Formula 1

Drivers Champoinship points

2007-06-16T01:57:00.000-07:00

Rookie Hamilton claims first F1 win

2007-06-11T13:02:00.001-07:00

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton [Images] took his first Formula One victory on Sunday, keeping his cool in a chaotic Canadian Grand Prix [Images] to take the outright lead in the championship.

Starting in pole position, in just his sixth race, the 22-year-old Hamilton became the first black driver to win in the sport and the first rookie since Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya [Images] for Williams in 2001.

German Nick Heidfeld was second for BMW Sauber with Alex Wurz of Williams taking third place at the circuit where he made his debut a decade ago.

Hamilton now leads the championship with 48 points, eight clear of team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso [Images] who finished seventh.

Hamilton had finished on the podium in all five of his opening races before Sunday's race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

In an incident packed race, Ferrari's [Images] title contender Felipe Massa [Images] and Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella were disqualified while BMW's Polish driver Robert Kubica was taken to hospital after a horrific crash.

The safety car was deployed four times.

Hamilton showed great composure, while those around him were scraping into walls and pirouetting around corners, to confirm his status as a future champion.

Hamilton gained the upper hand over Alonso at the first turn when the Spaniard ran wide, sped over the grass and found himself stuck behind Heidfeld in third place.

By lap five Hamilton was 3.2 seconds clear of Heidfeld with Alonso trailing a further 1.2 seconds behind in third.

Alonso later received a 10 second penalty for entering the pit after the safety car had come out, effectively ending his chances.

Alonso's dismal day was completed when he was overtaken by Japanese driver Takuma Sato's Super Aguri with two laps remaining.

Kubica was flown by helicopter to hospital after his BMW hit a Toyota on the approach to the hairpin on lap 27 and took off, flying through the air and slamming into a concrete wall at high speed before barrel-rolling across the track.

Television reports said the Pole had broken a leg.

Alonso leads McLaren one-two in Monaco

2007-05-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

Double world champion Fernando Alonso won the Monaco Grand Prix for the second year in a row on Sunday, with team mate Lewis Hamilton completing a McLaren one-two.

The Spaniard's second victory of the season, and 17th of his career, took him back to the top of the Formula One championship on race wins but level on 38 points with 22-year-old rookie Hamilton.

Hamilton, the youngest driver to lead the championship, continued his stellar start to the season with his fifth successive podium finish.

The Briton, runner-up for four races in a row, crossed the line four seconds behind the winner.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was third for Ferrari, 69.1 seconds adrift of Alonso, to take his tally to 33 points. Renault's Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was fourth for the champions' best result so far this year.

In an uneventful race through the metal-fenced streets, the top four followed their grid positions with Alonso again starting on pole after winning with Renault last season and lapping all but his team mate and Massa.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen finished eighth after a costly error in qualifying forced him to start 16th at a circuit where overtaking is rare. The Finn remained fourth overall but a hefty 15 points adrift of the McLaren drivers.

Original report here

Massa wins Turkish Grand Prix

2006-08-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

Brazilian Felipe Massa roared to his first Formula One victory in Turkey on Sunday as Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher failed to find a way past championship leader Fernando Alonso.

While the young Brazilian raced to the chequered flag from pole position, Renault's world champion Alonso and Schumacher were locked in a thrilling no-holds-barred battle for second place.

The two title contenders were nose to tail over the closing laps, with seven times champion Schumacher doing his best to force a way past and the 25-year-old Spaniard repelling every effort.

Second place stretched Alonso's overall lead to 12 points with four races remaining.

However Ferrari slashed Renault's lead in the constructors' championship to a mere two points. Renault now have 160 and Ferrari 158.

"Thank you boys, thank you," shouted Massa, punching the air in delight at a result that he could barely have expected when he and undisputed team number one Schumacher had lined up together on the front row.

Briton Jenson Button, a first-time winner like Massa at the previous race in Hungary, finished fourth for Honda with McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa fifth.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was sixth for Renault with Toyota's Ralf Schumacher, Michael's younger brother, seventh and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello eighth for Honda.

Schumacher's hopes of a 90th career win were effectively scuppered by the intervention of the safety car on lap 14 with Massa leading and the German in second place and Alonso further back in third.

Massa, Schumacher and Alonso all pitted together and the German had to wait in the queue while Massa was attended to first, allowing Renault to get Alonso out ahead of the German. A first lap collision put paid to the hopes of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, winner from pole position of last year's inaugural race at the Istanbul Park circuit.

