June 2001

29 June 2001 McLaren dominated the second free practice session with Coulthard, after his team mate Häkkinen dominated the first session. The Scot beat Irvine, Villeneuve, Häkkinen, R. Schumacher and Montoya. Current Championship leader M. Schumacher only managed the seventh time.

The French GP full practice session times:

1 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes 1m14.935s 2 IRVINE Jaguar 1m15.133s 3 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda 1m15.224s 4 HAKKINEN McLaren Mercedes 1m15.372s 5 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW 1m15.537s 6 MONTOYA Williams BMW 1m15.582s 7 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m15.810s 8 DE LA ROSA Jaguar 1m16.140s 9 TRULLI Jordan Honda 1m16.187s 10 BARRICHELLO Ferrari 1m16.325s 11 PANIS BAR Honda 1m16.364s 12 BURTI Prost Acer 1m16.455s 13 FRENTZEN Jordan Honda 1m16.868s 14 RAIKKONEN Sauber Petronas 1m16.906s 15 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas 1m17.011s 16 ALESI Prost Acer 1m17.088s 17 BUTTON Benetton Renault 1m17.172s 18 VERSTAPPEN Arrows Asiatech 1m17.285s 19 BERNOLDI Arrows Asiatech 1m17.527s 20 FISICHELLA Benetton Renault 1m17.566s 21 ALONSO Minardi European 1m17.866s 22 MARQUES Minardi European 1m18.372s

29 June 2001 Häkkinen backed up his claim that he is not out of the picture yet by clocking the fastest time in the French GP free practice session, ahead of current Championship leader M. Schumacher, team mate Coulthard, Barrichello, R. Schumacher and Montoya.

The French GP first free practice session times:

1 HAKKINEN McLaren Mercedes 1m15.889s 2 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m16.044s 3 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes 1m16.364s 4 BARRICHELLO Ferrari 1m16.398s 5 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW 1m16.438s 6 MONTOYA Williams BMW 1m16.553s 7 TRULLI Jordan Honda 1m16.570s 8 PANIS BAR Honda 1m16.842s 9 FRENTZEN Jordan Honda 1m16.868s 10 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda 1m16.973s 11 RAIKKONEN Sauber Petronas 1m17.180s 12 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas 1m17.365s 13 VERSTAPPEN Arrows Asiatech 1m17.495s 14 BERNOLDI Arrows Asiatech 1m17.527s 15 ALONSO Minardi European 1m18.036s 16 DE LA ROSA Jaguar 1m18.059s 17 BUTTON Benetton Renault 1m18.443s 18 BURTI Prost Acer 1m18.599s 19 FISICHELLA Benetton Renault 1m18.736s 20 ALESI Prost Acer 1m19.132s 21 MARQUES Minardi European 1m19.984s 22 IRVINE Jaguar 7m15.769s

29 June 2001 Stephen Taylor, formerly of Sauber, has joined Jordan as Head of Composite in a surprise move. Taylor, who had been with Sauber for only five months, was expected to rejoin Mclaren to be trained as a replacement for Adrian Newey.

29 June 2001 Jarno Trulli will decide what team to drive for next year at the end of next month. Trulli's contract with Jordan expires at the end of the current season and the Italian has the choice to either sign a new contract with Jordan, or move to Benetton where he would probably replace Button. Trulli has been unhappy with the reliability of Jordan this season.

28 June 2001 Jean Todt has announced that he has already made the decision to leave Ferrari when his current contract expires after the 2004 season. He added that at present his first priority is doing well in the 2001 Championship and that the team must concentrate on the remaining eight races. Todt has been at Ferrari eight years already.

28 June 2001 Gian Carlo Minardi is certain that the current inventigation in his financial activities will be resolved soon and everything will be clarified. In the meantime, he intends to carry on with his involvement in Formula 1.

27 June 2001 FIA have changed the starting grid rules with immediate effect. Any driver who stalls on the grid at the start of the formation lap will no longer be allowed to take the spare car and start the race from the pits. The rule is supported by all 11 Formula 1 teams and will be in force from the French GP onwards.

