Nonetheless, Kimi Raikkonen is in outstanding form and a third straight win is necessary if he is to make up ground on the championship leaders – plus it would be sweet justice for him to avenge is agonising 2005 disaster… Elsewhere, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are also likely to be gunning for victory.
LAST SEASON:
Michael Schumacher got the home crowds up on their feet twice in 2006 with victories at the Nurburgring and Hockenheim, although both were achieved under different circumstances.
Victory at the Nurburgring was reached after spending the majority of the race tucked up behind Alonso, the Ferrari driver using some superior in-laps to pass his rival through the pits and claim his second win of the season.
Alonso lumbered home a disappointed second, ahead of
Felipe Massa, the Brazilian scoring his first podium in
Formula 1. Kimi Raikkonen followed closely in fourth, with
Rubens Barrichello, Giancarlo Fisichella – recovering from a poor grid slot -, Nico Rosberg and Jacques Villeneuve rounding out the point scoring positions.
1.
Michael Schumacher Germany
Ferrari-Ferrari 60 laps
01:35:58.765
2.
Fernando Alonso Spain
Renault-Renault +3.7
3.
Felipe Massa Brazil
Ferrari-Ferrari +4.4
4.
Kimi Raikkonen Finland
McLaren-Mercedes +4.8
5.
Rubens Barrichello Brazil
Honda-Honda +72.5
6.
Giancarlo Fisichella Italy
Renault-Renault +74.1
7.
Nico Rosberg Germany
Williams-Cosworth +74.5
8.
Jacques Villeneuve Canada
BMW Sauber +89.3
Hockenheim was far more of a demonstration by Schumacher on what would be his final performance on home soil. Simply driving away from pole position, Schumacher was shadowed over the line by team-mate Massa for a perfect result.
