 |
GRAND PRIX:
San Marino: A Win At Last!
by Winston D'Arcy |
5.5.06
Sorry this report has been so long in coming but after Ferrari's dismal
performances in the first three races I felt the need for a bit of sea and
sunshine, so I pointed the trusty 520 in the general direction of my nearest
resort for a short holiday. [Incidentally, if anyone fancies doing a report,
just e-mail it in to the site, preferably by the Wednesday following the
race. 800-1000 words, no guarantees, no fee and remember that this is the
FERRARI Owners' Club website. - Ed.]
San Marino gave us the result which we have hoped for so long, since 10
October 2004 to be precise, the last time Ferrari won on merit, but Schuey's
victory was by no means easy. He had a tough fight with Alonso for most
of the race and Button would have been a threat had the Briton not suffered
yet another of the seemingly endless misfortunes which befall him.
Much of the reason for Schuey's victory came from the venue. The Italian
track suits the Bridgestone tyres and it's almost impossible to overtake
and the win came about as much through strategy as speed, but this in no
way diminishes the Scuderia's efforts. The engine problem which plagued
them at previous races had been cured and they made revisions to the aerodynamics
and rear suspension to reduce tyre degradation. Ross Brawn said that the
advantages of the latter change will not be fully realised until the new
generation of softer Bridgestones are introduced.
Qualifying was difficult. I don't know about the racers but I was trying
to watch it in the TV lounge of my B&B with the well-meaning landlady
forever asking me if I wanted another cup of tea or a Jaffa cake whilst
I was trying to focus on what was going on. TV coverage of qualifying
is generally poor and in this case was abysmal. This was the first race
this year to have a local director, rather than one from Bernie TV and
he managed to miss most of the relevant action.
I just love proper Qualifying. In the '80s it was
mega-boosted turbo engines, rocket fuel and single-lap qualifying tyres
and simply establishing just who was the outright car/driver irrespective
of race complexity, strategy or silly regulations - a bit like the ultimate
Speed Event really. Interestingly, I see that the Grand Prix Drivers Association,
led by Schuey & Coulthud are calling for a return to low-fuel qualifying
which would help.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think Qualifying could form
the basis of a serious late night, hard-core, TV programme, with loads
of in-car footage and Martin Brundle explaining what's going on, maybe
with the help of a technical expert, unencumbered by the need to dumb
everything down. Such a programme could become cult viewing, a bit like
watching "The Prisoner" whilst a student, mind you I probably
couldn't stay awake now...
Anyway, Schuey captured the all-important pole, his 66th, beating Ayrton
Senna's record - poignantly at the circuit where Senna gained his last
and lost his life that terrible weekend in 1994. The Hondas were next,
Button ahead of a much improved Barrichello, with Massa doing a solid
job with fourth, crucially ahead of Alonso. Renault adopted a different
strategy to Ferrari, preferring to save more new tyres for the race whereas
Schuey used all but one set to secure the vital pole.
Schuey made a good start to lead and quickly drew out a lead over Button,
Massa and Alonso jumped Rubens, but the real action was at the other end
of the grid. Ide bashed into Albers's MFI, which launched it into a multiple
roll, returning it to a flat pack - I hope they kept the allen key so
they can put it back together again. Happily Albers was unhurt. The inexperienced
Ide has struggled all season and will be replaced by Franck Montagny for
the European GP.
Racing resumed after a short safety car period and Schuey kept his lead.
Button stopped first and was delayed by a problem with a rear wheel, a
foretaste of what was to come. There then followed a classic example of
Ferrari tactics as Massa, in between Schuey and Alonso, backed the Spaniard
up. Massa pitted first, then Schuey which released Alonso for four laps
but he was unable to build up a big enough lead not to lose it to Schuey
when he made his first stop, however it was enough to put him in second
place ahead of Massa and Button.
