F1 News

September 2003


30 September 2003 Recent reports say that rising star Fernando Alonso is set to join Ferrari as a replacement for M. Schumacher in 2005. However, conflicting reports claim that the German intends to see out his contract with Ferrari until 2006.

30 September 2003 According to paddock rumours at the US GP in Indianapolis, the Formula One French Grand Prix may be held at the Bugatti circuit of Le Mans as early as next year because of financial difficulties concerning the Nevers/Magny-Cours circuit.

30 September 2003 According to Italian sport newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, a group of Northern Italian businessmen are rumoured to be on the verge of buying the Minardi team, currently owned by Paul Stoddart and Bernie Ecclestone. According to the same source, Minardi are also negotiating an engine supply deal with Toyota for 2004.

29 September 2003 Street and race wheels manufacturer Enkei has extended its partnership with the McLaren team. Enkei will continue to supply the team with lightweight magnesium race wheels.

29 September 2003 The Sauber team has confirmed that driver Nick Heidfeld has not been offered a new driving contract for next season. The German could join the Jaguar or Jordan team in 2004. The other 2003 Sauber driver, Heinz-Harald Frenzen, is expected to retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season. Their places will be taken by Giancarlo Fisichella and Ferrari test driver Felipe Massa.

28 September 2003 Kimi Räikkönen appeared to be the strong favourite of the US GP as he took the lead from pole position. On lap four title contender Montoya became involved in a scrap with Barrichello that ended with the Colombian pushing the Brazilian out of the track and the race. Lower down the grid, M. Schumacher managed to jump from a starting position of P7 to P4 by the end of the first lap. Things started changing with the weather. The rain came and M. Schumacher decided to go on the well-renowed Bridgestone intermediate, while his direct competitors had to go for the Michelin full wet tyres. M. Schumacher was able to make good progress on the intermediate Bridgestone tyres, as the other drivers suffered for the rain and were forced to go through a series of pit stops. Notable casualty of the weather were R. Schumacher, who crashed into the barrier and damaged his rear wing, Mark Webber and Olivier Panis. David Coulthard made the strange decision to stay out on dry tyres and paid for it by not finishing the race. Montoya's bid for the title was denied when he was handed a drive-through penalty for causing the accident that had forced Barrichello out of the race. Räikkönen was unable to catch up M. Schumacher, who had ended up leading the race, and had to settle for second, keeping his chances to win the Drivers title open, though slim. To be crowned Champion he will have to win the Japanese GP and hope that M. Schumacher finishes outside the points. Frentzen finished third to take his first podium position for a very long time, with Trulli and Heidfeld ahead of a Montoya to deny him the chance to win the Championship. Fisichella managed to bring home two more points for Jordan and Wilson added one more point to Jaguar's total for the season. Today's result, with R. Schumacher's retirement and Montoya's sixth place, puts Ferrari back in the lead of the Constructors Championship, despite Barrichello's retirement. The two Championships are still open to play for at the Japanese GP, though it is likely that the Drivers Championship will go to M. Schumacher for a recor sixth time.

US GP finishing times:

01M.SCHUMACHER FERRARI B1h33'35"997196.164 Km/h
02K.RAIKKONEN McLAREN MERCEDES M+ 0'18"258195.529 Km/h
03HH.FRENTZEN SAUBER PETRONAS B+ 0'37"964194.847 Km/h
04J.TRULLI RENAULT M+ 0'48"329194.491 Km/h
05N.HEIDFELD SAUBER PETRONAS B+ 0'56"403194.214 Km/h
06JP.MONTOYA WILLIAMS BMW M1 lap
07G.FISICHELLA JORDAN FORD B1 lap
08J.WILSON JAGUAR M2 laps
09C.DA MATTA TOYOTA M2 laps
10J.VERSTAPPEN MINARDI COSWORTH B4 laps
11N.KIESA MINARDI COSWORTH B4 laps
12J.VILLENEUVE BAR HONDA B10 laps
13R.FIRMAN JORDAN FORD B25 laps
14D.COULTHARD McLAREN MERCEDES M28 laps
15F.ALONSO RENAULT M29 laps
16J.BUTTON BAR HONDA B32 laps
17O.PANIS TOYOTA M46 laps
18M.WEBBER JAGUAR M52 laps
19R.SCHUMACHER WILLIAMS BMW M52 laps
20R.BARRICHELLO FERRARI B71 lap

