There’s a discussion on the forums as to what the grid will look like on Sunday. Does anyone else find it a tad insane that after qualifying is over various news outlets (and our contributors) are all debating what the exact grid is going to be?
I like the new qualifying, I think it incorporates some interesting ideas. I do think it needs a rethink in certain aspects to bring more clarity to the results.
1 comment March 18th, 2006
Everyone here in the ivory towers at linksheaven.com would just like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very Happy St.Patrick’s Day.
We’ll do our best to keep you up to speed on all developments at Sepang over the festive weekend. However we can’t guarantee the sobriety of some of our Irish contingent, who might be a bit worse for wear *hiccup*.
Add comment March 17th, 2006
…….. and session number 2
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Davidson Honda (M) 1:35.041 14
2. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:35.388 + 0.347 30
3. Alonso Renault (M) 1:35.806 + 0.765 14
4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:35.924 + 0.883 22
5. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:36.132 + 1.091 15
6. Fisichella Renault (M) 1:36.182 + 1.141 14
7. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:36.617 + 1.576 17
8. Button Honda (M) 1:36.661 + 1.620 12
9. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:37.045 + 2.004 9
10. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:37.270 + 2.229 13
11. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:37.317 + 2.276 23
12. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) 1:37.418 + 2.377 7
13. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:37.457 + 2.416 28
14. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:37.463 + 2.422 12
15. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:37.590 + 2.549 22
16. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:37.603 + 2.562 8
17. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:37.695 + 2.654 20
18. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:37.831 + 2.790 23
19. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:37.926 + 2.885 21
20. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:38.081 + 3.040 5
21. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:38.205 + 3.164 6
22. Mondini MF1-Toyota (B) 1:38.256 + 3.215 20
23. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:38.644 + 3.603 10
24. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:38.918 + 3.877 20
25. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:39.105 + 4.064 28
26. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:39.416 + 4.375 20
27. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:41.549 + 6.508 22
28. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:43.164 + 8.123 16
Everyone came out for a few laps in this session. The main winners were Honda, Williams, Renault & Ferrari. The latter 2 set their times with their race cars. Alonso once again showing ominous speed. Massa continuing his nack for a good one off lap. Once again the Toyota’s showed that their new tyre choice has made inroads into the rest of the field. They will be looking to climb our power ranking this weekend. I’ve got €5 each way on Massa for a win this weekend at 25/1. He’s in a Ferrari so that’s gotta be worth a few quid 
1 comment March 17th, 2006
Let’s see what happened in 1st practice
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:34.946 19
2. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:35.733 + 0.787 22
3. Davidson Honda (M) 1:35.997 + 1.051 25
4. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:36.709 + 1.763 4
5. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:37.042 + 2.096 7
6. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:37.043 + 2.097 4
7. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:37.557 + 2.611 18
8. Doornbos Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:37.604 + 2.658 18
9. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:37.826 + 2.880 9
10. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:38.448 + 3.502 5
11. Jani Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:38.668 + 3.722 21
12. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:38.837 + 3.891 8
13. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:39.599 + 4.653 14
14. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) 1:39.899 + 4.953 8
15. Mondini MF1-Toyota (B) 1:40.092 + 5.146 22
16. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) 1:40.123 + 5.177 8
17. Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1:40.608 + 5.662 12
18. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:41.072 + 6.126 18
19. Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:43.449 + 8.503 19
20. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) No Time 1
21. Alonso Renault (M) No Time 2
22. Fisichella Renault (M) No Time 2
23. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) No Time 1
24. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) No Time 1
25. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) No Time
26. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) No Time
27. Barrichello Honda (M) No Time
28. Button Honda (M) No Time
The session was led by 3 test drivers, Williams continuing their impressive early season pace. Montoya was the first of the race drivers. Toyota look like they might be a little more on the pace this time around although there’s still a lot to do, and Friday practice can’t be a definitive guide. None of Renault, BMW, Williams or Honda sent their race drivers out in this session, preferring instead to save the engines for later in the weekend.
Add comment March 17th, 2006
We want this blog to have a flavour of everything that makes F1 great - from the deeply technical details to the racing action to the backroom gossip to the raw thrill of seeing it in the flesh.
