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The long-lasting Imola battle that ended Michael Schumacher’s stranglehold on F1

Source link : https://motorsports-news.org/2025/05/16/motorsports-news/the-long-lasting-imola-battle-that-ended-michael-schumachers-stranglehold-on-f1/

Two rivalries instantly leap to thoughts in terms of Method One’s nice battles, however there may be one well timed – however usually forgotten – duel that was fierce sufficient to rival the perfect of them.

Senna vs Prost is unequalled for its controversy and depth. Hunt vs Lauda has a barely plausible backstory of human endurance. Others, like Senna vs Schumacher, sadly by no means totally materialised – Schumacher’s first championship coming within the 12 months Ayrton Senna misplaced his life.

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However in 2005, 11 years after the Brazilian’s dying at Imola, Schumacher had grow to be the elder statesman of the grid at 36, with a report seven world championships to his identify, however he and his Ferrari workforce confronted a brand new menace to their unprecedented dominance. That got here within the type of 23-year-old Spaniard Fernando Alonso, driving for Renault, who had simply 53 begins and a single grand-prix victory to his identify.

This battle featured intense glimpses fairly than a chronic battle like the next 2006 season. Probably the most memorable duel of these two years although got here at Imola, when Alonso held off a charging Schumacher – whose entrance wing appeared glued to the rear of the Renault for the ultimate 10 laps – profitable by simply 0.215sec. Schumacher began thirteenth, and was the faster man, however was stymied by Alonso’s decided defensive talents.

What outlined that season was not simply Ferrari and…

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Author : Motorsports

Publish date : 2025-05-16 07:35:00

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