2005 European Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Fernando Alonso snatched victory at the Nürburgring after Kimi Räikkönen’s front suspension failed on the final lap. Nick Heidfeld followed his maiden pole with second place, while Rubens Barrichello completed the podium on a day decided by tyre damage and a desperate late gamble.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Nick Heidfeld	Williams
Pole time	1:30.081
Fastest lap	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Fastest-lap time	1:30.711 on lap 44
First	Fernando Alonso	Renault
Second	Nick Heidfeld	Williams
Third	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
27 May 2005	Practice 1	11:00
27 May 2005	Practice 2	14:00
28 May 2005	Practice 3	09:00
28 May 2005	Practice 4	10:15
28 May 2005	Qualifying	13:00
29 May 2005	Race	14:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Fernando Alonso arrived at round 7 leading the 2005 F1 World Championship on 49 points, with Kimi Räikkönen on 27. Renault headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 63 points.

Race entries

BAR returned after its two-race suspension with Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, restoring the 20-car field. The engine regulations required the team to reuse its Imola engines. Vitantonio Liuzzi retained Red Bull’s race seat for one more round, while Montagny took Jordan’s Friday role in place of Robert Doornbos.

Free Practice

Alexander Wurz led Friday morning as the teams began work on a slippery Nürburgring. Toyota evaluated tyres and revised aerodynamic parts, with Ricardo Zonta concentrating on grip and balance rather than the outright order. BAR’s return also gave Jenson Button and Takuma Sato their first Grand Prix running since Imola, with engine mileage still an important consideration.

Alexander Wurz narrowly stayed ahead of Ricardo Zonta in the afternoon as the track gained grip. Mark Webber spun into the gravel after only seven laps, interrupting Williams’ work, while yellow flags and traffic made clear runs difficult for several drivers. Jarno Trulli felt his lap time understated Toyota’s potential, and Ricardo Zonta completed long runs to help settle the race tyre choice.

Fernando Alonso headed Saturday’s first session, with both McLarens behind him. Tiago Monteiro recovered from a spin, while Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella had untidy moments over the chicane kerbs. Toyota continued working on balance: Jarno Trulli kept his mileage low, and Ralf Schumacher was still searching for the front-end grip he wanted.

Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya put McLaren first and second in final practice. Jarno Trulli’s longer run brought a substantial improvement as Toyota refined his car’s balance, but Ralf Schumacher’s understeer remained harder to cure. With only one qualifying lap now available, getting the car comfortable before the afternoon had taken on additional importance.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2005 European Grand Prix FP1, 27 May 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	35	Alexander Wurz	McLaren	1:31.670	18
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.908s	10
3	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.056s	21
4	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+1.203s	7
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.314s	11
6	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.318s	6
7	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	+1.472s	5
8	7	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.578s	5
9	37	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+1.634s	19
10	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.348s	11
11	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+2.542s	9
12	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+3.472s	8
13	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+3.743s	7
14	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	+4.046s	9
15	15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	+4.459s	12
16	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+5.351s	19
17	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+5.736s	15
18	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+5.804s	16
19	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+5.868s	15
20	39	Franck Montagny	Jordan	+6.055s	23
21	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	No time	2
22	3	Jenson Button	BAR	No time	2
23	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	No time	2
24	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	No time	2

Free Practice 2 Classification

2005 European Grand Prix FP2, 27 May 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	35	Alexander Wurz	McLaren	1:30.623	31
2	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+0.007s	33
3	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	+1.190s	13
4	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+1.218s	13
5	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.247s	16
6	7	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.465s	7
7	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.520s	19
8	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.712s	25
9	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+2.219s	27
10	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+2.475s	17
11	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+2.545s	20
12	37	Christian Klien	Red Bull Racing	+2.551s	32
13	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+2.619s	5
14	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.807s	22
15	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	+2.891s	20
16	3	Jenson Button	BAR	+3.130s	22
17	39	Franck Montagny	Jordan	+3.467s	27
18	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+3.651s	26
19	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	+4.022s	22
20	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+4.079s	17
21	15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	+4.219s	16
22	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+4.688s	19
23	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+5.168s	5
24	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+6.079s	8

