Formula 1

[.x.x.x.]

Yep, renault has a good chance of wining the campionship in both titels

[mickey]

I think you're right, x.x.x.
Michael Schumacher is saying that he will repeat his victory on Sundays, but i seriously doubt that. Michael was lucky on previous race, because Alonso was faster, but was unable to beat him. Not because Schumacher was better, but because it is immposible to gain place on Imola's track. I think that Alonso will win again this Sunday, cause:

1. Renault has a better engine than any other team
2. Alonso will have a new engine and Schumacher will have the engine from the previous race
3. Raikkonen and Button are not competitive to Alonso yet (I hope they will wake up soon)


I am not Alonso's fan, but Renault is simply better than others. Ferrari is having some problems with tyres (again) and they can not compete for the title. I hope that Mclaren and Honda will fight for the title, but you must have two good drivers to compete for overall victory. In Mclaren, Raikkonen hasn't shown yet, what he is capable of, the same goes to Barrichelo in Honda...


Mickey

[mickey]

Briton Jenson Button expects Honda team mate Rubens Barrichello to be a stronger rival in Sunday's European Grand Prix after overcoming early-season problems. However, he does not see either of them standing on top of the podium after the fifth round of the season at the Nuerburgring.

"I'm not going to say we're going to win the race, I don't think we are quick enough to do so. I think the Renault is going to be very strong here," he told reporters at the circuit on Thursday.

Button, still without a win in 104 starts, has scored 13 of Honda's disappointing haul of 15 points so far this season, with Barrichello taking time to adjust to his new car after six years with Ferrari.

The Brazilian, winner at the Nuerburgring with Ferrari in 2002, has been outqualified in every race so far.

While Button has started consistently in the top three, Barrichello qualified 12th and 17th in the second and third rounds in Malaysia and Australia respectively.

"He's found it tough this season," said Button. "It has surprised me that he has found it so tough, but people act differently when they come to a new team.

"He's definitely there now, he is on the pace, he's been working very hard with the team to improve in areas where he needs to improve and in Imola he was quick in practice and qualifying.

"He's definitely solved his issues that he had before."

Honda arrive at the Nuerburgring with a whiff of crisis in the air -- the front cover of Britain's Autosport magazine carried the headline "Button's Honda crisis - is there a cure?" on Thursday.

That perception was fuelled by farcical scenes at the San Marino Grand Prix where Button was given the all-clear to leave a pitstop while the fuel hose was still attached to his car. He finished seventh.

Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso is now 15 points clear of the field, and 23 ahead of Button, while his team also lead the constructors' standings.

The Briton, who gave a 'motivational' talk to the Honda factory last week after returning from Imola, played down crisis talk however.

"It's not right, definitely not," he said. "We have done some very good set-up work in Silverstone which is going to help the long race pace so we're positive that we can do a good job.

"Over the winter we thought we had a very good chance of challenging for wins at every race we went to and we were very truthful, we didn't lie or try and talk it down and then suddenly have great results.

"We've had a few issues this year but we haven't been quick enough really to challenge the Renaults and that is an issue that isn't going to suddenly change overnight."

[mickey]

Williams test driver Alex Wurz posted the fastest time in the first practice session of the European Grand Prix ahead of the usual Friday suspects, Anthony Davidson (Honda) and Robert Kubica (BMW). Williams drivers Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg were notably absent after promises of more track time.

Wurz' 1:32.079 was just two and half seconds of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher's lap record and under one second separated the top five in yet another tight session.

The Williams are sporting aero and brake upgrades on the FW28 for the European Grand Prix but despite technical director Sam Michael's assurance of "increasing our Friday afternoon programme with both the race drivers to give them more track running and set-up time," Webber and Rosberg did not make even installation-lap appearances.

Michael Schumacher was an ominous fourth fastest in the Ferrari, the fastest of Sunday's racers, from only four flying laps compared to the twenty-plus of the top three.

Robert Doornbos (Red Bull) was next ahead of none-too confident Jenson Button (Honda) in sixth - who had earlier ruled out any chance of his first Grand Prix victory at the Nürburgring - and team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

NEW ENGINES ON NÜRBURGRING

Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren) only signed five timed laps for his seventh fastest time with the new '06-spec Mercedes engine in an aero-upgraded MP4-21 - one of many new engines being introduced in Germany.

Defending champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) will also trial the new B-spec RS26 engine that team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella had - without great success - at Imola, and is wary of the new McLaren-Mercedes package that Raikkonen has.

