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2006 FORMULA 1: BRITISH GP  

2006 RACE RESULT

• 1. FERNANDO ALONSO (SPA) RENAULT
  2. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER (GER) FERRARI +13.951s
  3. KIMI RAIKKONEN (FIN) MCLAREN +18.67
  4. GIANCARLO FISICHELLA (ITA) RENAULT
  5. FELIPE MASSA (BRA) FERRARI
  6. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (COL) MCLAREN
  7. NICK HEIDFELD (GER) BMW SAUBER
  8. JACQUES VILLENEUVE (CANADA) BMW SAUBER
  9. NICO ROSBERG (GER) WILLIAMS
  10. RUBENS BARRICHELLO (BRA) HONDA 1 LAP
  11. JARNO TRULLI (ITA) TOYOTA 1 LAP
  12. DAVID COULTHARD (UK) REDBULL 1 LAP
  13. VITANTONIO LIUZZI (ITA) TORO ROSSO 1 LAP
  14. CHRISTIAN KLIEN (AUT) REDBULL 1 LAP
  15. CHRISTIJAN ALBERS (NED) TOYOTA 1 LAP
  16. TIAGO MONTEIRO (POR) TOYOTA 2 LAPS
  17. TAKUMA SATO (JAP) HONDA 3 LAPS
  18. FRANCK MONTAGNY (FRA) HONDA 3 LAPS
• DNF:
• BUTTON, R SCHUMACHER, WEBBER, SPEED

RENAULT RACE REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Renault F1 Team this afternoon took victory in its 200th Grand Prix start, at the Silverstone circuit where the F1 team made its debut 29 years ago in 1977 and last won in 1983, thanks to a stunning drive from Fernando Alonso.
• The reigning world champion took his third consecutive victory after starting from his fourth consecutive pole position, to make it six wins out of eight for the Renault F1 Team in the 2006 season. Team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella started fifth and finished fourth after a dynamic drive that saw him fall just short of the podium as he shadowed Kimi Raikkonen to the chequered flag.
• Today's performance sees the Renault F1 Team extend its championship lead to 31 points; Fernando Alonso has now scored 74 points from 80 and leads the drivers' title by 23 points, while Giancarlo Fisichella is fourth, one point behind Kimi Raikkonen.
• Fernando Alonso, Winner: "This is a very special win -- in fact, it has been three special wins in a row for me. After Spain and then Monaco, this is another of the classic races that you want to win. Great Britain is the home of motorsport, I live in Oxford myself only half an hour from this track, and of course we have a big part of our team based nearby in Enstone. It is really something wonderful to win for them, at home."
• "The race was really competitive, and tough. We had a set-up on the car that meant it was quite understeery in the first part of the stint, but just got better and better and I could build a lead as the fuel loads came down -- although I had a little bit of graining in the second stint that slowed my pace. It was windy out there too, like all weekend, so that made things a little bit unpredictable, and we are not used to this heat in Silverstone."
• "So it was never an easy win, but this shows we are working really hard. There's no secret to this fantastic season. We attack every race as a new challenge, we are concentrating all the time and there are no mistakes from the team. The best form of defence is attack -- and we showed that today.
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 4th position: "It was a good race for me, I had a competitive and consistent pace and I was quicker than the cars around me; there was graining in the second stint, like for Fernando, but it cleared up on the final set of tyres and I was able to really push."
• "In the final laps, I was much faster Raikkonen in the first sector, but he was a little bit quicker in the second and third parts because they were running more downforce than us -- and as I got near him, I lost grip because of the turbulence and couldn't get close enough to overtake."
• "This was another great result for the team though -- just like in Monaco and Barcelona, we scored the most points of anybody today and got both cars to the finish. Canada is next, one of my favourite circuits, and this Renault team is really on a roll at the moment."
• Flavio Briatore, Managing Director: "I am delighted for our team today to win in Silverstone. This was a special afternoon for all of us, but especially all the people who work just 50 km away in Enstone. Everything was perfect today -- the R26 car, the strategy, Fernando and Giancarlo, who deserved a podium today. Congratulations to Michelin as well: they once again brought great tyres for this race.
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "This was a great end to what has been a wonderful weekend at Silverstone -- Fernando's hat trick of pole, win and fastest lap showed a world champion at the top of his game. I am sure we had some doubters yesterday afternoon when we took pole position, but we showed today that we had done it on longer strategies, that played out well for us. Fisi put in another great drive as well, and had a good battle with Kimi at the end."
• "The car seemed perfect in the hot conditions on a demanding circuit, and Michelin came up with the goods to provide consistent, competitive tyres. Three in a row is a great feeling; we will be working hard in the coming weeks to develop the car even further, and try to break our Canada jinx next time out in Montreal."

