Linksheaven 2006 F1 Preview: MidlandF1
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Today: MidlandF1 |
Continue Reading 1 comment February 28th, 2006
Archive for February, 2006
Tuesday’s testing review
Renault went to the top of the timesheets on day 2 of testing in Valencia. The impressive Heikki Kovalainen beat Anthony Davidson’s Honda into 2nd place by less than a tenth of a second. The 2 McLaren’s of Raikkonen and de la Rosa were 3rd and 4th a further 3/10ths adrift. The Mac’s only seperated by 7/1000ths of a second despite de la Rosa using the V10 hybrid and Kimi using the 2006 MP4-21. The Williams’ completed the line-up by setting similar times to yesterday, but as everyone else improved they slip back.
Raikkonen, Kovalainen & Rosberg were the cause of the 3 red flags in today’s testing. All to do with mechanical faults.
Below are the times. Red Bull and Toyota join the action tomorrow.
Valencia
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:10.438 123
2. Davidson Honda (M) 1:10.532 146
3. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:10.827 73
4. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:10.834 109
5. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:11.268 69
6. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:11.561 85
At Mugello, Ferrari continued their testing. The weather was better today but both drivers still worked on their programmes - Michael on aero and Massa on reliability. Both drivers continue testing tomorrow.
Mugello
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:21.974 94
2. F.Massa Ferrari (B) 1:22.481 71
Super Aguri debuted the aerodynamic package they will be using in Bahrain today in a shakedown test at Silverstone. Unfortunately for them they ran into weather they wont be encountering in Bahrain - Snow !! They ran a few laps to make sure everything was fine then got in out of the cold 
Add comment February 28th, 2006
Monday’s testing review
Williams had a strong showing at Valencia on day 1. They were the only team to use their race drivers and Nico managed to outpace de la Rosa’s McLaren by 2/10ths although PdlR was putting in a mammoth 146 laps in an attempt to ascertain the Mercedes’ reliability. Webber was less than 1/10th slower than the McLaren in 3rd place. Renault’s Heikki Kovalainen was just another tenth behind Webber with McLaren’s Gary Paffett doing fuel consumption testing which resulted in a red flag when he intentionally ran out of fuel.
Valencia
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:11.030 85
2. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.238 146
3. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:11.327 67
4. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:11.450 54
5. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:13.055 71
Ferrari have kick-started their Mugello tests. It was rainy and foggy but Schu worked on the aero package while Massa worked on reliability.
Mugello
1. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:22.623 47
2. F.Massa Ferrari (B) 1:24.249 32
Add comment February 28th, 2006
Former drivers as team owners: Good Idea? (pt 1)
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Gerhard Berger’s recent purchase of 50% of the Scuderia Toro Rosso team leaves him as the latest ex-F1 driver to become a team owner. Joining Berger as a former driver / team owner is 2006 is former Japanese F1 driver Aguri Suzuki, with his Super Aguri effort
While this is not a particularly new or rare occurrence, in a Linksheaven investigative report we take a look at the varying successes of former drivers who, over the years, became team owners or principals. Today: Part 1 - Drivers named A-L |
Continue Reading Add comment February 27th, 2006
Friday’s testing review
The only significant thing to come out of Friday’s Barcelona test was the pace of Klien’s Red Bull. This is the first time this pre-season that we’ve really seen any sort of pace from the Red Bull cars. Here are the times.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Alonso Renault (M) 1:14.081 96
2. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:14.422 108
3. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:14.520 97
4. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:14.613 53
5. Davidson Honda (M) 1:15.107 129
6. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.829 41
7. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:16.024 100
8. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:16.288 41
9. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:16.687 5
10. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:18.130 68
11. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) no time 1
The Renault’s and Honda’s continued their good form although couldn’t go as quick as Thursday. Ralf Schumacher seemingly continued his form of creating more red flags than anyone else after spinning a few times. Klien as we can see was less than 6/10ths slower than the fastest time and Rosberg once again was the fastest of the Bridgestone drivers. That is the last of the testing in Barcelona. This week, apart from Ferrari at Mugello and Midland and Super Aguri at Silverstone, Valencia is host to the F1 teams (excluding BMW & Toro Rosso who do not test) as they finalise their preparations for the 2006 season.
Stay tuned to linksheaven for all the testing times and comments.
Add comment February 27th, 2006
Linksheaven 2006 F1 Preview: Scuderia Toro Rosso
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Today: Scuderia Toro Rosso |
Continue Reading Add comment February 27th, 2006
Linksheaven 2006 F1 Preview: Super Aguri
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Today: Super Aguri F1 |
Continue Reading 4 comments February 26th, 2006
Linksheaven 2006 F1 Preview: Key Moves
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Today: Key Moves |
Continue Reading 2 comments February 25th, 2006
Linksheaven 2006 F1 Preview: Politics
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Today: Politics |
Continue Reading 3 comments February 25th, 2006
Linksheaven 2006 F1 Preview: Rules
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Today: Rule Changes |
Continue Reading 4 comments February 25th, 2006
Linksheaven 2006 F1 Preview: Overview
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Today: Overview |
Continue Reading 1 comment February 25th, 2006
“Knockout” quals to knockout fair competition?
