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2006 FORMULA 1: CANADIAN GP  

RENAULT RACE REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• Fernando Alonso took his sixth win of the 2006 season, and the fourteenth of his career, this afternoon with a controlled drive to victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Spaniard had never previously scored a podium finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and was determined to add some silverware to his collection at this race.
• He did so in consummate style, making a perfect getaway from pole position, defending his lead robustly against Kimi Raikkonen's pressure during the opening laps, and then building a crucial gap during the second stint that gave him the safety margin he needed for the final part of the race.
• Ultimately, this was nullified by a safety car ten laps from the finish, but the Spaniard had enough in hand to maintain a comfortable lead over Michael Schumacher to the flag. "Todo es perfecto" was his comment into the radio on his slowing-down lap -- an assessment it is hard to argue with, as he took his points total to 84 from a possible 90 in the first half of the season.
• Giancarlo Fisichella had a more incident-filled afternoon. The Italian jumped the start from second position on the grid and although he ultimately lost a position on the opening lap, was penalised with a drive-through penalty.
• This dropped him to fifth, after which he had a race on two fronts: trying to close the gap to Michael Schumacher ahead, while protecting his position from Felipe Massa behind. While he was unable to catch the German, Fisco finished well ahead of the second Ferrari to further extend Renault's lead in the constructors' championship. The team now has a total of 121 points, with a 34 point lead.
• The Renault F1 Team was also proud to score Michelin's 100th victory in Formula 1 this afternoon. The tyres showed they had a perfect blend of first lap performance and racing consistency, standing up to a demanding circuit and hot conditions. Michelin's 100th win also comes on the eve of the 100th anniversary of Renault and Michelin's win in the first ever Grand Prix in history, which began on 26 June 1906 in Le Mans, France.
• Fernando Alonso, Winner:
• "This is a fantastic win. They are all nice but after the last two years when something always happened to us in Montreal, this was a race we all felt we should have won -- and now we have. It was difficult because the circuit was really slippery off line, so if you made any mistakes you lost one or two seconds straight away."
• "Kimi put a lot of pressure on me in the opening stint, some laps I was faster, some laps he was, and he nearly got past me when I ran wide in turn 10. Then after the first stop, the team told me that he was going longer than me on the middle stint, so I really had to push to open up a gap. I had three or four scares because I was pushing to the limit but in the end, I came out with quite a good lead after the second stop and it would have been quite comfortable."
• "Then the Safety Car closed everything up, but I had some cars between me and Kimi, which made it quite easy to control the final laps. These last races haven't been easy for us, but we are developing the car and the results keep on coming. We had a new package for Canada that worked really well, and we have more coming. That is the best defence we can do, to keep attacking and winning races."
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 4th position:
• "It was a difficult afternoon, a tough race for all of the drivers. I jumped the start and even though I tried to slow down and Kimi got past me, I had to do a drive-through penalty. That was really when I lost the chance of a podium finish."
• "After that, I pushed to the maximum in the opening stint and the second one too, but the circuit was destroyed in turn 10, and there was a lot of traffic, so it was easy to make mistakes out there. Even so, I finished ahead of Massa and helped us score more points than Ferrari, so it is good for the championship. Now, we need to do even better in Indy."
• Flavio Briatore, Managing Director:
• "This was another good race for the team, but not an easy one. The team managed it well and Fernando did too. It is always a hard race here with the brakes and tyres, so I am really pleased for Fernando to take his first win at this circuit."
• "Giancarlo made a mistake at the start, and one mistake is enough to make it a very difficult afternoon when the competition is so close. Even so, he got the car home in the points and beat Massa. The important thing today was out-scoring Ferrari, and we can go to Indy feeling very confident. Everybody really wants to put on a good show there and repair the damage from last year."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:
• "What a tough race that was! It was certainly the hardest of the year for the first two stints, and a lot of things could have happened this afternoon. Fernando was under severe pressure from Kimi until the second stops, when McLaren seemed to bring him in a little early. That actually made our life quite a lot easier, and we then controlled the race to the finish. Giancarlo's race was compromised by his jump start. He was in a recovery situation from then on, and made the most of it to finish fourth."
• "Conditions were very tricky this afternoon, but we should also thank Michelin for providing a fantastic tyre. Temperatures hit 48°C and the strategy called for long stints. In spite of this, they showed excellent consistency to go with the stunning one-lap performance from yesterday. It was appropriate that, for their hundredth F1 victory, they should once again provide us with a perfect tyre."

