Schumacher and Ferrari did it again in style in the European GrandPrix at Nurburgring. Its almost a replica of the season opener where Schumacher led the race from the start and lost the position to Alonso during the second pitstops. The main difference here at Nurburgring is Ferrari is faster almost all the race and the Renault just holded them untill the second pitstops. But a superb drive from Schumacher saw him crossing the line with a comfortable margin.
Alonso led Schumacher and Massa into corner one and Button jumped to 4th while there was an incident at the rear of the field. Liuzzi spun into coulthard and stopped in the STR, while coulthard drove into the pits. The safety car was called in and was on the track upto lap 3. On lap 5 Raikkonen passes Button to take P4 and Montoya takes on Fisichella for P10. On lap 6 and 7 Schumi and Alonso trades fastest laps. On lap 9 Schumi makes another faster lap and remains close to Alonso at the front. Actually at this point both the ferraris are lapping faster than the spaniard. On lap 11, Alonso is still only 0.7 seconds ahead of Schumi and Massa, who are lapping faster than him. Webber runs off the track and gets out of the car to retire on lap 14. Schumi slams another fastest lap and cuts down Alonso’s lead to just 0.6 seconds.
Alonso and Massa both pits in on lap 17. Schumi pits in from the lead on lap 18, and joins just behind Alonso. Raikonnen still leads the race but he hasn’t stopped for his first pitstop yet. Raikkonen pits in from the lead and Alonso retakes the lead on Lap 23. Almost half the race finished and still the ferraris are faster than Alonso, while Button has pulled off and retired on lap 28. Alonso’s lead is just 0.6 seconds over the Ferrari’s by lap 32. Alonso and Schumacher trades some fastest laps respectively on lap 35,36 and 37.
Renault mechanics are getting ready for Alonso and he pits on lap 38. Schumi slams another fastest lap on the same lap, while Alonso has quite a long pitstop. Schumi is flying and he is not pitting on this lap too, while he had another fastest lap on lap 39 and Alonso is 24 seconds behind Schumi. Massa pits in from P2 on lap 40 while Schumacher stays out. Ferrari mechanics are ready for Schumacher now on lap 41 and he comes in. A very quick stop for Schumi and re-emerges ahead of Alonso. wooooo. Schumi and Ferrari deserves this.
By lap 43 Schumi’s lead over Alonso is 6.9 seconds, while Alonso who led Schumi and race for 40 laps never had that margin. Raikkonen pits in on lap 45 and Schumacher leads the European Grand Prix, with Alonso 7.7 seconds behind him and Massa a further 4.8 seconds behind him. With everyone completing their pitstops and just 10 laps to go, Ferrari set for a double-podium Finish with Schumi continuing to extend his lead. Montoya and Ralf Schumacher retires from the race with some mechanical problems. Only 13 cars on track by lap 55 and Scumacher remains very much on course for his 5th Grandprix win at the Nurburgring. Raikkonen is charging behind Massa for the final podium finish with only 3 laps to go. Both of them are just a second behind Alonso and it looks like anything can happen in the final 2 laps.
Thats it, Schumacher crosses the line and takes his second victory in a row in the European GrandPrix, Nurburgring and there’s no doubt that Ferrari is back on form. Alonso settles for second place and Massa holds on to the final podium position. This win moves Ferrari upto second in the constructors championship and cuts Alonso’s lead in the driver’s Championship by two points. Now Renault and Alonso should stop guessing who will be their rival and concentrate on how to win races.#.