Hockenheim, 30th July 2006

Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa scored a resounding one-two for Ferrari in Sunday's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, the pair finishing just 0.7s apart but over 12 seconds ahead of their nearest rival. Most importantly, by taking his 70th win for Ferrari, Michael has reduced Fernando Alonso's championship lead to just 11 points, and Renault are now just ten points ahead of Ferrari.

With an ambient temperature of 33 degrees and a track temperature around 50, it was bound to be a hot and exhausting race in front of a nearly full grandstands. Poleman Kimi Raikkonen went straight into the lead from the Ferraris, while Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso overtook Honda's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard and Toyota's Ralf Schumacher had a coming together at the hairpin, which resulted in Schumacher pitting.

So at the end of the first lap, Raikkonen led from the Ferraris before a gap to Fisichella, Button had re-overtaken by Alonso, then came Pedro de la Rosa's McLaren and Mark Webber's Williams. Teammate Nico Rosberg was another first lap casualty.



During the first ten laps, Raikkonen rapidly opened up a 2.9s lead over the Ferraris, but then dived into the pits for a very early fuel stop, a result of a refuelling error between the second and third qualifying sessions on the Saturday. Button moved up to fourth on lap two having re-overtaken both Renaults, while de la Rosa was an early retirement.

When Raikkonen pitted, a 15s stop due to a stuck wheel meant that he re-emerged behind the Webber/Barrichello duo in eighth place. Klien was next. At the front, the Ferrari pair were still running close together, but over ten seconds ahead of third placed Button. The Honda driver pitted on lap 16, while further back, his teammate overtook Webber for sixth place.

The pit stops began in earnest on lap 18 with Barrichello stopping, then Massa and Fisichella on lap 19 - which time Webber had caught Alonso, suffering severe tyre blistering. The World Champion would stop on lap 20 as did Michael, rejoining just ahead of his teammate after suffering traffic on his in lap.

The order was now was Michael just ahead of Massa, with the non-stopping Webber 17s down in second place. Button was next from Raikkonen, then the non-stopping Klien just ahead of Fisichella. Trulli, another not to stop, was next from Alonso.

Fisichella was soon also suffering blistering and he began to drop away from Klien, who pitted on lap 25. On lap 28, Webber came in as did Raikkonen for his second stop and Trulli.

Michael was still less than two seconds ahead of Massa, but they were a massive 25s ahead of their nearest rival, in this case Button who led the troubled Fisichella, being caught by Webber who had successfully pulled away from Alonso even though he was on a full fuel load. Raikkonen was next.

By lap 38, Webber had caught the troubled Fisichella for fourth place and quickly overtook, although the Italian would pit for the second time on the next lap. Button also came in, while Alonso would pit on lap 43 and the two Ferraris over the next couple of laps.

Michael was still only a couple of seconds ahead of Massa, but Webber was 14s further back when he made his second stop on lap 48 which dropped him to sixth. It was now Raikkonen in third place with Button fourth. Trulli made a stop on lap 51 which dropped him to eighth place, behind Webber and the Renaults.

Raikkonen made his final stop on lap 55, rejoining just ahead of Webber but he soon caught Button and overtook him on lap 58. Webber retired on lap 58 with engine failure due to a water leak on lap 59.

So Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa took a tremendous one-two for Ferrari, with Raikkonen coming through to claim a troubled third. Button was a happy fourth from the Renaults of Alonso and Fisichella. Trulli was seventh with Klien in eighth place.