Kimi Raikkonen Wins 2005 Hungarian GP

Michael Schumacher secured his first pole of the season but it was Kimi Raikkonen that won today’s Grand Prix of Hungary. Michael and Kimi were in contention from the start and their most likely challengers were struck down with problems not of their own making.

Points-leader Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello made contact on the first lap and both had to pit for repairs. Although the damage was not severe they were both out of the running from this point on and would eventually finish out of the points in 11th and 10th places respectively.

Unfortunately for Red Bull Racing David Coulthard ran over a part of the Renault’s broken front wing and suffered a suspension failure which put him out of the race. This happened just seconds after their other driver Christian Klien touched wheels with Jacques Villeneuve’s Sauber and cart-wheeled off of the track making it a very short race for the team with “Wiiings”.

After 40 laps front-runner Juan Pablo Montoya slowed with what turned out to be a broken driveshaft as McLaren’s reliability problems continued and the race wound down as the leaders drove home.

Complete GP of Hungary results.

Posted: Sunday, July 31st, 2005

Fernando Alonso Wins 2005 German GP

Fernando Alonso had to resort to counting on both hands after he won the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim today, his sixth win of the year. He now has a 36 point lead in the championship with only 70 points (seven races) up for grabs and so he can be considered a definite favourite for this year’s title.

For the third race in a row McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen had mechanical trouble but this time it was in the race itself and not in qualifying. Starting from pole position Raikkonen had pulled away from Alonso and looked in good shape until his car suffered a sudden hydraulic failure and slewed to a halt on the track just past the midway point of the race. From that point on Alonso’s lead was not contested and he coasted to the end of the race.

Juan Pablo Montoya had the drive of the year — starting dead last after a last-corner spin and crash in qualifying he drove through the pack and took advantage of pit stops to finish a comfortable second. You might wonder where he would have finished if not for his accident but without that he would not have started with full tanks and a new engine so it is a moot point.

Jenson Button was a strong third followed by Giancarlo Fisichella, Michael and Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard and Felipe Massa.

Complete GP of Germany results.

Posted: Sunday, July 24th, 2005

And Jordan Makes Three!

The Jordan Formula 1 team has become the third to agree to an extension of the Concorde Agreement through 2012. Jordan was purchased by Midland F1 earlier this year and will be renamed next season.

Jordan joins Ferrari and Red Bull Racing in agreeing to an extension of the F1 commercial rights deal which is set to expire after the 2007 season. The “group of five” — BMW (purchasing Sauber), DaimlerChrysler (partnered with McLaren), Honda, Renault and Toyota — are not likely to flinch yet which leaves Minardi and Williams as the ones to watch as the bandwagon starts to pick up speed.

Posted: Wednesday, July 20th, 2005

Red Bull Joins Ferrari on the Dark Side

Red Bull Racing joined Ferrari and agreed to an extension of the Concorde Agreement through 2012 today. Amongst other things the agreement governs how much of the revenue from Formula 1 is distributed to the teams by Bernie Ecclestone and his Formula One Administration company.

Originally all of the F1 teams had refused to sign an extension and had formed a company to establish a competing Grand Prix series after the current agreement expires following the 2007 season. At issue is the fact that all of the teams share around 25% of the pot while Ecclestone has become a multi-billionaire in the 25 years that he has been running F1.

In January Ferrari came to terms with Ecclestone and became the first — and until now the only — team to agree to an extension of the agreement. Under the terms of the current agreement, Ferrari receives more than the other teams and so this was not entirely unexpected.

Red Bull Racing, who only entered F1 at the start of this year when they purchased and renamed the Jaguar F1 team, will be using Ferrari engines next season and so their defection was also fairly predictable.

It will be interesting to see who jumps ship next. The remaining five manufacturers behind the proposed breakaway series — BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Renault and Toyota — are all major corporations that have the funds to play hardball with Ecclestone but the deal must be looking sweeter by the day to some of the smaller teams.

Posted: Monday, July 18th, 2005

Juan Pablo Montoya Wins 2005 British GP

Fernando Alonso may have qualified his Renault on the pole yesterday but today’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone was Juan Pablo Montoya all the way. Starting from third place thanks to the increased power of his McLaren’s new spec Mercedes engine he had passed Alonso and home favourite Jenson Button by the first corner and from that point on he only gave up the lead briefly during his pit stops. This was his first win — or podium — since joining McLaren at the start of the year and his fifth overall.

Alonso finished a close second having trailed Montoya for most of the race but he could never quite beat him out of the pits and, as current points leader, he had too much to lose to take any serious risks. Montoya, on the other hand, had everything to gain and nothing to lose and he drove a perfect race.

Kimi Raikkonen was third after starting 12th having suffered a 10 grid-position penalty for the second straight week due to having to have his engine changed after it suffered a hydraulic failure yesterday. As he ruefully agreed with Peter Windsor at the post-race press conference, things might have been very different if he had started from the front row where he originally qualified.

Giancarlo Fisichella was fourth but lost an almost certain podium finish when he stalled his Renault as he left his pit after his second stop. This is the second race in a row that he has done this and he cannot be very popular with Flavio Briatore, his team manager, right now.

British favourite Jenson Button was fifth after a strong drive for BAR. Although not especially happy with the result he did the best he could to keep up with the McLarens and Renaults which have been the cars to beat this year.

The Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello never challenged the leaders today but they did both finish in the points without any problems other than their lack of pace. After their years of dominance everyone keeps expecting more from Ferrari but with their current performance — or lack of it — it would take a brave man to bet on them keeping their championship winning streak going.

Ralf Schumacher collected the final point for Toyota after having problems with tyre grip on an unexpectedly hot day in the British midlands.

Complete GP of Great Britain results.

Posted: Sunday, July 10th, 2005

Fernando Alonso Wins 2005 French GP

Not as exciting as Canada but at least they all started this week!

Fernando Alonso qualified his Renault on the pole and led from start to finish at today’s French Grand Prix. This is his fifth and Renault’s sixth win of the season and there was a huge contingent from Renault there to cheer him home.

Michelin is based very close to Magny Cours and they must also have been grateful for a victory and such an unevenful race.

Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher rounded out the top three and they were also the only cars that Alonso hadn’t lapped by the end of the race.

Complete GP of France results.

Posted: Sunday, July 3rd, 2005