Top > Sport > 2006 > May > 2006-05-18

Renault and Ferrari Way Ahead of Competition

Renault and Ferrari are enlarging the gap between them and the rest of the Formula One teams turning it to one that will be very hard to bypass. McLaren, last year`s title runners-up, didn`t deliver in Barcelona on Sunday and Renault`s Fernando Alonso became the first Spaniard to win his home grand prix. Honda, so promising in pre-season testing, took a double points finish but were no closer to the podium with seventh-placed Brazilian Rubens Barrichello lapped by Alonso.

Raikkonen is third in the championship but 27 points adrift of Alonso after six races and 12 behind Ferrari`s Michael Schumacher, who was second on Sunday after winning the previous two races. McLaren are already 36 points behind Renault while fourth-placed Honda are 54 off the pace and readjusting their sights. ?The gap is bigger than we expected and disappointing obviously, coming away from only one week ago when we were very close to the frontrunners,? said Whitmarsh.

The next race, on the tight and twisty Monaco streets, can throw up surprises ? seven times champion Schumacher did not win there in his dominant 2004 season ? but there have only been two winning teams so far this year. ?I think though they can come back, especially McLaren, and I`m pretty sure before long they will fight with Ferrari and Renault too.?