Formula One News — April 2001

FORMULA ONE ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone has accused Formula One's breakway manufacturers of "missing the boat" in their efforts to take a stake in the series - but backed them to finally agree a deal that will safeguard the future of Grand Prix racing.

SAN MARINO GRAND PRIX runner-up David Coulthard revealed on Sunday that he had an operation the evening before the race to remove an abscess from his left ear.

FERRARI technical director Ross Brawn and his McLaren counterpart Adrian Newey have both said that traction control will not change the current pecking order in Formula One.

THE future of Formula One was discussed in a hospitality motorhome on Friday night as Bernie Ecclestone made his first appearance at a Grand Prix this season.

FLAVIO BRIATORE has hinted that Giancarlo Fisichella could continue his career at Renault when the French manufacturer makes a full return to the Grand Prix grid next year.

JAGUAR boss Bobby Rahal has said that a rival series to Formula One is "a real possibility" and that a repeat of the CART/IRL split could be on the cards.

WORLD CHAMPION Michael Schumacher believes Formula One needs to find someone to fill Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone's boots, but must not rush into any decision on his replacement.

IN recent years many of the car companies have been moving into financial services to bolster their results and DaimlerChrysler has just announced plans to start an insurance business and ultimately to obtain a full banking licence.

BMW-WILLIAMS driver Juan Pablo Montoya has sent the Formula One paddock into a spin with his impressive performance in the Brazilian Grand Prix, but the Colombian has admitted that he is surprised at the way he has started his debut season in the sport.

TWO of the oil companies which have been involved in Formula 1 in recent years - Italy's Agip and Spain's Repsol - are tipped to be discussing a possible merger.

FERRARI driver Rubens Barrichello has said that he will have mixed feelings in this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix as he puts thoughts of his 1994 crash to the back of his mind to race in front of his team's home crowd.

ENRIQUE BERNOLDI is confident he can get his Arrows to the end of the San Marino Grand Prix and finally register his first Grand Prix finish.

CART and IRL may still be in conflict in the United States but as the entry list for the Indianapolis 500 closes there are four CART teams which have decided to take part in IRL's biggest event.

THE latest British government figures on the spread of foot-and-mouth disease reveal that the outbreak has now spread to a total of 1164 sites, up from 700 two weeks ago.

BENETTON's sponsor Marconi is to cut 3000 of its 55,000 workforce around the world in an effort to costs following disappointing results for the telecommunications company in the United States markets.

ON the eve of the San Marino Grand Prix meeting, World Champion Michael Schumacher signalled that his main concern from the Williams-BMW camp was his brother Ralf and not Juan Pablo Montoya, the man who overtook and led him in the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

A meeting of F1 team principals at this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix has been convened to discuss the possibility of revoking the F1 test ban which, at the present moment, will last from the final race of the season on October 14 until December 31.

THE next few Grands Prix should see the Ferrari F1-2001 unlocking more of its development potential according to the Maranello team's Technical Director Ross Brawn.

FERRARI will have a new motorhome and transportation truck at this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix for the opening race in the European season.

REPORTS in Britain over the last few days have suggested the British Grand Prix could take place in front of no spectators as foot-and-mouth disease spreads throughout the nation.

THE Benson & Hedges Jordan Honda team is proudly looking forward to unveiling its new, state-of-the-art, two story F1 paddock hospitality unit which will be at this weekend's San Marino GP for the first time.

JAGUAR RACING boss Bobby Rahal last weekend said that he has taken up an option on the 2000 Toyota Atlantic Champion Buddy Rice for next year.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has said that he still believes Mika Hakkinen is his biggest rival in the championship stakes this year, despite his slow start to the season.

JAGUAR team leader Eddie Irvine is cautiously optimistic that the team may show a perceptible upsurge in performance for this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.