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Fernando Alonso
(Renault) swept to a stunning victory in the Bahraini Grand Prix at Sakhir
to score Michelin's fourth straight Formula One success and extend the
company's unbeaten start to 2005. The result increases the Spaniard's world
championship lead to 10 points.
After securing pole position on Sunday morning, Alonso made a terrific start
to beat closest challenger Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) off the line. The
Renault driver held the German driver comfortably at bay during the opening
stages of the race - and his task was simplified from the 12th lap onwards,
after a hydraulic problem forced Schumacher to retire. From then on, Alonso
was able to run at a controlled pace as he swept to his second consecutive
F1 victory. It was the third of his fledgling career and Michelin's 78th.
He said: "My car has been perfect all weekend and we have made no mistakes.
If we can avoid mechanical problems, I think we will be hard to beat this
year."
Pat Symonds, executive director of engineering, Mild Seven Renault F1 Team,
added: "We need to thank Michelin : the tyres were really put to the test
this weekend, with track temperatures over 50C. Once again, the tyres were
excellent in every area: they were quick over one lap, and consistent all
the way through the race."
It was also a fantastic moment in Renault's sporting history: this success
marked the hundredth win for a Renault engine in Formula 1, the twentieth
for a Renault chassis, and this win is the first time in history that a
Renault chassis has won three consecutive races.
Patrick Faure, Chairman and CEO, Mild Seven RenaultF1 Team, was at the track
and wanted to congratulate his driver and the technical partners: "Fernando
Alonso has driven exceptionally well in all three races this season, but I
would also like to pay tribute to the excellent work done by our principal
technical partners - Michelin with its tyres and Elf with its lubricants.
Both companies have done a brilliant job and have played a major part in our
recent success. This is a real team sport and we must never forget as much."
Williams drivers Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld ran fourth and fifth
initially, ahead of Ralf Schumacher (Toyota) and Raikkonen, but Heidfeld
retired with engine failure shortly after his first scheduled stop and
Webber spun from third to fifth with about one third of the race remaining.
By then, Raikkonen had already vaulted the younger Schumacher during the
first round of stops and was perfectly poised to capitalise on Webber's
error.
Ralf eventually took fourth place, while McLaren stand-in Pedro de la Rosa
deputising for the injured Juan Pablo Montoya - had a spirited run to fifth.
De a Rosa lost time battling with the B7A7R-Honda drivers during the first
two thirds of the race - when he twice outbraked himself while trying to
gain positions - but he recovered brilliantly and set the afternoon's
fastest lap during his vigorous pursuit of Webber, which reaped dividends on
the 55th of 57 laps.
Jarno Trulli proved that his renowned qualifying expertise are backed up by
strong and committed race drives as he powered his way to a second
successive podium finish. Jarno has jumped to second in the driver's
championship. "I am so pleased with the result. The car performed amazingly
well, it was quick and reliable with no issues whatsoever. The braking,
cooling, Michelin tyres, engine, everything worked well." said the Italian.
Michelin drivers took all eight points-scoring positions. Felipe Massa
finished seventh for Sauber - his and the team's first points of the
campaign - and David Coulthard (Red Bull) maintained his 100 per cent
scoring record for the season after passing Rubens Barrichello's ailing
Ferrari in the final moments. A couple of laps earlier, the Scot survived a
clash with Jacques Villeneuve - an incident that denied the former world
champion his best result since he returned to the sport. Rear suspension
damage forced the French-Canadian to pit, although he was still classified
11th.
BAR team-mates Takuma Sato and Jenson Button both retired with technical
problems while challenging for points finishes. The unfortunate Christian
Klien (Red Bull/Michelin) qualified seventh, but retired before the start
because of an electrical failure.
Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin Motorsport Director:
"When we first saw the 2005 Formula One tyre rules, our engineers knew they
were taking on a difficult challenge - and I'd like to compliment all of
them on a job well done. Our unbeaten start to the season has been a source
of great satisfaction. It reflects very well on our technical expertise."
"Today's race was very demanding, because of the extreme temperatures, and
we witnessed a number of fascinating battles involving all of our partner
teams. It is clear that tyre-wear rates differed from car to car, but none
of the Michelin runners had any problem racing hard all the way to the
flag."
"This has not been an easy weekend - the increased pace of Michael
Schumacher saw to that - but we produced a package that had a clear edge in
an extremely competitive situation. We will spare no effort to maintain the
upper hand when the world championship returns to Europe later this month."
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering, Renault F1 Team:
"The conditions this weekend have been a real test for tyres, with track
temperatures consistently topping 50 degrees, but once again Michelin
delivered. Its tyres were quick over one lap and consistent in the race.
They gave everything we can ask of a racing tyre." |
