News On F1 - Formula One News for July 2003

22 July: In a surprise announcement, the Jaguar Racing team announced the replacement of Antonio Pizzonia with Minardi's Justin Wilson with immediate effect. Pizzonia's performances this season haven't been impressive and has failed to score a single point while his team-mate Mark Webber managed to score 12 points so far. Earlier in the season, there was a strong rumour that McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz was to replace the struggling Jaguar driver but the deal fell through and Jaguar admitted mishandling the matter at the time. This deal with the Minardi team and Justin Wilson was kept away from the public until hours before the public announcement.
Jaguar's Managing Director David Pitchforth said "We are delighted to have Justin join us for the remainder of the 2003 season in what is a richly deserved opportunity.
In the Jaguar R4, we clearly have a competitive car and one that has helped Mark Webber secure twelve points thereby taking the team to 6th place in the Constructor's Championship. With five races left on the calendar, it is critical that we are maximising our potential with two race cars."
Justin Wilson was thrilled with the opportunity to drive for the Jaguar Racing team and said "This is fantastic news and a simply brilliant opportunity for me. Jaguar have been really impressive this year and made a big step forward over the winter. As Mark Webber has proven, this is a team that can score world championship points and I'm determined to do just that.
I can't wait to get in the car at Hockenheim. Of course it's not going to be easy jumping straight in but I'm absolutely determined to reward the team's confidence in me. Jaguar has such a fantastic motorsport heritage and I'm just so very proud to have this opportunity to join the team.
I am immensely grateful to my Minardi boss, Paul Stoddart, for having enough confidence in me to give me the drive this year and for doing an amazing job on so little money, giving me the opportunity to learn about Formula One.
Outgoing driver Antonio Pizzonia was shocked with the news and declined an offer from Jaguar to be their test and reserve driver and said "The sudden decision by Jaguar Racing not to let me continue as a full-time Formula One driver for the team came as a complete shock to me. As the season has progressed my performances have improved.
As has been widely reported, Jaguar has offered me a reserve driver and testing role but I have declined this. I now have to reflect on what has happened and decide which is the best course of action for me to take. However, I fully intend to pursue my career in Formula One."

The Minardi team have announced that Danish driver Nicolas Kiesa will take Justin's place in the team. A statement by the Minardi team read "The European Minardi Cosworth Formula One Team announces that, with immediate effect, its driver, Justin Wilson, is transferring to Jaguar Racing, and that his place in the Faenza squad will be taken by up-and-coming Danish star, Nicolas Kiesa.
This follows Wilson�s impressive showing in yesterday�s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, as well as a series of strong performances in this, his first season of Formula One competition, that have marked him out as a future star of the sport. It is also the third time in three successive years that European Minardi has helped to launch the F1 career of an aspiring young driver, as Wilson follows in the footsteps of Fernando Alonso (2001) and Mark Webber (2002).
Copenhagen-born Kiesa, 25, has trodden the normally accepted training route for front-line single-seater racing drivers, having started out in Danish, European and World Karting Championship events, before graduating to Formula Ford, the British and German Formula Three Championships, and most recently, the FIA F3000 International Championship. He has driven for the Den Bla Avis team this season, memorably winning the Monaco Grand Prix support race at the end of May, and was lying fifth in the Championship standings following last Saturday�s Silverstone round, where he scored another point.
�It�s a case of �mixed feelings� when it comes to Justin�s departure from European Minardi,� comments Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. �We are obviously sad to lose him, but pleased, and proud, that he has been able to demonstrate his undoubted driving talent at Minardi. A move to Jaguar Racing gives him the opportunity to develop his talent further and, at the same time, benefits Minardi enormously, as it helps to assure the team�s future in Formula One. Like Fernando and Mark before him, Justin is now clearly on his way. This also clearly illustrates one of the invaluable roles that the smaller, independent teams fulfil in this sport: they are able to give young drivers the opportunity to showcase their talent and establish themselves as Grand Prix stars of the future.
�Looking ahead, we welcome Nicolas to the team. He comes with impressive racing credentials, and all of us at European Minardi Cosworth look forward to working with him.�

