2006 German Grand Prix

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox Grand Prix race report

|Type = F1

|Country = Germany

|Grand Prix = German

|Previous_round= 2006 French Grand Prix

|Next_round = 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix

|Date = 30 July

|Year = 2006

|Image = Hockenheim2012.svg

|Caption = The Hockenheimring

|Race_No = 12

|Season_No = 18

|Official name = Formula 1 Grosser Mobil 1 Preis von Deutschland 2006

|Location = Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany

|Course = Permanent racing facility

|Course_mi = 2.842

|Course_km = 4.574

|Distance_laps = 67

|Distance_mi = 190.424

|Distance_km = 306.458

|Weather = Sunny, warm

|Pole_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen

|Pole_Country = Finland

|Pole_Team = McLaren-Mercedes

|Pole_Time = 1:14.070

|Fast_Driver = Michael Schumacher

|Fast_Country = Germany

|Fast_Team = Ferrari

|Fast_Time = 1:16.357

|Fast_Lap = 17

|First_Driver = Michael Schumacher

|First_Country = Germany

|First_Team = Ferrari

|Second_Driver = Felipe Massa

|Second_Country= Brazil

|Second_Team = Ferrari

|Third_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen

|Third_Country = Finland

|Third_Team = McLaren-Mercedes

|Lapchart = {{F1Laps2006|GER}}

}}File:Formel1 Rennwagen 'RedBul-Racing' Hockenheim 2006 001.JPG qualified in the top ten in Red Bull Racing's second season of Formula One.]]

The 2006 German Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 Grosser Mobil 1 Preis von Deutschland 2006){{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/race/circuitdetail/762.html|title=German|website=Formula1.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020085322/http://www.formula1.com/race/circuitdetail/762.html|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=20 October 2006}} was a Formula One motor race held at the Hockenheimring on 30 July 2006. The 67-lap race was the twelfth round of the 2006 Formula One season and was won by Michael Schumacher. The Grand Prix weekend got off to a controversial start when the mass damper system fitted by Renault was deemed legal by the FIA appointed stewards, despite the FIA banning the use of these devices. The FIA appealed against the steward's decision, Renault withdrew the system after Friday practice to avoid further sanctions.

Kimi Räikkönen took pole position, it proved artificial as McLaren had inadvertently not put enough fuel as intended in his car before qualifying. In the race, Räikkönen's early pitstop left him unable to challenge at the front, and the way was left clear for Ferrari to score a dominant one-two. Perhaps due to the damper issue, Renault were not competitive; it was the first time in {{F1|2006}} that neither of their cars finished the race on the podium.

Sakon Yamamoto made his Formula One début at the Grand Prix, starting from pit lane after changing chassis after the qualifying session. He was not the only one to suffer changes after qualifying, as Jarno Trulli and Christijan Albers both had to change engines, incurring ten-place penalties. A nightmare weekend for Albers was summed up with his disqualification, along with team-mate Tiago Monteiro, as the Midlands were disqualified after the race for having illegally flexing rear wings.{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2006/7/4730.html |title=Midlands disqualified over rear-wing flex |date=30 June 2006 |work=formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Administration |access-date=9 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828183342/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2006/7/4730.html |archive-date=28 August 2008 }} The race also saw the last appearance by {{f1|1997}} champion Jacques Villeneuve, who blamed the split on the "lack of assurances about his short-term future with BMW Sauber".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5243540.stm|title=Villeneuve parts company with BMW|work=BBC Sport|date=7 August 2006|access-date=3 April 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17285.html|title=Au revoir Jacques|publisher=GrandPrix.com|date=7 August 2006|access-date=21 August 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060831104458/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17285.html| archive-date= 31 August 2006 | url-status= live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17241.html |title=Kubica replaces Villeneuve |publisher=GrandPrix.com |date=1 August 2006 |access-date=21 August 2006 }} Robert Kubica was promoted internally at BMW to drive at the Hungaroring because Villeneuve was still recovering from the after-effects of his crash in Germany, and went on to race in all the remaining Grands Prix.