14/05/2006
NEWS STORY
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Talking at the post-qualifying press conference it was quite clear that Michael Schumacher was not exactly broken-hearted not to be on pole position for today's race. Indeed, as Fernando Alonso, smiled and chatted away, promising his adoring fans a great race, the German looked very much like that cat who has had the cream, indeed, you could almost hear him purring.
As we prepare for round three of the Alonso-Schumacher show, the one thing we can be certain of is that there are other elements that will come into play during the course of the afternoon, namely shotgun riding teammates Massa and Fisichella, not to mention strategists Brawn and Symonds.
We make no apologies for concentrating on Renault and Ferrari merely because we do not believe, certainly based on the evidence to date, that anyone else is seriously capable of challenging here - after all, it's not as if we can even count on the weather to throw up a little uncertainty.
Behind the main protagonists, we can (hopefully) expect a decent battle between the McLarens, Toyota and Hondas for the remainder of the points, but make no mistake, today's race is all about two teams, and in particular, two drivers.
Special congratulations today to David Coulthard, who starts his two-hundredth Grand Prix, though unfortunately, following an off in qualifying, he starts from the back of the grid. It makes one feel quite old to think back to the Scot's F1 debut, just week's after the tragedy that robbed the sport of one of its finest competitors, Ayrton Senna.
There have been highs and lows, and Pitpass must admit to being one of DC's sternest critics, however, it's good to see him still racing, and still enjoying his racing, even if the 2006 Red Bull isn't a patch on the 2005 version. Well done David!
The Scot starts from the back of the grid, alongside Jacques Villeneuve, who has had two engine changes this weekend. The first change was necessitated following an accident 'in transit', which meant that the Canadian forfeited ten grid spots. After qualifying, BMW decided that it had nothing to lose, and consequently gave the former World Champion yet another powerplant.
Back to today's race and as is often the case, the outcome race could be decided in the first few hundred metres.
We all know that the Renaults are the best out there when it comes to fast getaways, though having master strategist Ross Brawn working with him will give Michael some comfort should the blue and yellow cars gain the initial advantage. Sadly, what we really have to watch for at the start of today's race is 'questionable' tactics from the four main protagonists, which could end up with one or more drivers being eliminated before the race is just a few seconds old. Let's hope for a clean, fair, start.
Don't expect much overtaking today. For not only does the design of the Barcelona track, and indeed the contemporary F1 car, make overtaking difficult, the fact that this is the most widely used test track means that every driver knows this circuit like the back of his hand, therefore its almost impossible to pull any surprises. Then again!
As the cars prepare top head off for the warm up lap, the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees. It's warm and sunny.
Around the track the partisan fans rise to greet their hero, 'Nano' leads the field around to the starting grid. Behind the Spaniard the 21 drivers take their grid slots.
The hold perfect formation into the first corner, though Raikkonen almost makes a surprise move on Massa, having made a great start. Everyone gets through the first sequence of corners without incident. No dramas.
At the end of the first lap Alonso leads Fisichella by 1.6s, with Michael a further 1.4s behind. Massa is fourth, ahead of Raikkonen, Barrichello, Button, Trulli, Ralf and Heidfeld.
Out front, Alonso stretched his lead, as Montoya, Webber, Speed, Rosberg, Liuzzi, Klien and Coulthard run as one behind Heidfeld.
Over the team radio, Barrichello gets told not to lose pace to Raikkonen, as Michael goes quickest in the first sector. Elsewhere, Monteiro spins at Turn 5. The two Super Aguris are running ahead of Villeneuve and the two Midlands.
At the end of lap 4, Alonso leads his teammate by 3.8s, with Michael holding station just 1.3s behind the Italian.
At the back of the field, Villeneuve makes short work of the two Super Aguris, while up front Alonso reels off a string of fastest laps.
Button is all over Barrichello, as the Brazilian falls to 2.8s behind Raikkonen. Montoya (eleventh) has lost ground to Heidfeld, and is now fending off Webber. Speed has Rosberg all over him. Coulthard is up to seventeenth, complaining that the back of his car is "wobbly". Villeneuve is 6.3s behind.
As Barrichello continues to lose ground to Raikkonen, Honda needs to get Button in front of the Brazilian in order that he can take the fight to the Finn. Question is, how do they get the Englishman ahead of his teammate?
After ten laps, Fisichella is 7.2s behind Alonso with Michael just 1.6s behind. Massa is 1.6s behind his Ferrari teammate and 8.7s ahead of Raikkonen. Elsewhere, Sato pits following a spin. Next time around Montagny pits, however it looks as though he has problems.
Another fastest lap for Alonso (17.226), as Massa goes quickest in the first sector. The Spaniard's lead is now up to 8.2s, with Michael now falling to 2.1s behind Fisichella.
As Alonso continues posting fastest lap after fastest lap, one has to say that this race is in serious need of some excitement. The Spaniard's driving is faultless, but this is a procession, plain and simple.
The Ferrari crew members take their stations in the pitlane, but then, acting on Jean Todt's orders, head back into the garage. Elsewhere, Ralf Schumacher has lost his front wing following a coming together with his Toyota teammate.
At the end of lap 17, Alonso pits, having previously been the first driver to lap in the 1:16s.
Consequently, Fisichella leads Michael by 2.5s, with Massa third ahead of Raikkonen.
Next time around, it is Fisi that pits, promoting Michael to race leader. Elsewhere, Montoya has a massive spin, which ends up with the Colombian being beached on the kerb. A disappointing end to a poor weekend.
