2005 Chinese Grand Prix


The 2005 Chinese Grand Prix was the nineteenth and final Formula One motor race of the 2005 Formula One season which took place on 16 October 2005 at the Shanghai International Circuit. This was the second Chinese Grand Prix to be held since the event's 2004 inception. The race was won by the new World Champion, Renault's Fernando Alonso. McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen was four seconds behind in second position, a reflection of their season long duel for the championship. Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher was third. Renault won the Constructors' Championship at this race; they had led McLaren by two points before the start of the race. This was the final race for Antônio Pizzonia, the Minardi and Jordan teams, although both teams continued into 2006 under different names. This was also the last win for a car equipped with a 6-speed gearbox and with a V10 engine.

Race

During warmup, as the cars ran from the pits to line up on the grid, a slow-moving Michael Schumacher pulled left into the path of Christijan Albers who was at speed. The cars collided causing considerable damage to each, earning Schumacher a reprimand from the stewards after the race. Both drivers changed to their teams' spare cars and started the race from the pitlane, along with Narain Karthikeyan. Alonso dominated the race, taking a lights-to-flag victory, capping a best ever season for Renault which included victories in both titles. Renault's number two driver Giancarlo Fisichella's chances of making the podium ended when he received a drive-through penalty for obstructive driving in the pits during the second safety car period. He ended the race less than a second behind Ralf Schumacher. Red Bull Racing's Christian Klien had a career best drive to take fifth position with Felipe Massa, Mark Webber and Jenson Button completing the point scoring finishers. Räikkönen recorded the race's fastest lap, a record equalling tenth for the season.

Classification

Qualifying

Qualifying took place on October 15.
in the Renault.

Race

† Michael Schumacher, Narain Karthikeyan and Christijan Albers started from the pit lane.

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings
;Constructors' Championship standings