2006 Brazilian Grand Prix
The 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2006) was a Formula One motor race held on 22 October 2006 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo. It was the eighteenth and final race of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship. The race determined the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships for the season, with Fernando Alonso and Renault winning their respective championships. The race itself attracted 154 million viewers.
| 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 18 of 18 in the 2006 Formula One World Championship | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 22 October 2006 | ||
| Official name | Formula 1 Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2006 | ||
| Location | Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 4.309 km (2.677 miles) | ||
| Distance | 71 laps, 305.909 km (190.083 miles) | ||
| Weather | Temperatures reaching up to 23 °C (73 °F) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||
| Time | 1:10.680 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | |
| Time | 1:12.162 on lap 70 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | Renault | ||
| Third | Honda | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The 71-lap race was won by local driver Felipe Massa, driving a Ferrari, with Alonso taking second in his Renault and Jenson Button third in a Honda. Massa was the first Brazilian driver to win his home Grand Prix since Ayrton Senna in 1993. Michael Schumacher, in what was expected to be his last race, finished fourth, having started tenth and suffered a puncture which dropped him to 19th.
Schumacher retired from Formula One after this race, with seven Drivers' Championships to his name, although he would return in 2010 with Mercedes. His seat at Ferrari was taken by Kimi Räikkönen, whilst Alonso moved to McLaren to partner rookie Lewis Hamilton.