JULY 1, 2002

Will all the teams make it to Silverstone?

Fans should not be surprised if only 20 cars turn up for practice at Silverstone.

AT the recent team manager's meeting at the Nurburgring one of the team managers (not Paul Stoddart) told his rivals that unless a considerable sum of cash appeared by the end of June his team would not be able to continue. The team boss, who recently put $4m of his own money into the team, was facing a bill of around the same magnitude in order to continue. Unlike Paul Stoddart, who was honest and open about his problems, the team in question has tried to disguise the fact that it is in difficulties although in recent months this has been common knowledge in the F1 paddock.

It may be that money will be found and the team will survive but fans should not be surprised if only 20 cars turn up for practice at Silverstone.