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2005 FRENCH F1 GRAND PRIX

2005 F1 GP: R10 of 19, 2005 French GP, July 3, Magny Cours

QUALIFYING

GRID, JULY 2, 2005

• 1 Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault 1m 14.412s (vs 04 pole 1m 13.698)
• 2 Jarno Trulli, Italy, Toyota 1:14.521 +0.109s
  "It's great to be starting on the front row again. I'm very happy with my lap because it was very clean and very quick. The car has been handling well all day, which I have to say was a bit of a surprise. Yesterday I wasn't very happy with my set-up, and we were struggling. But we changed that all around this morning, found a new direction and found a much stronger grip level. The car is working well now. This morning we were quite competitive on the long runs too so I think we can be strong in the race. Everything is certainly looking good so far."
• 3 Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari 1:14.572
  "We felt we could do well here and I will now be starting from third on the grid which is a good position, even though I had hoped to be fighting for pole. Even so, this is a better position than we have found ourselves in at most of the races so far this season. The important thing is that we are looking good in race trim and so I expect we will have a strong pace tomorrow afternoon. It will be a tough race and it will be interesting to see how the various strategies work out. Let's wait and see."
• 4 Takuma Sato (JAP) BAR 1:14.655
  "I enjoyed my lap today and the car performed well. We have split the Renaults and the McLarens, so that is a real bonus for the team. I am very happy for everyone who has worked extremely hard in the run-up to this weekend and for carrying over the momentum from the last two races to this high downforce and very different circuit. It puts us in a good position for the race tomorrow and I am really looking forward to being on the second row of the grid and right in the middle of the action."
• 5 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Ferrari 1:14.832
  "I had a really nice lap during which I pushed to the limit and I am happy with my performance. The only problem I had was a bit of graining on my front tyres towards the end of the lap. We did not see this happen in the morning so it was unexpected and I had to lift off a bit in Turn 13 because I had understeer and that lost me a bit of time. I said we could have a good race if we qualified in the top three rows and here we are, so I can be optimistic for tomorrow."
• 6 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:14.8877
• 7 Jenson Button (UK) BAR 1:15.051
• 8 Juan Montoya (COL) McLaren 1:15.406
  "My lap time pretty much matches what I did during practice. I haven't had the pleasure of starting late in the qualifying session this year which always makes it more challenging. However, so far I have always been able to improve in the race. I think I can have a strong Grand Prix as the car is behaving well, and our strategy should be good. The temperature tomorrow is predicted to be a lot higher, which will influence things and hopefully help us"
• 9 Felipe Massa (BRA) Sauber 1:15.566
• 10 Jacques Villeneuve (CAN) Sauber 1:15.699
• 11 Ralf Schumacher (GER) Toyota 1:15.771
• 12 Mark Webber (AUS) Williams 1:15.885
• 13 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 1:14.559 *** qualified 3rd but penalised 10 places ***
  "It will be a tough race starting from 13th as a result of my penalty due to an engine change. The lap was OK. The car is working well, and there is really nothing more to do than wait for tomorrow to see what we can achieve in the race. I'm confident that we have a competitive package and a strong strategy, so points and even a podium are not out of reach."
• 14 Nick Heidfeld (GER) Williams 1:16.207
• 15 David Coulthard (UK) Red Bull 1:16.434
• 16 Christian Klien (AUT) Red Bull 1:16.547
• 17 Narain Karthikeyan (IND) Jordan 1:17.857
• 18 Patrick Freisacher (AUT) Minardi 1:17.960
• 19 Tiago Monteiro (POR) Jordan 1:18.047
• 20 Christijan Albers (NED) Minardi 1:18.335

TOYOTA FINAL QUALIFYING REPORT:

• Panasonic Toyota Racing Jarno Trulli will start tomorrow's French Grand Prix from the front row after he produced a stunning lap during today's qualifying session. Jarno's time was good enough for 2nd place on a tight grid, his fifth front row slot of the year. Team-mate Ralf Schumacher will line up in 11th place tomorrow. The German was hampered by having to go out first following his practice accident in Indianapolis but he also did well to gain places on the starting grid. Toyota will now head into Sunday's race aiming to make the most of today's results and to get both cars into the points. Fresh from his efforts as Friday test driver here yesterday, Olivier Panis was presented with the car in which he made his final racing appearance for Toyota last year. Olivier raced the TF104/09B at Suzuka last October and he was last night given the 'keys' so he can now take it back to his Grenoble home.
• SAVE THE FAST FRANCE FOR ME
  Jarno Trulli produced yet another storming lap to take 2nd place on the grid for tomorrow's French Grand Prix. The Italian thus keeps up his impressive 2005 qualifying record with his fifth front row slot in ten races.

SAT PRAC, JULY 2, 2005

• 1 Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 1:23.939
• 2 Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Renault +0.98
• 3 Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, McLaren-Mercedes
  *** he will lose 10 places on the grid for engine change penalty ***
• 4 David Coulthard
• 5 Jenson Button
• 6 Mark Webber
• 7. Heidfeld 8. Friesacher 9. Albers 10. Trulli
• 11. Montoya 12. Monteiro 13. Sato 14. Ralf Schumacher
• 15. Karthikeyan 16. Massa 17. Villeneuve 18. Klien
• 19. Michael Schumacher 20. Barrichello

FRI PRAC, JULY 1, 2005

• 1. Pedro de la Rosa, Spain, McLaren-Mercedes, 1m 14.460 (vs 04 pole 1m 13.698)
  "The car ran reliably today which allowed us to complete our planned programme. We have a good idea about the direction of our Michelin tyre selection and it should be a strong weekend. There was a bit of understeer this morning but we solved that for the afternoon session."
• 2. Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:15.129
  "We have done a lot of work today and played with the car quite a bit. I think we have a good idea of where we want to go and it looks like I'm going to be pretty quick. However our opposition also looks strong, so it should be an interesting weekend, but I'm really pleased with how the car is behaving. I have been quick during the past couple of races and am really getting the hang of the car, so I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend."
• 3. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari, 1:15.204
• 4. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 1:15.242
• 5. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Renault, 1:15.380
• 6. Olivier Panis, France, Toyota, 1:15.483
• 7. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Ferrari
• 8. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Toyota
• 9. Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Toyota
• 10. David Coulthard, Britain, Red Bull
• 11. Villeneuve 12. Button 13. Massa 14. Sato
• 15. Liuzzi 16. Webber 17. Heidfeld 18. Doornbos
• 19. Karthikeyan 20. Albers 21. Friesacher 22. Klien
• 23. Monteiro
• 24. Raikkonen - engine failure "We were going through our planned programme in the morning session, but unfortunately during my first run early in the second practice I had an engine failure. That is obviously going to affect my weekend quite a bit as I will have to move ten places down the starting grid which will make things more challenging. However we will do the best we can and continue working as hard as possible."

2005 RACE PREVIEW: FRENCH GP
BAR - FERRARI - McLAREN - RENAULT - SAUBER - TOYOTA - WILLIAMS

FERRARI PREVIEW:

• Gilles Simon (Director Research and Development): "Magny-Cours is a circuit that has one unusual characteristic as far as engines are concerned and that is a very low speed corner after a long straight. It can be quite problematic for oil pressure. One arrives at the corner with the engine using all its power and the oil temperature rises a lot. Then the driver lifts off the throttle for the corner and, at this point, oil pressure drops suddenly and oil temperature increases still further. In the past we lost an engine here because of that problem. Magny Cours follows on from Indianapolis which is one of the toughest circuits on engines and ours have already done around 600 kilometres on a very tough track," continues Simon. "Our rivals, who did not complete the last race will therefore be able to adopt a more aggressive plan in terms of distance covered by the engines and engine revs at Magny Cours. I would class it as a tiny advantage for them as our engines will be on their second race."

McLAREN-MERCEDES PREVIEW:

• Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "The French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours will be the first of no less than four Grands Prix in one month. Never before in 55 years of Formula One history has there been such a concentration of races. This requires huge efforts from everybody in the team. In July alone, an optimum of 40 points in the Drivers' Championship and 72 points in the Constructors' Championship can be won that shows how fast everything can change in the World Championship tables."
• "However, in the current competitive situation of Formula One it is very unlikely that one driver and one team will win the maximum number of points. The Circuit de Nevers at Magny-Cours is challenging for chassis, engines and tyres and should suit our technical package. More than 65 percent of a lap is run at full throttle. After Indianapolis Formula One needs a proper race in France and we will be focused to deliver."
• Kimi Raikkonen: "Magny Cours is a technical track with special challenges for cars and drivers. Our car so far has performed well at tracks of this type, so I am looking forward to a strong qualifying and race. There are as many points available in the second half of the season as in the first one and I hope to start taking them in Magny Cours. The track has a very smooth surface without bumps, so we run with low ride heights."
• Juan Pablo Montoya: "Magny Cours is quite a slow track with low speed hairpins, medium speed corners, and as a result we run with a medium-high downforce configuration. The track has a couple of quick turns though, such as Grand Courbe. The only genuinely fast section is between Estoril and Adelaide."
• "You need to take the sweep of Estoril really flat out, pushing the limits, so you have good speed when you exit onto Golf. This runs down to Adelaide, which usually sees some entertaining overtaking manoeuvres. It is one of the few places where you can pass at Magny Cours. I am looking forward to this race and my wish is to do what I did in Canada, to challenge for victory."

