The Formula 1 Season 2006 Thread (7 Viewers)
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Spa-Francorchamps Return Confirmed
Written by: RACER staff
London, UK – 10/12/2006
With money deals arranged, Spa's majestic circuit is set to return to the F1 lineup next year. (LAT photo)
Formula 1 commercial czar Bernie Ecclestone has given his final approval for the Belgian Grand Prix to return to the World Championship calendar next season after signing a deal with the event’s new organizers.
The Spa-Francorchamps race was dropped from this year’s calendar because track improvement work could not be completed in time. Further complications were caused by the bankruptcy of the Grand Prix’s former promoter, DDF1. However, with the $46 million upgrade having now been approved, Ecclestone inked a deal with new promoter “Spa-Grand Prix” for next year’s event in London on Wednesday.
The situation beyond 2007 has not been finalized yet, with three scenarios under discussion. Spa-Grand Prix could stay on as organiser, the regional government cancel the race and pay Ecclestone $22 million in compensation, or Ecclestone himself could take full control of the event until 2010, as well as receiving compensation.
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best damn race in the claendar.
Written by: RACER staff
London, UK – 10/12/2006
With money deals arranged, Spa's majestic circuit is set to return to the F1 lineup next year. (LAT photo)
Formula 1 commercial czar Bernie Ecclestone has given his final approval for the Belgian Grand Prix to return to the World Championship calendar next season after signing a deal with the event’s new organizers.
The Spa-Francorchamps race was dropped from this year’s calendar because track improvement work could not be completed in time. Further complications were caused by the bankruptcy of the Grand Prix’s former promoter, DDF1. However, with the $46 million upgrade having now been approved, Ecclestone inked a deal with new promoter “Spa-Grand Prix” for next year’s event in London on Wednesday.
The situation beyond 2007 has not been finalized yet, with three scenarios under discussion. Spa-Grand Prix could stay on as organiser, the regional government cancel the race and pay Ecclestone $22 million in compensation, or Ecclestone himself could take full control of the event until 2010, as well as receiving compensation.
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best damn race in the claendar.
He's done many great things there, and it's just a great track
Today is Schumacher's 250th and final race in Brazil. Massa has the pole, and he'll be joined on the front line with Raikonnen. Schumacher's all the way back in the fifth row, while Alonso's in the third. It's going to take a miracle for Schumacher to win this one, and even more to win the Driver's Championship. It's bad to say this but I hope Alonso's engine blows. Really, I do.
I'm so dissapointed in Ferrari...Schumacher spent the last ten minutes of the qualifying session trying to get his car fixed.
I'm so dissapointed in Ferrari...Schumacher spent the last ten minutes of the qualifying session trying to get his car fixed.
, good bye Schumi u have been the great if not the greatest , Formula one will lose some taste for years to comeI wish I can shake his hand and thank him for all the years, all the suspence and all the records he did. He will be always the best.
On another record, didn't Alonso
look again like a monkey? That's two races straight he does this barbaric behaviour. I would like to send my condolences to a the McLaren fans, a classy team is getting a monkey 
On another record, didn't Alonso
look again like a monkey? That's two races straight he does this barbaric behaviour. I would like to send my condolences to a the McLaren fans, a classy team is getting a monkey I really enjoyed the last race so what schumi lost he showed what a freak he is he came from dead last 70 secs behind to come 4th!Even tho i knew he was last and it was 4am and i had work in the monring i refused to go to sleep one thing i know about schumi he always puts a show! What a drive! What a move on Kimi!!I d like to see Alonso do that from last ! I thought Massa had a breeze he had it easy he did his job and loved it as he should! Where was this ferrari at the start of this year? Alonso showed he lacks respect his words on schumi didnt tell you what a man he was , if u want to b great u must learn to b humble. I wish schumi and him came toe to toe yesterday but it was not to be! All in all Alonso won the championship and the Renault the constructers but formula one didnt care they where more worried about losing Schumi a man who did mistakes in his career he would b first to admit it but touched heights that many can only dream of! Formula one now goes into transitition and will loose fans but how this season unfolded was truly Formula one at its best and it was all thanks to one man Schumi! Number 1!
! All in all Alonso won the championship and the Renault the constructers but formula one didnt care they where more worried about losing Schumi a man who did mistakes in his career he would b first to admit it but touched heights that many can only dream of! Formula one now goes into transitition and will loose fans but how this season unfolded was truly Formula one at its best and it was all thanks to one man Schumi! Number 1!
