03.06.94

The FIA have confirmed several new measures to increase safety as a result of the spate of recent accidents in Formula One. They are to raise weight limits and introduce new fuel requirements and engine power restrictions from the Canadian Grand Prix on June 12. FIA president Max Mosley added that headrests must be slightly modified for better shock absorption and to cut the risk of head injuries. The Argentinian race on October 16 has been switched from Buenos Aires to Spain while safety is improved.

04.06.94

Karl Wendlinger has regained consciousness more than three weeks after crashing during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Austrian had been in a semi-artificial coma at a hospital in Nice but has now been able to talk with relatives. A Team Sauber spokesman said: "We are very relieved and pleased for the relatives. It's a very important step but we shall have to wait to know more."

07.06.94

Karl Wendlinger has returned to Austria after three weeks in a Nice hospital following his near-fatal crash at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Sauber driver is now out of a coma he fell into following the accident, which occurred during practice at Monaco. Doctors at Nice's Saint-Roch hospital felt his recovery would be aided by Wendlinger being nearer to his family at Innsbruck.

09.06.94

Formula One driver Karl Wendlinger should make a complete recovery from the head injuries suffered in an accident four weeks ago. Wendlinger crashed during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix and was kept in an artificial coma for three weeks to aid his recovery. His doctor said the Sauber Mercedes driver was fully awake and able to speak, eat and read. "It is expected he will recover as far as possible, maybe completely... he will be just the way his family have always known him," he said.

10.06.94

Former world champion Nigel Mansell looks set for a return to Formula One with the Williams team. Rumours are rife at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the venue for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, that he is set for a comeback. "We have talked to Nigel, as we have talked to many other drivers, but I am not prepared to add to that comment at all," said team boss Frank Williams. Mansell is currently driving in Indy Cars for the Newman-Haas team.

10.06.94 - 12.06.94 - Canadian Grand Prix

13.06.94

Nigel Mansell flew into England Monday amid denials from Williams that his visit was anything to do with a return to Formula One. "At the moment, Nigel Mansell has nothing whatsoever to do with this team and we have no details of his trip," a Williams spo keswoman said. "From our point of view, absolutely nothing has altered over the past couple of weeks," she added. A Mansell press aide said Mansell and family were on a trip that was planned before speculation began.

22.06.94

Ferrari have ended speculation about the future of Austrian driver Gerhard Berger by renewing his contract for the 1995 season. The moved ends media suggestions that Berger was contemplating retirement from Formula One. Berger is a member of the safe ty group set up to inspect circuits in the wake of recent tragedies which have rocked the sport. He was a close friend of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, who both died following high-speed crashes at Imola in May.

23.06.94 - Team Lotus Press Release

Having sustained serious knee injuries after his accident at Silverstone last month, Pedro Lamy's condition is improving and he is now regaining movement in his legs. It is hoped that he will be able to support his own body weight and walk unsupported in the next six weeks.

He left the Northampton General Hospital to move to a ward in the Three Shires, a private hospital in Northampton, and has now moved to the University Clinic in Nuremberg. Pedro will remain there for two weeks, and will then go to Tegernsee, a clinic close to the German/Austrian border, where he will stay for a further ten days. This is the clinic where Michael Schumacher spent last winter having has a successful operation to his knees.

Hopefully Pedro will then be able to return directly to Portugal, which should be just after the British Grand Prix.

He would like to take this opportunity to thank his many well-wishers for the cards and messages of good-will that he is continuing to receive.

26.06.94

Nigel Mansell's predicted return to Formula One is likely to be confirmed on Tuesday morning. The Williams team will announce their driver line-up for the French GP at Brands Hatch and Mansell is expected to take the drive from David Coulthard. Mansell's Indycar boss Carl Haas said: "There is a possibility Nigel can do the French GP, but I don't know whether he will do the three races at the end of the season. It's too premature to talk about next year." 

28.06.94

Nigel Mansell will make his Formula One comeback at this weekend's French Grand Prix. Williams have confirmed that the former world champion will return to the team at Magny Cours and he will earn �650,000 for his efforts. Mansell quit Formula One after winning the drivers' title in 1992 and became IndyCar champion in the US last year. He is still retained by the Newman Haas Indy team but is expected to drive in further races for Williams when dates do not clash. Nigel Mansell looked forward to an exciting week after confirming his "guest appearance" for Williams at the French Grand Prix. "The Newman Haas (Indy) team have given the Williams team permission for me to compete this weekend. I think it's good for the sport, good for the fans and good for TV," said the 1992 Formula One champion. "I don't think many drivers have the chance to drive in the two largest series in the world simultaneously, so there's a lot of excitement there," he added. 

Nigel Mansell suffered a spin on the second of his 60 practice laps of testing for Williams at Brands Hatch but typically shrugged it off. Mansell said: "I was just pushing it to it's limits." "It was fantastic here this morning. I had honestly expected it to be quiet but there were over eight thousand people." Mansell officially opened a new �3m pits complex which will be known as the Nigel Mansell Centre. Nigel Mansell insisted his return to Formula One at this weekend's French Grand Prix had not been motivated by financial reward. "I have a lot of personal friends and you can count on more than the fingers of your hand the people who have passed away doing this job. The motivation, gentlemen, is not the money," he told a packed press conference at Brands Hatch. "You can draw your own conclusions but the most precious thing in life is life - and this game is not something to be played with." 

Team boss Frank Williams was a happy man after securing Nigel Mansell's services for the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours. "Nigel is a true racer and I know everyone is looking forward to working with him again. I am confident he will do a great job for us," he commented. Bleary-eyed Mansell faced the world's media after flying from Portland where he finished fifth in an IndyCar race on Sunday. "It's a little bit like a dream," he confessed. Frank Williams spared a thought for David Coulthard after replacing the talented young Scot with Nigel Mansell for the French Grand Prix. "We've got to give ourselves the opportunity of winning races and scoring maximum points every time. That's not to take anything away from David, but it's obvious that the man with 10 years of Grand Prix experience has a better chance of scoring points than a man with two races," Williams said. Coulthard finished fifth in Canada earlier this month. Damon Hill will be looking after number one at this weekend's French Grand Prix despite having Nigel Mansell as his Williams teammate. "If Nigel's comeback adds interest to Formula One, then that's great," Hill commented. "But I'm second in the World C hampionship and I still think it is possible to beat Michael Schumacher. You might call me mad but it is what I aim to do and I'll just have to beat Nigel as well," he added.