Others to boast new engines are Jarno Trulli (Toyota), Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve (BMW Sauber), Tiago Monteiro and Christijan Albers (Midland-Toyota), Scott Speed (Toro Rosso-Cosworth) and Takuma Sato and Frenchman Franck Montagny (Super Aguri-Honda).

Montagny - Yuji Ide's Super Aguri replacement - gave French F1 fans something to be hopeful about as he lapped consistently within a tenth of a second of team-mate Sato in his first time ever in the car.

[mickey]

Alonso gets the Pole position :


1 F. Alonso (ESP) Renault 1:29.819
2 M. Schumacher (GER) Ferrari 1:30.013
3 F. Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1:30.407
4 R. Barrichello (BRA) Honda 1:30.754
5 K. Raikkonen (FIN) McLaren 1:30.933
6 J. Button (GBR) Honda 1:30.940
7 J. Trulli (ITA) Toyota 1:31.419
8 J. Villeneuve (CAN) BMW 1:31.542
9 J. Montoya (COL) McLaren 1:31.880
10 M. Webber (AUS) Williams 1:22.405

11 R. Schumacher (GER) Toyota 1:30.944
12 N. Rosberg (GER) Williams 1:31.194
13 G. Fisichella (ITA) Renault 1:31.197
14 D. Coulthard (GBR) Red Bull 1:31.227
15 N. Heidfeld (GER) BMW 1:31.422
16 V. Liuzzi (ITA) Toro Rosso 1:31.728

17 C. Klien (AUT) Red Bull 1:32.901
18 C. Albers (NED) Midland 1:32.936
19 S. Speed (USA) Toro Rosso 1:32.992
20 T. Monteiro (POR) Midland 1:33.658
21 T. Sato (JPN) Super Aguri 1:35.239
22 F. Montagny (FRA) Super Aguri 1:46.605


Will Alonso win again or will Scumacher get two in a row? Time will bring the answer....


Mickey

[Big Steak]

[/quote]
This is what will happened to alonso at the end !!!!!! he he he

cya big

[Big Steak]

bigsteak said:

This is what will happened to alonso at the end !!!!!! he he he

cya big
I think Alonso really need to be pushed a bit ..... Well done Michael and good work to the Ferrari mechanics ..... they have done preatty much all... well done again

cya big

[mickey]

Here are the results from today's race and a short report:


1. Michael Schumacher (Nem/Ferrari) 1:35:58,765
2. Fernando Alonso (Špa/Renault) + 3,751
3. Felipe Massa (Bra/Ferrari) 4,447
4. Kimi Raiikkoenen (Fin/McLaren-Mercedes) 4,879
5. Rubens Barrichello (Bra/Honda) 1:12,586
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita/Renault) 1:14,116
7. Nico Rosberg (Nem/Williams-Cosworth) 1:14,565
8. Jacques Villeneuve (Kan/BMW-Sauber) 1:29,364
9. Jarno Trulli (Ita/Toyota) 1 krog
10. Nick Heidfeld (Nem/BMW-Sauber) 1 krog
11. Scott Speed (ZDA/Toro-Rosso-Cosworth) 1 krog
12. Tiago Monteiro (Por/Midland-Toyota) 1 krog
13. Christijan Albers (Niz/Midland-Toyota) 1 krog


Overall Standings:

1. Fernando Alonso 44
2. Michael Schumacher 31
3. Kimi Raikkoenen 23
4. Giancarlo Fisichella 18
5. Felipe Massa 15
. Juan Pablo Montoya 15
7. Jenson Button 13
8. Ralf Schumacher 7
9. Mark Webber 6
. Jacques Villeneuve 6
. Rubens Barrichello 6
12. Nick Heidfeld 5
13. Nico Rosberg 4
14. David Coulthard 1
15. Christian Klien 1


Team Standings:

1. Renault 62
2. Ferrari 46
3. McLaren-Mercedes 38
4. Honda 19
5. BMW-Sauber 11
6. Williams-Cosworth 10
7. Toyota 7
8. Red-Bull-Ferrari 2







Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher won the European GP in front of his home crowd at the Nürburgring on Sunday to take back to back wins after his Ferrari home victory in San Marino, ahead of defending champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) and Scuderia team-mate Felipe Massa on his first F1 podium.

"It was no surprise that it was difficult because we were driving pretty competitively and as quick as we could," said Schumacher. "It's a bit more difficult behind when you're driving in the slipstream and the wind conditions today made it a bit tricky in certain areas."