It soon became apparent that there was something wrong with Schuey's
car. He had started the race on his only set of new tyres and the used
set for the second stint were just no good. Alonso quickly closed in on
him and the scene was set for a tense duel for the rest of the race. Meanwhile
Button's second stop was a disaster. The lollipop man raised it prematurely,
whilst the refueling hose was still connected. He realised his mistake
and brought it down again, hitting Jenson on the head! Luckily it was
frangible and Button was unhurt. He accelerated pulling mechanics over
until the fuel line broke - mercifully no-one was hurt and there was no
fire. So that's another Honda lesson my Mum needs to learn - not to drive
her Jazz away from the petrol pumps before my Dad has got back in even
when they are doing a runner. Button has arranged a "motivational
meeting" at Honda, which should sort the job out....or not.
Alonso was all over Schuey but could just not get past, so the Renault
team brought him in early for his second stop. Ferrari responded instantly
and the status quo was maintained. Initially there was some thought that
Renault should have left Alonso out to try and grab the lead when Schuey
made his stop but it turned out that he wouldn't have had enough fuel.
The duel resumed with Alonso taking unusual lines and making feints and
lunges to try to distract Schuey, but he, of course, is way above that
and didn't make a single mistake, He said afterwards that he used last
year's experience, when the positions were reversed, to his advantage
this year.
Alonso's Renault became increasingly wayward as his rear tyres wore out
resulting in bad oversteer which caused him to nearly go off a couple
of times. He settled for second in the end, leaving Michael to score Ferrari's
first victory of the new formula, 42 years to the month when John Surtees
took the first win for Ferrari's last F1 V8 in the Syracuse GP. Massa
did a good solid job and came home fourth.
After the race both McLaren and Renault tried to diminish Ferrari's victory.
McLaren MD Martin Whitmarsh said they could have won if Raikkonen and
Montoya had qualified on the second row not the fourth. Sounds like sour
grapes to me. Schuey had the best average lap time of anyone in the race
and the second fastest lap overall. So:-
Quanto al resto è nulla. Ferrari é la nostra vita e la
nostra passione, le altre non significano niete!
Forza Ferrari!
"When I
was going up to the podium, I said to Michael that I could not remember
the way anymore, as it had been such a long time since the last victory!
Michael secured a fantastic win, rounded off with a good fourth place from
Felipe. We had expected it to be cooler and the heat saw us suffer a bit,
which shows how just the smallest variation in temperature can affect the
pecking order. There are fourteen races still to fight for and we know that
if all the parts of the jigsaw puzzle are in place, then we can look for
the wins in order to meet our targets."
"I am very
happy! The key moment was staying ahead after the second pit stop. As we
saw last year, overtaking at this track it's almost impossible, unless the
guy in front makes a mistake. With all my years of experience, I knew that
what I wanted to do was keep Alonso behind me, but at my pace, not pushing
flat out and that's what I did. At this time I had a bit of graining, as
had been the case in free practice and now we must work out what caused
it. I hope we can keep up this standard in the coming races and I think
that from now on, we will be very competitive."
"It was
a very difficult race, but it turned out well for Ferrari in the end. Michael's
win and my fourth place make a very nice result. I would have liked to have
been on the podium, but I am still pleased with this as it was important
to bring so many points home. I had some problems in my second stint, but
in the third one I could push as hard as I wanted again."
|
RACE RESULTS - SAN MARINO
GRAND PRIX AUTODROMO ENZO E DINO FERRARI, IMOLA.
