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Revision as of 14:01, 16 October 2006 editErnham (talk | contribs)1,694 edits Season review: no speculation/editorlizing please← Previous edit Revision as of 14:03, 16 October 2006 edit undoErnham (talk | contribs)1,694 edits Season review: "Made an error" huh? when was this?Next edit →
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] during the ] for the ].]] ] during the ] for the ].]]


After a disastrous ] and slow start to the 2006 season ] won two consecutive races at ] and the ]. During the final lap of his qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix, Schumacher came to a stop at the La Rascasse ], resulting in yellow flags, meaning that other drivers could not go at maximum speed. After the session there were immediate complaints that this was a deliberate move by Schumacher to ensure he started in pole position. Although Schumacher insisted he had simply made an error, a stewards' inquiry stated, "We are left with no alternative but to conclude that the driver deliberately stopped his car on the circuit." The penalty was that Schumacher's qualifying times were all deleted, demoting him to 22nd position on the grid. He opted to start from the pitlane, and finished 5th. After a disastrous ] and slow start to the 2006 season ] won two consecutive races at ] and the ]. During the final lap of his qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix, Schumacher came to a stop at the La Rascasse ], resulting in yellow flags, meaning that other drivers could not go at maximum speed. After the session there were immediate complaints that this was a deliberate move by Schumacher to ensure he started in pole position. Although Schumacher insisted he was innocent, a stewards' inquiry stated, "We are left with no alternative but to conclude that the driver deliberately stopped his car on the circuit." The penalty was that Schumacher's qualifying times were all deleted, demoting him to 22nd position on the grid. He opted to start from the pitlane, and finished 5th.


In the British Grand Prix, Alonso became the first ] driver and the youngest driver (24 years, 10 months, 13 days) to get the ], missing the ] by a single lap. Schumacher won the ] (his fourth consecutive victory at Indianapolis and fifth career victory there) and the ]. He also won the ] at Hockenheim, with Alonso finishing 5th. In the British Grand Prix, Alonso became the first ] driver and the youngest driver (24 years, 10 months, 13 days) to get the ], missing the ] by a single lap. Schumacher won the ] (his fourth consecutive victory at Indianapolis and fifth career victory there) and the ]. He also won the ] at Hockenheim, with Alonso finishing 5th.

Revision as of 14:03, 16 October 2006

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2006 FIA Formula One
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The 2006 Formula One season is the 57th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It began on March 12, 2006 and it will end on October 22 after 18 races.

Background

The calendar initially was the same as that of 2005, with the Belgian Grand Prix scheduled on September 17. However, on February 8, the FIA announced that the Belgian National Sporting Authority (RACB) would withdraw Spa-Francorchamps from the 2006 season due to lack of time to complete improvements to the track. The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, offered his city's track as a possible replacement for the Belgian Grand Prix, but the FIA said that the Belgian race would not be replaced. The race continues to receive strong support from drivers and FIA President Max Mosley and it will return to the calendar in 2007.

2006 will be the last season season with two tyre manufacturers. The two current tyre manufacturers are Bridgestone and Michelin. On December 9, 2005, the FIA announced that from the 2008 F1 Season, there will be only one tyre supplier. Five days later, Michelin announced it will quit Formula One at the end of the 2006 season as it does not want to be in Formula One as the sole tyre supplier.

In 2005 two of the current F1 Teams were bought. Minardi were bought by Red Bull as a junior team to house their growing list of young talent looking for an F1 drive. Despite campaigns by Minardi fans the team was renamed Scuderia Toro Rosso. Sauber were bought by BMW after BMW's split with Williams. BMW opted to keep the Sauber name in F1 renaming the team BMW Sauber. Jordon who had been bought by the Midland Group in 2004 changed their name to MF1 Racing after a transition year in 2005. 2006 saw Japanese team Super Aguri F1, founded by former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki, enter at the last moment. Super Aguri notified the FIA on November 1, 2005 (ahead of the governing body's November 15 deadline) of their intention to enter, but the FIA's entry list stated they had not approved Aguri's entry . However, the team received the consent of the ten existing teams to compete and paid the $48 million bond. The team was confirmed by the FIA on January 26, 2006.

