2006 Malaysian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Giancarlo Fisichella bounced back from his Bahrain retirement to win the Malaysian Grand Prix, leading Fernando Alonso home in a Renault one-two. Jenson Button completed the podium at Sepang as engine penalties and mechanical failures reshaped the contest.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault
Pole time	1:33.840
Fastest lap	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Fastest-lap time	1:34.803 on lap 45
First	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault
Second	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Third	Jenson Button	Honda

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
17 March 2006	Practice 1	11:00
17 March 2006	Practice 2	14:00
18 March 2006	Practice 3	11:00
18 March 2006	Qualifying	14:00
19 March 2006	Race	15:00

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 2 leading the 2006 F1 World Championship on 10 points, with Michael Schumacher on 8. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 10 points.

Race entries

The 11 teams kept the same race line-ups for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Alexander Wurz, Anthony Davidson, Giorgio Mondini, Neel Jani, Robert Doornbos, Robert Kubica also took part in practice.

Free Practice

Wurz led Friday morning as the third drivers again undertook much of the mileage. Williams and Honda kept their race drivers out of the action, while Felipe Massa ran more laps than most regulars as Ferrari worked with his replacement engine. Giorgio Mondini appeared in Midland’s third car, and Tiago Monteiro stopped on track with a mechanical problem.

Davidson recovered from an early spin to set the afternoon’s fastest time. Juan Pablo Montoya had to help retrieve his stranded McLaren in the pit lane before returning to the session, and Vitantonio Liuzzi also spun near the pits. The heat and two-race engine requirement encouraged cautious programmes for many race drivers, so the busiest third cars again dominated the lap counts.

Michael Schumacher narrowly beat Fernando Alonso on Saturday morning, but Ferrari then decided to replace his engine and accept a grid penalty. Felipe Massa badly damaged a set of tyres with a lock-up, while Tiago Monteiro spun. Renault’s pace remained strong, and Toyota looked more competitive than in Bahrain, but reliability was already shaping Sunday’s starting order.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2006 Malaysian Grand Prix FP1, 17 March 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	1:34.946	19
2	38	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+0.787s	22
3	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+1.051s	25
4	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+1.763s	4
5	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.096s	7
6	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+2.097s	4
7	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+2.611s	18
8	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+2.658s	18
9	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.880s	9
10	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+3.502s	5
11	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+3.722s	21
12	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+3.891s	8
13	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+4.653s	14
14	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+4.953s	8
15	39	Giorgio Mondini	Midland	+5.146s	22
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+5.177s	8
17	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+5.662s	12
18	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+6.126s	18
19	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	+8.503s	19
20	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	No time	1
21	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	No time	2
22	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	No time	2
23	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	No time	1
24	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	No time	1

Free Practice 2 Classification

2006 Malaysian Grand Prix FP2, 17 March 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	1:35.041	14
2	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+0.347s	30
3	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.765s	14
4	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+0.883s	22
5	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.091s	15
6	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+1.141s	14
7	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.576s	17
8	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+1.620s	12
9	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	+2.004s	9
10	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+2.229s	13
11	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+2.276s	23
12	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+2.377s	7
13	38	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+2.416s	28
14	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+2.422s	12
15	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+2.549s	22
16	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.562s	8
17	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.654s	20
18	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+2.790s	23
19	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+2.885s	21
20	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+3.040s	5
21	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+3.164s	6
22	39	Giorgio Mondini	Midland	+3.215s	20
23	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+3.603s	10
24	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+3.877s	20
25	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+4.064s	28
26	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+4.375s	20
27	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+6.508s	22
28	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	+8.123s	16

Free Practice 3 Classification

2006 Malaysian Grand Prix FP3, 18 March 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:34.126	16
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.054s	13
3	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.459s	13
4	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.490s	20
5	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+0.689s	12
6	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.728s	10
7	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+0.914s	7
8	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+1.116s	14
9	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+1.513s	14
10	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.564s	19
11	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.574s	11
12	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	+2.018s	9
13	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+2.379s	13
14	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+2.423s	15
15	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+2.529s	13
16	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+2.927s	8
17	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+3.022s	21
18	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+3.106s	18
19	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+3.311s	19
20	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+3.774s	17
21	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+4.695s	15
22	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	+6.416s	18

Qualifying

Giancarlo Fisichella took pole ahead of Jenson Button, with Nico Rosberg producing an outstanding third-fastest time for Williams. Mark Webber moved into fourth on the grid after Michael Schumacher’s engine penalty. Fernando Alonso carried more fuel than intended following a calculation problem and qualified seventh, leaving him with ground to recover.

Engine changes affected both Ferraris, David Coulthard, Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher, whose Toyota engine failed during Q3. Felipe Massa incurred two engine-change penalties. The new knockout format determined the qualifying order before those sanctions reshuffled the grid, rather than allowing eliminated drivers to advance into later sessions.

