Sunday May 18th, 2003
Child Prodigy
Juan Pablo Montoya's wife Connie admitted that her days at home with the Colombian megastar are like "living with a nine-year-old boy" and that the Williams-BMW racer is constantly putting her in a spin. "He is hyperactive all the time and he needs Playstation or something to keep him entertained," she told ITV's Louise Goodman before kindly adding: "He takes care of me and he is always there for me." Fortunately for the brunette, who is at Montoya's side every minute he is out of his racing car, she was able to spend even more time with him this weekend because he retired after 32 laps of the 69-lap race.
Jaguar Shut Out
Jaguar shocked several members of the media on Saturday morning when they refused to serve breakfast in their motorhome. It appears their impressive array of special omelettes or high-class cooked breakfasts have been so popular that demand, or tightened purse strings, have forced the team to cut back and provide food to only pre-invited guests. BAR-Honda have taken things one step further and invite journalists to book ahead on their Lucky Tribe website.
Late Night Stopout: The Admission
German Nick Heidfeld admitted after qualifying on Saturday that he is a late-night reveller. The Sauber driver stayed at his Credit Suisse sponsor's dinner and birthday celebration past 11 o'clock on the Thursday before the race and he later admitted: "I am not good in going to bed early but as long as it is before 12 o'clock it is okay." The late night, which included a cake and a chorus of happy birthday, failed to do him any harm as he once again qualified in his best ever position at the A1-Ring and after the thrilling session he joked: "The birthday cake was very nice but it did not help me perform this weekend."
Special Tyres
Renault boss Flavio Briatore and Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier were spotted chatting closely in the A1-Ring paddock on race day morning when Briatore's driver Fernando Alonso walked by as he headed towards the drivers' briefing. Briatore was quick to pull his young star into the conversation and as the team's press officer paced about the paddock waiting in desperation to get her driver back Briatore appeared to be arranging special equipment to help his driver out of a sticky situation. Alonso had qualified last-but-one and Briatore was heard to quip: "We arrange special tyres to help you because you start from the back." It did not help - Alonso spun out of the race on his own oil on lap 44.
Italian Job 1
Another of the now regular BAR film nights was held on Friday night at the A1-Ring and the team's motorhome was packed with journalists and team members looking to escape the quiet Austrian hills and enjoy a fun evening in the paddock. That was duly provided with plentiful bowls of nachos and popcorn and The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine. And it was like watching the film all over again on Sunday as World Champion Michael Schumacher had several lucky escapes and ended the action with the Championship balancing on a cliff edge.
Italian Job 2
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella marked the arrival of the Sicilians in Formula One by carrying a logo for the Italian region along with the line 'Sicily - Everything else is in the shade' on his Jordan car this weekend. The Roman driver has family ancestry in Sicily, and the local government has decided to back Jordan as part of a driver deal.
Change of Clothes
Minardi sent all their team clothing back to its manufacturers after the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday to have patches put over all the Gazprom logos. The Russian backer was supposed to be the team's title sponsor this year but they have reneged on their three-year deal after just one season and they have not paid since the end of last year. Minardi boss Paul Stoddart said the financial loss is "the difference between getting through the season and putting the car through a development programme" but the return of Dutchman Jos Verstappen has re-ignited Formula One interest in the Netherlands so much that more money from that country could come in to save the day. It is understood that one current Dutch sponsor is on the verge of increasing their commitment in the team and that another new backer will be announced in Monte Carlo in two weeks time.
Kiss My Arse
Finn Kimi Raikkonen was taunted by Ferrari-capped fans during Sunday's race at the A1-Ring when they hung a banner opposite the McLaren-Mercedes garage which read: 'Kimi, Lik Me Reet' - with the helpful translation 'Kiss My Arse' written underneath. The prank was reminiscent of Nelson Piquet fans, who used to enrage the Brazilian's British Williams-Honda teammate Nigel Mansell with offensive banners in the late 1980s. This time, however, the abuse clearly failed as Raikkonen was able to hold onto his and McLaren-Mercedes' Championship lead even though Schumacher won the day for Ferrari.
Motormouth Murray is Back
Murray Walker wowed the crowds on his belated rallying debut in Australia's Targa Tasmania Rally this weekend but the former television commentator, who is now in his eighties, only managed to claim a 44th place finish. Walker retired from a 52-year career in Formula One at the end of 2001 but he put his famous motormouth to a different use when he partnered Australian Colin Bond in a Toyota - and it is rumoured that several of his famous "Murrayism" mistakes which could have sent his driver the wrong way were to blame for their lowly finish.
Published at 19:22:13 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
