UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Spanners in the works on Tuesday

Weather ruins first day of test

(GMM) There was a false start at Paul Ricard on Tuesday, as F1 action prepared to kick off again.

McLaren testers Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett turned up in southern France, but even after lunch it was still pouring with rain.

Pre-Melbourne testing will also take place at Valencia (Spain), Fiorano and Vallelunga (both in Italy) this week.

Like at rainy Paul Ricard, there are a few other spanners in the works behind the F1 scenes.

The 'flexi' wing saga is refusing to go away, with Honda boss Nick Fry warning that every other team will race similar designs in Melbourne if the FIA does not outlaw Ferrari's shady interpretation of the rules.

However, it has also been suggested that BMW-Sauber and McLaren have already run comparable wings in 2006.

''The FIA is of the opinion that our car is legal,'' Jean Todt said after the race at Sepang, ''but if they want us to do something, we will do it.''

The possible protests of rival teams, though, is just one worry for Ferrari. In addition to the red marque's problems, including dodgy V8 engines, Michael Schumacher just didn't look quick in Malaysia -- and the notoriously fickle Italian press didn't enjoy it one little bit.

''Bahrain had woken our hopes,'' said the La Gazzetta dello Sport daily, ''(but) Malaysia put them to sleep again.''

'Il Messaggero' added: ''At least (Giancarlo) Fisichella let us hear the national anthem on the podium once again.''

Speaking of Fisichella, the Roman winner will know whether he still has a seat at Renault for 2007 after the Monaco grand prix this year, Flavio Briatore told an Italian newspaper.

Briatore also said to La Gazzetta: ''We are not dependent on Fernando.''

Meanwhile, in an Austrian newspaper (Salzburger Nachrichten), Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said that the fates of David Coulthard and Christian Klien will similarly be sealed about mid-season, as men like Juan Pablo Montoya line up at the door.

''To wait until the season is nearly over is out of the question,'' Marko insisted.

There's also a spanner in the works of F1's sale to CVC -- the European Commission has ruled that a full green light will only be shown if the company sells its stake in the promoter of the MotoGP series.

However, 'GPMA' said even the conditional clearance adds 'momentum' to the approaching end of a war about the sport's future.

But although relations appear better between Bernie Ecclestone and the teams, McLaren chief Ron Dennis would not be drawn on whether he will rise to the bait of Max Mosley's threat to quickly close a 'window' to sign up to the 2008 championship.

''That's not under discussion at the moment,'' he told the Guardian. ''We're still concerned with the commercial issues and don't want to get distracted by the FIA.''

Written: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 21:56:45