2006 European Grand Prix - Race 5/18

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 01:44

el_dazza said:
nine? i'd give you 25,000/1.

I'd personally go for august, he's usually pretty handy around the hungaroring and hockenheim

Oddly - people seem to think that 10 wins or more is more likely than 9. :confused:

Simon/~Flibster

el_dazza · 6 May 2006 at 01:45

They need kicking

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:18

Aguri await FIA clarification over Ide

Super Aguri are waiting for a clarification from the FIA before they decide whether Japanese rookie Yuji Ide will race for the team again this year.

Reserve driver Franck Montagny has been promoted to race this weekend at the Nurburgring following concerns expressed by the FIA about Ide's suitability. It comes after Ide tipped Midland's Christijan Albers into a series of barrel-rolls on the first lap of the San Marino Grand Prix.

The team have admitted that it would be 'ideal' if Ide could return for the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend - particularly in light of their preference for an all-Japanese line-up.

However, they will not confirm who will drive at Barcelona until they have had further clarification from the FIA.

Super Aguri's motorhome has been a target for driver managers from the GP2 paddock this weekend, hoping to profit from the uncertainty about their driver line-up, but the team are unlikely to make a deal with anyone at this stage.

Speculation at the Nurburgring this morning that Super Aguri were planning to put Ide back in the car in time for qualifying, forcing Montagny to step down from his Grand Prix debut, has been categorically ruled out by the team.

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:18

Button wary over Nurburgring record

Jenson Button remains cautious about his chances of keeping up his impressive 2006 qualifying record at the European Grand Prix this afternoon - because of his history at the track.

Although Button has the best qualifying average of the season so far with a top three grid slot at every race, he knows he is going to have to pull out a career best performance at the Nurburgring if he is going to keep up that run.

In his six outings at the Nurburgring, his best grid position was fifth with BAR-Honda in 2004. His worst was 20th with Benetton-Renault in 2001.

Speaking ahead of qualifying, Button said: "I do like the system, I have always hooked it up quite well.

"But this circuit hasn't been good to me. I haven't really gone well here. I've never really got to grips with it before, but we have got a reasonable balance and hopefully we can improve on that."

Button is upbeat that he will be able to challenge near the front this weekend following impressive pace during first practice but acknowledges that Renault remain the class of the field.

"It has been a tough start to the season, but the car is quick maybe not to win but to get a good result.

"I don't think anyone has got the pace of Renault right now, here they are a little bit stronger than everyone.

"To beat the Renaults this weekend is going to be tough for any team, but it would be nice to challenge the Ferraris and McLarens."

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:18

BMW partner with Dell

The BMW Sauber team have announced today a long term partnership deal with computers giant Dell.

The company, one of the biggest worldwide in laptops, printers and personal computers, has been sponsoring BMW in other forms of motorsport, including Formula BMW, Le Mans and WTCC.

The Dell-BMW agreement in Formula One will see the famous Dell logo on the front of the F1.06 sidepods, while Dell products will be used by the team both in the factory and at the track.

In the announcement today, BMW said the deal with Dell "has been set up to last several years."

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said: "Dell and BMW are united by a very high level of efficiency as well as an extremely sophisticated standard for quality and individuality in their own product ranges.

"We're very pleased that we will be able to continue the successful cooperation of the past at Formula One level. Dell gives us another strong partner for our ambitious project with the BMW Sauber F1 Team."

Alain Bandle, Dell's Vice President and General Manager Germany & Austria, added: "Dell and BMW Motorsport share a long and prosperous partnership.

"It's the logical conclusion to enhance this with the BMW Sauber F1 Team."

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:19

New spy scandal in F1

A spying war has broken out at the Nurburgring, according to German reports.

It is claimed that a communications specialist at F1 championship leader Renault has successfully tapped into Ferrari's encrypted radio systems - and Ferrari know about it.

'Bild' newspaper said the Flavio Briatore-led camp 'monitored every word' spoken by Ferrari's engineers and drivers throughout Friday, including secret technical and race strategy information.

The Renault specialist is reportedly using a high-tech piece of equipment to do the spying, whose efforts could not be thwarted even by Ferrari changing its radio frequency several times.

F1's governing body is apparently aware of the alleged saga, with an 'insider' at the FIA telling Bild: 'It is not a secret that the top teams invest a lot to obtain the information of other teams.

'But without strong evidence, we cannot intervene.'

Well...tbh I'm surprised that this hasn't come out before.

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:20

Sir Frank not likely to retire

Sir Frank Williams, 64, has admitted that a few 'hints' about his need to retire are now being dropped.

