2006 F1 German GP

[vhenok]

Schumacher's chances of narrowing the gap to Fernando Alonso in the race for the World title were given a boost on Saturday when he claimed second place on the Hockenheim grid compared to Alonso's P7. As for pole position, that went to McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

Times
01 K. Räikkönen McLaren 1:14.070
02 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:14.205
03 F. Massa Ferrari 1:14.569
04 J. Button Honda 1:14.862
05 G. Fisichella Renault 1:14.894
06 R. Barrichello Honda 1:14.934
07 F. Alonso Renault 1:15.282
08 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:15.923
09 P. de la Rosa McLaren 1:15.936
10 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:16.326
11 M. Webber Williams 1:15.094
12 C. Klien Red Bull 1:15.141
13 J. Trulli Toyota 1:15.150
14 J. Villeneuve BMW 1:15.329
15 N. Rosberg Williams 1:15.380
16 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:15.397
17 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.399
18 C. Albers Midland F1 1:17.093
19 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:17.185
20 T. Monteiro Midland F1 1:17.836
21 S. Yamamoto Super Aguri 1:20.444
22 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso no time

[CVT]

It's about to start. Real interesting race to watch. I am watching...

[CVT]

After the first pistop, it looks like the Renault cars are struggling. Somehow, the now deemed 'illegal' super dampers appear to have made a lot of difference with Renault in the early races. Too early to tell though, but we'll see...

[118designs]

ferrri lokos headed for a 1-2 finish.im just hoping alonso finishes 7th or 8th which would mean less points and schumi only down by at leat 10 points with 6 races to go

[Tikoyman]

Schumi-Massa...1-2 finish....kimi-3rd........

[empy]

i figured as much. Michael is a proud man, and he was not about to lose in front of his home crowd...

[number001]

But unfortunately, Alonso finished 5th so that would mean he managed to salvage 4 points.

[vhenok]

nice race....

Michael Schumacher scythed into Fernando Alonso's world championship lead with a brilliant victory in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Schumacher delighted his home crowd with a consummate display to hold off team-mate Felipe Massa by 0.7 seconds and win for the third consecutive race.

But a fine day for Ferrari, which included Bridgestone's 100th Formula One win, was made even better by Renault's lacklustre display.

Alonso struggled all weekend at Hockenheim and offered little in the race, finishing fifth to see his standings lead slashed to 11 points.

Happy to see Kimi back in the podium again.

Complete results:

01 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:27:51.693
02 F. Massa Ferrari + 0.720
03 K. Räikkönen McLaren + 13.206
04 J. Button Honda + 18.898
05 F. Alonso Renault + 23.707
06 G. Fisichella Renault + 24.814
07 J. Trulli Toyota + 26.544
08 C. Klien Red Bull + 48.131
09 R. Schumacher Toyota + 1:00.351
10 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso + 1 laps
11 D. Coulthard Red Bull + 1 laps
12 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso + 1 laps
13 C. Albers Midland F1 + 1 laps
14 T. Monteiro Midland F1 + 0 laps
Did not finish
15 M. Webber Williams + 9 laps
16 T. Sato Super Aguri + 30 laps
17 J. Villeneuve BMW + 35 laps
18 R. Barrichello Honda + 48 laps
19 N. Heidfeld BMW + 58 laps
20 P. de la Rosa McLaren + 64 laps
21 S. Yamamoto Super Aguri + 65 laps
22 N. Rosberg Williams + 66 laps

6 more races to go and it's gonna be a battle royale!

[mazdamazda]

What a race!

Lots of retirements due to mechanical failures & accidents! Rosberg & JV slammed into the tire wall. Yamamoto only managed a single lap in hi F1 debut. Webber who looked a strong podium finisher sadly retired.

What a brilliant drive by the Ferraris! Instead of the 3-stop strategy, they adjusted their pace in the late stage and cruised comfortably to victory to complete a 2-stop strategy.

I didn't quite see how Alonso "overtook" Fisichella. I remember Trulli harassing Alonso but couldn't quite figure out how he managed to overtake Fisichella. Team orders?

[the_wildthing]

Di ko napanood.

At least interesting na ulit, hindi landslide by either the blues or the reds. Maganda nga sana kung 3-way or 4-way yung laban.

[BoyFerrari]

I didn't quite see how Alonso "overtook" Fisichella. I remember Trulli harassing Alonso but couldn't quite figure out how he managed to overtake Fisichella. Team orders?

