Fernando Alonso delivered a home victory in the Spanish Grand Prix, controlling the race at the Circuit de Catalunya to beat Michael Schumacher. Giancarlo Fisichella completed a strong Renault result in third as Fernando Alonso extended his championship lead.
Race Guide
Season: 2006 F1 World Championship
Race date: 14 May 2006
Race start time: 14:00 local time (UTC+02:00)
Circuit: Circuit de Catalunya
Laps: 66 laps
Circuit length: 4.627 km
2005 winner: Kimi Räikkönen
| Result | Driver / Time | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Pole position | Fernando Alonso | Renault |
| Pole time | 1:14.648 | |
| Fastest lap | Felipe Massa | Ferrari |
| Fastest-lap time | 1:16.648 on lap 42 | |
| First | Fernando Alonso | Renault |
| Second | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari |
| Third | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault |
Weekend Schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 12 May 2006 | Practice 1 | 11:00 |
| 12 May 2006 | Practice 2 | 14:00 |
| 13 May 2006 | Practice 3 | 11:00 |
| 13 May 2006 | Qualifying | 14:00 |
| 14 May 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 6 leading the 2006 F1 World Championship on 44 points, with Michael Schumacher on 31. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 62 points.
Race entries
The 11 teams kept the same race line-ups for the Spanish Grand Prix. Alexander Wurz, Anthony Davidson, Giorgio Mondini, Neel Jani, Robert Doornbos, Robert Kubica also took part in practice.
Free Practice
A damp track limited the value of Friday morning’s running, and several leading drivers kept their mileage low. Felipe Massa set the fastest time, while Franck Montagny suffered an engine failure in the Super Aguri. With the two-race engine rule still encouraging caution, the session left considerable uncertainty about the teams’ true qualifying pace.
Davidson led the afternoon for Honda, with Robert Doornbos next in Red Bull’s third car and Fernando Alonso the quickest regular race driver. McLaren continued a restrained programme, Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya completing only limited shakedown running. There were no major accidents, allowing most teams to concentrate on preparation as conditions improved from the morning.
Michael Schumacher topped final practice, closely followed by Giancarlo Fisichella and Nick Heidfeld. Red Bull showed encouraging pace with Christian Klien and David Coulthard fourth and fifth, making its midfield prospects worth watching. Fernando Alonso was eighth, illustrating how the final practice order could still differ from the picture once the teams committed to qualifying.
Free Practice 1 Classification
2006 Spanish Grand Prix FP1, 12 May 2006
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:15.796 | 4 |
| 2 | 5 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | +0.303s | 4 |
| 3 | 35 | Alexander Wurz | Williams | +0.329s | 21 |
| 4 | 38 | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | +0.832s | 21 |
| 5 | 36 | Anthony Davidson | Honda | +1.165s | 24 |
| 6 | 37 | Robert Doornbos | Red Bull Racing | +1.628s | 20 |
| 7 | 40 | Neel Jani | Toro Rosso | +3.924s | 20 |
| 8 | 39 | Giorgio Mondini | Midland | +4.912s | 21 |
| 9 | 22 | Takuma Sato | Super Aguri | +4.948s | 9 |
| 10 | 23 | Franck Montagny | Super Aguri | No time | 3 |
| 11 | 21 | Scott Speed | Toro Rosso | No time | 3 |
| 12 | 9 | Mark Webber | Williams | No time | 1 |
| 13 | 8 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | No time | 1 |
| 14 | 19 | Christijan Albers | Midland | No time | 1 |
| 15 | 10 | Nico Rosberg | Williams | No time | 1 |
| 16 | 18 | Tiago Monteiro | Midland | No time | 1 |
| 17 | 7 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | No time | 1 |
| 18 | 12 | Jenson Button | Honda | No time | 1 |
| 19 | 20 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Toro Rosso | No time | 1 |
| 20 | 16 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | No time | 1 |
| 21 | 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren | No time | 1 |
| 22 | 17 | Jacques Villeneuve | BMW Sauber | No time | 2 |
| 23 | 14 | David Coulthard | Red Bull Racing | No time | 1 |
| 24 | 15 | Christian Klien | Red Bull Racing | No time | 1 |
| 25 | 11 | Rubens Barrichello | Honda | No time | 1 |
| 26 | 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | No time | 2 |
| 27 | 2 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | No time | 2 |
Free Practice 2 Classification
2006 Spanish Grand Prix FP2, 12 May 2006
