2006 Spanish Grand Prix - Race 6/18

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Spanish GP Preview: Michelin

The Spanish Grand Prix has been one of the most itinerant in the Formula One world championship's 57-season history – present host the Circuit de Catalunya is the fifth track to have staged the race and the third different Barcelona venue.

The sixth round of this year's world championship, the Spanish GP was first included on the F1 calendar in 1951. The inaugural race took place at Pedralbes, 7km north-west of the Catalan capital, and the event flitted from Jarama (near Madrid), to Montjuich Park (central Barcelona) and Jerez (in Andalusia, southern Spain) before moving to its present home, 20km north of Barcelona, in 1991. This will be the 36th Spanish GP and the 16th at the Circuit de Catalunya, which has been the event's most durable host.

Michelin has participated in eight Spanish GPs and has notched up two victories, with Gilles Villeneuve (Ferrari, Jarama, 1981) and Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren-Mercedes, Circuit de Catalunya, 2005).

When local favourite Fernando Alonso graduated to motor racing's top echelon in 2001, only one Spanish driver – Fon de Portago, at Silverstone in 1956 – had achieved an F1 podium finish. Alonso has since rewritten the record books, however, becoming his nation's first world champion and sparking a huge surge of interest in the sport. The Spanish GP didn't always attract a capacity crowd, but it is now a guaranteed sell-out.

In F1 terms, Alonso is the youngest driver to have qualified on pole position (Malaysia 2003), set fastest lap (Canada 2003), recorded a race victory (Hungary 2003) and secured the title (clinched in Brazil last year, aged 24 years and 59 days). He achieved all of these feats on Michelin tyres.

More than 9 000 people work for Michelin in Spain. The group has four production sites in the country, at Aranda de Duero, Lasarte, Valladolid and Vitoria. There is also a research and development facility in Almeria.

Spain plays a major part in the Michelin Group's European production cycle and half the tyres produced are exported to overseas markets.

Michelin manufactures a wide variety of tyres in Spain - they are destined for a range of vehicles, including scooters, motorcycles, cars, vans, 4x4s and agricultural machines.

Nick Shorrock, Formula One director, Michelin: "Following an exciting weekend in Germany, where Michelin partners Renault and Fernando Alonso finished second to maintain a comfortable lead in their respective world championships, the F1 campaign transfers to Spain – Fernando's homeland. The Circuit de Catalunya, near Barcelona, was resurfaced at the end of 2004 but has now satisfactorily 'worn in'. It is a track that we know well because we do much of our testing here throughout the year.

"The track features several long, fast bends and a lengthy main straight. Teams tend to run fairly high downforce levels to generate more grip. The track characteristics mean the tyres we use need to be able to support both high mechanical and thermal loads – and that makes Barcelona a demanding circuit from our perspective.

"Selecting appropriate tyre compounds is a balancing act – they need to resist high loads and significant temperatures without being vulnerable to blistering, yet we also have to generate strong first-lap performance and consistency over long race stints. We have been working on some interesting new ideas recently and will introduce some of them this weekend in Spain.

"I'm confident that the work done by our team will once again yield very competitive products and we look forward to another nail-biting race."

Fernando Alonso, Renault F1 Team: "Racing in Barcelona makes me very proud: to see the fans, their support and their passion is something really fantastic. I want to win for them, but it is not an extra pressure. In my mind the support of the fans makes me even stronger when I am racing in Spain.

"In terms of the circuit, everybody knows it very well from testing, of course, and the car needs a bit of everything to be strong – good aero efficiency, a stable balance and good engine power for the long straight. Tyres are very important too. The track was resurfaced last year, but it is still very aggressive because of the long, fast corners and the high loadings. We have had some very good tests there with Michelin and tried out a large range of tyres. When we get to Spain I am very confident that Michelin will have exactly the tyres we need."

 

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Independent tracks cannot compete with governments

Following a European Grand Prix, which, thanks to a return to form for Michael Schumacher and Ferrari, witnessed an upsurge of last minute ticket sales, Nurburgring boss, Walter Kafitz, has claimed that 'traditional' race venues are being priced out by new government-funded tracks.

In their attempts to boost their image and increase tourism, and join the 'global village', Turkey, Malaysia, China and Bahrain have poured vast amounts of money into their F1 dream, constructing ever more lavish facilities, and meeting Bernie Ecclestone's ever-increasing demands.

While these governments might be able to dig deep and provide the necessary funding, the same can not be said of the independent operators responsible for the majority of the European tracks. While tracks such as Silverstone, Spa, Hockenheim, Barcelona, Monza and the Nurburgring struggle to meet the spiralling costs of hosting a round of the Wworld Championship, the new eastern economies, with their (seemingly) limitless cash and resources are driving up the ante.

"The Crown Prince got into Formula One because he wanted to put Bahrain on the map," Kafitz told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "We are no longer competing with race track operators, but against governments."

It was Kafitz who previously suggested that the Nurburgring and Hockenheim might share the German Grand Prix in alternate years, a proposal which has since been dismissed as unworkable.

Despite an upsurge in ticket sales for this year's event, Kafitz is fully aware that German race fans will desert the sport once Michael Schumacher eventually retires. "Nobody knows what will happen when he retires," admitted the German. "Perhaps it is then up to Nico (Rosberg)."

 

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Barcelona: Overtaking guaranteed!

Race fans attending this Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona are guaranteed a feast of close racing and thrilling overtaking... providing they arrive early.

Organizers at the Spanish race track have announced that the circuit will open one hour earlier than usual, in order that fans can watch a live broadcast of round four of the MotoGP Championship from Shanghai, China. The event will be shown on 23 giant screens, which will be visible from all spectator areas. The circuit gates will open at 6 am.

As an added bonus, race fans who arrive before 9 am on Sunday will be offered free breakfast, in any of the Circuit's bars taking part in the promotion.

