2006 Turkish Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Felipe Massa converted his first pole into his first Grand Prix victory at Istanbul Park. Fernando Alonso narrowly resisted Michael Schumacher for second, making the Turkish Grand Prix a triumph for one Ferrari driver and a frustrating championship afternoon for the other.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Felipe Massa	Ferrari
Pole time	1:26.907
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:28.005 on lap 55
First	Felipe Massa	Ferrari
Second	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Third	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
25 August 2006	Practice 1	11:00
25 August 2006	Practice 2	14:00
26 August 2006	Practice 3	11:00
26 August 2006	Qualifying	14:00
27 August 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 14 leading the 2006 F1 World Championship on 100 points, with Michael Schumacher on 90. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 149 points.

Race entries

Sebastian Vettel made his first Grand Prix weekend appearance in BMW Sauber’s third car, taking over Friday duties after Robert Kubica’s promotion. Franck Montagny returned as Super Aguri’s third driver, while Sakon Yamamoto retained the race seat alongside Takuma Sato.

Free Practice

Kimi Räikkönen led Friday morning, with Michael Schumacher close behind in a Ferrari featuring new rear-wheel covers. Davidson’s Honda stopped in smoke, interrupting its preparation programme. Vettel began his first Formula 1 weekend running in BMW Sauber’s third car, while several regular drivers again completed little more than installation work.

Vettel made an immediate impression by setting the afternoon’s fastest time, ahead of Felipe Massa. Different fuel programmes complicated comparisons, but it was a confident first day for the young German. Fernando Alonso and Robert Doornbos made contact late in the session without damage, and Jarno Trulli spun as the teams worked through Istanbul’s demanding corners.

Michael Schumacher set a strong Saturday benchmark, well clear of the Renaults. Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld also ran near the front, while Christian Klien had a dramatic spin and several others ventured off track. The generous run-off allowed most mistakes to go unpunished, but qualifying would still demand a clean lap through the circuit’s high-speed sections.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2006 Turkish Grand Prix FP1, 25 August 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:28.315	5
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.462s	4
3	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.470s	5
4	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+0.644s	24
5	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+0.878s	19
6	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+1.061s	5
7	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+1.465s	6
8	38	Sebastian Vettel	BMW Sauber	+1.649s	25
9	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+2.076s	16
10	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+2.261s	22
11	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+2.523s	5
12	39	Giorgio Mondini	Midland	+2.531s	28
13	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+3.101s	5
14	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+3.160s	10
15	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+3.251s	10
16	41	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	+3.499s	13
17	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+3.589s	5
18	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+3.897s	11
19	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+4.182s	6
20	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	No time	5
21	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	No time	2
22	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	No time	1
23	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	No time	1
24	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	No time	1
25	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	No time	1
26	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	No time	1
27	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	No time	1

Free Practice 2 Classification

2006 Turkish Grand Prix FP2, 25 August 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	38	Sebastian Vettel	BMW Sauber	1:28.091	29
2	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+0.073s	18
3	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.415s	10
4	36	Anthony Davidson	Honda	+0.507s	31
5	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+0.523s	21
6	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.728s	13
7	37	Robert Doornbos	Red Bull Racing	+0.757s	15
8	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.951s	10
9	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+1.021s	10
10	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.123s	16
11	39	Giorgio Mondini	Midland	+1.628s	27
12	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.650s	16
13	40	Neel Jani	Toro Rosso	+1.767s	30
14	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+1.799s	20
15	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.915s	18
16	41	Franck Montagny	Super Aguri	+2.400s	25
17	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+2.411s	9
18	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+2.413s	16
19	35	Alexander Wurz	Williams	+2.418s	36
20	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+2.460s	17
21	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+2.684s	13
22	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+2.798s	16
23	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+2.924s	17
24	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+3.000s	11
25	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+3.225s	21
26	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+3.428s	15
27	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+3.435s	10
28	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+3.449s	10
29	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+4.011s	7

Free Practice 3 Classification

2006 Turkish Grand Prix FP3, 26 August 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:27.203	12
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.721s	16
3	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.760s	17
4	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	+0.761s	15
5	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	+0.948s	14
6	12	Jenson Button	Honda	+0.987s	17
7	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	+1.063s	14
8	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	+1.156s	15
9	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.165s	11
10	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+1.627s	9
11	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+1.658s	17
12	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	+1.658s	14
13	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	+1.831s	12
14	9	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.866s	10
15	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	+1.973s	13
16	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.154s	12
17	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.171s	18
18	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	+2.223s	19
19	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	+2.465s	19
20	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	+2.678s	17
21	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	+2.712s	17
22	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	+2.948s	21

Qualifying

Felipe Massa took his first pole, narrowly ahead of Michael Schumacher, with Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella filling the second row. Ferrari’s front-row lockout gave it the opportunity to control the race, but Fernando Alonso remained close enough to exploit any disruption.

Ralf Schumacher qualified fifth before a ten-place engine-change penalty dropped him back; Christijan Albers received the same sanction. Nick Heidfeld, Jenson Button and Kimi Räikkönen were separated by only a few hundredths in the next group. Robert Kubica and Mark Webber also reached Q3, while Vettel’s headline Friday performance had come in a third car and did not represent a race entry.

Qualifying Classification

2006 Turkish Grand Prix Qualifying, 26 August 2006

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	1:27.306	1:27.059	1:26.907	17
2	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:27.385	1:25.850	1:27.284	17
3	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:27.861	1:26.917	1:27.321	20
4	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	1:28.175	1:27.346	1:27.564	19
5	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	1:27.668	1:27.062	1:27.569	20
6	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	1:28.200	1:27.251	1:27.785	20
7	12	Jenson Button	Honda	1:28.222	1:26.872	1:27.790	23
8	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:28.236	1:27.202	1:27.866	19
9	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	1:28.212	1:27.405	1:28.167	20
10	9	Mark Webber	Williams	1:28.307	1:27.608	1:29.436	22
11	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	1:28.271	1:27.852	—	12
12	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	1:28.403	1:27.897	—	11
13	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:28.549	1:27.973	—	12
14	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	1:28.411	1:28.257	—	12
15	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	1:28.889	1:28.386	—	12
16	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	1:29.021	1:28.639	—	12
17	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:29.136	—	—	7
18	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	1:29.158	—	—	9
19	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	1:29.250	—	—	8
20	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	1:29.901	—	—	8
21	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	1:30.607	—	—	7
22	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	1:30.850	—	—	5

Ralf Schumacher and Christijan Albers both received 10 place grid penalties due to engine changes.

What happened in the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix?

Felipe Massa led as Giancarlo Fisichella spun in a crowded opening corner, triggering contact behind. Kimi Räikkönen suffered a puncture and later crashed with damage still affecting the car. Several others needed repairs, while the Ferraris and Fernando Alonso established the leading contest.

Vitantonio Liuzzi’s stranded Toro Rosso brought out the safety car. Both Ferraris pitted together, forcing Michael Schumacher to wait behind Felipe Massa and allowing Fernando Alonso to move ahead. Felipe Massa controlled the lead after the restart, while Schumacher spent the closing stages pursuing the Renault.

Fernando Alonso held second by just over two tenths at the flag, while Felipe Massa celebrated his first victory. Jenson Button finished fourth ahead of Pedro de la Rosa, Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. The result gave Formula 1 consecutive first-time winners and left Fernando Alonso with a 12-point championship lead.

After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 108 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 96. Renault led the constructors’ table on 160, with Ferrari on 158.

2006 Turkish Grand Prix race results

The 2006 Turkish Grand Prix was held on 27 August 2006, with a scheduled start of 15:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	58	1:28:51.082	10
2	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	58	+5.575	8
3	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	58	+5.656	6
4	12	Jenson Button	Honda	58	+12.334	5
5	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	58	+45.908	4
6	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	58	+46.594	3
7	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	58	+59.337	2
8	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	58	+1:00.034	1
9	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	57	+1 lap	0
10	9	Mark Webber	Williams	57	+1 lap	0
11	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	57	+1 lap	0
12	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	57	+1 lap	0
13	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	57	+1 lap	0
14	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	56	+2 laps	0
15	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	55	Gearbox	0
Ret	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	46	Spin	0
NC	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	41	+17 laps	0
Ret	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	25	Water leak	0
Ret	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	23	Spin	0
Ret	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	12	Spin	0
Ret	3	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1	Accident	0
Ret	18	Tiago Monteiro	Midland	0	Collision	0

2006 Turkish Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	5	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	55	1:28.005	218.360
2	6	Felipe Massa	Ferrari	38	1:28.123	218.067
3	1	Fernando Alonso	Renault	38	1:28.245	217.766
4	12	Jenson Button	Honda	58	1:28.474	217.202
5	2	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	29	1:28.546	217.026
6	11	Rubens Barrichello	Honda	26	1:28.733	216.568
7	4	Pedro de la Rosa	McLaren	54	1:28.959	216.018
8	7	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	58	1:29.084	215.715
9	17	Robert Kubica	BMW Sauber	34	1:29.723	214.179
10	21	Scott Speed	Toro Rosso	43	1:29.933	213.679
11	15	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	26	1:30.025	213.460
12	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	24	1:30.026	213.458
13	8	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	24	1:30.048	213.406
14	10	Nico Rosberg	Williams	21	1:30.071	213.351
15	9	Mark Webber	Williams	50	1:30.088	213.311
16	16	Nick Heidfeld	BMW Sauber	56	1:30.335	212.728
17	19	Christijan Albers	Midland	35	1:30.403	212.568
18	22	Takuma Sato	Super Aguri	33	1:31.814	209.301
19	20	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Toro Rosso	12	1:32.148	208.542
20	23	Sakon Yamamoto	Super Aguri	12	1:32.337	208.115

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 Turkish Grand Prix.

2006 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	108
2	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	96
3	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Ferrari	62
4	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Renault	52
5	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	49
6	Jenson Button	British	Honda	36
7	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren	26
8	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Honda	22
9	Nick Heidfeld	German	BMW Sauber	19
10	Ralf Schumacher	German	Toyota	18
11	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	McLaren	14
12	David Coulthard	British	Red Bull Racing	14
13	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Toyota	10
14	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BMW Sauber	7
15	Mark Webber	Australian	Williams	6
16	Nico Rosberg	German	Williams	4
17	Christian Klien	Austrian	Red Bull Racing	2
18	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian	Toro Rosso	1
19	Scott Speed	American	Toro Rosso	0
20	Tiago Monteiro	Portuguese	Midland	0
21	Christijan Albers	Dutch	Midland	0
22	Takuma Sato	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
23	Robert Kubica	Polish	BMW Sauber	0
24	Yuji Ide	Japanese	Super Aguri	0
25	Franck Montagny	French	Super Aguri	0
–	Sakon Yamamoto	Japanese	Super Aguri	0

2006 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	160
2	Ferrari	158
3	McLaren	89
4	Honda	58
5	Toyota	28
6	BMW Sauber	26
7	Red Bull Racing	16
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