2006 F1 Form Guide

Contents

Strategy suggestions
2006 Drivers
2006 Teams
2006 Tyre suppliers
2006 Driver and Team RF1 performance
2006 Calendar
Useful F1 links

Strategy suggestions

There are over 2,200 possible combinations of two drivers, two cars and a tyre supplier within a budget of £60M in Reality F1. Seasoned players welcome this flexibility but it can be a bit bewildering to new players. In order to help new players here are a few suggestions that may help improve your RF1 performance:

Pick an expensive driver who is likely to be a front runner throughout the season (Fernando Alonso for example) and then fill the rest of your team with cheaper components. The points picked up by the good driver will keep your performances consistent. Your cheaper components may be less reliable but you will score well provided they finish.
Choose a cheaper driver or car initially. Slow but reliable cars and drivers will score well at the start of the season when they will be able to pick up places due to other cars suffering reliability problems. Your cheaper cars may rarely feature in the top eight positions but will score well for you provided they finish the race. As the season progresses you can change your team to reflect the in-form teams/drivers.
Try not to put all your eggs in one basket. If you have Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher and a Toyota in your team then if either of the two drivers fail to finish then your car score will also be affected. However, if Trulli and Ralf Schumacher do well then your team score will also be high so this approach can be a high risk strategy.
Don't forget to adjust your pitstop strategy before each race. You will get ten points per race for having the same strategy as the race winner irrespective of the rest of your team. You can use F1 Web sites to find out what pitstop strategy was used in the same race last season. However, this year teams will be changing tyres during pitstops so the 2005 strategy may not be used this year. It's also a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast for the race (again check the F1 Web sites). A changeable forecast can mean teams will make more pitstops to cope with track conditions and wet races are often slower so fuel economy is greater.
Be prepared to make changes to your team as the season progresses. You have two free team changes so keep an eye on the results and the driver performance table.

2006 Drivers

Alonso
Fisichella
Räikkönen
Montoya
M Schumacher
Massa
Trulli
R Schumacher
Webber
Rosberg
Button
Barrichello
Coulthard
Klien
Heidfeld
Villeneuve
Albers
Monteiro
Liuzzi
Speed
Sato
Ide

Guide to the 2006 drivers

Fernando Alonso - Renault

The reigning World Champion and Mr Consistency (or consistently fast) during 2005. With seven wins and a total of 13 podium appearances he was the class of the field. Alonso proved he could take the pressure of defending his lead when, in San Marino, he held off a hard charging Michael Schumacher to take the win. He'll be pushing again in 2006 but will already signing to McLaren for 2007 affect his season?
2005 RF1 score: 479.0 (2/20)
2004 RF1 score: 384.5 (4/20)
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Giancarlo Fisichella - Renault

Fisichella's first season with Renault (2005) was a little disappointing. After winning the Australian GP he struggled with reliability and consistency. He'll be looking to improve in 2006 and with Alonso moving on in 2007 he may get the chance.
2005 RF1 score: 275.0 (8/20)
2004 RF1 score: 377.0 (5/20)
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Kimi Räikkönen - McLaren

2005 was another difficult season for Räikkönen. The McLaren car was exceptionally fast but once again unreliability was its undoing. When the car was on-song Kimi was always at the sharp end. He matched Alonso's seven wins in the season but often experienced technical problems which hampered his qualifying. Starting from further down the grid and with a lot of ground to make up he provided some of the most spectacular racing of the season. With much speculation on Kimi's future with McLaren he'll be looking to put right the problems of the last two seasons and take the driver's crown in 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 511.5 (1/20)
2004 RF1 score: 306.0 (8/20)
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Juan Pablo Montoya - McLaren

Montoya had a mixed season in 2005. Some top-class driving was interspersed with bad luck or reliability. There was also the infamous 'tennis' injury that kept him out of several GP. With Alonso moving to McLaren in 2007 and rumours of Kimi moving on, Montoya will be wanting a strong 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 363.0 (2/20) - inc performances by de la Rosa and Wurz.
2004 RF1 score: 364.0 (6/20)
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Michael Schumacher - Ferrari