FERRARI RACE REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• Jean Todt (FERRARI CEO): "It was a hard fought race, as indeed we had expected. Strategy played a decisive role: in a positive way for Michael, who managed to gain a place compared to his starting position on the grid and in a negative way for Felipe, who lost one. We are up against very strong opponents, but obviously when you are going for the win, coming second is reason enough to be disappointed."
• "However, it also acts as a further stimulus to try and close the gap that separates us in terms of overall performance. That would allow us to qualify at the front and then be able to run an attacking race. There are still ten races to go to the end of the season. We will fight as hard as we can to reach our objectives, along with our partners, especially Bridgestone."
• Michael Schumacher, 2nd:"Second place was the best we could today, given our grid position. Although there were no real problems with the car this weekend, we were simply not quick enough to win. We must work very hard now to come back right from the next race. But all in all, we should still be pleased with these eight points. There are still ten races to go with a hundred points to play for. Even though I am twenty three points behind Alonso, I don't think the fight for the championship is over."
• "For much of the race I was behind Kimi even though I had more potential, which is why I feel this result is not so bad. The next two races take place on completely different types of track. It will be interesting to see who has the upper hand on these circuits. We have to try and get back on top."
• Felipe Massa: "Not exactly a great day for us. We were hoping to be more competitive, but Renault showed itself to be very strong. I lost a place to Giancarlo in the way the pit stops played out. I don't think I could have done better than this fifth place, which is reasonable."
• "I did not have any particular problems during the race, even though I had no more sets of new tyres, having used all of them in free practice and qualifying. There are important developments on the way for the car and I hope they will allow us to raise our game."
• Ross Brawn: "Naturally, we hoped that with Michael we would make up at least two points, but we ended up losing them. However, things could have been worse and so we can be reasonably happy with the final result. We knew that Raikkonen would be a hard nut to crack. We tried to pass him at the first pit stop, but we did not manage it and so we had to wait for the second. We had a good car, the Bridgestone tyres delivered consistent performance, but we paid the price for how qualifying went and that made for a difficult race."

McLAREN RACE REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya finished today's British Grand Prix at Silverstone in third and sixth positions respectively. Both were on two-stop strategies which saw Kimi coming in on laps 19 (8.6 seconds) and 42 (8.0 seconds) and Juan Pablo on laps 20 (10.2 seconds) and 45 (6.6 seconds).
• Kimi improves to third position in the Drivers' Championship with 33 points whilst Juan Pablo remains fifth with 26 points. Team McLaren Mercedes is third in the Constructors' rankings with 59 points.
• Kimi Raikkonen, 3rd: "I made a good start off the line and was able to maintain my second place. However I was not fast enough on the straights to pass Alonso. After the Safety Car came back in I could close the gap a bit, but that was it really. I suffered from oversteer towards the end of the race which allowed Fisichella to close up. However I wasn't too worried as I knew it would be almost impossible for him to actually overtake."
• "We were not as quick as Alonso and Schumacher and third place was the maximum possible, but I think the good news is that this weekend has shown we are moving in the right direction and are getting more and more competitive."
• Juan Pablo Montoya: "A big shame that Villeneuve lost control and hit the side of my car as we were coming into the first corner at the start, as our car and strategy would have seen us have a much stronger race. The impact created a big hole in the sidepod and consequently I struggled a bit with the balance throughout the race."
• "Apart from that the race was relatively quiet as there was not much I could do. I was able to conserve my engine which is positive coming into Canada where we aim to continue our progress."
• Ron Dennis: "As we have shown both in Monaco and here at Silverstone we have closed some of the gap to our principal competitor Renault and our efforts to win will continue at the Paul Ricard test this coming week. Kimi and Juan Pablo's post race comments summarise our weekend well, and the entire team is looking forward to the next race in Canada."
• Norbert Haug: "A solid achievement by Kimi, Juan Pablo and the team. The performance was better today than in Barcelona which shows that we are heading in the right direction. We will push further -- that's promised."