The Finn, who could be announced as a Ferrari driver at the next race in Italy, was caught up in a six car shunt at turn one after Fisichella spun and was left facing the oncoming cars.

Raikkonen, hit by Toro Rosso's Scott Speed, crawled back to the pits with a shredded left rear tyre. But there was clearly a problem with the car when he returned to the track and he ploughed into the tyre wall.

Original Report here

Alonso penalty adds to team woes

2006-08-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Original report here: www.bbc.co.uk

Renault's Fernando Alonso will struggle to make the top 10 on the grid for the Hungarian Grand Prix after picking up a two-second qualifying penalty.

Alonso was punished for a deliberate brake test and for overtaking under a flag in Friday's second practice.

It is another blow for Renault who are not enjoying the best of weeks.

The French team, so dominant earlier in the season, had already scrapped their plan to use a "mass damper" considered crucial to their cars' performance.

The new design was banned by the FIA before last week's race in Germany only for the race stewards to pass it as legal.

Renault had intended to use the "mass damper" - a counterweight mounted on springs within the nose of the car - in Hungary but were forced to change their minds when it became clear that the FIA still considers the stability-aid to be illegal.

World champion Alonso, who has seen his championship lead shrink from 25 points to 11 in just three races, struggled last Sunday without the system.

By contrast, rival Michael Schumacher won his third straight grand prix and with six races to go is back in contention for an eighth world title.

The Ferraris have shown well in practice in Hungary and Schumacher could slash the lead still further if Alonso is stuck down the grid on a track where it is hard to overtake.

Alonso was docked one second for overtaking when yellow flags were waved to indicate a hazard towards the end of Friday's practice.

And he was penalised a further second after an incident with Red Bull test driver Robert Doornbos.

Alonso gesticulated angrily at the Dutchman after being held up on the start-finish straight. He weaved ahead and then slowed dramatically at the apex of the corner, forcing Doornbos to take avoiding action, a move the stewards interpreted as a brake test.

Alonso claimed he was just reminding Doornbos to use his mirrors but the stewards said his actions were "unnecessary, unacceptable and dangerous".

Earlier, a Renault spokesman said the team had "reconsidered" its decision to use the "mass damper" following a communication from the FIA explaining why it thought it was illegal.

The spokesman added that the team hoped they would not be as far off the pace in Hungary as they were in Germany.

"That was more down to tyre wear at Hockenheim," the spokesman said.

Renault learned before the German race that they would not be allowed to use the system, which they pioneered last season and which has subsequently been adopted by six other teams.

The FIA said it considered the system to be illegal because it helped the cars' aerodynamics.

But the FIA's race stewards in Germany then passed the system as legal - only for FIA bosses to say they intended to lodge an appeal against that decision.

As that appeal will not take place until after this weekend's race, Renault felt they could not risk running the system in Germany as they could have subsequently lost any points they scored if the FIA won its appeal.

But the FIA indicated after the German race that it would not seek to retrospectively punish any team using a "mass damper" if its appeal was successful.

That initially seemed to convince Renault to use the system in Hungary but a subsequent letter from FIA race director Charlie Whiting changed their minds.

Renault were hurt by the ban more than other teams because their entire car was designed around the system, whereas others had simply added it on at a later date.

nd the blow is even worse because F1 is in the middle of a ban on testing, which means the team cannot try out ways of improving the car other than at races, where track time is limited.

Engineering boss Pat Symonds admitted the team's performance was harmed by not running the "mass damper".

He said after the German race that "it goes without saying that removing it degraded our performance, otherwise the component would not have been on the car throughout the season.

"After using the device for the first time in the final races of 2005, the design and development of this year's car was optimised with it in place.

"The ride and the behaviour over kerbs of the R26 at the last race was certainly not as good as we have been accustomed to this year. But there were other factors at work as well."

Renault also struggled with tyre blistering, which was almost certainly worsened by not using the "mass damper", but they are hopeful that a new tyre for Hungary will solve that problem.

The team will also continue with a new aerodynamic package that was introduced in Germany, where its effectiveness was limited by the team's other problems.

Renault are facing a tough task holding on to their lead as Ferrari's tyre supplier Bridgestone has appeared to have an advantage over Michelin in the last three races.

