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2006 FORMULA 1 TURKISH GP  

• AFTER QUALIFYING ON POLE - Felipe Massa: "A fantastic day for me and to get my first F1 pole is an emotional moment. I can look back and think how much I have had to fight to achieve this. I am emotional and happy and hope to get many more poles in my career. I want to thank the team for having given me a fantastic car, but thank you also to my father: without him I would probably not be here in Formula 1."
• Robert Kubica has been promoted to become full time BMW driver for rest of the season. He replaces Jacques Villeneuve. 19 year old Sebastian Vettel from F3 Euro series becomes the new BMW test driver.
• BEFORE RACE, M SCHUMACHER: "The championship did not look too good for us up to Indianapolis and some people thought the battle was over ... But within three races we turned the situation around and that shows how quickly things change in this sport. We are optimistic about the rest of the season and have faith in our strengths."
• 19 YEAR OLD NEW BMW TEST DRIVER, Sebastian Vettel QUICKEST DURING FRIDAY PRACTICE.

RACE REPORT - FERRARI (TOP OF PAGE)

• Sixth win of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, the first from Felipe Massa. This is win number 189 from 737 races. Felipe took his maiden career win at his sixty seventh participation in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
• Jean Todt: "We are very happy about Felipe's win, the first of his career having driven impeccably. Today, we had the potential to finish first and second, but the arrival of the Safety Car on lap 14 compromised our chances of achieving this result. The fact we were unable to use all 100% of our potential takes the edge off the satisfaction in finishing first and third, but it is comforting to know that we have everything in place to succeed in the forthcoming races."
• "In Monza and at the three races outside Europe, we will have many changes on the car and, thanks to the great work being done by our technical partners, first and foremost Bridgestone and also Shell, we will be in the best possible shape to try and win both championships."
• Felipe Massa: "Today is an incredible day that I will never forget. To take my first race win, especially with Ferrari is a historic moment and I am thinking of all the people who have helped me get here - my family, my girlfriend and my friends and all those who gave me the strength to achieve this. The team was sensational and they gave me a perfect car to win. I am very emotional and very happy."
• "The race? I had a very good start and the car felt very well balanced. As we left the grid, I could see Michael and Fernando fighting but I was able to pull away from them immediately. After the Safety Car and the pit stop the car was still working well and that is how it stayed in all the stints of the race."
• "It has always been my dream to drive for Ferrari and to take my first ever Formula 1 with them, makes this day even more special. It is an amazing dream come true for me. The championships are still open with four races to go and both titles are still within our reach."
• Michael Schumacher: "First of all, I want to congratulate Felipe, who once again today did a fantastic job, clearly deserving to win. Obviously, this weekend things did not go my way, either yesterday in qualifying or today in the race. For some reason, in the second stint, the car was not going as well as it had done in Friday's free practice."
• "It was rather nervous and the fact that it had a pretty heavy fuel load certainly didn't help and neither did my mistake at Turn 8 on lap 28. On top of that, the set of tyres in this stint did not perform as well as the others and they also blistered. In the end I tried to stick with my rival in case he made a mistake. Today, I have lost two points in the Drivers' championship but I still believe I can win the title."
• Ross Brawn: "A really fantastic result for Felipe, who drove exceptionally well all weekend. My compliments to him and to his team of engineers and mechanics, who got his car to work really well. He had great pace and the arrival of the Safety Car did not really do him any harm. However, it was frustrating that the Safety Car came out at a time that really did affect Michael's race badly, because today, our cars were fast enough, the Bridgestone tyres were very good and I think that we could have finished first and second."
• "We then tried to recover the situation for Michael, but for some reason which we will need to look into, we picked up some blisters on his second set of tyres and he was unable to push in the middle stint, when of course it was crucial to close down the gap to Alonso. However, we remain confident: all the elements are in place for us to win both titles and we will fight right to the very end to achieve that."

RACE REPORT - RENAULT (TOP OF PAGE)

• Formula One enjoyed another spectacular afternoon today in Turkey, following on from the thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix three weeks ago.
• The sweeping Istanbul Park circuit was the stage for a dramatic head-to-head duel between the two contenders for the 2006 World Drivers' Championship. After fifteen intense laps in which Fernando Alonso held off the attacks of Michael Schumacher, the reigning world champion prevailed , and extended his championship lead by two points, to a total of twelve with four races remaining.
• The Renault F1 Team's Turkish Grand Prix revolved around two key moments: the run to the first corner, and the safety car period on lap thirteen. The first corner put paid to Giancarlo Fisichella's chances of a better result, when the Italian spun his R26 as he braked to avoid team-mate Fernando Alonso. After pitting for a nose change and converting to a one-stop strategy, the Italian began a dynamic climb back through the field to eventually finish sixth.
• Fernando Alonso was running third, behind the two Ferraris, when Tonio Liuzzi's stranded Toro Rosso brought out the safety car. With the Ferrari team-mates obliged to queue in the pits, Massa pitting ahead of Schumacher, Fernando was able to emerge ahead of Michael Schumacher. He then diligently built a nine second gap, aided by a mistake from Schumacher, that meant he emerged from the second stop ahead of the German. After that, it was a race to the flag.
• The Renault F1 Team retains leads in both world championships, with just four races remaining. Fernando Alonso leads the drivers' title by twelve points, while the Renault F1 Team now possesses a slender two point lead as they begin testing for the final races of the year this week in Monza.
• Fernando Alonso: 2nd position "We were a long way from Ferrari on Friday and during qualifying, but we were confident that it would improve , and we showed that we were right to be confident. It was a normal race, pushing to the limit, until the third stint when it was all about track position, not just speed. I knew that Michael only had two chances to overtake, in turn 12 and turn 14. That meant I could use the engine to get a bigger gap at those places by turning it up to maximum revs on the straights before, and It was enough to keep second place."
• "I think this afternoon also showed that we needed something more to fight with Ferrari for the win, but I am very optimistic for these last races. Monza will probably be the hardest one to win, looking at the characteristics of the Ferrari car. But everybody at Renault, and our partners at Michelin and Elf, is very focused on those four races , and I am confident we can find what we need to win again. Today was a good step forward for my chances in the championship, and we are expecting more good days between now and the end of the season."
• Giancarlo Fisichella: 6th position "In the end, it was a good race for me and I showed today that I was quick, and the car was too. I got a good start and was close to the guys in front. Michael was weaving quite a lot on the track, and the other drivers were having to avoid him. I braked quite late, but there was the risk of a collision with Fernando, so I braked even harder which locked the rears and put me in a spin. After the pit-stop to replace the nose, it was a case of pushing hard and making up as many positions as I could."
• "The safety car helped but I overtook a lot of people out there this afternoon. We did some very long stints on the tyres with a one-stop strategy, and they held up really well. Our performance was closer to Ferrari today than in qualifying, and I think we can be reasonably confident for the next races. Of course, the next Grand Prix is in Monza , my home race, in the middle of a big battle with Ferrari. We are still leading the championships, and we need to build the gap in the coming weeks.
• Flavio Briatore, Managing Director: "This was a fantastic day for the team. We didn't have the performance to beat Ferrari in a straight fight, but the events of the race helped us , and we seized every opportunity, with no mistakes. Fernando drove like a champion, soaking up the pressure and opening the gap in the championship again. Giancarlo put in a strong drive after a tough opening lap, and brought home valuable points. Overall, this has been a good day for the Renault team and we are still leading both championships. Now, we need to push hard in testing this week and race from the front in Monza."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "What a fabulous race. Fernando's result hinged on the first stop under the Safety Car, and the tyre behaviour in the second stint. We gained an advantage on both fronts, and we could see that Fernando would be able to keep the gap at the final stop , but also that he would have to defend hard from that point on. He did the impeccable job we are used to, and this second place feels as good as a victory would at most races."
• "We must not forget to congratulate Giancarlo today, who put in a fantastic drive. He put himself off at Turn 1 to ensure that he did not collide with Fernando, which was a very sporting move. After that, his drive from the back of the field on a one-stop strategy was a pleasure to watch. The race this afternoon severely tested the tyres, with a demanding circuit and track temperatures well into the 50s. The Michelins held up beautifully, allowing Fernando to hold off Michael and letting Fisi run a successful one-stop strategy."
• "We are now emerging from the test ban, and we have plenty of new ideas to be tested at Monza next week , both on the tyre front, and on the car as well. I expect the battle to go down to the wire, and we will be fighting hard to come out on top.

