2005
Alonso vs Raikkonen
Pace vs Reliability
The Story
The 2005 championship was a story of what might have been. Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren-Mercedes was often the fastest car on the grid, but it broke down with depressing regularity. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso's Renault was slightly slower but bulletproof, and the young Spaniard drove with a maturity beyond his years. Raikkonen won seven races to Alonso's seven, but mechanical failures at the Nurburgring, Imola, and elsewhere cost the Finn dearly. Alonso became the youngest World Champion in history at 24, breaking a record that had stood since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972. The season is remembered as the one where the fastest man didn't win, and Raikkonen's frustration fuelled his move to Ferrari for 2007.
Points Progression
| Race | Alonso | Räikkönen | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian GP | 6 | 1 | Alonso +5 |
| Malaysian GP | 16 | 1 | Alonso +15 |
| Bahrain GP | 26 | 7 | Alonso +19 |
| San Marino GP | 36 | 7 | Alonso +29 |
| Spanish GP | 44 | 17 | Alonso +27 |
| Monaco GP | 44 | 27 | Alonso +17 |
Final Standings
| Pos | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 7 | 133 |
| 2 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren | 7 | 112 |
| 3 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 1 | 62 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | McLaren | 3 | 60 |
| 5 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Renault | 1 | 58 |
| 6 | Ralf Schumacher | Toyota | 0 | 45 |
| 7 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 0 | 43 |
| 8 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | 0 | 38 |
| 9 | Jenson Button | BAR | 0 | 37 |
| 10 | Mark Webber | Williams | 0 | 36 |