Following local hero Fernando Alonso's 2005 World Championship success, this year's event at Barcelona is a sell-out, with 130,000 race fans expected on Sunday, and 330,000 over the course of the weekend.

 

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F1 hopefuls catch the eye in GP2

The prospect of the King of Spain dropping in at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix prompted an irreverent but telling response from Briton Adam Carroll.

"Maybe I could nick his wallet," joked the Northern Irish driver, who competes in the GP2 series one rung down from Formula One.

Carroll's Spanish-based Racing Engineering team are owned and run by the energetic Alfonso de Orleans-Borbon y Ferrara-Pignatelli, seventh Duke of Galliera and a relative of King Juan Carlos.

Royal visits aside, there is little glamour and even less money in Carroll's world as he strives to make the leap to the Grand Prix paddock so close but still so far away, behind a wire-mesh fence.

The series is closely watched by Formula One's main men, with last year's champion Nico Rosberg now impressing at Williams and Finnish runner-up Heikki Kovalainen tipped as a possible replacement for world champion Fernando Alonso at Renault.

Like Formula One, GP2 is also a world of 'haves' and 'have-nots' and last weekend's races at the Nurburgring only highlighted the divide.

With Grand Prix regulars Jenson Button and David Coulthard failing to finish, British newspapers hailed a new hero in McLaren protege Lewis Hamilton.

The 21-year-old, one of the 'haves', won both his GP2 races with his success fuelling speculation that he could be in the frame for a McLaren drive next season.

"It's not impossible, as you can see Nico's doing a very good job," said McLaren team boss Ron Dennis when asked about the chances of a novice coming straight in.

"But it's far too early to be talking about these sorts of things and of course we have a very clear objective which is to end up with the best available drivers.

"(Mercedes motorsport head) Norbert (Haug) and I have invested a lot of time and money in him and it's nice to see that he's responded to the challenge and he's doing his bit in the relationship."

Hamilton will undoubtedly graduate to Formula One, probably sooner rather than later. He has that aura about him already.

Carroll, who finished third in race one at the Nurburgring, cannot be so sure.

The McLaren/Autosport young driver of the year in 2002, and part of Honda's young driver programme with occasional F1 testing thrown in, has made it thus far on talent and determination alone.

How much further it can take him remains to be seen in a sport that can be hard to crack even with substantial backing. Nelson Piquet junior, son of Brazil's triple champion, is in his second year in GP2.

There are few seats open to young rookies and most involve some sort of funding by the driver, unless he is part of a programme with a team like Red Bull.

Winner of three GP2 races, including Monaco, in 2005, Carroll can cite ringing endorsements from the likes of compatriot Eddie Irvine and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

But that is not enough. Carroll, 23, needs to be winning just to keep the momentum going.

Racing Engineering are well sponsored but Carroll's drive is still costing 200,000 euros ($254,400) this year and even that is a fraction of the going rate.

"It's 1.2 to 1.4 million euros on a full budget and a cheap drive is 500-600,000," said Carroll. Accidents cost extra.

"My shunt in Valencia (the season-opener) has hurt us big time, that's basically cost more than half the season," he added with a shrug.

"The insurance pays for a certain amount and whatever's left over...is huge. Last year I didn't crash once, I bent one wishbone at Monaco and I still won the race so that was okay. But it could be 120,000 euros a crash."

Most of the bills have been picked up by Dublin-based waste recycling entrepreneur and former long-distance truck driver John Sweeney, who has backed the Portadown youngster since 2000.

"It has always come down to just John and we've always done it on an absolute shoestring and the money hasn't always been there," said Carroll of his career.

Hamilton, he recognises, has everything going for him but he too is keeping his spirits up.

"If I don't get into Formula One this year, then I don't think I ever will," he mused. "We deserve a chance really, to be honest, just because of the effort and what we've had to do to get here."

 

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Alonso not writing off McLaren, Honda

Championship leader Fernando Alonso is not ruling out rivals McLaren and Honda from this year's title fight despite a slow start to the season.

Both teams have failed to match the pace set by Renault and Ferrari in the first five races of the year, despite being tipped as favourites to dethrone Alonso and his team before the start of the season.

Although Michael Schumacher has scored two consecutive wins for Ferrari, Alonso admitted on Thursday he was not singling out the Italian squad as Renault's main rivals.

"Not much," said Alonso when asked how worried he was about Schumacher and Ferrari. "It is the same worry as I have of McLaren and Honda.

"We are still the four teams that should fight for the victory. In the first five races everything working perfectly for Ferrari and Renault and we won the five races, but McLaren and Honda have the pace.

"Honda they have been good, especially in qualifying and McLaren is normally good for the race and get close to the podium when it goes right for them. It will be a close fight and we need to work, to do as good a job as we can as we did in the first five races and the results will come at the end."

Ferrari have made a strong recovery following a shaky start to the season, and Alonso believes the Bridgestone tyres have been the main reason the Italian team are back in the title hunt.

"I think we saw that in the last two races Ferrari was coming very strong, but it's difficult to know how we develop compared to them because we have different tyres," added Alonso.

"Compared to Honda and McLaren we are still growing up at the same level as them, everyone is improving race by race but normally we are beating them.

"Ferrari we don't know how much they develop. The tyres are more important than everything else. Hopefully here we come back here fighting."

Alonso is aiming to become the first Spanish driver to win his home Grand Prix this weekend, although he admitted he will treat the weekend as always.

"It is the same," he said. "I think it is a normal race for me but obviously with much more support from the grandstands so for me it is extra motivation to race here at home and hopefully get a good result here on Sunday."

The Spanish driver said he was looking forward to stop Schumacher's run of victories, admitting beating the seven-time champion gave him extra satisfaction.

"Many times I said normally to beat the big names, the big drivers in the big cars gives you more motivation and more excitement, and Michael is a seven times champion so is nice to fight with him and if you can beat him it brings more pleasure than to beat someone else," he said.

