Formula One News — October 2005

OCTOBER 16, 2005

Race Results

Chinese GP - Race Results

Schumacher and Albers collide!

Michael Schumacher and Christijan Albers collided at speed as they were driving their cars to the grid before the start of the Chinese Grand Prix. Both cars were seriously damaged and both men will now switch to spare cars but will have to start the race from the pitlane.

Katherine Legge to test F1 car

Britain's top female racer Katherine Legge is to test for the Minardi team at Vallelunga at the end of next month. The 25-year-old from Northampton will be the first woman to have a meaningful F1 test since the days of Giovanna Amati back 1991.

Formula One gets a theme park

Formula One Administration has announced a deal with Dubai's Union Properties for the establishment of a F1-theme park in Dubai. The plan is for Formula One World to be located at the MotorCity in Dubai.

Honda to stick with the IRL

Honda has announced that it will continue to supply engines to the Indy Racing League until the end of 2009. The announcement will come as a major boost for the series following the withdrawal of Toyota and Chevrolet.

OCTOBER 15, 2005

Qualifying Report - A game of double strategy

The qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix was all about race strategy. It was clear that Renault would need to have a plan to stop Kimi Raikkonen taking off and winning the race.

Saturday Photos

Chinese GP - Saturday Photos

Saturday Press Conference

Chinese GP - Saturday Press Conference

Saturday Team Quotes

Chinese GP - Saturday Team Quotes

Jani joins Red Bull roster

Red Bull GmbH has confirmed the takeover of Minardi on November 1 and has announced that the team will be called Squadra Toro Rosso (Team Red Bull in Italian).

Coca-Cola and Formula 1

The idea of a Coca-Cola sponsorship in Formula 1 is to some extent at least a logical move.

Qualifying Results

Chinese GP - Qualifying Results

The second Honda team

There were rumours circulating in Shanghai that the second Honda engined team will involve Italy's Daniele Audetto, who was in the paddock on Saturday. Our sources in Japan continue to insist that while others may be involved in Europe, the money and the team principal will be Japanese.

Saturday practice - Kimi's aims for number eight

Kimi Raikkonen may not be able to win the World Championship this season but if all goes well on Sunday the Finn can score his eighth victory of the year, help McLaren win the Constructors' Championship and make the point that but for mechanical failures the Drivers' World Championship would have been his.

Practice 4 Results

Chinese GP - Practice 4 Results

Practice 3 Results

Chinese GP - Practice Session 3 Results

OCTOBER 14, 2005

Practice 2 Report - A grey day in Shanghai

The McLaren team dominated an overcast day of action in Shanghai with test driver Pedro de la Rosa coming out at the top of the timesheets, just clear of Toyota test driver Ricardo Zonta. The two testers were a full second clear of the nearest challenger, Kimi Raikkonen.

Friday Press Conference

Chinese GP - Friday Press Conference

Friday Photos

Chinese GP - Friday Photos

Friday Team Quotes

Chinese GP - Friday Team Quotes

Credit Suisse joins BMW Motorsport

Credit Suisse has confirmed that it will be remaining as a major sponsor of the BMW Motorsport when the Munich car company takes over Sauber. Peter Sauber will be an advisor for Credit Suisse and will attend four races a year.

Squadra Toro Rosso

The new Red Bull-owned Minardi team is to be renamed Squadra Toro Rosso. The team, which will be run by former BMW Motorsport man Franz Tost, will be renamed after the takeover of Minardi is completed on November 1.

Practice 2 Results

Chinese GP - Practice Session 2 Results

Practice 1 Report - McLaren on top as ever

Pedro de la Rosa set the pace at the start of practice for the Chinese Grand Prix with a best lap that was 1.8secs clear of the rest of the Formula 1 field, indicating that the order of those behind him was not very significant.