2006 Bahrain Grand Prix - Race Report
2006 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX, SAKHIR, 10-11-12 MARCH
Drivers
Rubens Barrichello 11 RA106-03
Jenson Button 12 RA106-04
Weather Hot, sunny and windy Temperatures Air:
23-24°C Track: 34-41°C
Jenson Button brought home five Championship points for the
Honda Racing F1 Team today in the opening round of the 2006
Formula One season, displaying encouraging pace for much of
the race. He ended the Bahrain Grand Prix in fourth position
after competing for a podium position for much of the 57-lap
race and enjoying some great battles, including a thrilling
dual with his new team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
Unfortunately Rubens' first race for the team was blighted
by a gearbox problem and he was unable to push for position.
He ended the race in 15th place.
JENSON BUTTON Position: 4th Best lap time:
1:32.729
"Had I not had such a bad start then this could have
been a great race for us. The pace of the car was absolutely
there but the strategy didn't pan out because I lost places
off the start and wasn't where we had planned to be at the
pitstops. We may not have a podium but we have a very competitive
car and if you look at the lap times when we weren't in traffic
we were genuinely as quick as anyone out there. I think we
go to Malaysia feeling extremely positive. If we can address
the clutch issue which caused the problem with the start we
will be able to fight even harder with the competition."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO Position: 15th Best lap
time:
1:33.840
"It's a disappointing way to finish my first race for
the team but in the early stages we saw a taste of our potential.
Jenson and I had a great race with each other early on which
I'm sure got a few people excited! Soon after though I knew
we had a gearbox problem and I had to try to race with one
gear missing. I was unable to push and had no chance of a
points finish, so it wasn't a good way for me to spend the
race. We know that the pace is there so we just have to resolve
our problems for next weekend when I'm sure we will have a
much better race."
GIL DE FERRAN, SPORTING DIRECTOR
"Jenson drove a brilliant race, pushing hard throughout
and showing that we had very similar pace to the leaders.
Unfortunately he had a clutch problem at the start which dropped
him back and ended up compromising the whole race. Rubens
was running well early on but he lost the use of a gear which
wiped out his chances. We come away from Bahrain disappointed
with our final result but at the same time very encouraged
by the performance of our car and drivers and looking forward
to Malaysia."
SHUHEI NAKAMOTO, ENGINEERING DIRECTOR, HONDA RACING
DEVELOPMENT "A disappointing result. Looking
at the positives, Jenson's pace matched that of Fernando and
Michael for most of the afternoon, and he drove his customary
strong race throughout, but the start spoiled his chances
of a better finish. It was a shame for Rubens that his debut
race for us was affected by a gearbox problem. The V8 engine
has been strong the whole weekend, and we remain positive
for next week."
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