"But to win races and overtake people is always exciting."

 

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Villeneuve's engine damaged in transport

Jacques Villeneuve's engine was damaged during transportation from the Nurburgring to the Barcelona circuit, BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen revealed on Thursday.

The bizarre incident, which has forced BMW to change Villeneuve's engine ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, occurred after the end of the European Grand Prix, where the Canadian driver has finished in eighth place.

Villeneuve will lose ten grid positions in this weekend's race as he was scheduled to use the engine for the Barcelona race too.

"It happened at Nurburgring on Sunday when the engine was prepared for transportation. It was probably damaged, we don't know exactly," Theissen told autosport.com.

"I don't want to go into the details because it would affect certain team members there," added Theissen when asked if the engine had been dropped.

"Under the current regulations you are not allowed to open the engine for further investigation, and we thought the risk would be too high to have him race that engine here.

"So we decided to give him a fresh one and take the penalty of ten grid positions and his Nurburgring engine go to the dyno in Munich and complete two race weekends."

Oh come on....

It was dropped.

You fumbled it...

But sad that they were not allowed to open the engine to inspect it. So instead they're going to return it to the Dyno and run it till distruction.

 

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Alonso rejects Ecclestone criticism

Renault's Fernando Alonso hit back at Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday for suggesting he did not do enough as World Champion.

Ecclestone, 75, said at the European Grand Prix last weekend that drivers should give more back to the sport and singled out the 24-year-old Spaniard as a champion "who doesn't do too much".

"I don't know what exactly Bernie means with that," Alonso told a news conference ahead of his home Spanish Grand Prix.

"I have a team that pay me to do my job, I go testing, I go to the promotional events, I have my sponsors, I go to my obligations, I race, I do my maximum and this is my job in Formula One.

"I don't know what more I have to do. There is nothing more in the contract that I have to do."

Spanish fans clamouring for a glimpse of their hero, who lives in the English university town of Oxford, could doubtless come up with a few suggestions.

Sunday's race is a 130,000 sell-out, a record for the circuit. Some were out chanting Alonso's name on Thursday when there were no cars running and most drivers had yet to arrive.

The main thing they ask is for Alonso to win, and that he hopes to do.

If the last race in Germany was coloured Ferrari red, Barcelona is Renault blue with Alonso's face smiling out from advertising billboards and cardboard cutouts all over the Catalan capital.

"It makes me feel strange, for sure," said the champion. "In the last two years everything grew up very quickly in Formula One (in Spain).

"Three years ago we had about half a million people watching on TV and now we have 10 or 12 million watching this race and it is a big change.

"I think Formula One now is a sport that everybody is talking about in the street, that everybody is aware of everything in the races and my image, or my face, you can see everywhere here.

"For me, it is a little bit strange, but I am not too often in Spain."

 

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Schumacher's decision at 'end of year'

Michael Schumacher has dropped a major hint that he will not make a decision about his future until the end of the season.

Just 24 hours after his manager Willi Weber was quoted as saying that he expected news about Schumacher's intentions by July, the seven times World Champion suggested ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix that a decision may not even come by then.

"It (the decision) could be very late," said Schumacher in the paddock at the Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday.

When asked how late Ferrari would be willing to hang on for Schumacher to make a decision, Schumacher said: "Ferrari is quite happy to wait until the end of the season."

Schumacher added that it was "very possible" a decision may not come until then, before confirming that it was even likely to happen then before adding: "The decision will be the end of the year."

Weber said earlier this week there was no pressure from him on Schumacher to announce his future.

"I cannot find it annoying when Michael is saying he needs time to reflect on what might be the most difficult decision in his career, perhaps in his life, since he was to decide where the journey goes to," Weber said.

"If you have such a strong emotional bond to what you are doing as Michael has, then you simply need enough time to think that over."

A Ferrari spokesman confirmed that Formula One's glamour team had set no deadline while Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said there was no pressure on him.

"The fact is that Michael is free to decide until the end of the season and he is thankful for this and he has accepted that, not coming over with a decision before the end of the season," she said.

"He said it is a very important decision he has to take and the more time he has to consider it deeply, with all the knowledge he can have, then the better it is."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport last month that he expected the seven times champion to decide his future within the coming month.

"It's up to him to decide and he knows that if he wants to stay for two years then we will agree. He has to say it," said di Montezemolo.

 

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Button already thinking of Monaco GP

The action may not have even got underway at the Spanish Grand Prix yet, but Jenson Button has admitted he has already got one eye on the next race in Monte Carlo.

The current form of Honda Racing's RA106 has left Button doubtful that he will have a car capable of fighting with Renault and Ferrari for victory in Barcelona this weekend - but he is bullish about the team's prospects for Monaco.

"This is a good circuit for us, we do a lot of testing here and we know how the car is going to feel, but it is also a circuit where you need very good aerodynamics and a lot of downforce," he said at the Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday.

"The Renault has that, McLaren has that and Ferrari has that – so I don't think we are going to be any more competitive than we have been for the past few races. Hopefully we will be reliable enough – that is the thing we have to work on for this race.

"But Monaco for me is the one race where I am really looking forward to – more than this place. I think you can make up the small differences in the cars."

Although Button has not raced at Monaco for two of the last three races – he was forced out after a serious practice crash in 2003 and was banned for 2005 after the BAR fuel-tank saga – he reckons that his runner-up performance in 2004 should act as encouragement.

"2004 is the year we really want to remember for Monaco," he said. "The only time I have raced there in the last three years was a good weekend. I love the circuit; I have gone there well the last few years so I am looking forward to it.

"I think it is a circuit where the car will work well. It is not a high aerodynamic circuit, mechanically I think we are very strong and I am looking forward to it – but there is still one race to do before that. And, if we can get some good points with both cars, that would be great."

