Team principal Ron Dennis has played down any suggestion of tension between McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso and rookie superstar Lewis Hamilton.
Many observers interpreted a discussion between Dennis and Alonso on a park bench in the Bahrain paddock last week as a public message that McLaren has not forgotten about the double world champion amid all the Hamilton hype.
Dennis denied to reporters that the conversation was staged, but explained : "It was just a kind of paternal touch. We are privileged to have a double world champion in the car and the chemistry between the two is fantastic. There is not an issue between them and we'll make sure it stays that way. We want to win the world championship. We have the young pretender and the champion and we owe it to them to give them equal opportunity.
"
The Woking-based team's chief did, however, admit that 22-year-old Briton Hamilton's impressive debut so far in 2007, and the reaction of the media, has probably left Alonso a little irked.
Dennis recalled : "The first three questions from the press to the drivers in Australia went to Lewis. I could just sense Fernando thinking, 'Hang on, I am the double world champion here'."
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Hamilton a title contender
McLaren's Fernando Alonso had to admit on Sunday that rookie teammate and joint championship leader Lewis Hamilton is now a genuine contender for the 2007 crown.
"Anyone who is driving a good car is a contender," the Spaniard said in Bahrain after finishing just fifth in the third race of the championship.
History-making Hamilton, 22, was second, as commentators surmised that the British rookie had simply outperformed his famous teammate.
"The best cars this year are the McLarens and the Ferraris," 25-year-old Alonso told Spanish reporters, "so Massa, Raikkonen and Hamilton will be fighting for the podium places all season.
"
The reigning world champion was visibly disappointed as he abandoned his silver car in parc ferme, but he confirmed that he had taken the time to congratulate Hamilton for making history as the most successful-ever formula one rookie.
Alonso also refused to accuse McLaren of failing to perfect his car setup or messing up his strategy for the race.
"Any strategy is good if you are fast," he said, "and any strategy is bad if you are not fast. This time I was not fast enough."
"Anyone who is driving a good car is a contender," the Spaniard said in Bahrain after finishing just fifth in the third race of the championship.
History-making Hamilton, 22, was second, as commentators surmised that the British rookie had simply outperformed his famous teammate.
"The best cars this year are the McLarens and the Ferraris," 25-year-old Alonso told Spanish reporters, "so Massa, Raikkonen and Hamilton will be fighting for the podium places all season.
"
The reigning world champion was visibly disappointed as he abandoned his silver car in parc ferme, but he confirmed that he had taken the time to congratulate Hamilton for making history as the most successful-ever formula one rookie.
Alonso also refused to accuse McLaren of failing to perfect his car setup or messing up his strategy for the race.
"Any strategy is good if you are fast," he said, "and any strategy is bad if you are not fast. This time I was not fast enough."
Hamilton makes it three straight podiums
McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finished second in today’s Bahrain Grand Prix whilst Fernando Alonso ended up fifth after struggling with the balance of his car throughout the race. In only his third Grand Prix, Hamilton finished on the podium for the third consecutive time.
Alonso, winner of the last race in Malaysia, leads the Drivers’ Championship with 22 points; Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen who finished third today, are both also on 22 points. In the Constructors' Championship McLaren Mercedes are leading with 44 points.
Lewis Hamilton
“I’m very pleased with today’s result. To have finished on the podium three times out of three is fantastic. We have definitely closed the gap to Ferrari and I know everybody will continue to push hard to improve even more in time for the Spanish Grand Prix. I was able to keep up with Felipe in the first stint but I really struggled with the balance of the car in the second. I had a lot of under steer and wasn’t able to brake as late as I would have liked. However after the second pitstop when I changed to hard tyres I was able to push again. I really enjoyed the race today and with a few more laps I might have been able to challenge Felipe for the lead.”
Fernando Alonso
“In a way I feel happy as we came away with four points and still leading the championship which is what is important. This was not a great race for me but these things happen. I was struggling for pace and overall grip which means that you can’t drive the car as well as you would like. You always start the race believing you can win but after six or seven laps I knew that it would be tough.
I couldn’t keep up with the Ferraris and Lewis and in the end had to settle for fifth. I was close to Heidfeld in the end but there was nothing I could do. We now look forward to the next couple of weeks where we will all work hard to further improve the car in time for my home Grand Prix in Barcelona.”
