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This week's Grapevine brings you
information fresh from the paddock on:
- Playing the transfer market
- Playing favourites: head games
- Silly Season Update
- Picked from the Bunch
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Playing the transfer market
Following the news of Jenson Button's "loan" to Benetton for two years, it seems that Formula One is setting itself up to again come in to conflict with the European Union - this time in the Court of Human Rights.
 Fans of European soccer will be aware that the bottom is expected to drop out of the transfer market in the next year or so, with a firm court ruling that contracts cannot be bought or sold, as they are currently. As it stands, players wishing to change employer (team) require the two parties to negotiate a selling price for their contracts, and they are dependant on the both clubs coming to terms before the transfer can happen. It can be a whole lot more complicated, with players "loaned" alongside stars, and other sweeteners to keep the deal amicable, but that is basically what it is about.
Or at least, it used to be. Jean-Marc Bosman started a huge ball rolling, when he demanded the right to a free transfer at the end of his contract. The team he played for wanted his new club to pay them for the "transfer," as under the existing system, clubs effectively owned players even after a contract had expired. The EU ruled this unfair, and the whole situation is changing.
In the USA, back in 1949, Olivia de Haviland was tied to a studio, and only offered roles in B-films. Objecting to being forced into mediocrity, she took her employer to court in an anti-trust case that changed the whole concept of studios "owning" stars...
It is by no means a forgone conclusion that drivers contesting their contracts will be able to break them, however: the music industry has demonstrated their continued hold over long term signings of major stars - George Michael being the most public of recent cases. That said, between the States and Europe, Formula One is heading for murky waters, should any driver really wish to be freed from a restrictive contract.
Playing favourites: head games
The suggestion by Jean Todt that McLaren favour Mika Hakkinen over his team-mate, in stark contrast to the teams' own statements, was an astute move by the Ferrari strategist.
 Early in the season, Michael Schumacher appeared to discount David Coulthard as a title challenger. The situation remained, and clearly irked the Scot, until the French Grand Prix - when Schumacher's bullish viewpoint began to turn. Three non-finishes later, his acknowledgement that Coulthard and Hakkinen were equally able to wrest the crown this season came as no surprise. Equally to the point, the reason for McLaren's potential success was placed squarely on the advantages their machinery has over his Ferrari at this stage in the season.
A lot of readers - particularly Schumacher fans - will immediately feel the need to write in and tell us that Schumacher's immense skill is the only factor in keeping Ferrari with the McLarens; but they need not do so this time: this article is not about the actual performance of the cars, or who is the best driver. It's about a very astute, professional team and driver, looking to maximising an advantage over an opponent...
The comments, levelled at Mika Hakkinen, could have little or no effect. The Flying Finn has dragged a decent performance out of a fading Lotus, out-qualified Senna in the same machinery, and out-Schumachered Schumacher head-to-head. No-one apart from Hakkinen himself can shake his confidence in himself, or his ability. David Coulthard, on the other hand, is a slightly different story.
When he entered the sport alongside Damon Hill in 1994, Coulthard knew he had lucked into arguably the best seat in the field. Only Schumacher in a Benetton had the pace on Williams that year, and Coulthard worked hard to get up with the championships main protagonists. He did well that year, though slightly less well the year after, before leaving for a seat at McLaren. Through-out his time at Williams, pressure from particularly the British press held him to be a reasonable, if unremarkable driver, who lucked into the best car in the paddock. They implied the car, and not his skills, was the real factor...
Moving on, a sparse couple of years at McLaren did little to further opinions in the paddock, before the dominant car of '98 was forthcoming. Coulthard's performance did not quite match that of Hakkinen in '98 or '99, resulting in many rumours of his pending dismissal for failing to perform... being kept on by Ron Dennis helped, and recent performances have demonstrated that the he has the capacity to do the job. At least, whilst he is focussed on the job at hand.
Claiming the McLaren advantage is due to the car alone - whether or not it really is - and making accusations that the team favours Hakkinen are both unsettling. If there is a chink in Coulthards mental armour, then this is going to be the best way to prise it open. Or at least, that is what Ferrari hopes!
Silly Season Update
 Jos Verstappen is thought to have signed a two year contract with Sauber, thanks to the influence of Michael Schumacher, who is interested in feedback from his Dutch friend on the state and condition of Michelin tyres in 2001.
Mika Salo has something of a dilemma - a test role at Toyota for piles of cash, or remain at Sauber for a fraction of the income. However, a potential light at the end of the tunnel is the unlikely proposition of having both roles. With testing expected to be reduced in 2001, it is feasible for Salo to test for Toyota, who currently expect to require him for 41 days, and still race and attend some tests with Sauber.
Pedro Diniz has expressed an interest in remaining at Sauber, but the decision partly rests with Mika Salo: if the Finn remains in a driving role, Diniz can expect his contract not to be renewed; should Salo depart, Peter Sauber will reluctantly keep him on to provide some continuity in the team...
Ricardo Zonta has been linked both with a test drive at McLaren and a race seat in Sauber since the news of Panis being signed by BAR.
Jean Alesi has also been connected with Sauber, and has certainly been approached in connection with a seat there. However, a significant faction within the Swiss outfit are opposed to his return, and Alesi himself is not thought to be keen on the match. A more likely connection with Jaguar has also come up, but he is currently favourite to retain his seat at Prost, now the team is looking unlikely to be sold.
Luciano Burti is hot favourite to take the second Jaguar seat, if Alesi does not sign. The test driver has shown well on test days, and some moments of brilliance in F3 have helped too. There is a question mark over his ability to sustain a whole season, as the Formula One testing duties have clearly affected his F3 races.
Picked from the Bunch
Speculation is rife that Ferrari have tabled a $36million offer to tempt Adrian Newey into their ranks for the next three years. The designer has expressed an interest in working at Ferrari one day - and is expected to consider the offer very seriously.
Rumours of the Prost sell-off have come back, this time expecting the event not to materialise. It is believed the Canadian consortium could not guarantee the asking price for the team, and the Lotus affair didn't even come close. Speculation that Prost will land Ferrari horse-power is seen as pivotal in this reverse.
BMW are working on the 2001 engine, which promises much. The new unit will be ten percent lighter, and nearly ten percent more powerful than the current unit. The dimensions of the new engine are a closely guarded secret.
Ford president Jac Nasser has mixed feelings over Jaguars progress this year. He would rather a more low key entry like BMW had taken place for the performance achieved, but has to admit the brand is penetrating the global market well. Improved performances in 2001 would further strengthen the name.
Jordan driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen admitted that Jordan are struggling to find the best way to use their tyres: currently, the performance drops off significantly after a single hot lap, making race-day difficult for the team. A fix is thought to be in place, but no-one is certain it will work until Friday testing has given the team a good set-up for Spa.
Digital viewers of the Hungarian GP were treated to something rather different: a continuous view of Arrows driver Pedro de la Rosa's feet, as he drove the race.
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