Yesterday most Formula 1 teams have started ...

Published on 15 July 1998 by Verstappen Info Page

Yesterday most Formula 1 teams have started testing at Monza. Mika Hakkinen was fastest with a time of 1:25.42. Jacques Villeneuve showed that Williams is indeed on it's way back with a second fastest time of 1:25.56. David Coulthard was third fastest with a time of 1:25.58 and Mika Salo was surprisingly fourth with a time of 1:26.09. Rubens Barrichello was 11th with 1:27.66.

The silly season continues: Tom Walkinshaw is rumoured to have a Supertec (Mecachrome) contract in his pocket for his Arrows team but is still uncertain whether to sign or not. Walkinshaw is not too happy about the $30 million that he has to pay and is rumoured to have asked French Fuel company Elf to chip in some of the needed money. In return Walkinshaw would offer Oliver Panis, Elf's protege, a seat in the Arrows. Mika Salo, currently employed by Walkinshaw, is now linked with BAR.

Benetton is named as possible client of Ford starting in the year 2000. Strangely enough the team has just recently announced a contract with Mecachrome for 1999 and 2000. Stewart has an exclusive works deal with Ford until the end of the year 2000.

FIA president Max Mosley and the F1 teams have reached an agreement on the number of Grand Prix per year. Now all teams have to agree if there are more than 16 races per year on the schedule but the compromise is that only 70 % of the participating teams have to agree if the calendar holds up to 20 races per year. China, Malaysia and South Africa are possible candidates for staging a Grand Prix in 1999.