Formula One News — July 1998

THE City of Melbourne has signed a five-year extension to its deal to run the Australian Grand Prix in Albert Park.

THE Action on Smoking and Health organization (ASH) joined forces with the British Liberal Democrat party last weekend to publish a report which claims to prove that tobacco sponsorship increases teenage smoking.

THE FIA Stewards ran into trouble at Silverstone on Sunday over the handling of a time penalty for Michael Schumacher.

THERE were stories at Silverstone suggesting that British American Racing is in the process of trying to sign up World Champions Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill to be its drivers for next season.

VOLKSWAGEN chairman Ferdinand Piech has dropped his plans to revive the Bugatti name, having failed to agree a deal to buy the marque's name and badge with current owner Romano Artioli. It does not mean that Piech has finished with his buying spree.

THE recent deal involving Mecachrome, Renault Sport and the mysterious Supertec Sport company have led to speculation that Williams Grand Prix Engineering might not be running Mecachrome V10 engines in 1999.

GERMAN carmaker Volkswagen AG continues its buying spree, despite the news last week that it has abandoned attempts to buy the Bugatti name.

ALL the Formula 1 teams were running at Silverstone last week with the weather proving to be relatively rain-free, although sunny spells were interrupted by clouds in the course of the three-day test.

THE recent weeks have seen increasing speculation suggesting that Bernie Ecclestone has given up the idea of floating his Formula One Holdings Ltd. company and that he may dispose of the business in a private sale.

FERRARI's sporting director Jean Todt is to stay with the Italian team for the foreseeable future.

THERE will be a South African Grand Prix next year - for World Championship 500cc motorcycles.

TONY GEORGE and his staff at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are waiting to hear within the next few days whether Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone will agree to sending the Grand Prix circus to Indiana in the year 2000.