Free Practice 3 Classification
2006 Spanish Grand Prix FP3, 13 May 2006
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 1:15.658 | 14 |
| 2 | 2 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | +0.049s | 14 |
| 3 | 16 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | +0.399s | 13 |
| 4 | 15 | Christian Klien | Red Bull Racing | +0.619s | 12 |
| 5 | 14 | David Coulthard | Red Bull Racing | +0.694s | 16 |
| 6 | 11 | Rubens Barrichello | Honda | +0.741s | 16 |
| 7 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | +0.752s | 15 |
| 8 | 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | +0.937s | 10 |
| 9 | 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren | +1.002s | 9 |
| 10 | 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren | +1.047s | 9 |
| 11 | 12 | Jenson Button | Honda | +1.341s | 18 |
| 12 | 21 | Scott Speed | Toro Rosso | +1.346s | 13 |
| 13 | 7 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | +1.541s | 19 |
| 14 | 20 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Toro Rosso | +1.582s | 19 |
| 15 | 10 | Nico Rosberg | Williams | +1.987s | 14 |
| 16 | 9 | Mark Webber | Williams | +2.085s | 14 |
| 17 | 17 | Jacques Villeneuve | BMW Sauber | +2.266s | 16 |
| 18 | 8 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | +2.753s | 18 |
| 19 | 18 | Tiago Monteiro | Midland | +3.089s | 22 |
| 20 | 22 | Takuma Sato | Super Aguri | +3.199s | 20 |
| 21 | 19 | Christijan Albers | Midland | +3.929s | 19 |
| 22 | 23 | Franck Montagny | Super Aguri | +4.373s | 24 |
Qualifying
Fernando Alonso secured pole in front of his home crowd, with Giancarlo Fisichella alongside to complete a Renault front row. Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa filled the second row, leaving the two leading teams directly opposed at the head of the grid. Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher qualified next.
Kimi Räikkönen could manage only ninth, while Juan Pablo Montoya missed Q3 altogether. The knockout format again separated low-fuel qualifying in the opening segments from the race-fuelled final session. Renault’s front-row lockout gave Fernando Alonso a valuable opportunity to establish a lead before Ferrari could use its pit-stop strategy.
Qualifying Classification
2006 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying, 13 May 2006
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:15.816 | 1:15.124 | 1:14.648 | 22 |
| 2 | 2 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | 1:16.046 | 1:14.766 | 1:14.709 | 25 |
| 3 | 5 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 1:16.049 | 1:14.637 | 1:14.970 | 24 |
| 4 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:16.359 | 1:15.245 | 1:15.442 | 22 |
| 5 | 11 | Rubens Barrichello | Honda | 1:16.266 | 1:15.258 | 1:15.885 | 23 |
| 6 | 7 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | 1:16.234 | 1:15.164 | 1:15.885 | 28 |
| 7 | 8 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 1:16.174 | 1:15.068 | 1:15.976 | 28 |
| 8 | 12 | Jenson Button | Honda | 1:16.054 | 1:15.150 | 1:16.008 | 24 |
| 9 | 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren | 1:16.613 | 1:15.422 | 1:16.015 | 22 |
| 10 | 16 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 1:16.322 | 1:15.468 | 1:17.144 | 25 |
| 11 | 9 | Mark Webber | Williams | 1:16.685 | 1:15.502 | — | 9 |
| 12 | 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren | 1:16.195 | 1:15.801 | — | 11 |
| 13 | 10 | Nico Rosberg | Williams | 1:17.213 | 1:15.804 | — | 9 |
| 14 | 17 | Jacques Villeneuve | BMW Sauber | 1:16.066 | 1:15.847 | — | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | Christian Klien | Red Bull Racing | 1:16.627 | 1:15.928 | — | 12 |
| 16 | 20 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Toro Rosso | 1:17.105 | 1:16.661 | — | 14 |
| 17 | 21 | Scott Speed | Toro Rosso | 1:17.361 | — | — | 8 |
| 18 | 18 | Tiago Monteiro | Midland | 1:17.702 | — | — | 6 |
| 19 | 19 | Christijan Albers | Midland | 1:18.024 | — | — | 7 |
| 20 | 22 | Takuma Sato | Super Aguri | 1:18.920 | — | — | 6 |
| 21 | 23 | Franck Montagny | Super Aguri | 1:20.763 | — | — | 6 |
| 22 | 14 | David Coulthard | Red Bull Racing | No time | — | — | 2 |
Jacques Villeneuve received a ten-place grid penalty due to an engine change. The engine was damaged during transport to Barcelona.
David Coulthard did not get any time in the first part of Q1 as a mechanical failure caused him to spin into the tyre barriers at the third corner.
What happened in the 2006 Spanish Grand Prix?
The leading four held their positions at the start, while Kimi Räikkönen jumped from ninth to fifth. Fernando Alonso opened a gap as Giancarlo Fisichella held the Ferraris behind. Renault’s pole-sitter was the first of the leaders to stop, leaving Michael Schumacher to extend his opening stint.
Juan Pablo Montoya spun and became stranded on a kerb, but his car was removed without a safety car that might have helped Ferrari. Schumacher emerged from his first stop ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella but well behind Fernando Alonso. The second round of stops brought no change at the front, and the Renault driver remained in control.
Fernando Alonso won ahead of Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella, with Felipe Massa fourth and Kimi Räikkönen fifth. Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld completed the points. The home victory increased Fernando Alonso’s championship lead to 15 points and provided a firm response to Ferrari’s wins at Imola and the Nürburgring.
After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 54 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 39. Renault led the constructors’ table on 78, with Ferrari on 59.
2006 Spanish Grand Prix race results
The 2006 Spanish Grand Prix was held on 14 May 2006, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 66 | 1:26:21.759 | 10 |
| 2 | 5 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 66 | +18.502 | 8 |
| 3 | 2 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | 66 | +23.951 | 6 |
| 4 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 66 | +29.853 | 5 |
| 5 | 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren | 66 | +56.875 | 4 |
| 6 | 12 | Jenson Button | Honda | 66 | +58.347 | 3 |
| 7 | 11 | Rubens Barrichello | Honda | 65 | +1 Lap | 2 |
| 8 | 16 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 65 | +1 Lap | 1 |
| 9 | 9 | Mark Webber | Williams | 65 | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 10 | 8 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 65 | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 11 | 10 | Nico Rosberg | Williams | 65 | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 12 | 17 | Jacques Villeneuve | BMW Sauber | 65 | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 13 | 15 | Christian Klien | Red Bull Racing | 65 | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 14 | 14 | David Coulthard | Red Bull Racing | 65 | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 15 | 20 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Toro Rosso | 63 | Hydraulics | 0 |
| 16 | 18 | Tiago Monteiro | Midland | 63 | +3 Laps | 0 |
| 17 | 22 | Takuma Sato | Super Aguri | 62 | +4 Laps | 0 |
| Ret | 19 | Christijan Albers | Midland | 48 | Broken wing | 0 |
| Ret | 21 | Scott Speed | Toro Rosso | 47 | Engine | 0 |
| Ret | 7 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | 31 | Electronics | 0 |
| Ret | 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren | 17 | Spin | 0 |
| Ret | 23 | Franck Montagny | Super Aguri | 10 | Driveshaft | 0 |
2006 Spanish Grand Prix Fastest Laps
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 Spanish Grand Prix.
2006 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings
| POS | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fernando Alonso | Spanish | Renault | 54 |
| 2 | Michael Schumacher | German | Ferrari | 39 |
| 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | Finnish | McLaren | 27 |
| 4 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Italian | Renault | 24 |
| 5 | Felipe Massa | Brazilian | Ferrari | 20 |
| 6 | Jenson Button | British | Honda | 16 |
| 7 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Colombian | McLaren | 15 |
| 8 | Rubens Barrichello | Brazilian | Honda | 8 |
| 9 | Ralf Schumacher | German | Toyota | 7 |
| 10 | Nick Heidfeld | German | BMW Sauber | 6 |
| 11 | Mark Webber | Australian | Williams | 6 |
| 12 | Jacques Villeneuve | Canadian | BMW Sauber | 6 |
| 13 | Nico Rosberg | German | Williams | 4 |
| 14 | David Coulthard | British | Red Bull Racing | 1 |
| 15 | Christian Klien | Austrian | Red Bull Racing | 1 |
| 16 | Jarno Trulli | Italian | Toyota | 0 |
| 17 | Scott Speed | American | Toro Rosso | 0 |
| 18 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Italian | Toro Rosso | 0 |
| 19 | Christijan Albers | Dutch | Midland | 0 |
| 20 | Tiago Monteiro | Portuguese | Midland | 0 |
| 21 | Takuma Sato | Japanese | Super Aguri | 0 |
| 22 | Yuji Ide | Japanese | Super Aguri | 0 |
| – | Franck Montagny | French | Super Aguri | 0 |
2006 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings
| POS | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renault | 78 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 59 |
| 3 | McLaren | 42 |
| 4 | Honda | 24 |
| 5 | BMW Sauber | 12 |
| 6 | Williams | 10 |
| 7 | Toyota | 7 |
| 8 | Red Bull Racing | 2 |
| 9 | Toro Rosso | 0 |
| 10 | Midland | 0 |
| 11 | Super Aguri | 0 |
2006 Formula 1 Race Calendar
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