Friday July 30th, 1999
Supertec Holds all The Aces - It's around this time of year that all the F1 teams get serious about next season's race cars and the number one priority for chief designers is to know what engine deal their bosses have secured. While most of the top teams have their power supply sorted, panic is beginning to spread through the Economy Class section of the pit lane. Over the British GP weekend, Arrows announced they had tied up a deal with Supertec for a supply of the French company's Renault-based engines, but in Austria, engine company boss Flavio Briatore admitted he didn't have a clue how Arrows chief Tom Walkinshaw would pay for them. Let us enlighten him. Renault will foot the bill in exchange for TWR's "consultancy" role in the production of their V6 engined limited edition Clio road car.
McLaren Duo Kiss and Make Up - Whatever their true feelings after that first lap shunt in Austria, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were all smiles when they visited a Mercedes factory to meet the workers and the press on Wednesday. "Anger is not a constructive emotion," was Hakkinen's Zen-like assessment of the situation. It was expected that McLaren would choose this race to announce it had renewed contracts with both its drivers. However, although Hakkinen's position seems assured, with the Finn holding out to double his salary and be kept on with improved terms, Coulthard's position is still apparently far from settled.
Michael Schumacher to Take Part in German GP - Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver, Michael Schumacher will take part in a live satellite link-up from his Swiss home, so that he can talk to his fans at the Hockenheimring this weekend. To give his fans something to cheer about, their hero is expected to talk them from Switzerland, his words of wisdom being broadcast by FOCA television on the giant screens in the stadium section of the track.
No Early Return for Schumacher - Schumacher's press agent, Heiner Buchinger has denied rumours that Michael is due to get back in the cockpit of his F1 car within the next two weeks. "These stories are rubbish," claimed Buchinger, referring to suggestions that Schumacher would have a secret test, behind closed doors, at Ferrari's private Fiorano track. "It is still too early and Prof. Watkins (FIA's chief medical officer) would veto the idea anyway. People do not realise how dangerous it could be if Michael had another crash before he is fully fit." However, after visiting the German driver at home in Switzerland, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo said he hoped Schumacher would be back in harness in time for the Italian GP on 12th September.
Broken Spectators - A German newspaper has offered 50 free tickets to Michael Schumacher fans for the German GP. The catch is that, to qualify for the free tickets, they must have a broken leg in plaster!
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