27 June 2001 Gian Carlo Minardi has confirmed that some of his past financial activities are currently being investigated by the Italian fiscal authorities. The period under investigation is 1993 to 1996, when he was Team Principal of the Minardi team. The prosecution claims that the Minardi team held hidden funds in the San Marino Promotion company, that managed their sponsorship contracts. Minardi is accused of having received 17 billion Italian lire but to have paid taxes and VAT only on part of the money. Gian Carlo Minardi denies any wrongdoing and had pledged to cooperate with the investigation.

24 June 2001 M. Schumacher started the European GP from pole position and maintained the lead throughout the race to win. His most direct competitor, his own brother, was taken out of the picture after being given a 10-seconds stop-go penalty and could only finish fourth. Montoya vindicated Williams by finishing in second place, while title competitor Coulthard managed the lowest step of the podium. Barrichello and Häkkinen finished in fifth and sixth places. The full race report is available from the Reports page.

The European GP finishing times:

1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari) in 1h29'42"724 2. Montoya (Williams-BMW) +4"217 3. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes) +24"993 4. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW) +33"345 5. Barrichello (Ferrari) +45"495 6. Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes) +1'04"868 7. Irvine (Jaguar) +1'16"198 8. De la Rosa (Jaguar) +1 lap 9. Villeneuve (Bar-Honda) +1 lap 10. Räikkönen (Sauber-Ferrari) +1 lap 11. Fisichella (Benetton-Renault) +1 lap 12. Burti (Prost-Ferrari) +2 laps 13. Button (Benetton-Renault) +2 laps 14. Alonso (Minardi-European) +2 laps 15. Alesi (Prost-Ferrari) +3 laps (retired)

24 June 2001 John Gano, president of Asiatech, announced that they will no longer provide engines to the Arrows team next season. Asiatech will nonetheless be present in Formula 1 next season, according to company director Enrique Scalabroni. Current rumours say that Asiatech is interested in buying a majority share of the Prost team.

23 June 2001 Tomorrow M. Schumacher will start from pole position for the seventh time this season after clocking the fastest lap time in the European GP qualifying session. The German prevented his younger brother Ralf from gaining his very firt pole position, while the other Williams driver Montoya will start from the second row of the grid alongside Barrichello. The third row will belong exclusively to McLaren will Coulthard and Häkkinen.

The European GP qualifying times:

1. M.SCHUMACHER (Ferrari) 1'14"960 (average 218.805 Km/h) 2. R.SCHUMACHER (Williams-BMW) 1'15"226 3. MONTOYA (Williams-BMW) 1'15"490 4. BARRICHELLO (Ferrari) 1'15"622 5. COULTHARD (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'15"717 6. HAKKINEN (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'15"776 7. TRULLI (Jordan-Honda) 1'16"138 8. FRENTZEN (Jordan-Honda) 1'16"376 9. RAIKKONEN (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'16"402 10. HEIDFELD (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'16"438 11. VILLENEUVE (Bar-Honda) 1'16"439 12. IRVINE (Jaguar) 1'16"588 13. PANIS (Bar-Honda) 1'16"872 14. ALESI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'17"251 15. FISICHELLA (Benetton-Renault) 1'17"378 16. DE LA ROSA (Jaguar) 1'17"627 17. BURTI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'18"113 18. BERNOLDI (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'18"151 19. VERSTAPPEN (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'18"262 20. BUTTON (Benetton-Renault) 1'18"626 21. ALONSO (Minardi-European) 1'18"630 22. MARQUES (Minardi-European) 1'18"689

23 June 2001 Williams dominated the European GP Saturday practice session, with R. Schumacher clocking the fastest time ahead of team mate Montoya. Barrichello was third, Häkkinen fourth, Coulthard fifth and M. Schumacher, who ran only a few laps before his car developed problems in the second hour, sixth.

