Some weeks ago the European Union had ...

Published on 23 January 1998 by Verstappen Info Page

Some weeks ago the European Union had already warned Bernie Ecclestone that he would recieve some letters concerning the way that he reigns the Formula 1 World Championsship. Those letters have now been sent. In general the European Commission accuses Ecclestone from misuse of his position, which is unlawful in the European Union. He is especially 'accused' of abuse of exclusive TV broadcasting rights, contracts that extend up until the year 2010 and disadvantaging some automobile organisations. Furthermore Ecclestone 'threatens' some countries that have tobacco bans pending. The European Union wants a swift response from Bernie. To be continued....

Because of the fact that the French Assemblée Nationale is propably taking on some new legislation about the retransmission of TV-images the French Grand Prix might return on the calendar. The changes are minor but the French Minister of Sports, Marie-George Buffet, still expects that: "the conditions have been set to preserve the French Grand Prix."

Williams has set the best test results in Barcelona. Frentzen set the best yesterday with 1:21.44, followed by teammate Jacques Villeneuve with 1:22.99. Alexander Wurz, Damon Hill and Jarno Trulli followed. On the circuit of Jerez Ferrari is still testing but Michael Schumacher's car is still troubled by mechanical problems and he only managed a time of 1:28.638. Irvine set a time of 1:24.731 in a modified 1997 car.