16/10/2005
NEWS STORY
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It's impossible not to feel a little sad today, as Formula One prepares to say farewell to a couple of teams and characters.
Over the off-season BAR will quietly morph into Honda, giving Japan its second Formula One team. From the outset the BAR story seemed cursed, from the ludicrous 'tradition of excellence' slogan, through to claims that having won its first race in every series entered, Reynard would continue the 'tradition' in F1 with the Brackley team.
From the outset there has been controversy, from the dual livery through to the fuel tank saga, not to mention the bi-annual Button contract nonsense. With tobacco sponsorship being phased out, British American Tobacco's involvement in F1 could no longer continue, and it was clearly only a matter of time before Honda took control.
When Honda re-entered F1 in 2000, with BAR, it made no secret of the reason why it had returned; "we love racing," said F1 project leader, Takefumi Hosaka, and deep down we all know that it is true. Hopefully the Japanese ethic will kick in and the days of controversy will be left behind.
Jordan will be back in 2006, but will be known as Midland F1. However, rather than being unimaginatively named after a bus company, the Silverstone-based team will represent the combined businesses of Canadian-Russian Alex Shnaider.
Thankfully the yellow will be ditched - along with the Jordan name - and the millions of fans that revered Eddie Jordan's Irish outfit can end the period of mourning. The moment Eddie took the cheque and headed off to do whatever it is that multi-millionaires do, the team effectively ceased to be. Hopefully, with a new name, new livery - which will mean new sponsors - and the 'baggage' ditched, Midland F1 can move on. Though many in the F1 business remain pessimistic as to whether Shnaider will go the distance.
The loss of Minardi will come as a blow to all true F1 fans, for the little team from Faenza represented what many people still love about the sport, passion. In recent years Paul Stoddart has attracted much of the wrong type of publicity to the team, but in all honesty, if he hadn't stepped in a couple of years ago the Minardi dream would have ended even sooner.
We all have time for the underdog, and in F1 that underdog was always Minardi. The renaming of the team as Squadra Toro Rosso seems slightly patronising, but in many ways its good that the Minardi name has been laid to rest and the 'new' outfit can start from scratch. Dietrich Mateschitz has talked of keeping Gian Carlo Minardi on board, and the team will continue to operate out of Faenza, but this is the time to be saying farewell to Minardi, as we know it, a team that, if nothing else, brought so many talented drivers into F1. Looking up and down the pitlane, one wonders where young hopefuls will get their big break now.
Finally, it's goodbye to Sauber, which will become BMW, while team founder, Peter Sauber, heads off to the mountains to enjoy his fine wines and cigars. Like Minardi, Sauber has introduced many talented racers to F1, indeed motorsport, often completely bucking the trend.
Typically Swiss, the team got on with things quietly, never wanting a fuss. When Peter Sauber voted against Jean Todt last year, he was filled with remorse, and publicly apologized. One also remembers Peter's public grief back in 1994 when Karl Wendlinger was injured in Monaco, just two weeks after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger. At this point, who else remembers Norbert Haug, tears in his eyes?
Today we look ahead to what will hopefully be a great fight for the 2005 Constructors' Championship, however, when the Champagne is sprayed and the anthems played, lets give a thought to the names that will be missing in 2006. Bernie Ecclestone, and indeed many within the sport, have made it clear that there is no room for sentiment in Formula One, and perhaps that is true. However, when one looks back through the history books it is names such as Brabham, Lotus, BRM, Cooper, Lotus, Ligier and Matra, that bring a lump to the throat, not the manufacturers that have drifted in to and out of motorsport for as long as one can remember, and will continue to do so.
Well even before the race gets underway, there's controversy, Michael Schumacher and Christijan albers have collided during the pre-race installation laps. A replay shows Michael slowly making his way around the track, possibly with a problem. He slowly moves to the left, possibly to pull off track, but is hit by Christijan Albers, who either didn't see the German or was unaware of the speed difference. It's a fairly heavy impact, with the Minardi going over the top of the Ferrari.
Both drivers make their way back to the pits to get into their T-cars, the recriminations can come later this afternoon. Not the best swansong for Minardi.
As the cars line up on the grid the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 27 degrees. It's sunny, not a cloud in the sky.
Today, isn't about who will win the race, but which team will take the Constructors' title, today will involve teamwork, for both McLaren and Renault will need both drivers to give 100%. Excuses about back-markers and lack of grip will not be tolerated.