At the end of lap 19, it is Massa that pits, as all eyes focus on Montoya's car, will the safety car be needed? It looks as though the answer is no, the McLaren is lifted to safety with a crane.
After 20 laps, Michael leads Alonso by 11.6s, with Raikkonen third, ahead of Fisichella, Barrichello and Button. Massa is seventh ahead of Trulli, Heidfeld and Webber.
Michael ups his pace (17.105), as Alonso loses time behind a Midland. The Spaniard makes hared work of passing the Midland, however, Michael has made a mistake which costs him time.
At the end of lap 22 Raikkonen pits, with race leader Michael Schumacher stopping next time around.
The German is stationary for 7.7s, rejoining the race in second ahead of Fisichella. It's only a few metres but it's all that Michael needs in order to launch his attack on the race leader. Game on!
At the end of lap 24 Barrichello is the first of the Hondas to stop, promoting Button to fourth.
Therefore, after 25 laps, Alonso leads Michael by 10.3s, with Fisichella third ahead of Massa, as Button pits. Meanwhile, Fisichella goes wide at Turn 3, running through the
Kitty litter. The Italian really isn't doing his job prospects for 2007 much good.
As the smoke clear, Button has passed Barrichello during the pitstops, running eighth behind Trulli and Heidfeld, who have yet to stop. That said, at the end of lap 28, the Italian pits, as do Rosberg, Liuzzi, Coulthard and Monteiro.
28laps done, and Alonso leads Michael by 10.4s, Fisichella is third, 2.4s ahead of Massa, with Raikkonen fifth, ahead of Heidfeld, Button, Webber, Barrichello and Klien.
At the end of lap 29, Heidfeld finally pits. Teammate, Jacques Villeneuve and Christijan albers are the only drivers that haven't stopped. That said, at the end of lap 30 the Dutchman stops.
Michael gets the gap down to 9.6s, as Fisichella remains a similar distance behind the German. The only 'battles' of note are for eleventh, featuring Villeneuve and Rosberg, and for fifteenth between Liuzzi and Coulthard.
Ralf Schumacher pits and drives straight into the Toyota garage, his race clearly over.
The gap between first and second stretches to 11.6s, with Schumacher lapping around 0.8s slower than the race leader. That said, the German ups his pace and by lap 36 is matching the Spaniard.
Alonso leads from Michael, Fisichella, Massa, Raikkonen, Button, Barrichello, Heidfeld, Trulli and Webber. Eleventh is Villeneuve, who has yet to stop.
Alonso goes quickest in the first sector, as he pulls out a 12.9s advantage over his great rival. Indeed, the Spaniard posts a new fastest lap (16.723). Michael can only respond with a 17.218.
At the end of lap 40, Alonso makes his second stop, as does Albers. The Spaniard rejoins behind his teammate.
Next time around Fisichella pits, as do Villeneuve and Albers, again! That's the Dutch driver's third stop. Barrichello also pitted.
Felipe Massa posts the fastest lap of the race, crossing the line at 1:16.648. The Brazilian is currently running third. That said, at the end of lap 43 the Ferrari driver pits, exiting behind Fisichella.
Button makes his second stop at the end of lap 44, as Michael is lapping 0.4s quicker than Alonso.
At the end of lap 46, Michael, Raikkonen and Sato all pit.
After 48 laps, it's; Alonso, Michael, Fisichella, Massa, Raikkonen, Button, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Rosberg and Webber. Of these, only Heidfeld and Rosberg have yet to make a second stop.
Speed's race is over, the American drives straight into the Toro Rosso garage with a mystery failure. Elsewhere, Heidfeld and Klien pit.
Alonso now leads by 14.4s, with Fisichella 13.2s behind. Massa s fourth, 5.4s behind the Italian, but 19.1s clear of Raikkonen.
Coulthard, complete with wobbly back end, but not of the Tottenham Hotspur variety, makes his second stop on lap 55. Meanwhile, the Spanish Grand Prix looks to be over for Albers, who drives into his garage.
Michael is matching Alonso's times, but remains 15.7s behind the Spaniard.
With 61 laps completed - are we there yet? - it's Alonso, from Michael, Fisichella, Massa, Raikkonen, Button, Barrichello, Heidfeld, Webber and Trulli. Trulli is under heavy pressure from Rosberg, while Coulthard continues to hound Liuzzi.
The Renault crew gathers on the pitwall as Fernando begins his final lap, meanwhile all eyes are on the Trulli/Rosberg battle. However, true to (Barcelona) form, there are no surprises, the German is unable to overtake, consequently the Italian takes tenth place.
We said that it would be about Renault and Ferrari, sadly, however, we never got to see them go head to head. It was a convincing display by the World Champion but not a great demonstration for Formula One. Last year, at the behest of the FIA, race fans voted in their thousands, calling for more overtaking. On a day that the teams, manufacturers and powers that be have reached a remarkable agreement, announcing that there is peace in our time, the sport must address the overtaking issue, be it circuit design, car design, points system or driver attitude, F1 must entertain. And, no disrespect to Fernando, this was not entertaining.
Michael takes second, ahead of Fisichella and Massa, while Raikkonen will have to settle for four points for fifth place. Button and Barrichello take sixth and seventh, hoping that the tight twisty street of Monaco might favour the RA106 in two week's time.
Nick Heidfeld is the last of the points winners, giving BMW further cause for celebration in its first season as a constructor in its own right.
It was a masterclass performance from Fernando and it would be entirely wrong to attempt to detract from a drive of World Championship winning class, however, the fact is that though most of Spain will be celebrating tonight, the rest of us will be wondering whether there must be better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.
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