62 Laps. Weather : Sunny |
| Classified: |
| Pos |
Driver |
Team |
|
Time |
| 1. |
M.Schumacher |
Ferrari |
(B) |
1h31:06.486 |
| 2. |
Alonso |
Renault |
(M) |
+ 2.096 |
| 3. |
Montoya |
McLaren |
(M) |
+ 15.868 |
| 4. |
Massa |
Ferrari |
(B) |
+ 17.096 |
| 5. |
Raikkonen |
McLaren |
(M) |
+ 17.524 |
| 6. |
Webber |
Williams |
(B) |
+ 37.739 |
| 7. |
Button |
Honda |
(M) |
+ 39.635 |
| 8. |
Fisichella |
Renault |
(M) |
+ 40.200
|
| 9. |
R.Schumacher |
Toyota |
(M) |
+ 45.511
|
| 10. |
Barrichello |
Honda |
(M) |
+ 1:17.851 |
| 11. |
Rosberg |
Williams |
(B) |
+ 1:19.675 |
| 12. |
Villeneuve |
BMW-Sauber |
(M) |
+ 1:22.370 |
| 13. |
Heidfeld |
BMW-Sauber |
(M) |
+ 1 lap |
| 14 |
Liuzzi |
Toro Rosso |
(M) |
+ 1 lap |
| 15. |
Speed |
Toro Rosso |
(M) |
+ 1 lap |
| 16. |
Monteiro |
MF1 |
(B) |
+ 2 laps |
| |
Coulthard |
Red Bull |
(M) |
NC |
| |
Sato |
Super Aguri |
(B) |
NC |
| |
Klien |
Red Bull |
(M) |
NC |
|
Ide |
Super Aguri |
(B) |
NC |
|
Trulli |
Toyota |
(B) |
NC |
|
Albers |
MF1 |
(B) |
NC |
| World Championship Standing, Round 4 |
| Drivers: |
|
Constructors: |
1. |
Alonso |
36 |
|
1. |
Renault |
51 |
2. |
M. Schumacher |
21 |
|
2. |
McLaren |
33 |
3. |
Raikkonen |
18 |
|
3. |
Ferrari |
30 |
4.= |
Montoya |
15 |
|
4. |
Honda |
15 |
4.= |
Fisichella |
15 |
|
5. |
BMW-Sauber |
10 |
6. |
Button |
13 |
|
6. |
Williams |
8 |
| 7. |
Massa |
9 |
|
7. |
Toyota |
7 |
8. |
R.Schumacher |
7 |
|
8. |
Red Bull |
2 |
| 9. |
Webber |
6 |
|
|
|
|
| 10.= |
Villeneuve |
5 |
|
|
|
|
| 10..= |
Heidfeld |
5 |
|
|
|
|
| 12.= |
Rosberg |
2 |
|
|
|
|
| 12..= |
Barrichello |
2 |
|
|
|
|
| 14.= |
Coulthard |
1 |
|
|
|
|
| 14.= |
Klien |
1 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here
to return to the Ferrari Happenings page.
| |
| Sadly
Foster's are giving up F1 sponsorship - how we will miss them... |
| |
|
...though
happily Martini are long-overdue returnees. Here (l-r) Messrs Murray,
Ecclestone & Blash remember Martini Brabham days |
|
| |
The
248 had lots of new bits... |
| |
| |
| ...which
helped Schuey to a record -breaking 66th pole |
| |
| |
| Ide's
Arrows pitched Albers's MFI into a barrel roll |
| |
| |
| Schuey
leads from Button with Massa ahead of Alonso |
| |
| |
| Phil
did a good job of backing Fred up |
| |
| |
| Honda's
challenge self-destructed again |
| |
|
Great
duel between two great drivers |
|
|
Kimi
had a lack-lustre weekend, maybe all of the speculation about his
future is getting to him |
|
|
Webber
punched above his weight and delivered sixth place for Williams |
|
| |
| Schuey
takes the win... |
|
|
...Himself
& JT look pleased and relieved |
| |
| |
| ...Ferrari's
last V8 F1 wins were in 1964 - John Surtees taking the Championship
in the 158 |
|
|
Click
for FIA lap chart |
|
Never
Mind the Racing... |
|
|
MFI
motorhome reflects flat-pack influences |
|
|
BMW-Sauber's
global Command HQ resource leveraged their cars into 12th and 13th
place solutions, whilst undoubtedly involving their stakeholders
and respecting the environment... |
|
|
...and
Dead Bull's 14th, 15th and two rtd. hurt (pic from European GP) |
| |
| |
| |
| pics by
Ferrari Media, FIA, Reuters, XPB, LAT, Sutton & unknown |
|
