Bridgestone are running a new wide tyre at Hungaroring, and are said to be intending to run a similar width tyre for the rest of the season, in spite of the inherent aerodynamic disadvantages. The new tyres are said to be two centimeters wider than the standard 1998 front tyres and according to one engineer, made a significant difference in testing. The tyre has been tested by McLaren, Benetton, Arrows, Prost and Stewart. Goodyear widened their tyres earlier this season for the twisty Argentina circuit where Michael Schumacher was victorious using the tyres.

Benetton is the latest team to opt for a longer wheelbase car, in their case, some five centimeters longer due to a spacer between engine and gearbox. They tested the car in Jerez where drivers reported that the car was easier to drive and less nervous. Jordan have also tested a longer wheelbase car, even though they have already extended their wheelbase earlier this year, but the longer-longer car proved unpopular and the team will revert to the previous option. Ferrari, meanwhile, are still working on their longer wheelbase car which appeared in Hockenheim and is likely to reappear at Spa and then be used for the rest of the year. Tyrrell is also said to be investigating a longer wheelbase.

The Hungaroring boasted modifications for the second year running. The circuit has been modified both before and after the pit lane, which has resulted in an overall length four meters longer than before, making a total length of 3.972 meters. The pit lane is wider, and the track has been resurfaced and is a meter wider from the middle of the last corner to the middle of the first corner, hopefully making it less bumpy. The radii of both corners is also changed. The number of pits has also been increased, and they are bigger, while the stands have also been rebuilt. During the weekend, a new, smaller track was unveiled within the circuit by Gerhard Berger, after whom it is named. A driving school, named after Gerhard, will operate on this track which also has a skid school.

Jacques Villeneuve has changed his hair again. Arriving at Budapest, the World Champion had turned to a new clear brown colour with an auburn tinge, saying that it was more discreet, and that he had got bored with the previous mauve. One waits with interest to see the next development, after natural, blonde, mauve/grey and now chestnut.

Sauber have introduced a new cooling package which will be used in the Hungarian Grand Prix. This follows considerable overheating during testing the previous week at Jerez where the ambient temperature rose to as high as 41 degrees, and the track temperature nudged an amazing 60 degrees. At first, Sauber’s Petronas engine overheated, but the team worked on a new cooling package which was fine-tuned back at the factory in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix, where the temperature was expected to be similar.

Former Brazilian World Champions Nelson Piquet and Emerson Fittipaldi took over the Jacarepagua circuit near Rio de Janeiro last week, and promptly started bidding to host the Brazilian Grand Prix. The circuit last hosted the event in 1989, and since then the Formula One Grand Prix has been back at the Interlagos circuit. Now the two World Champions want to bring Formula One back to the Rio circuit and are seeking £12.5m to shorten the Rio track, by putting a hairpin at the end of the long main straight. As to whether they will be able to pull the Formula One circus back to the Carnival City remains to be seen, but they may just be able to pull this off, as they both know Formula One promotions boss Bernie Ecclestone very well; Piquet won two World titles with Ecclestone’s Brabham team.