FERRARI RACE REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• Jean Todt:
• "We leave Montreal with the same result we got in Silverstone a fortnight ago; that's to say a second place with Michael and a fifth for Felipe. We expected a tough, closely fought race and that's what we got. These twelve points can be looked at in two ways: negatively when you think that the gap in the two classifications has got bigger; positively if you consider where we started from on the grid and how things went at the start."
• "The Canadian Grand Prix marks the end of the first half of the season. We are second in both championships, but a long way back, especially when one takes into account the consistency in results terms and the performance level of our main rivals. But this does not mean we are throwing in the towel: not us, nor our friends at Bridgestone."
• Michael Schumacher:
• "Today was about damage limitation. Second place is the best we could do in a race that was already complicated by my grid position and was made even harder by what was definitely a far from perfect start, which forced me to be stuck behind Trulli for many laps. The safety car and Kimi's mistake towards the end helped me to make up a place."
• "It was a very hard race, especially as it was very difficult to drive: you only had to stray off the ideal line by a tiny amount and you ran the risk of ending up off the track, as the track was so dirty and the track surface was breaking up."
• "Towards half distance, I lightly touched the wall at the exit to the final corner, but luckily the car was not at all damaged. We must not give up and I know we won't, starting already next weekend in Indianapolis, where tyre performance will be crucial."
• Felipe Massa:
• "I am happy with the outcome of today's race, both with my result and with Michael's. These are important points in both championships. We had chosen a different strategy to the others, based on just one stop to refuel and change tyres."
• "Even with a heavy fuel load, the car and tyres performed well and I was able to run a competitive pace. Only after the safety car did I feel a slight lack of grip, but in this particular situation, we were in much better shape than yesterday."
• Ross Brawn:
• "Overall, this weekend we were simply not quick enough to overtake our main rivals. We have to make an extra effort to close the gap that separates us from them. The final safety car helped us, allowing Michael to make up a further place and limit the damage in the classification."
• "It was a shame Michael had to spend so many laps behind Trulli. It was frustrating as our driver could run at a much higher pace, as we saw when he was able to push with a clear track ahead of him. The Bridgestone tyres worked well during the race, which is what we'd expected. As the saying goes, "never give up," and we will stick to that saying!"

McLAREN RACE REPORT     (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen finished today's 70-laps Canadian Grand Prix in third position. Kimi was on a two-stop strategy and pitted on laps 25 (12.6 seconds) and 53 (14.6 seconds) -- both stops taking longer than planned due to a dragging clutch.
• Until the penultimate lap Kimi was second but whilst pushing hard to catch eventual race winner Fernando Alonso he made a mistake at the hairpin. Kimi set the fastest time of the race on lap 21 with 1:15.841.
• Team mate Juan Pablo Montoya failed to finish the race when he was forced to retire at the end of lap 12 after his car touched one of the walls as he was fighting to make up the positions he lost following an incident with Nico Rosberg on lap two.
• The incident with Rosberg caused the Mercedes-Benz Safety Car to be deployed and Juan Pablo went into the pits to change the nose of his car (26.4 seconds).
• Following today's result Kimi remains third in the Drivers' World Championship with 39 points and Juan Pablo is sixth with 26 points. Team McLaren Mercedes stays third in the Constructors' ranking with 65 points.
• Kimi Raikkonen: 3rd
• "That was not an easy race. I was really pushing Fernando for the lead in the opening part and was able to have a go at the hairpin when he went wide, but it was not to be. We had some problems with the clutch in both pitstops which hampered our chance of victory. Traffic didn't make things easier and at the end I was in second."
• "However then the Safety Car came back out and I was pushing to see if there was a chance of catching Fernando, but went wide at the hairpin which allowed Michael past. That was a shame but we always want to do everything we can to win. We can leave Montreal knowing that we are competitive and I look forward to Indianapolis."
• Juan Pablo Montoya: DNF
• "That was a bit of a mess. I was battling with Nico Rosberg in the opening laps and was next to him, but then we touched. I thought I had damaged the nose and as the Safety Car came out I went into the pits. The team did a precautionary tyre change and changed my race strategy to give me the best chance of a strong finishing position."
• "I had a good battle with DC and then with Ralf and was making progress. The car was great, but I was sliding quite a bit as I had lost a deflector and consequently was a bit light on downforce. I was trying to make up positions, but then I touched the wall and damaged the rear and that was the end of the race for me."
• "It was a shame as I think we would have been competitive, but the incident with Rosberg really ruined things for me. There is no point in saying who is to blame. I now look forward to Indianapolis where hopefully our competitiveness will continue to improve."
• Ron Dennis:
• "The earlier stops of the Renaults show that our qualifying and race competitiveness have clearly improved. We lost second place after Kimi made a small mistake when pushing to catch Fernando. However we are about winning and these things happen when you are pushing."
• "There were some problems with the clutch in both of Kimi's stops which cost us time, but I think we have demonstrated that we are competitive and can challenge for victories."
• "Juan Pablo didn't get the opportunity to show his potential due to the incident with Rosberg. The entire team is now looking forward to the race next weekend in USA where we want to continue working hard to win."
• Norbert Haug:
• "The race result doesn't reflect our speed which looked competitive today. Unfortunately Kimi lost time during his pit stops due to a clutch problem which we will certainly have under control at the next race."
• "However on the track he performed well and posted the fastest lap of the race. Kimi was pushing to have a go on Fernando after the Safety Car, but ran wide and lost second place on the penultimate lap."
• "Juan Pablo had a good start but lost his chances for a result already on the second lap after the incident with Nico Rosberg. The upside of this weekend was our speed, the downside was that we could not make more out of it -- next weekend we have another possibility."

2006 QUALIFYING     (TOP OF PAGE)

BMW FRI REPORT

• The BMW Sauber F1 Team had a very strong start to its weekend in Montreal. Robert Kubica was fastest in both of Friday’s free practice sessions for the Canadian Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve were ninth and tenth fastest respectively.
• Robert Kubica: "We have done two long runs, which were pretty good. The pace was fine, with quick lap times, and we were consistent. We are looking strong. I have no problems getting used to a new track, so this morning I was also able to be quick straightaway."
• Nick Heidfeld: "Generally I am happy with our positions as Robert was fastest in both sessions and Jacques and myself also made it into the top ten. The balance of the car is not perfect yet, and it proved quite difficult to drive. In the second session I had to stop my second run early due to a mechanical problem with the gearchange paddle. Without this I would have done a few more laps."
• Jacques Villeneuve: "The car is running strong. It is a little bit difficult to drive with the relatively low downforce, and the track is very slippery, but the lap times are competitive. I am confident for the rest of the weekend."
• Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
• "It was a very positive first practice day with Robert completing his scheduled programme with no problems. His best time of the day illustrates we can repeat the promising performance from Silverstone. I am sure tomorrow in qualifying Nick and Jacques will profit from Robert’s set-up work."
• Willy Rampf (Technical Director Chassis):
• "I am very satisfied with what we have achieved so far. The lap times of all three drivers are good and we didn’t have any major problems to hamper our reliability. After last week’s test the cars arrived here in Montreal very well prepared."
• "Practically from the very first outing we were able to start working on the fine tuning. This was thanks to a very strong effort from both the test team and the team back home. Now we are really looking forward to tomorrow’s qualifying."

