2006 European GP

[iTwitch]

Another great race, although there's still to many notable engine failures for my taste.

Looks like Imola wasn't just a one of for Ferrari, if McLaren could iron out their problems things could get very interesting. A three way race to the championship would be a nice change.

[Stridder44]

Euro cars FTW!


I hate NASCAR.

[iGav]

I was late again in getting round to posting the F1 thread... whoopsie, thumbs up iTwitch for starting one.

Really good race though... Alonso and Schumacher were the class of the field, so evenly matched at the moment, and them trading fastest laps was incredible, Alonso would set the fastest lap, and a second later Schu would blitz it. Schu's really on it at the moment, those series of laps prior to his 2nd stop... *wipes tear from eye* beautiful.

It'll be interesting to see how Alonso handles the pressure though of Mr 7x WDC hunting him down.

[bartelby]

It was a boring race!
Fortunately I managed to sleep through most of it.

Rosberg is the only driver worth mentioning.

[iGav]

Originally Posted by bartelby

Rosberg is the only driver worth mentioning.

I thought you slept through most of it? heh.

I think we might be seeing a bit of a vintage year in the making, 2 WDC's in as equal as you can have it cars, from different teams... could potentially be another 2000/1990 if you ask me.

[Lord Blackadder]

I really want to see more battles between Schu and Alonso...good racing.

McLaren are having a pretty poor showing so far...it's a Ferrari - Renault show now.

I still haven't seen lap times, but I was curious to see whether Montagny was keeping up with Sato before the cars blew up...no matter how much Aguri wants his drivers all-Japanese, they won't last long in F1 if they have drivers like Ide. Having the FIA relegate him to testing is a pretty obvious message.

[iGav]

Originally Posted by Lord Blackadder

I really want to see more battles between Schu and Alonso...good racing.

They're quite evenly matched, I think, no I know that up until Suzuka last season I underestimated Alonso's performance, but his drives in Japan and China last season did much to dispel thoughts that he's not in Schumachers and Kimi's class, when clearly I think it's now obvious that he is.

Originally Posted by Lord Blackadder

McLaren are having a pretty poor showing so far...it's a Ferrari - Renault show now.

It was a pretty stealthy drive by Kimi though... McLaren have got the pace (Kimi had the second fastest lap) but they seem to cripple themselves on strategy.

Originally Posted by Lord Blackadder

McLaren are having a pretty poor showing so far...it's a Ferrari - Renault show now.

I also think McLaren are beginning to feel the loss of Newey and Tombazis... and I don't expect McLaren to be able to develop their car at anywhere near the level of Ferrari and Renault, indeed I think McLaren could be really in the ***** for next season too.

Originally Posted by Lord Blackadder

I still haven't seen lap times, but I was curious to see whether Montagny was keeping up with Sato before the cars blew up...

About half a second slower than Sato.

Rinky dink link

[iTwitch]

Originally Posted by Lord Blackadder

I still haven't seen lap times, but I was curious to see whether Montagny was keeping up with Sato before the cars blew up...no matter how much Aguri wants his drivers all-Japanese, they won't last long in F1 if they have drivers like Ide. Having the FIA relegate him to testing is a pretty obvious message.

European Grand Prix - 07/05/2006

1 . M. Schumacher - Ferrari 248 F1 - 1:32.099 (+ 0.000 ) - lap 39
2 . K. Raikkonen - McLaren Mercedes MP4-21 - 1:32.472 (+ 0.373 ) - lap 43
3 . F. Alonso - Renault R26 - 1:32.532 (+ 0.433 ) - lap 37
4 . G. Fisichella - Renault R26 - 1:32.964 (+ 0.865 ) - lap 46
5 . F. Massa - Ferrari 248 F1 - 1:33.099 (+ 1.000 ) - lap 19
6 . J. P. Montoya - McLaren Mercedes MP4-21 - 1:33.571 (+ 1.472 ) - lap 47
7 . N. Rosberg - Williams Cosworth FW28 - 1:33.579 (+ 1.480 ) - lap 48
8 . R. Schumacher - Toyota TF106 - 1:33.607 (+ 1.508 ) - lap 27
9 . R. Barrichello - Honda RA106 - 1:33.952 (+ 1.853 ) - lap 59
10 . J. Trulli - Toyota TF106 - 1:33.953 (+ 1.854 ) - lap 58
11 . N. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber F1.06 - 1:34.035 (+ 1.936 ) - lap 47
12 . J. Villeneuve - BMW Sauber F1.06 - 1:34.037 (+ 1.938 ) - lap 38
13 . J. Button - Honda RA106 - 1:34.042 (+ 1.943 ) - lap 9
14 . S. Speed - Toro Rosso Cosworth STR1 - 1:34.091 (+ 1.992 ) - lap 57
15 . C. Klien - Red Bull Ferrari RB2 - 1:34.553 (+ 2.454 ) - lap 16
16 . M. Webber - Williams Cosworth FW28 - 1:35.415 (+ 3.316 ) - lap 11
17 . C. Albers - MF1 Toyota M16 - 1:35.428 (+ 3.329 ) - lap 35
18 . T. Monteiro - MF1 Toyota M16 - 1:35.504 (+ 3.405 ) - lap 41
19 . T. Sato - Super Aguri Honda SA05 - 1:36.706 (+ 4.607 ) - lap 26
20 . F. Montagny - Super Aguri Honda SA05 - 1:37.214 (+ 5.115 ) - lap 21
21 . D. Coulthard - Red Bull Ferrari RB2 - - (+ - ) - N/A
22 . V. Liuzzi - Toro Rosso Cosworth STR1 - - (+ - ) - N/A

[iTwitch]

Originally Posted by iGav

I also think McLaren are beginning to feel the loss of Newey and Tombazis... and I don't expect McLaren to be able to develop their car at anywhere near the level of Ferrari and Renault, indeed I think McLaren could be really in the ***** for next season too.

I agree and think Alonso was nuts for the McLaren move, he did know Newey was leaving didn't he? If he didn't I'll bet he is regreting the move.

[iGav]

Originally Posted by iTwitch

I agree and think Alonso was nuts for the McLaren move, he did know Newey was leaving didn't he? If he didn't I'll bet he is regreting the move.

Alonso doing the deal with McLaren was odd indeed, going behind Flav's back... strange thing to do. Though it did come at a time when Renault were rumoured to be quitting F1.

I wonder if that's why Alonso continues to 'big' up McLaren this season? heh.

[Lord Blackadder]

All I can say is that it's a good thing for Alonso that he won his drivers title already (and perhaps again this year), because I don't think he'll have much of a chance at McLaren. The fact that Raikkonen hasn't won yet doesn't say good things for the team. Kimi is one of the few drivers that I can unhesitatingly call world champion material, but McLaren just can't give him a winning package. Even the couple mistakes he made last year wouldn't have mattered if McLaren were as reliable as the Renaults or Ferraris from the recent past.