New Ferrari Presented
The new 1996 Ferrari was presented today at Ferrari's home-track at Maranello (Italy). The new car is called the F 310. The presentation of the new car was delayed because of problems with the required crash tests and aerodynamics. Michael Schumacher, team-mate of Eddie Irvine, said: "It would be great to win some races this season." He again ruled out any chances for him to compete in the race for the 1996 championship: "I'm not playing down my chances, but I have to be realistic, we are starting something new here." Schumacher also added: "I felt quite empty after spending four and a half years at Benetton - We'd achieved everything together. But I have plenty of motivation now. I needed a new challenge and I've got that here."
Damon Hill took advantage of the brighter weather at Estoril (Portugal) and clocked the fastest time of the day: 1:21.62 in his new Williams-Renault. Alesi and Berger followed in their new Benetton-Renaults with 1:22.40 and 1:22.24. Fifth fastest was Rubens Barrichello, who is getting his pace again in the new Jordan-Peugeot, with 1:22.59, but it took him 67 laps to Hill's 27. Hakkinen came in with a nice fourth place with 1:22.55.
Dutch driver Jos Verstappen was very happy with the new Arrows. The car held up well in bad weather conditions at the test at Silverstone (England). Ricardo Rosset was also very pleased. Verstappen said in an interview he will be at the start of the Australian Grand Prix, next month, in an Arrows. Verstappen and Rosset will test the new Arrows at Estoril next week. Verstappen said the official presentation of the team is most likely to be held at the end of next week's test-session in London (England). The new car didn't bare many sponsors, Verstappen stated there were still some sponsor contracts to be signed, he himself was now sponsored by Exact Software and not (yet) by Philips Car Systems, but he wouldn't give any clarity about this. Jos Verstappen knows Ricardo Rosset from his days in the Opel Lotus series, Verstappen said Rosset was behind hind as well as in front of him, this is very nice according to Verstappen: "Competition within a team is very good, it keeps you awake."
