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| European GP 4th - 7th May 2006 - Race Report |
Length:
5.418 km |
| Winning at Imola was one thing, but backing that up with victory at the Nurburgring would be the much harder task.
It was a task that did indeed prove tough, but not too tough, as Michael Schumacher triumphed in the European Grand Prix. Like two weeks ago, it was former and illustrious champion Michael Schumacher verse the man that stole his mantle last year, Fernando Alonso. The result, Alonso being beaten for the second race in succession, could have major ramifications on the championship. And it appeared that both the Ferrari and Renault teams understood that as the cars pulled into parc ferme. It would be rare to see Schumacher more elated by a victory, and it would be equally rare to see Alonso less emotive. Unlike the San Marino event, on Sunday the Spaniard had no answers for the pace of the victorious Ferrari. He had claimed he wasn’t worried by the threat the Italian squad posed, the initial victory was just a flash in the pan they would struggle to repeat. Once on the track claim was usurped, at no stage was Schumacher pushed to answer the Alonso challenge. Maybe the fact Alonso felt it necessary to make such a claim was proof that he was indeed worried. His actions earlier in the weekend certainly suggested that. On Saturday morning he called on his team to give him a strategy that would deliver pole, not one for eventual victory. He obviously understood that Ferrari would be quick, he would try and control the pace from the front, double guess Schumacher and ride out the challenges to claim the win. Schumacher’s reaction to qualifying second – one of disappointment and frustration – would certainly suggest he was cautious of such tactics. As the race got underway on Sunday afternoon Alonso’s plan unfolded as he would have wanted. He shot off the line, went first into turn one, and dictated the pace from the front. It was clear who was fighting for victory, Alonso and Schumacher pushed and pushed, Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren), and Jenson Button (Honda) faded into the background. Schumacher maintained the gap at a single second, sitting ominously large in the Renault mirrors. As expected Alonso pitted first, Schumacher turned on the pace, and the positions would surely swap. Unexpected was the pace of Alonso following his stop as he matched the pace of his rival who would come in just one lap later. So as Schumacher made his exit, Alonso was already cruising into the first turn and the positions would stay the same. The second stint continued in much the same vein as the first, except the long-running Raikkonen was in the lead. At first the Finn didn’t appear to be a threat, but Alonso wasn’t enjoying his new set of rubber – after the initial spirt of speed – and was haemorrhaging a second a lap to the McLaren. When Kimi eventually emerged from his stop he was back in the fight at only 10 seconds off Alonso’s lead. With 25 laps to go the Spaniard turned up the wick, his stop was just three laps away and he finally found the pace. Schumacher initially couldn’t follow him on, and the lead blew out to almost two seconds. Then the Ferrari also found its feet and Schumacher showed exactly why he was a seven time world champion – relentless pace that saw him record the fastest lap three times in succession. By the time Alonso made his stop the lead had been cut to six tenths, and as the Renault was given fresh rubber and a final splash of fuel his rival was continuing to set fastest sector time after fastest sector time. Unlike the first round of stops the Ferrari crew wouldn’t come out one lap later, it would be three laps before Schumacher would make his final visit to the lane – three laps completed at a simply astonishing pace. The extra circuits would be more than enough, Schumacher was stationary for only 6.8 seconds and then continued on his way towards an empty turn one. He joined the action some 5.8 seconds ahead of Alonso, and just three behind Raikkonen – who had one more stop to make – victory was now his for the taking. There were some fluttering hearts as the Nurburgring claimed certain high profile victims. With just five laps to go both Juan Pablo Montoya (McLaren / ninth) and Ralf Schumacher (Toyota / sixth) retired due to mechanical problems. Schumacher and Ferrari had already seen bad luck this season, they wouldn’t suffer again in front of his home crowd. After 60 laps Michael Schumacher claimed victory number 86 – more than twice the total of Aytron Senna – his second on the trot, and announced that once again he was in the championship fight. Overhauling Alonso over the season may not prove so easy though. Despite his two victories his still 13 points behind, and his rival has proved rather adept and finishing second and protecting his lead. McLaren may yet still enter that fight as well. If not ever a serious worry on Schumacher’s mind, Kimi at least provided plenty of food for thought. He didn’t claim the final podium position, Felipe Massa claimed that honour, but he wasn’t far behind at less than a second down. Honda never proved a threat of any of any form despite their usual qualifying promise. Jenson Button looked good after launching up to P4 on the opening lap, but Kimi soon stole a position back and the Briton quickly faded. His eventually retired mid way through the race with an expired V8 engine. Rubens Barrichello was left to lead the teams charge and he was again spectacularly mediocre – more a reflection on the car than the Brazilian’s form – in finishing fifth. On the Honda’s tale were Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault) and Nico Rosberg (Williams), who both recovered from poor qualifying slots. BMW Sauber’s Jacques Villeneuve rounded out the points paying positions. The circus reforms in just five days when the Spanish Grand Prix weekend kicks off in Barcelona. Tyres will again prove a decisive element and Ferrari will be confident that their Bridgestone rubber will be up to the task. Renault will be asking plenty of Michelin as they know they will need to stop the Scuderia rot. |
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