ATLAS F1, The Daily Grapevine: News from the Paddock

McLaren's New Home from Home
The McLaren team introduced the world to their brand new motorhome at Imola, and revealed something that has never been seen in Formula One before. The team's "homes away from home" have come a long way since the plastic awnings and tents that littered Silverstone's grassy paddock just more than ten years ago. And now it appears it is even possible to avoid using a big double-decker bus to create a paddock base.

The new House of McLaren (for it is not, in fact, linked to a motor so cannot be called a motorhome) shimmers in aluminium and glass (at least it would if it was not overcast and raining in Imola), and two rows of intensely glowing lights down each side of the glass entrance doors ensure the visitor is blinded before they enter.

There is no bus in sight because it is a modular building, made up from different sections carried to each race by six trucks, when only one is needed to transport the cars. 'Standard' motorhomes are created from just two buses, but team chief Ron Dennis claimed of his new monstrosity: "It is only slightly more expensive than our old motorhome." The unbranded building represents a new more open approach from the team, with 'welcome' the only words on the automatic sliding entrance doors and the team showing a genuine interest in allowing people in.

Inside the 'House of McLaren' the glass floor entrance makes way for plenty of chrome and cream modern-art-style stools and high tables which create an atmosphere that would be perfectly at home in a trendy part of London. Dennis ensured the media "you are welcome whenever you want". That makes a distinct contrast to the old style McLaren lock-out and a difference to rivals Ferrari, who are reportedly complaining of overcrowding in their place and wanting people out.

Tobacco Art
British American Racing are continuing with their plans to broaden the minds in the world of Formula One by introducing the arts into the pitlane. Despite the insistence of new team chief David Richards that the team's cool 'bean bag' image must go, they are still planning to introduce Tribe Art, an initiative described by them as 'highly original'.

It begins with the first element, 'Tribe in a Box', which they claim "brings art and Formula One racing together" using affiliated photographers and film makers to "showcase the creative talents within BAR itself." What this all means, we await to see with great anticipation. And whether Mr Richards will like it remains to be revealed.

Time at the BAR
Although the weather in San Marino was not exactly conducive to sipping wine in the golden sun, British American Racing continued with their plans of a 'blind' wine tasting in the rain-soaked paddock on Friday. Taking wines from the famous Antinori vineyard, the team staged the event with top prizes of magnums of Cevaro going to the most successful tasters of the day. Although Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve was not able to participate, he assured the team he is no vino dunce.

"I moved to France when I was eight so wine soon became part of life," he said. "You can generally find good wine in most places but somewhere like Brazil or Malaysia it's better to drink beer."

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