I think the proper term is "team strategy". Everytime we use the term "team orders", somehow it totally spoils the game. In a tag-team, somebody has to play a supporting role and we know that and expect that to happen. Fisichella could have deliberately slowed down on his own personal choice as a supportive teammate to allow Alonso to pass through and preserve his points. Just like Massa has told the press that he is willing to block the Renaults and McLarens in order for Schumi to turbo boost ahead of everyone.

Pag "team orders" kasi, it's like you are being ordered to do something against your own will. Perhaps Fisi was happy to help his teammate any way he can.

[mazdamazda]

Regardless if it is "team orders" or the politically-correct term "team strategy" it is still one and the same.

I wonder why Ferrari was booed before when Barichello gave way to Schumi for the latter to maximize his championship points a few years ago - but Renault was able to get away with it yesterday.

[niky]

You'd have to prove it first... and: Masyadong obvious yung kay Schumi, considering Barrichelo gave way for first place. Other versions of team-orders/strategy are not so obvious, like the half-second too-long pitstop, the "my-tires-are-shot-so-I-can't-lap-so-fast-while-my-teammate-is-in-the-pits" strategy and the "oops-my-stupid-mistake" strategy.

Shucks, I missed this one again. When's the replay?

[mikmik316]

One Word to describe Ferrari's Race - DOMINANT.

[niky]

Watched the replay... still didn't catch the part where Alonso passed Fisichella. But from the way they were driving, it's possible that Fisi committed a mistake that allowed Alonso past... You could still see "team strategy" at work, as when Alonso lost it at one point, Fisi slowed down to let him rejoin. I doubt there will be any protests over that, as it's so far back from the podium, and both drivers were struggling with their cars.

Looks like this season will go down to the wire. Hope Renault finds their pace again after the next race.

[mazdamazda]

What's also interesting is the pace of the McLarens & Hondas. Too bad that Kimi ran into some pitstop problems.

Even the Williams are now back in good form and would have even placed here than the Renaults if not for Webber's retirement.

[niky]

Oo nga, Kawawa talaga si Webber sa race na yan... to come so close...

Anyway, this is shaping up to be a very interesting season...

[allen_the_great]

You'd have to prove it first... and: Masyadong obvious yung kay Schumi, considering Barrichelo gave way for first place. Other versions of team-orders/strategy are not so obvious, like the half-second too-long pitstop, the "my-tires-are-shot-so-I-can't-lap-so-fast-while-my-teammate-is-in-the-pits" strategy and the "oops-my-stupid-mistake" strategy.

Shucks, I missed this one again. When's the replay?

amen.

garapalan yung ginawa ng Ferrari. buti yung ibang teams marunong dumiskarte.

[BoyFerrari]

I'm not sure why there are people who still cannot get it over with trying to look for so-called "team orders/team strategy" in every race so they can get themselves pissed off. Especially during the part of the season when Fisi or Massa has no chance or whatsoever in winning the championship. Does anyone honestly believe that a team principal will allow teammates to race each other and spoil the guy who has a much better chance of becoming champion?

Complaining about team "orders" in F1 is like complaining that Batista did not really punch his opponent in the face. It's part of the game, man. And it's understandable why. Unless you pair two star drivers having matching salaries on the same team. If you can't live with it, then there are other races going on around the world from LeMans to Nascar that you can choose to watch instead.

The difference between team orders and team strategy is that the first one you are being ordered by your boss to let your team mate win. Team strategy is when you are low on points but your partner is close to winning the crown in a close race with an opposing team, so why race your teammate?

[nugundam93]

I'm not sure why there are people who still cannot get it over with trying to look for so-called "team orders/team strategy" in every race so they can get themselves pissed off. Especially during the part of the season when Fisi or Massa has no chance or whatsoever in winning the championship. Does anyone honestly believe that a team principal will allow teammates to race each other and spoil the guy who has a much better chance of becoming champion?

Complaining about team "orders" in F1 is like complaining that Batista did not really punch his opponent in the face. It's part of the game, man. And it's understandable why. Unless you pair two star drivers having matching salaries on the same team. If you can't live with it, then there are other races going on around the world from LeMans to Nascar that you can choose to watch instead.

The difference between team orders and team strategy is that the first one you are being ordered by your boss to let your team mate win. Team strategy is when you are low on points but your partner is close to winning the crown in a close race with an opposing team, so why race your teammate?

nicely said! :D