The Grove team's principal and co-owner, who is remarkably upbeat and unfettered despite being a quadriplegic, told the Telegraph that - sooner or later - he'll have to relinquish his reins.

The British newspaper, however, suggested that the knighted Briton does not have 'the slightest intention' of stopping.

'I must retire eventually,' Williams was quoted as saying. 'Good people around me will be dropping heavy hints one day (such as), 'Look, Frank, don't you think it's time to have a nice long holiday?'

'I think one or two hints are being dropped already.'

Hints or not, however, oil still runs thick in Sir Frank's veins. For example, he expresses no bitter regret about the high-speed car crash that - in 1986 - left him confined to a wheelchair and nearly unable to do the simplest of tasks, such as dial a phone, or write.

Telegraph's reporter asked him: 'What do you do for pure pleasure?'

Williams quickly responded : 'Go racing.'

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:21

Schumacher brothers support Ide

Struggling rookie Yuji Ide's exit from the formula one grid has drawn a mixed reaction from his former grand prix rivals.

BMW Sauber pilot Nick Heidfeld doubted that the FIA's decree that the Japanese do more testing would change much.

''Without judging his driving,'' the German commented, ''I don't think it will change a lot.''

Christian Klien, of Red Bull, agreed, noting that 31-year-old Ide's racing lines often appeared 'really different' to the rest of the formula one field.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen pointed out possible motives of safety in the FIA's advice to Super Aguri, saying Ide 'could have been a disaster at Monaco.'

Michael and Ralf Schumacher refused to comment in the official FIA press conference, but later showed some support for the axed driver.

''In terms of safety, I don't think it affects the rest of us,'' said Toyota racer Ralf. ''Maybe he should have been given another chance.

''He is a new driver, it's a new team -- it must have been hard for him.''

Ralf's older brother Michael agreed, pointing out that the four-year-old Super Aguri car is a 'disaster'.

''(And) he has had hardly any possibilities to test,'' the former world champion added. ''I am sure his incident (with Christijan Albers) at Imola did not help, but the circumstances were extremely difficult for him.''

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:22

New BRDC Warns That British GP Isn't Guaranteed

Silverstone cannot afford to stage a British grand prix at any cost, according to Damon Hill.

The 1996 world champion last week succeeded Sir Jackie Stewart as president of the club that owns the former World War II airfield in rural Northamptonshire (England).

Speaking to Motorsport News, however, he warned that the British Racing Drivers' Club will not 'commit commercial suicide' for the sake of the F1 race.

He urged: ''If there is anyone out there who wants to pump money in for the benefit of the country or the prestige of doing it, then we want to hear from them.''

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:23

Montagny's Super Aguri Future Not Certain

It was a typically understated kick-off to F1 action on Friday morning at the Nurburgring in Germany, with 'third' drivers hogging the tarmac.

Newly promoted Super Aguri racer Franck Montagny, however, did a programme of 16 laps, impressively lagging teammate Takuma Sato's best time by a single tenth.

But the Frenchman, who says he isn't sure about whether the seat will remain his at Barcelona, reacquainted himself with a formula one track by doing an early spin under braking.

''I am obviously not as prepared as the other drivers,'' Montagny said, ''but it's not a problem for me. The conditions are not ideal but I will take it as it is -- a great pleasure.''

In the 18 and 19C temperatures, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was the quickest race driver, but neither Renault posted a lap time.

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 10:38

Just been given a Media login for a site with lots of promo video's on - watched a couple of them. Very cheesy but quite interesting.

Will be uploading them somewhere else so you lot can watch them.

Just want 2006 or want me to get the lot? Some of the video's date back to 2003. Still could be interesting though. *thank god for broadband eh?*

Simon/~Flibster

Richard T · 6 May 2006 at 11:22

Flibster said:
Just been given a Media login for a site with lots of promo video's on - watched a couple of them. Very cheesy but quite interesting.

Will be uploading them somewhere else so you lot can watch them.

Just want 2006 or want me to get the lot? Some of the video's date back to 2003. Still could be interesting though. *thank god for broadband eh?*

Simon/~Flibster

yaaaay Simon!

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 11:41

Richard T said:
yaaaay Simon!

Could be looking at over 700mb of video's here - may take a while...

Simon/~Flibster

*edit*
Just checked so far - 34 video's done - 42 video's to go - currently sitting at...

500mb. :eek:

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 12:16

While I'm waiting for that - here's something someone may find useful.

Nice big list of Web addresses.