Fernando Alonso drives his Renault F1 car on a testing session held in February 2006 at Circuit de Valencia, possible future venue for a second Grand Prix in Spain

Between the 2005 and 2006 season the ownership of Formula One changed significantly. Until November 2005 the Formula One group was owned by an Ecclestone family trust and Speed Investments (a grouping of Bayerische Landesbank, JP Morgan Chase and Lehman Brothers). On November 25 CVC Capital Partners announced it was to purchase both the Ecclestone shares (25% of SLEC) and Bayerische Landesbank's 48% share (held through Speed Investments). By 30 March 2006 CVC had acquired all remaining shares. On 21 March 2006 the European Commission annonced approval of this deal, conditonal upon CVC relinquishing control of Dorna, promoter of MotoGP. On March 28 CVC announced the completion of the Formula One transaction . Ecclestone reinvested proceeds of his stake into the new Formula One parent company Alpha Prema.

Another Ecclestone victory involved the Grand Prix Manufacturers’ Association's proposal for an alternative World Championship. On March 27, the five car manufacturers involved lodged applications for the 2008 season, reducing the likelihood of a breakaway series. On May 14, GPMA members confirmed they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding, a move toward signing a new Concorde Agreement. Five days later, Bernie Ecclestone and CVC Capital Partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Grand Prix Manufacturers’ Association which should see the five "rebels" continue racing in Formula One at least until the 2012 season.

Season review

Renault and Fernando Alonso established early leads in both the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships. The Spanish World Champion achieved six wins (including four consecutive victories) in Bahrain, Australia, Spain, Monaco, Britain, and Canada. Teammate Giancarlo Fisichella won his third career race in Malaysia.

Fernando Alonso during the parade lap for the Monaco Grand Prix.

After a disastrous 2005 season and slow start to the 2006 season Michael Schumacher won two consecutive races at Imola and the Nürburgring. During the final lap of his qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix, Schumacher came to a stop at the La Rascasse hairpin, resulting in yellow flags, meaning that other drivers could not go at maximum speed. After the session there were immediate complaints that this was a deliberate move by Schumacher to ensure he started in pole position. Although Schumacher insisted he was innocent, a stewards' inquiry stated, "We are left with no alternative but to conclude that the driver deliberately stopped his car on the circuit." The penalty was that Schumacher's qualifying times were all deleted, demoting him to 22nd position on the grid. He opted to start from the pitlane, and finished 5th.

In the British Grand Prix, Alonso became the first Spanish driver and the youngest driver (24 years, 10 months, 13 days) to get the Hat Trick, missing the Grand Chelem by a single lap. Schumacher won the United States Grand Prix (his fourth consecutive victory at Indianapolis and fifth career victory there) and the French Grand Prix. He also won the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, with Alonso finishing 5th.

Jenson Button achieved his first Formula One career victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Alonso and Michael Schumacher failed to finish, although Schumacher was promoted to 8th place in the standings (having been classified 9th following a retirement three laps from the end) because of Robert Kubica's disqualification in his first race. The Polish driver had finished 7th in the BMW Sauber.

Felipe Massa won the next Grand Prix in Turkey, so for the second race in a row, Formula One had a debut winner. Fernando Alonso extended his lead over Michael Schumacher by two points after he managed to finish a tenth of a second ahead of the German in second place.

At Monza on September 10, 2006, Schumacher proceeded to reduce Alonso's lead to only two points by winning the Italian Grand Prix while Alonso suffered an engine failure in the late stages of the race. Despite a fourth-place finish for Alonso's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella and a flat-spotted tyre causing Felipe Massa to score no points, the race also saw Ferrari pull ahead of Renault for the first time in 2006. Polish driver Robert Kubica took his BMW Sauber to his first ever podium finish, in only his third race, but the race results were largely overshadowed by Schumacher announcing, during the post-race press conference, that he would retire at the end of the season. Afterwards he did say that he would hold a position in the Ferrari F1 team for 2007, though he did not disclose what.

Three weeks later, with his victory at Shanghai right ahead of Alonso, Schumacher drew level on points with him him at the head of the championship. Schumacher offically lead the World Championship for the first time in 2006 after the race, as he had won 7 races compared to Alonso's 6. Massa did not finish the race, and Renault gained again the lead in the constructors' championship thanks to Fisichella's third place.

File:Schumacher Suzuka2006.jpg
Michael Schumacher before his engine failure during the Japanese Grand Prix.

