*** 2006 Grand Prix of Europe ***

[Toronto]

Friday 5
May
11:00-12:00 Friday Practice 1
14:00-15:00 Friday Practice 2

Saturday 6
May
11:00-12:00 Saturday Practice
14:00 Qualifying

Sunday 7
May
14:00 Race

RACE
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points

1 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 60 1:35:58.765 2 10
2 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 60 +3.7 secs 1 8
3 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 60 +4.4 secs 3 6
4 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 60 +4.8 secs 5 5
5 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 60 +72.5 secs 4 4
6 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 60 +74.1 secs 11 3
7 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 60 +74.5 secs 22 2
8 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 60 +89.3 secs 9 1
9 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 59 +1 Lap 7
10 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 59 +1 Lap 13
11 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 59 +1 Lap 17
12 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 59 +1 Lap 18
13 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 59 +1 Lap 16
Ret 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 52 Engine 10
Ret 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 52 Engine 8
Ret 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 45 Hydraulics 20
Ret 23 Franck Montagny Super Aguri-Honda 29 Hydraulics 21
Ret 12 Jenson Button Honda 28 Engine 6
Ret 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 28 Gearbox 15
Ret 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 12 Hydraulics 19
Ret 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 2 Accident damage 12
Ret 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 0 Accident damage 14
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher 1:32.099


Qual
Pos No Driver Team First Second Third

1 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:31.138 1:30.336 1:29.819
2 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:31.235 1:30.013 1:30.028
3 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:31.921 1:30.732 1:30.407
4 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:31.671 1:30.469 1:30.754
5 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.263 1:30.203 1:30.933
6 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:31.420 1:30.755 1:30.940
7 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:31.809 1:30.733 1:31.419
8 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:31.545 1:30.865 1:31.542
9 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.774 1:30.671 1:31.880
10 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:31.712 1:30.892 1:33.405
11 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:31.470 1:30.944
12 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:32.053 1:31.194
13 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:31.574 1:31.197
14 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:31.742 1:31.227
15 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:31.457 1:31.422
16 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:32.621 1:31.728
17 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:32.901
18 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:32.936
19 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:32.992
20 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:33.658
21 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:35.239
22 23 Franck Montagny Super Aguri-Honda 1:46.505


Fri Prac 2
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points

1 35 Alexander Wurz Williams-Cosworth 1:32.675
2 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:33.579
3 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:33.619
4 37 Robert Doornbos RBR-Ferrari 1:33.799
5 36 Anthony Davidson Honda 1:33.870
6 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:33.883
7 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:33.920 8 38 Robert Kubica Sauber-BMW 1:33.991
9 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:34.030
10 39 Adrian Sutil MF1-Toyota 1:34.179
11 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:34.215
12 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:34.472
13 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.536
14 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:34.546
15 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:34.631
16 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:34.825
17 4 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.968
18 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:35.066
19 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:35.241
20 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:35.308
21 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:35.406
22 40 Neel Jani STR-Cosworth 1:35.479
23 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:35.669
24 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:35.688
25 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:35.902
26 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:36.255
27 23 Franck Montagny Super Aguri-Honda 1:36.665
28 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota

The original Nurburgring, the Nordschleife, ran for an awe-inspiring 22.5 kilometres (14 miles). It was so long and so complicated that drivers simply could not remember a racing line. The Nurburgring was, in fact, two circuits: the Nordschleife and the Sudschleife. In total they had an amazing 172 corners. It was safety which sealed the demise of the legendary track. Following Niki Lauda's terrifying accident there in 1976 in which he suffered horrendous burns, the Nurburgring's license to hold Formula One events was withdrawn. The track underwent huge redevelopment to create a new circuit and in the spring of 1984 a race was held featuring 20 identical Mercedes 190Es and a grid composed of some of the best-ever Formula One drivers. Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutemann, Keke Rosberg, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, James Hunt, Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, John Surtees and Denny Hulme were just a few of the names to take part. Senna, then a relative youngster, won from Lauda and Reutemann. The European Grand Prix was held at the new track later that year, and again in 1985, but it disappeared again after commercial difficulties. With the ascendancy of Michael Schumacher, from nearby Kerpen, the track was once again back in Formula One in 1995. Posing as the Luxembourg Grand Prix for 1997 and 1998, it has, since then, taken the name of the European Grand Prix. The track may not be as challenging as the old circuit, but it is still possible to take a trip down memory lane - literally. For just a few euros one can take a car onto the old track and soak up what was one of the most feared and yet respected circuits in the history of motorsport. The Nurburgring is located in the Eifel region of Germany, 60km north-west of Koblenz and 90km south-west of Koln. Road connections are good to the major international airports of Koln/Bonn and Dusseldorf Rhein Ruhr which is some 120 km away. From Cologne take the A1-E29 motorway and take the Nurburgring exit. From Koblenz take the A48-E44 motorway then the A61 towards Cologne, and take the Wehr Nurburgring exit.