BAR-HONDA PREVIEW:

• Jenson Button: "I really enjoy racing in Magny Cours. The circuit surface is smooth and very flowing - which is how I prefer it. We had a reasonable result there in 2004, when I finished in 5th position, and hopefully we will be more competitive there this year. We hope to be a lot closer to the McLarens and Renaults than we were in Indy and we have had a positive test this week in Jerez, so I'm looking forward to the race."
• Takuma Sato: "We showed the potential of the car at the last two races and although we were running a very different set-up package to the one we need at Magny Cours, we are confident that we should be strong there. We are carrying forward many positive aspects from the Jerez test this week and I believe that we can reproduce the performance and be as competitive as we were in North America and I am very positive going to the race next week. "
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting director: "We came back from F1's North American tour quite encouraged by the performance of our car. This past week we have been testing in Jerez for three days evaluating tyres, aerodynamic developments and mechanical changes in view of the coming races in France and England. Given the fact that our last race in high downforce configuration was at the Nürburgring, and our performance there left something to be desired, much of our efforts in testing were concentrated on improving the aero specification in this configuration. We are hopeful that we will be fighting at the sharp end of the field again in Magny Cours."

SAUBER RACE PREVIEW:

• Jacques Villeneuve: "The last week was very pleasant. The BMW/Sauber announcement was great news to me, and we also had a two-day test in Jerez which was very productive. We did a lot of laps and I am very happy with the work we did with the C24."
• "Jerez was really warm but the track tends to be quite hard on the rear end of the car, which is a kind of similar to Magny-Cours where we are racing this weekend. I also think that we did some good work with the tyres and I am pretty optimistic with the race in France - I think that we found some good options."
• "I have to admit that Magny-Cours does not appear in my favourite track list, but there are a couple of high-speed chicanes which are fun. There is heavy breaking and a good overtaking opportunity at the Adelaide hairpin, but the rest of the circuit is quite slow. I have usually had good races there in the past so I am looking forward to it. The atmosphere is always pretty laidback too."
• Felipe Massa: "Magny-Cours brings us back to the high downforce tracks. It can be an odd place, because it gets really hot after 11 o'clock in the morning so the set-up of the car tends to keep changing all day with the temperature rise. You end up chasing a moving target and it is not easy to get the best out of the car because of this."
• "It can be a tricky circuit to get a good lap on. There are a lot of difficult corners, ranging from slow through medium to quick. I really like the first sector which is fast and flowing, I like the hairpin because you have a chance to overtake there, and also I like the first quick ess after that. But the last sector is a bit Mickey Mouse."

RENAULT RACE PREVIEW:

• Fernando Alonso: "Magny-Cours is a normal race: I don't feel more pressure just because we are racing in France. But for the team, it is something very special -- we see a lot of Renault fans and supporters, and lots of people from the factories in France and from the team, so it is important for us to be quick and to show them a good performance. When I race for Renault in Magny-Cours, in front of those people, I feel very proud and I want to give a good performance for the team."
• "It will be a close fight -- McLaren will be fast, like they are everywhere, but Magny-Cours has been a good circuit for Renault. Last year, I got pole and had a strong battle with Ferrari for the win. This year, we are going there with a better car, and we will expect to be competitive. Will it be enough to win? I don't know. It definitely won't be easy -- I think the battle at the front will be much tougher this year than in 2004"
• Giancarlo Fisichella: "I am very optimistic -- our car will be good there. I think we have a good, realistic chance in Magny-Cours. It is hard to say exactly how we will stand compared to our rivals -- the balance of speed has been different at each of the last four races between us, McLaren, Ferrari and even Williams. I think we are all expecting a big battle at the front but from my point a view, I want a clean race weekend, to finish the race and to be on the podium."