Arguably the best driver of his generation. However, he had an awful season in 2005. Schumacher made some uncharacteristic mistakes whilst trying to compensate for the slow Ferrari. Schumacher's only win of the 2005 season came at the USA GP where no Michelin-shod runners took part. Tyre changes return in 2006 and this should benefit Schumacher and the other Bridgestone runners.
2005 RF1 score: 349.0 (5/20)
2004 RF1 score: 568.0 (1/20)
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Felipe Massa - Ferrari

Massa struggled with the slow Sauber during 2005. In 2006 he gets a dream ticket and becomes Ferrari's second driver. This is the perfect opportunity for Massa to see how he stacks up against Schumacher. Massa will be looking to impress and ensure he becomes a permanent fixture at Ferrari.
2005 RF1 score: 247.5 (13/20)
2004 RF1 score: 292.0 (9/20)
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Jarno Trulli - Toyota

Trulli's a fantastic qualifier but his race performances are inconsistent. If Toyota deliver a quick car in 2006 Trulli will be looking to stamp his authority on his team mate and the whole grid. However, will changes to the qualifying format suit him?
2005 RF1 score: 269.0 (9/20)
2004 RF1 score: 315.0 (7/20) - inc Villeneuve's performance for one GP.
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Ralf Schumacher - Toyota

Ralf out-raced his team mate in 2005 and will be looking to do even better in 2006. So much depends on Toyota's 2006 car but Ralf will also be wanting to prove that he has what it takes to succeed his brother should Michael retire at the end of 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 316.5 (7/20)
2004 RF1 score: 272.5 (10/20) - inc performances by Pizzonia and Gene.
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Mark Webber - Williams

By his standards Webber had a very poor 2005 season. He struggled to out-pace his team mate Heidfeld and many questioned the hype surrounding Webber. Mark will be looking to silence his critics in 2006 and a strong Williams car will certainly see him well on his way.
2005 RF1 score: 262.5 (10/20)
2004 RF1 score: 183.5 (17/20)
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Nico Rosberg - Williams

Nico Rosberg is the son of 1982 F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg. This is his first season in F1 but Nico is an accomplished racer and won the inaugural GP2 Championship in 2005. Rosberg will be looking to impress in his first season in F1 and a fast Williams car will help him.
2005 RF1 score: Did not compete.
2004 RF1 score: Did not compete.
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Jenson Button - Honda

After a fantastic season in 2004, much was expected of Button in 2005. Unfortunately Jenson suffered a lot of early season retirements and only managed two podium finishes all season. In 2006 Jenson is joined by a very quick and highly experienced driver. Much pressure is being heaped on Jenson to score his maiden win this season - if Honda deliver a quick car you wouldn't bet against it.
2005 RF1 score: 233.5 (15/20)
2004 RF1 score: 398.0 (3/20)
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Rubens Barrichello - Honda

After many years of being Ferrari's second driver, Barrichello has moved to Honda. He is not only a very quick and accomplished driver but brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. He'll be pushing from the very start of the season and will be hoping to get Honda's first win as a sole constructor.
2005 RF1 score: 354.0 (4/20)
2004 RF1 score: 467.5 (2/20)
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David Coulthard - Red Bull Racing

After leaving McLaren at the end of 2004 many wondered whether Coulthard would be able to show his true talent at Red Bull Racing. Despite the RBR car not being the fastest on the grid Coulthard excelled and delivered two 4th place finishes during the season. With Ferrari power in 2006 Coulthard will be looking to get onto the podium.
2005 RF1 score: 250.5 (11/20)
2004 RF1 score: 253.0 (12/20)
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Christian Klien - Red Bull Racing

Klien had a good 2005, he regularly out-qualified his more experience team mate (Coulthard). Unfortunately he lacked race pace and Coulthard often finished higher. He won't be swapping his race seat with Liuzzi in 2006 and the consistency should help him find form.
2005 RF1 score: 203.0 (18/20) - inc performances by Liuzzi
2004 RF1 score: 199.0 (15/20)
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Nick Heidfeld - BMW Sauber

After winning a tense shoot-out with Pizzonia, Heidfeld proved that he deserved the Williams race seat in 2005. He regularly out-performed his team mate (Webber) but suffered a late season injury that saw him miss the final five races. However, his strong performances earned him a race seat with the BMW Sauber team and he'll be looking to push harder in 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 249.5 (12/20) - inc performances by Pizzonia
2004 RF1 score: 187.0 (16/20)
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Jacques Villeneuve - BMW Sauber

