The German Grand Prix - Alonso Wins!

Ed · Post by Ed » Sat Jul 23, 2005 9:58 pm

Qualifying - Top 8 - Raikkonen, Button, Alonso, Fisichella, M Schumacher, Webber, Heidfeld and Sato

Full results - Commentary

Ed · Post by Ed » Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:41 pm

Pole setter Kimi Raikkonen said "I am happy to be on pole which is the position that the team deserves after all the hard work. Surprisingly the car wasn't handling as well as in free practice this morning. My qualifying performance wasn't perfect as I had a short moment when I slid a little too much at the second to last corner due to oversteer. Anyway it's good to start from pole position, but I expect a tough race tomorrow. Unfortunately Juan Pablo has to start from the back following his off. Obviously I would have liked him to start from the front row to make it the optimum result for the team today, but that is motor racing."

Team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya will start from 19th after spinning on his flying lap. He said "There is no excuse really. I made a mistake and simply lost the car. It was going to be a really quick lap, possibly pole and I thought all that is left now is to get a good exit out of the last corner. As I lifted, I lost the rear and that was it. I'm really upset for the team as everybody has been working so hard to make a one-two possible, and it really is important for us in the Championship. The car definitely has the potential. I will just have to give it my all in the race tomorrow and hope for the best to try and make it up to the team."

Full McLaren Team and Drivers quotes available here

danilen1 · Post by **danilen1** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:12 am

anyone got a weather report for tomorrows race? We should probably know now whether or not it will be wet...

Ed · Post by Ed » Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:20 am

Jenson Button who qualified second on the grid said "I'm obviously delighted to be on the front row again - for the second race in a row. The team have done a fantastic job to make sure we took a step forward here after Silverstone and Honda have made good progress with the engine. It was a good lap for me today, although we did have a little too much front end on the car which meant I had a few moments, especially coming into the stadium. We have made progress since Silverstone but not quite enough to challenge the front runners yet, I don't think. We will be closer though and happy with that because it provides us with momentum to keep moving forward throughout the year. This is actually the first time I've started inside the top twelve here so it is nice to be on the front row and hopefully we can take advantage of that in the race tomorrow."

His team-mate Takuma Sato qualified 8th and said "I'm pleased with my lap considering that I was one of the first drivers out on the track. It's always a disadvantage running early in the session but I'm pleased with how it went. We had a good morning's preparation and I think our race pace and strategy should be good for tomorrow"

Full BAR Honda Team and Driver quotes available here

Byron Forbes · Post by **Byron Forbes** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:40 am

I wonder what Jenson's attitude is toward a move to Williams at present?

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:14 pm

Raikkonen is quick but watch Alonso's start

Fisichella will follow while Mr Spin Montoya will charge through the field but will spin again

Everyone else is light especially Michael

Enjoy the best 2 drivers out there fight it out while it lasts (I'd say 20 laps before Raikkonen is sidelined

)
I hope that doesn't happen but that is what I feel will happen

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:26 pm

JayVee wrote:Raikkonen is quick but watch Alonso's start
Fisichella will follow while Mr Spin Montoya will charge through the field but will spin again

Everyone else is light especially Michael

Enjoy the best 2 drivers out there fight it out while it lasts (I'd say 20 laps before Raikkonen is sidelined )
I hope that doesn't happen but that is what I feel will happen

If Webber is light how come he was bottoming out

Ed · Post by Ed » Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:35 pm

Team and Driver post qualifying quotes now available here

FIA Post Qualifying Press Conferences with Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso now available here

Ed · Post by Ed » Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:37 pm

danilen1 wrote:anyone got a weather report for tomorrows race? We should probably know now whether or not it will be wet...

The weather for the race is expected to be 20 degrees and mostly cloudy. There is a small chance of rain especially towards the end of the race.

danilen1 · Post by **danilen1** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 7:13 pm

mmmn, was just looking at a weather forecast on itv.com/f1 and lght showers are expected, i guess its gonna be a dry one..
could still be interesting to see how the race between kimi and alonso progresses, althou im pretty sure kimi will walk it if he doesnt have any problems....
my guess is schumey for 3rd - fisi always seems to have some ridiculous problem at the most crucial time !?!

Ed · Post by Ed » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:00 am

Alonso wins after Raikkonen retires with a mechanical problem. Montoya finished second after starting from the back while Jenson Button was 3rd. Fisichella, M Schumacher, R Schumacher, Coulthard and Massa make the top 8/

Full Results - Commentary

Ed · Post by Ed » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:10 am

FIA Post Race press conference now available here

Ed · Post by Ed » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:21 am

Race Winner Fernando Alonso said:

I am delighted with this victory. We saw McLaren dominate this weekend, and knew it would be tough to beat them in the race, even though our pace was much closer than in qualifying. So to win here in Germany is a good surprise but we all know that the race is 70 laps long, and you don't get any prizes for being fastest until half-distance. The car was reliable all weekend, as it has been throughout the season, and we know we have to find some more performance: that will start with new pieces for Hungary. In terms of the race, it was quite straightforward ? the biggest problem today, like in Silverstone, was with the blue flags which were not being shown to the lapped traffic. After Kimi retired, it was quite easy to manage the gap to the others, and control the race, so it was not the most exciting win. But I think it was an important afternoon for the team, because we increased the lead to McLaren as well, and it puts us in a strong position for Hungary in a week's time

Full Renault Team and Drivers quotes available here

Ed · Post by Ed » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:38 am

Second placed Juan Pablo Montoya said:

A good day for me but a frustrating one for Kimi. I hope the result made up a bit for the mistake I made yesterday. It was tough because of all the hard work everybody has been putting in. Anyway, I gained eight places on the first lap which was very good and then settled down a bit behind the next four cars to save some fuel as there was no need to take any risks as I knew there would be a good chance to pass during the pitstops. To start so far back was an experience I would rather not repeat as I couldn't even see the lights and just moved when the other cars moved. The balance of my car was perfect, and we were able to put in a strong performance. The strategy was spot on and allowed me to push during the race especially when I had the chance to get ahead of Button and Schumacher following their second stops. Without yesterday's mistake, which put me at the back of the grid, a race win would have been possible

Full McLaren Mercedes Team and Driver quotes are available here

Ed · Post by Ed » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:43 am

Third placed Jenson Button said:

It's fantastic to be back on the podium today after a great race for me and the team. I don't need to tell anyone what a tough season this has been for us and it's a great feeling to come away from here with a trophy for the guys who've worked so hard to get us up there today. I didn't get a great start and obviously Michael was able to pass me. In the first stint I worried that I might not be able to catch him but then he seemed to lose a bit of pace and I just kept pushing and pushing until I had my chance. I had to keep pushing hard because I knew he was stopping later than me, but in the end I was able to keep him behind for the rest of the race. Catching Juan Pablo was always going to be a different matter though. For us it was just a great race and I enjoyed every minute because I could push the car all the way. It's a huge boost to everyone at the Team, Honda and Michelin and my thanks to all of them

Full BAR Honda Team and Driver quotes are available here