Official 2006 F1 Season Discussion

[Brodel]

Just out of interest, do a majority of people worldwide get James Allen and Martin Brundle commentating on the F1?

I always thought it was just a UK thing on ITV but when I was in Canada it was exactly the same commentators and on screen graphics etc, just a different channel.

[OPaul]

Does anyone know where I can download a copy of this weeks race (or last week, depending on when your week starts)? I was driving back from Richmond so I missed it and go figure Button actually wins one. It would be nice to catch it.

[Fourjays Veteran]

Just out of interest, do a majority of people worldwide get James Allen and Martin Brundle commentating on the F1?

I always thought it was just a UK thing on ITV but when I was in Canada it was exactly the same commentators and on screen graphics etc, just a different channel.

I learnt that earlier this year when the guys mentioned it in the pre-race commentary. Surprised me too.

[geek_rohit]

Teams set to use 2006 engines next season

Formula One engine development will be effectively frozen from this October, the FIA announced on Monday. According to the sport's governing body, whatever engine design the teams run at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix will then be used until at least 2009.

The agreement follows a meeting between FIA President Max Mosley and Professor Dr Burkhard Goeschel and Dr Juergen Reul from the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association (GPMA), the body representing the major car makers involved in Formula One racing (BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Toyota). The GPMA is yet to make any official comment.

The FIA had been planning an engine freeze from 2008, with teams having to homologate those engines this year. Monday?s news means the teams will now avoid the unnecessary expense of continuing development throughout 2007, only to then have to revert to their earlier designs.

The full list of measures agreed (from the FIA's press release)

i) Engines will be stabilised from the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix. These will be the only engines used from and including the 2007 season.

ii) This means that no further developments of the engines will be allowed other than retuning for the 19,000 rpm limit, to be agreed in each case with the FIA under the terms of the 2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations.

iii) From 2009 the Formula One Technical Regulations will include means to promote fuel efficiency including energy recovery and re-use. All relevant regulations for 2009 will be published no later than December 31, 2006.

iv) GPMA has setup a working group to examine possible future rules for Formula One which will allow a performance advantage to be obtained by means of more efficient use of available energy. These future regulations may include changes to current power units. The FIA and other engine suppliers will join this group.

v) As a result of the above the FIA and GPMA are now in full agreement about the future of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Source

[Shibby]

I'm sorta of happy and disapointed that engines designs are going to be used next season. That means that the smaller teams are going to struggle some more.

But doesn't the split rear wing come in next season as well? You know the ones that are over the wheels

[Fourjays Veteran]

I think the engine freeze is a stupid idea. They might as well say that only Ferrari and Renault can race in future championships. If they are going to do things like this, they need to make all the teams equal. ie: same engine for all.

[Shibby]

Thinking about this some more and starting to think it is stupid.

So does this mean that Willams get the toyota engine next year?

Does this mean that the smaller teams which less reliability engines going to keep them engines that don't get them to finish the race?

[Fourjays Veteran]

Thinking about this some more and starting to think it is stupid.

So does this mean that Willams get the toyota engine next year?

Does this mean that the smaller teams which less reliability engines going to keep them engines that don't get them to finish the race?

Good question about Williams. The rules say what they have at Shanghai is what they use til 2009. So unless Williams run the Toyotas at Shanghai, I haven't a clue. Maybe it is allowed for the private teams.

I believe the FIA will permit engine upgrades for reliability, but not for speed/power. Either way, I can see it locking them all as they are now, which makes bothering with the championship pointless as we all know who is most likely to win.

[Crazysah]

I don't like that rule of using the same engine till 2009!

[digitalsoft]

that rule will change, its a stupid rule even the FIA will notice that.

[deuz]

YES!!!....webber is moving to redbull racing....hopefully their 'reliability' will help him move up

[Fozzieb]

I get p***ed off with all these rule changes, every year they change something. F1 is getting boaring because of the rule changes and restrictions not better.

And Webber at Red Bull is a great move for all involved.

[Fourjays Veteran]

I get p***ed off with all these rule changes, every year they change something. F1 is getting boaring because of the rule changes and restrictions not better.

