Formula One News — February 2002

It is German election time and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is looking at ways to hold off the challenge from Edmund Stoiber.

Enrique Bernoldi is scheduled to test the first new Arrows-Cosworth A23s on Monday in England before the car is sent to Spain for more intensive tests.

With less than a month to go now before the start of the Formula 1 World Championship in Australia, the race in Melbourne remains provisional on the F1 calendar pending the delivery of the Coroner's Report into the death of track marshal Graeme Beveridge during last year's race.

The Ford Motor Company is not having a good time at the moment.

Williams's sponsor Compaq has gained clearance from the European Commission for the takeover of the firm by Hewlett-Packard.

The Sauber team was very confident at the launch of the new C21 that the car was going to be better than the 2001 car but testing in Barcelona has shown that the car is very impressive indeed.

General Motors launched its Cadillac Le Mans program two years ago to change the international image of the brand and to increase sales around the world.

Antonio Pizzonia was the sole test driver for Williams on Friday in Barcelona, and, in 74 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya, the Brazilian out-paced the rest of the field by more than half a second in an FW23 fitted with the new BMW engine.

The cable company United Pan-Europe Communications, the parent company of Arrows sponsor Chello, has announced plans to pay off $7bn of debt by issuing new shares, thus diluting the existing shareholdings.