2006 French Grand Prix

The 2006 French Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France 2006)[2] was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, near Magny-Cours, France on 16 July 2006. The 70-lap race was the eleventh round of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship, the 57th French Grand Prix as part of the World Championship, and the 92nd overall. This race also marked the centenary of the first French Grand Prix in 1906.

2006 French Grand Prix
Race 11 of 18 in the 2006 Formula One World Championship
The Nevers Circuit modified in 2003
The Nevers Circuit modified in 2003
Race details
Date July 16, 2006
Official name Formula 1 Grand Prix de France 2006
Location Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours, France
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 4.411[1] km (2.741 miles)
Distance 70 laps, 308.586[1] km (191.746 miles)
Weather Sunny, warm
Pole position
Driver Ferrari
Time 1:15.493
Fastest lap
Driver Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari
Time 1:17.111 on lap 46
Podium
First Ferrari
Second Renault
Third Ferrari
Lap leaders

This race was a scene of yet another record breaking milestone for Michael Schumacher, who became the first driver in F1 history to win the same Grand Prix on eight occasions (having previously won the French Grand Prix in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2004). Schumacher also achieved his 22nd career hat trick (pole position, win & fastest lap at the same race), also a record. Fernando Alonso, driving a Renault at the team's home race, finished second, whilst Schumacher's Ferrari team-mate, Felipe Massa, completed the podium by finishing in third position.

This was the first time that neither Honda was classified. It was also the 68th and final pole position of Michael Schumacher's career. Schumacher held the record for the most pole positions until Lewis Hamilton surpassed it at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix.

Report edit

Practice and qualifying edit

Friday drivers edit

The bottom 6 teams in the 2005 Constructors' Championship and Super Aguri were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race.

Constructor Nat Driver
Williams-Cosworth   Alexander Wurz
Honda   Anthony Davidson
Red Bull-Ferrari   Robert Doornbos
BMW Sauber   Robert Kubica
MF1-Toyota   Adrian Sutil
Toro Rosso-Cosworth   Neel Jani
Super Aguri-Honda   Sakon Yamamoto

Classification edit

Qualifying edit

 
Home driver Franck Montagny driving for Super Aguri. It would be his last outing for the team in the 2006 season.
Pos. No. Driver Constructor Q1 Q2 Q3 Grid
1 5   Michael Schumacher Ferrari 1:15.865 1:15.111 1:15.493 1
2 6   Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:16.277 1:15.679 1:15.510 2
3 1   Fernando Alonso Renault 1:16.328 1:15.706 1:15.785 3
4 8   Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:15.550 1:15.776 1:16.036 4
5 7   Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:15.949 1:15.625 1:16.091 5
6 3   Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.154 1:15.742 1:16.281 6
7 2   Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:16.825 1:15.901 1:16.345 7
8 4   Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.679 1:15.902 1:16.632 8
9 10   Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 1:16.534 1:15.926 1:18.272 19
10 14   David Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari 1:16.350 1:15.974 1:18.663 9
11 9   Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1:16.531 1:16.129 10
12 16   Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:16.686 1:16.294 11
13 15   Christian Klien Red Bull-Ferrari 1:16.921 1:16.433 12
14 11   Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:17.022 1:17.027 13
15 21   Scott Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:17.117 1:17.063 14
16 19   Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 1:16.962 1:17.105 15
17 20   Vitantonio Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1:17.164 22
18 17   Jacques Villeneuve BMW Sauber 1:17.304 16
19 12   Jenson Button Honda 1:17.495 17
20 18   Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 1:17.589 18
21 23   Franck Montagny Super Aguri-Honda 1:18.637 20
22 22   Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:18.845 21
Source:[3]

Race edit

 
The race was won by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher.
Pos. No. Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 5   Michael Schumacher Ferrari 70 1:32:07.803 1 10
2 1   Fernando Alonso Renault 70 +10.131 3 8
3 6   Felipe Massa Ferrari 70 +22.546 2 6
4 7   Ralf Schumacher Toyota 70 +27.212 5 5
5 3   Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes 70 +33.006 6 4
6 2   Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 70 +45.265 7 3
7 4   Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 70 +49.407 8 2
8 16   Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 69 +1 lap 11 1
9 14   David Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari 69 +1 lap 9
10 21   Scott Speed Toro Rosso-Cosworth 69 +1 lap 14
11 17   Jacques Villeneuve BMW Sauber 69 +1 lap 16
12 15   Christian Klien Red Bull-Ferrari 69 +1 lap 12
13 20   Vitantonio Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth 69 +1 lap 22
14 10   Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth 68 +2 laps 19
15 19   Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota 68 +2 laps 15
16 23   Franck Montagny Super Aguri-Honda 67 +3 laps 20
Ret 12   Jenson Button Honda 61 Engine 17
Ret 9   Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 55 Wheel rim 10
Ret 8   Jarno Trulli Toyota 39 Brakes 4
Ret 11   Rubens Barrichello Honda 18 Engine 13
Ret 18   Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota 11 Accident 18
Ret 22   Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 0 Transmission 21
Source:[4]

Championship standings after the race edit

  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Grand Prix de France". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  2. ^ "French". Formula1.com. Archived from the original on 2006-10-21. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  3. ^ Domenjoz, Luc; et al. (February 2007). Formula One Yearbook 2006-2007. Chronosports S.A. p. 152. ISBN 978-2-84707-110-8.
  4. ^ Domenjoz, Luc; et al. (February 2007). Formula One Yearbook 2006-2007. Chronosports S.A. p. 155. ISBN 978-2-84707-110-8.
  5. ^ a b "France 2006 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.

External links edit


Previous race:
2006 United States Grand Prix
FIA Formula One World Championship
2006 season
Next race:
2006 German Grand Prix
Previous race:
2005 French Grand Prix
French Grand Prix Next race:
2007 French Grand Prix

46°51′51″N 3°09′49″E / 46.86417°N 3.16361°E / 46.86417; 3.16361