08/10/2006
NEWS STORY
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In our preamble to our Chinese Grand Prix report, we suggested that, for Ferrari, it would be case of damage limitation. Considering the weather conditions and the clear superiority of the Michelins, it appeared that Fernando Alonso and Renault would take full advantage.
As we now know, this wasn't to be the case.
Therefore, looking ahead to today's race it would easy to say that Ferrari has it in the bag, and that Renault has it all to do. Certainly, the pace of the Ferraris on Saturday was astounding, while the fact that the Renaults line up behind the Toyotas - the famous mobile chicanes - will not help the French cause.
Rain on Saturday evening, and a fair amount of cloud this morning, will have given Renault some hope, but this gave way to much brighter conditions as the day progressed, with only an outside chance of rain during the race.
Being its home race, Toyota, after a relatively disappointing season, had to pull something out of the bag here, in order to justify the vast sums the company has invested in its F1 programme. However, one can discount Ralf and Jarno as potential race winners, for the cars were running extra light merely in an attempt to get them as far up the grid as possible, and thereby please the people that pay the bills. That said, the two Japanese cars, especially in the opening stages, can have a say in the outcome of today's race, and possibly the championship, as Alonso has to get past them if he is to take the fight to Schumacher and Ferrari.
As for Ferrari, as we said, they were devastating all day yesterday, and the Bridgestones looked superb. However, there is speculation that the tyres being used here are susceptible to graining.
This isn't merely about the Drivers' Championship however, the Constructors' Championship is also up for grabs, which makes today's clash all the more important.
McLaren has every reason to be bitterly disappointed with its qualifying performance, and, barring a miracle, we are unlikely to see either of the Woking cars challenging here. On the other hand, Honda looked good, and it is not impossible that the Japanese team could produce something special for its home race.
Following yesterday's qualifying session there was another outburst from the Renault camp, with Flavio Briatore accusing Massa of deliberately blocking Alonso. There is no doubt that there is a certain amount of 'bad blood' between the French and Italian teams, though one cannot help that much of this is for the benefit of the media, after all nothing attracts the punters like a 'grudge match'. Then again, these two teams are fighting over two very prestigious titles, therefore the kitchen can be expected to get a little hot from time to time.
With title fight(s) so close, we should be in for a great race on what is a classic circuit, though, sadly, this is the last F1 race that Suzuka will host for the foreseeable future. Let's just hope for a good clean fight, with no controversy.
As for the rest, well as we said, Honda looks good, while BMW continues to impress, and even WilliamsF1 is showing signs of improvement. Therefore, behind the titanic clash up front we can expect a great fight for the remaining points.
As the cars take their place on the grid, the atmospheres is superb, with horns blowing, flags waving and the crowd cheering the 'charioteers'.
The field heads off on the warm up lap, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, and the track temperature is 28 degrees. The sun is shining, but it is still fairly windy, with some parts of the track more affected than others.
Felipe Massa starts from pole, having out-paced his Ferrari teammate in the final seconds of qualifying. However, the Brazilian is not fighting for the Drivers' Championship, so it is can going to be interesting to see how he and his team handle the fact that Michael needs to be in front when it really matters. That said, the two Toyotas, starting ahead of the Renaults, gives them an additional, comfort zone, albeit temporary.
How temporary remains to be seen, for the Toyota starts are poor, whilst Renault are the masters, so it is not impossible that we could see Fernando challenging the Ferraris by the time they reach the first corner. And speaking of the first corner, it's a notorious right-hander that has witnessed many incidents - some of them title deciders - in previous years.
Finally, let's not forget that the Drivers' Championship could be decided today… if Michael wins and Fernando fails to score a point it's all over, no matter what happens in Brazil.
All the cars take their places on the grid, nobody is starting from the pitlane.
They get away cleanly, with Michael slotting in behind Massa. There's a lot of weaving and Alonso gets past Trulli to take third, the Spaniard making it stick in Turn 3. Button also has a good start, moving up to sixth, ahead of Fisichella.