Schumacher wins in Germany

2006-07-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

Source: www.rediff.com
July 30, 2006 19:51 IST

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher blasted the Formula One title race wide open on Sunday with a commanding one-two victory in his home German Grand Prix.

While the 37-year-old celebrated the 89th victory of his incredible career, serenaded by air-horns and his jubilant army of red-shirted fans, Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso limped home fifth.

The Spaniard's overall lead was slashed from 17 points to 11, leaving his championship hopes on a knife-edge with six races remaining.

Schumacher, in what some fear could be his final race appearance in Germany, took the lead after 10 laps when McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen pitted and the rest was straightforward.

On a blazingly hot afternoon in southern Germany, Schumacher and Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa were in a race of their own as they anchored the team's second one-two finish in three starts and tyre partner Bridgestone's 100th grand prix success.

They crossed the line in close formation, just 0.7 seconds apart. Raikkonen, who had started on pole, was out of sight in third place and 13.2 seconds behind.

Briton Jenson Button was fourth for Honda, ending a run of five races without points.

Alonso, who had qualified a disappointing seventh on his 25th birthday, made up two places at the start but then faded and was never in contention for the second race in a row.

The Spaniard, who now has 100 points, would have been staring at his worst result in almost a year had Australian Mark Webber, wrestling every scrap of performance from his Williams, not retired eight laps from the finish while running ahead of him.

Alonso also survived a big scare five laps from the end when he went wide, the car bucking and jumping over the gravel before he regained the track just in front of Italian team mate Giancarlo Fisichella.

Fisichella finished sixth, with Toyota's Italian Jarno Trulli seventh and Austrian Christian Klien taking the final point for Red Bull.

Germany's Nico Rosberg failed to get past the first lap, crashing into the tyre wall, while Canadian Jacques Villeneuve also had a crash in the BMW Sauber.

France boosts Schumacher's title hopes

2006-07-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Source: www.rediff.com

Even if the odds are still against him, Michael Schumacher believes he can turn his record eighth French Grand Prix win into an eighth Formula One championship.

The Ferrari driver's dominant victory at Magny-Cours on Sunday -- with the pole position and fastest race lap on his way to a 150th career podium finish -- only fuelled that confidence.

"We have clearly made up ground and we have to keep on working at that pace and for sure everybody will just keep pushing for the last seven races," said the first driver to win the same Grand Prix eight times.

"It's far from being over."

Yet the 37-year-old German also knows that his young Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa, who started on the front row on Sunday for the second weekend in succession, can make or break those dreams.

While Massa's third place helped Ferrari's constructors' championship hopes, Schumacher needs him to do more -- to drive a wedge between him and his Renault rival.

Unless Alonso makes a major error, about as likely as a Honda victory this season, the balance of power remains with the 24-year-old Spaniard who has a comfortable lead of 17 points.

With seven races remaining, Alonso needs to�finish only second in every race to retain the title even if Schumacher wins one after the other.

It has been more than a year since the Renault driver retired from a race and nearly that long since he last failed to score points.

In 11 races, Alonso has won six and finished second four times. He fully expects to be winning again soon, possibly in Schumacher's Hockenheim home race next week.

CRUSHING RESPONSE

France was Schumacher's second win in a row, and 88th of his career. The last time he had back-to-back victories, at Imola and the Nuerburgring in April and May, Alonso's response was instant and crushing.

The Spaniard made a pointed reference to that on Sunday.

"I think Indianapolis was a strange race...from the tyres and the difficulties we had last year," he said, casting his mind back to the race before Magny-Cours.

"Maybe we were too conservative or whatever. I think here we were close but not quick enough.

"It's the same as Nuerburgring and Imola but at that point Ferrari seemed to have more development than anybody else and everybody thought that they would win all the races," he added.

"And then we won four consecutive races and hopefully this will happen again from the next race on."

A victory in Hockenheim would be sweet revenge for Ferrari's win in Renault's backyard.

The hope is that Germany also throws up a more entertaining battle than Sunday's largely processional offering at Magny-Cours.

Anyone who watched Sunday's MotoGP at the Sachsenring, with Valentino Rossi leading a thrilling four-way battle to the finish, would welcome that.

Schumacher pole triggers uproar

2006-05-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Original report here: www.rediff.com

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher denied dirty tricks on Saturday after securing a Monaco Grand Prix pole that prompted rivals to question his sportsmanship.

