F1-Blog

Rain Soaked China makes it difficult

Michael Schumacher struggled on the Bridgestone tyres in qualifying in a rain soaked session.

The Michelin tyres again proved that they are the better option for when it's even damp, let alone wet.

Fernando Alonso showed again that the differing conditions do not throw him, and perhaps more importantly, Renault showed that they where back on the pace, Dominating all of the sessions so far in China.

The front of the grid has the two Renault's followed by the two Honda's of Barichello and Button who are running different liveries for the Chinese event.

The other supprise was Kimi being outdone by his team mate Pedro de la Rossa, who was  definetly the quicker of the McLaren cars in the session.

The outcome of the GP will, I believe be down to the weather in the race tomorow. If it is dry then the Michelin teams may not have the advantage they did today, but if it is wet or damp, then Michael will struggle to keep up with the Renault's.

All change at GPDA

The current leaders in the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Association) are to step down from the front line.

Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli are to make way for Ralf Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.

Ralf will be taking up the Chairman position on the new look GPDA, taking over from current Chairman Jarno Trulli.

Massa takes a 10 place hit

Felipe Massa has had to change an engine this weekend, causing the Brazilian to take a 10 place drop on Sundays Chinese GP grid.

Massa said: “When I stopped the car I felt a different noise in the engine. We are checking inside the engine at the moment but we are definitely going to have to change.

"That really is not very good news, especially when you see the car is competitive.

“Straightaway I managed to make a good laptime and with the car I think we have the right package and the right tyres for the race.

"Starting ten places back is not really fantastic, but we will try and be motivated to do a great race."

This will obviously impact the Brazilians ability to help out championship challenger Michael Schumacher on Sunday.

However it seems he may not need Filipe's help in Sundays race, as championship leader Fernando Alonso is struggling to get the pace out of his Renault at the Chinese track.

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.

Alonso Penalised

The stewards have penalised Alonso for impeding Massa's progress during qualifying.

However the demotion to 10th on the grid (5 place drop) has caused some controversy. There has been words of 'Ferrari Fix' being said all over the paddock.

The Renault teams had a press conference this morning and showed the video evidence the stewards used to penalise Alonso.

It looks like the stewards have certainly got it wrong, and everyone is asking why did Ferrari even bring it up.

So will this impact the championship? and will Renault go to the court of appeal?

One thing is certain, Renault will not let this lie.

The full decision of the stewards

A report was received from the race director that stated that the driver of car no. 1, Fernando Alonso, had impeded another driver during qualifying, namely Felipe Massa, car no. 6.

The stewards, after hearing the explanation of both the drivers, their team managers, and having seen video evidence and data supplied by Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, find that: