Fernando Alonso won the 2006 British Grand Prix in a straightforward fight to the finish. Ferrari's Schumacher crossed the line second with team mate Felipe Massa in fifth place.
The sun had been beating down on the Silverstone race track all weekend, and uncharacteristic hot temperatures proved to be a keen talking point amongst fans and paddock personnel alike.
Throughout the practice and qualifying sessions track conditions were slightly problematic. Drivers contended with a slippery track surface and strong cross winds. Several lost control and diverted heavily off the racing line.
Ultimately it was to be Fernando Alonso taking pole position for today's British Grand Prix, with Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella bearing down on him.
What at first appeared to be an uncomplicated start to the race was soon interrupted by the safety car. Reacting swiftly to a collision between Ralf Schumacher and Mark Webber, the safety car could be seen making its way out of the pit lane within seconds of the incident.
On the restart, the front five cars continued in the same formulation as they had begun. Kimi Raikkonen and Alonso set some of the fastest laps before the first round of pit stops commenced.
Just under 20 laps into the 60-lap race, all cars had pitted with the exception of the Renaults, which stayed out four laps longer than their rivals. In due course, this benefited Fisichella, who was then able to take Massa for position.
The mid section of the race saw the back markers gradually lapped as the Renaults, Ferraris and McLaren of Raikkonen - all still within sight of each other - endeavoured to push their pace to the limits to profit at the next set of pit stops.
Schumacher was the first to be brought in a second time, shortly followed into the pit lane by Raikkonen. The Ferrari exited in front of the Fin, taking the Ferrari up to P2. This allowed Schumacher to chase Alonso's lead.
However, this was not meant to be. After 60 laps, Alonso took his first Silverstone win ahead of Schumacher. Kimi Raikkonen earned third spot with Felipe Massa taking a valuable four points in fifth place for Shell-powered Scuderia Ferrari.
Lisa Lilley, Shell's Formula One Project Manager, commented after the race: 'The Shell products we used for this race have an excellent record, so we had every confidence in them going into this weekend. Even with the unusually hot weather we've experienced, as we would have expected the formulations reacted perfectly and maintained optimal performance in the Ferrari.
The result means that Scuderia Ferrari holds second place in the Constructors' Championship with 75 points to Renault's 106. Michael Schumacher now has 51 points, retaining second place in the Drivers' Championship.
The teams are now off to Montreal - the second set of fly-away races - for the 9th round of the season, on June 25th.
