2005 Turkish Grand Prix

Flibster · 21 Aug 2005 at 14:30

James Allen said:
There is always a but - and today that but was Juan Pablo Montoya

Is Allen implying that Montoya is an arse?

Flibster · 21 Aug 2005 at 14:35

Raikkonen driver of the day for me as well. Superbly done.

Lost it at the start but that overtaking move between the 2 Renaults was fantastic.

2005 Turkish Grand prix Results *Subject to conformation*

Code:

[b]Pos	Driver			Team		[/b]
1	Kimi Räikkönen		McLaren-Mercedes
2	Fernando Alonso		Renault		
3	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren-Mercedes
4	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault		
5	Jenson Button		BAR-Honda	
6	Jarno Trulli		Toyota		
7	David Coulthard		Red Bull Racing	
8	Christian Klien		Red Bull Racing	
9	Takuma Sato		BAR-Honda	
10	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	
11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber-Petronas	
12	Ralf Schumacher		Toyota		
13	Robert Doornbos		Minardi-Cosworth
14	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan-Toyota	
15	Tiago Monteiro		Jordan-Toyota	
16	Christijan Albers	Minardi-Cosworth
17	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		
18	Nick Heidfeld		Williams-BMW	
19	Felipe Massa		Sauber-Petronas	
20	Mark Webber		Williams-BMW

Flibster · 21 Aug 2005 at 14:40

Think these are correct...

Current Standings

2005 Drivers Championship.

Code:

[b]Pos	Driver			Nationality	Team			Points [/b]
1	Fernando Alonso		Spanish		Renault			95
2	Kimi Räikkönen		Finnish		McLaren-Mercedes	71
3	Michael Schumacher	German		Ferrari			55 
4	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren-Mercedes	40 
5	Jarno Trulli		Italian		Toyota			39 
6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian		Renault			35 
7	Ralf Schumacher		German		Toyota			32 
8	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari			31 
9	Nick Heidfeld		German		Williams-BMW		28 
10	Mark Webber		Australian	Williams-BMW		24 
11	Jenson Button		British		BAR-Honda		23 
12	David Coulthard		British		Red Bull Racing		21 
13	Felipe Massa		Brazilian	Sauber-Petronas		8 
=16	Tiago Monteiro		Portuguese	Jordan-Toyota		6 
=16	Alexander Wurz		Austrian	McLaren-Mercedes	6 
=16	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	Sauber-Petronas		6 
=18	Christian Klien		Austrian	Red Bull Racing		5
=18	Narain Karthikeyan	Indian		Jordan-Toyota		5 
=20	Christijan Albers	Dutch		Minardi-Cosworth	4 
=20	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish		McLaren-Mercedes	4 
21	Patrick Friesacher	Austrian	Minardi-Cosworth	3 
=23	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian		Red Bull Racing		1 
=23	Takuma Sato		Japanese	BAR-Honda		1

2005 Constructors Championship.

Code:

[b]Pos	Constructor 		Points[/b]
1	Renault			130
2	McLaren-Mercedes	121
3	Ferrari			86	
4	Toyota			71	
5	Williams-BMW		52	
6	Red Bull Racing		27	
7	BAR-Honda		24	
8	Sauber-Petronas		14	
9	Jordan-Toyota		11	
10	Minardi-Cosworth	7

9 points in it for the Constructors championship.. :eek:

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 21 Aug 2005 at 14:50

ashtray_head said:
so the jordan broke the diffuser on the mclaren then
that explains the off then

Something like 20% of the rear downforce gone just like that...

Flibster · 21 Aug 2005 at 14:53

Not really no.

M.Schumacher is apparently being investigated by the stewards for 2 incidents in the race...

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 21 Aug 2005 at 14:53

vanpeebles said:
that turn 8 needs a real manly name, thunder curve or something

Skidmark Central?

Flibster · 21 Aug 2005 at 14:58

rpstewart said:
Well that was a bit of a shocker - a race on a new track that's actually worth watching.

Wonder what the second MS incident is, the altercation with Fisi?

Yup.

Seems like Tilke has got the Designatrack V2 software n ow - which comes out with something interesting...

As for the incidents - Driving into Webber, and pushing Fisichella off the track when being lapped.

