2006 San Marino Grand Prix
The 2006 San Marino Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2006) was a Formula One motor race held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy on 23 April 2006. The 62-lap race was the fourth round of the 2006 Formula One season, and the 26th running of the San Marino Grand Prix. It was won by Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, who had started from pole position. It was both his and Ferrari's first win of the season. Championship leader Fernando Alonso finished second for the Renault team, whilst Juan Pablo Montoya completed the podium with third position for McLaren.
| 2006 San Marino Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 4 of 18 in the 2006 Formula One World Championship | |||
|
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 23 April 2006 | ||
| Official name | Formula 1 Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2006 | ||
| Location |
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 4.933 km (3.065 miles) | ||
| Distance | 62 laps, 305.609 km (189.897 miles) | ||
| Weather | Sunny | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||
| Time | 1:22.795 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Fernando Alonso | Renault | |
| Time | 1:24.569 on lap 23 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | Renault | ||
| Third | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
As a consequence of the race, Schumacher improved his position in the Drivers' Championship from fourth to second. Alonso lengthened his lead in the standings from 14 to 15 points. Kimi Räikkönen remained in third, 3 points behind Schumacher, whilst his teammate Montoya elevated himself ahead of Button into fifth place as a result of his podium finish. Alonso's Renault teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella, dropped to fourth place but still helped to extend the team's lead to 18 points over McLaren in the Constructors' Championship. Ferrari were then 3 points behind McLaren, on a total of 30 points, 15 more than fourth-placed Honda, and 20 more than fifth-placed BMW Sauber.
It was Schumacher's seventh victory at the San Marino Grand Prix, and his fifth win at Imola in six years. This was the last Formula One race to be held in Imola until the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.