Sadly not being a professional outfit with an expense budget(!) we can only occasionally manage to get along to a Grand Prix. If you have been to a grand prix and would like to write about the experience then we’d love to read your piece (and probably post it). Any “human interest” story would be interesting - a test day report, whether Super Aguri sent you an Easter egg, that time that Gerhard Berger ran off with your girlfriend. Send it on to us and we’ll take a look.
Add comment March 16th, 2006
I notice several F1 news sites (which I’m not going to name) are claiming that Jacques Villeneuve will suffer a 10 place penalty in Malaysia as a result of his engine failure in Bahrain. One is even suggesting that Fisichella can change his engine as his retirement wasn’t engine related. These are completely untrue.
The rules regarding engine changes are quite simple, especially the part saying when an engine can be changed without penalty:
Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first of the two Events for reasons beyond the control of the team or driver, may start the second with a different engine without a penalty being incurred.
That’s it. So clearly JV is entitled to change his blown engine without penalty. Equally Fisichella can replace his motor, not because his retirement wasn’t engine related, but purely because he never made it to the checkered flag.
David Coulthard is not so lucky - his engine expired on the slow-down lap after the end of the race. He will have a penalty in Malaysia.
If you see websites continuing to advance the idea that JV will suffer a penalty and/or a nonsense reason for Fisi avoiding it, I strongly suggest you take everything you read on that site with a pinch of salt. There is no excuse having something as straightforward as this incorrect.
3 comments March 14th, 2006
The updated F1 power rankings have now been posted in this thread on the linksheaven board. Go there to see if your favourite driver has climbed or fallen since pre-season, and leave a comment if you wish.
2 comments March 14th, 2006
Pitpass are reporting that Fuji has signed a multi-year deal to hold the Japanese GP from 2007.
It has been revealed that Fuji Speedway will replace Suzuka as host of the Japan Grand Prix from 2007.
According to The Yomiuri Shimbun, Bernie Ecclestone has signed a “multi-year” deal with the Toyota owned circuit, which hosted the Japan event in 1976 and 1977. Suzuka, which has hosted the Japan Grand Prix since 1987, is owned by Honda.
Not happy about this news if it’s true. We’ve lost the fan’s favourite track this year, and then from next year we lose the second favourite track.
Fuji had upgrade work done recently - guess which of our favourite circuit designers did the work…
Add comment March 13th, 2006
What a promising GP to start off the season. Lets take a look at the teams and see how they did on the day and over the weekend in total. There were some surprises, both bad and good, but in the end it was a familiar result. Not that that is a bad thing. It wasn’t quite that simple for our ‘nando…………
Continue Reading 2 comments March 13th, 2006
Classified:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Alonso Renault (M) 1h29:46.205
2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) + 1.246
3. Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) + 19.360
4. Button Honda (M) + 19.992
5. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) + 37.048
6. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) + 41.932
7. Rosberg Williams-Cosworth (B) + 63.043
8. Klien Red Bull-Ferrari (M) + 1:06.771
9. Massa Ferrari (B) + 1:09.907
10. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) + 1:15.541
11. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) + 1:25.997
12. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (M) + 1 lap
13. Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth (M) + 1 lap
14. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) + 1 lap
15. Barrichello Honda (M) + 1 lap
16. Trulli Toyota (B) + 1 lap
17. Monteiro MF1-Toyota (B) + 2 laps
18. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) + 4 laps
Not classified:
Driver Team On lap
