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F1 Hot News
By Andrew Maitland
July 16, 2002
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Living Tribute to Tyrrell
Sir Jackie Stewart gently powered a 1971 Tyrrell-Cosworth 002
up the Goodwood Hill on Saturday, the crowd eerily quiet as we
remembered the great Ken Tyrrell.
'Two weeks before he died he told me never to drive any of his
cars fast again, and that's why I took it gently up the hill
today,' Sir Jackie said, pulling off his famous helmet.
Leading a host of glorious Tyrrell contenders, the wee Scot
sat tartan-helmeted in friend and teammate, the late François
Cevert's 002; the car driven to Tyrrell's only Constructors'
World Championship.
Netting triple Drivers' spoils, Sir Jackie was quiet and
humbled as Goodwood paid tribute to the late Ken Tyrrell. 'Ken
was a lovely man,' Stewart remembered.
'A real gentleman, and really forward looking. I loved racing
for him, and we remember him so fondly. I think if he's
looking down on us here at Goodwood today, he'd be really
pleased to see all his cars still running.'
Devoted to motor-racing, the Tyrrell racing organization
remained a fixture in Grands Prix until 1998; when the might
of British American Tobacco purchased the team for a song.
Minardi chief Paul Stoddart bought the wood-shed facility and
racing gear in country England, and Ken Tyrrell retired to
loving wife Nora's dish-washer.
Three years on, Ken and Nora Tyrrell died peacefully. 'But
this is a marvelous event, there's nothing to rival it in the
world. I'm here with all my family, children and
grand-children, and I must say how pleased I was to help Lord
March pay homage to Ken.'
The famous six-wheeler and Tyrrell-Cosworth 011 also played
starring roles in the living tribute to the great Ken Tyrrell.
Tyrrell, initially raced as French constructor Matra, won 23
races in their 28 year, 416 race history.
2003 Verstappen Return?
For the feisty Jos Verstappen, Formula One remains unfinished
business in the Dutchman's fractured career.
Contemplating his third season of racing for Arrows, signed
contract in hand, the 30-year-old's fax machine burst into
action just weeks before this year's season opener. The sender
was Tom Walkinshaw. The news was not good.
Six months on, 'Jos the Boss' has been spending most of 2002
in the court-room suing for loss of income. In spite of the
set-back, however, manager Huub Rothengatter has been hard at
work lining up a full-time drive for 2003; and it 'Looks very
good', according to the 30-year-old.
'We are talking to everyone,' the talented Dutchman told
reporters. 'It does look very good for 2003, I am very
confident.
'We are also making progress with sponsoring. We are getting
closer, step by step.'
Verstappen burst onto the scene in 1994, as Michael
Schumacher's teammate. Trounced by the German, Jos' career
took an early nose-dive when a Simtek drive was the only
option for '95. Two races in, Simtek folded.
The next two years were spent with backmarkers Footwork and
Tyrell, before new Tyrrell owners (BAR) forced the Dutchman
out of his seat for 1998. Outraged, the great Ken Tyrrell
severed all links with his beloved team.
Brief drives for Stewart Ford in '98 led into another forced
sabbatical in 1999, before a return to form in 2000 and 2001.
In his latest return from the bench, however, Jos Verstappen
is determined to hit the ground running in 2003.
'My feeling is that I will have a seat next season, that
hasn't changed,' Jos continues. 'If there is a free seat this
season that would be convenient, depending where that free
seat is.
'I would prefer a drive with a good team with some future
perspective for next season above a seat now with a team that
drives at the back of the field.'
Among commitments with his driving school and the Karting
World Championship, Jos has been extended an invitation to
drive the Minardi 2-seater later this year. 'If possible I'll
do that,' Jos confirmed.
Despite his confidence, Jos knows - perhaps better than anyone
- how hard it is to predict the future of Formula One.
'Nothing is for certain in this sport,' he explains.
'Even if you have a signed contract your future is not
secure.'
Irvine: Ferrari Will Fall
Eddie Irvine has issued an ominous warning to his former
Italian employers at Scuderia Ferrari.
According to the outspoken Ulsterman, Ferrari are pushing
their scarlet troops to breaking point; and sooner or later
the glory will come tumbling down.
'The amount of workload that they have down there is quite
incredible,' said the 37-year-old, now driving for the
troubled Jaguar squad.
'Eventually the work ethic will start to break people, because
they're working so hard. I've already heard from guys there -
it's just gone too far and they're working too hard and they
want a break.
'And that's the natural cycle of things.'
