All of the information in this section was obtained from a bloke down the pub, which means that while we believe all the following information to be true, we couldn't swear that it is.
What we will say however, is that usually, "there is no smoke without fire".....
Hakkinen Seriously Injured
Hill takes pole in Australia
Herbert May Join Tyrrell
1996 dates and venues announced
Honda may rejoin F1 as a team
Katayama on the move ?
BMW deal for Williams
Austrailian Grand Prix looks hot !!
End of the road for Adelaide
Suzuki to quit
Mika Hakkinen sustained serious head injuries when his McLaren crashed into the tyre wall during first qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.
He was taken to hospital where he was kept unconscious and ventalated.
This morning (Saturday Australia) he was still under heavy sedation but his condition had improved. Mika is able to move all of his limbs to command and understands the instructions given him by the medical team. He is still under sedation and on ventilation but his condition is not now considered critical.
We all hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Damon Hill secured the 11th pole of his career putting him joint top of the current drivers pole table with Gerhard Berger. His team mate David Coulthard is second on the grid followed by Schumacher, Berger, Alesi and Frentzen. Hill set his time of 1.15.505 on Friday. Very few drivers improved their times on Saturday, one to note was Alesi who improved from 32 Minutes 21 seconds to a rather speedier 1.16.305. We assume he dumped the push bike and used his Ferrari for the Saturday qualifying session !!!
Johnny Herbert may get a drive with Tyrrell next season. The main reason for him not getting a place is the fact that Japanese engine supplier Yamaha want to keep a Japanese driver in the team.
Provisional 96 dates announced.
See our 1996 calendar page for up to date details.
There are STRONG rumours that Honda are set to rejoin Formula1 as a team in their own right. Last active as a Formula 1 team in 1968 Honda were the top engine manufacturer from 1987 to 1991 and they finished second in 1992 their last proper F1 year as an engine supplier. Honda are expected back into Formula 1 by 1997. They have used the Honda-Mugen programme to give experience to a lot of young Honda engineers and perhaps it is now time to reap the rewards....
We will find out in time.
Rumours abound that Katayama may be leaving Tyrrell to join the Pacific team, leaving the way clear for Herbert to join Tyrrell. As part of the move the Pacific team will get Judd (reworked Yamaha) V-10 engines.
Williams are said to have agreed a contract for BMW powered engines for 1998 along with the services of Heinz Harald Frentzen for 1997.
If BMW are to enter the Formula 1 arena it is likely that they will use a lesser team for development.
Austrailian Grand Prix looks hot
The final Grand Prix of the season looks as though it could be one of the best.
Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger both want to win their last race for Ferrari, Michael Schumacher and Johnny Herbert both want to win their last race for Benetton, David Coulthard wants to win his last race for Williams and Damon Hill wants to win one for the Williams team.
The recent improvements of the McLaren car and the Jordan also mean that these cars are in with a chance.
The Adelaide circuit is very hard on cars, with punctures being very common Hill in 94 and, perhaps the most famous Mansell in 86 being ones that spring to mind. It has also had a few wet ones 89, 91 the most recent. The lap record is still held by Damon Hill at 112.172 MPH (1m 15.381s)
This weekends race in Adelaide is the last Grand Prix to be staged at what is commonly considered the best all street circuit after Monaco. A long race that is very hard on brakes and fuel the Adelaide circuit is a challenging one. After 11 years of hosting the Australian Grand Prix, the F1 world moves on to Melbourne. Adelaide is pressing hard for next years Pacific Grand Prix. I think it is a better option than AIDA.
Aguri Suzuki is set to quit F1
The Japanese driver who has driven for Zakspeed, Larousse, Jordan, Ligier and Footwork says he wants to concentrate on family life. It is likely that he will continue to race in Japan for Toyota in touring cars.
