| 2006 Italian Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 15 of 18 in the 2006 Formula One World Championship | |||
 The Monza circuit after modified in 2000 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 10 September 2006 | ||
| Official name | Formula 1 Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2006 | ||
| Location | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.793 km (3.6 miles) | ||
| Distance | 53 laps, 307.029 km (190.8 miles) | ||
| Weather | Warm and sunny with temperatures reaching up to 27 °C (81 °F)[1] | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Time | 1.21.484 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | |
| Time | 1:22.559 on lap 13 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Third | BMW Sauber | ||
|
Lap leaders | |||
The 2006 Italian Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2006)[2] was a Formula One motor race held on 10 September 2006 at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. It was the fifteenth race of the 2006 Formula One season, and was won by Michael Schumacher driving a Ferrari car.
Immediately following the race, Schumacher announced that he would retire from motor racing at the end of the 2006 season. Robert Kubica achieved his first career podium finish, in only his third Grand Prix. It was also only the second Grand Prix meeting appearance of Kubica's Friday driver successor, Sebastian Vettel. Vettel had impressed at the Turkish Grand Prix by setting the fastest time in one session, but he set the fastest time in both Friday practice sessions at this Grand Prix.[3][4] The race was also the first race to see the introduction of a new High Speed Barrier developed by the FIA Institute and the FIA. The system, which was installed at the end of the run-off areas at the circuit's second chicane and Parabolica corners, was designed for use at corners with high speed approaches and limited run-off areas.[5] Also this was the last race of the Red Bull driver Christian Klien, until his return to a race seat at the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix.
After the race, in the press conference, Schumacher announced his retirement from Formula One.[6] On the same day, it was announced that Ferrari would replace Schumacher with Kimi Räikkönen. The race was his 90th victory. Four years later however in 2010, Schumacher returned to F1 with Mercedes.
- ^ Weather info for the 2006 Italian Grand Prix at Weather Underground
- ^ "Italia". Formula1.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "FORMULA 1 Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2006". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ "FORMULA 1 Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2006". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ The High Speed Safety Barrier FIA.com. Retrieved 4 October 2006 Archived 17 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Schumacher confirms his retirement". formula1.com. Formula One Administration. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.