03/04/2005
NEWS STORY
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The mood, certainly on the grid, prior to today's race, potentially the hottest in F1 history is sombre.
This isn't merely due to the news from Rome, but also the uphill task that a number of teams and drivers are facing.
Rubens Barrichello tries to remain upbeat, despite starting from the back of the grid, following another gearbox failure. The BAR duo is well off the pace and showing no sign of repeating its historic showing in 2004, the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix. Craig Pollock admits that Jacques Villeneuve's Sauber drive could be under threat, while David Coulthard rues one of his worst ever (qualifying) performances.
Unlike a year ago, this would appear to be anyone's race, and despite the fact that Renault has won both of the opening races this year, it would be a brave soul that would dare to predict the outcome of today's race. The F2005 has looked very good, certainly Michael Schumacher's, but the ongoing problems with Rubens' gearbox give cause for concern.
Following it's performance in Toyota it is quite possible that we could see Jarno or Ralf take the Japanese outfit's maiden win. Then again the WilliamsF1 duo looks hungry, while Pedro de le Rosa has every incentive to give the performance of his life. The fact that he's out-qualified teammate Kimi Raikkonen is a very good start.
As the field prepares to head off on the formation lap, the air temperature is 42 degrees C, while track temperature is an equally oppressive 55 degrees.
The Renault crew removes Alonso's tyre warmers at the last possible moment, however there's a problem further back, Christian Klien appears to have a problem. Consequently the filed heads off on the warm up lap leaving the Austrian stranded, his superb qualifying effort now counting for nought. The Red Bull is pushed back into the pitlane where the mechanics work frantically - the only speed F1 mechanics know.
The grid forms, the show is about to begin.
They're away and Michael heads across the track to slot in behind Alonso, who makes a typical Renault start. Trulli appears to have the edge on Schumacher at the first corner, but the German firmly slams the door. No way!.
There's plenty of action further back as one of the Minardis hits Coulthard who makes a dreadful start.
At the end of lap one Alonso leads Schumacher by 0.3s with Trulli third ahead of Webber, Heidfeld, Ralf, Raikkonen, Fisichella, de la Rosa and Button.
It looks as though it was Albers who hit Coulthard, the Dutchman appears to be the first retirement of the day.
Fisichella is struggling, he has no pace and furthermore there appears to be smoke coming out of the back of his car.
There are some titanic battles going on, Schumacher is all over Alonso, while Heidfeld Ralf and Raikkonen in hot pursuit. Elsewhere, Barrichello is up to eleventh.
Christian Klien has retired, and it isn't long before he's joined by Karthikeyan who also appears to have a terminal problem. Fisichella drives into the pits… but then continues and returns to the track without stopping.
After 3 laps we have Alonso leading Schumacher by 0.8s, with three retirements.
Michael posts a new fastest lap (1:33.134), as he extends his lead over Trulli to 1.6s. Raikkonen has lost ground to Ralf, who continues to close in on Heidfeld.
Pedro de la Rosa is all over Sato, the Spaniard making a poor start losing several places. Meanwhile Fisichella has returned to the pits, where he stops. It's a terminal problem, his race is over.
Another fastest lap from Schumacher (1:32.932) as he shadows Alonso, who is 0.8s up the road. Trulli is third ahead of Webber, Heidfeld, Ralf, Raikkonen, Sato, de la Rosa and Barrichello. Button is eleventh, ahead of Massa, Villeneuve, Coulthard, Monteiro, Friesacher and Albers, who is back in action again.
The best battle right now features Heidfeld, who having lost out to Ralf Schumacher having out-braked himself, is now under pressure from Raikkonen. A rather ragged drive from the German today.
After 9 laps, Alonso still leads Michael by 0.6s. Further back de la Rosa is all over Sato while Rubens Barrichello is also closing in.
This is a masterful performance from Alonso, he is really soaking up the pressure that Schumacher is exerting. Raikkonen continues to shadow Heidfeld, while Sato (eighth), de la Rosa and Barrichello are running nose-to-tail.
Schumacher appears to have a problem, the German goes off at Turn 10/11, he rejoins the track but the car appears slow. He has lost a number of positions. At the end of the lap he returns to his pit, and drives straight back into his garage - his first technical retirement since Hockenheim 2001.
