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After Nurburgring ( Alonso-”Title in sight”)

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Alonso accepts title is in sight

EUROPEAN GP RESULT
Fernando Alonso celebrates victory in the European Grand Prix
1 F Alonso (Renault)
2 N Heidfeld (Williams)
3 R Barrichello (Ferrari)
4 D Coulthard (Red Bull)
5 M Schumacher (Ferrari)
6 G Fisichella (Renault)
7 JP Montoya (McLaren)
8 J Trulli (Toyota)

European Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso says he is on course to become Formula One’s youngest world champion.

The 23-year-old has now won four of this year’s seven Grands Prix and has a 32-point lead with 12 races to go.

“If we keep this consistency, every time we will have more and more points. It seems we can do it,” he said.

F1′s youngest world champion so far was Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, who was 25 when he won his first title with Lotus in 1972.

Under the current system, it will prove very hard for anyone to catch Alonso because a driver can pick up points even if he finishes in eighth place.

A win is worth 10 points, with second place earning eight.

Then it is six points for third, five for fourth and so on down to eighth place, which receives one point.

To be probably the best car on the grid again, is probably better news for the rest of the season than winning the race
Fernando Alonso
Alonso was pleased that Renault had recovered from a poor performance last weekend in Monaco, where they were unable to keep pace with Raikkonen after suffering major tyre problems.

“I am extremely happy, more than the victory I am happy because after fourth place at Monaco the team and I were not happy at all,” he said.

“We had a very good car in Monaco and we didn’t take as many points as we believed were possible.

“To be probably the best car on the grid again, to manage the tyres in the race, is probably better news for the rest of the season than winning the race.”

Written by Formula One Addict

June 3rd, 2005 at 1:14 pm

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Standings after Monaco Grand Prix

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Name Car Nat Points
1 Fernando Alonso Renault Spa 49
2 Kimi Raikkonen McLaren Fin 27
3 Jarno Trulli Toyota Ita 26
4 Mark Webber Williams Aus 18
5= Nick Heidfeld Williams Ger 17
5= Ralf Schumacher Toyota Ger 17
7= Giancarlo Fisichella Renault Ita 14
7= Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren Col 14
9 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Ger 12
10 David Coulthard Red Bull GB 10
11 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari Brz 9
12 Alexander Wurz McLaren Aut 6
13 Jacques Villeneuve Sauber Can 5
14 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren Spa 4
15 Christian Klien Red Bull Aut 3
16 Felipe Massa Sauber Brz 2
17 Vitantonio Liuzzi Red Bull It 1

Constructors’ world championship
Team Points
1 Renault 63
2 McLaren 51
3 Toyota 43
4 Williams 35
5 Ferrari 21
6 Red Bull 14
7 Sauber 7

Standings updated after BAR stripped of points won at San Marino Grand Prix

Written by Formula One Addict

May 23rd, 2005 at 7:51 am

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Race Review : Monaco Grand Prix 2005

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Kimi Raikkonen claimed a lights-to-flag victory in the Monaco Grand Prix for his second successive win this season.

The Finn beat Williams’ Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber into second and third.

Heidfeld took second with seven laps remaining when he passed Renault’s championship leader Fernando Alonso, who was passed moments later by Webber.

Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher was off the pace and finished seventh behind brother Ralf, while David Coulthard retired on lap 25 after a five-car jam.

Afterwards race winner Raikkonen said: “A few years ago I came close to winning but couldn’t get past Montoya.

“This time I did it and I’m very happy because it’s such a special place.”

The Finn started alongside Alonso on the grid but got away the better of the two. After a steady first few laps, he upped the tempo to pull well clear of his Spanish rival.

But the race changed dramatically on lap 24 when Minardi driver Christijan Albers spun causing a pile-up behind him.

It could have been better for me but this is very good for the team
Mark Webber David Coulthard had no choice but to come to an abrupt halt, with an unsighted Michael Schumacher ploughing into the Scot and ending his race.

Rubens Barrichello and Juan Pablo Montoya were among the other drivers caught up in the resulting melee.

