2006 Spanish Grand Prix - Race 6/18

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:10

Looks like the gearbox/engine may need replacement as well...that would have been a nasty impact for it to survive...

Rear right is totally smashed, rear left wheel looks intact - although it's hanging once it's been lifted off the ground.

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:11

Session restarted

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:14

Villeneuve has not left the pits yet.

Currently in the cutoff zone.

Villeneuve, Coulthard, Heidfeld, Button, Barrichello, Rosberg

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:16

Trulli's Toyota looks really nasty - understeering everywhere....

Plus they don't handle the bumps - so...

Soften the front suspension, add more camber and add a little front wing and just soften the rear end slightly.

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:20

Dropped - Coulthard, Montagny, Sato, Albers, Monterio, Speed

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:24

Code:

[b]Driver			Session 1	Session 2	Session 3[/b]
Alonso			1:15.816
Fisichella		1:16.046
M.Schumacher		1:16.049
Button			1:16.054
Villeneuve		1:16.066
Trulli			1:16.174
Montoya			1:16.195
R.Schumacher		1:16.234
Barrichello		1:16.266
Heidfeld		1:16.322
Massa			1:16.359
Raikkonen		1:16.613
Klien			1:16.627
Webber			1:16.685
Liuzzi			1:17.105
Rosberg			1:17.213


POSITIONS SET AFTER SESSION 1

[b]Pos	Driver			Session 1	Session 2	Session 3[/b]
16	Speed			1:17.361
17	Monteiro		1:17.702
18	Albers			1:18.024
19	Sato			1:18.920
21	Montagny		1:20.763
22	Coulthard		No Time

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:28

Look at the flex on those flow conditioners on that Williams...

Thats a lot of movement...

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:31

They've got one of those flying camera's on wires...

That will provide some cool shots.

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:32

M.Schumacher take 1st with 1:14.637

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:39

rpstewart said:
That's a stupidly quick time in comparison to everyone else.

I think there's one phrase which will sum up the atmosphere in the paddock for the rest of the afternoon:

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Ferrari are definately running flexable wings and a stallign diffuser...flexible floor is also a possibility.

It's already been said that if Ferrari are allowed to run them *even through they are specifically banned* they everyone else is going to develop them in the next couple of races.

I can see a very big blowup happening amongst the teams and the FIA soon.

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:41

Code:

[b]Driver			Session 1	Session 2	Session 3[/b]
M.Schumacher		1:16.049	1:14.637
Fisichella		1:16.046	1:14.766
Trulli			1:16.174	1:15.068
Alonso			1:15.816	1:15.124
Button			1:16.054	1:15.150
R.Schumacher		1:16.234	1:15.164
Massa			1:16.359	1:15.245
Barrichello		1:16.266	1:15.258
Raikkonen		1:16.613	1:15.422
Heidfeld		1:16.322	1:15.468


POSITIONS SET AFTER SESSION 1

[b]Pos	Driver			Session 1	Session 2	Session 3[/b]
11	Webber			1:16.685	1:15.502
12	Montoya			1:16.195	1:15.801
13	Rosberg			1:17.213	1:15.804
14	Villeneuve		1:16.066	1:15.847
15	Klien			1:16.627	1:15.928
16	Liuzzi			1:17.105	1:16.661
17	Speed			1:17.361
18	Monteiro		1:17.702
19	Albers			1:18.024
20	Sato			1:18.920
21	Montagny		1:20.763
22	Coulthard		No Time

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 13:52

Type_R said:
Its blatently obvious that this is the case because James Allen - The man who knows it all said so on ITV

There is nothing quite as satisfying or amusing as seeing the McLaren / Montoya combinations screwing things up royally - which fortunately happens almost all the time. What a fantastic combination of rubbish driver meets (probably fastest car on the grid + a muppet for a team manager)

Sod Allen - I'll take the word of a couple of F1 designers and Aerodynamicists that I've spoken to and someone who is paid to look at other teams designs and tell the people he's contracted to what they're doing.

The rear difusser stalls above a certain speed as the whole unit flexes - this dramatically cuts downforce.

