Alonso in Fine Form during Season Finale
The last two races of the 2005 Formula 1 season have clearly shown just how good the Alonso/Renault package is. At the final race, the Chinese
Grand Prix, on Sunday, Fernando Alonso took the pole and went on to win, and with it clinched the constructor's title for Renault - giving them the double; both driver and constructor's titles. Alonso also brought Michelin its first championship since re-entering Formula 1 back in 2001.
Michelin and its seven teams have absolutely dominated this season's F1 campaign, winning 18 of the 19 races (remember they only competed in 18), recording 18 pole positions and setting 16 fastest laps. Its partners have taken 47 podium finishes from a possible 57 and scored 619 of the 741 available points.
Alonso was dominant, and showed just how good he is in the final two races. He also showed how restrained he was during the previous 17,
which made him world champion in the first place.
Now, as of Monday morning, everything changes in Formula 1. Gone are Minardi and Sauber, replaced by Squadra Toro Rosso (Minardi), a second team backed by Red Bull, and BMW (Sauber). Also gone will be all the V10s, replaced by V8s. This means predicting anything for 2006 will be like throwing darts at a board. Rumours still swirl that the qualifying procedure will change yet again, the seventh time in five years. It is likely, that we have seen the last of Jacques Villeneuve, even though he insists he has an 'iron clad' contract for 2006 with Sauber, which of course won't exist in 2006.
The last two races of the 2005 Formula 1 season have clearly shown just how good the Alonso/Renault package is. At the final race, the Chinese
 |
| Fernando Alonso took the pole and went on to win, and with it clinched the constructor's title for Renault. (Photo: Renault F1 Team) |
Michelin and its seven teams have absolutely dominated this season's F1 campaign, winning 18 of the 19 races (remember they only competed in 18), recording 18 pole positions and setting 16 fastest laps. Its partners have taken 47 podium finishes from a possible 57 and scored 619 of the 741 available points.
Alonso was dominant, and showed just how good he is in the final two races. He also showed how restrained he was during the previous 17,
 |
| Gone is Minardi, replaced by Squadra Toro Rosso, a second team backed by Red Bull. |
Now, as of Monday morning, everything changes in Formula 1. Gone are Minardi and Sauber, replaced by Squadra Toro Rosso (Minardi), a second team backed by Red Bull, and BMW (Sauber). Also gone will be all the V10s, replaced by V8s. This means predicting anything for 2006 will be like throwing darts at a board. Rumours still swirl that the qualifying procedure will change yet again, the seventh time in five years. It is likely, that we have seen the last of Jacques Villeneuve, even though he insists he has an 'iron clad' contract for 2006 with Sauber, which of course won't exist in 2006.