BlogF1

Austria’s Christian Klien has been released from his Red Bull Racing contract with immediate effect, and will be replaced with the teams test and reserve driver, Robert Doornbos. The Dutch Formula One driver, who had a brief fling with a Minardi last year, will contest the remaining three races alongside David Coulthard.

Klien, who was dropped by the team for next year, was offered a chance to compete in ChampCars in America with support and backing from Red Bull. But on Saturday Christian stated that the deadline had passed, and he hadn’t signed because he wants to remain in Formula One. Continue Reading…

After the debacle of Fernando Alonso’s punishment for blocking Felipe Massa in qualifying for yesterdays Italian Grand Prix, Italian team principal Flavio Briatore reacted angrily making some bold statements to the press. In an attempt to make his and Renault’s concerns very clear Flavio indicated at a conspiracy theory against Renault and in favour of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari. On Sunday morning, Fernando Alonso echoed Renault’s concern in a brief statement claiming that he feels Formula One is not considered to be a sport by himself anymore. Fernando Alonso has blamed his rare engine failure during the race yesterday squarely on the shoulders of the Race Stewards, claiming that had he not been penalised in qualifying, he wouldn’t have had to press the engine so hard during the race.

A little sour grapes from Alonso, but it does not hide the fact that both Championships are slipping away from Renault.
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Michael Schumacher has announced his retirement following the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. After the Brazilian Grand Prix next month, Michael will hang up his helmet for the final time and spend more time with his young family in his Swiss castle.

As Michael won the Italian Grand Prix for his beloved team and fans, he announced on the radio he would be retiring. The Ferrari team published a press statement confirming as such and Michael enjoyed a few moments to himself before personally congratulating the team as they lined the Parc Ferme. In an emotional scene on the podium, Michael conducted the tifosi who flooded onto track to enjoy their man’s success.
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As Schumacher battled the decision of retirement in his mind, he was well on his way to winning the Italian Grand Prix. But in the course of the race, more drama occured that could spell bad news for Renault for the rest of the campaign.

From the start, Kimi Raikkonen led away from pole, but Nick Heidfeld made hay on Schumacher and the pair went down to the first chicane side by side. Nick relented and allowed Michael to go through in to second, and Heidfeld’s team mate Robert Kubica came storming up the inside and came out of turn one considerably nearer the front than he was in qualifying.
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1. M. Schumacher - Ferrari
2. Raikkonen - McLaren
3. Kubica - BMW Sauber
4. Fisichella - Renault
5. Button - Honda
6. Barrichello - Honda
7. Trulli - Toyota
8. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber
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The words of Fernando Alonso this morning as he publicly protests his grid penalty following an alleged blocking attempt on Felipe Massa from Ferrari yesterday during qualifying.

Fernando Alonso is clearly upset about the situation, and the penalty makes his job of beating Michael Schumacher very difficult today. Continue Reading…

Lewis Hamilton has become the 2006 GP2 Champion at Monza yesterday. Although Hamilton only finished third in the race, winner Giorgio Pantano had his fastest lap taken away from him as it was set under yellow flags. This gave Lewis an extra point and this means he has beaten his rival, Nelson Piquet Jnr.

Ron Dennis - Team Director of McLaren F1 - refused to be led into questions on his driver line up next year, but did have praise for his 21 year old protege:
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After months of rumours, it was finally announced last night that Midland Formula One team has been sold to the Dutch car manufacturer Spyker, headed by Victor Muller and Michiel Mol (of Lost Boys fame). And estimated $106.6 million will be transferred and shares owned by Schnaider’s Midland group will be now owned by Spyker. The teams name will be changed to Spyker MF1.

The sale of the team also brings the return of Mike Gascoyne to the cutting edge of Formula One. Mike is currently on gardening leave from Toyota after the two parties fell out earlier in the year. Colin Kolles will remain as the team prinicpal, and Alex Shnaider had this to say in Monza:
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Following his alleged blocking of Felipe Massa during qualifying, Fernando Alonso has been demoted to tenth on the grid. Alonso was called to the stewards office after the Brazilian driver complained that the reigning F1 World Champion had unnecessarily impeded his qualifying run.

Massa has suggested that he lost as much as three-tenths on his final lap in Q3, caused because Alonso didn’t allow enough space between himself and the Ferrari. Alonso initially protested his innocence, but the after reviewing the video evidence, the stewards have decided that Fernando Alonso had impeded Massa’s lap - albeit inadvertantly - and he has had his three fastest laps taken away.

This means Michael Schumacher will start eight places ahead of Alonso in the Italian Grand Prix, but that will not stop a hungry Alonso from fighting back in tomorrow’s clash.

1. Raikkonen - McLaren
2. M. Schumacher - Ferrari
3. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber
4. Massa - Ferrari
5. Alonso - Renault
6. Button - Honda
7. Kubica - BMW Sauber
8. De La Rosa - McLaren
9. Barrichello - Honda
10. Fisichella - Renault
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