Therefore, after 13 laps, Alonso leads Trulli by 2.7s with Webber third ahead of Ralf, Heidfeld, Raikkonen, Sato, de la Rosa, Barrichello and Button.
Alonso posts a new fastest lap (1:32.418) as he gains half-a-second on Trulli. Elsewhere, Raikkonen continues to hound Heidfeld, while Button joins the end of the Sato-de la Rosa-Barrichello 'train'.
Trulli is lapping slightly quicker than Alonso, while Webber, Ralf, Heidfeld and Raikkonen are running almost a second a lap slower.
At this stage, the quickest man through the speed-trap is Kimi Raikkonen (206 mph), but he's unable to make an impression on Heidfeld.
Alonso goes quickest in the first sector and again in the second, crossing the line at 1:31.994 to post a new fastest lap.
Meanwhile, at the end of lap 18, Ralf Schumacher is the first driver to make a scheduled pit stop. Friesacher also pits.
Another fastest lap for Alonso (1:31.972) as he applies the pressure, extending his lead to 3.9s.
The Spaniard is remorseless, he's about to post yet another fastest lap. That said, he pulls off into the pits as de la Rosa attempts a move on Sato, but fails.
Alonso returns to the track ahead of Heidfeld as de la Rosa gets it all wrong and goes too deep and off losing several places as a consequence.
Next time around (lap 21), Trulli pits, which gives an idea of how the Toyota compares to the Renault. Webber also pits, which hands the lead back to Alonso.
After 22 laps, Alonso leads Heidfeld, but the German is one of many who has yet to stop. Raikkonen is third ahead of Trulli, Sato, Barrichello and Button. Massa makes his first stop of the day, many had predicted that he might be on a one-stop strategy.
Heidfeld pits at the end of lap 23, as does de la Rosa, who has slipped down to eighth as a result of that mistake.
At the end of lap 24 it's Raikkonen that pits, as does Button. Alonso now leads Trulli with Sato third ahead of Barrichello, though both have yet to stop. The Brazilian gets it all wrong at Turn 10, and for a moment it looks as though he's going to join his teammate, however it's a false alarm. At the end of lap 25 the Brazilian pits as do Sato and Villeneuve.
There's smoke pouring out of the back of Heidfeld's WilliamsF1, clearly the BMW isn't as reliable as the Bavarian manufacturer would have us believe. The German pulls over to the side of the track, his race over.
Out front, Alonso leads Trulli by 5.1s, with Webber third (20.3s down the road) ahead of Raikkonen and Ralf. Meanwhile, DC makes his first stop of the day, the last driver to do so.
At the end of lap 27, Sato pits again, his second of the day, so clearly he too has a problem. The Japanese driver parks his car, another black day for the Brackley outfit.
The only real battle right now is for seventh, where a clearly struggling Button is having great difficulty holding off Pedro de la Rosa.
Raikkonen is lapping around half-a-second faster than Webber, the Australian currently has a 2s advantage, but not for long at this rate. Out front, Alonso continues to lap at half-a-second quicker than Trulli.
The Finn posts a personal best (1:32.909) as he closes to within 1.7s of Webber.
After 32 laps it's Alonso ahead of Trulli, Webber, Raikkonen, Ralf, Barrichello, de la Rosa and Button. The Spaniard finally making a move on the Englishman that sticks. Massa is ninth ahead of teammate Villeneuve.
Now running in 'clear air', de la Rosa looks set to up his pace, he goes quickest in sector one. Meanwhile Webber gets it really wrong at Turn 9, he has a big, big off that cost him 11 seconds and 2 places, which is great news fro Raikkonen and Ralf Schumacher.
Back to Pedro de la Rosa, and the Spaniard is all over Barrichello, who is 7.4s behind Webber. The end result looks inevitable, the McLaren is all over the back of the Ferrari.
Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen has had a big off but is able to continue.
Out front, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (1:31.840) just to let us know that he's still there.
De la Rosa has another off, this time at the first corner, which gives Rubens some much-needed breathing space.
After 38 laps, Alonso leads Trulli by 12.6s, with Raikkonen third ahead of Raikkonen, Ralf, Webber, Barrichello, de la Rosa, Button, Massa and Villeneuve.
