2006 San Marino Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher held off Fernando Alonso to win the San Marino Grand Prix, reversing their memorable Imola contest from the previous year. Ferrari’s first victory of the season came after a record-breaking qualifying performance and a tense defensive drive.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:22.795
Fastest lap	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Fastest-lap time	1:24.569 on lap 23
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Third	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
21 April 2006	Practice 1	11:00
21 April 2006	Practice 2	14:00
22 April 2006	Practice 3	11:00
22 April 2006	Qualifying	14:00
23 April 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 4 leading the 2006 F1 World Championship on 28 points, with Giancarlo Fisichella on 14. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 42 points.

Race entries

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

Free Practice

Michael Schumacher waited until the closing minutes of Friday morning before setting the fastest lap, giving Ferrari’s home supporters something to cheer. Wurz, Robert Kubica and Davidson had done much of the earlier running in their third cars. With many leading race drivers avoiding unnecessary engine mileage, the session offered encouragement for Ferrari without settling the competitive order.

Fernando Alonso answered in the afternoon with a late lap faster than Michael Schumacher’s best. The dusty track offered little grip, and engineers expected substantial improvement as rubber accumulated. Robert Kubica and Davidson again completed important preparation work, while the unusually slow conditions made tyre assessment more informative than a simple reading of the timesheet.

Michael Schumacher led final practice, but Fernando Alonso lost a potentially faster lap to traffic before setting a time close behind. Nico Rosberg hit the wall and damaged his Williams, while Juan Pablo Montoya completed only one lap without recording a time. The improving surface and the leading pair’s pace suggested another close Ferrari–Renault contest.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2006 San Marino Grand Prix FP1, 21 April 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:24.751	4
2	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+0.381s	19
3	38	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+1.191s	24
4	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+1.261s	27
5	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.666s	7
6	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+1.747s	18
7	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+1.845s	4
8	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+1.927s	7
9	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+2.187s	5
10	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+3.297s	13
11	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+3.747s	6
12	39	Giorgio Mondini	Midland	+4.218s	20
13	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+4.355s	6
14	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+4.944s	13
15	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+4.946s	13
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+5.597s	6
17	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+6.466s	17
18	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	+6.731s	17
19	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	No time	3
20	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	No time	1
21	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	No time	2
22	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	No time	1
23	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	No time	1
24	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	No time	1
25	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	No time	1

Free Practice 2 Classification

2006 San Marino Grand Prix FP2, 21 April 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:25.043	15
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.328s	13
3	38	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+0.378s	31
4	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+0.656s	31
5	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+0.836s	16
6	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.948s	15
7	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+0.986s	24
8	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+1.285s	31
9	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+1.291s	15
10	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+1.344s	7
11	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+1.384s	12
12	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.457s	16
13	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.610s	19
14	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+1.740s	24
15	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	+1.754s	13
16	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+1.874s	27
17	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+1.946s	10
18	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+2.085s	24
19	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+2.114s	6
20	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.460s	12
21	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+2.501s	20
22	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.596s	5
23	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+2.676s	25
24	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+2.947s	12
25	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+3.318s	21
26	39	Giorgio Mondini	Midland	+3.790s	27
27	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+4.827s	23
28	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	+5.999s	20

Free Practice 3 Classification

2006 San Marino Grand Prix FP3, 22 April 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:23.787	14
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.281s	15
3	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.590s	21
4	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+0.596s	17
5	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.839s	12
6	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+0.880s	21
7	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+1.063s	23
8	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	+1.129s	13
9	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+1.197s	13
10	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+1.207s	15
11	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.254s	20
12	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.418s	14
13	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+1.788s	15
14	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+1.875s	19
15	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+1.914s	9
16	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+2.016s	22
17	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+2.019s	15
18	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+2.689s	18
19	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+3.232s	11
20	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+4.480s	18
21	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	+5.543s	20
22	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	No time	1

Qualifying

Michael Schumacher claimed his 66th pole position, moving beyond Ayrton Senna’s record. Jenson Button qualified second and Rubens Barrichello third, giving Honda two cars near the front, while Felipe Massa took fourth. Fernando Alonso started fifth and faced the difficult task of making progress at a circuit where overtaking was notoriously hard.

Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya qualified behind Fernando Alonso, while Giancarlo Fisichella missed Q3. The result put Ferrari in the strongest strategic position, but Renault’s practice pace suggested that race performance could still bring Fernando Alonso into contention. Honda also had an opportunity to convert its qualifying speed into a major result.

