The 2005 season

Renault Ends the Red Era

A ban on tire changes left Ferrari behind, and Fernando Alonso's consistency beat Kimi Räikkönen's fast but fragile McLaren to give Renault its first title.

Two rule changes rearranged the order. Tires could no longer be changed during a race, so one set had to last from qualifying to the checkered flag, and every engine had to survive two race weekends. Ferrari, on Bridgestones, never found the balance between speed and durability that the Michelin teams struck, and after five years in charge the champions spent a season, a then record nineteen Grands Prix long, in the supporting cast.

The calendar

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