At the end of lap one, it's Massa, Michael, Ralf, Alonso, Trulli, Fisichella, Button, Heidfeld, Raikkonen and Barrichello. There's been contact between Kubica and Barrichello, the Brazilian suffering a damaged front wing.
On lap 2, Michael posts the fastest lap (33.383), and in doing so passes his teammate to take the lead. Elsewhere, Barrichello pits for a new wing. Rosberg dropped two places at the start, is all over Kubica, who heads a train of nine cars.
Another fastest lap on lap 3 (32.889), from Michael who enjoys a lead of 1s over his teammate, while Alonso is all over Ralf, who is 1.3s down on Massa. Elsewhere, Liuzzi has a big spin at the start of the pit straight.
Fisichella has passed Button to re-take sixth, as Speed passes Coulthard, who was forced to lift off when Liuzzi had his spin.
Alonso continues to shadow Ralf, clearly waiting for the German to stop for fuel, which might not be too long in coming. Trulli is 1.8s down on the Spaniard, and 3s ahead of Fisichella.
After 8 laps, Alonso is 0.3s down on Ralf, who is just 2.4s behind Massa. Surprisingly, the Ferraris are not getting ahead. Alonso goes a little wide at the second part of Degner, which gives Ralf some space, and almost allows Trulli to take fourth. However, what's really surprising is that the Ferraris are not extending the gap.
By lap eleven, Alonso is back up with Ralf, and matching the pace of the race leader. The gap between Michael and the Spaniard is still only 5.4s.
At the end of lap twelve, Trulli pits, while Alonso passes Ralf going into the first corner to take third. The Spaniard immediately goes quickest in the first sector.
At the end of lap 13 it is Massa that pits, as does Ralf. The German rejoins in ninth behind his Toyota teammate, while Massa rejoins in sixth.
On lap fourteen Fisichella pits, as Alonso posts a new fastest lap (32.676). Behind Michael and Alonso, it's Button and Webber.
At the end of lap fifteen Alonso pits, which promotes Button to second. The Spaniard rejoins in third ahead of Heidfeld, Massa and Raikkonen. The stops a disaster for the Brazilian, but a success for the Spaniard.
Button, running second, pits at the end of lap sixteen, as Michael leads Alonso by 27.7s, though the German has yet to stop. However, this demonstrates his amazing pace in qualifying.
Heidfeld is third, much to the frustration of Massa, who is fourth, ahead of Raikkonen, Trulli, Ralf, Fisichella, Kubica and Button.
At the end of lap eighteen, Michael pits. 8.9s later, The German rejoins still leading, albeit by just 5s. Heidfeld also pitted, which means that, of the leaders, everyone bar Raikkonen has stopped. In view of McLaren's poor qualifying performance, the Finn could well be on a one-stop strategy.
At the end of lap twenty, Kubica pits, as do Webber and de la Rosa, who is running down in twelfth. Elsewhere, Albers spins after a mechanical failure, consequently there's a lot of debris on the track, which could mean the safety car.
At the end of lap twenty-two, Raikkonen pits, as Michael leads Alonso by 5.5s. Massa is therefore running third, ahead of Trulli, Ralf, Fisichella, Button and Raikkonen.
On his out lap, the Finn goes quickest in the second sector, while Scott Speed (fourteenth) pits, as does Sato.
Heidfeld is running ninth, ahead of Kubica, Rosberg, Webber, de la Rosa, Monteiro, Coulthard, Doornbos, Speed, Liuzzi, Barrichello, Sato and Yamamoto. The two BMWs are having a great scrap.
Michael is working his way through the back-markers, making short work of Barrichello, who is having a day to forget. Next comes the Red Bull ensemble… Liuzzi, Speed, Doornbos and Coulthard.
This allows Alonso to close the gap, though he too has too weave his way through the field.
At the end of lap twenty-nine, Trulli pits, which promotes Fisichella to fifth. Meanwhile, Scott Speed spins off at Degner, but is able to continue. Michael leads Alonso by 5.1s.
Next time around it is Ralf that pits, as Michael extends his lead to 5.7s, his last lap 0.4s quicker than his Spanish rival. Ralf rejoins behind his Toyota teammate in eighth.