28 September 2003 Patrick Head has insisted that Juan Pablo Montoya will be driving for the team in 2004. The Colombian, who is contracted to Williams for next season, is at the center of a rumours mill that sees him heading to McLaren in 2004. Meanwhile, team mate R. Schumacher is rumoured to be about to sign with Williams until 2006.

27 September 2003 Kimi Räikkönen was right not to worry about his P9 in qualifying. The Finn will start the US GP from pole position in front of a Ferrari, that of Rubens Barrichello. The car of title contender M. Schumacher is down in P7, just one place up from the first qualifying session. Panis did not let family drama interfere with his session and qualified ahead of other title contnder Montoya. R. Schmacher, Alonso and Coulthard qualified in P5, P6 and P8 respectively.

US GP Saturday qualifying times: (grid positions)

01K.RAIKKONEN McLAREN MERCEDES M1'11"670210.565 Km/h
02R.BARRICHELLO FERRARI B1'11"794+ 0'00"124
03O.PANIS TOYOTA M1'11"920+ 0'00"250
04JP.MONTOYA WILLIAMS BMW M1'11"948+ 0'00"278
05R.SCHUMACHER WILLIAMS BMW M1'12"078+ 0'00"408
06F.ALONSO RENAULT M1'12"087+ 0'00"417
07M.SCHUMACHER FERRARI B1'12"194+ 0'00"524
08D.COULTHARD McLAREN MERCEDES M1'12"297+ 0'00"627
09C.DA MATTA TOYOTA M1'12"326+ 0'00"656
10J.TRULLI RENAULT M1'12"566+ 0'00"896
11J.BUTTON BAR HONDA B1'12"695+ 0'01"025
12J.VILLENEUVE BAR HONDA B1'13"050+ 0'01"380
13N.HEIDFELD SAUBER PETRONAS B1'13"083+ 0'01"413
14M.WEBBER JAGUAR M1'13"269+ 0'01"599
15HH.FRENTZEN SAUBER PETRONAS B1'13"447+ 0'01"777
16J.WILSON JAGUAR M1'13"585+ 0'01"915
17G.FISICHELLA JORDAN FORD B1'13"798+ 0'02"128
18R.FIRMAN JORDAN FORD B1'14"027+ 0'02"357
19J.VERSTAPPEN MINARDI COSWORTH B1'15"360+ 0'03"690
20N.KIESA MINARDI COSWORTH B1'15"644+ 0'03"974

26 September 2003 Jarno Trulli was not happy with dominating the Friday practice sessions, so he went and took provision pole in the rain-marred qualifying session too. Ferrari's Barrichello clocked the second best time, but team mate and Champioship contender M. Schumacher was down in P8 ahead of rival Räikk&oul;nen but behind Webber, R. Schumacher, Montoya, Coulthard and Alonso.

US GP Friday qualifying times:

