2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, Bahrain GP Qualifying

[timmy94]

NOW 2006!

19 races, 17 countries, but only 1 driver can become Formula One, world champion!

With just a few days before the start of the season, we take a look at the top cars, teams and drivers, that will be making up the grid in Bahrain.

Mild Seven Renault F1 Team - Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella
Team McLaren Mercedes - Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro - Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa
Panasonic Toyota Racing - Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli
WilliamsF1 Team - Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg
Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team - Jenson Button, Mark Stewart
Red Bull Racing - David Coulthard, Christian Klien
BMW Sauber F1 Team - Nick Heidfeld, Jacques Villeneuve
Midland F1 Racing - Tiago Moneiro, Christijan Albers
Scuderia Toro Rosso - Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed
Super Aguri F1 Team - Takuma Sato, Yuji Ide

Highlights will be broadcast after every racing day. Join us shortly for a preview of the Bahrain Grand Prix, with selected quotes from around the paddock!

 

[harrisb]

Nice start, what game are you using?

One error that I spotted whilst reading, you've missed the 'a' off of Massa, at the moment it reads "Felipe Mass"

 

[treva]

Awesome, can't wait. Schuey vs Alonso relived will be brilliant. Nice to see you taking up a spot in the BAR. ████ car mind you.

 

[barmyarmy]

Shouldn't this be on ITV?

 

[timmy94]

woop! schoolboy error there! and Im using GP4

something to whet the appetite...

 

[Deleted member 13648]

Shouldn't this be on ITV?

Hahahahahaha fantastic.

 

[timmy94]

2005 is now refusing to work. However, I do have 2006, so forget all of before, the 2006 season will be starting soon!

 

[treva]

Going to be using F1: Championship Edition then? I'm doing a World Championship at the moment as Klien. Currently 3rd in the Championship after 3 races. I crashed out at my least favourite track, Melbourne. Currently in 3rd at Imola about 15 laps in.

 

[harrisb]

Well if he's using GP4, then he's probably got a 2006 mod for that.

 

[treva]

Ahh my mistake, I read that as 2006 before, not 2005, thinking 2006 wasn't working on GP4. Nevermind then.

 

[timmy94]

yeah got a 2006 MOD, and F1CE is a great game for a console!

 

[timmy94]

Massa leads Schumi heading into qualifying

Formula One finally exploaded into raucous life, and it was Felipe Massa on his first race for Ferrari who was fastest in Saturday practice before the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix. His time of 1:31.109 was 0.047s faster than his veteran team-mate Michael Schumacher, who after the session was quick to comment on the superb performance of the car. "If you remember how far we were off the pace at the start of the season last year, to see both of us ahead of the pack really gives us confidence heading into qualifying and the race", the German said.

Both Ferraris were 2nd and 3rd after yesterdays practice, the top spot being held by Jenson Button in his Honda. The newly brand team carry on their good performance from the end of last season, with new British rookie Mark Stewart coming in at 5th place in both sessions, ahead of both Renaults, who were surprisingly off the pace, considering their awesome form through the winter, Fisichella over a second off the pace in both sessions. It was a bad two sessions for championship runner-up Kimi Raikkonen however, an electrical problem forced him off on Friday, and only managed 18th fastest this morning. His Mclaren team-mate, Juan Pablo Montoya, had a spin yesterday, but was 6th fastest overall.

The surprise of practice came in the form of the completely brand new team Super Aguri. Despite the car looking a handful to drive, and being given some repair work to do, both of their Japanese drivers were further up the timing sheets than anyone would have predicted, clocking in at 16th and 17th. It was then Ralf Schumacher who was slowest in this mornings session, completing just one timed lap before being forced to sit the rest of the session out as his team fixed a suspected rear suspension problem.

So, heading into qualifying, it looks to be a fight between both Ferrari drivers for first place, but could Honda or Renault spoil their great start to the season? Find out tomorrow.

Saturday morning times:
1.Felipe Massa 1:31.109
2. Michael Schumacher +0.047
3. Jenson Button +0.226
4. Fernando Alonso +0.362
5. Mark Stewart +0.603
6. Juan Pablo Montoya +0.874
7. Mark Webber +1.149
8. Christian Klien +1.289
9. Giancarlo Fisichella +1.568
10. Jacques Villeneuve +1.806
11. Nico Rosberg +1.884
12. Nick Heidfeld +1.902
13. Jarno Trulli +2.194
14. David Coulthard +2.219
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi +2.609
16. Yuji Ide +3.612
17. Takuma Sato +3.625
18. Kimi Raikkonen +3.693
19. Thiago Monteiro +3.721
20. Scott Speed +3.742
21. Christijan Albers +3.814
22. Ralf Schumacher +3.927

 

[hedger_14]

btw, you may want to edit the drivers and teams in the first post.

 

[timmy94]

Massa takes pole in Bahrain

Felipe Massa continued his fine start in Ferrari colours, as he took pole position ahead of Jenson Button for the Bahrain Grand Prix. It's all shaping up to be a close race, with the top 4 drivers seperated by less than two tenths of a second. Fernando Alonso will start third, with Michael Schumacher slightly off the pace in fourth. Rookie driver Mark Stewart had a successful first ever qualifying session, coming in fifth, looking to start off his career with a solid points finish.

A new knockout format qualifying was proposed during the winter, but those plans were dropped, in favour of the old pre-2003 1 hour qualifying session. It was Michael Schumacher who was fastest at the start of the session, but he failed to better his time through the remaining 55 minutes of the session. Mark's first flying lap in qualifying lasted only 11 seconds, before had a spin at turn 3, which ultimately ruined his lap. He regained his composure however, to go fourth, half a second down on Schumacher. 10 minutes in and Massa set the time that no one else would beat, going over a tenth quicker to snatch pole from his team-mate. With 7 minutes to go, Stewart went two tenths faster than his previous time, but having already dropped to fifth, failed to improve his position, and that's how it remained at the front.

It was a largely uneventful session, but there were some poor performances from established front runners. Fisichella never got the lap that he would have liked in, and lined up a disappointing eighth. Kimi Raikkonen and Ralf Schumacher were dogged with yet more car trouble in the session, the pair of them completing just one flying lap, Kimi in 20th, 3 seconds slower than his team-mate, and Ralf 21st.

The front of the grid is closely packed, with any one of four drivers gunning for a season opening win. Join us soon for the race!

Qualifying times:
1. Felipe Massa 1:30.793
2. Jenson Button +0.162
3. Fernando Alonso +0.185
4. Michael Schumacher +0.189
5. Mark Stewart +0.470
6. Juan Pablo Montoya +0.799
7. Mark Webber +1.000
8. Giancarlo Fisichella +1.363
9. Christian Klien +1.508
10. Jacques Villeneuve +1.632
11. Nick Heidfeld +1.962
12. Jarno Trulli +2.058
13. Nico Rosberg +2.118
14. David Coulthard +2.234
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi +2.742
16. Christijan Albers +3.613
17. Scott Speed +3.622
18. Tiago Monteiro +3.659
19. Yuji Ide +3.678
20. Kimi Raikkonen 3.693
21. Ralf Schumacher +3.702
22. Takuma Sato +3.929

 

[Spoobir]

Good updates, keep it up!

One thing: Although I'm not knocking your taste in music, one of my favourite parts of F1 is the sound of the cars so it would be great to hear them in your updates. (you can probably still play music in the backround anyway)

Just something to think about, although obviously it's your story so you can do it however you want.