 Daily Grapevine Round Up Monday January 22nd, 2001
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen could be Ferrari's property according to some rumours which indicate that the Italian team has signed a two-year option on the young driver. 21-year old Raikkonen is currently the most inexperienced driver in Formula One, having competed in only 23 single-seater races during his career, and will make his Grand Prix debut this year with the Sauber team. The rumours indicate that the Swiss team, powered by Ferrari engines, could have reached an agreement with the Scuderia to let Raikkonen go in the near future.
Following Luca Badoer's crash at the Barcelona circuit last Sunday, and the subsequent announcement that the Italian driver will be forced to rest for two weeks, Ferrari is thought to be looking for a replacement to continue Badoer's work. The list of possible replacements is thought to be headed by former employee Mika Salo, who filled in for Michael Schumacher in 1999 following the German's accident at Silverstone. However, Salo is under contract by Toyota, which could force Ferrari to look somewhere else.
The Paul Ricard circuit in France could become one of the team's favourite venues for testing if an ambitious development plan is completed. Due to the favourable Spanish weather and their excellent facilities, Barcelona, Valencia and Jerez are the favourite venues for winter testing. However, plans are underway for a futuristic layout, including excellent safety features, which will enable teams to test 360 days per year at the circuit in the southern Var region. Phillippe Gurdjian, president of Paul Ricard's management company commented with: "The plans are finished. We will invest heavily in a refurbishment to make it one of the best training circuits in the world, and available 360 days per year for Formula One." Paul Ricard is owned by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.
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