11/06/2006
NEWS STORY
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In all reality, the only hope for a non-Alonso win at Silverstone today is that Ferrari had Michael Schumacher running with a heavier fuel load yesterday.
If not, this afternoon's race should be a peaceful uneventful Sunday afternoon drive in the English countryside for the World Champion, something he should be used to considering that he lives in Oxford.
Up until today, Fernando has completed every single racing lap this season, the only man to do so. Furthermore, he hasn't retired from a race - other than the shambolic event at Indianapolis - since last year's Canadian Grand Prix.
Therefore, taking it as read that the R26 is bullet-proof, the Spaniard should be adding another ten points to his tally this afternoon, inching ever closer to the point where it will be virtually impossible for him to be overhauled - thanks to the current points system.
Indeed, having completed all but 36 race laps this season, though at a lesser pace, there is no reason why Giancarlo Fisichella shouldn't join his Renault teammate on the podium.
As to who will finish behind the Spaniard - the best of the rest so to speak - it is likely to be a straightforward battle between Michael and Kimi, though 2006 reliability suggests the latter. That said, Silverstone is not a car-breaker, there was only one retirement in 2005, and only a couple in the previous two Grands Prix at the Northamptonshire track.
Assuming that Fernando, Kimi and Michael, possibly Fisichella, will account for the podium spots, we could still see an interesting tussle for the remainder of the points, with BMW keen to build on the form shown in qualifying.
Button wrote off his chances of a Silverstone win some time ago, and in all reality, thanks to yesterday's qualifying debacle he will be lucky to leave his 'home' Grands Prix - he also considers Monaco to be one of his home races - with a point, though he could, if fired up enough, emulate Michael Schumacher's Monaco performance.
Therefore the battle for the remaining points, in our humble opinion, will be between Massa, Barrichello, Ralf, Montoya and the two BMWs, though it would be foolish to dismiss the WilliamsF1 duo.
Finally, keep an eye on Tiago Monteiro. We do not expect him to make a surprise visit to the podium, though that isn't down to a lack of ambition, however we do expect another strong performance. In all honesty, the Portuguese driver hasn't been getting the credit he should, yet this weekend he has once again proved that despite the equipment at his disposal he is able to perform miracles. A lot of 'star' names would be put to shame should they find themselves competing against Tiago in equal equipment, we only hope that others are keeping an eyes on him. With no disrespect to Midland, he deserves a good car in order to truly demonstrate his undoubted talents.
So, just to reiterate, unless Michael was running heavy, it has to be Alonso… but then again who knows whether fate may have a surprise in store for us, who knows whether an unfrocked priest might make an unscheduled appearance. Stranger things have happened.
Anyway, as the cars take their places on the grid, around ten minutes after the end of dawn chorus it seems, the air temperature is 27 degrees C, and the track temperature is 41 degrees. It's bright and sunny. As the VIPs and corporate guests take their seats, the real races, many of whom have been 'in position' since the very early hours, apply another dollop of sun-lotion and prepare for (almost) ninety minutes of racing.
The cars head off on the parade lap, everyone getting away. Alonso leads the field around the former airfield, the drivers throwing their cars all over the place in an effort to generate heat into their tyres.
They line up on the grid… the red lights go on, one by one… then off.
Alonso makes a great start while Raikkonen holds off Michael, meanwhile Webber and Ralf clash at the start of Hangar Straight. Heidfeld has already made up a couple of places.
The safety car is deployed, as the two stricken cars are removed. Scott Speed pits, the American - according to the replay - being the cause of the earlier incident having clouted Ralf from behind. Elsewhere, Montoya was hit by someone but is continuing.
Behind the leading trio, it's Massa, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Montoya, Barrichello, Rosberg and Villeneuve.
At the end of the third lap the safety car dives into the pits… Alonso slows almost to a standstill, Kimi almost goes into the back of him.
Raikkonen is all over the Spaniard, as Michael closes in on the Finn. They almost interlock wheels as the German makes a move… but the McLaren driver holds station.
The leading four run almost as one, behind them the field is fairly strung out, until you get to Barrichello who is (once again) leading a train of cars, including Rosberg and Villeneuve. Button is up to thirteenth having passed Liuzzi.
Fernando and Kimi are trading fastest lap, with Michael just 0.7s behind keeping a watching eye.
As Heidfeld loses ground to Fisichella, he falls into the clutches of Montoya, who has pulled 3.1s clear of Barrichello.
Fisichella goes quickest in the first sector, as Montoya lines up Heidfeld, the German now 6s behind the second Renault.
It's all over for Button who pulls off track, smoke and flames pouring out of the Honda. A crap end to a miserable weekend.
Another fastest lap for Alonso (22.984) as Alonso extends his lead to 1.5s, with Raikkonen 1.1s ahead of Schumacher.
The leading trio is setting a blistering pace, with Alonso and Michael both in the high 1:22s. Montoya continues to shadow Heidfeld, while Trulli is all over Coulthard for eleventh.
Alonso build a cushion of 2.9s over Raikkonen, posting yet another fastest lap (22.114). Raikkonen, Michael, Massa and Fisichella are all running in the mid 1:22s.
The Heidfeld/Montoya and Coulthard/Trulli 'battles' continue, however, in all honesty in neither case does the pursuer look to be preparing to make a move.