Ron Dennis
“Even though it was not a perfect day we can leave Bahrain leading both Championships which is a great achievement for the team. Fernando struggled a bit with the balance of his car and we never really managed to perfect his set-up. Lewis was more comfortable with his car and had a great race. Our intensive R&D programme will now change up a gear and hopefully deliver a performance step that will make us even more competitive at the Spanish Grand Prix and of course we are already looking forward to the start of the European season in Barcelona.”
Norbert Haug
"Fernando is leading the Drivers’ Championship with 22 points, Lewis having had three races and three podium finishes and the team retaining the lead in the Constructors’ Championship it is a very good start to the season. We will all now be working hard to be the best prepared team at the start of the European season in four weeks time in Barcelona.”
Alonso, winner of the last race in Malaysia, leads the Drivers’ Championship with 22 points; Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen who finished third today, are both also on 22 points. In the Constructors' Championship McLaren Mercedes are leading with 44 points.
Lewis Hamilton
“I’m very pleased with today’s result. To have finished on the podium three times out of three is fantastic. We have definitely closed the gap to Ferrari and I know everybody will continue to push hard to improve even more in time for the Spanish Grand Prix. I was able to keep up with Felipe in the first stint but I really struggled with the balance of the car in the second. I had a lot of under steer and wasn’t able to brake as late as I would have liked. However after the second pitstop when I changed to hard tyres I was able to push again. I really enjoyed the race today and with a few more laps I might have been able to challenge Felipe for the lead.”
Fernando Alonso
“In a way I feel happy as we came away with four points and still leading the championship which is what is important. This was not a great race for me but these things happen. I was struggling for pace and overall grip which means that you can’t drive the car as well as you would like. You always start the race believing you can win but after six or seven laps I knew that it would be tough.
I couldn’t keep up with the Ferraris and Lewis and in the end had to settle for fifth. I was close to Heidfeld in the end but there was nothing I could do. We now look forward to the next couple of weeks where we will all work hard to further improve the car in time for my home Grand Prix in Barcelona.”
Ron Dennis
“Even though it was not a perfect day we can leave Bahrain leading both Championships which is a great achievement for the team. Fernando struggled a bit with the balance of his car and we never really managed to perfect his set-up. Lewis was more comfortable with his car and had a great race. Our intensive R&D programme will now change up a gear and hopefully deliver a performance step that will make us even more competitive at the Spanish Grand Prix and of course we are already looking forward to the start of the European season in Barcelona.”
Norbert Haug
"Fernando is leading the Drivers’ Championship with 22 points, Lewis having had three races and three podium finishes and the team retaining the lead in the Constructors’ Championship it is a very good start to the season. We will all now be working hard to be the best prepared team at the start of the European season in four weeks time in Barcelona.”
Alonso disappointed with fifth position
Fernando Alonso admitted he was disappointed at not achieving his main aspiration of finishing on the podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. Alonso finished in fifth as he lost his outright lead in the championship which he now shares with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.
"After this race I'm left with a bit of a bitter taste for not having been able to climb onto the podium which was the main target," Alonso told Spanish television after the race in Sakhir.
The McLaren Mercedes driver finished 14 seconds behind eventual winner Felipe Massa. Alonso was also the victim of a classy overtaking move by Nick Heidfeld and admitted he had problems with car during the race.
"I couldn't do more than what I did, and in the end it's four points and we finished the race and as I said I tried to do the best I could," he added.
"I wasn't very comfortable with the car, and in the end I did the best I could."
The good news for Alonso is that he is still head of the championship tied on 22 points with Raikkonen and Hamilton.
"After these first three races I didn't think I would be sharing the lead in the championship with the Ferraris when we thought they were on another planet," added Alonso. "So we'll arrive in Barcelona in good conditions and leading the championship."
"After this race I'm left with a bit of a bitter taste for not having been able to climb onto the podium which was the main target," Alonso told Spanish television after the race in Sakhir.
The McLaren Mercedes driver finished 14 seconds behind eventual winner Felipe Massa. Alonso was also the victim of a classy overtaking move by Nick Heidfeld and admitted he had problems with car during the race.
"I couldn't do more than what I did, and in the end it's four points and we finished the race and as I said I tried to do the best I could," he added.
