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2006 FORMULA 1: SPANISH GP  

2006 RACE RESULT

• 1. FERNANDO ALONSO (SPA) RENAULT 62 LAPS
  2. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER (GER) FERRARI +18.5s
  3. GIANCARLO FISICHELLA (ITA) RENAULT +23.9s
  4. FELIPE MASSA (BRA) FERRARI
  5. KIMI RAIKKONEN (FIN) MCLAREN-MERCEDES
  6. JENSON BUTTON (UK) HONDA
  7. RUBENS BARRICHELLO (BRZ) HONDA + 1 LAP
  8. NICK HEIDFELD (GER) BMW SAUBER
  9. MARK WEBBER (AUS) WILLIAMS-COSWORTH
  10. JARNO TRULLI (ITA) TOYOTA
  11. NICO ROSBERG (GER) WILLIAMS-COSWORTH
  12. JACQUES VILLENEUVE (CAN) BMW SAUBER
  13. CHRISTIAN KLIEN (AUT) RED BULL-FERRARI
  14. DAVID COULTHARD (GBR) RED BULL-FERRARI
  15. VITANTONIO LIUZZI (ITA) TORO ROSSO-COSWORTH + 3 LAPS
  16. TIAGO MONTEIRO (POR) MIDLAND-TOYOTA
  17. TAKUMA SATO (JPN) SUPER AGURI-HONDA +4 LAPS
• RETIREMENT
  CHRISTIJAN ALBERS (NED) MIDLAND-TOYOTA 48 LAPS
  SCOTT SPEED USA TORO ROSSO-COSWORTH 47 LAPS
  RALF SCHUMACHER (GER) TOYOTA 31 LAPS
  JUAN MONTOYA (COL) MCLAREN-MERCEDES 17 LAPS
  FRANCK MONTAGNY (FRA) SUPER AGURI-HONDA 10 LAPS

RENAULT RACE REPORT

• The Renault F1 Team scored its second double podium finish of the 2006 season this afternoon, as Fernando Alonso won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position, while team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella finished third. The result marks Fernando's first ever win at his home Grand Prix, and delighted the 130,000 strong crowd that packed the Circuit de Catalunya this afternoon.
• The Spanish Grand Prix was always going to be a race about tyres. After proving their first lap performance in yesterday's qualifying session, the Michelin tyres in fact revealed their strongest suit to be consistency in race conditions, as Fernando Alonso made the most of the speed of the R26 to beat Ferrari on pure pace. Team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella struggled with inconsistent handling in the opening stint, and lost ground to his team-mate, but drove strongly after the stops to take the final podium position.
• The Renault F1 Team's total of 16 points from this race extends the Constructors' Championship lead over Ferrari to 19 points. Fernando Alonso now leads the Drivers' Championship by 15 points on a total of 54 from six races, while Giancarlo Fisichella took his score to 24 points, and is now just 3 points behind Kimi Raikkonen in third place. This victory also marked Renault's 100th Grand Prix victory with Elf, a series begun back in 1979 at the French Grand Prix.
• Fernando Alonso, Winner: "This has been a day of so many emotions for me, and I think I will remember every moment. The first highlight was my drive with the King around the circuit in a Renault Megane this morning, then the start, the first laps when I could see we had the pace, around the pit-stops with the crowd jumping in the stands when Michael came out behind me, the final laps with so much emotion in the car. And finally the in-lap, soaking up the amazing atmosphere made by these brilliant supporters, my people."
• "The R26 was perfect today -- we only made one small change for the balance, but I could push all the way through the race. I didn't get a good start and Fisico reacted better than me, but after that, everything was perfect. I expected Ferrari to be stronger in the race, but today, I think we got the maximum from the Renault-Michelin package. Thank you to everybody at the team, this is another dream come true.
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 3rd position: "We arrived in Spain looking to get on the podium and we did exactly that, even though Ferrari were strong this weekend. I got a fantastic start and things were close with Fernando into the first corner, but he had the advantage and I let him go. After that, the balance of the car was not perfect, and so even though I was pulling away from Michael in the stint, it was not enough to stay ahead at the stops."
• "We made some changes to give less oversteer and so when I came out behind him, I was pushing hard, and made a small mistake which put me in the gravel at Turn 3. But I didn't lose a position, and then just pushed hard to keep Massa behind in the second stops. We had a good pace in that stint, and I kept third quite easily, then looked after everything to the finish. This was a good race for me, and a strong way to bounce back from the last races. I am very optimistic for Monaco, one of my favourite circuits."
• Flavio Briatore, Managing Director: "Renault scored an incredible team result this afternoon. Fernando and Giancarlo were perfect, we made the right choices with the strategy and beat Ferrari fair and square. Apart from Renault and Ferrari, the other teams just didn't seem to have the pace to stay with us today. This is a fantastic day for all of Renault, to win in Spain with Fernando, and to have both our drivers on the podium: it is a real team win. We must thank Michelin as well."
• "I had been a bit pessimistic coming here, but this race showed they are pushing hard to win the championship, which is what we need through the summer. Congratulations to Elf also on their hundredth victory with Renault. We know there are many more still to come.
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "To be perfectly honest, I was not too optimistic about our chances before this afternoon's race, as Ferrari had looked extremely competitive on their long runs in practice. This afternoon's double podium was all about the pace of our car and drivers, not strategy."
• "Fernando drove faultlessly today. We knew the Michelin tyres had strong first lap performance, but we had only had one new set left to use with Fernando, and therefore the victory would be dictated by the consistency of the tyres. They held up fantastically, and allowed us to beat Ferrari on outright speed."
• "Giancarlo also put in an excellent performance, and backed up Fernando perfectly during the race. He was driving on the limit throughout and apart from one excursion after his first pit-stop, he was faultless. This result is a great credit to our drivers, and to the whole team both here at the track, and back at Enstone and Viry."

FERRARI RACE REPORT

• Jean Todt: "We were expecting a very close race and that's what we got, although obviously we were hoping it would work out in our favour. Nevertheless, this weekend confirmed we are competitive, even if today, we have to admit our closest rivals were stronger. We had opted for a strategy that meant carrying a bit more fuel at the start than those ahead of us on the grid, but it did not work out for us."
• "All the same, Michael and Felipe picked up thirteen points which are very valuable and consolidate our positions in both championships. Now we have to put a great deal of effort, along with our technical partners, first and foremost Bridgestone, to be even more competitive in the next few races."
• Michael Schumacher: "The race result was decided in the first stint, as Fernando was able to pull out quite a gap, because I simply did not have the pace to stay with him. I was not held up by Giancarlo. After the lap times we had done earlier in the weekend, this was surprising, but we have seen before that in Barcelona, very small things can change your performance quite quickly."
• "It seems that today, this had a negative effect on us and a positive one on Renault. Eight points is still good and I could say that while I was disappointed to have only won two points last Sunday, here I can be happy to have only lost two. There is still a long way to go and we will keep on fighting to try and win."
• Felipe Massa: "The car worked well and our pace was what we expected, but today, our rivals were simply a bit quicker than us! I had some traffic in a few crucial phases of the race and that's one of the reasons I could not close on Giancarlo to try and get past him in the run of pit stops. Overall, we have picked up some important points for the championship."
• Ross Brawn: "The car and the Bridgestone tyres performed well, but we need to find a bit more performance. There were moments when we got very close to our rivals, but I think Fernando had a slight edge today. In the first part of the race, when Giancarlo was ahead of our cars we knew we would be unable to stay in touch with Fernando and so we waited for the pit stop to try and get past Giancarlo, which Michael managed to do. However, in the next stint, we realised we were not quick enough to aim for victory. Now we have to work on improving the package for the forthcoming races."

HONDA RACE REPORT

• The Honda Racing F1 Team secured a two car points finish in today's Spanish Grand Prix after Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello finished the race in 6th and 7th positions.
• After making up a place off the grid, Jenson posed a strong challenge to Raikkonen, edging closer and closer through the 66-lap race. Rubens lost a place off the start and unfortunately lost time in the first and final stints of the race.
• The team's combined result today sees them take another step closer to McLaren in the Constructors standings but the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks time is the main focus now and the team will be testing a number of new ideas in Vallelunga next week in preparation.
• Jenson Button: 6th "The car worked well and it was pretty much a faultless race, although I was behind Rubens in the first stint and Raikkonen was able to pull away. As soon as I had clear air the car worked very well and the balance was good - probably the best it has been since Malaysia."
• "I was quite happy, reeling in Raikkonen every lap by a tenth or two tenths but it would have been a closer fight had I not been hampered by problems that stemmed from yesterday's qualifying. I'm looking forward to Monaco and testing at Vallelunga next week in preparation for that race."
• Rubens Barrichello: 7th "It was a tough race but two cars in the points is not a bad result considering the strength of the competition. I lost a place off the start and then lost a bit of time because of some fuel pressure problems on my in-lap."
• "After that, things ran pretty much according to plan, apart from a vibration in the last stint which again lost me some time. Now we have to focus on improving for Monaco because it's a track where we can be strong."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "We scored some more points, this time with both cars, which is very positive. While we are not as fast as we would like to be, we had a good battle with Raikkonen right through to the end and made the most of what we had."
• "The day went relatively smoothly without any major dramas and both drivers pushed extremely hard. As well as the next race in Monaco potentially suiting our cars better, we go to Vallelunga next week to evaluate some improvements. Our focus is on closing the gap."
• Shuhei Nakamoto: Management Board Member - Honda Racing F1 Team, Engineering Director - Honda Racing Development: "Both drivers gave it everything they had today and the result is an accurate reflection of our level at the moment. Every member of the team knows we need to keep pushing hard to close the gap to the front runners."

