Formula One News — October 1996

IF the FIA keeps to its Formula 1 numbering system, adopted last year, the new season will see a major switch around of the numbers in Grand Prix racing.

WITH Rubens Barrichello being confirmed at Stewart there are only a handful of drives left open in Formula 1 for next season.

HEINZ-HARALD FRENTZEN did not waste much time after the end of the Formula 1 season before getting into a Williams-Renault FW18.

AS we predicted two weeks ago (INSIDE F1, Week 42) Rubens Barrichello has been confirmed with a three-year contract at Stewart Grand Prix.

RICARDO ROSSET's speed in the recent Arrows-Bridgestone test at Suzuka, in which the Brazilian lapped nearly four seconds faster than he had done in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix on Goodyear tires, suggests that Bridgestone rubber is going to be very competitive next season.

DAMON HILL winning the Formula 1 World Championship will lead to a whole new series of disputes among race fans. Was it just the car? How does he compare to the World Champions of the past? Do the statistics give a false impression?

THERE has been much excitement in recent days about a possible announcement about the future of Ligier from Alain Prost.

THERE are rumors in Europe that Lola Cars is going ahead with its Formula 1 program in 1996.

IT could be just a coincidence but the rumored takeover of Group Lotus by the Malaysian government-owned Proton car company may prove to be a significant development for the Sauber Formula 1 team.

THE FIA World Motor Sports Council, which met last week in Paris, has delayed the publication of the 1997 Formula 1 World Championship entry list - which was due to be revealed on November 4.

WORLD CHAMPION Damon Hill has been bowled over by the reaction in England to his title victory in Japan.

HONDA MOTOR COMPANY President Nobuhiko Kawamoto has said that there are no plans for an official Honda comeback in F1 in 1998.

WITH Honda saying that it is not going to enter Grand Prix racing in 1998 Williams, Benetton and TWR Arrows are going to have to look elsewhere for engine deals.

THE FIA World Council also announced its new Formula 1 World Championship tire supply rules which will come into effect on January 1, 1997.

THE FIA World Council has confirmed its plans to introduce major restrictions for Formula 1 testing in 1997.

THE FIA World Council has decreed that all F1 cars must in future be fitted with an accident data recorder "black box".

THESE are crucial weeks for Eddie Jordan as he tries to find a way of attracting an established F1 star driver to his team.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO has signed to join the Stewart Grand Prix team.

BENETTON is rumored to be facing a major reshuffle of its engineering staff with technical director Ross Brawn and chief designer Rory Byrne both rumored to be leaving the team.

SAUBER is on the verge of signing a deal to run Ford's customer V8 engines in 1997 but is concentrating on its plans for 1998 when the Swiss team hopes to run a new Petronas V10 engine.

IN a series of announcements in the days leading up to the Japanese Grand Prix, Tom Walkinshaw revealed his expected deals for 1997 with Bridgestone, Yamaha and Pedro Diniz. Walkinshaw's package for next year is now in place and work is advancing on the design of the TWR Arrows team's new car.

TOM WALKINSHAW has long been rumored to be looking for a new technical director for the TWR Arrows team, but for the moment he has placed his trust in Frank Dernie, giving the Englishman the go-ahead to hire anyone he wants to get the job done.

SINCE Ligier boss Flavio Briatore bought out Guy Ligier's remaining shares in the team in August it has been fairly clear that the Italian has been trying to sell the French team and that Alain Prost is the man who is going to take over.

THE departure from Ligier of Pedro Diniz and his Parmalat millions leaves team owner Flavio Briatore with a serious budget problem.