"I wasn't very comfortable with the car, and in the end I did the best I could."
The good news for Alonso is that he is still head of the championship tied on 22 points with Raikkonen and Hamilton.
"After these first three races I didn't think I would be sharing the lead in the championship with the Ferraris when we thought they were on another planet," added Alonso. "So we'll arrive in Barcelona in good conditions and leading the championship."
Hamilton makes history; Alonso struggles
The fairytale start to Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One career continued in Bahrain on Sunday. His second place made him the first driver in history to finish his first three Grands Prix on the podium. Not only that, he also took the joint lead in the drivers’ championship standings.
Having secured his maiden front-row start in Saturday’s qualifying session, Hamilton kept a cool head into Turn One, slotting into second place behind poleman Felipe Massa, who had vowed to give British youngster minimal room after losing out in their battle in Malaysia last weekend.
From there, though the McLaren didn’t have the ultimate race pace of the Ferrari - as witnessed by Fernando Alonso’s fifth place - Hamilton did an excellent job of keeping Massa in his sights and, more importantly, keeping Kimi Raikkonen behind him during the critical second round of pit stops.
“To have finished on the podium three times out of three is fantastic,” said Hamilton afterwards. “We have definitely closed the gap to Ferrari and I know everybody will continue to push hard to improve even more in time for the Spanish Grand Prix.
“I was able to keep up with Felipe in the first stint but I really struggled with the balance of the car in the second. I had a lot of under steer and wasn’t able to brake as late as I would have liked. However, after the second pit stop when I changed to hard tyres I was able to push again. I really enjoyed the race and with a few more laps I might have been able to challenge Felipe for the lead.”
In contrast, Alonso had a trying afternoon in Bahrain, as he fought to extract adequate pace from his MP4-22. He was overtaken by BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld mid-race, and despite pressuring the German in the latter stages was unable re-pass and was forced to settle for fifth.
“This was not a great race for me but these things happen,” said the champion. “I was struggling for pace and overall grip which means that you can’t drive the car as well as you would like. You always start the race believing you can win but after six or seven laps I knew that it would be tough. I couldn’t keep up with the Ferraris and Lewis. I was close to Heidfeld in the end but there was nothing I could do.”
Alonso and Hamilton now share the championship lead with Raikkonen, all three drivers tied on 22 points.
Having secured his maiden front-row start in Saturday’s qualifying session, Hamilton kept a cool head into Turn One, slotting into second place behind poleman Felipe Massa, who had vowed to give British youngster minimal room after losing out in their battle in Malaysia last weekend.
From there, though the McLaren didn’t have the ultimate race pace of the Ferrari - as witnessed by Fernando Alonso’s fifth place - Hamilton did an excellent job of keeping Massa in his sights and, more importantly, keeping Kimi Raikkonen behind him during the critical second round of pit stops.
“To have finished on the podium three times out of three is fantastic,” said Hamilton afterwards. “We have definitely closed the gap to Ferrari and I know everybody will continue to push hard to improve even more in time for the Spanish Grand Prix.
“I was able to keep up with Felipe in the first stint but I really struggled with the balance of the car in the second. I had a lot of under steer and wasn’t able to brake as late as I would have liked. However, after the second pit stop when I changed to hard tyres I was able to push again. I really enjoyed the race and with a few more laps I might have been able to challenge Felipe for the lead.”
In contrast, Alonso had a trying afternoon in Bahrain, as he fought to extract adequate pace from his MP4-22. He was overtaken by BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld mid-race, and despite pressuring the German in the latter stages was unable re-pass and was forced to settle for fifth.
“This was not a great race for me but these things happen,” said the champion. “I was struggling for pace and overall grip which means that you can’t drive the car as well as you would like. You always start the race believing you can win but after six or seven laps I knew that it would be tough. I couldn’t keep up with the Ferraris and Lewis. I was close to Heidfeld in the end but there was nothing I could do.”
Alonso and Hamilton now share the championship lead with Raikkonen, all three drivers tied on 22 points.
Schumacher inspired me - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton does not hesitate for long when he is asked to nominate someone who inspired him.
The McLaren rookie said seven time world champion Michael Schumacher 'always gave 100 per cent.'
"I met Michael last year," Hamilton told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag in Bahrain, "and he said something to me that I will never forget.