TOYOTA FRI REPORT

• KEEP IT ON THE ISLAND
• Panasonic Toyota Racing began its preparations for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix under cloudy skies in Montreal today. Formula 1 cars do not run on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve outside of the race weekend so grip is always hard to come by on the first day. Sure enough, many cars went off the track during the morning session before the track improved in the afternoon. Toyota's race drivers Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher both carried out solid days of practice work around this island in the St Lawrence Seaway. Jarno's second session ended early when he suffered a gearbox problem as he went for a long run but the two drivers still put in over 50 laps between them.
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 7, Chassis TF106/07B)
  First Session Classification: 12th, 6 laps completed
  Lap Time: 1m20.861s (+3.471s)
  Second Session Classification: 16th, 23 laps completed
  Lap Time: 1m18.614s (+1.649s)
• "This is not a permanent race track so it takes a lot of running before the circuit rubbers in and grip was very hard to find today. A lot of people struggled to stay on the track, particularly in the morning session when the track was at its greenest. The afternoon was better and we had a good day overall, making it through everything that I had planned. Brakes are critical here but we found no major problems today so I'm looking forward to a good weekend."
• Jarno Trulli (Car 8, Chassis TF106/08B)
  First Session Classification: 17th, 7 laps completed
  Lap Time: 1m24.029s (+7.639s)
  Second Session Classification: 19th, 17 laps completed
  Lap Time: 1m18.868s (+1.903s)
• "We didn't learn as much as we would have liked today because I had a gearbox problem at the end of the second session and could not complete my last run. There was very little grip out there but it did improve in the afternoon. This is a hard circuit for the mechanical side of the car and reliability always plays a very important role. We don't yet know how competitive we will be but we made good preparations during our test at Monza last week so we're looking forward to a change of fortunes this weekend."
• Dieter Gass - Chief Engineer Race and Test
  "That was not a very easy day for us because it was a struggle for grip, especially in the first session. On top of that we had a gearbox problem at the beginning of Jarno's long run. That means we are missing some data for our tyre choice and it will be more difficult. It was a better day for Ralf, who went through his programme without any issues. He was happy with what he achieved. In the morning session the track was still very green - as usual in Montreal - and we saw a lot of cars cutting chicanes. But it immediately improved in the second session, when all the relevant work was done. We have a new front wing here in addition to our Montreal aero package so we will push hard for a strong result on Sunday."

