Start of the season
This year the starting grid will have 24 cars with 2 brand new teams: Stewart Grand Prix and Lola Grand Prix Engineering. Jacky Stewart build-up a team along with his son Paul Stewart. They signed Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and Danish Jan Magnussen. Magnussen has already driven a Grand Prix with McLaren and he looks forward to drive for a team a whole season. Barrichello coimes from Jordan-Peugeot and wants to have a new challenge.
Pre-season testing
Last week's changes to the Ferrari F310B were aerodynamic. Aerodynamic improvements at the front of the car helped improve the handling of the F310B, but Schumacher reiterated his claims that he will not yet be able to challenge at the front of the field, and that he will be battling for points and only able to get on the podium through luck. A spokesman added: "The team knows progress has been made, but whether it is enough is in doubt. Many other teams showed last week in Estoril they have made significant progress. The new Ferrari is quicker than the old one, but so are the other teams."
All the improvements, in contrast to what Schumacher and the team said, will contribute to Michael Schumacher's 3rd World Championship title, whereupon 49% of the German fans are guessing likely to happen.
All teams presented their car to public in winter, where McLaren firmly stood out. They launched the chassis before they presented the West McLaren Mercedes colors. Lola had just one week to shake down their car, but nevertheless they are hoping to have their own V10 engine before the Grand Prix of England. Tyrrell were very optimistic about their Dutch driver Jos Verstappen, who will get another chance after last years terrible year with the unreliable Arrows-Hart. Team chief Tom Walkinshaw and Damon Hill, who have to defend his world title, are hoping to finish in first position for 3 or 4 times this year. Pre-season testing shows something else, while the team had a lot of trouble with the Gearbox. All the time other small defects showed up. Damon has to prove he is a winner in all cars he drives.
GoodYear vs Bridgestone
Jos Verstappen tested the Bridgestone tyres in Japan during the 1996 season. The results were very impressive and five teams will leave the pits on Friday with Bridgestone tyres. GoodYear had to improve what was possible. In the latest part of pre-season testing there were a lot of track record improvements on Estoril and Barcelona. It's very impressive to see that the fight started be the start of the season. There are rumours about Michelin (partnership with Prost Grand Prix) and Pirelli (Schuderia Ferrari) to enter Formula One in the very near future.
Ayrton Senna trial
It's very sad that this happens in Formula One, but it's the jurisdiction in Italy. Lawyers for Newey and Bruynseraede had argued when the trial opened two weeks ago that much of the case built up against their clients over the past three years should be ignored because they had not been warned they were under investigation. Costanzo rejected the submissions as unfounded. He also threw out a separate challenge on territorial jurisdiction from Newey's counsel, which told the court on Friday that the trial should be moved to the city of Bologna, where Senna was declared dead in hospital. The trial is likely to last several months, with only one or two sessions a week scheduled for the makeshift courtroom. The accused face a maximum five years in jail if found guilty of the charges. Prosecution and defence have automatic rights of appeal against any sentence.
Ready, set.... Go!
The FIA Formula One World Championship 1997 will start on Friday March 7. The IRS will cover all Grands Prix this year and present you the latest news on Formula One. Let's see what it will be this year...
Australian
Grand Prix, Melbourne
Damon Hill opens the defence of his title at the start of what promises to be one of the most intriguing Formula One seasons for some time. Jacques Villeneuve is favourite to succeed Hill, but the step up from rookie to champion is no formality. He is sure to be pressed hard by German Michael Schumacher, providing Ferrari can give him the package he needs. Their prospects and those of Hill's Arrows and the new Stewart team should keep fans enthralled over the weekend.
Britain's Damon Hill has no intention of being kept out of the timelight for long despite joining Arrows following his surprise release by Williams. He acknowledged that he is unlikely to be spraying champagne from the podium during the 1997 campaign. But he said: "I want to make progress with Arrows this season and there is room and potential to do so. Then I can start thinking about winning again. The will is still there to win."
Title favourite Jacques Villeneuve is intent on taking the fast track to success this season. "It's vital to get a good start and build up points as quickly as possible. These first few races are the most important," the Canadian said. "If you can put points in the bag, then you can have a race strategy and play on that lead," he added. Villeneuve led for 53 laps at Albert Park 12 months ago before oil problems handed victory to Damon Hill.
German Heinz-Harald Frentzen is aware that the weight of expectation will be on him when he makes his competitive debut for Williams this weekend. He was head-hunted by the team after champion Damon Hill learnt that his services were no longer required. "This season will be the biggest challenge of my life. Everybody in the world will be looking at me and analysing any mistakes," said Frentzen. "The air at the top is very thin, it's going to be interesting for everyone."
David Coulthard believes he has the car and the ability to give McLaren their first win since 1993 this season. "We are much better prepared for this season than we were for the last one," the Monaco based Scot commented. "It's difficult to tell just how good the car is from testing, but it is looking a lot better for us. My target is to win a few races and finish as high up the championship as I can. I still believe I can win the title one day," he added.
Irishman Eddie Irvine believes Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher will be the man to beat in this seaon's battle for the driver's title. They have a lot of ground to make up after Williams won 12 of the 16 races last season. "I would certainly tip Michael. If more teams win races then you do not need to win many to take the championship. The thing about Michael is that he does not make mistakes," said Irvine, who was third in Australia last year.
Jackie Stewart is on tenterhooks ahead of Sunday's race when the gap between his new F1 outfit and the leading teams will finally be revealed. "This is the single most important race of my life," said Stewart. "It's a bigger challenge than any I faced as a driver - sometimes I think winning those three competitions seemed very easy by comparison. It took Frank Williams about ten years to get the top. I hope it will take us a few years less."