The cars head off on the warm-up lap, all except Schumacher and Albers, who will start from the pitlane. There's a lot of smoke coming from the back of Ralf Schumacher's Toyota, but it appears to be some excess oil being burned off rather than a problem. Meanwhile, brother Michael makes his way to the end of the pitlane.
At the end of the warm-up lap, Karthikeyan pits.
Fisichella does a brilliant job of holding off both McLarens, allowing his teammate to head off into the distance. All he has to do now is push it to the limit, and hope that Fisi can fend off the silver cars. The entire field gets away cleanly.
At the end of the first lap, Alonso leads by 2.1s, with Fisichella holding off Raikkonen, Montoya, Button, Coulthard and Barrichello.
Thanks to Fisichella's pace, Raikkonen is 1.3s a lap slower than Alonso. Sato, who started seventeenth, is up to twelfth.
On lap 3, Alonso posts 1:34.749, as he increases his lead to 3.9s. Michael Schumacher is struggling in the spare Ferrari, unable to make a mark on Monteiro.
Bad news for Sato, he's given a 'drive through' penalty for a jump start.
At the end of lap 4, Alonso leads by 5.1s, as Sato drives into the pits to 'serve his time'. Barrichello has fallen 1.9s behind Coulthard, into the clutches of Ralf, who is under pressure from Webber.
Another fastest lap from Alonso (34.685), who is now lapping 1s a lap quicker than Raikkonen (third). Coulthard is all over Button, the Scot really pressurising the Englishman.
Alonso continues to set a blistering pace, reeling off fastest lap after fastest lap, endlessly quickest in every sector.
Lap 7 sees another fastest lap (34.399) from the Spaniard, who now leads his teammate by 7.9s. Over the radio, Alonso is told to try to conserve fuel, which will give him another lap before he needs to pit.
Klien makes a move on Massa, one of the first attempts we've seen this afternoon. They are fighting for eleventh place. Elsewhere, Pizzonia goes a little wide in his pursuit of Klien.
Fisichella is now 9.9s behind his teammate, and 1.1s ahead of Raikkonen, with Montoya a further 0.9s behind. The McLarens appear to be settling in, waiting for the Italian to pit, which should be soon. Then we'll see some really fast laps from the Woking duo.
Sato, who has overtaken several cars following his penalty, is now closing in on Michael Schumacher, who is still 2.8s behind Monteiro.
Lap 11 sees another fastest lap from Alonso (34.168), his pace is remorseless. Elsewhere, both McLarens up their pace, just a little, nonetheless, they remain at least 1s a lap slower than the Spaniard. Indeed, Montoya looks as though he's going to make a move on his own teammate. Imagine if they took one another out… then we'd see Ron cry.
Alonso increases his lead to 14.4s with another fastest lap (34.000), however, Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector. Indeed, both McLaren drivers post their best laps of the race thus far.
Over the radio, Alonso tells the crew that his car is "too pointy", he's told that this will be sorted at the first stop, probably by increasing the pressure in the front tyres.
At the end of lap 15, Monteiro is the first driver to make a legitimate pit stop, which allows Michael to set off after Villeneuve, who is 12.7s up the road.
After the drama of Suzuka, this race is far more processional, with nobody willing to take a risk.
At the end of lap 17, Coulthard pits, as does Trulli. Meanwhile, Alonso goes quickest in the first sector, the Spaniard now 17.5s ahead of his Renault teammate, well on the way to a pit-stop 'window'.
Another fastest lap for Alonso (33.838) on lap 18, as Montoya pits as does Button.
The safety car is brought out, though it's not clear why. Race leader Alonso takes advantage and pits, as do Fisichella and Raikkonen. Barrichello, Ralf, Webber, almost all of the pack pits.
It's understood that Montoya hit a piece of debris at Turn 10, which necessitated a tyre stop. Next time around he has to stop for fuel.
The race might have been wrecked, thanks to the field being bunched up, but Montoya's two stops certainly favours Renault.
Behind the safety car, the order is: Alonso, Fisichella, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Ralf, Webber, Button, Coulthard, Massa and Michael - the only driver not to stop.
Klien is eleventh, ahead of Pizzonia, Villeneuve, Montoya, Trulli, Montero, Sato, Karthikeyan, Doornbos and Albers. There have been no retirements
As the field continues behind the safety car, a replay reveals that Montoya hit a raised drain cover, as McLaren's championship hopes appear to slip down said drain.