Flexible floor is possible - but a lot harder

Flexible wings - well - they've already been told to change them once as they flexed due to "a production fault" - yeah - right... Both Ferrari front wings with exactly the same fault.

And they seem to be flexing a hell of a lot this race as well - Moved about an inch down the edge of my monitor - ouch....

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 14:02

Arc said:
Its amazing about the whole "flexi wing" conspiracy thats suddenly appeared. No one complained about Ferrari last year when they couldnt get any pace due to tyres and other factors.

We could say the same about Renault, what kind of secret launch control do they have to give them those rocket starts (even with a rather large fuel load compared to other cars), then we have McLaren using a similar rear wing etc.

If you watch all the wings they will flex, Montoyas front wing was flexing in the 2nd session.

Oh yes- Ferrari's problem last year was allll due to tyres.. The car was didgy in all areas - they pretty much gave up as far as I could see towards the end of the year and concentrated on this years car.

Renault's 'launch control' is partially due to having a very heavy rear end to the car. They understeer everywhere but have immense traction. Large fuel loads help this as thats more weight at the back.

They all flex - but none quite as much as Ferrari's - the main problem with the Ferrari wing was that it also appeared to twist.

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 14:05

Woah - 1:14.648 from Alonso

That is an extremely fast lap...

M.Schumacher is behind the 2 Renaults

Toyota have done well too.

Raikkonen down in 9th.

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 14:07

Arc said:
Yeah but are you saying the other wings arent flexing in the same way .

Two other teams were told to change their wing design along with Ferrari, do you think those two teams still have an advantage.

Strangely - they didn't have an advantage to begin with...

IIRC - McLaren were told to change their rear wing and BMW were told to change their front wing.

Ferrari were told to change both - and all they've done on the front is added a little cover over the bit that slides..

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 14:10

Code:

[b]Pos	Driver			Session 1	Session 2	Session 3[/b]
1	Alonso			1:15.816	1:15.124	1:14.648
2	Fisichella		1:16.046	1:14.766	1:14.709
3	M.Schumacher		1:16.049	1:14.637	1:14.970
4	Massa			1:16.359	1:15.245	1:15.442
5	Barrichello		1:16.266	1:15.258	1:15.885
6	R.Schumacher		1:16.234	1:15.164	1:15.885
7	Trulli			1:16.174	1:15.068	1:15.976
8	Button			1:16.054	1:15.150	1:16.008
9	Raikkonen		1:16.613	1:15.422	1:16.015
10	Heidfeld		1:16.322	1:15.468	1:17.144
11	Webber			1:16.685	1:15.502
12	Montoya			1:16.195	1:15.801
13	Rosberg			1:17.213	1:15.804
14	Villeneuve		1:16.066	1:15.847
15	Klien			1:16.627	1:15.928
16	Liuzzi			1:17.105	1:16.661
17	Speed			1:17.361
18	Monteiro		1:17.702
19	Albers			1:18.024
20	Sato			1:18.920
21	Montagny		1:20.763
22	Coulthard		No Time

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 14:43

Type_R said:
Right so let me get this straight...Renault have a really heavy rear end alledgedly yet somehow suffered minimal graining on the front tyres last year compared to everyone!

Umm do you really work in F1?

Hmmm...so - what contributes to graining

Suspension geometry
Track Surface
Grip
Track temperature

Graining is caused by the tyre sliding sideways across the track surface - it also causes understeer - not good if you have understeer to start with.

If the tyre is cold then you will be more likely get graining. Too hot - blistering...

Graining also goes away as you wear the tyres - so in the first few laps - you thrash them - you'll be pretty grain free the rest of the day.

Some circuits are more subject to graining than others - Canada will be more likely to grain the rears, Imola the front.

So - Renault may have had understeer but weere working the tyres in the correct operating temperature with the correct setup.

Understeer != Graining but Graining = Understeer

Also - I don't work in F1 - I used to...

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 19:27

Those 2008 regulations....

Looking around, one could easily draw the conclusion that this week's inaugural meeting of the FIA's new Sporting Working Group (SWG), described as one of the most important F1 meetings in years, went swimmingly and that everyone is delighted with the results.

