By Nick Sparkes
March 19 2006

It was all smiles at Renault as Giancarlo Fisichella took a lights to flag victory, followed home by teammate Alonso. Jenson Button put in a brave drive to take his first podium of the season in third. For Toyota there was relief, as Ralf Schumacher brought home the first point of the season. Before the race started 8 teams had filed a complaint against Ferrari over their flexi front wings, this comes a week after Renault brought the FIA in to inspect the rear wing of the Ferrari 248. As it stands the FIA have not penalised or disqualified either of the two Ferrari’s.

When the lights went out Giancarlo Fisichella lead away the field of 22 cars, and would remain in this position until the chequered flag. Behind, Fernando Alonso would make an electric start going from eighth to third by turn 2; he would later jump Jenson Button during the final round of pit stops.

Williams looked odds on for another good points finish, until Nico Rosberg’s Cosworth engine gave up the ghost a couple of laps into the race, then for the sister Williams of Mark Webber to suffer the same problem just after his first pit stop.

For Toyota Jarno Trulli didn’t get off to a good start, being hit up the rear into turn 2 on the opening lap, damaging the Toyota’s diffuser. Jarno struggled throughout the rest of the race, but luckily brought the Toyota home, although be it, one place out of the points.

Ralf’s race was a different story, starting right at the back he made up ten places on the opening lap, and then just before his first of three pit stops had closed up to within 5 seconds of Jarno. Ralf would end up setting the sixth fastest lap of the race, in a car which could barely mix it with the midfield in Bahrain. At the chequered flag Ralf brought home a single point, which gives everybody a big lift at Toyota, after their embarrassing run one week ago.