2006 Brazilian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Felipe Massa won his home Brazilian Grand Prix as Fernando Alonso secured a second consecutive world championship with second place. Michael Schumacher produced a determined recovery to fourth in his final Ferrari race, while Renault also retained the constructors’ title.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Felipe Massa	Ferrari
Pole time	1:10.680
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:12.162 on lap 70
First	Felipe Massa	Ferrari
Second	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Third	Jenson Button	Honda

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
20 October 2006	Practice 1	11:00
20 October 2006	Practice 2	14:00
21 October 2006	Practice 3	11:00
21 October 2006	Qualifying	14:00
22 October 2006	Race	14:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Fernando Alonso arrived at round 18 leading the 2006 F1 World Championship on 126 points, with Michael Schumacher on 116. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 195 points.

Race entries

The 11 teams kept the same race line-ups for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Alexander Wurz, Anthony Davidson, Ernesto Viso, Franck Montagny, Michael Ammermuller, Neel Jani, Sebastian Vettel also took part in practice.

Free Practice

Kimi Räikkönen led Friday morning ahead of Davidson and Wurz, while neither Ferrari nor either Williams race car completed a timed programme. Renault also restricted itself to installation work. The familiar contrast between busy third cars and cautious championship contenders kept the session’s headline order from being a definitive guide to the weekend.

Wurz topped the afternoon, with Davidson and Vettel close behind as the third drivers completed their final Friday programmes of the season. Jarno Trulli led the regular race drivers. Michael Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and Scott Speed all ran off track, and Robert Doornbos stopped, adding reliability work to Red Bull’s preparations.

Felipe Massa led Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari one-two on Saturday, well clear of the next group. Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and Nico Rosberg all spun while pushing in overcast conditions. Robert Doornbos faced an engine-change penalty, while Toyota’s low positions contrasted with its Friday promise and would improve substantially in qualifying.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2006 Brazilian Grand Prix FP1, 20 October 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:13.764	5
2	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+0.138s	32
3	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+0.158s	25
4	38	Sebastian Vettel	BMW Sauber	+0.440s	29
5	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+0.473s	5
6	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.723s	4
7	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.124s	8
8	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+1.395s	25
9	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.897s	6
10	37	Michael Ammermuller	Red Bull Racing	+1.947s	22
11	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.404s	6
12	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+2.770s	16
13	39	Ernesto Viso	Midland	+2.973s	32
14	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+3.283s	14
15	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+3.547s	8
16	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+3.624s	14
17	41	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	+3.980s	6
18	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	No time	1
19	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	No time	1
20	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	No time	1
21	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	No time	1
22	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	No time	1
23	15	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	No time	1
24	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	No time	1
25	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	No time	1

Free Practice 2 Classification

2006 Brazilian Grand Prix FP2, 20 October 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	1:12.547	33
2	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+0.106s	37
3	38	Sebastian Vettel	BMW Sauber	+0.323s	33
4	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+0.936s	21
5	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.938s	13
6	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.166s	15
7	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+1.218s	22
8	41	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	+1.245s	20
9	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.256s	8
10	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.273s	16
11	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+1.379s	16
12	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+1.506s	17
13	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.887s	17
14	37	Michael Ammermuller	Red Bull Racing	+1.889s	31
15	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+1.921s	18
16	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+1.963s	15
17	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+2.014s	15
18	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+2.246s	13
19	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+2.292s	15
20	39	Ernesto Viso	Midland	+2.425s	26
21	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+2.476s	27
22	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+2.539s	21
23	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+2.577s	14
24	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.667s	21
25	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+3.190s	22
26	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+3.308s	28
27	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+3.321s	22
28	15	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+3.704s	8
29	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+5.774s	9

Free Practice 3 Classification

2006 Brazilian Grand Prix FP3, 21 October 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:11.443	17
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.188s	15
3	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.863s	15
4	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+1.092s	20
5	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+1.124s	15
6	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.254s	18
7	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.278s	14
8	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.280s	12
9	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+1.337s	15
10	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+1.594s	15
11	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.762s	16
12	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+1.937s	13
13	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+2.012s	18
14	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+2.087s	20
15	15	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+2.121s	21
16	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.199s	20
17	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+2.371s	21
18	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+2.389s	15
19	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.501s	20
20	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+2.608s	19
21	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+2.665s	19
22	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+3.432s	21

Qualifying

Felipe Massa took pole in front of his home crowd, ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and Jarno Trulli. Fernando Alonso qualified fourth, a strong position from which to protect his championship lead. Rubens Barrichello, Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher followed.

Michael Schumacher reached Q3 but a fuel-pressure problem prevented a timed lap, leaving him tenth. Jenson Button missed the final shootout and started fourteenth. Schumacher now needed both a major recovery and trouble for Fernando Alonso to overturn the ten-point deficit.

Qualifying Classification

2006 Brazilian Grand Prix Qualifying, 21 October 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:10.643	1:10.775	1:10.680	19
2	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:12.035	1:11.386	1:11.299	21
3	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:11.885	1:11.343	1:11.328	26
4	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:11.791	1:11.148	1:11.567	19
5	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	1:12.017	1:11.578	1:11.619	26
6	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	1:12.042	1:11.461	1:11.629	22
7	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	1:11.713	1:11.550	1:11.695	27
8	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	1:12.307	1:11.648	1:11.882	23
9	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	1:12.040	1:11.589	1:12.131	22
10	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:11.565	1:10.313	No time	7
11	9	Mark Webber	Williams	1:11.973	1:11.650	—	11
12	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	1:11.825	1:11.658	—	12
13	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	1:11.974	1:11.679	—	12
14	12	Jenson Button	Honda	1:12.085	1:11.742	—	10
15	15	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	1:12.530	1:12.591	—	10
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	1:12.855	1:12.861	—	15
17	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	1:12.856	—	—	8
18	19	Christijan Albers	Spyker MF1	1:13.138	—	—	7
19	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:13.249	—	—	7
20	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	1:13.269	—	—	7
21	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	1:13.357	—	—	10
22	18	Tiago Monteiro	Spyker MF1	No time	—	—	2

Tiago Monteiro did not set a time in Q1 after spinning prematurely and leaving his car stranded on the track.