HONDA RACE REPORT

• A frustrating British Grand Prix weekend for the Honda Racing F1 Team came to a disappointing conclusion today after Jenson Button retired in front of his home crowd and team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished outside of the points.
• After starting from 19th on the grid, Jenson was putting on a great show for the fans as he carved his way through the field. He had moved up to 12th place within just 9 laps before his RA106 racecar suffered an engine oil leak. Rubens also endured a tough race, struggling with the balance from the start and eventually finishing in 10th place.
• The team now heads to Monza next week for a 3-day test in preparation for the Canadian Grand Prix in two weeks' time.
• Jenson Button: "The race was going well for me and the car felt pretty good. We weren't as quick as the leaders but the car was working well and had a good balance. I was absolutely loving it out there, working my way through the field, and given our fuel load I was doing pretty well."
• "Then I saw the flames out of the back of the car and went off due to oil on the tyres, so it is looking like an engine oil leak unfortunately. A disappointing end to the weekend really, especially in front of my home crowd. It's frustrating that I couldn't give them the race they deserved today."
• "When I walked back in it was quite emotional as there were lots of cheers and flags being waved. The fans' support this weekend has been fantastic. As for the next race, the important thing is to get the best out of what we have which we weren't able to do here this weekend."
• Rubens Barrichello: "I'm really disappointed to finish 10th after starting from a reasonably good grid slot. The car works well with new tyres and then the performance just goes away during the race and I just seem to be fighting the car the whole time."
• "We have a lot of hard work to do if we are going to close the gap to the top teams because it's very frustrating right now and the car is too far away from where we should be."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "Overall this was a difficult day for the whole team. Jenson had a very strong start to his race, making up several places until his eventual retirement early in the race with an oil leak. Rubens also had a hard afternoon, struggling with the car balance throughout the race. Clearly not the result we were hoping for and we have some homework to do."
• Shuhei Nakamoto, Management Board Member - Honda Racing F1 Team, Engineering Director - Honda Racing Development: "I am obviously really disappointed by the way we have raced this weekend. We are not yet sure about the problem that ended Jenson's race but the engine itself is fine. It looks like there has been an oil leak somewhere so we have to analyse things deeply and find out the specific issue. We must work harder."

2006 QUALIFYING     (TOP OF PAGE)

GRID

• 1. FERNANDO ALONSO, SPAIN, RENAULT, 1 MIN 20.253
  2. KIMI RAIKKONEN, FINLAND, MCLAREN, 1:20.397
  3. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, GERMANY, FERRARI, 1:20.57
  4. FELIPE MASSA, BRAZIL, FERRARI
  5. GIANCARLO FISICHELLA, ITALY, RENAULT
  6. RUBENS BARRICHELLO, BRAZIL, HONDA
  7. RALF SCHUMACHER, GERMANY, TOYOTA
  8. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, COLOMBIA, MCLAREN
  9. NICK HEIDFELD, GERMANY, BMW-SAUBER
  10. JACQUES VILLENEUVE, CANADA, BMW-SAUBER

  2ND SESSION
  11. DAVID COULTHARD, BRITAIN, RED BULL
  12. NICO ROSBERG, GERMANY, WILLIAMS
  13. VITANTONIO LIUZZI, ITALY, SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
  14. CHRISTIAN KLIEN, AUSTRIA, RED BULL-COSWORTH
  15. SCOTT SPEED, UNITED STATES, SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
  16. TIEGO MONTEIRO, PORTUGAL, MIDLAND

  1ST SESSION
  17 . MARK WEBBER, AUSTRALIA, WILLIAMS
  18. CHRISTIJAN ALBERS, NETHERLANDS, MIDLAND
  19. JENSON BUTTON, BRITAIN, HONDA
  20. TAKUMA SATO, JAPAN, SUPER AGURI
  21. FRANCK MONTAGNY, FRANCE, SUPER AGURI
  22 . JARNO TRULLI, ITALY, TOYOTA, NO TIME

RENAULT QUALIFYING REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• As he crossed the line this afternoon at Silverstone, Fernando Alonso whooped with joy in the radio.
• "Four in a row boys, fourth consecutive pole" he said as he thanked the team. And so, after taking pole position in Europe, Spain, Monaco and now Great Britain, the world championship leader will start from the front row for tomorrow's British Grand Prix, alongside Kimi Raikkonen. The secret to his spectacular pole lap? Keeping his foot flat to the floor in the daunting, seventh-gear Copse corner.
• On the other side of the garage, Giancarlo Fisichella secured a strong third-row starting spot for tomorrow's race. Some minor set-up changes prior to the session meant he was unable to fully display the potential of the R26 at his disposal, as he lost time in the opening sector. However, running a competitive strategy, he hopes to make progress up the field in tomorrow's race.
• Fernando Alonso, Pole position: "I was really pleased to get pole today -- my fourth in a row. I made a little mistake on my first flying lap in the super-pole and I knew it was close with Michael. So we fitted another set of tyres, and I managed to do a better lap. I think conditions out there today were quite difficult for everybody, so we made some changes to the car before the session that gave us some more grip, and stabilised the car balance a little bit."
• "Tomorrow's race is going to be interesting because nobody has really done any long runs, so I think there may be some surprises with the tyres. So far, though, the Michelin tyres have been excellent and I am confident. This a great pole for the team, because it proves that Renault is not relaxing -- we are taking the fight to Ferrari.
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 5th position:
• "We made some changes to the car before qualifying and the car was on an edge in the first sector. I couldn't attack the quick corners properly and I was losing time in the first sector. So fifth is a bit disappointing, because we had a front row car today. Even so, I am still in a strong position, and very optimistic for tomorrow's race.
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:
• "This was a really exciting qualifying session, and a great result for the Renault team. Fernando's last lap was something really special, and he took turn 1 at Copse as close to flat as makes no difference. We must not forget Giancarlo either, who is in a strong position."
• "I am happy we have not compromised our race strategy for qualifying performance, and the high temperatures this weekend seem to be suiting both our car and its Michelin tyres. We are looking forward to a good strong race tomorrow.
• Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations:
• "We spent much of yesterday learning about a circuit that is very different to when we last tested here, owing to the significant swing in temperatures. Today, though, we really got to the heart of the matter with a fascinating qualifying session. Both cars enjoyed smooth sessions, progressing from the first and second sessions without any problems."
• "The car and its RS26 engine were clearly performing competitively, and we have a driver at each end of a very close, competitive group of cars. We believe we have prepared sensibly for the race, and that the ingredients are in place for a strong team result. It's going to be a tough fight -- and one that we will relish."