A week later at the Japanese Grand Prix, Felipe Massa took pole ahead of Michael Schumacher in second and Fernando Alonso in fifth. Schumacher quickly took the lead and set about gaining a five second lead, which continued until after the second round of pit stops. However, Schumacher's engine failed with 17 laps to go, forcing him to retire and handing Alonso the win ahead of Massa.

With just one race to go until the championship was finished, the situation looked like this: If Alonso finishes in a point scoring position in Brazil, he will be world champion regardless of Schumacher's result, while Schumacher can only be world champion should he win and Alonso picks up no points, as Schumacher will have won more races. While the Constructors' championship was more open then the Drivers' championship, with Renault leading the way ahead of Ferrari with a nine point lead, so the French team had to get at least 10 points from Brazil to be safe.

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers are competing for the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Team Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre No Drivers No Third driver Test driver(s)
France Mild Seven Renault F1 Team Renault R26 Renault RS26 2.4 V8 M 1 Spain Fernando Alonso n/a Finland Heikki Kovalainen
Argentina José María López
Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr
2 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
United Kingdom Team McLaren Mercedes McLaren MP4-21 Mercedes FO 108S 2.4 V8 M 3 Finland Kimi Räikkönen n/a Spain Pedro de la Rosa

United Kingdom Gary Paffett
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton

4 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya
Spain Pedro de la Rosa
Italy Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari 248 F1 Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 B 5 Germany Michael Schumacher n/a Italy Luca Badoer

Spain Marc Gené

6 Brazil Felipe Massa
Japan Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota TF106
TF106B
Toyota RVX-06 2.4 V8 B 7 Germany Ralf Schumacher n/a Brazil Ricardo Zonta

France Olivier Panis

8 Italy Jarno Trulli
United Kingdom WilliamsF1 Team Williams FW28 Cosworth CA2006 2.4 V8 4 Series B 9 Australia Mark Webber 35 Austria Alexander Wurz India Narain Karthikeyan
10 Germany Nico Rosberg
Japan Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team Honda RA106 Honda RA806E 2.4 V8 M 11 Brazil Rubens Barrichello 36 United Kingdom Anthony Davidson United Kingdom James Rossiter
12 United Kingdom Jenson Button
Austria Red Bull Racing Red Bull RB2 Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 M 14 United Kingdom David Coulthard 37 Netherlands Robert Doornbos
Germany Michael Ammermüller
none
15 Austria Christian Klien
Netherlands Robert Doornbos
Germany BMW Sauber F1 Team BMW Sauber F1.06 BMW P86 2.4 V8 M 16 Germany Nick Heidfeld 38 Poland Robert Kubica
Germany Sebastian Vettel
none
17 Canada Jacques Villeneuve
Poland Robert Kubica
Russia Midland F1 Racing

Netherlands Spyker MF1 Team
Midland F1

Spyker
M16 Toyota RVX-06 2.4 V8 B 18 Portugal Tiago Monteiro 39 Germany Markus Winkelhock
Switzerland Giorgio Mondini
Germany Adrian Sutil
France Alexandre Prémat
Russia Roman Rusinov
Italy Fabrizio del Monte
Spain Adrian Valles
Venezuela Ernesto Viso
Italy Ronnie Quintarelli
19 Netherlands Christijan Albers
Italy Scuderia Toro Rosso Toro Rosso STR01 Cosworth TJ2005 3.0 V10 M 20 Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi 40 Switzerland Neel Jani none
21 United States Scott Speed
Japan Super Aguri F1 Team Super Aguri SA05

SA06

Honda RA806E 2.4 V8 B 22 Japan Takuma Sato 41 France Franck Montagny
Japan Sakon Yamamoto
Japan Yuji Ide
23 Japan Yuji Ide
France Franck Montagny
Japan Sakon Yamamoto

Team changes

This year, four prominent names in the sport have disappeared, with Minardi, Sauber, BAR and Jordan withdrawing, and one team entered at last moment, the Super Aguri. The Sauber name will remain, although only as a sentiment, as BMW now have total ownership of the team. Jordan became MF1 Racing, as Midland start afresh after a disappointing first season under the Jordan name. Late in the season, at the Italian Grand Prix, it was announced that Spyker would be purchasing Midland MF1 Racing. BAR had been bought and slowly taken over by Honda over the last couple of years and changed their name to Honda Racing F1 Team at the start of the season. Super Aguri F1 also entered their first season after having problems entering. They receive backing from Honda Racing including technology and engines, due to them running Honda driver Takuma Sato

Williams introduced numerous changes for 2006, particularly changing to Cosworth V8 engines after they and BMW split. Red Bull Racing (RBR) have Ferrari engines, replacing the Cosworth power which gained them seventh in the standings in 2005. Williams and Toyota changed tyre suppliers to Bridgestone, due to Michelin's desire to supply fewer teams in the championship. Despite this Toro Rosso who under the Minardi name ran Bridgestone tyres switched to Michelin in line with parent team RBR.