As always - put M.Schumacher under pressure - and he cracks...

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 22 Aug 2005 at 09:17

Race Results.

Code:

[b]Pos	No	Driver			Team			Laps	Time		Grid	Points[/b]
1	9	Kimi Räikkönen		McLaren-Mercedes	58	1:24:34.454	1	10 
2	5	Fernando Alonso		Renault			58	+18.6 secs	3	8 
3	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren-Mercedes	58	+19.6 secs	4	6 
4	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault			58	+37.9 secs	2	5 
5	3	Jenson Button		BAR-Honda		58	+39.3 secs	13	4 
6	16	Jarno Trulli		Toyota			58	+55.4 secs	5	3 
7	14	David Coulthard		Red Bull Racing		58	+69.2 secs	12	2 
8	15	Christian Klien		Red Bull Racing		58	+71.6 secs	10	1 
9	4	Takuma Sato		BAR-Honda		58	+109.987 secs	20	 
10	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari			57	+1 Lap		11	 
11	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber-Petronas		57	+1 Lap		16	 
12	17	Ralf Schumacher		Toyota			57	+1 Lap		9	 
13	20	Robert Doornbos		Minardi-Cosworth	55	+3 Laps		17	 
14	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan-Toyota		55	+3 Laps		18	 
15	18	Tiago Monteiro		Jordan-Toyota		55	+3 Laps		14	 
Ret	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi-Cosworth	48	Retired		15	 
Ret	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari			32	Retired		19	 
Ret	8	Nick Heidfeld		Williams-BMW		29	Tyre		6	 
Ret	12	Felipe Massa		Sauber-Petronas		28	Engine		8	 
Ret	7	Mark Webber		Williams-BMW		20	Tyre		7

Fastest Laps.

Code:

[b]Pos	No	Driver			Team			Lap	Time		Speed		Laptime[/b]
1	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren-Mercedes	39	16:00:24	226.693		1:24.770 
2	9	Kimi Räikkönen		McLaren-Mercedes	40	16:01:41	226.000		1:25.030 
3	5	Fernando Alonso		Renault			58	16:28:28	224.694		1:25.524 
4	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault			34	15:53:39	224.484		1:25.604 
5	3	Jenson Button		BAR-Honda		58	16:28:49	223.998		1:25.790 
6	4	Takuma Sato		BAR-Honda		54	16:23:38	223.820		1:25.858 
7	16	Jarno Trulli		Toyota			52	16:20:20	222.989		1:26.178 
8	15	Christian Klien		Red Bull Racing		58	16:29:21	222.483		1:26.374 
9	14	David Coulthard		Red Bull Racing		58	16:29:19	222.372		1:26.417 
10	12	Felipe Massa		Sauber-Petronas		27	15:44:11	222.123		1:26.514 
11	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari			45	16:10:21	221.813		1:26.635 
12	7	Mark Webber		Williams-BMW		12	15:23:11	221.414		1:26.791 
13	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber-Petronas		44	16:09:20	220.966		1:26.967 
14	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari			21	16:02:07	220.905		1:26.991 
15	17	Ralf Schumacher		Toyota			38	16:00:37	220.819		1:27.025 
16	8	Nick Heidfeld		Williams-BMW		25	15:41:38	219.990		1:27.353 
17	18	Tiago Monteiro		Jordan-Toyota		50	16:21:05	215.834		1:29.035 
18	20	Robert Doornbos		Minardi-Cosworth	53	16:25:25	215.364		1:29.229 
19	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan-Toyota		42	16:08:28	215.227		1:29.286 
20	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi-Cosworth	13	15:23:39	214.972		1:29.392

Pit Stops

Code:

