Formula One News — April 2001

BRIDGESTONE have introduced a new softer compound tire for the San Marino Grand Prix as they aim to head-off the challenge of rivals Michelin.

BERNIE ECCLESTONE has reportedly played what could be his trump card in attempting to resolve the threat by the major car makers to start their own independent racing series from the start of 2008.

THREE-TIME world champion Michael Schumacher has declared Ferrari's competitive edge will be sharpened by the failure to win at the Brazilian Grand Prix last week.

NORBERT HAUG, motorsport director at Mercedes, has backed David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen in their quest for world championship success.

THERE are times when Formula 1 could do without the media.

THE Kirch media group has moved quickly in an effort to placate the major car makers in a bid to head off their plans to organize a new racing category from the start of 2008.

WORLD CHAMPION Michael Schumacher and Luca Badoer were in action again on Friday as Ferrari completed the fourth day of testing without any problems.

INDY LIGHTS driver Jonny Kane received a late call-up to join Arrows for a very brief spell as a Formula One test driver on Thursday.

BERNIE ECCLESTONE has said that he fears Formula One could be ruined by the proposed introduction of a rival series.

THE forthcoming San Marino Grand Prix, scheduled for Easter Sunday, has already aroused the wrath of the bishop of Imola due to its clash with Easter Sunday.

MCLAREN and Jordan were left unable to complete their testing and development schedules at Silverstone as the circuit was hit by April showers of the torrential kind.

FRESH from his podium finish in Brazil, Sauber youngster Nick Heidfeld set the pace on the final of the three days of testing at Magny Cours near Nevers, France, where the weather once again hampered the development of the cars present at the track.

FOLLOWING Wednesday's announcement that the European Car manufacturers involved in Grand Prix racing will go ahead with plans to create a new rival series, Fiat CEO Paolo Cantarella has explained the move.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER's manager Willi Weber has revealed that the Ferrari driver's court case with impersonator Frank Saasen is over.

WORLD CHAMPION Michael Schumacher joined test driver Luca Badoer as the Ferrari team works to reestablish the supremacy that took Schumacher to six consecutive race victories.

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA set the fastest time for the second consecutive day at Jerez, putting his Benetton on top of the heap in the three day test.

FIA President Max Mosley said Formula One's governing body will sanction a proposed rival series as long as it is safe.

FIVE European car manufacturers have threatened to set-up a rival series to the Formula One World Championship.

IT may be seen by some as a nice idea, but the harsh reality is that there is as much chance of the major car makers' going it alone as there was of Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone getting their pirate World Federation of Motor Sport series off the ground in 1980.

THE Arrows team confirmed on Wednesday that they have launched an official appeal against Jos Verstappen's $15,000 fine from the Brazilian Grand Prix.

FERRARI technical director Ross Brawn has been left bemused by the pace of Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya and is in awe of the overtaking move the young Colombian pulled on his team's driver Michael Schumacher.

LUCA BADOER put in more work with Ferrari's traction control development car as he ran 79 laps at a sunny Fiorano circuit on Wednesday.

Giancarlo Fisichella has given his Benetton team a further boost, following his first point this season in Brazil, by setting the fastest time in testing at Jerez on Wednesday.

IT was tight at the top in testing at Magny-Cours on Wednesday as Prost's Jean Alesi headed the times just 0.001 seconds faster than Sauber youngster Kimi Raikkonen.