1 TRULLI RENAULT M 1'09"566 216.934 Km/h
2 BARRICHELLO FERRARI B 1'09"835 +0'00"269
3 WEBBER JAGUAR M 1'10"081 +0'00"515
4 R. SCHUMACHER WILLIAMS BMW M 1'10"222 +0'00"656
5 MONTOYA WILLIAMS BMW M 1'10"372 +0'00"806
6 COULTHARD McLAREN MERCEDES M 1'10"450 +0'00"884
7 ALONSO RENAULT M 1'10"556 +0'00"990
8 M. SCHUMACHER FERRARI B 1'10"736 +0'01"170
9 RAIKKONEN McLAREN MERCEDES M 1'10"756 +0'01"190
10 BUTTON BAR HONDA B 1'11"847 +0'02"281
11 DA MATTA TOYOTA M 1'11"949 +0'02"383
12 FISICHELLA JORDAN FORD B 1'12"227 +0'02"661
13 FRENTZEN SAUBER PETRONAS B 1'13"541 +0'03"975
14 PANIS TOYOTA M 1'17"666 +0'08"100
15 HEIDFELD SAUBER PETRONAS B 1'17"768 +0'08"202
16 VILLENEUVE BAR HONDA B 1'18"547 +0'08"981
17 FIRMAN JORDAN FORD B 1'19"383 +0'09"817
18 WILSON JAGUAR M 1'19"491 +0'09"925
19 KIESA MINARDI COSWORTH B 1'21"973 +0'12"407
20 VERSTAPPEN MINARDI COSWORTH B 1'55"300 +0'45"734

26 September 2003 Philippe Panis, the father of Olivier Panis, has been arrested on susspicion of receiving luxury vehicles which were probably stolen in Switzerland. He and 13 other people will stand trial in Aix-en-Provence, France. Philippe Panis and five other men were arrested yesterday at the SARL Auto Prestige car dealer, which is operated by Philippe Panis himself, in Crolles, France. Five or six Mercedes were seized by police on location.

26 September 2003 Ralph Firman still has to decide whether he is fit enough to take part in the US GP. The announcement will be made before the first qualifying session.

25 September 2003 Max Mosley has warned that any evidence of team orders will be put in front of stewards, as the season enters its final two races with both Championships still to be decided. Mosley reminded the teams that the wording of the regulation made in October last year was done with the agreement of the teams. The wording, said Mosley has not changed and will be strictly applied. During the FIA press conference on Friday at Monza, Ross Brawn (Ferrari), Patrick Head (Williams), Ron Dennis (McLaren) and Flavio Briatore (Renault) were all in favour of team orders for the last two GPs of the season.

24 September 2003 Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said that the team will not contest past results based on the fact that the Michelin tyres were possibly too wide.

23 September 2003 The Mild Seven Renault F1 Team has announced that 25-year-old Franck Montagny will join the team as third driver for the 2004 Formula 1 season.

22 September 2003 Test driver Takuma Sato has denied the rumour that he will be replacing Jacques Villeneuve as race driver in his home GP at Suzuka. The Japanese said that he does not understand why the media have been circulating such a story.

18 September 2003 Jenson Button suffered a crash during testing at Jerez today. The Briton put a wheel on the grass at Sito Pons (turn four) and hit the barrier side on. Button walked away with nothing more serious than bruised knees, but the left-hand side of his car's chassis and the suspensions were heavily damaged and won't be repaired until replacement parts arrive tomorrow. Button did not need to go to the medical centre, but he returned to London to be seen by his own doctor.

17 September 2003 Former F1 driver Alessandro Zanardi, who lost both legs in an accident during a CART race on the German circuit of Lausitzring two years ago, is making his comeback to racing. Mario Theissen made the official announcement that Alex Zanardi will be back in competition in ETCC at the wheel of a BMW 320i on the 19th of October. Zanardi will be the third driver in the Ravaglia team, alongside Fabrizio Giovanardi and Antonio Garcia. Alessandro Zanardi, who uses prosthetic legs, will drive a specially adapted car with only one pedal for braking and all the other commands accessible from the steering wheel.

17 September 2003 R. Schumacher said that he intends to take part in the US GP. The German missed the Italian GP after he developed headaches following the Friday qualifying session. The driver and team boss Frank Williams denied the rumour that Jacques Villeneuve would be in the Williams in the last two races of the season. R. Schumacher's choice to miss the Italian GP has sparked rumours of a rift between the driver and the team.