RACE REPORT - HONDA (TOP OF PAGE)

• Today's result again reduces the gap to third position in the Constructors' Championship, with the Honda Racing F1 Team now on 58 points with four rounds still remaining.
• Hot on the heels of its own first win just a few weeks ago, the Honda team would also like to congratulate Felipe Massa on his first grand prix victory and wishes him a well-deserved celebration.
• Formula One now resumes testing after the summer break, and the Honda Racing F1 Team heads to Monza in Italy next week with an extensive development programme in preparation for Round 15 of the Formula One World Championship.
• Jenson Button: "It's been a great race for the team today and it's good to get both cars in the points. We just didn't have the pace of the Ferraris or Alonso in the Renault but we know where we're weaker and where we're losing out to them, so when we get on top of that we're going to be very competitive. The last stint was very strong for us. We had a lot less tyre graining and I was getting quicker and quicker. Not quite as good as my result in the last race but a good weekend nonetheless."
• Rubens Barrichello: "I'm really happy that we finished with two cars in the points today. We had a competitive car today so it was a shame that someone pushed me wide on the first corner which lost me a lot of time. Without that incident I could have been up there fighting closer to the front. We had the pace and we certainly had the will today, so I think that the team certainly deserved the result as well. It was really good to hear the Brazilian national anthem at the end of the race for my good friend Felipe Massa and I congratulate him on his first win."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting director: "What an exciting race! We are very pleased to have both cars in the points, which is a great result at the end of a generally satisfying weekend. Jenson was fortunate to not get caught up in the first turn incident and drove a faultless race from there, pushing very hard all the way. In the end though, we weren't quite quick enough to challenge for the podium today."
• "Rubens was less fortunate in the first turn and lost quite a few places, however he showed excellent speed and determination as he drove back through the field, fighting until the very end. Both engines performed reliably in their second race, even though Rubens used all the revs possible throughout the race. In summary we leave Turkey happy but aware that there is still some improvement needed. Congratulations to Felipe Massa on his well-deserved first win!"

RACE REPORT - TOYOTA  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Panasonic Toyota Racing will leave Istanbul with two points after an eventful afternoon's work in today's Turkish Grand Prix. On a blisteringly hot day at the Istanbul Park, with track temperatures again above 50 degrees Celsius, Toyota's drivers Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher had it all to do today from their respective grid positions of 12th and 15th.
• Unfortunately both drivers lost ground on the first lap after they were caught up in the carnage of a major first corner incident that involved nearly half the field. Thankfully both were able to continue, although Ralf had to stop for a new front wing which left him way down the running order. The team switched his strategy to include only one further pit stop and he was able to make it up into the points in an eventual 7th place.
• Jarno made up a few places with good passing manoeuvres in the early laps but he struggled for grip as the race went on, finishing just outside the points in 9th. Toyota will this week test at Italy's Monza circuit in preparation for the Italian Grand Prix in a fortnight's time.
• Ralf Schumacher: "It was always going to be hard work starting so far back on the grid today so it was a big achievement to score two points. Of course there was also the danger of being caught up in an incident at the first corner here and so it proved. It was chaotic and unfortunately I lost my front wing. I lost time when I pitted to replace it, but at least we were able to fill up with fuel so we would need only one more stop."
• "Early on in the first stint I struggled with understeer on the heavy load but that improved after the safety car and I was able to make up some ground. The balance was good after my second stop and I was able to push hard. Again we have shown a lot of potential this weekend. Now it's just down to us to get it right and avoid any more small problems. That way we can challenge for the podium again soon."
• Jarno Trulli: "That was a difficult afternoon for me, beginning with the confusion at the start. The first corner here is hard, braking downhill and it will always make for treacherous starts to the races. Today was one of those days and when I was hit from behind I could not avoid hitting a car in front of me. I lost positions and it was a hard battle from there. I enjoyed the first part of the race and made up ground but the main problem for me was the safety car, which came at just the wrong time for me."
• "The car in front of me also slowed down excessively before the field had closed up and it all meant that I lost a lot of the gap that I had gained. But the main problem for me was that my tyre choice was a bit too conservative for the race. Yesterday I was confident because I knew from practice that they would be consistent. But they behaved just as they had in qualifying and it was not enough to challenge any higher."
• Tsutomu Tomita - Team Principal: "Considering the poor grid positions from which we started the race, today's result was reasonable. But the first part of the weekend left us with too much work to do to compete with the top cars in the race. Then the race got off to a bad start when both our drivers were involved in the first corner incident."
• "When Ralf pitted for a new front wing we used the chance to fuel him up and change our strategy to an effective one-stopper. He also damaged some aerodynamic parts and he complained about the balance in the early part of the race. But the safety car played into his hands and from then on his balance improved and he scored a strong points finish."
• "Jarno had a different race and he struggled for grip just as he did in qualifying. So that meant we probably chose tyres that were too hard. He did well in the early laps but the safety car did him no favours considering his strategy. From then on he could not find a good balance but he did well to bring the car home."
• "During the race I was frustrated that our lap times were a bit off the pace of the top teams. We have four races remaining and we have more new aero parts planned for the remaining races. So we will continue to push hard right to the end of the season."