Free Practice 3 Classification

2005 European Grand Prix FP3, 28 May 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:30.615	10
2	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+0.663s	10
3	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.958s	10
4	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+1.163s	9
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.179s	8
6	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.482s	15
7	7	Mark Webber	Williams	+1.651s	9
8	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	+1.689s	7
9	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+1.817s	13
10	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	+1.868s	7
11	3	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.886s	4
12	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+2.104s	5
13	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.597s	7
14	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.750s	9
15	15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	+2.799s	5
16	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+3.066s	12
17	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	+3.116s	6
18	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+3.792s	7
19	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+4.256s	15
20	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+4.452s	11

Free Practice 4 Classification

2005 European Grand Prix FP4, 28 May 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:29.680	11
2	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	+0.109s	13
3	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.307s	15
4	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	+0.391s	14
5	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	+0.872s	12
6	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	+0.879s	9
7	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	+0.965s	12
8	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	+1.012s	14
9	3	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.093s	13
10	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.346s	14
11	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.769s	10
12	15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	+1.892s	17
13	7	Mark Webber	Williams	+2.374s	9
14	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.399s	11
15	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	+2.492s	14
16	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	+3.460s	14
17	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	+4.297s	16
18	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	+4.847s	17
19	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	+4.960s	12
20	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	+5.407s	14

Qualifying

The aggregate format was replaced by one Saturday session, with each driver completing a single timed lap on race fuel in reverse order of the previous race result. BAR’s absence from Monaco therefore meant Jenson Button and Takuma Sato ran first, on a less favourable surface.

Nick Heidfeld claimed his first Formula 1 pole ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and Mark Webber. Jarno Trulli took fourth and Fernando Alonso sixth, while the fuel loads made direct comparisons difficult. Nick Heidfeld’s early first stop on Sunday would reveal the lighter opening stint behind his excellent qualifying performance.

Qualifying Classification

2005 European Grand Prix Qualifying, 28 May 2005

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	1:30.081	3
2	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:30.197	3
3	7	Mark Webber	Williams	1:30.368	3
4	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	1:30.700	3
5	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	1:30.890	3
6	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:31.056	3
7	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:31.249	3
8	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	1:31.392	3
9	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	1:31.566	3
10	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:31.585	3
11	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	1:32.205	3
12	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	1:32.553	3
13	3	Jenson Button	BAR	1:32.594	3
14	15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	1:32.642	3
15	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	1:32.891	3
16	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	1:32.926	3
17	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	1:35.047	3
18	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	1:35.954	3
19	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	1:36.192	3
20	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	1:36.239	3

What happened in the 2005 European Grand Prix?

Giancarlo Fisichella stalled before the start, forcing an extra formation lap and reducing the race to 59 laps. Kimi Räikkönen beat Nick Heidfeld away, while Mark Webber’s first-corner collision with Juan Pablo Montoya ended the Williams driver’s race. Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard later lost time to penalties, while Rubens Barrichello made progress on a three-stop strategy.

Kimi Räikkönen controlled much of the race, but mistakes cost him time and a heavy lock-up left his right-front tyre badly flat-spotted. The resulting vibration grew worse as Fernando Alonso closed. Routine tyre changes were prohibited that season, although a damaged tyre could be replaced on safety grounds; McLaren chose to keep Kimi Räikkönen out and try to secure the win.

The gamble unravelled at the first corner of the final lap when the suspension failed, sending Kimi Räikkönen into the gravel. Fernando Alonso inherited victory ahead of Nick Heidfeld and Rubens Barrichello. David Coulthard finished fourth, followed by Michael Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jarno Trulli, giving Renault a major championship gain from an extraordinary finish.

After the race, Fernando Alonso headed the drivers’ standings with 59 points, followed by Kimi Räikkönen on 27. Renault led the constructors’ table on 76, with McLaren on 53.

