German Car Zone

Fernando Alonso said today that he misses being pushed to the limit by a top team-mate like Lewis Hamilton. The pair were team-mates at McLaren Mercedes in 2007, before the Spaniard fell out with the Woking-based team's management and returned to Renault.

At the time the double world champion complained bitterly about his status in the team and spent much of the uncomfortable season claiming that he should enjoy number one status over then rookie Hamilton due to his championship success.

Since then the Spaniard returned to Renault alongside Nelson Piquet. However, in 22 starts the Brazilian is yet to out-qualify his illustrious team-mate who does now enjoy number one status at the Anglo-French team. Recalling his season with Hamilton in the adjoining garage, Alonso said in Barcelona: "We had a good competition which helped each other to find our limits.

"I can say that maybe I am missing that competition in a way because, as I said, it was quite fun to really push and find new limits from ourselves," he added.

Alonso insists his problems were with McLaren's ‘big bosses’ rather than Hamilton, and had kind words for the reigning world champion when asked about the damage done to Hamilton's reputation by 'lie-gate'.

"I think to really help the reputation or whatever has been damaged, I think will be very easy if he keeps winning," said Alonso.

"The maximum we can do is driving the car, winning races, winning championships. This is the best thing you can do," he added.

f1live.com

Circuit Map




About the Spanish GP


Length 4.655 km
Laps 66 (307.104 Km)
Last Year
1. K. Raikkonen
2. F. Massa
3. L. Hamilton
Record Lap K. Raikkonen - 1'21''670 (2008, Ferrari)
Record Pole F. Massa - 1'21''421 (2007, Ferrari)
Last Year Pole K. Raikkonen - 1'21''813 (Ferrari)

Previous winners
Year Driver
2008 K.Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2007 F.Massa (Ferrari)
2006 F. Alonso (Renault)
2005 K. Raikkonen (McLaren)
2004 M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2003 M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2002 M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2001 M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2000 M. Hakkinen (McLaren)
1999 M. Hakkinen (McLaren)
1998 M. Hakkinen (McLaren)
1997 J. Villeneuve (Williams)
1996 M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
1995 M. Schumacher (Benetton)
1994 D. Hill (Williams)
1993 A. Prost (Williams)
1992 N. Mansell (Williams)
1991 N. Mansell (Williams)
1990 A. Prost (Ferrari)
1989 A. Senna (McLaren)
1988 A. Prost (McLaren)

I think Ferrari's delayed the double diffusers to incoporate it with a new gearbox

FP1

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:21.799 21
2. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:22.154 + 0.355 30
3. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:22.221 + 0.422 24
4. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:22.658 + 0.859 14
5. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:22.659 + 0.860 24
6. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:22.667 + 0.868 26
7. Piquet Renault (B) 1:22.753 + 0.954 24
8. Glock Toyota (B) 1:22.828 + 1.029 29
9. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:22.855 + 1.056 15
10. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:22.859 + 1.060 24
11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:22.873 + 1.074 20
12. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:22.934 + 1.135 25
13. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:22.959 + 1.160 24
14. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:23.077 + 1.278 21
15. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:23.088 + 1.289 30
16. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:23.089 + 1.290 25
17. Alonso Renault (B) 1:23.157 + 1.358 18
18. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:23.185 + 1.386 31
19. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:23.522 + 1.723 17
20. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:23.536 + 1.737 19


FP2

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:21.588 43
2. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:21.740 + 0.152 40
3. Alonso Renault (B) 1:21.781 + 0.193 36
4. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:21.843 + 0.255 39
5. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:22.027 + 0.439 37
6. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:22.052 + 0.464 35
7. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:22.082 + 0.494 45
8. Piquet Renault (B) 1:22.349 + 0.761 26
9. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:22.571 + 0.983 17
10. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:22.599 + 1.011 40
11. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:22.615 + 1.027 30
12. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:22.670 + 1.082 32
13. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:22.809 + 1.221 31
14. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:22.876 + 1.288 29
15. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:22.878 + 1.290 35
16. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:22.948 + 1.360 40
17. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:23.173 + 1.585 39
18. Glock Toyota (B) 1:23.360 + 1.772 46
19. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:23.623 + 2.035 47
20. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B)

Kimi Raikkonen is adamant his Ferrari team has managed to close the gap on his rivals following the introduction of a major update for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Maranello-based squad has scored just three points in the first four races of the year and is pinning hopes of the big improvement on the significant upgrades the team is running this weekend.


"We have definitely made a step forward in performance terms on the car: you can feel a greater level of aerodynamic downforce and that's what we needed," said Raikkonen after Friday practice, in which the Finn posted the 10th fastest time.


"Sure, it's Friday and it's always difficult to draw conclusions, but the feeling is that we have closed the gap to the top cars.
"Here, just as at the last race, the harder tyre is a bit difficult, while on the softer one, we're reasonably good. Tomorrow morning, we'll work on qualifying, given that today we concentrated on race preparation. All in all, I am happy with how things went today."


Team-mate Felipe Massa wound up 15th quickest, the Brazilian also happy with the progress made by his team.
Massa, however, said it was too early to tell how close to the top Ferrari will be.
"We have done a good job over the past weeks and the car has improved, but of course, the others haven't been standing around with their hands in their pockets," he said.
"As from tomorrow, we will see if we have managed to move up the order, because today's classification is difficult to interpret and I reckon it doesn't represent the true pecking order.


"We worked towards Sunday's race. On my final run I had traffic and that cost me a bit of time, but what matters is the performance tomorrow. I will do my best to get through to the final part of qualifying and then aim for a good grid position."

I think Fred has crush on Hammi now!

This is dooms days guys. If Button wins or if he and Rubbens both finish the race in top ten then the championship is unofficially over. The top teams have been procrastinating while reassuring us that their cars will be speed demons in Europe. Now it's time to walk the talk. Mclaren have made big advancements during the Asian leg of the championship and I pray that they've made a giant leap over the recent two weeks. I really want Hamilton to have a fair chance of defending his championship.

Yes, hopefully Hamilton with make the top three.
And Kovalainen in the points