At the end of lap 40 Alonso makes his final pit stop, as does Monteiro. Back on track, de la Rosa has re-caught Barrichello and after his previous mishap gets it right and nails the Ferrari driver.
As the Spaniard goes quickest in sector one, Jarno Trulli makes his final stop. Webber pits as does Ralf Schumacher.
Rubens is really struggling now, he's under pressure from Button. It looks as though the Bridgestones have no grip, after all the BAR is hardly the best car out there.
A 1:31.447 sees de la Rosa go quickest, a great lap, if he can just keep it on the black stuff. Next time around the Spaniard pits, as does Villeneuve.
Ralf makes a mistake losing time but he still looks good for fourth, with Button and Barrichello - who are ahead of him - still to make their second stops.
At the end of lap 46, Button pits as does Barrichello. There's a problem for the BAR, Jenson stalls and the engineers have major problems getting him going. If he didn't have bad luck, Jenson would have no luck at all. After what seems like a lifetime he finals away, however just a hundred or so yards later he stops. Another dreadful day for BAR, and surely another outburst coming up from JB.
Elsewhere, de la Rosa is all over Webber, who is only 5.4s behind Ralf.
The Australian and the Spaniard enjoy a tremendous scrap, the McLaren driver making the WilliamsF1 man very much aware of his presence. This of course is good news for Ralf who now has a 7.6s advantage.
With 50 laps completed, Alonso leads Trulli by 12.6s, with Raikkonen third ahead of Ralf, Webber, de la Rosa, Barrichello, Massa, Villeneuve and Coulthard.
That said, Massa gets past Barrichello to take seventh, 2 possible points for the Swiss team in its 200th race. It's unlikely that Villeneuve is going to be adding to his team's tally today, he has Coulthard all over him.
To add to Ferrari's pain, Alonso laps Barrichello.
The battle between Webber and de la Rosa continues, it really is fast and furious, with neither driver giving an inch.
A mistake by Jacques Villeneuve allows Coulthard through, the Scot immediately sets off after the hapless Barrichello.
Meanwhile, de la Rosa has finally got by Webber, and deservedly so, a great performance from the Spaniard.
Villeneuve has pitted and retired, perhaps his 'off' wasn't a mistake but a technical problem, most likely his brakes.
Coulthard continues to hound Barrichello, the Scot determined to take the last point, which he does passing the Brazilian on the final lap.
Fernando takes the chequered flag and continues on his historic journey, historic in the sense that he could well become the youngest champion in F1 history. His engineer Rod Nelson comes on the radio, "we crushed 'em" he says, and so they did.
This was a masterful performance not just from Alonso, who as we said earlier, was remorseless today, but also for Renault. Although Red Bull likes to portray itself as the fun team, the French outfit leads the way, though in an understated fashion, witness the fact that the team actually began the weekend with an April Fool gag.
Another brilliant performance from Jarno Trulli and Toyota, as the Japanese manufacturer marches on toward its first win, which surely can't be too long in coming.
Kimi Raikkonen looked far from happy on the podium but in all honest this was the best he could hope for, the Renaults and, to a certain extent, the Toyotas are better cars.
Ralf gave a strong performance and will surely rue his mistake in yesterday's qualifying session. But for that, he could have been battling with his teammate.
Pedro de la Rosa was utterly remarkable, and surely gave the performance of the day. We all remember that it was 2002 when he last raced, however others might remember that awful day at Spa Francorchamps in 2001. A few silly mistakes, but a great drive nonetheless.
Webber will be kicking himself, but in all honesty he was one of several drivers to make silly mistakes today so he shouldn't feel that bad. That said, it is unusual for a BMW engine to fail, especially at a time when Mario Theissen is reminding everyone that Nick Heidfeld was the only driver starting with an engine that has already faced the heat of Malaysia.
DC and Red Bull will be happy with a consolation point, though we have to wonder what would have happened if Klien hadn't suffered problems at the start.
As for the rest, well for Ferrari and BAR it was another day to forget, and both teams, like their rivals, will be working flat out ahead of San Marino.
Some really great moments today, lots of driver errors and a few great battles, especially de la Rosa and Webber.
The teams now head to Barcelona for a mammoth test, but for now simply appreciate the talent of Fernando and Renault, a truly great performance.
As Rod Nelson said, they crushed 'em!