McLAREN QUALIFYING REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen will start McLaren's home Grand Prix at Silverstone from the front row after setting a time of 1:20.397 in the closing seconds of an exciting qualifying session. Team mate Juan Pablo Montoya was eighth fastest with a 1:21.107.
• Kimi Raikkonen:
• "I'm really pleased being on the first row particularly at Silverstone where a lot of the guys from Woking and Brixworth are able to come and support us. The car was working well and in a way I'm a bit disappointed not to be on pole as we were so close."
• "My final run was a bit tight -- I think there were only a few seconds left -- but we made it and were able to achieve second which is super. We made a lot of progress from yesterday, and I was really able to push."
• "Now I look forward to the race tomorrow where we will do everything to do well. A win is possible, but so much can happen, but I'm really pleased with today's result and look forward to tomorrow."
• Juan Pablo Montoya:
• "I have not been able to get the right balance throughout the weekend and was struggling during qualifying today. I should be higher up the grid than eighth, and I'm disappointed with this. However there is a long race tomorrow, and as we have seen before anything can happen."
• Ron Dennis:
• "A great lap from Kimi to earn him and the whole team a well deserved front row position. Juan Pablo struggled a little with the balance of his car but will start the race knowing he has a good chance to get a strong result. Generally we struggled a little to get the best out of the tyres in the first section of the circuit, but hopefully this should not be an issue in tomorrow's race."
• Norbert Haug:
• "A super job by Kimi who managed his best qualifying lap crossing the line on the very last second before the final qualifying session was waved off which then gave him his front row grid position. With a gap of 0.144 seconds behind Fernando Alonso's pole position was on hand for Kimi."
• "Tomorrow it all will depend on how the strategies unfold and how the teams make best use of their tyres on this tyre demanding circuit. Today was great for all of our colleagues from Woking and Brixworth -- thanks guys for all your efforts, I hope they will pay off at our home Grand Prix."
  

2006 RACE PREVIEW (RENAULT  McLAREN  HONDA  WILLIAMS  SHELL  TOYOTA )

• JENSON BUTTON, HONDA: "The British Grand Prix is my home race and it's a very emotional weekend for me. I'm very patriotic and having the support of all the British fans, to hear them chanting your name, is such a fantastic feeling ..."