Indeed, speaking at yesterday's FIA press conference, both Ron Dennis and Nick Fry were clearly happy with the progress that has (seemingly) been made.

However, while Ferrari, Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso always voted with the FIA, occasionally joined by Prodrive, with vote therefore usually going either 9-3 or 8-4, the remaining teams always voted against the FIA.

In line with the process set out by the FIA, and backed by the fact that highly-seasoned F1 experts, the members of the SWG, have placed these votes, the teams (and pretty much the rest of the paddock) now expect the F1 Commission and World Motor Sport Council to rubber stamp the majority votes.

The end result is that that the regulations, which Max Mosley said had to be agreed by 30 June have all been thrown out, which beggars the question what will the FIA President do next, especially in light of the fact that he previously declared that he would accept the Sporting Working Group's vote. Will he respect his own process or will he argue that these majority votes are not in line with the interests of F1 and motor sport in general?

Time will tell.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 19:39

Qualifying

Code:

[b]Pos	No	Driver			Team			Session 1	Session 2	Session 3[/b]
1	1	Fernando Alonso		Renault			1:15.816	1:15.124	1:14.648 
2	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault			1:16.046	1:14.766	1:14.709 
3	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari			1:16.049	1:14.637	1:14.970 
4	6	Felipe Massa		Ferrari			1:16.359	1:15.245	1:15.442 
5	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda			1:16.266	1:15.258	1:15.885 
6	7	Ralf Schumacher		Toyota			1:16.234	1:15.164	1:15.885 
7	8	Jarno Trulli		Toyota			1:16.174	1:15.068	1:15.976 
8	12	Jenson Button		Honda			1:16.054	1:15.150	1:16.008 
9	3	Kimi Räikkönen		McLaren-Mercedes	1:16.613	1:15.422	1:16.015 
10	16	Nick Heidfeld		Sauber-BMW		1:16.322	1:15.468	1:17.144 
11	9	Mark Webber		Williams-Cosworth	1:16.685	1:15.502	
12	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren-Mercedes	1:16.195	1:15.801	
13	10	Nico Rosberg		Williams-Cosworth	1:17.213 	1:15.804	
14	17	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber-BMW		1:16.066	1:15.847	
15	15	Christian Klien		RBR-Ferrari		1:16.627	1:15.928	
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	STR-Cosworth		1:17.105	1:16.661	
17	21	Scott Speed		STR-Cosworth		1:17.361	 
18	18	Tiago Monteiro		MF1-Toyota		1:17.702	 
19	19	Christijan Albers	MF1-Toyota		1:18.024	 
20	22	Takuma Sato		Super Aguri-Honda	1:18.920	 
21	23	Franck Montagny		Super Aguri-Honda	1:20.763	 
22	14	David Coulthard		RBR-Ferrari		No time

Sector Times - Qualifying

Code:

[b]Sector 1[/b]
[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time[/b]
1	5	Michael Schumacher	22.134 
2	6	Felipe Massa		22.363 
3	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	22.405 
4	17	Jacques Villeneuve	22.432 
5	1	Fernando Alonso		22.440 
6	8	Jarno Trulli		22.526 
7	16	Nick Heidfeld		22.590 
8	7	Ralf Schumacher		22.591 
9	12	Jenson Button		22.602 
10	10	Nico Rosberg		22.643 
11	3	Kimi Räikkönen		22.649 
12	11	Rubens Barrichello	22.665 
13	9	Mark Webber		22.756 
14	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	22.803 
15	15	Christian Klien		22.900 
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	23.035 
17	21	Scott Speed		23.058 
18	18	Tiago Monteiro		23.308 
19	19	Christijan Albers	23.470 
20	22	Takuma Sato		23.716 
21	23	Franck Montagny		23.920

Code:

