Results from the 2005 German Grand Prix
Fans at Hockenheim hoping for at least a German driver or car to take the chequered flag were dissappointed on both accounts. Local hero Michael Schumacher never looked like a contender despite starting fourth on the grid, but the biggest let down was the retirement on lap 32 of Kim Raikkonen in the Mercedes-McLaren as he was racing away with lead. This handed victory and probably the 2005 championship to his rival Fernando Alonso.
The result couldn't have been better news for the Renault team who, before the race, admitted that the German Grand Prix was likely to be one of their weakest results of the season. With the McLaren's superior pace and pole position, the result looked like a foregone conclusion as Raikkonen raced away to a 17 second lead before retiring. It is the third engine faliure the Finn has suffered in as many races and effectively ends his challenge for the title as Alonso now leads by 36 points with less than half the season remaining.
However, the most impressive display of the day came from Juan Pablo Montoya in the other McLaren. After starting at the back of the grid following his accident in qualifying, the Colombian driver charged up through the field to claim second place. This demonstrates that the McLarens may well have the superior pace to still challenge Renaut for the Constructors'Championship, but with just seven races remaining they have a 22 point difference to overhaul.
Jenson Button earned a well-deserved third place after starting second on the grid. Twenty seconds behind him Giancarlo Fisichella finished just ahead of the struggling Ferrari of Michael Schumacher who was under pressure from brother Ralf in the Toyota. Michael was, at one point, running second but the decision to use soft compound tyres in the pre-race wet weather cost him dearly in the late stages of the race.
David Coultard in the Red Bull and Felipe Massa in the Sauber picked up the last of the points in an otherwise uneventful race which saw only one retirement and two minor altercations. Mark Webber's Williams-BMW suffered mechanical faliure early on while Jacques Villenueve had his customary 'wing-ding', this time involving one of the Minardis. There was also a some bumping fenders at the first corner.
With Raikkonen out of the race, Alonso enjoyed such a dominant lead that the Renault team's pitstop strategies were merely a formality. But a sublime move from Button, overtaking Schumacher two laps before his pit stop, ensured his BAR car had sufficient ground on Ferrari to guarantee the British driver his first podium finish of an otherwise miserable season.
German Grand Prix result:
- Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault one hour 26 minutes 28.599 seconds
- Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes +22.569secs
- Jenson Button (GB) BAR-Honda 24.422
- Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 50.587
- Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 51.690
- Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 52.242
- David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Cosworth 52.700
- Felipe Massa (Brz) Sauber-Petronas 56.570
- Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull-Cosworth 1:09.818
- Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Ferrari 1 lap
- Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Williams-BMW 1 lap
- Takuma Sato (Jpn) BAR-Honda 1 lap
- Christijan Albers (Neds) Minardi-Cosworth 2 laps
- Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 3 laps
- Jacques Villeneuve (Can) Sauber-Petronas 3 laps
- Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) Jordan-Toyota 3 laps
- Tiago Monteiro (Por) Jordan-Toyota 3 laps
- Robert Doornbos (Ned) Minardi-Cosworth 4 laps
NC Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-BMW 12 laps
R Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 32 laps
(Key: R=retired, NC=not classified)
Fastest lap: Raikkonen, one minute 14.873 seconds, lap 24.