RENAULT PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• ALONSO:" I am feeling very confident ahead of this race. We had a good test at Silverstone and we know that the characteristics of the circuit are good for the R26, so there is no reason to think we won't be fighting at the front. There is no point making big predictions, saying we will definitely win. Ferrari will be very strong, McLaren maybe as well if they can maintain their speed from Monaco. It will not be an easy weekend, but I certainly think we can be fighting for the win."
• The demands of the Silverstone circuit for the cars and engines has changed significantly with the advent of V8 engines in 2006. The first half of the circuit, all the way to turn 8, now sees very little braking at all and the engines under prolonged load. The second part of the circuit includes more slow corners, and places a premium on a good low speed balance and traction. Overall, Silverstone is a selective circuit, that allows a strong, harmonious chassis-engine package to shine.
• Aerodynamics
• Downforce levels at Silverstone are medium-high -- almost identical to Barcelona. The downforce is required for the quick corners in the opening part of the lap, and the relatively short straights and braking zones mean that any deficit in straightline speed is unlikely to see competitors overtaking you. The lack of heavy braking also means we run some of the smallest brake ducts of the year to optimise aerodynamic performance.
• Ride
• The circuit is not particularly bumpy, so achieving good ride is not usually a big problem. The exception to this is under braking for turn 8, where the uneven surface can unsettle the car. The drivers also tend to drift out onto the kerbs exiting the quick corners in order to take the fastest line, which can make the circuit seem bumpier than it is.
• Suspension
• We run the car with a forward mechanical balance at this circuit -- essentially, with a stiff front end and softer rear end. The stiff front gives the car a good change of direction in the high and slow speed corners, while the softer rear end gives better grip under traction, exiting turns 9, 11 and 16 in particular.
• Tyres
• The numerous high-speed corners mean Silverstone is a demanding circuit for the tyres, as they work hard over a lap. However, the difference compared with a circuit such as Barcelona is that none of the high-speed corners are particularly long. In general, if temperatures are cool and tyres are graining then the left-front will suffer in particular, while in higher temperatures, the left rear will be the limiting tyre.
• Ambient conditions
• As a former airfield, Silverstone is inevitably exposed to the wind -- and this can have a big impact on car performance. Gusting wind alters the aerodynamic balance of the car and makes handling unpredictable, particularly in the high-speed corners. The driver must be able to judge the direction and strength of the wind, and adjust his driving accordingly.
• Engine
• The percentage of the lap spent at full throttle has climbed significantly with the advent of the V8 engines -- from 59% last year to 71% this. Silverstone is now one of the harder circuits in terms of the demands it places on the engine, which also needs to be responsive at high revs as the drivers take the quick corners on either full or partial throttle. However, by race 8, issues such as cooling are well under control and, particularly after having already tested at the circuit, will pose no problems.
• Renault hits the 200 mark!
• 29 years after making its Formula 1 debut at the 1977 British Grand Prix, when Jean-Pierre Jabouille qualified the famous RS01 'yellow teapot' turbo car in 21st position before retiring on lap 17 with, inevitably, a broken turbo, the Renault F1 Team will this weekend start Renault's 200th Grand Prix as a Formula 1 constructor, at the 2006 British Grand Prix.2006 marks Renault's 14th season as an F1 constructor (1977 -- 1985, 2002 -- present) and in that time, the company has scored 30 race wins, 47 pole positions, 24 fastest laps and 1 Constructors' Championship. The company took just one win at Silverstone during the turbo era, in 1983 with Alain Prost at the wheel; it also took a single pole position, with Rene Arnoux in 1981. Since 2002, its best finish has been second position last year with Fernando Alonso, who also took pole position.
• However, the 200th GP start will not be Renault's 200th GP participation. That came four weeks ago Barcelona, when Fernando Alonso took a lights to flag victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. However, both Renaults failed to qualify for the 1979 US GP West in Long Beach and, of course, failed to take the start last year in Indianapolis at the ill-fated 2005 US GP.
• As an engine manufacturer from 1989 -- 1997, Renault also established an illustrious heritage at Silverstone, taking seven consecutive victories from 1991 to 1997, as an engine supplier to Williams and Benetton, including home victories for Nigel Mansell (1991, 1992), Damon Hill (1994) and Johnny Herbert (1995).
• Eye of the Tiger
• The 2006 British Grand Prix will see the Renault F1 Team debut the first of its 2006 artwork liveries -- with more to follow later in the year.
• The livery has been designed by Taiwanese design studio 'DEM Inc.', run by the brothers Demos and Edward Chiang, which also conceived the 'Phoenix' motif that saw Fernando Alonso to victory in the 2005 French Grand Prix.
• The Tiger is one of four mystical guardian figures that, in ancient Chinese tradition, accompanied the emperor on the battlefield. It has been designed to convey the same protective power on Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella in their challenge for victory this weekend.
• The powerful eyes of the tiger are displayed on the front and rear wings, while on the sidepods, the animal is portrayed crouched, ready to pounce.
• Alert to its constantly-changing surroundings, instinctively using attack as the best form of defence, the tiger is the perfect motif to symbolise the Renault F1 Team's challenge at this weekend's British Grand Prix.

