For the Record: the 2006 season in quotes

March

Prodrive announce plans to build F1-spec factory; FIA appoints permanent chief steward; Teams sign new testing agreement; Schumacher equals Senna's pole record; Alonso beats Schumacher to Bahrain win; Patrick Faure steps down from Renault; Fisichella leads Renault 1-2 in Malaysia; Fuji secures Japanese GP deal; FIA tells McLaren, BMW to change wings; GPMA teams submit entry for 2008; Stoddart submits Minardi entry for 2008.

"Maybe during the season he lost some self confidence, but I'm sure this year, by starting good immediately, things will be easier for him, and he'll have a great season."

Pat Symonds - Renault's chief of engineering, on Giancarlo Fisichella.

"For the start of this season, however, our target is to put Williams back at the sharp end of the grid."

Sam Michael - Williams technical director.

"My target is to fight for the championship, and I am optimistic I can do that."

Giancarlo Fisichella - Renault driver.

"Although the rules were changed in a bid to reduce costs, it is disappointing to note that a tyre manufacturer such as Michelin will have to carry 38 per cent more stock to Grands Prix this season than it did in 2005."

Nick Shorrock - Michelin F1 director.

"I would be surprised if all the issues between us are not settled before the race in Bahrain."

Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One boss, on the deal with GPMA.

"The manufacturer teams have really lost it and left me disappointed."

Eddie Jordan - Former F1 team boss.

"I think my rivals will be Michael and Jenson Button."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"Toro Rosso have more horsepower - that is not a secret. It could be up to 10 percent more. They also have more torque. But I am not criticising that. They were strong in testing here and they can go for a podium here, I am convinced."

Norbert Haug - Mercedes motorsport boss.

"If Ferrari needed him and found him available, the answer is yes (he would suit Ferrari). He's very strong, he never complains, he doesn't blame others if he loses."

Jean Todt - Ferrari team boss, on Kimi Raikkonen.

"It is not impossible but unlikely that the first Grand Prix car he races will be a McLaren."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss, on Lewis Hamilton.

"I think it's the best performance of any young driver that I've seen for a very long time."

Jackie Steward - three-time champion, on Nico Rosberg's Bahrain debut.

"I am not at all happy about it. It is very clear what you can or cannot do. There might be specific rules about specific parts, but there are also general rules and I know exactly what that wing does. And that is not what I would expect."

Pat Symonds - Renault's chief of engineering, on Ferrari's front wing.

"It would be unfortunate if Ferrari's interpretation is said to be right because all the other teams will have to do similar things."

Nick Fry - Honda team boss, on Ferrari's front wing.

"I like very much the idea of Giancarlo winning the championship, he deserves it. For me he is completely on par with Fernando."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"Inevitably, by mid-December, when he received the news, as did Kimi, that we'd already chosen one of our drivers for 2007, his reaction was, well, predictable. But that reaction lasted less than 24 hours, which was fantastically uplifting for everyone, including me. He just started working harder, and I'm very sure he'll have a much better season than he did last year."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss, on Juan Pablo Montoya.

"Would I like to get back into F1? Yes. Could I do it? Yes. I have the premises and I still have staff. Will I get the opportunity? Let's see how it goes. ... There's obviously the relationship with Max to overcome..."

Paul Stoddart - Former Minardi team boss.

April

Alonso wins thrilling Australian GP; Teams ask FIA to exclude Toro Rosso; Mike Gascoyne leaves Toyota; Schumacher grabs record 66th pole position; Schumacher fends off Alonso to Imola win; FIA confirms Prodrive for 2008; BRDC board wins vote of confidence; Hill confirmed as BRDC president.

"We are so competitive it is really embarrassing. We are the best ones. It is as simple as that. There is nothing more than that. At the moment we are the best ones - with three races we have three victories."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"This story about Ferrari's front wing is absurd. You know what the aerodynamic advantage of the flap bending backwards is? Zero. I'm surprised there are reputable technical directors around convinced of the opposite."

Frank Dernie - veteran F1 engineer.

"I'm the American out there. My mom taught me not to get into fights, but I've got to stand up. I won't take shit from no one."

Scott Speed - Toro Rosso driver.

"We have a contract in place until the end of 2007. If we alter that into a V8 contract, we have to make sure with Cosworth boss Kevin Kalkhoven that we would get equal treatment to Williams."

Dietrich Mateschitz - Red Bull owner, on Toro Rosso's Cosworth contract.

"It's so stupid it doesn't cause me any reaction. Besides, I think one of our strengths is not to react to such rumours. On the day we feel like announcing our drivers, we'll do it. It certainly won't be the papers forcing us to do it."

Jean Todt - Ferrari team boss, on reports linking Michael Schumacher to Renault.

"Every week we have a new story about Kimi or Michael, if he retires or not, Kimi if he stays at McLaren or goes to Ferrari, or Montoya to Red Bull or whatever. It is just what I didn't want to happen to me in the first races of the championship."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"For sure McLaren will be there at the end of the championship fighting."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"I wonder what their motivation is for spreading this bullshit, and why they never seem to grow tired of publishing the same lies, over and over again. The fact is, despite the constant rumours, I have not sold the team and it continues to operate at a healthy level."

Alex Shnaider - Midland owner.

"They haven't helped me at all in the four or five years that I have been here. When there was a test or a race where I needed something, I didn't get much. Everybody knows what happened in some races last year and the conversations we had on the radio everybody could hear. So this year I'm not expecting much from the team."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"You say something and the journalists analyse what you say and write what you think that I mean in that comment. The thing is that in Renault we never have first driver and second driver. We have equal conditions for both drivers, in any circumstances in any race."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"Clearly they have improved their car, and they have done a great job. But our target is the Renault. I still feel that the world championship is going to be fought between two teams - but I might be wrong, and Ferrari could maintain the fight with Bridgestone."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss.

"I believe that we will beat Ferrari over the course of the year, even at our current performance level. We need to lift our performance level to beat Renault."

Martin Whitmarsh - McLaren F1 CEO.

"Once we (the GPMA) find a solution we will sign at the Nurburgring. I don't wait for anybody. With the negotiations, at some point, we have to stop."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss, on the new F1 deal.

"Ideally we would like to have two competitive teams. I would think by some time in June all the deals that are going to be done, with everyone and not just Cosworth, will be pretty much signed and sealed."

Bernard Ferguson - Cosworth's commercial director.

May

Super Aguri replace Ide with Montagny; Schumacher storms to European GP win; David Coulthard hits 200 races; Renault commit to F1 until 2012; Alonso takes emotional home win in Spain; FIA rejects move against engine freeze; Rossi says no to Formula One; Edouard Michelin killed in boat accident; Alonso wins the Monaco GP; McLaren, Toyota left out of F1 Commission.

"Schumacher isn't scared of anyone because he's a great fighter and he is still the strongest."

Willi Weber - Michael Schumacher's manager.

"It would be great if he (Ron Dennis) started doing what he's saying we should be doing. I think what he's saying (is what) everybody else should be doing except McLaren. Hopefully the teams and drivers will realise they have to give a little bit more back to the sport. We have a World Champion now, Fernando, who doesn't do too much."

Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.

"I have a team that pay me to do my job, I go testing, I go to the promotional events, I have my sponsors, I go to my obligations, I race, I do my maximum and this is my job in Formula One. I don't know what more I have to do. There is nothing more in the contract that I have to do."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"He didn't look too bad today, did he? For an old man he was alright."

Ross Brawn - Ferrari technical director, on Michael Schumacher after winning the European GP.

"In my opinion these successes should push him to retire. He must quit at the top. He would be crazy if he carries on after another title."

Juan Pablo Montoya - McLaren driver, on Michael Schumacher.

"There's a lot of unfinished business here I think. I'd just find it better if I could make it work here, that's the natural fit. It always seems greener somewhere else and then the timing changes and then Williams are quick next year and I'm not here and I've been through two pretty tough years."

Mark Webber - Williams driver.

"It is not really anything to do with the revenues. It is silly things. When somebody starts a fight, in the end they need to have a reason for it, they need to have some sort of a victory. I said when this all started that this would all end with a press release. That is what will happen."

Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo, on the deal with the GPMA.

"From GPMA's point of view, we are now at a point where we are prepared to sign a document."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss.

"We are ready, as Renault is a shareholder of this, to do what is necessary to have a good driver."

Alain Dassas - Renault F1 president.

"The title battle will be fought between Ferrari and Renault because they always get to the end of the races and they are always fighting for victory and podiums. Me? I'll look for winning some races. At least I'll try."

Kimi Raikkonen - McLaren driver.

"Are we looking to secure more business? Absolutely. I would love to do that to complement the Williams relationship rather than replace it."

