2005 Formula One season
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This article is about the 2005 Formula One season.
Table of contents |
Drivers and constructors
The following teams and drivers are currently competing in the 2005 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Driver changes
The most noticeable change to the 2005 season is its driver lineup — only 7 drivers are racing for the same team with which they began the 2004 season. Another 7 drivers have switched to new squads this year, which has also seen the return of 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve after nearly a year's absence. With Fisichella returning, in sorts, to Renault, he promises an interesting matchup for younger teammate Alonso. Other intriguing '05 driver pairings include: the fire and ice combination of Montoya and Räikkönen at McLaren; Webber and Heidfeld at Williams; and veterans Trulli and Ralf Schumacher at Toyota. There are also four rookie drivers in 2005: Christijan Albers, Tiago Monteiro, Patrick Friesacher, and Narain Karthikeyan (the first ever Indian F1 driver).
Team changes
Red Bull Racing, which has taken over the now-defunct Jaguar team, are running Cosworth engines this season. Red Bull's lead driver is veteran Scotsman David Coulthard, paired with Christian Klien, the '04 Jaguar driver. Red Bull has gotten off to a great start in 2005, scoring 11 points (one more than last year, as Jaguar) after the first two events. Jordan Grand Prix has been purchased by Midland Racing, although the team will still be known as Jordan until next year; they are running Toyota engines, but struggling to find pace. Sauber switched from Bridgestone to Michelin tyres over the winter, further severing their ties with the Ferrari team.
Rules changes
For a while, there existed a distinct possibility that some teams would be running three race cars per grand prix. (Fewer than 10 teams, or 20 cars, starting on the grid would have resulted in some teams running three cars, under an obscure term in the Concorde Agreement.) By the first round of the season, though, there were indeed the necessary ten teams, as Red Bull completed their takeover of Jaguar and were ready to race in Australia. Minardi, which initially received an injunction allowing them to compete despite their cars' non-conformity to new 2005 technical regulations, have since modified their cars to adhere to 2005 specs; Minardi, now competing in its twenty-first F1 season, remains a fixture on the Formula One grid.
- Qualifying
- The 2005 season also features a new qualifying format (marking the third year in five with sharply-revised qualifying rules). Qualifying is now determined by the aggregate times from two single-lap flying runs, one Saturday afternoon and one Sunday morning. Refueling will be allowed after the first qualifying run Saturday; however, the car must be fueled for the race for Sunday's qualifying. (Although some rules changes are brought about to even the playing field or to reduce costs, this rule change was prompted by the typhoon which rescheduled qualifying for the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix). Adverse weather conditions affecting either qualifying session will impact the final, aggregate time.
- Tyres
- A hugely significant change in 2005 is the absence of tyre changes during pit stops. Under new regulations, a driver must use just one set of tyres during qualifying and the race itself. Of course, tyre changes will be allowed for punctures and for wet weather, under the direction of the stewards. At the start of the season, team principals also agreed that a single tyre change per car could be made without penalty. Obviously, preserving a single set of tyres for the entire race has become a new challenge for drivers; the challenge for tyre manufactures has been to produce more durable, long-lasting compounds; thusfar, Michelin-shod runners appear to have an advantage over their Bridgestone counterparts.
- Engine life
- Formula One engines must now last two race weekends, up double from last year. If a driver needs an engine change before qualifying, then he is dropped 10 grid spaces for the race; if an engine requires changing during or after qualifying, then he must start from the back of the grid. Designed to limit revs and power outputs demanded by greater reliability, this regulation is also a cost-cutting measure for engine manufacturers. After the initial race of the season, the FIA acted to close a loophole in this new regulation exposed by BAR, who purposefully pitted their cars rather than finish the race.
- Aerodynamics
- The technical aerodynamics regulations have been modified to improve competition, especially for cars traveling in another car's aeroflow wake in order to overtake. By changing the size and placement of both front and rear wings, as well as requiring higher noses, the new rules attempted to reduce downforce by roughly one-quarter, but teams have developed other chassis innovations to reclaim much of that "lost" downforce.
Grand Prix calendar
The 2005 Formula One calendar features a new event in Turkey, just miles from the Europe-Asia dividing line. The newly-built circuit in Istanbul joins last season's newcomers Bahrain and China, which return for their second runnings this season. Furthermore, this season's calendar boasts 19 championship events — the most ever grands prix staged in a season. The 2005 season has also been witness to two of the hottest grands prix ever: the track temperature at the beginning of the Malaysian event was 51°C (124°F), while in Bahrain the mercury soared past 56°C (133°F).
Notes
- Anthony Davidson (BAR) raced in MAL for an ill Takuma Sato (fever, flu).
- Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren) raced in BAH for an injured Juan Pablo Montoya (non-racing shoulder injury); Alexander Wurz was third driver in place of de la Rosa. For 2005 San Marino Grand Prix, de la Rosa and Wurz swapped roles.
- Vitantonio Liuzzi replaced Christian Klien for 2005 San Marino Grand Prix and will do so until the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix.
Categories: Formula One seasons