2006 F1 Season

[ECR033]

I'm still not convinced that sticking with Cosworth is the best way for Williams to go. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see the Williams/Cossie relationship work and become hugely successful for both parties, but I just don't think that Cosworth have the resources (at least financially, but also possibly technically) to keep up with the major manufacturers.

I also think Cosworth had a bit of a headstart on the other manufacturers this year given their past experience with V8's in Indy etc which has possibly given a slightly misleading indication of their relative performance. Everyone was talking about their hi-revving, superior performing V8s at the begining of the season, but you don't hear much about that now because I think it's pretty clear that most of the big manufacturers have probably already caught and/or passed Cosworth in terms of performance and definantely reliability.

On the other hand, there's plenty to gain (in my opinion) by switching to a customer deal with a manufacturer. From a manufacturer's perspective, they should be able to provide superior engine development as a result of having more data to analyse and evaluate by running multiple teams and they'll also get some economies of scale by partially sharing some of their overhead costs with another team which could possibly free up additional funds for engine development. Surely you'd have to assume that Williams would also be a beneficiary of the manufacturers improved performance and you'd also have to assume that it's probable that Cosworth would not be able to provide the same level of improvement by supplying V8s to Williams on their own .

End result (in theory), is that both teams (Williams and manufacturer) should end up with improved engines over what they would have had if they stayed on their own. There's always the risk that Williams would get a 'detuned' engine, but since it's also in the manufacturer's interests to ensure that the relationship works, I don't think they'd want to risk overly ruffling the customer's feathers by giving them an underperforming engine if it meant losing their competitive advantage.

Whatever happens, it'll be interesting anyway...

Also noticed that Briatore has been quoted saying that Renault are now keen to supply engines to another team, so there's another potential option for Frankie.

[Beer Baron]

yes well at least renault are currently a top team. but buying customer engines from a loser i still think is a waste of time. hell toyota are dumb enough to hire ralph for big dollars what makes us think they are smart enough to build a decent motor?

[ctjet]

damn it... Fisi got another year at Renault. Get him out of there and make some way for Kovalainen. He's topping time sheets everywhere!! why do Renault persist with this italian hack?

The excuse of "he knows the team and how we work" doesnt fly with me. Kovalainen knows just as much and deserves a chance

[inissane]

i have to agree fisichella is a tool and so is ralph schuey how they justify their positions in those teams i dont know

infact alot of the driver decisions mystify me, why would alonso want to leave renault and why would they want to get rid of him?? why hold onto a proven second rate driver who cant keep up with alonso in the same car weekend after weekend

[Roy]

Strong rumours flying around that Flavio has his mits in Kimi's pockets. Hope so as thats what i have been thinking would happen for a while. I cannot see Kimi going to Ferrari, as i cant see MS retiring this year.

Dennis takes Renault Golden Boy, so Flavio gives Kimi something McLaren couldnt, a WDC. Also proving that its the Renault team that make the car and team WDC material, not Alsonso

[ctjet]

Also proving that its the Renault team that make the car and team WDC material, not Alsonso

Well thats kind of rhetorical isnt it? In recent years when has the top car not won the championship? Theres been no real suprise champions in the last 10+ years, you kinda know whos goning to win halfway through the championship...

As much as i dislike Alonso he was in the right place at the right time, and he did beat the living crap out of his teammate. How do you judge a 'deserved champion'? Did Schumi deserve to win when he took out Hill? F1 is full off injustices unfortunately

[Roy]

Yeh I know what you are saying. And not disagreeing, but to emphasize what I was getting at. Name me a team that has lost its WDC winning driver then the next year won the WDC with another driver.

There are a few, but not enough to say that any driver can win with the best car.

So for Flavio to get his mits on Kimi and win next years WDC, it will be a big statement for Renault and the teams ability. And to me show it’s the teams ability to lead the driver, rather then the driver lead the team. Much like how I see MS plays a big at Ferrari. And I often wonder whether McLarens slight drop in performance can be contributed to Coulthard leaving? I mean they kept him for a good many years. Newey went to McLaren from Williams because he enjoyed working with Coulthard, and he played a large part in motivating Newey to leave McLaren for Red Bull, so don’t discount the roles certain drivers can play in the team, and its subsequent performance.

General thinking is Alonso has that sort of place withing Renault, so for them to beat him next year with a new driver. LOL, blah, blah blah

[ctjet]

i think Mclaren slide is due to the areo guys all leaving in one big hit... If you compare the rate of development from the 2005 car to the 2006 car its obvious that they are not making the big steps forward like they were last year.

Coulthards impact on the car couldnt be too significant as he was always the second driver to Mika and then got out done by Kimi. You would think that Maclaren would build a car to suit the needs of there no.1 guy, not no.2... Personally i think the fact that newey and DC follow each other around is just a strange co-inkidink.