Alonso's lead has been negated, however, with Montoya in fourteenth, the Constructors' Championship may have already been won.
As the field continues behind the safety car, marshals attempt to stamp the drain covers down - and this, a sport where the total budget runs into billions.
Meanwhile, Villeneuve goes very wide - behind the safety car. Possibly a tyre pressure problem.
The biggest losers are Button and Coulthard, who are now behind Barrichello, Ralf and Webber.
Another loser is Michael Schumacher who goes off backwards into the gravel as he tried to avoid hitting his 2006 teammate, Felipe Massa. And this is behind the safety car, a sad end to a disappointing year for Ferrari and the seven-time champion.
A replay shows that the German was going very quickly and lost it before he got anywhere near Massa.
It's announced that the safety car will come in at the end of lap 24, which leaves 32 race laps.
Sure enough, the Mercedes peels off into the pits, Alonso sails off into the distance, as Fisichella and Raikkonen have to make their way past a Minardi. Meanwhile, Montoya pits once again, this time he climbs out of the car. It appears to be all over for McLaren, or is it?
In the back of the McLaren garage, the Colombian is far from happy.
Alonso leads by 3.8s, but Raikkonen is all over Fisichella. It would be easy for the Renault drivers to settle for a result and let the Finn win, however, let's hope we get to see the title won in style.
In the McLaren garage the post-mortem continues, but in all honesty Montoya is blameless. "It's a bit sad," he later admits, "it's a real shame."
Alonso, still enjoying a 3.7s lead, has eased off.
Ironically, Montoya's retirement means that Michael Schumacher finishes third in the Drivers' Championship, even though the German had the race from hell.
Back on track, Sato has a bit of a moment at the hairpin.
Karthikeyan has had a big crash, there is debris everywhere. He's out of the car, and clearly fine, but the Jordan is wrecked, a sad end to Jordan's 250 race career.
As the safety car is brought out (again), Alonso pits, as do all the other 'leaders'. Fisichella slows the field as he enters the pits, it will be interesting to see if he's subsequently penalized.
It's still unclear what happened to Karthikeyan but it was a big, big crash, the entire right hand side of the yellow car being ripped off.
Back on track, behind the safety car, Alonso leads Ralf, with Massa third, ahead of Klien, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Barrichello, Sato, Webber and Monteiro. For the first time this afternoon, Raikkonen is ahead of Fisichella. Despite the Italian's best efforts, the pit stops played to the Finn's advantage. Then again, we don't know what the fuel loads are, indeed we doubt if the technical directors have a clue what's happening.. it's one of those afternoons.
Button has passed Monteiro, which would appear to have broken the rules. Time will tell.
At the end of lap 34, the safety car peels off once again.
There are three cars between Alonso and Raikkonen, so once again we should see the Spaniard disappear into the distance.
Sato has a problem, as Webber, Button, Monteiro, Uncle Tom Cobbly all slip by. It's appears that the BAR driver has lost his drive - no pun intended.
Although Ralf is running second, ahead of Massa and Klien, all three still have to pit.
With 36 laps completed, Raikkonen (fifth) is running 6.9s behind race leader Alonso. It appears to be all over, bar the shouting.
Although his track position is somewhat artificial, Ralf is pushing hard, going quickest in the second sector, and posting a personal best time (1:34.392).
Barrichello is under intense pressure from Webber, and it seems inevitable that the struggling Ferrari will succumb. Meanwhile, Raikkonen is now 9.5s behind Alonso.
As Webber climbs all over Barrichello, Button and Coulthard close in.
Alonso clearly isn't settling for a result, he goes quickest in the final sector, his lap time just 0.024s off his previous best.
With 42 laps completed, Alonso leads Ralf by 3.4s, with Massa a further 1.7s behind. Klien is fourth, ahead of Raikkonen, Fisichella, Barrichello and Webber.
A new fastest lap for Christian Klien in the Red Bull, the Austrian posting 1:33.727.
At the end of lap 44, Massa pits as Barrichello gets it all wrong, allowing Webber and Button through. Coulthard also tries to take advantage of the struggling Brazilian but can't make it stick.
As Klien pits (lap 45), Alonso hits back with a new fastest lap (1:33.536). Elsewhere, Coulthard passes Barrichello, who is unable to withstand the pressure any longer.
Massa has rejoined in sixth, ahead of Webber, a strong performance from the Brazilian in Sauber's final race.