14 September 2003 Frank Williams has expressed concerns that R. Schumacher, who missed today's Italian GP, could not be fit enough to take part in the US GP in two weeks time. The news come among pit lane rumours that the driver has had a bust up with the team after being asked to support team mate Montoya's bid for the title. There have also been unconfirmed claims that the German has been unceremoniously sacked by Williams for refusing to accept the team orders.

14 September 2003 The Italian GP was fought in the first few corners of the track. M. Schumacher took the lead from pole position, with Montoya hot on his tail. Before the first corner the two drivers were already involved in an impressive wheel-to-wheel battle that ended with the German ahead. The Colombian dropped back a bit and that was it. The Ferrari driver started pulling slowly away and manage to keep himself in front for the rest of the race, also aided by the Sauber of Frentzen, who did not make it easy for Montoya to lap him in the final stages of the GP. Trulli made a great start, went ahead of Barrichello and it almost looked as if he could get involved with the M. Schumacher-Montoya battle right at the start, but his car betrayed him and, during the very first lap, the Italian had to park it on the straight where it stayed until the end. Barrichello kept Räikkönen at bay, bringing in much needed extra points for Ferrari, while the battle between Coulthard and Gené ended when the Scot retired with car problems. The start of the race also featured the collission of Alonso and Verstappen. The Spaniard, winner of the Hungarian GP, had started from the back after spinning during qualifying and went into the back of the Minardi as he tried to avoid Justin Wilson's Jaguar. All three had to go back to the pits and rejoined, but Wilson retired soon afterwards. Nonetheless Alonso managed to finish in the points. BAR had mixed fortunes, with Button retiring with gearbox problems and Villeneuve finishing in the points. Today's race increased M. Schumacher's lead to three points, still leaving the Drivers Championship well open. The Constructors Championship gap narrowed, with Williams maintaining a diminished lead over Ferrari.

Italian GP finishing times:

1. 1 M. SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1h14'19"838 247.586 Km/h
2. 3 MONTOYA Williams BMW M +0'05"294 247.292 Km/h
3. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B +0'11"835 246.930 Km/h
4. 6 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M +0'12"834 246.875 Km/h
5. 4 GENE Williams BMW M +0'27"891 246.047 Km/h
6. 16 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda B 1 lap
7. 14 WEBBER Jaguar Cosworth M 1 lap
8. 8 ALONSO Renault M 1 lap
9. 9 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas B 1 lap
10. 11 FISICHELLA Jordan Ford B 1 lap
11. 12 BAUMGARTNER Jordan Ford B 2 laps
12. 18 KIESA Minardi Cosworth B 2 laps
13. 10 FRENTZEN Sauber Petronas B 3 laps
14. 5 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes M 8 laps
15. 20 PANIS Toyota M 18 laps
16. 19 VERSTAPPEN Minardi Cosworth B 26 laps
17. 17 BUTTON BAR Honda B 29 laps
18. 21 DA MATTA Toyota M 50 laps
19. 15 WILSON Jaguar Cosworth M 51 laps
20. 7 TRULLI Renault M 53 laps

13 September 2003 M. Schumacher gave himself a psychological boost by clinching pole position for the Italian GP. Last driver out Montoya failed to beat the German's time and had to settle for second spot on the grid. M. Schumacher's team mate Barrichello and McLaren's Räikkönen will share the second row, while injured R. Schumacher's replacement Gené will start alongside Trulli on the third row. Fernando Alonso clocked the worst time of the day after spinning at the first chicane.

Italian GP second qualifying session times (grid):