 

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Senna to drive a Porsche at Monaco

British Formula Three series leader Bruno Senna will race on the track where his uncle Ayrton scored a record six wins when he races in the Monaco Grand Prix-supporting Porsche Supercup later this month, according to this week's Autosport.

The race will be Senna's third Formula One-related event of this season. The 22-year-old has already raced in a celebrity saloon race in Bahrain and won in the Formula Three support races at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Senna said: "I met with Gerhard Berger at Melbourne and we were talking about how it was a pity that there was no F3 race at Monaco this year. He said maybe he could sort something out for me to race the guest Porsche - and he did!"

Senna is trying to build up his experience of Grand Prix circuits, but is not setting his sights too high high for the race on May 28.

"I'll do whatever I can and try to get beat the guys who are there. But a win would be a bonus - I'm mainly there to learn the circuit."

Former World Rally champion Colin McRae made his debut in the celebrity car at the Nurburgring last weekend but was eliminated two corners from the finish after an accident with David Dermont.

 

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Thursday's press conference - Spain

Participating: Franck Montagny (Super Aguri), Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren Mercedes), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and Nico Rosberg (Williams Cosworth).

Q. Franck, life must have changed for you quite a lot.

Franck Montagny: Yeah, just a little bit: from my living room to a race track. Yeah, quite a lot.

Q. Tell us how it all came about?

FMo: Quite quickly and I am quite happy to be here, for sure. Thanks to Super Aguri for giving me this opportunity first. They called me a week before the race at Nurburgring and they asked me to come to be third driver, to do the testing on the Friday, because they could do it with a third car, and when I arrived, they asked me to do the race, because they had a problem with the second driver. I was just glad to do it.

Q. How can you see yourself improving the team, with your experience from Renault?

FMo: Well, I don't think we can improve this car, for sure, but the more we work on this car and all the things we can see from this car, we can maybe make a better car in the future. We all know that SA06 is coming soon so we can still work on new stuff, what I have learned in the past, what Takuma has learned in the past and maybe it's going to be better.

Q. And this race is a bit of a home race for you, isn't it?

FMo: Yeah, kind of, yeah. I used to live for four years here in Spain, in Barcelona, particularly. I really love this city. It's a very beautiful city, nice people, open minds. I have a lot of good things to say about here.

Q. And you still have a business here? Your hairdressing business?

FMo: Yeah, but I don't cut hair, don't get me wrong! I haven't been here this week; no time!

Q. Nico, tremendous race at the Nurburgring. The first time you went out on the track it was as though you had huge confidence, because you instantly set fastest time. Does knowing the circuit give you that much confidence?

Nico Rosberg: Yeah, the Nurburgring is one of the tracks that I know best throughout the year, coming into F1, because I've done a lot of races there, and I've had some great success there too. So I did feel confident going onto the track. Obviously it's always quite different when you tackle the track with a Formula One car, because the way you take the corners and everything is quite different. But I found that in especially the Micky Mouse part in the beginning there, it was actually quite similar to all the other cars (I've driven) so it worked out quite well initially and, yeah, the whole weekend worked out quite well,. It was quite a good result in the end, I think.

Q. Will you have similar confidence at all the circuits you know?

NR: Yes, of course. It's always a help when you come to a circuit and you know where you're going to be going, also for your confidence and everything. It is a slight help, yeah, every time.

Q. What's the pace of development like at Williams?

NR: I think it's probably very similar to all the other teams. They're pushing like hell in the factory, that I know, and I think development has been going very well. We've had some steps nearly every weekend so I think we will be keeping up, for sure, and maybe coming a bit closer too, sometimes.

Q. Have you been pretty pleased with your own performance, basically?

NR: Yeah, I've been pleased. It has been a bit up and down all the way to here, from my side and from the team's side, but I think that that could have been expected. As a whole, I have to say that I think it's gone quite well, but I hope to progress and do even better in the future.

Q. Felipe, your first podium at the Nurburgring. What does that do for a driver, for his morale?

Felipe Massa: I think it gives you happiness, first of all, and a lot more motivation to keep doing the same job. It was very very important for me, it was a great result, it's fantastic to be on the podium.

Q. How much of a difference did your new engineer make?

FM: For sure. If you have an engineer at Ferrari, he should be a good engineer. My ex-engineer was definitely a very very good engineer. The biggest problem was a little bit on the organisation and on the radio, so I was quite confident in my new engineer, who did a great job, talking about everything, not just the set-up, but everything that's going on and what's happening in the race weekend.

Q. From a Ferrari point of view, is the team going to be at a little bit at a disadvantage here in comparison to Renault who have perhaps done more testing than Ferrari have?

FM: I don't think so. We also tested at this track and we understood many important things, many good things. We improved the car a lot, especially in the last two races, so I think we can probably be very very competitive, as we were at the Nurburgring and also at Imola.

Q. Pedro, what's your role this weekend with McLaren Mercedes?

Pedro de la Rosa: Well, my role is the same as in the past, for the past races. Firstly, it is to act as a reserve driver; if anything happens, I have to be ready. And then just keep in touch with the engineers, the team, the drivers, Michelin, you know, just being involved, as much as I can, if I can help, with the tyre selection, everything. We've done all the tyre testing here, prior to this Grand Prix so I'm quite aware of which tyres are here and why and help, help if I can. Nothing else.

Q. What are the particular characteristics of this circuit, what do you have to look out for?

PdlR: I think that the biggest problems everyone will face here is front tyre graining and blistering. Those are the two major factors that are always the limiting factor. Choosing a soft compound here you have to be careful about graining. The front left tyre has a very hard time on this track because all the corners are very long, you're putting load on that tyre for a long time, and you stay on the throttle for a long time as well. And then you have the blistering factor which happened last year to Fernando and other Michelin runners. That's always a risk here.

Q. Fernando, your home circuit, is it something to be looked forward to or does it make it a little bit more complicated for you?

