3rd Grand Prix of China (2006)

Pupik · Sep 28, 2006

Hello, and welcome to the Grand Prix of China!

[ overhead, ariel shot of Shanghai circuit ]

The 16th round of the Formula One Wolrd Championship. The title chase is coming down to a two-way dog fight between Fernando Alonso...

[ show Alonso in his car, waiting to go out in the Renault ]

...and 7-time World Champion Michael Schumacher...

[ fade to Michael Schumacher, talking to Ross Brawn in the Ferrari garage]

...only 2 points separate them, and you know Michael wants to go out with a bang after annoucing his retirement at the winner's conference three weeks ago in Monza, Italy...

[[ see previous threads ]]

[ commentary from other commentators ]

Christian Klien has been relegated to test driver for Red Bull, as Robert Dornbos replaces him for the last three races. Midland will show off their "national" colors (not sure if the Midland team's cars will officially change names for this weekend, though); hopefully they'll be less likely to be confused with the McLaren's livery.

It's also going to be a late-night race for those of us on the East Coast of the US. Make some coffee...

Anyhow, discuss the race meeting.

Lee · Sep 28, 2006

Schumi's make or break race really. Needs to nail this one after 2004 and 2005 both resulting in a lovely 0 points. I'm sad to see Klien being dropped inplace of Dornbos who I rate as highly as a chimpanze, and Midland are now officially known as Spyker Midland.

I think Kimi might take this, he's the best man in the field at this track with a 2nd and 3rd in the last two years, but expect fireworks behind him with a number of cars all fighting eachother.

Prediction:

1st: Raikkonen
2nd: Alonso
3rd: M Schumacher
4th: Massa
5th: Button
6th: De La Rosa
7th: Kubica
8th: Fisichella

daan · Sep 28, 2006

Sato is going to get a 10 position penalty for changing his engine. Can he start in 31st?

Kylehnat · Sep 28, 2006

He has to start from the parking lot. I hope he has a ticket to get through the gate.

Finally, races that I can watch live! Sort of late here on the west coast, but not too bad; it's over around 1 AM.

Let's just hope for a clean race, qualifying, practice, and stewards.

Pupik · Sep 28, 2006

daan
Sato is going to get a 10 position penalty for changing his engine. Can he start in 31st?

If it were the 1974 Belgian GP, he could!

Kylehnat · Sep 28, 2006

FormulaNone
If it were the 1974 Belgian GP, he could!

Not only are they sending him back on the grid, but they're sending him back in time as well! :scared:

More FIA madness...

Dougboy · Sep 28, 2006

jokes aside... 10grid penalty is barely considered a penalty. The only penalty is that he will have to start behind yamamoto

z-reserve · Sep 28, 2006

Bubble Bunny
jokes aside... 10grid penalty is barely considered a penalty. The only penalty is that he will have to start behind yamamoto

That, or he could just not bother with the qualifying... oh wait you could do that last year but not anymore. :indiff:

More of the same but you never know.

Blake · Sep 29, 2006

Okay, a race in China. It should be a prime-time affair for us Aussies. Nope, they’re delaying it 8 hours for no god damned reason!

Klien used to on my reasonable drives of the future list, but he’s really dissapointed in F1. Especially this season. Won’t really miss him.

Alonso did well here last season, Ferrari did well here in 2004. Kimi has done well here since its debut on the calendar. Michael has been consistantly mediocre here.

Will be an interesting race.

MagpieRacer · Sep 29, 2006

Blake
Okay, a race in China. It should be a prime-time affair for us Aussies. Nope, theyre delaying it 8 hours for no god damned reason!

No live qiaifying for us Brits, thats delayed for 6 hours. Got the live race though

at 7 in the freaking morning!

Kylehnat · Sep 29, 2006

People who live in Europe don't get to complain about start times. There are exactly 3 races that are aired at "reasonable" hours where I live, and another 4 that are on late at night (Saturday night, that is). The remaining 11 are on at 3-5 AM (fortunately re-aired later in the day).

Flerbizky · Sep 29, 2006

Jokes aside - Schumi takes the last 3 if nothing unforeseen happens !...

