Fernando Clinches the Title
Brazilian Grand Prix

By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

On September 25th, 2005, Fernando Alonso became the youngest winner of the Formula One Driver's Championship by finishing third in this weekend's race. McLaren ruled the day with a one-two finish, but the Renault driver was able to mathematically seal the deal. The Woking-based team's result did help Darth Vader's team get closer to the possibility of winning the constructor's championship, but all Ron Dennis could do after the race was whine about how the backmarkers spoiled it for Kimi. Never once did the fact that if the car was a bit faster (or reliable) the Finn would be able to get around the back markers better come up. Oh well, at least that part of Mr. Dennis hasn't changed.

Juan Pablo Montoya ended up winning the only South American race of the season for two years in a row now, and the Colombian finished a little over two seconds ahead of his Finnish team-mate. Both more or less cruised to victory once the race was restarted after the melee between David Coulthard and both BMW-Williams drivers that brought out the safety car. Pizzonia was out as a result, but Webber would continue on and eventually drop out. Not exactly the kind of results that most people named Button would want to join next year.

Michael Schumacher

The race itself was more or less boring with a few highlights that made the TV producers happy, but it was more or less a lapping session waiting on pit strategies. Fourth place went to outgoing world champion Michael Schumacher who showed that while the Ferrari wasn't the fastest car of the session, he could still stay out in front of the Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella. Rubens was further back, but still on the same lap showing that the Scuderia may not have challenged this year, but they were the best of the rest.

The last two points paying positions went to Japanese teams. Jenson Button would give Honda bragging rights over Toyota by finishing seventh ahead of Ralf Schumacher (who's points paying position probably kept some executive smiling that the money spent on his salary was worth it, regardless of what Mika Salo or Alan McNish did for much less a few years ago...).

Klien didn't impress as many people when the final flag fell, but he's doing pretty well in what can be considered an average car. At least he finished the race, which is more than can be said of his more experienced team-mate.

Rubens Barrichello

Speaking of matching team-mates, Massa finished ahead of Villeneuve, again. Not that it would surprise anyone.

As for the rest of them, well, just a few mothers out there care. And I'm pretty sure that they were watching the race and not trying to get the results here.

The pundits will all start to come out of the woodwork now and claim that the rule changes hurt Ferrari and the "sport" now has someone else to cheer for besides Michael Schumacher. But those that really follow the sport know that it took Flabio ten years to build the team back up to win the championship after a certain Herr Schumacher left along with most of the top design staff...

There are others that aren't happy about the championship ending this "early", mainly the promoters of the Japanese and Chinese Grand Prix. They were hoping that it would go down to the end of the season so that there was still "a show". Now the Chinese officials are hoping that the constructor's championship isn't wrapped up in Japan (ticket sales are down from last year's inaugural race).

Well, the fat lady has started belting out a tune, all that is left is to figure out if Renault can get both titles or if Ron will actually smile for once. For the promoters' sake, let's hope it's a long song.