2006 Bahrain Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Bahrain
Grand Prix = Bahrain

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Caption = The Bahrain Circuit in Sakhir
Date = March 12
Year = 2006
Official name = III Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
Race_No = 1
Season_No = 18
Location = Bahrain International Circuit
Sakhir, Bahrain
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 3.37
Course_km = 5.412
Distance_laps = 57
Distance_mi = 191.530
Distance_km = 308.238
Weather = Fine
Pole_Driver = Michael Schumacher
Pole_Team = Ferrari
Pole_Time = 1:31.431
Pole_Country = Germany
Fast_Driver = Nico Rosberg
Fast_Team = Williams-Cosworth
Fast_Time = 1:32.406
Fast_L

Fast_Country = Germany
First_Driver = Fernando Alonso
First_Team = Renault
First_Country = Spain
Second_Driver = Michael Schumacher
Second_Team = Ferrari
Second_Country= Germany
Third_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
Third_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Third_Country = FinlandThe 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix was the first round of the 2006 Formula One World Championship, held on March 12, 2006 at the Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain.

Qualifying

The race was the first run under the new 2006 qualifying rules, in which the one hour session is split into three 'knock out' parts. The first part eliminated Kimi Räikkönen (rear wishbone failure) and Ralf Schumacher, who was caught out by the red flag after Räikkönen's accident and failed to set a competitive time, as well as the MF1's and the two Super Aguris. The second part saw fewer surprises, with the expected runners lining up for the final top 10 part. The result was that the Ferraris swept the front row.

UK TV pundit Martin Brundle referred to the fuel credits used to represent the fuel used during qualifying as 'Tiger Tokens', referring to promotional points offered by the fuel company Esso in the United Kingdom.

The Race

At the start of the race, Fernando Alonso moved up to second in the first lap, only for Michael Schumacher to begin to pull away. Alonso was involved in a near collision with Schumacher's teammate Felipe Massa, who spun at the first corner. Massa was never a threat after this point, not helped by a delay in his pit stop to change tyres the same lap. Alonso's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella also played little part in the race due to an engine mapping problem which restricted power. He retired on the 21st lap due to hydraulic failure. To the surprise of few, Kimi Räikkönen quickly moved his way up the field, only being delayed by Jacques Villeneuve and Fisichella for a short period of time, before passing both men.

Further down the field, Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg touched at the first corner. Both men were significantly delayed, but recovered. Heidfeld's day continued to get worse, as an incident with David Coulthard was investigated after the race.

Juan Pablo Montoya finished 5th in his McLaren, having never been a threat throughout the race. It was a good day for Williams on a whole, as Mark Webber finished in 6th, while Rosberg was the surprise of the race though, ending up a very respectable 7th, passing Christian Klien after catching him in the last few laps of the race, putting Klien down to a still impressive 8th. Rosberg set the fastest lap of the race, becoming the youngest driver ever to achieve this in a Grand Prix, breaking a record held by Alonso.

Honda suffered mixed fortunes throughout the race. Early on fans were treated to a fight between Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button, as Button slipped down the order due to a slow getaway. Button eventually fought his way back up, twice passing Juan Pablo Montoya at the end of the straight but losing out again in pitstops. He eventually finished 4th, 0.6 seconds behind Räikkönen in 3rd. Räikkönen fought hard throughout the race, stopping only once on his way to the last podium spot. He rose 19 places in the race which is more than any driver since Fabrizio Barbazza started 25th and finished sixth in the 1993 San Marino Grand Prix. cite web |title=F1 2006 review: stats |publisher=F1Fanatic.co.uk |date=2006 |url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2006/11/05/f1-2006-stats-review/ |accessdate=2007-08-12]

At the second set of pit stops, Alonso was able to take advantage of staying out longer than Schumacher by coming out of the pit lane side by side with Schumacher. As they came into the first corner both cars were neck and neck, but Alonso was able to pull out in front of the former world champion. Despite coming under heavy pressure from Schumacher towards the end, the reigning champion started of the season with a well earned victory.

After a tussle with David Coulthard, Nick Heidfeld was reprimanded by stewards post-race for positioning his car in a way that forced Coulthard off the race circuit. Coulthard suffered engine failure on cool-down lap and received a 10-place grid penalty for 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix.

This was the first race for the Midland, BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso, Honda F1 and Super Aguri teams, although only Super Aguri was a completely new team, the others all representing buyouts or rebrandings of existing teams.

Friday Drivers

Notes

* Lap Leaders: Michael Schumacher 1–15, 24–35 (27); Fernando Alonso 16–19, 36–39, 41–57 (25); Juan Pablo Montoya 20–23 (4); Jenson Button 40 (1).

tandings after the race

Note, only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.;Drivers' Championship standings;Constructors' Championship standings

References

External links

* [http://www.manipef1.com/results/2006/bahrain.php Detailed Bahrain Grand Prix results]

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Bahrain Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 2006
Previous_race_in_season = 2005 Chinese Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix