2005 Malaysian Grand Prix

The 2005 Malaysian Grand Prix (officially the 2005 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix) was a Formula One race held at Sepang on 20 March 2005.

Report

Background

After the Australian Grand Prix, Giancarlo Fisichella led the Drivers' Championship by two points ahead of Rubens Barrichello and four points ahead of Fernando Alonso. In the Constructors' Championship, Renault led Ferrari by eight points and Red Bull by nine points.

At BAR, after free practice on Friday, Takuma Sato was struck by a fever, following which the doctors advised him against taking part in the race. Therefore, from free practice on Saturday onwards, the second car was entrusted to third driver Anthony Davidson. For Davidson, the race was his first Grand Prix start since the 2002 Belgian Grand Prix.

The race also marked Rubens Barrichello's 200th Grand Prix.

Race

At the start, Alonso and Jarno Trulli were able to maintain their respective positions on the starting grid, followed by Fisichella and Mark Webber. Further back, Nick Heidfeld overtook the two Red Bulls and was now behind Kimi Räikkönen.

At the start of the second lap, Jenson Button attacked Räikkönen on the start-finish straight and overtook him, but retired immediately afterwards due to engine failure. At the same time, Patrick Friesacher in the Minardi went off the track in the first corner and also retired. A similar fate befell the other Honda engine, Davidson's, which caused a small fire.

During the 23rd lap, Räikkönen, who was in sixth place at the time, suffered a puncture and had to give up all desire to win. Three laps later, Jacques Villeneuve went off the track in the first corner and was the fourth driver to retire. Six laps later, Ralf Schumacher and Webber collided on the main straight, but without causing too much damage to the cars. Nineteen laps from the end, in the final corner, Webber tried to overtake Fisichella on the outside for third place, but the two collided: the Italian ended up on top of the Australian and both had to retire. Heidfeld benefited from this and took third place.

The Alonso ultimately won the race ahead of the Trulli and Heidfeld. For Alonso it was the second victory and the first since the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix. Alonso's win made him the first Spaniard ever to lead the Formula 1 World Championship. It was Heidfeld's second podium finish and first since the 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix.

The race also marked Toyota's first-ever podium in Formula One and first Asian-licensed constructor to score a podium since 1968 United States Grand Prix when John Surtees drove for Honda in the 3rd place.

The race ended Ferrari's run of 22 consecutive podium finishes, which started at the 2003 Italian Grand Prix.

Friday drivers

The bottom 6 teams in the 2004 Constructors' Championship were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race.

Classification

Qualifying

;Notes
* – Patrick Friesacher received a 10-place grid penalty for an engine change.

Race

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings

;Constructors' Championship standings

*Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

References

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Malaysian Grand Prix
Malaysian Grand Prix
Grand Prix
Malaysian Grand Prix