Updated: 7 January 1998, 22:00 GMT
Updated: 7 January 1998, 22:00 GMT |
All the information is (c) 1998 M-WEB and/or Reuters |
The launch of the 1998 Formula One cars, only on Auto Race Net
Ferrari unfazed by Williams' red livery
(c)REUTERS 1998
22:00 GMT
Location: MARANELLO, Italy
Ferrari said on Wednesday they were not concerned at the decision of main rivals Williams' to switch from blue to red livery this season.
"Williams obviously have their own motives for changing the color of their cars," Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told a news conference after the launch of his team's latest, gleaming red car.
"I'm sure that if you were to ask 1,000 Formula One fans which was motor racing's red car, they would say Ferarri. I can honestly say the last color in the world I'm scared of is red."
Williams showed off their predominantly bright red design, which makes the car look similar to a Ferrari, in London earlier on Wednesday.
The livery, which reflects the change of title sponsor from one cigarette brand to another, is in stark contrast to the mainly blue and white colors the team have run with for more than a decade.
Ferrari says this is their year
(c)REUTERS 1998
19:00 GMT
Location : Maranello, Italy
Ferrari team chief Jean Todt said on Wednesday his team had run out of excuses and must win the world championship this year.
The Frenchman, who has overseen the rebuilding of the team in the last four years, said the time for talking of the title was over and now Ferrari must deliver the goods.
Speaking at the launch of the F300 car -- the first formula one car to be unveiled this year -- Todt said: "I state it openly today -- our only goal must be to win the championship. I know other teams will state the same thing in the next few weeks but, after four years of restructuring, now we have to deliver."
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo concurred. "We have the best structure, a complete staff and organisation and the best driver in the world," he said. "Three years ago we said our aim was to win one race," the president said. "Two or three years ago if you had asked me if we could win the world championship I would have said no. "But now I can say that Ferrari are once again protaganists and our aim in 1998 is nothing less than to win the world championship.". "Last year we were beaten by the best car in the world -- a car which deserved to win the championship. Congratulations to those who defeated us," di Montezemolo said. "This season, from the first race of the season (the Australian Grand Prix in March) Ferrari will be there."
Ferrari finished second behind Williams in last year's championship, winning five grand prixs, former double world champion Michael Schumacher losing out to Jacques Villeneuve after shunting the Canadian's Williams during the final race, the European Grand Prix at Jerez.
Schumacher was later stripped of his runner-up position by the sport's governing body for his part in the crash.
Ferrari have not won a constructors' title since 1983 and have not boasted a world champion driver since 1979, when South African Jody Schekter claimed it.
But with Schumacher about to start his third season with the most prestigious name in motor racing and a new technical and design team firmly established, Ferrari say 1998 is their year.
Schumacher avoided any references to his widely condemned crash with Villeneuve, when the German spun off and Villeneuve ended as world champion. Schumacher said he had enjoyed six weeks' family holiday in Scandinavia and helped teach his baby daughter Gina-Maria to walk. "I am very pleased with the car and the team and the effort everyone has made. I am feeling relaxed, motivated and strong and now hope to deliver our target of the championship and to do my best."
Di Montezemolo praised designer Renzo Piano for his work on the team's new wind tunnel which was also launched on Wednesday and asked for media objectivity in the treatment of the team in 1998. "Let's all be objective," he said. "Last year there was too much friction and tension and this year we want clarity and objectivity with the rules and in the work of the media."
The new red Ferrari featured a range of technical details complying with stringent new regulations for the season by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), including a narrow chassis and grooved tyres. The F300 is 20 cm narrower than last season's model at 179.5 cm. The front has been altered to provide more protection for the driver' legs and new grooved tyres will improve safety but reduce performance.
The car has been designed to meet a new severe FIA side impact test and can absorb twice as big a side collision as last year's car.
Technical director Ross Brawn said: "I am very happy with it. We have a very good concept and good detail on the car and I am delighted by all our efforts -- now we have to start work and try to achieve all our ambitions.".
Ferrari go into the season with chief designer Rory Byrne working alongside Brawn for the second consecutive year. The two men joined shortly before last season and have since moved Ferrari's technical direction from England to Italy. "One of the strengths of Ferrari is that we make our own engines and our own chassis," Brawn said. "We've brought everything in house."
Schumacher's team mate, Briton Eddie Irvine, was similarly upbeat. "For the first year we're going in to a championship having done everything we can," Irvine said. "Williams will be tough, McLaren will be strong but I think this year is the year we're going to deliver."
New Williams unveiled in London
(c) M-WEB 1998
19:00 GMT
Location : London
The double of the new Williams FW20 was unveiled on Wednesday in the Pinewood Studios at London. A Double of the FW20 was unveiled due to the fact that the real FW20 was not fully completed.
The predominately red colour of the new Williams is very similar to the well known red car of the Ferrari team. The red colour of the new Williams is said to be regarded as a good omen by Heinz-Harald Frentzen as well as Jacques Villeneuve.
Prost's new AP01 chassis and launch date
(c) M-WEB 1998
19:00 GMT
The Prost Formula One team will launch thier new Loic Bigois designed AP01 on 20 January 1998 at Barcelona.
It is expected however, that the new Prost will be tested next week during a secret test session at Magny Cours.
According to rumours, team owner, Alain Prost, will be conducting some testing on Peugeot powered car before the start of the season.
Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli are also expected to complete some testing on the car.