[b]Stop	No	Driver			Time			Lap	Time of day	Time		Total time[/b]
1	12	Felipe Massa		Sauber-Petronas		1	15:05:25	25.340		25.340 
1	8	Nick Heidfeld		Williams-BMW		5	15:11:21	26.098		26.098 
1	7	Mark Webber		Williams-BMW		9	15:18:17	30.901		30.901 
1	5	Fernando Alonso		Renault			13	15:22:33	27.266		27.266 
2	8	Nick Heidfeld		Williams-BMW		13	15:23:33	26.837		52.935 
1	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault			14	15:24:03	36.962		36.962 
2	7	Mark Webber		Williams-BMW		13	15:24:44	42.115		1:13.016 
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari			14	15:24:50	59.003		59.003 
1	8	Tiago Monteiro		Jordan-Toyota		14	15:25:06	28.770		28.770 
1	20	Robert Doornbos		Minardi-Cosworth	15	15:26:42	44.474		44.474 
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari			15	15:27:43	25:22.614	26:21.617 
1	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi-Cosworth	16	15:28:09	23.630		23.630 
1	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan-Toyota		17	15:29:59	24.714		24.714 
2	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi-Cosworth	17	15:29:59	26.756		50.386 
1	16	Jarno Trulli		Toyota			18	15:30:00	27.064		27.064 
1	17	Ralf Schumacher		Toyota			18	15:30:50	27.500		27.500 
1	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren-Mercedes	21	15:34:10	27.808		27.808 
1	3	Jenson Button		BAR-Honda		21	15:34:35	28.527		28.527 
1	9	Kimi Räikkönen		McLaren-Mercedes	22	15:35:24	27.581		27.581 
1	15	Christian Klien		Red Bull Racing		23	15:37:38	26.503		26.503 
1	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber-Petronas		23	15:38:06	26.496		26.496 
1	14	David Coulthard		Red Bull Racing		24	15:39:05	25.938		25.938 
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari			24	15:39:15	26.035		26.035 
3	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi-Cosworth	25	15:42:45	2:31.886	3:22.272 
1	4	Takuma Sato		BAR-Honda		29	15:46:41	28.938		28.938 
2	18	Tiago Monteiro		Jordan-Toyota		28	15:46:49	50.742		1:19.512 
2	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan-Toyota		30	15:50:03	24.526		49.240 
2	5	Fernando Alonso		Renault			34	15:53:18	29.505		56.771 
2	20	Robert Doornbos		Minardi-Cosworth	34	15:56:06	30.554		1:15.028 
2	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren-Mercedes	41	16:03:16	24.983		52.791 
2	17	Ralf Schumacher		Toyota			40	16:03:32	23.795		51.295 
3	18	Tiago Monteiro		Jordan-Toyota		39	16:04:13	27.116		1:46.628 
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari			23	16:05:02	25.042		26:46.659 
4	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi-Cosworth	39	16:06:56	1:43.242	5:05.514 
2	16	Jarno Trulli		Toyota			43	16:06:57	23.325		50.389 
2	15	Christian Klien		Red Bull Racing		44	16:08:41	23.991		50.494 
2	9	Kimi Räikkönen		McLaren-Mercedes	45	16:08:49	23.384		50.965 
3	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan-Toyota		43	16:10:00	23.750		1:12.990 
2	14	David Coulthard		Red Bull Racing		45	16:10:06	23.189		49.127 
2	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber-Petronas		45	16:10:48	23.322		49.818 
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari			46	16:11:48	22.947		48.982 
2	3	Jenson Button		BAR-Honda		47	16:12:43	23.092		51.619

Flibster · 22 Aug 2005 at 09:24

Dutch Guy said:
Wow, that was an interesting race, excellent stuff.

About the Webber/Schumi incident, wasn't Webber a lap down on Schumi at that time?

Yup. But you are allowed to unlap yourself - Schumacher was around a second a lap slower than Webber at that point so was causing Webber to lose out. It's only holding up the leaders that you can be black flagged for *stupid rule that one...*

It was a legitimate move.

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 22 Aug 2005 at 09:40

Michael shut the door says Webber

A series of so far unexplained right rear tyre failures put pay to the efforts of Mark Webber and his BMW Williams teammate, Nick Heidfeld, in Sunday’s inaugural Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul after both drivers were forced to retire after suffering two such failures each.

Twenty-eight year old Webber had lost two positions to Red Bull Racing duo David Coulthard and Christian Klien at the start after Sauber’s Felipe Massa almost slid into the back of Heidfeld as they raced into the first corner, and forcing Webber to take avoiding action. However, the Australian quickly redressed the balance, passing Coulthard at turn 12 on lap three before doing likewise to Klien in the same spot a lap later to re-emerge in his original grid position of seventh.

