2005

From lap 50 onwards, the F2005 with the number 1 painted on its side looms large in Fernando Alonso’s rear view mirror. Michael dodges to the side here, tries to pass there. The fans are totally mesmerised by the last twelve laps. In the end, Michael crosses the finishing line just two-tenths of a second behind the Spaniard. Afterwards, he analyses how he worked his way up from 13th on the grid to finish second: “There were some places where I could have tried but there was never enough in it. All I could do once I was finally on his tail was to keep pushing and hope that he would make an error. Unfortunately, he didn’t oblige. He never faltered. Anyway, it was terrific fun. Imola was the highlight of a remarkable season.”

A season in which Michael is to win only one single race, albeit a race that doesn’t necessarily qualify under the ’highlight’ category. In Indianapolis there are only six cars on the starting line: the two Ferraris of Michael and team-mate Rubens Barrichello, the two Jordans and the two Minardis. All the Michelin drivers return to the pits after the warm-up lap: in view of the tyre damage suffered in free practice, the danger is deemed to be too great. Michael wins ahead of Barrichello and Tiago Monteiro.

A tough battle

As in 2003 and 2004, Ferrari begin the season with last year’s model. During the winter months, the F2004 M has undergone a radical overhaul. The new regulations demand a trimming of the aerodynamics, engines that will last for two race weekends and long-life tyres that the teams are not allowed to change during the race. As early as the first race of the season in Australia, Michael finds out just how tricky these new rules are going to be. After qualifying in very rainy conditions, having to change his engine and suffering the consequent penalty, he finds himself at the back of the grid. Following a collision with Nick Heidfeld, he doesn’t even get to see the chequered flag.

In Malaysia too, things don’t go according to plan: P7 is the best he can manage with last year’s revamped vehicle. Michael started the previous season with five wins in five races. This time round, he has just one solitary point to show for two outings. Bahrain sees the debut of the new F2005, slightly earlier than planned, but a problem with the hydraulics forces Michael to retire, the first time a technical fault has taken him out of a race since Hockenheim in 2001.