"I was walking in the paddock in Turkey and he stopped me and said, 'Fantastic race. What you did today was outstanding'."
Schumacher, now 38 and still an 'advisor' for the Ferrari team, was referring to Hamilton's inspirational drive through the field in GP2.
Asked if the German is still a role model, Hamilton answered: "Absolutely.
And not just as a driver."
"He didn't have to say that to me. Other drivers achieved far less than he did but are much more arrogant.
"His ambition and dedication impressed me; before his last ever race he was still testing. He always gave 100 per cent, right up to the last second."
The McLaren rookie said seven time world champion Michael Schumacher 'always gave 100 per cent.'
"I met Michael last year," Hamilton told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag in Bahrain, "and he said something to me that I will never forget.
"I was walking in the paddock in Turkey and he stopped me and said, 'Fantastic race. What you did today was outstanding'."
Schumacher, now 38 and still an 'advisor' for the Ferrari team, was referring to Hamilton's inspirational drive through the field in GP2.
Asked if the German is still a role model, Hamilton answered: "Absolutely.
And not just as a driver."
"He didn't have to say that to me. Other drivers achieved far less than he did but are much more arrogant.
"His ambition and dedication impressed me; before his last ever race he was still testing. He always gave 100 per cent, right up to the last second."
Sunday, April 8, 2007
2007 Malaysian Grand Prix
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 1 Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes 56 1:32:14.930 2 10
2 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 56 +17.5 secs 4 8
3 6 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 56 +18.3 secs 3 6
4 9 Nick Heidfeld BMW 56 +33.7 secs 5 5
5 5 Felipe Massa Ferrari 56 +36.7 secs 1 4
6 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 56 +65.6 secs 12 3
7 12 Jarno Trulli Toyota 56 +70.1 secs 8 2
8 4 Heikki Kovalainen Renault 56 +72.0 secs 11 1
9 17 Alexander Wurz Williams-Toyota 56 +89.9 secs 19
10 15 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 56 +93.5 secs 10
11 8 Rubens Barrichello Honda 55 +1 Lap 22
12 7 Jenson Button Honda 55 +1 Lap 15
13 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 55 +1 Lap 14
14 19 Scott Speed STR-Ferrari 55 +1 Lap 17
15 11 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 55 +1 Lap 9
16 23 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 55 +1 Lap 18
17 18 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Ferrari 55 +1 Lap 16
18 10 Robert Kubica BMW 55 +1 Lap 7
Ret 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 42 +14 Laps 6
Ret 14 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 36 Brakes 13
Ret 21 Christijan Albers Spyker-Ferrari 7 Engine 20
Ret 20 Adrian Sutil Spyker-Ferrari 0 Accident 21
1 1 Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes 56 1:32:14.930 2 10
2 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 56 +17.5 secs 4 8
3 6 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 56 +18.3 secs 3 6
4 9 Nick Heidfeld BMW 56 +33.7 secs 5 5
5 5 Felipe Massa Ferrari 56 +36.7 secs 1 4
6 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 56 +65.6 secs 12 3
7 12 Jarno Trulli Toyota 56 +70.1 secs 8 2
8 4 Heikki Kovalainen Renault 56 +72.0 secs 11 1
9 17 Alexander Wurz Williams-Toyota 56 +89.9 secs 19
10 15 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 56 +93.5 secs 10
11 8 Rubens Barrichello Honda 55 +1 Lap 22
12 7 Jenson Button Honda 55 +1 Lap 15
13 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 55 +1 Lap 14
14 19 Scott Speed STR-Ferrari 55 +1 Lap 17
15 11 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 55 +1 Lap 9
16 23 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 55 +1 Lap 18
17 18 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Ferrari 55 +1 Lap 16
18 10 Robert Kubica BMW 55 +1 Lap 7
Ret 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 42 +14 Laps 6
Ret 14 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 36 Brakes 13
Ret 21 Christijan Albers Spyker-Ferrari 7 Engine 20
Ret 20 Adrian Sutil Spyker-Ferrari 0 Accident 21
McLaren topple Ferrari at Sepang
McLaren went into the Malaysian Grand Prix in confident frame of mind, but even Fernando Alonso said it was a surprise as he and Lewis Hamilton turned on a crushing demonstration in which they left Ferrari for dead in the opening stages and swept to the team’s first one-two result since Brazil 2005.
At the start Alonso sprinted alongside polesitter Felipe Massa and was able to take the lead, but in another brilliant display Hamilton dived inside Raikkonen to snatch third place before going round the outside of Massa in Turn Two to move up to second.
The Englishman then contained the Ferrari challenge, earning his spurs with a faultless drive, as his team leader went for the win. Ferrari suddenly faced an afternoon of trying to salvage something from what was beginning to look like a disaster, for Massa failed on both occasions when he tried to oust Hamilton. Each time he was repassed easily by the British driver, and on the second occasion the Brazilian slid into the gravel on the exit to Turn Four and lost a crucial place to Nick Heidfeld’s BMW Sauber.
As Alonso pulled out a 15.6s lead before stopping for fuel on lap 18, Hamilton built an advantage over Raikkonen, who stopped the same lap as Alonso. Hamilton thus led a Grand Prix for the second time in succession, until refuelling on lap 20.
The story was the same in the second stint, both McLaren and Ferrari still running Bridgestone’s soft tyres. But this time Hamilton had the gap down to less than eight seconds before the stops, as he set the race’s fastest lap. He refuelled first, on lap 38, followed by Alonso on 40 and Raikkonen on 41. Now, however, all three were on the harder tyre, and while that seemed to suit Alonso and really suited Raikkonen, Hamilton was struggling for grip. Alonso’s 21+s lead was never going to be threatened, but lap by lap the Finn was carving chunks out of the Englishman’s second place advantage. Going into the closing laps the race was really coming alive again, but Hamilton kept his head and yet again never put a wheel wrong. Alonso took the flag 17.5s ahead, to score a crucial first victory for McLaren, and Hamilton hung on ahead of Raikkonen by just 0.7s.
Heidfeld’s great day earned BMW Sauber an excellent fourth place in front of an appreciative audience of Petronas representatives, as he held off former team mate Massa all the way to the flag.
Nico Rosberg was headed for an excellent sixth for Williams when his FW29 stopped on the 43rd lap with a suspected Toyota engine failure, promoting a grateful Giancarlo Fisichella who thus salvaged three points for Renault. The final points went to Jarno Trulli after a strong run for Toyota, and Renault rookie Heikki Kovalainen. Alex Wurz was ninth for Williams after an up and down run from 19th on the grid, fending off Mark Webber who challenged him hard on soft tyres in his final stint in the Red Bull RB3. They were the final unlapped runners.
Rubens Barrichello, who started from the pit lane, headed Honda team mate Jenson Button home in 11th and 12th places, chased by Takuma Sato and Scott Speed who battled all the way through, once Sato had survived an early tangle with Speed’s Toro Rosso team mate Vitantonio Liuzzi - who described the Japanese driver’s move as ‘crazy’. It was an eventful afternoon for Liuzzi, who also ran into the rear of Speed at one point, prompting an early stop for a fresh nosecone.
Ralf Schumacher was 16th after a slow puncture stymied his progress, while 17th placed Anthony Davidson had the delayed Liuzzi thirsting after him all through the second half but held off the Toro Rosso to the flag.
Robert Kubica was the final finisher, having run in the top six until his BMW Sauber developed a suspected transmission problem and needed to make a pit stop for attention. It was a miserable afternoon all round for the Pole, who, after briefly making contact with team mate Heidfeld at the start, also suffered a puncture, braking stability problems and a failed radio.
Besides Rosberg, the other non-finishers were the Spykers and David Coulthard in the Red Bull. Adrian Sutil went off on the outside of Turn 4 on the opening lap after a suspected rear suspension failure, making contact with Button’s Honda in the process, and then Christijan Albers’s car lost its engine shortly afterwards after gearbox problems sent its temperature rocketing. The Dutchman made it back to the pits and hopped from the car, just in time for his mechanics to dowse the rear with fire extinguishers. Coulthard’s demise was bizarrely down to his brake pedal rubbing against the steering column.
Bridgestone's new tyre marking system proved a great success, with the white grooves making it easy to spot who was on what tyre. Almost everyone ran soft-soft-hard through their three stints, the only exceptions being Trulli, Webber, Coulthard and Button.
A great race thus puts Fernando Alonso into the lead of the world championship, with Kimi Raikkonen second from Lewis Hamilton. Roll on Bahrain.
