2006 British Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads with 64 points to Schumacher’s 43. Fisichella and Räikkönen are joint third on 27.

Previous race

Alonso won Monaco, with Montoya second — his final Formula One podium — and Coulthard third, Red Bull Racing’s first ever podium. Räikkönen retired when a heat shield caught fire and burned through the car’s wiring. Webber led for a spell in his Williams before an exhaust failure ended his race. Schumacher started from the pitlane after having his qualifying times deleted by stewards and recovered to fifth.

Between-race developments

No champagne was sprayed on the Monaco podium following the death of Édouard Michelin on the Friday of race weekend.

Practice

Williams third driver Alexander Wurz led the first Friday session. BMW Sauber’s third driver Robert Kubica topped the second. Michael Schumacher was quickest in the Saturday morning session.

Milestones

Silverstone hosts its 41st Formula One race this weekend — the 52nd running of the British Grand Prix as a World Championship round. Ticket sales have been slow, with the race falling earlier in the calendar than usual and the weekend clashing with England’s opening World Cup match.

This race features what is believed to be the first pit stop to involve a woman: ITV-F1 pit lane reporter Louise Goodman takes the role of left rear tyre changer during a Midland pit stop for Tiago Monteiro.