Robin · Sep 29, 2006

Im really looking foreward to this race, ITV here in the UK is quite good because its live at 7am and then repeated at 1pm so plenty of chance to see it! Most of the time they are at a resonable hour in the UK...some start at like 6pm but thats the worst it ever gets!

daan · Sep 29, 2006

Schummi has lost his wingman. Massa has an engine penalty too.

http://www.formula1.com/race/news/5029/767.html

The Ferraris have been the fastest "non-3rd-driver" cars in practice today, but Alonso is breathing down their necks, and has a higher straightline speed too.

Code:

2006 China Grand Prix  	 
Pos 	Driver 			Team 	 		Time/Retired 	
								
1 	Alexander Wurz 		Williams-Cosworth 	1:35.539
2 	Sebastian Vettel 	Sauber-BMW 		1:35.579
3 	Anthony Davidson 	Honda 			1:35.714
4 	Felipe Massa 		Ferrari 		1:36.599
5 	Michael Schumacher 	Ferrari 		1:36.641
6 	Fernando Alonso 	Renault 		1:36.739
7 	Franck Montagny 	Super Aguri-Honda 	1:37.278
8 	Michael Ammermuller 	RBR-Ferrari 		1:37.678
9 	Tiago Monteiro 		MF1-Toyota 		1:37.698
10 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Renault 		1:37.718
11 	Jenson Button 		Honda 			1:37.861
12 	Pedro de la Rosa 	McLaren-Mercedes 	1:38.022
13 	Mark Webber 		Williams-Cosworth 	1:38.045
14 	Nick Heidfeld 		Sauber-BMW 		1:38.062
15 	Alexandre Premat 	MF1-Toyota 		1:38.098
16 	Rubens Barrichello 	Honda 			1:38.276
17 	Ralf Schumacher 	Toyota 			1:38.888
18 	Jarno Trulli 		Toyota 			1:38.959
19 	Scott Speed 		STR-Cosworth 		1:39.080
20 	Neel Jani 		STR-Cosworth 		1:39.118
21 	Kimi R&#228;ikk&#246;nen 		McLaren-Mercedes 	1:39.179
22 	Robert Kubica 		Sauber-BMW 		1:39.217
23 	Nico Rosberg 		Williams-Cosworth 	1:39.522
24 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	STR-Cosworth 		1:39.570
25 	Sakon Yamamoto 		Super Aguri-Honda 	1:39.636
26 	David Coulthard 	RBR-Ferrari 		1:40.155
27 	Robert Doornbos 	RBR-Ferrari 		1:40.214
28 	Christijan Albers 	MF1-Toyota 		1:40.319
29 	Takuma Sato 		Super Aguri-Honda 	1:41.315

Code:

Pos 	Driver 			Speed

1 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	314.6
2 	Fernando Alonso 	312.6
3 	Michael Schumacher 	310.9
4 	Felipe Massa 		309.7
5 	Sakon Yamamoto 		309.4

YIN · Sep 29, 2006

daan

Schummi has lost his wingman. Massa has an engine penalty too.

http://www.formula1.com/race/news/5029/767.html

The Ferraris have been the fastest "non-3rd-driver" cars in practice today, but Alonso is breathing down their necks, and has a higher straightline speed too.

Code:

2006 China Grand Prix  	 
Pos 	Driver 			Team 	 		Time/Retired 	
								
1 	Alexander Wurz 		Williams-Cosworth 	1:35.539
2 	Sebastian Vettel 	Sauber-BMW 		1:35.579
3 	Anthony Davidson 	Honda 			1:35.714
4 	Felipe Massa 		Ferrari 		1:36.599
5 	Michael Schumacher 	Ferrari 		1:36.641
6 	Fernando Alonso 	Renault 		1:36.739
7 	Franck Montagny 	Super Aguri-Honda 	1:37.278
8 	Michael Ammermuller 	RBR-Ferrari 		1:37.678
9 	Tiago Monteiro 		MF1-Toyota 		1:37.698
10 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Renault 		1:37.718
11 	Jenson Button 		Honda 			1:37.861
12 	Pedro de la Rosa 	McLaren-Mercedes 	1:38.022
13 	Mark Webber 		Williams-Cosworth 	1:38.045
14 	Nick Heidfeld 		Sauber-BMW 		1:38.062
15 	Alexandre Premat 	MF1-Toyota 		1:38.098
16 	Rubens Barrichello 	Honda 			1:38.276
17 	Ralf Schumacher 	Toyota 			1:38.888
18 	Jarno Trulli 		Toyota 			1:38.959
19 	Scott Speed 		STR-Cosworth 		1:39.080
20 	Neel Jani 		STR-Cosworth 		1:39.118
21 	Kimi Räikkönen 		McLaren-Mercedes 	1:39.179
22 	Robert Kubica 		Sauber-BMW 		1:39.217
23 	Nico Rosberg 		Williams-Cosworth 	1:39.522
24 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	STR-Cosworth 		1:39.570
25 	Sakon Yamamoto 		Super Aguri-Honda 	1:39.636
26 	David Coulthard 	RBR-Ferrari 		1:40.155
27 	Robert Doornbos 	RBR-Ferrari 		1:40.214
28 	Christijan Albers 	MF1-Toyota 		1:40.319
29 	Takuma Sato 		Super Aguri-Honda 	1:41.315

