Updated: 16 February 1998, 21:30 GMT
FIA delay final schedule
(c)M-WEB
21:30 GMT
Location : Paris
The FIA, world motorsport's governing body, said on Monday that they were studying documents sent to them by the Belgian Grand Prix authorities.
The Belgian Grand Prix authorities are fighting to save their race from being canceled from the 1998 schedule. The FIA said that they would announce a decision as soon as they had read all of these documents.
A FIA spokesman said that they received a number of documents from the Belgian authorities which they are looking at and once they have completed that, they will release a statement announcing their decision.
Last Thursday, after a Belgian appeal court upheld a law that will ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship from 1999, the Belgian Grand Prix appeared to be doomed. The court upheld the right of Belgium's federal parliament to pass legislation relating to public health, rejecting a claim by the region of Wallonia, which hosts the race, and the organizers of the event, that this was unconstitutional.
The FIA, Formula One's governing body, warned last month that 1998's race, scheduled for August 30 at the Spa Francorchamps circuit, would be cancelled unless the sport was granted an exemption from the anti-tobacco law by the 15th of February.
If the FIA should decide next week to move the race away from Belgium, South Africa and China are both standing by to host the event in 1998.
Although cars will be free to carry tobacco logos at the races in 1998, the introduction of the new law in 1999 will mean that the FIA will be unable to honor commitments which was given to Formula One teams under four-year contracts.
Ferrari fine tuning the F 300
(c)M-WEB
20:30 GMT
Location : Mugello
The Ferrari Formula One team again tested at Mugello on Monday with both their drivers. Weather conditions on Monday were sunny all day with a dry track. The air temperature was 12-16 C and the track temperature 13-24 C.
The team started testing at 09h30 with Michael Schumacher concentrating on car setup and suspension work, while Eddie Irvine worked on finding the best set-up on his car.
Michael Schumacher drove his F300, chassis number 183 and completed a total of 72 laps with a best lap time of 1:28:087s.
Eddie Irvine, driving F300 chassis number 181, completed 53 laps and managed to record a best lap time of 1:29:484s.
Testing at Mugello ended at 18h00.
Both Ferrari drivers, with the two F300 will continue testing at Mugello on Tuesday.
Coulthard breaks winter testing record
(c)REUTERS
20:00 GMT
Location : BARCELONA, Spain
David Coulthard broke the Formula one winter testing record in his McLaren on Monday.
Coulthard's best lap at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona was one minute 21.58 seconds, three-tenths of a second faster than the previous benchmark set by team mate Mika Hakkinen last Thursday.
Sauber's Johnny Herbert was second fastest more than three seconds behind Coulthard.
Minardi end test at Barcelona
(c)M-WEB
19:00 GMT
Location : Barcelona
Friday was the last day of testing for the Minardi M198-Ford at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
According to the team, Shinji Nakano worked on the development of the new M198 on Friday. Nakano completed a total of 62 laps while carrying out a series of set-up tests, adopting different bar, ground clearance and differential solutions. According to the team, these tests was done in order to collect data and information on the M198 which they will process in order to establish which configuration to use at the Australian Grand Prix.
In the course of the M198's three day test at Barcelona, the new car completed 169 laps (800 km). This provided the team with assurances of excellent reliability and constant progress in performance which enabled the new car to cut lap times by almost one second each day.
Over the three day test period for the team, Nakano recorded the best lap time of 1:25:456s on Friday morning.
The team has planned further tests on the new M198 at Monza on the 24th of February.
The team is also in negotiations for the engagement of Laurent Redon as team's test driver. The 25 year old French driver was crowned national F3 champion in 1995.
Rosset's first test with Tyrrell 026
(c)M-WEB
19:00 GMT
Location : Barcelona
According to the Tyrrell team, their new Brazilian driver, Ricardo Rosset quickly got to grips with the new Tyrrell-Ford 026 during his first test session for the team at the Spanish Grand Prix circuit near Barcelona.
At 5pm, Rosset completed a total of 43 laps with a best lap time of 1:25:146s. The quickest time of the day for the team, was however set by David Coulthard, who managed a 1:22:522s.
Rosset said that it was a good first test. He said that the car inspired confidence right from the start and he felt very comfortable and they were able to do some longer runs and try some different settings. The Brazilian added that the car responded well to these longer runs and that he was pleasantly surprised at the power of the Ford V10 engine which seems very good to him.
Tyrrell's team manager, Steve Nielsen said that there is no doubt it's been productive for them. He said that after alst week's rain, they had great weather for the last few days. He said that Tora Takagi put in close to a full race-distance simulation on Thursday without any problems, while Ricardo Rosset did his first serious running in the car on Friday and posted some promising lap times. He said that the feedback they received from Rosset confirmed a number of Tora's observations on the 026.
Nielsen added that the team will resume testing on Monday and that there is certainly more performance to come from both the car and drivers.
Jordan to stay at Barcelona
(c)M-WEB
19:00 GMT
Location : Barcelona
After a three day test session at Barcelona, the Jordan Formula One team was expected to move to Silverstone for another test session there this week.
The team has however decided that they will rather continue at Barcelona from 18 February to 20 February, according to reports.
Hungary government to go on backing GP
(c)REUTERS
15:10 GMT
Location: BUDAPEST
Hungary's government announced on Monday it would maintain its financial support for Formula One's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Trade and Industry Minister Szabolcs Fazakas told a news conference the government would give 450 million forints ($2.1 million) to Hungaroring Rt, the company organising the event.
The money has been earmarked for further improvements to the Hungaroring track facilities and promotional work for this year's event.
"Last year was the best ever event from many points of view," said Fazakas. "The event is of great value to Hungary in terms of our image and our tourist trade," he added.
The 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix attracted record attendance and receipts. This year's race will be held on August 16.
McLaren launched new livery
(c)M-WEB
13:10 GMT
Location: Barcelona, Spain
McLaren launched their new livery on Monday at Barcelona in Spain. The team's two drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard unveiled the new livery, which looks similarly to last years.
A team of experts, including graphic designers and skilled airbrush painters, from within the TAG McLaren Group had the job of adapting the classic livery to the new lines of the car.
The McLaren drivers will return to the track on Monday where they will continue work on the MP4/13.
Prost to resume test.
(c)M-WEB
12:20 GMT
Location: Barcelona, Spain.
The Prost Formula One team will resume their test session at Barcelona in Spain on Tuesday. The team will complete a tyre program and suspension test program according to a spokesperson for the team.
The spokesperson said they would also resume tests on the aerodynamics of the AP01.
Both drivers were in action last week, testing the aerodynamics of the car. Jarno Trulli tested the car on Wednesday and teammate Oliver Panis on Thursday.
Trulli set a fastest time of 1:27.37 seconds, while Panis managed a fastest time of 1:24.08 seconds.
Frentzen to test for Williams.
(c)M-WEB
11:45 GMT
Location: Paul Ricard.
German's Heinz-Harald Frentzen will test for the Williams team at Paul Ricard on Monday and Tuesday according to report Sunday. Williams started a private test session earlier with world champion Jacques Villeneuve.
The team's test driver, Juan Pablo Montoya was in action on Sunday, but they did not make any time available.
Frentzen will work on an aerodynamic program on Monday and an engine test on Tuesday.
More details later.
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