1. 1 M. SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1'20"963 257.584 Km/h
2. 3 MONTOYA Williams BMW M 1'21"014 +0'00"051
3. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B 1'21"242 +0'00"279
4. 6 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 1'21"466 +0'00"503
5. 4 GENE Williams BMW M 1'21"834 +0'00"871
6. 7 TRULLI Renault M 1'21"944 +0'00"981
7. 17 BUTTON BAR Honda B 1'22"301 +0'01"338
8. 5 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes M 1'22"471 +0'01"508
9. 20 PANIS Toyota M 1'22"488 +0'01"525
10. 16 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda B 1'22"717 +0'01"754
11. 14 WEBBER Jaguar Cosworth M 1'22"754 +0'01"791
12. 21 DA MATTA Toyota M 1'22"914 +0'01"951
13. 11 FISICHELLA Jordan Ford B 1'22"992 +0'02"029
14. 10 FRENTZEN Sauber Petronas B 1'23"216 +0'02"253
15. 15 WILSON Jaguar Cosworth M 1'23"484 +0'02"521
16. 9 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas B 1'23"803 +0'02"840
17. 19 VERSTAPPEN Minardi Cosworth B 1'25"078 +0'04"115
18. 12 BAUMGARTNER Jordan Ford B 1'25"881 +0'04"918
19. 18 KIESA Minardi Cosworth B 1'26"778 +0'05"815
20. 8 ALONSO Renault M 1'40"405 +0'19"442

13 September 2003 FIA's spokeperson Agnes Kaiser said that R. Schumacher has decided to pull out of the Italian GP. The German was given the all-clear by Dr Sid Watkins after suffering a serious crash during testing at Monza last week. The race stewards have accepted the Williams' team request to replace R. Schumacher with test driver Marc Gené, who will take part in the second qualifying session. R. Schumacher decided to pull out of the GP after felling unwell after yesterday's first qualifying session.

12 September 2003 Jacques Villeneuve has revealed that he is expecting not to finish the season at BAR. The Canadian ex-World Champion, who was recently heavily criticised by team boss David Richards, said that he would not be surprised if test driver Takuma Sato was to race instead of him in the Japanese GP.

12 September 2003 Montoya will be the last driver out on track tomorrow, with Barrichello and M. Schumacher going out just before him. The McLaren seemed difficult to control on the track today and Coulthard made a mistake on his flying lap that relegated him to the 14th place, while Räikkönen could do no better than 6th. R. Schumacher cut a chicane and had his time disallowed, so he will be the second driver out tomorrow. The first one will be Verstappen, whose Minardi failed to leave the pits for qualifying due to an electrical fault.

Italian GP first qualifying session times:

1. 3 MONTOYA Williams BMW M 1'20"656 258.565 Km/h
2. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B 1'20"784 +0'00"128
3. 1 M. SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1'21"268 +0'00"612
4. 21 DA MATTA Toyota M 1'21"829 +0'01"173
5. 14 WEBBER Jaguar Cosworth M 1'21"966 +0'01"310
6. 6 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 1'21"966 +0'01"310
7. 7 TRULLI Renault M 1'22"034 +0'01"378
8. 8 ALONSO Renault M 1'22"103 +0'01"447
9. 10 FRENTZEN Sauber Petronas B 1'22"203 +0'01"547
10. 20 PANIS Toyota M 1'22"372 +0'01"716
11. 17 BUTTON BAR Honda B 1'22"495 +0'01"839
12. 9 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas B 1'22"547 +0'01"891
13. 16 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda B 1'22"858 +0'02"202
14. 5 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes M 1'23"154 +0'02"498
15. 15 WILSON Jaguar Cosworth M 1'23"609 +0'02"953
16. 11 FISICHELLA Jordan Ford B 1'24"179 +0'03"523
17. 36 BAUMGARTNER Jordan Ford B 1'24"872 +0'04"216
18. 18 KIESA Minardi Cosworth B 1'26"299 +0'05"643
19. 4 R. SCHUMACHER Williams BMW M 2'00"000 +0'39"344
20. 19 VERSTAPPEN Minardi Cosworth B 2'01"000 +0'40"344

12 September 2003 The two Ferrari clocked the fastest times in this morning's free practice session at Monza, leading Räikkönen, Montoya, Coulthard and Da Matta.