2006 QUALIFYING

• POLE, ALONSO: "after the Renaults it is clear that Ferrari and especially Michael are very strong. So far, my worst result in five races has been second position, and if we can keep this consistency then it will be good for the championship. But we will go into the race thinking the victory is possible."
• 1. FERNANDO ALONSO (ESP) RENAULT 1m 14.648
  2. GIANCARLO FISICHELLA (ITA) RENAULT 1m 14.709
  3. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER (GER) FERRARI 1m 14.970
  4. FELIPE MASSA (BRA) FERRARI 1m 15.442
  5. RUBENS BARRICHELLO (BRA) HONDA 1m 15.885
  6. RALF SCHUMACHER (GER) TOYOTA 1m 15.885
  7. JARNO TRULLI (ITA) TOYOTA 1m 15.976
  8. JENSON BUTTON (UK) HONDA 1m 16.008
  9. KIMI RAIKKONEN (FIN) MCLAREN 1m 16.015
  10. NICK HEIDFELD (GER) BMW SAUBER 1m 17.144
  11. MARK WEBBER (AUS) WILLIAMS - COSWORTH 1m 15.502
  12. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (COL) MCLAREN 1m 15.801
  13. NICO ROSBERG (GER) WILLIAMS-COSWORTH 1m 15.804
  14. JACQUES VILLENEUVE (CAN) BMW SAUBER 1m 15.847
  15. CHRISTIAN KLIEN (AUT) REDBULL - FERRARI 1m 15.928
  16. VITANTONIO LIUZZI (ITA) TORO ROSSO - COSWORTH 1m 16.661
  17. SCOTT SPEED (US) TORO ROSSO - COSWORTH 1m 17.361
  18. TIAGO MONTEIRO (POR) MIDLAND-TOYOTA 1m 17.702
  19. CHRISTIJAN ALBERS (NED) MIDLAND-TOYOTA 1m 18.024
  20. TAKUMA SATO (JPN) SUPER AGURI-HONDA 1m 18.920
  21. FRANCK MONTAGNY (FRA) SUPER AGURI-HONDA 1m 20.763
  22. DAVID COULTHARD (UK) RED BULL-FERRARI

RENAULT QUALIFYING REPORT    (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Renault F1 Team took first and second positions on the grid for the Spanish Grand Prix this afternoon, with World Champion Fernando Alonso taking pole position at his home race for the first time, ahead of team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella.
• This is the first all-Renault front row since the 2005 Chinese Grand Prix, the team's third pole position of the season in six races, and Fernando Alonso's second consecutive pole.
• Both drivers have enjoyed a trouble-free weekend so far, and the R26 is handling well on the long high-speed corners of the Circuit de Catalunya. Tomorrow, tyre performance is expected to be a determining factor, as the circuit is notoriously demanding for tyres.
• So far, both Renault drivers have demonstrated the excellent single-lap performance of the Michelin products, and are confident in their consistency over a race distance.
• Fernando Alonso, Pole position: "I don't think even 66 laps tomorrow will be enough for me to enjoy this race, because it is pure pleasure to be driving here in Barcelona this weekend in front of my people. It is fantastic to be on pole because the times have been very close all the way through practice, probably because we test a lot at this circuit, and we expected the qualifying session to be tough."
• "In fact, we were more nervous about Q2 than Q3 before the session started. But like in the Nurburgring, we were not so strong in the second part, and then found something extra in the third session, so I am really happy to take my second consecutive pole."
• "Looking ahead for tomorrow, after the Renaults it is clear that Ferrari and especially Michael are very strong. So far, my worst result in five races has been second position, and if we can keep this consistency then it will be good for the championship. But we will go into the race thinking the victory is possible.
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 2nd position: "It is nice to be P2 after a couple of difficult qualifying sessions for me at the last races. The Renault performance has been very good here all winter in testing, and we expected to be competitive at this circuit. To take the front row is a great result, and we are optimistic that we have a good package not just in qualifying, but for the race."
• "I said at the last races that I could have fought for the podium if my qualifying position had been stronger, and I think I proved that today. There will be a tough battle for us with Ferrari tomorrow afternoon, and between the tyre manufacturers as well. I am looking forward to a great race."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "This was a very exciting qualifying session, and we were delighted to see both of our drivers put in perfect laps today. We have been pleased with the long-run performance of the Michelin tyres so far this weekend, and this afternoon's result shows they are working well on the first lap too. It has all the makings of a very exciting race tomorrow.
• Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations: "It is extremely satisfying to see both cars on the front row this afternoon, and to see Fernando take pole in front of his home fans -- the second in a row for him, and the RS26B engine. We have had a very smooth weekend so far, and went into qualifying with the intention of putting ourselves in the optimum position for the race."
• "Taking the front row is the perfect way to do that, and puts us in the right place to make the most of our pace in race conditions. After two difficult qualifying sessions, we were all pleased to see Giancarlo put in a faultless performance, and qualify strongly at the front of the field. We are now looking forward to a strong team performance in tomorrow afternoon's Grand Prix."