Alfio_87 said:
I really enjoyed the last race so what schumi lost he showed what a freak he is he came from dead last 70 secs behind to come 4th!Even tho i knew he was last and it was 4am and i had work in the monring i refused to go to sleep one thing i know about schumi he always puts a show! What a drive! What a move on Kimi!!I d like to see Alonso do that from last ! I thought Massa had a breeze he had it easy he did his job and loved it as he should! Where was this ferrari at the start of this year? Alonso showed he lacks respect his words on schumi didnt tell you what a man he was , if u want to b great u must learn to b humble. I wish schumi and him came toe to toe yesterday but it was not to be! All in all Alonso won the championship and the Renault the constructers but formula one didnt care they where more worried about losing Schumi a man who did mistakes in his career he would b first to admit it but touched heights that many can only dream of! Formula one now goes into transitition and will loose fans but how this season unfolded was truly Formula one at its best and it was all thanks to one man Schumi! Number 1!
! All in all Alonso won the championship and the Renault the constructers but formula one didnt care they where more worried about losing Schumi a man who did mistakes in his career he would b first to admit it but touched heights that many can only dream of! Formula one now goes into transitition and will loose fans but how this season unfolded was truly Formula one at its best and it was all thanks to one man Schumi! Number 1!
great words mate
actually reading his words now not in the early hours of 5am in the morning they werent too bad but just watching his body language it just didnt look natural, for me anyway thats just my opinion tho!His words where what was expected but its always easier when u a victorious of course! He could of said more if he wanted to! But taking nothing away from Alonso he won he takes the kudos he will b in history as the won who won the 2005 and 2006 titles! Wen schumi was still around........
Q: Can I invite you to say a few words about Michael Schumacher in his last Grand Prix today, finished fourth only five seconds behind you at the end after a puncture he incurred in passing your teammate; very close rivalry between you two all season.
FA: Yeah, it has been very close. I think it was good to fight with him. I always said that to become champion when Michael was still on the track has maybe more value than when he retired and I was extremely lucky to win the last two championships he raced in. I think all the drivers wish him the best for his new life with his family. It has been a pleasure for us to race with him.
Felipe Massa, Ferrari (1st):
“Today is another dream, the dream of my life has become a reality. The car was perfect, the Bridgestone tyres were perfect, I drove an impeccable race and all of this at my home grand prix! I always had the situation under control, slowing just a bit when Michael (Schumacher) was in front of me, after his puncture, as I did not want to pass him. I want to dedicate this race to my family, to my friends, to all those who helped me in my career and to the Brazilian people who, today, made me feel their warmth through all the fans in the grandstand. Michael now stops driving for the team, but already I know I will miss him. I have always felt his support and his friendship and I know that it will be a big responsibility to replace him. Over the last few laps, I was trying to maintain concentration, but I could not stop myself from watching all the fans celebrating in the grandstands!”
Fernando Alonso, Renault (2nd):
“What a wonderful feeling this is. We have done a fantastic last part of the championship, scoring 26 points out of 30 possible, and that was enough to make us double champions. It is such a special moment to win both titles on the same day, and the atmosphere in the team is unbelievable right now. I have to say thank you; thank you to everybody in the team, to all the people at Enstone and Viry, to Michelin, to my team mate Giancarlo (Fisichella) and to Heikki (Kovalainen), who has done so much good work this year. In 2006, they have taught me many lessons: to always stay fair play, to put in the effort, to keep the focus and the determination to win. It has been up and down for us, but they never forgot the target, and we have done it now. My memories from this season will be from the win in Barcelona, and also these times now, celebrating with the mechanics - and the celebrations to come in the next weeks in Spain. This is the right time to enjoy what we have done. I am proud to have been racing with Michael (Schumacher) as well. It is an honour to have won the final two championships of his career, and I think they will mean more than any others I can win in my career. He is retiring as the man with all the records, and it has been big pressure to race against him - and a big privilege as well.”
Jenson Button, Honda (3rd):
"I'm thrilled to end the season on the podium, especially coming through from 14th on the grid yet again and after the problem we experienced yesterday. This result came out of a genuine fight, with the car showing great competitiveness. It was one of the most enjoyable races I have experienced. It's only natural to think about where we could have finished if we had been able to start further up the grid, but we shouldn't take anything away from a great result and a very strong second half of the season. My thanks to everyone in the team, and all our partners and fans. This is a fantastic way to go into the winter when I'm sure we will all have the motivation to push harder for a much stronger 2007 season."
