2006 French Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher claimed an eighth French Grand Prix victory, keeping Ferrari’s championship challenge moving at Magny-Cours. Fernando Alonso used a two-stop strategy to split the Ferraris, taking second ahead of Felipe Massa.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:15.493
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:17.111 on lap 46
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Third	Felipe Massa	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
14 July 2006	Practice 1	11:00
14 July 2006	Practice 2	14:00
15 July 2006	Practice 3	11:00
15 July 2006	Qualifying	14:00
16 July 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 11 leading the 2006 F1 World Championship on 88 points, with Michael Schumacher on 69. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 131 points.

Race entries

Pedro de la Rosa replaced Juan Pablo Montoya at McLaren after the Colombian’s departure, joining Kimi Räikkönen for the remainder of the season. Adrian Sutil drove Midland’s third car on Friday. The other race pairings remained unchanged.

Free Practice

Robert Kubica led Friday morning, with Davidson second, while most leading race drivers completed little serious running. Several drivers spun without damaging their cars, and the difference between third-car programmes and engine-conscious race preparation remained pronounced. De la Pedro de la Rosa began his first race weekend of the season as Juan Pablo Montoya’s replacement.

Robert Kubica remained fastest in the afternoon, ahead of Fernando Alonso. Rubens Barrichello spun into the barrier at the chicane, and Scott Speed suffered a similar accident later in the session. Kimi Räikkönen stopped near the end with an apparent mechanical problem, giving McLaren another issue to resolve before qualifying. Sutil again ran strongly in Midland’s third car.

BMW Sauber finished first and second on Saturday, Jacques Villeneuve ahead of Nick Heidfeld, in an order that differed sharply from the expected qualifying contest. Michael Schumacher suffered a small fire in his Ferrari, while Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella all had off-track moments. The session left the leading teams with unfinished business despite the surprising headline times.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2006 French Grand Prix FP1, 14 July 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	38	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	1:16.794	31
2	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+0.339s	29
3	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+1.366s	4
4	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+1.958s	6
5	39	Adrian Sutil	Midland	+1.983s	32
6	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+2.168s	21
7	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+2.261s	17
8	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	+2.269s	6
9	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+2.517s	20
10	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+2.607s	6
11	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+2.671s	7
12	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+3.012s	7
13	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+3.541s	7
14	23	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	+3.996s	11
15	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+4.366s	10
16	41	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+7.097s	11
17	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	No time	1
18	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	No time	1
19	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	No time	1
20	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	No time	1
21	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	No time	2
22	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	No time	1
23	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	No time	1
24	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	No time	1

Free Practice 2 Classification

2006 French Grand Prix FP2, 14 July 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	38	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	1:16.902	33
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.596s	14
3	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+0.848s	37
4	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+0.957s	29
5	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+1.014s	13
6	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.036s	16
7	39	Adrian Sutil	Midland	+1.147s	31
8	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+1.273s	28
9	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+1.372s	21
10	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+1.737s	32
11	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.819s	23
12	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+2.103s	18
13	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+2.111s	20
14	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+2.206s	15
15	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+2.238s	9
16	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+2.281s	21
17	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+2.357s	5
18	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+2.511s	10
19	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+2.687s	14
20	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+2.790s	19
21	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+2.799s	19
22	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+2.907s	14
23	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+3.094s	22
24	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+3.101s	12
25	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+3.233s	12
26	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	+3.252s	11
27	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+3.507s	14
28	23	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	+4.230s	14
29	41	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+5.067s	32

Free Practice 3 Classification

2006 French Grand Prix FP3, 15 July 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	1:17.005	13
2	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+0.044s	16
3	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+0.051s	18
4	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+0.183s	16
5	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+0.353s	12
6	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.471s	19
7	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.551s	12
8	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+0.648s	16
9	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+0.661s	18
10	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+0.854s	19
11	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.990s	17
12	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+1.054s	24
13	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+1.194s	20
14	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.209s	5
15	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+1.391s	8
16	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.442s	16
17	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+1.482s	23
18	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+1.540s	20
19	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+1.626s	17
20	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.956s	20
21	23	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	+2.492s	18
22	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+4.492s	10

Qualifying

Michael Schumacher took pole ahead of Felipe Massa, with Fernando Alonso third. It proved to be the final pole of Schumacher’s Formula 1 career. Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher gave Toyota fourth and fifth, while Kimi Räikkönen qualified sixth.

The qualifying rules changed from this round: Q3 was shortened from 20 to 15 minutes, and drivers could finish a flying lap begun before the end of Q1 or Q2. The final ten still ran with race fuel. De la Pedro de la Rosa reached the shootout on his return, but both Hondas were eliminated in Q1.

