He better be - thats all he's gonna get

Though if Rubens keeps underperforming he may have a chance at a reace seat. The third drivers offcourse should be up near the top considering their cars/engines are maxed out unlike the regular drivers.

Controversial qualifying!!!! What do you think? Did MS do it on purpose? Well with his track record Im not surprised. Most likely he did do it on purpose. I doubt he will get penalised though.

From Atlas F1/Autosport

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/51964

Schumacher pole triggers Monaco uproar

By Alan Baldwin Saturday, May 27th 2006, 14:30 GMT


Ferrari's Michael Schumacher triggered uproar at the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday by claiming pole after a driving incident that prompted allegations of unsporting behaviour and underhand tactics.

The seven times champion faced pointed questions about his sportsmanship after claiming his 67th career pole ahead of Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso.

The German ran wide and stopped on the exit to the penultimate corner in the closing seconds of the final session, with Alonso and others still to complete their final flying laps behind him.

Alonso said the yellow flags following the Schumacher incident forced him to slow, losing him at least three tenths of a second and possibly robbing him of pole.

"I have my opinion and I won't tell it here," said the 24-year-old Spaniard when asked by reporters whether he considered it a sporting incident.

The governing body could not confirm reports that Renault were protesting in an attempt to have Schumacher stripped of his fastest lap. Pole is particularly important on Monaco's street circuit.

Furious Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said it looked like Schumacher had acted deliberately to make sure others could not beat his time.

"He's just parking the car," Briatore told ITV television. "This is the way Ferrari manage."

Schumacher, looking puzzled in a news conference, denied anything underhand.

"I locked up and just ran out of road," said the 37-year-old, who can equal Brazilian Ayrton Senna's six Monaco wins this weekend. "I tried to get reverse but was hesitant to move and finally I stalled."

He suggested that any critics who doubted him should try to drive the car themselves through the tight and twisty streets.

"Whatever you do in certain moments, your enemies believe one thing and the people who support you believe another," he added. "Some people may not believe it, but unfortunately that's the world we live in.

"I don't care what other teams do. I know Flavio well enough," added Schumacher, who drove for the Italian when he was at Benetton.

Australian Mark Webber was third fastest for Williams with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, last year's winner, fourth.

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella starts on the third row with McLaren's Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2003 winner.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa will start at the back of the grid after crashing in the first part of qualifying.

The Brazilian speared left into the tyre barrier on the blind crest of Casino Square, briefly stopping the session while the car was removed from the track.


1. M.Schumacher Ferrari B 13. 1:15.118 5 5. 1:13.709 3 1. 1:13.898 15
2. Alonso Renault M 2. 1:14.232 6 2. 1:13.622 3 2. 1:13.962 16
3. Webber Williams B 3. 1:14.305 9 6. 1:13.728 8 3. 1:14.082 14
4. Raikkonen McLaren M 1. 1:13.887 7 1. 1:13.532 3 4. 1:14.140 16
5. Fisichella Renault M 7. 1:14.614 7 3. 1:13.647 3 5. 1:14.396 16
6. Montoya McLaren M 5. 1:14.483 7 9. 1:14.295 10 6. 1:14.664 15
7. Barrichello Honda M 8. 1:14.766 9 10. 1:14.312 7 7. 1:15.804 15
8. Trulli Toyota B 9. 1:14.883 4 8. 1:14.211 6 8. 1:15.857 14
9. Coulthard Red Bull M 12. 1:15.090 7 4. 1:13.687 7 9. 1:16.426 16
10. Rosberg Williams B 10. 1:14.888 10 7. 1:13.909 8 10. 1:16.636 15
11. R.Schumacher Toyota B 4. 1:14.412 7 11. 1:14.398 7
12. Klien Red Bull M 6. 1:14.489 7 12. 1:14.747 5
13. Liuzzi Toro Rosso M 14. 1:15.314 10 13. 1:14.969 10
14. Button Honda M 11. 1:15.085 7 14. 1:14.982 10
15. Villeneuve BMW M 15. 1:15.316 8 15. 1:15.052 8
16. Heidfeld BMW M 16. 1:15.324 11 16. 1:15.137 9
17. Albers Midland B 17. 1:15.598 8
18. Monteiro Midland B 18. 1:15.993 8
19. Speed Toro Rosso M 19. 1:16.236 7
20. Sato Super Aguri B 20. 1:17.276 6
21. Montagny Super Aguri B 21. 1:17.502 7
22. Massa Ferrari B 22. No time 2

