Formula One News — April 2003

APRIL 20, 2003

Honda is mourning

Japanese MotoGP rider Daijiro Kato has died as a result of an accident at Suzuka on April 6. The 2001 World Champion of the 250cc series was in his second season in the premier motorcycle racing series.

Wirdheim wins Formula 3000 opener

The opening round of the FIA International Formula 3000 Championship was a lively affair with Sweden's Bjorn Wirdheim giving Arden International its first victory of the year despite race-long pressure from rival Patrick Freisacher in Enzo Coloni's Red Bull Junior Team.

APRIL 19, 2003

Qualifying Report - Schumacher front row

San Marino Grand Prix - Saturday Qualifying Report

Saturday Photos

San Marino Grand Prix - Saturday Photos

Qualifying Results

San Marino Grand Prix - Saturday Qualifying Results

Warmup Results

San Marino Grand Prix - Warmup Results

Practice Results

San Marino Grand Prix - Saturday Practice Results

Ecclestone's final offer

Bernie Ecclestone has told the Formula 1 teams that he is not going to improve on his offer to them and that they should take what is on the table.

Jaguar admits to problem in Brazil

Jaguar Racing, so impressive in Brazil two weeks ago, has admitted that Mark Webber's car was not going as quickly as it might have done because of a fuel pick-up problem which was not solved after the Malaysian GP.

APRIL 18, 2003

Qualifying Report - Schumacher on top

San Marino Grand Prix - Friday Qualifying Report

Friday Photos

San Marino Grand Prix - Friday Photos

Jaguar launches new brand image

Jaguar has launched a big new advertising campaign in the United States using the slogan "Born to perform" and the sleek leaping Jaguar is due to become a little more muscly.

Qualifying Results

San Marino Grand Prix - Friday Qualifying Results

EM.TV gets out of F1 once and for all

EM.TV & Merchandising has confirmed that it has finally settled on a deal with investment banks Lehman Brothers and JP Morgan to take over the firm's stake in the Formula One group of companies.

Practice Results

San Marino Grand Prix - Friday Practice Results

Testing Results

San Marino Grand Prix - Friday Testing Results

APRIL 17, 2003

San Marino GP Preview

San Marino Grand Prix - Preview

Trading places

NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya are to switch cars at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on June 11.

Bud for Ferrari?

The word in the paddock in Imola is that the giant US brewing firm Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest beer-making company, is to become a sponsor of the Ferrari team next year.

Mosley and the GPWC

Max Mosley says that he thinks it is increasingly likely that the GPWC will set up its own racing championship in 2008 but says that there is nothing he can do about it and that commercial factors will decide which survives.

No rule changes

The Formula 1 team bosses have agreed not to tamper with the rules in any major way for the rest of the F1 season. FIA President Max Mosley said in Imola that there are to be a couple of small changes but otherwise things will remain as before.

Penalties for Alonso and Michael Schumacher?

The FIA is looking at the behavior of Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher in Brazil and may decide that action must be taken.

Ress joins Honda

Former Sauber technical director Leo Ress has been hired by Honda to help the Japanese company with its Formula 1 chassis research and development program.

A new job for Jean Alesi

As part of the promotion of the new Formula 3 Euro Series, the French and Germans will be fighting over a Nations Cup and DTM drivers Jean Alesi and Frank Biela have been named as "team captains" for the rival factions in the new series.