The European GP Saturday practice session times:

1. R.SCHUMACHER (Williams-BMW) 1'15"355 (average 217.658 Km/h) 2. MONTOYA (Williams-BMW) 1'15"749 3. BARRICHELLO (Ferrari) 1'15"855 4. HAKKINEN (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'16"038 5. COULTHARD (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'16"237 6. M.SCHUMACHER (Ferrari) 1'16"308 7. TRULLI (Jordan-Honda) 1'16"385 8. FRENTZEN (Jordan-Honda) 1'16"407 9. PANIS (Bar-Honda) 1'16"625 10. RAIKKONEN (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'16"852 11. HEIDFELD (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'16"941 12. VILLENEUVE (Bar-Honda) 1'17"006 13. IRVINE (Jaguar) 1'17"609 14. BERNOLDI (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'17"686 15. BURTI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'17"688 16. FISICHELLA (Benetton-Renault) 1'17"785 17. ALESI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'17"839 18. DE LA ROSA (Jaguar) 1'18"048 19. VERSTAPPEN (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'18"123 20. BUTTON (Benetton-Renault) 1'18"674 21. ALONSO (Minardi-European) 1'19"164 22. MARQUES (Minardi-European) 1'20"208

23 June 2001 Orange Arrows announced today that Jos Verstappen has signed a new contract with the team for the 2002 season.

23 June 2001 R. Schumacher has signed an extension to his contract with Williams until the end of the 2004 season.

22 June 2001 Kazutoshi Nishizawa, Technical Director of Honda, has confirmed that they will provide engines to both BAR and Jordan next season. Recent paddock rumours hinted that Honda wanted to drop one of the two teams.

22 June 2001 Frentzen has been given the all-clear by doctors to take part in the European GP. The Jordan driver, howver, said that he wants to see how he copes in the practice session before making up his mind as to whether compete in the race on Sunday or not. Test driver Ricardo Zonta will take Frentzen's place if the German decides not to take part in the GP.

22 June 2001 Sauber Technical Director Stephen Taylor is leaving the team for personal reasons less then six months after joining. Taylor did not reveal what his plans are, but it is expected that he will rejoin McLaren, where he had already worked in the composite department, with the long term view that he will replace Adrian Newey when the designer moves out of Formula 1 onto other projects in two years time. Peter Sauber said that they are in no hurry to find a replacement for Taylor because they have already started the development of their new C21 car.

22 June 2001 McLaren dominated the second European GP free practice session, with Häkkinen just ahead of team mate Coulthard and almost a second faster than R. Schumacher in third position. The Ferrari of M. Schumacher and Barrichello finished with the fourth and fifth time ahead of Montoya.

The European GP second practice session times:

1. HAKKINEN (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'16"408 (average 214.658 Km/h) 2. COULTHARD (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'16"579 3. R.SCHUMACHER (Williams-BMW) 1'17"355 4. M.SCHUMACHER (Ferrari) 1'17"507 5. BARRICHELLO (Ferrari) 1'17"665 6. MONTOYA (Williams-BMW) 1'17"737 7. TRULLI (Jordan-Honda) 1'18"133 8. HEIDFELD (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'18"196 9. ALESI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'18"352 10. PANIS (Bar-Honda) 1'18"410 11. RAIKKONEN (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'18"413 12. VILLENEUVE (Bar-Honda) 1'18"434 13. DE LA ROSA (Jaguar) 1'18"473 14. FISICHELLA (Benetton-Renault) 1'19"339 15. IRVINE (Jaguar) 1'19"503 16. VERSTAPPEN (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'19"640 17. BERNOLDI (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'19"822 18. BUTTON (Benetton-Renault) 1'19"978 19. FRENTZEN (Jordan-Honda) 1'19"988 20. BURTI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'20"094 21. ALONSO (Minardi-European) 1'20"183 22. MARQUES (Minardi-European) 1'21"129

22 June 2001 The McLaren of Coulthard and Häkkinen roared to the top two lap times in the first free practice session for the European GP. Ferrari followed in third and fourth place with M. Schumacher and Barrichello. Trulli, Räikkönen and Panis were fifth, sixth ans seventh.