Love or hate the new qualification system it has already come under fire for some loopholes and aggrevating scenarios, but a new one seems to have gone on undetected
Continue Reading 4 comments February 24th, 2006
Thursday’s testing review
Firstly Barcelona
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Button Honda (M) 1:13.935 116
2. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:13.971 125
3. Alonso Renault (M) 1:13.977 113
4. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:14.266 119
5. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:14.588 131
6. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:15.475 80
7. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:15.774 83
8. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:15.973 97
9. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:16.034 54
10. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:16.057 103
11. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:16.128 97
12. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:16.923 55
13. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:17.142 79
14. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:19.787 58
A big day for Honda who raised the bar on the rest, going 2 seconds quicker than anyone had managed up to this point. Renault however were not far behind and Fisichella continues his form of edging his teammate in Barca. Barrichello rounded out the top 4 with the other Honda. Montoya was next with nearly a second over Kimi and all 3 teams did long runs. It was a good day for Williams and particularly Nico Rosberg who finally put his gremlins behind him to set the 7th fastest time with Ralf’s Toyota and DC’s Red Bull not far behind. The track was very quick today and there was significant movement today too. Just when it seemed like McLaren were nudging ahead on speed and Honda were waivering, Honda come back with a time like this. It must be said however that just as Kimi was about to finish his day with a qualifying run, Ralf’s engine caused a red flag and Kimi never got to do it, so we can wonder what would have happened.
Also, up to this point Williams had been nothing short of mediocre on this track. Today they showed good pace and have now overtaken BMW overall in pre-season. A special mention for Takuma Sato who has now got the Aguri team to within 6 seconds of the fastest time set this year. A brilliant achievement in my opinion, and more importantly they are within 3 seconds of the Midlands.
This just shows how accurate certain websites are. The website I use to see who is where on any given day told me McLaren were not in Barcelona yesterday. Oh well.
On to Imola
Pos. Driver Team Tires Time Laps
1 J. Villeneuve BMW Michelin 01:30.866 92
2 R. Kubica BMW Michelin 01:31.939 86
3 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso Michelin 01:38.290 34
Another wet day hampered both teams. Toro Rosso actually called a halt to their testing but BMW persevered. This can’t be helping either teams preparations. Imola has been soaking for days now and neither team has gotten a meaningful quick or long run in. At least they’ll have good wet data !
Today’s line-up is
Barcelona - Renault, Toyota, Williams, Honda, Red Bull
Imola - BMW
Add comment February 24th, 2006
Wednesday’s testing review
Starting where most of the action was ….
Barcelona
Pos. Driver Team Tires Time Laps
1 K. Räikkönen McLaren Michelin 01:15.223 96
2 G. Fisichella Renault Michelin 01:15.500 92
3 F. Alonso Renault Michelin 01:15.801 93
4 J. Button Honda Michelin 01:15.969 88
5 J. Trulli Toyota Bridgestone 01:16.193 93
6 R. Schumacher Toyota Bridgestone 01:16.381 47
7 R. Barrichello Honda Michelin 01:16.486 66
8 JP. Montoya McLaren Michelin 01:16.538 87
9 C. Klien Red Bull Michelin 01:16.927 35
10 D. Coulthard Red Bull Michelin 01:18.212 12
11 M. Webber Williams Bridgestone 01:18.265 88
12 C. Albers Midland F1 Bridgestone 01:19.300 28
13 T. Monteiro Midland F1 Bridgestone 01:20.381 35
14 Y. Ide Super Aguri Bridgestone 01:24.455 43
McLaren are now showing the kind of pace they need. Kimi set the fastest Barcelona time so far this year, and ran 96 laps in doing so. Fisichella will be encouraged by outpacing Alonso, and both Renault’s were close behind the Mac. Button will be hoping to get back up there today. Toyota went almost a second faster than they have managed so far this season and Red Bull came close to their best. Let’s hope Williams were not using outright pace although the Midland’s will be happy enough. Kudos to Super Aguri for running 43 laps and almost getting to within 4 seconds of the Midlands.
The testing calendar tells me that this has concluded McLaren’s pre-season testing. They are not scheduled for any more testing, but I’ll wait and see if that’s true. Everyone else continues their Barcelona testing today.
Onto Imola where Toro Rosso were joined by BMW
Pos. Driver Team Tires Time Laps
1 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso Michelin 01:29.087 48
2 J. Villeneuve BMW Michelin 01:30.804 57
3 R. Kubica BMW Michelin 01:32.553 53
4 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso Michelin 01:33.410 44
The senior Toro Rosso drivers took charge today and Liuzzi continued his form of whupping his teammate so far this pre-season - this time by 4.4 seconds. He also went 7 seconds faster than Jani managed yesterday. In the process he comfortably beat Jacques Villeneuve by 1.8 seconds and the BMW test driver Robert Kubica who was a further 1.7 seconds adrift of Jacques. Again we’re left guessing as to the exact pace of the STR cars. Sometimes they are down with the Midland’s and the next minute they’re beating BMW. These 2 teams continue their tests today.
Add comment February 23rd, 2006
John Michael Edwards update
JohnMichaelEdwards.com - Linksheaven Forums
Just an update…
I’m leaving for Germany tomorrow, arriving Friday and going to Austria Saturday for a week of training at the Red Bull Training Center in Thalgau. After that, I have a couple weeks in Oschersleben, Germany before our first Eurocup test in Misano, Italy on 16 and 17 March. My website will be updated soon, we just switched to a different company to update it, but my year schedule should be up by next week sometime. Check back at JohnMichaelEdwards.com
Thanks for all your support,
John Edwards
Add comment February 22nd, 2006
