2006 Bahrain Grand Prix

The 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix, officially the 2006 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, was the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, which took place at the Bahrain International Circuit on 12 March 2006.'Bahrain 2006: Alonso triumphs in desert duel.', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 12/03/2006), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/54913/1/bahrain-2006-alonso-triumphs-in-desert-duel, (Accessed 02/02/2020) The race would see defending World Champion Fernando Alonso open his title defence with victory, beating Michael Schumacher in a race long duel.
The opening round of 2006 came after a very busy winter, which had included a major rulebook change and several new teams.'FIA Rules & Regulations Sporting Regulations 2006: 2006 season changes', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://web.archive.org/web/20070428004836/http://www.formula1.com/insight/rulesandregs/13/995.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020) Out went the 3.0l V10 engine formula introduced in to be replaced by 2.4l V8s, new 7-speed gearboxes were implemented, and drivers were limited to fourteen sets of tyres for the race weekend, but could change tyres during pitstops.
Elsewhere, became a constructor and entrant in their own right, taking over the entry after buying a controlling stake in Peter Sauber's business.'Bahrain GP, 2006', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr751.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020) Likewise, took control of to become a constructor in their own right, and would support a junior team in the form of . similarly formed a junior team after their purchase of , which became for 2006, while became .
Driver-wise there would be one significant change, as signed reserve driver Felipe Massa to take over their second seat, replacing Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian veteran moved to the factory Honda team to partner Jenson Button, with Takuma Sato moving to partner Yuji Ide at Super Aguri, while GP2 Series Champion Nico Rosberg, son of World Champion Keke Rosberg would make his debut with .
Into the race weekend itself and the field was faced with a new qualifying format, which was split into three sessions. All 22 drivers would venture out in the first session to set as many flying laps as they could in fifteen minutes, before the bottom six drivers were eliminated. Q2 would be a repeat with the next six slowest drivers eliminated, before the remaining ten progressed to Q3 to battle for pole position.
The new quali-format saw several surprises, as a heavy accident for Kimi Räikkönen eliminating both himself and Ralf Schumacher in Q1. Regardless, it was Michael Schumacher who emerged on pole ahead of new teammate Massa, while Button beat Alonso to third ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya.
Alonso was the man to watch at the start, with the #1 sprinting off the grid to claim second, managing to dodge a lunging Massa in the process. Massa would hence slip behind the Spaniard, while Rosberg smacked into Nick Heidfeld in the middle of the pack, although both would continue.
Out front, meanwhile, Schumacher would ease into an early lead, and would do his best to escape during the early stages. However, Alonso would manage to keep the German racer in sight as the field settled down, and would fend off Massa's clumsy challenge on lap eight that resulted in the Brazilian youth destroying his tyres via a spin.
The first round of stops for the leaders opened on lap fifteen as Schumacher dived into the pits, with Alonso stopping four laps later. He rejoined behind the German ace as Montoya briefly led, while Räikkönen had become a major threat for victory having opted for a one-stop strategy, moving into third once Montoya stopped.
Räikkönen's eventual stop left him behind Montoya and Button, before the second round of stops ultimately settled the majority of the positions. Indeed, Alonso would be the main beneficiary as he jumped Schumacher to claim the lead, running side-by-side into the first corner having made his stop.
With that Alonso was clear, and duly claimed victory at a canter ahead of the man who many predicted would be his major rival. Behind, the battle for third between Montoya, Button and Räikkönen was settled in the Finn's favour, the result of a better strategy, with Button just falling shy. Montoya, meanwhile, would slip to a lonely fifth ahead of Webber, while Rosberg and Christian Klien claimed the remaining points.
Rosberg would also make history by setting fastest lap, becoming the youngest driver to do so at the age of 20 years and 258 days. This would stand until Max Verstappen set his maiden fastest lap at the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix.
==Background==
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Fernando Alonso 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R26 	 	RS26 2.4 V8 	
2 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R26 	 	RS26 2.4 V8 	
3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Team McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-21 	 	FO 108S 2.4 V8 	
4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	Team McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-21 	 	FO 108S 2.4 V8 	
5 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	248 F1 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
6 	Felipe Massa 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	248 F1 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
7 	Ralf Schumacher 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF106 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
8 	Jarno Trulli 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF106 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
9 	Mark Webber 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW28 	 	CA2006 2.4 V8 	
10 	Nico Rosberg 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW28 	 	CA2006 2.4 V8 	
11 	Rubens Barrichello 	Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA106 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
12 	Jenson Button 	Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA106 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
14 	David Coulthard 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB2 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
15 	Christian Klien 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB2 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
16 	Nick Heidfeld 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.06 	 	P86 2.4 V8 	
17 	Jacques Villeneuve 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.06 	 	P86 2.4 V8 	
18 	Tiago Monteiro 	Midland F1 Racing 	 	M16 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
