Foul!

Flying like the Finn THE nation has every potential of producing F1 champions if more time is spent structuring a proper development programme. Such was the sentiment of former world champion Mika Hakkinen. “Of course you have every opportunity of creating a champion. It’s how good a programme is and how you manage it,” said Hakkinen in an exclusive interview thanks to Compass Communications in Subang yesterday. “Programmes should cater to children from the ages of nine to about 18 or 19 where they will then mature into the various categories of racing before graduating into F1.” The Flying Finn explained such programmes need to emphasis the importance of education, physical training and skills on and off the track. “It’s no science but pure logic. You cannot make a champion within two or three years…maybe seven to 10 years but with the right programme in place, you will be able to get good racing drivers.” When asked if Hakkinen, who won the F1 title back to back ...

The press conference was an hour, Jenson Button appeared for about 15 minutes. He spoke about his childhood, his diet and ended the evening by receiving a limited edition 1867 Johnnie Walker Blue Label from Mark Sandys ( pic-left ). F1 journos were interested to know about Jenson's future. But Paula Malai Ali did most of the questioning. Nevertheless, she did ask - and in her own words - a "grown up question": Button's expectation in the Singapore GP. Button is raring to win. Read more of Button's cameo appearance at a leading hotel in Marina Bay, Singapore in today's Mailsport . HD says: Button could give Sebastian Vettel a run for his money this weekend.

Certain ‘religious’ people have a keen fascination on beer and liquor. And it looks like the inaugural Malaysia Day Ex-International/State Invitational Soccer 9s in KL is their latest target. These group question to why a beer company – in this case Carlsberg – are the sponsors of the tournament. Here's a history lesson. Guinness Anchor Bhd was incorporated on Jan 24, 1964 and the company changed its name to Guinness Malaysia Bhd on April 15, 1966. Our first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman launched the new brewery in 1966 as evident in the first photo above. But some ‘folks’ have launched an attack on Tunku as seen here . Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad, meanwhile, began brewing Carlsberg Green Label beer locally in 1972. The second picture is an advertisement that appeared on page 2 of the Kesatuan Guru-Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat's AGM booklet in 1968. The following page was a message from the then deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak. No one kicked a fuss then. ...