Villeneuve struggled to find pace in the 2005 Sauber and was out-driven by his team mate Massa. However, Jacques is an exciting driver and, having signed for the works BMW team, will be looking to prove that he still has the form that made him 1997 World Champion.
2005 RF1 score: 219.5 (16/20) - inc performances by Pizzonia
2004 RF1 score: Only drove in the final three races of the season
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Christijan Albers - Midland F1

Despite driving the under-funded and under-powered Minardi, Albers earned himself 4 championship points and a race seat with the Midland F1 team for 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 209.0 (17/20)
2004 RF1 score: Did not compete.
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Tiago Monteiro - Midland F1

Monteiro had an excellent first season in F1. He only retired once during the season (Brazil), scored a podium (USA GP) and ended the season with seven World Championship points. It will be tough to repeat that performance in 2006 but a Toyota powered car should help.
2005 RF1 score: 334.0 (6/20)
2004 RF1 score: Did not compete.
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Vitantonio Liuzzi - Scuderia Toro Rosso

Liuzzi shared a 2005 race seat with Klien. With Red Bull's purchase of Minardi at the end of 2005 he is promoted to a full race seat. He will want to make the most of this opportunity and out perform his rookie team mate.
2005 RF1 score: 203.0 (18/20) - inc performances by Klien
2004 RF1 score: 199.0 (15/20)
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Scott Speed - Scuderia Toro Rosso

Speed is in his first season of F1. He finished the inaugural GP2 championship in 3rd place and will be hoping to carry some of that form in to F1. He has a more experienced team mate alongside him and, with Red Bull backing the team, should be reasonably well funded.
2005 RF1 score: Did not compete.
2004 RF1 score: Did not compete.
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Takuma Sato - Super Aguri

Sato is an exciting and aggressive driver but at times he's inconsistent. He had a difficult season at BAR last year and lost his race seat to Barrichello for 2006. He joined the newest outfit on the F1 grid, Super Aguri. However, Sato may struggle to show his form at this end of the grid.
2005 RF1 score: 152.5 (20/20)
2004 RF1 score: 267.5 (11/20)
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Yuji Ide - Super Aguri

Ide is in his first season of F1. Yuji Ide has been competing in the highly competitive Formula Nippon for the last three seasons. Last year he was runner-up and this earned him a race seat in the newly formed Super Aguri team.
2005 RF1 score: Did not compete.
2004 RF1 score: Did not compete.
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Team Guide

Renault - Tyres: Michelin

Renault were very quick and (the car of Alonso) ultra-reliable last season. Strong performances from Alonso throughout the season earned them both the championship titles. Fisichella played a good supporting role but was dogged by reliability problems early in the season. Renault have arguably the best pit crew in F1 and, with tyre changes returning to F1 in 2006, this could be a decisive factor. They will be looking to win back-to-back championships this year.
2005 RF1 score: 377.0 (2/10)
2004 RF1 score: 352.0 (2/10)
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McLaren - Tyres: Michelin

McLaren had arguably the fastest car of the 2005 season. Räikkönen matched Alonso's number of race wins but McLaren claimed neither the driver nor team trophy in 2005. Reliability problems (especially early in the season) hurt their 2005 campaign and they were always playing catch-up to Renault. In 2006 they will desperately want both trophies. They've a new (chav or champ?) chrome paint-job on the car but will their season be affected by so many high-profile staff leaving the team?
2005 RF1 score: 437.25 (2/10)
2004 RF1 score: 279.5 (6/10)
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Ferrari - Tyres: Bridgestone

Going into the 2005 season, Ferrari had been the dominant force in F1 for six years. However, by their standards, they had a terrible season. Their only win came at the farcical USA GP. They will want to put 2005 behind them and dominate again in 2006 but the momentum gained by Renault and McLaren in 2005 means they will be hard to catch.
2005 RF1 score: 351.5 (3/10)
2004 RF1 score: 517.75 (1/10)
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Toyota - Tyres: Bridgestone

Despite being reputed to have the largest budget of any team on the grid, Toyota failed to turn this cash into consistent results in 2005. They will be looking for more than five podiums in 2006. Everyone will be looking to Toyota to finally deliver in 2006 and a switch to Bridgestone rubber might help.
2005 RF1 score: 292.75 (4/10)
2004 RF1 score: 176.25 (8/10)
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Williams - Tyres: Bridgestone

