Alonso vs Schumacher
The Changing of the Guard
The Story
Michael Schumacher came into 2006 determined to reclaim the title from Fernando Alonso and Renault, and Ferrari gave him a car capable of doing it. The battle swung back and forth all season, with Schumacher winning in Imola, the Nurburgring, and Indianapolis while Alonso responded with victories in Britain, Canada, and France. The pivotal moment came at the Italian Grand Prix when Schumacher's engine blew while he was leading, costing him crucial points. Schumacher fought back to win in China, but Alonso sealed the deal in Brazil with a comfortable second-place finish. After the race, Schumacher announced his retirement from F1 (though he would later return with Mercedes). It marked the end of the greatest era of dominance the sport had seen.
Points Progression
| Race | Alonso | Schumacher | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain GP | 10 | 8 | Alonso +2 |
| Malaysian GP | 18 | 11 | Alonso +7 |
| Australian GP | 28 | 11 | Alonso +17 |
| San Marino GP | 36 | 21 | Alonso +15 |
| European GP | 44 | 31 | Alonso +13 |
Final Standings
| Pos | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 7 | 134 |
| 2 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 7 | 121 |
| 3 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 2 | 80 |
| 4 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | 1 | 72 |
| 5 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren | 0 | 65 |
| 6 | Jenson Button | Honda | 1 | 56 |
| 7 | Rubens Barrichello | Honda | 0 | 30 |
| 8 | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren | 0 | 26 |
| 9 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 0 | 23 |
| 10 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | 0 | 20 |