The seven times champion stalled his car at the penultimate corner in the dying seconds of qualifying, preventing Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso and others from going faster.

Race stewards immediately called Schumacher in to explain his driving. A Renault spokesman said the team had not made a formal protest because an investigation was already in process.

Alonso, who leads Schumacher in the title standings by 15 points, was forced to slow on his final lap, losing at least three tenths of a second that would have put him on pole.

"I have my opinion and I won't tell it here," said the 24-year-old Spaniard when asked by reporters whether he considered it a sporting incident.

His team boss Flavio Briatore, who steered Schumacher to his first two titles at Benetton, had no such inhibitions.

"I think he is taking everyone for a ride," he told reporters. "Someone who was seven times a world champion wants us to believe that he didn't do it on purpose, it's fairyland.

"Whatever you do in certain moments, your enemies believe one thing and the people who support you believe another," he added. "Some people may not believe it, but unfortunately that's the world we live in.

"I don't care what other teams do. I know Flavio well enough," added Schumacher, who drove for the Italian when he was at Benetton.

The pole, if upheld, will be Schumacher's 67th of his career and third of the season.

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella starts on the third row with McLaren's Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2003 winner.

Two times winner David Coulthard qualified a strong ninth for Red Bull but fellow-Briton Jenson Button was a disappointing 14th for Honda.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa will start at the back of the grid after crashing in the first part of qualifying.

The Brazilian speared left into the tyre barrier on the blind crest of Casino Square, briefly stopping the session while the car was removed from the track.

2006 Drivers Championship

2006-05-25T04:06:00.000-07:00










 2006 Drivers Championship
 

































































































































               Pos        Driver        Nationality        Team        Points      
               1        Fernando Alonso        Spanish        Renault        54      
             2        Michael Schumacher        German        Ferrari        39      
             3        Kimi Räikkönen        Finnish        McLaren-Mercedes        27      
              4        Giancarlo Fisichella        Italian        Renault        24      
             5        Felipe Massa        Brazilian        Ferrari        20      
            6        Jenson Button        British        Honda        16      
            7        Juan Pablo Montoya        Colombian        McLaren-Mercedes        15      
             8        Rubens Barrichello        Brazilian        Honda        8      
             9        Ralf Schumacher        German        Toyota        7      
              10        Nick Heidfeld        German        Sauber-BMW        6      
             10=        Mark Webber        Australian        Williams-Cosworth        6      
              10=        Jacques Villeneuve        Canadian        Sauber-BMW        6      
              13        Nico Rosberg        German        Williams-Cosworth        4      
              14        David Coulthard        British        RBR-Ferrari        1      
              14=        Christian Klien        Austrian        RBR-Ferrari

2006 Constructors Championship Table

2006-05-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Pos	Constructor	Points
1	Renault	78
2	Ferrari	59
3	McLaren-Mercedes	42
4	Honda	24
5	Sauber-BMW	12
6	Williams-Cosworth	10
7	Toyota	7
8	RBR-Ferrari	2

Alonso makes fine start in Spain

2006-05-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks: www.rediff.com

Original Report here

Alan Baldwin | May 12, 2006 21:51 IST

Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso made a great start to his home Spanish Grand Prix on Friday despite picking up a speeding fine.

The 24-year-old began the opening day of free practice with a $2,000 fine for speeding in the pit lane and closed it as the quickest race driver in the second session.

With fans chanting his name and banners draping the grandstands, Alonso gave the crowd only a brief glimpse of his car in the morning with just two timed installation laps.

The afternoon was a more red-blooded session, with the drivers who had been saving their engines venturing out on to the track.

Even then the top two times were set by the unsung test drivers, with Briton Anthony Davidson quickest for Honda in one minute 16.533 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Dutch reserve Robert Doornbos.

Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa and seven times champion Michael Schumacher were fastest in the morning when only three of the drivers who will race on Sunday set times.

Massa, fresh from the first podium finish of his career after taking third place at the Nuerburgring last weekend, claimed the quickest lap of the day in 1:15.796.

Schumacher, winner of the last two races and 13 points adrift of Alonso in the championship after five rounds, clocked 1:16.099.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, last year's winner in Barcelona, did not leave the garage in the first session and was only 15th in the second.

Alonso, winner twice this season and runner-up in the other three races, will start Sunday's grand prix with the same engine he used at the Nuerburgring.

Schumacher and Massa have fresh engines.

