2006 Brazilian Grand Prix (the hype starts here) Spoilers within

[Pupik]

It's the last race of the season; where did the time go? Perhaps it was sent ahead 10 grid places, so we wouldn't notice it? Or maybe it's just the inexorable passage of time, clutching away another year from your truly, so a freshly-printed Autocourse can finally roll off the printing presses. A new page history awaits us in 2007, when all sorts of new stuff happens, new people, old people, and more numbers all make thier mark for the sport's future.

Not so fast; There's one last race.

For those keeping score, this is all you really need to know: Fernando Alonso has championship 126 points, and Michael Schumacher has 116 points. If Schumacher wins the race, he must hope that Fernando finishes 9th or worse to add an 8th driver's title to his resume. If Alonso scores even a single point, it's his championship keep for another year. And if a Super Aguri manages to win this race, I will pour mustard on their Honda engine and eat it for dinner.

 

[daan]

Here's the TV schedule for us Brits. Qualifying is live on ITV4.

Brazilian GP on ITV

Live qualifying: Saturday 21 October 1735-1920 ITV4
Qualifying: Saturday 21 October 2355-0150 ITV1
Live race: Sunday 22 October 1700-2000 ITV1
Highlights: Monday 23 October 0010-0110 ITV1

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

You get to see the qualifying sessions? Lucky bastards

 

[Dougboy]

Hmmm i gotta watch this. It will be the last time i see schumacher in an f1 car. Kinda sad even though im not a huge schumacher fan

Even though alsonso won the world champion(i think), i still wanna see ferrari win the constructor.

And like every race, i hope for a kimi win, not sure if it will happen

 

[Blake]

This race ends one of four ways:

1. Ferrari dominate, Alonso finishes and gets his title.
2. Ferrari dominate, and Alonso comes to stop with engine troubles despite a bulletproof powerplant. Schumi wins an 8th title.
3. Ferrari dominate, until Michael’s engine explodes for the second consecutive time, marking the beginning of the Räikkönen era at Ferrari. Alonso wins title and race.
4. Kimi pulls a win out of the bag, securing the title for Alonso.

 

[daan]

5. Ferrari, Renault, McLaren, Honda, Williams, BMW, Toyota, Red Bull, Torro Rosso & Spyker all retire leaving Super Aguri to get a one-two finish. Formulanone then has to eat a Honda Engine with mustard.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Super Aguri has outpaced the Spykers the last few races, so they dont need to retire. Last race, Sato even out paced one of the Red Bulls.

 

[Famine]

By crikey..!

(not sure if I'm allowed to say what I've just seen in Qualifying, but it's un-good for one of the title-chasing drivers and manufacturers.

 

[slackbladder]

Crikey indeed!
Didn't think that would happen!

 

[daan]

By crikey..!

(not sure if I'm allowed to say what I've just seen in Qualifying, but it's un-good for one of the title-chasing drivers and manufacturers.

Yep, its allowed. Anyone that doesn't want to know, shouldn't be in the thread. Don't make a topic about it though...

 

[slackbladder]

In that case, Shumacher out at the beginning of the final qualifying. Real surprise!
Now is it an engine problem?

 

[fideles1986]

he sais it was a problem with fuel pressure...

 

[kikie]

Yep, its allowed. Anyone that doesn't want to know, shouldn't be in the thread. Don't make a topic about it though...

Ok, I just want to know without making a topic about it.
But What's allowed??? I must have missed something.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Does the race start at 6pm British time? I'm assuming it's the usual 1 hour of drole prior to the start.

I hope MS doesn't crash out early, it would ruin what could be an awesome show of overtaking.

 

[Sureboss]

The race is a 6PM start in the UK, yes. interesting qualifying sessions, Schumi looks depressed since he announced that decision.

 

[Mr. Boy]

Y'know, I can see Schuey scything his way to the front, battling with Alonso for the race win, and then on the second-to-last lap he barges Alonso off the track (both drivers unhurt, of course) and wins the championship. And then the FIA will intervene and strip him of the title.

Anyone prepared for "The Schumacher Incident 3"?

 

[Kylehnat]

Y'know, I can see Schuey scything his way to the front, battling with Alonso for the race win

If I were Alonso in such a situation, I'd just let him go. He doesn't need to stay ahead of Michael for any reason.

