Round 1: Bahrain Grand Prix Presented by Gulf Air

After months of research, design, development, and testing the teams finally converge on Sakhir, Bahrain for the first round of the 2006 Grand Prix season. Loacated on the middle of an island the track is constantly plagued by sand blown onto the circuit from the high winds. Designed by Herman Tilke, it debuted in 2004 to a sell out crowd.

Once again the powers-that-be have shaken up F1 in an atempt to create a better show. Luckil for us, this time they got it right. And after a very interesting qualifying the results are below. In the new format all 22 cars must set a time in the first 15 minutes with the 6 slowet cars being eliminated and their positions cemented on the grid. After a 5 minute break, all the times are reset and the 16 remaining cars must again set a time with 6 more grid positions being determined. These cars are allowed to start the race with whatever fuel load the wish. The reamining 10 cars must designate a fuel level and begin the final 20 minute session at that level. A competition then ensues between the ramaining drivers to set the fastest lap. As fuel loads burn off, drivers one-up each other and then come in for fresh tires to set their final flyer.

Ferrari seem to have regained the pace that they enojeyd so much in seasons past. The pole for Micheal is his 65th career pole and ties the late Ayrton Senna for the most pole positions in a career. Unfortunetly the sands of Bahrain were not as kind to the Mclaren team, with Kimi have problems in pratice and finially breaking the rear wing and suspension leaving him with no time and to start from the back of the grid. This is not an uncommon situiation for him however and it will be interesting watching him work his way up. One can never discount the defending champion Fernando Alonso, and Jenson Button would love to get his first win in over 100 starts. They will all e facing an up-hill battle however as they will need to pass the 7 time WDC with an eager young teammate nipping at his heels. It should make for a very exciting opening round to the 2006 Formula 1 season.

Click here to watch 'Coulthard---Bahrain-Onboard-Lap'



1. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m31.431s
2. MASSA Ferrari 1m31.478s
3. BUTTON Honda 1m31.549s
4. ALONSO Renault 1m31.702s
5. MONTOYA McLaren 1m32.164s
6. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m32.579s
7. WEBBER Williams 1m33.006s
8. KLIEN Red Bull 1m33.112s
9. FISICHELLA Renault 1m33.496s
10. HEIDFELD BMW 1m33.926s
11. VILLENEUVE BMW 1m32.456s
12. ROSBERG Williams 1m32.620s
13. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m32.850s
14. TRULLI Toyota 1m33.066s
15. LIUZZI Toro Rosso 1m33.416s
16. SPEED Toro Rosso 1m34.606s
17. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m34.702s
18. ALBERS MF1 1m35.724s
19. MONTEIRO MF1 1m35.900s
20. SATO Super Aguri 1m37.411s
21. IDE Super Aguri 1m40.270s
22. RAIKKONEN McLaren no time