Schumacher king of the Ring again

2006-05-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks: www.rediff.com
Original Report here

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won his home European Grand Prix on Sunday to put himself firmly back on the title trail.

Roared on by an ecstatic crowd of red-shirted German supporters, the seven times champion saw off Renault's Fernando Alonso to celebrate a record 86th victory of his career and second in a row.

Alonso, the 24-year-old champion, started on pole position for the first time this year and finished second for his 11th successive podium placing but with his overall lead over Schumacher cut to 13 points after five races.

Brazilian Felipe Massa, Schumacher's team mate, stepped up to the podium for the first time in his 58-race career with third place.

Alonso has 44 points to Schumacher's 31. McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen has 23. Renault remain leaders in the constructors' championship with 62 points but Ferrari leapfrogged McLaren into second place with 46.

Those who had suggested that the 37-year-old German's victory at Imola two weeks ago was merely a Ferrari flash in the pan at their home circuit had to eat their words in the Nuerburgring sunshine.

Schumacher, who finished 3.7 seconds clear of Alonso, took the lead definitively after the second round of pitstops when he came in three laps after the Spaniard and came back out still ahead of him.

"If you finish first, what can you say?," declared Schumacher. "That's the way it makes everyone happy who wants to see us win...it was a great race, great strategy, great performance all the way through."

MCLAREN STRUGGLE

Alonso, who can now turn his thoughts to his home Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona next weekend, said second was good enough in the circumstances.

"Second place I think is a fantastic result for us here. I think we were a little bit down compared to Ferrari's performance this weekend," he said.

"Also I think tyres were not working perfectly okay this weekend. So even with everything, to get the eight points means we have everything okay and we should win again."

McLaren, the team Alonso had flagged as his main rivals and that he is joining next season, were never truly in the reckoning in their 600th grand prix start despite Raikkonen overcoming his German jinx to secure a close fourth place in Massa's slipstream.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was fifth for Honda, ahead of Alonso's Italian team mate Giancarlo Fisichella and German rookie Nico Rosberg, again impressive in his Williams after starting from the back of the grid.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve was eighth for BMW Sauber.

Fisichella, furious after being impeded by Villeneuve in Saturday's qualifying, spent most of the afternoon behind the former champion before getting past at the second round of pitstops.

Briton Jenson Button suffered his first retirement of the season, trudging back to the pits after his engine gave up the fight on lap 29.

"I think it was the engine. The gear was tightening up when I crossed the line and there was a lot of smoke out of the rear of the car," he said.

Compatriot David Coulthard had an even shorter race, the Red Bull driver caught in a collision with Toro Rosso's Vitantonio Liuzzi on the first lap.

Franck Montagny became the first French driver to start a race since Olivier Panis retired in 2004 but his debut for struggling Super Aguri lasted barely half distance.

There was also disappointment for Toyota's Italian Jarno Trulli, finishing ninth in his Cologne-based team's home race and still without a point this year.

Brawn adamant Ferrari wing is legal

2006-05-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Ferrari's Ross Brawn has dared his rivals to lodge a formal protest against the allegedly illegal rear wing on the 248 F1.

With FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting currently in the possession of a new letter from Honda counterpart Geoff Willis, Technical Director Brawn challenged his accusers to go beyond finger-pointing.

“If someone (officially) protests against us,” the Briton told Auto Motor Und Sport, “then we would immediately protest against them.”

Brawn scoffed at Willis' claim that he has 'video evidence' of Ferrari's rear wing, which allegedly still flexes at high speed. Ferrari modified the design of its front wing ahead of the Melbourne race, following similar complaints.

Brawn insisted: “We have videos of every car in the field, showing that aerodynamic devices bend.

” “If all you look at are videos,” Brawn continued, “then every car out there is illegal.”
But Honda principal Nick Fry backed-up Willis' informal letter to Whiting as a means simply to 'register our concerns' about the Ferrari.

He told News Of The World: “There is something Geoff has been aware of and it is in the hands of Charlie now.” But the FIA is siding with Ferrari. A spokesman for the governing body explained that the 248 F1 is 'completely within the regulations'.

E.A.Source GMM

F1 TV Viewership in India

2006-04-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

F1 TV Viewership in India Doubles Without Karthikeyan

India is not missing Narain Karthikeyan, according to the country's local press.