TOYOTA RACE PREVIEW:

• Mike Gascoyne - Technical Director Chassis: "This is the start of the most intense month we have seen in F1, with events in France, Britain, Germany and Hungary throughout July. Such time constraints add extra pressure on to the entire team. The race personnel barely have time to find their feet as they move around Europe, and of course the staff at the factory in Cologne must work at quadruple the rate to develop our TF105. We are prepared for this challenge, though, and will not get complacent about our level of performance."
• "We have a car that is capable of finishing every race on the podium, so we have to head to the French Grand Prix with that in mind. Magny- Cours will see us revert back to a standard set-up with fairly high levels of downforce. There are two medium-high speed chicanes which demand a good change of direction from the car. We have to balance the wing level to make that possible while retaining good straightline speed into the Adelaide hairpin."
• "It's not easy to pass at Magny-Cours, so we have to again look at qualifying in the top 6 or 8 and then implement a strong race strategy to make up further positions during the pit stops. Podiums are by no means out of the question and they should be our target as we head into the second half of this gruelling 19-race season."
• Jarno Trulli: "I enjoy racing in France and Magny-Cours is the definition of a technical F1 circuit, with pretty much every kind of corner that you can get. There are some fast chicanes with quick changes of direction, there are slow hairpins and fast sweeping bends. That means that it is an enjoyable circuit for driving an F1 car."
• "The track is famous for having one of the smoothest surfaces on the F1 calendar. That makes life slightly more comfortable than usual within the cockpit and means we can push the ride heights pretty low. The car itself needs to be able to react well to every type of corner. You need responsive handling and a good change of direction, especially through the faster sections, which are the most crucial parts for improving the lap time."
• "I've spent a lot of time working for French teams in my career and I also speak French so I have a lot of support in France and it almost feels like another home race. I'm fairly optimistic and I hope to be able to come away with another good points finish to keep our season going well."
• Ralf Schumacher: "I'm fully recovered from my accident during Friday practice for the US Grand Prix and I'm looking forward to getting back to racing in France. Magny-Cours is not my favourite track of the year, but the French Grand Prix is one of six races which I have won in my career so far. I also took my first F1 pole there in 2001. I did not take part in last year's event, so this week's race will mark my first trip since I won in 2003."
• "After Canada and Indy, two low downforce circuits, Magny-Cours marks a return to higher downforce levels. The track does not pose any unique challenges to the driver, but it is characterised by its extremely smooth asphalt. This naturally means a less bumpy ride for us drivers in the race, but it also means that the performance of the track can differ considerably depending on the weather and track temperature."
• "It is hard to know how we will perform there this year, but our overall package is still competitive with half of the season now gone, so we will certainly be looking for more points."

WILLIAMS-BMW RACE PREVIEW:

• Nick Heidfeld: "I have good memories of Magny-Cours, having won there while competing in F3 and F3000. Although some people don't like this Grand Prix because it's in the middle of nowhere, it doesn't really affect the drivers as it means we can concentrate on the actual racing, which I prefer. I like the track itself because it's challenging, especially the two quick, blind chicanes which also have very tight apexes. We are taking a new package to Magny- Cours, so I hope we will make a good step forward with it as we need to keep scoring the points to remain competitive in the standings."
• Mark Webber: "I always enjoy going to Magny-Cours as it's in rural France, and in a part of the country I particularly like. The weather is usually good and the whole feel to the weekend is quite relaxed. The French GP is a pretty low key event in terms of off-track activities for the drivers as well. I enjoy being among the French fans and actually having the time to be able to concentrate on the job in hand without any distractions. Magny-Cours is a great track. It has a good mix of high and low speed corners and a short pit-lane which lends itself well to several pit stops and some good racing. We are quite excited by the prospect of some new aero parts on the car which we'll be running for the first time at Magny-Cours. I hope we're able to get the most out of them and enjoy a good start to the return of the European part of the championship."
• Sam Michael (Technical Director, WilliamsF1): "We return to Europe next week for the start of the second half of the season, which begins in Magny-Cours. The team has been testing at Jerez, in Spain, last week with Antonio Pizzonia and Nick Heidfeld in an effort to further improve the FW27 and continue tyre testing for Michelin. For Magny-Cours, we will have some aerodynamic improvements that are part of our on-going development programme to bring performance to the car. Some parts are more obvious, some not."
• "Magny-Cours has three high speed areas, the first section of the lap and the two chicanes, as well as some slow and medium speed corners. It is traditionally a very smooth circuit which has an interesting end to the lap because the track creates a good line into the pit lane. This means that time lost in the pit lane is low."
• "The tarmac at Magny-Cours is more dependent on temperature than normal which means lap times vary significantly during the day. Strategy will be interesting in Magny-Cours because of the pit lane time and typically high tyre degradation that we see at Magny-Cours."

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