At the start Alonso sprinted alongside polesitter Felipe Massa and was able to take the lead, but in another brilliant display Hamilton dived inside Raikkonen to snatch third place before going round the outside of Massa in Turn Two to move up to second.
The Englishman then contained the Ferrari challenge, earning his spurs with a faultless drive, as his team leader went for the win. Ferrari suddenly faced an afternoon of trying to salvage something from what was beginning to look like a disaster, for Massa failed on both occasions when he tried to oust Hamilton. Each time he was repassed easily by the British driver, and on the second occasion the Brazilian slid into the gravel on the exit to Turn Four and lost a crucial place to Nick Heidfeld’s BMW Sauber.
As Alonso pulled out a 15.6s lead before stopping for fuel on lap 18, Hamilton built an advantage over Raikkonen, who stopped the same lap as Alonso. Hamilton thus led a Grand Prix for the second time in succession, until refuelling on lap 20.
The story was the same in the second stint, both McLaren and Ferrari still running Bridgestone’s soft tyres. But this time Hamilton had the gap down to less than eight seconds before the stops, as he set the race’s fastest lap. He refuelled first, on lap 38, followed by Alonso on 40 and Raikkonen on 41. Now, however, all three were on the harder tyre, and while that seemed to suit Alonso and really suited Raikkonen, Hamilton was struggling for grip. Alonso’s 21+s lead was never going to be threatened, but lap by lap the Finn was carving chunks out of the Englishman’s second place advantage. Going into the closing laps the race was really coming alive again, but Hamilton kept his head and yet again never put a wheel wrong. Alonso took the flag 17.5s ahead, to score a crucial first victory for McLaren, and Hamilton hung on ahead of Raikkonen by just 0.7s.
Heidfeld’s great day earned BMW Sauber an excellent fourth place in front of an appreciative audience of Petronas representatives, as he held off former team mate Massa all the way to the flag.
Nico Rosberg was headed for an excellent sixth for Williams when his FW29 stopped on the 43rd lap with a suspected Toyota engine failure, promoting a grateful Giancarlo Fisichella who thus salvaged three points for Renault. The final points went to Jarno Trulli after a strong run for Toyota, and Renault rookie Heikki Kovalainen. Alex Wurz was ninth for Williams after an up and down run from 19th on the grid, fending off Mark Webber who challenged him hard on soft tyres in his final stint in the Red Bull RB3. They were the final unlapped runners.
Rubens Barrichello, who started from the pit lane, headed Honda team mate Jenson Button home in 11th and 12th places, chased by Takuma Sato and Scott Speed who battled all the way through, once Sato had survived an early tangle with Speed’s Toro Rosso team mate Vitantonio Liuzzi - who described the Japanese driver’s move as ‘crazy’. It was an eventful afternoon for Liuzzi, who also ran into the rear of Speed at one point, prompting an early stop for a fresh nosecone.
Ralf Schumacher was 16th after a slow puncture stymied his progress, while 17th placed Anthony Davidson had the delayed Liuzzi thirsting after him all through the second half but held off the Toro Rosso to the flag.
Robert Kubica was the final finisher, having run in the top six until his BMW Sauber developed a suspected transmission problem and needed to make a pit stop for attention. It was a miserable afternoon all round for the Pole, who, after briefly making contact with team mate Heidfeld at the start, also suffered a puncture, braking stability problems and a failed radio.
Besides Rosberg, the other non-finishers were the Spykers and David Coulthard in the Red Bull. Adrian Sutil went off on the outside of Turn 4 on the opening lap after a suspected rear suspension failure, making contact with Button’s Honda in the process, and then Christijan Albers’s car lost its engine shortly afterwards after gearbox problems sent its temperature rocketing. The Dutchman made it back to the pits and hopped from the car, just in time for his mechanics to dowse the rear with fire extinguishers. Coulthard’s demise was bizarrely down to his brake pedal rubbing against the steering column.
Bridgestone's new tyre marking system proved a great success, with the white grooves making it easy to spot who was on what tyre. Almost everyone ran soft-soft-hard through their three stints, the only exceptions being Trulli, Webber, Coulthard and Button.
A great race thus puts Fernando Alonso into the lead of the world championship, with Kimi Raikkonen second from Lewis Hamilton. Roll on Bahrain.
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