Flavio Briatore thinks that World champion Fernando Alonso’s move to McLaren in 2007 could provide Renault with a motivational boost and will have a fresh motivation for 2007, to make sure Renault is beating McLaren and Alonso. Alonso announced in December that even though he’d just won the title with Renault he would be leaving the team at the end of this year’s Championship.
The seven time World Champion, Michael Schumacher who dominated the Monaco Grand Prix between 1994 and 2001, winning five times, has only two podium finishes to show for the last four years was cautiously optimistic for this weekends race. Schumacher is currently 15 points adrift of championship leader Fernando Alonso and a strong qualifying position is vital for the former champion if he is to make a dent in the Renault driver’s lead, on a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult. However since the qualifying format was changed in 2003 and cars were made to qualify with race fuel, Ferrari has tended to fuel Schumacher heavier than some of his rivals in a bid to be on the optimum strategy for the race.
With Alonso winning last time out in Barcelona from Schumacher and extending the Championship gap back out to 15 points, the Ferrari driver is aiming to claw back that advantage. Surprisingly, Schumacher says “Many think that qualifying heavily influences the outcome of the race. I do not think this is the case. For sure, it can be a disadvantage starting from the back of the grid and we certainly cannot allow a big gap to the leaders. If we avoid this, we can achieve a lot with the right strategy even though we do not start from the top spot. It is crucial to have a good strategy and a fast car. We have a great chance of victory even if we start from third, fourth or fifth”. With Bridgestone bringing super-soft compounds to the Grand Prix weekend, Ferrari and the Japanese tyre supplier are looking to break Michelin’s run of success at the circuit over the last four years.
Toyota is hoping that the unleashing of its TF106B chassis, which includes a revised front suspension, at the Monaco Grand Prix can propel it back up the grid. Toyota duo Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli are hoping that the team’s new B-spec car can kick-start their seasons round the streets of Monte Carlo this weekend.
At RedBull, Adrian Newey’s first major contribution to the RB2 Red Bull racer will be unveiled at the British Grand Prix next month. Newey has reportedly put together an aerodynamic bodywork update for the RB2, which will be ready to race around the Silverstone circuit. Meanwhile it’s Star driver David Coulthard has restated his credentials for keeping his drive with the team next year, insisting he is still faster than the younger competition for the seat and want to stay with Red Bull and I have started talks with them about next year.
Williams driver Mark Webber is hoping that the first anniversary of his maiden podium podium in the top flight will mark a turn in fortunes for the Aussie in 2006. As part of the team’s scheduled development programme, Webber and Rosberg’s FW28s will have further aerodynamic upgrades and Monaco-specific devices. Last year the team took a double podium position at Monaco with Nick Heidfeld taking second position, just ahead of Webber. Team Boss Sir Frank Williams, keen to find a more cost-effective solution than the deal with Cosworth was about to ask Honda if it would be prepared to supply a third team in 2007. Williams was Honda-powered between 1984 and 1987.