Schumacher, though, rejoined the race after replacing his nose can as the safety car was employed to clear the track.

Renault pair Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella also opted to come in for their only pit stop of the race at the same time.

As a result, they both struggled late in the race, with the heavy fuel load causing the rear tyres to wear more rapidly.

Alonso held off the double Williams attack of Heidfeld and Webber for as long as possible, until Heidfeld found a way through coming out of the tunnel on lap 71.

Webber twice tried his luck on the ensuing laps and finally passed to put two Williams drivers on the podium.

Webber added: “It could have been better for me but this is very good for the team.”

Alonso nearly dropped further down the order as Montoya, who had been forced to start from the rear of the grid for his role in a practice crash, battled to find a way through.

The Colombian, though, failed to get through as Alonso, Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello finished within a second of each other for fourth to eighth places.

Written by Formula One Addict

May 23rd, 2005 at 7:47 am

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Race Results

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Monaco Grand Prix results:
1. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:45:15.556
2. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Williams +13.887 seconds
3. Mark Webber (Australia) Williams +18.484
4. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault +36.487
5. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) McLaren +36.647
6. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota +37.177
7. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari +37.223
8. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari +37.570
9. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber +1 lap
10. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota +1 lap
11. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) Sauber +1 lap
12. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault +1 lap
13. Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) Jordan +3 laps
14. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) Minardi +5 laps

Written by Formula One Addict

May 23rd, 2005 at 7:39 am

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Spanish Grand Prix – Race Review

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We couldnt make the review as we had our exams but we hope this would do

Lap 66: Raikkonen takes the chequered flag to claim his first victory of the season. The brilliant Finn was dominant from start to finish.

Home hero and championship leader Fernando Alonso takes second with Toyota’s Jarno Trulli completing the podium, 0.7 seconds ahead of team-mate Ralf Schumacher.

Giancarlo Fisichella celebrates overtaking Mark Webber for fifth by setting the fastest lap of the race.

McLaren’s Juan Pablo Montoya and Red Bull’s David Coulthard take seventh and eighth.

Lap 63: Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella eases past Mark Webber’s Williams to take fifth.

Lap 62: There are several intriguing battles away from leader Raikkonen. Ralf Schumacher is still pressing team-mate Jarno Trulli for third, Giancarlo Fisichella is closing on Mark Webber in fifth while David Coulthard in eighth is under pressure from Rubens Barrichello.

Lap 60: With six laps remaining, Kimi Raikkonen continues his serene progress at the front. He has a 22-second lead over Fernando Alonso.

Lap 57: Juan Pablo Montoya has to stop for a third time to refuel, dropping him back to seventh.

Lap 55: McLaren’s Juan Pablo Montoya, currently fifth, is making a desperate bid to catch up on the Toyotas ahead of him. He’s the fastest man on the track.

Lap 52: Sauber’s Jacques Villeneuve completes another disappointing weekend by retiring.

Jarno Trulli pits and rejoins just ahead of Toyota team-mate Ralf Schumacher.

Lap 51: There is a real battle between Toyota team-mates Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli for third and a podium finish. Schumacher pits at the end of the lap.

Lap 49: Race leader Raikkonen comes in for his second pitstop and gets back out without losing his position.

He is followed in by second-placed Alonso.

Lap 46: Michael Schumacher’s race is run as his left front tyre gives up the ghost and his Ferrari limps round to the pits and into the garage.

His retirement promotes Trulli’s Toyota to third.

Lap 44: Michael Schumacher’s victory prospects suffer a big blow as he comes in from third for a tyre change.

Leader Raikkonen laps McLaren team-mate Montoya, who is running eighth.

Lap 42: Raikkonen is making relentless progress in the McLaren.

He now leads Alonso by almost 30 seconds, with Schumacher a further 10 adrift in third.

Lap 40: Fisichella’s promising race is ruined as he has to come in from second place for a new front wing and drops down to 13th.

His team-mate Alonso benefits as he moves up to second, with Michael Schumacher third.

