Formula One News — January 2002

The BMW Williams team does not have much space available on its cars at the moment but the end of the 2001 season marked the finish of the team's three-year relationship with Canada's Nortel Networks.

In just over a week the next James Bond movie begins filming at Pinewood Studios and MGM and Eon Productions have decided to run a 007 logo on the Jaguar Formula 1 car this year.

The launch season is always a time of hype and high expectations. The danger of being a Formula 1 journalist is that one can be swept along in all the warm woolly optimism of the season.

It seems that Petronas, the Malaysian national oil company, has decided against buying the Sepang racing circuit to avoid criticism that an oil company has no need for such a facility.

The protest by Prost employees at the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry drew attention to the team's plight - as it was intended to do.

After much confusion and several controversial meetings, the Formula 1 team bosses agreed in November to new testing regulations which will see a continued midseason ban and additional breaks in testing after the final race and over the Christmas period.

Jacques Villeneuve has not been exactly ecstatic about the ousting of his mentor Craig Pollock as the head of British American Racing and the Canadian driver has been dropping some hints to pressmen about the future.

Rumors are currently circulating suggesting that Mark Webber is getting ever closer to a deal to lead the Minardi team in 2003.

In a world where legislation is usually against tobacco companies, the Turkish government has just announced plans to open up its tobacco industry.

Michael Schumacher has reputedly insured himself to the value of $81 million for the coming season with the renowned Lloyds of London.

Sauber has announced that the Commercial Vehicle Division of DaimlerChrysler Schweiz AG, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has become a technical supplier to the team.

The West McLaren Mercedes team is to launch its new MP4/17 car in Barcelona on January 19, which is very early compared to usual McLaren launches.

As we predicted recently Rick Gorne has departed Reynard Racing Cars, having been unable to put together a deal to rebuild the company as he would have liked.

Jaguar Racing team leader Eddie Irvine says that he believes his age is no handicap when it comes to taking on young rising stars such as Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button over the next few F1 seasons.

Every F1 team apart from Arrows and Minardi will be out at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya next week as the first major test of the 2002 season starts the countdown towards the opening Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 3rd.

The Jaguar team has high hopes for the revised and uprated Cosworth CR-3, 75-degree V10 engine which the team will continue to use this coming season.

Jacques Villeneuve has made the unlikely statement that he would like to drive for Ferrari.

McLaren designer Adrian Newey has been nominated for the prestigious Prince Philip Designer Prize, which recognizes the career achievements of individuals involved in the world of design.

The new Jaguar R3 was unveiled this morning (4 January) at the British team's headquarters in Milton Keynes and will be rushed to Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya over the weekend for its first test in the hands of Eddie Irvine next Tuesday.

According to a report on the Internet, Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has sold his shares in Red Bull Sauber Holding AG, the parent company of the Swiss F1 team.

More than 200 Prost employees will protest outside France's Economy, Finance and Industry Ministry tomorrow, in the hope that the politicians will step in to help the team survive.

Jenson Button has decided to end his relationship with his management team.

The announcement of Mark Webber as team mate to the well-funded Alex Yoong with the recently renamed KL Minardi team is becoming the subject of much speculation as the final places in the 2002 Formula 1 driver market shake down and the testing season begins.

Four time World Champion Michael Schumacher praised the efforts of FIA President Max Mosley and the Grand Prix Drivers Association to continue to improve safety in Formula One, but said there are still "some old and grey men" working against those efforts.

Michael Schumacher is still enjoying his winter break and is not expected to be seen back at the wheel of an F1 car until January 19 when he is due to test at Valencia.