03 Feb 07Alonso Setting The Pace
Formula One reigning world champion Fernando Alonso showed he will again be the man to beat this season after setting the fastest time in the first of three days of testing in Spain.
The two-time world champion who moved to McLaren for the upcoming season, was a second faster in his new MP4-22 than the flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen was in the new Ferrari.
Renaut in their new R27 car which was put through its paces in Jerez in southern Spain last week, posted the third fastest time with test driver Nelson Piquet Jr. behind the wheel.
Ferrari begin the post-Michael Schumacher era with Raikkonen behind the wheel of the Ferrari F1 car F2007.
With Bridgestone now supplying all the teams, speed and reliability will determine the 2007 Drivers World Champion and the constructors championship winner.
IASbet.com Outright betting on the 2007 Drivers Championship
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)-Ferrari 2.20
Fernando Alonso (ESP)-McLaren 3.00
Felipe Massa (BRA)-Ferrari 5.00
Jenson Button (GBR)-Honda 11.00
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN)-Renault 17.00
Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA)-Renault 21.00
Lewis Hamilton (GBR)-McLaren 21.00
Rubens Barrichello (BRA)-Honda 26.00
IASbet.com Outright betting on the 2007 Constructors Championship
Ferrari 1.70
McLaren 3.00
Renault 7.00
Honda 11.00
Toyota 21.00
BMW Sauber 51.00
Williams 67.00
Red Bull 67.00
More...
16 Nov 06New Drivers in Leading Teams
MACHINERY and man work in tandem in Formula 1 and, like in many motorsport categories, the well-oiled machine can make the man.
Pit lane expertise plays a strong hand in the final outcome of the Formula 1 World Championship.
With the game of musical chairs leaving many teams and drivers working from a new song sheet in 2007 – testing season could be the time to secure great odds for the Outright 2007 Formula 1 World Champion.
In 2006 two Formula 1 teams dominated – the ever-present Ferrari and recently rejuvenated Renault.
However, both have said farewell to number one drivers. Seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher retired from racing and the prancing horse operation, while reigning Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso switched camps.
Spanish sensation Alonso will now drive for McLaren-Mercedes, the one-time home of multiple Formula 1 champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
So does the driver make the car? For those who believe this is the case, www.IASbet.com has Alonso second-favourite at $2.80 to take his third successive Formula 1 title.
On the flip side Kimi Raikkonen leaves McLaren-Mercedes for the much-sought after seat at Ferrari. He hurled his McLaren-Mercedes into fifth-place in the 2006 Drivers Championship after finishing second in 2005.
At www.IASbet.com Raikkonen is favourite at $2.30.
What about the co-drivers at Ferrari and Renault? Only five drivers won races last season – Alonso, Schumacher and Honda’s Jenson Button as well as number two drivers at Renault and Ferrari, Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa respectively.
Both remain at the top two teams in the Constructors Title. Malaysian race winner Fisichella is $15 to win the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship and Brazillian Massa, who won the Turkish Grand Prix and his home race, is at $4.50 on www.IASbet.com.
Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen replaces Alonso at Renault, joining teammate Fisichella in the double-figure odds market at $17 on www.IASbet.com.
As the past two years have show More...
07 Aug 06Button wins first Grand Prix
The pressure is finally off British driver Jenson Button after he won his first Grand Prix race, taking victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 26 year old Button, who started 14th on the grid, held off McLaren’s Pedro de la Rosa with German Nick Heidfield in third place.
Reigning Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso looked set to record a convincing victory before Kimi Raikkonen crashed out forcing the safety car onto the track.
While Alonso was forced to come back to the chasing pack, he quickly established a race winning lead before the drive shaft on the right rear wheel of his Renault forced his retirement.
Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher was unable to cut into Alonso’s championship lead of 11 points after he too was forced to retire from the race with three laps to go.
Hungarian Grand Prix Result:
1. Jenson Button (GB) Honda one hour 52 minutes 20.941 seconds
2. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren - Mercedes 30.837
3. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 43.822
4. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 45.205
5. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull - Ferrari 1 lap
6. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1 lap
7. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1 lap
8. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1 lap
9. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 3 laps
10. Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland 3 laps
11. Christijan Albers (Ned) Midland 3 laps
12. Scott Speed (USA) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 4 laps
13. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 5 laps
14. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri - Honda 5 laps
R Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 19 laps 51 laps completed
R Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 25 laps
R Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 25 laps
R Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams - Cosworth 19 laps
R Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 18 laps
R Christian Klien (Aut) RedBull - Ferrari 6 laps
R Mark Webber (Aus) Williams - Cosworth 1 lap
R Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Super Aguri - Honda 0 laps
R = retired More...
06 Aug 06Raikkonen Grabs Hungary Grand Prix pole
The Flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen grabbed his second straight pole when he upstaged rivals Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso at the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.
Raikkonen posted a qualifying time of one minute 19.599 seconds to edge out Ferrari number 2 Filipe Massa.
Michael Schumacker will start from 11th on the grid after being penalized two-seconds during Saturday’s practice.
Formula One Drivers Championship leader Fernando Alonso will start from 15th having incurred the same penalty during Friday’s practice session..
Schumacher said, "I'm incredibly angry, but I have to blame myself,"
Grid for Hungarian Grand Prix:
1. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:19.599
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:19.886
3. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:20.085
4. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.117
5. Mark Webber (AUS) Williams-BMW 1:20.266
6. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:20.759
7. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:20.924
8. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:21.132
9. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:22.049
10. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:20.623
11. Michael Schumacher **(Ger) Ferrari 1:20.875
12. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1:20.890
13. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1:21.207
14. Jenson Button * (GB) Honda 1:20.092
15. Fernando Alonso **(Spa) Renault 1:21.364
16. Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland 1:23.767
17. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso 1:22.068
18. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:22.084
19. Scott Speed (USA) Toro Rosso 1:22.317
20. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri 1:22.967
21. Christijan Albers *(Ned) Midland 1:23.146
22. Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Super Aguri 1:24.016
* 10-place penalty for unscheduled engine
**Given a two-second penalty More...
04 Aug 06Wurz replaces Webber
Austrian Alexander Wurz will replace Australian Mark Webber at Formula One team Williams next season.
