Formula One News — January 2003

There has been considerable speculation in recent weeks over the future of the Williams-BMW relationship. In part this is because there are some in Munich who believe that BMW should start its own Formula 1 team but at the same time it has also been a useful tool for BMW to use as it renegotiates its deal with Williams

As we reported last year Jos Verstappen is in the running for a drive at Jordan. The Dutchman has been talking to Jordan for several months but it was only in the run-up to Christmas that the talks became more serious with our sources saying that the team made Jos an offer.

Giorgio Pantano's chances of becoming a Williams test driver have taken a plunge with the news that the Italian is going to join the new BC Motorsports CART team, which will run an ex-Rahal Lola-Ford.

Williams has reported that their new FW25 chassis will be unveiled in a launch at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, provisionally set for January 31.

It has been confirmed that Arrows is now in administrative receivership with the accounting firm PKF looking at whether the company can be saved. They are doing this on behalf of HSBC, the bank to which Arrows promised most of its assets in exchange for a loan last Spring.

It has been rumoured for several weeks that Renault will be the third team in Friday morning testing at each Grand Prix.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation has finally confirmed that it has a new chief executive, to replace John Harnden, who has been appointed head of the organisation running the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.