Hungarian Grand Prix – Budapest, 6th August 2006
Felipe Massa: 8th + 1 lap 69 laps chassis 252
Michael Schumacher: R lap 67 67 laps chassis 254
Temperatures: air 18/19 °C, track 21/24 °C
Jean Todt: “Obviously, we leave Budapest
very disappointed. We had a great opportunity within our
grasp and it slipped through our fingers. It was a very unusual
and difficult weekend for the main
contenders in the championship. Only Felipe got to the finish,
picking up a point which at least serves to
slightly reduce the gap in the Constructors’ championship.
The changing weather affected the behaviour
of our package. In the first part, we were not competitive,
but then the situation changed in our favour.
With just a few laps to go it looked as though we were going
to get a good result with Michael, especially
given that our closest rival had retired. Our driver was trying
to defend his position on normal rain tyres
on a track that had dried, against rivals who were on dry
weather tyres and were therefore much quicker
than him. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken track rod and
had to retire. With hindsight, it is easy to say
that this situation could have been avoided, but there is
no point in crying over spilt milk. There is not
much to take home from this grand prix, but we know we have
a very competitive package, which means
we are very much aware that we can still take the title fight
down to the wire in both championships.”
Felipe Massa: “A very difficult race
for us, in what was pretty much a lottery. Given how things
went,
especially in the first part of the race, a point is still
something and at least it helps us close the gap in
the Constructors’ classification. In the wet we were
not totally competitive, both on normal and extreme
wets. However, as the track began to dry, we began to run
very strongly, even more so as soon as I
fitted the dry weather tyres, to such an extent that I set
the fastest race lap. We have a very competitive
package and we will fight right to the end of the championship,
starting at the next race in Istanbul.”
Michael Schumacher: “Of course, I
am very disappointed. We had a great opportunity but we did
not
take it. All weekend and especially the race was something
of a rollercoaster and in the end, we found
ourselves back where we started, although with one less race
to go. The track rod broke as Heidfeld
went past. We touched, partly because the track was still
a bit slippery. These things happen. Did we
take a risk staying out on track with intermediate tyres and
in the fight with my rivals? That’s the way I
am. I always want to fight for the top which is why I have
won so often. There are still five races to go.
Nothing is yet lost and I will give it my all in trying to
win the title.”
Ross Brawn: “We had a great opportunity
this weekend and we were unable to make the most of it. It’s
true that, when you look at what happened in the race, the
outcome could have been much worse, but it
is still hard to swallow. Felipe brought home one welcome
point but it does not lessen our
disappointment. The first part of the race was very difficult,
because we were unable to maintain a good
enough pace, but as the track began to dry, then things changed.
We were then the quickest cars on
track and the arrival of the safety car had closed up the
gaps, offering us the chance of a good result. In
the final stages, we decided to leave Michael out on track
on standard rain tyres, because we hoped we
could hang on to a good position. Unfortunately, in a duel
with Heidfeld, a track rod broke. We have five
races ahead of us and all the necessary potential to reach
our goals.”
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