Saturday April 13th, 2002
Taken for a Ride
It is not often Renault boss Flavio Briatore is taken for a ride, but in the paddock on Saturday he was given the chance, literally, when he met flamboyant Italian cycling star Mario Cipollini, a guest of the team for this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix, who came bearing a special gift for the team's principal. Cipollini presented fellow Italian Briatore with the bike he rode to victory in the Milano-San Remo race this year, a win which was a dream come true for the Italian star who has won more than 150 events during his career but took 13 attempts to take his greatest victory.
"Inside of me I had strength, conviction, concentration, anger and determination," said Cipollini of the event - all the qualities displayed by the Renault F1 drivers, then.
Toyota's New Home
Unlike McLaren, who have bucked the trend by introducing their new modular motorhome, Toyota have stuck with tradition and gone with the old-style 'two-buses with a bit between' solution. The team may be new to the game, but they have gone for 'old technology' when it comes to their paddock equipment. Not that they have bought a cast-off from another team... they confirmed their new red and white home-away-from-home was bought brand new.
Even so, the House of McLaren has put what would look like an impressive construction, which sits 'at the wrong end of the paddock' alongside Minardi's white plastic pull-out awnings, firmly in the shade. However, concerns have already been muttered over what McLaren will do if Renault and Williams overhaul them and they continue their slide down the grid - because their flash new house will be a bit cramped to say the least if it has to be demoted to the midfield.
What Ya Got Cooking?
Renault driver Jarno Trulli went straight from the track to the motorhome kitchen on Saturday when he joined top Italian chef Alfonso Iaccarino and four assistants from his Don Alfonso 1890 restaurant to prepare a special treat for some guests in the paddock. The Renault F1 motorhome buzzed with activity on Saturday night after the prized chefs (and Trulli) swapped a two Michelin-star Italian restaurant (and a Formula One cockpit) for a hot hob in the Grand Prix paddock. The "chefs on wheels" event began with a champagne reception in the early evening and continued into the night.
First Offence
Grand Prix new 'boy' Allan McNish has obviously still not built up enough experience, despite his 32 years of age, to know when to press a button in a Grand Prix car's cockpit - because he was the first man of the weekend to be given a fine for speeding in the pitlane. The unlucky Scot, who has not been having the best of weekends at Imola with his new Toyota team, was caught by the FIA speed trap doing 62.1km/h, just a nudge over the 60km limit, but enough to earn a punishment from the stewards.
However, because it was only a slender margin they only took $750 from McNish after the incident, which occurred at the start of Friday's second free practice session.
Published at 17:29:02 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
