Grapevine: More News from the Paddock

Tobacco Preemptive

When Brazil was given the season finale's date on this year's Formula One calendar, the slot was said to have been allocated to facilitate early evening television viewing and peak ratings in Europe and Great Britain. Why, then, is it pencilled in for September 25th on the provisional 2005 calendar, with China given the last date?

It seems anti-tobacco legislation is again behind calendar changes: early in 2003, Brazil's parliament passed a law banning all forms of pro-smoking advertising, thus putting the Grand Prix at risk. President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva hurriedly forced through exemptions for 'sporting events of international status'. The Brazilian ministry of health accompanied this expemption with signs across the track, warning that "Smoking causes lung cancer", but Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BAR and Jordan can continue to run their tobacco-sponsored livery uninterrupted.

However, the advertising expemption expires on September 30th 2005, and da Silva has been advised that any extension would be unconstitutional. Therefore, Bernie Ecclestone was quick to schedule next year's event just days before the event would become tobacco-free.

Written by Dieter Rencken

Coulthard's Costly Error

David Coulthard may well opt for a race strategy with the least possible stops after enduring a nightmare on Saturday morning. The McLaren driver, having seemed to lose concentration on his return to the pit-lane during the second practice session, was sent into a spin as he attempted to slow before the speed limit line. Not only was he left blushing when facing the wrong way after a 180-degree, his embarrassment was heightened further with a $2000 fine for breaching the speed limit.

Coffee Break

It seems Kimi Raikkonen overlooked one vital fact when he was quoted in McLaren's pre-Brazilian Grand Prix announcement that they have signed a sponsorship deal with Nescafe. During the team's official press conference to launch the partnership Raikkonen, who claimed in an earlier press release that Nescafe was helpful to keep alert, helpfully admitted that he does not actually drink coffee. Oops.

Medal of Honour

Putting his discussion over the future of the British Grand Prix and his libel case against British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) president Sir Jackie Stewart to one side, Bernie Ecclestone was part of celebrations for 450 years of Sao Paulo at the Interlagos track on Saturday. Having been earlier involved in protracted talks with team owners over various issues, including the new format for qualifying in 2005, Ecclestone then helped hand out medals to all of the teams from the organisers of the Brazilian Grand Prix to pay homage to the country's biggest city.