Kimi Raikkonen found a little form late in an largely unconvincing display with his new '06-spec Mercedes V8 putting Massa under pressure in the last five laps but just couldn't find his way past; the pair crossing the line right behind Alonso.

"The overall performance of the car was not as I would have liked," said Raikkonen, "However we are closer to the lead and there is a definite improvement from the last race. We now have to continue our hard work so that we can perform better at the next grand prix in Barcelona."


Rubens Barrichello (Honda) was victim to a tumultuous turn one when Vitantonio Liuzzi spun his Toro Rosso into his cousin car in David Coulthard's Red Bull, but remained steady throughout the continuing chaos to take fourth ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault).

Rookie Nico Rosberg had a return to the brilliance of his F1 debut in Bahrain, driving his Williams from last on the grid to seventh to take two points; the last going to Jaques Villeneuve (BMW).

NÜRBURGRING CLAIMS NINE

The weather behaved itself this European GP but the track itself took toll on the drivers with nine retirees in total. First to go were Liuzzi and Coulthard followed by Mark Webber (Williams) who was pressuring Fisichella for eleventh when he ran wide on the fourteenth lap was forced to stop.

"It was going fantastically until what we think was a hydraulics problem meant that I lost all the controls," explained Webber. "I'd made up seven places and I was still carrying lots of fuel, enough to get me a long way into the race... From here, if we fix the hydraulic problem, I am sure we will run near the front."


The next three victims fell in as many laps - Jenson Button (Honda), Christian Klien (Red Bull) and Frenchman Franck Montagny on debut with Super Aguri retired on successive laps with mechanical problems; Montagny's engine roaring with flames.

Takuma Sato (Super Aguri) was next to retire before Juan Pablo Montoya (McLaren) and Ralf Schumacher (Toyota) were forced to quit a heated scrap for fifth with Barrichello, Fisichella and Rosberg.

FERRARI BACK IN FORM

Schumacher spent over half the race in second place but when Alonso took his second stop, Schumacher unleashed, roaring ahead in clean air for three furious laps that assured him the lead after he too pit in; cruising to his 86th Grand Prix victory.

"We obviously chose to stay out extra lap, which honestly doesn't give you two tenths," explained Schumacher. "The re ason Fernando gained the two tenths was because I didn't get a perfect lap and he obviously did and that's where it went.

"Because I felt we had a good strategy and I felt good about it, and I knew we had a good race pace because on new tyres I knew we could push and it all worked out."

Threats emerging from the Scuderia paddocks that the championship season began with Imola appear to have had some weight, with back to back victories for Schumacher and Massa's first F1 Podium in the European Grand Prix.

[mickey]

Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are confident of a strong result at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix as not only with both drivers benefit from a new-spec engine, but the expected high track temperatures should enable the RA106 to be more competitive in race conditions.

Honda have suffered their fair share of disappointment since the start of the season as tyre concerns have left both drivers struggling to turn their impressive one-lap pace into strong race results.

Getting heat into the Michelin tyres has proven difficult for the Brackley-based team, but a new range of softer compounds plus high track temperatures at Catalunya this weekend should help to transform their qualifying pace into a possible podium result.

"It's a circuit where you need to be strong aerodynamically and I think our car is good in that respect," said Jenson Button, who retired from last weekend's European GP following an engine failure.

"The weather is likely to be nice and hot which always suits us better and if we can resolve the engine problem from last weekend, I think we should be able to get a good result," he added.

He and team-mate Rubens Barrichello will also benefit from a few extra horses as Honda introduce their first major performance step of the season. "Both drivers have a fresh engine this week, with the newest, more powerful specification," said engineering director Shuhei Nakamoto.

"We will have a countermeasure in place for the problem on Jenson's engine at the Nürburgring, and will be aiming to get closer to the front-runners."

[mickey]

Juan Pablo Montoya's future at McLaren depends entirely on team-mate Kimi Raikkonen after Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's chief executive, admitted that the team would prefer to retain the Finn as Fernando Alonso's team-mate next season. The question now is whether Raikkonen wants to stay!

With Alonso already contracted for three years from 2007, the battle for the sole remaining race seat was expected to come down to Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen results this season. However, despite the season being in its early stages, Whitmarsh has admitted that the team are doing everything to keep the Finn.

"We would prefer Kimi Raikkonen to remain in the team with Alonso in 2007, and to that end we've given him the maximum amount of time to decide what he wants to do," the Briton told the British daily, The Guardian.

However, with McLaren thus far struggling to find the form that propelled them to ten race wins last season, including seven for the Finn, Raikkonen has every reason to look elsewhere for a title-winning car and Ferrari's double success in Imola and the Nurburgring may have come at the perfect moment.

