Grapevine: More News from the Paddock

Closet Renault Fan

Ferrari star Rubens Barrichello revealed that he was never a big fan of the scarlet Scuderia in his younger days as a supporter of Formula One - because he has always been a big backer of rivals Renault. Barrichello, who has now been with Ferrari since 2000 and will stay for at least one more year, was karting in Brazil when he first set eyes on the yellow Renaults in the 1980s. "I was six when I was driving a go-kart in Interlagos and Renault rented the circuit and they were running," said Barrichello. "So all of a sudden I became a Renault fan." But he was quick to pick up on his mini PR blunder and rapidly added: "As a racing driver you always think about the red cars, I think there is no way for you to miss that." Quick thinking Rubens!

Forgetful FIA

The sport's governing body, the FIA, made a howler on Thursday evening when they released a statement, signed by all three chief stewards at the circuit, stating all the cars eligible to race in this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. The FIA put out a statement fifteen minutes earlier, signed by the same three race officials, which showed that the two Arrows cars had not turned up to scrutineering, thus knocking them out of the event. But the entry list was put up with cars 20 and 21, of German Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who is now on the list of creditors, and Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi, still included. The release, it soon transpired, was a mistake which was hastily corrected by the FIA.

Ruck and Maul

The stars of French and Italian rugby got together in the Monza paddock on Thursday as Michelin put on an Italian cocktail evening. Minardi's Mark Webber, who knows a great deal about Rugby, being from Australia, joined Briton Jenson Button to discuss the similarities of the intensive training programmes undertaken in Formula One and International Rugby, after which the journalists headed off to the bar for a few Pina Coladas while the stars of the show set off for the gym.

Sauber's Missing Sausage

Sauber harked back to the days of rush sponsorship deals on Friday at Monza when they announced they had secured backing from 'Motta', an Italian meat specialities producer based just outside the nearby city of Milan. Not exactly the deal of the century, the Swiss team will wear the new sponsors' logos for the Italian Grand Prix only, but although Sauber are widely understood to be in a firm but tight financial position, no doubt the sum will help with their current cash flow. However, despite Motta's wide ranging array of products, the team were still left lacking salami sausages in the paddock.