Fernando Alonso: No, it's the same. It's a normal race for me but obviously with much more support from the grandstands, so for me it is extra motivation for sure, to race here at home, and hopefully to get a good result here on Sunday.

Q. We heard from Pedro about tyre choice, and there was some doubt about the tyre choice at Nurburgring. How difficult is it to make that tyre choice?

FA: It's very difficult. As Pedro said, we normally test here at Barcelona before the Grand Prix in order to chose the tyres. Sometimes we test in Paul Ricard or another circuit, to chose the tyres for a completely different circuit, and you have to guess, a little bit, to believe what the Michelin... things which will be working on that type of asphalt, temperature, conditions etc, and I think particularly here in Barcelona, because we test all winter with five or six degrees temperature. We came here in May with 25. Normally, it's a little bit different. But normally we have been really good, in the last two years, here with the tyres so I have full confidence in the right choice for this weekend.

Q. Should you be scared or worried about Ferrari's form at the moment? How worried are you?

FA: Not much, same worry as I have from McLaren and Honda. I think we're still the four teams which should fight for victory in all Grands Prix. In the first five races, everything worked perfectly for Renault and Ferrari and we won all five races but I think McLaren and Honda have the pace as well and they normally qualify really well, especially Honda. McLaren normally do something more in the race, always close to the podium and I'm sure that if one weekend goes right for them, it will also be a close fight and I think what we have to do is work on our car, on our programme, our strategy, do as good a weekend as we can, as we did in the first five races and the result will be good in the end.

Q. Presumably for every team it's a matter of getting a whole number of factors absolutely right.

FA: Many factors: tyre choice, how the tyres work on the car - last weekend was not perfect for the Michelin runners, I think – strategy, fuel load in qualifying, the single lap qualifying: when you put on the new set of tyres at the end of Q3 (third qualifying) has to be your best lap of the weekend if you want to be at the front. There are many things that have to be perfect all weekend, and that's what we're looking for this weekend.

Questions from the floor

Q. (Sal Zack – Associated Press) Fernando, what's the biggest difference here compared to last year. The media, the fans?

FA: There are not many to be honest. Last year the attention was quite high already from the people and from the media. I came here last year leading the championship with 20 points higher than Kimi (Raikkonen) and (Jarno) Trulli, so already the pressure was quite big and the people were interested. Now arrive leading the championship again. I won last year but already this is in the past. I think people are concentrating on this year's championship –it's getting very interesting in the last two races and obviously people are looking on Sunday for me to do a good show.

Q. (Tom Clarkson – F1 Racing) Fernando, do you get more excitement out of beating Michael Schumacher than with other drivers?

FA: Yes, normally yes. Many times I think that to beat the big names and big drivers and big cars normally gives you more motivation and more excitement. I think that Michael – as a seven-times World Champion – it is always nice to fight with him and there is more pressure than to beat any other one. Always winning races and overtaking people is always exciting even if it is anyone.

Q. Fernando, if you compare the development work of Renault and Ferrari in the last two races, how do you see it?

FA: We saw that in the last two races Ferrari was coming very strong and won the last two races but I think it is difficult to see how the development is compared with them because we have Michelin tyres. I think compared to McLaren we've gone up and then, as well as improving the car race by race, we are beating them normally in the races. And with Ferrari, we don't know because the tyres look to be more important than anything else. The Bridgestone tyres were working very well in the last two races and hopefully here we will come back fighting and McLaren also.

Q. (Kevin Garside – Daily Telegraph) – Fernando, Bernie Ecclestone said that drivers do not in general do enough to promote Formula One and in you, we have a champion who doesn't do much. What are your thoughts?

FA: I don't know what Bernie means with that. I have a team that pay me to do my job. I go testing, I go to promotional events and I have my sponsors, I go to my obligations, I race and this is my job in Formula One. I don't know what more I have to do. I do everything that is in my contract that I have to.

Q. (Dan Knutson – National Speedsport News) Felipe, when you race in Brazil, what are the good things and the bad things about racing in front of your home crowd?

FM: When I race in Brazil, what are the good things and bad things? It's great to be in front of your home people with the flags and really enjoying motor racing. That's really fantastic for me. You can feel a really great feeling to see that from your people. I think the best thing a drive can have in Formula One is to race in front of your home people.

Q. (Alan Baldwin – Reuters) Fernando, we asked about the possibility of Michael Schumacher going to Renault next year and you laughed at that. Now it seems you and Kimi (Raikkonen) could swap places. What's your view on that?

FA: I don't know anything. I have decided after I fight for the championship this year, my future for next year and it doesn't matter what the others are doing, It's always interesting to see what the other drivers are doing, but that is just for fun rather than anything else. Whether the guy who replaces me is a name we all know or a new driver in the championship is not important.

Q. (Dominic Fugere – Le Journal de Montreal) Fernando, when I got here I was greeted by a cardboard cut-out of you at a petrol station. How do you feel about things like that?

FA: Strange, for sure, because in last two years everything grown up in Formula One. Three years ago we had half a million people watching F1 and now there are 10 million people watching the race. It has been a big change because now Formula One is a sport about which everybody is talking in the streets. It's aware of everything in the braces, and for sure my image or my face is in some more places now, but for me it's very strange.

Q. Fernando, is it realistic to think that who wins the championship is dependent on the tyre manufacturers?

FA: No, I think for sure it will be a very important factor. If Michelin or Bridgestone is in a very dominant position from now on then yes. Maybe Ferrari or the first Michelin team will win the championship more easily. The way were now we are quite close, we are fighting every race and there's McLaren and Honda who are also in the fight but they have not had a successful weekend so far. Now it think it is close enough and we are racing still with four teams and anything can happen so It is more reliant on small factors and the guy who finishes on the podium the most and is the most reliable and makes no mistakes will win.

