Rediscover Formula One : Formula One News, Views and Reviews

1. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:L26.797
2 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:27.039
3. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:27.050
4. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.352
5. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:27.501
6. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:27.929
7. Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-BMW 1:27.944
8. Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber-Petronas 1:28.419
9. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:28.594
10. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull-Cosworth 1:28.963
11. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:29.369
12. David Coulthard (Sco) Red Bull-Cosworth 1:29.764
13. Jenson Button (GB) BAR-Honda 1:30.063
14. Takuma Sato (Jap) BAR-Honda 1:30.175
15. Tiego Monteiro (Por) Jordan-Toyota 1:30.710
16. Christijan Albers (Ned) Minardi-Cosworth 1:32.186
17. Robert Doornbos (Ned) Jordan-Toyota, no time
18. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) Sauber-Petronas, no time
19. Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) Jordan-Toyota, no time
20. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari, no time

Course Details
Circuit length: 5.378km
No of laps: TBC
Race distance: TBC
Lap record: n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a

Who will win Alonso or Kimi or Schumi !!!!!! Catch the Action Live This Weekend

Barrichello Hitting the back of Trulli

Kimi romped home to win the Hungarian Grand prix with the Schumacher bros, Micheal and Ralf coming second and third respectively.

Kimi has now set up a title showdown with Alonso who currently leads the points table.

More News Soon ...

1       Michael Schumacher      Ferrari       1:19.882

2      Juan Pablo Montoya      McLaren-Mercedes       1:20.779

3      Jarno Trulli      Toyota      1:20.839

4       Kimi Räikkönen      McLaren-Mercedes       1:20.891

5       Ralf Schumacher      Toyota       1:20.964

6       Fernando Alonso      Renault       1:21.141

7       Rubens Barrichello      Ferrari       1:21.158

8       Jenson Button      BAR-Honda       1:21.302

9      Giancarlo Fisichella      Renault       1:21.333

10       Takuma Sato      BAR-Honda       1:21.787

11       Christian Klien      Red Bull Racing       1:21.937

12       Nick Heidfeld      Williams-BMW       1:22.086

13       David Coulthard      Red Bull Racing       1:22.279

14       Felipe Massa      Sauber-Petronas       1:22.565

15       Jacques Villeneuve      Sauber-Petronas       1:22.866

16       Mark Webber      Williams-BMW       1:23.495

17      Christijan Albers      Minardi-Cosworth       1:24.443

18       Narain Karthikeyan      Jordan-Toyota       1:25.057

19       Robert Doornbos      Minardi-Cosworth       1:25.484

20       Tiago Monteiro      Jordan-Toyota      No - Time

Kimi Raikkonen's title hopes have all but vanished after he retired from the lead of the German Grand Prix, handing victory to rival Fernando Alonso.

The McLaren driver led from the start and had the race under control when he suffered hydraulics failure on lap 35.

Alonso's Renault now has a daunting 36-point lead with eight races to go.

Juan Pablo Montoya gave McLaren scant consolation by finishing second after starting from the back of the grid, with BAR's Jenson Button taking third.

But Schumacher's grid position was the result of him choosing soft tyres in an attempt to provide extra grip, and these began to wear at the rear.

Button had to pit for fuel at the end of the next lap, but he made up enough ground to be ahead when Schumacher emerged from the pits after his final stop on lap 49.

Schumacher's fading grip allowed Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella and Toyota's Ralf Schumacher to close up on the Ferrari.

Raikkonen led from the start only for his engine to fail

Fisichella passed Michael Schumacher into Turn 4 on the last lap, but Schumacher was able to fend off his younger brother and hold on to finish fifth.

Red Bull driver David Coulthard and Sauber's Felipe Massa took the final points position.

Raikkonen was in total control of the race, and streaked away into a comfotable lead after fending off a brief challenge from Alonso on the run to the first corner.

With Alonso in an equally comfortable second place, Raikkonen was on course to close on the Spaniard in the championship before his car ground to a halt. He left the track without speaking to the media.

Montoya's progress from the back of the field was the highlight of the race.

Montoya was up to 11th after a brilliant first lap, and passed Toyota's Ralf Schumacher and Red Bull's Christian Klien to move up to ninth for the rest of the first stint.

Lapping much faster than them, he made it a three-car battle for third place well before their second stops.

He stopped several laps later than both, and comfortably made up the time he needed to rejoin well ahead of Button to crown a superb drive.

Montoya was too far behind to do anything about Alonso ahead of him.

German Grand Prix result:

1 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault one hour 26 minutes 28.599 seconds
2 Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes +22.569secs
3 Jenson Button (GB) BAR-Honda 24.422
4 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 50.587
5 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 51.690
6 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 52.242
7 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Cosworth 52.700
8 Felipe Massa (Brz) Sauber-Petronas 56.570
9 Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull-Cosworth 1:09.818
10 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Ferrari 1 lap
11 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Williams-BMW 1 lap
12 Takuma Sato (Jpn) BAR-Honda 1 lap
13 Christijan Albers (Neds) Minardi-Cosworth 2 laps
14 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 3 laps
15 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) Sauber-Petronas 3 laps
16 Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) Jordan-Toyota 3 laps
17 Tiago Monteiro (Por) Jordan-Toyota 3 laps
18 Robert Doornbos (Ned) Minardi-Cosworth 4 laps
NC Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-BMW 12 laps
R Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 32 laps

1.Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:14.320
2 Jenson Button (GB) BAR-Honda 1:14.759
3 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:14.904
4 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:14.927
5 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:15.006
6 Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-BMW 1:15.070
7 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:15.403
8 Takuma Sato (Jpn) BAR-Honda 1:15.501
9 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:15.532
10 Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1:15.635
11 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1:15.679
12 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:15.689
13 Felipe Massa (Brz) Sauber-Petronas 1:16.009
14 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) Sauber-Petronas 1:16.012
15 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:16.230
16 Christijan Albers (Ned) Minardi-Cosworth 1:17.519
17 Robert Doornbos (Ned) Minardi-Cosworth 1:18.313
18 Tiago Monteiro (Por) Jordan-Toyota 1:18.599
19 Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes no time
20 Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) Jordan-Toyota no time

The blog will be updated more often

Juan Pablo Montoya won his first race for McLaren after a tense duel with Renault's Fernando Alonso at the British Grand Prix.

Montoya, who started third, took the lead from Alonso with a brave move into the Maggotts corner on the first lap.

The Colombian led throughout. Alonso made both of his pit stops later but narrowly failed to beat the McLaren.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen started 12th but took third from Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella's and BAR's Jenson Button.

Michael Schumacher was sixth after an uncompetitive race for Ferrari, heading team-mate Rubens Barrichello and the Toyota of Ralf Schumacher.

Raikkonen, who was demoted 10 places on the grid as a penalty for changing his engine, slipped to 26 points behind Spaniard Alonso in the world championship battle with eight races to go.

The Finn drove an impressive race using slightly later pit stops than all his rivals to capitalise on the pace of his McLaren.

The team did a good strategy and Fernando got some traffic and that was enough

Juan Pablo Montoya
More Montoya reaction
Raikkonen made up three places at the start, including passing Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher three abreast at the 160mph first corner.

But his chances of challenging for the lead were lost when he was held up behind Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Michael Schumacher's Ferrari throughout first stint.

Once on a clear track after his first pit stop, Raikkonen was the fastest driver on the track and made up a 13-second deficit to Button in as many laps.

He passed the BAR when Button made his final pit stop on lap 43, but was too far behind to make any impression on Montoya and Alonso ahead of him, despite setting fastest lap on the final tour of the race.

Raikkonen's team-mate Montoya was under constant pressure from Alonso, who spent the closing laps just a second behind the Colombian.

Montoya deserved the win today, if only to prove everyone wrong, but he really must become more consistent

Alonso had been 7.1 seconds behind Montoya when the Colombian made his final stop on lap 44.

But Alonso stayed out five laps longer, enabling him to close the gap.

Crucially, the Renault driver was held up by Toyota's Jarno Trulli while lapping him, costing him the best part of two seconds.

That may well have been enough to prevent him taking the lead as he rejoined the track; instead, Montoya flashed past as the Renault rejoined the track.

Montoya said: "I had a good start and I knew Fernando was not able to risk too much and I was willing to risk more on that first lap.

I lost three seconds with Jarno but it was not his fault

Fernando Alonso on Jarno Trulli

"The team did a good strategy and called me in a lap early for my final stop and Fernando got some traffic as expected and that was enough."

Alonso refused to blame his former team-mate Trulli for holding him up.

"The (warning) blue flags (for slower cars) didn't work at all. I lost three seconds I think with Jarno but it was not his fault because there were no blue flags and he probably didn't know I was fighting for the victory."

Fisichella was also in the battle for the lead until his final stop, when Renault brought him in early.

Renault engineering chief Pat Symonds revealed after the race:" The team had to bring Fisichella in that point because we had given him less fuel than Alonso on his first stop."

But that turned out to be immaterial when Fisichella stalled leaving the pits, losing the final podium place to Raikkonen.

World champion Schumacher was never in the picture, dropping back rapidly from Raikkonen during the second stint.

But he managed to finish ahead of team-mate Barrichello, who did one more stop than the German.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

British Grand Prix result:

1. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren 1hr 24mins 29.588secs
2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault +00:02.739secs
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 00:14.436
4. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 00:17.914
5. Jenson Button (GB) BAR 00:40.264
6. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 01:15.322
7. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 01:16.567
8. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 01:19.212
9. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 01:20.851
10. Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber 1 lap
11. Mark Webber (Aus) Williams 1 lap
12. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Williams 1 lap
13. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1 lap
14. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) Sauber 1 lap
15. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1 lap
16. Takuma Sato (Jap) BAR 2 laps
17. Tiago Monteiro (Por) Jordan 2 laps
18. Christijan Albers (Net) Minardi 3 laps
19. Patrick Friesacher (Aut) Minardi 4 laps


Did not finish: Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) Jordan 50 laps completed

Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:14.412
2 16 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:14.521
3 9 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:14.559
4 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:14.572
5 4 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 1:14.655
6 2 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 1:14.832
7 6 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:14.887
8 3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 1:15.051
9 10 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:15.406
10 12 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 1:15.566
11 11 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 1:15.699
12 17 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:15.771
13 7 Mark Webber Williams-BMW 1:15.885
14 8 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW 1:16.207
15 14 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1:16.434
16 15 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 1:16.547
17 19 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota 1:17.857
18 20 Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth 1:17.960
19 18 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota 1:18.047
20 21 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 1:18.335

BMW buys Sauber to form own team

Sauber have become the latest team to be owned by a car maker
German car manufacturer BMW has bought the Swiss Formula One team Sauber.
BMW said its decision to run its own team in the world championship for the first time from 2006 was its best chance of achieving success in F1.

BMW said it would be happy to continue supplying engines to Williams, with whom it has a deal until 2009.

"We want to discuss the future options with Williams in order to find the right way forward for both sides," said BMW board member Burkhard Goeschel.

The relationship between Williams and BMW, which started promisingly in 2000, has deteriorated in recent months.

"Regrettably, sadly, the relationship has been just too hostile for too long," said team boss Frank Williams on 10 June.

Success can only be achieved with a fully-integrated team

Mario Theissen
BMW motorsport director
"It makes life very difficult. It does not compare well with (previous) Renault or Honda relationships, which we regret."

Williams director of engineering Patrick Head and BMW director of motor sport Mario Theissen criticised each other in the media before the Canadian Grand Prix.

Williams said they had no comment on the Sauber deal.

The name of the team, the driver line-up and identity of key personnel will be resolved by 1 January 2006, when BMW officially takes control.

Theissen, who describes BMW's investment as "a co-operation", revealed the company had no intention of taking over Sauber before talks over an engine supply for next season began.

He said: "It was a long-term process. Since last season we set down and considered what we could do.

"Success can only be achieved with a fully-integrated team.

SAUBER FACTFILE
1993: Peter Sauber forms his F1 team using a car built in Switzerland and a Mercedes engine
1995: Ford replace Mercedes as engine suppliers.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen scores Sauber's first podium with third place in Italy
1996: Johnny Herbert joins Frentzen and takes third in Monaco
1997: Malaysian oil giant Petronas join the team as principal sponsor
2001: Sauber sign Kimi Raikkonen and finish with a career-best fourth in the constructors' championship
2005: June 22 - BMW buy into Sauber
"At the beginning of year we started talks with Sauber, at the time we were talking about engine supply next year.

"We found common ground. We believe Sauber offers a good basis and foundation to further develop the engines.

"We have decided to co-operate with Sauber as BMW. We are going to be in charge of the entire package.

"It will be a fully-integrated team, a team distributed among two locations, BMW in Munich and we will not only preserve the Hinwil location but we will also expand it."

Outgoing team boss Peter Sauber said: "I am going to give up operative management of this company. I will give advice to BMW and my team.

"For Sauber, the partnership with BMW is an ideal solution as it supports the two goals which have always been paramount for me.

"Firstly, to offer the team the possibility of improving their sporting performance and secondly, to safeguard the site at Hinwil and the jobs of today's 300-strong workforce.

"The partnership with BMW guarantees continuity. I know it will give the workforce a very good outlook."

Sauber's decision means the end for another of F1's independent teams - only Williams, Red Bull, Minardi and Jordan are now not either owned or part-owned by a major motor manufacturer.

BMW said it had not been put off by the political rows rocking F1.

Seven teams and five car manufacturers - including BMW - have threatened to set up a rival championship in 2008 if they are not given more say in the running of the sport and a greater share of its revenues.

I think BMW will struggle as they will have to build a whole new car

From GR1978
Have your say on Five Live
"We anticipate that Formula One will emerge strengthened from the current restructuring phase and that it will continue to represent the top echelon of motorsport for the future," said Goeschel.

Sauber began life in F1 in 1993 with backing from BMW's bitter German rivals Mercedes.

But Mercedes backed out of the Sauber link up in 1995 to join forces with McLaren, leaving Ford to take over as engine supplier.

Source : BBC SPORTS

Sunday's US Grand Prix could yet be cancelled after Michelin advised teams using its tyres not to take part.
Michelin has suggested the seven teams not race unless Ralf Schumacher's tyre failure in practice on Friday can be explained or new tyres are allowed.
That would leave only six cars on the grid - from Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi - and rules state a race can be called off if there are less than 12 cars.
A tyre failure sent Schumacher smashing into a wall at Indianapolis on Friday.
Michelin were unable to "understand or reproduce" Schumacher's tyre failure.
The company wanted to fly in new tyres from its factory in France, but FIA rules prohibit the introduction of a new tyre part-way through a Grand Prix weekend
Renault chief Flavio Briatore said his team would not take part in the US GP if Michelin advised them not to.
"We fully support Michelin in this situation and in the efforts they are making to best resolve it," he said.
"They are flying out different tyres to use in the race, the same that were used for the Spanish Grand Prix.
We are worried - all of the Michelin teams
Fernando AlonsoChampionship leader
"The authorisation to use them has not yet been granted. If that were not given, we would not compete."
Championship leader Fernando Alonso also supported Michelin's stance - but said he thought it was unlikely a boycott would be necessary.
The Renault driver said: "We are worried - all of the Michelin teams are.
"If Michelin say it's not safe, the drivers would agree not to race, but this is an extreme option and this will not happen, never.
"I think this low (tyre) pressure some of the teams ran yesterday was some of the problem," he added.
Schumacher's team-mate, Ricardo Zonta, also suffered a similar blowout at a less critical part of the circuit.
Schumacher, who crashed at almost the same spot last year, was unhurt but was ruled out of the race after a medical.
Championship leaders Renault, McLaren, BAR, Williams, Red Bull, Toyota and Sauber all use Michelin tyres.
Only two of the 14 drivers using the French company's tyres set a timed lap in the first 45 minute session, the rest diverting through the pit lane rather than taking the final banked curve flat out.
However, all went out in the second, with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen setting the quickest time ahead of BAR's Jenson Button and Alonso.
We are actively pursuing the dispatch of (new) tyres to Indianapolis
Michelin
"There are many tyre problems across the pit lane," Alonso added.
"I think it's going to be a very risky race to start off with."
Michelin said they had been working with their experts in Clermont-Ferrand, France, to try to find a tyre that they knew would be safe for Indianapolis.
"We are in a process of discussing this possibility with the FIA (International Automobile Federation) and are actively pursuing the dispatch of these tyres to Indianapolis," the French manufacturer said.
There was no immediate comment from the FIA, but the sport's governing body did send a letter to the tyre makers and teams reminding them of their obligations to ensure safety after Raikkonen crashed out of this month's European Grand Prix.
Rules introduced this season force teams to use the same tyres for both qualifying and the race, and tyre selection for an event has to be made well before the weekend.
Champions Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi use Bridgestone tyres.
McLaren's Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya was fastest in the first session ahead of Ferrari's seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
Red Bull's David Coulthard was the only other Michelin driver to complete a timed lap. (Courtesy : BBC)

Winning Strategy : Trulli (Pic courtesy : BBC)

US Grand Prix qualifying results (Sat):
1 J Trulli (It) Toyota 1:10.625
2 K Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 1:10.694
3 J Button (GB) BAR 1:11.277
4 G Fisichella (It) Renault 1:11.290
5 M Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:11.369
6 F Alonso (Sp) Renault 1:11.380
7 R Barrichello (Brz) Ferrari 1:11.431
8 T Sato (Jpn) BAR 1:11.497
9 M Webber (Aus) Williams 1:11.527
10 F Massa (Brz) Sauber 1:11.555
11 JP Montoya (Col) McLaren 1:11.681
12 J Villeneuve (Can) Sauber 1:11.691
13 R Zonta (Brz) Toyota 1:11.754
14 C Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1:12.132
15 N Heidfeld (Ger) Williams 1:12.430
16 D Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1:12.682
17 T Monteiro (Por) Jordan 1:13.462
18 C Albers (Ned) Minardi 1:13.632
19 N Karthikeyan (Ind) Jordan 1:13.776
20 P Friesacher (Aut) Minardi 1:14.494

Ralf Schumacher will be fit to race in Sunday's US Grand Prix despite crashing in Friday's practice in almost the same spot where he crashed in the 2004 race.

The incident, caused by a puncture, halted the session and the Toyota driver went to hospital for a check-up.

Ralf said: "Thankfully I am feeling OK but that was quite a big accident."

McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya was quickest in both practice sessions with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen second and Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello third.

Toyota's Brazilian test driver Ricardo Zonta was second fastest in the morning with Renault's championship leader Fernando Alonso third.

Montoya and Alonso have the disadvantage of qualifying early on Saturday.

Reigning world champion Michael Schumacher posted the fourth fastest time in the afternoon session.

Lightning is supposed not to strike twice in the same place, but I guess that does not apply to me Ralf Schumacher

Briton David Coulthard was sixth fastest with a time of 1.12.076 for Red Bull while BAR's Jenson Button could only post the 15th fastest time in the afternoon.

Ralf Schumacher crashed at the banked final corner, the fastest section of the track, and his car spun, hit the wall and skidded across the track.

Richard Cregan, general manager of Toyota, said a sudden left tyre deflation led to the accident, as well as Toyota test driver Ricardo Zonta's practice shunt.

"Exactly the reasons for it, we're not sure yet," he said. "We're still trying to establish what happened, but certainly on both cases it's definitely tyre.

Last year he remained slumped in the cockpit and subsequent tests showed he had fractured his spine and he missed the next six races.

"Lightning is supposed not to strike twice the same place, but on this occasion I guess that does not apply to me," said Schumacher.

"I was approaching the last corner when I felt something go wrong on the left-hand side."

1 Kimi Raikkonen McLaren Mercedes M 2 Stops
2 Michael Schumacher Scuderia Ferrari B 3 Stops
3 Rubens Barrichello Scuderia Ferrari B 3 Stops
4 F Massa Sauber Petronas M 2 Stops
5 Mark Webber Williams BMW M 2 Stops
6 Ralf Schumacher Toyota M 2 Stops
7 David Coulthard Red Bull M 2 Stops
8 Christian Klien Red Bull M 2 Stops
9 J Villeneuve Sauber Petronas M 2 Stops
10 Tiago Monteiro Jordan B 3 Stops
11 Albers Minardi B 3 Stops
Out Jarno Trulli Toyota M Brake Failure
Out Juan P Montoya McLaren Mercedes M Black Flag
Out Jenson Button BAR M Wall Hit
Out Nick Heidfeld Williams BMW M Engine Failure
Out Christian Klien Red Bull M 2 Stops
Out Takuma Sato BAR M Hydraulic Failure
Out Friesacher Minardi B Hydraulic Failure
Out Fernando Alonso Renault M Wall Hit - Suspension damage
Out G Fisichella Renault M Hydaulic Failure
Out Narain Karthikeyan Jordan B Suspension Failure

Montreal is a cross between a street circuit
and a traditional road course
Juan Pablo Montoya heads to the Canadian Grand Prix, seeking his first podium position of the season. The Colombian certainly knows his way around the 4.361KM Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"You reach 297km/h in seventh gear along the short pit straight, before braking hard for the left-right weave of turns one and two. Located just before the pit lane exit, turn one is taken at 112km/h in third gear, and is immediately followed by the Coin Senna. This right-hand hairpin is negotiated at 80Km/h in second gear."

"You push hard on the throttle as you exit the Coin Senna for the short straight that leads to the chicane of turns three and four. You drop from 257km/h in fifth to negotiate the right-left flick at 131km/h in second."

"Exiting turn four, you sweep flat out through the long right-hand curve of turn five, reaching 273km/h in sixth before once again braking hard for the left-right flick of turns six and seven. The first left-hander is taken at 80km/h in second with your speed increasing to some 144km/h in third for the right of turn seven."

"Full on the throttle on the exit as you power along the Place de la Concorde, achieving speeds of up to 318km/h in seventh gear, before dropping back through the gears for the right-left sequence of turns eight and nine. Entering the bumpy braking zone under the bridge for turn eight, your speed decreases to 112km/h in third gear."

"The slightly faster turn nine follows and this can be taken at 128km/h, still in third gear. Exiting turn nine, you blast along the sweeping straight that leads to the L'Epingle hairpin. Having reached speeds of 257km/h in fifth gear, you brake hard for the 180- degrees right hander, which swings you round onto the Droit du Casino."

"Accelerating along the main straight, you reach 318km/h in seventh gear as you approach the hardest braking point on the track. You pull -3.8G as you brake sharply to negotiate the final two corners that take you back to the start-finish straight. The right-left complex of bends is negotiated at 115km/h in third gear and you have to be careful not to jump the kerbs too aggressively."

E.A.
Source McLaren Mercedes

Canadian track has been resurfaced ahead of the Grand Prix next sunday.

Williams BMW ,Heidfeld said 2005 Canadian GP would therefore be a new challenge for every driver and no one really knows what to expect.

A week after Canada , F1 would resume in Indianapolis, US which will mark the half way point of 19 race calender.

Alonso Celebrates

The Eventful Start

Alonso accepts title is in sight

EUROPEAN GP RESULT
Fernando Alonso celebrates victory in the European Grand Prix
1 F Alonso (Renault)
2 N Heidfeld (Williams)
3 R Barrichello (Ferrari)
4 D Coulthard (Red Bull)
5 M Schumacher (Ferrari)
6 G Fisichella (Renault)
7 JP Montoya (McLaren)
8 J Trulli (Toyota)

European Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso says he is on course to become Formula One's youngest world champion.

The 23-year-old has now won four of this year's seven Grands Prix and has a 32-point lead with 12 races to go.

"If we keep this consistency, every time we will have more and more points. It seems we can do it," he said.

F1's youngest world champion so far was Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, who was 25 when he won his first title with Lotus in 1972.

Under the current system, it will prove very hard for anyone to catch Alonso because a driver can pick up points even if he finishes in eighth place.

A win is worth 10 points, with second place earning eight.

Then it is six points for third, five for fourth and so on down to eighth place, which receives one point.


To be probably the best car on the grid again, is probably better news for the rest of the season than winning the race
Fernando Alonso
Alonso was pleased that Renault had recovered from a poor performance last weekend in Monaco, where they were unable to keep pace with Raikkonen after suffering major tyre problems.

"I am extremely happy, more than the victory I am happy because after fourth place at Monaco the team and I were not happy at all," he said.

"We had a very good car in Monaco and we didn't take as many points as we believed were possible.

"To be probably the best car on the grid again, to manage the tyres in the race, is probably better news for the rest of the season than winning the race."

Name Car Nat Points
1 Fernando Alonso Renault Spa 49
2 Kimi Raikkonen McLaren Fin 27
3 Jarno Trulli Toyota Ita 26
4 Mark Webber Williams Aus 18
5= Nick Heidfeld Williams Ger 17
5= Ralf Schumacher Toyota Ger 17
7= Giancarlo Fisichella Renault Ita 14
7= Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren Col 14
9 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Ger 12
10 David Coulthard Red Bull GB 10
11 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari Brz 9
12 Alexander Wurz McLaren Aut 6
13 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber Can 5
14 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren Spa 4
15 Christian Klien Red Bull Aut 3
16 Felipe Massa Sauber Brz 2
17 Vitantonio Liuzzi Red Bull It 1

Constructors' world championship
Team Points
1 Renault 63
2 McLaren 51
3 Toyota 43
4 Williams 35
5 Ferrari 21
6 Red Bull 14
7 Sauber 7

Standings updated after BAR stripped of points won at San Marino Grand Prix

Kimi Raikkonen claimed a lights-to-flag victory in the Monaco Grand Prix for his second successive win this season.

The Finn beat Williams' Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber into second and third.

Heidfeld took second with seven laps remaining when he passed Renault's championship leader Fernando Alonso, who was passed moments later by Webber.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was off the pace and finished seventh behind brother Ralf, while David Coulthard retired on lap 25 after a five-car jam.

Afterwards race winner Raikkonen said: "A few years ago I came close to winning but couldn't get past Montoya.

"This time I did it and I'm very happy because it's such a special place."

The Finn started alongside Alonso on the grid but got away the better of the two. After a steady first few laps, he upped the tempo to pull well clear of his Spanish rival.

But the race changed dramatically on lap 24 when Minardi driver Christijan Albers spun causing a pile-up behind him.


It could have been better for me but this is very good for the team
Mark Webber David Coulthard had no choice but to come to an abrupt halt, with an unsighted Michael Schumacher ploughing into the Scot and ending his race.

Rubens Barrichello and Juan Pablo Montoya were among the other drivers caught up in the resulting melee.

Schumacher, though, rejoined the race after replacing his nose can as the safety car was employed to clear the track.

Renault pair Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella also opted to come in for their only pit stop of the race at the same time.


As a result, they both struggled late in the race, with the heavy fuel load causing the rear tyres to wear more rapidly.

Alonso held off the double Williams attack of Heidfeld and Webber for as long as possible, until Heidfeld found a way through coming out of the tunnel on lap 71.

Webber twice tried his luck on the ensuing laps and finally passed to put two Williams drivers on the podium.

Webber added: "It could have been better for me but this is very good for the team."

Alonso nearly dropped further down the order as Montoya, who had been forced to start from the rear of the grid for his role in a practice crash, battled to find a way through.

The Colombian, though, failed to get through as Alonso, Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello finished within a second of each other for fourth to eighth places.

Monaco Grand Prix results:
1. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:45:15.556
2. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Williams +13.887 seconds
3. Mark Webber (Australia) Williams +18.484
4. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault +36.487
5. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) McLaren +36.647
6. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota +37.177
7. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari +37.223
8. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari +37.570
9. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber +1 lap
10. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota +1 lap
11. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) Sauber +1 lap
12. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault +1 lap
13. Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) Jordan +3 laps
14. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) Minardi +5 laps

We couldnt make the review as we had our exams but we hope this would do

Lap 66: Raikkonen takes the chequered flag to claim his first victory of the season. The brilliant Finn was dominant from start to finish.

Home hero and championship leader Fernando Alonso takes second with Toyota's Jarno Trulli completing the podium, 0.7 seconds ahead of team-mate Ralf Schumacher.

Giancarlo Fisichella celebrates overtaking Mark Webber for fifth by setting the fastest lap of the race.

McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya and Red Bull's David Coulthard take seventh and eighth.

Lap 63: Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella eases past Mark Webber's Williams to take fifth.

Lap 62: There are several intriguing battles away from leader Raikkonen. Ralf Schumacher is still pressing team-mate Jarno Trulli for third, Giancarlo Fisichella is closing on Mark Webber in fifth while David Coulthard in eighth is under pressure from Rubens Barrichello.

Lap 60: With six laps remaining, Kimi Raikkonen continues his serene progress at the front. He has a 22-second lead over Fernando Alonso.

Lap 57: Juan Pablo Montoya has to stop for a third time to refuel, dropping him back to seventh.

Lap 55: McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, currently fifth, is making a desperate bid to catch up on the Toyotas ahead of him. He's the fastest man on the track.

Lap 52: Sauber's Jacques Villeneuve completes another disappointing weekend by retiring.

Jarno Trulli pits and rejoins just ahead of Toyota team-mate Ralf Schumacher.

Lap 51: There is a real battle between Toyota team-mates Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli for third and a podium finish. Schumacher pits at the end of the lap.

Lap 49: Race leader Raikkonen comes in for his second pitstop and gets back out without losing his position.

He is followed in by second-placed Alonso.

Lap 46: Michael Schumacher's race is run as his left front tyre gives up the ghost and his Ferrari limps round to the pits and into the garage.

His retirement promotes Trulli's Toyota to third.

Lap 44: Michael Schumacher's victory prospects suffer a big blow as he comes in from third for a tyre change.

Leader Raikkonen laps McLaren team-mate Montoya, who is running eighth.

Lap 42: Raikkonen is making relentless progress in the McLaren.

He now leads Alonso by almost 30 seconds, with Schumacher a further 10 adrift in third.

Lap 40: Fisichella's promising race is ruined as he has to come in from second place for a new front wing and drops down to 13th.

His team-mate Alonso benefits as he moves up to second, with Michael Schumacher third.

Lap 39: Alonso is running well again after his stop, putting pressure on team-mate Fisichella for second place.

Lap 38: Leader Raikkonen laps Barrichello's Ferrari, but is not pleased with how long it takes the Brazilian to give way.

Lap 35: With the race settling back down after the first round of stops, it is looking very good for Raikkonen.

He has a 25-second lead over Fisichella, who has made big gains to move up to second ahead of team-mate Alonso.

Michael Schumacher is now well poised in the Ferrari in fourth.

Lap 34: Barrichello gets past half distance before making his stop from seventh place in the Ferrari. It is possible he may not need to come in again.

Lap 33: Michael Schumacher has reaped the benefits of his strategy as he is now fourth.

Lap 31: Michael Schumacher sets another fastest lap before making a late first stop.

He looks sure to gain at least one place as Montoya has been forced to make two stops in the McLaren in the space of as many laps.

Lap 28: Fisichella makes his stop and gets out in front of team-mate Alonso.

Michael Schumacher sets a fastest lap in the Ferrari as he nears the end of his stint.

Lap 27: Alonso makes his stop, and the team make adjustments to the tyre pressures.

His team-mate Fisichella is running very well and looking to make up places as he delays his stop.

Lap 26: Trulli has managed to get ahead of Toyota team-mate Ralf Schumacher in the pit stops.

Lap 25: Leader Raikkonen makes his first pit stop and gets out ahead of second-placed Alonso.

The Toyota's of Ralf Schumacher and Trulli have also made their stops.

Lap 24: World champion Michael Schumacher has yet to show the searing pace he had at Imola. He is not troubling sixth-placed Montoya.

Lap 23: Alonso continues to come under pressure from Ralf Schumacher. The Spaniard's Renault team-mate Fisichella is lapping much quicker than him.

Lap 22: Raikkonen's lead over Alonso is now over 20 seconds. Barring a reliability problem, the Finn looks set for his first win of the season.

Lap 19: Ralf Schumacher has closed the gap on second-placed Alonso to under a second as the Spaniard's Renault struggles for pace.

Lap 18: Webber's Williams is the first car to pit.

Lap 17: Raikkonen sets another fastest lap to increase his lead over Alonso by more than two seconds.

Lap 15: Raikkonen looks set to go into the first round of pitstops with a commanding advantage.

Lap 13: Friesacher's dismal race comes to an end as his car ends up in the gravel.

Lap 11: Raikkonen is running more than a second faster than second-placed Alonso.

The two Minardis are still running after stalling on the grid, but they are several laps down.

Lap 10: Raikkonen is still pulling clear at the front, while Ralf Schumacher is pressuring third-placed Webber.

Lap 9: Liuzzi's race comes to an end as he spins his Red Bull at turn 11 and goes off into the gravel trap.

Lap 8: Raikkonen contines to clock the fastest lap times as he stretches his lead over Alonso to more than five seconds.

Lap 7: Montoya spins his car but just manages to keep seventh place ahead of Michael Schumacher.

Lap 6: Leader Raikkonen sets a new circuit lap record.

Heidfeld and Barrichello, who started on the back row of the grid, are up to 12th and 14th respectively.

Lap 5: Raikkonen's lead over Alonso is now three seconds.

Lap 4: Raikkonen continues to set the pace, while Coulthard tries to pressure Michael Schumacher for eighth.

Lap 3: Raikkonen is running very well at the front as he sets about building his lead over home favourite Alonso.

Lap 2: Leader Raikkonen gets away well as the safety car pulls off the track, and McLaren team-mate Montoya reclaims seventh place from Michael Schumacher's Ferrari.

Lap 1: Raikkonen moves away smoothly from pole and into the lead, but Alonso and Ralf Schumacher get the jump on Webber to take second.

Michael Schumacher gets ahead of Montoya to move up a place to seventh.

The Minardis of Albers and Friesacher both stall on the grid, and the safety car comes out.

BAR team boss Nick Fry said: "We're examining our options. Our objective is to race this weekend.

"We have some of the best sporting lawyers in Britain and probably the world working on this now.

"If we're to race this weekend we need to get some judgement from a court pretty soon on Friday." First practice for the race starts at 1000 BST.

BAR reacted angrily after being banned for two races for running an underweight car at the San Marino GP.

"BAR Honda is appalled at the decision and asserts that the judgment is contrary to all of the evidence heard," Fry said after the appeal court of the FIA, the world governing body, handed out the punishment on Thursday.

"The team proved it complied with the current regulations and the FIA now acknowledges that the regulations are unclear," said Fry.

"While the International Court of Appeal rejected the FIA's original accusations of fraud and deception, BAR Honda says that this penalty is wholly and grossly disproportionate."

The ruling, which included a six-month ban suspended for a year, was the toughest sanction taken against a Formula One team for 20 years.

The team have been excluded from the Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix, and stripped of the 10 points Jenson Button and Takuma Sato picked up for finishing third and fifth at Imola.

There is no further internal appeal process open to BAR, but Fry confirmed he is looking at other legal means to race in Barcelona this weekend, raising the prospect of a civil court action.


But F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he felt BAR were lucky not to have been excluded for longer and warned Fry he would be unwise to sue.

"I thought it was a very fair thing to do to be honest. I feel they got off quite lightly."

Having reviewed the evidence, the stewards considered that it was an unsafe manoeuvre and applied a 25-sec penalty to him, who finished in eighth place. However, Toyota are appealing the decision.

"In view of the extremely vague description of the regulation and a number of similar incidents which have gone unpunished, Toyota has decided to appeal the decision of the stewards in order to clarify this issue for the future," explained Tsutomu Tomita.

If Toyota’s appeal fails, Schumacher will drop out of the points in the San Marino GP and Heidfeld will gain one point by moving to eighth place.

Fernando Alonso takes victory at Bahrain Grand Prix with Jarno Trulli taking 2nd place on the podium. McLaren making their come back with a 3rd place at Bahrain. Kimi Raikkonen and Pedro Dela Rosa finish 3rd and 5th respectively.

Michael Schuamcher had some mechanical failure inbetween 20-30 lap and had to retire from the race. Schuamcher was on second place and was looking strong as he was just 0.6 s behind Fernando Alonso. Rubens Barrichello started from 20th place on the grid and had only done 2 laps of Bahrain International Circuit before the race. Barrichello had a major gearbox problem due to which he couldn't perform any lap on the circuit and the team had no spare car. F2005 was looking strong and we could expect a real good results from it.

More to follow up..........

More dramas behind the scenes for Juan Pablo Montoya. McLaren Mercedes has confirmed this morning that Juan Pablo Montoya is unable to take part in the Bahrain Grand Prix this coming weekend, as a result of an injury he sustained whilst playing tennis during the Easter weekend.

Montoya was playing tennis with his personal trainer in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday morning when he slipped and fell, sustaining a minor hairline fracture to his left scapula. Following a number of tests, scans and an examination by one of McLaren’s medical consultants, the team has been advised that Montoya should rest to allow for the injury to heal.

© BLOGF1
BLOGF1.blogspot.com

Yes its true , Ferrari have finalised their decision about the launch of their F2005 . Today Ferrari finally declared that F2005 will have its debut at next Bahrain Grand Prix.

This decision was made after Michael Schumacher had driven F2005 for the first time at Mugello circuit on Wednesday.

Now, its show time for Ferrari .

Lets see how is this new F2005 in comparsion to the previous 2004 car . Is Ferrari again coming back with that ultimate domination? We cannot answer this question right now but we have to wait for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Stay tuned to BlogF1 for more latest Updates happening in the world of Formula 1.

© Copyright 2005 BlogF1. All rights reserved.

Soundly beaten in the first 2 races ferrari scrambled to get its new racing car ready for the Bahrain GP. Schumacher tested his new Ferrari for the first time on Wed. In a hurried effort to get the car ready and improve on his poor start to the season. The testing was done at the mugello circuit. Barrichello who tested the car on Tuesday said"The first sensation is what matters. And i am very happy by how i felt at the wheel of the F2005."

Michael Schumacher has had a disappointing start to the season
Schumacher admits to title fears
Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone has admitted that Ferrari's poor showing in Malaysia is down to them.

World champion Michael Schumacher came seventh in last weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix while also failing to finish in the opening race in Australia.

"The responsibility for such a negative result is undoubtedly down to our tyres," said Bridgestone's technical director Hirohide Hamashima.

"We have learnt a lot from this defeat and we are ready to respond."

Ferrari are currently in fourth place in the constructors championship with 10 points, 16 behind Renault, while Schumacher is in 11th place in the standings with two points.

Renault have won both races so far this season and are one of the seven teams in Formula One that use Michelin tyres.

"The fact that Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli lapped a couple of seconds faster than us is certainly not explainable by different fuel loads," Hamashima added in Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There are no attenuating circumstances, it was a lesson for us but a healthy one.

"Obviously we have had long discussion with Ferrari to create tyres of a new generation and we are counting on having found some that will allow us quickly to be competitive again."

Ferrari are still using last year's car but will test their new F2005 before deciding whether to introduce it at the Bahrain GP on 3 April.

Source : BBC UK

Narain has recived a special invitation to come to Bahrain from the Royal Family before the grand prix

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT




Qualifying : 02 April 2005
Race : 03 April 2005



Last Year's Result at Bahrain
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

01. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1h28'34"875
02. BARRICHELLO Ferrari + 0'01"300
03. BUTTON BAR + 0'26"600
04. TRULLI Renault + 0'38"500
05. SATO BAR Honda + 1'00"500
06. ALONSO Renault + 1'01"300
07. R.SCHUMACHER Williams + 1'09"800
08. WEBBER Jaguar 1 lap(s)
09. MONTOYA Williams 1 lap(s)
10. PANIS Toyota 1 lap(s)
11. DA MATTA Toyota 1 lap(s)
12. FISICHELLA Sauber 1 lap(s)
13. MASSA Sauber 1 lap(s)
14. KLIEN Jaguar 1 lap(s)
15. HEIDFELD Jordan 1 lap(s)
16. PANTANO Jordan 2 lap(s)
17. BRUNI Minardi 5 lap(s)

Retirements:
COULTHARD McLaren 50 laps completed
BAUMGARTNER Minardi 44 laps completed
RAIKKONEN McLaren 7 laps completed

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© 2005 BlogF1. All rights reserved.

A brief Review : Chequered flag Malaysian Grand Prix
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The hottest race in formula-1 surely brought some hot results too in 2005 season.
In the starting itself Alonso made a quick start from the grid. Jarno Trulli had some problems in the first corner when both the renault's sandwitched him in between. But, Trulli managed to hold on to his position.

Both the BAR Honda : Davidson and Jenson Button suffered an engine failure on the opening lap of the race with Minardi's Friesacher having an engine failure in the next lap. Dramas for Melbourne race winner Fisichella and Mark Webber ,when they both collided with each other at the last corner of Sepang ,when Fisichella tring to defend his position braked late at the corner resulting in retirement of both the drivers. Nick Heidfeld took full advantage of that with managing a place at podium.

But it was not over yet, Raikkonen in his McLaren had suffered a left rear puncture but he managed to move into the pits and get a replacement done and joined the track way behind the pack. Michael Schumacher from 14th place on the grid managed a reasonable of 7th at the end finishing just ahead of Klien in his Red Bull. Rubens Barrichello retired because of some handling problems in the car. After 10 laps of his first pits stop he came back for another stop as he wasn't happy with the car's handling. After these 2 stops he retired from the race.

Raikkonen had some chance in the end for finishing in points but Klien managed to have 8th at the end.

Scroll down for Results ....

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Mark Webber in happier times (before crashing)

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Alonso claimed a fine victory

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Sunday morning qualifying had almost the same results as saturday's qualifying results. On aggregate timing , Alonso is on pole with Toyota of Trulli making up the first row of the grid. Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher lines up way down the grid with 13th place behind his team mate Rubens Barrichello ( 12th on the grid ) and Montoya (11th on the grid ).

RESULTS QUALIFYING 2 : SEPANG
------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Fernando Alonso Renault 3:07.672

2 Jarno Trulli Toyota 3:07.925

3 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 3:08.448

4 Mark Webber Williams-BMW 3:08.904

5 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 3:09.007

6 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 3:09.483

7 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 3:09.589

8 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 3:09.700

9 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 3:09.832

10 Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW 3:09.917

11 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 3:10.090

12 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 3:11.502

13 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 3:11.633

14 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 3:11.884

15 Anthony Davidson BAR-Honda 3:11.890

16 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 3:12.995

17 Narain Karthikeyan Jordan-Toyota 3:17.656

18 Tiago Monteiro Jordan-Toyota 3:17.962

19 Patrick Friesacher Minardi-Cosworth 3:21.186

20 Christijan Albers Minardi-Cosworth 3:23.001

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© 2005 BlogF1. All rights reserved.

Renault and Toyota dominate at malaysia with Alonso at pole position. Melbourne winner, Fisichella qualify's with 3rd in first qualifying. Red bull pulling out a surprize with both the cars ahead of Ferrari. Mclaren a good job with 4th and 7th on the grid with Raikkonen ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello not performing well at Malaysian Grand Prix 2005. Schumacher and Barrichello line up 12th and 14th on the grid.

Ferrari are still with their 2004 updated model. After such disappointing results for Ferrari they have to think again for bringing out their 2005 model soon. Narain Karthikeyan with his Jordon qualify's in 17th place ahead of his team mate by 0.050s.

We still eagerly wait for the race to bring on this Sunday. Stay tuned to this blog for more formula 1 update. For more details log on to f1.com





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RESULT :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysia: Qualifying 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* TOP TEN QUALIFYING 1

* 1 Alonso Renault
* 2 Trulli Toyota
* 3 Fisichella Renault
* 4 Raikkonen McLaren
* 5 R Schumacher Toyota
* 6 Webber Williams
* 7 Montoya McLaren
* 8 Heidfeld Williams
* 9 Button B.A.R
* 10 Klien Red Bull

( Ferrari )
* 12 M Schumacher Ferrari

* 14 Barrichello Ferrari

Pictures Courtesy : UpdateSport.com

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© Copyright 2005 BlogF1. All rights reserved.

<.-:| TEJAS MEHROTRA |:-.>
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Will he be caught napping again ?

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RACE RESULTS - SEPANG 2004

1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 56 1:31:07.490 1 10

2 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW 56 +5.0 secs 4 8

3 Jenson Button BAR-Honda 56 +11.5 secs 6 6

4 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari 56 +13.6 secs 3 5

5 Jarno Trulli Renault 56 +37.3 secs 8 4

6 David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes 56 +53.0 secs 9 3

7 Fernando Alonso Renault 56 +67.8 secs 19 2

8 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas 55 +1 Lap 11 1

9 Cristiano da Matta Toyota 55 +1 Lap 10

10 Christian Klien Jaguar-Cosworth 55 +1 Lap 13

11 Giancarlo Fisichella Sauber-Petronas 55 +1 Lap 12

12 Olivier Panis Toyota 55 +1 Lap 14

13 Giorgio Pantano Jordan-Ford 54 +2 Lap 18

14 Gianmaria Bruni Minardi-Cosworth 53 +3 Lap 16

15 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda 52 +4 Lap 20

16 Zsolt Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth 52 +4 Lap 17

Ret Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 40 Transmission 5

Ret Nick Heidfeld Jordan-Ford 34 Transmission 15

Ret Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW 27 Engine 7

Ret Mark Webber Jaguar-Cosworth 23 Spin 2

Fastest Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya 1:34.223

NEXT RACE ON CALENDAR ( 20th March 2005). PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX - SEPANG.

"I was quite conservative, I never pushed the limit."
Michael Schumacher’s hopes of a fifth Melbourne win disappeared on lap 43 when his Ferrari and the Williams-BMW of Nick Heidfeld tangled on the way out of Turn 6.
The race was shortened by one lap to 57 when Kimi Raikkonen’s McLaren-Mercedes was unable to get off the start line, the Finn being pushed away to start from pit lane. Mark Webber put aside the pressures of the build-up to his home-race debut with Williams-BMW to score three fine points for fifth place in an entertaining start to the new-look F1 season.
But the team that really made the headlines was Renault, underlining the promise of pre-season testing with first and third places for Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso respectively.
Popular Italian Fisichella, 32, confirmed his provisional pole in the morning’s second qualifying session and went on to a dominant win - only the second of his 142-race career - from the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello.
"It’s a great day for me," said the 32-year-old Fisichella, "a fantastic race".

While Fisichella raced into the lead from Jarno Trulli's Toyota, Scottish veteran David Coulthard blasted off the grid in his Red Bull Racing RB1 to go third with Webber on his coat-tails.
While Webber was able to hang on for the first half of the race, the Williams lacked the front-runners’ outright pace and the Australian did well to claim his eventual fifth.
Juan Pablo Montoya was sixth in his McLaren debut, Raikkonen recovering superbly to come home eighth behind the other RBR of Christian Klien.
Christijan Albers in the Minardi was the only driver to retire, with the 17 cars classified the highest number since the Grand Prix came to Melbourne.

Courtesy : GrandPrix.com.au

Kimi Raikkonen.Australian Qualifying Session 1 . Although most of the drivers were struggling on wet track , Raikkonen managed 10th place on the grid. Our Indian hero , Narain managed 9th place ahead of Raikkonen . Michael Schumacher was on the 2nd last row of the grid.

01Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1'33.171
02Jarno Trulli Toyota +2.099
03Mark Webber Williams +3.546
04Jacques Villeneuve Sauber +3.813
05Christian Klien Red Bull Racing +4.315
06David Coulthard Red Bull Racing +5.149
07Nick Heidfeld Williams +6.546
08Jenson Button BAR +8.341
09Narain Karthikeyan Jordan +11.186
10Kimi Raikkonen McLaren +11.826
11Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren +12.154
12Rubens Barrichello Ferrari+12.310
13Tiago Monteiro Jordan+13.675
14Fernando Alonso Renault +14.537
15Christijan Albers Minardi+16.059
16Patrick Friesacher Minardi+17.693
17Ralf Schumacher Toyota +18.324
18Michael Schumacher Ferrari+24.760
19Takuma Sato BAR-
20Felipe Massa Sauber-

The circuit was wet

McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa proved to be the fastest man in Friday practices for the Australian Grand Prix, as the team's third driver set a best time of 1:25.376 in the second session. The Spaniard was half a second faster than Red Bull's Vitanonio Liuzzi was in the morning. De la Rosa was followed in the afternoon by teammate Kimi Raikkonen and the Williams of Nick Heidfeld in second and third respectively.
Raikkonen, who did not set a time in the first session, was quickly out for the installation laps and it was Jordan third driver Robert Doornbos first on the time sheet. De la Rosa quickly took over, 1:29.589, and Toyota No.3 Ricardo Zonta slotted into third. Ralf Schumacher put his Toyota second but was immediately eclipsed by Zonta again.
David Coulthard was next to the top, 1:28.867 for the Red Bull and the team's third driver Liuzzi followed into second, with teammate Christian Klien in fifth. The pair of Jordan race drivers, Tiago Monteiro and Narain Karthikeyan were eighth and ninth, while Ralf posted quickest with a 1:28.850. Raikkonen rounded off the top ten in the first ten minutes.
McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa proved to be the fastest man in Friday practices for the Australian Grand Prix, as the team's third driver set a best time of 1:25.376 in the second session. The Spaniard was half a second faster than Red Bull's Vitanonio Liuzzi was in the morning. De la Rosa was followed in the afternoon by teammate Kimi Raikkonen and the Williams of Nick Heidfeld in second and third respectively.
Raikkonen, who did not set a time in the first session, was quickly out for the installation laps and it was Jordan third driver Robert Doornbos first on the time sheet. De la Rosa quickly took over, 1:29.589, and Toyota No.3 Ricardo Zonta slotted into third. Ralf Schumacher put his Toyota second but was immediately eclipsed by Zonta again.
David Coulthard was next to the top, 1:28.867 for the Red Bull and the team's third driver Liuzzi followed into second, with teammate Christian Klien in fifth. The pair of Jordan race drivers, Tiago Monteiro and Narain Karthikeyan were eighth and ninth, while Ralf posted quickest with a 1:28.850. Raikkonen rounded off the top ten in the first ten minutes.
Sauber had mixed fortunes; Massa was notably on the pace of the top six but Villeneuve was up and down the times rather raggedly. Toyota was also a bit sporadic and the Jordans, unsurprisingly, were the backmarkers. So far it looks to be developing into an interesting weekend in Melbourne. Final top eight classification: De la Rosa, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, M. Schumacher, Montoya, Massa, Alonso, Button.

Courtsey : Motorsport.com

Will Schumi get his hands on these (again) ???

Formula 1 cars parading in Melbourne

The following details what to look out for at the first race in Melbourne on March 6:

ENGINES
Engines must now last for two races, rather than just one, with any unscheduled change resulting in a 10-place penalty on the starting grid. That will put a premium on reliability.

"Every second grand prix is going to be tough, particularly Malaysia where we'll all be stepping into the unknown," says Williams' Australian driver Mark Webber.

The change is aimed at cutting costs and improving safety through reduced speeds. A two-race engine should be less powerful than one designed for half the distance.

QUALIFYING

Qualifying will be held over two days, with the final session on Sunday morning. The Sunday and Saturday times will be aggregated.

This will mean more action for the crowd at the circuit on Sunday but the starting grid and pole position will not be decided until shortly before the race.

AERODYNAMICS

Front wings have been lifted by 50mm, to reduce downforce, while the rear wings have been brought forward 150mm relative to the centre line between the rear wheels.

The diffuser at the rear becomes shallower, at around 40 percent the height of 2004 levels.

The changes, intended to cut downforce by about 25 percent to slow cars on safety grounds, should make cars 'twitchier' to drive and more spectacular to watch with less grip.

"The focus in the factory has been to recover that downforce and obviously it won't be until the early races of the season that we'll see how well each team has done," said Williams' co-owner Patrick Head.

Testing has seen teams experiment with innovative aerodynamic parts, notably McLaren with a horn-like wing on the engine cover.

TYRES

Tyres must last for qualifying and the race. The reason being that harder, and therefore more durable, tyres will reduce cornering speeds.

This means that pit stops will look very different, with fewer mechanics involved as cars take on fuel without tyre changes, and will be less frequent.

Tyres can be replaced in the event of a puncture or damage caused by debris, but not at a refuelling stop.

Drivers would previously have changed tyres two or three times during a race, after around 70 to 100 km, in carefully orchestrated pitstops.

They must now last around 350km.

All drivers will be allowed three sets of the same specification tyres for Saturday and Sunday. One will be used for Saturday practice, another for qualifying and the race while the third set is held back in case of a puncture.

"The driver who can look after his tyres best, and has the feel for how to maximise tyre performance over a full race distance, will undoubtedly gain a performance advantage," says Renault's engineering head Pat Symonds. "I think we will see a change in the rhythm of races this year."