The Belgian local newspaper 'Le Jour - le courrier' has received an anonymous letter stating that Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone needs to donate 10 million Belgium Francs (US$ 250,000) to the Sudanese 'Medecins sans frontieres' or the race could be stopped by terrorists.

The letter also stated that the reasons for the threat are the American bombings on terrorist targets. Extra security measures will be taken.

The German media further reported, that another threat was received in Brussels, to sabotage Michael Schumacher's car. "We will continue to work quite normally," said Schumacher's spokesman, and added that he himself received no threats. Ferrari too dismissed it by saying: "we do not know anything of it." However, extra security was placed around the Ferrari pits, and as soon as Schumacher's car returned from practice, the Ferrari crew shut down all access to the garage.