And Webber at Red Bull is a great move for all involved.

They should leave it as it is now. This year and last year have been the best in a long time.

I think Webber and DC will make a great team, plus the Adrian Newey car, and a Renault or Ferrari engine. Maybe they will be fighting for podiums next year.

[Crazysah]

Yeah. They might fight for a podium and they might not. I think they will be quite even fighting for 5th spot!

[satishsays.com]

Schumi may retire at Monza

Is Formula One driver Michael Schumacher preparing to take off his helmet for the last time? According to rumor, the seven-time champion is reportedly set to announce his retirement at this Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.

News of Schumacher’s pending departure originated from German publication Bild, though the newspaper declined to name its source.

Given all of the 37-year old’s accomplishments and the fact that his contract with Team Ferrari expires at season’s end, such an announcement wouldn’t be terribly surprising.

Schumacher is currently 12 points shy of points leader Fernando Alonso, with four races left in the season. If the racer indeed announces that he is hanging up his Nomex, his final outing would be at Italy’s Monza racetrack.

Sources MSNBC and Times Of India

[Crazysah]

Yep. All over the news. If he wins... then he should definately reitre. If not then 1 more season for Schumi!

[Martyn]

Schumi may retire at Monza

Is Formula One driver Michael Schumacher preparing to take off his helmet for the last time? According to rumor, the seven-time champion is reportedly set to announce his retirement at this Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.

News of Schumacher’s pending departure originated from German publication Bild, though the newspaper declined to name its source.

Given all of the 37-year old’s accomplishments and the fact that his contract with Team Ferrari expires at season’s end, such an announcement wouldn’t be terribly surprising.

Schumacher is currently 12 points shy of points leader Fernando Alonso, with four races left in the season. If the racer indeed announces that he is hanging up his Nomex, his final outing would be at Italy’s Monza racetrack.

Sources MSNBC and Times Of India

How would Monza be his "final outing" if it is not his last race of the season, surely he would finish the season considering he is not that far behind Alonso...and still has a chance of claiming the title!

I don't like Schumi much, but he is still a good driver (not as good as Senna though).

[Galley]

Good riddance!

[Shibby]

I will miss him because of the problems he caused in F1.

But in a sense i'd be happy he went out like this now with a battle for the title.

[satishsays.com]

Sorry Martyn, i myself hadnt read the last part before posting. We'll know in the coming days for sure, whether his contract expires at Monza or at the end of this season...

[Martyn]

Sorry Martyn, i myself hadnt read the last part before posting. We'll know in the coming days for sure, whether his contract expires at Monza or at the end of this season...

Nothing to be sorry for. I was/am confused about it!

[Crazysah]

5 drivers are rumoured to be saying that they don't want Schumi to retire. Jarno truilli is one of them.

[Fourjays Veteran]

I'm not going to miss Schumi if he does retire. I've felt for a while now that he can only win championships when he has a) the fastest car out there or b) he cheats. I know some of the greats have cheated, but they at least admitted it. I heard not long ago that one of them even said he was going to cheat before the race (and did)! Don't remember who exactly, but it was Prost or Senna or someone similar.

[KzR]

If Kimi's car doesn't fail him during the Italian GP, he should be able to win the race.

Schumi should be able to cut Alonso's lead by at least 3 champ points.

[satishsays.com]

Alonso punished for blocking Massa

World champion Fernando Alonso has dropped from fifth to tenth on the provisional grid for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix after Monza stewards penalized him for impeding Ferrari’s Felipe Massa during qualifying.

Massa complained to officials that Alonso had blocked him whilst on his final run at the end of session. The stewards agreed and deleted the Renault star’s three fastest times from Q3, though they did concede that Alonso’s actions may not have been deliberate.

The penalty has no effect on Massa’s grid position as he had qualified fourth, immediately ahead of Alonso. However, it is good news for Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher, who qualified second. Schumacher, who trails Alonso by 12 points in the drivers’ championship, now has seven cars between himself and his title rival for the start of Ferrari’s home race.

The final grid positions will be published by the FIA on Sunday morning.

Source