2006 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - Round 1,RaceHello and welcome to the first round of the 2006 FIA Formula 1 World championship.Yesterday qualifying saw the 2 Renaults lock out the front row,with the Midland the surprise of the day with the second row lockout..With practice pace setters Mclaren down in 7th and 9th and Ferraris down the grid,we hope for a good race with plenty of overtaking..Anyway the lights are on and we are ready for the off...
And it is go,for Bahrain 2006!!..
Button leads the from teammate Alonso,with Lotterer passing Frentzen for 3rd..Raikkonen also with a super start is 5th after turn 1..Kubica also up a couple of place with Montoya falling down to 8th..Da Matta is 11th after a mega start from 19th on the grid!!
Raikkonen all over the back of Frentzen for 4th,finally passes him in to the last corner,good move!
A look at the standings after the first lap..
Raikkonen continues his charge through the field and passes Lotterer for 3rd..
Davidson has a spin..rejoins last
Coulthard also has an off at the last corner,he rejoins in 21st..
Some great battles going on down the field..
Lotterer is now running 5th..Replays show he ran wide at turn 7,losing a place to Kubica
But immediately is back on the tail of the Mclaren,and taking the place back with a good move into turn 1,also setting the fastest lap in the process,Great stuff!
As Raikkonen is all over the back of Alonsos Renault,here is a look at the standings..
Raikkonen pulls a great pass on Alonso to take 2nd,.the Finn is on a mission the day!!..
Meanwhile Lotterer has found pace in his Midland to set the fastest lap..
Whats this,a second Honda spinning,this time its Leinders turn to make an error,he rejoins last..
Down the field Villeneuve takes Montagny for 11th,nice clean pass..
Looks like a smoking Super Aguri..It is and Kovalainen becomes the first retirement of 2006 with a water leak..
Major development Alonso is in the lead!!
Raikkonen is facing backwards at the last turn,Button is also in the gravel!!
Button rejoins in last place,but Raikkonen has lost his front wing he will have to pit,disaster for the Finn who was flying through the field!!
Replays show the two of them got together at the last corner while fighting for the lead!!
A look at the standings after 10 Laps..With Lotterer pressuring Alonso for the lead.
Lotterer takes the lead!!
Leinders is off the track and out with brake problems
Alonso is also out with transmission problems!!Renaults nightmare continues!!
Can lotterer take a famous win for the new team Midland?
Da Matta puts a good move on Montagny for 14th..
Frentzen running an excellent 5th in his comeback race,while his team mate sets a new fastest lap..
Glock and Massa have a shunt while battling for 7th..Massa lost a few places and falls to 9th,Glock rejoins 17th..
Coulthard kick starts the first round of stops
Vettel having a storming drive nearly lost his front wing on Villeneuves Williams,both get away unscathed..
Kubica leads but is yet to stop..
More drivers in for their first stop..
R Schumacher passes Davidson for 12th
Verstappen now leads..but at end of lap is in the pits handing Frentzen the lead..
Frentzen leads and looks as if he is on a one stop strategy,this is looking really good for Midland..standings after the first round of stops..
Coulthard,Raikkonen and Davidson battle it out for 14th with the Scot taking the place for BMW..
Frentzen and Lotterer are having a titanic scrap for the lead!!..The Midland team boss can barely look!!...Over 2 laps of action between the team mates with Lotterer finally making the move stick..this is Great stuff!!
Meanwhile of camera Montoya takes Montagny for 3rd,with Verstappen pressuring the one stopping STR..
Half way point standings check..
Whats going on here Montoya is missing..
Looks like the Colombian has had an off and rejoins in 8th, disappointing for BMW!..
The one stoppers are finally in the pits..
Meanwhile Jos "the boss" scythes his way past Kubica to take 2nd in his Ferrari,Mega move!!
A quick standings check...
JV passes MS for 5th,good move!!..
Raikkonen in for his final stop..
Buttons off again,What a dismal day for the Brit..
Davidson finally makes his stop,going long has not worked for him today..
The second round of pit stops gets underway...
The race leader is off!!..But fortunately for him he rejoins in the lead.. Heart-stopping moment for the Midland team..
More drivers in for there second stop..
Massa and Raikkonen touch while battling down the field..both survive with no damage..
The second round of stops continue...
With the final round of stops over,it looks very good for the Midland team..
Lotterer sets a new fastest lap,this is a great drive from the German!!
Frentzen has a brake problem and has to pit!!..Disaster for the German he rejoins in 9th
A look at the standings with 10 to go..
A great battle raging for 6th,with the recovering Frentzen passing Vettel for 8th..
MS puts a good move on Montagny for 6th..
Frentzen follows suit to take 7th..
With 5 to go Lotterer has a huge lead,will this be Midlands day??
Under pressure from Vettel,Montagny runs wide and lose's a few places,drops back to 11th..
Ms spins!!,Frentzen joins him in sympathy!!Ms rejoins 5th,Frentzen falls back to 10th..
That puts Raikkonen back in the points..
Major development!!,Race leader is off the track,its heart break for the Midland team!!..With just 3 laps to go Lotterer has retired with a suspension failure!! Unbelievable!!
That puts Vertappen in the lead,can he win his first ever race??
An awesome battle in the closing stages see's R Schumacher all over the back of Raikkonen with Frentzen in hot pursuit,and Vettel taking 5th place from MS,What a Mega drive from Vettel!!..
But at the front Jos Vertappen wins!!!What a great drive from the Dutchman to take his first ever win...
Robert Kubica an excellent 2nd..
And Juan Montoya completes the podium,if not for his error he could have won today..
Solid drive from Jacques Villeneuve to be 4th...
A stunning performance from Sebastian Vettel from last on the grid he finishes 5th...
Defending World Champion takes 6th..
With Raikkonen 7th,and Ralf Schumacher just edging out Frentzen for the final point in the Toyota!!
Fastest Lap TimesFinal Race StandingsDOTD - Has to be Andre Lotterer so close to his first win only for reliability to strike.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2013 11:48PM by F1_Manager.