Villeneuve fastest at Estoril; Schumacher tips young brother; New light on death Senna
©

Sunday February 16, 1997

Jacques Villeneuve was, just like yesterday, the fastest man on the track at Estoril (Portugal) today. He clocked a fastest time of 1m 21.08s. Villeneuve tested a new Goodyear tyre compound.

The surprise of the day was Giancarlo Fisichella in the Jordan-Peugeot. He was second fastest with a 1m 22.14s, 1.8 seconds faster than his team-mate Ralf Schumacher.

Ralf Schumacher wanted to perform a Grand Prix distance but suffered some technical problems, his session ended after 17 laps.

Minardi driver Jarno Trulli suffered some electrical problems.

Olivier Panis clompleted 39 laps with a best time of 1m 14.86s on the Magny-Cours (France) circuit.


Schumacher tips young brother

Michael Schumacher said that his brother could de great things, he said his brother is 'more advanced than I was at his age.'

Schumacher told Focus that he wants Ferrari to be on the podium consistently: "We expect to be in the hunt for the title. It's not so much a question of becoming world champion as competing with the other teams to get Grands-Prix wins."

Schumacher was not at all worried about the problems with the new car: "We'll certainly be making a few modifications. That's why we're doing so many tests."

Schumacher added that his brother is bound to make some mistakes, like everybody else, but will do well: "But he will get some good results and if all goes well, he could make a few podiums. He's certainly more advanced than I was at his age. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it as he has already profited from my own experiences."


New light on death Senna

New evidence on the death of Ayrton Senna has come up just before the Senna trial starts on February 20. A photograph, published in the British 'Sunday Times' today, shows a piece of wreckage lying directly in Senna's path before he spun off.

It was always thought that a faulty weld on Senna's steering column was the cause of his accident, although Williams boss Frank Williams has always stated the steering column was in working order before Senna hit the wall.

This evidence makes it less likely that Williams will be held responsible for Senna's death.


Previous  |  News Index  |   Next   ]