21 July: Your Say: Your thoughts on the British GP

20 July: British Grand Prix - Sunday Team and Driver Quotes

20 July: British Grand Prix - Sunday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

20 July: British Grand Prix - Race: Rubens Barrichello wins the race ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen. Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli, Cristiano da Matta and Jenson Button make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

19 July: British Grand Prix - Saturday Team and Driver Quotes

19 July: British Grand Prix - Saturday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

19 July: British Grand Prix - Saturday Qualifying: Rubens Barrichello grabs pole position ahead of Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen. Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher, Cristiano da Matta, Juan Pablo Montoya and Fernando Alonso make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

19 July: British Grand Prix - Second Saturday Practice: Juan Pablo Montoya sets the fastest time of the session ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher. Ralf Schumacher, Olivier Panis, David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

19 July: British Grand Prix - First Saturday Practice: Kimi Raikkonen sets the fastest time of the session ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher. Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso, Jacques Villeneuve, Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli make the top 8 ... Results

18 July: British Grand Prix - Friday Team and Driver Quotes

18 July: British Grand Prix - Friday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

18 July: British Grand Prix - Friday Qualifying: Michael Schumacher takes provisional pole ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher. Fernando Alonso, Olivier Panis, Jarno Trulli, David Coulthard and Mark Webber make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

18 July: British Grand Prix - Friday Practice: David Coulthard sets the fastest time of the session ahead of Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso. Rubens Barrichello, Olivier Panis, Jarno Trulli, Jenson Button and Antonio Pizzonia make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

17 July: British Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

17 July: The Heretic: "Will Williams dominate the rest of the season ?" - The Heretic reviews the French GP and previews the British GP - Issue 12

16 July: Controversy Corner: "It's a farce!" - The Quali-flyer highlights the shortcomings of the new Qualifying format

16 July: British Grand Prix - "Another Michelin win!" ... Race Preview

10 July: 8 'n' Pole: amenlo retains the lead following the round of France ... Overall Results ... France Results ... Popular Picks ... Register

7 July: Your Say: Your thoughts on the French GP

6 July: French Grand Prix - Sunday Team and Driver Quotes

6 July: French Grand Prix - Sunday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

6 July: French Grand Prix - Race: Ralf Schumacher wins his second race in a row ahead of team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher. Kimi Raikkonen, David Coulthard, Mark Webber, Rubens Barrichello and Olivier Panis make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

5 July: French Grand Prix - Saturday Team and Driver Quotes

5 July: French Grand Prix - Saturday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

5 July: French Grand Prix - Saturday Qualifying: Ralf Schumacher grabs Pole position ahead of team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher. Kimi Raikkonen, David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli, Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

5 July: French Grand Prix - Second Saturday Practice: Ralf Schumacher sets the fastest time of the session ahead of team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard. Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Olivier Panis make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

5 July: French Grand Prix - First Saturday Practice: Fernando Alonso sets the fastest time of the session ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher. Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen and Cristiano da Matta make the top 8 ... Results

4 July: French Grand Prix - Friday Team and Driver Quotes

4 July: French Grand Prix - Friday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

4 July: French Grand Prix - Friday Qualifying (Drying track): Jos Verstappen takes provisional pole ahead of Ralf Firman and Nick Heidfeld, Olivier Panis, Antonio Pizzonia, Jacques Villeneuve, Mark Webber and Heinz Harald Frentzen make the top 8 ... Results ... Report
Second placed Justin Wilson had his time disallowed due to car being underweight.

4 July: French Grand Prix - Friday Practice (Wet session): Mark Webber sets the fastest time ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. Jarno Trulli, Antonio Pizzonia, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Olivier Panis make the top 8 ... Results ... Report

3 July: French Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference from the FIA in pdf

2 July: The Heretic: "Can Bridgestone bridge the gap ?" - The Heretic reviews the European GP and previews the French GP - Issue 11

1 July: French Grand Prix - "Michelin will dominate!" ... Race Preview