The troubled partnership of Williams and BMW finally broke down in 2005. BMW bought the Sauber team and formed their own works outfit. Williams have signed up to use Cosworth engines and Bridgestone rubber for 2006. Pre-season testing has shown the new car to be extremely promising. They also have an exciting driver pairing in Webber and Rosberg and both men have things to prove in 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 256.0 (6/10)
2004 RF1 score: 318.25 (5/10)
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Honda Racing - Tyres: Michelin

BAR (now Honda) had a fantastic season in 2004 but struggled in 2005. Their infamous second fuel tank saw them disqualified from the San Marino GP. Having been bought out by Honda at the end of 2005 the Honda works team will be looking for results in 2006. They have an excellent driver pairing in Button and Barrichello and they're definitely a team to watch in 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 193.0 (9/10) - scored as BAR.
2004 RF1 score: 332.75 (4/10) - scored as BAR.
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Red Bull Racing - Tyres: Michelin

Given that it was their first season in F1 the Red Bull Racing team had a very successful 2005. There will be no seat swapping in 2006 and they'll be using Ferrari power so expect them to have a good 2006.
2005 RF1 score: 226.75 (8/10)
2004 RF1 score: 191.25 (7/10) - scored as Jaguar.
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BMW Sauber - Tyres: Michelin

Having split from partners Williams at the end of 2005, BMW bought the Sauber team and formed a BMW works team. They will be looking for early success and the driver pairing of Heidfeld and Villeneuve have the talent to do it.
2005 RF1 score: 233.5 (7/10)
2004 RF1 score: 334.5 (3/10)
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Midland F1 - Tyres: Bridgestone

Midland bought the Jordan team in 2004 but this will be the first season that the team runs under the name Midland. They will again be using Toyota power so will be looking for some strong mid-table performances.
2005 RF1 score: 289.5 (7/10) - scored as Jordan.
2004 RF1 score: 172.25 (10/10) - scored as Jordan.
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Scuderia Toro Rosso - Tyres: Michelin

Not content with running one Formula 1 team.... Red Bull bought another one! At the end of the 2005 season Red Bull bought Minardi, and Scuderia Toro Rosso was formed. For the 2006 season they will be using down-rated Cosworth V10 engines (all the other teams, except Super Aguri, will be using V8s).
2005 RF1 score: 185.0 (10/10) - scored as Minardi.
2004 RF1 score: 175.5 (9/10) - scored as Minardi.
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Super Aguri F1 - Bridgestone

Super Aguri are the newest team to join the F1 circus. The team is owned by Aguri Suzuki (ex-F1 driver) and, for the first three races, will be running modified Arrows cars from the 2002 season. From the San Marino Grand Prix the team will be using an all new car. The team also has an all-Japanese line-up in Sato and Ide.
2005 RF1 score: Did not compete.
2004 RF1 score: Did not compete.
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Tyres

Five teams will be using Bridgestone rubber this season (Ferrari, Toyota, Williams, Midland F1 and Super Aguri), the other six teams will all be using Michelin tyres. Tyre changes during pitstops have been brought back for the 2006 season and should produce some very exciting racing.
Michelin 2005 RF1 score: 284.0 (1/2)
Bridgestone 2005 RF1 score: 68.0 (2/2)
Michelin 2004 RF1 score: 232.0 (1/2)
Bridgestone 2004 RF1 score: 126.0 (2/2)
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2006 Calendar

Bahrain Grand Prix (Bahrain) - 12/03/06
Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang) - 19/03/06
Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne) - 02/04/06
San Marino Grand Prix (Imola) - 23/04/06
European Grand Prix (Nurburgring) - 07/05/06
Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona) - 14/05/06
Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo) - 28/05/06
British Grand Prix (Silverstone) - 11/06/06
Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal) - 25/06/06
United States Grand Prix (Indianapolis) - 02/07/06
French Grand Prix (Magny-Cours) - 16/07/06
German Grand Prix (Hockenheim) - 30/07/06
Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest) - 06/08/06
Turkish Grand Prix (Istanbul) - 27/08/06
Italian Grand Prix (Monza) - 10/09/06
Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai) - 01/10/06
Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka) - 08/10/06
Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos) - 22/11/06

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Useful F1 Links

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