F1 Commentary
Villeneuve: a fine or a ban?
13 June 1997
by
Andrew Frankl
TACH European Bureau Chief
As most readers will know by now the FIA, motor racing 's
ruling body is keen to introduce new rules and regulations for
1998. These include highly controversial grooved tyres which many
drivers think are a retrograde step and will only make things more
dangerous. Enters the sport's new hero, one Jacques Villeneuve. At
press conferences and also in a newspaper interview with Germany ' s
Der Spiegel he described the new regulations as "sh_t".
This proved too much for the FIA ' s President, Max Mosley who
summoned the young Canadian to Paris for a disciplinary meeting. To
say that the timing was somewhat unfortunate is an understatement!
Would you believe the Wednesday before Sunday 's Canadian Grand Prix?!
Jacques's home race?!
It is, to my mind an absolute outrage just as I think that the new
regulations are totally unnecessary. As Villeneuve said, and I have to
agree with him, had it not been Ayrton Senna who got killed at Imola
there would not have been this over-reaction to safety. The tracks
have been emaciated and it has been a follow my leader round and round
situation at several circuits.
Motor racing is dangerous and that is part of its
appeal. Unfortunately occasionally drivers get killed. Always did and
I am afraid always will. If that suspension part had hit Senna 's
helmet just 10 centimetres closer to the edge of his helmet he would
be with us today. To my mind Villeneuve and his fellow drivers such
as Schumacher, Coulthard and Salo know more about racing than the
pompous officials who sit around a huge table in Paris.
Williams actually have a car, which is ready for next year 's
regulations and according to test driver Jean-Christophe Boullion it
is highly dangerous. Villeneuve was already in Canada to get over any
jet lag and to prepare for his most important race of the season. Now
he has to fly to Paris -more jet-lag-listen to some pompous lecturing
from officialdom, get either a fine or a ban and fly back to Montreal
via a further jet-lag just in time for Friday 's practice.
Frankly, it stinks. I just hope that he gets over his jet lag
and wins the race.