In the absence of a technical or organizational weakness,
Irvine - who drove alongside Michael Schumacher in 1996 to
1999 - is convinced that the cycle of change will originate in
steadily unmotivated and overworked troops.
'There's no weak area that they have, the wind tunnel's been
up and running now for four years - they've got that area
under control,' continues Irvine. 'They've got the engine
under control.
'The way that team works, the professionalism is beyond
belief, you need to be inside to understand it.'
Another man with insider knowledge of the differences between
the struggling Jaguar Racing team and Ferrari is Luciano
Burti; now a test-driver for the Italian marque. Eddie Irvine
continues: 'Luciano Burti came to me and said, 'Jesus, it's
incredible!
'I don't know how you can take the level you've gone down to,'
because at Ferrari there is nothing left to accident.'
Calling Michael Schumacher's broken-leg 'the best opportunity
of my career', Irvine stormed to four scarlet wins and within
mere points of the 1999 Drivers' World Championship.
The Jaguar ace is expecting French tire partner Michelin to
bounce back for their home Grand Prix at Magny-Cours this
weekend. Coupled with inevitable hot weather, the 37-year-old
says that Michelin will have 'The upper hand with the support
of the home-crowd.'
The quiet Nevers region, however, ensures that the night-life
loving F1 pilots 'are all guaranteed an early night.'
Ralf Slams British Press
Ralf Schumacher has hit out at the English-speaking press, the
German ace pointing out consistently anti-Schumacher sentiment
in the British racing media.
'The British press are very anti-Schumacher - anti-Michael and
anti-me,' said the 27-year-old Williams ace in this month's F1
Racing.
'Okay, maybe not all of you - but most. Whatever team-mate
I've had in my career - Giancarlo (Fisichella), Damon (Hill),
Alex (Zanardi), Jenson (Button), Juan (Pablo Montoya) - you
always say he's the one, better than me.'
When probed, Ralf Schumacher pointed to Britain's lack of a
'real champion' leading to frustration at Formula One's
all-conquering Germans.
'Maybe you're all frustrated that you haven't got a real
champion to get excited about,' Ralf mused.
'Look I don't want it to sound arrogant but I'm German. And
German journalists will always be more important to me than
any other journalists.'
Ralf burst onto the scene with Jordan in 1997, to an instantly
hostile media cynical of his rise to Formula One. The German
admits that the name 'Schumacher' has by no means been a
blessing in his six year F1 career.
'Certainly, that is the case', Ralf told us earlier this year.
'In 1997, my brother's rivalry with Damon Hill was still in
the memory. Even today, we both get a pretty poor reception
from the English crowd.
'People thought I should not be in Formula One, but I have
shown now that I belong here.'
In his latest head-to-head rivalry with teammate Juan Pablo
Montoya, Ralf Schumacher has scored four victories to the
Colombian's one.
F1 Drama At Goodwood
Despite his questionable future at the pinnacle of
motorsports, Toyota ace Allan McNish went for glory in a TF102
demonstration run up the Goodwood hill.
While most Formula One stars are content to lay a bit of
rubber and demonstrate a standing-start, the 33-year-old Scot
was determined to target Nick Heidfeld's unofficial lap record
at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Dropping the clutch amid rubber squeals and smoke, it soon
became clear that this was no demo-run for the Scottish ace.
41.5 seconds later, McNish was part of Goodwood folklore.
As the popular annual Festival drew to a close on Sunday, the
unmistakable moans of 800+ bhp filled the English air. Marc
Gene posted a final run in the FW23 Williams, while Luciano
Burti showed off his new role in the F2001 Ferrari.
Darren Turner wound up last year's McLaren, joined on
consecutive runs by Jenson Button in the Renault, and Ryo
Fukuda behind the wheel of BAR003.
One reluctant participant in the Goodwood fun was Williams ace
Ralf Schumacher. Just days after slamming the British media
for anti-Schumacher sentiment, the 27-year-old refused to sign
an insurance liability agreement before his Saturday run in
the FW23.
According to reports, Sir Frank Williams stepped into the fray
demanding that Ralf sign the document; BMW reportedly wound up
accepting liability on his behalf.
A quick blast up the Goodwood Hill later, Ralf Schumacher
headed immediately home to Austria. Marc Gene stepped into the
German's shoes to complete festivities on behalf of Williams
on Sunday.
According to our own sources, Sir Frank is less than impressed
with his young protégé. As well as being a tribute to the late
Ken Tyrrell, this year's Goodwood festival celebrates 25 years
of Williams' Formula One involvement, including first world
champion Alan Jones at the wheel of the first Didcot
concoction, FW07.