FERRARI QUALIFYING REPORT    (TOP OF PAGE)

• Jean Todt: "Once again, we witnessed a very close qualifying session today. Tomorrow, we will have an all-red second row, with the two cars of our main rival ahead of us. Both our drivers did well. Tomorrow, reliability and tyre performance and Bridgestone has made a great job of that for this race. Given that overtaking is very difficult, it's clear that strategy will play a key role in deciding the outcome and tomorrow we will find out who got it right."
• Michael Schumacher: "I am quite happy with third place on the grid, as we knew we might have to lose a bit in qualifying, because we based our decision about tyres more on how they would perform in the race. So, the second row is not a big problem as we know we can expect a strong race pace. Unlike at the Nurburgring, this time, I start from the clean side of the grid. As for race strategy, there are two possibilities and now we will have to make sure we pick the best one."
• Felipe Massa: "It was a good qualifying. A start from the front two rows is vital and we managed to reach this target. On my final run in Q3, I came up against a bit of traffic in the final sector, but I'm happy with the way things went. I am very confident about the race in that we know we can count on getting very consistent performance from the Bridgestone tyres."
• Ross Brawn: "It was a very exciting session which kept our drivers and engineers busy right to the end. I think both Michael and Felipe did an excellent job. Obviously, you always hope to be as far forward as possible on the grid, but the cars are very good and it looks as though the Bridgestone tyres should give a strong performance over a long distance. There is good reason to be optimistic about tomorrow's race."

HONDA FRIDAY REPORT (TOP OF PAGE)

• Honda Racing F1 Team third driver Anthony Davidson returned to his more familiar position at the top of the free practice timesheets today as he helped the team to prepare for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. Preserving most of their running for this afternoon's session, race drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello ended the day 8th and 9th.
• Despite the fact that the team tests regularly at the Circuit de Catalunya, no two days are the same in terms of track conditions so it was business as usual with a full programme of tyre selection and set- up work. At what is a home from home for all of the drivers, today's top 11 were separated by just a second, which provides a strong indication that tomorrow's qualifying and Sunday's race will provide a closely- fought battle.
• Anthony Davidson: "It feels really good to be back at the top of the timesheets. The car feels a lot better than it did in the first session but we still have a lot of work to do to get the best out of it for the race. For me, tyre evaluation was the name of the game. Our work today has paid off and we have some interesting results to look through tonight. A good start to the weekend I'd say."
• Jenson Button: "It was very windy out there today and it's difficult to get a good balance in those conditions. There was also a lot of traffic which affected pretty much every lap. It's always very different to the test because the conditions change from day to day but the basic car balance is okay. There are a few things we need to work on tonight but generally I'm pleased with the start we've made to the weekend."
• Rubens Barrichello: "We've had a pretty straightforward day today. We are still looking for our real race pace and that's what I focused on today because we know the car is quick in qualifying. It's looking good so far but we still have a lot of work to do to prepare for tomorrow and Sunday."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "It has been a pretty normal day for us with no major dramas. The track conditions this morning curtailed some of Anthony's running nevertheless we collected plenty of data from him. For the same reason we elected not to run this morning with the race drivers. Overall there are still some improvements we can make to the balance of the cars but a good start."
• Shuhei Nakamoto, Management Board Member - Honda Racing F1 Team, Engineering Director - Honda Racing Development: "The engines ran without a problem and it was a solid start to the weekend. We have more work to do on set-up for both race drivers, but it is encouraging to see Anthony back in P1."

RENAULT FRIDAY REPORT (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Renault F1 Team today completed a trouble-free opening day of practice at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, ahead of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
• Already in 2006, the trend has been for each team's race drivers to run relatively little on Friday in order to economise engine mileage. At a circuit such as Barcelona, where every team completes thousands of kilometres of testing mileage during the winter, this was even more the case.
• At Renault, the objective was to evaluate the two types of Michelin tyre available this weekend, as Barcelona is a particularly hard circuit for the tyres owing to the numerous high-speed corners in its layout. This was completed without any particular problems, and the team will now set to work analysing the results of the tests in order to make the best choice for tomorrow's qualifying session but, most importantly, Sunday's race.
• Fernando Alonso: "It was fantastic to start running today in Barcelona. After months of testing here with empty grandstands, I think all the drivers will have enjoyed driving in front of some spectators, not just me! But I don't think that the Friday at any other circuit has the same level of emotion as we saw from the fans today, it was wonderful to see them all around the circuit."
• "In terms of our programme, it was all OK. We checked the tyres and didn't have any big problems, because the results were quite similar to the test. I am looking forward to qualifying and the race, and I hope I can give the fans something to enjoy!
• Giancarlo Fisichella: "Today wasn't perfect for us and I think we still have quite a lot of room for improvement. At the moment, the car does not feel fantastic. Compared to the test, the track is very slippery and the grip is quite low. The balance of the car was pretty good, but we need to improve the grip level of the car for tomorrow."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "We took a slightly different approach to our programme today. Barcelona may be a circuit at which we conduct a significant proportion of our testing programme, but it is also a track at which tyre choice is critical."
• "This is because of the circuit's severity on the tyres, as there are many long, high-speed corners. We therefore completed some longer runs this afternoon to assess the tyre performance, and we are very pleased with the results."
• Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations: "This is a circuit which changes a lot during the day, and this morning's rain shower added a further unknown factor to the mix before we began running. Indeed, this was primarily a day for assessing and fine- tuning chassis performance."
• "From an engine point of view, Barcelona is a circuit we know very well, and at which we have already tested with the B-specification engine. As such, we ran through our normal checks on Fernando's race-old engine, and Giancarlo's new one. Everything ran smoothly and we collected plenty of useful data."

2006 RACE PREVIEW (RENAULT  McLAREN  HONDA  WILLIAMS  SHELL  TOYOTA )

RENAULT PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Fernando Alonso
• Q: Fernando, what's your verdict on the race in the Nurburgring?
• Fernando Alonso: I am very happy. You know, when you are fighting for the victory and get pole position, then of course you want to win as well. But we did a good job. Our performance was not as strong as we hoped, and even with that, we got eight points. So for sure, when everything is OK during the race weekend, then we can win more races.
• Q: Barcelona will have a record, sell-out crowd of 130,000 people on Sunday. You must be looking forward to it?
• FA: Of course, yes. It is a very special feeling for me to be at my home Grand Prix, it is something unique in the whole championship. It can be a bit stressful too, but the main emotion for me is that I really enjoy the whole weekend, seeing the fans from Wednesday and Thursday onwards. There are so many of them, it is a shame we only have one race in Spain!
• Q: Inevitably, for a home race, people will wonder if it brings more pressure. Does it?
• FA: I think that pressure comes when you don't do your maximum, then you have pressure in your head. In my case though, I always do the maximum, in a test or a race, at Barcelona or any other track. If I am doing the maximum, then I don't have pressure. As soon as the visor goes down and the race starts, it really doesn't matter at all.
• Q: Will the Renault be strong at the Circuit de Catalunya?
• FA: I think we are always good there. It is an aero circuit, which is good for Renault, and the team was on the podium every time in the last three years. We saw in Germany that the car is competitive, but Ferrari were a little bit stronger. The next races in Barcelona and Monaco will be dominated by tyres I think and in the past years they were both Michelin circuits. I think there are some good opportunities coming up for us.
• Q: Finally, we don't want to tempt fate, but what would a victory mean to you at your home race?
• FA: Well, last year I think it was not quite so important for me, because I was so focused on the championship and just wanted to win races, it didn't matter which ones. This season it is a bit different. Of course, I am fighting really hard for the title. But now, it is true that if I have to pick two or three races in the year I want to win, then Barcelona is definitely one of them!
• Giancarlo Fisichella
• Q: What were your thoughts after the race?
• Giancarlo Fisichella: It was a difficult race, but we had a good strategy, the team did a fantastic job during the pit-stops and I was very aggressive -- which got me up to sixth position. It is still a frustrating result, but I have still scored important points for the championship, for myself and the team.
• Q: In just five days' time you will be in Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix. What are you expecting?
• GF: Barcelona is a circuit we all know very well because we do so much testing there, especially in the winter. I enjoy the circuit a lot and I know the Renault will be quick there. I am very optimistic for the race weekend, and I hope it will be a bit easier than the last one!
• Q: How do you expect the Michelin tyres to perform?
• GF: Barcelona is a very tough circuit for the tyres, as we all know. The asphalt is quite abrasive and there are some high speed corners that are hard for the tyres, like the last two corners. But I know Michelin will bring good tyres for this race. They know the circuit well and they are working very hard. I am feeling very confident for Spain, we know the Michelins will be quick!
• Q: The race sees massive support for your team-mate. Does that have any downsides for you?
• GF: No, the opposite in fact! The Spanish fans are always really good with me, and give me a lot of support. Italy and Spain have similar cultures, the people there are like brothers for us I think! And it is always a big boost to see their fantastic support for the whole Renault team!
• Spanish GP Tech File: Barcelona is a circuit that every F1 team knows well as they complete thousands of miles there in testing throughout the season. The mix high-speed corners, a very long straight and an abrasive track surface, makes the Circuit de Catalunya a uniquely complete circuit. Finding the right set-up compromise is always a tricky business at the Spanish Grand Prix.
• Chassis
• Aerodynamics: Aerodynamic efficiency is always a key factor at this circuit. Barcelona offers every type of corner in its layout, and the straights are invariably preceded by quick corners. This means the team actually runs quite high downforce levels, in spite of the long main straight, as it is important to get good exit speed from these corners. That, ultimately, is what conditions the car's speed on the main straight. That means this a race where we use a high downforce set- up.
• Suspension: When we look at suspension settings, we have to find the best compromise to give the drivers a well-balanced, responsive car. This means we will use relative stiff settings at the front of the car to get a good change of direction, while the rear will be slightly softer in order to get the best possible traction out of the slow corners. Ride height is also an important parameter to consider -- generally we can run the car quite low, which allows optimum aerodynamic performance.
• Tyres: The Circuit de Catalunya is well known for being a particularly tough circuit, particularly because it includes so many long, high-speed corners. These put the tyres under high loadings, and particularly the front left tyre which has to work very hard in all the quick corners. We will therefore pay particular attention to tyre degradation when making our choice, and we may alter settings such as camber angles to limit tyre wear if necessary.
• Engine
• Performance: Barcelona is not generally thought of as an engine circuit as the engine is not under particular stress at any point. There are relatively few hard accelerations from low revs, and the main priority is for the power delivery to be progressive and driveable in order to maintain the best handling balance, and limit tyre wear. 69% of the lap is spent at full throttle.
• Gearbox: Given the length of the main straight at this circuit, the choice of gear ratios is quite tricky. In fact, for top gear we have to contend with possible over-revving if the wind blows down the main straight, or if the driver is in a competitor's slipstream. Similarly, a headwind can cost performance. Choosing the final drive is an important part of the work during the practice sessions.

