Renault R25
Encyclopedia
The Renault R25 was the Formula One car
entered by Renault
in the 2005 season
.The car won both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in 2005, the first titles for any car racing with a French licence since the Matra MS80
's triumph in 1969
.
During the season, the car turned out to be slower than the McLaren MP4-20
at numerous points, with the win tally being 8-10. Reliability and consistency prevailed in the end, with Fernando Alonso
and Giancarlo Fisichella
taking the car to the last win and titles for a V10 powered Formula one car, marking the end of an era.
This car also claimed Michelin
's first (and also second-to-last) title since its return in Formula One, winning the title again with Renault (the R26
2006-spec car) in the 2006 season, the last for the French tyre maker. The car was also one of only two championship winners since 1991 not to have been designed by either Adrian Newey
or Rory Byrne
(the other, unsurprisingly, was its successor).
Over 19 races, it scored 191 points, 8 wins, 15 podiums and was fully out of the points only once in 18 starts (not counting the United States Grand Prix
where both Renault drivers, in common with all their fellow Michelin
tyre runners, withdrew prior to starting).
In Episode 8 of Series 10 of the BBC show Top Gear, presenter Richard Hammond
drove the R25 around Stowe Circuit at Silverstone
, completing two laps.
Formula One car
A modern Formula One car is a single-seat, open cockpit, open wheel racing car with substantial front and rear wings, and an engine positioned behind the driver. The regulations governing the cars are unique to the championship...
entered by Renault
Renault F1
Lotus Renault GP, formerly the Renault F1 Team, is a British Formula One racing team. The Oxfordshire-based team can trace its roots back through the Benetton team of the late 1980s and 1990s to the Toleman team of the early 1980s. Renault had also competed in various forms since , before taking...
in the 2005 season
2005 Formula One season
The 2005 Formula One season was the 56th FIA Formula One World Championship season, contested over a record 19 Grands Prix. It commenced on March 6, 2005, and ended October 16....
.The car won both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in 2005, the first titles for any car racing with a French licence since the Matra MS80
Matra MS80
The Matra MS80 was the fourth Formula One car produced by Matra . The Ford Cosworth DFV-powered car took Jackie Stewart to the Formula One World Championship title in 1969....
's triumph in 1969
1969 Formula One season
The 1969 Formula One season included the 20th FIA Formula One World Championship season, which commenced on March 1, 1969, and ended on October 19 after eleven races.-Season summary:...
.
During the season, the car turned out to be slower than the McLaren MP4-20
McLaren MP4-20
The McLaren MP4-20 is a Formula One racing car that was built by McLaren. It was designed by Adrian Newey and Mike Coughlan, and introduced at the beginning of the 2005 Formula One season.- New design :...
at numerous points, with the win tally being 8-10. Reliability and consistency prevailed in the end, with Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion, who is currently racing for Ferrari....
and Giancarlo Fisichella
Giancarlo Fisichella
Giancarlo Fisichella , also known as Fisico, Giano or Fisi, is an Italian racing driver. He has driven in Formula One for Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault, Force India and Ferrari. Nowadays, he drives for AF Corse's GT2 Ferrari in various sportscar events...
taking the car to the last win and titles for a V10 powered Formula one car, marking the end of an era.
This car also claimed Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
's first (and also second-to-last) title since its return in Formula One, winning the title again with Renault (the R26
Renault R26
The Renault R26 is a Formula One racing car, used by the Renault F1 team in the 2006 Formula One season. The car was driven by Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. Over the course of the season it scored 8 wins out of 18 races, and was the most complete package in most of the year, followed...
2006-spec car) in the 2006 season, the last for the French tyre maker. The car was also one of only two championship winners since 1991 not to have been designed by either Adrian Newey
Adrian Newey
Adrian Newey is a notable Formula One engineer and widely regarded one of the great engineers in the sport's history. He is the only designer to have won Constructors Championships with three different Formula One teams...
or Rory Byrne
Rory Byrne
Rory Byrne is a South African engineer and car designer, most famous for being the chief designer at the Benetton and Scuderia Ferrari Formula One teams....
(the other, unsurprisingly, was its successor).
Over 19 races, it scored 191 points, 8 wins, 15 podiums and was fully out of the points only once in 18 starts (not counting the United States Grand Prix
2005 United States Grand Prix
The 2005 United States Grand Prix was one of the most controversial Formula One motor races in modern history. It was held on June 19, 2005 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the ninth race of the 2005 Formula One season. Out of 20 cars entered for the race, only the six cars from the teams...
where both Renault drivers, in common with all their fellow Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
tyre runners, withdrew prior to starting).
In Episode 8 of Series 10 of the BBC show Top Gear, presenter Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
drove the R25 around Stowe Circuit at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
, completing two laps.