Length: 3.340 km
Number of Laps: 78 (260.520 Km)
Best Lap: M. Schumacher - 1'14''439 (2004, Ferrari)
Record Pole: J. Tarno - 1'13''985 (2004, Renault)
2005 Pole: F. Alonso - 1'16''281 (Renault)
2005 Podium: K. Raikkonen - N. Heidfeld - M. Webber

The first session produced the only red flag of the hour as Felipe Massa hit the wall early in the session, immediately relegating one Ferrari to the back of the grid. Relegated also were the two Super Aguris, of Takuma Sato and Franck Montagny, as expected, and, sadly, the two Midland M16’s of Christian Albers and Tiago Monteiro, all promise from this morning vanishing in the heat of competition.

An unfortunate misinterpretation of a radio communication resulted in Scott Speed pitting when he still had time for a ‘hot’ lap, hence losing any chance in an instant, and so the bottom six of the grid was set.

Surprise of the first session had been the pace of the Toyota pair who, this morning, seemed to be struggling to match even the Aguri’s. Jarno Trulli had managed an early lap in the 1:14’s, considerably faster than either Toyota had managed before, but still some way from Kimi Raikkonens 1:3.8 that topped the session.

The second session was fought as if it were for a title, fastest lap trading between the Mclaren pair, the Renaults and Schumacher in the remaining Ferrari, with the two Williams’, particularly that of Mark Webber, looking very quick indeed.

As the flag dropped it was again Raikkonen fastest, this time on 1:13.532, followed closely by Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella, with a very fast late effort by David Coulthard shading Schumacher, Webber, and Nico Rosberg in the second Williams. Jarno Trulli and Juan Pablo Montoya and Rubens Barrichello in the Honda completed the runners for the top ten run off, leaving some very disgruntled faces out in the cold.

Chief among these was Jenson Button, the Englishman seemingly unable to put together a lap anywhere close to good enough to make the cut, and Ralf Schumacher, the second Toyota driver missing out by a whisker. Also out were the two BMW-Saubers, hampered by a lack of grip, Christian Klien in the second Red Bull, and the remaining Toro Rosso of Tonio Liuzzi.

As the final twenty minute session settled down into the initial ‘fuel burn’ period, we waited for the first runners to pit for fresh tyres and have a shot at pole. The McLarens came in first, Raikkonen then Montoya, followed by Schumacher and the two Renaults and, with six minutes left of the session, it was clear these five were on for two runs at pole. The remaining runners stayed out, committed to one shot, or settling for sixth to tenth positions.

All was well at first and, with a minute left to run, Michael was on top with a time of 1:13.898, Alonso barely a touch behind on 1:13.962, Webber an excellent third on 1:14.082 having just edged out Raikkonen. However, with Michael on his last legs, and mere seconds to go, Alonso was quicker in both of the first and second sectors.

Suddenly, what had been a hitherto competitive and straight fight for pole between Schumacher and Alonso became the most controversial moment of the season so far as, entering the Rascasse, the Ferrari, bizzarely, seemed a little loose at the rear, then parked at the left of the circuit, just off the racing line. Yellow flags prevailed, Alonso’s lap was ruined, and the stunned paddock looked on in amazement.

Had Michael premeditated the move, knowing that Alonso was about to eclipse his pole? That, seemingly, was the consensus in the paddock.

As we go to press the result stands with Schumacher and Alonso on the front row, a brilliant Webber on row two with Raikkonen, Fisichella and Montoya on row three, and Barrichello and Trulli on row four. The top ten is completed by David Coulthard for Red Bull and Nico Rosberg in the second Williams.