Formula 1 drivers and fans are always waiting for Belgian Grand Pix as a God send because not
interesting races are very seldom here. A great track, loved by almost all pilots, often and unpredictable changes of weather conditions
often presented us a races to remember. This time Belgian Grand
Prix didn't deceived our expectations too. But it's a pity, that all events has
occurred behind a leader's back
Light at the end of a tunnel.
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Seems that Minardi's business has moved from the dead point. During Belgian Grand Prix Paul Stoddart has announced that next season his team's cars will be equipped with AsiaTech motors. We can say that these engines are weakest this year, that they have a number of obvious defects. But for Italian squad it's a huge step forward. AsiaTech not simply reselling Peugeot A20 engines, as it was with Renault and Supertec. They work on them - anyway they could overcome a terrible unreliability, a family feature of the French units. Also AsiaTech plans to develop an absolutely new engines for 2002 and 2003. Besides they are going to built a technical centre
at Didcote, England which will work on the chassis and suspension. So seems |
that Minardi has found a reliable and long-term technical partner. Also team has announced a sponsorship deal with malaysian handbook firm Magnum. Their label has already appeared on Minardi's cars this week-end. And on Italian Grand Prix at the wheel of Minardi will
début their protege Alex Yoong, he will substitute Tarso
Marques. It is obvious that Formula 1 will find nothing new this person, but these changes to good in the smallest team are undoubtedly please us.
Who is Fisico?
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It was announced between Hungarian and Belgian Grand Prix about an exchange of
Jarno Trulli and
Giancarlo
Fisichella. First is going to Benetton, that is Renault, and Fisico is coming back to
Jordan. Giancarlo's career has began in Minardi in
1996, but already in 1997 he has moved to Jordan, where he has managed to attract an attention by his results and his war with teammate
Ralf
Schumacher.Having sent Italian to Benetton for next year, Eddie Jordan has killed three birds with one stone: he has earned a good fee - Fisichella's contract was for 2 years and he has worked only one, he has avoided the further escalation of conflict between his drivers and, at last, he has exempted a place for
Damon Hill. In Jordan Giancarlo was looked better and quicker than Schumi jr. Ralf's talent we've seen this season - he continues to struggle for a vice-champion title. But Fisichella hasn't received a car that would allow him to fight for wins. A pole in Austria'98, several podium places in Monaco and Canada are all that Benetton has allowed him to do.
Now he moves to Jordan. Jordan's businesses this year are not too good and Eddie has begun a next shakeup of his team. In the past it invariable brought good results. Whether it will work this time Flavio
Briatore, in his turn, having disappointed with Fisico, simply wanted
receive Jarno Trulli. And this completely mad and unreal |
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podium at Spa has burst as a good-bye salute of the talented driver to the autosport businessmen.
Race without leader.
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This week-end we've seen a remarkable Grand Prix. There was everything we can dream of. The qualifying in the rain, the struggle on a track with
beautiful overtakings, the unexpectedness, such as suddenly speeded Benetton, and terrible crashes. It would be possible to name Belgian Grand Prix as one of the best races of a season, but one circumstance. All this events has
occurred behind a leader's back. Michael
Schumacher, as |
though confirming his title, has lead the race on a seemly to his title distance, having given all others an opportunity to struggle for a second place. However all this season goes in such
style. Seems like there's enough struggle both on the track and out of it, but all this doesn't concern
Michael. He has his own championship which he has successfully won. Has - because it is already finished. There are some rumors that after Italian Grand Prix Schumacher can send
Luca Badoer instead of himself to transatlantic voyage. This season Michael has no worthy contenders. That is rather regrettably because the idea of watching a Championship because of struggle for a vice-champion title
makes me yawning. Especially after a show, how Rubens Barrichello and
David Coulthard are trying hard to overtake Fisichella's Benetton.
Damnation of the Champion
Seems that someone in Williams team obviously dislikes the champions of the American CART series. Anyway, looking on
Juan Pablo
Montoya's misfortunes, the ideas like this are sneaking into mind. And if we remember
Sandro
Zanardi's history, or recollect the falling off wheels and half-minute pit-stops of
Jaques Villeneuve in 1996 then this impressions will become even stronger. It's simply silly to consider Montoya as the inexperienced rookie. He has passed through F3000 and IndyCar and won in both championships. I believe that already now
he is a quite serious and real contender for wins, absolutely
equally with Ralf Schumacher. And he has confirmed it having won pole-positions in Hockenheim and Spa. But the things that occurs in races induces on ideas about a favoritism for Ralf. First in France he has pretended deaf and it has got
away with it. Then in England his obstinacy has resulted that Columbian
has lost a podium place. In Germany the team has made a 30-seconds pit-stop for Montoya when he was on the leading position, therefore his engine has overheated and he has retired. Why such things doesn't happen
to Schumacher? If all this is true, then next season Franck Williams will have a very hard life.
Struggling again.
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There was no time to forget a terrible crash on the start of German Grand Prix as
Luciano Burti has given a new occasion to worry about him. The crash that has occurred on the fourth lap of Belgian race has reminded us a Michael Schumacher's crash in Silverstone two years ago. That what happened between Burti and
Eddie Irvine is just a usual racing incident and nothing more. And its consequences forces us once again recollect FIA and its efforts on increase of safety measures |
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Couple of years ago such crash would finished with a terrible traumas for a driver. Now Luciano has only shock of head. Though it's too much. Let's hope, that Brazilian will manage regain his form and in will return to racing in the nearest future.
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