Zoom Crucial times for Ferrari as they take on the FIA

Ferrari's executive board will meet to discuss ‘governance developments’ and the future of Formula One at Maranello on Tuesday, the Italian team has announced.

It is expected that, following Red Bull and Toyota's announcements that they will not lodge 2010 team entries with the FIA by the May 29 deadline, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo will then make a statement about the current political situation. Part of the afternoon board meeting will be devoted to ‘current situation analysis’ related to F1, a Ferrari statement said on Monday.

Timo Glock was surprised to discover that his grid girl for the Spanish Grand Prix was a man. Holding the placard bearing his race number in Barcelona was Thomas, a model from London. "I've never seen that before," the Toyota driver smiled. "At least a girl is holding the German flag," Glock added.

Nick Heidfeld celebrated his 32nd birthday on the day of the Spanish Grand Prix by cutting a cake - and the BMW Sauber driver even ate half a slice.

Mark Webber's Barcelona podium fell on the 50th anniversary of the first win of his Australian compatriot Sir Jack Brabham, a triple world champion and former constructor. "He did a huge amount for Formula One," the Red Bull driver said.

He might be on top of the world in the excessive world of Formula One, but it seems the economic crisis applies even to Ross Brawn. The owner of the team that is currently leading both the drivers' and constructors' championships flew back to the UK from Barcelona on EasyJet, a discount airline.

Brawn may have flown EasyJet, but F1's regulars from the Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV did not travel to Spain at all, for [a seemingly irrational] fear of contracting Swine flu.

In Aosta, northern Italy, Nico Rosberg won a poker tournament in the week before the Spanish Grand Prix. Also taking part were Michael Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella, Tonio Liuzzi and Eddie Irvine.

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM