McLaren rules out changing Montoya's engine
McLaren team chief Ron Dennis has ruled out changing the Mercedes engines in Juan Pablo Montoya's car despite the Colombian's complaints following the end of practice.
Montoya claimed his engine was lacking power compared to teammate Kimi Raikkonen's, saying he was seven km/h slower on the main straight with the same set-up as the Finn.
"Unless we want to finish about 10th or 12th then we should think about changing it (the engine) to be honest. But it is not my call," Montoya said.
Dennis, however, said the engines are exactly the same and ruled out changing Montoya's unit.
"The engines are absolutely fine," said Dennis. "There's no difference between the engines and there is a difference between gearing.
"When you run at lower revs in order to protect the engine, you end up with less than optimised mapping and that does make the engine a little uncomfortable to drive.
"When you move into the area of preparing for racing and qualifying, it's a different area where we have to look at the engines, but they're exactly the same."
[b]Pos No Driver Team Time[/b]
1 38 Robert Kubica Sauber-BMW 1:32.170
2 35 Alexander Wurz Williams-Cosworth 1:32.184
3 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.388
4 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:33.469
5 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:34.800
6 40 Neel Jani STR-Cosworth 1:34.831
7 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.887
8 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:34.925
9 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:35.017
10 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:35.083
11 37 Robert Doornbos RBR-Ferrari 1:35.203
12 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:35.371
13 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:36.542
14 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:36.930
15 39 Markus Winkelhock MF1-Toyota 1:37.918
16 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:38.190
17 23 Yuji Ide Super Aguri-Honda 1:40.782
18 36 Anthony Davidson Honda
19 1 Fernando Alonso Renault
20 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault
21 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota
22 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota
23 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW
24 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW
25 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth
26 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth
27 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda
28 12 Jenson Button Honda
[b]Sector 1[/b]
[b]Pos No Driver Time[/b]
1 38 Robert Kubica 29.579
2 35 Alexander Wurz 29.760
3 3 Kimi Räikkönen 29.776
4 5 Michael Schumacher 29.946
5 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 30.066
6 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 30.265
7 40 Neel Jani 30.284
8 21 Scott Speed 30.346
9 15 Christian Klien 30.374
10 14 David Coulthard 30.390
11 37 Robert Doornbos 30.475
12 6 Felipe Massa 30.532
13 18 Tiago Monteiro 31.045
14 19 Christijan Albers 31.107
15 22 Takuma Sato 31.360
16 39 Markus Winkelhock 31.411
17 23 Yuji Ide 32.007
18 8 Jarno Trulli 956.545
19 36 Anthony Davidson 1367.176
20 1 Fernando Alonso 1425.022
21 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 1445.502
[b]Sector 2 [/b]
[b]Pos No Driver Time[/b]
1 35 Alexander Wurz 39.627
2 38 Robert Kubica 39.635
3 5 Michael Schumacher 40.080
4 3 Kimi Räikkönen 40.322
5 6 Felipe Massa 40.702
6 15 Christian Klien 40.732
7 37 Robert Doornbos 40.839
8 14 David Coulthard 40.853
9 40 Neel Jani 40.990
10 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 41.097
11 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 41.223
12 21 Scott Speed 41.272
13 18 Tiago Monteiro 41.385
14 19 Christijan Albers 41.578
15 39 Markus Winkelhock 42.264
16 22 Takuma Sato 42.631
17 23 Yuji Ide 43.432
18 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 45.075
19 8 Jarno Trulli 48.651
20 1 Fernando Alonso 49.016
21 36 Anthony Davidson 49.649
22 16 Nick Heidfeld 51.806
23 7 Ralf Schumacher 53.025
24 17 Jacques Villeneuve 54.799
[b]Sector 3 [/b]
[b]Pos No Driver Time[/b]
1 35 Alexander Wurz 22.623
2 38 Robert Kubica 22.815
3 5 Michael Schumacher 23.061
4 3 Kimi Räikkönen 23.290
5 6 Felipe Massa 23.357
6 40 Neel Jani 23.394
7 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 23.480
8 15 Christian Klien 23.506
9 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 23.517
10 37 Robert Doornbos 23.664
11 21 Scott Speed 23.708
12 14 David Coulthard 23.774
13 19 Christijan Albers 24.029
14 39 Markus Winkelhock 24.048
15 18 Tiago Monteiro 24.094
16 22 Takuma Sato 24.199
17 23 Yuji Ide 24.692
18 7 Ralf Schumacher 33.085
19 16 Nick Heidfeld 33.276
20 36 Anthony Davidson 34.215
21 8 Jarno Trulli 35.099
22 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 35.287
23 17 Jacques Villeneuve 37.982
24 1 Fernando Alonso 39.96
[b]Pos No Driver Time Speed[/b]
1 38 Robert Kubica 12:00:25 311.9
2 3 Kimi Räikkönen 11:59:12 307.0
3 37 Robert Doornbos 11:58:08 304.9
4 35 Alexander Wurz 11:47:30 304.8
5 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 11:57:11 303.5
6 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 11:52:36 303.1
7 21 Scott Speed 11:52:07 302.9
8 40 Neel Jani 11:25:40 302.8
9 15 Christian Klien 11:58:55 302.6
10 23 Yuji Ide 12:00:08 301.8
11 14 David Coulthard 11:58:05 301.7
12 6 Felipe Massa 11:59:32 301.5
13 22 Takuma Sato 11:51:12 301.5
14 5 Michael Schumacher 11:55:39 301.3
15 18 Tiago Monteiro 11:58:27 295.9
16 19 Christijan Albers 11:51:24 293.4
17 39 Markus Winkelhock 11:53:29 291.6
18 8 Jarno Trulli 11:55:15 209.8
19 36 Anthony Davidson 11:25:02 200.3
20 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 11:30:58 188.0
21 16 Nick Heidfeld 11:51:27 167.8
22 1 Fernando Alonso 11:29:44 144.4
23 17 Jacques Villeneuve 11:54:17 143.3
24 7 Ralf Schumacher 11:50:51 127.1
[b]Pos No Driver Team Time[/b]
1 36 Anthony Davidson Honda 1:31.353
2 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:31.751
3 35 Alexander Wurz Williams-Cosworth 1:31.764
4 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:32.175
5 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:32.538
6 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:32.703
7 37 Robert Doornbos RBR-Ferrari 1:32.926
8 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:33.215
9 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:33.226
10 38 Robert Kubica Sauber-BMW 1:33.244
11 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:33.557
12 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.577
13 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.726
14 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:33.848
15 40 Neel Jani STR-Cosworth 1:33.900
16 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:34.284
17 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:34.333
18 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:34.384
19 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:34.432
20 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:34.459
21 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:34.953
22 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:35.170
23 39 Markus Winkelhock MF1-Toyota 1:35.686
24 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:35.898
25 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:36.264
26 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:36.314
27 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:37.588
28 23 Yuji Ide Super Aguri-Honda 1:39.021
[b]Sector 1[/b]
[b]Pos No Driver Time[/b]
1 35 Alexander Wurz 29.427
2 5 Michael Schumacher 29.536
3 36 Anthony Davidson 29.589
4 6 Felipe Massa 29.677
5 38 Robert Kubica 29.777
6 1 Fernando Alonso 29.822
7 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 29.879
8 3 Kimi Räikkönen 29.928
9 12 Jenson Button 29.943
10 37 Robert Doornbos 29.956
11 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 30.034
12 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 30.041
13 21 Scott Speed 30.049
14 16 Nick Heidfeld 30.119
15 18 Tiago Monteiro 30.143
16 15 Christian Klien 30.147
17 40 Neel Jani 30.164
18 11 Rubens Barrichello 30.173
19 17 Jacques Villeneuve 30.220
20 9 Mark Webber 30.264
21 14 David Coulthard 30.331
22 39 Markus Winkelhock 30.361
23 10 Nico Rosberg 30.559
24 7 Ralf Schumacher 30.590
25 8 Jarno Trulli 30.739
26 19 Christijan Albers 30.863
27 22 Takuma Sato 30.970
28 23 Yuji Ide 31.340
[b]Sector 2 [/b]
[b]Pos No Driver Time[/b]
1 36 Anthony Davidson 39.079
2 5 Michael Schumacher 39.406
3 35 Alexander Wurz 39.434
4 1 Fernando Alonso 39.534
5 6 Felipe Massa 39.607
6 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 39.683
7 37 Robert Doornbos 39.773
8 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 40.044
9 38 Robert Kubica 40.051
10 12 Jenson Button 40.061
11 15 Christian Klien 40.084
12 3 Kimi Räikkönen 40.161
13 9 Mark Webber 40.275
14 16 Nick Heidfeld 40.316
15 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 40.340
16 21 Scott Speed 40.354
17 40 Neel Jani 40.399
18 11 Rubens Barrichello 40.486
19 14 David Coulthard 40.487
20 18 Tiago Monteiro 40.562
21 10 Nico Rosberg 40.650
22 7 Ralf Schumacher 40.752
23 17 Jacques Villeneuve 40.910
24 39 Markus Winkelhock 41.168
25 19 Christijan Albers 41.234
26 8 Jarno Trulli 41.314
27 22 Takuma Sato 42.193
28 23 Yuji Ide 42.987
[b]Sector 3 [/b]
[b]Pos No Driver Time[/b]
1 36 Anthony Davidson 22.685
2 5 Michael Schumacher 22.809
3 6 Felipe Massa 22.891
4 35 Alexander Wurz 22.903
5 1 Fernando Alonso 23.078
6 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 23.081
7 12 Jenson Button 23.126
8 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 23.130
9 38 Robert Kubica 23.191
10 37 Robert Doornbos 23.197
11 15 Christian Klien 23.240
12 14 David Coulthard 23.256
13 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 23.258
14 3 Kimi Räikkönen 23.327
15 40 Neel Jani 23.337
16 11 Rubens Barrichello 23.356
17 16 Nick Heidfeld 23.413
18 21 Scott Speed 23.422
19 39 Markus Winkelhock 23.455
20 9 Mark Webber 23.481
21 18 Tiago Monteiro 23.528
22 10 Nico Rosberg 23.561
23 8 Jarno Trulli 23.671
24 7 Ralf Schumacher 23.727
25 19 Christijan Albers 23.768
26 22 Takuma Sato 24.216
27 17 Jacques Villeneuve 24.297
28 23 Yuji Ide 24.484
[b]Pos No Driver Time Speed[/b]
1 3 Kimi Räikkönen 14:10:34 310.3
2 17 Jacques Villeneuve 14:59:55 310.2
3 38 Robert Kubica 14:26:56 309.0
4 36 Anthony Davidson 14:39:23 308.3
5 4 Juan Pablo Montoya 14:57:17 308.0
6 35 Alexander Wurz 14:59:23 307.9
7 12 Jenson Button 14:34:13 307.0
8 6 Felipe Massa 14:50:11 306.5
9 5 Michael Schumacher 14:53:07 306.4
10 37 Robert Doornbos 14:38:03 306.2
11 11 Rubens Barrichello 14:38:11 306.0
12 7 Ralf Schumacher 14:50:06 305.8
13 1 Fernando Alonso 14:55:22 304.5
14 15 Christian Klien 14:56:58 304.5
15 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 14:58:40 304.3
16 21 Scott Speed 14:58:41 302.9
17 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi 14:24:44 302.7
18 23 Yuji Ide 14:20:47 302.3
19 8 Jarno Trulli 14:24:37 302.2
20 22 Takuma Sato 14:42:52 302.0
21 14 David Coulthard 14:57:45 301.9
22 18 Tiago Monteiro 14:48:57 301.8
23 19 Christijan Albers 14:49:48 300.9
24 9 Mark Webber 14:54:57 300.7
25 39 Markus Winkelhock 14:48:01 300.5
26 10 Nico Rosberg 14:53:59 300.2
27 16 Nick Heidfeld 14:58:06 299.4
28 40 Neel Jani 14:18:08 297.8
SaBBz said:Great thread as always Flibster. Will be very interesting to see how the qualifying goes tomorrow. What order do they go in out of interest?
Bahrain Friday Notes: Renault
The new-for-2006 qualifying format requires teams to complete a larger number of laps than last year, and expectations that they would consequently limit their mileage on Friday proved well-founded as the front-running drivers completed around twenty laps during the day.
At Renault, the two sessions ran smoothly. After completing two installation laps in the morning, both drivers then ran identical programmes comprising one short run, and one longer run to assess the consistency of the R26. Track conditions were relatively low grip, and will improve throughout the weekend as teams complete more running.
Today also saw a significant anniversary for Renault F1 Team driver Giancarlo Fisichella. He started his first Grand Prix, in Australia for Minardi, exactly ten years ago today. The 2006 Bahraini Grand Prix will be race 162 for the Italian.
Fernando Alonso: We had a good first day. The track conditions will be changing a lot throughout the weekend, and I expect them to get a lot better because it was quite low grip today. The car feels like it did in winter testing: it is comfortable to drive and consistent, so I am quite happy with our situation. It was nice to get back to the emotion of the races today, to check the lap-times and to be back in competition. Also, it was a special moment to go out on the track this morning with the number 1 on the car. In terms of performance, we always see the third cars high on the timesheets on Friday, because they can use more revs and tyres than us. Even so, we are P5, so I think we can have a competitive weekend.
Giancarlo Fisichella: This was a very normal Friday for us, with nothing unusual and no incidents. The car got better through the day as we ran more and made some changes to the set-up, and we are still feeling optimistic for the rest of the weekend. It is special to think back to ten years ago today, and starting my first race. Then, I was happy to be there, and now I am aiming for the title – I have come a long way. But I don't think I have changed. Well, I am older of course, but stronger too!
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: The new format of the weekend has seen teams take a variety of different approaches to their Friday running, but as we expected, the running was quite limited overall. I am not sure that we have yet seen the true state of play between the teams. At Renault, our day was quite straightforward, we achieved what we set out to, so we are satisfied.
Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations: After analysing the demands of the new qualifying format, it was to be expected that teams would run fewer laps today in order to stay within the mileage limits they had established for their engines. Of course, the obvious exception to this is those teams that have the advantage of running with the third car. We didn't encounter any unexpected surprises at Renault, and our results tied in with the simulations we had conducted prior to arriving in Bahrain. The temperatures so far have been warm, but within our predicted levels, and the V8 has behaved impeccably. Overall it already felt like a ‘normal' Friday's running.