A new Shell V-Power racing fuel helped the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher claim victory in today's Grand Prix of San Marino. Shell has now contributed to 128 Ferrari victories.
'We must thank our partners, first of all Shell who supplied us with a new fuel,' said Michael Schumacher after his victory.
The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, played host to the fourth round of the Formula One World Championship and the first of the European Season. It was a race which was dominated by a close battle between Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. The Ferraris showed excellent pace throughout the weekend with Schumacher putting in continually fast laps to take the victory. Felipe Massa held off the competition to take fourth place.
'At this race we introduced a new high-power Shell fuel and we are delighted with the way it performed. This provides an excellent platform as we go forward with the European races,' explained Lisa Lilley, Shell's Formula One Project Manager.
The warm, dry conditions of Saturday qualifying saw several contenders battling for the front row of the grid. During the final 20-minute window of qualifying, Jenson Button put in a late charge to clinch second place. Rubens Barrichello took third spot on the grid just in front of Ferrari driver and Brazilian compatriot Felipe Massa. Fernando Alonso was to start the race in fifth.
However, it was Scuderia Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, who, having set the lap record, also secured pole and in doing so, claimed a record-breaking 66 career pole positions.
The race got off to an incident-free start with both Shell-powered Ferraris holding their positions and making early headway. However, this was short lived when Super Aguri's Ide touched the back of Albers' car, causing it to somersault, landing upside down in gravel and causing the safety car to be deployed.
Once Albers' safety had been established, racing resumed with Schumacher gradually increasing his lead, setting some of the fastest laps.
The first set of scheduled pit stops initiated various on-track battles but the story of the day was undoubtedly that of Schumacher and Alonso. The two world champions broke away from the pack early on in the race. Schumacher was the first to pit and was able to resume his lead once the Renault pulled in to change tyres and take on fuel several laps later. However, with 28 laps remaining the gap significantly narrowed with Alonso hot on the German's tail.
Strategy was key to the result and for the second round of pit stops, Schumacher was brought in a lap after Alonso, rejoining the track just in front of the Renault. This was to continue until the chequered flag dropped and Schumacher crossed the line in the lead.
Felipe Massa had an incident-free race, keeping Raikkonen at bay and bringing Ferrari five valuable points in the Constructors' Championship.
The result puts Schumacher in second place in the 2006 Drivers' Championship with 21 points behind Alonso's 36. Ferrari is in third place in the Constructors' Championship after four races with 30 points.
The fifth round in two weeks is in Germany for the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring circuit.