Williams boss Frank Williams said, "This year has been tough but we are seeing the beginnings of a performance upswing which we are determined to continue,"
"Together with our recent announcement regarding our Toyota engine partnership, we are starting to put in place some of the cornerstones of a competitive team for the rest of this season and into the future."
"I must commend Mark for his contribution to the team over the past two seasons as he is a credit to himself and Williams,"
"He has never let up in his pursuit of competitive success and I know Mark will give his all until the end of the season. We wish him well in his future arrangements."
It is widely tipped that Webber will head to Renault next season and replace reigning world Formula One champion Fernando Alonso who will join McLaren next season.
Webber is managed by Renault team boss Flavio Briatore. More...
31 Jul 06Schumacher wins German Grand Prix
Seven time world formula one champion Michael Schumacher won the German Grand Prix overnight to cut championship leader Fernando Alonso’s lead from 17 points to 11.
Schumacher took control at the Hockenheim circuit after polesitter Kimi Raikkonen had to make an early pit stop.
Schumacher led home a Ferrari one-two finish beating home teammate Felipe Massa while the flying Finn Raikkonen finished third.
Alonso struggled for the third consecutive Grand Prix and could only finish fifth.
German Grand Prix result:
1. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari one hour 27 minutes 51.693 seconds
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari +0.720 seconds
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren - Mercedes +13.206
4. Jenson Button (GB) Honda +18.898
5. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault +23.707
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault +24.814
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota +26.544
8. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull - Ferrari +48.131
9. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota +60.351
10. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 1 lap
11. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull - Ferrari 1 lap
12. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 1 lap
13. Christijan Albers (Ned) Midland - Toyota 1 lap
14. Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland - Toyota 2 laps
Retired:
15. Mark Webber (Aus) Williams - Cosworth 59 laps completed
16 Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri - Honda 38 laps
17 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BMW Sauber 30 laps
18 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 19 laps
19 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 9 laps
20 Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren - Mercedes 2 laps
21 Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Super Aguri - Honda 1 lap
22 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams - Cosworth no laps completed More...
18 Jul 06Schumacher wins French Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher closed the gap on Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso when he took out his eighth French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.
Starting on pole position alongside Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, Schumacher posted his second consecutive Formula One win of the season to close the gap to 17 points in the driver standings.
French Grand Prix final positions:
1. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari one hour 32 minutes 7.803 seconds
2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault +00:10.131 seconds
3. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 00:22.546
4. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 00:27.212
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren -Mercedes 00:33.006
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 00:45.265
7. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren 00:49.407
8. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1 lap
9. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull - Ferrari 1 lap
10. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 1 lap
11. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BMW Sauber 1 lap
12. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull - Ferrari 1 lap
13. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 1 lap
14. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams - Cosworth 2 laps
15. Christijan Albers (Ned) Midland - Toyota 2 laps
16. Franck Montagny (Fra) Super Aguri - Honda 3 laps
Retired:
Jenson Button (GB) Honda 61 laps completed
Mark Webber (Aus) Williams - Cosworth 53 laps
Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 29 laps
Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 18 laps
Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland - Toyota 11 laps
Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri - Honda 1 laps More...
16 Jul 06Schumacher grabs pole for France Grand Prix
Seven time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher will start from pole at the French Grand Prix after he and teammate Felipe Massa posted the two quickest times to give the Ferrari team their second consecutive front row.
It was Schumacher’s 68th career pole and the second in as many weeks following his US Grand Prix success at Indianapolis last weekend.
Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso will start in third place alongside Toyota's Jarno Trulli who edged out teammate Schumacher for the second row on the grid.
Michael Schumacher closed the gap on points leader Fernando Alonso when winning the US Grand Prix, can he close the gap even more and keep his dreams of an eighth Formula One world championship alive with victory at Magny-Cours?
2006 French Grand Prix
Pos No Driver Team Qualifying time
1 5 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:15.493
2 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:15.510
3 1 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:15.785
4 8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:16.036
5 7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:16.091
6 3 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.281
7 2 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:16.345
8 4 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.632
9 10 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:18.272
10 14 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari 1:18.663
11 9 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:16.129
12 16 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW 1:16.294
13 15 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari 1:16.433
14 11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:17.027
15 21 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth 1:17.063
16 19 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:17.105
17 20 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth 1:17.164
18 17 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber-BMW 1:17.304
19 12 Jenson Button Honda 1:17.495
20 18 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:17.589
21 23 Franck Montagny Super Aguri-Honda 1:18.637
22 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:18.845 More...
12 Jul 06McLaren agree Montoya release
Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya has been released by McLaren just days after announcing his plans to move into NASCAR racing.
Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa will partner Kimi Raikkonen at this weekends French Grand Prix
Mclaren boss Ron Dennis said, "Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition to the NASCAR scene,"
"We have agreed that with so many things happening in Juan Pablo's life right now, he should take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and personally for the future."
Montoya said he was excited about his move into NASCAR racing for the Chip Ganassi racing team and was grateful to have his future settled.
"I have enjoyed most of my time in Formula 1 and I'm grateful for this opportunity to settle my personal life and concentrate on my future career."
Montoya was to be replaced by reigning Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren next season. More...