Italian GP first free practice session times:

1. 2 BARRICHELLO Ferrari B 1'21"001 257.463 Km/h
2. 1 M. SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 1'21"152 +0'00"151
3. 6 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 1'21"318 +0'00"317
4. 3 MONTOYA Williams BMW M 1'21"556 +0'00"555
5. 5 COULTHARD McLaren Mercedes M 1'21"675 +0'00"674
6. 21 DA MATTA Toyota M 1'21"881 +0'00"880
7. 17 BUTTON BAR Honda B 1'21"913 +0'00"912
8. 8 ALONSO Renault M 1'22"100 +0'01"099
9. 4 R. SCHUMACHER Williams BMW M 1'22"312 +0'01"311
10. 7 TRULLI Renault M 1'22"335 +0'01"334
11. 14 WEBBER Jaguar Cosworth M 1'22"368 +0'01"367
12. 20 PANIS Toyota M 1'22"584 +0'01"583
13. 9 HEIDFELD Sauber Petronas B 1'22"821 +0'01"820
14. 10 FRENTZEN Sauber Petronas B 1'22"929 +0'01"928
15. 16 VILLENEUVE BAR Honda B 1'23"151 +0'02"150
16. 15 WILSON Jaguar Cosworth M 1'23"478 +0'02"477
17. 11 FISICHELLA Jordan Ford B 1'23"794 +0'02"793
18. 19 VERSTAPPEN Minardi Cosworth B 1'24"652 +0'03"651
19. 36 BAUMGARTNER Jordan Ford B 1'24"891 +0'03"890
20. 18 KIESA Minardi Cosworth B 1'26"903 +0'05"902

12 September 2003 It has been confirmed that Zsolt Baumgartner will drive for Jordan in the Italian GP. Eddie Jordan expressed his admiration for Ralph Firman's honesty. The driver passed the physical test but then admitted to be still suffering from vertigo following the accident at the Hungarian GP. The admission led to his exclusion from this weekend's race.

11 September 2003 R. Schumacher has been cleared to take part in the Italian GP at Monza. Sid Watkins examined the Williams driver and decided that he is fit ro race.

11 September 2003 Ralph Firman will not take part in the Italian GP. After diagnosing him with an inner ear problem, Dr Sid Watkins decided that the Jordan driver was not fit enough to race and could be a danger to himself and others. It is expected that Zsolt Baumgartner, who had already replaced him in Hungary, will take his place in the race.

11 September 2003 The FIA has released another version of the 2004 Formula 1 calendar following a fax vote. The Canadian GP is not included, but the Belgian GP is back. The new Bahrain and Chinese GPs make their appearance among the 17 races. The season will start on the 7th of March in Australia and end with the Brazilian GP on the 24th of October.

Provisional Formula 1 2004 calendar:

March 7 - Grand Prix of Australia (Melbourne)
March 21 - Grand Prix of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
April 4 * - Grand Prix of Bahrain (Bahrain)
April 25 - Grand Prix of Europe (Nürburbring)
May 9 - Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona)
May 23 - Grand Prix of Monaco (Monaco)
June 6 - Grand Prix of San Marino (Imola)
June 20 - Grand Prix of USA (Indianapolis)
July 4 - Grand Prix of Great Britain (Silverstone)
July 11 ** - Grand Prix of France (Magny-Cours)
July 25 - Grand Prix of Germany (Hockenheim)
August 15 - Grand Prix of Hungary (Budapest)
August 29 *** - Grand Prix of Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 12 - Grand Prix of Italy (Monza)
September 26 * - Grand Prix of China (Shanghai)
October 10 - Grand Prix of Japan (Suzuka)
October 24 - Grand Prix of Brazil (Säo Paulo)

* Provisional - Subject to circuit approval
** Provisional - Subject to contract
*** Provisional - Subject to tobacco law

10 September 2003 It appears that Ralf Firman has not got the all-clear to race in Italy after all. He and R. Schumacher still have to undergo mandatory fitness tests today before they are allowed to take part in the Italian GP. If R. Schumacher is not cleared to race, his place will be taken by test driver Marc Gené.