The 'Economic Times' reckons that, even with Karthikeyan's failure to remain on the grid in 2006, TV viewership in India has nearly doubled.

Chennai-born Karthikeyan became the first Indian to race grands prix last year, in his rookie stint for Jordan. In 2006, he is Williams' second test driver.

But the 'Times' contended that F1 viewership at the moment is 'comparable to test cricket', a sport which is extremely popular in India.

''We have grown the F1 viewership at the rate of an impressive 27 per cent year-on-year,'' said RC Venkateish, boss of India's formula one TV broadcaster, ESPN.

Karthikeyan given Williams role

2006-01-30T17:19:00.000-08:00

For the original article click here

Karthikeyan was dropped by Midland at the end of last season Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan has joined Williams as a test driver for the new Formula One season, the team said as they launched their new car. Karthikeyan, who impressed the team in a test last month, will have a support role to reserve driver Alexander Wurz.

Karthikeyan, 28, was dropped by rival team Midland, formerly Jordan, after driving for them last season. Team owner Sir Frank Williams said: "Having a year's GP racing and testing to his credit is advantageous for us."

It has taken some while to resolve what I would be doing for 2006, but joining the team was the best option for me Narain Karthikeyan. Karthikeyan's best finish in 2005 was fourth in the US Grand Prix, where only six cars took part following a row over tyres.

But Williams bosses were pleased with his performance during a test at Jerez in southern Spain late last year. "Narain's brief period in the car in December, during which he provided valuable feedback, made a very distinct impression on our engineers," added Williams.

Although the move represents a significant drop down the F1 pecking order, the former Midland driver insists he is happy. "It has taken some while to resolve what I would be doing for 2006, but having tested for Williams late last year, joining the team was the best option for me and I am delighted that we can finally confirm this," said Karthikeyan. "I am looking forward to testing the FW28 and making a contribution to Williams' competitiveness this season."

Thanks: www.bbc.co.uk

Alonso moves to McLaren.

2005-12-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

Alonso will drive for McLaren in the season 2007. Also Vodafone becomes one of the main sponsors of McLaren in 2007. Who is going to make way for Alonso? Kimi or Montoya?.

In this situation, it will be interesting to watch how this decsion affects the performance of Alonso with Renault in the 2006 season.

Narain impresses in test.

2005-12-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

Narain Karthikeyan made an impressive Williams test debut, outpacing Nico Rosberg at the Jerez circuit in the south of Spain. He finished fifth in the timesheet well a head of Williams driver Nico Rosberg who finished 10th.

1. Franck Montagny, Renault (Michelin), 1:19.453
2. Marc Gene, Ferrari (Bridgestone), 1:19.692
3. Heikki Kovalainen, Renault (Michelin), 1:19.800
4. Anthony Davidson, Honda (Michelin), 1:20.130
5. Narain Karthikeyan, Williams (Bridgestone), 1:20.283
6. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren (Michelin), 1:20.371
7. Ralf Schumacher, Toyota (Bridgestone), 1:20.454
8. Christian Klien, Red Bull (Michelin), 1:20.583
9. Nico Rosberg, Williams (Bridgestone), 1:20.639
10. Gary Paffett, McLaren (Michelin), 1:20.746
11. Luca Badoer, Ferrari (Bridgestone), 1:20.840
12. James Rossiter, Honda (Michelin), 1:20.990
13. Ryan Briscoe, Toyota (Bridgestone), 1:21.211
14. Thomas Biagi, MF1 (Bridgestone), 1:21.820
15. Christijan Albers, MF1 (Bridgestone), 1:23.190

Karthikeyan testing for Williams in Spain.

2005-12-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

Karthikeyan is testing with Williams in Spain for the reserve drivers spot. Williams have already confirmed Mark Webber and Nico Roseberg as race drivers.

For a detailed report see BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4503280.stm

Toyotas new car

2005-12-04T06:54:00.000-08:00

Zonta and Trulli tested the new Toyota fitted with V8 engine and bridgestone tyres. Toyota has introduced the new car far a head of the new season. Toyota thinks the strategy of introducing new car at early stage is an advantage over other teams. Toyotas performance in 2005 was overwhelming. Hope they will repeat the same in the new season.

BAR Honda becomes Honda Racing F1

2005-12-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

Honda acquired all 100% shares of BAR Honda team and now rechristend to Honda Racing F1 team. Also Honda dumped Takuma Sato, the only Japanese on F1 to bring in Rubens Barichello who earlier drove with Michael Schumacher for Ferrari.

