Black Boxes approved; Ferrari move to Italy; Benetton; Mansell
© 1996 ATLAS TEAM

Friday December 20, 1996

Formula One cars will be fitted with Black Boxes next season. This was approved by the FIA. The aircraft-style almost unbreakable Black Boxes developed by Delco Electronics will record technical information about the car when it's in motion, then you can review this data in case of an accident to investigate what went wrong and find out how safety can be improved. Max Mosley said: "The implications for safety are very encouraging."

Mosley also stated that the two Grands Prix held in Italy may not be driven because of the Senna trial.


Ferrari move to Italy

The Ferrari team will move most of their design work from Britain, where designer John Barnard is working, to their home base in Italy. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said about this: "We want a more stable car and that's what we'll have. It's the result of a team effort and youy can say that Barnard's role is redimensioned. Our aim is to bring most of the activities to Maranello."


Benetton

Gerhard Berger has tested the new B197 on a foggy and rainy Silverstone circuit. He covered a total of 61 laps. The car will be presented to the public on January 23. Flavio Bratore commented: "We made a special effort this year to have the car ready really."

Test driver for the Benetton-Renault team Alexander Wurz who has seen the car said: "The car is beautiful. Benetton have now got enough time to test because it's ready relatively on time."


Mansell

Nigel Mansell may return to Formula One after all. The Briton said last Tuesday he would not return to Formula One. Their is a possibility now however that Mansell will be testing for Jordan next month and in the course of the first half of the 1997 season. If Jordan signs Giancarlo Fisichella he may also be competing one race next season. Mansell's return also depends on how good the 1997 Jordan-Peugeot car is.


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