2005 F1 season -- Raikkonen scores huge win at Monaco

[Aislabie]

Greetings all, and welcome to my second attempt at running a non-canon series - the 2005 Formula One World Championships
[WIKI PAGE]

There are ten teams, and they are as follows:

British American Racing (This Could Be You)
Starting budget: 90
Drivers: Pedro de la Rosa (20) & Anthony Davidson (20)
Engines: Hyundai (10)
Tyres: Michelin (10)
Remaining budget: 30

Jordan Grand Prix (thor97)
Starting budget: 40
Drivers: Giancarlo Fisichella (30) & Narain Karthikeyan (+15)
Engines: Cosworth (20)
Tyres: Bridgestone (5)
Remaining budget: 0

McLaren Racing Limited (RedEyes504)
Starting Budget: 100
Drivers: Nick Heidfeld (30) & Alexander Wurz (25)
Engines: T.B.C.
Tyres: Michelin (10)
Remaining budget: 35

Minardi F1 Team (Normal32)
Starting budget: 40
Drivers: Felipe Massa (+10) & Patrick Friesacher (5)
Engines: T.B.C.
Tyres: Bridgestone (5)
Remaining budget: 40

Red Bull Racing (Wizzie)
Starting budget: 100
Drivers: Michael Schumacher (50) & Adrian Sutil (+15)
Engines: T.B.C.
Tyres: Michelin (10)
Remaining budget: 55

Renault F1 Team (alg2159)
Starting budget: 100
Drivers: Fernando Alonso (40) & Olivier Panis (25)
Engines: Renault (40)
Tyres: Michelin (10)
Remaining budget: -15

Scuderia Ferrari (Dexter249)
Starting budget: 100
Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen (40) & Jacques Villeneuve (30)
Engines: Ferrari (50)
Tyres: Michelin (10)
Remaining budget: -30

Team China (VACANT)
Starting budget: 50
Drivers: Timo Glock (10) & Andre Couto (+10)
Engines: T.B.C.
Tyres: Bridgestone (5)
Remaining budget: 45

Toyota Racing (Ice1Racing)
Starting budget: 70
Drivers: Ralf Schumacher (35) & Ricardo Zonta (25)
Engines: Toyota (30)
Tyres: Michelin (10)
Remaining budget: -30

Williams F1 Team (andrew)
Starting budget: 70
Drivers: Robert Kubica (10) & Sebastian Vettel (10)
Engines: T.B.C. (20)
Tyres: Michelin (10)
Remaining budget: 20

For those teams who have gone over budget, it isn't the end of the world: most seasons there are some investors who are interested in supporting / buying out a team, and there is also the Constructors Championship prize money. 1st = 100 credits, 2nd = 90 credits >>> 10th = 10 credits. And even if that doesn't add up to enough, you can always get a pay driver or two.

The calendar has also been cut for 2005, which is mostly so that I can get through the seasons faster. This has no aim of being a canon series, just a fun way to pass the time really. Anyway, the calendar:

1. Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
2. Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir)
3. Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo)
4. German Grand Prix (Nurburgring)
5. Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal)
6. United States Grand Prix (Indianapolis)
7. British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
8. Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
9. Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps)
10. Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos)

This new calendar has had fans up in arms - no French GP, no Japanese GP, but a race in Bahrain? Not that Bernie cares, he's busy rolling around in a bed made entirely of cash with his latest long-legged bride.

I think that's everything for now - please feel free to sign up with the following form:

Name: Self-explanatory
Team: Self-explanatory
Preferred Investor: China/Hyundai/Red Bull/None

Drivers Available:

