Grapevine: Formula One Catches the Party Spirit

Professor Sid Watkins may one day hang out the 'Gone Fishing' sign and turn his back on Formula One.

But drivers can rest assured that, mad-keen angler that he is, there is not much likelihood of the 'Prof' disappearing into the sunset for ages yet. The 73-year-old cigar-smoking neurosurgeon, pal of Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One's on-track doctor and safety expert since 1978, sounds too enamoured of the sport for that to happen. He is also far too busy.

"I am on the go all the time, with the races and the three FIA commissions I am president of and I write books as well and I run my practice," Watkins told Reuters by telephone from his Florida holiday home.

"And I like to go fishing. Apart from that I have plenty of time."

The professor of neurosurgery at London Hospital in the city's East End will be even busier next week, presiding over a gala Grand Prix party at London's Royal Albert Hall to raise money for the Brain and Spine Foundation that he champions.

Billed as an evening of 'stars, cars and guitars' (and probably cigars), the inaugural event last year raised 100,000 pounds - a tidy sum even in Bernie Ecclestone's billion dollar world. The Formula One supremo will be present.

Like the Hollywood Oscars, the 'Bernie' awards will be announced in Grand Prix racing's light-hearted tribute to the stand-out figures of the season. Michael Schumacher and Briton Jenson Button were among those awarded gold-plated statuettes in the image of Ecclestone last year.

"Bernie thought it was a great idea," recalled Watkins with a chuckle. "Jackie Stewart presented one to me last year and he said it was the first time in his life that he's had Bernie in the palm of his hand."

Damon's Band

McLaren boss Ron Dennis attended last year along with Mercedes motorsport head Norbert Haug, a man who likes a good singalong, while Eddie Jordan brought his own band. So did Damon Hill, looking more and more the rockstar since retiring and letting his hair down.

Stirling Moss and Nigel Mansell showed up too.

"There were also lots of celebrities from showbiz that I didn't know anything about because I'd never been to a rock concert before," said Watkins.

"Eddie Irvine was testing in Valencia but he flew back for the night and then back afterwards to test again the next day," added the man once described by Niki Lauda as 'the only man to whom Mr Ecclestone defers wholeheartedly and consistently.'

"Eddie's great fun and he and I get on very well. We have a joint interest in fishing, although we haven't managed to fish together yet," said Watkins.

Jaguar's aerodynamic problems with the new R3 may have interfered with his fishing plans however.

"(Eddie's) got a place over here in Miami. My place is on the west side, in the Gulf of Mexico, and he was going to come over, testing allowing, but so far it hasn't allowed."

Fishing is popular among the Grand Prix paddock regulars, with Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn often seen discussing angling matters and even Ecclestone taking an interest.

"Bernie was interested some years ago and he had a big carp lake with 30 pounders in it," revealed Watkins, who used to enjoy fishing with the late champion Ayrton Senna in Scotland and Brazil.

"Bernie told me I could fish there and I said 'But it's out of season. It's the close season for coarse fishing.' And he said 'The fish don't known what week it is.'"