Formula 1
European GP: Michelin race notes
ALONSO MAINTAINS UPPER HAND WITH STRONG SECOND PLACE Fernando Alonso (Renault/Michelin) maintained his Formula One world championship lead after a terrific duel with arch-rival Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) in the Grand Prix of Europe, at the ...
Published: May 7, 2006, 10:51 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
ALONSO MAINTAINS UPPER HAND WITH STRONG SECOND PLACE
Fernando Alonso (Renault/Michelin) maintained his Formula One world championship lead after a terrific duel with arch-rival Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) in the Grand Prix of Europe, at the Nürburgring.
The Spaniard led away from pole position and kept Schumacher at bay for the first two-thirds of the race, but their positions were reversed during their second and final pit stops. Alonso consolidated thereafter to finish as runner-up. He leads Schumacher by 44 points to 31 after five of this year's 18 world championship races.
Only 13 cars completed a race of attrition. Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren Mercedes, fourth), Rubens Barrichello (Honda, fifth), Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault, sixth) and Jacques Villeneuve (BMW Sauber F1 Team, eighth) also scored points for Michelin.
Michelin's day
Nick Shorrock, Michelin Formula One director:
"It looks as though the track offered less grip this afternoon than it did yesterday. It looks as though the compounds we selected were probably too hard for the prevailing conditions."
"The San Marino grand prix had already been fiercely competitive, but we have learned a lot from it and have already developed some new products that will make their debut in Spain next weekend. We expect another close race in Barcelona - but I am confident we are poised to take another step forward."
Team perspective on tyres
Pat Symonds, executive engineering director, Renault F1 Team:
"We anticipated a very tough race- and that's exactly what we got. We had no tyre problems in the race and I don't believe there was a great deal to choose between Ferrari and ourselves, but they just had a slightly more effective package than us today."
-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 European GP: Renault race notes
Next article Todt not surprised by Europe result
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Kimi Raikkonen
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
More from
Ferrari
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
WEC
WEC
Monza
2 h
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
26 min
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
57 min
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
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