European GP

[Jimster]

Yep, it's today.


How about that fucked up qualifying? Accidental red flag in Q3 meant that Klien and Villeneuve initially never got into Q2, but after appeals they both got thier times from thier disrupted flying laps allowed, though not enough to move Klien to Q3 and Villeneuve knocked Albers and Midland out of thier first Q2 slot.

Then in Q2 Fisichella had a go at Villenueve for supposedly blocking him.

Anyway, Alonso on pole, Schumi, Massa and Rubens making up the rest of the 1st and 2nd rows, McLarens nowhere to be seen in 5th and 9th (Well8th after Jaques' penalty)


Looking forward to the race!

[DinanM3_S2]

I wish I could watch it live but the time zone difference means I would be watching it at 4:30 AM. I love F1, but sleep comes first, I'll watch the replay at 9:30.

Schumacher and Massa have been fast in practice and the fact that they start together in 2nd and 3rd might give them an advantage on Alonso. Alonso hasn't had poll position all year and I read that he might be very light on fuel. Reliability might also play into the equation because I think Schumacher's engine is on its second race while Alonso has a fresh one, but I may be wrong. I'm glad to see Rubens up in 4th, with luck Honda will have a better race tomorrow. The McLarens have been running qualifying with a heavier fuel load so I'm not suprised about where they are starting. Villeneuve and I was so happy to see a BMW start 8th. What happened to Montagny with Aguri? 11+ seconds behind Sato and 15+ on the leaders is rediculous.

I hope Ferrari doesn't hold Massa back to slow down Rubens, Kimi, and Button. From a team perspective it would be alot better for them to cut him loose. With Fisichella starting so far back they could get do alot to catch up with Renault in the WCC and pass McLaren. I'm looking forward to this, I'll post again after the race.

[Jimster]

Montagny spun initially I think on cold tires and went back into the pits, was coming out for another try and all of a sudden the freak red flag came out, thus he never got a flying lap in.

[TRUBO_89]

Watched the race this morning. I must say that Shumi and Alonso put on another good show. I thought that ferrari should've taken the lead earlier during the first round of pit stops, but they got it right on the second round. Shumi laid the smack down with some impressive laps and took the lead from alonso after coming out of pit lane. Massa also got his first podium, so props out to him as well. It looks like ferrari is back on their game, but they're gonna have a hard time next race seeing its alonso's home ground. only one way to find out...

Also glad to see f1 on speed. finally listening to some intellegent people comentating on the race. CBS should stick to golf

[DinanM3_S2]

Well, the Europe GP proved that Imola wasn't a fluke. The Ferraris are both looking really fast, as is Alonso. Not a great weekend for McLaren, Kimi got 4th, but I can't help but think that he could have gotten up to 3rd or 2nd with a better strategy or a better car, JPM dropped out on lap 52. I think by far the best performance from the weekend was Nico Rosberg going from 22nd all the way up to 7th passing Villeneuve, Heidfeld, and Trulli who are all in what should be better cars. He is definitely rookie of the year and should get picked up by one of the stronger teams in the years to come. Again, Button should try to go to Renault next year, Honda is not looking good for him.

Schumacher and Ferrari are moving up the standings, but Alonso and Renault still have a good lead.
WDC
1) Alonso 44
2) Schumacher 31
3) Raikkonen 23
4) Fisichella 18
5) Massa 15
5) Montoya 15

WCC
1) Renault 62
2) Ferrari 46
3) McLaren-Mercedes 38
4) Honda 19
5) BMW-Sauber 11

The Spanish GP at Barcelona is next weekend. Its Alonso's home track, but he'll be on an old engine while the Ferrari's will have fresh V8s.

[RallyRaider]

Snoozefest of a race, apart from the two McLarens early on I saw no overtaking on a circuit that traditionally is possible to overtake.
Ferrari were the class of the field all weekend which is weird because the other Bridgestone runners don't appear to have improved in the same way. Oh well at least we now have someone to challenge Alonso and Renault because McLaren are disappointingly still off the pace. Wonder what Flavio thinks of Fisichella's latest performances? Maybe he could recall Webber from Williams for 2007?

[RallyRaider]

I suspect one of the reasons Alonso dropped back so much after losing the lead at the last pitstop was to drop the revs and save the engine for Barcelona. Just like last year, reliability will be Renault's main objective from now on.

[ales]

Originally Posted by RallyRaider

McLaren are disappointingly still off the pace.

It's not like they lack outright pace that much. Kimi set the second fastest lap of the race. It's that for some obscurest of reasons they relentlessly keep qualifying on heavy fuel load, even though that's yet to really work for them. At least they could try something different with one of the cars Then again ...

Originally Posted by RallyRaider

Wonder what Flavio thinks of Fisichella's latest performances?

I've always rated Fisico rather highly (more on gut feeling than results, really), but h's been without a doubt the biggest disapointment this season as far as I'm concerned. Having your race engineer come on the radio and say - was it Australia? - that his pace is too slow compared to Alonso and "we know you have some understeer, but come on!" must be at least very embarassing. And to think that he's supposed to be the team leader, replacing departing Alonso. While, ultimately, his fastest lap at Nurburgring wasn't taht much slower than Alonso's, his finishing position cannot be viewed as anything but disapointing. He has a car at his disposal that's so far been able to finish every race at least in second place.

A new rumour just appeared today about Flavio offering a lot of money to Kimi - 4 years and $143 million. In reality, Renault do need to find someone to replace Alonso, and Fisichella isn't it.

[RallyRaider]

Originally Posted by ales

It's not like they lack outright pace that much. Kimi set the second fastest lap of the race. It's that for some obscurest of reasons they relentlessly keep qualifying on heavy fuel load, even though that's yet to really work for them. At least they could try something different with one of the cars Then again ...

True, Alex but the sad fact is over the past few races McLaren are simply not fast enough when needed. Maybe it is because of the two race engine formula and "impossible" overtaking, 'cause it seems the leaders are being a lot more conservative with their pace this year and only "turning it on" when needed, witness Schumacher's in lap at Imola. Kimi had 5 or 6 laps at the Nurburgring to at the very least pass Massa but couldn't do it. That leads me to believe he and McLaren have less in reserve than Renault and now especially Ferrari. Of course I'd love to be wrong!

Originally Posted by ales

A new rumour just appeared today about Flavio offering a lot of money to Kimi - 4 years and $143 million. In reality, Renault do need to find someone to replace Alonso, and Fisichella isn't it.

Sounds better than some other rumours I've heard lately. If true, would that be more than Alonso's McLaren contract? Hardly seems fair, one (possibly two) WDCs means less than zero? Although hope springs eternal.

[DinanM3_S2]

Theres rumors that Ferrari, Renault, and even today Honda have all made offers for Kimi, not to mention that the McLaren guys have said that they would rather keep him and let go of JPM.

As a Ferrari fan I would like to see Kimi in red alongside Schumacher for a season or two. I would love to see those two duke it out. Kimi would be smart to go to Ferrari when the upcoming tire regulations allow for only 1 manufacturer, Bridgestone, and we all know how Ferrari does on Bridgestones. If I were looking for a team to win a championship with in 2007 or 2008, it would be Ferrari, especially since Renault and McLaren have been using Michelins and will have to make the switch. The teams that are already using Bridgestones will have a leg up in development in the next few years. Even if he isn't the #1 guy at Ferrari right away, it isn't like Schumacher has THAT many years left.

For the sport as a whole, it would probably be better for him to go to Renault. Two superstars on one team would upset the present balance in F1. I would much rather watch a three way competition between Schumacher and Ferrari, Alonso and McLaren, and Kimi and Renault then just one team dominating (as much fun as it was in 2004 ). One issue that leads me to disbelieve the Renault rumor is that they have have historically been pretty stingy when it comes to paying their drivers, even the really good ones.