Ralf - and the Formula One World - now head South for this
weekend's French Grand Prix near Nevers in France. Seven days
later, 22 Formula One cars will be lining up on the revised
Hockenheim grid for the German Grand Prix.
Lauda: Magny-Cours Is Dull
Despite Magny-Cours' impeccable safety record, Jaguar chief
Niki Lauda says that fans should not hold out for an exciting
French Grand Prix this weekend at Nevers.
A triple world champion, the Austrian recalls that the 4.25
kilometre Magny-Cours circuit is 'One of the few circuits on
the F1 calendar that I have not raced on.'
Prior to its first Grand Prix in 1991, the Formula One world
used to converge on exciting French circuits of 'Reims, Rouen,
Clermont-Ferrand, Le Mans-Bugatti and Paul Ricard.
'Magny-Cours has proved itself as one of the modern-day
circuits with a good safety record, but offers little in the
way of excitement for the fans as there are so few good
over-taking places.
The tight, right-hand Adelaide hairpin - named after the
similar curve at the street circuit in South Australia - is
widely held as the only real overtaking opportunity on the
clock-wise layout.
As they continue evaluation and development of their
heavily-revised R3b contender, the Austrian boss reports that
Jaguar 'Should be better prepared than we were at
Silverstone.'
With Magny-Cours' reliance on good aero-balance, however, the
Jaguar team look more likely to purr rather than roar on the
ultra-smooth French tarmac.
'We will be looking to strengthen our understanding of the
revised aero package this weekend after three days of testing
in Monza,' Nika Lauda concludes.
No Pressure For Schu
According to Gerhard Berger, the lack of pressure on Michael
Schumacher's shoulders makes him extraordinarily difficult to
beat.
Berger, BMW Motorsport Director, says that while Juan Pablo
Montoya lacks in Formula One Racing experience, he will
struggle to keep up with the German multiple world champion.
'The trouble is, Juan does not have the same level of
experience as Michael', the 42-year-old told the Observer. In
his second season of world championship racing, Juan Pablo
trails Schumacher's career by more than ten years.
'In terms of talent, Juan Pablo and Ralf [Schumacher] are more
or less on the same level,' Berger continues. 'We've seen
already that they can race with the Ferraris.
'But Michael has the experience that comes with winning four
world championships and more than 50 grands prix. That means
he doesn't have the same pressure. He is much more relaxed
because he has nothing to prove and that makes him even
stronger.'
Berger, a former 10 times Grand Prix winner, has a unique
wheel-to-wheel insight into the racing mind of Michael
Schumacher. While Ayrton Senna's McLaren teammate in 1991 and
1992, Berger fought a young Schumi home on a number of
occasions.
The duels continued into the tail end of Berger's career.
Winding out a massive 210 grands prix with Benetton in 1997,
the pair fought memorably for the German Grand Prix at
Hockenheim.
Berger took the winners' trophy home.
On This F1 Day...
You may not have heard of him, but American Jim Rathman is a
Formula One winner. He was also born on this day in 1928, and
therefore celebrates his 74th birthday.
When the Indianapolis 500 was part of the Formula One world
title in the opening decade of the modern championship,
brothers Dick and Jim Rathman were often at the pointy end.
Jim entered the fabled F1-spec Indy 500 for all ten years
between 1950 and 1960, winning on his final attempt driving
the Ken-Paul entry in 2 hours and 53 minutes.
The win elevated him to equal eighth in the 1960 F1 World
Championship; on par with Jim Clark and compatriot Richie
Ginther.
On this sixteenth day of July, we also hark back to a famous
day in British motorsport; Sir Stirling Moss driving to his
first Formula One win, at the 1955 British Grand Prix at
Aintree.
Starting from his first pole position, the famous Englishman
led home a silver top-four comprised of Mercedes-clad Moss,
Juan-Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling and Pierro Taruffi.
Moss is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most
versatile of all drivers, and the best never to win the
championship. His grand prix career was ended by a crash at
Goodwood in 1962.
Among his greatest wins were the 1955 Mille Miglia and the two
grands prix he won in 1961 against much more powerful Ferrari
opposition.
On that very sixteenth day of July in 1955, Maserati netted
their 200th race entry (finishing behind the silver 1-2-3-4).
English favourite Johnny Herbert notched up his first grand
prix win on this day in 1995, after title contenders Michael
Schumacher and Damon Hill crashed out of the British Grand
Prix.
The win signified Benetton's 20th Formula One triumph. McLaren
ace David Coulthard started his 100th race on this day in 2000
(Austria), while German Nick Heidfeld was competing in his
tenth grand prix for the waning Prost team.
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Enrique Bernoldi
