Saturday August 14th, 2004
Strange Signage
Toyota were left embarrassed by their advertising campaign in Hungary this weekend after promoting their Formula One programme with posters of Cristiano da Matta on track. The Brazilian, of course, is one key member of the team who is missing this weekend after being dropped for poor performances. Thankfully, however, most of the viewing public are unlikely to notice the error.
Toyota were not the only team turning their minds to signage this weekend as Williams were forced to make some special changes for this trip to Eastern Europe. Their beer sponsor Budweiser, who advertise as Bud on the cars engine covers and also on the team transporters, were forced to place a new sticker on the trucks declaring their product 'American Bud' for this weekend.
Football Hooliganism
The seventh annual 'Football Fans in Formula One' dinner took place on Thursday night in preparation for the start of the new English Premiership season this weekend. Vodafone hosted the event, which as held in the paddock for the first time after Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn's victory in the prediction challenge last year. Brawn best predicted the risers and fallers in the last English league season to win the 'EIADDIO Cup' last year but this time it was Daily Mail journalist Ray Matts who came up trumps. He was awarded his trophy by Brawn as the Vodafone motorhome throbbed with the biggest turn out ever including Brawn with his wife Jean and daughter Helen, Cosworth chief Bernard Ferguson and Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney.
The whole event - including an interview with Matts - was filmed by television company RTL and all attendees gave a speech during the dinner. But the event was marred by typical tomfoolery as the hooligan element reared its ugly head. Bread rolls and flowers on tables were hurled at those making terrible speeches, with Daily Telegraph journalist Kevin Garside needing eye protection in the form of sunglasses to prevent serious injury during his epic speech.
Hare Raising
Drivers were forced to take avoiding action when a hare ran onto the circuit in morning practice on Friday. The animal was the first to break through a Formula One spectator fence since an intruder invaded the track during this year's Spanish Grand Prix - but there was no need for stewards to chase it off this time as it soon realised the error of its ways and darted back into the scenery.
Published at 13:47:07 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