It is reported that Ferrari have already paid Raikkonen's management $5 million to have the first option on his services next year, but with Toyota also reported to be interested, McLaren may have to look for a plan B.

Montoya would be the obvious candidate for the second race seat alongside Alonso, but paddock rumour has it that the Colombian is unhappy at being the number 2 driver and is eager to take his services elsewhere, leaving McLaren is somewhat of a quagmire.

The Grove-based team have a few options available to them in test drivers Gary Paffett, the 2005 DTM champion, and Spain's Pedro de la Rosa, who can boast years of experience.

Paffett would be the best commercial choice as it's rare to have two race drivers of the same nationality, but McLaren could also call on protégé Lewis Hamilton, who stunned the paddock with his dominant victories in last weekend's GP2 Series at the Nurburgring.

The Briton, who is set to become the first coloured driver to compete in Formula One, was over a second a lap quicker than his rivals in the opening race, eventually winning by almost twenty seconds despite a drive through penalty, and scythed his was through the reversed grid in race two to take maximum points.

The performance astounded the majority of the paddock and calls for his promotion to Formula One and McLaren were instant. Hamilton's former karting team-mate and reigning GP2 champion Nico Rosberg has shown the way with his performances for Williams, but Whitmarsh has played down his chances of partnering Alonso next season.

"There is obviously a huge amount of pressure on any driver who puts on a set of McLaren overalls, and together with Lewis we've obviously got a good stable of drivers signed up, including Juan Pablo Montoya and our test drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett," Whitmarsh said.

"However, we really want to keep as much pressure and sense of anticipation off Lewis's shoulders while he concentrates on his first priority, which is winning the GP2 title."

[mickey]

F1's governing body has withdrawn Japanese rookie Yuji Ide's licence and he will not race again this season, Super Aguri said on Wednesday. France's Franck Montagny will race again in Spain this weekend as well as in Monaco on May 28.

"Super Aguri confirms that the (International Automobile Federation) FIA permit office has retracted Yuji Ide's super licence," the team said in a statement.

"He will therefore not be participating in any further official FIA Formula One world championship events this year," it added.

Ide, 31, was dropped before the last European Grand Prix on the advice of the FIA after several teams and drivers expressed safety concerns.

The rookie was reprimanded by stewards at the fourth round, the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, after colliding with Midland's Christijan Albers, sending the Dutch driver barrel-rolling into the gravel run-off.

Albers accused the Aguri driver of simply pushing him off the road: "They are taking too many risks and we saw today how dangerous this can be," he said.

Team founder Aguri Suzuki said he accepted the FIA's decision "with sadness and regret" but held out the hope that Ide might return one day.

Suzuki said the team would "continue to seek driving opportunities for Yuji and hopefully a path back into Formula One."

"Discussions with a number of parties continue regarding the permanent positions of second race seat and third driver," added Suzuki.

Montagny, a former Renault test driver, was hired originally to drive the team's third car in Friday testing only and had been due to be in Barcelona this weekend anyway. He completed half the race at the Nuerburgring before retiring.

Super Aguri came into Formula One this season with the sport's first all-Japanese line-up with the aim of providing a platform for the country's drivers.

Ide had partnered Takuma Sato, Japan's most successful Formula One driver, who was dropped by Honda-owned BAR at the end of last year.

One possibility touted for the future is Sakon Yamamoto, who tested for Jordan at his home race last season and is currently racing in Japan's Formula Nippon. Ide was runner-up in that series last year.

[mickey]

Slowly but surely, the main protagonists for the 2006 Formula One drivers title are coming to the fore, and this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix will go a long way towards confirming the credentials of Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen as true challengers to Fernando Alonso's crown.

The Spanish Grand Prix, based near Barcelona at the Circuit de Catalunya, is widely regarded as one of the toughest locations of the season. Despite being a favoured location for testing, the mix of high-speed corners, a very long straight, an abrasive track surface and windy conditions makes it a unique challenge.

"All the teams come here for winter testing because it is a track where you can get a lot of useful data," explains Ferrari's performance engineer Giuliano Salvi. "A car that works well at Barcelona works well almost everywhere."

The teams will have substantial data on which they can set up the cars, but with their last test dating back to mid April, much of that data will have become obsolete due to the higher ambient and track temperature plus the fact that the cars have undergone a number of upgrades since then.