Ide Super Aguri-Honda (B) 36
Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 30
Fisichella Renault (M) 22
Albers MF1-Toyota (B) 1
Fastest Lap: Rosberg, 1:32.408
1 comment March 12th, 2006
P DRIVER TEAM TIME 1. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m31.431s 2. MASSA Ferrari 1m31.478s 3. BUTTON Honda 1m31.549s 4. ALONSO Renault 1m31.702s 5. MONTOYA McLaren 1m32.164s 6. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m32.579s 7. WEBBER Williams 1m33.006s 8. KLIEN Red Bull 1m33.112s 9. FISICHELLA Renault 1m33.496s 10. HEIDFELD BMW 1m33.926s 11. VILLENEUVE BMW 1m32.456s 12. ROSBERG Williams 1m32.620s 13. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m32.850s 14. TRULLI Toyota 1m33.066s 15. LIUZZI Toro Rosso 1m33.416s 16. SPEED Toro Rosso 1m34.606s 17. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m34.702s 18. ALBERS MF1 1m35.724s 19. MONTEIRO MF1 1m35.900s 20. SATO Super Aguri 1m37.411s 21. IDE Super Aguri 1m40.270s 22. RAIKKONEN McLaren no time
Add comment March 11th, 2006
Friday session #2 results
P DRIVER TEAM TIME GAP 1 Davidson Honda 1.31.353 +0.000 2 MSchumacher Ferrari 1.31.751 +0.398 3 Wurz Williams 1.31.764 +0.411 4 Massa Ferrari 1.32.175 +0.822 5 Alonso Renault 1.32.538 +1.185 6 Liuzzi STR 1.32.703 +1.350 7 Doornbos RBR 1.32.926 +1.573 8 Fisichella Renault 1.33.215 +1.862 9 Button Honda 1.33.226 +1.873 10 Kubica BMW 1.33.244 +1.891 11 Klien RBR 1.33.557 +2.204 12 Raikkonen McLaren 1.33.577 +2.224 13 Montoya McLaren 1.33.726 +2.373 14 Heidfeld BMW 1.33.848 +2.495 15 Jani STR 1.33.900 +2.547 16 Speed STR 1.34.284 +2.931 17 Webber Williams 1.34.333 +2.980 18 Barrichello Honda 1.34.384 +3.031 19 Coulthard RBR 1.34.432 +3.079 20 Monteiro MF1 1.34.459 +3.106 21 Rosberg Williams 1.34.953 +3.600 22 RSchumacher Toyota 1.35.170 +3.817 23 Winkelhock MF1 1.35.686 +4.333 24 Trulli Toyota 1.35.898 +4.545 25 Villeneuve BMW 1.36.264 +4.911 26 Albers MF1 1.36.314 +4.961 27 Sato SAF1 1.37.588 +6.235 28 Ide SAF1 1.39.021 +7.668
Add comment March 10th, 2006
All the F1 teams have signed a testing agreement for this year.
It’s a 36-day limit, but teams can nominate a home track (in their home country) and a full day testing there will only count as half a day.
autosport.com add:
The testing deal also includes a summer testing ban and prevents teams from testing at Grand Prix venues before the races.
Add comment March 10th, 2006
Friday practice session #1 result
P Driver Team Time Gap 1. Kubica BMW 1.32.170 +0.000 2. Wurz Williams 1.32.184 +0.014 3. Raikkonen McLaren 1.33.388 +1.218 4. Schumacher Ferrari 1.33.469 +1.299 5. Klien RBR 1.34.800 +2.630 6. Jani STR 1.34.831 +2.661 7. Montoya McLaren 1.34.887 +2.717 8. Massa Ferrari 1.34.925 +2.755 9. Coulthard RBR 1.35.017 +2.847 10. Liuzzi STR 1.35.083 +2.913 11. Doornbos RBR 1.35.203 +3.033 12. Speed STR 1.35.731 +3.201 13. Monteiro MF1 1.36.452 +4.372 14. Albers MF1 1.36.930 +4.760 15. Winkelhock MF1 1.37.918 +5.748 16. Sato SAF1 1.38.190 +6.020 17. Ide SAF1 1.40.782 +8.612
So what can we take from that … if anything can be taking from the first practice session of the season?
Well seeing as the big boys were only finding their feet, the most interesting thing for me was how the minnows matched up, and the obvious battle between BMW and Williams too.
The fastest STR was 2.661 off the pace.
The fastest MF1 was 4.372 off the pace.
The fastest SAF1 was 6.020 off the pace.
The fastest race spec STR was 2.913 off the pace because we don’t know how Jani’s car was configured. It certainly seems as if there is a distinct gap between the 3 minnows. Midland and Aguri sure look to be planted at the bottom, and as expected Toro Rosso look to be able to mix it with the mid teams. Interesting that Jani was faster than 2 Red Bulls and as close as damn to Klien in the first RBR.
I am really looking forward to the battle between BMW and Williams. There’s so much pride at stake there. I think it’ll be the team battle of the season.
Add comment March 10th, 2006
|
||||
|
Add comment March 9th, 2006
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Feb | Apr » | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Feb | Apr » | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