Q. (Dan Knutson – National Speedsport News) Nico, there's been a lot of potential with the car this season but a lot of frustration with reliability problems. What's the atmosphere like in the team now?

NR: Williams is known for their determination of course. Because of the recent problems we've had, we could have done a lot better then we have up until now. The main thing again is that Williams are always pushing ahead and trying to get solutions to the problems and so the main thing I think in the team is flat-out determination.

Q. (Tom Clarkson – F1 Racing) Fernando, how much contact have you had with McLaren recently with a view towards 2007? Have you been to the factory?

FA: Nothing. Nothing at all.

Q. Fernando, would you like to have Pedro as a teammate or test driver at McLaren next year?

FA: For sure, Pedro knows the team very well and has lots of experience working with the team. For sure, it's great to have another Spanish driver in the team and he can help me a lot for sure, and I hope Pedro stays next year.

Q. Fernando, I saw a TV advert with you making some nifty dance steps. Was it really you with the dance steps?

FA: Of course. Two months preparation for this. No it was not me. A joke.

Q. (Dan Knutson – National Speedsport News) Franck, I believe you have two race deal with the team. Is that correct? What are your prospects for staying with the team beyond that?

FMo: I will do the best as I can for sure. Certainly when we get to Monaco it will be tough. To be honest, I don't really know the car so we cannot expect to be mid-grid, so I'll fight as much as I can to do a good job and try to do my best.

Q. Is there a chance of you continuing with the team for the rest of the season?

FMo: I am not the right person to ask.

Q. Would they prefer an all-Japanese team? Is that the case?

FMo: If you look on the sidepod of the car, there is badge that says 'born in Japan' so for sure it would be more interesting to have another Japanese driver in the car. While I'm in the car, I will try to do a very good job.

Q. (Heinz Pruller - ORF) Gentlemen, with the World Cup coming up, who do you think will be World Champions, and who is your favourite player?

FA: Brazil I think. My favourite player is Zidane.

FM: We are quite strong for the world cup and definitely Ronaldinho.

NR: I think Brazil is probably the favourite and Ronaldinho.

FMo: Same as my friend over there, Brazil and Ronaldinho.

PdlR: Spain obviously, and Casillas. We have to give a little bit to ourselves.

 

[Flibster]

Liuzzi focusses on F1

Vitantonio Liuzzi has denied that he is not a serious formula one racer.

With his distinctive hairstyles, clothes and crooked hats, some observers note that not only is the rookie Italian the perfect fit for Red Bull, but that no other team would hire him.

''I think it is stupid that people think that ... I cannot perform,'' the 24-year-old, who drives for the energy drink's junior squad Toro Rosso, told f1.com.

''When I am in the car I am totally focused on results -- and when I am out of the car (I am focused) on other things.''

Liuzzi, it should be remembered, debuted last year with an impressive record. He dominated the final F3000 championship, and in 2001 beat Michael Schumacher in a kart race.

He insists that Red Bull, host to some of the most spectacular parties ever seen in formula one, is also serious about going racing.

Liuzzi insisted: ''Sure, it takes time, but the world championship is clearly on the agenda.''

 

[Flibster]

Ferrari rivals to adopt 'flexi-wings'

Leading Formula 1 teams are planning to modify their aerodynamic packages in line with Ferrari’s interpretation of the technical regulations, according to this week’s Autosport magazine.

The Maranello squad was at the centre of controversy at the beginning of the season as rivals alleged it was gaining a performance advantage through the use of ‘flexi-wings’.

They argued that these devices contravened article 3.15 of the FIA technical regulations, which prohibits the use of moveable aerodynamic devices.

Ferrari, along with McLaren and BMW, modified its wings before the Australian Grand Prix, although it claimed it did so purely for performance reasons.

Ferrari has insisted that its aero package has been legal throughout, and its 248 car has passed all FIA scrutineering tests this season.

But the issue was reignited at the San Marino Grand Prix when Ferrari comfortably topped the speed trap figures – an advantage that rival teams claim is conferred by the ‘slot gap’ between the two elements of its rear wing closing under aerodynamic load, thus reducing drag.

Honda Racing technical director Geoff Willis subsequently wrote to FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting to express his concern over the situation.

However, the governing body continues to be satisfied that Ferrari’s wings comply with the rules.

According to Autosport, this has prompted other leading outfits to conclude they have nothing to lose by emulating the Italian team’s approach.

One unnamed source told the magazine: “It’s pretty obvious what Ferrari are doing and we’re going to have to do something similar to compete.

“We won’t be the only team doing this, either, and you’ll see the changes pretty quickly – certainly within weeks.”

 

[Flibster]

Toyota 'B' Car 'Definately Has More Potential'

As the existing car is prepared to race for the last time in Spain, Toyota chief John Howett has played down expectations for the 'B' model.

The team's president told 'Speed TV' that most of the aerodynamic advances have already been passed on to the current car, which will become obsolete after Sunday's Barcelona race.

The 'TF106 B', featuring an all-new monocoque, is set for a Monaco debut.

''(It) may have some small advantage,'' said Howett, ''but (the advantages are) mainly mechanical.

''It's definitely got more potential ... but I don't think it's going to be a quantum leap forward.''

But Toyota, having endured a nightmarish start to the 2006 season, has taken steps forward during the season's first five races.

Howett said the red and white cars trailed Red Bull and BMW in Bahrain, but ''we're now clearly in front. We look as through we're a bit quicker than Williams, frankly,'' he added.

 

[Flibster]

Renault inform GPMA of plans to sign new Concorde

Renault vice-president Alain Dassas spoke with the other GPMA teams (BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Toyota) at the Nurburgring and revealed that the French based squad wants to sign the new Concorde Agreement and therefore leave their club. However, Dassas was reminded that his predecessor, Patrick Faure, has signed a contract that does not allow any one of manufacturers to take any individual action before September.

