Tests at Silverstone; Overtaking in F1
©

Thursday June 11, 1998

The periodic showers of yesterday turned into almost constant rain at the Silverstone track today. Therefore, the teams saw this last day go to waist, except for some rain tyre testing.

Michael Schumacher was the fastest man on the track followed by Jacques Villeneuve.

It also rained on the Monza track. Tom Kristensen was testing there for Tyrrell. He could replace Ricardo Rosset of even Tora Takagi there, this was announced by the BAR management. He clocked a fastest time of 1m 30.51s. One Ford engine blew up without warning, but it was already replaced in 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Esteban Tuero will race a Ducati on the Misano (Italy) track tomorrow. The occasion is a world-wide gathering of Ducati.


Overtaking in F1

After every race it seems to pop up: overtaking. For example: some feel that the blocking Damon Hill did to prevent Michael Schumacher from taking second place was just too dangerous, others feel it was just motor racing.

Max Mosley feels that Formula One is very exciting, with occasional overtaking and the different pit-stop/refuelling strategies. He stated: "All those whom we might describe as 'traditional' racers feel that overtaking should be relatively easy, as it is in most of the promotional formulae. However, there is a second view that the drama of occasional overtaking as it is now, makes for a more exciting race when it is combined with the excitement of the pit stops for refuelling and tyres. Take, for example, the Argentine Grand Prix this year. There was a period of tension, which lasted for about 30 minutes, when those of us watching didn't know who was likely to emerge in the lead after the second pit stops. Would it be Hakkinen? Or would it be Schumacher? We knew that it was important because it would obviously be difficult for whoever emerged behind the other to overtake -- unless he had a substantial and unlikely advantage.

"The whole outcome of the race hung on what happened at the second pit stop and who was to come out in front. At least for those who were watching the race, like me, on TV, that was an intensely exciting period. This is arguably more exciting than the sort of continual overtaking which has occurred, for example, in motor cycle racing."


Previous  |  News Index  |  Next   ]