The Grand Prix of Japan 2006 - Suzuka - Yellow-blue joy, Red grief F1, 2006, formule 1, grand prix

The Grand Prix of Japan 2006 - Suzuka - Yellow-blue joy, Red grief

L.Pecháček | 8.10.06 | Komentáře - L.Pecháček 2006

F1 comments L.Pecháček

The GP of Japan in Suzuka was expected by the world of F1 with an incredible anxiety. The situation of the two title candidates with the same points two races before the end of the Championship happened for the last time 12 years ago, when the difference between M.Schumacher and D.Hill was one point. And exactly the point decided about the World Champion in the end. The teams proved they were not taking any chances as the practices were run not by the usual test drivers but the regular pilots. Fisichella, Massa, M.Schumacher and Alonso on Friday. Both Schumachers, Button, Fisichella and Alonso on Saturday. Everything, including the weather, seemed to play for Michael. If he had won and Alonso had not reached any points, he would have become the Champion regardless the last GP of Brazil. Even the qualification went well for him, but Massa took the pole position by 0.112s in the end. However, the first row remained red. The second belonged to the red and white Toyota (R.Schumacher and Trulli), the third for the yellow and blue Renault (Alonso and Fisichella), the fourth for Honda (Barrichello and Button), the fifth one was mixed of BMW (Heidfeld) and Williams (Rosberg). McLaren was disappointed this time (Räikkönen 11th, de la Rosa 13th). Massa led from the start, however, as soon as the second lap M.Schumacher got to the first position, where he stayed safely even after two pit stops. Behind him, there were Massa, R.Schumacher, Alonso, Trulli, Button, Fisichella and Heidfeld. Alonso reached the second position after the pit stops but the gap between him and Michael almost did not change. And then, in the lap 37, out of blue, smoke appeared behind the leading Ferrari! What nobody expected finally happened! The Ferrari car gave up because of technical problem, which happened last in 2000. That was it, Alonso only checked his first place and finished with an 8s advantage over the others. Massa managed to keep the second place, however he was helpless against the Renault dominance. Fisichella came 3rd, that meant that Renault increased its advantage in the Constructors Table to 9 points, and Alonso's over M.Schumacher to 10 points.

Michael was disappointed after the race, the World Champion dream disappeared in the blue smoke of his engine. For Alonso it is enough to gain a single point to win the Title. It is not going to be that easy job for him though, as for the Brazil the situation is: Michael wins and Fernando does not get any points, Schumacher becomes the World Champion with the same amount of points but one victory more. That close!