2006 QUALIFYING

QUALIFYING REPORT - FERRARI  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Fifth pole position of the season, after those in Sakhir, Imola, Indianapolis and Magny-Cours; the first for Felipe Massa who will thus start a grand prix from the very top of the grid for the first time in his career. For the fourth time this season two Ferraris will start from the front row. This is Ferrari's 184th pole, the first at this track.
• Jean Todt: "A great qualifying for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro who will occupy the whole front row of the grid tomorrow afternoon. I am very happy for Felipe for his first ever pole position. Our package, with the support of exceptional partners like Bridgestone and Shell once again showed itself to be very competitive today. Taking into account the consistency of the performance of the tyres in race trim, there is every indication we can do well tomorrow."
• "As usual, to have a clear picture of the situation we need to clear up the usual unknowns of strategy and how the tyres will react as the track gets more and more rubber down, without forgetting crucial factors like reliability. The answers to these questions will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon."
• Felipe Massa: "A fantastic day for me and to get my first F1 pole is an emotional moment. I can look back and think how much I have had to fight to achieve this. I am emotional and happy and hope to get many more poles in my career. I want to thank the team for having given me a fantastic car, but thank you also to my father: without him I would probably not be here in Formula 1."
• "Tomorrow I will drive my race thinking about mine and the team's objectives in both championships. We know we have a great package while the Bridgestone tyres are consistent and perform well over a long run."
• Michael Schumacher: "Getting myself on the front row is definitely not something I can complain about, but today I definitely did not deliver a great qualifying performance, failing to get all the potential out of the car."
• "I aborted my first run on new tyres in Q3 after I ran wide at Turn 1 and I also made a mistake on my second run when in any case, I took a slightly more cautious approach to the lap, knowing I only had one set of tyres left and that it would be better to be second or third rather than not managing to do a reasonable time. It's better to be safe than sorry."
• "I am very happy for Felipe on getting the first pole of his career. He drove an exceptional lap and I have to say I don't think I could have beaten him, even if I had not made any mistakes. We can be optimistic about the race as, from what we have seen so far, everything is in place for us to do well."
• Ross Brawn: "Naturally I am very happy with this result. The 248 F1 ran very well, thanks also to the support of our partners, first and foremost Bridgestone and Shell. The tyres have proved very consistent over a long run and that will be an important factor tomorrow. Felipe did a fantastic job: first he managed to do a great time on his first run and then he managed to improve on his second one."
• "As for Michael, he made a mistake on his first lap with new tyres in Q3 and then tackled the second attempt with a bit of caution, but still managed to take second place. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the race, but we know we still have a very difficult task ahead of us."

QUALIFYING REPORT - RENAULT  (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Renault F1 Team locked out the second row during qualifying for this afternoon's Turkish Grand Prix, with world champion Fernando Alonso lining up third , just ahead of team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella.
• After suffering problems with tyre graining yesterday, the team switched overnight to the other available specification of Michelin tyre. Diligent work by the drivers and their engineers during this morning's practice session saw them find a good balance for the R26, and the car's intrinsic performance was demonstrated during the qualifying rounds when both drivers were consistently among the front runners.
• Weather conditions today proved slightly cooler than expected, with scattered cloud keeping the track temperature slightly lower than forecast. This is expected to disappear tomorrow, meaning the drivers will be in for a long, demanding afternoon , and where the team hopes that the consistent performance of the Michelin tyres will pay dividends.
• Fernando Alonso, 3rd position: "Third position was a good result for me today. We knew that we would not have enough to beat the Ferrari package over one timed lap, but we do believe in the consistency of the Michelin tyres and what they can bring us in the race. Our preparations have been focused on the race since yesterday morning, so it is a good result for us to be high up in qualifying."
• "I think it will be an exciting start to the race and that we will see a group of cars running together in the opening laps. But we also know that the most important thing tomorrow will be to finish, to bring home points in both championships.
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 4th position: "We knew all weekend that Ferrari would be quick, and that it would be a tough battle to get on to the front row, but we are in the next best position. The car felt much better today on the other type of Michelin tyre, it was easy to drive and the performance was consistent on longer runs. We know that it will be a tough race tomorrow, but we will be fighting all the way."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "Things went pretty much to plan for us. We chose to switch to the other specification of tyre after our problems yesterday, and that has undoubtedly been confirmed as the correct decision. Making that change gave the car a good, driveable balance that we managed to fine tune during practice this morning, while our running on older tyres confirmed that the tyres will be consistent in tomorrow's race."
• "Ferrari have been very quick all weekend, and certainly were in qualifying as well. I think they seem to have an advantage on the first lap, but we have seen the balance of power switch overnight already this season. Starting from the second row, we are in the right position to race them hard for the win."
• Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations:
• "I think we can consider this to be a strong team performance, with ourselves and Ferrari standing out as the two teams who have managed to get their drivers performing equally at the front of the grid. We are clearly the challengers for tomorrow's race, but starting from the second row means we will be in a straight fight with the Ferraris from the opening laps."
• "Both engines appeared to perform normally throughout qualifying. Giancarlo felt his unit might have been a little down on power, but we could not see anything on the telemetry during the session. Of course, we will be looking at the data closely this evening to make sure. Now, we need to wait and see how the different race strategies unfold"

QUALIFYING REPORT - BMW  (TOP OF PAGE)

• For the fourth time the BMW Sauber F1 Team has seen both its cars in the top ten for qualifying and here in Istanbul achieved its best performance in these sessions. Nick Heidfeld was sixth and Robert Kubica ninth, but both drivers will gain one grid position due to another driver having an engine change.
• Nick Heidfeld: "I am a little bit surprised that everything went so well. Our performance in Hungary was, in my opinion, due to exceptional circumstances. If we compare today's result to the races prior to then the improvement is an enormous step forward."
• "It shows the guys in Munich and Hinwil worked really well during the summer break, and here we have some more aerodynamic improvements including a modified front wing. Nevertheless I am realistic and think it is going to be harder for us in the race, but our goals are points."
• Robert Kubica: "It was a good qualifying as we have both cars in the top ten. We struggled with the set up this morning and had understeer, but suddenly in qualifying it became oversteer. It went from one side to the other and unfortunately the car was really difficult to drive."
• "However, I managed pretty well to push on one lap and I shall see what happens tomorrow. The conditions are changing and we should have more rubber on the track, which should help to make the rear more stable."
• Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "That was the best qualifying result our young team has achieved so far. Tomorrow we presume we will start from fifth and eighth, which is an excellent position to be in for the race. In all three sections of qualifying Nick's performance was very strong, and Robert, in only his second qualifying, did an impressive job."
• Willy Rampf (Technical Director): "It was a very good and exciting qualifying. The result is confirmation of the ability of both drivers and the quality of the car set up. Istanbul Park is a very challenging track on which we have to find the best compromise for our set-up, and the good work Sebastian Vettel did on his debut as a Friday driver contributed to this."
• "We are ready for high temperatures during the race so we should be well prepeared. We are very much looking forward to starting from these promising positions."

QUALIFYING REPORT - HONDA  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Jenson Button will lead the Honda Racing F1 Team's Turkish Grand Prix challenge tomorrow, lining up on the third row of the grid after ending today's qualifying session in sixth place. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello will start from 14th after struggling to find a good balance with his RA106 race car this afternoon.
• This afternoon's qualifying result comes on the back of a positive start to the weekend for the team, with a strong performance in all three practice sessions and on long runs in particular, indicating that both cars should benefit from a stronger race pace.
• Jenson Button: "I was obviously hoping for something more from qualifying today, although we have been struggling a little bit in the last sector here - on the long straight and the three very slow corners at the end. That's where we have been losing out to Alonso. On the positive side we have been looking good on the long runs, as we demonstrated on Friday and this morning. So it's looking like we could be better off in the race, in which case P6 on the grid isn't so bad."
• Rubens Barrichello: "Unfortunately I didn't have a good balance with the car for the whole qualifying session today. It was quite strange because the car felt much better this morning throughout practice, so we have to look at that and see what has happened. So that was my qualifying today but we know that the car has a good race pace, plus we can choose our fuel level from here, so I am hopeful that we can have a decent race tomorrow and I can fight my way through the field."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "We certainly would have preferred to be a bit further up. In the case of Rubens we just couldn't get the balance to his liking on new tyres. Jenson did a great job in Q2, but we haven't been particularly fast in the last sector all weekend and unfortunately that cost Jenson a few places on the grid. However, both cars have been very competitive and consistent on long runs and used tyres, which bodes well for the race."

QUALIFYING REPORT - TOYOTA  (TOP OF PAGE)

• PENALTY QUICK
• Panasonic Toyota Racing will have a lot of work to do in tomorrow's Turkish Grand Prix after a mixed afternoon's work during qualifying at the Istanbul Park circuit. There were more clouds in the sky than for yesterday's practice sessions, but track temperatures nonetheless continued to approach 50 degrees Celsius. Ralf Schumacher had a good hour of qualifying and comfortably made it through Q1 and Q2 before recording the 5th fastest time of an exciting final shoot-out. Unfortunately Ralf suffered a ten-place penalty because the team changed his engine as a precaution last night so he will line up in 15th place tomorrow. Jarno battled understeer and failed to make it through Q2, setting the 13th fastest time. Nonetheless he is confident of making ground from his 12th place on the grid. Despite the difficult start to the weekend, Toyota will now push hard as it bids to score a strong result in Sunday's race.
• Jarno Trulli (Car 8, Chassis TF106/08B) PROVISIONAL GRID: 12th
• "That was a difficult day's work for me. I hoped to make it into Q3 but it was hard to find a good balance today. Still, I remain confident for the race because I have made a conservative tyre choice and I was quick and consistent both this morning and yesterday. I'm thinking more about the race than qualifying and I hope that risk will pay off tomorrow. It will still be a hard race and the start will be crucial here because the first corner is downhill and very tight. But if we can make it through unscathed then we should have a good chance to progress. We have been steadily getting more competitive and edging closer to the top teams so if we can stay reliable I believe with the race pace we have we can do well and challenge for a strong finish."
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 7, Chassis TF106/10B) PROVISIONAL GRID: 15th
• "Our objective was to make the top five in qualifying so that was a good session for us. The car felt good and we did as well as we could have expected. It's obviously a pity to drop back ten places due to our precautionary engine change. Given that penalty we are on a very good strategy and I believe we are in a strong position to gain ground tomorrow. We've been competitive all weekend so we are confident with our pace and it is possible to overtake here. Last year I had a busy race and I expect more of the same tomorrow. Our target is to make the points with both cars and I believe it is possible. If we can make a good start then we will be in good shape."
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis "In terms of our grid position for tomorrow that is obviously one of our lowest results of the season but we understand the reasons for that. We changed Ralf's engine as a precaution yesterday evening, preferring to accept the ten-place penalty rather than risk a failure this weekend. So that meant we had to adapt his strategy accordingly. He did well to go fifth quickest in Q3 but he will start 15th tomorrow. We have a different strategy for Jarno, who had a different day. He struggled for grip, and that is why he missed out on the top ten. Still, this is a circuit where we can hope to make up ground in the race. We knew that this would be a hard track for tyres but it is clear that the Bridgestone tyres we have are well suited to its demands. We will be starting lower down the grid than we expected but we remain confident that our strategy can bring both cars home in the points tomorrow."

FERRARI FRIDAY REPORT   (TOP OF PAGE)

• Jean Todt: "After a three week gap without racing, the final rush of the championship gets underway here in Turkey. Last year, we were in serious difficulties at this circuit but today the situation seems to have improved. With the usual provisos one has to take into account on Fridays, we can say that with the car-engine-Bridgestone tyre package we have at our disposal, we seem to be quite competitive. Today, as usual we have worked on tyre choice and on fine tuning the car set-up. We are well aware how important is this Turkish weekend in terms of the fight for the two titles."
• Felipe Massa: "All in all a positive day. We have worked a lot on tyre choice for the race and we have ended up with a pretty clear picture of the situation. First impressions are that the car is well balanced. I am happy about that and I am confident that we can be competitive. Yes, it's only Friday but at least everything is in place for me to feel this way."
• Michael Schumacher: "Today, I have at last been able to find out how demanding this track is. Last year we were here with a package that was absolutely not competitive, while today the situation is completely different and driving the 248 F1 on this track is really good fun. I am quite satisfied with the way things went: the fact that I set my fastest time at the end of the session and therefore on used tyres is certainly a good sign. I am confident and hope to continue on this path tomorrow and Sunday. Clearly the heat seems to suit us and our tyres."
• Ross Brawn: "It was a good day. We got through some useful work with both drivers and we have a reasonably clear picture as far as the tyres are concerned. Obviously, we have to take into account how the track conditions will have changed by Sunday. The cars, fitted with new turning vanes and air intakes on the rear brakes, ran trouble-free and seemed to be well balanced. All things considered, we can be satisfied and can be reasonably confident about the outcome of the rest of the weekend."

BMW FRIDAY REPORT   (TOP OF PAGE)

• The BMW Sauber F1 Team was back up to full strength today with Sebastian Vettel now taking on the role of test and reserve driver alongside race drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica. Sebastian set the fastest time of the day, while Robert set 17th quickest time and Nick 27th. Sebastian also made history by being the youngest driver ever to take part in a Grand Prix weekend.
• Sebastian Vettel: "I am surprised at this result. It has been difficult for me as I didn't know the circuit and have had only one proper Formula 1 test. However, I felt very comfortable, I was able to deliver some information and on top of it all it was great! What happens in the fast corners is just indescribable."
• "My second session was a lot quicker, and on top of that I learnt two Formula 1 lessons on my first day. In the first session I forgot to press the pit lane speed limiter, which is going to be expensive, and after the second session the system chose me for a drug test.
• Nick Heidfeld: "I really like driving here. Corner eight is a great corner and has remained so even with this year's V8 engines. I imagine it can be flat in qualifying. Sometimes new track surfaces change a lot after their first winter and develop a lot of bumps, but this one hasn't changed since 2005."
• Robert Kubica: "I didn't do a lot of driving, as I only did five timed laps. This has given us some idea about the best set-up, which we have to improve on, and me some idea about this track. We will have to see how we go tomorrow, as we still have the third free practice to work on the car before qualifying. The track is new to me and I like it, but would have liked to do a few more laps."
• Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "It was a good first practice day for our team with a flawless performance from Sebastian Vettel, who is only 19 years old and had his first Formula One drive on a GP weekend. He completed his entire programme with no mistakes and laid a good basis for the set-up work for the cars. Setting the fastest lap today was not on the agenda, but it is the icing on the cake. Nick and Robert also completed their programmes as scheduled."
• Willy Rampf (Technical Director): "It was a problem free first practice day. Today we concentrated on set-up work and we have to take into account changing track conditions when planning the continuation of this work tomorrow. Compliments to Sebastian who completed his programme on his first day as a Friday driver with no mistakes."