According to our spies in Europe, Renault wants to sign up for the 50 percent deal, beginning with 2006, while the others want to sign on for the 60 percent offer from 2008 onwards as they claim that until 2012, the difference is 300 million dollars in favour of the 60 percent solution.

“They are not even able to calculate it,” Bernie said and he is probably right.

Let’s suppose that there is currently 200 million dollars distributed among the teams, which represents 23 percent of all income (TV, race prompters money, paddock club, track advertising). If you opt for the 50 percent offer, than the teams get 434 million (50 %) over seven years and that adds up to 3.04 billion dollars up till 2012. The other option means that in 2006 and 2007 there would be no change in pay-out, so the teams would get 200 million each for those two years. Then, from 2008 on they would get five times 521 million dollars (60 %), making 3.01 billion dollars.

Therefore it is more or less the same, the only difference being that the teams would start to negotiate in 2012 on the basis of 60 percent instead of 50 for the following years, which is obviously is a better starting point. But, this side of things is of no concern to Renault because as world champions they have the best payout now (apart from Ferrari with their extra rights), so it makes sense to go for the 50 percent solution as they would benefit immediately. Who can guarantee them that it will be the same as that after 2007?

Discussions will continue this week.

Well the clause in the GPMA agreement will screw Renault - you leave the GPMA - you get sued by the rest...

 

[Flibster]

I can't excactly remember last years race but it wouldn't surprise me if it was and will be a dull race again.

2005 SPANISH GRAND PRIX
RACE FACTS - LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

08.05.2005


* Lap 1: After qualifying on pole position for the second time in as many races – and the fifth in his Formula One career – Kimi Räikkönen makes a sharp start, although local hero Fernando Alonso is away even more briskly and outdrags front-row starter Mark Webber to snatch second. Ralf Schumacher passes Webber at the first corner, too, while Jarno Trulli settles into fifth ahead of, Giancarlo Fisichella, Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard, Felipe Massa, Jacques Villeneuve, Nick Heidfeld (up from 17th on the grid), Vitantonio Liuzzi, Rubens Barrichello, Narain Karthikeyan and Tiago Monteiro. The Minardis of Christijan Albers and Patrick Friesacher are left on the grid – Heidfeld almost collects the latter – and the Safety Car is deployed.

* Lap 3: The race resumes and Räikkönen immediately pulls away, leaving Alonso 1.9s behind. Montoya passes Michael Schumacher under braking for Turn One. The Minardis join in from the pit lane.

* Lap 4: Räikkönen extends his lead to 2.6s…

* Lap 5: ..and 3.1s. He is getting faster by the lap and Alonso has no answer, although he is comfortably clear of the pack.

* Lap 7: Montoya spins at Turn Eight but doesn’t lose any positions.

* Lap 8: Räikkönen ups his pace to 1m16.982s. His lead grows to 4.6s.

* Lap 10: Liuzzi spins out of 13th and into the gravel at Turn Seven. He goes no further. Räikkönen – still increasing his speed by the lap – leads by 6.6s.

* Lap 13: Räikkönen laps in 1m16.345s. Karthikeyan runs wide at Turn Eight and loses 14th place to team-mate Monteiro, who runs slightly less wide to pass him.

* Lap 14: For the first time, Räikkönen fails to go faster than he did on the previous lap.

* Lap 15: The distant Friesacher, running a couple of laps down, spins into retirement at Turn Three.

* Lap 17: Räikkönen laps in 1m16.104s to stretch his lead to 15.4s. Ralf Schumacher is catching Alonso.

* Lap 18: Webber pits from fourth and resumes in 10th.

* Lap 19: Albers pulls off.

* Lap 20: Räikkönen laps in 1m16.059s. Ralf Schumacher is right on Alonso’s tail.

* Lap 24: Ralf Schumacher refuels.

* Lap 25: Räikkönen and Trulli pit, as does the lapped Monteiro. Räikkönen is still ahead when he rejoins – about half a second clear of Alonso.

* Lap 27: Alonso, Coulthard and Massa stop.

* Lap 29: Fisichella and Montoya pit – and the Italian rejoins ahead of Alonso. Gifted a clear track, for the first time all race, Michael Schumacher laps in 1m16.3s – almost Räikkönen territory. Heidfeld and Karthikeyan refuel.

*Lap 30: Michael Schumacher sets a new fastest lap – 1m 16.019s. Montoya pits for the second consecutive lap.

* Lap 31: Michael Schumacher laps in 1m15.648s. Villeneuve comes in for fuel.

* Lap 32: Michael Schumacher peels in to the pits and vaults to fourth on his return to the track.

* Lap 34: Webber runs wide and loses momentum. Barrichello passes him but pits immediately.

* Lap 35: With the stops over, Räikkönen leads by 25 seconds from Fisichella, Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Trulli, Ralf Schumacher (the Toyotas running in close company), Webber, Coulthard, Massa, Montoya, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Villeneuve, Monteiro and Karthikeyan.

* Lap 38: Räikkönen laps Barrichello.

* Lap 40: Alonso closes right up on Fisichella, who pits at the end of the lap for a new nose section. He slumps to 11th.

* Lap 43: Webber makes his second scheduled stop.

* Lap 44: Michael Schumacher makes an unscheduled second stop and has a fresh left rear tyre fitted.

* Lap 47: Räikkönen laps Michael Schumacher – who immediately slides wide at the first corner with an apparently soft front left. The German crawls back to the pits to retire.

* Lap 49: Räikkönen and Alonso pit and resume as they were, 25 seconds apart at the head of the field.

* Lap 51: Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard stop to refuel. Villeneuve pits to retire.

* Lap 52: Trulli pits and rejoins ahead of his team-mate. Massa refuels.

* Lap 55: Heidfeld makes his second stop after harrying team-mate Webber for several laps.

* Lap 56: Montoya refuels.

