NewsOnF1 - 24 - 27 June News

27-June: On the third day of testing at Barcelona, McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time of the day ahead of McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz and Williams' test driver Antonio Pizzonia.
7 teams were present with 9 drivers setting lap times. Jenson Button covered the most number of laps with 103 followed by Antonio Pizzonia with 97 and Kimi Raikkonen with 91 laps.
Felipe Massa crashed towards the end of the session as a result of brake failure. A number of drivers stopped on the track due to problems including Giancarlo Fisichella and Heinz Harald Frentzen.
The Jaguar team shook down the modified R3 and while the times set by the new car weren't impressive, the team was encouraged by the initial test.
The teams continued working on set-up and tyre evaluation in preparation for the upcoming British Grand Prix.
Weather conditions were sunny with an air temperature of 32 degrees while track temperature reached 52 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow with Mark Webber scheduled to test for Jaguar.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Mugello, Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello took over from test driver Luca Badoer and conduct a tyre evaluation in preparation for the upcoming British Grand Prix. He set the fastest time of the day ahead of BAR's Jacques Villeneuve and test driver Anthony Davidson.
Testing continues tomorrow with Michael Schumacher expected to take over from Rubens Barrichello.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperature reaching 35 degrees while track temperatures reached 50 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Mugello

At Monza, Ferrari's test driver Luciano Burti concluded the tyre development programme for the team running in an F2001. He completed 88 laps on a modified track.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperature reaching 29 degrees while track temperatures reached 42 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Monza

26-June: On the second day of testing at Barcelona, Renault's Jenson Button set the fastest time of the day ahead of McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz and Sauber's Felipe Massa.
7 teams were present with 9 drivers setting lap times. Felipe Massa covered the most number of laps with 92 followed by Marc Gene with 88 and Jenson Button with 84 laps. Alexander Wurz covered the least number of laps with 25.
Apart from a few spins, there were no major incidents during the session.
The teams concentrated on set-up work and tyre evaluation in preparation for the upcoming British Grand Prix.
Weather conditions were sunny to overcast with an air temperature of 32 degrees while track temperature reached 52 degrees.
Jaguar joined the testing today and are expected to test the modified R3 tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Mugello, Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer continued testing in the F2002. Once again he concentrated on electronics and tyre testing. He covered 102 laps with a best time of 1:22.896.
The BAR team was also present at the track with test drivers Anthony Davidson and Patrick Lemarie testing for the team.
Rubens Barrichello takes over the testing duties for Ferrari tomorrow.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperature reaching 30 degrees while track temperatures reached 46 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Mugello

At Monza, Ferrari's other test driver Luciano Burti continued the tyre development programme at the wheel of the F2001 he started yesterday. He completed 87 laps with a best time of 1:24.327.
Burti continues testing at Monza tomorrow.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperature reaching 30 degrees while track temperatures reached 49 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Monza

26-June: The World Motor Sport Council released the 2003 Formula 1 World Championship Calendar. All the events remain on the calendar and the only difference is that the French Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix have been swapped. Additionally the 3 week break in August has been removed and all the races are now separated by 2 weeks.
The Australian GP is subject to inspection and proposed modifications

2003 Formula 1 World Championship
March 9	Australia^*	Melbourne
March 23	Malaysia	Sepang
April 6	Brazil	Interlagos
April 20	San Marino	Imola
May 4	Spain	Barcelona
May 18	Austria	A1 Ring
June 1	Monaco	Monte Carlo
June 15	Canada	Montreal
June 29	GP of Europe	Nurburgring
July 6	France	Magny-Cours
July 20	UK	Silverstone
August 3	Germany	Hockenheim
August 17	Hungary	Hungaroring
August 31	Belgium	Spa-Francochamps
September 14	Italy	Monza
September 28	USA	Indianapolis
October 12	Japan	Suzuka

^*The Australian Grand Prix is subject to an inspection and proposals for modifications to the circuit.

The World Motor Sport Council also announced the compulsory introduction of the HANS (Head and Neck Safety) device from January 2003. The statement read "Following further discussions with DaimlerChrylser AG on the deployment of HANS, the World Motor Sport Council decided that the system will be made compulsory in Formula One from January 1, 2003."

26-June: Vic remains in the lead in the 6 'n' Pole Competition by 2 points! ... Overall Results ... Europe Results ... Popular Picks ... Register

26-June: The World Motor Sport Council decided not to penalise Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello or the Ferrari team for applying team orders on the final lap of the Austrian Grand Prix. While the council deplored the manner in which team orders were applied, the council acknowledged the traditional right of a team to choose the finishing order of their drivers. The statement read "The WMSC deplored the manner in which team orders were given and executed at the Austrian Grand Prix. Nevertheless the Council finds it impossible to sanction the two drivers, because they were both contractually bound to execute orders given by the team. The Council also recognised the long-standing and traditional right of a team to decree the finishing order of its drivers in what it believes to be the best interest of its attempt to win both world championships.
In the circumstances, the Council decided; with some reluctance; that it could take no action over the team orders given by Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.

