Alonso Seals Maiden Championship in Thrilling F1 2005 Season

Alonso became the youngest world champion, securing his maiden win on the 25th September 2005.

In a three-way battle for the championship, it was a fight amongst Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso and the 7-time reigning world champion Micheal Schumacher for the 2005 title.

 

Going into Belgium, Alonso led the championship. After a pointless weekend at Monza, Schumacher fell further behind in the championship. Hope wasn’t lost for Schumacher, as he went into a track with a lot of history for the German driver. A track where Schumacher made his debut at in 1991, won in 1992 and claimed his record-breaking seventh title the previous season in 2004.

 

For Alonso at the top of the championship with 103 points, he would need to finish the weekend with 4 more points than Raikkonen to maintain title dreams. Raikkonen, driving for McLaren-Mercedes took a second consecutive win at the track, Alonso trailing close behind up until the chequered flag to finish in P2. It was a DNF for Schumacher, Schumacher’s last point finish coming in Hungary a few races earlier, this would be a weekend that would deny Schumacher the chance to extend his record and legacy in the sport.

 

Schumacher unsurprised, commented “It is not surprising that it has happened. What is more surprising is that so much time has gone by before it has come to pass.”

 

Going into round 17 in Brazil, with two races remaining in the season, Alonso extended his lead in the championship to 111 points, Räikkönen trailing behind with 86 points. Schumacher ran in P3, though contention of a title was over, Schumacher holding 55 points, 31 points behind Räikkönen.

 

Alonso challenging for pole, qualified in P3 with Massa taking pole. Räikkönen qualified behind in P5. As they sped past to take the chequered flag it was a 1-2 finish for McLaren-Mercedes led by Juan Pablo Montoya, followed by Räikkönen in P2.

 

 Alonso concluded the podium in P3, but that was enough for Alonso to end the championship battle and set the record of becoming the youngest F1 world champion at 24 years and 58 days. A record that would later be broken in 2010 by a young Sebastian Vettel at 23 years and 134 days.