News from the Paddock - Hungarian GP

Australian Formula 3000 driver Mark Webber is set to test for Benetton next month - even though he was originally nominated as Arrows test driver. Webber is currently third in the F3000 championship, racing for the European Arrows team, and eager to move into Formula One, but his efforts to actually test a Formula One Arrows have floundered for contractual reasons. Now it seems that he will do a test at France, and Flavio Briatore of Benetton has also offered him a three day test at Estoril in Portugal just after the Italian Grand Prix. Briatore has already tested F3 drivers Antonio Pizzonia and Giorgio Pantano. Stewart Racing's Tomas Scheckter, who finished third in last weekend's Marlboro Masters, is also to get a promised test for Jaguar, at Silverstone, next week.

The Mild Seven Benetton Playlife team has taken up its option on Giancarlo Fisichella for the 2001 season. It will be his fourth successive season driving for the team. It had been rumoured that Flavio Briatore was trying to reduce the wages of his number one driver next year. It was also rumoured that he was trying to lower the demands of future signing Jenson Button. Briatore has always said that Fisichella should do more work for his money. Button's 2000 team, Williams, does not have to make a decision until August 27, so only then will he be free to sign for another team. Button has admitted to receiving offers from many teams in the paddock, although Benetton and BAR are said to be the most realistic.

Hockenheim is said to have been offered a deal for ten years - if they carry out $50m changes to the circuit. This was the result of the meeting between Erwin Teufel, the leader of the Baden-Wuertemberg region, and Bernie Ecclestone at Hockenheim on the Sunday of the German Grand Prix. The race promotor, Andreas Meyer, wants to reduce the circuit length by 1.5 miles by linking the first and third chicanes and building new spectator areas in order to increase revenue to meet Formula One demands. The local government, which has been mainly uninterested that its already wealthy region hosts the German Grand Prix, has been unwilling to fund the modifications. The presence of Teufel was the first sign that the government could put up the money.

A Dutch TV crew had a little trouble filming a profile of Rubens Barrichello at Zandvoort. Many in the sport know that Barrichello and World Rally champion Tommi Makinen could be brothers because they look so similar. The crew, however, did not know that there was the potential of two Barrichellos at Zandvoort and so they were busy filming Tommi Makinen when the real Rubens turned up, much to their surprise. Only then was it realised that they had an excellent five minute documentary of the World Rally champion in the can, rather than one on Ferrari's German Grand Prix winner.

David Coulthard suffered a scare during testing at Valencia, Spain, last week when the rear suspension failed. The car suddenly sagged in one corner and Coulthard had to spin the car several times - some say five - in order to lessen the impact of his McLaren when it hit the barrier. No serious damage was done and Coulthard, returning to the pits on foot, would only comment: "I'm definitely awake now!"

Rumours in Britain suggest that Coca Cola, one of the world's biggest companies, is looking to enter Formula One as a major sponsor. Marketing company PSM is seeking to support a team of the stature of Benetton, Jordan, Arrows, Williams, McLaren or BAR with a long-term contract and a budget of some $50m. Company executives are expected to visit the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.