2006 RACE PREVIEW (RENAULT  McLAREN  HONDA  WILLIAMS  SHELL  TOYOTA )

RENAULT PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Fernando Alonso
• Q: Fernando, you arrive in Canada on the back of a hat-trick of wins in Spain, Monaco and Great Britain. What's your goal for this weekend?
• Fernando Alonso: Canada was one of the races on my 'to-do' list at the start of the season. I have never finished on the podium there, and that was one of my goals for 2006. So I will be really pushing to get a strong result there.
• Q: How competitive will the Renault be on the long straights and in the tight corners?
• FA: In the past few years, this has always been a very good circuit for the Renault car. I didn't finish in 2005 or 2004, but we were very quick in both races, and I set the fastest lap in 2003. It will be a good track for us, I think.
• Q: What are the main demands on the car?
• FA: This is always a tough race for the teams. We see a lot of retirements during the race, because the engines are stressed hard, there is heavy braking, and the transmission has a tough time from launching out of the slow corners. I think the brakes are probably the most important area though. We have low levels of downforce, so you need confidence on the brakes because the car feels very light, and we work hard to get the right feel.
• Q: How do you cope with changing circuit conditions, as the grip levels improve through the weekend?
• FA: We go there knowing that the circuit will change a lot during the weekend. For sure, there will be more grip in every corner, every braking zone, every corner exit on Sunday, than on Friday. That means we have a moving target for the set-up, because the track is changing constantly, and we need to make the best estimates of what we will require -- for the tyres as well. But we have good data from previous years, and by Sunday, we always have a good car. So I don't think it will be a problem.
• Q: Finally, you go into this round of the championship with a 23-point lead over your main rival. Can you now start to manage the advantage?
• FA: Definitely not -- the season is not even at the halfway stage yet, and in Ferrari, we have very strong competition. Last year, we were fighting against teams who had reliability problems -- but that won't happen with Ferrari. They will be there at every race, and very strong in Canada as well. So we are still attacking, still being aggressive, putting new parts on the car and trying to push the limits at every race. That's the only approach we can afford to take this season.
• Giancarlo Fisichella
• Q: Giancarlo, you now know you will be a Renault driver in 2007. A big boost for you?
• Giancarlo Fisichella: Of course, it's a massive boost. It is fantastic to be staying with a team that will be fighting for the world championship next year -- and to be able to build upon the experience I have had here in 2005 and 2006. At the moment, though, my focus is on the next race. I have had some strong races recently, but the results have not quite been there for me, so I want to put things right in Canada.
• Q: It was one of the team's strongest performances in 2005...
• GF: Yes it was -- but also our worst result of the season. We had a strong package there in 2005, and I was leading the race when I retired. I have a great memory of the first part of that race, and I want to carry on where I left off last year -- at the front of the field. The Renault package should be very strong in Canada, and we want to be fighting for the win.
• Q: Tell us about the demands of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve...
• GF: It is a difficult circuit. The downforce levels are low, which makes the car delicate to drive, and you have to be very precise on the chicanes: you don't have the grip to recover from a mistake if you get the wrong line. So you need to find the right balance between being aggressive and driving smoothly. I have always really enjoyed the challenge of this circuit.
• Q: So it's a question of touch, of feeling as well as scientific engineering?
• GF: Exactly. On Friday, we know it is low grip -- but you need to get out on the track, to try the limits and get a good feeling with the car. A little bit like the way we run in Monaco. Obviously, the circuit is very slippery then and it's easy to make a mistake, but the grip improves all the way through the weekend. The important thing is to have the feeling with the track.
• Q: History shows you have had that "feeling" in past years. What's the objective for this race?
• GF: Well, I have been on the podium four times in Canada -- twice in third, and twice in second. So there's only one place missing from my record... I think we can go to Canada and be confident of fighting for the win. We need a clean weekend of course, to get maximum track time and make sure there are no problems in practice or qually. But if we get that, then I will be aiming to make it five podiums in Canada -- and to do it from the top step of the podium.
• Bob Bell, Technical director
• Q: Bob, Canada's been a bogey circuit for Renault in the past two years, with double retirements in 2004 and 2005. You will be hoping to change that for 2006...
• Bob Bell: Yes, we want to put this race to bed -- and score the result we should have had the past two years. In performance terms, we have been very quick in Montreal for a number of years now. We could have won both of the past races there, and even scored a one-two in 2005. So there's a very real sense of unfinished business for the whole team.
• Q: Three of the four retirements were reliability-related in the past two years. Are you confident you are on top of those issues now?
• BB: Certainly, our package is more reliable this year than it was last. In 16 starts so far this season, we have had only one DNF, which is a very strong run. Canada is a very tough race mechanically-speaking, because of the stop-start nature of the circuit. But I am confident that we will be OK from a reliability perspective.
• Q: Will the demands of the circuit suit the R26?
• BB: I think so. In Canada, you need to stop well -- and accelerate well. Our car has excellent aerodynamic efficiency, a strong engine, good traction and is stable under braking. What's more, it's easy to drive which will allow both drivers to attack throughout the race. I think the characteristics of the Montreal circuit play to the strengths of our package.
• Q: We are in the middle of a very close battle between Michelin and their rival tyre manufacturer. Where do you expect the advantage to lie in Canada?
• BB: I don't think we have any worries about the tyres at all -- we are confident that Michelin's products will be extremely competitive at the next races. Michelin have been fantastic this year, taking lessons on- board, pushing their development hard and coming up with the goods on Sunday afternoon. They are determined to win two more titles this season.
• Q: In terms of chassis development, Canada obviously requires a special low-drag package...
• BB: Exactly. We develop a special wing package for this circuit, with lower drag levels to ensure we achieve competitive speeds on the long straights. We also have a significant number of developments going on the car for these races. I think these will in fact bear fruit at both North American races, because none of our rivals will have the time to test in between the races and respond. Our development is very aggressive in every area.
• Q: So the goals for the weekend are...
• BB:... to come away from the race with a good points-scoring finish. There is no reason why we can't challenge for the win, and we will hope to maintain the championship gap to Ferrari. In fact, over the next two races we want to extend that lead slightly. If we can go past the halfway point in the championship with this kind of advantage, then it means our rivals have to not only replicate our performance in the first- half of the championship, but go even further. That won't be an easy thing to do.
• Q: Does that mean you see the next pair of races as strategically important for the championship?
• BB: Yes, I think they are. This is the time of year when people make big choices about how hard to push their development processes to the end of the year, and if we can maintain that lead, then that may influence how they make their decisions. A strong North American campaign will bring a real psychological boost, and allow us to go to Magny-Cours on the offensive. We want to push home our advantage in the coming races.

