At the beginning of the 2006 season there was only one rookie name on everyone's lips, that of 21 year old Nico Rosberg. The son of the legendary Keke Rosberg was driving his debut F1 season with Dad's old team, Williams. Not only was this a marketing man's dream, but Nico was seriously quick too. Move over Mark Webber, there's a new guy in town.
Nearly every statement made by the Renault team since Saturday afternoon has contained the phrase, or an approximation of, 'the race was decided on Saturday afternoon, off the track'. This is in reference to Felipe Massa's complaint that he was blocked by Fernando Alonso on one of his final flying laps and the complaint was upheld by the investigating stewards, meaning Alonso started 10th on the grid instead of his original 5th.
Ferrari have wasted no time in telling the world pretty much what everyone suspected anyway, that Kimi Raikkonen will be partnering Felipe Massa for the team in 2007, 2008 and for Kimi, 2009 too.
He parked his Ferrari, jumped out and removed his helmet, ear plugs and radio as he walked towards the gathered team. The congratulations seemed more heartfelt than normal, the presence of his wife and the front stage prominence of Luca Montezemelo telling. As they stood on the podium, Michael leaned over and whispered in the ear of second placed man Raikkonen. What did he say? We shall probably never know, but could it have been 'that's me done, this will be you next year'.
September 10th has turned out to be the most important date in the 2006 Formula One season, and one of the most momentous the sports ongoing history. It will certainly be remembered for being the day that seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher announced his retirement to the world, but potentially it could also be remembered as the day that Ferrari turned the championship around, giving Michael the chance to retire as an eight-times World Champion.
According to F1Racing.net, MF1 has been sold to the Dutch M-Consortium and Michiel Mol. Surely this must be the shortest ownership of an F1 team ever! Alex Schnaider must really not have got on with F1 and let's face it, Colin Kolles certainly didn't. Regardless of the fact that cheeky-chappy Johnny Herbert was on side to butter-up the media, MF1 just didn't seem as if they belonged.
There go the rumours that Kimi was a possiblility for a 2007 Renault drive, as this morning Renault announced that Heikki Kovalainen would be partnering Fisichella next year. Heikki has been testing for Renault and driven in the GP2 races for sometime and has naturally gained another 'flying Finn' tag. His runner-up position in 2005 GP2 was excellent and he has considerable experience in the Renault.
Today, Gerhard Berger has suggested that Schumacher just quit and be done with it. He claims that his recent showings on track indicate that he is struggling to keep up with the 'new blood' such as Alonso, Kimi and Nick Heidfeld. Say again? Alonso, already world champion, check...Kimi, likely champion and multiple race winner, check...Nick Heidfeld...really?
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Rojo
Three Weeks Without F1.
Another three week break in the Formula One calendar has left me sweating in anticipation for the Chinese GP. At this critical point on the championship, I miss the reason for this extended break even more; the year-out for Spa. Confirmed as being back in 2007, just think what impact it would have now, with its unpredictability in weather and results! It could have been another Hungary.
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