At the end of lap 17, Trulli is the first of the scheduled pit-stops. Surprisingly, Michael stops next time around… so that's that then. Looks like Fernando has this all done and dusted.
At the end of lap 19, both Raikkonen and Massa pit, Alonso responds by posting a new fastest lap. The Finn rejoins the race ahead of Michael, as Montoya pits.
It's a Renault 1-2, though both drivers have to stop, with Heidfeld third, ahead of Kimi, Michael, Massa, Rosberg and Villeneuve.
As Alonso posts another fastest lap (21.599), Fisichella pits, rejoining behind Michael but ahead of Massa. Next time around it is the race leader who pits, remaining stationary for 8s, before rejoining still in the lead, with Heidfeld second.
Heidfeld, who has yet to stop, is setting a blistering pace, lapping in the 22.8s, meanwhile Montoya appears to have damage to his sidepod following that first lap clash.
The race stewards reveal that they are investigating the clash, involving Speed, Ralf and Webber, on the first lap.
At the end of lap 25, the second placed BMW finally pits, however, all the good work comes to nought when he suffers a problem which costs him over seven seconds. Coulthard and Albers also pit.
Therefore, after the first round of pit stops, Alonso leads Raikkonen by 13.1s, with Michael a further 1.4s down the road. Fisichella is fourth ahead of Massa and Villeneuve, who pits at the end of lap 27, as do Liuzzi and Klien.
That problem in the pits cost Heidfeld dear, he is now running behind Montoya in seventh.
Other than the 1.2s gap between Kimi and Michael, the only other potential battle is between Trulli and Barrichello, the Italian lining up the Brazilian who is running tenth.
"Wouldn't it be nice to get on with me neighbours… but they make it very clear they've got no room for ravers…"
One cannot help but think of the Small Faces song, or indeed The Kinks, Sunny Afternoon… for this is a Sunday stroll, with no prospect of things livening up. Bring on the CDG we say!
At the end of lap 37, Trulli makes his second stop, thus (temporarily) halting one of the only potential battles.
Montoya posts a personal best (22.780), as he extends his lead over Heidfeld to 9.6s, but remains 18.5s behind Massa.
At the end of lap 40, it's Alonso, Raikkonen, Michael, Fisichella, Massa, Montoya, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Villeneuve and Barrichello.
At the end of lap 41, Michael makes his second stop, heading down the pitlane just 6.8s later. He rejoins in fifth, well clear of Montoya and Heidfeld.
As Kimi pits, Michael goes quickest in the second and third sectors, leapfrogging the McLaren driver to take fourth, with race leaders Alonso, Fisichella and Massa still to stop.
At the end of lap 44 Alonso pits, remaining stationary for 6.8s. This means that Fisichella leads from Massa, though both still have to stop. That said, the Spaniard rejoins the race in second ahead of the Brazilian Ferrari driver.
At the end of lap 45, Fisichella and Massa both pit, as do Montoya and Rosberg. Of the top ten, the BMW drivers have yet to make a second stop. That said, next time around Heidfeld stops, as Villeneuve posts a personal best. Sadly, the German encounters another problem as he leaves the pits… losing further precious time.
With thirteen laps remaining, Alonso leads Michael by 12.2s, with Kimi a further 4.8s behind, just 2.8s ahead of Fisichella. Massa is fifth, ahead of Villeneuve, who still has to stop.
Sure enough, at the end of lap 48 the Canadian finally pits, rejoining in eighth, behind his teammate
Lap 50, ten laps to go, and barring any major shocks it looks as though the podium, if not all the points decisions, are decided. That said, Rosberg is pursuing Villeneuve for the last point.
Although the gap between Alonso and Michael remains fairly static, around 11-12s, Raikkonen is falling further behind the Ferrari and into the clutches of Fisichella, who is now just 1.4s behind the McLaren.
To further compound Honda's impossible dream (sorry), Barrichello is running tenth, with Trulli closing in.
"You've got 8k (kph) over him (Raikkonen) on the straight," Fisichella is told over the radio. "Come on, this is pay back for Suzuka!" shouts Alan Permane, referring to the Finn's last gasp attack in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix. Sure enough, Fisi closes to within 0.9s of the Finn, which enough to light a fire underneath Kimi's backside, figuratively speaking.
Alonso takes the win, another step towards a second successive title, while Michael and Kimi take the other two spots on the podium, pretty much like we predicted.
The R26 is absolutely bullet-proof, and, certainly in the hands of Alonso, super-fast. Barring a major catastrophe (god forbid) there is nothing that can stop the French team or its Spanish driver.
Fisichella takes fourth, and, considering he has the same equipment as his teammate, another step towards the day when he, like so many of his rivals, will have to start considering getting his CV up to date, for it is unlikely, despite what Flavio might be telling him, that he is going to remain with the French team in 2007.
Massa takes fifth, ahead of Montoya, Heidfeld and Villeneuve, the two BMW drivers converting their excellent grid positions into points earning finishes.
Pity then the many lobster-red British fans who, having turned up in their thousands to see Jenson Button prove himself wrong and take a historic victory, not only had to witness their hero go out in a cloud of smoke and flames, now have to endure the musical delights of Status Quo.
The F1 circus now head to North America for the double-header at Montreal and Indianapolis, maybe Ferrari and McLaren will make a major advance in the meantime.
Then again... maybe not.
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