Formula One News — February 2001

EUROPEAN MINARDI announced on Wednesday that Brazilian Tarso Marques will partner Fernando Alonso for the 2001 season.

WORLD CHAMPION Michael Schumacher tested Ferrari's F2001 for the final time before the Australian Grand Prix, but had his day cut short by a gearbox problem.

JAGUAR test driver Tomas Scheckter said on Tuesday that the appointment of Pedro de la Rosa alongside him as an official tester had come as a surprise.

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.

THE first of the seven Boeing 747 "Jumbo" jets arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday evening and two more were due to arrive on Wednesday.

FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE L'AUTOMOBILE (FIA) President Max Mosley on Tuesday revealed that Formula One will feature dramatic changes next year - with speed limits being put in place to increase safety.

ARROWS GRAND PRIX boss Tom Walkinshaw declined to comment on Monday about newspaper reports alleging he faces High Court action from two former employees.

JAGUAR RACING have confirmed that Pedro de la Rosa will drive for the team as a second test driver in 2001.

JORDAN's Heinz Harald Frentzen topped the times on the opening day of testing at Silverstone as he outpaced his rivals.

INSIDE F1 is sad to report the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr.

THE death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt in a crash during the Daytona 500 on Sunday is likely to cause a major review of safety in the popular stock car series.

THE McLaren team are aiming to make sure their new Paragon facility is the most high tech in Formula One, after a new deal was announced on Monday.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO broke the Mugello lap record on Monday as he completed his last test before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

THE big question in Formula 1 circles at the moment is whether the new Prost-Ferrari AP04 is really as quick and reliable as it appears to be - or whether the French team is running the cars very light in an effort to attract headlines and sponsors before the start of the new season in Melbourne.

BRAZILIAN Rubens Barrichello replaced Michael Schumacher behind the wheel of the second F2001 at Mugello on Sunday and enjoyed a trouble-free day.

WORLD CHAMPION Michael Schumacher revealed that he is keeping a close eye on Bernie Ecclestone's proposed sale of another 25 per cent of SLEC - because he feels it could affect his future.

JAGUAR RACING have denied that Eddie Irvine will be replaced by Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa for the 2001 season.

THE British Broadcasting Corporation may have recently landed the radio rights to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship but it has been outbid for the World Rally Championship by rival station Channel Four.

FERRARI's Michael Schumacher ran into problems on his second day of testing at Mugello on Saturday when the second F2001 chassis suffered engine trouble.

FERRARI have displayed all ten of their Formula One World Championship winning cars together for the first time in an exhibition at Galleria Ferrari at Maranello.

EDDIE IRVINE is set to be axed by Jaguar Racing and Pedro de la Rosa will replace him, according to reports in Spain.

EUROPEAN MINARDI Formula One driver Fernando Alonso made a surprise return to the wheel of a Formula 3000 car at a test in Imola this week.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER tested a second F2001 chassis for the first time at Mugello on Friday as Ferrari's preparations for the defence of their double world championship stepped up another gear.

BERNIE ECCLESTONE last week met with Grigorij Antjufeev, one of Moscow's deputy mayors to discuss the possibility of a Grand Prix in Moscow.