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Alonso consigns Schumacher era to history
(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2005-12-29 07:31
The 2005 season will also be remembered as the last for Jordan, Minardi and
Sauber in their present formats.
Red Bull has taken over Minardi, which will be known as Squadra Toro Rosso,
while Russian businessman Alex Shnaider now runs Jordan, which is being
re-branded as Midland F1 next season. Sauber was bought out by BMW.
Despite the many issues facing F1 in its longest-ever season, the dashing
Alonso at least managed to bring back some of the panache sorely missing in
recent years.
And in a refreshing change, five drivers took top honours over the 19-race
series - Alonso (Renault), Raikkonen (McLaren), Juan Carlos Montoya (McLaren),
Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault) and Schumacher (Ferrari).
Alonso displayed his title credentials from the off, finishing third behind
surprise winner Fisichella in Melbourne.
That first race of the season at Albert Park provided an ominous sign of what
lay ahead, not just for Alonso but also for defending champion Schumacher, who
failed to finish.
With six points to his name, the young Spaniard went to Malaysia with the bit
between his teeth and cantered to victory, following up with glory in Bahrain in
race three and again in San Marino three weeks later.
Driving an impeccably reliable car, he never looked back, despite Raikkonen
and his McLaren team proving dominant in the close season. Despite the late
surge, they paid the penalty of early season mistakes.
"It was pressure for me to fight with Kimi this year, but it was a nice
fight," Alonso said. "The whole season has been a dream come true."
With the modified Ferrari failing to fire, Renault and McLaren ran away in
the race for constructors honours, depriving the Italian powerhouse of the crown
it had made its own since 1999.
Ferrari was left to battle it out with Toyota for third.
A shell-shocked Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, was left pondering
what had hit him, but was gracious in defeat and sounded a warning that he was
hungry to be the best once again.
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