Race Circuits:

Bahrain - www.bahraingp.com.bh
Sepang - www.malaysiangp.com.my
Melbourne - www.grandprix.com.au
Imola - www.formula1.sm
Nürburgring - www.nuerburgring.de
Barcelona - www.circuitcat.com
Monte Carlo - www.monaco.mc/monaco/gprix
Silverstone - www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk
Montreal - www.grandprix.ca
Indianapolis - www.usgpindy.com
Magny-Cours - www.magnyf1.com
Hockenheim - www.hockenheimring.de
Budapest - www.hungaroinfo.com/formel1
Istanbul - www.msoistanbul.com
Monza - www.monzanet.it
Shanghai - www.icsh.sh.cn/en
Suzuka - www.suzukacircuit.co.jp
Interlagos - www.gpbrasil.org

Teams/Manufacturers:

McLaren - www.mclaren.com
Renault - www.renaultf1.com
Ferrari - www.ferrariworld.com
Toyota - www.toyota-f1.com
Williams - www.williamsf1.com
Honda - www.hondaf1racing.com
Red Bull - www.redbullracing.com
BMW Sauber - www.bmw-sauber-f1.com
Midland - www.mf1racing.com
Toro Rosso - www.tororosso.it
Super Aguri - www.super-aguri.co.jp

Drivers:

Kimi Räikkönen - www.kimiraikkonen.com
Juan Pablo Montoya - www.jpmontoya.com
Fernando Alonso - www.fernandoalonso.com
Giancarlo Fisichella - www.giancarlofisichella.it
Michael Schumacher - www.michael-schumacher.de
Felipe Massa - www.felipemassa.com
Ralf Schumacher - www.ralf-schumacher.de
Jarno Trulli - www.jarnotrulli.com
Mark Webber - www.webber-racing.co.uk
Nico Rosberg - www.nicorosberg.com
Alex Wurz - www.alexwurz.com
Narain Karthikeyan - www.narainracing.com
Rubens Barrichello - www.barrichello.com.br
Jenson Button - www.racecar.co.uk/jensonbutton
David Coulthard - www.davidcoulthard-f1.com
Christian Klien - www.christianklien.com
Nick Heidfeld - www.adrivo.com/nickheidfeld
Jacques Villeneuve - www.jv-world.com
Tiago Monteiro - www.tiagoracing.com
Christijan Albers - www.albersf1.com
Vitantonio Liuzzi - www.liuzzi.com
Scott Speed - www.scottspeed.com
Takuma Sato - www.takumasato.com
Yuji Ide - www.yuji-ide.com

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 12:33

Engine penalties for both Williams

Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg will both drop ten places on the grid for Sunday’s European Grand Prix after Williams decided to change the engines on their cars ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying session.

A problem with discovered with Webber’s Cosworth V8 during Saturday’s final practice at the Nurburgring and the team subsequently opted to also change Rosberg’s engine as a precautionary measure.

Rosberg and Webber finished 11th and 14th respectively in this morning’s session. Williams' third driver Alexander Wurz topped the times on Friday.

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 12:38

Saturday Free Practice.

Code:

[b]Pos	No	Driver			Team			Time[/b]
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari			1:30.788				
2	6	Felipe Massa		Ferrari			1:31.093				
3	7	Ralf Schumacher		Toyota			1:31.395				
4	17	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber-BMW		1:31.531				
5	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault			1:31.584				
6	1	Fernando Alonso		Renault			1:31.807				
7	12	Jenson Button		Honda			1:32.104				
8	15	Christian Klien		RBR-Ferrari		1:32.197				
9	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	STR-Cosworth		1:32.290				
10	3	Kimi Räikkönen		McLaren-Mercedes	1:32.320				
11	10	Nico Rosberg		Williams-Cosworth	1:32.459				
12	21	Scott Speed		STR-Cosworth		1:32.505				
13	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda			1:32.534				
14	9	Mark Webber		Williams-Cosworth	1:32.711				
15	16	Nick Heidfeld		Sauber-BMW		1:32.773				
16	14	David Coulthard		RBR-Ferrari		1:32.779				
17	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren-Mercedes	1:32.989				
18	8	Jarno Trulli		Toyota			1:33.120				
19	18	Tiago Monteiro		MF1-Toyota		1:33.744				
20	19	Christijan Albers	MF1-Toyota		1:34.469				
21	23	Franck Montagny		Super Aguri-Honda	1:35.706				
22	22	Takuma Sato		Super Aguri-Honda	1:36.082

Sector Times - Free Practice 3

Code:

