a setback on Thursday when an engine problem and resultant engine change ended Giancarlo Fisichella's running with the car after 34 laps.

FORMER Jaguar and Jordan technical director Gary Anderson has finalized his future by joining Reynard, scotching rumors that he may join Sauber or Arrows.

FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE L'AUTOMOBILE (FIA) president Max Mosley has said moves by five leading car manufacturers to secure a stake in Formula One would be good for the sport.

JORDAN cut their private testing session at Silverstone short after cold and dismal weather conditions hindered their work.

SPANIARD Pedro de la Rosa, who joined Prost Grand Prix as a test and reserve driver on Tuesday, will begin testing for the team on Friday at Estoril.

MCLAREN chairman Ron Dennis has warned that the outcome of this year's world championship could be decided in the opening three races if the ruling body, the FIA, is not vigilant in clamping down on any technological cheating.

RALF SCHUMACHER demonstrated the potential of the BMW-Williams FW23 when he topped the times on the opening day of testing in Kyalami, South Africa, on Thursday.

WITH Pedro de la Rosa having signed for Prost Grand Prix and Enrique Bernoldi under contract to Arrows, Paul Stoddart needs to find a second driver for the European Minardi team to partner F1 new boy Fernando Alonso.

MCLAREN technical director Adrian Newey is today keeping his fingers crossed that the team's aerodynamic know-how will be about to pay off with a significant performance advantage as the latest McLaren-Mercedes MP4/16 is unveiled at Spain's tight little Valencia circuit.

ALTHOUGH it is yet to be confirmed it is expected that the European Minardi team will run on Michelin tires this year.

MIKA HAKKINEN's daring overtaking move at the Belgian Grand Prix has been selected as the "MasterCard Priceless Moment of the 2000 F1 season."

DUMPED by Jaguar Racing in December, Gary Anderson has been keeping a low profile in recent months, taking a much-needed rest after a difficult 2000 season with the team.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER ensured Ferrari's problems on the new F2001 were temporary as he continued development work on the car at Mugello on Wednesday.

FERRARI's sporting director Jean Todt and all the key members of Ferrari's design team will remain with the Italian outfit until the end of 2004, it was confirmed on Wednesday.

ARROWS new-boy Enrique Bernoldi underlined his growing reputation when he topped the times on the opening day of testing at Estoril, Portugal, on Wednesday.

DAVID COULTHARD has postponed his plans to marry top model Heidi Wichinski in a bid to focus his entire efforts on winning the 2001 World Championship in the McLaren-Mercedes MP4/15 which was unveiled at the Valencia circuit here today.

THE news that Neil Ressler is to retire from the Ford Motor Company is not really a surprise.

THE plans for there to be a Grand Prix in India within five years could be hit badly by news from Delhi that the government has drawn up a new bill which will ban smoking in public places and stop all tobacco advertising and sponsorships.