2005 Australian Grand Prix

Entrants

Eight of the ten entered teams arrive in Melbourne with entirely new 2005 chassis. Ferrari and Minardi are the exceptions, opting to begin the season with modified versions of their 2004 cars adapted to comply with the new technical regulations.

Minardi’s presence was in doubt until the last moment. The team initially sought an injunction allowing them to race in 2004 specification, but after the FIA refused, they dropped their legal action and modified the PS04B to meet the 2005 rules.

This race marks the debut of Red Bull Racing, the team formed from the former Jaguar Racing operation purchased by Red Bull GmbH over the winter.

Qualifying

The season introduces a new aggregate qualifying format: grid positions are determined by the combined time of two single-lap runs — one on Saturday afternoon and one Sunday morning — with cars fuelled for the race for the Sunday session.

Practice

The opening free practice session is dominated by Vitantonio Liuzzi, appearing at his first Grand Prix weekend as Red Bull’s reserve driver. Twenty-two cars participate, with reserve drivers de la Rosa (McLaren), Ricardo Zonta (Toyota), Robert Doornbos (Jordan) and Liuzzi filling in. Neither Minardi runs. Narain Karthikeyan’s engine blows after six laps. Michael Schumacher does not take part.

In the second session, Pedro de la Rosa and Kimi Räikkönen put their McLarens fastest ahead of Nick Heidfeld and Schumacher. Liuzzi spins at turn three and abandons his car in the gravel. Karthikeyan receives a US$6,750 fine for speeding in the pitlane during his first ever practice session, clocking 86.2 km/h. Again neither Minardi runs.

Overnight rain leaves a wet track for the third practice session. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello lead for Ferrari, ahead of Räikkönen. The Minardis run for the first time, though Christijan Albers spins on his final lap at Turn 3. None of the Sauber, Williams or Renault drivers set a lap time.

In the fourth session, the damp conditions produce scattered times but Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso fight for fastest, the Finn coming out best. Juan Pablo Montoya goes third ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella and Jenson Button. Karthikeyan spins at turn nine, abandons his car and it briefly catches fire.