[b]Sector 2 [/b]
[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time[/b]
1	1	Fernando Alonso		29.727 
2	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	29.731 
3	5	Michael Schumacher	29.862 
4	12	Jenson Button		29.957 
5	3	Kimi Räikkönen		29.964 
6	11	Rubens Barrichello	29.976 
7	8	Jarno Trulli		29.981 
8	7	Ralf Schumacher		30.002 
9	9	Mark Webber		30.112 
10	6	Felipe Massa		30.157 
11	15	Christian Klien		30.182 
12	16	Nick Heidfeld		30.194 
13	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	30.281 
14	10	Nico Rosberg		30.339 
15	17	Jacques Villeneuve	30.426 
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	30.503 
17	21	Scott Speed		30.895 
18	19	Christijan Albers	30.955 
19	18	Tiago Monteiro		31.146 
20	22	Takuma Sato		31.581 
21	23	Franck Montagny		32.165 
22	14	David Coulthard		32.532

Code:

[b]Sector 3 [/b]
[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time[/b]
1	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	22.480 
2	1	Fernando Alonso		22.481 
3	8	Jarno Trulli		22.561 
4	7	Ralf Schumacher		22.571 
5	12	Jenson Button		22.591 
6	11	Rubens Barrichello	22.617 
7	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	22.627 
8	9	Mark Webber		22.634 
9	5	Michael Schumacher	22.641 
10	6	Felipe Massa		22.667 
11	16	Nick Heidfeld		22.684 
12	10	Nico Rosberg		22.762 
13	17	Jacques Villeneuve	22.808 
14	3	Kimi Räikkönen		22.809 
15	15	Christian Klien		22.846 
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	23.123 
17	18	Tiago Monteiro		23.248 
18	21	Scott Speed		23.306 
19	19	Christijan Albers	23.433 
20	22	Takuma Sato		23.623 
21	23	Franck Montagny		23.905 
22	14	David Coulthard		31.764

Speed Trap

Code:

[b]Pos	No	Driver			Time		Speed[/b]
1	6	Felipe Massa		14:48:22	319.7 
2	5	Michael Schumacher	14:30:12	314.1 
3	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	14:49:44	311.2 
4	17	Jacques Villeneuve	14:15:03	308.7 
5	16	Nick Heidfeld		15:03:45	308.5 
6	11	Rubens Barrichello	14:51:04	308.2 
7	7	Ralf Schumacher		14:28:43	307.6 
8	8	Jarno Trulli		14:14:32	307.5 
9	1	Fernando Alonso		14:58:04	304.8 
10	21	Scott Speed		14:14:55	304.4 
11	15	Christian Klien		14:06:43	303.8 
12	3	Kimi Räikkönen		14:59:14	303.7 
13	10	Nico Rosberg		14:37:03	303.1 
14	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	14:14:52	302.8 
15	9	Mark Webber		14:27:23	301.6 
16	12	Jenson Button		14:52:15	301.5 
17	22	Takuma Sato		14:03:32	301.4 
18	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	14:14:45	300.5 
19	18	Tiago Monteiro		14:15:09	295.6 
20	19	Christijan Albers	14:03:37	291.4 
21	23	Franck Montagny		14:04:27	289.7 
22	14	David Coulthard		14:06:17	256.8

Flibster · 13 May 2006 at 19:45

Spanish GP: Qualifying notes - WilliamsF1

Sam Michael, Technical Director, WilliamsF1: "It's disappointing to have neither car in the final ten - a couple of tenths takes you a long way. However, we are confident of having a good race pace and using a good strategy tomorrow."

Mark Webber: "We got a bit of idea in testing that maybe it was going to be a little bit difficult for us here, but you only really confirm this on the day, and we found out today that we are just a sniff away from getting into the top ten. This is the first time this year that I didn't make it into the last ten by a small margin, but unfortunately we are not quick enough over one lap."

Nico Rosberg: "We still seem to be missing something to get qualifying right and making it into the top ten and this is something we need to work on. Our race pace so far this season has been quite alright though and I think tomorrow we should look quite good, especially with respect to our tyres. Both Mark and I are in good shape to collect some points in the race and we proved at the Nurburgring that we are able to make up positions into the points, even from the back of the field."

Sean O'Mahony, Principal Engineer - F1 Race Engineering, Cosworth Ltd: "Today was fairly uneventful on the engine front - there were no reliability issues in any of the sessions. On the calibration side, we carried out some fine tuning of the maps we developed yesterday and made an improvement in the low engine speed range. Hopefully we will see the benefits of this work tomorrow."