Formula One News — September 2004

Jarno Trulli was telling other teams from the middle of August that he had signed a contract with Panasonic Toyota Racing for 2005.

Vitantonio Liuzzi will test for Sauber today at Jerez de la Frontera, despite the fact that the Italian youngster had been expecting the test to be a chance to impress the team and convince them that he should be signed up for next year.

Austria's Patrick Friesacher is to test for Minardi later this autumn.

There is much angst in France at the moment about the country's dwindling involvement in Formula 1. The major French newspapers are giving Formula 1 less and less coverage and interest is dropping.

When Jacques Villeneuve left Formula 1 a year ago he went out without even a whimper following the decision by Lucky Strike BAR Honda to sign Takuma Sato as Jenson Button's team mate in 2004.

Vitantonio Liuzzi is down in Spain where he is due to test for Sauber tomorrow. The test was organized in order to assess whether or not Liuzzi could race for the team in 2005.

As we suggested would happen earlier today, Jacques Villeneuve has been signed by the Sauber team for 2005 and 2006. The team confirmed the news this afternoon.

Although Formula 1 remains stalled on an agreement over reducing the speed of the cars, there was a meeting of the Technical Working Group at Monza and a number of safety changes were agreed.

With Jacques Villeneuve testing for Renault today at Silverstone there has been the perhaps inevitable speculation that this could change things for next season when Giancarlo Fisichella is due to join Fernando Alonso at Renault F1.

The Contract Recognition Board which is due to meet to decide whether Jenson Button should drive for Williams or for BAR in 2005 will not be meeting until the end of October, unless the teams involved can get the legal people in Switzerland to hurry things along.

Jarno Trulli is out of Renault but it seems he is quite satisfied with the situation, the relationship with team having dived in recent weeks with the team blaming the driver and the driver arguing that the car is no good.

Ralf Schumacher was very quick today in testing at the Silverstone circuit as he stepped back into a Formula One car for the first time since his crash in June at the United States Grand Prix.

As we exclusively reported on Sunday, Renault F1 announced today - after denying yesterday - that French-Canadian Jacques Villeneuve will test for the team at Silverstone this week.

Jacques Villeneuve popped up in England on Tuesday and it is expected that the French-Canadian will test for the Renault F1 team tomorrow if a suitable settlement can be agreed with Jarno Trulli, the man who would have to stand aside if the team takes on Villeneuve for the rest of the season.

Italian GP - Race Report

There are strong rumours that Jacques Villeneuve will be named to replace Jarno Trulli at Renault on Tuesday. Our sources say that if the deal is confirmed the French-Canadian will test for the team at Jerez de la Frontera before flying out to partner Fernando Alonso in China.

Italian GP - Race Notes

Italian GP - Sunday Photos

Jarno Trulli had a second consecutive lacklustre race for Renault and while the Italian driver blames the car and the team blame the driver, it is clear that if Renault wants to compete with BAR it needs to do something dramatic as BAR has now moved into second place in the Constructors' Championship.

Italian GP - Sunday Press Conference

Italian GP - Race Incidents

Italian GP - Race Results

Italian GP - Qualifying Report

Fiat president Luca di Montezemolo appeared at Monza on Saturday afternoon and gave his views about the current political situation in Formula 1. And it did not make comfortable listening for F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone, who was the target for his comments.

Italian GP - Saturday Photos