God bless Schumi, he's a ruthless git. looks like my button to win predict is gone unless we get a 1996 style race. And Coulthard stuck the red bull in the top 10, good work. And WTF is Webber doing in P3. I guess the Cossie must have some serious low end power.

hehe I love it! The Schumi of old - the villian I loved to hate in the 90s

Anyway, it seemed to have backfired, he's been demoted to last. Fisi has also been demoted to 9th.

I'd be happy with a Kimi-Webber-DC podium. No chance of that Button win However - an interesting didbit - before factoring in the MS/Fisi penalties - 10 years ago - Panis won from the same grid position as Button


Here's the penalty article:

Schumacher sent to the back of the grid

By Damien Smith Saturday, May 27th 2006, 21:01 GMT


The Monaco Grand Prix stewards have deleted all of Michael Schumacher's times in qualifying today, sending him to the back of the grid for tomorrow's race.

They said in a statement on Saturday that the seven-times champion had deliberately stopped his car on the track in the closing seconds of qualifying, preventing rivals from setting a faster time.

The decision means Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso will now start on pole, with Williams driver Mark Webber alongside on the front row.

The decision was announced eight hours after qualifying ended - the longest deliberation by stewards in recent years.

The three FIA-appointed stewards - Tony Scott Andrews, Joaquin Verdegay and Christian Calmes - said in a statement they have heard evidence from Schumacher himself; his race engineer Chris Dyer; Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn; Ferrari team manager Stefano Domenicali; race director Charlie Whiting; and FIA software analyst Alan Prudom.

The stewards further considered data evidence produced to them by both Ferrari and the FIA, viewed video evidence, and compared data evidence from Schumacher's previous laps in qualifying.

Their findings were: "having set a fast time in sector one, the driver lost time in sector two, arrived at Turn 18 at a speed little, if any, different from his previous fastest lap, and braked with such force that his front wheels locked up, requiring the driver to regain control of the car.

"The driver ultimately did so without hitting the barrier on the outside of Turn 18. The engine of the car subsequently stalled, with the result of the car partially blocked the track.

"Having compared all relevant data, the stewards can find no justifiable reason for the driver to have braked with such undue, excessive and unusual pressure at this part of the circuit, and are therefore left with no alternatives but to conclude that the driver deliberately stopped his car on the circuit in the last few minutes of qualifying, at a time at which he had thus far set the fastest laptime."

The stewards said this was in breach of the 2006 Formula One sporting regulations, Article 116¹, "and hence a driving infringement."

Therefore, the stewards have "accordingly directed that the qualifying times of Michael Schumacher be deleted. The effect of this is that he will start from the back of the grid."

The stewards penalised Schumacher under Article 112² of the Sporting Regulations, leaving Ferrari no option to appeal.

The stewards added: "Article 112 enables the stewards to delete any number of a driver's qualifying times for a driving infringement, which decision is not susceptible to appeal."

The verdict means that Ferrari will now have both cars at the back after Schumacher's Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa crashed out in the first part of qualifying.

Good God the FIA are complete inconsistent when it comes to those rulings. i mean Alonso got away scott free for ignoring danger flags in Brazil in 2003 then Montoya get's penalised in Indy the same year for a "racing incident" with Barrichello. There just all over the place.

