NewsOnF1 - 30 September - 5 October News

5-Oct: The Williams team concluded their testing at the Barcelona track today. Test drivers Antonio Pizzonia and Marc Gene were present.
The team concentrated on set-up for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix and also tyre and engine development for next season. Chief Operations Engineer Sam Michael said "This week we have really covered a lot of ground for the 2002 car development in terms of suspension, gearbox, engine and control systems.
BMW have put some really useful mileage on the new engine. We have also done plenty tyre testing to give Michelin valuable direction over the test ban by working hard on new compounds and construction directions.
Marc and Antonio have worked hard with the test team this week and in fact all year. The testing season ends now and starts again at the end of November for another year. Our test team have covered more mileage and done more days testing than any other team and their contribution is essential to our future success."

No times were available.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Fiorano, Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer concluded a two day test for the team concentrating on wet weather testing as well as electronics and new components. Badoer completed 49 laps with a best time of 59.347.
Weather conditions were slightly cloudy with air temperatures reaching 22 degrees and track temperatures reaching 33 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Fiorano

4-Oct: The Williams team continued testing solo at the Barcelona track today. Test driver Antonio Pizzonia set the fastest time of the day ahead of fellow test driver Marc Gene. Pizzonia also covered the most number of laps with 63.
Pizzonia concentrated on tyre evaluation while Gene was testing BMW's latest engine spec.
Williams conclude their testing tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Fiorano, Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer conducted a wet weather test for Bridgestone. Badoer completed 55 laps on the artificially wet track and set a best time of 1:06.294.
Weather conditions were overcast with air temperatures reaching 20 degrees and track temperatures reaching 24 degrees.
Luca Badoer continues testing tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Fiorano

3-Oct: On the third day of testing at Barcelona, Williams test driver Antonio Pizzonia set the pace ahead McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz and David Coulthard.
4 teams were present today with 7 drivers setting lap times. David Coulthard covered the most number of laps with 103 followed by Toyota's test driver Ryan Briscoe with 94.
The teams were preparing for the final race of the season in Japan.
BAR's test driver Anthony Davidson had an off late in the session crashing into the barrier. He was unhurt.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperatures reaching 24 degrees and track temperatures reaching 30 degrees.
McLaren, Toyota and BAR have concluded their testing.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Mugello, Ferrari and Sauber concluded their testing with test driver Luca Badoer once again setting the pace of Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.
2 teams were present and 2 drivers set lap times. Badoer covered the most number of laps with 112 while Heidfeld managed 84 laps.
Ferrari worked on a tyre development program and electronic testing while Sauber prepared for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperatures reaching 21 degrees and track temperatures reaching 33 degrees.
Ferrari move to Fiorano with Luca Badoer tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Mugello

At Jerez, Ferrari's other test driver Luciano Burti concluded the Bridgestone tyre development program. He drove the F2001 and covered a total of 100 laps with a best time of 1:22.087.
Weather conditions were hot and sunny with air temperatures reaching 30 degrees and track temperatures reaching 43 degrees.

Click here for the test times from Jerez

At Silverstone, Renault concluded a 3 day test session with test driver Olivier Gavin. The team concentrated on testing components for the 2003 car as well evaluating tyres for the upcoming race at Suzuka. Gavin set the fastest time on the second day of testing with a best time of 1:23.511.
The Jordan team was also present on the last 2 days. Takuma Sato was on duty on both days. The team concentrated on testing components for next year's car as well as preparing for the final race of the season at Suzuka

Click here for the test times from Silverstone

3-Oct: Lk extends the lead in the 6 'n' Pole Competition to 3 points following the round of the USA ... Overall Results ... USA Results ... Popular Picks ... Register

2-Oct: On the second day of testing at Barcelona, McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz broke the lap record of the track with a time of 1:16.348. David Coulthard was second fastest but over 2 seconds slower!.
4 teams were present today as Williams joined in the action with 7 drivers setting lap times. Alexander Wurz covered the most number of laps with 71 followed by BAR's test driver Ryo Fukuda with 70.
The teams were preparing for the final race of the season in Japan. Toyota continued testing their hybrid TF102B with Stephane Sarrazin.
Weather conditions were overcast with air temperatures reaching 24 degrees and track temperatures reaching 25 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Mugello, Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer continued to set the pace ahead of Sauber's Felipe Massa.
2 teams were present and 2 drivers set lap times. Badoer covered the most number of laps with 115 while Massa managed 75 laps.
Ferrari worked on a tyre development program and electronic testing while Sauber prepared for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperatures reaching 21 degrees and track temperatures reaching 33 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Mugello

At Jerez, Ferrari's other test driver Luciano Burti continued the Bridgestone tyre development program he started yesterday. He drove the F2001 and covered a total of 79 laps with a best time of 1:22.651.
Weather conditions were overcast with a few showers. Air and track temperatures reached 23 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Jerez

