Jan Magnussen will have to do better ...

Published on 15 August 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

Jan Magnussen will have to do better for the rest of the season to keep his position at Stewart next year. Jackie Stewart has said that Jan has to finish the season strongly after 10 retirements in 11 races. Not all retirements were his fault but Jan is still no match for teammate Rubens Barrichello. Meanwhile Formula 3000 star Juan Pablo Montoya from Colombia, who has attracted attention from several teams, seams to be close to a test deal with Stewart.

Walter Wolf, the F1 teamboss who closed down his team in 1979, has shown interest in buying a large interest in Tyrrell. Tyrrell has admitted that there has been contact but Ken Tyrrell has refused to negotiate "because the team is not for sale and it is going to stay that way".

The circuit of Kyalami could return on the F1 calendar in 1998. Bernie Ecclestone has recently had talks with representatives of the South African Automobile Association about the subject. F1 is still very popular in South Africa and a proposed cigarette advertising ban could be waived if F1 was to return. South Africa has last staged a Grand Prix on March 14, 1993, which was won by Alain Prost in a Williams Renault.

Ford might break up their 30 year relationship with engine tuner Cosworth. Cosworth's owner, the British Vickers company, could be bought by BMW. If Vickers (Cosworth) is bought by BMW than Ford might go in a different direction. A takeover of Cosworth by BMW could also have implications on BMW's own F1 plans.