McLAREN PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes travels to Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya this week for the sixth race of the 2006 Formula One World Championship, the Spanish Grand Prix.
• The race is the second of the five sets of back to back events this season, coming just seven days after the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Team McLaren Mercedes has tested at the Circuit de Catalunya a total of 20 days of car running time since the start of the year, covering 6,510km of the Spanish track.
• The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix took place at the Pedrables track in 1951. Since then the event has been a sporadic fixture on the calendar, held at a number of locations including Jarama and Montjuich Park, until 1986 when it returned on a permanent basis. The purpose built Circuit de Catalunya, which is approximately a 30 minutes drive from the centre of Barcelona, has hosted the race since 1991.
• Team McLaren Mercedes has won four times in the past eight years. Most recently Kimi Raikkonen took victory at the Circuit de Catalunya having led the race from pole position. From 1998-2000, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard took three one-two victories for the team.
• Kimi Raikkonen: "Over the weekend at the Nürburgring the car was definitely improving, and I am looking forward to getting straight back on track in Spain, to try and continue to find more pace. The Circuit de Catalunya is a very quick track, not in the same way as say Monza that is all about power, it is because there are a lot of fast corners that keep you flowing the whole way round."
• "This does mean though that you can lose a bit of downforce when you are close behind another car through the quick corners and this can make it quite difficult to pass. The aerodynamics of cars are tested the most here, so set-up is crucial. This can be quite tricky as it can be quite windy on track and something that worked really well in the morning doesn't always work as well in the afternoon."
• Juan Pablo Montoya: "It wasn't the best race for me in Europe, but that is racing and you have to move on. There has traditionally been quite high levels of tyre degradation at the Circuit de Catalunya, this was less last year with the resurfacing, but over the course of the past twelve months it has returned to being fairly abrasive. With all the super fast corners there are big loadings on the tyres, so tyre wear is still a consideration, particularly the front left."
• "We have worked hard with Michelin in preparation for the race, and final selection between the prime and option will be our main focus in the early part of the weekend. I have tested at the Circuit de Catalunya for seven days since the start of the year, providing useful data."
• "The Michelin tyre selection process for the race started in early April when we were testing at the track and we completed it at Silverstone a couple of weeks ago. Overtaking here is not easy and to do it having good traction out of the corners is a must, there is one chance, as you can slipstream along the main straight and then try to overtake at the first corner."
• Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes: "The European Grand Prix demonstrated that we are in a ferociously competitive Championship, and Team McLaren Mercedes has to push forward to find the extra pace we need to challenge for victories. The Spanish Grand Prix sees us race at a demanding circuit that necessitates optimum performance form the entire MP4-21. The Circuit de Catalunya is a very changeable track to run on, whether it is the wind affecting the aero efficiency or the temperature changing having a significant impact on grip levels."
• Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "Barcelona is the circuit which all teams know best, because it's the test track they use the most. Since the beginning of this year all teams together completed about 54000 kilometres in total here and with more than 6500 kilometres we are by far not the team which tested the most."
• "The circuit is characterised by sweeping and mainly fast corners and a long front straight. About 62 percent of a lap will be run under full throttle. This track is the most demanding of all circuits in terms of a car's aerodynamic efficiency and is considered the yardstick for the competitiveness of a technical package for the entire season."