On a different note, does anyone know why Nico Rosberg speaks German during his "Inside Grand Prix" interviews? He speaks very good English, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

[Dougboy]

Michael’s engine explodes for the second consecutive time, marking the beginning of the Räikkönen era at Ferrari

that is not funny

 

[z-reserve]

Williams-Cosworth's 20k-RPM engines didn't gave a performance advantage as some would have presumed, but then again there's still the race. So much things making their last salute this sunday : Schumi, Cosworth and thousands of engine revs to be used...

Wish I could see it live, at a pub or something.

 

[Blake]

that is not funny

I thought it was quite clever, actually. I really hope it just stays as a bit of a joke, and doesn’t turn into reality, though. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Kimi can really do with Ferrari.

On qualifying, as a Kimi fan, I’m happy. As a Formula 1 fan, I’m kinda sad to see Schumacher on the back foot to start with. But hey, you can overtake at Brazil so I’m looking forard to a race that should be very exciting.

Oh, and what’s the deal with Renault? Michael wasn’t able to qualify, yet they still could only get Alonso into P4… Are they just playing conservative with the engine, or is there a genuine lack of pace?

 

[Solid Lifters]

You get to see the qualifying sessions? Lucky bastards

Here in the US, we get practice, qualifying and the race. Plus, all three are repeated in case you cannot see it at the time it airs LIVE on TV.

Bad luck for MS, but that's the way it goes, sometimes.

Renault running heavy fuel, and sitting in good, not great, position. They don't mind second row, but I wish Fisi did better. Why should this race be any different from all the others?

Running light on fuel, are McLaren and Toyota, which seems pointless to do except get you on camera for just a little while. Say "cheese," fellas.

It's going to be a good one.

 

[Blake]

In Australia, we get the race. Usually delayed by about an hour. The Asian races are delayed by at least 6 hours, usually. The only races we see live are the Australian GP, and the American races (which are on at 3am).

If I recall correctly, channel 10 signed a contract saying they would broadcast all races delayed by no more than 45 minutes. Whatever happened to that? If they don’t up their game next year (I doubt they will), I am defnatly going to be complaining to them. 👎

 

[tigermoth737]

Dammit, I hate to say it, but Fernando, congragulations on your 2nd world championship.

 

[Famine]

Oh, and what’s the deal with Renault? Michael wasn’t able to qualify, yet they still could only get Alonso into P4… Are they just playing conservative with the engine, or is there a genuine lack of pace?

The splits had Alonso up in 1 & 2 and down in 3 - the sector with one corner and a whole lot of acceleration. Suggests they've got the engine turned down a bit.

On a different note, does anyone know why Nico Rosberg speaks German during his "Inside Grand Prix" interviews? He speaks very good English, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

I figure he's German. Why shouldn't he speak German?

 

[kikie]

I figure he's German. Why shouldn't he speak German?

Yep, you're right as always. Nico grew up in Germany.

 

[Blake]

The splits had Alonso up in 1 & 2 and down in 3 - the sector with one corner and a whole lot of acceleration. Suggests they've got the engine turned down a bit.

Ah, I wasn’t able to watch qualifying. Maybe he’s got a fairly large fuel load. It is a pretty steep climb.

 

[kikie]

STill a couple of hours befor the race. I'm wondering what Shumacher is going to do?? Crash into Alonso like he did with Damon Hill and Villneuve?? Or is it going to be a clean race??

 

[Blake]

I think it will probably be clean.

 

[fatman_5050]

STill a couple of hours befor the race. I'm wondering what Shumacher is going to do?? Crash into Alonso like he did with Damon Hill and Villneuve?? Or is it going to be a clean race??

From what I've heard, Luca di Montezemolo has said that Ferrari will give MS the car he will race today as a retirement present.
No sense in getting a broken car for his collection.

 

[Famine]

I think it will probably be clean.

Everyone on Earth knows that Schumacher will try something dodgy. Everyone. Even my cat knows, and I don't have a cat. Schumacher knows. Massa knows. Brawn knows. Todt knows. Alonso knows. The race stewards know...

So he won't try anything dodgy, because everyone will be watching for it and no-one can possibly be that thick.

Still won't stop everyone I know tuning in just to watch Schumacher try and boot Alonso off the track.