Grapevine: More News from the Paddock - Malaysia

Heidfeld: I'm No Sex Maniac

Nick Heidfeld confirmed he had been banned from allowing his girlfriend to spend time with him at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The Sauber driver said: "They think we are sex maniacs and it is crazy. We have been banned from having the girls around - but we are not a football squad."

It is not known exactly what Formula One's best known playboy Eddie Irvine thinks of the idea - but he is unlikely to be asking for a transfer from Jaguar to Sauber.

Coulthard Meets the Queen

David Coulthard received an unexpected visitor in the McLaren garage on Saturday just as he was going through a late afternoon massage following the qualifying session. He asked who it was and was told by an official that the visitors were very important people. Thinking it was not likely to be anything more than a sponsor, or some paddock guests of the team, and because of the heat, he decided to cover himself up in no more than a towel....only to be introduced, in his immodesty, to the Queen of Malaysia.

No Rest for Ferrari

Jean Todt is still adamant that despite a lot of talk about McLaren and Mercedes-Benz falling into decline that his Ferrari team's main enemies this year are the old silver arrows from Woking. The sporting director is convinced that Ferrari need to work even harder than ever to stay on top.

"There is no point in relaxing at all," he said. "It has been hard work all the time that has got us to the championship and now it will be hard work that keeps us there. I will not allow us to slacken off." It seems the only exception to this rule for hard labour for his troops came on Saturday afternoon when they took delivery of a load of ice-creams...Some things about Italy cannot be changed.

Ferrari, the Coolest Team

Ferrari are one of the few teams in the paddock to offer hospitality to guests and media during the stifling and humid weather at Sepang. They have given over an air-conditioned office room to provide their hungry and thirsty Italian media corps with espresso coffee, cold drinks and, at lunchtime, a bowl of tomato and cheese topped pasta. When Ross Brawn burst in on Saturday afternoon, he was cheered to the echo by the assembled throng of reporters and laughed and exited with a slight bow.

No Civil War at McLaren

Tension prevails at McLaren where Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug and team chairman Ron Dennis are itching with frustration at seeing their team struggle to match Ferrari for pace. "There is no trouble inside the team at all," said Haug, in a bid to avert the inevitable headlines suggesting the outfit are being split open by civil war caused by seeing BMW and Ferrari enjoy early season success.

"We are not fighting with Ilmor (makers of Mercedes engines) at all and there is nothing but an outlook that says we know we are dealing with some difficulties, but we will beat them...I can tell you we will be competitive in this race. We will not be lapped...." Hearing this, Ron Dennis leaned across said: "I certainly bloody hope not!"

Benetton: No Better, No Traction, No Nothing

Benetton are working hard to repair their damaged image and poor start to the year, but Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella are already shrugging their shoulders in resignation. 'How was it today?' Button was asked on Saturday afternoon following another tough session in qualifying. "It was the same as before," he said.

"No better. No traction, nothing. But we did try hard, I promise." The wide-angled Renault V10 engine is getting the blame, but that has not stopped Minardi's new owner Paul Stoddart from making intensive inquires into the availability of a supply for 2002....

Panis "Fastest" on Friday and Saturday

After Jenson Button suffered a couple of fines from the FIA in the Australian Grand Prix, it has been Olivier Panis's turn to suffer in Malaysia. On the Friday, the BAR-Honda driver exceeded the pit lane speed limit by 8.2 kph, which cost him $2250 (US Dollars) but the next day, he exceeded the pit lane speed limit by 4.5 kph, which cost him a further $1250 (US Dollars). Button contributed $1250 (US Dollars) in total from Australia.

Milestones

Michael Schumacher's pole position was the 34th of his career and his sixth in succession. It was also Ferrari's 139th pole. Third position on the grid was Ralf Schumacher's equal best pole with his best in France in 1997. Sixth was Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya's best grid position, Jaguar driver Luciano Burti's 15th place on the grid beat his previous best by six places and Arrows driver Enrique Bernoldi's disqualification moved Prost's Gaston Mazzacane up to 19th place, which was his best ever qualifying position.