Aahh well.here's hoping Webber can outdrag Alonso to the first corner. And that Button/Panis info makes me more hopeful too.

Just seen the footage - completely on purpose! When your front wheel locks up the car is going to understeer anyway - no need to straighten up to correct it! Seriously I think it was a split second decision but clearly the wrong one.

Button seems to have lost it I'm rooting for Webber. It'd be great to see him get a podium

Great race - real shame for Webber and Raikonnen. Superb drives by those two plus Klien, DC and big cheater as he is, Schumacher put in a real stormer.

Big congrats to DC and his cape though, well deserved and a long time coming!

I enjoyed the race - atleast the first half before the safety car. Kimi would have stayed out longer and beat Alonso - but again it wasnt meant to be. I loved the footage of him on the boat That would have angered Ron Dennis but Kimi doesnt care as im sure by tonight he'll get his pen out to sign with Ferrari (or Renault).

Looks like Johnny Walker can market the "Keep Walkin" slogan with pics of Kimi's long walk to his yacht!

What a shame for Webber - he could have got 2nd or even 3rd. Again the car lets him down.

DC - you have to hand it to him - Superman Returns!! That cape was hilarious. Apparently Christian Horner said he would dive in naked into the teams portable pool if Red Bull got a podium - it wont be a pretty sight!

Shame for Trulli, Klien and Barrichello for missing out on the podium.

Good damage control for MS - but he didnt do anything overly special.

oh and I won $230 on the Alonso/Montoya 1-2

Nice one Gez . I thought the race was pretty good especially by normal Monaco standards. Poor old Webber get stymied by Williams unreliability once again, and of course we got to see Coulthard on the podium in a superman cape which was pretty funny.

Thanks!

DC in a Superman cape was priceless!! You were right about him doing well here! We were wrong about Honda and Jenson however.

BTW - here is a pic a friend of mine made up after yesterdays race

oh and nice avatar GK!! I never had the pleasure to watch races when he was still alive but ive seen some of his races. A legend! Dijon 79 is an all time classic!

Thank's Gez. Indeed the man was a special talent. His win in 81 in Jarama with a complete shit box of a Ferrari and a train of car's behind him was one of many top moment's Dijon included.

I havnt seen Jarama but read about it a while back. I should really get one of the GV books out there - would be an interesting read. There is a film based on his life being made currently - though I havnt heard about it in a while.

good pass by schumacher in the pits there.

alonso is unstoppable.

Was a close battle between Schu and Kimi early in the race - but they avoided a collision.

Well the Championship is cleary over this year. Alonso is doing everything right with the best car.

Look at the podium - the three titans of F1. They are in a different league to the rest and have demolished their teammates.

watchign the canadian grandprix this weekend. will post some pics and videos hopefully.

Great!! Where will you be sitting?

Atleast you wont forget to charge your camera like me and it conks out at the track!!!

at the hairpin : )

Not a bad race by 2006 standards. I'd rank it behind Bahrain and Melbourne and abit better than Monaco.

Again Mclaren fail Kimi - even though he did go off on the rubble. MS could have done alot better had he not been trapped behind Trulli (who had a good race btw). However shows how good that Renault. The best three drivers on the podium once again and shows how Fisi and Montoya have been demolished by their teammates. Shame JV didnt get that point in the end. Ralf was rather embaressing.

race was great. i dont know what they showed on tv but where i was sitting, drivers were making all sorts of mistakes. hopefully, i'll have some videos up soon.

At the hairpin hey...so you would have seen the Ralf Schumacher show

They looked extremely slow at the hairpin on tv, look forward to the videos!!

which one!?!? he spun off there so many times!! i think i have him on my camera video twice!

best was the midland accident!

Stick up some pic's if ya can Baba.
Race was pretty decent but I'm a bit to consumed by the world cup at the moment to give full attention.
Nice to hear that Trulli got a new 3 year deal with Toyota, he's a better choice then Schumi Jr in my view.