Tyrrell boss Ken Tyrrell has stated that it is impossible for his team to compete in Italy after the charges brought up against Frank Williams and five others for the death of Ayrton Senna on the Imola circuit on May 1, 1994.
Williams is to appear before an Italian court in February next year.
Tyrrell is reported as saying: "It is difficult to understand how we can race in Italy if this is going to be the sort of situation after an accident that happened to one of the best prepared cars in the history of motor racing. If that has an accident. (...) I don't see how any of us can be safe."
Flavio Briatore, Team-boss of the Benetton-Renault team, owner of Ligier-Mugen and partly owner of Minardi, had already said the Benetton team may boycott the Italian races on the same grounds.
Nigel Mansell has said no to a possible Formula One return with the Jordan-Peugeot team. Mansell had a two day test session with the team last week, but despite being the slowest man on the track he still said he was seriously considering his come-back. Now he made it clear that there will be no Formula One for him next season.
Mansell commented: "I quickly came to realise that my schedule would not permit me to give sufficient time to the Jordan team and their sponsors."
This now seems to leave the way open for Martin Brundle to extend his contract with Jordan. Brundle said during last season he would quit at the end of 1996, but because of improved results in the final part of the season he is now still very much interested in a seat.
Nicola Larini tested a new braking system on the F310 Ferrari. He completed a total of 34 laps with a best time of 1m 00.69s on the Maranello (Italy). The tests were cut short yesterday due to foggy weather.
Ricardo Rosset, second driver at Arrows last season, will team-up with Vincenzo Sospiri at the Formula One newcomer Lola. Sospiri was test-driver for Benetton-Renault this year.
It has been reported that Minardi will drive with Ukyo Katayama and Tarso Marques next season. At first it was tried to get a duo next to Katayama but it seems Fisichella didn't have enough financial backing. Fisichella will now be the test-driver for the Benetton-Renault team.
Jordan is the only team to have a seat opening for next season.