Formula One news
Schumacher's still got it
23 April 2006 / Results / PhotosMichael Schumacher fended off Fernando Alonso for most of the San Marino Grand Prix to nurse his Ferrari to an 85th career victory. Despite a flying start Schumacher struggled with tyre problems after his first pit stop and spent most of the afternoon containing Alonso's determined challenge. Juan Pablo Montoya finished third.
The tension was palpable in the minutes leading up to the start as the sun shone down on one of the most intriguing grids so far this season. Michael Schumacher settled into the cockpit of the pole position car for a record 66th time, determined to convert his dominant qualifying performance into his first win since July last year.
Schumacher made a perfect start to keep the lead from Button. Rubens Barrichello was sluggish off the line and held Alonso up while Felipe Massa cruised up into third. Just as it looked like a clean start Yuji Ide drove into the back of Christijan Albers sending the Dutchman hurtling off the track at turn six. Albers rolled his Midland several times before coming to rest upside down. The safety car was deployed for two laps but fortunately Albers emerged unscathed.
 |
|
Schumacher kept the lead easily at the restart and there were no tyre heating problems for Button as the Honda driver retained second position comfortably. Massa was busy pressuring from third place while Fernando Alonso finally got past Rubens Barrichello for fourth.
The race order stabilised until the first pit stops but Schumacher was pushing hard, setting a new fastest lap each time round. Honda was the first to pit - Rubens Barrichello on lap 14 and Jenson Button next time round as Michael Schumacher continued to extend his lead at the front.
Ferrari started to play the game they do so well on lap 16 as Felipe Massa - who had been keeping reasonable pace with his team mate - began to slow, and hold Fernando Alonso up as Michael Schumacher kept setting fastest laps. Schumacher was on a mission and Ferrari determined to pull off a home win but would it be enough? Massa pitted on lap 19 having held the Renault up by around five additional seconds.
Race leader Schumacher pitted on lap 20 and the team switched him to a two-stop strategy as the race was well and truly on and Alonso responded by setting his personal fastest lap of the race. Alonso pitted on lap 25 and rejoined the race in second behind Michael Schumacher and ahead of Jenson Button and Felipe Massa.
Just as the pace looked to settle Michael Schumacher started struggling with his second set of tyres. Alonso and Button were suddenly lapping over half a second a lap faster than the German as they ate into Ferrari's ten-second lead.
 |
|
Jenson Button made his second pit stop on lap 31, dropping out of Alonso's hunt for Schumacher but the Honda driver suffered a disastrous pit stop as he was sent on his way while the fuel rig was still connected. Button drove off, ripping the fuel hose to pieces and stopped further down the pit lane as mechanics scampered down to disengage the fuel hose from his car. Button eventually rejoined the race but after losing a great deal of time and face.
Alonso closed to within half a second of Schumacher by lap 34 - but catching the German was one thing, passing on the tight Imola circuit was another. Alonso followed Schumacher around for several laps, right behind the Ferrari's rear wing and tried a couple of moves on the old master but Schumacher was having none of it. Driving a wounded Ferrari, going as much as four seconds slower than his pace at the start of the race Schumacher was not giving Alonso any chance of getting past.
 |
|
Lap 40 saw Renault blink first, pulling Alonso into the pits and Ferrari responded immediately - Michael Schumacher driving the nuts off his car before pitting on the next lap and rejoining the race ahead of the Renault.
Schumacher was struggling again on his final set of tyres, but nowhere near as badly as on his second set. The German controlled the pace comfortably and contained Fernando Alonso easily all the way until the chequered flag.
Schumacher showed he still has what it takes and nursed his wounded Ferrari home to his 85th career victory, his first since the controversial US Grand Prix last year and the first time he has beaten the entire field to victory since the Japanese Grand Prix in 2004.
Fernando Alonso's Renault dropped off in the final five laps and the Spaniard had to make do with eight points for second place. Juan Pablo Montoya drove an unspectacular but collected race to climb up to the final podium position ahead of Felipe Massa.
Kimi Raikkonen's unremarkable weekend ended with fifth place ahead of Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella taking the final point for eighth.
more news
- 10 Jul.
- 09 Jul.
- 08 Jul.
- 07 Jul.
Homepage
