Posted in Pre Race Talk on Aug 31st, 2006 1 Comment »
With only 10 days remaining to the Italian Grand Prix fans are expecting the futures of Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher(amoung many) to be announced. With news that Ferrari might confirm 3 drivers in Monza and rumors floating around the web about different drivers signing contracts it seems very unclear about what will be the outcome.
Rumors over the internet tell that Kimi has already signed a contract with Renault in Instanbul with a clause that if Michael Retires he will be free to move to Ferrari. Why Renault would agree to such a contract is beyond me… Renault has lead the Drivers and Constructors championship for over a year and a half now and had clearly established itself as the best team in the grid. Any top driver would and should not have any worries about exclusively signing Renault, considering the way they have started the last and this season.
Few weeks back there were rumors about Michael insisting that if he continues Massa be his teammate(I wonder why?). The issue was supposedly argued over by the top management of Ferrari and John Todt agreed with Michael while top man at Ferrari wanted Kimi to partner Michael. There is one universal truth about Ferrari… “What Michael Wants, Michael gets.”
The other intesting rumor came out over 2 weeks back indicating that Hiekki had sighned a contract with Renault. This would go against the Renault announcement that they would sign a top driver over a rookie for next year… The only top driver other that Michael left to decide a seat is Kimi.
My Predictions about the seats:
The Line up I would love for 2007:
Ferrari: Michael and Massa
Renault: Fisichella and Hiekki
Mc Laren: Alonso and Kimi
The Line up I think is most likely(provided Michael does not retire and I dont expect him to):
Ferrari: Michael and Massa
Renault: Kimi and Fisichella
Mc Laren: Alonso and Pedro
(With Hiekki loaned to Toro Rosso for 1/2 seasons)
What do you think the top team line up will be like? Put your predictions in the comments
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Posted in Formula 1 on Aug 29th, 2006 No Comments »
San Marino and European Grands Prix have been dropped for the 2007 season. While Belgium returns into the calendar…
2007 Schedule
Australia, March 18
Malaysia, April 08
Bahrain, April 15
Spain, May 13
Monaco, May 27
Canada, June 10
United States, June 17
France, July 01
United Kingdom, July 08
Germany, July 22
Hungary, August 05
Turkey, August 26
Italy, September 09
Belgium, September 16
China, September 30
Japan, October 07
Brazil, October 21
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Posted in Race Results on Aug 27th, 2006 4 Comments »
Massa brilliantly converted his pole to a win to become the 2nd Driver in 2 races to win their madien Grand Prix. Alonso was chased to the line by Micheal Schumacher but managed to hold back the 7 times World Champion. The race was dominated by inch perfect driving and then the odd mistake, It was a mistake that allowed Alonso to seal the second place.
Massa and Michael had a perfect start closing the door on the Renaults. Fisi took the brunt of pack as he spinned off the track and lost his front wing. He pitted to join in last and produced an aweinspiring comeback to finish 6th. Massa led every lap of the race and was never under pressure from either Alonso or Michael… but the real story was unfolding behind him…
A safety car caused the top cars to pit and Michael followed Massa into the pit. Alonso siezed the opportuninty to sneak past Michael as he waited for Massa’s stop to finish. The second stint saw Massa’s Ferrari pulling away and Alonso and Michael matching each other’s times. Towards the end of the second stint Michael broke under pressure to keep up with the World Champ running wide into Turn 8. The off track moment cost him around 4s.
The final pitstop saw Michael pushing to the max and yet coming out behind the Spaniard. The difference was less than 4s. That mistake cost Michael a 2nd place finish. Alonso did not relent to Michael’s pressure towards the end and calmly took 2nd at the flag.
This will explain to you the race:
1. Massa: 0 mistakes
2. Alonso: 0 mistakes
3. Michael: 1 big mistake
No matter what anyone says Alonso is not the one under pressure and he showed it. After the last 2 races I have a sinking feeling that Michael cannot make the final distance… These 12 points will be the toughest of his carrer and I frankly dont see him getting there. Of the last 4 races 3 will clearly help the Renault and Considering the mistakes Michael has been making (Tried to defend a positon which was undefendable and ended up out of the race in Hungary)… Alonso already looks like World Champion for 2006.
But 4 races still to go and anything can happen… Keep cheering your favourite driver 
Race Result
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Posted in Qualification on Aug 26th, 2006 2 Comments »
Massa took pole for the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix after a brilliant lap that denied his team mate and the current World Champion top honours. The Ferraris and Renaults line up two by two making the first corner very intresting for tommorow’s race.
Micheal seemed to struggle in the final qualification session, he messed up both his runs costing him a clear pole position. Alonso looked confident that the Michellins work better in long runs and that would explain why Michael could not push harder with fule load and new tyres.
Fischella complained about problems in his engine towards the end of quali. The problems will not bother Alonso as Fisi currently is running a new revised engine and Alonso the same one from Hungary which did like only 3/4th the race distance.
Qualification Results.
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Posted in Formula 1 on Aug 24th, 2006 No Comments »
The FIA international court of appeal has offically banned the use of Mass Dampers. They overthrew the decision given earlier by the FIA race stewards declaring Renault’s Mass Damper system as legal.
Renault has been using the system since middle of 2005 season and this decision will not help the French team defend both the Championships.
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Posted in Race Results on Aug 6th, 2006 2 Comments »
FIA had most of it right… It turns out to have a brilliant race you need just one extra component, nope not the mass dampers … Its just H2O good ole water and a lot of it.
Button drove flawlessly coupled with brilliant strategy coupled with amazing timing for switching tyres to take his maiden victory at the Hungaroring. There were a Spaniard and a German in the top 3 but they weren’t Alonso or Michael. Pedro produced a brilliant recovery drive(including an overtaking move on Michael) after teammate crashed out in an unfortunate incident to take the second step of the podium. Nick Heidfeld’s drive for BMW Sauber was perfect and carried him to a superb 3rd.
A drenched Hungaroring was the place to be as the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix started. Kimi started clean with Massa in his tail losing time fast, the Brazillian was heading for possibly his worst race for Ferrari in a long time. The biggest gainers were Michael jumping from 11 to 5th. Alonso stayed at 14th for the first corner but half way across the lap he was behind his teammate’s tail. The Spaniard was unstoppable overtaking Massa, Fisichella and Michael Schumacher within the next 2 laps.
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