Schumacher vs Alonso 2006: the Kaiser's last dance
Schumacher's last full season was total war against double champion Alonso. Who was better?
The simulation's verdict
Michael Schumacher would have won the 2006 title in 53% of the 200 simulations.
Michael Schumacher
Fernando Alonso
Who finished ahead
Based on 200 simulations of the 2006 season. Numbers can vary each time you play.
Historical context
In 2006 Schumacher and Alonso staged one of the most intense duels of the modern era. Both won 7 races each. The final victory went to Alonso with the Renault, after Schumacher's engine failure in Japan. Without that retirement, it could have ended differently.
The real 2006 season
The 2006 season delivered Michael Schumacher's last great duel before his first retirement, a thrilling head-to-head with Fernando Alonso that ran to the end of the year. Both won exactly seven races in a fight of the very highest level. The Kaiser, with an ever-improving Ferrari, produced a memorable comeback in the second half of the season and drew level in the battle. The turning point was Japan: while leading the race, with the championship seemingly tilting his way, his engine — bulletproof for years — expired unexpectedly. Alonso seized the gift and sealed his second consecutive world title in Brazil, confirming himself as the great heir. Soon after, Schumacher retired for the first time, closing an unrepeatable chapter of the sport.
Real champion: Fernando Alonso in the Renault R26. Schumacher's engine explodes in Japan — the turning point that cost him an eighth title. See the full 2006 season →
The drivers
Michael Schumacher redefined what it meant to be a professional Formula 1 driver. He debuted in 1991 with Jordan at Spa and left everyone stunned; barely a race later he was at Benetton. Full profile →
Fernando Alonso is the most decorated Spanish driver in history and, for many, one of the most complete ever. The Asturian from Oviedo broke the Ferrari-Schumacher stranglehold with Renault, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 and becoming the youngest champion in history at the time. What cemented his legend was not only those titles but his knack for wringing more from cars than they should give. Full profile →
How it's simulated
The engine recreates qualifying (Q1, Q2, Q3) and every Grand Prix with the ~20 real drivers of 2006, weighing each car's performance, driver skill, weather, safety cars and tyre wear. Learn how the simulator works →
Season
2006
Mode
Free duel
Tags
Choose driver, car and season. The engine simulates the full championship with real drivers.