The 2006 season burst into sensational life in Bahrain this afternoon, as champions past and present, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher, fought out a tense duel which resulted in victory for the Spaniard by only 1.246s.
It was close, but Fernando Alonso started his title defence very much in the way he ended his championship season last year by winning. Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, chasing his 85th win after taking a record-equalling pole position on an all-Ferrari front row, had to settle for second place after a thrilling battle with his young rival.
Schumacher, spearheading Ferrari’s recovery from a dismal 2005 season, had led from the start while a determined Alonso roared past the German’s new Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa at the third corner after starting fourth. Starting fourth the Renault star forced his way past the slow starting Jenson Button and soon after past Felipe Massa to set up the battle with Michael Schumacher.
It was close race long but the second and final pit stop saw the Spaniard exit the pits half a car length ahead of Schumacher’s Ferrari and from that point onwards, he absorbed the pressure to win by just over a second. but it was nip and tuck as they went side-by-side through Turn One. Alonso kept his nerve and emerged in front, and then made sure he avoided any errors for the remainder of the nail-biting race. One slip, however, and the order could easily have been reversed.
Rookie Nico Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke, was seventh for Williams, becoming the 54th driver in the history of the sport to score on a race debut after overtaking Austrian Christian Klien’s Red Bull on the last lap.
Schumacher was all smiles for his team and his rivals afterwards, obviously relieved that his Ferrari team are back in contention at the front of the field after a dismal 2005 during which they won only one race.
“We did well and I am so glad to be competitive again,” he said. “We have all done a lot of work over the winter.”
It could scarcely have been a more exciting race with which to start the season, and the auguries for a four-way fight between Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Honda look excellent.