Webber seventh in 2005 Chinese Grand Prix

There would be drama before the Chinese Grand Prix had even started with Michael Schumacher and Christijan Albers collided during their recon laps prior to forming up on the grid. Both drivers would have to return to their pits where Michael's mechanics would get the spare Ferrari ready for the race. Michael would have to start the race from the pit lane rather than his sixth place on the grid. It looked like Michael was travelling slowly and was hit on the left rear tyre by Albers. There was also question marks as to whether Michael swerved to the left.

This ace would decided the 2005 Constructors championship, and With the Renault drivers taking both front row grid positions things were looking good for them in their fight with McLaren. The grid would move away on their formation lap for the 56 lap race. Both Albers and Michael would take up their places at the exit to the pit lane. Jordan's Karthikeyan would dive into the pits. The start of the race would see Alonso leading from Fisichella. The McLarens were in third and fourth with Kimi leading Juan Pablo. Button was in fifth. Mark was in ninth while Antonio was in fourteenth. Coulthard was in sixth.

After just one lap Alonso was 2.1 seconds ahead of his team-mate. But Kimi was right behind Fisichella, with Juan Pablo running close to his team-mate. Right down to eighth place the cars were running very close together. The top eight were Alonso, Fisichella, Raikkonen, Montoya, Button, Coulthard, Barrichello, and Ralf Schumacher.

Lap two and Alonso would set a fastest lap, 1m:35.373 and was now 2.9 seconds ahead of the second Renault. Fisichella seemed to be holding up the group of cars following. Michael Schumacher was in seventeenth. Mark was still in ninth some 9.0 seconds behind the leader. What strategy was Alonso running to allow him such quick pace?

Lap three and another fastest lap to Alonso, 1m:34.749, and his lead was now 3.9 seconds. Alonso was running a second faster per lap than another driver. The next lap and Alonso was now 5.1 seconds ahead and another fastest lap, 1m:34.722. Sato would take to the pit lane fro a drive through penalty for jumping the start. Another fastest lap for Alonso, 1m:34.685, with his lead now 6.9 seconds. Coulthard was attacking Button for fifth place while Mark was challenging eighth placed Ralf Schumacher.

Alonso was on a blistering pace with another fastest lap o lap six, 1:34.685, followed by lap seven, 1m:34.399. He was now 7.9 seconds ahead of Fisichella. At this pace he would have enough to make an extra pit stop if he was on a three stop strategy. Antonio was now in thirteenth. Lap eight and Alonso's lead was now 9.2 seconds. Kimi was just 0.9 seconds behind second placed Fisichella. But Kimi did not look like he was going to make any attempt to pas the Renault.

Lap ten and Alonso's lead was now 11.2 seconds. Both of the McLaren's were still travelling close behind the Renault of Fisichella. Button was 3.8 seconds behind third placed Montoya. Coulthard was right right behind the BAR in sixth. Lap eleven and Alonso's lead was out to a massive 12.5 seconds. He would also set a new fastest lap, 1m:34.168. This was 1.4 seconds faster than his team-mate. This would see have enough to make a pit stop on lap twenty and still come back out in the lead.

Mark was just 0.5 seconds behind Ralf Schumacher. The second Toyota of Jarno Trulli was behind the FW27. Lap thirteen and Alonso would set another fastest lap with a 1m:34.000. He was now 14.4 seconds in the lead. Juan Pablo would be looking at making a possible pass on team-mate Raikkonen. The next lap and Alonso was 15.3 seconds in front of Fisichella. Kimi would respond by closing in onto Fisichella to now just be 1.0 seconds behind the Renault. Lap sixteen and Tiago Monteiro would make the first pit stop of the race. Alonso was now 16.5 seconds in the lead.

Lap seventeen and both of the McLaren's were running very close together and right behind Fisichella. The next lap and Coulthard and Trulli would both pit from sixth and eleventh places. Lap eighteen and Alonso would set another fastest lap, 1m:33.858 with his lead now 19.2 seconds. Both Montoya and Button would both pit. Montoya had hit a piece of debris, and would have his right rear tyre changed in his pit stop. The Safety Car would come out. This would see a flood of drivers pitting. They would include Alonso, Fisichella, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Ralf, Mark, Klein, Antonio, and Villeneuve.

Montoya would pit again, this time for fuel. With the safety car out the field would bunch up. It was found that what Montoya had hit was a drain cover at had become dislodged at Turn ten. Juan Pablo was very lucky as Lap twenty and the order was Alonso, Fisichella, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Ralf, Webber, Button, Coulthard, Massa and Michael. Juan Pablo was lucky now to damage his car further as in a touring car race that was held during the year at the circuit a similar drain cover came lose and ripped a massive hole in the bottom of a car.

