Grapevine: News from the Paddock - Australian GP

Benetton's Jenson Button was the first driver to be fined for speeding in the pitlane this season, when he was clocked travelling at 62.7 mph on Saturday. The British driver wad hit with a $750 punishment. Last year, the FIA amassed $65,000 in fines as drivers continually speeded in the pit lane.

British American Racing are unhappy at being second best to Jordan in qualifying as the two teams battle for supremacy. Both are supplied 'works' engines by Honda, but BAR are regarded as the Japanese manufacturers' number one team. After Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli headed Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis in the qualifying timesheets, BAR have been left disgruntled. "We could have done better," said BAR chief Craig Pollock, while technical director Malcolm Oastler added: "It was a disappointing qualifying session for us although it could have been worse. Honda's Kazutoshi Nishizawa admitted: "Everyone was quick which we may have underestimated. We are not completely satisfied."

Michael Schumacher has reverted to his Bell helmet - prior to official deadline set by a Belgian court. Schumacher was in dispute with the Brussels-based company after he wore a Schuberth Helme helmet during winter testing and in Friday's free practice. The German was told he had to wear the Bell helmet because his contract does not expire until the end of the year or pay Bell $115,000 for every day he disobeyed the contract. Schumacher duly obliged in Saturday's morning practice when he exited the cockpit of his Ferrari sporting the Bell helmet after engine failure left him high and dry on the circuit.

Jaguar driver Luciano Burti has refused to buckle under pressure, despite his team confirming that Pedro de la Rosa will be given a full-drive in 2002. The young Brazilian has made an unimpressive start since stepping up from his test driver role, but he does not fear the axe. "My future is not dependent on Pedro de la Rosa," said Burti, who was denied a chance to drive the spare car after he damaged his car for the second successive day during qualifying. "If I am good enough for Formula One then I will be in it, if I'm not good enough then I won't be in. It is up to me. I need to be confident and improve and get the job done."

Speed is of the essence and that is more so in Formula One than anywhere else. The quickest times in qualifying are an almost four seconds up on the fastest in previous years. The Bridgestone-Michelin tyre war has forced an increase in the times as the competition gets tough and the mass reduction in times was evident in Michael Schumacher's pole-winning time of 1:26.892 seconds. Schumacher said: "I am surprised that we are around four seconds quicker than last year, I expected it to be two or three. The reason for the improvement is that Bridgestone have given us a superb tyre and the team has made a great car. This year you can feel there is more G-force when you drive."

TAG-Heuer, the official timekeeper in Formula One, celebrate 10 years in the sport this weekend. They have organised a launch of the official TAG-Heuer Go-Kart Challenger and have a number of VIP 's including Sir Stirling Moss and Benetton's test-driver Mark Webber. The TAG-Heuer helicopter is also the official transport vehicle for the Grand Prix drivers in Melbourne.

Milestones:

Michael Schumacher's first-ever Australian Grand Prix pole position is the 33rd of his career. Luciano Burti, who has struggled at Albert Park, will celebrate his 26th birthday the day after the Grand Prix, while Arrows driver Jos Verstappen is 29 on Sunday. Tenth is Nick Heidfeld's best ever grid position by three places, while 20th is Gaston Mazzacane's equal-best grid position with Imola last year.