Code: Select all

Christijan Albers --- Pays 15 credits
Fernando Alonso --- Costs 40 credits
Rubens Barrichello --- Costs 35 credits
Zsolt Baummgartner --- Costs 5 credits
Ryan Briscoe --- Costs 15 credits
Gianmaria Bruni --- Costs 15 credits
Jenson Button --- Costs 40 credits
David Coulthard --- Costs 35 credits
Andre Couto --- Pays 10 credits
Anthony Davidson --- Costs 20 credits
Pedro de la Rosa --- Costs 20 credits
Christiano di Matta --- Costs 25 credits
Robert Doornbos --- Pays 5 credits
Giancarlo Fisichella --- Costs 30 credits
Patrick Friesacher --- Costs 5 credits
Marc Gene --- Pays 5 credits
Timo Glock --- Costs 10 credits
Nick Heidfeld --- Costs 30 credits
Narain Karthikeyan --- Pays 15 credits
Nicolas Kiesa --- Costs 5 credits
Christian Klien --- Costs 20 credits
Robert Kubica --- Costs 10 credits
Vitantonio Liuzzi --- Costs 20 credits
Felipe Massa --- Pays 10 credits
Franck Montagny --- Costs 5 credits
Tiago Monteiro --- Pays 5 credits
Juan Pablo Montoya --- Costs 40 credits
Channoch Nissany --- Pays 20 credits
Olivier Panis --- Costs 25 credits
Giorgio Pantano --- Costs 10 credits
Antonio Pizzonia --- Pays 5 credits
Kimi Raikkonen --- Costs 40 credits
Nico Rosberg --- Costs 15 credits
Takuma Sato --- Pays 10 credits
Michael Schumacher --- Costs 50 credits
Ralf Schumacher --- Costs 35 credits
Scott Speed --- Pays 10 credits
Adrian Sutil --- Pays 15 credits
Jarno Trulli --- Costs 35 credits
Sebastian Vettel --- Costs 10 credits
Jacques Villeneuve --- Costs 30 credits
Mark Webber --- Costs 30 credits
Bjorn Wirdheim --- Costs 15 credits
Alexander Wurz --- Costs 25 credits
Sakon Yamamoto --- Pays 20 credits
Ricardo Zonta --- Costs 25 credits

Engines Available:

Code: Select all

BMW --- Costs 40 credits; one available
Cosworth --- Costs 20 credits; unlimited availability
Ferrari (Customer) --- Costs 40 credits; one available; please re-badge
Ferrari (Works) --- Costs 50 credits; Ferrari only
Honda --- Costs 40 credits; one team only
Hyundai --- Costs 10 credits; to Hyundai-backed team only
Mercedes --- Costs 50 credits; one available
Renault --- Costs 40 credits; Renault only
Toyota (Customer) --- Costs 20 credits; one team only
Toyota (Works) --- Costs 30 credits; Toyota only

Tyres Available:

Code: Select all

Bridgestone --- Costs 5 credits
Michelin --- Costs 10 credits

First-come first-serve.

[Dexter249]

Ferrari for me.

[This Could Be You]

UPDATE #3 Format fixed:
BAR-Hyundai
Budget: 80CR
Tyres:
1.Michelin (10CR)

Engine:
1. Hyundai, obviously.(10CR)
2.Cosworth, though this now wont happen (20CR)
Drivers:
1. De la Rosa (20CR)
2. Davidson (20CR)
3. Villeneuve (30CR)
4. Sato (-10CR)
5. Kubica (10CR)
6. Gene (-5CR)

[Normal32]

Minardi for me... nothing else.

[thor97]

I'll Take Jordan

[alg2159]

Renault for me !

[RedEyes504]

I'll take McLaren

[Aislabie]

So that leaves Ford, Sauber, Toyota and Williams still to be picked, and all three investors still sniffing for teams (although a potential BAR-Hyundai link-up is fascinating, and currently unopposed)

[Ice1Racing]

May I take Toyota.

[Aislabie]

Okay, I'll give it until the weekend before I decide to babysit the remaining teams. Ford, Sauber and Williams still have to go.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Name: Wizzie
Team: Sauber
Preferred Investor: Red Bull

We'd also like to make the following bids:

Tyres
Michelin

Engines
Ferrari (Customer, rebadged as Maserati)
Honda
BMW

Driver 1
Michael Schumacher
Fernando Alonso
Nick Heidfeld
Mark Webber

Driver 2
Felipe Massa
Adrian Sutil
Narain Karthikeyan

[alg2159]

Renault Drivers :

Driver 1
Fernando Alonso
Kimi Raïkkonen
Nick Heidfeld

Driver 2
Olivier Panis
Sebastian Vettel
Felipe Massa

Tyres : Michelin

[Dexter249]

Ferrari Drivers :

Driver 1
Kimi Raïkkonen
Nick Heidfeld
Rubens Barrichello
Driver 2
Giancarlo Fisichella
Jacques Villeneuve
Juan Pablo Montoya

[RedEyes504]

McLaren Bids

Driver #1
Nick Heidfeld
Kimi Raikkonen
Ralf Schumacher

Driver #2
Kimi Raikkonen
Ralf Schumacher
Alexander Wurz

[Aislabie]

Name: Wizzie
Team: Sauber
Preferred Investor: Red Bull

We'd also like to make the following bids for drivers:

Driver 1
Fernando Alonso
Nick Heidfeld
Mark Webber

Driver 2
Narain Karthikeyan
Adrian Sutil
Felipe Massa

Renault Drivers :

Driver 1
Fernando Alonso
Kimi Raïkkonen
Nick Heidfeld

Driver 2
Olivier Panis
Sebastian Vettel
Felipe Massa

Ferrari Drivers :

Driver 1
Kimi Raïkkonen
Nick Heidfeld
Rubens Barrichello
Driver 2
Giancarlo Fisichella
Jacques Villeneuve
Juan Pablo Montoya

McLaren Bids

Driver #1
Nick Heidfeld
Kimi Raikkonen
Ralf Schumacher

Driver #2
Kimi Raikkonen
Ralf Schumacher
Alexander Wurz

These are all most welcome, but I'm going to have to ask you to edit them to something more like this:

Team China (Ford)

Tyres

1. Bridgestone

Engines

1. Mercedes
2. Toyota
3. Cosworth

Drivers

1. Andre Couto
2. Patrick Friesacher
3. Timo Glock
4. Anthony Davidson
5. Gianmaria Bruni

It'll just make it easier for me when I come to the RNG. Thank you!

[thor97]

Jordan Bids

Driver #1
Giancarlo Fisichela
HWNSNBM
Tiago Monterio

Driver #2
Narain Karthikeyan
Nick Heidfeld
Timo Glock

Engines
Ford
Toyota

Tyres
Bridgestone

[Aislabie]

It's time for the very first round of RNG - the investors.


Chinese Government
1-90 > Ford agree to relinquish control of the new "Team China"
91-100 > Negotiations fall through and Ford are stuck with an F1 team.

54 - after some tricky negotiations, the short-term future of Team China is secured.


Hyundai
1-90 > BAR leaves Honda's side after four years and joins up with Hyundai.
91-100 > Craig Pollock is terrified of the unknown engines - what if they're Life W12s?

41 - BAR-Hyundai is formed, as Korea makes its first baby steps into F1.


Red Bull Racing
1-90 > Red Bull's financial clout and ambission allows it to take over the team it has controlled for so long.
91-100 > Peter Sauber baulks at the thought of his name being lost to the sport and refuses to sign.

39 - The Swiss team is re-registered as Austrian and becomes Red Bull Racing.

The next RNG post will be somewhat more complex!

Budget Updates
BAR-Hyundai --- 80 credits*
Ferrari --- 100 credits
Jordan --- 40 credits
McLaren --- 100 credits
Minardi --- 40 credits
Red Bull --- 100 credits
Renault --- 100 credits
Team China --- 60 credits^
Toyota --- 70 credits
Williams --- 70 credits

*Includes supply of Hyundai engines
^Includes Andre Couto as a pay driver.

[Normal32]

Driver #1
Felipe Massa
Christijan Albers
Tiago Monteiro

Driver #2
Patrick Friesacher
Tiago Monteiro
Chanoch Nissany

Engine:

BMW
Cosworth

Tyres: Bridgestone

[Aislabie]

I've made a start on the Wiki page, which was easier than I really expected

[Dexter249]

Tires : Michelin

[andrew]

Name: Andrew
Team Williams
Tyre: Michilen
Engine: Toyota customer
Cosworth

Drivers:
Robert kubica
Nick Heidfeld
Felipe Massa
Sebastian Vettel
Nico Rosberg

[Aislabie]

Name: Andrew
Team Williams
Tyre: Michilen
Engine: Toyota customer
Cosworth

Drivers:
Robert kubica
Nick Heidfeld
Felipe Massa
Sebastian Vettel
Nico Rosberg

That's awesome, thanks.

Just waiting for the Toyota bids and then we'll be ready to go!

[Ice1Racing]

Engine - Toyota
Tires - Michelin
Driver 1 - Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli, Jacques Villeneuve
Driver 2 - Ricardo Zonta, Bjorn Wirdheim, Nico Rosberg

[Aislabie]

Driver Allocation RNG

First Preference Drivers

Remarkably, all ten teams requested different drivers for their first preference, so consequently no RNG was needed.

B.A.R. --- Pedro de la Rosa
Ferrari --- Kimi Raikkonen
Jordan --- Giancarlo Fisichella
McLaren --- Nick Heidfeld
Minardi --- Felipe Massa
Red Bull --- Michael Schumacher
Renault --- Fernando Alonso
Team China --- Andre Couto
Toyota --- Ralf Schumacher
Williams --- Robert Kubica

* * * * *

Second Preference Drivers

After already-picked drivers are excluded, there is only one clash: former Red Bull Junior Patrick Friesacher.

Patrick Friesacher
1-50 --- Friesacher goes with an offer from the established Minardi team.
51-100 --- Friesacher sees dollar signs and signs for the new Team China.

35 --- After his agent expresses doubts about the rudderless Team China, Friesacher signs for Minardi.

BAR --- Anthony Davidson
Ferrari --- Jacques Villeneuve
Jordan --- Narain Karthikeyan
McLaren --- Alexander Wurz
Minardi --- Patrick Friesacher
Red Bull --- Adrian Sutil
Renault --- Olivier Panis
Team China --- NONE
Toyota --- Ricardo Zonta
Williams --- Sebastian Vettel

* * * * *

Third Preference Drivers

Only Team China needed another driver, meaning that they could have their pick of the rest of the market.

Team China --- Timo Glock

* * * * *

I hope you're all happy with the process, and with the drivers you received.

Now I think we just need the McLaren engines and we'll be right there.

[andrew]

Kubica and vettel, not a bad lineup, certainly good for a long term plan.

[This Could Be You]

In quite possibly the only instance anyone has said this: De La Rosa and Davidson Yes! (Underdeveloped engine, two development drivers, go figure)

[TomWazzleshaw]

Red Bull --- Michael Schumacher

[Aislabie]

You know what, it's been a week since I asked for McLaren's engines. Let's get things moving.

Engines RNG

First Preference Engines

Once again, there are very few overlaps here. The only one that was picked up by multiple teams as a first preference was Mercedes.

Mercedes
1-80 --- Mercedes continue their fruitful arrangement with McLaren Racing Limited.
81-100 --- They take a huge leap into the unknown and join up with Team China.

59 --- Mercedes stick with the status quo, and link up with McLaren for another year.

B.A.R. --- Hyundai
Ferrari --- Ferrari
Jordan --- Cosworth
McLaren --- Mercedes
Minardi --- BMW
Red Bull --- "Maserati"
Renault --- Renault
Team China --- NONE
Toyota --- Toyota
Williams --- Toyota (C)

Second Preference Engines

Team China is the only team to find itself without an engine, but that is swiftly rectified.

Team China --- Cosworth

[TomWazzleshaw]

Sauber hails "Beginning of New Era"

After the shock decision to sell his eponymous team to energy drink manufacturer Red Bull, Peter Sauber has been highly optimistic about the future of the team. Staying on as a consultant for the new Red Bull Racing squad, Sauber has been highly complementary of the team's efforts over the off-season.

"Red Bull have been highly professional since the start, and even I am slightly amazed by the progress we've made in such a short time," remarked Sauber. "They've signalled their intentions early with signing Michael (Schumacher), and we feel this is a beginning of a new era for our squad. We've already had manufacturers requesting to partner with us for 2006 and beyond, which we are looking at seriously."

Despite the bright outlook of the future, Sauber was more realistic about his aspirations for the season ahead.

"Our immediate goal is to score regular points and podiums to signal that we have arrived on the big stage. I've known Michael for many years, and he is in for the long haul. Neither him or I are expecting to win titles out of the box, but if we provide him a good car, we all know he'll get 110% out of it week in, week out."

When questioned about the signing of Formula 3 Euroseries driver Adrian Sutil in the second car, Sauber defended the signing, stating that the young German is a long-term project for the team.

"Some may argue that we've brought him up too early, but when we ran him in the car during the off-season, he impressed us immensely with his maturity, feedback and consistency. While he may not have the same experience as some of the other rookies, we have our full faith in him for the long haul. With potentially the greatest driver of all time as a teammate and mentor, we fully believe in him and hope to develop him into a very good driver in his own right."

[Aislabie]

2005 will be Schumacher's "new challenge"
Staff reporter

The 2005 Silly Season was far sillier than usual, according to one un-named Team Principal, and it seems hard to disagree with him. This season sees the biggest shake-up Formula One has experienced in decades with illustrious careers apparently ending, World Champions changing teams and entire teams changing hands - and that's before you look at the calendar, which has been slashed from eighteen races last year to just ten this time around.

Firstly though, we must begin with some goodbyes for those drivers who didn't find a place on this year's grid. Rubens Barrichello (2nd), Jenson Button (3rd), Juan Pablo Montoya (5th), Jarno Trulli (6th), Takuma Sato (8th) and David Coulthard (10th) do not return, meaning that just four of last year's top ten drivers (Schumacher, Alonso, Raikkonen and Schumacher) will see the five red lights at Melbourne. It remains to be seen how many teams might go back to these tried and tested drivers when the going gets tough this year.

We also say goodbye to a couple of familiar team names: Sauber has become Red Bull Racing, though with Peter Sauber retained as a consultant, and has managed to secure the scarcely believable signing of Michael Schumacher, who seeks something "a bit more challenging". Meanwhile, Jaguar has become Team China, sporting a bright red livery that has already attracted the ire of the Tifosi. Honda has also backed away from Formula One, though not through choice - no team was prepared to accept an engine deal with the Japanese manufacturer, with B.A.R. preferring to sign up for untried, untested Hyundai power instead.

With so many changes, it seems almost impossible to pick out Championship favourites, but there are a few names that we can expect to challenge for the title. They include:

• Fernando Alonso (Renault): The young Spaniard is highly rated, and the Renault car performed well this winter.
• Nick Heidfeld (McLaren): He knows how to win titles (such as F3000) and now has a front-running car to drive.
• Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): In 2003, he was Ferrari's closest challenger. Now, he is behind the wheel of one.
• Michael Schumacher (Red Bull): He's won the last five World Championships, so can you ever rule him out?
• Jacques Villeneuve (Ferrari): Nearly a decade on from his Championship, he is finally back with a competitive team.

Whoever wins the Championship, though, you can be sure they will have fought off tough competition.

Okay, so tomorrow will see me post the first race. After that, how fast I go really depends on how fast you guys want me to go. Feedback would be appreciated.

Also, you will have the option of replacing drivers between races, and their salaries will be charged pro-rata (e.g. - Four races of Jenson Button would cost you 16 credits) but no team is allowed to use more than four drivers.

[Aislabie]

Wurz leads the Grand Prix from Villeneuve in the opening stint.

The 2005 season started in surprising style with a race winner that nobody had predicted: new McLaren driver Alexander Wurz. Back on the Formula One grid for the first time since his disappointing season with Benetton in 2000, the Austrian showed exceptional one-lap pace in his McLaren, setting a time that put him on pole position for the first time in his career: never before had he qualified higher than fifth place. Joining him on the front row was the Canadian former World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve.