Barrichello pits, as Klien rejoins in fifth, ahead of Massa, Webber and Button.
On lap 47, Ralf Schumacher pits, which promotes Raikkonen to second, albeit 13s down on the race leader.
Ralf rejoins in fourth, ahead of Klien, Massa and Webber.
With 8 laps remaining, it's Alonso, ahead of Raikkonen, Fisichella, Ralf, Klien, Massa, Webber, Button, Coulthard and Villeneuve.
Clearly, Raikkonen wants to end the season in style, he goes quickest in the second sector.
The Finn posts a new fastest lap (1:33.313), as the stewards announce that they are investigating Fisichella, possibly for the pit-stop when he appeared to hold up his rivals as his teammate pitted.
Sure enough, the Italian gets a drive through penalty for "obstructive driving during the pit stop". However, probably whilst they argue the toss, his team tell him to stay out on track.
Nonetheless, Alonso's result alone guarantees the title for the French team.
Fisichella posts a personal best (33.803), as Raikkonen closes to within 11.3s of the race leader.
Halfway through the 53rd lap, Fisichella gets the order to serve his penalty. He goes in, does his time, and rejoins in fourth, behind Ralf.
Raikkonen goes quickest in the second sector, as Albers slows down having lost a piece from his car, a wheel nut?
"Ralf is in front of you," the Renault crew tells Fisichella, "go get him!"
Albers pits, but it looks terminal, a sad end to the Faenza team's F1 career.
Another fastest lap from Raikkonen (1:33.255), as Webber climbs all over Massa. The Finn has reduced the deficit to 7.6s. Elsewhere, Trulli pits.
Webber goes wide, which gives Massa some breathing space, meanwhile, Alonso takes the flag and with it Renault takes the 2005 Constructors' Championship.
"We are the Champions," he sings over the radio, "we are the champions", "it was a mega drive," is the response, "brilliant drive."
Just to prove a point, Kimi fires in another fastest lap (1:33.242), a strong performance but today McLaren - putting aside the drain cover - was simply out-classed by the French team. The record books will show Alonso winning the race by just 4s, but had it not been for the two safety car periods it would have been a walkover.
On the lat lap, Pizzonia stops, his WilliamsF1 having suffered a failure of some sort, while one of the Minardis stops at the pitlane entrance.
As Fernando steps out of his car to greet his adoring crew and fans, Flavio Briatore points excitedly to the rear of the car, where flames are leaping from the engine. Unperturbed, the Spaniard gets out, climbs onto the fence, punching the air with delight.
Although much of the race was processional, there were some good moments, and certainly plenty of drama.
Alonso takes the win, and with it 'the double', but due respect to Kimi who, as ever, refused to give in, even though the fight was already lost.
Clever strategy, and a strong performance, saw Ralf Schumacher finish third, ahead of Fisichella, who will rue that pit stop nonsense.
Like Ralf, Klien and Massa opted for a different strategy and it clearly paid off, Klien hopefully doing enough to retain his seat with Red Bull (grown up team as opposed to junior) in 2006, while Massa ends the Sauber story with three precious points.
At the end of the WilliamsF1-BMW 'marriage', Mark Webber adds two more points to the tally, while Button end his one hundredth Grand Prix - one hundred and one really - with a sole point for eight.
At the beginning of the season, when Renault was first to come to the aid of the Pitpass Tsunami appeal, we declared them to be our 2005 Champions. Today they have done the thing for real, we offer the French team our sincerest congratulations.
McLaren will go away to lick its wounds, and no doubt Ron, not to mention Juan Pablo, would love to find the person responsible for that drain cover. However, there should be no regrets, the Woking outfit has been magnificent this season and will surely be one of the real threats in 2006.
Michael Schumacher had an odd race here in 2004, and again here today - perhaps Chinese doesn't agree with him. It was a disappointing race for Ferrari which just about summed up its entire season.
The 2005 Formula One World Championship comes to an end, as does the story of Jordan, Sauber, Minardi and BAR. Along with Paul Stoddart and Peter Sauber, not to mention Fast Eddie, who disappeared some time ago, we say goodbye to Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier, who retires after 34 years in motorsport.
A day of mixed emotions as we ring out the old and ring in the new.
As we look ahead to 2006, a new 2.4 V8 formula - though many of the other rules have yet to be agreed - with new teams, perhaps even an extra team, we salute the champions of 2005, Renault and Fernando Alonso.