Bernard Ferguson - Cosworth's commercial director.

"Ferrari must have an alternative (to Schumacher) as a driver. The most logical one is Kimi...they cannot afford to wait until the end of the year."

Niki Lauda - former world champion.

"I don't feel pressured by this situation, it's normal. Likewise, it's normal to expect some errors from him sooner or later."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver, on Fernando Alonso.

"From the fastest guy in GP2 to the slowest in Formula One, you have maybe seven or eight seconds per lap. But one team is spending $2 million, the other half a billion. There's something not right there, don't you think?"

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"No F1, at least for now. I'm staying in motorbikes."

Valentino Rossi - MotoGP champion.

"Good. This way we don't talk anything more about him. After four months, maybe this is the last question (I face about him)."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver, on Valentino Rossi.

"Personally, I believe Kimi should continue with McLaren-Mercedes. If you start jumping left, right and centre suddenly you realise 10 years have gone by."

Mika Hakkinen - Former world champion.

"I enjoy very much the sport and I am very passionate about it, but definitely another ten years seems a hurdle too great for me to jump. I want to be on a beach well before then."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss.

"Unfortunately I just locked up and ran wide."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver, after qualifying at Monaco.

"He's just parking the car. This is the way Ferrari manage."

Flavio Briatore - Renault boss, on Michael Schumacher after qualifying at Monaco.

"I hope it was deliberate, because if that was a mistake he should not even have a F1 superlicence. If you can make a mistake like that, you shouldn't drive a race car. There's no way you could make a mistake like that."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver, on Michael Schumacher after qualifying at Monaco.

"Being quicker than my teammate now, having won the world championship, raced for pole positions, seems to be a negative to get a contract. It's a strange situation."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver.

June

Super Aguri confirm Yamamoto; Villeneuve resigns from the GPDA; Alonso cruises to British GP win; Renault extend Fisichella's contract; FIA moves to stop flexi-wings concerns; Monza settles over noise issue; US GP class action lawsuit dismissed; Honda appoint Nakamoto as tech chief; Geoff Willis leaves Honda; Trulli remains at Toyota until 2009; Alonso storms to Canadian GP victory; Michelin celebrates 100th GP win.

"I think Lewis might find it a bit harder than he thinks if he believes he'll be able to take on Fernando (Alonso) at McLaren straight away."

Jenson Button - Honda driver.

"I do believe he lives in a bubble."

Damon Hill - former world champion, on Michael Schumacher.

"The truth is that at the moment we are the fastest and most reliable. If Ferrari don't find somehow a tyre advantage, they won't catch us."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"I don't know who would be my teammate next year in Renault, but I know that he will be a Finn: Raikkonen or Kovalainen."

Giancarlo Fisichella - Renault driver.

"F1 has never got anything good out of the US. We've never had a big committed US sponsor. We could hold 10 Grands Prix in the US and a handful in Europe to boost F1's popularity in the States - but what would be the point of that?"

Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.

"It is a very calm area at the moment. The earlier the better because it is something that you don't have to think about and I definitely want to be here next year."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver.

"What do we get from America? Aggravation, that's about all. If you say 'good morning' over there and it's five past 12, you end up with a lawsuit."

Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo.

"We still believe that there is a place for people like us in F1. There needs to be an independent manufacturer involved."

Bernard Ferguson - Cosworth's commercial director.

"Personally, I am not happy that someone can run the GPDA and act like that."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver.

"Instead of making yourself better you try to make the opposition worse, I guess. That is not what happens when you are on the way up."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver, on Honda's complaints about BMW's rear wing.

"We have said 'sorry'. I don't see why the American public deserves more apologies than [spectators at] some other races that have not been particularly good. If the Americans enjoy it that's great, if they don't so be it."

David Coulthard - Red Bull driver.

July

Teams agree on new engine rules; Schumacher heads Ferrari 1-2 at US GP; FIA chooses Bridgestone as sole supplier; Montoya switches to NASCAR with Ganassi; Schumacher cruises to 8th French GP win; New Super Aguri hits the track; FIA bans Renault's damper system; German circuits agree to share Grand Prix; Williams confirm Toyota engine deal; Stewards deem Renault's mass damper legal; Toyota confirm Trulli until 2009; FIA appeals against stewards' decision; F1 gets full engine freeze for 2008; Schumacher heads Ferrari 1-2 in Germany.