Mark moved up another place when Heidfeld’s Williams FW27 suffered a right rear failure and he had to pit for a replacement. Fortunately it happened close to the pit lane entry but when Webber suffered the same fate two laps later, he had to complete a whole lap before making it back to the pits. These premature pit stops left the Williams pair way down the order with Heidfeld 16th and Webber 20th.

Matters then went from bad to worse on lap 14 as Webber began to catch Michael Schumacher at a rapid rate of knots. The world champion moved across and squeezed Webber into the braking area to turn three but Webber refused to be intimidated by the Ferrari driver and the two made contact at the apex and both had to pit for replacement parts. Webber returned to the race, albeit only briefly as a second tyre failure a few laps later spelt the end of his eventful Turkish Grand Prix. He was joined shortly afterwards by Heidfeld after he suffered his second tyre failure.

“Despite what happened, I really liked the track and I felt I got on top of it well,” Mark said. “It’s a great, new F1 venue and full marks to the organisers. I can’t comment on the tyre problems which affected our team because they are still being investigated but the incident with Michael happened when I caught him after my first stop. I had been following and closing on him for three or four laps as he was very slow. I was a lap down but I had to get on my own afternoon and I was losing a lot of time behind him. Generally when you come up to un-lap yourself against someone slower, they don’t normally weave around in the braking area as Michael seemed to. I got alongside him on the brakes into turn 12 but when I got closer to the apex, I had to try and pull back out of the move as Michael was clearly shutting the door on me but it was too late.”

Flibster · 22 Aug 2005 at 09:40

God I love the silly season.

Rumour: Schumacher to McLaren?

The silly season has really started in Istanbul. Michael Schumacher is apparently so fed up with Ferrari's lack of pace that he could quit the Maranello based Prancing Horse, a rumour whistled around the Istanbul paddock on Sunday evening.

Most shrugged off the speculation as fanciful. But Germany's 'Bild' newspaper claims that the 36-year-old twice met with countryman and Mercedes' Norbert Haug in Bernie Ecclestone's motor home -- once in Hungary and now in Turkey.

"It is true that we met," Haug told the newspaper when asked about the McLaren switch link, "but we spoke only about the future of formula one. I take it as rather unlikely that he would leave Ferrari."

'Bild' also claims that Schumacher's manager, Willi Weber, has put negotiations with Ferrari - about a post-2006 driving contract - on ice. Michael drove for the Sauber-Mercedes sports car team prior to debuting in formula one.

Flibster · 22 Aug 2005 at 12:51

Ferrari plagued by lack of grip

"There was definitely no light here. It was very dark," said Ferrari team principal Jean Todt after the inaugural Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday when asked if the light that appeared at the end of the tunnel after the Hungarian Grand Prix three weeks before had been extinguished in Istanbul.

"Yes, we saw some light but we knew that we had a completely different specification of tyres here. We came here with some older specifications because what we had in Budapest was not going to be used here, could not be used here."

"We knew that in all fairness, arriving at a new circuit, you can always have one unexpected surprise, but on Friday morning, we understood that the surprise was not the right one we could have expected."

The Ferraris struggled for grip all weekend. Michael Schumacher had several off-circuit excursions, one of which saw him condemned to start from the back row of the grid, and in spite of a sparkling opening lap during which he picked up eight places, he would eventually retire after a collision with another competitor. Rubens Barrichello drove to a gripless tenth place.

And that lack of grip continues to plague Ferrari. It is, says Todt, due to a combination of a lack of aerodynamic and mechanical efficiency, and the tyres themselves. "We are the only top team with Bridgestone, so if we would be with the same tyres with another very top team it would be easier to answer, but at the moment we don't know. We sometimes try to compare with Jordan and Minardi, but they don't use the same (specification of) tyres."

"This year, the car is again a new specification of aerodynamics, one engine for two races, so it's different from last year. We supply the same engine to Sauber so we have some way of comparing and for sure we cannot say that it's one part the engine, one part the tyres, one part the aerodynamics, but let's say the package is not giving what we used to have in the past and is not giving what we are expecting."

"But saying that, we were using the same car in Budapest with completely different tyres, and we saw that we were very quick in qualifying, we were very quick for the first third of the race. Then we started to drop performance so it gives us and our partners some indications. But then you have to analyse those indications, you have to work, it's a very complicated thing. If it would be easy, we would not be facing this situation."

"The biggest difference from last year to this year is the tyre rule. We could change tyres last year and as I said three weeks ago, if we could have changed the tyres in Budapest we would have won the race, it was clear. But I'm not complaining about that. Let's say that the one tyre for qualifying and the race has been very bad to us so we are paying mainly for this effect."

But, as always, Todt refused to criticise his tyre supplier. "You know in life you have minuses and pluses, and the pluses are still so big compared to the minuses. The pluses are so much due to their support so at the moment, it's normal, we are always reacting to what's just happened but when we do a strategy consideration, a strategic plan, we have to think back over the last five years."

And the situation could change in the future, as it is suggested that Toyota and Red Bull Racing could change to Bridgestone next year, which Todt approves of. "We will do combined testing and also they will do some mileage. Then we will definitely get some advantage out of that."

But Todt still has goals for 2005. "Honestly, I want to finish in the best position in the table as possible. I've lost the dream to win both championships, but now at least we have to secure third position if possible."

Flibster · 22 Aug 2005 at 12:52

Brawn hands Massa a year to impress

Ferrari technical chief Ross Brawn has told new recruit Felipe Massa that he has just one year to prove that is good enough to race for the legendary team.

Brazilian Massa, who currently drives for the Ferrari-powered Sauber team, will be drafted in next year as a replacement for compatriot Rubens Barrichello, who has decided to switch to BAR Honda.

Massa was the team's test driver in 2003 and he will be given the chance to return to the cockpit of a Ferrari in a two-day test at Monza in Italy on Tuesday and Wednesday. Brawn believes that the 24- year-old has the speed to be a success.

"I'm quite happy with the choice and it's really up to him to prove next year whether he's a long term Ferrari driver or not. He clearly has the raw speed but he was a bit rocky when he first started. He has got the talent but we are going to find out next year exactly how much progress he has made."

Massa, who has been contracted to Ferrari since 2001, will return to his Sauber team on Friday at Monza for a one-day test following his two days with his future employers.

He finished Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix in the garage after the engine in his Sauber failed him but he has impressed so far this season with his maturity and talent that has been at least a match for team-mate Jacques Villeneuve.

Villeneuve, who won his world title in 1997, believes Massa could even be faster than this year's champion elect Fernando Alonso, with whom he drove at Renault for three races at the end of last year.

The Canadian even believes Massa could rattle world champion Michael Schumacher. "Someone that arrives in a team is always more hungry than someone who has been there forever," Villeneuve explained. "There is always the chance of a newcomer to really take risks that aren't necessary and to actually beat you, which doesn't mean the person is actually faster than you. It could mean that Felipe beats Michael."

Ferrari will begin to see how the 'new' Massa fares against Schumacher if they compare their lap times at Monza and Brawn said: "It is a useful early start to re-build the partnership. Felipe has always remained a Ferrari contracted driver. He was available for us to test whenever we chose to, so it's just a good start to be able to begin the partnership again."

Flibster · 22 Aug 2005 at 18:52

ashtray_head said:
will their 'old' experience of V8's make that much difference??...do they still do indy engines??

They are really the only engine manafacturer with experience of true racing V8's recently.

They won the championship in 1994 with a V8 - last time a non V10 did...

Plus Renault's engine is limited to 18000rpm and sub 700bhp atm, as is BMW's. Ferrari's hasn't run properly yet, Toyota's has run apparently at 20k and ~710bhp

Cosworths - 21000rpm+ and 750bhpish..

Looks the best around at the moment.

Plus Cosworth are working with them on pretty much the entire rear end of the car which will help them both a lot.

I think that BAR Honda will have to hand over large amounts of wonga to get Button out of his Williams contract.

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 23 Aug 2005 at 16:22

McLaren are more likely to win the constructors' championship than the drivers' crown for Kimi Raikkonen, the Woking based formula one team admits.

With the points deficit to Renault down to just nine points, and with a quicker car than the blue and yellows, boss Ron Dennis said the carmaker scrap is 'our strength.

"But we're still focused on giving Kimi the best opportunity to win the championship."

