Monte Carlo, 28th May 2006

The leading quartet all bunched up on lap 33 so that there was almost nothing between them, although they were thirty seconds ahead of Barrichello who now had Trulli close behind him.

On lap 44, Webber started to drop back only for his engine to lose power due to a burnt electrical loom as he went up the hill. He stopped and the rear end of the car caught fire, so the safety car was brought out, which sent the leading three cars into the pits. Although the safety car picked up the leader when he came out of the pits, there were backmarkers between himself and Raikkonen, whose engine also expired, and Montoya.

When the safety car went in, the race took on a completely new complexion. Alonso was ten seconds ahead of Montoya who in turn was seven seconds ahead of Barrichello. He was tailed by Trulli and the two Red Bulls. The rest were lapped, but they were led by Michael Schumacher being pushed by Fisichella. Alonso allowed them to unlap themselves.



Barrichello, however, had incurred a pit lane speeding penalty and had to come in on lap 63, which cost him his third place, which was then taken over by Trulli,. However, with just six laps to go, the Toyota ground to a halt with failed hydraulics. Coulthard then took over third place which is where he finished. Teammate Klien, however, lost drive, so the resumed Barrichello moved into fourth, and being caught at a tremendous rate by Schumacher. The Ferrari had cut Barrichello's 20 second lead to nothing in 11 laps, but Michael had to follow his former teammate to the chequered flag, finishing fifth. Fisichella was next, while Heidfeld and Ralf Schumacher took the final points. Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished ninth after a tough weekend in which 17 cars finished, more than for many years.