FEBRUARY 13, 2001

After the Oscar comes "The Bernie"

LAST night in London's Royal Albert Hall four "Bernie" awards were made to big names in Formula 1 in the course of a charity Grand Prix ball in aid of Professor Sid Watkins's Brain and Spine Foundation.

LAST night in London's Royal Albert Hall four "Bernie" awards were made to big names in Formula 1 in the course of a charity Grand Prix ball in aid of Professor Sid Watkins's Brain and Spine Foundation. The awards were modelled on the Oscars but looked more like mini versions of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. The awards were made to Michael Schumacher (who did not attend), Jenson Button, commentator Murray Walker and Watkins himself.

Although former World Champions Niki Lauda, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jody Scheckter were all in attendance, the only current Grand Prix driver to attend the ball was party animal Eddie Irvine. The rest of them were busy testing in Spain or South Africa.