Updated: 28 February 1998, 20:10 GMT
(c)M-WEB
20:10 GMT
Location: Melbourne, Australia.
Sauber's Jean Alesi said Saturday that he is out to prove to his former team, Benetton that they made a mistake to let him go, according to sources. The Frenchman was replaced by Italian Fisichella, a former Jordan driver.
Alesi accused Benetton last month of revealing Goodyear data to their new tyre supplier Bridgestone. Many believe that Alesi based the accusation on previous experiences, but it is also possible that Alesi is accusing them because he wants to get back at them.
Bridgestone certainly has on advantage over rivals Goodyear as seen during pre-season test at Barcelona in Spain, where McLaren on Bridgestone outpaced world champions Williams on Goodyear's.
No one can prove that Benetton is guilty at this time, but observers believe that we might see the team facing possible prosecution in future.
Who will win the Australian GP? Vote now via e-mail | |
Do not miss the launch of the Australian GP channel on Sunday at 21:00 GMT | |
Goodyear could have new tyre ready for Melbourne.
(c)M-WEB
20:10 GMT
Location: London.
Tyre giant Goodyear might have a new tyre ready for the Australian Grand Prix, but a spokesperson decline to comment on Saturday. Goodyear is expected to announce it just before the first practice session on Friday, but this is not confirmed.
Sources tell us that Goodyear has worked around the clock to improve the tyre after a lot of pressure from the top teams.
The tyre war is expected to reach a climax next Sunday during the Australian Grand Prix. The question in everyone's minds is, which tyre will be the best during race conditions?
Stay with us for the latest developments.
Who will win the Australian GP? Vote now via e-mail | |
Do not miss the launch of the Australian GP channel on Sunday at 21:00 GMT | |
Schumacher and Villeneuve to fight it out
(c)M-WEB
19:30 GMT
Next week's 1988 Formula One World Championship opening race in Melbourne, Australia will see the first meeting between Jacques Villenueve and Michael Schumacher since their infamous clash in the final race of the 1997 season at Jerez.
Jacques Villeneuve said recently that everybody wants to see them battle it out again, and that he is ready to fight it out with Michael. The Monaco-based Canadian said that Michael is still a fast driver whatever happened last year, so he will be out to beat him, like he would any driver who is competitive and fast. Villeneuve said that he just hopes Schumacher doesn't try to play any word games. He added that the first championship is the one where you really have to prove yourself, and that he will be doing his utmost to win it again. He said that he won't be falling asleep or anything.
Schumacher said recently that Jerez will always be a black spot on his image, but that he hope there will be more positive moments in the future and that people will judge them and the ones that came before to be more important. The German driver said that he doesn't think he need to explain anymore than he already have about what happened. He said that people seem to forget that famous people are human beings and he know people will want him to fail this year. He said that the team should be in the position where they can fight for it. Schumacher added that he almost won the championship last year, and that he was really confident he had won it until what happened, but said that this year he wants the title.
While Villeneuve and Schumacher will be the centre of attention in Melbourne, Australia next week, the race could be the starting point for one of the closest battles for the championship.
Who will win the Australian GP? Vote now via e-mail | |
Do not miss the launch of the Australian GP channel on Sunday at 21:00 GMT | |
(c)M-WEB
19:30 GMT
The Williams Formula One team, and world champion Jacques Villeneuve will most certainly be one of the favourites in the starting race at Melbourne on the 8th of March. But many fear that the departure of chief designer Adrian Newey to McLaren and the loss of the all-conquering Renault engine that was replaced by Mecachrome, will give William's rivals a chance.
Team-mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen will also be a contender as it is his second year with Williams. The German knows he will probably be looking for a new drive in 1999 if he fails to mount a sustained title challenge, according to sources.
Many think that the Italian Ferrari team, who have not won the drivers' title since South African Jody Scheckter triumphed in 1979, could be celebrating a long-awaited championship win this year. Ferrari's technical director, Ross Brawn said that in 1997 they were putting a team together and they would have been surprised if they could have won the championship. He said that this year there can be no excuses, it has to be the championship. Brawn added that when he joined Ferrari, he knew it would take a year to put the pieces together to win a championship and those pieces are now in place.
The Ferrari team will be looking to Eddie Irvine for providing the back-up to teammate Michael Schumacher, and possibly a good finish this year.
