2005 European Grand Prix

The 2005 European Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on May 29, 2005 at the Nürburgring in Nürburg, Germany. The race, contested over 59 laps, was the seventh round of the 2005 Formula One season, the 49th running of the European Grand Prix, and the 15th European Grand Prix as a standalone event (i.e. not an honorific title awarded to an existing event). It was the second of a series of six races held within eight weeks.

The race was won by championship leader Fernando Alonso for the Renault team, but is most famous for McLaren driver Kimi Räikkönen almost winning the race but crashing at the start of the final lap from the lead because of a suspension failure caused by heavily degraded tyres. Winner Alonso started in sixth position whilst Nick Heidfeld took the first and only pole position of his career for the Williams team. He eventually finished second in front of the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello, who completed the podium in third position.