Monaco Grand Prix 2006 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Fernando Alonso claimed a brilliant and controversial victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, triumphing at Formula 1's most prestigious race after Michael Schumacher was stripped of pole position and sent to the back of the grid for deliberately stopping his Ferrari at the Rascasse corner during qualifying. The incident - one of the most infamous in F1 history - sparked furious debate about sportsmanship and allowed Alonso to lead from start to finish on the streets of Monte Carlo, extending his championship lead to 16 points.

Schumacher had appeared to secure pole position on Saturday with a qualifying lap that would have given him crucial track position on Monaco's narrow streets where overtaking is virtually impossible. However, in the dying seconds of the final qualifying session, the German inexplicably stopped his Ferrari at the Rascasse corner, bringing out yellow flags that prevented Alonso and other rivals from improving their lap times. Race stewards investigated and concluded that Schumacher had deliberately parked his car to prevent others from beating his time - an unprecedented act of gamesmanship. The stewards relegated Schumacher to the back of the grid, promoting Alonso to pole position and sparking a media firestorm.

Starting from his inherited pole with a lap of 1:13.962, Alonso made a perfect start and controlled the race from the front, never putting a wheel wrong on the demanding street circuit. The Spaniard's victory in such controversial circumstances demonstrated his ability to capitalize on opportunities, though the weekend's talking point remained Schumacher's actions. Juan Pablo Montoya drove an excellent race to finish second for McLaren, while David Coulthard claimed his first podium of the season for Red Bull in third. Schumacher recovered from last place to finish fifth and set the fastest lap, showing remarkable pace, but the damage to his reputation and championship hopes was significant. The Monaco controversy added another contentious chapter to the intense Alonso-Schumacher rivalry.