The European GP first practice session times:

1. COULTHARD (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'16"888 (average 213.318 Km/h) 2. HAKKINEN (McLaren-Mercedes) 1'17"022 3. M.SCHUMACHER (Ferrari) 1'17"767 4. BARRICHELLO (Ferrari) 1'17"912 5. TRULLI (Jordan-Honda) 1'18"755 6. RAIKKONEN (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'19"072 7. PANIS (Bar-Honda) 1'19"086 8. VILLENEUVE (Bar-Honda) 1'19"154 9. HEIDFELD (Sauber-Ferrari) 1'19"399 10. R.SCHUMACHER (Williams-BMW) 1'19"500 11. ALESI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'19"650 12. MONTOYA (Williams-BMW) 1'19"940 13. FRENTZEN (Jordan-Honda) 1'19"988 14. DE LA ROSA (Jaguar) 1'20"267 15. VERSTAPPEN (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'20"553 16. BERNOLDI (Arrows-Asiatech) 1'21"118 17. FISICHELLA (Benetton-Renault) 1'21"233 18. BURTI (Prost-Ferrari) 1'21"370 19. BUTTON (Benetton-Renault) 1'21"615 20. ALONSO (Minardi-European) 1'21"644 21. IRVINE (Jauguar) no time 22. MARQUES (Minardi-European) no time

21 June 2001 Heinz-Harald Frentzen has undergone fitness tests to establish whether he can take part in the European GP. The results of the tests were expected yesterday, but FIA Medical delegate Sid Watkins said that the decision will not be taken until tomorrow.

21 June 2001 Frentzen has said that he is about to sign a new contract with Jordan for another season.

20 June 2001 Formula 1 cars are to get brake lights. The move has been agreed by the Formula 1 teams in an attempt to cut the number of racing accidents caused by drivers driving into the back of the car in front. The system, which is supported by FIA, was tested at Silverstone last week.

20 June 2001 R. Schumacher has announced that he is talking to Williams BMW to finalise the details of a new contract. The duration of the new contract, that could be signed this weekend, has not been disclosed. R. Schumacher's personal manager Willi Weber said that several teams, including Ferrari, had contacted the driver with offers of driving contracts.

20 June 2001 Benetton will start using launch control and traction control from next GP. The elecronic enhancements are the first step towards a rebuild of the car, that should be ready for the French GP. Technical director Mike Gascoyne said that after the disappointment of the Canadian GP the team must concentrate on the European GP and try to at least finish the race.

19 June 2001 Pollock has confirmed that BAR will use Honda engines next season. Honda supplies both BAR and Jordan and there have been rumours that the engine manufacturer might drop one of the two teams next year. Pollock said that he has signed a contract for the supply of Honda engines to BAR in 2002.

19 June 2001 Mika Häkkinen said that he would not move over for Coulthard even if the team told him so to do so. The Finn said that McLaren pays him to win and that is what he intends to do.

19 June 2001 Magistrates in Monza have determined that the death of marshal Paolo Gislimberti during the Italian GP last season was an accident and nobody is to blame. The technical study determined that the conditions of the accident were unusual and umpredictable. The tyre that hit Paolo Gislimberti took a very unusual trajectory and the marshal himself had just moved away from a safe position to the place where he was struck.

19 June 2001 Jordan has announced that Frentzen will take part in the European GP next weekend. The German had renounced to run in the Canadian GP after suffering from dizzy spells and headaches. The confirmation of Frentzen's participation in the GP will be given on Thursday.

18 June 2001 Ferrari released a statement denying that they have any intention of splitting the company into three separate entities. The possibility has never been even considered, according to the note. Earlier today magazine Autosprint had published the rumour.

18 June 2001 According to Italian magazine Autosprint Ferrari is planning to split the company into three small independent companies. The racing section would separate from the production section and Maserati would become autonomous. Apparently one of the aims of the project is to allow the entry of smaller investors into the three companies. By splitting the company into three, Ferrari racing will also be able to give its key employees (Todt, M. Schumacher) shares in order to tie them to Ferrari for life.

18 June 2001 According to paddock rumours, Tom Walkinshaw is trying to convince General Motors to buy and rebadge a Ferrari engine for the Arrows Formula 1 team, in a deal similar to that of Sauber and Prost. Arrows currently uses the Asiatech engine and Walkinshaw has not been impressed with its performance. If the deal goes ahead, the Chevrolet or Cadillac brand names could be used to rebrand the engine. The move would also be seen to increase the US' involvement in Formula 1.

