FEBRUARY 20, 2001

Crash test worries

ALTHOUGH the majority of the Formula 1 teams have now cleared the hurdle of the FIA crash tests we hear that at least one team - and possibly two - are in serious trouble. Indeed there have been rumors for some days which have suggested that one team has informed the FIA that it will not be able to pass all the tests before the Australian GP. If this is the case the cars should not be allowed to run. No-one is saying which teams are involved but the rumor mill says that Arrows and Jaguar may be involved. It is worth remembering that in 1997 Sauber was still having to pass crash tests when the cars were in Australia and that last year McLaren was in a similar position. On both occasions everything was sorted in time but with the FIA's stringent new rear and lateral tests there might be problems for some.