Mercedes has extended their contract with the McLaren team until 2002. It is an exclusive contract, except there is the possibility of supporting a 'junior team' if both parties feel the need for this. Therefore, rumours of the new BAR team using Mercedes engines are definitely not true.

Michael Schumacher will stay with Ferrari at least until the end of his contract. There has been some speculation that he will go to McLaren next year but his manager Willi Weber strongly denies this.

He said: "Why should we negotiate with someone else. I always believed in the success of Michael and Ferrari. This is all speculation. I haven't dealt with anyone."