Brands & Silverstone

Silverstone still hopeful

Silverstone chief executive, Denys Rohan, has said that he still thinks they have a chance of keeping the British GP. "This is still the most viable venue. We would love to stage it, but only if we get it on the right commercial terms. Brands Hatch have the contract to stage the race, but don't have the venue to stage it. If they do not get planning permission then the contract will lapse."

Agence France Presse are reporting that Brands Hatch have still to get planning permission to redevelop the circuit. Nicola Foulston, the ex boss of Brands Hatch Leisure, assured the F1 world it was a formality last May that it could all go through on existing permissions.

Eddie believes it's Schumacher's year

Irvine says Schumachers year

Eddie Irvine believes that this is Michael Schumacher's year.

"The only way I can see Michael losing it is if he breaks his leg playing football or something like that.I think the McLaren is quicker compared to the Ferrari than I thought it was going to be, but their reliability is worse than I thought it was going to be. I do not think Michael particularly performed as well as he could have done in the first couple of races, but I think we saw a much better performance from him at Imola. I am surprised he has won the first three races, but if you look at the reliability of the Ferrari for Hakkinen to come back from 24 points behind means him winning six races with Michael second in each of them.

"You cannot imagine Michael finishing worse than second every time - and for Hakkinen to win six in a row is a tough order isn't it. Michael has had a great start but he has got to be careful that he doesn't slip on a banana skin - or a soggy pitch." -- Stephen M Baines http://www.motorsport.org.uk