Latest F1 news in brief
- Spa crucial for Kimi – Anderson
- Anti-doping tests at Spa
- Prost backs French GP bid
- Hamilton fit after Valencia problems
- Hamilton title position 'lucky' – Alonso
Spa crucial for Kimi – Anderson
(GMM) Sunday's Belgian grand prix is a crucial race for reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who is on the cusp of needing to fall in line behind the title bid of his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa.
That is the opinion of former Jordan technical boss Gary Anderson, who told the Daily Star: "It might be his last chance to re-ignite his F1 career.
"Ferrari can't watch the man they brought in to replace Michael Schumacher self-destruct and become a midfield driver," the Irishman added.
Anti-doping tests at Spa
(GMM) F1 authorities carried out anti-doping tests, on drivers selected randomly, at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Saturday.
Prost backs French GP bid
(GMM) Quadruple world champion Alain Prost is reportedly throwing his weight behind a Paris suburb's bid to host the French grand prix in future.
Marne la Vallee, located about half an hour from the centre of the French capital, has proposed a 50 million euro project to become Magny-Cours' successor.
The event would be environmentally friendly, with solar power and trees neutralizing emissions, the news agency APA said.
The Austrian media source also said Frenchman Prost, the most successful F1 driver behind Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio, supports the bid.
Hamilton fit after Valencia problems
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton is fully recovered from his health problems of the recent European grand prix at Valencia.
The McLaren driver revealed after finishing second at Valencia two weeks ago that he almost had to sit out the race with flu, fevers and neck spasms.
The 23-year-old, however, subsequently tested at Monza, and was on fine form at Spa-Francorchamps as he captured pole.
"Lewis is absolutely fit and well," Hamilton's father and manager Anthony said in Belgium.
Championship leader Hamilton confirmed: "I am feeling better than ever and more and more comfortable in the car."
Hamilton title position 'lucky' – Alonso
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton is "lucky" to be in his current position at the top of the drivers' championship, his former McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso said at Spa-Francorchamps.
"We'll see how it ends," the Spaniard, who most certainly is not the 23-year-old Briton's biggest admirer, told the Spanish newspaper Diario AS.
"I feel it is the same as last year; fast at all the circuits, very steady, but with luck always on his side," Alonso continued.
The 27-year-old points out that without Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa's recent engine failures, or Raikkonen's exhaust problem on the way to victory in France, Hamilton's position would not be as comfortable.
On his own future, meanwhile, Alonso played down suggestions overnight that if Massa and Raikkonen fail to secure the title, a door at Ferrari may open for him in 2009.
"It would not change much," he insisted. "If Ferrari want me, they will hire me, and if they do not, they won't. Who wins the title or not is not going to change anything."