Sunday 24th April 2005

When Kimi Raikkonen’s McLaren did its 2005 party trick of breaking down while in the lead at the San Marino Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso was left in a comfortable lead and seemingly on his way to another easy win. However, Michael Schumacher had other ideas.
For probably the only time that season, the Ferrari F2005 was working its Bridgestone tyres perfectly and Schumacher was able to capitalise brilliantly. After starting down in 13th and being caught up in a Trulli Train for the first third of the race, he was finally able to make use of clear air to jump up to second after his pit stop, just behind Alonso. He’d been pumping in fastest lap after fastest lap, the best of which was eight tenths faster than anyone else and almost 1.3 seconds faster than Alonso. Even on the narrow twists and turns of Imola, he had plenty of time make a move and it looked certain that he’d find a way past.