[b]Sector 1[/b]
[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time[/b]
1	17	Jacques Villeneuve	30.024	
2	7	Ralf Schumacher		30.094	
3	5	Michael Schumacher	30.101	
4	6	Felipe Massa		30.132	
5	12	Jenson Button		30.160	
6	15	Christian Klien		30.183	
7	1	Fernando Alonso		30.256	
8	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	30.297	
9	3	Kimi Räikkönen		30.354	
10	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	30.366	
11	10	Nico Rosberg		30.411	
12	21	Scott Speed		30.418	
13	9	Mark Webber		30.464	
14	14	David Coulthard		30.479	
15	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	30.513	
16	16	Nick Heidfeld		30.531	
17	8	Jarno Trulli		30.543	
18	11	Rubens Barrichello	30.625	
19	18	Tiago Monteiro		30.786	
20	19	Christijan Albers	30.825	
21	23	Franck Montagny		31.551	
22	22	Takuma Sato		31.855

Code:

[b]Sector 2 [/b]
[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time[/b]
1	6	Felipe Massa		37.564	
2	5	Michael Schumacher	37.577	
3	1	Fernando Alonso		37.699	
4	7	Ralf Schumacher		37.854	
5	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	37.895	
6	17	Jacques Villeneuve	38.055	
7	11	Rubens Barrichello	38.159	
8	12	Jenson Button		38.255	
9	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	38.277	
10	10	Nico Rosberg		38.286	
11	9	Mark Webber		38.314	
12	21	Scott Speed		38.319	
13	15	Christian Klien		38.335	
14	3	Kimi Räikkönen		38.337	
15	14	David Coulthard		38.428	
16	16	Nick Heidfeld		38.603	
17	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	38.636	
18	8	Jarno Trulli		38.767	
19	18	Tiago Monteiro		39.046	
20	19	Christijan Albers	39.265	
21	23	Franck Montagny		39.728	
22	22	Takuma Sato		39.929

Code:

[b]Sector 3 [/b]
[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time[/b]
1	5	Michael Schumacher	23.110	
2	1	Fernando Alonso		23.361	
3	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	23.392	
4	6	Felipe Massa		23.397	
5	7	Ralf Schumacher		23.447	
6	17	Jacques Villeneuve	23.452	
7	3	Kimi Räikkönen		23.579	
8	11	Rubens Barrichello	23.627	
9	16	Nick Heidfeld		23.639	
10	15	Christian Klien		23.646	
11	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	23.647	
12	12	Jenson Button		23.689	
13	10	Nico Rosberg		23.728	
14	21	Scott Speed		23.743	
15	8	Jarno Trulli		23.810	
16	9	Mark Webber		23.826	
17	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	23.840	
18	14	David Coulthard		23.871	
19	18	Tiago Monteiro		23.912	
20	19	Christijan Albers	24.218	
21	23	Franck Montagny		24.248	
22	22	Takuma Sato		24.298

Speed Trap

Code:

[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time		Speed[/b]
1	5	Michael Schumacher	11:54:02	291.6	
2	6	Felipe Massa		11:23:18	290.1	
3	1	Fernando Alonso		11:57:15	289.8	
4	16	Nick Heidfeld		11:39:38	289.5	
5	17	Jacques Villeneuve	11:59:26	289.2	
6	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	11:43:01	288.2	
7	3	Kimi Räikkönen		11:39:21	286.2	
8	7	Ralf Schumacher		11:58:26	284.6	
9	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	11:53:22	284.5	
10	21	Scott Speed		11:57:45	284.5	
11	15	Christian Klien		11:19:22	284.0	
12	8	Jarno Trulli		11:57:04	283.3	
13	12	Jenson Button		11:56:22	282.2	
14	14	David Coulthard		11:25:54	281.5	
15	23	Franck Montagny		11:46:09	281.5	
16	11	Rubens Barrichello	11:39:05	280.9	
17	22	Takuma Sato		11:49:21	280.8	
18	10	Nico Rosberg		11:37:53	280.6	
19	9	Mark Webber		11:46:10	280.3	
20	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	11:45:12	280.2	
21	18	Tiago Monteiro		11:52:30	279.1	
22	19	Christijan Albers	11:57:14	277.4

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 12:49

Forgot to ask:

Can we get San Marino moved to the archive.

Ta.

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 12:54

That F1 Park looks quite cool actually.

Can I have a go in the car please?

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 6 May 2006 at 12:56

Oooh...competition time.

WOW!!!

What a prize! :eek:

You lot can sod off - I'm not tell you the answer - I want to win that.

Although - to get that wrong you'd have to be a complete muppet...

Simon/~Flibster

Stormrider · 6 May 2006 at 13:00

Flibster said:
Oooh...competition time.

WOW!!!

What a prize!

You lot can sod off - I'm not tell you the answer - I want to win that.

Although - to get that wrong you'd have to be a complete muppet...

Simon/~Flibster

Missed the competition, what was the question and the prize?