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2006 FORMULA 1 GP CHAMPIONSHIP

• M SCHUMACHER, SEP 10, 2006: "Words are not enough and whatever I could say now will never fully express how much I love this fascinating world of motor sport and all it has given me ... From go-karting to Formula 1, I have lived through moments that I will never forget. I am profoundly grateful for everything I have had. I want to thank everyone who has accompanied me, supported and inspired me, right back to the days of my childhood. Above all, a special thanks goes to Corinna and our two children, who have given me the strength to do what I have done. All these years in Formula 1 have been amazing, especially those spent alongside my friends in the Scuderia."
• Niki Lauda (F1 Champion): "If the best guy in the world retires it is certainly a sad day. You can say whatever you want, he won seven world championships and he might win another one. There is nobody like him in the world, he is unique."
• Bernie Ecclestone (F1): "People have said to me that F1 is boring because he wins everything. So presumably when he's not here, people will be happy. But we'll miss him, because he is a superstar."
• Max Mosley (FIA): "Any top driver when he leaves will be missed. Michael's probably the furthest up the scale of anyone because he's got an unbeaten record. It won't damage F1 in any way but I think all of us who follow it will miss him clearly because he is an exceptional driver."
• Jean Todt, (Ferrari): "Michael has been the author of a unique chapter in the history of Formula One and he is a great friend."
• Stirling Moss: "He's done some fantastic drives, he's made some stupid mistakes. He's not a great in my mind like Fangio, but is one of the most talented drivers."

2006 FORMULA 1 GP

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	FERNANDO ALONSO date of birth, Spain: 29 July 1981 2001 - F1 debut, age 19, Minardi 2003 - full time drive with Renault, 6th 2004 - Renault, finish 4th 2005 - Renault - wins championship 2006 - Renault - wins championship
2006 F1 DRIVER STANDING
FINAL 2006 STANDING AFTER BRAZILIAN GP, OCT 22, 2006 1 Fernando Alonso 134 2 Michael Schumacher 121 3 Felipe Massa 80 4 Giancarlo Fisichella 72 5 Kimi Raikkonen 65 6 Jensen Button 56 7 Rubens Barrichello 30 8 Juan Montoya 26 Nick Heidfeld 23 Ralf Schumacher 20 Pedro de la Rosa 19
2006 F1 MANUFACTURER STANDING
FINAL 2006 STANDING AFTER BRAZILIAN GP, OCT 22, 2006 1 Renault 206 2 Ferrari 201 3 McLaren-Mercedes 110 4 Honda 86 5 BMW 36 6 Toyota 35 7 Red Bull-Ferrari 16 8 Williams-Cosworth 11 9 Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1
2006 F1 RACE RESULTS
R18, Oct 22, 2006: Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos) *** FINAL RACE OF 2006 *** 1 Felipe Massa, Ferrari | 2 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 3 Jenson Button *** ALONSO WINS CHAMPIONSHIP *** R17, Oct 8, 2006: Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka) *ALONSO LEADS SCHUMACHER BY 10 PTS* 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 2 Felipe Massa, Ferrari | 3 Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault R16, Oct 1, 2006: China F1 GP (Shanghai) *** SCHUMACHER'S 91ST WIN *** 1 Michael Schumacher | 2 Fernando Alonso | 3 Giancarlo Fisichella R15, Sep 10, 2006: Italian Grand Prix (Monza) *** SCHUMACHER'S 90TH WIN *** 1 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari | 2 Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren | 3 Robert Kubica, BMW **** M SCHUMACHER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT **** SCHUMACHER: "I feel this is the right moment to make it known that this is my last race at Monza; at the end of this year I decided, with the team that I am going to resign from racing. It's been an exceptional time that motorsport has given me. I loved every moment both the good and the bad ... I should thank my family, my dad, my passed away mum, my wife and my kids, who at all times supported me. Without their support and strength to survive in this sport, it would have been impossible … Now I just want to concentrate on these last three races and hope that we can finish it in style." R14, Aug 27, 2006: Turkish Grand Prix (Istanbul) 1 Felipe Massa, Ferrari | 2 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 3 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari R13, Aug 6, 2006: Hungarian Grand Prix (Hungaroring) *** F1 DEBUT: R KUBICA *** 1 Jenson Button, Honda | 2 Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren | 3 Nick Heidfeld, BMW *** BUTTON'S MAIDEN WIN *** R12, Jul 30, 2006: German Grand Prix (Hockenheim) 1 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari | 2 Felipe Massa, Ferrari | 3 Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren R11, Jul 16, 2006: French Grand Prix (Magny-Cours) 1 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari | 2 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 3 Felipe Massa, Ferrari * MONTOYA LEAVES F1 - HE WILL RACE NASCAR IN USA * R10, Jul 2, 2006: United States Grand Prix (Indianapolis) 1 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari | 2 Felipe Massa, Ferrari | 3 Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault R9: Jun 25, 2006: Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal) 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 2 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari | 3 Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren R8: Jun 11, 2006: British Grand Prix (Silverstone) 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 2 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari | 3 Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren R7: May 28, 2006: Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo) 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 2 Juan Montoya  | 3 David Coulthard R6: May 14, 2006: Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona) 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 2 Michael Schumacher  | 3 Giancarlo Fisichella R5: May 7, 2006: European Grand Prix (Nurburgring, Germany) 1 Michael Schumacher | 2 Fernando Alonso | 3 Felippe Massa R4: Apr 23, 2006: San Marino Grand Prix (Imola) 1 Michael Schumacher | 2 Fernando Alonso | 3 Juan Montoya R3: Apr 2, 2006: Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne) 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 2 Kimi Raikkonen  | 3 Ralf Schumacher  R2: Mar 19, 2006: Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang) 1 Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault | 2 Fernando Alonso | 3 Jenson Button R1: Mar 12, 2006: Bahrain Grand Prix (Bahrain) 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault | 2 Michael Schumacher | 3 Kimi Raikkonen

2006 FORMULA 1 ROOKIE DRIVERS:
NICO ROSBERG, GER	SCOTT SPEED, USA	YUJI IDE, JAP	ROBERT KUBICA , POL
			YAMAMOTO JAP - SUPER AGURI

NEW TEAMS / OWNERSHIP CHANGE / NAME CHANGE

• 11 teams: For the first time since 2002, there will be 11 teams
• Sauber becomes BMW Sauber - under BMW ownership
• BAR becomes Honda - under full Honda ownership
• Minardi becomes Toro Rosso - under Red Bull Ownership
• F1 debut for a new Japanese team - Super Aguri F1
• NEW DRIVERS / DRIVER MOVEMENT
• F1 debut for Nico Rosberg (Williams); Scott Speed (Tosso Rossa)
• Barrichello moves from Ferrari to Honda

TECHNICAL RULE CHANGES

• New 2.5 litre V8 engine introduced replacing the V10 3 litre engine; reduced power by about 15% (200 BHP)
• Tyre change allowed during race
• New qualifying format - based on knock out system; slow drivers eliminated after 15 minute sessions

CALENDAR CHANGES

• Season opener at Bahrain not Australia; seaon finale in Brazil not China

PRE SEASON COMMENTS

• B Ecclestone: "(M Schumacher) will be the favourite (for 2006) ... I don't see him tired enough to think about retiring ... He races because he enjoys it. He has gone beyond the money barrier"

• M Schumacher: "We seem to have done a very good job with the V8 ... I was quite satisfied during testing at Jerez, even though it is of course way too soon to predict anything, because the configuration of the cars was not comparable. But the two most important new rules for next season shouldn't put us at a disadvantage ... the transition to the V8 engine seems to have worked well for us, the last tests were looking good ... In 2006, we want to have a say in the outcome of the title again ... If I continue after 2006 then it is 99% that it will be with Ferrari. I don't want to lie ... It is 1% for another possibility, if I decide to continue"

• Ferrari (Luca di Montezemolo): "With Michael's commitment and talent, he's still the best ... Only Michael can decide about his future"

• Frank Williams (Williams, Principal): "It is a disadvantage not having a manufacturer with you (Williams will use Cosworth not BMW engine) ... But there is still room for being nimble and agile. Don't think we've got our feet tied together because there is still considerable resource here."

• Nick Fry (Honda Racing, CEO): “Our target in 2006 is to challenge for race wins and we will do our utmost to achieve that objective ... During 2005 we put in place some important building blocks that will help us meet our targets in 2006 and beyond. We secured two of the best racing drivers in the world, we proved our ability to develop a car through the season, resulting in points for Jenson in each of the last ten races, and we gained a better understanding of the strengths of the 2004 car and the issues with our 2005 race car. Lastly, and most importantly, we have “works” team status with access to the technical resources of Honda R&D. I’m particularly proud that we have been able to deliver a new car each for Jenson and Rubens today which demonstrates the depth of our manufacturing ability and skill and determination of our people. With our new wind tunnel also coming on-stream later this year, we are ready to step up to the challenge.”