Michael Schumacher, Ferrari (4th):
“I am very happy for Felipe (Massa) who drove an amazing race. It is great for him to be the first Brazilian to win at Interlagos since Ayrton Senna. It would have been nice if I could at least have made it to the podium alongside him. I would also like to congratulate Fernando (Alonso). Today, my race was compromised after the puncture I picked up on lap nine, when I had just passed Fisichella. I was unaware of it until the team told me about it on the radio. I had a good climb back up the order, thanks partly to an amazing car and exceptional Bridgestone tyres. Today my racing career comes to an end. Obviously, it is a special moment for me and I am proud to have lived my career with some fantastic people, namely everyone who is part of the Ferrari family. There is so much I could say about them, but it is difficult to find the right words…”
Q: Can I invite you to say a few words about Michael Schumacher in his last Grand Prix today, finished fourth only five seconds behind you at the end after a puncture he incurred in passing your teammate; very close rivalry between you two all season.
FA: Yeah, it has been very close. I think it was good to fight with him. I always said that to become champion when Michael was still on the track has maybe more value than when he retired and I was extremely lucky to win the last two championships he raced in. I think all the drivers wish him the best for his new life with his family. It has been a pleasure for us to race with him.
Felipe Massa, Ferrari (1st):
“Today is another dream, the dream of my life has become a reality. The car was perfect, the Bridgestone tyres were perfect, I drove an impeccable race and all of this at my home grand prix! I always had the situation under control, slowing just a bit when Michael (Schumacher) was in front of me, after his puncture, as I did not want to pass him. I want to dedicate this race to my family, to my friends, to all those who helped me in my career and to the Brazilian people who, today, made me feel their warmth through all the fans in the grandstand. Michael now stops driving for the team, but already I know I will miss him. I have always felt his support and his friendship and I know that it will be a big responsibility to replace him. Over the last few laps, I was trying to maintain concentration, but I could not stop myself from watching all the fans celebrating in the grandstands!”
Fernando Alonso, Renault (2nd):
“What a wonderful feeling this is. We have done a fantastic last part of the championship, scoring 26 points out of 30 possible, and that was enough to make us double champions. It is such a special moment to win both titles on the same day, and the atmosphere in the team is unbelievable right now. I have to say thank you; thank you to everybody in the team, to all the people at Enstone and Viry, to Michelin, to my team mate Giancarlo (Fisichella) and to Heikki (Kovalainen), who has done so much good work this year. In 2006, they have taught me many lessons: to always stay fair play, to put in the effort, to keep the focus and the determination to win. It has been up and down for us, but they never forgot the target, and we have done it now. My memories from this season will be from the win in Barcelona, and also these times now, celebrating with the mechanics - and the celebrations to come in the next weeks in Spain. This is the right time to enjoy what we have done. I am proud to have been racing with Michael (Schumacher) as well. It is an honour to have won the final two championships of his career, and I think they will mean more than any others I can win in my career. He is retiring as the man with all the records, and it has been big pressure to race against him - and a big privilege as well.”
Jenson Button, Honda (3rd):
"I'm thrilled to end the season on the podium, especially coming through from 14th on the grid yet again and after the problem we experienced yesterday. This result came out of a genuine fight, with the car showing great competitiveness. It was one of the most enjoyable races I have experienced. It's only natural to think about where we could have finished if we had been able to start further up the grid, but we shouldn't take anything away from a great result and a very strong second half of the season. My thanks to everyone in the team, and all our partners and fans. This is a fantastic way to go into the winter when I'm sure we will all have the motivation to push harder for a much stronger 2007 season."
Michael Schumacher, Ferrari (4th):
“I am very happy for Felipe (Massa) who drove an amazing race. It is great for him to be the first Brazilian to win at Interlagos since Ayrton Senna. It would have been nice if I could at least have made it to the podium alongside him. I would also like to congratulate Fernando (Alonso). Today, my race was compromised after the puncture I picked up on lap nine, when I had just passed Fisichella. I was unaware of it until the team told me about it on the radio. I had a good climb back up the order, thanks partly to an amazing car and exceptional Bridgestone tyres. Today my racing career comes to an end. Obviously, it is a special moment for me and I am proud to have lived my career with some fantastic people, namely everyone who is part of the Ferrari family. There is so much I could say about them, but it is difficult to find the right words…”
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