While the marshals checked the kerbing at Turn Ten the Safety Car was till out. With the leaders all making their first stop the field was bunched up. Mark was running in sixth behind Ralf. Antonio was in twelfth. Barrichello was now in fourth behind Kimi. Button and Coulthard were in seventh and eighth, having lost out as they pitted before the Safety Car period.

For Michael his weekend would go from bad to worse when he was to spin of into the gravel and into retirement. Replays showed that Michael had locked up his rear brakes sending him into the spin. With the Renault's leading and only Kimi in a points scoring position things were looking very good for Renault in the Constructors championship. The Safety Car would come in on the start of lap twenty five. With Albers running between the two Renault's the race would restart but Fisichella would be held up and would have Kimi and Rubens right behind him.

Montoya would retire his car in his garage. Obviously the damage to his car must have been more extensive. Lap twenty six and Alonso's lead was now 3.8 seconds. Mark was till on sixth but just 0.4 behind Ralf. Kimi and Rubens were still in third and fourth. Button was attacking Mark, with Coulthard running right behind the BAR. Lap twenty eight and Alonso was now 4.2 seconds ahead of Fisichella. Fifth, sixth, and seventh were running very close together. But the Safety Car would come out again when Karthikeyan was to have a massive shunt in his Jordan. His car would be on fire but thankfully he was able to get out of his car.

The front runners would all again pit for fuel under the safety Car. This would allow most of the cars to run to the finish. Replays showed the Indian crashing heavily into the tyre barriers at Turn Thirteen after losing control of his car. Out of the top ten only Ralf, Massa, and Klein did not pit. The marshals would put out the fire on the Jordan and start to clear away the debris. In their pit stops Kimi would finally be able to get past Fisichella.

On lap thirty one the order was Alonso followed by Ralf, Massa, Klein,
Raikkonen, Fisichella, Barrichello, Sato, Mark, and Monteiro. Antonio was in fifteenth. The marshals would remove the wrecked Jordan. Lap thirty five and the race would restart with Alonso ahead of Ralf. Sato would retire in sector two moving Mark into eighth. Klein was attacking third placed Massa. Mark was now just 1.2 seconds behind Rubens.

Lap thirty six and Alonso was now 3.3 seconds ahead of Ralf. Massa and Klein were in third and fourth. But from second to fourth the drivers had yet to make their second stops. Lap thirty seven and Mark was now just 0.4 behind Rubens. Button was running close behind the FW27. Second placed Ralf was pushing hard setting a new second sector fastest time, 28.1. Ralf would close in onto the leading Renault. Lap forty and Mark was putting Rubens under a lot of pressure running just 0.3 behind the Ferrari. The question was when would the three drivers yet to make their second stops would come in.

Lap forty three and Alonso was 3.7 seconds in the lead. But it would be Red Bulls' Christian Klein who, on a light fuel load, would set a new fastest lap of the race with a 1m:33.727. Mark could not find a way past the Ferrari of Barrichello. the first of the three drivers to stop would be Massa on lap forty five. Mark and Button would both pass Rubens when the Brazilian was to run wide at the Hairpin. Alonso would set a new fastest lap, 1m:33.536, while Klein would pit. Coulthard would now start to attack the Ferrari and would take ninth from Rubens in a move at Turn One.

Rubens would pit from tenth. Ralf had yet to make his second stop with just ten laps remaining. On lap thirty eight Ralf would pit from second and with a very quick stop would come back out in fourth. The top ten was Alonso, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Ralf, Klein, Massa, Mark, Button, Coulthard, and Villeneuve. Lap forty nine and Kimi would set a new fastest lap, 1m:33.313. He was 2.2 seconds behind the leading Renault. With Alonso leading and Fisichella third the Constructors title would be going to Renault. Mark was attacking sixth placed Massa.

An incident involving Fisichella was being investigated by the stewards. This would see him been given a drive through penalty for obstructive driving in the pit entry. Kimi was pushing very hard in an attempt to close in onto Alonso but with only a handful of laps left it was somewhat of a futile task. Lap fifty three and Fisichella would come in for his penalty. He would rejoin in fifth. Despite this Renault would still come away with the Constructors title. Mark and Antonio were in seventh and eleventh.

Lap fifty four and Kimi would set a new fastest lap, 1m:33.255, to be 8.3 seconds behind Alonso. Albers would retire in his pit. Mark was till fighting for sixth with Massa. With the final lap of the race Alonso was leading by 7.6 seconds from Raikkonen. Ralf was in third. The Spaniard would cross the finish line to take a dominate victory. On the last lap Kimi would again set a new fastest lap, 1m:33.242, to be just 4.0 seconds behind the Renault. Fisichella would snatch fourth on the final lap.

But Kimi's efforts Renault would secure the 2005 Constructors Championship. Klein and Massa would finish in fifth and sixth. Mark would score two points for his seventh place in the last race in the BMW - WilliamsF1 partnership. Antonio would stop his car on the last lap in the first sector but was till classified in thirteenth. Button would take the last point for eighth.