Lap 39: Alonso is running well again after his stop, putting pressure on team-mate Fisichella for second place.

Lap 38: Leader Raikkonen laps Barrichello’s Ferrari, but is not pleased with how long it takes the Brazilian to give way.

Lap 35: With the race settling back down after the first round of stops, it is looking very good for Raikkonen.

He has a 25-second lead over Fisichella, who has made big gains to move up to second ahead of team-mate Alonso.

Michael Schumacher is now well poised in the Ferrari in fourth.

Lap 34: Barrichello gets past half distance before making his stop from seventh place in the Ferrari. It is possible he may not need to come in again.

Lap 33: Michael Schumacher has reaped the benefits of his strategy as he is now fourth.

Lap 31: Michael Schumacher sets another fastest lap before making a late first stop.

He looks sure to gain at least one place as Montoya has been forced to make two stops in the McLaren in the space of as many laps.

Lap 28: Fisichella makes his stop and gets out in front of team-mate Alonso.

Michael Schumacher sets a fastest lap in the Ferrari as he nears the end of his stint.

Lap 27: Alonso makes his stop, and the team make adjustments to the tyre pressures.

His team-mate Fisichella is running very well and looking to make up places as he delays his stop.

Lap 26: Trulli has managed to get ahead of Toyota team-mate Ralf Schumacher in the pit stops.

Lap 25: Leader Raikkonen makes his first pit stop and gets out ahead of second-placed Alonso.

The Toyota’s of Ralf Schumacher and Trulli have also made their stops.

Lap 24: World champion Michael Schumacher has yet to show the searing pace he had at Imola. He is not troubling sixth-placed Montoya.

Lap 23: Alonso continues to come under pressure from Ralf Schumacher. The Spaniard’s Renault team-mate Fisichella is lapping much quicker than him.

Lap 22: Raikkonen’s lead over Alonso is now over 20 seconds. Barring a reliability problem, the Finn looks set for his first win of the season.

Lap 19: Ralf Schumacher has closed the gap on second-placed Alonso to under a second as the Spaniard’s Renault struggles for pace.

Lap 18: Webber’s Williams is the first car to pit.

Lap 17: Raikkonen sets another fastest lap to increase his lead over Alonso by more than two seconds.

Lap 15: Raikkonen looks set to go into the first round of pitstops with a commanding advantage.

Lap 13: Friesacher’s dismal race comes to an end as his car ends up in the gravel.

Lap 11: Raikkonen is running more than a second faster than second-placed Alonso.

The two Minardis are still running after stalling on the grid, but they are several laps down.

Lap 10: Raikkonen is still pulling clear at the front, while Ralf Schumacher is pressuring third-placed Webber.

Lap 9: Liuzzi’s race comes to an end as he spins his Red Bull at turn 11 and goes off into the gravel trap.

Lap 8: Raikkonen contines to clock the fastest lap times as he stretches his lead over Alonso to more than five seconds.

Lap 7: Montoya spins his car but just manages to keep seventh place ahead of Michael Schumacher.

Lap 6: Leader Raikkonen sets a new circuit lap record.

Heidfeld and Barrichello, who started on the back row of the grid, are up to 12th and 14th respectively.

Lap 5: Raikkonen’s lead over Alonso is now three seconds.

Lap 4: Raikkonen continues to set the pace, while Coulthard tries to pressure Michael Schumacher for eighth.

Lap 3: Raikkonen is running very well at the front as he sets about building his lead over home favourite Alonso.

Lap 2: Leader Raikkonen gets away well as the safety car pulls off the track, and McLaren team-mate Montoya reclaims seventh place from Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari.

Lap 1: Raikkonen moves away smoothly from pole and into the lead, but Alonso and Ralf Schumacher get the jump on Webber to take second.

Michael Schumacher gets ahead of Montoya to move up a place to seventh.

The Minardis of Albers and Friesacher both stall on the grid, and the safety car comes out.

Written by Formula One Addict

May 11th, 2005 at 3:40 am

Posted in formula one