Michael Schumacher did not set a time in Q3 due to fuel pressure problems.

Robert Doornbos received a 10-place grid penalty for an engine change.

What happened in the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix?

Felipe Massa held the lead as the Williams drivers collided behind, Nico Rosberg later crashing heavily and bringing out the safety car. Michael Schumacher moved forward quickly but suffered a puncture during his battle with Giancarlo Fisichella, dropping almost a lap behind the leader after a slow trip to the pits.

Fernando Alonso gained second through the stops, while Jenson Button recovered strongly and passed Kimi Räikkönen on his way to third. Schumacher delivered a series of quick laps and overtaking moves, eventually passing Kimi Räikkönen to take fourth. Both Toyotas retired early, ending their hopes after an encouraging qualifying performance.

Felipe Massa became the first Brazilian winner at Interlagos since Ayrton Senna in 1993. Fernando Alonso’s second place secured the drivers’ crown, and Giancarlo Fisichella’s sixth helped Renault retain the constructors’ championship. Jenson Button completed the podium, with Schumacher fourth ahead of Kimi Räikkönen; Rubens Barrichello and Pedro de la Rosa took the remaining points.

After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 134 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 121. Renault led the constructors’ table on 206, with Ferrari on 201.

2006 Brazilian Grand Prix race results

The 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix was held on 22 October 2006, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	71	1:31:53.751	10
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	71	+ 18.658	8
3	12	Jenson Button	Honda	71	+ 19.394	6
4	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	71	+ 24.094	5
5	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	71	+ 28.503	4
6	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	71	+ 30.287	3
7	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	71	+ 40.294	2
8	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	71	+ 52.068	1
9	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	71	+ 1:07.642	0
10	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	70	+ 1 Lap	0
11	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	70	+ 1 Lap	0
12	15	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	70	+ 1 Lap	0
13	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	70	+ 1 Lap	0
14	19	Christijan Albers	Spyker MF1	70	+ 1 Lap	0
15	18	Tiago Monteiro	Spyker MF1	69	+ 2 Laps	0
16	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	69	+ 2 Laps	0
17	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	63	Accident	0
Ret	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	14	Gearbox	0
Ret	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	10	Suspension	0
Ret	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	9	Suspension	0
Ret	9	Mark Webber	Williams	1	Collision damage	0
Ret	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	0	Accident	0

2006 Brazilian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	70	1:12.162	214.966
2	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	23	1:12.877	212.857
3	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	70	1:12.961	212.612
4	12	Jenson Button	Honda	71	1:13.053	212.344
5	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	70	1:13.121	212.146
6	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	58	1:13.281	211.683
7	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	67	1:13.379	211.401
8	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	48	1:13.391	211.366
9	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	47	1:13.401	211.337
10	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	69	1:13.687	210.517
11	15	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	62	1:13.700	210.480
12	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	63	1:13.817	210.146
13	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	69	1:13.862	210.018
14	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	25	1:14.117	209.296
15	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	18	1:14.163	209.166
16	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	38	1:14.410	208.471
17	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	61	1:14.591	207.966
18	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	9	1:14.882	207.157
19	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	12	1:16.045	203.989
20	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	8	1:16.835	201.892

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

2006 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

2006 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	134
2	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	121
3	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Ferrari	80
4	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Renault	72
5	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	65
6	Jenson Button	British	Honda	56
7	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Honda	30
8	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren	26
9	Nick Heidfeld	German	BMW Sauber	23
10	Ralf Schumacher	German	Toyota	20
11	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	McLaren	19
12	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Toyota	15
13	David Coulthard	British	Red Bull Racing	14
14	Mark Webber	Australian	Williams	7
15	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BMW Sauber	7
16	Robert Kubica	Polish	BMW Sauber	6
17	Nico Rosberg	German	Williams	4
18	Christian Klien	Austrian	Red Bull Racing	2
19	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian	Toro Rosso	1
20	Scott Speed	American	Toro Rosso	0
21	Tiago Monteiro	Portuguese	Midland / Spyker MF1	0
22	Christijan Albers	Dutch	Midland / Spyker MF1	0
23	Takuma Sato	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
24	Robert Doornbos	Dutch	Red Bull Racing	0
25	Yuji Ide	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
26	Sakon Yamamoto	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
27	Franck Montagny	French	Super Aguri	0

2006 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	206
2	Ferrari	201
3	McLaren	110
4	Honda	86
5	BMW Sauber	36
6	Toyota	35
7	Red Bull Racing	16
8	Williams	11
9	Toro Rosso	1
10	Midland	0
11	Super Aguri	0
12	Spyker MF1	0

2006 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2006 Bahrain Grand Prix	Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir	12 March
2	2006 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	19 March
3	2006 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	2 April
4	2006 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	23 April
5	2006 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	7 May
6	2006 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	14 May
7	2006 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	28 May
8	2006 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	11 June
9	2006 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	25 June
10	2006 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	2 July
11	2006 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	16 July
12	2006 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	30 July
13	2006 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	6 August
14	2006 Turkish Grand Prix	Istanbul Park, Istanbul	27 August
15	2006 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	10 September
16	2006 Chinese Grand Prix	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai	1 October
17	2006 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	8 October
18	2006 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	22 October