Chequered flag for the F1 2006 Season

By the end of the weekend, the both championships must be decided as this is the final round of the season. But if it is noticeable that there are far more media here than is usual for the Brazilian GP, a quick poll of the journalists reveals that the extra numbers are not so much due to the excitement of the duel between ourselves and our closest rivals and that between Schumi and reigning champion, Alonso but more with the fact that this is the final time Schumi will attend a GP as a race driver.

Like all great champions, Michael has had not only his fans but also his denigrators, but all agree that witnessing his sixteen year Formula 1 career will be something to remember for a long time as a special era in motor racing.
Today, the first day of free practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix saw Michael set the sixth quickest time on a day that started cool and damp so that both he and team-mate Felipe Massa, wearing a special green and yellow race suit to represent the Brazilian flag, did not venture out of the garage in the morning hour. In the afternoon, the local boy was seventeenth fastest.

As we have seen so often on Fridays, the free practice "podium" featured nothing but third drivers: Alex Wurz was quickest for Williams, for whom he will race next year, replacing Mark Webber. Second was Anthony Davidson for Honda with Sebastian Vettel third for BMW-Sauber who ran their cars with the message "Thank you Michael" on the rear wing in honour of Schumacher's retirement. Fourth was the Toyota of Jarno Trulli, followed by the second Honda of Jenson Button.