19 	Christijan Albers 	Midland F1 Racing 	 	M16 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
20 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR1 	 	TJ2006 3.0 V10 	
21 	Scott Speed 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR1 	 	TJ2006 3.0 V10 	
22 	Takuma Sato 	Super Aguri F1 Team 	 	SA05 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
23 	Yuji Ide 	Super Aguri F1 Team 	 	SA05 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only
35 	Alexander Wurz 	Williams F1 Team 	 	FW28 	 	CA2006 2.4 V8 	
36 	Anthony Davidson 	Lucky Strike Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA106 	 	RA806E 2.4 V8 	
37 	Robert Doornbos 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB2 	 	056 2.4 V8 	
38 	Robert Kubica 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.06 	 	P86 2.4 V8 	
39 	Markus Winkelhock 	Midland F1 Racing 	 	M16 	 	RVX-06 2.4 V8 	
40 	Neel Jani 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR1 	 	TJ2006 3.0 V10 	
Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
 	 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q3 	Q2 	Q1 	
1 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:31.431 	1:32.025 	1:33.310 	1
2 	6 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:31.478 	1:32.014 	1:33.579 	2
3 	12 	Jenson Button 	 	1:31.549 	1:32.025 	1:32.603 	3
4 	1 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:31.702 	1:31.215 	1:32.433 	4
5 	4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:32.164 	1:31.487 	1:33.233 	5
6 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:32.579 	1:32.322 	1:33.922 	6
7 	9 	Mark Webber 	 	1:33.006 	1:32.309 	1:33.454 	7
8 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	1:33.112 	1:32.106 	1:34.308 	8
9 	2 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:33.496 	1:31.831 	1:32.934 	9
10 	16 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:33.926 	1:31.958 	1:33.374 	10
11 	17 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	 	1:32.456 	1:33.882 	11
12 	10 	Nico Rosberg 	 	 	1:32.620 	1:32.945 	12
13 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	 	1:32.850 	1:33.678 	13
14 	8 	Jarno Trulli 	 	 	1:33.066 	1:33.987 	14
15 	20 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	 	1:33.416 	1:34.439 	15
16 	21 	Scott Speed 	 	 	1:34.606 	1:33.995 	16
17 	7 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	 	 	1:34.702 	17
18 	19 	Christijan Albers 	 	 	 	1:35.724 	18
19 	18 	Tiago Monteiro 	 	 	 	1:35.900 	19
20 	22 	Takuma Sato 	 	 	 	1:37.411 	20
21 	23 	Yuji Ide 	 	 	 	1:40.270 	21
22 	3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	 	no time 	22
Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'2006 FORMULA 1™ Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 12/03/2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2006/races/790/bahrain/qualifying.html, (Accessed 02/02/2020)
===Grid===
** Monteiro started the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1 	Fernando Alonso 	 	57 	1:29:46.205 	4 	10
2 	5 	Michael Schumacher 	 	57 	+1.246s 	1 	8
3 	3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	57 	+19.360s 	22 	6
4 	12 	Jenson Button 	 	57 	+19.992s 	3 	5
5 	4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	57 	+37.048s 	5 	4
6 	9 	Mark Webber 	 	57 	+41.932s 	7 	3
7 	10 	Nico Rosberg 	 	57 	+1:03.043 	12 	2
8 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	57 	+1:06.771 	8 	1
9 	6 	Felipe Massa 	 	57 	+1:09.907 	2 	
10 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	57 	+1:15.541 	13 	
11 	20 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	57 	+1:25.997 	15 	
12 	16 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	10 	
13 	21 	Scott Speed 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	16 	
14 	7 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	17 	
15 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	6 	
16 	8 	Jarno Trulli 	 	56 	+1 Lap 	14 	
17 	18 	Tiago Monteiro 	 	55 	+2 Laps 	19 	
18 	22 	Takuma Sato 	 	53 	+4 Laps 	20 	
Ret 	23 	Yuji Ide 	 	35 	Engine 	21 	
Ret 	17 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	29 	Engine 	11 	
Ret 	2 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	21 	Hydraulics 	9 	
Ret 	19 	Christijan Albers 	 	0 	Driveshaft 	18 	
Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)	Source:'Bahrain 2006: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* entered a Grand Prix for the first time as a constructor since the 1968 Mexican Grand Prix.
* Debut race for , , and as constructors.'1. Bahrain 2006', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2006/bahrein.aspx, (Accessed 02/02/2020)
* 100th entry for Nick Heidfeld.'2006 Bahrain GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), https://web.archive.org/web/20190410083955/http://chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2006&gp=Bahrain%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 02/02/2020) - Original
* Twentieth race entry for Tiago Monteiro.
* Nico Rosberg made his Grand Prix debut.
* Yuji Ide and Scott Speed made their respective debuts.
* Michael Schumacher recorded the 180th pole position for as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Ninth career victory for Fernando Alonso.
* 26th win for as a constructor.
** Renault also scored their 106th win as an engine supplier.
* Rosberg recorded his maiden fastest lap.
** This made Rosberg the youngest ever fastest lap setter at 20 years, 258 days.
** Also the only fastest lap to be recorded using a engine.
==Standings==
Victory at the opening round of the season meant Fernando Alonso opened his maiden title defence in perfect form, scoring a maximum ten points. Michael Schumacher, meanwhile, had started his campaign in second, two behind, while Kimi Räikkönen completed the opening day top three. The rest of the scorers in Bahrain were Jenson Button, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Webber, debutante Nico Rosberg and Christian Klien.
In the Constructors Championship it was who led the way after the opening round, all because of Alonso's win. Indeed, had matched the French squad's ten point haul at the opening round, but because Alonso had won the race, it was Renault who headed the field on countback. Behind, started the season in third ahead of , with and having also scored points.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Fernando Alonso 	10 	
2 	Michael Schumacher 	8 	
3 	Kimi Räikkönen 	6 	
4 	Jenson Button 	5 	
5 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	4 	
6 	Mark Webber 	3 	
7 	Nico Rosberg 	2 	
8 	Christian Klien 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	10 	
2 	 	10 	
3 	 	8 	
4 	 	5 	
5 	 	5 	
6 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Bahrain Grand Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2006 Grands Prix