Code:

Pos 	Driver 			Speed

1 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	314.6
2 	Fernando Alonso 	312.6
3 	Michael Schumacher 	310.9
4 	Felipe Massa 		309.7
5 	Sakon Yamamoto 		309.4

good news for me:tup:

Blake · Sep 30, 2006

A Super Aguri less than 2 seconds behind Wurz, and another with high straightline speed!? Wow. I’m impressed.

Z · Sep 30, 2006

The Shanghai International Circuit was declared wet for this morning's practice session where Michael Schumacher topped the time sheets with a 1'40.193 during a slight dry spell, Alonso just .172 behind. Grey skies and rain stuck around for qualifying as well, but the results after Q3 were quite different than in the morning.

Renault have locked out the front row and Honda the second row. Michael is on the 3rd row in 6th, finishing just .021 behind Raikkonen and Massa will start from the pit lane. Michelin obviously has the dominant tire as they did in Hungary. If weather conditions remain wet for tomorrow (and according to weather.com [we all know how accurate that can be at times] they will), Ferrari look to be in big trouble and could possibly lose a great number of points to Renault with regards to the WCC while Schumacher could see himself slip far behind Alonso in his quest for an 8th WDC. Should be quite interesting, regardless.

Qualifying Results
- - - - - - - - - -

Code:

1. 	Alonso		Renault (M)	1:44.360
2. 	Fisichella 	Renault (M) 	1:44.992
3. 	Barrichello 	Honda (M)	1:45.503
4. 	Button	 	Honda (M) 	1:45.503
5. 	Raikkonen 	McLaren (M) 	1:45.754
6. 	M.Schumacher 	Ferrari (B) 	1:45.775
7. 	de la Rosa 	McLaren (M)	1:45.877
8. 	Heidfeld 	BMW (M)		1:46.053
9. 	Kubica	 	BMW (M) 	1:46.632
10. 	Doornbos 	Red Bull (M)	1:48.021
11. 	Speed 		Toro Rosso (M) 	1:45.851
12. 	Coulthard 	Red Bull (M) 	1:45.968
13. 	Massa	 	Ferrari (B)	1:45.970
14. 	Liuzzi	 	Toro Rosso (M)	1:46.172
15. 	Webber	 	Williams (B) 	1:46.413
16. 	Rosberg 	Williams (B) 	1:47.419
17. 	R.Schumacher 	Toyota (B)	1:48.894
18. 	Trulli	 	Toyota (B)	1:49.098
19. 	Albers	 	Midland (B)	1:49.542
20. 	Monteiro 	Midland (B)	1:49.903
21. 	Sato	 	Super Aguri (B)	1:50.326
22. 	Yamamoto 	Super Aguri (B)	1:55.560

Blake · Sep 30, 2006

If the race is dry it will be:

Alonso
Räikkönen
Schumacher

daan · Sep 30, 2006

Z.

How close do you want it?

Digital-Nitrate · Sep 30, 2006

Blake
If the race is dry it will be:

Alonso

Räikkönen

Schumacher

If the conditional don't improve, Michelin wins.

Even in only moderate wet conditions, all 12 Michelin equipped cars outqualified all the Bridgestone cars with the exception of the Ferraris. With Masa's additional regulation for the engine change, this leaves only Schumacher as the only car with Bridgestones ahead of any Michelin cars. In fact I am amazed Schumacher not only was able to make it to the final qualifying session, but was able to top all but five of the Michilin boys. That must have been a hair raising ride in Schumaker's car!

