Formula One Features — September 1993

FISA will disappear in October. It has been abolished because there is no need for it. That may sound odd, but it is important to consider what the FISA was and why it was created.

Olivier Panis, the new Formula 3000 champion, does not know what he is doing next year. The newspapers in France say that he will be in Formula 1 but no deal is yet done. But it probably will be. Racing is in his blood and with a little help from Elf Panis will now take the next step in his career.

There is nothing new about Grand Prix drivers who started their careers, racing on motorcycles. A quick look back through the record books reveal some great names in Grand Prix racing started out on two-wheels: Tazio Nuvolari was a top bike racer in the 1920s in Italy and his motor racing rival Achille Varzi started out as one of his two-wheeled rivals on bike, Varzi being the first Italian to compete in the Isle of Man TT bike races. German Bernd Rosemeyer was also an accomplished bike racer before he joined Auto Union.

Mika Hakkinen put his McLaren third on the grid in Estoril, ahead of Ayrton Senna. It was a remarkable performance for a man who has spent the year testing. But if he had been flying in qualifying. he really took off in the race. The problem was that it was not the right kind of take-off. On lap 33 he came through the final corner too fast and went off, launching the McLaren into the air and across the track - where a solid barrier awaited.

The name 'Damon' comes from the Greek meaning 'conqueror'. This year Damon Hill is second in the World Championship,

Have you ever wondered who will be the big names in Formula 1 in the year 2000. Who are the next Ayrton Sennas and Alain Prosts, John Barnards and Patrick Heads? We asked the experts.