SHELL PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

HONDA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Last weekend's European Grand Prix was a race of mixed fortunes for the Honda Racing F1 Team. Whilst Rubens Barrichello finished in the points for a second successive weekend, Jenson Button's retirement due to engine failure, whilst also in a good points scoring position, was obviously a disappointment.
• With only a week before Round 6 of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Honda Racing F1 Team's focus now switches to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. The Circuit de Catalunya is something of a home from home for all of the teams since it is one of F1's primary testing circuits.
• The Honda team has already conducted eight days and over 7600kms of testing there with the RA106 this year, and hopes that this will be one of the factors which helps the team to a successful weekend.
• Rubens Barrichello: "The Spanish Grand Prix is slightly unusual because we use the circuit so often for testing, so I think we will see that reflected in the performance of all the teams. It's a track I enjoy - although I do get to see rather a lot of it! - and I think we should do well there. It was good to get some more points at the Nürburgring, although we lacked a little bit of pace. We have to work to improve on this for the weekend."
• Jenson Button: "It was a tough weekend at the Nürburgring so I'm looking ahead and focusing on Spain now. It's a circuit where you need to be strong aerodynamically and I think our car is good in that respect. It's quite a demanding track for the drivers and the fast corners put a lot of strain on the neck. However we do get a lot of practice at Barcelona as we test there so often, so we know the track inside out."
• "The weather is likely to be nice and hot which always suits us better and if we can resolve the engine problem from last weekend, I think we should be able to get a good result. I'm looking forward to the weekend."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "A home from home is the perfect description of the Spanish Grand Prix. Like many other teams, we use the track extensively for testing throughout the year. The RA106 has been competitive in the various tests there since it was launched back in January, In addition, we have the latest specification engine for both drivers."
• "All of which makes us positive going into this weekend, despite our relative lack of pace in the last race. Barcelona itself is one of the favourite venues on the F1 calendar amongst many of our team members."
• Shuhei Nakamoto, Management Board Member - Honda Racing F1 Team, Engineering Director - Honda Racing Development: "Both drivers have a fresh engine this week, with the newest, more powerful specification. We will have a countermeasure in place for the problem on Jenson's engine at the Nürburgring, and will be aiming to get closer to the front-runners."

WILLIAMS PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Circuit de Catalunya plays host to the sixth round of the Formula One season this weekend, the Spanish Grand Prix. Falling just one week after the European race at the Nürburgring, the team will travel directly to Barcelona, a circuit at which WilliamsF1 has taken five victories since its debut on the Formula One calendar in 1991.
• Located just outside of the city, Montmeló is also a favoured test facility and is therefore one of the most familiar circuits for all the teams. The FW28 has covered over 6,000 testing kilometres at the Spanish track this year and it is this experience that the team is looking to draw upon this weekend to improve upon its current position in the championship.
• Between the races: With such a short break between Germany and Spain, none of the drivers were on call for testing or marketing activities leaving Mark, Nico and Alex to all head home for some brief respite before heading to Barcelona on Thursday this week.
• Making the car go fast: The FW28s will feature several updated mechanical components in Spain which are expected to improve the team's pace in qualifying. Both cars will also run with new hydraulic parts to ensure that the fault experienced on Mark's car at the Nürburgring does not re-occur.
• Barcelona from a technical perspective
• The Circuit de Catalunya is regarded as one of the most technically challenging tracks visited during the Formula One season. The direction of car set-up is dominated by the sweeping, high speed corners, for which the drivers and their engineers prioritise a high downforce set-up with good grip levels for optimum car stability. Aerodynamic efficiency is also crucial, although can be compromised by the unpredictable winds.
• In fact, the region's erratic weather conditions pose one of the greatest challenges over the weekend and force a continual evolution of car set-up to cope with the changeable conditions. Tyre selection must take into consideration the track's abrasive nature as well as the considerable loadings and energy events which occur over a lap. With only 61% of the lap raced at full throttle, engines experience a relatively relaxed race in Barcelona.
• Mark Webber: "Barcelona is obviously a venue all the teams know exceptionally well because we have all done thousands and thousands of testing kilometres there. It has been a bit of a tricky circuit for us in recent years, but I feel we have made some progress in recent tests and I also think Bridgestone is putting some pressure on Michelin, which is good, so I hope we can take some of this progress to the Grand Prix."
• "The atmosphere in Spain will be incredible because of Fernando, but it is good for the rest of us to compete when the event is buzzing. I'm looking forward to it."
• Nico Rosberg: "Even though I have raced in Barcelona only once before in GP2, I know the track very well because we have done a lot of testing there, like most of the F1 teams. Since Imola, we have improved our performance and we were quite competitive at the Nürburgring, so I believe we can collect some points at Montmeló."
• "It's an interesting and a quick track, and I like it. I scored some points there in GP2 and also set the fastest lap, but the best memory I have of Barcelona is my first test in an F1 car - a Williams, of course, back in 2002."
• Sam Michael, Technical Director, WilliamsF1:
• "Barcelona is a unique circuit, but it is also challenging to find a well balanced set-up there. We spend some time testing at Barcelona during the winter but the weather conditions are usually so different that the teams are still tuning the set-up during the race weekend. The reduced engine power compared to last year means that two of the four high speed (250kph+) corners are now full throttle, although they still put a large loading on the car."
• "We will have some mechanical items to further improve the FW28 as we go into the second race on the Cosworth engines, while we will also have two new tyres from Bridgestone that we have tested extensively at Barcelona and at Silverstone a few weeks ago. Strategy has traditionally been a two or three stopper, but the revised qualifying format may affect that, but that will become evident after the practice sessions."
• Simon Corbyn, Head of F1 Race Engineering, Cosworth: "Both Cosworth CA2006 Series 4 engines will continue for their second events at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. We identified no problems with either engine during the post race checks at the Nürburgring. Cosworth will now work with WilliamsF1 to optimise the remaining engine duty cycle for both Mark and Nico in Barcelona."

