2006 French Grand Prix
The 2006 French Grand Prix (formally the XCII Grand Prix de France) was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, near Magny-Cours, France on 16 July 2006. The 70-lap race was the eleventh round of the 2006 Formula One season, the 57th French Grand Prix as part of the World Championship, and the 92nd overall.
2006 French Grand Prix | |||
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Race 11 of 18 in the 2006 Formula One World Championship | |||
![]() The Nevers Circuit modified in 2003 | |||
Race details | |||
Date | July 16, 2006 | ||
Official name | XCII Grand Prix de France | ||
Location | Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours, France | ||
Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
Course length | 4.411 km (2.74 mi) | ||
Distance | 70 laps, 308.77 km (191.8 mi) | ||
Weather | Sunny, warm | ||
Pole position | |||
Driver | Ferrari | ||
Time | 1:15.493 | ||
Fastest lap | |||
Driver |
![]() | Ferrari | |
Time | 1:17.111 on lap 46 | ||
Podium | |||
First | Ferrari | ||
Second | Renault | ||
Third | Ferrari | ||
Lap leaders
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This race was a scene of yet another record breaking milestone for Michael Schumacher, who became the first driver in F1 history to win the same Grand Prix on eight occasions (having previously won the French Grand Prix in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2004). Schumacher also achieved his 22nd career hat trick (pole position, win & fastest lap at the same race), also a record. Fernando Alonso, driving a Renault at the team's home race, finished second, whilst Schumacher's Ferrari team-mate, Felipe Massa, completed the podium by finishing in third position.
This was the first time that neither Honda was classified. It was also the 68th and final pole position of Michael Schumacher's career. Schumacher held the record for the most pole positions until Lewis Hamilton surpassed it at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix.
Report
Practice and qualifying
Friday drivers
The bottom 6 teams in the 2005 Constructors' Championship and Super Aguri were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race.
Constructor | Nat | Driver |
---|---|---|
Williams-Cosworth | ![]() |
Alexander Wurz |
Honda | ![]() |
Anthony Davidson |
Red Bull-Ferrari | ![]() |
Robert Doornbos |
BMW Sauber | ![]() |
Robert Kubica |
MF1-Toyota | ![]() |
Adrian Sutil |
Toro Rosso-Cosworth | ![]() |
Neel Jani |
Super Aguri-Honda | ![]() |
Sakon Yamamoto |
Classification
Qualifying

Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Grid |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | ![]() | Ferrari | 1:15.865 | 1:15.111 | 1:15.493 | 1 |
2 | 6 | ![]() | Ferrari | 1:16.277 | 1:15.679 | 1:15.510 | 2 |
3 | 1 | ![]() | Renault | 1:16.328 | 1:15.706 | 1:15.785 | 3 |
4 | 8 | ![]() | Toyota | 1:15.550 | 1:15.776 | 1:16.036 | 4 |
5 | 7 | ![]() | Toyota | 1:15.949 | 1:15.625 | 1:16.091 | 5 |
6 | 3 | ![]() | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:16.154 | 1:15.742 | 1:16.281 | 6 |
7 | 2 | ![]() | Renault | 1:16.825 | 1:15.901 | 1:16.345 | 7 |
8 | 4 | ![]() | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:16.679 | 1:15.902 | 1:16.632 | 8 |
9 | 10 | ![]() | Williams-Cosworth | 1:16.534 | 1:15.926 | 1:18.272 | 19 |
10 | 14 | ![]() | Red Bull-Ferrari | 1:16.350 | 1:15.974 | 1:18.663 | 9 |
11 | 9 | ![]() | Williams-Cosworth | 1:16.531 | 1:16.129 | 10 | |
12 | 16 | ![]() | BMW Sauber | 1:16.686 | 1:16.294 | 11 | |
13 | 15 | ![]() | Red Bull-Ferrari | 1:16.921 | 1:16.433 | 12 | |
14 | 11 | ![]() | Honda | 1:17.022 | 1:17.027 | 13 | |
15 | 21 | ![]() | Toro Rosso-Cosworth | 1:17.117 | 1:17.063 | 14 | |
16 | 19 | ![]() | MF1-Toyota | 1:16.962 | 1:17.105 | 15 | |
17 | 20 | ![]() | Toro Rosso-Cosworth | 1:17.164 | 22 | ||
18 | 17 | ![]() | BMW Sauber | 1:17.304 | 16 | ||
19 | 12 | ![]() | Honda | 1:17.495 | 17 | ||
20 | 18 | ![]() | MF1-Toyota | 1:17.589 | 18 | ||
21 | 23 | ![]() | Super Aguri-Honda | 1:18.637 | 20 | ||
22 | 22 | ![]() | Super Aguri-Honda | 1:18.845 | 21 | ||
Source:[1] |
Race

Championship standings after the race
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- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
References
- Domenjoz, Luc; et al. Formula One Yearbook 2006-2007. Chronosports S.A. p. 152. ISBN 2-84707-110-5.
- Domenjoz, Luc; et al. Formula One Yearbook 2006-2007. Chronosports S.A. p. 155. ISBN 2-84707-110-5.
- "France 2006 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2006 French Grand Prix. |
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