San Marino Grand Prix 2005 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Fernando Alonso delivered a masterful performance at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, holding off a charging Michael Schumacher in an epic final-lap battle to claim his third victory of the season in front of Ferrari's passionate home crowd. The race produced one of the closest finishes in Formula 1 history, with Alonso crossing the line just 0.2 seconds ahead of the seven-time world champion after a thrilling duel that showcased both drivers at their absolute finest and demonstrated that Ferrari was beginning to fight back.

Starting from third on the grid behind Kimi Raikkonen's pole position, Alonso drove a tactically brilliant race, positioning himself perfectly in the opening laps before taking the lead and managing his Michelin tires expertly. Schumacher, starting from the second row, drove one of his greatest races in a Ferrari that was clearly improving. The German set the fastest lap and hunted down Alonso relentlessly in the closing stages, setting up a breathtaking final-lap showdown through Imola's challenging corners. Schumacher threw everything at the Renault, getting within striking distance multiple times, but Alonso defended brilliantly without putting a wheel wrong, holding off the Ferrari legend by the narrowest of margins to claim an emotionally charged victory on Ferrari soil.

Alex Wurz secured a surprise podium for McLaren, substituting for the injured Juan Pablo Montoya and delivering a mature, consistent drive that demonstrated his racecraft. Raikkonen's McLaren retired from the lead with yet another mechanical failure, continuing the reliability woes that would plague his season despite having one of the fastest cars. The race marked a turning point for Ferrari - while they lost, Schumacher's performance and near-victory showed they were adapting to the tire regulations and closing the gap to Renault. For Alonso, the victory was a statement win, proving he could defend under immense pressure from the sport's greatest driver at Ferrari's home race. The triumph extended his championship lead and reinforced his credentials as a worthy challenger to end Ferrari's dominance.