2005 Chinese Grand Prix

Championship standings

After Japan, Alonso leads the Drivers’ Championship by 19 points over Räikkönen and 61 over Schumacher. Renault lead the Constructors’ Championship by two points over McLaren, with Ferrari 76 points further back. The constructors’ title is the last prize left to be settled on the final weekend.

Previous race

Räikkönen won Japan in a breathtaking late charge, passing Fisichella for the lead on the final lap to claim his seventh win of the season after starting seventeenth. Alonso came through from sixteenth to take a third-place podium, with an overtake on Schumacher around the outside of the 130R corner. Montoya retired after a first-lap crash triggered by Villeneuve squeezing him onto the gravel; Villeneuve was given a 25-second time penalty. Sato was disqualified for causing the retirement of Trulli on lap 10.

Between-race developments

This is the final race for the BAR, Minardi and Jordan teams in their current form. All three continue into 2006 under new names: BAR as Honda, Minardi as Scuderia Toro Rosso, and Jordan as Midland F1.

This is the final race with Jim Rosenthal as ITV’s Formula One anchor in the United Kingdom, a role he held since ITV took over coverage in 1997. On BBC Radio 5 Live, this is Ben Edwards’ last race as commentary lead.

Circuit

This is the second Chinese Grand Prix since the event’s debut in 2004.