Most Crucial Race Of Last Season?

[Dan Fielden]

In my view, It has to be San Marino. Pretty much the start of McLaren's reliablity issues in a mega quick car, 15+ Seconds ahead after 8 laps, and Alonso's great victory proving he could win the championship after recieving relentless pressure from Schumacher on the last 10 laps and holding him off for the win. It was then that people realy began to think Alonso could win the Title IMO. What do you think?

[Adam43]

As far as I was aware San Marino was worth 10 points like the other races?

However the big lead after this race meant McLaren had to go for it.

[BootsOntheSide]

Hockenheim, Nurburgring and Imola all saw Alonso extend his lead by 10 when it could have been reduced by 2, but I think Hockenheim was the real killer, as the McLaren had been reliable for a few races (albeit not for the whole weekend) at that point.

[Nintendo]

Nurburgring. It highlighted how good Raikkonen was, and him losing it prevented him from being chmpion, imo.

[dcp2685]

I think the Nurburgring really showcased what McLarens season was all about. Extremely quick car but highly delicate and unreliable. Both drivers making costly mistakes and also finding themselves caught up in the errors of other racers.

Alonso clinching the title was the most crucial though.

[Dutton]

Well, IMHO, the answer to the question, as it has been phrased, is all 19 were of equal importance.

However, to respond in the spirit of the question, as I have taken to be at least, I am not sure that one can really be singled out. Hrrrmmm.....

....if I was forced too....

...I will say Hockenheim - for the time being, at least.

[NO1SPECIAL]

Wherever the suspension collapsed on Kimi's car (the official F1 site doesn't appear to say). A definite 12-point turnaround and a crushing blow for Kimi's hopes.

[Louis B.]

Originally Posted by Dutton

Well, IMHO, the answer to the question, as it has been phrased, is all 19 were of equal importance.

Wrong! Indy was irrelevant insofar as concerns the fight between the Michelin runners.

[Dutton]

It affected their running positions in qualfying for the next race.

[jhansen]

I think the early races are what cost Mclaren. They were setting competitive race pace laps, but were suffering in qualifying. I remember KR saying on several occassions that they needed more pace in qualifying to capitalize on their race pace. If they wouldn't have been in a hole to start with they could have took both titles.

[Dan Fielden]

i was under the impression that i had learned how to word things on this forum but obviously some people like to have digs. Im just trying to start an off-season discussion. It came about because i was watching the season review there the other day and San Marino was in "MY OPINION" a defining race of the season. 1) Alonso's great performance which was carried on throughout the year with many great races, it was also a race when McLaren and Raikkonen began to flounder, it was a race that pointed out serious Michelin domination with the exception of Schumacher's ferrari.
To me it set a trend which carried on throughout the year and more than most it proved Alonso could get the job done it the most extreme circumstances.

I was only wondering if you had views like mine on other races. ITS OBVIOUS ALL 19 WERE CRUCIAL IN TERMS OF CHAMPIONSHIP

[Mekola]

IMHO the crucial races of 2005 were two:

- Nürburgring reflected the situation of both title contenders: Alonso with his reliability and Raikkonen with his bravery.
- And Indy reflected the political conflict at the inner places of F1 world. It resembled me the FISA-FOCA war of 1980-82.

[Jordi]

Originally Posted by NO1SPECIAL

Wherever the suspension collapsed on Kimi's car (the official F1 site doesn't appear to say). A definite 12-point turnaround and a crushing blow for Kimi's hopes.

It was Nürburgring. Results show Kimi classified in 10th or 11th, one lap down.

I think Hockenheim was quite a blow. It was later on the season and it was just so... He had kind of provoked the suspension failure at Nürburgring, not so at Hockenheim.

[Jordi]

Originally Posted by Mekola

IMHO the crucial races of 2005 were two:

- Nürburgring reflected the situation of both title contenders: Alonso with his reliability and Raikkonen with his bravery.
- And Indy reflected the political conflict at the inner places of F1 world. It resembled me the FISA-FOCA war of 1980-82.

This is very true too. Indy reminded us that anything can happen in F1 and it usually does, in the most ugly of ways. We're in 2005 but things like that still happen...

[safc_fan89]

In terms of the title race, Nurburgring killed off any chance of it being close.

[cmifsud]

Monza put the final stake through the heart of Mclaren's title challenge. Although, Nurburgring summed up the season in many ways.

[maltafan]

Originally Posted by cmifsud

Monza put the final stake through the heart of Mclaren's title challenge. Although, Nurburgring summed up the season in many ways.

I think Nurburgring was the vital. If kimi won that day, he would have gained 12 points over Alonso, thus making the season easier for FA.

By the way, anyone seen the Official f1 review? There is a nice shot of the tyres degrading because of the suspension and a nice front view of the actual failure.

[Yoong Montoya]

Originally Posted by maltafan

I think Nurburgring was the vital. If kimi won that day, he would have gained 12 points over Alonso, thus making the season easier for FA.

Actually, I'd say Hockenheim was way more crucial. You could sense Kimi's title hopes disappearing that very day - after that race he was 32 points down with just 7 races left. If he'd won that race, he could have only been 10 points behind Fernando going into Turkey, and had a real shot at winning the thing.

[Menelaos]

Hockenheim for me. If Kimi won 2 points instead of losing 10, McLaren wouldn't have to push their car and driver beyond limits.

[BootsOntheSide]

McLaren were already pushing beyond the limit by Hockenheim - and all because of those early races.