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".....
Testing Times At Estoril
Berger Crashes At Estoril
Sauber To Sign Blundell
Brundle Off To Jerez To Test Jordan
DAMS In Or Out ?
Ligier Line Up Undecided
Minardi Sign Teenage Driver
Benetton To Race Under Italian Colours In 96
Giancarlo Baghetti Dies Aged 60
The testing sessions at Estoril have thrown up some interesting times. Williams were there with Villeneuve, Benetton had Alesi there until Wednesday and Berger from Wednesday.Villeneuve posted the quickest time of the week 1.20.96, Schumacher was second fastest in the outgoing Ferrari V12 1.21.30. Jean Alesi set a time of 1.21.45 in his first Benetton test, Berger managed 1.22.26. The fastest time Schumacher managed in the Ferrari equipped with the new V10 engine was 1.22.78.Berger is said to be too big for the 95 chassis and his times are expected to improve when he has a run in the new Benetton. Schumacher said he preferred the V10 engined Ferrari as it was "more agile"
Gerhard Berger crashed heavily at Estoril late into the final testing session. Berger is fine but the car was so badly damaged that the Benetton team had to pack up and return to the UK
It is expected that Sauber will announce Mark Blundell as their other driver. Other drivers linked to the seat vacated by Karl Wendlinger are Johnny Herbert (no news there eh?) and test driver Norberto Fontana. Fontana was scheduled to attend the test session at Jerez with Heinz-Harald Frentzen, but an accident in an F3 race at Macau has sidelined him for six weeks.(minor vertebral injury)
Brundle Off To Jerez To Test Jordan
Martin Brundle, Jordans replacement for Eddie Irvine is having seat fittings this week in readiness for the testing session at Jerez December 19th
It is still unclear whether or not the DAMS team will be in F1 next year. The team did fail to lodge their entry deposit in time, but it is possible they will be able to race if they get the deposit money together, and all of the current F1 teams give their unanimous approval.
The Ligier line up is still very uncertain for 96. Rumours are that Pedro Diniz has signed and that Gil de Ferran, Vincenzo Sospiri and Kenny Brack are all linked to the other seat along with Australian runner up Olivier Panis.
Minardi have signed Argentine teenager Esteban Tuero to race in their Formula 3 cars. He will also test their F1 cars.
Benetton To Race Under Italian Colours In 96
Benetton have decided to race under Italian colours from next season, this means a Benetton win will have the Italian national anthem instead of the British anthem. Team president Alessandro Benetton said "To compete as an Italian team, merely confirms how things are"
Giancarlo Baghetti Dies Aged 60
Giancarlo won his first ever Grand Prix race in the 1961 French Grand Prix. It is a feat unlikely to be matched. He raced for Ferrari, ATS and BRM competing in 21 Grands Prix. He never managed another win and his best result in the drivers championship was 9th in 1961.