If the conditions remain the same, or worsen, I can't see how Schumacher will be able to keep up. With the grid, even with dry conditions, I can't see Ferrari getting ahead of both Renaults. It's unfortunate that such a drastic difference in tire performance plays such a large role in F1 results.

Ah well, looks like this will seal the championships for both Alonso and Renault... and Michilin.

RouWa · Sep 30, 2006

How close do you want it?

About ten years ago Schumacher, Frentzen and a third driver I can´t remember anymore all had the same time in qualifying (position 1 to 3).

daan · Sep 30, 2006

RouWa
About ten years ago Schumacher, Frentzen and a third driver I can´t remember anymore all had the same time in qualifying (position 1 to 3).

Villeneuve was the other. European GP at Jerez - 1997.

Pupik · Sep 30, 2006

The triple-dead-heat qualifying results of the '97 European GP at Jerez has been a hotly contested "issue" with the historic racing community for a while now, especially since the race had two title contenders. However, I don't see much other reason to dispute it, since it has never occured before or since timing has been measured and recorded to the accuracy of .001 of a second. Even swiping the transponder by the timing beam would take many lucky tries to get that close, like what the March team did for Vittorio Brambilla at the 1975 Swedish GP (although timing wasn't that accurate then).

Just my off-topic two cents.

amp88 · Sep 30, 2006

Timing is now recorded to the 10/1000th of a second (i.e. to 0.0001 second).

I'd like to see a dry race tomorrow, I don't want the championship being decided by Bridgestone not having a competitive inter.

Small_Fryz · Sep 30, 2006

An back in 1997, MS was in the inferior Ferrari against the 2 williams.

lets hope MS can finish within ear shot of alonso to keep the title hopes alive and make the last few races interesting.

SagarisGTB · Sep 30, 2006

Blake
A Super Aguri less than 2 seconds behind Wurz, and another with high straightline speed!? Wow. Im impressed.

Theyve been improving recently. In Monza, Sato finished ahead of both Midlands. Soon... Alonso vs Yamamoto! :sly:

daan
How close do you want it?

Earlier this year, at the Catalan GP, Rubens and Ralf had the exact same times in the final session. As you probably know, the guy who did the time first gets the position, so Rubens squeeks it both times.

amp88 · Sep 30, 2006

I should have said in my earlier post that it was a mighty impressive performance from M Schumacher. When the coverage cut to him on his do-or-die lap to get into the top 10 I was shouting at the TV and crossing my fingers, willing him on. I can't remember the last time I was so animated in my viewing. I can only think of one person I'd rather have had in the car at the time and I'm not sure he could have done any better.

Kylehnat · Sep 30, 2006

amp88
I'd like to see a dry race tomorrow, I don't want the championship being decided by Bridgestone not having a competitive inter.

The championship is already largely affected by tires, even in the dry.

amp88 · Sep 30, 2006

Kylehnat
The championship is already largely affected by tires, even in the dry.

Most of them are, but the gap isn't usually measurable by calendar. Bridgestone's inter was 3-4 seconds slower than Michelin's in Hungary and if tomorrow's race calls for inters the gap could be the same again.

ROAD_DOGG33J · Sep 30, 2006

Code:

Pos 	No 	Driver 		     Time of Day 	Speed
								
1 	2 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	15:05:04 	311.9								
2 	1 	Fernando Alonso 	14:51:35 	311.5								
3 	4 	Pedro de la Rosa 	14:39:09 	309.7								
4 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	14:42:58 	306.9								
5 	17 	Robert Kubica 		15:03:13 	306.3								
6 	3 	Kimi R&#228;ikk&#246;nen 		14:42:51 	306.0								
7 	15 	Robert Doornbos 	14:03:58 	305.8								
8 	6 	Felipe Massa 		14:42:46 	305.5								
9 	20 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	14:32:25 	305.1								
10 	16 	Nick Heidfeld 		14:33:37 	303.3

Looks like Renault have everything in the bag.

Alonso's speed is only 1.1 km/h slower than in the dry.

3rd Grand Prix of China (2006)

dig the bolts in my neck

B-Spec

Salut Gilles

Z#

dig the bolts in my neck

Z#

Z#

Weltanschauung

Salut Gilles

Salut Gilles

1955-2011 R.I.P.

Salut Gilles

dig the bolts in my neck

But why is the Rum gone??

Z#