WILLIAMS FRIDAY REPORT   (TOP OF PAGE)

• Sam Michael, Technical Director, WilliamsF1:
• "We ran a standard programme on Alex's car today, checking race set-up for Sunday and going through the two tyre choices as well as checking cooling and brakes. On the two race cars, we have tried a couple of different set-ups and now we will concentrate on finalising our tyre choice and getting the cars prepared for qualifying tomorrow."
• Alex Wurz: "We had a problem-free day today and managed our full programmes in both the first and second sessions. We will now have to analyse the data carefully because it's not obvious which tyre to select. Our engineering meeting will be a very interesting process because the circuit changed with all the variables from wind conditions, the surface cleaning up and the rubber being laid down, so I have no doubt that making the right tyre choice will be the key factor this weekend."
• Mark Webber: "It was an interesting Friday and we got through everything we needed to, so we have all the information we require to make our tyre comparisons. It would be good to find some extra pace, but we have seen this before where we are not topping the times on Fridays, but it's a different situation on Saturdays. Alex did a lot of good race work for us, so we have plenty of homework tonight. I am looking forward to seeing how tomorrow will turn out."
• Nico Rosberg: "I think it was a pretty good practice session which I spent getting the car and myself prepared for the track and by the end of the hour, it felt really good, I was really happy with the car. The next decision is to look through everything and make our tyre choice."
• Chris Jilbert, Principal Engineer, F1 Race Engineering, Cosworth:
• "Today was a straight-forward, trouble-free day for Cosworth in Istanbul, with all three cars completing their respective programmes as planned. As no grid penalty will be incurred, we elected to carry out a precautionary engine change in Mark's car before the event following the discovery of slight oil leak."

McLAREN FRIDAY REPORT   (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Pedro de la Rosa finished today's second free practice session in eighth and ninth positions respectively. Kimi set a fastest lap time of 1:29.042 whilst Pedro did 1:29.112.
• Both drivers completed ten laps each in the afternoon and five laps in the morning. In the first session Kimi was fastest with 1:28.315 and Pedro was sixth on 1:29.376. Kimi's lap time in the morning was the third fastest time of the day.
• Kimi Raikkonen: "A strong start to the weekend. We were evaluating our Michelin tyres and got some good data. I really like this track and am looking forward to the rest of the weekend. The car feels good, and we could have gone a lot quicker, which is always a good feeling to have after a Friday's work."
• Pedro de la Rosa: "Both sessions were good for us for us and Kimi and I ran a parallel Michelin tyre evaluation programme. We are now absolutely sure which compound we will choose. I really enjoyed today's practice on this track with its flowing and fast layout. It is really fun to drive, except turn eight which is rather bumpy."
• Ron Dennis: "A productive practice day where we experienced no problems."
• Norbert Haug: "Kimi and Pedro went through their planned Michelin tyre evaluation programme and didn't put new ones on in the afternoon. The times looked OK. Both drivers are using fresh engines incorporating some improvements."

2006 RACE PREVIEW
BMW  BRIDGESTONE  HONDA  McLAREN  MICHELIN  RENAULT  SHELL  TOYOTA  WILLIAMS

BRIDGESTONE PREVIEW   (TOP OF PAGE)

• Bridgestone eyes up victory in Turkey
• Just five races remain on the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar and the constructors' and drivers' title races are still wide open with Bridgestone shod Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro and Michael Schumacher set for an eagerly awaited end of season showdown. Although testing has not been permitted since the washout in Hungary two weeks ago, Bridgestone has been busy preparing for next weekend's Grand Prix of Turkey, which is taking place for only the second year running.
• Logistics arrangements for the Turkish GP are more complex than for most European races with Istanbul spanning both the European and Asian continents. Bridgestone's fleet of tyre trucks travelled down to Trieste in Italy before sailing on ferries round to the port of Pendick, Turkey. From there they headed for the impressive 5.33km Istanbul Park circuit.
• Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Motorsport: "Turkey hosted a fantastic grand prix last year and we are very much looking forward to returning this year. The championship battle is looking very close but Ferrari has been strong in the second half of this year and Bridgestone is working hard to give them the best possible chance of regaining the championship titles. Toyota and Williams too should be chasing podiums now so we are hoping to see a thrilling race next weekend in what is a key market for Bridgestone."
• Tyres for Turkey; 5.338km
• The 2006 tyre regulations permit each driver seven sets of dry tyres, four sets of wet weather tyres and three sets of extreme wet weather tyres. Combined with the increased number of teams running with Bridgestone in 2006, approximately 1,200 Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres have been sent from the Technical Centre in Kodaira City, Tokyo, to the Istanbul Park in Turkey.
• Hisao Suganuma, Bridgestone Motorsport Technical Manager: "The Istanbul Park circuit is one of the fastest on the calendar. Turn eight is a particularly long and fast corner which can be tough on the tyres. As the circuit is anti-clockwise, the front right tyre can be susceptible to high wear. However, what makes this circuit interesting is that the track surface itself is very smooth similar to Monaco and Montreal and consequently we require a tyre compound which can provide grip as well as durability."
• "We also need to be prepared for possible high track temperatures. Bridgestone's tyres therefore for Turkey will be from the current specification range with medium to soft compounds, which we believe will be well suited and competitive in Turkey next weekend. We are now entering a crucial stage of the championship and it is vital that our teams are in a position to take plenty of points and podiums in the remaining five races."

RENAULT PREVIEW  (TOP OF PAGE)

• After a three-weak break, the Renault F1 Team will begin the final phase of the 2006 world championship with the second ever Turkish Grand Prix. High temperatures, the newest circuit on the calendar and a demanding layout that includes one of the season's most demanding corners, turn 8, should make for a demanding weekend.
• Chassis
• Aerodynamics: Istanbul Park is a very modern circuit, and therefore still in good condition. The track surface is very smooth and the kerbs are not particularly aggressive, which should mean it is relatively easy to find a stable car balance. We will use a lower downforce level than at recent races: the package for Turkey will be nearer to the medium downforce set-up employed at the North American rounds of the championship.
• Tyres: The tyres are not given a particularly hard time in Turkey, but we must pay special attention to the front tyres, and particularly the right front, which suffer in turn 8. Indeed, this corner is among the most demanding of the whole season for the front end of the car. To avoid any potential problems, we can adjust suspension settings and front wing angle; however, we must always be mindful of finding the correct balance between protecting the tyres and maintaining mechanical grip, to ensure the car is quick in the more technical parts of the circuit.
• Suspension: To limit tyre wear, particularly at the front of the car, the main parameters we can adjust are the suspension settings. Given the demands of the circuit and its good condition, we use relatively stiff settings that mean the car changes direction well in the technical portions, and remains stable in the high-speed turns.
• Brakes: The braking zone for turn 12 is the most significant on the circuit, and getting it wrong can cost the drivers a lot of time as they overshoot the apex in this slow corner. In overall terms, though, the Istanbul Park circuit is not particularly demanding on the brakes, which can cool on the long straights before the main braking zones.
• Engine
• Performance: Istanbul Park is a varied circuit for the engine. Almost 65% of the lap is spent at full throttle, which is an average value for the season. We need a tractable engine, with good top speed for overtaking on the main straight , but without compromising low end performance. We also look carefully at power delivery at high revs, which will make turn 8 easier to negotiate.
• Cooling: Temperatures in Turkey are expected to be extremely high, but this should not pose any problems for engine cooling. At this stage of the season, we fully understand the cooling needs of the car, and there are no slow sections in which the engine might risk overheating. Furthermore, the long straights will ensure the engine is well cooled.
• Comets in Turkey
• The Renault F1 Team will run with its fourth artwork livery of the 2006 season during the Turkish Grand Prix weekend , with a comet-inspired design adorning the flanks of the world championship leading R26.
• The livery is a creation of Russian fashion and set designer Andrey Sharov, who has transformed the dynamic vitality of the fastest body in space, into a unique design for the fastest car in the F1 championship. Both R26 race-cars will run in their comet livery throughout the race weekend.

McLAREN PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Formula 1 fraternity travels to Istanbul this week for the second Turkish Grand Prix, following the event's debut on the calendar last year at the purpose-built Istanbul Speed Park. The track, which is located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus river, is 90km east of the city centre.
• During the three week August break from racing, Team McLaren Mercedes has been preparing for the Turkish race at the McLaren Technology Centre, Mercedes High Performance Engines in Brixworth, and Stuttgart. Work has also included preparation of further developments to the MP4-21 that will hit the test track next week, from Tuesday 29th August, in Monza.
• The gap has allowed the team members that travel to the races and tests to take a short holiday before returning to the track action, including Kimi Raikkonen and Pedro de la Rosa, who spent time in Finland and Majorca respectively.
• The race marks the 200th Grand Prix for the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz partnership, which began in 1995. The team's successful Technology Partnership with ExxonMobil also reaches the 200 race milestone in Turkey. In this time Team McLaren Mercedes has secured two Drivers' World Championships, one Constructors' title and 44 race wins.
• The Turkish race is the only sail-away of the season. This allows the teams to use all the usual trackside facilities taken to races on mainland Europe. The Team McLaren Mercedes race transporters left the McLaren Technology Centre on Monday 14th August and drove to the North Eastern Italian port of Trieste, arriving on Wednesday 16th.
• The following day the transporters set sail across the Adriatic and Aegean seas before arriving in Istanbul on Sunday 20th August. The Team Communications Centre left Hungary on Monday 7th August and travelled directly to Trieste, before leaving for Istanbul on Wednesday 9th.
• Kimi Raikkonen: "Although it is great for the team to have the short break, I am looking forward to getting back to racing, particularly as we are in Turkey this time out. The Istanbul Speed Park is a terrific circuit, it is demanding on the cars, but great fun to drive, with lots of different types of corner, some straights and elevation changes. All the ups and downs of the track don't really affect the set up; they just make it more interesting to drive."
• "There are some chances to overtake, a couple of examples are into the first corner, which I found to my cost last year, and along the long stretch that takes you into the low speed turn 12. The corner that everyone was talking about after last year's race was the double apex left of 7/8. I think it was bumpier than we expected, and because it is such a long, fast corner if you don't get the line exactly right or lift or accelerate at the wrong moment you will get bounced off the circuit."
• "We exit the turn flat out at 310km/h, and it is vital to have been able to get to this speed as it takes you onto one of the short straights at the back of the track. I took the maiden pole and victory at the Istanbul Speed Park last year, and it would be fantastic to repeat it in 2006. The car again felt strong in Hungary and we had good pace, so we will all be pushing hard towards this."
• Pedro de la Rosa: "I cannot wait to race at the Istanbul Speed Park, it is a fantastic track, I had a lot of fun driving it in my role as Friday driver last year. It is however quite precise from a set-up perspective, although this year we of course have data about the track before we arrive. It was awesome to get the podium at the Hungaroring and my aim is now of course to get one step higher."
• "Along with Imola and Interlagos, the track runs anticlockwise and another key factor is the bumps. These have an influence on set-up, mostly for aero, and as a result we will run with less front wing than at tracks with a smoother characteristic such as Magny Cours."
• "However a compromise has to be found, because we also want a lot of front end for turn 8 in particular, as it is such a long corner onto a straight, and you need the speed, but if you have too much the car will pick up over the bumps and throw the back of the car out."
• Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes: "It was an excellent result for Pedro in Hungary at the last race. Both he and Kimi, with their respective strategies, were strong throughout the weekend and we hope that we can continue this pace into Turkey. This race also sees us reach a milestone in our relationships with Mercedes-Benz and ExxonMobil. In the 200 Grands Prix of our fruitful Partnerships to date, we have taken two Drivers' and one Constructors' title, securing 44 victories along the way."
• "We are all focused on adding to that total here in Istanbul, which would be a fitting way to celebrate this landmark. There has been a focused period of preparation for the race at our headquarters' and we travel to Turkey looking for a strong result at the Istanbul Speed Park where we ran well last year, taking the pole, victory and fastest lap.
• "Tyre degradation was medium at this track last year and we have selected, with Michelin, similar compounds to those used in Hungary and Hockenheim. These are above average in terms of hardness, but not as much as tracks such as Silverstone and Barcelona."
• Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "This is already the 200th Grand Prix together with our partner McLaren since 1995; a period which has truly passed at racing speed. An anniversary like this is also an occasion to look back, although in all sporting competitions, the present and the future are obviously more important than the past."
• "Since our first victory on 9 March 1997, the team has won 44 out of 166 Grands Prix; statistically one in every fourth race. But of course we had periods like last year when we won up to six consecutive Grands Prix; but on the other hand also had to cope with long periods without any victory."
• "Since 1998, we have won three World Championship titles and finished runner-up on eight occasions, four times each in the Constructors' and in the Drivers' Championships, like 2005 in both categories. That year ten victories out of our 18 race starts were ultimately not enough to win the Championships.
• "This year so far, we have not yet translated our chances of winning into victories, having just achieved second and third positions on the podium. Therefore, everybody in the team wants to improve further. There is no doubt that the trend of the last races is leading in the right direction and we want to continue this on the challenging circuit at Istanbul."
• "The track is demanding for chassis, tyres, engine and drivers, and the race is without doubt one of the toughest challenges of the year. Kimi won last year's debut race and we hope that this is a positive omen for him and Pedro for the second Turkish Grand Prix."