17 June 2001 Prost Grand Prix might use Asiatech engines next year after finding it difficult to pay for the customer Ferrari engines they have been using this season.

16 June 2001 Jackie Stewart, 63, was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honour List. Sir Stewart said that his knighthood was "more important than my first win or winning a world championship".

14 June 2001 Jacques Villenueve has dropped hints that he will sign with BAR for the fourth consecutive year in 2002.

14 June 2001 According to reports from Malaysia, Alex Yoong might be in the pipeline as replacement for Tarso Marques at Minardi. If Yoong does replace underperforming Marques, he will become the first Malaysian to race in Formula 1. Yoong does not yet have a superlicense.

14 June 2001 Narain Karthikeyan made history when he was the first Indian ever to drive a Formula 1 car during today's Silverstone tests. Karthikeyan clocked the 17th time in the session. Wurz had the best time in front of Häkkinen and the two Ferrari of Barrichello and M. Schumacher.

The Silverstone test times:

1. Wurz (Aut-McLaren) 1'22"098 (46 laps) 2. Häkkinen (Fin-McLaren) 1'22"647 (55 laps) 3. Barrichello (Bra-Ferrari ) 1'22"728 (66 laps) 4. M. Schumacher (Ger-Ferrari ) 1'23"139 (68 laps) 5. Zonta (Bra-Jordan) 1"23"195 (72 laps) 6. Räikkönen (Fin-Sauber) 1'23"427 (49 laps) 7. Panis (Fra-BAR) 1'23"819 (52 laps) 8. Verstappen (Ola-Arrows) 1'24"034 (84 laps) 9. Trulli (Ita-Jordan) 1'24"191 (79 laps) 10. De La Rosa (Spa-Jaguar) 1'24"301 (83 laps) 11. R. Schumacher (Ger-Williams) 1'24"366 (66 laps) 12. Montoya (Col-Williams) 1'24"447 (61 laps) 13. Villeneuve (Can-BAR) 1'24"586 (55 laps) 14. Alesi (Fra-Prost) 1'25"171 (67 laps) 15. Bernoldi (Bra-Arrows) 1'25"242 (71 laps) 16. Burti (Bra-Prost) 1'25"437 (73 laps) 17. Kharthikeyan (Ind-Jaguar) 1'26"136 (23 laps) 18. Webber (Aus-Benetton) 1'26"341 (47 laps) 19. Fisichella (Ita-Benetton) 1'26"592 (27 laps)

13 June 2001 The analysis on Barrichelo's Ferrari have confirmed that the Brazilian's car suffered from a faulty sensor in the traction control system during the Canadian GP. The fault sent Barrichello's car spinning while he was in third place, causing him to drop down several positions.

13 June 2001 Jaguar Racing and McLaren have reached an agreement over Adrian Newey at the High Court in London today. According to a joint statement issued by the two teams, the designer will continue working for McLaren, who have apologised to Jaguar Racing for the confusion.

12 June 2001 McLaren have revelaed that Coulthard's poor performance during the Canadian GP was caused by a collapsed front suspension. The Scot noticed the problem during the formation lap, but chose to race rather than go back to the pits losing his grid position. The result was a massive blister on his back because of the car vibrations.

12 June 2001 Eddie Irvine has pulled out of testing at Silverstone after only one lap complaining with pain in his neck. The Jaguar driver had pulled a neck muscle before the Canadian GP, but he had had no trouble with it until today. He will be resting for the next few days adn his place in testing will be taken by Jaguar Formula 3 driver Andre Lotterer.

11 June 2001 Frentzen has been ordered to rest following the dizzy spells and headaches that forced him out of the Canadian GP. His place in testing will be taken by test driver Ricardo Zonta, who had also replaced the German in the Canadian GP.

10 June 2001 R. Schumacher stormed to the second win of his Formula 1 career in Canada ahead of older brother Michael, Häkkinen, Räikkönen, Alesi and De La Rosa. Barrichello retired after he span out to avoid Montoya's car that had hit the wall and Coulthard suffered from a blown engine. The full race report is available from the Reports page.