McLAREN PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes arrives in Montreal this weekend for the first of the North American double header, the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix, with the race at Indianapolis taking place just one week later. The Canadian event marks the mid-point of the 2006 Formula 1 World Championship.
• Since the Canadian Grand Prix made its debut in 1967, the event has been held at three circuits. The debut race took place at Mosport Park in Toronto, with two races also being held at Mont Tremblant before the race moved permanently to its current location in Montreal in 1978.
• Renamed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 1982, in memory of the French- Canadian driver, the circuit lines the perimeter of the Ile Notre Dame. The man-made island is located in the St Lawrence Seaway.
• Recent successes for Team McLaren Mercedes in Canada include Mika Hakkinen in 1999 and last year when Kimi Raikkonen took the victory. The 1999 victory was unique in Formula 1 as Mika Hakkinen crossed the finishing line behind the Mercedes-Benz Safety Car, the first time in Formula 1 history that the winner followed the Safety Car.
• Following the British Grand Prix, the team has been testing at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France before leaving for Canada, with Kimi Raikkonen, Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett completing 2,622km in total whilst working through aerodynamic, set-up and brake work.
• Kimi Raikkonen: "The Canadian Grand Prix is defined by the long, high speed straights that go into very slow corners. As a result, perhaps more so than at other tracks, you need to have really good corner balance, so that you can get on the power right away as you exit the turn. Otherwise you would lose a huge amount of time on the straights."
• "Because the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is such a fast track, we will run with a very low downforce set-up. It is also fairly low grip, as it is not severe on our Michelins we traditionally use a softer compound, so find the grip through this. As there are no high speed corners, there are no periods of high lateral loadings on the tyres."
• "Despite the speed, you do need to be quite precise here, as it is part road circuit so the Armco are very close to the edge of the track. It is also pretty dusty at the start of the weekend, but as rubber is laid down it starts to clear on the racing line. It was fantastic to win last year, and we had a solid weekend at the last race in Silverstone, hopefully we can put in another good result this weekend."
• Juan Pablo Montoya: "Although Silverstone and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are both pretty high speed, it is in a very different way. At Silverstone, you don't really need to brake all that much. At Canada however, braking is key, with the most severe demands of the year in this area. As a result, we will run with increased brake cooling, so you will see larger openings in the body work."
• "In addition there is a real focus with the set-up on braking stability. There are various areas that can be adjusted to improve braking performance, such as weight distribution and aero and mechanical balance. Alongside braking, straight line speed is also vital at Montreal, because of all the long straights, particularly when trying to overtake. There are chances, such as into the hairpin.
• "The Canadian Grand Prix is a great race, as it is so close to downtown Montreal, the atmosphere is like a carnival. I really enjoy the race and hope I have a less eventful time this year!"
• Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes:
• "We completed a productive three day test at Paul Ricard last week with Kimi, Pedro and Gary completing over 2,600km between them. The test has been a focus of our intensive programme of testing and development, as we still need to find performance in the MP4-21, and there is a lot of determination within the team to bring this to the track. With the front row grid slot and podium at Silverstone, we are moving in the right direction but there is more work that needs to be done to catch up with our prime competitors."
• "The Canadian Grand Prix has high rates of attrition, and brake cooling is extremely important. The circuit is located on the exposed seaway, and as a result head and tail winds can affect set-up quite dramatically, provides quite a challenge to the engineers and drivers."
• Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
• "The circuit on the Ile Notre-Dame is not a permanent track and, just as the impressive rowing basin behind the paddock, has its origin in 1976 when Montreal hosted the Olympic Games. There are only a few races at this circuit which therefore offers not so much grip. It is the most demanding track for the brakes and their cooling, even more with heavier fuel loads."
• "Two thirds of a lap will be driven under full throttle, a little less than at Silverstone previously. We all have to work hard to become as competitive as we have been last year; five podium finishes in eight races do not reflect what this team is capable of and what we had planned. These improvements cannot be achieved overnight; however we will achieve them within a manageable period."