BMW PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• After a short, test-free breather, the BMW Sauber F1 Team will be lining up on 27th August for the 14th of 18 races in the FIA Formula One World Championship. The Turkish Grand Prix joined the Formula One calendar in 2005 and in the current season it marks the penultimate European venue in motor racing's top echelon series.
• The state-of-the-art rollercoaster track on the Asian side of the teeming metropolis of Istanbul not only throws up huge challenges for drivers and technology: this is a race that also makes critical demands on the logistical front. Getting there involves the longest distance the trucks and motorhomes ever have to cover. For the grands prix that are even further away from Central Europe, they stay at home, leaving the equipment to be flown out as air freight.
• Nick Heidfeld: "The Turkish Grand Prix brings to mind first and foremost the traffic chaos you have to battle your way through to get from the circuit into town and vice-versa. Last year I hired a mobile home to be able to sleep at the track, although the city of Istanbul is really beautiful and has a lot of attractions."
• "It is possible to overtake on the new track, which is positive. It has a really long straight and a very fast and difficult corner with several apexes. That's turn 8, which I'm really looking forward to. From slow to high-speed turns, Istanbul has everything. My third place in Hungary was a brilliant result for our young team. I hope we get some good results in Istanbul as well."
• Robert Kubica: "Of course I am very much looking forward to my second Formula One race. After the Hungarian Grand Prix I was not too happy about my driving because I made some mistakes. But on the other hand I saw under these conditions others made mistakes too, and I was also able to show some good driving. However, I learnt a lot in Hungary and this will help for the next grand prix."
• "I have never raced in Istanbul; actually, I have never been to Istanbul at all. I watched last year's race on TV and I appreciated the layout of the track that provides overtaking opportunities, which always make for good racing. I have the impression that in Turkey the interest in F1 is increasing, as is the case in Poland Things change as soon as people have a relation to the sport - either due to a grandor a driver."
• Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: "Nick's third place in Hungary has given us an enormous boost. We didn't have any podium places on the agenda until next year. But that result does nothing to alter our plan to systematically build up the team and continue development of the car. As part of that programme, we also want to make it into the top ten qualifying in the final third of the season and pick up points in the race."
• "The Turkish Grand Prix has earned its firm place in the Formula One calendar since its successful debut in 2005. The facilities and the track layout are excellent. Formula One has been welcomed as a positive impetus in this melting pot of cultures with its mixture of history and modernity."
• "Last year we went there expecting a hot race, and the challenges that brings for the team and the cars. But the temperatures turned out to be moderate. We'll have to wait and see whether thermal loads are a serious issue in 2006."
• Willy Rampf, Technical Director: "The Istanbul Park came in for a lot of praise from the drivers during last year's premiere. Essentially it offers everything that makes a good race track: at the start and towards the end of the lap it has slow sections that demand good traction, but then there's also the notorious turn 8, which consists of four segments and has to be taken at around 250 km/h, but where it's difficult to find the ideal line."
• "You need a great deal of downforce here as well as optimal stability. In Istanbul, as in Imola and Interlagos, the circuit runs anticlockwise, and turn 8 is also a left-hander, which makes it all physically very challenging for the drivers.
• "With its pronounced ups and downs, Istanbul Park is a little reminiscent of Spa- Francorchamps. The long straights and the uphill sections make high aerodynamic efficiency crucial. That aspect has become even more important since the switch to V8 engines. If you've got good top speeds, you can overtake here."
• "The choice of tyres will be a tricky matter. Because of the huge loads on turn 8, the tendency is to go for relatively hard compounds. Assessing outdoor temperatures isn't easy. A year ago we geared ourselves to an extremely hot race, but that didn't happen. That's the uncertainty we face again this time round."

SHELL PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

HONDA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Honda Racing F1 Team returns from the summer break this week looking forward to Round 14 of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Turkish Grand Prix held at the Istanbul Park Circuit on the Asian side of the Bosphorus River in Turkey.
• The team is still buoyed by its fantastic result at the Hungarian Grand Prix two weeks ago, which saw Jenson Button and the Honda Racing F1 Team together claim their first Formula One victory in a thrilling race. The Honda Racing F1 Team's RA106 race cars will carry a specially designed '72' logo this weekend to commemorate what was in fact Honda's 72nd Grand Prix victory, and its first as a works team since the 1967 Italian Grand Prix when John Surtees took the chequered flag in the RA300.
• The summer test break means that no testing has been possible since the last two back-to-back races and the team has taken this opportunity to both celebrate its victory and re-group for the remaining five races of the 2006 season.
• The Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park made its debut on the F1 calendar last year and received almost universal praise from teams, drivers and spectators alike in what was one of the most exciting and overtaking-packed races of recent years. The undulating anti-clockwise track presents a unique challenge to the drivers and has some real highlights including the high speed triple apex turn eight.
• Rubens Barrichello: "It was good to visit Turkey for the first time last year. The circuit is fantastic and I was really impressed by the facilities and the layout. The undulations of the track make it very exciting and challenging from a driver's viewpoint and there are some good overtaking opportunities."
• "It is also quite tough physically and we're expecting the race to be run in hot temperatures so it was important to keep training between the races, although the break has been good to recharge and get ready for this weekend. We showed a real improvement in Germany and Hungary so although we have done no testing prior to this race, we will be hoping to carry this performance forward to Turkey."
• Jenson Button: "It feels like it's been a complete whirlwind since our first win together two weeks ago but now that I've had the chance to celebrate properly and a week or so of rest and relaxation, I'm ready to get back in the car again and make the most of the remaining five races. There have been some very special moments over the past couple of weeks and I'll remember those for ever but it's time now to crack on with the Turkish Grand Prix and the rest of the season."
• "In Hungary, everything came together for us when it counted and it has given the whole team renewed motivation. We never doubted our potential but now we know we are winners. There are likely to be challenging times again over the coming races but our car is well-suited to the Istanbul Park Circuit and we are capable of a good result there. I really enjoyed the circuit last year and had a good race so I'm looking forward to the weekend."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "We return to Turkey recharged by our first win and our well-deserved summer break. Since Hungary, the team's focus has been firmly on the Turkish Grand Prix and the remaining races of the season. Last year, the Istanbul Park Circuit was the scene of one of our better races and this year, once again, we're hoping to be in the thick of the fight."
• "The circuit layout provides many challenges with a unique combination of a very high-speed turn, long straights and tight hairpins, not to mention the changes in elevation. All in all, this racing circuit is a 'classic'."