When the five lights went out, Wurz harnessed his Mercedes power to get past turn one in the lead; behind him, Fernando Alonso's Renault was touched by the front wing of Ralf Schumacher's Toyota. Alonso's right-rear disintegrated and ruined his suspension - he quickly pulled over to one side, but the disturbance allowed a gap of several seconds to open up to Wurz.

As the race settled down, the cameras began to focus on Michael Schumacher's climb through the field from seventh on the grid. He managed to overtake the faster Renault of Panis, McLaren of Heidfeld and Ferraris of Raikkonen and Villeneuve to reach the unexpected heights of second place. However, the most impressive drive of the day was from Giancarlo Fisichella, who managed to rouse an unlikely level of performance from his under-powered Jordan to climb as high as sixth place and earn three vital World Championship points for himself and his team.

Grand Prix Result
1) Alexander Wurz (McLaren-Mercedes) --------- 1:28:55.145 (10 points)
2) Michael Schumacher (Red Bull-Maserati) ------ + 35.425 (8 points)
3) Jacques Villeneuve (Ferrari) ------------------- + 35.753 (6 points)
4) Nick Heidfeld (McLaren-Mercedes) ------------ + 55.050 (5 points)
5) Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) ---------------------- + 1:14.177 (4 points)
6) Giancarlo Fisichella (Jordan-Cosworth) ------- + 1:15.655 (3 points)
7) Ricardo Zonta (Toyota) ------------------------ + 1:22.117 (2 points)
8) Robert Kubica (Williams-Toyota) ------------- + 1:28.492 (1 point)
9) Patrick Friesacher (Minardi-BMW) ------------ + 1:30.021
10) Felipe Massa (Minardi-BMW) ------------------- + 1 lap
11) Ralf Schumacher (Toyota) ---------------------- + 1 lap
12) Sebastian Vettel (Williams-Toyota) ------------ + 1 lap
13) Pedro de la Rosa (BAR-Hyundai) --------------- + 1 lap
14) Timo Glock (China-Cosworth) ------------------ + 2 laps
XX) Adrian Sutil (Red Bull-Maserati) -------------- DNF (Collision)
XX) Narain Karthikeyan (Jordan-Cosworth) ------- DNF (Transmission)
XX) Anthony Davidson (BAR-Hyundai) ----------- DNF (Gearbox)
XX) Olivier Panis (Renault) ---------------------- DNF (Spin)
XX) Andre Couto (China-Cosworth) --------------- DNF (Engine)
XX) Fernando Alonso (Renault) ------------------ DNF (Puncture)

- - - - - - - - - -
Reject of the Race: Renault F1 Team

[andrew]

We already have a point this season, happy enough with that.

[Aislabie]

And the very first round of Championship standings is up on the Wiki page! Well, the Drivers standings for now. The Constructors ones look like they live in another more complicated table that I'll deal with later.

[RedEyes504]

Yes Wurz, was expecting Heidfeld to be the one challenging for wins

[This Could Be You]

Oh dear. If there are any upgrades in this series, a reliability and race pace upgrade are sorely needed

[thor97]

What A Start

[Aislabie]

Okay, so I'm very sorry for abandoning this for so long. I got rather caught up in moving to university, and this rather fell onto the back-burner. And I think that for once I should actually follow an idea through to completion - at least completion of a season.

Anyway, I plan to (probably) post the next Grand Prix tomorrow night, so if any of you wish to make any driver changes, please let me know before then. As I think I've explained, you can change your drivers around at any point in the season and you will be able to take advantage of their funding and/or salary proportionately.

Be careful, though - in the case of pay drivers, their pro rata payments will be rounded down (to use Robert Doornbos as an example, he pays 0.5 credits per race, so you will only get one of his credits if he has completed two races), but in the case of paid drivers, your pro rata payments to them will be rounded up (so, to use Zsolt Baumgartner (yes, HWNSNBM, I know) as an example he costs 0.5 credits per race but you will have to pay even if he has only completed one).

