F1 round-up: Williams’ UK launch; Gary at Arrows

Williams-BMW has joined the 'back-to-basics' club by announcing it will launch its new car at Silverstone on January 27. The Grove-based team had been due to launch its FW23 in Spain, but will now combine a low-key Silverstone launch with a shakedown and test at the Northants track - similar to the 'no frills' approach adopted by Jaguar Racing (which launched in Coventry) and the Silverstone-based Jordan team

Former Jaguar Racing technical director Gary Anderson is in line to join Arrows. The 49-year-old Irishman was replaced by McLaren R&D head Steve Nichols at Jaguar Racing, but looks set to replace the Jordan-bound Eghbal Hamidy at Arrows. The team's new car, the AMT-powered A22 is scheduled to break cover in mid-February.

In other staff movements around the world of F1, Jean Alesi's race engineer Humphrey Corbett has moved from Prost GP to engineer Eddie Irvine at Jaguar Racing, while electronics expert Tad Czapski has quit Ferrari to join Benetton's design group.

Ferrari has confirmed that Luca Badoer, currently testing for the squad at Jerez, will continue in his role for the rest of the 2001 season. It will be the Italian's third full season with the team.

Swiss banking and finance group Credit Suisse has joined Red Bull and Petronas as a main sponsor of the Sauber F1 team.