2005 Monaco Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads after winning three of the last four races, with Räikkönen’s first win of 2005 coming in Spain.

Previous race

Räikkönen took Spain from pole at a blistering pace, setting fastest lap thirteen times in the first 24 laps. Alonso managed tyres to finish second. Trulli completed the podium. Schumacher retired with a tyre failure, his third of the year. BAR were absent serving their two-race ban.

Between-race developments

The Monegasque princely family will not attend the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time in the race’s history, following the death of Prince Rainier III in April.

BAR serve the second and final race of their suspension from San Marino. Jenson Button joins the ITV broadcast team as a guest co-commentator for this race.

Entrants

BAR are absent for the second consecutive round.

Practice

In practice, Christijan Albers loses his Minardi at turn four and crashes. On a separate incident, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve, David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher all crash at Beau Rivage. Montoya is judged by the stewards to be the cause and is required to start the race from the back of the grid.

Red Bull run a Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith livery for this race, with the pit crew dressed as Imperial Stormtroopers.