On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
20 years ago, Alonso claimed his second F1 title as Schumacher bowed out from the world championship
On October 22, 2006, Fernando Alonso claimed the Formula 1 world title in Brazil, overtaking the seven-time champion Michael Schumacher in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Schumacher had retired earlier in the race due to engine failure, leaving Alonso with a clear lead. The race became chaotic, with Schumacher struggling to recover from a fuel pressure problem during qualifying.
Despite starting from 10th, he managed to climb to seventh place and pressured Alonso's rivals, including Ferrari's Felipe Massa. Alonso's Renault team secured a "fantastic way" to conclude his time with the team, fulfilling his dream of joining McLaren in 2007. Schumacher, reflecting on his career, expressed relief at not returning to Ferrari and instead joining Mercedes for a three-year stint from 2010 to 2012.
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