BlogF1

Just prior to the final round of the 2006 Formula One season in Brazil, BMW Sauber have announced their driver line-up for the next season. Nick Heidfeld will retain his position in the team, which has seen the German driver collect 23 points so far, including a podium in Hungary where he finished a magnificent second behind winner Jenson Button. Continue Reading…

Although it wasn’t one of Fernando Alonso’s finest performances, and although it wasn’t one of the greatest Japanese Grand Prix in memory, it was a very important afternoon for the Renault lad. While Schumacher can still mathematically win the 2006 World Championship, it seems very unlikely that the seven times champion will be able to make it eight.

Because of this fact, and without wanting to celebrate something before it is actually confirmed, Alonso ‘quietly’ enjoyed his podium at Suzuka.
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In a race that was billed as the decider of the 2006 season (despite Japan being the penultimate Grand Prix), Fernando Alonso has taken maximum points to put himself ten ahead of his rival Michael Schumacher. This result puts Alonso in an almost unnassailable position heading into Brazil in a fortnight, and while it is still possible for Schumacher to take the title in his swansong year, the target is very far out of reach.

After yesterdays qualifying it seemed Ferrari had it all sorted. The Italian squad were on a roll following several wins from their man, and while Felipe Massa got the script a little wrong, it was an all-Ferrari front-row. What made the result even more sweet for the Scuderia was that Toyota were aiming for a corporate pole, but ended up squeezing themselves inbetween Ferrari and Renault.
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1. Alonso - Renault
2. Massa - Ferrari
3. Fisichella - Renault
4. Button - Honda
5. Raikkonen - McLaren
6. Trulli - Toyota
7. R. Schumacher - Toyota
8. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber
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One of the ongoing stories of the 2006 Formula One season has been the use of blocking tactics during the new style qualifying format. Many drivers have complained to the stewards after they felt that other drivers had impeded them during their fast runs in the very tight 15 minute sessions.

In September’s Italian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso was demoted to tenth on the grid after Felipe Massa whined that he was held up by the reigning champion. The stewards analysed the footage and data and decided to follow the regulations to the letter and thus Alonso was penalised. The general concensus of this situation online and on (UK) television was that Alonso’s penalty was a little harsh at minimum, and unjust in some peoples eyes. Very few people - including Ferrari fans - admited that Massa was seriously held up by the Renault of Alonso.
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1. Massa - Ferrari
2. M. Schumacher - Ferrari
3. R. Schumacher - Toyota
4. Trulli - Toyota
5. Alonso - Renault
6. Fisichella - Renault
7. Button - Honda
8. Barrichello - Honda
9. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber
10. Rosberg - Williams
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A report on PitPass today has suggested that only 0.016% of Formula One fans around the world actually took part the recent survey conducted jointly between the FIA and AMD. PitPass have suggested that recent Global Broadcast reports put worldwide viewers of Formula One at 580 million. That is a lot of people! In fact (and correct me if I am wrong) isn’t that about 10% of the global population!?

The article goes on to say that the Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds did a recent survey that required people to give up one hour of their weekend to monitor birdlife in their gardens, and they managed a participation count of 470,000. This number puts the FIA’s survey in the shade with only 91,000 fans taking part.
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Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato has been excluded from the Chinese Grand Prix result after the stewards deemed his blocking tactics in the final lap of the race were avoidable and unnecessary. Takuma Sato’s move caused Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld to have spins just prior to completing to final lap, and Pedro De La Rosa was promoted after passing them. Continue Reading…

In what should have been a Renault-dominated Chinese Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher has stormed to his 91st win, and is now on 116 points in the Drivers Title, matching his rival Fernando Alonso. After a wet qualifying yesterday, Renault showed their dominance with Michelin tyres and cruised to a 1-2 on the grid, leaving Ferrari pilot Schumacher floundering in 6th with his Bridgestone-shod car.

With the circuit remaining wet for the race, it looked as though Alonso would skate away to victory and leave Schumacher in a plume of water. And after the start, everything was going Renault’s way as Alonso pulled out a 25 second gap by the time his first pit stop came around. Unfortunately, the track had started to dry out during this first stint, and Schumacher’s Bridgestones were starting to work better. Although Alonso had pulled out a large gap, Schumacher was recaiming it by the time they stopped for the first time.

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1. M. Schumacher - Ferrari
2. Alonso - Renault
3. Fisichella - Renault
4. Button - Honda
5. De La Rosa - McLaren
6. Barrichello - Honda
7. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber
8. Webber - Williams
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