9 September 2003 Ralph Firman has got the all-clear to race at this weekend's Italian GP by FIA medical officer Professor Sid Watkins after recovering from injuries sustained from his high-speed crash during practice for the Hungarian GP. R. Schumacher has not received the all-clear yet, but said that he feels fine and sees no reason why he should miss the Italian GP.

9 September 2003 Michelin have been told by FIA that the new tyres they were shown by McLaren and Williams complied with the rules but they denied there had been any change. The FIA also said that it it regrettable that those using the earlier Michelin front tyres did not consult the FIA about possible excess tread width as soon as they became aware of it. However, as far as the FIA technical department is concerned, the matter is now closed and the championship can continue with all teams on an equal footing.

8 September 2003 Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger, now BMW’s Motorsport Director, will bid farewell to the sport next weekend at the Italian GP in Monza. The 44-year-old Austrain said that, after 25 years, the time had come for him to start taking things a bit easier.

7 September 2003 Jean Todt has argued that the teams using Michelin tyres should be disqualified following the revelation that their tyres expand to a thread width wider than the regulation 270 mm. The Ferrari Sporting Director made this statement in an interview with the Frankfurther Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. Todt admitted that he does not know when the wide Michelin tyres started being used, but in his opinion the teams using them should be disqualified for all the GPs in which they were used.

6 September 2003 Brazilian driver Luciano Burti took part yesterday in an event promoted by Scuderia Ferrari to the Vodafone employees at the Fiorano circuit. Burti's appearance at the Ferrari event alongside Felipe Massa sparked speculations that he may be gearing up for a testing position withe the team in 2004.

5 September 2003 Following the arrest of its president for massive tax evasion, former Honda-owned Formula One engine supplier Mugen has announced that it will hand over all of its operations to a new firm named M-TEC. The new firm will be set up on the 1st of October and will be based at Mugen's headquarters in Asaka on the northern outskirts of Tokyo, The Mugen brand name and its 150-strong workforce will be retained. Mugen Co. board member Shin Nagaosa, 54, will become president of the new firm which will be capitalised at 30 million yen (256,000 US dollars). Mugen president Hirotoshi Honda, the eldest son of Honda founder Soichiro Honda, and auditor Norio Hirokawa were indicted in July on charges of evading one billion yen in corporate tax.

5 September 2003 Nick Heidfeld has suffered a serious crash in the last day of testing at Monza. The crash was caused by "poor braking stability", according to Head of Vehicle Engineering at Sauber Jacky Eeckelaert. the driver is fine despite the crash, but the car was seriously damaged, hindering Sauber's ability to test the new aerodynamics parts.

5 September 2003 Tyre company Michelin has sent a letter to Italian sport newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport following the negative comments about Michelin made by Ross Brawn and published by Gazzetta dello Sport. In the letter Michelin refutes Brawn's comments and threaten to bring legal action against him. The text of the letter follows:

For the Attention of the Editor, Gazzetta dello Sport

Following the publication of an article implicating Michelin in your September 3, 2003 edition, the Management of Michelin would like to bring to your attention the following points :

1. Since the San Marino F1 Grand Prix, 2001, the FIA has always authorised all our front tyres whose "tread width must not exceed 270mm". This measurement has been taken by the FIA on new tyres, as stated in the FIA Sporting Regulations article 77)C.

2. The day after the Hungarian Grand Prix 2003, the FIA unilaterally changed the interpretation of its regulation by stating that the front tyre tread width must now be measured before and after use. Michelin is ready to try to conform to this new interpretation of the regulation, but continues to feel that it is necessary to have more time. The time-scale given, the next Monza Grand Prix, being much too short.

3. By making Ross Brawn’s mistaken declaration the title of your article, you are misleading your readers and it is not for Ross Brawn to decide the legality of Michelin’s tyres. We therefore request that you rectify this information, remembering that Ross Brawn’s grievances are highly prejudicial to Michelin.