The Canadian GP finishing times:

1. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW) in 1h34'31"522 (average 193,629 km/h) 2. M. Schumacher (Ferrari) + 20"2 3. Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes) + 40"6 4. Räikkönen (Sauber-Ferrari) + 1'08"1 5. Alesi (Prost-Ferrari) + 1'10"4 6. De la Rosa (Jaguar) + 1 lap 7. Zonta (Jordan-Honda) + 1 lap 8. Burti (Prost-Ferrari) + 1 lap 9. Marques (Minardi-European) + 2 laps 10. Verstappen (Arrows-Asiatech) + 4 laps (retired) 11. Trulli (Jordan-Honda) + 6 laps (retired)

10 June 2001 Olivier Panis was fastest in the warm-up session ahead of today's Canadian GP. The Frenchman beat Coulthard, Zonta, Irvine and Häkkinen. M. Schumacher and Barrichello were only sixth and eighth fastest in the warm-up.

The Canadian GP warm-up session times:

1 PANIS BAR Honda 1m18.512s 2 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes 1m18.540s 3 ZONTA Jordan Honda 1m18.545s 4 IRVINE Jaguar 1m18.594s 5 HAKKINEN McLaren Mercedes 1m18.650s 6 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m18.663s 7 TRULLI Jordan Honda 1m18.875s 8 BARRICHELLO Ferrari 1m19.201s 9 MONTOYA Williams BMW 1m19.372s 10 R.SCHUMACHER Williams BMW 1m19.536s 11 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda 1m19.572s 12 VERSTAPPEN Arrows Asiatech 1m19.775s 13 RAIKKONEN Sauber Petronas 1m19.876s 14 DE LA ROSA Jaguar 1m20.012s 15 BERNOLDI Arrows Asiatech 1m20.059s 16 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas 1m20.062s 17 ALESI Prost Acer 1m20.943s 18 ALONSO Minardi European 1m21.071s 19 BUTTON Benetton Renault 1m21.114s 20 FISICHELLA Benetton Renault 1m21.344s 21 MARQUES Minardi European 1m21.415s 22 BURTI Prost Acer 1m21.563s

10 June 2001 Montoya and Villeneuve have been threatened with a two-race ban if they don't start behaving. Montoya allegedly blocked Villeneuve who then went ahead of the Colombian and braked suddently, causing the Williams to hit the back of the BAR during the Friday practice. At the driver's briefing the two became involved in an animated discussion about the event and Villeneuve allegedly grabbed Montoya by the throat. Ecclestone has had a quiet word with the two drivers and Charlie Whiting threatened to ban the two for two races if they continue their confrontation. Villeneuve and Montoya will both start the Canadian GP from the fifth row on the grid.

9 June 2001 Ferrari has been fined 10,000 US dollars because the mechanics got to work on Barrichello's car when it was already lined up in the fast lane of the pits ready to go after Heidfeld's accident.

9 June 2001 M. Schumacher took pole position for the Canadian GP by clocking the new lap time record at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal. The German will be starting alongside younger brother Ralf, who relegated title contender Coulthard into third place. The Scot just managed to put himslef in front of Trulli, who beat Barrichello and Panis. Alonso clocked the 21st fastest time at 1'19"454 but was later penalised for having a non-regular front wing and will start from last place on the grid.

The Canadian GP qualifying session times:

