Schumacher’s ‘team’,
Ferrari have also been in the headlines for other less desirable reasons following confirmation that they are taking legal action against their head of performance development, Nigel Stepney.
Ferrari believe that Stepney is guilty of ‘sabotage’ after a mysterious 'white powder' was found in the fuel tank of
Felipe Massa's car prior to last month's Monaco Grand Prix.
Stepney and his lawyers have denied all charges brought against him, dismissing the accusations as part of a ‘a dirty tricks campaign’.
In other news, British Racing Drivers' Club president,
Damon Hill has said that he is confident there will still be a British Grand Prix at
Silverstone post-2009, when the current deal expires.
Speaking exclusively to
Crash.net Radio during a press call in London to 're-affirm the BRDC's commitment to keep the British Grand Prix' and update the media on the 'Master Plan', he added that while it would be daft to be complacent, he is hopeful 'sense will prevail'.
"I am confident it [the British GP] will be there [on the calendar in 2010]," he noted. "I think everyone wants it -
Formula 1 wants it. Sense will prevail and we will go forward.”
NEWS FROM THE TEAMS:
McLaren – Fernando Alonso (#1), Lewis Hamilton (#2):
McLaren returns to Europe as top dog in
Formula One, having taken both wins on
F1's transatlantic jaunt and occupying the top spots in both championships. However, it is its rookie,
Lewis Hamilton, that has been taking the points and the plaudits, opening his victory account with victory in each of the last two races.
The team arrives in France with a 35-point lead in the constructors’ championship and with Hamilton leading team-mate Fernando Alonso by ten points in the drivers’ standings. The Briton now returns to circuits that are familiar to him from his time in both GP2 and the F3 Euroseries, and it remains to be seen whether that will allow him to increase his advantage over the rest of the field, even if his memories of last year at Magny-Cours aren't too good.