The high-speed nature of the circuit requires an aerodynamically efficient package, and with the power levels reduced to approximately 750bhp following the introduction of V8 engines, the importance of finding corner speed has been enhanced.

"The Circuit de Catalunya is a very changeable track to run on, whether it is the wind affecting the aero efficiency or the temperature changing having a significant impact on grip levels," explains McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

Renault and McLaren are regarded to be two of the better aero cars on the grid and should therefore lead the Michelin challenge, but Ferrari have taken major aero steps in recent weeks and a third consecutive victory this weekend would certainly make their rivals sit up and take notice.

The Scuderia, along with Williams, Toyota, Midland and Super Aguri, are set to benefit from a new 'super soft' Bridgestone that can operate in a wider optimum temperature window, thereby negating the low grip problems and allowing their teams to run slightly less wing.

Michelin, meanwhile, have retorted by revealing that their teams will benefit from 'some interesting new ideas' in their tyres selection.

Renault's Fernando Alonso was said to be 'happy' after finishing second to Schumacher at the Nurburgring a week ago, but deep down, the reigning champion will be concerned and a win this weekend is probably more important in terms of the title rather than it being his home race.

McLaren are likely to be strong but both Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya must improve their qualifying performance if they are to feature in the race, but with both drivers current at the centre of the 2007 driver reshuffle, their motivation might be lacking.

Honda are likely to feature in qualifying but their race pace still leave a lot to be desired. Rubens Barrichello may have finished fifth at the Nurburgring, but at over a minute adrift of the winners, the RA106 is clearly struggling over 300km.

[mickey]

Honda test driver Anthony Davidson returned to the top of the time-sheets on Friday in the second practice of the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull third driver Robert Doornbos and defending champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) in a session where performance again eluded the McLaren-Mercedes team.

Davidson was a faint flicker of Honda hope after another solid performance that the young Brit has become known for as he opened up his Honda RA106 on his day to dazzle.

Rearing his head above the rumours surrounding his replacement of Christian Klien as Red Bull second driver, Doornbos put in a hot flyer towards the session's close to jump ahead of defending champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) - the fastest of Sunday's race drivers - to make it the opposite to the first session with an all-Michelin top three.

Alex Wurz came through fourth in his Bridgestone-shod Williams ahead of the other in the Red Bull spot light, Klien, and Michael Schumacher (Ferrari). Giancarlo Fisichella came through seventh in the other Renault before the Hondas of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello and the Toyotas of Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli in eleventh.

CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR

The top ten was separated by under one second - the top twenty by under two - in what was, as has become the norm, a close Friday testing session. But McLaren were once again unconvincing in their practice; Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya posting the fifteenth and eighteenth respective times after minimal track time for the two.

Montoya has the new-spec Mercedes engine with which Raikkonen was unable to do too much at the Nürburgring but the Silver Arrows still seem to lack performance on a track where their aerodynamics and Michelins carried Raikkonen to victory last year.

The BMW of Jacques Villeneuve was momentarily on top but soon faded, finishing back in sixteenth behind his team-mates Nick Heidfeld and test driver Robert Kubica. The Williams also dropped to the back with Mark Webber in fourteenth and Nico Rosberg in nineteenth.

Franck Montagny was at the bottom of the sheets in his Super Aguri after taking a few off-track excursions during the session.

[mickey]

Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher are are feeling confident and competitive for Ferrari in the Spanish Grand Prix after their 1-2 in the opening free practice session on Friday. Schumacher is chasing defending champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) who currently leads the standings by thirteen points.

"I am very happy with the work we have done today, centred on the Bridgestone tyres and on adapting the 248 F1 to the track conditions," Schumacher told Autosport .com. "Compared with the last time we were here we have a few updates on the car and steps forward with the tyres.

"I think we can be competitive, even though we have yet to go into detail on the data. There are a lot of factors to consider. Looking at the times this morning we were quick and the good thing is that this afternoon, over a longer distance we were both quick and consistent, so the situation looks pretty good."

Despite being down the time-sheet in seventeenth in the second practice, Massa too is confident. "This weekend has got off on the right foot," he said. "The day went very well and we worked almost exclusively on the Bridgestone tyres, obviously looking towards the race.

"Michael and I split the work load, using different types of tyre. Today I was not trying to do a time but just wanted to understand how the tyres performed over a long run. I am very satisfied with the 248 F1 and what we achieved today."

[mickey]

Defending champion Fernando Alonso took his first ever pole position on home soil ahead of team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella to give Renault a 1-2 on the starting grid fo the Spanish Grand Prix. The Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa followed hot on their heels to occupy the second row.