1-Oct: At Barcelona, McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz set the fastest time of the day ahead of BAR's test driver Anthony Davidson and McLaren's test driver Darren Turner.
3 teams were present with 5 drivers setting lap times. Alexander Wurz covered the most number of laps with 88 followed by Davidson with 71.
The teams were preparing for the final race of the season in Japan. Toyota continued testing their hybrid TF102B with Stephane Sarrazin.
Weather conditions were mainly sunny with air temperatures reaching 25 degrees and track temperatures reaching 29 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Barcelona

At Mugello, Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer set the fastest time of the session ahead of Sauber's Felipe Massa.
2 teams were present and 2 drivers set lap times. Badoer covered the most number of laps with 81 while Massa managed 67 laps.
Ferrari worked on a tyre development program and electronic testing while Sauber prepared for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperatures reaching 20 degrees and track temperatures reaching 31 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Mugello

At Jerez, Ferrari's other test driver Luciano Burti commenced a Bridgestone tyre development program. He drove the F2001 and covered a total of 72 laps with a best time of 1:23.763.
Weather conditions were sunny with air temperatures reaching 20 degrees and track temperatures reaching 31 degrees.
Testing continues tomorrow.

Click here for the test times from Jerez

1-Oct: The FIA confirmed the 2003 Formula 1 calendar and this time it includes the 3 week break occurring between the German GP on the 3rd of August and the Hungarian GP on the 24th of August.
All the races have been confirmed except for the Belgian GP which requires the unanimous agreement of the Formula One teams that the event can be run without tobacco advertising.

Click here for the 2003 Formula 1 Schedule

Tomas Enge who tested positive for a banned substance was excluded from the Hungarian F3000 results and thus loses the F3000 title he won last month.
Enge's license will be suspended for 12 months. The statement by the FIA read:
"Having studied the medical reports regarding the positive ‘A’ and ‘B’ anti-doping tests for Formula 3000 driver Tomas Enge, and having heard the submissions from the parties concerned, the World Motor Sport Council decided that :

Tomas Enge will be excluded from the results of the 2002 Hungarian F3000 race;
Tomas Enge’s licence will be suspended for 12 months. However, the licence suspension will be suspended on condition that Mr Enge tests negative in random dope tests to be conducted over the next 12 months. The times and locations of these tests will be decided by the FIA.

30-Sep: Ferrari's Sporting Director Jean Todt has defended the way Michael Schumacher decided to finish the US Grand Prix and said "It was not planned. It just happened like that. I was told it was seven centimetres. For us it isn't something that matters. What does matter is to have two Ferraris first and second. That's our position.
Michael could have won, but he wanted to have Rubens very close to him which we were very happy about, because you know we love Michael and we love Rubens, but we all work for Ferrari and that's the only thing that really does matter for us.
I think it would be very presumptuous and not humble at all to say that we are controlling everything. We try to do our best, but we don't want drivers to fight against each other if it is not in the interests of the company."
Todt admitted that Michael was not planning to hand the win to Rubens and said "It is not something that he was really looking for. It was not so intentional. He did not do anything to avoid it, but he didn't really do it on purpose. He wanted to aim as close as possible."

Other team bosses have criticised the way Michael decided to finish the race as it doesn't help Formula 1. The strongest criticism came for Jordan's team boss Eddie Jordan who said "After Austria, this isn't very clever is it? There is no such thing as dead heats in anything any more, timing is too accurate with beams and lasers and stuff
It is a very, very financially hostile market at the moment and there were other sports on TV today, one where golf made a huge impact on everyone throughout the globe by hard fighting.
People want to see real competition fought to the last ounce. That is what happened in golf, I understand it happened in the superbike race, and people are not going to turn on a Formula One race when they know the end is going to be decided other than by true racing.
If Ferrari have that advantage like they had, people at least deserve to see a race."

Williams Technical Director Patrick Head said "I think it reflects the fact that the senior people at Ferrari think that Ferrari is more important than motor racing and they think that finishing races that way reflects better on Ferrari but they don't seem to have an opinion of what it does for motor racing. We don't hold the same opinion.
Ultimately, though, they are the people doing the best technical job at the moment and if they wish to use it you could say it's their privilege - but I don't think they did the crowd any favours."

McLaren's boss Ron Dennis said "I don't really want to be drawn into the debate but it's not how we go about motor racing. I don't think you should ever trivialise what is a very challenging sport.
To win in motor racing is very hard and if you are in a wonderful position of being able to explore a performance advantage I don't think that should give you the platform to trivialise any race or world championship."

BAR's boss David Richards said "Michael backed off and Rubens didn't. He wasn't letting Rubens past. They were going to come over the line side-by-side, great show, great showmanship, waving at the crowd as they went past.
You watch the body language at the end of the race and you can tell - that was not meant to happen. There is no conspiracy theory. These things happen. They probably thought Michael had won it."

Minardi's boss Paul Stoddart said "It's not good for the sport, I'll agree with that. You'd have to ask Ferrari what the reasons are but I think most people will probably say they wish it hadn't happened."

30-Sep: "Your thoughts on the United States Grand Prix" - Topic of the week - Have Your Say