Will Button and Barichello combination work?. I dont think so unless there is a improvement in their engine.

Btw, any body knows the status of Narain as Williams Test Driver?

Narain as Williams Test Driver?

2005-11-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

After the war of words with Jordan, there is no hope of Jordan and Narain working together. Narain himself recently admitted he is looking for a Test Driver position. Todays Hindu reports he is in queue for a Test Drivers slot with Williams for the forthcoming Season2006.

Lets hope the lone Indian in F1 survives.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/27/stories/2005112706791600.htm

Nico Rosberg to race for Williams in 2006

2005-11-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Source: www.rediff.com

Alan Baldwin | November 03, 2005 14:48 IST

Nico Rosberg will race for Williams next season after signing a long-term contract, the Formula One team announced on Thursday.

The 20-year-old son of 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, who was born in Germany and races under that country's flag, will partner Australian Mark Webber at the Cosworth-powered team.

"I believe I am only one of many in Formula One who is genuinely excited about the prospect of Nico Rosberg," said team boss Frank Williams.

"Given the attention he commands, I am delighted he is making a contribution to Formula One history and has signed with us for next season."

Rosberg's appointment, as the youngest driver on the starting grid, follows Briton Jenson Button's decision to buy himself out of his contract with Williams so that he could remain at Honda-backed BAR.

The announcement ended the hopes of Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, who replaced Germany's Nick Heidfeld for the last five races of the 2005 season. Heidfeld will be racing for the new BMW team next year.

YOUNGEST DRIVER

Rosberg, who will be the first son of a champion to race in Formula One since Briton Damon Hill retired in 1999, won the inaugural GP2 support series this season.

Already the youngest person to drive a Formula One car, having his first test with Williams at the age of 17 in 2002 after winning the German Formula BMW title, Rosberg is Germany's fourth confirmed driver for the 2006 season.

Williams said he had been chosen for several reasons, not least his race craft.

"His natural talent in the cockpit is equally matched by his intelligence out of it, demonstrated by his depth of technical understanding and communication of data over the months spent as a test driver this season," a team statement said.

"Despite his youth, his wealth of experience reflects the early start made by contemporary drivers and it is significant to note that Nico has recorded more race starts by the age of 20 than his father...recorded in an entire career."

Finland's Keke Rosberg won the world championship with Williams, despite only one victory in that season, and retired in 1986 with five wins from 114 starts.

Rosberg junior will start his new duties for the team in winter testing, with the debut run of their new Cosworth V8 engine in Barcelona scheduled on November 29.

"I am really looking forward to starting work at the end of this month and learning as much from the team as I possibly can," said Rosberg.

Narain could race for Williams in 2006

2005-10-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Source: www.rediff.com

October 26, 2005 17:58 IST

While Jordan, now christened Midland, is unlikely to retain him, Williams could be the new home for India's Narain Karthikeyan in the next Formula One season.

Struggling with limited financial resource, Team boss Frank Williams hinted the team might go for hiring a 'pay driver' for its test and reserve positions and it is widely believed that Karthikeyan is one of the three drivers -- Dutch duo Christijan Albers and Robert Doornbos being the other two -- who would be considered for the next season.

On Tuesday, Williams announced his plans to run a third car on Fridays in 2006.

''Life as a truly independent team is materially different now'' Williams told Autosport-Atlas.

''We've no sugar daddy to fall back on, not that we really ever did, but BMW did give us the engine free, and free cars, and all of that does make a difference to one's budget.'' Meanwhile, after Jordan's new name Midland was accepted by the F1 Commission on Monday, the team announced that Nicky Pastorelli would be the team's Friday driver in 2006.

While both Karthikeyan and his Portuguese team mate Tiago Monteiro are not likely to be retained, Midland would consider Anthony Davidson, Takuma Sato and Albers for the 2006 driver lineup.

Nothing but Mechanical failure only can stop Renault- Alonso

2005-04-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

It was 3 out of 3 on Sunday in Manama, Bahrain for Renault. Once again, like Malaysia, Alonso led from the pole to the podium. Schumacher was giving a tough fight for Renault until 10th lap, when he was just 0.5 seconds behind Alonso. But the newly introduced F2005 failed to survive. Barichello who faced lot of problems with his gearbox in qualifying started from 20th position. But he fought valiantly and at one time was in 5th position. But at the end of the race he could finish only at the ninth position. He could only blame F2005 and Bridgestone tyres. Their combination is not working out this season.