Driver changes

At The Start of the Season

During the Season

Results and standings

In the 2006 Formula One calendar the Australian Grand Prix was put back to a few weeks to avoid a clash with the 2006 Commonwealth Games. For the first time, Bahrain hosted the first Grand Prix, Brazil hosted the last, Japan and China swapped their original dates.

Grands Prix

Round Name Circuit Date Winning driver Winning team Report
1 Bahrain Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit March 12 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
2 Malaysia Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang International Circuit March 19 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella France Renault Report
3 Australia Australian Grand Prix Albert Park April 2 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
4 San Marino San Marino Grand Prix Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari April 23 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
5 European Union European Grand Prix Nürburgring May 7 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
6 Spain Spanish Grand Prix Circuit de Catalunya May 14 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
7 Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco May 28 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
8 United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit June 11 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
9 Canada Canadian Grand Prix Gilles Villeneuve Circuit June 25 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
10 United States United States Grand Prix Indianapolis Motor Speedway July 2 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
11 France French Grand Prix Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours July 16 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
12 Germany German Grand Prix Hockenheimring July 30 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
13 Hungary Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring August 6 United Kingdom Jenson Button Japan Honda Report
14 Turkey Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul Park August 27 Brazil Felipe Massa Italy Ferrari Report
15 Italy Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale Monza September 10 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
16 China Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International Circuit October 1 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari Report
17 Japan Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka Circuit October 8 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault Report
18 Brazil Brazilian Grand Prix Autódromo José Carlos Pace October 22 Report

