Blow for Renault, major victory for ‘Politicians’

By Catfish
September 10 2006

The atmosphere before the start of the final European Grand Prix was tense to say the least after Fernando’s questionable qualifying penalty had demoted him from 5th to 10th place on the grid.

A massive blow
The usually pragmatic
Thankfully everyone cleared
However the second McLaren
At the front rather predictably
On lap 42 the Renault
In the end Ferrari didn’t

P. No Driver Team - Engine 1. 5 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 2. 3 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M 3. 17 KUBICA BMW Sauber 4. 2 FISICHELLA Renault 5. 12 BUTTON Honda 6. 11 BARRICHELLO Honda 7. 8 TRULLI Toyota 8. 16 HEIDFELD BMW Sauber 9. 6 MASSA Ferrari 10. 9 WEBBER Williams Cosworth B 11. 15 KLIEN RedBull Ferrari M 12. 14 COULTHARD RedBull Ferrari M 13. 21 SPEED Toro Rosso Cosw. M 14. 20 LIUZZI Toro Rosso Cosw. M 15. 7 R.SCHUMACHER Toyota 16. 22 SATO S. Aguri F1 Honda B 17. 19 ALBERS Midland Toyota B 18. 18 MONTEIRO Midland Toyota B 19. 1 ALONSO Renault 20. 4 DE LA ROSA McLaren Mercedes M 21. 23 YAMAMOTO S. Aguri F1 Honda B 22. 10 ROSBERG Williams Cosworth B
for Renault, a major victory for the ‘Politicians’
Spaniard was heard to openly criticise the sport for being more about politics than racing when interviewed on the start line. Whilst Pat Symonds had earlier declared “We seem to have forgotten what racing is all about…we are so politically correct now and I don’t know what is coming next maybe indicators’ amongst other things. The Renault team were justifiably furious and some serious fireworks could reasonably be expected during the race.
the start cleanly with no major incidents and decent getaways from both Renaults with Fisi allowing Fernando past easily. The Spaniard was soon fighting with Nick Heidfeld for 6th place and passed him on the second lap. Meanwhile as Heidfeld appeared to struggle Robert Kubica made his way past Massa for an excellent third place. Fisi briefly dropped down to 10th but pass Barichello quite quickly though didn’t manage to gain any further places in the opening laps. Meanwhile at the front Kimi wasn’t managing to shake off the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher in spite of recording successive fastest laps. Fernando looked briefly to have the measure of Jenson Button on lap five but couldn’t quite manage a way past whilst Fisi began to drop away from 8th placed DeLaRosa.
pitted surprisingly early on lap 15 followed almost immediately by Kimi who still managed to rejoin the race in front of Fisi. Ferrari also proved to be running quite light and brought MS in two laps later whilst Fernando and Felipe pitted on lap 20 which was a bit of a surprise. As all the positions played out BMW rookie Robert Kubica was leading a GP for the fist time in his life, Fisi was now up to 4th and looking like one of the few one stop runners. This quickly became 3rd once the pole came in for his first stop whilst Fernado was running 9th following his first stop but in front of Button. Fisi came in for his only stop on lap 27 and rejoined in 10th but would not need to stop again.
Michael Schumacher seemed to have a comfortable lead over Raikkonen with Kubica still running an amazing third place and Fernando now up to 5th behind Massa. With only Fisi, Barichello and the Toyotas on a one stopper all the front-runners would have to come in again. Fisi was passed by Heidfeld on lap 34 and appeared not to try too hard to defend his position whilst Fernando was still behind Massa and Kubica in 5th.
and BMW pitted simultaneously and Fernando emerged ahead – just - as they were literally side by side across the pitlane exit and crucially both in front of Massa. Third place for Fernando, which was little consolation after yesterdays’ events but the best he could have expected in the circumstances. Unfortunately any relief was short lived and the new spec Renault engine disastrously gave way on lap 45. Massa made a mistake as he was caught out by the smoke and damaged his car running wide at turn one so had to pit again for repairs. This allowed Fisi to move up to 4th but still behind BMW rookie Robert Kubica at the finish and little consolation for Renault with Schumacher comfortably leading Raikkonen for the win.
need the extra help from the FIA thanks to the untimely Renault engine failure and the only real talking point of this race is going to be Michael Schumacher’s retirement and victory in his final Italian Grand Prix. For Renault it sees a massive uphill struggle in the next three races with Ferrari now leading the constructors title and only two points behind in the drivers standings. In spite of the empty feeling left by Schumacher’s imminent departure it is very hard not to feel that whatever the outcome of this seasons’ titles it will have more to do with FIA political meddling than a fair sporting contest.
Tyres Gaps/Laps Average Stops
B 1h14'51"975 245.814 Km/h 2
+ 0'08"880 245.329 Km/h 2
M + 0'26"440 244.376 Km/h 0
M + 0'32"020 244.075 Km/h 1
M + 0'32"650 244.041 Km/h 2
M + 0'42"460 243.513 Km/h 1
B + 0'44"680 243.393 Km/h 1
M + 0'45"380 243.356 Km/h 3
B + 0'45"990 243.323 Km/h 3
+ 1'12"690 241.900 Km/h 1
1 lap(s) 1
1 lap(s) 1
1 lap(s) 1
1 lap(s) 1
B 1 lap(s) 1
2 lap(s) 1
2 lap(s) 1
9 lap(s) 4
M 10 lap(s) 2
33 lap(s) 0
35 lap(s) 1
44 lap(s) 1