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| Chinese Grand Prix 28th Sept-1st Oct 2006 - Race Report |
Length:
5.451 km |
| The Chinese Grand Prix was meant to be a mission of damage limitation for Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher after rain and inferior tyres saw him struggle through Saturday qualifying.
More showers on Sunday morning had the German fearful for his championship chances and things only got worse when Fernando Alonso shot to an early 25-second lead. As soon as the lights dimmed, Alonso’s dominance was obvious as he muscled his Renault around the Shanghai circuit at three second per lap quicker than any other driver. Schumacher was stuck in sixth, however the fact he was holding on to Rubens Barrichello’s Honda despite his inferior Bridgestone rubber gave reason for hope. The rain had eased, the track was drying, and after 10 laps the tables started to turn. McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen put a pass on Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella for second and set off after Alonso. Schumacher found a way past Barrichello and then began to match the leader’s pace. Raikkonen’s march was short lived as he stopped for an early splash of fuel, Schumacher’s attack lasted longer and he slowly but surely started to narrow the defecit. He made his first stop a few laps later, the Renault’s soon followed, and interestingly all of the top-three opted for different rubber strategies. Schumacher took on new rears, leaving the fronts. Alonso took on new fronts, leaving the rears. Fisichella elected to stick with the complete set. It was to prove a critical moment of the afternoon as those decisions turned the formbook on its head. Schumacher started closing in on Fisichella, and both homed in on Alonso at an astonishing rate of three to four seconds per lap. All of a sudden his fortunes appeared to be significantly improving when a further thorn was removed from his side with Raikkonen’s unfortunate retirement. Within 10 laps Alonso’s lead has evaporated and he was struggling to keep Schumacher behind. Fisichella was acting as rear gunner protecting his teammate at every turn. In the end the task was to prove impossible and Renault, cutting their loses, sent Fisichella off after the chequer. Alonso was left open to his rival’s advances amd the reigning world champion lasted just two corners before Schumacher made his move. It was an easy pass and the Ferrari was soon hunting down the last of the hurdles in the form of Fisichella. However there was to be yet another twist in the afternoon and the result was far from complete. The track had dried to such a point where slick tyres were now an option and teams were left with a tough decision. BMW and Robert Kubica were first to make the switch. It was to prove a few laps to early as the Pole returned to the circuit for only a few seconds before he was navigating the Chinese gravel traps. It was a cruel sting for the youngster after a storming drive that saw him drop to 20th at the end of lap one only to recover to sixth. Williams’ Nico Rosberg also tempted fate four laps later. The German’s wait was to prove a sensible choice as he immediately set personal best sector times and triggered the exodus from intermediate rubber. At the front, Alonso, now third, was first to switch and after a sticking right rear caused further delay he remerged on the circuit some 54 seconds off the lead. Schumacher was next to pull in and had one lap to adjust to the new rubber before Fisichella followed suit. It was to prove the killer move for Ferrari as Schumacher made short work of Fisichella who, struggling for early grip, had little defence. The 37-year-old quickly built a 10 second advantage but his job wasn’t yet complete. On dry rubber Alonso had found a new lease of life and was now closing back in on P1 at one to two seconds per lap. Luckily for Schumacher there was only 15 laps remaining, and he had a lead of 20 seconds, meaning it would be tough for the number on Renault to close him down. Alonso gallantly pushed to the very end and actually came to within five seconds of Schumacher as the chequer fell. However it was the latter man who crossed the line first and in the process claimed a share of the lead in the drivers’ title race. In parc ferme Schumacher celebrated with passion rarely seen from the man who has made a business out of winning grands prix. Recovering from sixth on the grid to hold on through the tough conditions and claim victory was impressive and obviously meant a lot to the man. Alonso on the other hand barely had time for a wave as he jumped from his car and quickly disappeared into the garages before his short appearance on the podium. Despite the glum face the result wasn’t all bad for the Spaniard and his team. He was still in thick of the championship fight and, more importantly, his car had been the quickest in the field for the first time since Canada. The battle now moves onto Japan where Suzuka hosts the penultimate round of the season. It is a circuit where Schumacher has a history of performing well and should he win the race and Alonso retire, he will be crowned champion for eighth time in his career. |
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