Bahrain Grand Prix 2005 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Fernando Alonso secured his second consecutive victory with a dominant performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, extending his championship lead and confirming Renault's superiority in the early season. The Spaniard controlled the desert race from pole position, managing the punishing heat and abrasive Sakhir circuit perfectly to beat Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen in a race that saw Ferrari's struggles continue under the new tire regulations.

Starting from pole with a stunning lap of 1:32.054, Alonso made another flawless start and controlled the race from the front, never looking troubled despite the challenging conditions. The Bahrain International Circuit's abrasive surface and intense heat made tire management crucial, and Alonso's Michelin-shod Renault R25 handled the degradation far better than the Bridgestone-equipped rivals. Trulli delivered another strong performance to finish second for Toyota, marking the Japanese team's second consecutive runner-up finish and establishing them as best-of-the-rest behind Renault. Raikkonen secured his first podium of the season for McLaren, beginning what would become a remarkable late-season charge despite chronic reliability issues.

Pedro de la Rosa, substituting for the injured Juan Pablo Montoya at McLaren, set the fastest lap and demonstrated impressive pace, showcasing the MP4-20's speed when it stayed together. The Ferraris endured another difficult weekend, with both Schumacher and Barrichello struggling to match the pace of the Michelin runners. Ferrari's Bridgestone tires were clearly suffering under the no-tire-change regulations, degrading more rapidly and offering less consistent grip over race distances. Alonso's third consecutive podium finish and second win in as many races established him as the clear championship favorite, and his mature, mistake-free driving style was proving perfectly suited to the new regulations that rewarded consistency and tire management over outright speed.