Schumacher wins strategic race
Michael Schumacher has booked his second consecutive win for Ferrari after tactical overtaking in the pitlane. Fernando Alonso was 2nd but visibly disappointed with the performance of his car, especially in the final part of the race. Felipe Massa completed the success for Ferrari by finished 3rd and completing the podium. Ferrari seem to be back and the other teams have work to do in order to catch up.
Just as last year, again this time some cars collided in the first corner after the start. Tonio Liuzzi saw himself spinning after putting down the throttle too quickly after the first corner. David Coulthard was unable to avoid the Toro Rosso car and broke his and Liuzzi's front wing. both men gave up one lap later while the safety car was deployed for 2 laps to remove Liuzzi's car from the track.
When the safety car went away, everyone was able to hold their positions and it became clear Sato had made a very good start as he found himself in 15th position. Barrichello and Montoya both lost 3 places during the start, while Villeneuve who went on the outside in the first corner gained the place he was penelised. Nick Heidfeld was just behind him, followed by Fisichella and Montoya. The latter overtook Fisichella just one lap later after his teammate Raikkonen showed how to by switching places with Button.
In lap 13, mark Webber misses the first corner after the Mercedes complex but it seems like it was with a problem with his car. When he attempted to rejoin the track, Mark had second thoughts and stopped the car in the gravel trap. Meanwhile at the front Alonso leads and is closely followed by Michael Schumacher. 3 laps later, both Alonso and Massa come in for a stop while Schumacher stays out one lap longer. The positions of the three remained the same as Alonso put in a very good outlap on his brand enw tyres. Felipe Massa and Michael were fitted with used tyres. In lap 21 Raikkonen is in the lead and well ahead of the trio Button, Alonso and Schumacher.
20 laps in the race Michael Schumacher looks like being unable to hold the pace of Alonso and loses some time on the world champion. Fisichella's late first pitstop on the other hand paid of as the overtook Trulli with it. A few laps later he meets his friend Villeneuve and is closely followed by JP Montoya who also had made a late first stop.
Jenson button gave up with a smoking engine after completing 29 laps, and was quickly joined by Klien who also saw his race end with apparent hydraulic problems. Only two laps later Montagny also saw his engine go up in flames just when Villeneuve, Fisico and Montoya passed him.
As the second series of pitstops closes in, both leaders, again close to each other put in the fastest laps of the race one after another. With 22 laps to go Alonso is the first to pit while Schumacher again puts in the best sector times so far in the race. Schumacher continues two laps more than the Renault driver while Massa is the first Ferrari to come into the pits. One lap later Michael only needs 6.5 seconds for his stop which is enough to gain the advantage over Alonso. Fernando is even more than 5 seconds behind the German, who on his behalf is down on Raikkonen who did not pit so far.
All positions remained about the same while Alonso cannot keep up with Michael Schumacher. Even worse, he sees Massa and Raikkonen close in behind him. With only 7 laps to go, Montoya and Ralf thought they had raced enough. Montoya put his car aside of the track while Ralf's Toyota engine blew up when coming on the start-finish straight. Both DNF's result in Rosberg and Vileneuve coming into the the points.
Until the very end Alonso kept a 2 second lead over Massa and Raikkonen and came over the finish line in second place, ahead of both men. The race proved Ferrari is back in the game with a second consecutive win for Michael Schumacher. Fernando Alonso managed to only lose 2 points to the German but was visibly having a hard time in the third and final stint.
The results are as follows:
1 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:35:58.785
2 F. Alonso Renault + 3.007
3 F. Massa Ferrari + 4.004
4 K. Räikkönen McLaren + 4.008
5 R. Barrichello Honda + 1:12.005
6 G. Fisichella Renault + 1:14.001
7 N. Rosberg Williams + 1:14.005
8 J. Villeneuve BMW + 1:29.003
9 J. Trulli Toyota + 1 laps
10 N. Heidfeld BMW + 1 laps
11 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso + 1 laps
12 T. Monteiro Midland F1 + 1 laps
13 C. Albers Midland F1 + 1 laps
Did not finish
14 R. Schumacher Toyota + 7 laps
15 JP. Montoya McLaren + 7 laps
16 T. Sato Super Aguri + 15 laps
17 F. Montagny Super Aguri + 30 laps
18 C. Klien Red Bull + 31 laps
19 J. Button Honda + 31 laps
20 M. Webber Williams + 48 laps
21 D. Coulthard Red Bull + 60 laps
22 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso + 60 laps