McLAREN PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Formula One travels to Silverstone for round eight of the FIA World Championship, the 2006 British Grand Prix. The race is the home Grand Prix for McLaren and one of three home events for Team McLaren Mercedes, with the Northamptonshire circuit located just 90 minutes from the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey.
• On 13th May 1950, Silverstone hosted the first out of the 757 World Championship races in Formula One history. At that time, the track was 4.7kms long and the winner at the debut race Giuseppe Farina clocked an average speed of 152.982 km/h on his fastest lap. In 2005, Team McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen posted the fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 229.902 km/h. Silverstone has been the location for 39 British Grands Prix. Over the years Aintree and Brands Hatch have also held the event, on five and twelve occasions respectively. Originally an airfield, Silverstone is located deep in the Northamptonshire countryside, some 70 miles / 112kms north of London.
• McLaren has won 13 out of the 40 British Grands Prix it has entered to date. Team McLaren Mercedes has won four of the last seven races including Juan Pablo's maiden win for the team last year, David Coulthard?s victories in 1999 and 2000, which was a double victory ahead of Mika Hakkinen, and Mika Hakkinen?s win in 2001.
• KIMI RAIKKONEN "The British Grand Prix is one I really want to win, as with Monaco it is another of the legendary races on a great track, and of course a home race for the team. Overtaking is possible, so pole position is not so important as in Monaco. I think there will be some different strategies come race day. When we were testing here in late April, the lap times were quicker than in 2005 because we are faster through the corners this year, most of the time has been found in the mid corner performance. This is partly because the smaller V8 engines allow new aero opportunities and also improved Michelin performance from last year. Where this had the most effect was at Copse, which is even quicker now than before, as it has always been one of the fastest we race through. You have to be flat through the right hander, otherwise you lose a lot of time, however because it is now quicker than before you have to be very precise, it has made the corner more of a challenge."
• JUAN PABLO MONTOYA "It was great to be back on the podium at Monaco and everyone in the team has continued to push hard since to try and find more performance in the car for the British Grand Prix. Silverstone is a great track, with some really exciting corners, I love to race at it and I hope we can repeat the result from last year when I took my debut victory for the team in front of our home crowd. It is such a contrast to the streets of Monte Carlo, it is all about super fast corners and pushing the limits of the car. The Maggots ? Becketts ? Chapel sequence at the start of the lap is awesome, you have to push really hard through here, so long as you have the good balance you need, and are changing direction so quickly, hooking up the apexes, it is great fun! In addition to needing good balance, it is important to find a set-up compromise between high speed stability for much of the track and good grip to ensure we are also quick for the slower corners at the end of the circuit. Silverstone tends to be quite hard on the tyres, the left front sees the greatest wear because of the fast right hand corners."
• MARTIN WHITMARSH, CEO FORMULA ONE, TEAM McLAREN MERCEDES "Whilst Silverstone is a completely different racing environment to Monaco, placing different challenges on the car and drivers, Team McLaren Mercedes is determined to keep the momentum of our performance step at Monaco going into our home Grand Prix. However, the test at Barcelona was a key exercise in the build-up to the British Grand Prix, because as with Silverstone, the Circuit de Catalunya is a demanding track on the car as a competitiveness. At the test we focused on front and rear suspension and aerodynamic developments, alongside the Michelin selection process for the Silverstone demands peak performance from both the car and driver, and with the quick sections such as Copse and the Maggott complex aero efficiency is once again vital."
• NORBERT HAUG, VICE PRESIDENT, MERCEDES-BENZ MOTORSPORT
• "The Silverstone circuit has a unique layout and there is nothing similar to it during the whole Formula One season. It is absolutely correct that Silverstone is known as ?Home of British Motor Racing? as the circuit has a long tradition and with its fast corners it still is a great challenge for teams and drivers. With the new V8 engines some sectors will be driven flat out whilst with the V10 engines drivers had to lift or even brake. Nevertheless the speeds in some corners are higher now which is due to the improved aerodynamics and the new tyre generation. For the team Silverstone is a home Grand Prix besides Nurburgring and Hockenheim and Juan Pablo Montoya won there last year. With our tests in Barcelona after the Monaco Grand Prix we hope to have made another step

