• 2005 British Grand Prix

Montoya off the mark at Silverstone

David Addison
July 10, 2005
Montoya tops the podium at Silverstone © Sutton Images
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Juan Pablo Montoya took his first win of the season in the British Grand Prix to slow Fernando Alonso's advance towards the title on a weekend when Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren needed another engine change and started form 12th on the grid.

Montoya was third on the grid behind Alonso and Jenson Button's Honda, but made a stunning start to lead the race at Becketts. Alonso was sensible and allowed Montoya's bravery to earn its rewards and he settled in behind for second place and the points that went with it. However, Montoya's first stint was not as dominant as it needed to be and it meant that when Alonso had completed his first stop, there was nothing between them. Although Montoya retained the lead, Alonso hounded him for the next few laps.

Alonso may have been able to nick the lead on the second stops but was caught in traffic and suffered at the hands of Jarno Trulli's Toyota. That was the crunch point for the Spaniard. Montoya led again and stayed ahead to record the win with Alonso second to lead Raikkonen by 26 points in the championship.

Raikkonen produced another of his amazing drives to take third place after Giancarlo Fisichella's Renault stalled when he was about to rejoin after his second pit stop. Button took fifth with a frustrated Michael Schumacher sixth for Ferrari.

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