SHELL PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

HONDA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Honda Racing F1 Team heads across the Atlantic this week to the cosmopolitan city of Montréal for the first of the two long-haul, back-to- back races which mark the mid-point of the 2006 season. The Canadian Grand Prix is always a firm favourite on the team's calendar as Honda Canada is a major sponsor of the race and its associated activities always add to the carnival atmosphere of downtown Montréal.
• Long-haul races always present their own special logistical challenges for the race team, and their arrival in Montréal marks the start of an intensive 15-day schedule. Last week, the team conducted a three-day test in Monza, Italy, in preparation for the two North American races, covering a total of 707 laps and 4094kms of aerodynamic, chassis set- up and tyre evaluation work to tailor the RA106 race cars to the demands of the medium downforce circuits in Montreal and Indianapolis.
• Rubens Barrichello: "The Canadian Grand Prix is really one of my favourite races on the calendar. First of all, the track is quite challenging and we have been doing a lot of work in testing to work on the set-up for this race. We had a positive test last week in Monza and I think we should be able to have a good weekend. Secondly, Montreal is a great city and it always provides a good backdrop to the racing action. I'm looking forward to it."
• Jenson Button: "Montréal is a great circuit and I really enjoy racing there. Our car seems to be well-suited to the track; it's a medium downforce circuit which requires much less wing than we have run in the last few races and the car seems to work well on that wing level. We've done some good work in testing and I'm generally pleased with the results, but we'll have to wait and see how things go at the weekend. The critical thing is to make sure we get the very best out of what we have."
• "As well as being one of my favourite circuits, there's always a great atmosphere in Montréal. It's a big weekend for Honda Canada, so I hope we have an enjoyable weekend on and off-track."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "The Canadian Grand Prix represents a completely different challenge to the last few races, as the circuit consists of a series of slow corners and a very long straight, and so demands a lower downforce configuration to achieve high top speeds. In preparation, we were busy testing last week in Monza to evaluate our latest performance developments in a configuration appropriate to the Montréal circuit."
• "Montréal is a great city and we are especially proud that Honda Canada is a major sponsor of this race and will have a significant trackside and downtown presence, including the Crescent Street Festival which is a great opportunity for the fans to get close to the team and our drivers. All in all we are looking forward to our two week visit to North America."
• Shuhei Nakamoto, Management Board Member - Honda Racing F1 Team, Engineering Director - Honda Racing Development:
• "After a frustrating run of races over the past few weeks we are looking forward to getting both cars back into the points in Canada."

WILLIAMS PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The first round of the North American double header takes place this weekend, race nine of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the Canadian Grand Prix. This year's event will mark the 38th Canadian Grand Prix since its inception in 1967 and the 28th time the race has been held in Quebec's cosmopolitan capital, Montréal.
• Named after the first race victor, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is located on the picturesque Ile Notre Dame, and is one of the most unique and technically demanding tracks on the calendar. Having secured eight victories in Canada out of 27 starts, the WilliamsF1 Team will be looking to draw upon its experience for a points finish this Sunday.
• Between the races
• Away from his testing responsibilities, Mark has been busy watching the World Cup on TV and celebrating Australia's 3-1 victory over Japan! He was also paying particular attention to the Australia v Brazil game as Mark has been invited to report on it for the "VIPs Love Football" section on www.FIFAworldcup.com before heading off to Canada on Tuesday.
• Nico has also enjoyed some down time to catch up with events on the pitch, but will head out to Canada early to assist team sponsor, Budweiser, in their annual promotional event which takes place on Wednesday in downtown Montréal. Alex will also join in the fun and spend the day meeting and greeting Budweiser customers and Formula One fans before undertaking a series of media interviews to conclude the day.
• Making the car go faster
• In preparation for the high speed nature of the Canadian track, the team spent three days after its home race at Silverstone in Monza. Mark, Nico and Alex were all on duty and completed a series of tests on tyre compounds, aero items and brake materials as well as working on suspension and gearbox development and set-up comparisons all ahead of this weekend's race.
• The trio lapped just over 2,500kms of the Italian circuit while Nico recorded the fourth fastest time of the week. As a result of the work successfully completed in Italy, the team will deploy upgraded FW28s in Montréal.
• Montréal from a technical perspective
• One of the few remaining power tracks, where top speeds can reach 330km/h and the average lap is driven at 210km/h, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve provides a mixed 2.7 miles of long straights interspersed with slow chicanes and imposing kerbs making a fluid rhythm hard to maintain.
• Engine power is rewarded on straights such as the Pont de la Concorde so engines must provide drivability and torque but be durable enough to survive 60% of the lap spent at full throttle. Fierce acceleration is often followed by acute braking events for the slow speed corners, so heavy duty brakes and efficient cooling capabilities are crucial at corners such as L'Epingle hairpin while, over the full 70 lap race distance, brake temperatures will reach in excess of 1,000°C.
• A temporary track, Montréal lacks grip in the opening practice sessions so set-up is often a conundrum while the track beds in, but the drivers must find the balance in time for qualifying. With few overtaking opportunities, a good qualifying position and a strong strategy are, therefore, of the essence.
• Mark Webber: "I'm looking forward to the two North American races. It's always good returning to Montréal because the atmosphere reminds me of Melbourne in some ways. It's a bit more relaxed than some of our more recent races, and the track is set in a nice location." The circuit requires a completely different aerodynamic package to the ones we've used for the first part of the season, which means a low to medium downforce level to help our top speeds. It also means we could see a slight change in performance from some teams as it's a fresh opportunity to find pace, I'm certainly hoping it'll provide us with a chance to improve our performance in the right direction. "Traditionally, Montréal is heavy on brakes and that's why we were testing in Monza last week. It's also a circuit which rewards good horsepower from the engine, so that should be a positive for us. We certainly need both Williams' in the points at Montréal."
• Nico Rosberg "I'm really looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix for two big reasons. Firstly, we had a good test in Monza last week running the low to medium downforce set-up so everything is in order for the Montréal track. We should be stronger there than we were at Silverstone and we have the potential to score some points."
• "The second reason is that everybody keeps telling me that the Canadian Grand Prix is one of the nicest races of the season. It will be my first time there and, although that makes it a greater challenge, I'm looking forward to getting everything out of it that I can."
• Sam Michael, Technical Director, WilliamsF1"Montréal is a low drag circuit, more so now with the v8s, and is made up of long straights, a lot of slow corners and chicanes. There are two or three good overtaking opportunities every lap which always makes for good racing at this circuit. Traditionally hard on brakes and temperatures, the window will shift slightly this year following the reduction in power levels and the increase in tyre grip compared to last season."
• We have a full car upgrade for Canada in the shape of front and rear wings, winglets, nose and diffuser revisions which were all tested and successfully signed off at the Monza test. Strategy at Montréal is always interesting and this year will be no exception."
• Simon Corbyn, Head of F1 Race Engineering, Cosworth:"Cosworth will install two fresh CA2006 Series 4 engines for the Canadian Grand Prix, as scheduled. Results from last week's Monza test are directly relevant to Montréal and this data will now be used to define the engine control system calibrations for the event. Montréal features notoriously tough braking events and so we'll be working closely with Williams to optimise the engine braking settings for this circuit."