"We are not racing. We spend so much money to build the most beautiful and expensive cars in the world to have these boring races. There is something wrong here."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"A special thanks to Montoya for his contribution to my points finish."

David Coulthard - Red Bull driver, after the US GP.

"I think getting good results helps us all, but the way in which the end of this race came about isn't something that the team is going to hold against Juan Pablo."

Martin Whitmarsh - McLaren F1 CEO, after the US GP.

"I want to start a new stage in my career with Ron Dennis' team, and I think next year the best car will be painted in gray."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"I am so happy to be entering the fastest growing racing league in the world. I've thought about this for quite some time, but the opportunity had to be right...I will be a lot happier here."

Juan Pablo Montoya - McLaren driver, on his move to NASCAR.

"What would you do in NASCAR? What is exciting there? I cannot see that, running around in ovals."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver.

"I think the teams have decided that they can find the rare diamond that will be the next Alonso. And that guy will stay with their team and cost no money. What they fail to realise is if one day he becomes quick, another team will spend money for him so they will not keep him and the few years that they groomed him serve no purpose."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver.

"His decision to go to NASCAR brought into question the level of commitment and dedication that he would be able to bring to the balance of the season."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss, on Juan Pablo Montoya.

"He'll stay at Williams on the conditions set by us."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss, on Mark Webber.

"It's no secret, Raikkonen is our priority for the 2007 season. We are talking with Raikkonen for an eventual contract."

Alain Dassas - Renault F1 president.

"Competition and racing, it's in his blood and I think he thinks of winning all the time. He's still very good and I don't think he'll retire at the end of the year. He won't just get out of bed in Switzerland with nothing to do."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss, on Michael Schumacher.

"If there is a choice between Kimi and Webber, they'll take Kimi. It's a no-brainer. I've got six points this year. That's the food chain, that's life mate."

Mark Webber - Williams driver.

"Let's wait before talking about a Ferrari comeback. They've demonstrated to be solid up to now, so let's see if they can keep it up. Last year it looked like McLaren could win the constructors' championship, instead we won it. Let's wait, we bury the dead only when they're cold."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

August

Kubica replaces Villeneuve for Hungary; Williams sign Wurz as racing driver for 2007; Prodrive factory gains council approval; Maiden Button win in chaotic Hungarian GP; BMW part company with Villeneuve; Webber, Coulthard confirmed at Red Bull; Toyota leaves the GPMA; New US GP deal confirmed; Honda, Willis agree to part company; Renault's damper system ruled illegal; Massa scored maiden win in Turkey; Europe and San Marino dropped for 2007; FIA investigating Turkish podium.

"Without a tyre swing this year, the championship would have been all over bar the shouting."

Martin Whitmarsh - McLaren F1 CEO.

"We were worried about press comment - that Williams is out of control again, can't run their own teams, are only reacting to events. Bollocks to that - and excuse the language."

Frank Williams - Williams team boss, following Mark Webber's exit.

"Things have started to happen that we don't understand. This happens when a team that is not winning races needs help. The races are being decided by the referee and not the players."

"To do something like that in free practice, a stupid thing like he did, that is not the way a world champion should drive. It is ridiculous what he did from my point of view."

Niki Lauda - Former world champion, on Alonso's driving in practice in Hungary.

"For sure we are unhappy about the mass dampers. If somebody had some problem the easy way was to protest us. For our two friends (Ferrari and McLaren), it (complaining to the FIA) was the easy way. And this is what we are not happy about. After that I have no problem with the FIA."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"If the FIA wins the appeal - and I really do not believe the FIA can win the appeal on the grounds they have said - but if they do then we really have to start to relook at the definition of what a racing car is - its suspension, everything."

Pat Symonds - Renault's director on engineering.

"I left out of boredom. I wasn't enjoying the races. I had done everything I had to do and I had achieved almost all the goals that I had."

Juan Pablo Montoya - McLaren driver.

"If he didn't win the championship and he was close to winning it, he'd probably want to have another go and if he does win it, he'd want to defend it, I would have thought."

Bernie Ecclestone - Formula One supremo, on Michael Schumacher.

"Michael simply isn't a great champion because he's played too many dirty tricks and because he isn't a great human being."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver.

"I asked Ferrari if I could buy their full car - chassis, engine and everything - and I asked that to others too. I also went to Renault and BMW, for example. Talks are ongoing. We'll see."

David Richard - Prodrive team boss.

"My opinion is that he's been rushed through too quickly and therefore he hasn't had the chance to show his talent."