His spin saw Speed drop to eighteenth, while Barrichello has moved up to sixteenth, ahead of Liuzzi. Elsewhere, Kubica gets it all wrong at the second Degner, however, he is able to continue.
At the end of lap thirty-three, Fisichella pits, which promoted Button to fourth. Elsewhere, Trulli and Ralf are battling for seventh, though the Italian has to have a problem and is losing pace, much to the chagrin of his German teammate. The Japanese cars are between two and three seconds off the pace, which allows Heidfeld to catch them, and Button and Raikkonen to pull away.
At the end of lap thirty-five, Alonso pits, as do Massa, Rosberg and Coulthard. The Spaniard rejoins still in second.
Next time around it is Michael that pits. 7.4s later he's heading down the pitlane, rejoining the race still leading. Meanwhile, Massa goes quickest in the final two sectors. He's found some pace, but it's too little, too late.
It's all over for Michael, his engine blows. The German pulls off track at Degner, his race, and possibly his title hopes, at an end. He walks back towards the pits, as Alonso cruises to victory, and a possible second title.
That's the German's first (race) engine failure since Indianapolis 2001, that's almost ninety races.
Back on track, Alonso heads Massa by 9.5s, with Raikkonen third, ahead of Fisichella, Button, Trulli, Ralf, Heidfeld, Kubica and Webber. Of these, Kimi has yet to make a second stop.
Mark Webber gets it all wrong in the corner that leads on to the main straight, he clouts the wall, but he's OK. Coulthard has also gone missing. Elsewhere, de la Rosa and Monteiro pit.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap forty-one, rejoining ahead of the two squabbling Toyotas.
With twelve lap remaining, Alonso leads Massa by 10.5s, with Fisichella third, ahead of Button, Raikkonen, Trulli, Ralf, Heidfeld, Kubica and Rosberg.
With 16 points (seemingly) in the bag, and only 8 for Ferrari, Renault looks to have one hand on the Constructors' Championship.
With seven laps remaining, Massa trails Alonso by 13.2s, the Brazilian unable to match the pace of the leading Spaniard. Fisichella is a further 13.5s behind the Brazilian, and 6.2s ahead of Button, who is under the watching eye of Raikkonen. Trulli and Ralf continue their little game, 26s clear of the BMWs of Heidfeld and Kubica.
"Go for it, go for it, you are allowed," shouts an engineer into Kubica's radio, " you are allowed, go for it, overtake Heidfeld!" The Pole is 0.3s down on the German, and looks eager to carry out his orders.
Speed drives into the pits and into his garage, his race over.
Barring a major disaster, Alonso appears to have this all sewn up, his lead over Massa up to 15.3s. Fisichella looks equally settled in third, ahead of Button and Raikkonen. Yamamoto spins, but is able to continue.
For the second successive week the form book is thrown out of the window, as Alonso takes a win that ninety minutes ago seemed unthinkable. Meanwhile, how many would have predicted that Michael would retire - his first since Turkey last year - and with an engine problem at that?
Considering how topsy-turvy this championship has been in recent weeks, it would be foolhardy to start claiming that its all over, however, things are looking mighty good for Renault and Fernando.
If they had failed due to graining, Ferrari might have found today's disaster more palatable, not that failure is ever acceptable. However, to suffer an engine failure was surely something that the Italian team never considered.
While Fisichella gave excellent support, even though we saw little of him, one has to wonder if Massa could have done a bit more.
A great result for Button, while McLaren will be relieved to see Kimi finish fifth. Toyota must surely be delighted to have both cars in the points in its home race, while Nick won the battle of the BMWs.
Special mention to Takuma Sato, who brought his super Aguri home in fifteenth, ahead of the Spyker MF1 of Monteiro, a great achievement for a driver who, this time last year, appeared to be without a drive, and a team that didn't exist twelve months ago.
And so we head to Brazil, where sewing up the titles appears to be a mere formality for both Renault and Fernando. Then again, this is F1, and as well know, anything can happen… and usually does.
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