FERRARI AND McLaren- Mercedes issued conflicting communiques yesterday as the controversy over the Spa incident developed into a strategic cold war.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER is seeking a peace formula with David Coulthard today in the wake of their angry confrontation at last Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

A BELGIAN Grand Prix of unsurpassed drama confirmed the improbable emergence of a compelling spectacle and a new force in the sport from depressingly barren beginnings. Damon Hill's victory, a breakthrough for Jordan, eased the fears of Formula One's promoters that the championship would prove a cakewalk for McLaren-Mercedes, but it was the safety of drivers in the appalling conditions at Spa-Francorchamps that dominated thoughts in the aftermath of the race.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, the former Formula One world champion and leading Ferrari driver, stormed down the pits into the McLaren garage during the Belgian Grand Prix yesterday and accused David Coulthard of trying to kill him.

Belgian Grand Prix: German driver confronts Coulthard in pits as Hill sweeps to a rare victory amid mayhem

IT WAS not until many years after leaving care that "Kim" - not her real name - realised she should never have been placed in the charge of nuns at all. She and her brother and sisters were born Protestants. They were "converted" to Catholicism before a Catholic children's charity would accept them from Sunderland social services, writes Barry Wood.

THE ANXIETY in the McLaren-Mercedes camp was as discernible as it was understandable. A championship campaign that had negotiated inevitable obstacles to settle into an apparently unstoppable momentum had, in the words of David Coulthard, "run into a brick wall".

Hungarian Grand Prix: German closes gap to seven points as Hakkinen finds trouble with his McLaren

Hungarian Grand Prix: McLaren-Ferrari rivalry smoulders in the background as flying Finn takes another vital step to the title

PARTNERSHIPS ARE dubious affairs in Formula One but two Britons were pledging loyalty and togetherness with their other halves here yesterday.

Hungarian Grand Prix: Hakkinen and Schumacher prepare for sweltering showdown

THE HUGE red bowl of the stadium fell silent, the message was so devastating. Michael Schumacher's world championship aspirations had crumbled before his own people.

German Grand Prix: McLarens take front of grid as Schumacher finds little home comfort

DAMON HILL needed a second glance but it confirmed his disbelieving impression and return to the sharp end of Formula One. His third place in practice for tomorrow's German Grand Prix was also a timely riposte in his negotiations for a new contract with Jordan.