Imola boss expects indictment; Brawn to Ferrari;
Stewart tampers expectations; Berger escapes Estoril crash;
Nannini, Briatore and Minardi; Mansell linked to Jordan

© 1996 ATLAS TEAM

Wednesday November 27, 1996

The managing director of the Imola (Italy) circuit Frederico Bendinelli is expecting to be indicted together with Frank Williams for the death of Ayrton Senna after an inquiry. He was not too concerned about this: "I'm not worried because I am innocent. I'm confident because the track was certified. Everything was in order on the unfortunate day that Senna died."

The Williams-Renault team is still waiting for a confirmation of the report that was brought forward by the Italian news agency ANSA.


Brawn to Ferrari

Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher's wish has come true. Designer Ross Brawn will be going to Ferrari to team up with Schumacher again. Brown was one of the key persons behind the two world championship titles the German clinched in 1994 and '95. Brawn left Benetton just a week ago. It is expected that Ferrari will be able to compete with Williams next season.

Brawn will start his work at Ferrari as technical director next week.


Stewart tampers expectations

Jackie Stewart is trying to tamper the expectations surrounding the launch of his Grand Prix team next season. The Scot will unveil his Stewart-Ford on December 10 with his their drivers Jan Magnussen and Rubens Barrichello.

Stewart said: "You can't expect to run before you can walk and crawl. You have to be realistic."


Berger escapes Estoril crash

Gerhard Berger escaped injury when he crashed on the exit of the parabolica bend on the Estoril (Portugal) circuit today. His Benetton-Renault spun off the wet soaked circuit and hit the iron rail damaging the left hand side of the car.

Jacques Villeneuve was fastest when the track was dry with a time of 1m 20.31s in his Williams-Renault. Michael Schumacher, who took over from Eddie Irvine, was second in the Ferrari with a time of 1m 20.83s. Schumacher saw his panned tyre test cancelled by the rain.

Fellow German Frentzen was third with a time of 1m 21.44s.


Nannini, Briatore and Minardi

Allesandro Nannini, who tested for the Benetton-Renault team on the Estoril circuit over the last two days, Flavio Briatore and dome others has taken a majority interest, 70 percent, in the Minardi team. They will be hoping to help Minardi with their bad financial situation and improve their results. The entire company structure is to be altered.

The new Minardi will be ready in the middle of January.


Mansell linked to Jordan

Nigel Mansell has now been strongly linked to the Jordan-Peugeot team. Mansell already had expressed his desire to return and the Jordan team is very eager to sign a big name. At first they wanted Damon Hill and their sponsor Benson and Hedges was very disappointed that Hill signed the TWR F1 team and seems now willing to pay a lot for the services of Nigel Mansell. This will be a crucial year for Jordan because this is also the year the three year deal with Peugeot expires, and Peugeot has made it no secret that they want to be with a top team: this could also be Jordan of course.


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