Turkish Grand Prix 2006 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Felipe Massa claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory with a commanding performance at the Turkish Grand Prix, controlling the race from pole position to become the season's fourth different winner. The Brazilian's breakthrough triumph at Istanbul Park was the perfect response to Michael Schumacher's retirement announcement, demonstrating that Ferrari had found a worthy successor to their legendary champion, while Fernando Alonso's second-place finish moved him back to the top of the championship standings with four races remaining.

Starting from his first pole position with a lap of 1:26.907, Massa dominated the race from start to finish at the spectacular Istanbul Park circuit. The 25-year-old Brazilian's pace was faultless, particularly through the daunting Turn 8 - one of Formula 1's greatest corners - where his commitment and car control were exceptional. Massa's victory came at the perfect time for Ferrari, occurring just days after Schumacher had confirmed his end-of-season retirement at Monza. The win demonstrated that Ferrari's succession plan was on track and that Massa had the speed to lead the team in the post-Schumacher era.

Alonso drove an intelligent race to finish second, capitalizing on Schumacher's third-place finish to retake the championship lead by one point. The Spaniard's consistency was proving crucial in the title battle - while he hadn't won since Canada, his ability to collect points even when not the fastest was keeping him in championship contention. Schumacher completed the podium after being passed by Alonso during the race, with the German setting the fastest lap. The championship battle remained on a knife-edge with Alonso leading by a single point, setting up a dramatic finale across the final four races as the sport's young champion battled its greatest legend.