Drivers

Pos Driver BHR Bahrain MYS Malaysia AUS Australia SMR San Marino EUR European Union ESP Spain MON Monaco GBR United Kingdom CAN Canada USA United States FRA France GER Germany HUN Hungary TUR Turkey ITA Italy CHN China JPN Japan BRA Brazil Pts
1 Spain Alonso 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 5 2 5 Ret 2 Ret 2 1 126
2 Germany M. Schumacher 2 6 Ret 1 1 2 5 2 2 1 1 1 8* 3 1 1 Ret 116
3 Brazil Massa 9 5 Ret 4 3 4 9 5 5 2 3 2 7 1 9 Ret 2 70
4 Italy Fisichella Ret 1 5 8 6 3 6 4 4 3 6 6 Ret 6 4 3 3 69
5 Finland Räikkönen 3 Ret 2 5 4 5 Ret 3 3 Ret 5 3 Ret Ret 2 Ret 5 61
6 United Kingdom Button 4 3 10 7 Ret 6 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret 4 1 4 5 4 4 50
7 Brazil Barrichello 15 10 7 10 5 7 4 10 Ret 6 Ret Ret 4 8 6 6 12 28
8 Colombia Montoya 5 4 Ret 3 Ret Ret 2 6 Ret Ret 26
9 Germany Heidfeld 12 Ret 4 13 10 8 7 7 7 Ret 8 Ret 3 14 8 7 8 23
10 Germany R. Schumacher 14 8 3 9 Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 4 9 6 7 15 Ret 7 20
11 Spain de la Rosa 7 Ret 2 5 Ret 5 11 18
12 Italy Trulli 16 9 Ret Ret 9 10 17 11 6 4 Ret 7 12 9 7 Ret 6 15
13 United Kingdom Coulthard 10 Ret 8 Ret Ret 14 3 12 8 7 9 11 5 15 12 9 Ret 14
14 Australia Webber 6 Ret Ret 6 Ret 9 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 10 8 Ret 7
15 Canada Villeneuve Ret 7 6 12 8 12 14 8 Ret Ret 11 Ret 7
16 Poland Kubica DSQ 12 3 13 9 6
17 Germany Rosberg 7 Ret Ret 11 7 11 Ret 9 Ret 9 14 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 10 4
18 Austria Klien 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 14 11 Ret 12 8 Ret 11 11 2
19 Italy Liuzzi 11 11 Ret 14 Ret 15 10 13 13 8 13 10 Ret Ret 14 10 14 1
20 United States Speed 13 Ret 9 15 11 Ret 13 Ret 10 Ret 10 12 11 13 13 14 18 0
21 Portugal Monteiro 17 13 Ret 16 12 16 15 16 14 Ret Ret DSQ 9 Ret Ret Ret 16 0
22 Netherlands Albers Ret 12 11 Ret 13 Ret 12 15 Ret Ret 15 DSQ 10 Ret 17 15 Ret 0
23 Japan Sato 18 14 12 Ret Ret 17 Ret 17 15 Ret Ret Ret 13 NC 16 DSQ 15 0
24 Netherlands Doornbos 12 13 0
25 Japan Ide Ret Ret 13 Ret 0
26 France Montagny Ret Ret 16 18 Ret Ret 16 0
27 Japan Yamamoto Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 17 0
Pos Driver BHR Bahrain MYS Malaysia AUS Australia SMR San Marino EUR European Union ESP Spain MON Monaco GBR United Kingdom CAN Canada USA United States FRA France GER Germany HUN Hungary TUR Turkey ITA Italy CHN China JPN Japan BRA Brazil Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Pos Driver Team(s) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F.Laps Points
1 Spain Fernando Alonso France Renault 17 7 13 6 5 126
2 Germany Michael Schumacher Italy Ferrari 17 7 12 4 6 116
3 Brazil Felipe Massa Italy Ferrari 17 1 6 2 2 70
4 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella France Renault 17 1 5 1 0 69
5 Finland Kimi Räikkönen United Kingdom McLaren Mercedes 17 0 6 3 3 61
6 United Kingdom Jenson Button Japan Honda 17 1 2 1 0 50
7 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Japan Honda 17 0 0 0 0 28
8 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya United Kingdom McLaren Mercedes 10 0 2 0 0 26
9 Germany Nick Heidfeld Germany Sauber BMW 17 0 1 0 0 23
10 Germany Ralf Schumacher Japan Toyota 17 0 1 0 0 20
11 Spain Pedro de la Rosa United Kingdom McLaren Mercedes 7 0 1 0 0 18
12 Italy Jarno Trulli Japan Toyota 17 0 0 0 0 15
13 United Kingdom David Coulthard Austria RBR Ferrari 17 0 1 0 0 14
14 Australia Mark Webber United Kingdom Williams Cosworth 17 0 0 0 0 7
15 Canada Jacques Villeneuve Germany Sauber BMW 12 0 0 0 0 7
16 Poland Robert Kubica Germany Sauber BMW 5 0 1 0 0 6
17 Germany Nico Rosberg United Kingdom Williams Cosworth 17 0 0 0 1 4
18 Austria Christian Klien Austria RBR Ferrari 15 0 0 0 0 2
19 Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy STR Cosworth 17 0 0 0 0 1
20 United States Scott Speed Italy STR Cosworth 17 0 0 0 0 0
21 Portugal Tiago Monteiro Russia MF1 Toyota 17 0 0 0 0 0
22 Netherlands Christijan Albers Russia MF1 Toyota 17 0 0 0 0 0
23 Japan Takuma Sato Japan Aguri Honda 17 0 0 0 0 0
24 Netherlands Robert Doornbos Austria RBR Ferrari 2 0 0 0 0 0
25 Japan Yuji Ide Japan Aguri Honda 4 0 0 0 0 0
26 France Franck Montagny Japan Aguri Honda 7 0 0 0 0 0
27 Japan Sakon Yamamoto Japan Aguri Honda 6 0 0 0 0 0
  • Michael Schumacher did not finish the Hungarian Grand Prix but was still classified 8th for he completed more laps than those behind him