If red bull keeps newey and a dood driver like DC, and then gets supplied Renault engines... they're gonna be dangerous

[Roy]

Well there have been several interviews when Newey has said that he likes working with Couthard and its not a coincidence. Couthard made the initial contact with Newey and was one of the main reasons he went to RBR.

As for him being a number 2 driver. Look through the history of Mclaren when he first raced alongside Mika, he was winning races more often and before Mika was. DC was ordered over the radio to pull over so that Mika could win his first GP. 3 GPs later and the first race of the next season he was again told to pull over in Aus for Mika to win the Aus GP. From that point onwards it was no secret that Mika was the faourite son of Dennis. The fact tat McLaren kept him around for as long as they did tells me that McLaren knew how good he was and what he offered the team.

Against Kimi he did struggle with the qualifying

[benm]

Nothing to write home about in the Friday practice sessions. Bring on the Qualifying.

[ctjet]

Starting grid for the Canadian GP

1. ALONSO Renault

2. FISICHELLA Renault

3. RAIKKONEN McLaren

4. TRULLI Toyota

5. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari

6. ROSBERG Williams

7. MONTOYA McLaren

8. BUTTON Honda

9. BARRICHELLO Honda

10. MASSA Ferrari

11. VILLENEUVE BMW

12. KLIEN Red Bull

13. HELDFELD BMW

14. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota

15. LIUZZI Toro Rosso

16. COULTHARD Red Bull

17. WEBBER Williams

18. SPEED Toro Rosso

19. MONTEIRO Midland

20. ALBERS Midland

21. SATO Super Aguri

22. MONTAGNY Super Aguri

[ctjet]

Mate, renault is hands down just too good... doesnt matter what track, which country they're killing it. Third sector was so fast for Alonso.

Cant believe both hondas made it in the top ten aswell.. probably running light to look good for the recent shake up

[Roy]

Long night at the office.

So far Rosberg has done a pretty good job. Although there is talk that Rubens and Webber had problems with him in qualifying. Webber not even making the first cut as a result. Its going to be a long night.

...and in recent months talk of MS reverting back to his bad old ways etc. I do get a feeling that Rosberg is very keen to do well, i suspect that if he is ever racing in close proximity of Mark then he will show his team mate no mercy. A few momnets this year he has shpown his driving is a little one eyed...a new Senna.Schumacher take no prisoners driver?

[benm]

Just finished watching the iTV Qualifying, probably the most boring qualifying of the 2006 season.

Webber complained about Rosberg in an interview saying he was holding him up on the hairpin and back straight, then Rosberg tankslaps a wall and cuts the grass on another corner on the same lap and still beats Webber into the final 16th position. Hey Webber quit ya excuses and make your own room, don't expect the driver infront to just get out of the way, he's also fighting for a position on the grid.

[Roy]

Actually, i blame the race engineers on the radio. If they called ahead and told Rosberg that Mark was hot and not to hold him up, then Rosberg deserves a root canal.

If they didnt let their respective drivers know what was happening when they are qualifying next to each other then...

Rosberg has publically apologised so could be some truth to it...im hoping Toyota and Trulli race well tonight and get a podium

[benm]

Well it was 1 or the other that would move through to the 2nd round of qualifying. Probably would have been better if it was Webber but ah well. I love how Ruben said he'll remember that Rosberg held him up and hold him up next time...

[inissane]

lol at ralph driving around the track at half pace and causing viellnerve to crash, ralph is an accident waiting to happen every race

dam, raikonen has bad luck I want him or schuey to start beating alonso

[Roy]

What did i say about Rosberg earlier?

LOL, he is no doubt quick, but considering he was in a reasonably good posi for the race, it was kinda silly. But oh well.

Talk is Ralf and Trulli are confirmed for Toyota next year. It looks liek my prediction that Rosberg will be goign to Toyota as part of an engine deal (if Williams are actually getting Toyota engines) may be wrong.

I wonder where Wurz will end up in all this, talk was he moved because of talk of a race seat in 2007.

It wont happen but more then ever i want to see Renault in the Williams

[ctjet]

this alonso/renault combo is unbelieveable... i cannot forsee a race that he wont win... This might go down as the most dominated season ever!! And Mclaren is back on the money... Raikkonen first stint was sensational. The car is starting to develop real raw pace.

The red team is nowhere... Schumi i think is making the car look beter than it acctually is

my only question is this... WTF is Alonso doing here?

[dezz]

this alonso/renault combo is unbelieveable... i cannot forsee a race that he wont win... This might go down as the most dominated season ever!! And Mclaren is back on the money... Raikkonen first stint was sensational. The car is starting to develop real raw pace.

The red team is nowhere... Schumi i think is making the car look beter than it acctually is

lol