TOYOTA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Spanish Grand Prix - Preview, Tuesday 9 May 2006
• Panasonic Toyota Racing will make its next stop at the Spanish Grand Prix, which is being held at the Circuit de Catalunya for the 16th time. The team will work hard towards repeating last year's race results, where Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher took 3rd and 4th place respectively. The circuit has built additional grandstands this year, and this is likely to attract record crowds. The Spanish Grand Prix is always known to be an exciting race, as the Circuit de Catalunya is a favoured testing venue. Because all teams and drivers know the track very well, it is likely to be a tight race. Panasonic Toyota Racing will also profit from its past experience with the track having already made three stops for testing this year and putting in little over 6,000 cumulated kilometres.
• CHANGE IS IN THE WIND
  After having to retire just before end of the race at the Nürburgring, Ralf Schumacher is motivated to get back into action in Barcelona.
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 7): "We have been doing quite well during testing in Barcelona. We are in the upper middle field, better in the race than in qualifying - at least in my case - and so I'm quite happy about that. We showed that we could have a strong race performance at the Nürburgring, it was just unfortunate for the whole team that we had an engine failure. I am confident however that after analyzing the data we will find the right solution for the coming races. Although I have tested there many times, the Circuit de Catalunya is always a bit tricky due to the wind, which makes it hard to find the right aerodynamic set-up. Tyre choice is also another difficult matter, but I am sure we will be able to fall back on our testing data here from the last tests. Overall, we are certainly on the right track, a little patience is needed but when the time comes, we will pick up some points and defend our last year's championship position."
• THREE TIMES A WINNER
  Jarno Trulli has achieved two podiums in his career to date at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2004 (3rd place) and 2005 (3rd place). This year he will be looking to turn this into a hat trick by achieving another podium position.
• Jarno Trulli (Car 8): "The Circuit de Catalunya is a track I know very well, just like most of the other drivers in the field. Because the track is quite demanding with four high-speed corners and few chances for overtaking, we will have to concentrate on having good aerodynamic performance. There is a long main straight but it is a fast corner coming onto it and it is quite difficult to stay close to the car in front. The overtaking situation is a little bit better since they have changed the layout of Turn 10. It all means that a lot of the lap is spent in corners and so the car's balance has to be absolutely right. Reliability and tyre wear are also two factors that are always important, especially because all the teams that go there know their set-ups already. I have had some good races here including the two podiums I have achieved the last two years and I am definitely looking to repeat this again this year."
• IT'S ALL IN THE MIX
  Familiarity of the track can be an advantage for the Panasonic Toyota Racing team; however it will still be challenging to find the right set-up and strategy.
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis: "The right use of previous test data is always a key and critical item within Barcelona preparation. There is usually a large change of track conditions between the last test and race event, when temperatures start to heat up. We have especially learned from the past how to handle the tyre choice and take into account the expected track evolution. It leads to two tyre specifications which are more similar than on other tracks where no test data are available. Otherwise, brakes play little role in Barcelona, which is mainly about aerodynamic efficiency of the package and we will be looking to have the best package taking all elements into consideration."

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