I get that it sounds complicated when I put it like that, but it's pretty straightforward.

[Aislabie]

Fernando Alonso celebrates after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix

After a qualifying session that Fernando Alonso described as "not quite a success," the Renault driver lined up in fourth place, behind a top three of Jacques Villeneuve, Alexander Wurz and Michael Schumacher. Nonetheless, a perfect getaway helped him climb up to second place by the end of the first sector, doing his best to close down the 1997 World Champion. Nick Heidfeld also showed good early pace to climb from eighth to fifth in the opening two laps.

Things quickly settled down into a rhythm which remained until the first round of pit stops. Villeneuve, pitting from the lead, rejoined down in ninth place, as several of the midfield attempted to turn the race into a one-stopper. One such strategy was in the hands of Robert Kubica in tenth, who reached Turn One narrowly ahead of the Ferrari. Contact ensued, disabling Villeneuve's car, and leaving the Williams of Kubica to limp back to the pits. It was sent back out, but retired a lap later due to steering damage.

From then on in, the TV director focussed almost entirely on Nick Heidfeld as he clawed his way up to the battle for second (between Schumacher and Wurz), then, in a bold display of slipstreaming, overtook them both on the start-finish straight.

By this point, however, the Michelin-shod Renault of Alonso had long since disappeared into the distance, and he would go on to win the Grand Prix at a canter.

Grand Prix Result

Code: Select all

 1) Fernando Alonso (Renault)                 1:32:28.872 (10 points)
 2) Nick Heidfeld (McLaren-Mercedes)          1:32:53.941 (8 points)
 3) Michael Schumacher (Red Bull-Maserati)    1:32:57.207 (6 points)
 4) Alexander Wurz (McLaren-Mercedes)         1:32:59.364 (5 points)
 5) Ralf Schumacher (Toyota)                  1:33:08.956 (4 points)
 6) Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)                  1:33:15.143 (3 points)
 7) Olivier Panis (Renault)                   1:33:18.017 (2 points)
 8) Adrian Sutil (Red Bull-Maserati)          1:33:19.621 (1 point)
 9) Ricardo Zonta (Toyota)                    1:33:25.080
10) Timo Glock (China-Cosworth)                   + 1 lap
11) Narain Karthikeyan (Jordan-Cosworth)          + 1 lap
12) Anthony Davidson (BAR-Hyundai)                + 1 lap
13) Andre Couto (China-Cosworth)                 + 2 laps
 —  Pedro de la Rosa (BAR-Hyundai)                    DNF (Engine)
    Felipe Massa (Minardi-BMW)                        DNF (Puncture)
    Patrick Friesacher (Minardi-BMW)                  DNF (Collision)
    Giancarlo Fisichella (Jordan-Cosworth)            DNF (Spin)
    Robert Kubica (Williams-Toyota)                   DNF (Collision)
    Jacques Villeneuve (Ferrari)                      DNF (Collision)
    Sebastian Vettel (Williams-Toyota)                DNF (Transmission)

- - - - - - - - - -
Reject of the Race: Patrick Friesacher[/quote]

[Aislabie]

And here are the standings

Brief Summary

Drivers Championship
1. Alexander Wurz (15 pts)
2. Michael Schumacher (14 pts)
3. Nick Heidfeld (13 pts)

Constructors Championship
1. McLaren-Mercedes (28 pts)
2. Red Bull-Maserati (15 pts)
3. Ferrari (13 pts)

[TomWazzleshaw]

Honda pursuing 2006 works team

After being embarrassingly dumped by British American Racing, Japanese manufacturer Honda is believed to be pushing to return to Formula One in 2006 with a full manufacturer effort. Having already allegedly begun testing of a modified 2004 BAR-Honda at Suzuka with recently recruited test drivers Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, it's expected that they will announce their application for an 11th Formula One team slot in the coming days.

At this stage, it is unclear how the team will be structured, but many believe that it will be run under the Mugen Motorsport banner with the aforementioned Sato and Button as drivers for 2006.

Gotta get that silly-season ball rolling, yo