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...