"Ferrari and Michael are strong again this weekend but we have to concentrate on our job to take the maximum from our car," said Alonso. "Our worst case is second place in the race and if we keep this consistency then it's good for the championship.

"We have to concentrate on our job and when Ferrari is too strong for us we have to take second, but tomorrow we have to think victory is possible."

Alonso posted a 1:14.875 in the late stages to go to the top but Renault were unsure if the seven-time world champion had been running on used tyres, so when Schumacher pit in for a new ones, Alonso went at it again.

Schumacher's flyer was a tenth of a second off but Alonso was already on his final flyer and went one better in 1:14.648 - luckily for him as team-mate Fisichella raced through soon after with a 1:14.709.

Rubens Barrichello gave hope to the Honda garage with his fifth ahead of the Toyotas of Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli. Honda team-mate Jenson Button did not fare as well, pitting in late for front wing adjustments, complaining of understeer.

The Bridgestone runners did seem to be suffering understeer problems more than the Michelins, however, with Schumacher's 248 F1 still visibly trying to push straight through the long Catalunya turns. But Ferrari simply blitzed the other cars for speed; Massa getting up to 319 kph in the speed trap - 8 kph faster than Fisichella with the rest more than 10 kph further behind.



1. line:
1. Fernando Alonso (Spa/Renault) 1:14,648
2. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita/Renault) 1:14,709

2. line:
3. Michael Schumacher (Nem/Ferrari) 1:14,970
4. Felipe Massa (Bra/Ferrari) 1:15,442

3. line:
5. Rubens Barrichello (Bra/Honda) 1:15,885
6. Ralf Schumacher (Nem/Toyota) 1:15,885

4. line:
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita/Toyota) 1:15,976
8. Jenson Button (VBr/Honda) 1:16,008

5. line:
9. Kimi Raiikkoenen (Fin/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:16,015
10. Nick Heidfeld (Nem/BMW) 1:17,144

6. line:
11. Mark Webber (Avs/Williams) 1:15,502
12. Juan Pablo Montoya (Kol/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:15,801

7. line:
13. Nico Rosberg (Nem/Williams) 1:15,804
14. Christian Klien (Avt/Red Bull) 1:15,928

8. line:
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita/Toro Rosso) 1:16,661
16. Scott Speed (ZDA/Toro Rosso) 1:17,361

9. line:
17. Tiago Monteiro (Por/Midland) 1:17,702
18. Christijan Albers (Niz/Midland) 1:18,024

10. line:
19. Takuma Sato (Jap/Super Aguri) 1:18,920
20. Franck Montagny (Fra/Super Aguri) 1:20,763

11. line:
21. Jacques Villeneuve (Kan/BMW) 1:15,847
(changed his engine, so -10 places)
22. David Coulthard (VBr/Red Bull) -

[mickey]

Renault's Fernando Alonso became the first Spaniard to win a Formula One Grand Prix on home soil on Sunday; the defending champion in complete control, driving home victory ahead of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella in what was expected to be a Ferrari dominated race.
The crowd was a sea of the Renault blue and yellow mixed with the occasional spash of red, combining to make the Spanish colours. 130,000 spectators erupted on Alonso's last lap in a fury of horns and roars as the home favourite completed his last lap and took his maiden home grand prix, denying Schumacher three successive wins.

Next race will be in 2 weeks in Monte Carlo, where Schuacher will try to narrow the gap between him and Alonso. It will be a though one, but anything is possible.


Race results :

1. Fernando Alonso (Spa/Renault) 1:26:21,759 (average speed: 212,075 km/h)
2. Michael Schumacher (Nem/Ferrari) + 18.502
3. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA/Renault) 23,951
4. Felipe Massa (Bra/Ferrari) 29,859
5. Kimi Raikkoenen (FIN/McLaren-Mercedes) 56,875
6. Jenson Button (VB/Honda) 58,347
7. Rubens Barrichello (Bra/Honda) 1 lap
8. Nick Heidfeld (Nem/BMW Sauber) 1 lap
9. Mark Webber (Avs/Williams-Cosworth) 1 lap
10. Jarno Trulli (Ita/Toyota) 1 lap
11. Nico Rosberg (Nem/Williams-Cosworth) 1 lap
12. Jacques Villeneuve (Kan/BMW Sauber) 1 lap
13. Christian Klien (Avt/Red Bull-Ferrari) 1 lap
14. David Coulthard (VB/Red Bull-Ferrari) 1 lap
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
16. Tiago Monteiro (Por/Midland) 3 laps
17. Takuma Sato (Jap/Super Aguri F1 Team) 4 laps