Qualifying Classification

2006 Malaysian Grand Prix Qualifying, 18 March 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	1:35.488	1:33.623	1:33.840	22
2	12	Jenson Button	Honda	1:35.023	1:33.527	1:33.986	19
3	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	1:35.105	1:34.563	1:34.626	19
4	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:35.810	1:34.574	1:34.668	23
5	9	Mark Webber	Williams	1:35.252	1:34.279	1:34.672	18
6	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	1:34.536	1:34.568	1:34.916	18
7	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:34.667	1:34.351	1:34.983	18
8	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:35.514	1:33.997	1:35.747	22
9	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	1:35.171	1:34.537	1:38.715	16
10	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	1:35.214	1:34.586	No time	10
11	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:34.839	1:34.614	—	12
12	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	1:35.526	1:34.683	—	14
13	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:35.517	1:34.702	—	12
14	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	1:35.391	1:34.752	—	10
15	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	1:35.588	1:34.783	—	10
16	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:35.091	No time	—	3
17	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	1:36.297	—	—	6
18	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	1:36.581	—	—	7
19	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	1:37.426	—	—	7
20	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	1:37.819	—	—	6
21	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	1:39.011	—	—	6
22	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	1:40.720	—	—	6

Michael Schumacher was handed a 10 place grid penalty following an engine change after the Saturday morning practice session.

Ralf Schumacher was handed a 10 place grid penalty following an engine change after his engine blew during the second session. Resultantly he was unable to compete in the final part of qualifying – Q3.

David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello were also handed 10 place grid penalties following engine changes.

Felipe Massa was handed a 10 place grid penalty following an engine change prior to the qualifying session. To conserve the engine he sat out the second qualifying session – Q2.

What happened in the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix?

Giancarlo Fisichella led away, while Fernando Alonso swept around the battling Williams drivers to take third behind Jenson Button. Kimi Räikkönen retired on the opening lap after contact with Christian Klien, and Nico Rosberg’s promising weekend soon ended with an engine failure. Mark Webber later retired with hydraulic trouble, removing both Williams cars from contention.

Fernando Alonso’s longer first stint helped him recover from his qualifying setback, and his second stop brought him out ahead of Jenson Button. Giancarlo Fisichella remained in control at the front. Behind them, Felipe Massa used a one-stop strategy to recover from the back and held off Michael Schumacher after the latter’s final stop.

Renault secured a one-two, with Jenson Button third and Juan Pablo Montoya fourth. Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher finished fifth and sixth, followed by Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher. Nick Heidfeld lost a likely points finish to a late engine failure, while Giancarlo Fisichella’s victory restored his momentum after a frustrating opening round.

After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 18 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 11. Renault led the constructors’ table on 28, with Ferrari on 15.

2006 Malaysian Grand Prix race results

The 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix was held on 19 March 2006, with a scheduled start of 15:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	56	1:30:40.529	10
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	56	+4.585	8
3	12	Jenson Button	Honda	56	+9.631	6
4	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	56	+39.351	5
5	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	56	+43.254	4
6	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	56	+43.854	3
7	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	56	+1:20.461	2
8	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	56	+1:21.288	1
9	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	55	+1 Lap	0
10	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	55	+1 Lap	0
11	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	54	+2 Laps	0
12	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	54	+2 Laps	0
13	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	54	+2 Laps	0
14	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	53	+3 Laps	0
Ret	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	48	Engine	0
Ret	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	41	Clutch	0
Ret	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	33	Throttle	0
Ret	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	26	Hydraulics	0
Ret	9	Mark Webber	Williams	15	Hydraulics	0
Ret	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	10	Hydraulics	0
Ret	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	6	Engine	0
Ret	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	0	Collision	0

2006 Malaysian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	45	1:34.803	210.487
2	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	16	1:35.294	209.402
3	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	39	1:35.566	208.806
4	12	Jenson Button	Honda	35	1:35.604	208.723
5	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	44	1:35.647	208.629
6	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	34	1:35.686	208.544
7	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	41	1:35.751	208.403
8	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	51	1:35.954	207.962
9	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	43	1:36.002	207.858
10	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	54	1:36.188	207.456
11	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	52	1:36.380	207.042
12	9	Mark Webber	Williams	12	1:36.771	206.206
13	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	14	1:36.867	206.002
14	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	25	1:37.313	205.057
15	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	6	1:37.366	204.946
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	40	1:37.387	204.902
17	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	4	1:38.078	203.458
18	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	34	1:38.198	203.209
19	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	39	1:39.510	200.530
20	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	14	1:40.199	199.151
21	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	18	1:42.833	194.050

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 Malaysian Grand Prix.

2006 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

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

2006 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	28
2	Ferrari	15
3	McLaren	15
4	Honda	11
5	Williams	5
6	BMW Sauber	2
7	Toyota	1
8	Red Bull Racing	1
9	Toro Rosso	0
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