* Lap 57: As the race enters its final stint, Räikkönen is streets ahead of Alonso, who is equally well clear of the Toyotas (Trulli just shading Ralf Schumacher). Webber lies fifth, from the closing Fisichella, with Montoya and Coulthard completing the top eight. Barrichello, Heidfeld, Massa and the Jordans are all lapped.

* Lap 63: Massa runs wide at the final corner with a deflated left rear tyre and pulls off.

* Lap 64: Fisichella passes Webber on the way into Turn One.

* Lap 66: Räikkönen completes the third victory of his grand prix career, 27.6s clear of Alonso. Trulli and Ralf Schumacher take third and fourth, from Fisichella – who sets the race’s fastest lap, 1m15.641s, right at the end – and Webber. Montoya is a lapped seventh, from Coulthard, Barrichello, Heidfeld, Massa (classified, despite not finishing), Monteiro and Karthikeyan.

 

[Flibster]

Ban refuelling but continue to allow tyre changes albeit with a limited number of pit crew - I'm talking 4-6 including jack men.

Firstly it removes all the problems which have plagued these Intertechnique fuel rigs (which the FIA deny happen.)

Secondly it takes you back to the late 80s style of racing when there were basically 3 ways of running the race.

1) The Senna style - hell for leather for the first third of the race to build a lead then pit and pace the second set to the end.

2) The Prost style - pace the first set for 60% of the race, change to new tyres and charge after Senna.

3) The de Cesaris style - try and make one set last the entire race, making everyone wonder how a Leyton House is leading until Prost and Senna (only!) charge past with 2 laps to go.

At present everyone knows when the pitstops will be as they are determined by fuel load so it's possible to predict where any car will be at any one time. If you remove the predictability of pitstops by limiting them to tyres only then you remove the ability to pre-plan "overtaking" maneouvers. You also end up with cars with varying levels of tyre grip in the last third of the race, at the moment the final stint of a GP is basically between identically fuelled and tyred cars.

I'd keep the crew to the size it is now - allow 4 second tyre changes again - and make the pit lane part fo the track.

200mph into your pit box.

No refuelling though. That way pitstops are not strategic.

Although the tyres will need to be harder to withstand the punishment of a fully fuelled car at the start. And will be able, if you choose the harder compound, to go the full race distance.

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Here, that's quite funky. Better than my knocked up in 10 mins GE flyover

Am I right in thinking there was less testing at Barcelona over the winter than usual? Resurfacing or something springs to mind. That could throw a spanner in the works if it's changed the characteristics of the track.

Ferrari may also be at a disadvantage as they're rarely seen testing at Barcelona so we'll see what happens.

Ta - the other video's are now up and I'm working on the introdutions to each...

I think that parts of Barca were resurfaced - there was a lot of testing there though this year.

 

[Flibster]

2006 British GP sell out unlikely

With four weeks to go until the British Grand Prix, Silverstone has confirmed that World Cup fever will rob the event of its very own hat-trick – a third successive sell out.

Tickets for the British Grand Prix have been selling well but circuit bosses have revealed that this year's event won't match the sell out crowds of 2004 and 2005.

Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented: "With just four weeks to go until the Grand Prix, ticket sales are slightly behind where we were at this time last year, and that is one hundred percent due to public interest in the football World Cup. The public's attention has been diverted away from the British Grand Prix, but we'll still have a huge crowd on 11 June. It's unlikely the event will sell out, but we'll be extremely close."

Phillips also suggested that the change of date for this year's event, moved forward a month from its traditional July date, has had an effect on ticket sales, "While we're fully prepared for our biggest event of the year, there are definitely fans and corporate guests out there who will be surprised to hear the British Grand Prix is just four weeks away. We've gone to great lengths to communicate the new date, but there are still people who think the Grand Prix is in July.

"If ticket sales soar over the next four weeks the race could, potentially, still be a sell out, which would give us a hat-trick of our own (the 2004 & 2005 British Grand Prix were both sold out). It's important people know the British Grand Prix does not automatically sell out. The last thing we want is for fans watching at home to spot an empty seat and think, 'I could have gone to Silverstone, but I thought it was sold out'."

Silverstone has even made arrangements to ensure fans don't miss a single kick of England's opening game of the football World Cup, scheduled to take place on the same day as qualifying for the British Grand Prix. 65,000 fans are expected to head to Silverstone for qualifying on the Saturday (equalling attendance for the Saturday of the 2005 British Grand Prix) and, having cheered on British drivers Jenson Button and David Coulthard through a dramatic hour of qualifying, they will then have an opportunity to roar the England football team on to success in what should be an incredible atmosphere.

The whole match will be shown 'live' on three giant screens located in prime locations around the outside of the track, including Pits Straight, Stowe and Abbey. With kick off scheduled for 14:00hrs (BST), the atmosphere promises to be electric, and by 16:30hrs Silverstone will hopefully be celebrating a British and English one-two, for both the nations drivers and footballers.

The sooner silverstone is dumped from the F1 calendar the better!

 

[Flibster]

Fisichella expects to hear fate soon

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella expects to know within the next month whether he is staying at Formula One champions Renault beyond the end of the season.

"I would like to stay with the team," he told reporters at the Spanish Grand Prix on Thursday. "I think around Monte Carlo or Silverstone we know if I stay here or not."

The Monaco Grand Prix is on May 28 with Silverstone following on June 11.

Teammate and world champion Fernando Alonso has already announced he is moving to McLaren next year, leaving Renault with at least one seat to fill.

Asked about a recent German magazine report suggesting the team were interested in signing McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, Fisichella said he had heard the story but had no idea.

"Kimi has three options," he added. "To stay at McLaren, go to Ferrari or come here to Renault. I don't know."

Fisichella won this year's Malaysian Grand Prix but has struggled once again with bad luck and is fourth in the championship after five races with 18 points compared to Alonso's 44.