Drivers and Team stats :


1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) 54 points
2. Michael Schumacher (Nem) 39
3. Kimi Raiikkoenen (Fin) 27
4. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) 24
5. Felipe Massa (Bra) 20
6. Jenson Button (VB) 16
7. Juan Pablo Montoya (Kol) 15
8. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) 8
9. Ralf Schumacher (Nem) 7
10. Nick Heidfeld (Nem) 6
11. Mark Webber (Avs) 6
12. Jacques Villeneuve (Kan) 6
13. Nico Rosberg (Nem) 4
14. David Coulthard (VB) 1
15. Christian Klien (Avt) 1
16. Scott Speed (ZDA) 1



1. Renault 78 points
2. Ferrari 59
3. McLaren-Mercedes 42
4. Honda 24
5. BMW Sauber 12
6. Williams-Cosworth 10
7. Toyota 7
8. Red Bull-Ferrari 2
9. Toro Rosso 1

[mickey]

The annual Formula One silly season took on an even greater importance during the weekend of the Spanish Grand Prix after Ferrari, Renault and McLaren made interesting announcements. The big question, however, remains whether or not Michael Schumacher will retire or stay at Ferrari next season.

Schumacher, it seems, is the main actor in Silly Season 2007. The German's announcement that he will decide his future at the end of the season will not have gone down well at McLaren or Renault as it upsets their quest to lure top name drivers for next season.

Ferrari team boss Jean Todt has since stated that the Scuderia will announce their 2007 driver line-up at their home Italian Grand Prix in September, which is at lesat three months later than what is the norm in Formula One as most contracts are signed in June or July.

"We need to secure that Ferrari is in a strong situation for the present and for the future," told reporters after Sunday's Spanish GP. "Together with Michael (Schumacher), when Michael feels comfortable with the announcement, we should announce something around Monza."

Will he stay, or will he go? - that is the question. If he does decide to stay in Formula One then there is no doubt whatsoever that it will be with Ferrari, but alongside who? Felipe Massa has been groomed into the driver that he is now, he is managed by Nicolas Todt, son of Jean, and his performances in the previous two races have been impeccable.

The other option, it seems, is Kimi Raikkonen. Both the Finn and Schumacher have openly stated that they would be happy to be team-mates, but the Ice Man must be all to aware that Ferrari is Michael Schumacher's territory, it's his baby, his pride and joy, and to make an impact there would be nigh on impossible.

Next year's tyre regulations could also play a huge part in Schumacher's decision for Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier and thus Ferrari should enjoy a notable advantage over their two main rivals this season - Michelin runners Renault and McLaren.

Should Schumacher decide to quit the sport, then it is most likely that Raikkonen will go to Ferrari, alongside Massa. There is talk of Valentino Rossi joining the Scuderia next year but the MotoGP star is yet to conduct one of 'many' tests that he was promised at the start of the season and seems to have more than enough on his plate with the ill-handling Yamaha M1.

Renault also announced at the weekend that they were ready to do 'what is necessary' to get a top line driver to replace their McLaren-bound champion Fernando Alonso, and after confirming their long-term commitment to the sport on Sunday, they certainly have more selling power.

Once again, Kimi Raikkonen is probably the best bet to join the defending champions should Schumacher decide to stay, but with the German set to wait until September before making a decision, will Renault take the risk of waiting?

"(Team boss) Flavio (Briatore) will make proposals and selections but we are ready to do what is necessary to have a good driver," team president Alain Dassas told reports in Spain. "We have stated clearly that next year we want to have a driver who is able to give a top performance."

Dassas went on to say that Giancarlo Fisichella was a top driver, which could point to the Italian staying next year despite another mediocre start to the season, while Juan Pablo Montoya is also a commercially viable option should Raikkonen go to Ferrari. Finland's Heikki Kovalainen is a possible back up but he is by far a top driver.

The twist, however, came from McLaren team boss Ron Dennis who claimed that he was ready to unveil his 2007 driver line-up in a matter of weeks. The announcement will be crucial as to who goes where next season, but with the Woking-based team struggling on track, it is unlikely that Raikkonen's name will be mentioned after five trying years at the team.

[mickey]

Three-time Formula One champion Niki Lauda expects to see Kimi Raikkonen racing for Ferrari next season irrespective of whether or not Michael Schumacher retires. Lauda believes that Ferrari's willingness to wait for Schumacher points to the fact that a deal has already been done with Raikkonen.

