Results from the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix
It was a Ferrari that took the chequered flag at the second Turkish Grand Prix but not that of title chaser Michael Schumacher. His team-mate Felipe Massa surprised everyone with a maiden win, becoming the second driver in two successive races to take the honours for the first time in their careers. Schumacher settled for third behind Fernando Alonso, but not without a thrilling finish in which the former champion attempted a late charge to regain the position he lost during a pit stop.
By splitting the two Ferraris, Alonso was able to undo their one-two grid start and regain the initiative as he notched a single point onto his 11 point championship title lead, with four races remaining. Button, victorious in Hungary, finished fourth comfortably, followed by Pedro de la Rosa's McLaren Mercedes, Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella, and Ralph Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello.
Massa was never troubled from the start, but an safety car deployment on lap 14 created a flurry of pit stops which left Schumacher waiting behind his team mate and costing him a place. But Ferrari will be pleased with the points difference they have gained on Renault in the Constructors' Championship, narrowing the gap to just two points.
The race did however dish up some exciting middle order racing, especially after the safety car period, with de la Rosa, Fisichella, Ralph Schumacher, Barrichello and Trulli all jockeyed for position. But it was the final nine laps that kept everyone out of their seats as the two title challengers fought tooth, and nail and even though a dash for the finish line brought Schumacher within a hundredth of a second of Alonso, he was unable to steal the psychological edge.
was another miserable afternoon for Kimi Raikkonen, who continues to languish in fourth place on the standings after colliding with Tiago Monteiro in a first corner pile up, effectively ending his race. Vitantonio Luizzi, Sakon Yamamoto, Nico Rosberg, Christian Albers and David Coulthard also retired.
Alonso leads the championship by 12 points on Schumacher and unless the Renault team experience an inconsistent race in the remain four Grand Prix, Schumacher's late charge might not regain the title for Ferrari. He is expected to make an announcement on his future at the Italian Grand Prix.
Results
- Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1hr 28 minutes 51.082 seconds
- Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault + 56.582
- Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari + 56.682
- Jenson Button (Gbr) Honda 1:29:03.382
- Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren + 36.982
- Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault + 37.582
- Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota + 50.382
- Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda + 51.082
- Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1 lap
- Mark Webber (Aus) Williams 1 lap
- Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1 lap
- Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1 lap
- Scott Speed (USA) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1 lap
- Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 2 laps
- Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri 17 laps
R David Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 55 laps completed
R Christijan Albers (Ned) Midland 46 laps
R Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 25 laps
R Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Super Aguri 23 laps
R Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Scuderia Toro Rosso 12 laps
R Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 2 laps completed
R Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland 0 laps completed