Grapevine: News from the Paddock - British GP

Mac & Lauren

Lisa Dennis, wife of McLaren-Mercedes-Benz team boss Ron, treated members of the paddock to a special launch of he new children's books in McLaren's Communications Centre on Thursday. The books, centred around the adventures of two Grand Prix cars called Mac and Lauren, were launched at the event with Lisa in attendance along with drivers David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren tester Alexander Wurz. Lisa offered words of advice to the gathering of journalists on completing the books, which are meant for under-10s.

Coul Gets Extra Speed

David Coulthard's quest to challenge World Champion Michael Schumacher for race wins this season has prompted his McLaren team to take extra steps to provide him with the quickest equipment available. Coulthard scored victory in Monaco but has been left in the shadow of Schumacher, who has claimed six wins in the nine races, for much of the 2002 campaign.

But Coulthard's McLaren team have found the perfect solution to their troubles with a machine that is quicker than Ferrari's F2002. The only problem for the Scot is that it comes in the form of a Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, with McLaren having signed an extension to their partnership with BAE Systems, who are currently testing the Typhoon which can complete the distance of one lap of Silverstone in less than eight seconds!

Flavio's Flaunt

Flavio Briatore's plan to pose nude for a charity book brought prompted laughter and jibes from Eddie Jordan prior to the British Grand Prix. Renault team boss Briatore has agreed to bare all for charity, but Jordan found the funny side of the news. Jordan said: "He frightens them away already, he doesn't need to do it anymore. Jesus, what a sight that would be."

Briatore insisted that he would "not be completely nude" but McLaren driver David Coulthard, who whipped his kit off in Miami, offered a word or two of advice. "When I did the nude shots it was in Miami and it was with natural light so the sun was on me and that's very important! Let everything hang down low. It wasn't embarrassing - I certainly wouldn't have done it in Scotland." Jordan asked Briatore if by not going completely naked was he "going to hide his head" and the response was "it's not decided - just like the (Renault) drivers."

Brawn is Bananas

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn has revealed the secret to his mastermind tactics - bananas. The Briton has been one of the key architects behind the Italian World Champions' success over the past three years, and his fixation with bananas has come to the fore. He is regularly seen chomping away during Grands Prix, but he claims it is more to relieve the boredom than anything else. "I am always eating bananas on the pit wall but it seems to have become the focus of attention. But for a few years now I find I have to have something to do during the race when it gets a bit quiet."