2005 French Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads Räikkönen and Schumacher after Indianapolis. Only the six Bridgestone cars competed at the United States Grand Prix, with all fourteen Michelin-shod entrants withdrawing before the start following unresolved tyre safety concerns at Turn 13.

Previous race

The United States Grand Prix was run by six cars. All Michelin-shod teams completed the formation lap then retired to the pit lane, leaving Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi to race. Schumacher won ahead of Barrichello. Tiago Monteiro took third for Jordan — the team’s first podium — and Karthikeyan fourth. Jordan and Minardi scored points, their first of the season. The result provoked widespread condemnation of the sport and calls for the future of the US Grand Prix to be reconsidered.

Between-race developments

Peter Sauber announces that BMW have acquired the majority share of the Sauber team from Credit Suisse, with BMW’s factory team set to race under the BMW Sauber name from 2006.

Formula One returns to Europe for what becomes the busiest month in its 56-year history, with Magny-Cours the first of four races across five weekends in July.

Practice

At the start of the weekend, McLaren and Renault set the fastest times across both Friday practice sessions. However, Räikkönen suffers an engine failure during practice, using a new-specification Mercedes V10, and will drop ten grid positions as a result. Renault post the two fastest times in Saturday practice by over a second, though only nine cars run in the session. Fisichella is quickest in the final practice session before qualifying, with Räikkönen close behind.