PastyHusty

Seems like Schumacher was concealing his pace a little bit, again. It was a shame to see Raikkonen lose 2nd place, but this race proved again that McLaren are back on it! Now, lets see if they can beat Alonso and Renault one weekend.

PastyHusty

Next season!? How will the driver line-ups look like in 2007? .. Fisichella has dropped big hints about Renault:

Giancarlo Fisichella has dropped a whopping hint about what Renault's 2007 driver lineup will look like.

The Roman racer, testing his blue car at Monza on Tuesday, suggested that not only will he soon be confirmed as a continuing Renault driver, but that his new teammate will be Finnish.

''Quite often Flavio (Briatore) speaks well of me,'' 33-year-old Fisichella told La Gazzetta dello Sport, ''and everyone in the team is happy with the job I am doing.''

He said in Italy: ''I really hope to stay. And who is going to replace (Fernando) Alonso next year? Surely, a Finn.''

While it is faintly possible that Fisichella is referring to Kimi Raikkonen, the 'Finn' in question is more likely to be Renault tester Heikki Kovalainen, who drove alongside the Italian on Tuesday.


M.Schumacher may have made his mind up already, and its good news for his fans:

Even through the searing Rascasse affair and the unlikeliness of an eighth title, Michael Schumacher is reportedly planning to stick around in formula one beyond the end of 2006.

Germany's Bild newspaper, after quoting exclusively from the mouth of Flavio Briatore, said it has learned that Schumacher told the Renault principal that he has decided to sign a new Ferrari contract through to the end of 2008.

Italy's Briatore, remember, reportedly enquired to Schumacher's manager about snaring Schumacher for 2007 as a replacement for the departing Fernando Alonso.

His chances of an 8th title may be good next year, if McLaren start their season in the way they have done recently.


Montoya to leave McLaren!:

Juan Pablo Montoya will leave McLaren at the end of 2006.

Unlike current teammate Kimi Raikkonen, however, the feisty Colombian - once the toast of American open-wheel racing and then hot F1 property - is not spoiled for choice in terms of an alternate ride for next year.

After quitting Williams following a team argument, 30-year-old Montoya has not impressed in his two years at the silver camp.

''Only a sequence of wins will save him,'' a McLaren team member anonymously told 'Auto Motor Und Sport' in Germany.

Its possible that we might not see Montoya in F1 next season, and if I'm honest, I won't miss him a lot.


How about potential future McLaren drivers!? We know Alonso will be driving for them next season, but will Raikkonen stay there? .. or will McLaren sign a new talent?

Bernie Ecclestone has added his notoriously persuasive blessing to a couple of young Britons' quest for the F1 grid.

However, instead of leaping aboard the frenzied Lewis Hamilton bandwagon, the F1 supremo is also busy promoting another McLaren protege who is itching for a chance -- current tester Gary Paffett.

''I hope we see these young guys on the grid next season,'' said Bernie, applying some clear pressure on Ron Dennis to bring them out from behind the spotlight.

He told Sunday Express: ''I don't want to see good talent stifled.''

Ecclestone's allegiance to Paffett, the impressive 25-year-old from Bromley, was demonstrated on the Silverstone grid, while GP2 star Hamilton stood giggling with McLaren's Dennis.

Bernie continued: ''We need fresh blood, and in Paffett and Hamilton we see guys who need to be on the grid.''

Both are outside contenders for the race seat alongside Fernando Alonso, but Dennis hinted when speaking to reporters at the British grand prix that a lesser seat in pitlane might be a better bet for youngster Hamilton for now.

''I hope (Ron) is not going to just keep them out of sight,'' 75-year-old Ecclestone insisted. ''I hope he finds room for one of them.''

I am excited about the prospect of young talented Brits on the F1 grid. Hamilton has been winning races and is said to have the attitude and 'right stuff' to win in F1, unlike Button has been able to do so far.[/i]


Lastly, Cristian Klien's future at Red Bull is in serious doubt:

Christian Klien has a mountain to climb if he wants to keep his seat at Red Bull.

The young Austrian, although having fended off recent speculation that his future on the grid was in immediate danger, is not likely to be retained by the energy drink-owned team in 2007.

Current teammate David Coulthard looks good to keep the primary seat, with McLaren defector Juan Pablo Montoya now linked strongly with 23-year-old Klien's ride.

Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz has now delivered a blow to his countryman's hopes by hinting that only Coulthard can expect to survive the winter season.

''The faster one will survive,'' the billionaire, who earlier revealed that either Klien or DC will get the chop, told 'Kronen Zeitung' newspaper.

Team chiefs were reportedly unhappy with Klien's inability to beat even junior team 'Toro Rosso' driver Tonio Liuzzi at Silverstone, and Mateschitz added: ''Whoever has the most points (at the end of the season), stays.''

Montoya to Red Bull!? Maybe so.. maybe not.


Source for all of these articles

DrTagnian

It's clear that lots of teams/drivers will change in comparison to 2006.

A Hakkinen comeback maybe?

PastyHusty

Theres a GP on this weekend in a fantastic Sunday line-up of Sport!

4PM - England - Ecuador
6PM - Canadian GP
8PM - Portugal - Holland

England, Raikkonen and Holland!


Friday's Practice Times
1. F.Alonso. 1:17.095
2. K.Raikkonen. 1:17.490
3. G.Fisichella. 1:17.805
4. M.Webber. 1:17.848
5. V.Liuzzi. 1:18.009.
6. N.Heidfeld. 1:18.015
7. J.Villeneuve. 1:18.035
8. R.Barrichello. 1:18.279
9. J.Button. 1:18.429
10. C.Albers. 1:18.503
11. M.Schumacher. 1:18.549
12. R.Schumacher. 1:18.614
13. J.P.Montoya. 1:18.761
14. C.Klien 1:18.865
15. J.Trulli. 1:18.868
16. S.Speed. 1:18.907
17. N.Rosberg. 1:19.048
18. F.Massa. 1:19.099.
19. D.Coulthard. 1:19.313
20. T.Sato. 1:19.624
21. T.Monteiro. 1:20.262
22. F.Montagny. 1:21.434

From these times it appears to be the McLaren and Renault show for this weekends race!

For Ferrari, they've been forced to ditch their flexi wing as it is now against the rules.

ElectronicWorm

It is! Gonna watch it all

PP: F. Alonso

DrTagnian

Pole Prediction
F Alonso

Do I ever predict someone else?

PastyHusty

^No, you don't

Pole Prediction:
K.Raikkonen

DrTagnian

Where's your Raikkonen fascination coming from these days? Are you seriously convinced he's going to win a GP in the near future?

ElectronicWorm

I THINK I saw Schumacher on 1.. *hopes not*
*checks f1.com*

HAHA! I love it when I'm wrong Actually I don't, but it's comes around handy in this situation

Kimi ended 3 Neilo... *pets*

PastyHusty

I've always liked Raikkonen as a driver! I have a soft spot for Scandinavian teams and competitors in Sport.

Yes, McLaren have the ability to win a GP soon. Raikkonen proved with British GP Quali that he is capable of getting a high grid position, but as long as Renault keep taking steps forwards as well, it'll be tough for McLaren.