"Ferrari must have an alternative (to Schumacher) as a driver," Lauda, who won two of his three titles with Ferrari in 1975 and 1977, told Reuters. "The most logical one is Kimi...they cannot afford to wait until the end of the year.

"If they wait to the end of the year and they have no driver signed up, they will race with (Brazilian Felipe) Massa and the test driver.

"I think they must have fixed Kimi one way or another and if Michael continues, then Massa will be a test driver and if Michael does not continue, Massa will (alongside Raikkonen). That is my logic to it."

Although Schumacher suggested last week that he may wait until the end of the season to make a decision, the 37-year-old did not say he would definitely do so.

McLaren, who have signed Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso, will not wait that long and there is already speculation that some sort of announcement could come next week in Monaco, pointing to the fact that Raikkonen has probably already found refuge elsewhere.

Team boss Ron Dennis dropped a heavy hint last weekend that Raikkonen, the most sought-after driver on the market, had made his mind up to leave when he said McLaren now had a plan and would execute it.

"I'm absolutely sure the right thing for any driver to do is always stay in one team," said Dennis. "History shows that. But of course that's not always the opinion that a driver has."

[mickey]

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore fears Michelin's departure from Formula One at the end of the year could give Ferrari an advantage in 2007 unless the FIA steps in. "If we are all on Bridgestone next year, then if you use them already surely you have an advantage," he told reporters in Spain

Champions Renault use Michelin tyres but the French company is pulling out after the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and teams agreed there should be a single supplier only from 2008.

Ferrari, constructors' champions for six years in a row with Bridgestone until last season, have long had a special relationship with Bridgestone who this year also took on Toyota and Williams and want to stay long-term.

Briatore said the FIA must ensure the tyres Bridgestone produced for all next year were unlike anything they had previously provided to their existing teams.

"I believe that what the Federation should be doing to be fair is they need to change the compound, they need to change the construction, they need to change completely," he said.

"I don't think it is fair to give an advantage to some teams, whoever those teams are. I don't care whether it is Ferrari, I believe we need to have equal possibility to do our job," added the Italian.

The FIA argues that switching to a single supplier will make Formula One fairer, safer and less expensive because there will be less need for testing and races will not be decided by one brand having the upper hand over another.

"I think it is the right way because for a million reasons we want to slow down the car, whatever," said Briatore. "(FIA president) Max (Mosley) had the possibility to control the speed of the car through the tyres, it's cheaper for us than to go to the chassis. But we need to be fair.

"We need to make sure that somebody working with Bridgestone in the last five years or whatever does not have any advantage."

Briatore said he would be delighted to see the slick tyres of old, which could return in 2008 as part of a far greater overhaul of the rules after the expiry of the current Concorde Agreement.

"Whatever we do, we need to do it quickly because we need to design the car," he said. "I am completely open to whatever it is. We need to be correct and we need to make sure that nobody has any advantage."

[mickey]

The RA106 is evidently a quick car given the qualifying performances of both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello this season, but despite starting near the grid at each Grand Prix, both drivers have been powerless to maintain or even better that position due to poor race pace.

The inability to get the tyres up to the optimum operating temperature was found to be the cause, but despite running different compounds to their fellow Michelin runners, the problem persisted.

However, the team are hopeful of an imminent step in performance after both the test team and engineers back at the Brackley headquarters push on with development, and with a new, full-scale wind tunnel now operative, some major steps could come later in the season.

The team had four drivers testing new set-up directions and a new-spec Honda engine at Vallelunga this week and both Button and Barrichello are now looking forward to next week's Monaco Grand Prix. "The drivers have tried some new directions on set-up and are pleased with the results," said Mark Ellis, chief engineer of vehicle performance.

Button completed two days of testing in preparation for the forthcoming Monaco and Canadian Grands Prix, while Rubens Barrichello joined on Thursday in order to further his set--up of the car.

"The main focus was chassis work but I also did some work on the tyres for Monaco and the results are looking positive," he said. "I'm looking forward to Monaco next weekend, it's a home race for me, and I think the car has the potential to qualify well which is crucial for the race."

However, it was Anthony Davidson who proved most valuable as he tried various set-ups during which some performance gains were made. "We had a successful test looking at the aero and tyres for Monaco," he said. "We also worked on the general set-up of the car and found some interesting results for the future. So all in all, it's been a good test."


Honda should roll up their sleeves, cause they have only 24 points and they are in 4 th place overall, on the other hand the leading renault has 78 points...