Formula1 from mar 12 - october 22 2006

[nightsurfer]

Massa pledges fair fight for F1 crown

Massa said: "I am going to be honest. It is important to fight and compete, and I want to win the best possible position. But I am not going to be dirty. I don't want to do that at all.

"There will be no dirty tricks. We will do things only in an honest way. I am going to help Michael, of course, because the championship situation is very complicated, but I will only help him in an honest way.".........Read More

[nightsurfer]

Alonso praises Renault unity

After weeks of arguments, claims and counter-claims, Fernando Alonso said on Thursday that his Renault team were in full support of his bid to retain the Formula One drivers' world championship - and rated it ahead of their challenge for the teams' title.

The 25-year-old Spaniard, who needs just one point from Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix to win his second successive title, said he felt relieved and happy that Renault were behind him in his final race before he leaves to join McLaren.

In recent weeks, he has complained that he believed the team were more interested in winning the constructors' title than the drivers' because it meant more to them - and they did not want to see him take the number one with him to McLaren.

But in Thursday's pre-race news conference at a rain-hit Interlagos circuit, Alonso said he now felt all of those problems were resolved. He said: "To be honest, for me, the important thing is the drivers' championship, not only for me, for everybody. We see all the publicity on the motorways, everywhere from China onwards."......... Read More

[nightsurfer]

Cool hand Schumacher has no regrets

Michael Schumacher was the calmest man in town here on Thursday when he faced his final pre-race news conference before the end of the most successful career in Formula One history.

As a typical media scrum descended on the Hotel Trans-America, close to both the Interlagos race circuit which hosts Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix and the Morumbi graveyard in which Ayrton Senna is buried, the seven-time drivers' World Champion was the embodiment of cool behaviour.

Questions flew, cameras clicked, pens scribbled and microphones twitched towards him, but the 37-year-old German, who is heading into retirement after winning 91 of his 248 Grand Prix and claiming 68 pole positions, and delivering five drivers' titles for Ferrari and two for Benetton, barely moved a muscle.

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[kizzi]

QUALIFYING RESULTS FOR THE BRAZILIAN GRANDPRIX THE FINAL RACE OF THE 2006 SEASON

[kizzi]

Felipe Massa sent his home crowd into raptures by claiming a superb pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

Ferrari was unable to summon much joy as Schumi was cruelly robbed of the chance to stamp his mark on his final Formula 1 qualifying session by a technical failure that prevented him from completing a single timed lap.

Michael believes he can still win the Brazilian Grand Prix from 10th on the grid after his slim world championship chances took a potentially fatal blow from another catastrophic technical failure in qualifying at Interlagos.

Felipe Massa admitted scoring pole position for his home grand prix was more than he could ever have dreamt of after starring at Interlagos on Saturday.

Fernando Alonso admitted that qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix played nicely into his hands, as he claimed fourth on the grid

He only needs to score a single point in Sunday’s race to ensure that he retains the crown he wrested away from Schumacher last year.

[kizzi]

Ferrari’s chances of winning the Brazilian Grand Prix and putting the title pressure firmly on Renault have been boosted by the increasingly warm weather at Interlagos on Sunday.

The team’s Bridgestone tyres have the edge over Michelin in hotter track temperatures and after setting a searing qualifying pace on Saturday, the Italian-squad will welcome the news that conditions will be even warmer for the race - with an expected ambient temperature high of 23 degrees Celsius.

This will come as a blow to Fernando Alonso and Renault, especially with the Bridgestone-shod Toyota of Jarno Trulli starting a place in front of them in third.

[zia1288]

a great career & a great season comes to end.

Congratulations Renault & Alonso. well done team renault & alonso.
Not a bad result for Ferrari too but sometimes luck just doesn't favour u.
Better luck next time.

[nightsurfer]

It was an amazing race. The way Massa raced just shows how important he will be for ferrari in the next season. He did what Schumacher does usually. There are so many things to discuss about the race. Alonso's and Renault' success, Massa's victory etc. But the most amazing thing was Michael's charge. I havent seen him drive like that in a long time. They way he overtook Kimi Raikonnen, was just out of this world. It was the last move of his career and a great one also. What a racing driver he is.

[nightsurfer]

On Schumacher's last race.

There wont be too many dis-hearted Schumi fans today. Lets just forget about the championship, the race and the retirement etc. For sheer racing pleasure Schumacher's race today was amazing. He overtook 26 cars. Starting from 10th on the grid then due to a puncture when he was at 6th, he dropped to the last, and then he finished 4th. This is something only Shumacher could acheive. He is the greatest driver of all times. We may never see anyone so prevailing so dominating again.

[kizzi]

RESULT OF THE FINAL RACE OF THE SEASON

THE BRAZILIAN GARND PRIX

THE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AFTER THE BRAZILIAN GRANDPRIX

CONSTRUCTORS AND DRIVERS

RENAULT BAG UP BOTH THE TITLES CONSECUTIVELY

[kizzi]

Fernando Alonso assumed his place as heir apparent to Michael Schumacher by being crowned Formula 1’s sixth, and youngest,
double world champion
at Interlagos on Sunday as his rival’s slim hopes were finally deflated along with his left-rear tyre.