WILLIAMS PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Formula One's annual summer break ends this week as the teams head to Istanbul for the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday 28 August. Situated on the Asian side of the Bosphorous and 55 miles outside of the city, Turkey's Otodrom made its debut on the Formula One calendar last year with the Herman Tilke designed track leaving an indelible impression on the drivers, teams and fans alike. With just five races to go, the season is moving into its closing stages and the WilliamsF1 Team is keen to prove its capabilities and end the year on a positive note.
• Between the races
• Mark and Nico have been called to duty just once while taking advantage of the three week break. Mark made a trip to Iceland on behalf of the Baugur Group, parent company to Hamleys, where he visited a children's hospital before heading to one of the city's major shopping centres for a playstation and pit stop challenge. Nico made an appearance for Philips at a rain-soaked Rotterdam for the Bavarian City Racing event, which featured high speed demonstrations and a spot of doughnutting in front of a 250,000-strong crowd.
• Mark and Nico then enjoyed some time out to re-charge their batteries ahead of the final five races. Mark elected to remain at home in the UK to continue preparations for his Tasmania Challenge, he was also kept busy with the stag-do and wedding of his best friend, for whom he was best man. Nico, meanwhile, opted for a beach hideaway in Europe for a short break with friends combined with an intensive training programme.
• Making the car go faster
• Despite the August testing ban, the team has worked relentlessly at its Grove headquarters over the past three weeks in preparation for the remaining rounds of the Championship. Work undertaken in both of the team's wind tunnels has culminated in various upgrades for the FW28s in time for this weekend's event, specifically revised barge boards and engine covers. Component modifications will be minor for Turkey, as the team has elected to concentrate on improving reliability.
• Istanbul from a technical perspective
• The purpose-built Istanbul Speed Park is an entirely different technical proposition to the previous race held in Budapest. A modern circuit measuring just over 5.3kms per lap, the Otodrom is a challenging blend of long and short straights, interspersed with eight left- and six right-hand corners. Each turn places different demands on the car and the driver, no more so than turn 8 - the notorious triple apexer which is taken at speeds reaching 250km/h and which places between 4 and 4.5g of lateral loadings on the drivers 58 times during the course of the race.
• Turkey also features some interesting gradient changes which, while not upsetting the balance of the car, must be taken into consideration during set-up. Although last year's anticipated high temperatures never materialised, ambients are expected to reach the 40°C mark while track readings could climb to 55°C this weekend. As such, engines will require additional cooling capabilities and tyre selection will also be affected accordingly.
• Like San Marino and Brazil, Turkey runs in an anti-clockwise direction which creates additional pressures - notably for the tyres, and particularly for the right front, as well as for the drivers' neck muscles. Measuring 20m at its widest, and with extensive braking zones, the circuit also provides plenty of overtaking opportunities which should guarantee a compelling race on Sunday.
• Mark Webber: "I'm certainly looking forward to getting back in the car after the break and it's good to be resuming the season in Turkey as last year's inaugural Grand Prix was a great hit with fans and drivers alike. It's a track that provides a good challenge for the driver as it has a great mixture of straights, corners, crests and hills. Istanbul is also a fantastic city to spend a few days in prior to the race and hopefully I will be able to explore some more of the historic sites. Last year, we visited the World War I graves at Gallipoli, which was a very moving experience."
• "It's hard to predict how competitive we'll be next weekend but I hope we'll have an uneventful raceday so we can demonstrate our potential to run strongly towards the front. Obviously there hasn't been any testing during the break, but the boys at the factory have been working hard so we should be well prepared as we head into the final part of the season."
• Nico Rosberg: "I hope things will change for the team because luck just hasn't been on our side recently. Our car has definitely shown progress in recent races, particularly in Magny-Cours and at Hockenheim where we really made some good steps forward, so I hope this carries through. We haven't been able to test before Turkey but I know the guys in the factory have been working really hard. I've had a great break between the two races, catching up with friends and just relaxing."
• "As for Turkey, it's a great track. I did ok there last year in GP2, my car broke while I was in the lead in the first race but I then came from last through to 3rd despite the rain in the 2nd race. Overall, I just hope we have a good race this weekend because everyone deserves it."
• Sam Michael, Technical Director, WilliamsF1: "Istanbul is a medium downforce track where aerodynamic efficiency is important. The circuit combines a varied mix of long straights and sweeping turns, the most notable being Turn 8 where the driver will pull lateral acceleration for over eight seconds. Such sustained loadings are tough on the car and the tyres so Bridgestone are well prepared for that."
• "We expect it to be quite hot in Turkey at this time of the year and we'll probably see track temperatures around 50°C. In terms of aero upgrades, we have some new barge boards for the FW28s and we'll be reverting back to the engine cover used in Hockenheim for this race. Strategy will most likely be a two stop."
• Chris Jilbert, Principal Engineer, F1 Race Engineering, Cosworth: "Istanbul Park is challenging for the drivers and the intense heat means that cooling the engine can be difficult. Both Cosworth CA2006 engines carry over for this event and we will be working with WilliamsF1 to maximise the duty available following the premature conclusion to the Hungarian Grand Prix. Dusty track conditions will be a far cry from those seen in Hungary, but let's hope that the racing is as entertaining."

TOYOTA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Formula One race teams have enjoyed a brief summer break since the Hungarian Grand Prix at the start of August. But it's now time to get back to work as this weekend Turkey hosts the 14th round of the 2006 world championship.
• The purpose-built Istanbul Park is the most recent addition to the F1 calendar, returning fresh from its arrival on the scene last year. Many drivers were impressed with the track, which features many ups and downs due to its hilly location near the city of Istanbul.
• Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to Turkey looking to add to its improving performances of recent races as the team bids to make up ground in the constructors' championship.
• Ralf Schumacher: "The Istanbul Park is an exciting, challenging circuit and something completely different to what we have seen with many modern tracks. There is a good mix of corners and the hills are unusual on today's calendar. The track surface is very smooth, there are big run-off areas and the facilities are good too."
• "We should go to Turkey looking to come away with a good finish. We've continued to improve our performance as the season has gone on and apart from the problems we suffered in Hungary we have been fast at the last few races. We haven't brought home as many good results as we would have liked but the trend is clearly on its way up."
• "The team has turned our situation around and it's a very good job that they have done. Now we have to build on that and come away with more points over the last few races."
• Jarno Trulli: "Toyota has made big steps forward in recent races and Bridgestone have also done a good job with the tyres. We could have achieved more in terms of results so we need to keep pushing for reliability. But our pace has improved thanks to the hard work of our technical team so I'm confident that we do well in Turkey."
• "Lots of drivers were really impressed with the Istanbul Park circuit but it's not among my personal favourites. It is not the most difficult track we race on and it has only one really hard corner. That is a long left-hander which combines three corners together and is taken nearly flat in fourth or fifth gear. It is a quick and very challenging set of corners."
• "The rest of the lap is relatively simple - although it runs anti-clockwise so the pressures on the neck are the opposite from usual. With all the progress we have made and another step due for Turkey we should aim to bring home another strong result on Sunday."
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis: "Most of the people in Formula 1 were really impressed by how smoothly the organisation went for Turkey's first grand prix last year. We expected to have logistical challenges but the event was a positive surprise for most. The surrounding area is beautiful and now that we have seen the traffic we have made sure we will stay on the Asian side of the Bosphorus river this year!"
• "The track is an average downforce circuit featuring a good variety of corners but what makes it very special is the triple left-hander at turn 8. Most of the simulations done by the teams before last year's event underestimated how quick it would be. You can reach speeds of 250kmh and it is very tough both for the driver and the tyres."
• "The tyres have to be hard enough to cope with that corner but you still have to compromise for the generally low grip of the asphalt. Brand new tracks do evolve a lot so we will have to see how much the asphalt has changed since last year. Toyota heads to Turkey with an interesting aerodynamic development around the front wing so we will hope to benefit from that as we seek a strong result in the race."

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