To many, this could be the year that McLaren confirm their return to the top with their two drivers David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen. The 26-year-old David Coulthard, who unexpectedly won in Australia last year, could be a firm contender for the title this year. Mika Hakkinen could also be a strong contender for the title and competition to his teammate after he set record after record best times during pre-season testing in Barcelona.
But according to reports, the Surrey-based team's decision to switch to Bridgestone tyres rather than remain with Goodyear could be the difference between success and failure.
Former champion Damon Hill is determined to mark Jordan's eighth season in Formula One with that elusive maiden win. Hill said that there is a good chance they can win races as they want to be tackling the championship in 1999 and they have to build towards that. Hill added that the first step has to be to win a race, and that is the threshhold they have got to break through.
With the Benetton and Prost Formula One teams also looking capable of winning races in 1998, the victories could be more evenly spread out this year, which could produce a more exciting season.
But after all this, few would bet against another Villeneuve - Schumacher fight for the title.
Who will win the Australian GP? Vote now via e-mail | |
Do not miss the launch of the Australian GP channel on Sunday at 21:00 GMT | |
More about the new grooved tyres
(c)M-WEB
19:30 GMT
Some of the most radical changes in Formula One to reduce speed have been introduced by motor sport chiefs in order to improve driver safety this year.
The most obvious change is the tyres supplied to the teams from Goodyear and Bridgestone. Where dry-weather tyres were entirely smooth in the past, they now incoporate grooves arround the entire circumference. Front tyres have three grooves and back tyres have four.
The new tyres will mean that a driver have less rubber on the road, which will force him to go through the corners slower. For the spectators, one positive aspect of the new grooved tyres is that it may result in closer racing.
The other changes to the 1998 regulations is mainly technical. They include the reduction of the width of cars to that of a Formula Three car, which will also make the cars less stable through corners and therefore reducing the speed.
According to sources, Jacques Villeneuve have been reprimanded by the FIA for his use of language when claiming the changes would take the thrill out of racing.
The president of the FIA, Max Mosley has however defended the changes which has reduced lap times by a few seconds. Mosley said that they know they will slow the cars down, pre-season testing has proved that. He said that had they not slowed the cars down, they were getting up into the red area. He added that it was really getting quite dangerous at the very high rate of progress that was taking place.
Who will win the Australian GP? Vote now via e-mail | |
Do not miss the launch of the Australian GP channel on Sunday at 21:00 GMT | |
Minardi to arrive in Melbourne on Sunday
(c)M-WEB
08:30 GMT
For Minardi's two young drivers, Shinji Nakano and Esteban Tuero, the 1998 Championship will kick - off on Saturday morning at 11,15 am, on the flight Bologna - Rome - Melbourne.
The team's three M198's were flown to Melbourne on Thursday night from Milan, Malpensa Airport. The team will also be sending thirty people, including mechanics, technicians and engineers on Saturday morning. Arrival in Melbourne is scheduled for Sunday night, 10:45 local time.
The Minardi team's doctor has already arranged a light practice for Tuero and Nakano on Monday, at the brand new "Sports and Aquatic Center" next to the circuit.
Esteban Tuero decided to spend last week before the start of the 1998 season with the team. He said that he is glad to leave for Australia and that he really feels like driving. Tuero added that he is looking forward to that first GO!
Shinji Nakano, who is busy in Milan with some japanese sponsors, is also ready to fly. He said that he know exactly how Esteban feels because it is the same, pleasant feeling he felt last year when he entered Formula One for the first time.
Who will win the Australian GP? Vote now via e-mail | |
Do not miss the launch of the Australian GP channel on Sunday at 21:00 GMT | |
(c)M-WEB
08:30 GMT
The Prost Formula One team's problems with their new gearbox, hit the French team's hopes for the early part of the 1998 season, according to sources.
Team owner, Alain Prost admitted that the biggest concern was the gearbox. He added that they know they are going to have a tough time and that they have just entered a difficult period that will probably last about two months.
Prost driver, Olivier Panis said that even if the first race in Australia looks like it will be difficult, he knows that the car is competitive.
Who will win the Australian GP? Vote now via e-mail | |
Do not miss the launch of the Australian GP channel on Sunday at 21:00 GMT | |
|
|
|
All the information on this page is copyrighted by or Reuters | ||
All the information is (c) 1998 M-WEB and/or Reuters |