Indeed, team 'F1 CEO' Martin Whitmarsh reckons Raikkonen's best chance to curb the 24-point gap to Fernando Alonso - a much slower moving deficit despite victory in Hungary and Turkey - will be for Renault to make unforced errors.

"It's only going to take something like that," he insisted, "and we're back in it."

From a performance point of view, though, McLaren are on top of the world. Whitmarsh said there's 'no reason' the MP4-20 can't secure one-twos from now until the Chinese finale.

Flibster · 23 Aug 2005 at 16:23

Jean Todt has his fingers crossed that speculation linking Red Bull and Toyota with Bridgestone next year is true.

The Ferrari boss said Ferrari, presently in a competitive ditch with the Japanese tyre supplier, would 'definitely' get a boost from their switch from Michelin rubber.

"We would do combined testing," said the Frenchman, who added that the scarlet situation in Istanbul - although Bridgestone had to revert to an older specification of tyre - was 'very dark.

"I've lost the dream to win both championships," Todt continued, "but at least we have to secure third, if possible."

Flibster · 23 Aug 2005 at 16:23

The controversial 'equivalency' debate was effectively put to bed in the Istanbul F1 paddock.

Some manufacturers were understood to have been considering running a rev-limited V10 engine next season, after the FIA left the option open in the first year or two of the new V8 formula.

The governing body, though, intended the 'loophole' for small teams like Minardi, who will stick with a Cosworth V10 because it is a cheaper option than buying a brand new V8.

However, a manufacturer or three are believed to have considered following suit, in the expectation that the V10 - even rev limited - might actually out-power its V8 rivals.

At the Turkish grand prix, all six F1 carmakers - including Ferrari - agreed to run a V8 in 2006 and 2007 by signing a document to that effect.

Flibster · 23 Aug 2005 at 16:28

Dutch Guy said:
Is the bhp always directly related to the engine rpm?

Can't they use more fuel to get more power at the same rpm?

Only to a certain degree.

They are running pretty close to the maximum fuelling limit now anyway - they can up the mixture to gain small amounts of power - but at the expense of the life of the engine and fuel consumption.

It's generally safer to increase the RPM of the engine rather than increase the mixture to get more power - hence the 'overtake' button which changes the mixture slightly but allows another 250-500rpm to the engine before the rev limiter kicks in.

It's all rather complicated tbh...I don't really understand it completely - but there is an optimum level of fuelling and above that produces minimal increases for losses in life and fuel consumption. F1 cars try to run as close to that as possible.

If that makes sence...

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 25 Aug 2005 at 09:20

Now this is more believable...

Raikkonen to replace Schumacher?

Germany's 'Sport Bild' tabloid has had a busy formula one news editor this week. First, Michael Schumacher was in talks with McLaren-Mercedes about a 2007 switch. Now, the publication claims McLaren 'iceman' Kimi Raikkonen will replace the German.

'Bild' said the 25-year-old Finn signed a 'preliminary agreement' with the Maranello based team in May. Raikkonen would therefore become the scarlets' new 'number one' driver. Bild said the information was obtained from a 'very safe' source.

Asked about Fernando Alonso earlier this year, Ferrari boss Jean Todt made it clear who he favoured among formula one's young guard. "I consider a young man, who drives for a German-English team, to be the better choice."

Flibster · 25 Aug 2005 at 09:22

Michael Schumacher angles for a new contract

Behind the rumours of Michael Schumacher joining McLaren there appear to be negotiations for the German to stay on for probably two more years with Scuderia Ferrari. Schumacher's current contract with Ferrari runs out at the end of 2006 and it is always assumed that Michael will stay with Ferrari until the end of his career but Ferrari may not be able to pay the $40m salary that Michael now commands and stories in the German press say that this figure is going to go up to nearly $50m with a new contract. Ferrari would obviously like to keep Michael but the team no longer has an open chequebook, particularly as results this year have been very disappointing. This will effect the team's revenues in 2006 and that in turn may affect the amount of money available to invest for the future. McLaren may not necessarily want to have Michael Schumacher in one of its cars - based on the argument that a victory would always be credited to Michael rather than to the team - but the reality is that as long as Michael remains fast he would be an asset to any team. Schumacher seems to want to go on racing and so, inevitably, there are going to be talks with all possible teams, if only to push up Michael's salary.