Qualifying Classification

2006 French Grand Prix Qualifying, 15 July 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:15.865	1:15.111	1:15.493	19
2	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:16.277	1:15.679	1:15.510	18
3	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:16.328	1:15.706	1:15.785	18
4	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:15.550	1:15.776	1:16.036	21
5	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	1:15.949	1:15.625	1:16.091	21
6	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:16.154	1:15.742	1:16.281	20
7	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	1:16.825	1:15.901	1:16.345	18
8	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	1:16.679	1:15.902	1:16.632	23
9	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	1:16.534	1:15.926	1:18.272	24
10	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:16.350	1:15.974	1:18.663	24
11	9	Mark Webber	Williams	1:16.531	1:16.129	—	12
12	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	1:16.686	1:16.294	—	13
13	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	1:16.921	1:16.433	—	12
14	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	1:17.022	1:17.027	—	12
15	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	1:17.117	1:17.063	—	17
16	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	1:16.962	1:17.105	—	11
17	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	1:17.164	—	—	8
18	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	1:17.304	—	—	3
19	12	Jenson Button	Honda	1:17.495	—	—	7
20	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	1:17.589	—	—	7
21	23	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	1:18.637	—	—	6
22	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	1:18.845	—	—	6

Nico Rosberg and Vitantonio Liuzzi received a 10-place grid penalty for engine changes.

What happened in the 2006 French Grand Prix?

Felipe Massa resisted Fernando Alonso at the start, protecting Ferrari’s one-two as Michael Schumacher built a lead. The Renault driver remained close enough to keep strategic options open, but Ferrari’s early pace and track position made a direct challenge difficult. Jarno Trulli ran strongly before his eventual retirement.

Ferrari committed to three stops, while Fernando Alonso’s two-stop approach allowed him to move ahead of Felipe Massa when the Brazilian made his final visit. Schumacher had built enough of a margin to retain control. Kimi Räikkönen could not convert his battle with the Toyotas into a podium challenge.

Schumacher won from Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, with Ralf Schumacher fourth and Kimi Räikkönen fifth. Giancarlo Fisichella, Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld completed the points. Fernando Alonso limited the championship damage to two points, while Schumacher added another victory to his extraordinary record at Magny-Cours.

After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 96 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 79. Renault led the constructors’ table on 142, with Ferrari on 121.

2006 French Grand Prix race results

The 2006 French Grand Prix was held on 16 July 2006, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	70	1:32:07.803	10
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	70	+10.131	8
3	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	70	+22.546	6
4	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	70	+27.212	5
5	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	70	+33.006	4
6	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	70	+45.265	3
7	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	70	+49.407	2
8	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	69	+1 lap	1
9	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	69	+1 lap	0
10	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	69	+1 lap	0
11	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	69	+1 lap	0
12	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	69	+1 lap	0
13	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	69	+1 lap	0
14	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	68	+2 laps	0
15	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	68	+2 laps	0
16	23	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	67	+3 laps	0
Ret	12	Jenson Button	Honda	61	Engine	0
Ret	9	Mark Webber	Williams	53	Wheel rim	0
Ret	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	39	Brakes	0
Ret	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	18	Engine	0
Ret	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	11	Accident	0
Ret	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	0	Transmission	0

2006 French Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	46	1:17.111	205.931
2	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	18	1:17.141	205.851
3	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	34	1:17.625	204.568
4	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	30	1:17.717	204.325
5	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	23	1:17.770	204.186
6	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	19	1:17.809	204.084
7	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	56	1:17.906	203.830
8	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	16	1:18.036	203.490
9	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	20	1:18.057	203.435
10	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	54	1:18.241	202.957
11	12	Jenson Button	Honda	47	1:18.510	202.262
12	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	66	1:18.674	201.840
13	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	62	1:18.796	201.527
14	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	48	1:18.809	201.494
15	9	Mark Webber	Williams	34	1:18.859	201.366
16	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	56	1:18.968	201.089
17	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	56	1:18.978	201.063
18	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	67	1:19.356	200.105
19	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	16	1:20.094	198.262
20	23	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	53	1:20.113	198.215
21	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	8	1:21.663	194.452

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 French Grand Prix.

2006 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	96
2	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	79
3	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Renault	46
4	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	43
5	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Ferrari	42
6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren	26
7	Jenson Button	British	Honda	16
8	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Honda	16
9	Ralf Schumacher	German	Toyota	13
10	Nick Heidfeld	German	BMW Sauber	13
11	David Coulthard	British	Red Bull Racing	10
12	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Toyota	8
13	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BMW Sauber	7
14	Mark Webber	Australian	Williams	6
15	Nico Rosberg	German	Williams	4
16	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	McLaren	2
17	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian	Toro Rosso	1
18	Christian Klien	Austrian	Red Bull Racing	1
19	Scott Speed	American	Toro Rosso	0
20	Christijan Albers	Dutch	Midland	0
21	Tiago Monteiro	Portuguese	Midland	0
22	Takuma Sato	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
23	Yuji Ide	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
24	Franck Montagny	French	Super Aguri	0

2006 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	142
2	Ferrari	121
3	McLaren	71
4	Honda	32
5	Toyota	21
6	BMW Sauber	20
7	Red Bull Racing	11
8	Williams	10
9	Toro Rosso	1
10	Midland	0
11	Super Aguri	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