Formula One News — September 2003

The government of San Marino's decision to sign up to the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control means that the San Marino Grand Prix cannot dodge any tobacco bans.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has confirmed that he is not planning to change his driver line-up next year.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has landed a title sponsor in Gulf Air. This is not a surprise as the airline is jointly owned by the governments of Bahrain, Oman and the UAE.

United States GP - Race Report

United States GP - Sunday Photos

Quit Victoria, the Australian anti-smoking organisation, says that the Australian federal government will soon sign the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Antonio Pizzonia is to have a one-off test with BMW Williams in the next few days. The Brazilian was Williams test driver last year and impressed the team enormously but failed to make an impact when he moved to Jaguar Racing to race alongside Mark Webber this year.

It has been said that Formula 1 is "right up their with Canadian log-rolling" in terms of its popularity in the United States of America but it seems that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has bucked the recent F1 trend of smaller crowds than in previous years.

Michael Schumacher's remarkable victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway means that Juan Pablo Montoya is no longer able to win the World Championship. Although the Colombian is only 10 points behind Schumacher he cannot win the title.

United States GP - Race Notes

United States GP - Race Results

The Formula 1 team bosses spent most of their free time on Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis locked in discussion about the shape that the future of F1 should take.

For some time there has been talk of the new Grand Prix in Bahrain in 2004 but one problem has been carefully glossed over. Bahrain currently does not have enough hotel rooms to accommodate the whole of the F1 circus.

Daniele Audetto has joined Renault F1 as business development director and as coordinator of the engine deparrtment. The 60-year-old Italian is based in Enstone but spends at least one day a week at the Renault F1 engine headquarters at Viry-Chatillon.

Craig Pollock has been absent from the F1 paddock for the last couple of months but he was back at Indianapolis to negotiate with BAR boss David Richards to see whether or not his client Jacques Villeneuve will be staying with the team next year.

The paddock in F1 continues to natter away about the possibility of Juan Pablo Montoya moving to McLaren at the end of this season, a year earlier than originally planned.

United States GP - Saturday Qualifying Report

United States GP - Saturday Photos

Jaguar Racing may be tight on budget but the team has just concluded an impressive deal to get its hands on the former Arrows F1 windtunnel in Bedford.

United States GP - Saturday Qualifying Results

United States GP - Saturday Warmup Results

United States GP - Saturday Practice Results

BMW North America and BMW Motorsport will announce today the establishment of Formula BMW in the United States of America for 2004.

What gossip there was rainy Indianapolis on Friday was centered on whether or not Juan Pablo Montoya will move from Williams to McLaren in 2004 rather than waiting until his current contract runs out in 2005.

Our spies in England tell us that Mike Gascoyne is no longer to be found working at Renault F1 UK and is now on gardening leave prior to joining Toyota Motorsport.