Ferrari's Michael Schumacher took his third straight Formula One race by winning the German Grand Prix on Sunday and closed in on points leader and defending champion Fernando Alonso.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher of Germany celebrates after winning the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Hockenheim race track, July 30, 2006. Schumacher won the race ahead of Felipe Massa of Brazil and Kimi Raikkonen of Finland. [Reuters]

Alonso finished fifth in the 67-lap race and had to see his overall lead cut from 17 points to 11, leaving his championship hopes on a knife-edge with six races remaining and barely time to breathe before the next clash in Hungary in a week's time.

Schumacher now has five wins this season, while Alonso has six.

With Felipe Massa coming in second, Ferrari went 1-2 for the second time this season.

Raikkonen finished third in his McLaren-Mercedes, with Jenson Button fourth in a Honda.