Grapevine: Final News from the Paddock - Hungarian GP

Harley Birthday To Jo

Long-serving Formula One man Jo Ramirez was given a celebration to remember after the Saturday qualifying session when McLaren held a media gathering outside their team motorhome. Having simply put up a notice saying drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard would be available for a photo shoot, rumours began that the team were planning to announce their 2002 driver line-up, but not so.

It was simply a celebration of Ramirez's 60th birthday, and the little Mexican, who has been with McLaren for years, was greeted with a cake and a sing song. But that was not all. He was given a birthday present of a leather jacket emblazoned with 'Harley Davidson' logos on the back, then as the deep-throated throb of a bike engine appeared, he was given the machine to go with it. Generous drivers Coulthard and Hakkinen had bought him a black and chrome Harley, complete with 'JO 60' number plate, and he was ridden off around the motorhomes with the biggest grin in the paddock.

Party Time

Budapest was alive with Formula One parties on the Saturday night before the Grand Prix as events, both official and unofficial, filled the city. Marlboro put on what could have been thought of as a 'pre-victory' party for Ferrari in the Hungarian capital, with Jean Todt and both drivers on hand to interest the important guests. The calm evening of dinner and dance, however, was quiet compared to the other big do in the town, the British writers' annual football dinner.

For some members of the paddock, Formula One is not the only passion, and members of the F1 fraternity enjoyed a night out in one of the town's Irish bars to celebrate to start of the English Premiership season and the event was already in full swing when one well-known charismatic team boss shot the party into overdrive. As a trophy filled with champagne did the rounds he and a British journalist got into a brawl after the trophy was sent flying and the hack attacked back. Fortunately for both, no pride was lost and it was all smiles again in the paddock on race day.

Millennium Celebrations

People were baffled by signs warning of traffic delays because of the 'Millennium celebrations' taking place in the city. But Hungary was not just behind the times, only just getting round to celebrating the arrival of the year 2000. In fact, as it was soon made clear, the city would come to a standstill on raceday not because a Grand Prix was in town, but because of Millennium celebrations for the country itself.

I'll Name that Road...

Not only has Bernie Ecclestone had been awarded with all sorts of prizes from the city of Budapest, but the circuit organisers have gone one step further by naming the road into the track 'Bernie Avenue'. Not a new idea, however, this name has been around for some time, although it was notably missing from the signboards during the weekend. But as soon as the man himself was spotted, so too were the signs, and Bernie Avenue was back in existence. A word in the ear, perhaps, was all that was required.