The council however decided to fine Ferrari, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello $1 million (USD) for not following the podium procedures. The statement read "The podium procedure was not followed. Having finished second, Rubens Barrichello, who is a Brazilian national, stood on the top step while the German national anthem was played for Michael Schumacher. Michael Schumacher then ascended the top step and both drivers, rather than just the winner, stood there while the Italian national anthem was played. Michael Schumacher took the trophy for first place from the Austrian Chancellor, did not acknowledge him, handed the trophy to Rubens Barrichello and then took the second place trophy from the Austrian Deputy Chancellor.
It is the duty of each team to ensure that its contracted drivers observe the podium procedures and do not in any way embarrass the national authorities of the country where a grand prix takes place.
The World Motor Sport Council held that Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher and Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro were each guilty of failure to observe Article 170 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations.
The World Motor Sport Council imposed a fine of $1 million (USD) on Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello jointly, half to be paid immediately and half to be suspended for one year. The fine will become payable immediately should a similar offence occur within the next twelve months."

25-June: On the first day of testing at Barcelona, McLaren's David Coulthard set the fastest time of the day ahead of Williams Test Driver Antonio Pizzonia and Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.
6 teams were present with 8 drivers setting lap times. Antonio Pizzonia set the most number of laps with 104 followed by Takuma Sato with 94 and Nick Heidfeld with 86 laps.
The teams concentrated on set-up work and tyre evaluation in preparation for the upcoming British Grand Prix.
Weather conditions were sunny with an air temperature of 32 degrees while track temperature reached 52 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow with Jaguar expected to join the test.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Mugello, Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer commenced this week's test concentrating on electronics and tyres. He covered 42 laps with a best time of 1:24.349.
Badoer moved back to Fiorano to run a comparison test between the 2 Ferraris used during the European Grand Prix. He covered 31 laps in total with a best time of 59.328.
Badoer returned to Mugello and will continue testing tomorrow.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperature reaching 31 degrees while track temperatures reached 47 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Mugello

At Monza, Ferrari's other test driver Luciano Burti commenced a tyre development programme at the wheel of the F2001. He completed 90 laps with a best time of 1:25.155.
Burti continues testing at Monza tomorrow.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperature reaching 30 degrees while track temperatures reached 43 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Monza

25-June: "I don't mind being right..." is the title of the 19th issue from the Diagnosis and Prognosis Series for the 2002 season. In this issue, the Heretic looks at the aftermath of the European Grand Prix - Issue 19

24-June: Ferrari's Sporting Director Jean Todt has explained the team tactics applied at the European Grand when Rubens Barrichello was allowed to win the race ahead of his team-mate Michael Schumacher. He said "Team tactics is part of Ferrari policy and the team tactic this time was to let Rubens win. In Austria it was the sixth race of the championship, we had a much lower advantage than the one we have now so now we can adopt a different strategy after nine races considering that Michael increased his advantage to 46 points in the Drivers’ championship. Today’s result was important for Rubens’s battle in the championship as well. The risk is not as big as it was in Austria. We feel that we can start to try to build a certain position for Rubens in the drivers championship as well.”
Todt insisted that Ferrari's policy is not to have their drivers fighting each other and said "We are not going to fight, you will not see Ferrari fighting against each other. We fight against ten teams, not against the Ferrari team.
I think it’s difficult for the others seeing Ferrari being so dominant at the moment and we aren’t arrogant. If the others want to be in front of us, they need to work as hard as we have worked with Bridgestone to be in front of us. That’s their problem."
As for when the team ordered Rubens and Michael to hold position, he said "We decided to fix the positions at the end of the second pit stop. That fact was decided if we had more than a minute’s lead over third place. The drivers appreciate that there is a supreme interest which is the Scuderia Ferrari. The important thing is that no one ever works against the team’s interest. We are particularly happy to see the current situation at Ferrari and one hopes that one could maintain this standard of performance for several seasons to come but it will be very difficult.”
Ferrari and their drivers will be summoned by the FIA on Wednesday the 26th of June as a result of the team tactics applied in Austria as well as the podium procedure changes.

As the Jaguar team prepare to test the new package for the R3 this week in preparation for the British Grand Prix, Eddie Irvine hopes the latest modifications will cause a few surprises. He said "I think that everyone's pinning a lot of hopes on it. It's the best job we think we've done. We know our history and we know why we've made a balls of this car in a way. We think we've done the new package a lot better than the original and Thursday we will find out if we have achieved our goals. Aerodynamically it is just a night and day difference.
We are confident that we've done a very good job, considering the amount of time these new guys have been working on it.
We've just got to be optimistic. There's no point in saying 'Oh, well, we've got to be cautious, it may not be that good'. I'm going to Barcelona hoping it's going to be good and we'll see. We're going to turn up there and surprise people. And we're going to enjoy surprising people."
Irvine even linked his future to the success of this car and said "If this car comes out of the box and flies, I'm going to want to stay in Formula One. If it doesn't, it doesn't really bode well for the future does it?"

24-June: "Your thoughts on the European Grand Prix" - Topic of the week - Have Your Say