Craig Pollock could leave BAR with Jacques Villeneuve if the team loses its star driver to Renault - as predicted. It's still undecided whether Villeneuve has or has not signed for Benetton which has been taken over by Renault in preparation for a full-on onslaught in 2002. Some say that Renault's Christian Contzen is in high spirits, suggesting that the deal is done, but other says that it floundered on financial considerations. Villeneuve, meanwhile, also says that he has not made up his mind and emphasises firstly that he doesn't own any shares in BAR nor guarantees that a move to another team would separate him from his friend and mentor Craig Pollock. The latter, incidentally, has recently sold on shares in the team, suggesting that he, too, was looking for a way out of the team.
Mika Salo has scarcely denied that he is being chased by Toyota - but he does point out that he has a two year contract with Sauber that ends next year. The Finn is being strongly linked with the Japanese team that comes into Formula One in 2002, and rumour has it that Salo is in line for a drive. However, the original deal was that he would spend next year testing and would then race the year after. He is not too keen to do that - particularly considering his Sauber drive. Mike Greasley, Mika's manager, is an ex-rally journalist and has good contacts with Ove Andersson, the Toyota boss, but no one is saying much about the possibility of Salo driving for the team. However, the lack of a denial suggests it is more than a possibility.
Will McLaren keep its current line-up in 2001? Jurgen Hubbert, the Mercedes board director in charge of motor sport, has been quoted as saying that he does not expect any surprises when the team announces its line-up. He pays tribute to David Coulthard, saying that after the air crash that he suffered before the Spanish Grand Prix, "David became decisively stronger in his head." An announcement regarding the future line-up is due at the German Grand Prix.
Rubens Barrichello suffered right rear suspension failure during the Monza test, but Ferrari say it is unconnected to Michael Schumacher's incident at Monaco. However, there is some doubt as to whether Schumacher's problem was caused by the cracked exhaust or contact with the barrier. Both Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Salo reckon that Schumacher hit the barrier at different places, which they say could have caused the suspension breakage. Ferrari still maintain that the breakage was caused by a cracked exhaust, and slowed down Barrichello in the closing stages for that reason.
Antonio Pizzonia has signed an option with Benetton - but only a short term one until September. The former Formula Renault star, now racing in the British Formula Three championship, was being wooed by Benetton a couple of months ago, to sign a testing option, but he refused, saying that he didn't want to sign anything long term. However, after a number of tests, the team has come back and agreed to sign a short term agreement. The Brazilian joins Giorgio Pantano from Italy on the team's test strength.
Nigel Stepney, Ferrari's chief mechanic, who was run over by the departing Michael Schumacher in the Barcelona pit lane, has said that he won't be returning to refuelling duties when he has fully recovered from his injuries. Stepney suffered a broken leg in the incident, but was back at work two days later, and back in the pits at Monaco two weeks ago. A strong, heavily-built man, Stepney handled the fuel hose which requires a man of his physique. However, his refuelling duties have now been passed on to another member of the team.
Jerez is to undergo a US$20 million update. The track in southern Spain, which hosts a motorcycle Grand Prix, hasn't been the location for a Grand Prix since the European in 1997, when local officials upset the FIA by gate-crashing the podium ceremony. Formula One has never been particularly well received - certainly less well than the motorcycles. However, Formula One cars still test there several times a year. The track is to be resurfaced, and the pits moved to the back straight. Whether this will improve its chances of hosting a race remains to be seen, but it will probably remain a popular test venue.
The Sauber team has contracted to remain with Petronas, the Malaysian oil company, for another year. The company finances the engines that are bought from and maintained by Ferrari and which are consequently re-badged Petronas. The presence of the Malaysian Grand Prix on the Formula One calendar is no doubt a great motivation for remaining in the sport.
Rumours abound that Michelin may run coloured tyres when they enter Formula One in 2001. The team has recently been testing with an all-white Jaguar at Imola, and is due there again next week. Driver was Max Wilson, but the team was plagued by mechanical problems and did few laps. Meanwhile Jordan and Arrows are expected to remain with Bridgestone in 2001.
Two speeding fines were awarded to drivers on Friday in Canada. The FIA relieved Jenson Button of $1250 for his first speeding fine, while Ralf Schumacher was asked for $500 for what was his second fine of the year. However, the first was for failing to obey the green light at the pit lane exit in Brazil - which cost him $5000. A third fine was given out on Saturday when Nick Heidfeld was docked $2000, again, for speeding in the pit lane.
Sauber were running a new Ferrari-developed qualifying engine in Canada. The new engine, tested by Pedro Diniz during testing at Monza, has an extra 10 bhp but it wasn't tested sufficiently at Monza for it to be raced in Canada, but it is expected to make its track debut at Magny-Cours.
Weekend Milestones: This was Michael Schumacher's 26th pole position of his career. It was also Zonta's equal best qualifying position of his career (equal to eighth at home in Brazil) and ninth was also de la Rosa's equal best qualifying position (equal with Spain this year). This is Barrichello's 120th Grand Prix and Zonta's 20th. It is also McLaren's 500th Grand Prix. Alesi turned 36 seven days before the race and Herbert will turn 36 next weekend.