German prosecutor closes investigation of Schumacher
(c)REUTERS 1998
19:00 GMT
Location : Cologne
German prosecutors have decided not to investigate Michael Schumacher for ramming Canadian Jacques Villeneuve's car in the last race of the 1997 formula one season.
The International Automobile Federation stripped the German of his runners-up position in the world championship but failed to suspend him for the collision at Jerez in Spain last October when Villeneuve finished third to clinch the championship.
On Tuesday officials said they were investigating to see whether charges should be brought against the former world champion. But on Wednesday they announced there was no case to answer and the case was closed.
Williams to launch their new Winfield colours later Wednesday
(c) M-WEB 1998
14:00 GMT
The Williams Formula One team are to launch their new colour scheme for the 1998 season on Wednesday.
The team are said to launch last years FW19 with the new Winfield cigarette colour scheme, seeing that the FW20 is unlikely to be completed in time for the launch.
The new clour scheme that will be unveiled by the team, which will be predominantly red, will see a departure from their distinctive blue and white livery that has been known for more than 10 seasons.
More details soon.
Ferrari tyre choice for 1998 confirmed
(c) M-WEB 1998
14:00 GMT
Location: Maranello, Italy
Auto Race reported in December 1997, that Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo is expected to meet Goodyear's management to discuss whether Goodyear will supply the team with tyres for the 1998 season.
di Montezemolo said that he would do everything in his power to avoid the team from switching to a different tyre manufacturer. He said that Ferrari have worked well with Goodyear in the past and that the team was hoping to convince Goodyear to reverse their decision to leave Formula One.
Ferrari confirmed on Wednesday, at the launch of the new 1998 Ferrari, that they will be staying with Goodyear for the 1998 season.
Goodyear tyres were shown off on the new 1998 Ferrari at the launch.
Ferrari chief sets sights on 1998 title
(c)REUTERS 1998
13:00 GMT
Location: MARANELLO, Italy
Ferrari team chief Jean Todt on Wednesday said his team had run out of excuses and must win the world championship this year.
The Frenchman, who has overseen the rebuilding of the team in the last four years, said the time for talking about the title was over and now Ferrari had to deliver the goods.
Speaking at the launch of the F300 car -- the first formula one car to be unveiled this year -- Todt said: "I state it openly today -- our only goal must be to win the championship. I know other teams will state the same thing in the next few weeks but, after four years of restructuring, now we have to deliver.
"We have the best structure, a complete staff and organisation and the best driver in the world."
Schumacher pleased
Double world champion Michael Schumacher avoided any references to his widely condemned crash with Jacques Villeneuve in the final race of last season. Schumacher spun off and Villeneuve ended as world champion.
Schumacher said he had enjoyed six weeks' family holiday in Scandinavia and helped teach his baby daughter Gina-Maria to walk.
"I am very pleased with the car and the team and the effort everyone has made. I am feeling relaxed, motivated and strong and now hope to deliver our target of the championship and to do my best."
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo praised designer Renzo Piano for his work on the team's new wind-tunnel which was also launched on Wednesday and asked for media objectivity in the treatment of the team in 1998.
He also supported Todt's view that Ferrari had to win the championship.
New regulations
"Let's all be objective," he said. "Last year there was too much friction and tension and this year we want clarity and objectivity with the rules and in the work of the media."
The new red Ferrari featured a range of technical details complying with the new technical regulations for the season ahead including a narrow chassis and grooved tyres.
Technical director Ross Brawn said: "I am very happy with it. We have a very good concept and good detail on the car and I am delighted by all our efforts -- now we have to start work and try to achieve all our ambitions."
Ferrari narrowly missed out on the world championship in 1997, their 50th year of competition, when Schumacher retired from the European Grand Prix at Jerez following his collision with Villeneuve.
Schumacher was later stripped of his runner-up position by the sport's governing body for his part in the crash.
Ferrari launched 1998 Ferrari.
(c) M-WEB 1998
11:00 GMT
Location: Maranello, Italy
The Ferrari Formula One team launched their 1998 car on Wednesday at the team's headquarters in Italy. The team used the Internet to launch the car live.
Ferrari is the first Formula One team to launch a 1998 car. Ferrari's team boss, Jean Todt said the team's aim this season is to win the championship. Double world champion Michael Schumacher was confident about the teams changes this season to win the championship.
Eddie Irvine said he would back Schumacher during the 1998 season.
Ferrari's president was also confident about the season.
Ferrari confirmed that they would use Goodyear tires this season.
The picutures are brought to you by Ferrari© 1998 - Ferrari SpA
More details soon.
FIA delay decision on Belgian GP again.
(c) M-WEB 1998
06:00 GMT
Location: PARIS
CNN reported Tuesday that the International Automobile Federation (FIA), world motorsport's governing body, has delayed a decision on cancelling the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix for another week, it announced on Tuesday.
The race is under threat because of a Belgian law banning tobacco advertising. Despite FIA maintaining the Belgian Grand Prix in their schedule for 1998, they said that unless the tobacco ban, due to come into force in 1999, was lifted the August 30 race would be cancelled.
China and South Africa on are standby to hold the race if it is taken away from Belgium.
Ferrari ready for launch
(c) M-WEB 1998
06:00 GMT
Location: Maranello, Italy
The Ferrari Formula One team will launch their new car for the 1998 Formula One season on Wednesday and according to reports, everything went according to plan, when they rehearsed it on Monday.
The team will also present their new wind tunnel during the launch. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday 7 January 1998 at 9:45 GMT.
You can view the launch live on the Internet at Ferrari. Click here
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