[McLaren4eVa]

Friday Free Practice

Session 1
1 Alex Wurz Williams F1 1m32.079

2 Anthony Davidson Honda Racing 1m32.399

3 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1m32.852

4 Michael Schumacher Scuderia Ferrari 1m32.858

5 Robert Doornbos Red Bull Racing 1m32.944

6 Jenson Button Honda Racing 1m33.635

7 Rubens Barrichello Honda Racing 1m34.213

8 Kimi Raikkonen Team McLaren Mercedes 1m34.402

9 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1m34.995

10 Adrian Sutil MF1 Racing 1m35.332

11 Neel Jani Toro Rosso 1m35.365

12 Scott Speed Toro Rosso 1m35.612

13 Christijan Albers MF1 Racing 1m35.985

14 Tiago Monteiro MF1 Racing 1m36.062

15 Takuma Sato Super Aguri 1m37.817

16 Franck Montagny Super Aguri 1m37.933




Session 2
1 Alex Wurz Williams F1 1:32.675

2 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:33.579

3 Michael Schumacher Scuderia Ferrari 1:33.619

4 Robert Doornbos Red Bull Racing 1:33.799

5 Anthony Davidson Honda Racing 1:33.870

6 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:33.883

7 Jenson Button Honda Racing 1:33.920

8 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:33.991

9 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:34.030

10 Adrian Sutil MF1 Racing 1:34.179

11 Nico Rosberg Williams F1 1:34.215

12 Christijan Albers MF1 Racing 1:34.472

13 Kimi Raikkonen Team McLaren Mercedes 1:34.536

14 Felipe Massa Scuderia Ferrari 1:34.546

15 Rubens Barrichello Honda Racing 1:34.631

16 Mark Webber Williams F1 1:34.825

17 Juan Pablo Montoya Team McLaren Mercedes 1:34.968

18 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing 1:35.066

19 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1:35.241

20 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:35.308

21 Tonio Luizzi Toro Rosso 1:35.406

22 Neel Jani Toro Rosso 1:35.479

23 Scott Speed Toro Rosso 1:35.669

24 Jacques Villeneuve BMW Sauber 1:35.688

25 Tiago Monteiro MF1 Racing 1:35.902

26 Takuma Sato Super Aguri 1:36.255

27 Franck Montagny Super Aguri 1:36.665

28 Jarno Trulli Toyota No time

[SFDMALEX]

I think Micheal got this one in the bag aswel.

[McLaren4eVa]

^^^^ Think your right going to have to wait and see, hopefully renault will get the strategey right this time and not throw the win away.

[dannyroz]

^^ hopefully???

F Renault and Alonso! I have a feeling a Williams are gonna snag a podium spot

[5vz-fe]

Originally Posted by dannyroz I have a feeling a Williams are gonna snag a podium spot

Unless Alonso and Schumi take each other out, I think t will be highly unlikely.

[sameerrao]

Where oh where is McLaren. What the heck is going on with them.

Their lack of speed is killing them twice - a) because they dont have the speed to snatch pole with a low fuel strategy, they are trying to go with more fuel and pit later b) making them very vulnerable to boneheaded moves by other drivers.

I wish they would buck up - I want a 3 way or 4 way battle for the win.

[sameerrao]

James Allen's comments on Friday practice - source www.itv-f1.com

FRIDAY FORM GUIDE 
 
 
We know many of you are keen to pick up as much information on Friday's form as possible, so this year James Allen is giving you a head start on who's hot and who's not after the first day's action.

Friday's free practice sessions at the Nurburgring were difficult to read thanks to the low levels of grip, but beneath the surface of the time sheets a few themes are beginning to emerge. Find out who's hot and who's by reading on below... 

After the thrilling race in Imola between Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso it was encouraging to see the pair of them separated by four hundredths of a second today in the second free practice session – hinting that we may have more of the same this weekend.

But the reality of Imola is that Bridgestone and Ferrari took a gamble on the tyres and they could do that because it is so difficult to overtake at the Italian track.

They were able to get the pole position and control the early part of the race, but they knew there was going to be some difficulty with the graining of the tyres and so it proved, spectacularly, in the middle part of the race.

So because it is so difficult to overtake at Imola their gamble paid off.

Here at the Nurburgring Ferrari does not have that luxury, because there are at least two places on every lap where you can overtake and so they have to be a little bit more conservative in their tyre choice.

We saw today that the Bridgestone tyres seemed to still have quite a bit of graining in free practice and it is going to be very interesting to watch that situation develop.

I still think they have explosive pace over a single lap and Michael will be a definite contender again for pole position, but it will be interesting to see how they manage the tyres through different phases of the race.

Renault rocks

I spoke to Alonso after practice and he wasn’t particularly happy with the car’s balance today, but Renault looks very strong indeed.

What is interesting is that Alonso hasn’t qualified on the front row of the grid yet this year, yet he has still been turning moderate grid slots into good results every time.

I have a feeling that he will be higher up the grid this weekend and he may even be contesting pole.

