Fernando Alonso Wins 2005 European GP

Much to the delight of his local fans and the BMW WilliamsF1 team, Nick Heidfeld secured his first ever Formula One pole position on home soil at the Nurburgring today.

However, once the European Grand Prix got under way it began to look a lot like business as usual, or at least this season’s version of it. Kimi Raikkonen, winner of the last two races, dominated but could not make it three wins in a row and, in fact, barely managed to even finish in 11th place after his front suspension collapsed while he was leading the last lap. He had flat-spotted his tyre earlier snd it had literally shaken the car apart as the race wore on. Fernando Alonso, who had won the previous four races, inherited the win and extended his and Renault’s championship points lead even further over Raikkonen and McLaren.

Heidfeld held on for second and Rubens Barrichello finished third in the resurgent Ferrari. Something for the other teams to consider is that Micheal Schumacher finished fifth in the second Ferrari — the team’s best finish this year — and it looks like Bridgestone may have finally figured out their tyre problems.

Complete GP of Europe results.

Posted: Sunday, May 29th, 2005

F1 Qualifying Changes

It was announced today that, beginning with this weekend’s European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in Germany, Formula One qualifying will change from two sessions back to one. This follows ongoing criticism from fans and broadcasters alike of the two-day qualifying process used in the first six races of this season.

The new process — which is similar to last year’s — will revert to each car running a single hot lap on Saturday to qualify for the following day’s race. The cars will go out to qualify in reverse order of their finishing position in the previous race.

Posted: Monday, May 23rd, 2005

Kimi Raikkonen Wins 2005 Monaco GP

Kimi Raikkonen dominated the Monaco Grand Prix today, leading from start to finish and putting in hot laps one after another to build up enough of a gap to pit without losing the lead that would have made Michael Schumacher proud.

The pole sitter is always in good shape in Monte Carlo as overtaking is almost impossible on most of the circuit but this makes two wins and three poles in a row for Raikkonen’s McLaren which makes him the force to be reckoned with at this point in the season.

Teammates Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber finished second and third for Williams and Renault’s Fernando Alonso ended his season-long run of podium finishes — but only just — by finishing in fourth place.

In complete contrast to their domination in recent years this was the first race of the season where both Ferraris managed to finish… and both of them in the points no less!

Complete GP of Monaco results.

Posted: Sunday, May 22nd, 2005

Kimi Raikkonen Wins 2005 Spanish GP

Kimi Raikkonen followed up his pole in San Marino with both the pole and the win in today’s Spanish Grand Prix. His win for McLaren Mercedes was the first victory for any team apart from Renault this year but Renault need not be too disappointed as local hero Fernando Alonso finished second and continued his season-long streak of podium finishes.

Complete GP of Spain results.

Posted: Sunday, May 8th, 2005

2005 San Marino GP - Revised Final Positions

A week and a half has passed since the Grand Prix of San Marino and here, finally, are the official results.

Thanks to the exclusion of the two BAR Hondas and the time penalty awarded to Ralf Schumacher for dangerous driving in the pit lane, Vitantonio Liuzzi moves up to eighth and scores a championship point in his first race.

Alexander Wurz, subbing for the injured Juan Pablo Montoya, finished fourth but is moved up to third and a podium finish in his first Grand Prix start in several years.

Complete GP of San Marino results.

Posted: Thursday, May 5th, 2005

BAR Banned For Two Races

Following yesterday’s hearing by the Court of Appeal in Paris, BAR learned today that they would be disqualified from last month’s San Marino Grand Prix and banned from the next two events. They were also handed a further six month ban that will be suspended for a year.

This is nowhere near as severe as the season-long ban and million euro penalty that the FIA had asked for but it will still hit them hard as, apart from losing the only points they have scored so far this season, they will also miss the prestigious Monaco GP.

At issue was a “secret” fuel tank inside their main tank which could have held fuel that was used as ballast when the car was weighed after the race when the main tank was pumped dry. By using this fuel during the race the car could have become lighter than the minimum allowed weight and thus have gained an unfair advantage.

There is no proof that they actually did ever run under the minimum weight but they had the ability to and they cannot prove that they didn’t and so they will be penalized.

BAR have complained that they were unfairly treated but “in the interests of the sport” they will not appeal the decision. This may have been a very wise move as the general feeling is that they got off lightly and they might not be so lucky a second time.

Posted: Thursday, May 5th, 2005