David Coulthard - Red Bull driver, on Christian Klien.

"I didn't understand the thought process - it was demotivating for the driver. In the end it was Jacques' decision to not finish the season. The way it was all happening, it was just ridiculous."

Craig Pollock - Jacques Villeneuve's manager.

"I was hoping that he would let me go so I could finish my lap but he didn't, he wanted to play a game of chicken about who could brake the latest and that was it."

Robert Doornbos - Red Bull driver, on Fernando Alonso in Turkey.

"We have no problem with releasing Juan Pablo prematurely, we just don't see that we should do that and pay him at the same time. We are absolutely comfortable with either releasing and not paying him, or him staying in the position of earning."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss.

"I think that Michael is agonising about such a dramatic change of his life, that when he decides, I'm absolutely sure he'll have thought it through thousands of times and will be resolute to the decision."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss.

September

Kovalainen confirmed at Renault for 2007; Briatore renews Renault deal through '08; Renault confirm Zonta, Piquet as testers; Midland sale to Spyker complete; Spyker sign Mike Gascoyne; Schumacher wins the Italian GP and announces his retirement; Ferrari confirm Raikkonen, Massa; Renault announce Red Bull engine deal; Panis announces retirement; Turkey penalised with largest ever fine; South Korea announced it will host a GP in 2010; Williams retain Karthikeyan; Spyker confirm Albers; Alonso elected as GPDA director; Spyker sign engine deal with Ferrari.

"The people I had looking after me were completely wrong. And I was guided in the wrong direction, but they can't take all of the flak. I did make wrong decisions, but I have learnt from them, and in a way, if they hadn't happened, I might not have won my first Grand Prix."

Jenson Button - Honda driver.

"In US racing he has a fair chance to establish himself there in the top. He can become a hero there and by this he will remain in the focus of F1 and can offer his services in F1 again."

Dietrich Mateschitz - Red Bull owner, on Christian Klien.

"After having been in F1 for 10 years and having won the championship and so on, I wasn't ready to stay home some weekends just to see how the other guy would go and to then be compared to him."

Jacques Villeneuve - BMW driver.

"We did not really expect to lose Fernando and we moved a little bit late. Kimi chose to sign this pre-contract with Ferrari and good luck. We will try to beat him next year."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"It seems that we have forgotten what qualifying was like up until 2003, when half the field complained of traffic. We seem to have forgotten what racing is about."

Pat Symonds - Renault's director of engineer, following Alonso's penalty at Monza.

"I did my lap without blocking anyone intentionally. I love the sport, I love the fans coming here, a lot of them from Spain, but I don't consider F1 anymore a sport."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"I feel shame. I'm embarrassed by this sport. This is probably the most embarrassing moment in modern sporting history, what's happening this year."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"There has been a lot of discussion for a lot of time what concerns my future and I think all the fans, all the motorsport interested people were right to explain what happened. I am sorry it took longer than expected. We feel this is the right moment to make a show in the way that this is going to be the last Monza race I am going to do. At the end of this year I have decided with the team that I am going to retire from racing."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver.

"This is a world championship which has already been decided at the table. We have understood how things go - it has all been decided...they have decided to give the world championship to Schumacher and that is what will be."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"These comments, which have been attributed to me in the press today, have been completely taken out of context. A jokey remark has been turned into something it was not intended to be."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"Zidane retired with more glory than Schumacher. Michael is the man with the most sanctions and the most unsporting driver in the history of Formula One."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"The Spanish press always talk too much. The question was what I thought about the retirement of Zinedine Zidane and Michael. I only said Zidane for me was better at fair play and a better sportsman at the end. Firstly because Zidane is my favourite sportsman in the last couple of years, so it was not a very fair question."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"I regard Alonso as a brilliant driver, but his behaviour right now is just pitiful. Michael will give him a suitable answer on the track."

Willi Weber - Michael Schumacher's manager.

"It's the worst we've been since we got proper with Patrick (Head) and we started in 1977. The lowest we've ever been since then is fifth - so eighth is unblinkingly, achingly shocking."

Frank Williams - Williams team boss.

"Ferrari will need to rebuild themselves. Question is, will they rebuild as well as they did with Michael, or will it be the same old Italian chaos? Kimi must be careful that, after Michael, everything won't fall to pieces."

Niki Lauda - Former world champion.

"It's not the end of an era but just the end of Michael's career. To beat Ferrari will still be a feat."