Alonso said he would like to be on the front row and try and control the race and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he tried quite a racey strategy this weekend.

Silvery blues

McLaren sadly don’t look as though they are going to be particularly close to the action this weekend.

We all had high hopes for them with Mercedes’ upgraded engine, but in fact Juan Pablo Montoya is on his second race with the old-spec engine, so only Kimi Raikkonen was eligible for it.

He is using it here, but they are having to be careful with it because in the recent Silverstone test, they lost an engine and there are some reliability question marks for i.

Raikkonen therefore doesn’t appear to be playing with a full deck at the moment and I think that may keep him out of the action at the sharp end, which is a shame.

Honda's harmony

I was very impressed with Anthony Davidson. He did two long runs today that were very strong and very consistent on the lap times.

This is encouraging news for Honda and for Jenson Button who was also very strong here this afternoon.

Most of this season, Honda have not been particularly brilliant on the Friday.

We heard Jenson say in his press conference on Thursday that this had been the case so far this year, but that the team had figured out how to make it work now.

This was a good Friday for Honda, which is very encouraging because we know that they have good qualifying pace.

So I think it is possibly overstating it to say that they will be in the fight with Renault and Ferrari at the front, but I  think they will be a strong contender in the grand prix.

Waltzing Williams

Mark Webber isn’t particularly happy. We heard a whisper that he had a few engine concerns although nothing really has come of that. Perhaps there wasn’t much in it.

But certainly he is not particularly happy with the handling of the car.

Nico Rosberg on the other hand did a very nice six-lap long run that was quick and obviously Alex Wurz got the headline lap time using new tyres, low fuel and maximum revs in the mid-32s.

He has done that before this season so we should not get too excited but the team has done well here in the past and the combination of Wurz’s lap time and Rosberg’s long run indicates that both cars should be in the top ten in qualifying and have a strong run for the points here.

Points of note

The weather forecast looks like it is going to stay sunny although slightly cooler than it is at the moment. But the weather here is very much like it has been in England for the last couple of days.

It should stay pretty dry and clear for the weekend.

The Midlands were astonishingly quick today.

Christijan Albers was 12th fastest and rookie Adrian Sutil was tenth. Of the German would have had the tyres and the revs to play with, but Albers didn’t have either and he was ahead of Raikkonen!

Obviously it was a low fuel special but still, Midland have been chipping away at their pace and if you look at the four GPs so far this year they have got closer and closer to the next slowest car.

I think they are worth keeping an eye on this weekend because they might just surprise a few people.

I’m very pleased that Franck Montagny has been given an opportunity to drive.

It is nice to have a French driver on the grid now for the first time since Olivier Panis in Japan 2004. France is a country with a huge history in Formula 1 and they should always have a driver on the grid.

Qualifying remarks

Those of you tuned in to watch qualifying at Imola with us, where we had seven cars separated by a tenth of a second, will want to watch qualifying again this weekend.
 
I think we are going to have a very close battle for the knock-out places.

It will be a really, really good scrap and while it may not be as close as it was at Imola there will be quite a few cars that are contesting those final spots in the top ten and there could be a big name or two that gets knocked out.

[Max Power]

i think if MS has some help from any other drivers, he could battle with FA...otherwise I c Renault taking it....

[SFDMALEX]

Alonso can go blow a Spanish donkey!


I knew MS had it, if he had one more lap he'd kill it.


Anyway 2 ferraris upfront so

[5vz-fe]

Rubens beats Jenson on Qualifying.........looks like Rubens is getting more familiar with the car now. I guess by the end of the year we can tell if Jenson is overrated or not. Damn, Alonso pulls one out of the bag and take pole by 2 tenths.......

[Max Power]

Fiscichella is useless...hopefully a close battle tom, don't wanna c Alonso runaway

Massa better get on the podium

[dannyroz]

Originally Posted by 5vz-fe Originally Posted by dannyroz I have a feeling a Williams are gonna snag a podium spot Unless Alonso and Schumi take each other out, I think t will be highly unlikely.

Actually Im expecting Kimi to crash

Though it is too bad the Williams will both suffer for their engine swaps.

Im pretty sure Schumi could have stolen pole if he just had one more lap, he finished like 2 seconds after the clock stopped.

And Bari finally coming into grips with the tires and brakes (the brakes were switched to Ferrari spec) outqualifying the "great" Button. Its gonna feel like de javu for those two tomorrow :roll:

Does anybody know what Fisi was complaining about with Vill? They didnt show what made him pissed but it sure was funny seeing him [Vill] getting cursed out in Italian

[McLaren4eVa]

^^^^^ Well if he can start the race without losing any positions(hopefully gain) and not crash out then he has a chance of a podium. Massa is an obsticle he qualifies well but then fucks up in the race. I guess he's just warming up the seat for kimi next year because he is not staying for sure.

[RAMMIUS]

Massa is an obsticle he qualifies well but then fucks up in the race

I wouldn`t bet on that