F1-Blog

Bridgestone quick at home

It seems that the Bridgestone tyres where certainly the rubber to have in Japan today.

The qualifying session ended with the first four spots on the grid for tomorrows race are held by the Japanese tyre giant.

This is certainly bad news for the Renault's and Alonso in particular. However the Ferrari's where pushed hard during the third session by one of the other home teams Toyota. This caused both of the Ferrari cars going out to set the fastest times at the end of the session, this however worked against Michael as Fillipe managed to pip the German to the pole position.

The Renault team are the fastest of the Michelin tyre runners starting from fifth and sixth on the grid behind the two Toyota's and the two Ferrari cars.

The shock of the session was the lack in pace from the McLaren cars, both of the cars did not make it through to 3rd qualifying.

Monza race review

Michael Schumacher's 90th race victory came on the same day as he announced his retirement from the sport.

The race started in controversy, when it was announced that Fernando Alonso was to take a 5 place demotion (to 10th) for holding up Filipe Massa during qualifying. However it seems Renault, and most of the paddock believe this to be rubbish. Renault may appeal the decision at a later date.

The start happened under clear skies, with no sign of the rain predicted at the beginning of the week.

 Kimi got a good start from Pole position, and managed to hold off all attacks into and through the first chicane. Heidfeld actually managed to get ahead of Michael into the first corner, however Michael braved the outside and clawed the place back, this allowed Heidfeld's BMW-Sauber team mate Robert Kubica to overtake him, to take third position.

After lap one the order was Raikkonen from Schumacher, Kubica, Massa, Button, Alonso, Heidfeld, De la Rosa, Fisichella and Barrichelo in tenth.

BMW had enough?

New that Jacques Villeneuve will not be racing at Hungaroring has surfaced. BMW Sauber have announced that instead of the Canadian Poland's Robert Kubica will instead pilot the car.

The seat is taken for just one race for now, as Villeneuve has said he is not ready to race after his accident in Germany.

Mario Theissen has said that Robert may take the seat for more than one race.

This means that either Villeneuve is more injured than it looked he was, or that BMW are trying to work out what drivers they will run next year, and are checking if the F1 newbie is ready for the race seat after testing all year.

The strange thing is however, Jacques and BMW did not get off to a good start when the German car giant took over the Sauber team, looking at options to unseat the Canadian from the 2006 drivers seat, but Jacques has proved he is worthy of the race place, out performing his team mate, and seeming to get along well with the team around him.

‘Twin Towers’ banned

The striking, yet ugly aero additions to the nose of BMW Sauber car that we saw at the last race are to be banned.

A statement issued by the FIA says :

In view of recent developments to bodywork forward of the cockpit opening on some cars, we have become concerned that these devices may impair the forward and/or lateral vision of the driver.

Therefore, under Article 2.3 of the F1 Technical Regulations, unless any team concerned can clearly demonstrate to the satisfaction of the technical delegate and the stewards that their driver's vision is not impaired in any way by such devices, no bodywork higher than the top of the front roll structure will be permitted forward of it."

BMW's man at the top Mario Theissen commented on the statement saying :

The vertical wings obviously presented a new aero solution within the rules," he said. "We, however, respect the FIA's decision to ban such elements. The knowledge we gained from this will be included in our future development programmes."

Jacques Villeneuve’s 2007 prospects

Jacques Villeneuve has been reported as saying he is struggling to find a decent drive next year. His current BMW contract expires at the end of the 2006 season.

This is actually strange, as his driving this year is as good as he has been since 1997. The BMW/Sauber car has come along quite well under his leadership. He has also been continually out qualifying his team mate all year.

BMW could do worse than offer him a drive for 2007, however it seems there may be other seats going. Renault is probably a bad idea, but other teams on the grid could do worse. It may also be worth some of the lower 'wealthy' teams like Toro Rosso offering the drive, he would be a good development driver for the new car.