Trulli, beginning from 3rd position finished 2nd. But he could not compete Alonso. Raikonnen of Mclaren got 3rd place. BAR Honda is having a bad season this year. Sato went out of the race. It is quite usual for him. Button, who was all set to gather some valuable points stopped at 46th lap for his 2nd pitstop. His car failed to stop after the pit stop. Sad end for him.

Narain Karthikeyan started well. He moved from 17th to 15 th in the first lap itself. He was well set to overtake Villenuve of SauberPetronas. But Electrical failure stopped him from moving on.

Like Trulli, Ralf Schumacher of Toyata also gathered some points. More podium finishes for Toyota will make Ferrari tough to reach Renault. With 3 races gone, and except for a 2nd place in Australia, Ferrari is under pressure. We have to wait until next race to know whether Ferrari comes out of the situation.

Formula1 Drivers Championship Table (after 2 rounds)

2005-03-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

Pos	Driver	Nationality	Team	Points
1	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	16
2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Renault	10
3	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Toyota	8
3=	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	8
3=	David Coulthard	British	Red Bull Racing	8
6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren-Mercedes	8
7	Nick Heidfeld	German	Williams-BMW	6
8	Ralf Schumacher	German	Toyota	4
8=	Mark Webber	Australian	Williams-BMW	4
10	Christian Klien	Austrian	Red Bull Racing	3
11	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	2
12	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren-Mercedes	1

Ferrari Test Drives its new F2005 model.

2005-03-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ferrari tested its F2005 model car. Both its drivers Rubens Barichello and Michael Schumacher went for the test drive. Being not satisfied with their start of the season, Ferrari plan to introduce the car earlier than their original plan.

They are optimistic to introduce in Bahrain. But its Boss has informed that it will be on run in Bahrain only if they are satisfied with its reliablity.

Ferrai may introduce its new car F2005 in Bahrain

2005-03-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

Ferrai had initial plans of introducing their car in the middle of the season in June. Now surprised by the sudden surge of Renault and Ferrari not able to cope with other teams, plans to introduce their new car F2005 earlier. They may introduce in the next race at Bahrain.

Narain Finishes Creditable 11th.

2005-03-20T03:30:00.000-08:00

India's Narain Karthikeyan finished creditable 11th in the F1 race at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia. Like Melbourne Renault dominated the race. Alonso clinched the race. while Fischichella was well set to take 3rd place, before he crashed with Mark webber on 33rd round.

Planning to write in detail today night.

Narain failed to impress in Qualifying Round 1

2005-03-19T03:14:00.000-08:00

India's Narain Karthikeyan finished 17th in Qualifying round 1. He just managed to finish a head of Minardi and his teammate Monteiro. Shumacher and Barichello also finished way behind. Once again taking the lead were Alonso and Fisichella of Renault, finishing 1st and 3rd respectively. BAR-Honda fielded Davidson in place of Sato.

A good show by Narain in second Qualifying round will get him a better place in the starting grid. Otherwise I expect a 15+ position only on the final race.

The interesting thing to watch tomorrow will be, how Michael Schumacher and Ferrari rice to the occasion tomorrow.

Free Training Day - Sepang International Circuit.

2005-03-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

Again sunday race is getting nearer. The first two free training sessions were held on Friday. Weather was hot. Indias Narain Karthikeyan drove in both the sessions. I dont expect any thing better from him again. He may move one or two places more. But he's certainly not in the position to get into top eight to gather atleast a point. It may be recalled that, he finished 15th in Melbourne, the first race of this season. Consolation point was he finished top among the rookies. I am sure many more Indians will follow Formula 1 because of Narains ride with Jordan.

Will Schumacher clinch the rach here like last year?. It will be answered on Sunday. But both the Ferrari drivers went out of the track during test. Jenson Button of England looks set for the challenge. Button reaching the podium on Sunday will not be a surprise to me. Buttons BAR-Honda Teammate, harsh riding Sato, I expect again to go out of the field.

Mentioning Reanult should be worthwhile here. In Melbourne they got the first and third place. It was a wonderful start for them. They would like to keep up the momentum and put Ferrari under pressure. Otherwise, the season may become boring in the middle of the year itself like last year.