Constructors

Pos Team Car
no.
BHR Bahrain MYS Malaysia AUS Australia SMR San Marino EUR European Union ESP Spain MON Monaco GBR United Kingdom CAN Canada USA United States FRA France GER Germany HUN Hungary TUR Turkey ITA Italy CHN China JPN Japan BRA Brazil Pts
1 France Renault 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 5 2 5 Ret 2 Ret 2 1 195
2 Ret 1 5 8 6 3 6 4 4 3 6 6 Ret 6 4 3 3
2 Italy Ferrari 5 2 6 Ret 1 1 2 5 2 2 1 1 1 8 3 1 1 Ret 186
6 9 5 Ret 4 3 4 9 5 5 2 3 2 7 1 9 Ret 2
3 United Kingdom McLaren Mercedes 3 3 Ret 2 5 4 5 Ret 3 3 Ret 5 3 Ret Ret 2 Ret 5 105
4 5 4 Ret 3 Ret Ret 2 6 Ret Ret 7 Ret 2 5 Ret 5 11
4 Japan Honda 11 15 10 7 10 5 7 4 10 Ret 6 Ret Ret 4 8 6 6 12 78
12 4 3 10 7 Ret 6 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret 4 1 4 5 4 4
5 Germany Sauber BMW 16 12 Ret 4 13 10 8 7 7 7 Ret 8 Ret 3 14 8 7 8 36
17 Ret 7 6 12 8 12 14 8 Ret Ret 11 Ret DSQ 12 3 13 9
6 Japan Toyota 7 14 8 3 9 Ret Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 4 9 6 7 15 Ret 7 35
8 16 9 Ret Ret 9 10 17 11 6 4 Ret 7 12 9 7 Ret 6
7 Austria RBR Ferrari 14 10 Ret 8 Ret Ret 14 3 12 8 7 9 11 5 15 12 9 Ret 16
15 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret 14 11 Ret 12 8 Ret 11 11 12 13
8 United Kingdom Williams Cosworth 9 6 Ret Ret 6 Ret 9 Ret Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 10 8 Ret 11
10 7 Ret Ret 11 7 11 Ret 9 Ret 9 14 Ret Ret Ret Ret 11 10
9 Italy STR Cosworth 20 11 11 Ret 14 Ret 15 10 13 13 8 13 10 Ret Ret 14 10 14 1
21 13 Ret 9 15 11 Ret 13 Ret 10 Ret 10 12 11 13 13 14 18
10 Russia MF1 Toyota 18 17 13 Ret 16 12 16 15 16 14 Ret Ret DSQ 9 Ret Ret Ret 16 0
19 Ret 12 11 Ret 13 Ret 12 15 Ret Ret 15 DSQ 10 Ret 17 15 Ret
11 Japan Aguri Honda 22 18 14 12 Ret Ret 17 Ret 17 15 Ret Ret Ret 13 NC 16 DSQ 15 0
23 Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret 16 18 Ret Ret 16 Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 17
Pos Team Car
No.
BHR Bahrain MYS Malaysia AUS Australia SMR San Marino EUR European Union ESP Spain MON Monaco GBR United Kingdom CAN Canada USA United States FRA France GER Germany HUN Hungary TUR Turkey ITA Italy CHN China JPN Japan BRA Brazil Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Pos Team Chassis Engine Tyre Starts Wins Podiums Poles F.Laps Points
1 France Renault R26 France Renault M 17 8 18 7 5 195
2 Italy Ferrari 248 F1 Italy Ferrari B 17 8 18 6 8 186
3 United Kingdom McLaren MP4-21 Germany Mercedes M 17 0 9 3 3 105
4 Japan Honda RA106 Japan Honda M 17 1 2 1 0 78
5 Germany BMW Sauber F1.06 Germany BMW M 17 0 2 0 0 36
6 Japan Toyota TF106
TF106B
Japan Toyota B 17 0 1 0 0 35
7 Austria Red Bull RB2 Italy Ferrari M 17 0 1 0 0 16
8 United Kingdom Williams FW28 United Kingdom Cosworth B 17 0 0 0 1 11
9 Italy Toro Rosso STR01 United Kingdom Cosworth M 17 0 0 0 0 1
10 Russia Midland F1 M16 Japan Toyota B 17 0 0 0 0 0
11 Japan Super Aguri SA05
SA06
Japan Honda B 17 0 0 0 0 0

Rule changes

Engine

Significant changes to the Formula One regulations were introduced for 2006. In an attempt to curb the increasing engine power levels of recent years, the maximum engine displacement was reduced from 3.0 to 2.4 litres and the number of cylinders from 10 to 8. At similar engine speeds, the change was expected to cut peak power by around 200 bhp, which would equate to around three to five seconds on lap times at most circuits. (Scuderia Toro Rosso continued to use 3.0 litre 10-cylinder engines with a rev limiter, to avoid the costs of re-engineering their cars in a short period). Initial testing indicated the new engines were six seconds slower than their V10 counterparts, but early in the season it became obvious that despite the decrease in power, lap times were not far from 2005 figures.