Rory Byrne - Ferrari's former chief designer.

"I think the facts speak for themselves. I don't think we are going to be in Formula One next year."

Bernard Ferguson - Cosworth's managing director.

October

Schumacher ties Alonso with China win; Alonso nears title after Japanese GP win; Teams sign off 2007 testing agreement; Renault confirm ING as title sponsor; Toyota confirm Montagny as third driver; BMW confirm Kubica, Heidfeld for 2007; AT&T becomes Williams title sponsor; Bridgestone's Suganuma leaves F1; Massa wins in Brazil, Alonso is champion; Todt confirmed as new Ferrari CEO; Ferrari confirm Brawn's exit.

"Looking back some while ago, it is quite a miracle that we are there."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver.

"What I felt [in China] was that maybe I had a problem with the car, which was a specific problem for ten or nine laps, and I felt alone, for sure. For sure, it is like you are in the Tour de France in the mountain, you have a puncture, and your team and your rival go uphill and don't stop. That was a little bit difficult to understand."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"What we mustn't have is the number two drivers blocking or intentionally slowing one of the championship contenders. It would be unfortunate and unacceptable. It is something I know we were involved in a few years ago and it was considered to be normal practice then, but it has been deemed to be unacceptable now, so we understand that."

Ross Brawn - Ferrari technical director.

"Massa is the kind of guy. He is a kid. He is a little kid. Little in every sense. Fernando on the radio was complaining. If you are fighting with McLaren it is fine, if you fight with these guys (Ferrari) it is impossible."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss, after qualifying for the Japanese GP.

"For me this is not a circuit that has, in any shape or form, improved its facilities over the times that we have been here. The hotel rooms all smell. It's a common thing and it's as if nobody has been in the hotel for months."

Ron Dennis - McLaren team boss, on Suzuka.

"I hardly know Kimi, but when he came into Formula One I thought 'Oh no, how did we miss him?' But he hasn't taken it seriously enough, which I find very sad. I don't follow what he does when he's away, but Michael's approach is different to Kimi's and maybe that's the more professional."

Frank Williams - Williams team boss.

"The drivers' title for me is finished, but we go to Brazil to win the constructors'."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver, after retiring from the Japanese GP.

"I must say that in contrast with my feelings last year fighting McLaren, I was not sad when I saw their failure. Last year it was just a question of who was faster on the track. This year there was much less sporting spirit and less spirit of pure competition."

Denis Chevrier - Renault's chief of engine operations,

"I would say that Jenson is much like the old-time drivers. The Graham Hill type of driver with all the talent that they need, except nowadays you've got to be dedicated, too."

Bernie Ecclestone - Formula one supremo.

"You have just got to look at the facts and statistics, which he hasn't done. Over the winter I did more mileage than anyone in testing."

Jenson Button - Honda driver.

"Flavio was never keen for me to go to Williams and I know I made a costly mistake by not listening to him."

Mark Webber - Williams driver.

"The important thing is the drivers' championship, not only for me, for everybody. We see all the publicity on the motorways, everywhere from China onwards. You don't see the logo of Ferrari and Renault. I think the people remember which driver is the champion and which car he drove. I don't think anyone remembers 10 years ago who was the constructors' champion."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"In my opinion Michael will come back to racing, but which category and when I don't know. You will have to ask him. My opinion is simply that he will one day."

Mika Hakkinen - Former world champion.

"I always said that to become champion when Michael is still on track gives it more value. I was extremely lucky to win the world championships when he races, I think we all wish him the best for his new life with his family. It has for us been pleasure for us to race with him."

Fernando Alonso - Renault driver.

"We had an insanely quick car today. We probably had enough speed to lap everyone, to be honest. We did that sort of anyhow. All in all, I'd have to say it was a class finale with the car, with the speed we've got. But it just wasn't meant to be today, for me."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver.

"With Alonso we found the anti-Schumacher, and with Kovalainen I hope to find the anti-Alonso. For me it's a new challenge."

Flavio Briatore - Renault team boss.

"At one point, everyone was saying I would leave Ferrari after just one year. Everyone said the 2007 drivers would be Michael and Kimi. Now we start back from zero: the team game has ended, and I don't think I'll lift my foot off the throttle to let Kimi through."

Felipe Massa - Ferrari driver.

"It was intense but I loved it."

Michael Schumacher - Ferrari driver, on his F1 career.

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