Formula 1
Australian GP: Michelin race review
THREE OUT OF THREE FOR MICHELIN AND RENAULT The third race of the 2006 Formula One world championship proved to be the most eventful so far - but a string of incidents and four safety car periods failed to put Michelin off its stride as it ...
Edited: Apr 4, 2006, 1:57 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
THREE OUT OF THREE FOR MICHELIN AND RENAULT
The third race of the 2006 Formula One world championship proved to be the most eventful so far - but a string of incidents and four safety car periods failed to put Michelin off its stride as it maintained its stranglehold on the sport. World champion Fernando Alonso (Renault/Michelin) drove an unruffled race at the head of the field, but his serene progress was interrupted on several occasions.
The race began dramatically when Juan Pablo Montoya (McLaren Mercedes) spun while driving onto the grid. Seconds later, front-row qualifier Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault/Michelin) stalled, the start procedure was aborted and the Italian was sent to the pit lane.
With the race distance shortened by a lap, pole position qualifier Jenson Button (Honda/Michelin) repelled Alonso's repeated attacks through the first four corners, but the safety car was soon scrambled following a series of first-lap accidents that led to the retirements of Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Jarno Trulli (Toyota) and Nico Rosberg (Williams).
At the restart on lap four, Alonso swept past Button into the first turn to take control of the race. He began to pull away from the Englishman, but his advantage was negated on lap seven when the safety car reappeared - this time to allow Red Bull/Michelin driver Christian Klien's crashed car to be cleared away.
Once again Alonso stormed clear at the restart, although arch-rival Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren-Mercedes/Michelin) passed Button into Turn One to commence a pursuit that would last all afternoon. Despite two further safety car interruptions, caused by spectacular accidents that befell Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) and Vitantonio Liuzzi (Scuderia Toro Rosso/Michelin), Alonso kept his cool and was always able to re-establish a safe advantage.
He finally eased up during the closing stages, but by then his second victory of the season was assured. The defending champion now leads the title chase by 14 points.
Despite his unpromising start to the afternoon, Montoya looked to have done enough to secure third place until he ran wide at the final turn on lap 33. His car impacted hard with the kerb and suffered a subsequent electronic failure.
His misfortune enabled Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher to take third place, ahead of Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber/Michelin). Heidfeld's result was BMW's best since it entered the sport as a team owner in its own right at the beginning of 2006. Button was on course to finish fifth until his engine failed just before the final corner.
He stopped just metres from the line and was classified 10th, behind Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault/Michelin), Jacques Villeneuve (BMW Sauber/Michelin), Rubens Barrichello (Honda/Michelin), Scott Speed (Scuderia Toro Rosso/Michelin) and David Coulthard (Red Bull/Michelin).
Speed, who would have become the first American to score an F1 point since 1993, was later penalised for passing Coulthard while waved yellow caution flags were showing. Their positions were subsequently reversed.
Alonso's victory was Michelin's 96th in F1 and extends an unbeaten run that stretches back to last July.
-michelin-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Difficult day for Monteiro
Next article Renault Monday debrief: Sepang
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Juan Pablo Montoya
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
More from
Ferrari
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
21 h
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Latest news
George Russell: F1 2026 season a test of "character and resilience"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
13 min
George Russell: F1 2026 season a test of "character and resilience"
Marc Marquez: ‘Jorge Martin rides on instinct; he just attacks, and that’s his strength’
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Marc Marquez: ‘Jorge Martin rides on instinct; he just attacks, and that’s his strength’
Lamborghini Super Trofeo | North America, Race 2: Bamber dominates to take the win
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
1 h
Lamborghini Super Trofeo | North America, Race 2: Bamber dominates to take the win
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
WEC
WEC WEC 1 h
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe