2005 Chinese Grand Prix

The 2005 Chinese Grand Prix, formally known as the 2005 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix (II 中石化中国大奖赛 in Chinese) was the nineteenth and final round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, on 16 October 2005.'China 2005: Alonso win gives Renault its title.', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 16/10/2005), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/54068/1/china-2005-alonso-win-gives-renault-its-title, (Accessed 29/01/2020) The race, which was the 750th Grand Prix to be staged, would see Fernando Alonso secure victory, a result which also secured the Constructors Championship for .
Indeed, Renault would end their title winning campaign in fine style, as Alonso led teammate Giancarlo Fisichella to a front-row lockout for the French manufacturer. Kimi Räikkönen would lead the charge for the title from third, with Juan Pablo Montoya fifth, with the Anglo-German squad needing to out-score Renault by two points in the season finale.
Ahead of the race there would be a major revision to the grid, as out-going Champion Michael Schumacher found himself stranded at the side of the circuit, having collided with Christijan Albers. They hence had to start the race from the pitlane in their spare cars, joined by Narain Karthikeyan after he had issues in his .
With the grid somewhat thinned the start would prove fairly tame, as Alonso sprinted into an early lead ahead of Fisichella. The Italian racer would instead work to block Räikkönen's attempts to move into second with an aggressive defence into turn one, while Montoya jumped Jenson Button to claim fourth.
The early stages saw Alonso ease away at the head of the pack, aided by a freshly updated engine and the fact that Fisichella was not pushing too hard. Indeed, Fisichella was instead playing the team game, using his superior straight-line speed to prevent the McLarens from passing without drawing them onto the back of his race leading teammate.
A rather tepid race would develop thereafter, with no changes to the order until Tiago Monteiro ventured into the pits on lap fifteen. However, a lap later and Alonso's sixteen second lead would be wiped out by the Safety Car, which was scrambled after Montoya's McLaren was effectively written off by a loose drain cover.
Montoya's demise made it almost impossible for McLaren to beat Renault in the Constructors Championship, with the entire field pouring into the pits for their first stops. Räikkönen's stop was the longest but he would scramble away still in third behind Fisichella, as Schumacher's ignominious race continued with a race-ending spin under the safety car on cold tyres.
The race resumed with Alonso instantly sprinting into an early lead, quickly building a three second lead as Fisichella again prioritised blocking Räikkönen. As a result, the race quickly developed into a procession once again, until the safety car appeared for a second time nine laps later as Karthikeyan had gone skating off the circuit at turn thirteen and demolished his Jordan in the barriers.
Once again the majority of the field would dive into the pits, although this time Fisichella would drive well below the speed limit in the pits to hold up the rest of the field. This would ultimately result in a drive-through penalty for the #6 Renault, as well as allow Räikkönen to jump him, although the ploy worked to keep Alonso at the head of the safety car train.
Furthermore, several drivers opted against stopping, and so Alonso would take the restart with Ralf Schumacher, Christian Klien and Felipe Massa separating him from Räikkönen. As a result Alonso was able to build a decisive lead, while the Finn had to wait until those three pitted for their final stops to finally move back into second. Fisichella would also filter back into third, only for his drive through penalty to jump him back behind Ralf Schumacher in fourth.
With that the race was run, with Alonso cruising through the final laps to claim victory ahead of Räikkönen. Fisichella ran out of time to get back into podium contention and so had to settle for fourth behind Ralf Schumacher, although that was more than enough for Renault to claim the Constructors Championship. The rest of the points would go to Klien, Massa, Mark Webber and Button.
The Chinese Grand Prix of 2005 would also be notable as the last race for and as constructors, as they became , and respectively in . It would also be the final Grand Prix to be won by a V10 engine, while Räikkönen would match the record for most fastest laps in a single season with ten.
==Background==
Victory for Kimi Räikkönen meant that the Finn closed the gap to Fernando Alonso atop the Championship, although with the Spaniard having already been declared Champion that was little more than a footnote. Behind, Michael Schumacher had moved back ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya in the fight for third, establishing a two point advantage, while Giancarlo Fisichella had closed in on both in fifth. That was the only major fight remaining in the Drivers' Championship heading into the season finale, with Räikkönen already guaranteed second place.
In the Constructors Championship had overturned ' two point lead to claim a two point lead of their own, meaning there would still be a crown to be awarded in China. It would likely be winner takes all in the season finale, with a one-two for either team enough to see them lift the trophy. Behind, had mathematically secured third ahead of , who were likewise set to finish fourth ahead of .
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2005 	 	055 3.0 V10 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2005 	 	055 3.0 V10 	
3 	Jenson Button 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	007 	 	RA005E 3.0 V10 	
4 	Takuma Sato 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	007 	 	RA005E 3.0 V10 	
5 	Fernando Alonso 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R25 	 	RS25E 3.0 V10 	
6 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R25 	 	RS25E 3.0 V10 	
7 	Mark Webber 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW27 	 	P84-5 3.0 V10 	
8 	Antônio Pizzonia 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW27 	 	P84-5 3.0 V10 	
9 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Team McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-20 	 	FO 110R 3.0 V10 	
10 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	Team McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-20 	 	FO 110R 3.0 V10 	
11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C24 	 	05A 3.0 V10 	
12 	Felipe Massa 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C24 	 	05A 3.0 V10 	
14 	David Coulthard 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB1 	 	TJ2005 3.0 V10 	
15 	Christian Klien 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB1 	 	TJ2005 3.0 V10 	
16 	Jarno Trulli 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF105B 	 	RVX-05 3.0 V10 	
17 	Ralf Schumacher 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF105B 	 	RVX-05 3.0 V10 	
18 	Tiago Monteiro 	Jordan Grand Prix 	 	EJ15B 	 	RVX-05 3.0 V10 	
19 	Narain Karthikeyan 	Jordan Grand Prix 	 	EJ15B 	 	RVX-05 3.0 V10 	
20 	Robert Doornbos 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	PS05 	 	TJ2005 3.0 V10 	
21 	Christijan Albers 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	PS05 	 	TJ2005 3.0 V10 	
Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only
35 	Pedro de la Rosa 	Team McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-20 	 	FO 110R 3.0 V10 	
37 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB1 	 	TJ2005 3.0 V10 	
38 	Ricardo Zonta 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF105 	 	RVX-05 3.0 V10 	
39 	Nicolas Kiesa 	Jordan Grand Prix 	 	EJ15B 	 	RVX-05 3.0 V10 	
40 	Robert Kubica 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	PS05 	 	TJ2005 3.0 V10 	
Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)
* Robert Kubica was supposed to be Minardi's third driver, but was denied a superlicence.https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/no-minardi-drive-for-kubica-in-china-5327114/5327114/
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1 Report===
===Q2 Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	5 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:34.080 	— 	208.584 km/h
2 	6 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:34.401 	+0.321s 	207.875 km/h
3 	9 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:34.448 	+0.368s 	207.771 km/h
4 	3 	Jenson Button 	 	1:34.801 	+0.721s 	206.998 km/h
5 	10 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:35.188 	+1.108s 	206.156 km/h
6 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:35.301 	+1.221s 	205.912 km/h
7 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	1:35.428 	+1.348s 	205.638 km/h
8 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:35.610 	+1.530s 	205.246 km/h
9 	17 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:35.723 	+1.643s 	205.004 km/h
10 	7 	Mark Webber 	 	1:35.739 	+1.659s 	204.970 km/h
11 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:35.898 	+1.818s 	204.630 km/h
12 	16 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:36.044 	+1.964s 	204.319 km/h
13 	8 	Antônio Pizzonia 	 	1:36.445 	+2.365s 	203.469 km/h
14 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	1:36.472 	+2.392s 	203.412 km/h
15 	19 	Narain Karthikeyan 	 	1:36.707 	+2.627s 	202.918 km/h
16 	11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:36.788 	+2.708s 	202.748 km/h
17 	4 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:37.083 	+3.003s 	202.132 km/h
18 	21 	Christijan Albers 	 	1:39.105 	+5.025s 	198.008 km/h
19 	18 	Tiago Monteiro 	 	1:39.233 	+5.153s 	197.753 km/h
20 	20 	Robert Doornbos 	 	1:39.460 	+5.380s 	197.301 km/h
Source:'2005 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2005/races/789/china/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/01/2020)'China 2005: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'2005 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2005/races/789/china/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/01/2020)'China 2005: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'2005 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2005/races/789/china/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/01/2020)'China 2005: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'2005 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2005/races/789/china/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/01/2020)'China 2005: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'2005 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2005/races/789/china/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/01/2020)'China 2005: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'2005 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2005/races/789/china/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/01/2020)'China 2005: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'2005 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2005/races/789/china/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 29/01/2020)'China 2005: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
===Grid===
** Schumacher and Albers would start the race from the pitlane after colliding before the race.
*† Karthikeyan started the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	5 	Fernando Alonso 	 	56 	1:39:53.618 	1 	10
2 	9 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	56 	+4.015s 	3 	8
3 	17 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	56 	+25.376s 	9 	6
4 	6 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	56 	+26.114s 	2 	5
5 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	56 	+31.839s 	14 	4
6 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	56 	+36.400s 	11 	3
7 	7 	Mark Webber 	 	56 	+36.842s 	10 	2
8 	3 	Jenson Button 	 	56 	+41.249s 	4 	1
9 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	56 	+44.247s 	7 	
10 	11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	56 	+59.977s 	16 	
11 	18 	Tiago Monteiro 	 	56 	+1:24.648 	19 	
12 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	56 	+1:32.812 	8 	
13* 	8 	Antônio Pizzonia 	 	55 	Puncture 	13 	
14* 	20 	Robert Doornbos 	 	55 	Fuel pump 	20 	
15 	16 	Jarno Trulli 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	12 	
16* 	21T 	Christijan Albers 	 	50 	Wheel 	18 	
Ret 	4 	Takuma Sato 	 	34 	Gearbox 	17 	
Ret 	19 	Narain Karthikeyan 	 	28 	Accident 	15 	
Ret 	10 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	24 	Engine 	5 	
Ret 	1T 	Michael Schumacher 	 	22 	Spin 	6 	
Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)	Source:'China 2005: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Pizzonia, Doornbos and Albers were still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors Champions.
** This was the french manufacturer's first World Championship title as a constructor.'19. China 2005', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2005/chine.aspx, (Accessed 29/01/2020)
** It was also their seventh as an engine supplier.
* 340th and final Grand Prix start for as a constructor.
* 250th and final race for as a constructor.
* made their 117th and final appearance as a constructor.
* started their 200th Grand Prix as an engine supplier.
* Jenson Button started his 100th race.
* Eighth career victory for Fernando Alonso.
* 25th win for Renault as a constructor.
** Also the 105th win for Renault as an engine supplier.
** Renault registered their 70th podium finish as a constructor.
* Kimi Räikkönen secured his 30th podium finish.
* Räikkönen matched the record for most fastest laps in a single season - 10.
* Pierre Dupasquier the last race as Michelin's motorsport director.
==Standings==
The Chinese Grand Prix brought the FIA Formula One World Championship to an end, with Fernando Alonso declared as Champion with 133 points to his name. That meant he finished the season 21 points clear of Kimi Räikkönen in second, while out-going Champion Michael Schumacher ended the season in third, 71 points off the lead. Juan Pablo Montoya and Giancarlo Fisichella completed the top five, with 24 drivers having scored points across the nineteen Grand Prix.
In the Constructors Championship it was who ended the season as Champions, leaving the season finale with 191 points and eight race wins. hence had to settle for being runners-up, having registered 182 points and ten race wins, suggesting they had in-fact had the faster car. Third, meanwhile, would go to former Champions , the only other car to break the 100 point barrier, as all ten constructors scored points in 2005.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Fernando Alonso 	133 	
2 	Kimi Räikkönen 	112 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	62 	
4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	60 	
5 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	58 	
6 	Ralf Schumacher 	45 	1
7 	Jarno Trulli 	43 	1
8 	Rubens Barrichello 	38 	
9 	Jenson Button 	37 	
10 	Mark Webber 	36 	
11 	Nick Heidfeld 	28 	
12 	David Coulthard 	24 	
13 	Felipe Massa 	11 	1
14 	Jacques Villeneuve 	9 	1
15 	Christian Klien 	9 	3
16 	Tiago Monteiro 	7 	1
17 	Alexander Wurz 	5 	1
18 	Narain Karthikeyan 	5 	1
19 	Christijan Albers 	4 	
20 	Pedro de la Rosa 	4 	
21 	Patrick Friesacher 	3 	
22 	Antônio Pizzonia 	2 	
23 	Takuma Sato 	1 	
24 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	191 	
2 	 	182 	
3 	 	100 	
4 	 	88 	
5 	 	66 	
6 	 	38 	
7 	 	34 	
8 	 	20 	
9 	 	12 	
10 	 	7 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2005 Grands Prix
Category:Chinese Grand Prix