Some engine suppliers indicated early that their smaller V8s can rev higher than the 19,000rpms normal for 2005-spec V10s. Northampton-based engine builder Cosworth has an enviable record of success with V8 engines. It claimed to have made further history by becoming the first manufacturer to have broken the 20,000rpm limit on track in December 2005.

Cost reduction

In the long run, the FIA intends to introduce greater restrictions on testing and the introduction of standardized electronics, tyres and brakes to reduce costs and entice more new private teams into the sport. Proposed new rules for the year 2008 led to 22 teams applying to race that season, but since currently only 12 teams can race at one time, 10 of those applicants were turned down.

Tyres

Tyre changes returned to Formula One in 2006. Each driver is limited to 14 sets of tyres per race weekend. This consists of seven sets of dry-weather tyres, four sets of wet-weather tyres and three sets of extreme-weather tyres. The thinking behind this is that the reduced engine size will offset any performance gain .

Qualifying

A new qualifying system consisting of three sessions of varying length has been introduced . A 15-minute session is held first, in which the six slowest cars from that session are eliminated and thus set in grid positions 17–22. After a five minute break, another 15-minute session is held with the remaining cars, and again the six slowest cars are eliminated and set in positions 11–16. These 12 eliminated drivers are placed in parc ferme, but may modify fuel loads as they see fit.

During a further five minute break, the remaining 10 cars declare their fuel loads to the FIA. A final 15 minute session then decides the top 10 grid positions. Teams are allowed to run their fuel load low by making as many laps as possible, and thus improve their times as the weight falls. This is an improvement for TV audiences because teams need to run as many laps as possible to lower their fuel loads. Following this session, the top 10 cars are placed in parc ferme and required to refill their fuel load to the level of that at the beginning of the final 20 minutes. Starting with the 2006 French Grand Prix, qualifying for final session was cut short to just 15 minutes, making all of the sessions the same length, and the ability for drivers to complete a flying lap after the chequered flag drop now applies in first two sessions as well .

A loophole was detected by the FIA, in that teams could declare a large fuel load but on the out lap "leak", or use a large quantity of fuel to lighten a car and permit a faster lap. The FIA decided to only count laps that are within 110% of the driver's fastest time, and allow teams to top up with the amount of fuel used for those laps.

Practice

Only one free practice session is held on Saturdays, for one hour, and it ends no less than two hours before qualifying begins, usually between 11.00 and 12.00, replacing the old system of two 45-minute sessions. Friday remains unchanged, with two one-hour sessions, starting three hours apart.

Mass Dampers

The tuned mass damper system has been used by several teams, notably Renault, during the latter part of 2005 and the 2006 seasons. The devices are located in the front of the car, in the nosecone, and their function is to reduce the extent to which the car bounces after riding a kerb. After the French Grand Prix, the FIA announced that the system would be outlawed. This had a particularly significant effect on Renault, as the team had effectively built their cars around the devices (and had introduced them as long ago as the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix). At the German Grand Prix, however, the Renault team submitted one of their cars for scrutineering by the race stewards, who ruled that the devices were acceptable. The FIA, in turn, launched an appeal against this decision, and on 23 August 2006 the FIA International Court of Appeal issued a statement upholding this appeal and rejecting the stewards' decision. The Court of Appeal stated that the system infringes part of Article 3.15 of the Formula One Technical Regulations, which states that:

Any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance:

  • Must comply with the rules relating to bodywork.
  • Must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not having any degree of freedom).
  • Must remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car.

The central argument, then, is whether the mass dampers function as aerodynamic devices or as a part of the suspension system. The FIA reasoned that because the devices do not "remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car", they are illegal. Following the ruling by the Court of Appeal, the system was officially banned before the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix.