2005 European Grand Prix race results

The 2005 European Grand Prix was held on 29 May 2005, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	59	1:31:46.648	10
2	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	59	+16.567	8
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	59	+18.549	6
4	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	59	+31.588	5
5	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	59	+50.445	4
6	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	59	+51.932	3
7	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	59	+58.173	2
8	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	59	+1:11.091	1
9	15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	59	+1:11.529	0
10	3	Jenson Button	BAR	59	+1:35.786	0
11	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	58	Suspension/Accident	0
12	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	58	+1 Lap	0
13	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	58	+1 Lap	0
14	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	58	+1 Lap	0
15	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	58	+1 Lap	0
16	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	58	+1 Lap	0
17	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	57	+2 Laps	0
18	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	56	+3 Laps	0
Ret	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	33	Spun off	0
Ret	7	Mark Webber	Williams	0	Collision	0

2005 European Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	5	Fernando Alonso	Renault	44	1:30.711	204.305
2	9	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	9	1:30.940	203.791
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	44	1:31.028	203.594
4	8	Nick Heidfeld	Williams	9	1:31.124	203.380
5	14	David Coulthard	Red Bull Racing	19	1:31.306	202.974
6	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	19	1:31.503	202.537
7	6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault	47	1:31.708	202.084
8	17	Ralf Schumacher	Toyota	25	1:31.724	202.049
9	16	Jarno Trulli	Toyota	43	1:31.779	201.928
10	10	Juan Pablo Montoya	McLaren	42	1:31.807	201.866
11	4	Takuma Sato	BAR	26	1:31.889	201.686
12	3	Jenson Button	BAR	20	1:31.955	201.542
13	15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Red Bull Racing	43	1:31.971	201.506
14	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	18	1:32.329	200.725
15	11	Jacques Villeneuve	Sauber	41	1:32.583	200.174
16	19	Narain Karthikeyan	Jordan	21	1:33.292	198.653
17	18	Tiago Monteiro	Jordan	39	1:33.425	198.370
18	21	Christijan Albers	Minardi	18	1:35.047	194.985
19	20	Patrick Friesacher	Minardi	18	1:35.536	193.987

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

2005 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2005 European Grand Prix.

2005 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	59
2	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	27
3	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Toyota	27
4	Nick Heidfeld	German	Williams	25
5	Mark Webber	Australian	Williams	18
6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Renault	17
7	Ralf Schumacher	German	Toyota	17
8	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	16
9	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren	16
10	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	15
11	David Coulthard	British	Red Bull Racing	15
12	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	McLaren	6
13	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	Sauber	5
14	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	McLaren	4
15	Christian Klien	Austrian	Red Bull Racing	3
16	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Sauber	2
17	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian	Red Bull Racing	1
18	Tiago Monteiro	Portuguese	Jordan	0
19	Jenson Button	British	BAR	0
20	Narain Karthikeyan	Indian	Jordan	0
21	Patrick Friesacher	Austrian	Minardi	0
22	Takuma Sato	Japanese	BAR	0
23	Christijan Albers	Dutch	Minardi	0
–	Anthony Davidson	British	BAR	0

2005 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Renault	76
2	McLaren	53
3	Toyota	44
4	Williams	43
5	Ferrari	31
6	Red Bull Racing	19
7	Sauber	7
8	Jordan	0
9	BAR	0
10	Minardi	0

2005 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2005 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	6 March
2	2005 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	20 March
3	2005 Bahrain Grand Prix	Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir	3 April
4	2005 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	24 April
5	2005 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	8 May
6	2005 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	22 May
7	2005 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	29 May
8	2005 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	12 June
9	2005 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	19 June
10	2005 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	3 July
11	2005 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	10 July
12	2005 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	24 July
13	2005 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	31 July
14	2005 Turkish Grand Prix	Istanbul Park, Istanbul	21 August
15	2005 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	4 September
16	2005 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	11 September
17	2005 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	25 September
18	2005 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	9 October
19	2005 Chinese Grand Prix	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai	16 October