TOYOTA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• ATLANTIC MOTION
• After five European races in a row, the Formula 1 teams now face the logistical challenge of a flyaway double-header. This weekend's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will be followed by the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis. That means that the 22 cars and all the extra equipment are currently flying out across the Atlantic Ocean en route to the island in the St Lawrence Seaway where the race takes place. The race is always popular with drivers, mechanics and everyone else involved in the sport because the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is situated minutes from downtown Montreal. Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli will be determined to bring home some strong results for Panasonic Toyota Racing from their adventures in North America.
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 7): "We haven't enjoyed particularly good results of late but I'm sure we will continue to improve. The TF106B has made another step and while we still have work to do to reach the level we would like, we are going in the right direction. We have made progress with the mechanical side of the car and our Bridgestone tyres have also improved. In terms of performance we are at a good level, we just need to pick up some better finishes. The Canadian Grand Prix is always a good place to come to race. Montreal is a beautiful city and the atmosphere is always great for the race weekend. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is known for fast straights and heavy braking. I have had some good results there in the past including my win five years ago so we'll hope to score again this weekend."
• Jarno Trulli (Car 8): "Because we don't test at Montreal it is always difficult to predict how we will get on there but the Canadian Grand Prix is always one of my favourites of the year. The atmosphere both at the circuit and away from it in the town is great. We tend to run low downforce so the car feels lighter and you have to be precise, but the track has a good flow to it. Of course this has not been a successful season for me so far. The car performance is strong but I have been hit by a lot of bad luck. I narrowly missed out on a podium in Monaco and then I had the engine problem in qualifying in Silverstone. So I am still without a points finish this year but I haven't been able to do much about it. All motor racing is the same - you just have to have patience and hope that you get what you deserve in the end. So I am still pushing and that is what I will continue to do until my fortunes change."
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis: "In terms of atmosphere the Canadian Grand Prix is one of my favourites together with Monaco. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve provides a very specific layout, featuring very long straights and almost exclusively slow corners. So the contrast between the two extremes of speed makes it the hardest circuit of the season for brakes. The challenge is to achieve good high speed braking stability without too much low speed understeer. In dry conditions, you tend to use tyres from the softer end of the range to favour traction. In the wet the circuit grip is very low because of the smoothness of the tarmac, it leads to the selection of compounds with very good warming up. Overtaking is not easy but possible, and most moves tend to take place at the last chicane. We are planning an interesting aerodynamic update for the race so we are looking forward to having a chance to evaluate it."

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