What was "THE HIGHLIGHT MOMENT" of 2005 in F1

[Bononi]

Ok, it's award time ! We'll be using this topic to nominate the 5 candidates of "Highlight moment" in F1.
Please, no debate, no arguing, just nominate it and explain why. It doesn't care if it's good or bad, just consider it had an effect in the season that highlighted it.



You got it smart brains, now choose it !

[Sodemo]

The best moment was those 5 adverts I had to watch instead of the conclusion of the thrilling Imola showdown

[TwoSheds]

TGFs exit from the China GP. It just about summed up his year!

[krt917]

There were quite a number of highlights for me this season, but I guess the main ones were:
1. Alonso holding off Schuey at Imola. For me, it showed that Alonso had brains as well as pace, and could withstand a lot of pressure, which some people had previously doubted;
2. The Japanese GP. There were several good races this year, but that was almost certainly the best. Fantastic to see great drives from KR, FA, MS, and MW;
3. Chinese GP. Not a great race, but I see it as a highlight because it meant the season ended with 7 wins each for Kimi and Fernando.

[Kirk]

Are we looking for the highlight or the turning point? I think that Kimi's suspension failure on the final lap must be right up there. A controversial gamble to stay out despite a severely flat spotted tyre, was the dfference in the end, between Kimi winning the WDC or losing it.

[Sodemo]

Joking aside, I think the emergence of Nick Heidfeld as a top driver. Not a primadonna or a driver who has an ego, almost an "everyman" for want of a better word.
Good to see he has a top drive, well at least a top team for 2006.

[SpawnyWhippet]

Easy. Alonso passing MS at 130R in Japan

[Inigo Montoya]

Sorry to pick a negative highlight (i.e. a lowlight ) but I have to go with Indy. It summed up all that is wrong with F1, and made it clear that if F1 is to survive, there has to be less bickering amongst the team bosses, and a single tyre manufacturer.

[maltafan]

Kimi is involved in my 2 preferred incidents of 2005:

The last lap at Hockenheim with Kimi's suspension failure & the last lap in Japan with Kimi overtaking Fisi

[BootsOntheSide]

Hopefully Indy won't prove to be the most significant moment of the season in the long term. For pure excitement value I would suggest Alonso passing Michael at 130R, for significance in terms of how the season unfolded it would be Nurburgring or Hockenheim, but perhaps the biggest clue to interpret what unfolded was Fernando's dominant pace in China once off the leash with the title clinched.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

Sorry to pick a negative highlight (i.e. a lowlight ) but I have to go with Indy. It summed up all that is wrong with F1, and made it clear that if F1 is to survive, there has to be less bickering amongst the team bosses, and a single tyre manufacturer.

For me, Indy was a positive.

It summed up that if you turn up with equipment that won't last to the rules, you can't just go crying to the FIA and get the rules changed for the weekend.

It showed that, for once, sport was considered more important than "the show".

[Knowlesy]

There was a sport that day?

My highlights were:

1) Suzuka, a thrilling race.
2) Imola, a super showdown between the past and the future kings.
3) Montoyas exhilirating Brazil win and being present at his Silverstone victory.
4) Raikkonen's qualifying lap at Monza.
5) Ferrari's struggle amongst their arrogance.

[Stargazer7]

Originally Posted by Andydickens

Easy. Alonso passing MS at 130R in Japan

I agree. I totally agree...

[Mr V]

Indy, and Michelin standing upto the FIA and pulling in it's 14 cars, not that it made for the best race ever

[garcon]

My highlight is the battle for the lead at Imola, between Alonso and a resurgent Schumacher. Probably no coincidence that this was Ferrari's finest hour of the season, but at least I'm honest about it.

Two things were there for all to see that day, and early in the season too.

Michael was eager to fight for the supremacy he has enjoyed for so long, and made the most of the only chance the car gave him this season. That's what makes me think he'll be back to fight again in 2006.

More than that though, Fernando Alonso came of age. I genuinely think he won the WDC that day - after that performance he never looked back, he knew he had no-one to fear.

Still haven't seen the Japanese GP, so I can't comment on his pass round the outside of 130R. It sounds scary just imagining it!

[Alwaysfirst]

1)Alonso on Schumacher through 130R
2)Alonso holding off Schumacher at Imola
3)Raikkonen on Fisichella last lap Suzuka

[chillibowl]

so many to choose from.
MS pole at the Hungarian GP. close to 1 sec faster than JPM (who Quali 2nd) and not just down to just a low fuel. it totally came out of no where. maybe the most impressive quali lap considering the car and the bridgestones lack of pace over one lap.

[chillibowl]

maybe a little off topic, but also the war of words between stoddart and mosley. for me one of the most entertaining ongoing stories of the year

[KE30MAN]

Suzuka. The entire race. I was glued to the set, it was jsust fantastic.

The Williams boys chasing down Fernando at Monaco I also enjoyed.

[Dixie Flatline]

Formula One-wise, my personal highlight was having a photo taken with JV at the Australian Grand Prix. Then Fernando thanked my wife for her message of congratulations post-race.

Overall, the Japanese Grand Prix went a long way towards restoring faith in Formula One - we saw overtaking, we saw skilful driving, we saw a battle for the lead. With the gloves taken off after Alonso claiming the championship at Brazil, this was a race that had everything everybody needed.

Imola in some ways was a symbolic changing of the guard - so often in the past, Schumi would take pole and drive off into the distance, usually with Rubens as No. 2. But Imola showed that if you're mentally tough enough you can outlast him. Kudos to Fernando to achieving that, as well as a good race for Button, only to be marred by BAR's bending of the rules.

[Stargazer7]

Originally Posted by garcon

Still haven't seen the Japanese GP, so I can't comment on his pass round the outside of 130R. It sounds scary just imagining it!

Its one of these overtakes that will be written in history's book with golden letters! And I am a huge Ferrari fan..

[Grandprix]

5 highlights is it? Okay...

In no particular order:

1) Raikkonen's flat spot/suspension breakage at the Nurburgring
2) The Japanese Grand Prix in it's entirety
3) Alonso winning the World Championship (When I first saw him drive in 2001 was it, I knew he'd win the title within 5 years, so I was right)
4) Renault winning the Constructors Championship after a great return to form at the Chinese GP.
5) Probably Alonso holding off Schumacher at Imola to take the win.

If you took the Japanese Grand Prix in pieces, it would probably take 4 of the 5 spots, maybe even all of them.

[mac]

Qualifying:
Schumacher at Hungary
Honourable mention to Heidfeld at Nurburgring

Grands Prix:
Japanese GP
Belgian GP
San Marino GP

Other:
The Ralf, Webber and Heidfeld battle at Sepang was a corker.
Alonso and Michael at Imola.

[senna12]

It's probably more of a low-light, but watching the Michelin runners pull into the pits after the formation lap at Indy was probably the most stunning moment of the year for me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

[Skam85]

1) Alonso holding of Michael at Imola

2) Indy GP and seeing how happy Tiago was when he got the podium

3) Alonso's pass on Michael thru 130R

4) Being at the Aussie GP, and the funny funny moment when JV went out on dries and spun on his installation lap, just saving it from htting the wall. I remember saying to my tifosi friends, "If only the Italian goalkeeper could save that well".

5) Me winning the Fans Comp