1. M.SCHUMACHER (Ger-Ferrari) 1'15"782 (average: 210,018 Km/h) 2. R.SCHUMACHER (Ger-Williams)1'16"297 3. COULTHARD (GB-McLaren) 1'16"423 4. TRULLI (Ita-Jordan) 1'16"459 5. BARRICHELLO (Bra-Ferrari) 1'16"760 6. PANIS (Fra-BAR) 1'16"771 7. RAIKKONEN (Fin-Sauber) 1'16"875 8. HAKKINEN (Fin-McLaren) 1'16"979 9. VILLENEUVE (Can-BAR) 1'17"035 10. MONTOYA (Col-Williams) 1'17"123 11. HEIDFELD (Ger-Sauber) 1'17"165 12. ZONTA (Bra-Jordan) 1'17"328 13. VERSTAPPEN (Hol-Arrows) 1'17"903 14. DE LA ROSA (Spa-Jaguar) 1'18"015 15. IRVINE (Gb-Jaguar) 1'18"016 16. ALESI (Fra-Prost) 1'18"178 17. BERNOLDI (Bra-Arrows) 1'18"575 18. FISICHELLA (Ita-Benetton) 1'18"622 19. BURTI (Bra-Prost) 1'18"753 20. BUTTON (GB-Benetton) 1'19"033 21. MARQUES (Bra-Minardi) 1'20"690 22. ALONSO (Spa-Minardi) No Time

9 June 2001 Frentzen will not be taking place in the Canadian GP and his place will be taken by test driver Ricardo Zonta. The German has been complaining of dizziness and loss of balance since he suffered a crash during the Monaco GP two weeks ago. Frentzen has flown back to Europe to undergo hospital tests.

8 June 2001 Jaguar are attempting to stop Adrian Newey from working for McLaren next season with a High Court injunction. The Jaguar team released an official statement from Canada announcing that they have obtained the injunction against McLaren in London. They also said that they have a valid three-year contract with Newey, starting on the day after he is supposed to finish at McLaren, the 31st of July 2002. McLaren replied that they were not aware than Newey had signed a binding contract with Jaguar when they entered negotiations with the designer over an extension to his contract. The Woking team accused Jaguar of lying about their contacts with Newey. McLaren maintain that they had received assurance several times from Jaguar Racing that they were not in talks with any member of the McLaren team.

7 June 2001 Gianni Morbidelli has denied that he is in line to replace Tarso Marques at Minardi. Morbidelli was expecetd to take the second Minardi seat at the beginning of the season, but then Marques was preferred because of the sponsorship money he brought to the team. Marques, however, has so far failed to impress and pits rumours say that he is on his way out. Morbidelli has denied being contacted by Minardi, but said that he would jump to the chance if it was on offer.

4 June 2001 R. Schumacher is set to extend his contract with Williams-Bmw by two years until 2004. Willi Weber, personal manager of the Schumacher brothers, believes that the contract will be finalised by the end of June, unless problems arise. According to Weber both R. Schumacher and Frank Williams are happy to extend the contract. R. Schumacher's current contract expires at the end of 2002.

4 June 2001 Jaguar released a statement today saying that Newey had signed a legally binding contract with the team and that this has been confirmed by Queen's Counsel. Because Newey has indicated that he does not intend to honour the contract, Jaguar are considering bringing legal action against him and McLaren International.

3 June 2001 Jaguar have threatened to sue McLaren over the Newey affair.

2 June 2001 FIA have rejected BAR's complaint against Kimi Räikkönen. BAR had accused the Finn of overtaking Burti under yellow flag during the Austrian GP. Räikkönen finished the Austrian GP in fourth place, ahead of BAR's Olivier Panis.

1 June 2001 Newey has announced that he has signed a new contract to extend his existing collaboration with McLaren for a further three years past the terms of the existing contract. Jaguar have replied to the announcement saying that they signed a contract with Newey in good faith and that they intend to have further discussion on the issue. Newey said that he informed Jaguar of his decision before they issued the statement saying that he was joining them, but that the statement went out all the same. He added that he is sorry for the embarassement this has caused to his friends both in McLaren and Jaguar.

1 June 2001 The Adrian Newey situation is getting more and more confusing. At 11.30am on 1st June McLaren issued a press release stating that the designer will stay with the Woking team beyond the terms of his current contract. McLaren's statement contradicts the announcement Jaguar made earlier today.

1 June 2001 According to the Italian press, Tarso Marques is in danger of losing his drive at Minardi after failing to impress.

1 June 2001 Despite McLaren's denial that Adrian Newey was leaving, Jaguar have announced that they have signed a deal with the designer, who will start working for the team in August 2002.

Last updated on by Federica Massagrande