Esteban Tuero, the 19 year old Argentinian, ...

Published on 25 February 1998 by Verstappen Info Page

Esteban Tuero, the 19 year old Argentinian, who has a contract with Minardi this year, will now certainly get a super-licence, needed to drive in a Formule 1 race. Tuero didn't have a super licence because he still hadn't completed the obligatory 2000 Km in a Formula 1 race car. Yesterday he drove 47 laps at Monza, with a best time of 1:31.905, and with that he reached the magic limit. Teammate Shinji Nakano has hardly had a chance to test up until now because Esteban had to complete the 2000 Km distance so an extra test after the Australian Grand Prix is now planned.

The new owner of Tyrrell might experience some trouble getting the new name for the team, British American Racing, registered for the Tyrrell team in 1999. Other teams in Formula 1 with major involvement with tobacco sponsor's might object to such an obvious link between a cigarette brand and a Formula 1 team. BAR boss Craig Pollock said in reaction that BAR doesn't own the whole team and that he would indeed not be surprised if problems would arise. All teams do indeed have to agree with a name change of one of the teams.

Yesterday Alexander Wurz was fastest in his Benetton during testing at Silverstone. After 66 laps he had clocked a best time of 1:27.16 on the chrono. Damon Hill was close behind him in the Jordan with 1:27.44 after 40 laps. The other times were from Giancarlo Fisichella (1:27.63, 8 laps), Ralf Schumacher (1:27.69, 64 laps) and Pedro Diniz who only did 4 installation laps. Williams had a private test at Barcelona yesterday where Heinz-Harald Frentzen was quickest (1:22.91, 67 laps) and Jacques Villeneuve obviously second (1:26.40, 8 laps).