While team-mate Massa cruised to an emotional home victory in Brazil, the great man himself could not quite defy the odds after a puncture dropped him to the back of the pack early in the race.

it was 13 years after a brazilian national won a brazilian grand prix
the last winner of the brazilian grand prix was The Great Aryton Senna who won it in 1994

On his 248th and final appearance as F1’s pre-eminent legend, Schumacher proved why his is a talent and presence that will be acutely missed within this sport with a Herculean fightback that matched any of the great drives in his remarkable career.

[kizzi]

Alonso Celebrating

Massa Celebrating

[kizzi]

SCHUMIS FINAL RACE PICTURES

[nightsurfer]

Excellent pictures.

[zia1288]

Brillient Pix.

[nightsurfer]

One era ends, another one begins for
Ferrari

It hadn't had the conclusion that Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Jean Todt might have hoped for; even though Felipe Massa had won a convincing home victory, and Michael Schumacher had fought through from last to fourth after a puncture, Ferrari had won neither Constructors' nor Drivers' title and now Michael Schumacher had driven his last Grand Prix.

"Now we have to close one chapter and open another one; that's part of the Ferrari history," said Jean Todt after Sunday's season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos

"In a way it's a good thing that the championship is over," said Todt. "We feel a certain disappointment, because winning nine Grands Prix out of 18 - seven for Michael, two for Felipe - we would have preferred to bring home the championships, or at least one.

"It did not happen. We were facing a very strong competitor, and they simply managed to score more points than we did. Saying that, I think Ferrari has been very strong this year. Probably the biggest reward I can see is the quality of the team, the quality of the people, the atmosphere we have in the team. We have great drivers, great engineers, great mechanics, great partners and it's a chapter which is ending with the decision Michael has taken to retire from Formula One as a driver. I definitely feel sad about that even if I share and understand his decision.

MORE

Source: Ferrari

[nightsurfer]

Schumacher given an island by Dubai prince

Michael Schumacher received an unique and unprecedented parting gift after his last Grand Prix in Brazil -- an island.

Dubai's crown prince - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - reportedly decided to give the retiring German a piece of the man-made island paradise 'The World', located off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

'The World' is 300 islands clustered together in a nine kilometre zone to resemble Earth from an aerial photo.

Schumacher's island, apparently part of 'Antarctica' on the artificial globe, is worth about (US) $7 million.

Schumacher's manager Willi Weber confirmed: "In a couple of years it will be finished. Then Michael and Corinna will have their own holiday island!

"Perhaps he will build a kart track on it."

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

[nightsurfer]

Alonso may retire with third title

F1's youngest ever back to back champion, Fernando Alonso, says he would be content to retire after winning a third title.

"Senna won three so for me to achieve what he achieved would be the object of my career," Spanish television channel Telecinco quoted the 25-year-old as saying.

Alonso, who sealed his second drivers' crown at Interlagos on Sunday, also hinted that McLaren could be his last team in the sport.

Continuing the Ayrton Senna theme, he said: "To join McLaren and to never race with Ferrari reminds me a lot of (him)."

Alonso's McLaren contract is for three years. The only drivers to ever win three championships in a row were Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio.

The Spanish newspaper El Mundo, meanwhile, wrote on Monday that it hoped Alonso would 'calm down' and be less outspoken in the coming years.

"It was the same with Schumacher. At the start of his career the German's image was not as good as it was at the end."

Source GMM
CAPSIS International

[nightsurfer]

Kimi makes the wrong headlines again

Following the season ending Brazilian grand prix, Kimi Raikkonen has returned to the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The Finn, bidding to finish his McLaren career on a high with a front row start, was interviewed on the Interlagos grid by British broadcaster ITV's Martin Brundle.

Brundle observed that Raikkonen, 27, was the only driver to miss Pele's presentation of a gold trophy to Michael Schumacher, whom he replaces at Ferrari in 2007 and beyond. "Yeah," Kimi answered.

"You'll get over it, then ?" Brundle asked sarcastically. Raikkonen answered : "Hey, I was having a sh*t.
"

"Thanks for that," Brundle recoiled. "At least you'll have a nice light car on the grid ..."

Tabloid newspapers in England reported that ITV were 'inundated' with complaints from viewers of the live feed.

Source GMM
© CAPSIS International

[nightsurfer]

Todt to vacate team boss post

Ross Brawn's retirement or 'sabbatical' will be confirmed by Ferrari this week, according to widespread media reports.

London broadsheet 'The Times' quoted race and test technical manager Nigel Stepney as saying the team reshuffle 'is not going to be easy' for the Maranello based squad.

"I don't know at the moment what's happening to Ross," he insisted, "but taking two or three members out of the team and with people moving up into their places - it's difficult to say."

Stepney's comments give rise to speculation that the Briton might be near the front of the queue to fill posts.

Luca Baldisseri is tipped to take over from Brawn as technical director, the Italian 'Ansa' news agency said.

Ansa added : "Team principal Jean Todt in all likelihood will leave the paddock and focus more on running the company."

Stefano Domenicali may take over from the Frenchman at the helm, with Mario Almondo promoted to fill his post as sporting director.

Engine chief Paulo Martinelli may also leave the team, to be replaced by Mattia Binotto, additional reports in Italy insist.

Source GMM
© CAPSIS International