Qualifying Classification

2006 San Marino Grand Prix Qualifying, 22 April 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:24.598	1:22.579	1:22.795	22
2	12	Jenson Button	Honda	1:24.480	1:23.749	1:22.988	20
3	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	1:24.727	1:23.760	1:23.242	20
4	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:24.884	1:23.595	1:23.702	22
5	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:23.536	1:23.743	1:23.709	21
6	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	1:24.370	1:23.565	1:23.772	26
7	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	1:24.960	1:23.760	1:24.021	24
8	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:24.259	1:23.190	1:24.158	21
9	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:24.446	1:23.727	1:24.172	27
10	9	Mark Webber	Williams	1:24.992	1:23.718	1:24.795	21
11	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	1:24.434	1:23.771	—	6
12	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	1:25.081	1:23.887	—	9
13	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	1:24.495	1:23.966	—	9
14	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:24.849	1:24.101	—	12
15	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	1:25.410	1:24.129	—	10
16	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	1:24.879	1:24.520	—	16
17	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	1:25.410	—	—	6
18	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	1:25.437	—	—	8
19	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	1:26.820	—	—	6
20	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	1:27.088	—	—	6
21	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	1:27.609	—	—	6
22	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	1:29.282	—	—	8

What happened in the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix?

Michael Schumacher led away as Fernando Alonso passed Rubens Barrichello. Behind them, contact from Yuji Ide sent Christijan Albers’s Midland into a series of rolls; Christijan Albers escaped injury and the safety car was deployed. The incident later formed part of the evidence considered when Yuji Ide’s superlicence was withdrawn.

Schumacher initially built a cushion, but tyre graining slowed the Ferrari and Fernando Alonso closed rapidly. Renault brought Fernando Alonso in first at the second round of stops, yet the undercut did not succeed and Schumacher retained track position. Honda’s race was compromised by slow stops, including Jenson Button leaving with the refuelling nozzle still attached.

Fernando Alonso pressed hard but could not find a way past, and a late mistake eased the pressure on Schumacher. Juan Pablo Montoya finished third ahead of Felipe Massa, Kimi Räikkönen and Mark Webber, with Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella completing the points. Ferrari had its first win of the year, earned through qualifying position, pit timing and resolute defence.

After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 36 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 21. Renault led the constructors’ table on 51, with McLaren on 33.

2006 San Marino Grand Prix race results

The 2006 San Marino Grand Prix was held on 23 April 2006, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	62	1:31:06.486	10
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	62	+2.096	8
3	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	62	+15.868	6
4	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	62	+17.096	5
5	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	62	+17.524	4
6	9	Mark Webber	Williams	62	+37.739	3
7	12	Jenson Button	Honda	62	+39.635	2
8	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	62	+40.200	1
9	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	62	+45.511	0
10	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	62	+1:17.851	0
11	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	62	+1:19.675	0
12	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	62	+1:22.370	0
13	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	61	+1 Lap	0
14	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	61	+1 Lap	0
15	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	61	+1 Lap	0
16	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	60	+2 Laps	0
Ret	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	47	Driveshaft	0
Ret	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	44	Accident	0
Ret	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	40	Hydraulics	0
Ret	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	23	Suspension	0
Ret	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	5	Steering	0
Ret	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	0	Collision	0

2006 San Marino Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	23	1:24.569	211.098
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	19	1:24.624	210.961
3	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	49	1:25.027	209.961
4	4	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	22	1:25.096	209.791
5	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	45	1:25.316	209.250
6	12	Jenson Button	Honda	29	1:25.347	209.174
7	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	43	1:25.353	209.159
8	17	Jacques Villeneuve	BMW Sauber	53	1:25.438	208.951
9	9	Mark Webber	Williams	39	1:25.488	208.829
10	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	12	1:25.528	208.731
11	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	43	1:25.679	208.363
12	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	53	1:25.996	207.595
13	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	12	1:26.129	207.275
14	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	57	1:26.248	206.989
15	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	30	1:26.418	206.581
16	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	30	1:26.759	205.770
17	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	41	1:26.855	205.542
18	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	53	1:27.160	204.823
19	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	4	1:28.039	202.778
20	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	40	1:29.100	200.363
21	23	Yuji Ide	Super Aguri	15	1:31.032	196.111

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 San Marino Grand Prix.

2006 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	36
2	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	21
3	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	18
4	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Renault	15
5	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren	15
6	Jenson Button	British	Honda	13
7	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Ferrari	9
8	Ralf Schumacher	German	Toyota	7
9	Mark Webber	Australian	Williams	6
10	Nick Heidfeld	German	BMW Sauber	5
11	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BMW Sauber	5
12	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Honda	2
13	Nico Rosberg	German	Williams	2
14	David Coulthard	British	Red Bull Racing	1
15	Christian Klien	Austrian	Red Bull Racing	1
16	Scott Speed	American	Toro Rosso	0
17	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Toyota	0
18	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian	Toro Rosso	0
19	Christijan Albers	Dutch	Midland	0
20	Takuma Sato	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
21	Tiago Monteiro	Portuguese	Midland	0
22	Yuji Ide	Japanese	Super Aguri	0

2006 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	51
2	McLaren	33
3	Ferrari	30
4	Honda	15
5	BMW Sauber	10
6	Williams	8
7	Toyota	7
8	Red Bull Racing	2
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