2006 French Grand Prix

The 2006 French Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France 2006 ) [ 3 ] was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours , near Magny-Cours , France on 16 July 2006.

The event was held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the 16th time in the circuit's history across the weekend of 14-16 July. The Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2006 Formula One World Championship and the 56th running of the French Grand Prix as a round of the Formula One World Championship. [ 4 ] This race also marked the centenary of the first French Grand Prix in 1906.

Going into the weekend, Fernando Alonso was leading the championship, as he had been since the start, now with 88 points, compared to Michael Schumacher with 69. Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella had overtaken Kimi Räikkönen for third place with 43 points.

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.

Michael Schumacher scored his 68th and final pole position . He had held the record for the most pole positions since surpassing Ayrton Senna at the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix and would hold it until Lewis Hamilton surpassed it at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix .

At the start, Fernando Alonso challenged Felipe Massa for second place, locking up at the first hairpin , but the Brazilian managed to hold on and protect his second place, as well as Michael Schumacher 's lead. While several battles emerged in the midfield, Schumacher set a series of fastest laps to grow his lead out to 8 seconds over Alonso at the time that Massa pitted on lap 16. [ 2 ]

After the first round of pit stops was completed, Schumacher led Massa by 6 seconds, with Alonso a further 5 seconds down the road. Jarno Trulli was fourth, but he was passed by Kimi Räikkönen on lap 26. Later in the race, Trulli would retire but his teammate Ralf Schumacher would end up finishing in that fourth position.

Alonso lost time behind backmarkers and was trailing Schumacher by 16 seconds when the German made his second stop. After Alonso had visited the pits for the second time, the gap had expanded to 26 seconds, with Massa still in between the rivals. When the Ferraris stopped for a third time, Alonso moved past Massa and conserved his tyres. He held on to second place and finished the race 10 seconds, but more importantly, just 2 points behind Schumacher.

Schumacher became the first driver in Formula One 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.

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