4. Michelin is saddened to see the great house of Ferrari involved in such false accusations. Michelin would like to remind you that it won its first F1 Grand Prix in 1978 in Rio and its first world title in 1979, both with the Ferrari team, a team for which Michelin has always had the greatest respect.

5. Michelin of course reserves the right to take legal action following the slanderous remarks of the Ferrari team-member.

Clermont-Ferrand
September 4, 2003

4 September 2003 Ferrari have threatened to protest the results of all this year's Grands Prix following the revelation that Michelin tyres deform to a thread wider than the 270 mm allowed by the rules. Ferrari rivals McLaren and Williams use Michelin tyres. Michelin argues that the tyres were approved by the FIA and that they have written proof of it.

4 September 2003 At the end of the test session at Monza today, Michelin announced that they intend to bring legal proceedings against Ferrari's Ross Brawn for saying in an interview with Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that the Michelin tyres used by BMW-Williams in Hungary were irregular.

4 September 2003 A number of counterfeit VIP passes for the tests at Monza have been seized. The fake passes were discovered today by chance by a Bridgestone event hostess, who noticed that the passes were printed on a lilac background instead of orange and that the lettering was in the wrong position. A group of girls had already managed to get access to the pit lane using the fake VIP passes and had been following the tests from the pit wall. They had bought the fake passes at the Vedano entrance to the Monza park for 100 euros.

3 September 2003 The Ferrari team said that they were the ones who alerted FIA to the fact that the Michelin tyres do not conform to the rules after the Hungarian GP. Bridgestone sporting director Hiroshi Yasukawa said that they have evidence that the Michelin tyres expand to a thread width of 286 mm, 16 mm more than allowed by the rules.

3 September 2003 The company that manages the Formula 1 circuit at Monza, Sias, said that the current testing have been extended from Thursday night to midday on Friday following the request of a few teams.

3 September 2003 In a press release the FIA said that particular attention will be paid at Monza to the tyres used by the different teams. If a team is found to be using tyres with a thread that is wider than 270 mm under certain conditions, it will be up to the stewards and the FIA Appeal court to decide whether the rules have been observed or not.

3 September 2003 R. Schumacher has discharged himself from the San Raffaele hospital in Milan this morning against doctor orders. The medical staff had advised him to stay under observation in hospital for 24 to 48 hours and to rest for seven to 10 days following the crash during testing at Monza yesterday. A spokeperson for the Williams teams said that the driver will rest for a week but that he will be competing in the Italian GP. Test driver Marc Gené will replace R. Schumacher in the test sessions at Monza. A new car is being shipped from the United Kingdom to Italy to replace R. Schumacher's car, which was destroyed in the accident.

2 September 2003 The staff at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan has confirmed that Ralf Schumacher has not suffered any major injuries in the crash during testing at Monza today, though he has suffered a whiplash. He will be spending the night under observation in hospital and should be released tomorrow afternoon. Asked by reporters whether the driver will be able to compete in the Italian GP in two weeks time, hospital vice-director Salvatore Mazzitelli said that the decision must be made by the driver himself, his team and his family.

2 September 2003 Ralf Schumacher has been involved in a serious crash during the tests at Monza today. The German was taken to the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, accompanied by brother Michael, after his Williams came off the track at the second Lesmo corner, somersaulted a few times and impacted heavily with the barrier. R. Schumacher was conscious after the crash and the Williams team said that he has suffered no major injury. It is yet not known what caused the crash. Before being taken away, the driver reassured his mechanics and told them that he was feeling fine. R. Schumacher had already suffered a scare in the morning when his car caught fire in the pit lane after a few tyre-testing laps.

1 September 2003 Ralph Firman will miss the tests at Monza. Following the accident he suffered in Hungary, he has decided to give his body more time to rest and recover.

1 September 2003 The promoters of the Bahrain GP have announced that the race will take place on the 4th of April 2004. It will be the third event on the calendar, following the Australian and Malaysian GPs. The official 2004 calendar will be announced on the 31st of October.

FedeF1 News Archive


Last updated on by Federica Massagrande