SHELL PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

HONDA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The British Grand Prix, round eight of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, takes places this weekend at the historic Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, UK. As the first of this season's two home races for the Honda Racing F1 Team, the British Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the season, with the team's Operations Centre based only eight miles away in nearby Brackley.
• Also a firm favourite with the team's race drivers, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, the Silverstone circuit is one of the fastest tracks on the F1 calendar, and the grandstands will be packed with the many British fans of the team and Jenson. This weekend's race, coinciding with the start of the World Cup in Germany and England's first match, will give the patriotic crowds something extra to cheer about.
• The Honda Racing F1 Team completed its preparations for the British Grand Prix in Barcelona last week. An intensive three-day test, finalising the car set-up and tyre choice for the Silverstone race, was completed on Friday with the team now heading up to Silverstone to prepare for the race weekend.
• RUBENS BARRICHELLO "Silverstone is just a fantastic circuit. It's a high-speed track with some challenging corners, and although overtaking can be a bit difficult around here, it's a track that I really enjoy driving. I've spent a great deal of time both testing and racing at Silverstone since I was young, so it holds some special memories for me. Of course the most special of those is my win from pole position back in 2003. We had a solid test in Barcelona last week to prepare for Silverstone, looking specifically at the car set-up and the tyres for this race, so I'm feeling fairly comfortable going into the weekend."
• JENSON BUTTON "The British Grand Prix is my home race and it's a very emotional weekend for me. I'm very patriotic and having the support of all the British fans, to hear them chanting your name, is such a fantastic feeling. Silverstone is a very special circuit, it's incredibly fast with a long complex of high-speed corners which quite literally takes your breath away. The change of direction is so quick there that you really feel the speed of the car. You need good aerodynamics at Silverstone so this is where all the hard work in the wind tunnel before the race pays off. We've also done a lot of track testing at Barcelona, which is a high-speed circuit, to prepare for this race. We're aiming to get both cars in the points this weekend, it's going to be tough for us as we're just not on front-running pace at the moment, but I'm sure we will get the maximum possible out of the car."
• GIL DE FERRAN Sporting Director: "This is Jenson's home race as well as a home race for the team, since our Brackley base is just a few minutes down the road. Needless to say we all enjoy this Grand Prix and a lot of our team members and their families will be in attendance. For Jenson in particular this will be a highly charged weekend. We come to Silverstone hoping to have a better race than in Monaco. We have done a lot of set-up work in preparation for this weekend bearing in mind the special high speed requirements for this track. "=20
• SHUHEI NAKAMOTO: Management Board Member - Honda Racing F1 Team, Engineering Director - Honda Racing Development
• "We have an upgrade on the engine for Silverstone which will give the drivers some more torque and power as we continue the battle to close the gap to the front runners."

WILLIAMS PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Falling earlier this year than usual to avoid clashes with the World Cup, the British Grand Prix will take place this Sunday, 11 June. Silverstone, now regarded as one of the most challenging tracks remaining on the calendar, is a home Grand Prix for the majority of Formula One teams but holds particular significance for WilliamsF1.
• The Home of British Motorsport provided the stage for the team's very first victory twenty seven years ago as well the 100th Grand Prix win, achieved in 1997. Over the years, the British Grand Prix has proved to be a most fortuitous track for Williams with over 70% of the races held at Silverstone yielding at least a podium finish for the team.
• Between the races
• The team's drivers encountered a busy schedule following the Monaco Grand Prix. Nico and Alex spent two days last week at the Circuit de Catalunya undertaking key preparations for Silverstone while Mark Webber has undertaken the marketing responsibilities. The weekend saw Mark at the Bluewater shopping centre, in Kent, where he braved the Saturday shoppers to participate in simulator competitions with fans as part of a Philips promotional day.
• On Tuesday, he visits the world famous Hamleys toy store on behalf of Baugur where, among other customer-focused activities, he will lunch with children from the Make-a-Wish charity. The final commitment in his diary will take Mark to London again on Wednesday for a Tourism Tasmania press function to promote the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge to the British media before heading north to Silverstone for more familiar responsibilities.
• Making the car go faster
• Renowned as one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar, the team has undertaken a rigorous test programme ahead of this weekend's race. A trip to the Northamptonshire track in April allowed Mark, Nico and Alex to get to grips with the fast straights and corners over the three day test during which the trio covered nearly 3,000kms while working on set-up, tyre compound testing and aero mods specific to Silverstone.
• This week, the Circuit de Catalunya, a track which bears similar characteristics to Silverstone, has been used as a testing ground for the British GP. A two day session allowed Nico and Alex to carry out tyre testing with Bridgestone to assist in the selection for the race, while also developing set-up options.
• Silverstone from a technical perspective
• A sixty lap race, the British Grand Prix is a punishing 191 mile endurance test. The blend of high and slow speed corners, connected by three long straights, creates an uncompromisingly fast circuit, one that inevitably rewards engine power but one which also demands a delicately balanced set-up to cope with the high speed directional changes. Aerodynamic efficiency and harder compound tyres will therefore be crucial to sustain pace and position through the faster corners, such as Copse, but also through the slower corners, particularly into the Complex at the end of the lap.
• Not only are the drivers presented with one of the most technically demanding circuits, they are also forced to contend with the unpredictable weather conditions common to Silverstone's micro- climate. Prevailing winds are a concern at the old airfield and can affect the car's drivability, so must be carefully considered in the set-up process. A traditional track, Silverstone naturally boasts several areas which promote overtaking, principally Vale and Abbey, which will undoubtedly encourage some exciting racing action on Sunday afternoon.
• Mark Webber: "Although I wasn't involved in this week's test at Barcelona, I know part of our programme was to try a few different things to help our performance at the British Grand Prix. Barcelona is not dissimilar to Silverstone and, based upon our performance there in the Spanish Grand Prix, we have a lot of improving to do. Unfortunately, our Monaco pace will have no relevance whatsoever to next weekend at Silverstone as it requires totally different characteristics from the car."
• "Of course, having lived in England for the past six or so years, Silverstone is almost like a second "home" Grand Prix for me. It's good to be able to go home each night and enjoy the familiar comfort of my own house, and also being able to share the weekend with friends and family which I don't often get to do. Being a British-based team, this race is always an important one for WilliamsF1 too, both in terms of entertaining sponsors and enabling the factory-based members of staff to be a part of the weekend.
• Nico Rosberg: "Silverstone is a very exciting track. I already have quite a lot of experience of it as I have done lots of testing there, especially with the V10 engine last year. I don't think we are going to be as strong there as we were in Monaco, but I think we can still score some points. During the intensive test in Barcelona last week, we managed to improve many things, Cosworth, in particular, have made another good step forward with the engine."
• Sam Michael, Technical Director, WilliamsF1: "After our strong car performance in Monaco was let down by two exhaust failures, we have been busy testing at Barcelona with a series of changes to avoid a reoccurrence. Now on to Silverstone which is a high speed circuit with fast changes of direction and three straights that reward power. There is a slow speed section at the end of the lap where good mechanical grip is important. As always, aero efficiency is a key factor and, as such, the set-up is tuned towards improved high speed stability."
• "We have some small upgrades for the British Grand Prix, with the main difference being a return to a normal downforce level after Monaco. Strategy is now becoming interesting again as the first stint fuel load is normally affected by how close the cars are to each other in qualifying trim. Overtaking is difficult, but still possible here."
• Simon Corbyn, Head of F1 Race Engineering, Cosworth:"No major mechanical problems have been identified with the ex- Monaco Grand Prix engines and Cosworth plan to run both engines on for their second events at Silverstone. As unfortunately neither engine completed the last race then we are in a position where we could change without penalty but, given the reduced mileage and low duty cycle at Monaco, these are strong second event engines. Both have therefore been prepped for the race and all damaged external parts replaced. In line with FIA Regulations, we will fire the engines up on Thursday at Silverstone for their final checks."

