December 1997

18 December 1997 Stewart Racing announced two new long-term sponsorship deals with MCI and the Lear Corporation. Stewart Racing had previously lost the backing of the Malaysian government propting the FIA to raise doubts that the team could afford to take part in every race in 1998. Jackie Stewart pointed out that none of the sponsors of his team is involved with the tobacco industry.

16 December 1997 The six people on trial for the death of Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna have all been found not guilty of his death. They are: Frank Williams, Patrick Head and Adrian Newey (the two technicians of the Williams team who had designed and carried out the modifications to the steering column), Roland Bruynseraede (the FIA inspector who had approved the Imola track for racing), Federico Bendinelli and Giorgio Poggi (members of the management of the Imola circuit).

Three years after the death of Senna the trial is over. The trial ran from February and has generated lots of attention and harsh controversy, including a threat from members of FIA to exclude the Italian circuits from hosting F1 GPs and all other types of motor racing competitions over which FIA have control.

13 December 1997 Ferrari said they are going for the title in 1998.

13 December 1997 FIA released the new 98 calendar yesterday. The French GP is not included because the French government failed to solve the issues to do with television broadcasting rights. The Belgian and Portoguese GPs are in only provisionally pending issues to do with tobacco advertising ban and circuit completion. China and South Africa have been nominated as alternative races, should either of the two provisional races be dropped.

12 December 1997 The organisers of the Belgian GP said that they are considering taking the government to court over the ban on tobacco advertising.

11 December 1997 Federal Express has renewed its sponsorship of Benetton for 1998.

10 December 1997 Gianni Morbidelli is leaving F1. In 1998 the Italian driver will team up with Richard Rydell in the British Touring Car Championship. He will drive a Volvo S40 and compete for Tom Walkinghshaw Racing.

10 December 1997 Joaquim Pina Moura, Portoguese minister of finances, confirmed that the GP of Portugal will be back on the calendar in 1998, despite the fact that the tribunal declared not valid the contract between Cascais council and the cooperative which was due to carry out the works at Estoril.

8 December 1997 Because of the new anti-tobacco regulations, the Canadian Imperial Tobacco group said that they will no longer sponsor the Canadian GP.

8 December 1997 Several drivers have criticised the new groved tyres after the first few days of testing. After Villeneuve, Coulthard, Fisichella and Trulli, it was Larini's turn to comment on the new tyres. According to him it feels like driving on dry ground with wet tyres. He thinks that the races will be won by whatever driver manages to make the tyres last the longest. The wear on the tyres is going to be one of the major problems in the 1998 Championship.

7 December 1997 The FIA is satisfied that Stewart Racing has the financial backing to take part in the 1998 Championship.

5 December 1997 The European Union has reached an agreement on tobacco advertising. Formula 1 has nine years to phase out tobacco advertising, after that date F1 wil have to comply with the EU-wide ban on smoking advertisment. The absolute deadline is 1st of October 2006.

4 December 1997 Berger presented yesterday his autobiography, Zielgerade, in which he recalls his career in F1, starting from the time of turbo engines, when he was battling with drivers such as Niki Lauda (who wrote the preface), up to his retirement last month. In the book berger also talks for the first time about the tragedy of his father's death and his friendship with Ayrton Senna. During the book presentation the former driver said that he might get back into F1 as a consultant, but he'll make up his mind after he has had a good holiday.

3 December 1997 Ken Tyrrell confirmed that Jos Verstappen is going to be one of the Tyrrell drivers in 1998.

3 December 1997 The FIA has published the list of the teams and drivers taking part in the 1998 Championship. The list also has a note saying that Stewart Racing must provide guarantee that they are financially able to race for the whole season. Jackie Stewart said that the team is in a better financial position than in the 1997 season and he thinks FIA put that note in because he (Stewart) had criticised the leniant penalty given to M. Schumacher for ramming Villeneuve's car.

2 December 1997 The creation of a new F1 team was annunced today. The British American Racing (BAR) is owned by British American Tobacco (50%), Adrian Reynard (25%) and Villeneuve's manager (Craig Pollock, 25%). The team will debut in 1999, but in reality it will be active from next season, as it has bought the Tyrrel team to be allowed into the Concorde agreement. In 98 Tyrrel will still race under its own name, but will be sponsored by BAR.

2 December 1997 McLaren will be using Bridgestone tyres in 1998.

1 December 1997 The tests restart today after the compulsory stop. All the major teams, except from Ferrari, will be testing at Barcelona.

Last updated on 18 December 1997 by Federica Massagrande