Rumours and speculation

Teams

  • McLaren was linked to a sponsorship deal with Intel to replace West, who withdrew their sponsorship at the 2005 Hungarian Grand Prix. However McLaren instead signed a deal with Vodafone as the team's primary sponsor for 2007, but has no main sponsor for 2006.
  • Due to McLaren and Intel not reaching agreement, Intel instead signed to become a technological partner for BMW Sauber.
  • Midland owner Alex Shnaider has sold his team, which he acquired for around £20 million, for a sum of around £68 million to a Dutch consortium led by internet entrepreneur Michiel Mol and sports car manufacturer Spyker Cars. The team has been renamed Spyker MF1 Team and will race in China with a new, orange livery, whcih replaces the silver, white and red colours of Midland.

Drivers

  • Nelson Piquet, Jr. had been testing for BAR-Honda for a possible role as the third driver for the new Honda factory team. This never lead to anything and Piquet is now contracted to be Renault fourth driver for 2007.
  • Before and during the 2006 season, there was much talk that Ferrari were considering signing up Valentino Rossi for the 2007 season, twenty-two years after the last motorcycle racer, another World Champion, Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto took part in the 1984 British Grand Prix. These rumours were fuelled by Rossi's testing programme for Ferrari at Circuit de Valencia and Fiorano. Other rumours also linked Rossi to Red Bull but on May 24, 2006, four days before the Monaco Grand Prix, Rossi stated that he will be staying in MotoGP for the foreseeable future, saying that he has more goals to achieve .
  • Another Italian, 4 time 250cc class MotoGP World Champion Max Biaggi tested the Midland F1 car at Silverstone Circuit on January 18, 2006. Whether this was a one-off test with Midland F1 or the first step towards a seat with the team is unknown and Biaggi remained spending the year without racing. That rumour slowly cooled off because Biaggi signed a deal with World Superbike champions, Corona Alstare Suzuki. .

Races

  • Following CVC's purchase of the control of the sport, rumors began over a possible second Grand Prix held in Spain, at Circuit de Valencia, perhaps due to the rising interest in F1 from Alonso's Spanish fans (the Alonsomania) after he won the 2005 Drivers Title. These rumors were confirmed on May 30: Michel Ligonnet announced construction work, due to finish in 2007. There was also a new F1 track considered at Sevilla, in the south of Spain, the Monteblanco Circuit, inspired by the old French circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet .
  • According to reports, British investors will build an F1 track in Bulgaria near the seaside region of Kavarna. This is only speculation, but the project will more than likely go ahead in 2007.

Notes

  1. Toyota used the Toyota TF106 for the first six rounds of the championship (Bahrain to Spain), before switching to the new Toyota TF106B from Monaco onwards.
  2. Super Aguri started the first 11 races of the season with an updated version of the 2002 Arrows A23, the SA05. Germany was the first race where the Japanese team raced with their new car, the SA06.
  3. The Circuit de Valencia was reported to be bidding to host a world championship race in the future (a second Grand Prix held in Spain) probably Formula One edition of MotoGP Valencian Community Grand Prix.
  4. After twenty years, this is the last Japanese Grand Prix held at Suzuka International Racing Course. For 2007, this race was scheduled in Toyota's rebuilt Fuji Speedway, which hosted the 1976 and 1977 seasons). After the official announcement, there has been media speculation that Suzuka, supported by Honda, may retain a race under a resurrection of the Pacific Grand Prix title.

External links

Foot notes

  1. The FIA list of entered drivers as of December 2005
  2. CVC announcing the completion of the 2006 deal
  3. "Midland team bought by Spyker". formula1.com. 2006-09-09. Retrieved 2006-09-09.
  4. "Kubica replaces Villeneuve".
  5. "Villeneuve parts company with BMW".
  6. "Robert Doornbos replaces Klien at Red Bull".
  7. "Red Bull confirms Ammermuller".
  8. "Third drivers for Midland for the last three races".
  9. "New test drivers at Silverstone".
  10. ^ Offical rule changes to the 2006 season of Formula One
  11. ITV article on the qualifying tweaks of mid-2006
  12. FIA Formula One Technical Regulations For 2006 FIA.com (Page 11, Article 3.15: Aerodynamic influence). Retrieved 21 September 2006
  13. Article on the possibility of Valentino Rossi joining a Formula One team
  14. Article debunking the rumour on Rossi moving teams
  15. Article on Max Biaggi testing for Midland F1
  16. Website explaining the new track in Spain
  17. "Fuji signs deal for 2007".
Formula One seasons
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