TOYOTA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• GREY SUNNY EXPECTATIONS
• After the glamour of Monte Carlo the Formula 1 is heading back to the rather greyer surroundings of Silverstone. This former airfield in the English county of Northamptonshire has a long motor racing heritage and it has been the permanent home for the British Grand Prix for 20 years. The joys of the English summer usually ensure that there is some kind of input from the weather in the course of the weekend. This year's race has been brought forward a month from its usual July date so the chances of rain are even higher than usual. Whatever happens the Panasonic Toyota Racing team will retain a sunny disposition as it seeks to make up for the misfortune experienced at recent races.
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 7): "You can't really talk about the British Grand Prix without mentioning the weather. Indeed, the fact that we are racing at Silverstone in June - a month earlier than its traditional July date - means that it is an important factor in our preparations. The team will spend more time than usual looking at wet strategy. We also have to leave our options open for set-up as the weekend progresses because there is always a chance of a shower. But even in the dry the wind can be a factor because the surrounding area is so flat. The first half of the lap is particularly prone to wind changes and that can affect a quick lap. It was difficult to assess the TF106B around the twisty Monaco circuit. But we should have a clearer picture at Silverstone and I'm sure we will have better results."
• Jarno Trulli (Car 8): "Silverstone is a long and demanding circuit from both a driving and an engineering perspective. Finding a set-up for the entire lap is a challenge because the track has every type of corner. You need traction out of the slow corners and efficient aero through the faster corners. Becketts is the most fun part of the circuit but a driver needs to be committed everywhere to get the most out of the lap time. So a well balanced car is crucial to respond to the range of features on the track and to let the driver push to the limit. Monaco was not the right place to judge the TF106B but the car behaved well in the race. It has also showed promise during testing so I'm confident the car is a step forward but we can't yet say how much. We'll head to Silverstone hoping for a stronger weekend. After my difficult run this year I'm ready for a change of luck!"
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis: "After winding our way around Monaco last week, Silverstone will give us a better chance to assess the performance of the TF106B on a high speed circuit. The track is similar to Barcelona in terms of technical characteristics, with many long high speed corners. So that leads to the same kind of compromise with the aerodynamic package. We run fairly high levels of downforce but have to avoid the drag penalty down the long straights. Barcelona does not have such high speed changes of direction as we see at Becketts, though, so we need some front end understeer in order to achieve stability. Like Barcelona we will also be looking at the harder end of the Bridgestone range of tyres - but in Britain we also pay closer attention than usual to wets! We can get a good idea of the temperature range a week before the event but we will be avidly checking the weather forecast for cloud coverage between now and Sunday."

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